A Couple Videos

We were able to capture a few moments from Carter's Christmas program  with Jonathan's phone. The quality isn't great, but you can hear some of the singing in the first and last videos and the middle video is Carter reciting his poem with his teacher, Kriszti. Enjoy!

A Christmas First

Carter during his program.

 This year we had a Christmas First... Carter participated in a school program for all the parents. We weren't exactly sure what to expect (since we are new to preschool, new to Hungary, and new to school programs) but we were pleasantly surprised! The entire class was dressed as characters from the Nativity story and Carter was an angel. The class sang songs and recited poems (in Hungarian, of course!) and Carter even shared a Christmas poem in English for everyone! Afterward, there were cookies and tea for all the parents and children.

One of the things that did surprise us, was the incorporation of the Christmas story in a public school - something that isn't seen these days in the United States. They lit an Advent Wreath and sang about Baby Jesus. It really is a testament to how disconnected people have become with religion here, that it is celebrated in the schools, but not in their hearts.

Carter was excited to give me (Corinne) a hand-decorated votive holder and cookies that they worked on in class. We had prepared some American favorites (chocolate chip cookies) to give to each of his teachers. We feel so blessed to have such caring and understanding teachers in Carter's class. They both are so patient with Carter's language limitations (and ours as well!). Carter wanted to have his picture taken with each of them before we left. It was his last day of class before he starts Christmas break.

Carter and Miss Anniko

Carter and Miss Kriszti

I'll Have a Blue Christmas (without you)...

The past few weeks of holidays and prep for Christmas has put me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster. I read this quote on a friends blog and it pretty much puts into words what I have so much trouble explaining to others.

"changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.” 

~Anatole France

Coming to Hungary was a longed for change, a passion we feel even today...but with it came the death of our lives before. The relationships we have with our friends and family back home are cherished and will never completely die, but are a loss to us none-the-less. At Thanksgiving and Christmas, especially, we long for those love ones who are many, many miles away.

Some of those holiday memories left behind...

November Winds

For some reason, unexplainable to me, the month of November has completely FLOWN by. I blame it on the cold November winds that seem to have swept through Hungary. We have had a very busy month and it wasn't until today when I was completing "Month End" treasurer work, that I realized our blog posts had skipped a few weeks. So....here are some of the happenings from November.

November 8th, I celebrated my birthday. The weekend before, I enjoyed chocolate peanut butter cheesecake! And on the day of my birthday, Jonathan got a sitter and we went to dinner at TGI Fridays (our little American getaway!).  Carter had a very difficult time understanding why mommy didn't get to have a party, a cake, and lots presents for him to help me open :) When we were out shooting some yearly pics of the boys, Jonathan managed to capture a few of me that I thought were nice.

Just a few short days later it was time to celebrate another Long birthday... this time for Grant! On the 11th we celebrated Grant's 2nd Birthday with a monkey themed family party. A local bakery provided the cutest monkey cupcakes ever! Grant really enjoyed the presents, the cake, and all the fun!

Not very long after we cleared the cake, it was time to start preparing for Thanksgiving. No, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Hungary...but we do! We planned to have a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for the Friday Night Bible study. We baked pies, cooked turkey, and added all the trimmings and were so pleased to have 20 young adults for our Thanksgiving celebration! Carter and Grant were a big help getting everything ready for the meal.

We rounded of the Thanksgiving festivities with an all-church pitch-in Sunday after service. We were pleased to have several visitors and another delicious meal. Sanyi preached a great sermon, and many people commented on what a nice day it was.

Now if we can catch our breath for just a moment, December starts tomorrow - and that means I only have 24 days left before Christmas!!

Busy little bee,
Corinne

Who Can I Trust?

This past week I was in the market for Halloween pumpkins. We had a Halloween party for our Friday night Bible study group and we planned a pumpkin carving contest. Finding good carving pumpkins in Budapest proved to be a little bit of a challenge and Jonathan found himself having a frustrating exchange at the local produce stand.

In Hungarian: Jon - "How much is your pumpkin?"

Salesman - "Oh, do you speak English?"

In English: Jon - "Yes, I do."

Salesman - "It's 600 forints per kilo, 

so 3600 forints total" (That's $18)

Jon - "No, thanks that's too expensive" 

Salesman - "But, it's a beautiful pumpkin!" 

What Jon later discovered was that I had paid only 600 forints total for the other pumpkin I had purchased. The salesman tried to sell Jonathan a pumpkin for 6 times what I paid at another market!!

