Teen Camp report

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Our teen camp is the last camp of the summer and was used by God to continue watering the seeds already planted in earlier camps (VBS, Baseball, English) that many of these kids have already attended. This camp is definitely a bit different in environment than the others as we sleep in tents and take showers with bags of water that have been heated in the sun. Lots of dust, bugs and time outdoors, but a camp that the teens thoroughly enjoy and return to every year.

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Above: Erika explaining to Virag some basics of the Bible as she has recently received her very own for the first time.

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We were thankful for more integration with teens from the town of Vecsés where fellow missionaries are church planting. Over the past year, these teens have been able to meet with those from our area and we hope to strengthen this partnership. Our theme for this camp was about how we view ourselves, and how this view of ourselves (whether healthy or unhealthy) affects our lives. Hungary is listed as the country with the third most suicides in Europe and many struggle with a sense of utter worthlessness and hopelessness in life. We sought to turn attention to the value that God puts on every human life and the ways the Gospel changes how we can live with a sense of hope and value through Jesus Christ.

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Above: Church member Józsi sharing his testimony at camp. On Sunday, Józsi shared these words with the church: “God has given us such an amazing opportunity to spend time with kids this summer in these camps. Each member gave what they could to help share God’s word with them. God has given to us amazing unity as we served together. He has shown us that He wants to do even more as he filled this community center on the last day of VBS in Petofibanya with parents and kids. God encouraged us to keep pressing on with the number that attended baseball camp and as we had opportunity to talk to the kids about God. We had the same encouragement in Jászfényszaru with the VBS and finally with the teen camp the last few days. For me, the teen camp was like seeing a cherry tree blossom, being filled with flowers. This camp was like seeing all those flowers and the hope that many of these flowers will produce fruit. I am so privileged to have witnessed all these teens building relationships, paying attention to the teaching, talking about God. They spoke about God, not out of a sense that we expected them to say something, but from their own hearts. I’m so thankful for all of you and how God has used members in this church to work together to not give up on any of these kids and to see fruit in their lives.”

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Above L to R: Our daughter Kira, Zsofi, Betti and Luca.

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Above: Gabi (blue shirt center)

Not too late to dig up what was burried


This camp was not only used to encourage and build up the teens, but it was also the beginning of something in one person particularly that was very powerful. Gabi, one of our young adult members has for years seemed to cease growing and intentionally kept his distance from opportunities for mentoring and discipleship. When Gabi was first saved years ago, he was involved in youth ministry, he attended theological training and wrote his thesis on discipleship. Then he just seemed to fall away and in like manner to Jesus’ parable, he had just buried the wonderful spiritual gifts that God had given him to use for His glory. It was difficult to see this happen and hard to understand why.

This past year our church made a change in the way we hold our worship service. Instead of just preaching and then ending with some musical worship, we reworked the format so that there would be small group time after the preaching. We have noticed that in these small group times, Gabi seemed to begin to participate and show interest and growth. Then Gabi was able to attend English Camp and help out with organizing the games in the evening. He seemed to become more and more passionate for the things on Jesus’ heart. When the time to plan the teen camp came, teammate Miki invited Gabi to be a major part of the planning. Gabi believed that God led him to the theme and Gabi was the moderator for the discussions the entire week. He did an excellent job and once again, we began to see the Gabi that seemed to have been lost for years. Gabi is a gifted teacher and really could connect with the kids.

At the end of the week after teammate Roger spoke about real change and how we are going to take steps to follow Jesus, Gabi was one of the handful of people that boldly stood up and shared what God had been teaching him. Gabi said, “God is calling me to use the gifts he has given me for Him. For a long time, I have focused on other things. But now that is going to change. This camp has been the first step in that change. I am committing to this change in my life from now on.” This had to be one of the highlights of my entire summer as I heard those words from Gabi. Would you pray for Gabi as he is stepping back into fellowship in a way where he is teachable. Pray that he grow as a faithful husband, father and follower of Jesus Christ.

This camp was a wonderful closing for summer and has provided great momentum for both teens and adult members of our church community to continue growing as disciples of Jesus. Thank you all for your continued partnership.

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Above: An “exausted after camp” family picture as we came to pic up the kids at a missionary kids camp in mid August.

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Above: As the kids were at camp, Sharon and I were able to take a vacation and tour around a few countries in Europe.

As we now exit summer and enter into a new season seeking to keep the momentum going, please pray for the leadership team and our church. Pray that God cause growth to all of the seeds that have been planted and that He continue to give us wisdom as to how best to equip the saints, and grow in maturity as one body in Christ.
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