WEEKLY UPDATE
October 30, 2013
Bogács Update
Above: Katyus (Kot-jew-sh) the mother of the household and one of her daughters Maci (Maht-zee) in the background.
Over the past month, I’ve noticed Pujka’s wife Katyus gaining more and more interest in what God’s word has to say in our studies. In tonight’s group she shared how she was initially fearful when we would meet. She feared for her family and even discouraged her daughter Izabella from getting too serious about her belief in Jesus. God has since changed her heart. She said that she now wants to know more about God for herself and desires to understand what it means to believe. I have been praying that God send His Spirit, that He give them hearts that repent and understand their need for Jesus. God encouraged me tonight as I see an answer to these prayers in the changes in Katyus’ heart. Please pray for Katyus as she shared that sometimes when she seeks to pray to Jesus, she becomes oppressed and her thoughts become clouded. This is clearly a spiritual battle and she could use your prayer support!
Over the past two weeks, there have been a few new visitors from the neighborhood that have stayed the entire study. Last week a man named Árpád joined us for the first time and has a general belief in God but is not sure in who to believe. He asked questions like, how do we know which religion is the true religion and why is there evil in the world. He was thankful for our time together and we hope to see him again in the future. This week, two new teen boys attended. One of them named Barnabas said that he really enjoyed being in the study. Please pray for these visitors to come again and discover for themselves what God reveals in His word.
A few weeks ago I could see that the men in the group were discouraged and distracted as they had just been laid off of work and were worried because of the upcoming winter months and lack of means to provide for their families. As usual, I promised I would pray for this important request and they were also praying and asking God to provide. When I arrived this past week, Katyus greeted me with a smile telling me about her son: “Pujka has two job offers! He doesn’t know which one to take!” What a clear answer to prayer in a place where so many suffer from unemployment and it is doubly difficult to find work being Romani.
Above from L to R: Izabella, Mazsi, Pujkadur, and Krisztian meeting for our Bible study on Tuesday in Bogács.
Our study in God’s word tonight was on the Samaritan woman’s encounter with Jesus at the well. The group discovered important truths about God knowing every detail of our lives, Jesus being the source of eternal life, worshiping not being limited to any geographical area and that Jesus Christ is the Messiah. Izabella who had a tough week last week seemed renewed and shared that her faith in Jesus continues to grow. She shared her sorrow with still having to deal with temptations in her life and how grieved she is when she fails. She has a deep desire to live a life pleasing to God but is recognizing that even with that desire there is still a battle raging inside her everyday between following after sin and following Jesus. Please pray for Isabella who is currently the most spiritually mature in the family. She is active in reading God’s word to her family and tells others about Jesus. Pray for her protection and for her continued growth in knowing Jesus Christ. Isabella recently wrote this poem:
Shine on me my God like a bright star.
At night, who is there but you in heaven full of glory.
I love you my God.
I lost everything but in You I’ve found what I need.
You gave me grace. You are my song.
I give you my life. I wait for you my God to be with you forever.
LOGOS Bible school
Above: Peti being congratulated as he receives his BFA in Biblical Studies.
Although it’s been over four years, it seems like yesterday when Peti put his faith in Jesus. His wife Eszti and our church had been praying for years for his salvation and on a church organized hike, the Spirit gave Peti understanding in the heart which led him to repent and believe. At that time we had learned about an accredited school that partnered with the Baptist church for theological studies. Two men from our church had already decided to begin attending and soon after Peti’s salvation, God opened up the door for him to begin attending as well. Now, four years later, Peti has successfully completed his studies and received a BFA degree in Biblical studies. He is the first in his family to have this degree of education and we look forward to seeing Peti continue to grow on the practical side of living out all that he has gained in his studies of God’s word.
Above from L to R: Gabi and Eniko, Peti and Eszti, Brenda, Sharon, Marcsi and Dezso and Allen.
Gabi and Dezso will continue studies through one more semester with the hope of also obtaining their degrees next year. We praise God for this provision of Biblical studies and ask that you pray for all three of these men (Dezso, Gabi and Peti) and their families as they are all involved in various areas of church planting.
Petofibanya Church
Above: Eniko giving testimony about God graciously opening doors in public schools for her to teach Bible classes in our area. Eniko also joins me now regularly along with Pioneers teammate Brenda in Bogacs. It is great to see God raising up a new generation living out their missional callings.
Above: Teammate Roger continues to teach our pre-teens at church and has also begun teaching English in Petofibanya’s public school. Roger and his wife Heidi have two kids and have had opportunity to reach out to another family who’s daughter attends the same preschool as their daughter. After a year of personally meeting with this family and inviting them to dinner, the mother (Vera) attended our Thursday small group study for the first time with Heidi. Vera’s preschool daughter then got an invitation from one of our church pre-schoolers to come to church. Praise God that this past Sunday Vera attended with her daughter and then again attended our Thursday study. Please pray for Vera and her husband to come to know the Savior and the joy of being restored to God the Father through faith in His Son.
Family News
The past couple of weeks have been tough for our daughter Kira. On her way to a friends house in town, she was bitten by a dog. Thankfully the skin was not broken but she was bruised. Soon after this incident, at the bus stop in the morning, she jumped out of our car while it was still moving (very slow) thinking that it had stopped. She stumbled and her ankle was partially run over. After x-rays and an examination there were no signs of broken bones or severe trauma. God brought swift healing and just six days after the accident she was using it as if nothing had happened. We praise God for His provision of protection and healing.
Apc prayer requests
Please focus some time praying for the town of Apc where we are holding a weekly study reaching primarily Romani in the area. One of the key people, Vincse has become terribly sick. She is the one that has opened her home for the weekly Bible study and a key person in the community for outreach. Her lung disease has disabled her from her normal every day activities and doctors have told her that there is nothing more that they can do. Let’s turn to Jesus together and ask for mercy and healing and that God would continue building His Kingdom in the town of Apc. Vincse has a husband Zsolti and cares for two children, one of whom she has adopted because his parents abandoned him. Thank you all for your continued financial and prayer support!
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