The past few weeks have reminded me how hard it can be to trust. Living in a foreign country, dealing with a language barrier, maneuvering a different system tend to make us skeptical of everything and everybody. It doesn't help when you find your gas being stolen, your bills being overcharged, and your intentions being questioned. Feeling frustrated and slightly depressed about these situations got me to thinking tonight.

I found myself asking God, again, "Who can we really trust?" and His answer was clearly, "Me" I was reminded that when I can't trust the gas to be in my car each morning, or that I'm not being cheated on my utility bill, or unsure of the true market value of a pumpkin...that God really is the only person I need to trust. He has proved Himself faithful to us time and again. He has supplied our needs time and again.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose trust is the LORD. For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." 

Jeremiah 17:7-8

Trusting the One,
Corinne

Celebrating 5 Years

Carter blows out his birthday candle.

This past Saturday, October 23rd, our family celebrated an important milestone in Carter's life...his 5th birthday! He celebrated in usual fashion with a party of friends, birthday cake and as much Buzz Lightyear paraphernalia as possible. It was really a fun day, as we followed up the birthday party with a family outing to an antique car show here in Budapest. McDonald's Happy meals, topped off the day.

As the saying goes, time flies. It's hard to believe our first born has been on this earth for five whole years! And I am sure when he is turning 55, I will say the same thing. He has been such a blessing in our lives.

Carter's birthday not only reminds us of the moment in time we first began the journey of parenthood, but it also serves as a time-marker in our journey through missions. You see, Jonathan and I learned of our first pregnancy just a few short months after we felt God's call in our lives to serve in Hungary. So at a time of great anticipation for the birth of our child, we were also discovering what missions meant for us. As we had excitement and fear about our new roles as parents, we also felt excitement and fear over becoming full time servants for Christ.

Yesterday, as we enjoyed the reflections of five years in Carter's life, we also pondered how far we had come since that day we learned about the new roles God had for us. From a couple to a family, from simply husband and wife, to mommy and daddy. From business people, to missionaries. Alot changed for us five years ago. And, we wouldn't want it any other way.

Carter's biggest fans,
Corinne and Jonathan 

Entertaining Angels

One thing in missions that is for certain is nothing is for certain. What appears to be an empty day on the calendar often turns into a divine appointment.

Last year at this time, we were sitting in our living room, browsing emails, when an instant message popped up on the screen from a young woman on an 11-month missions adventure. To make a long story short, we welcomed 7 strangers into our home that day. And that one day ended up turning into 14 days. Some people said we were crazy. Where did 7 people sleep in our little flat? Some people said "you must be exhausted" having guests for so long. Some people thought we were giving too much and getting too little.

One of the many things I've learned this past year: we may have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2) God allows strangers to enter our lives. Our job is to show His love. Is it a sacrifice? Perhaps. Is it easy? Not always. Is it convenient? Rarely. Were we blessed to have 7 people stay in our home? Undoubtedly.  God pours blessing into our lives as abundantly as we have given.

This week, we received a call from some new strangers on a similar mission....lunch anyone?

Our seven strangers who became friends.

Flavors that Take Me Back

Ok. So, I feel like I have a little confession to make.

Food is important to me. Not just any food, but the flavors from home.

 I knew this was the case for most of my life, but a deeper realization came when I moved to Hungary. It's not so much the food, but the emotion and sentiment that my family has tied to food. I am sure this is the case for many families out there, but often our holidays and family moments involve a big meal with our favorite flavors.

I have discovered that Fall becomes a somewhat melacholy time for me. Partly because the business of the summer has past and the slower pace of the year has come. And partly because, well frankly, Hungarians don't partake in some of my favorite Fall flavors. Fall to me always means apples and apple cider, pumpkins and pumpkin pie, caramels, toffees, and sweet spices galore. But I find this country to be a little lacking. I try to make up the difference by baking apple dumplings and drinking warm coffee drinks, but I get a little sad knowing canned pumpkin and sweet potatoes are not to be had (except at great financial cost, lol). To make matters worse, November brings the ultimate in Fall flavors and the pinnacle of family food festivities - Thanksgiving.

Sigh. So...tonight I caved. I took the No. 7 bus 15 minutes into the city to Coffee Heaven. I splurged on an overpriced mocha and the most decadent Caramel Toffee Brownie Pillar. Mmmmm. It was delicious. For a moment, it was almost like home...well....except for the bumpy bus ride.

Sweet dreams,
Corinne

Welcome Fall!

A picture from our picnic in Varosliget.

With a great whirlwind of activity, Fall has arrived in Budapest! Last Friday night, the Bible study group met in the large city park for a picnic and invited the OMS church congregation and the youth from Vac to join them. We had a great turn out - 30 people plus kids! Everyone enjoyed games, conversation, good food, and ended the evening singing praise choruses.

This coming week, we look to begin a new format for our Friday night Bible study. Three weeks of the month the students will eat and begin the evening program and then split into smaller conversation groups. Hopefully this will allow everyone a better opportunity to share and get to know one another.

We are also excited to announce our very own Facebook Group for the Bible study. If you are interested in following our activities, be sure to join us! Friday Night Youth on Facebook

On a personal note, Jonathan is busy and enjoying his courses at CEU and Carter is still loving preschool. Grant and Mommy have kept busy with the Mama-Baba Club, prayer meetings and cooking for all the fun activities. And....with Fall also comes several birthdays! So we are looking forward to lots of celebrations.

The children enjoyed playing in the fallen leaves.

Back to School (or should I say "Vissza az Iskolába")

For most of our American friends, school began a few weeks ago. But here in Hungary, it's just getting started. And this year, for the first time in our family, it actually means something to us. This year Carter was able to start school at a Hungarian preschool, called an óvoda. In Hungary, children attend a "preschool" from the ages of 3 - 6 at which time they begin the elementary school. 

Because of the time of our arrival last year, we were not able to enroll Carter in a school until this semester. And to tell you the truth, I don't know if I would have been mentally and emotionally prepared to part with my little guy before now! Fortunately, though, the first few days of school have gone exceptionally well. Carter is very happy with going to school...he likes his teachers and he even tells us he understands what the children are saying to him (in Hungarian, no less!).

Carter in front of his school on the first day.

For the parent of a first-time preschooler in a foreign country, I couldn't have asked for a better start to the year. I had my fears and uncertainties (probably much like most first-time preschooler moms) but I felt that mine were amplified by language and cultural differences. I worried about tears and trauma, but our first days have included none of it.

Of course there are still some things I don't get (like why Carter must change his clothes 6 times a day!) and will always wonder, (like if he will ever eat the Hungarian foods...he tells me he does eat some bread and soup) but I know God has His hand on my (not so) little guy! And that once again, God has gone before us and prepared the way for Carter to attend the right school, at the right time, with the right teachers. We are truly blessed! And I know your prayers for us, especially Carter, have made a difference in the life of a 4 year old American missionary kid in Budapest.

At Peace with Preschool,
Corinne

Three Weeks Too Many....or Not Enough?

Just four short days after English Camp concluded, Jonathan was whisked away in an airplane for the United States. The past three weeks he has had the opportunity to participate in training for church planting and multiplication in Greenwood, Indiana. In addition to a busy seminar schedule, he has also filled much of his time visiting some of our supporting churches in the area.

In the mean time, I have been holding down the fort back here in Budapest with the help of a wonderful guest....Grandma! That's right, my mom came to visit us during the time Jonathan would be gone. We've mostly been keeping ourselves busy with all the fun things Grandmas like to do with their Grandkids. We went to the Budapest Zoo, the pool, and the aquarium. The boys have also enjoyed lots of special little treats Grandma brought for them from America. Here are a few pictures from our adventures!

Carter and his "Fish-Kabob"

Grant is all smiles when Grandma is around!

Fun memories at the Zoo

Grandma and the boys enjoy a treat.

So, needless to say, we've been having lots of fun, missing Daddy lots and enjoying Grandma's visit. We've decided that three weeks away is three weeks too many....and three weeks here is definitely not enough!

A Happy Mommy and a Lonely Wife,
Corinne

The Truth of the Matter

A quick snapshot from English Camp.

Money
It's a dirty word. It's private, it's personal, and it's said to be the root of all evil. Usually nobody likes to talk about money, that is unless we're discussing ways to get more, to keep more, and to spend more. Money used to have an amazing amount of control in our lives. There never seemed to be enough and when there was, it still wasn't enough. I like to be in control and I was no different when it came to our finances. I wanted to know where every penny was spent. Don't misunderstand me, God blessed us financially, but even in that blessing I found great stress.

Let's rewind a couple years ago to May 2008. Jonathan and I had felt the call to serve in Hungary and had made the commitment to work toward that goal. We felt it would require a great sacrifice on our part to make that happen. What did that sacrifice look like for us? We both quit our good paying jobs in the secular world to travel and raise funds full-time. With a toddler and another one on the way, we had no regular pay check, no employer insurance policy, and no guarantee we would still be able to pay the bills on time. It was a monumental step of faith for us...for me really. And we were never short on blessing. God's provision during the following year was so abundant. I learned so much that year about reliance on God and learned to let go of the tight grasp I had on both money and material things.

God did provide personally and for our ministry that year, and in twelve short months we were on our way to Hungary. We were, and still are, so grateful and blessed by the faithfulness and generosity of our family and friends, the people who have and continue to support our ministry. We felt like God placed us in Hungary at just the moment He had ordained. Our planning in His provision anticipated that we would be return to the United States after 2 years to spend 3-4 months fundraising before returning to Hungary to complete our four year commitment.

But now, we're here. Only 15 short months later, facing the reality that we may not be able to follow the plan we had hoped for.  Once again, we are looking at the dollars and cents and asking God for great provision. The numbers don't add up....but in the world of faith and blessing, they rarely do. We need a financial miracle if God is to keep us in Hungary for the remainder of our second year. This is not were I thought we would be so soon, so quickly seeing exchange rates and increased expenses ravage our support account, but I have a sense of peace and a heap of faith that even 3 years ago, was foreign to me when it came to finances. Instead of running to the calculator to examine the figures, we're falling on our knees to petition the Great Almighty.

Finding financial peace,
Corinne (& Jonathan)

It's a Wrap!

Once again, two weeks of English Camp flew by in a flash. We were so blessed to have a wonderful staff and wonderful campers this year! Below is a video of some of our adventures. Enjoy!

Just for a Moment

Summer is definitely our busiest time of the year. With school ending and preparations for our Summer English Camps, we hardly find time to sit and enjoy a warm summer evening or to take the boys for a leisurely bike ride. This morning, as we were heading out to church, Carter offered to help Grant down the steps and out to the sidewalk. He took his little hand and carefully maneuvered the uneven walkway beside our apartment building. And as Jonathan and I were following slightly behind, I said to him "Don't you just love moments like this?" Fortunately I was quick enough to grab my cell phone and snap a photo of the two walking hand in hand.

It seems in the busy times of our lives, it can be easy to miss special little moments with our boys, or to overlook their subtle interactions. We truly are blessed to have them along side us as we minister in Hungary. Not only do they get to experience and witness God's work first hand, but we also have the enjoyment of sharing those experiences with them too.

Thanks, Carter and Grant, for being Little Lights for Jesus in our lives and the lives of all those you meet.

Love,

Your Mommy & Daddy

Summer in Full Swing

So, I realized this week that it has been almost a month since our last blog update! Let me assure you, it is not due to a lack of news. To the contrary, we have been so busy! Summer has finally arrived in Budapest along with it's numerous activities and goings on.

In the last few weeks of May, we have been finalizing plans for our Summer English Camp. Jonathan has been assisting with curriculum planning. We have also both been involved in the marketing aspects through brochure design.

The Friday night Bible study group participated in an outreach event in the city of Szolnok called Love Bridge. They performed music for a retirement home and other activities throughout the day.

We were excited to welcome a team of students from Indiana Wesleyan University on May 29th. They will be working ministry opportunities for three weeks as we play host and provide housing for some of the students.

This past Friday, we were pleased to learn that Carter has been accepted into the ovoda (preschool) that we desired and his teacher stopped by to introduce herself. He will begin full day class on September 1st.

Just a few days after the college team departs, we will be welcoming our Summer intern, Victoria Pies for 6 weeks. Victoria is a student at Crown College and will be teaching English with us this summer at camp. We are so looking forward to her arrival and anticipate good things from her time here!

Camp volunteers will be arriving in Hungary in almost one month from today!

Please keep up the coming activities in your prayers. Pray for safe travel for the teams as they come and go. Pray for English camp and the students that will be participating this year.

We hope to have lots of great updates to share with you as the summer shines on.

Corinne

They Call Me "Mom"

In honor of Mothers' Day, I thought I would take the opportunity to show off the two boys that give me a reason to celebrate. After all, if it weren't for them, I wouldn't be called "mom".



Glad to be Mommy,

Corinne

Seeing His Beloved

Anyone who knows me well, knows that I was raised in a Christian home, in the suburbs of Indianapolis. I never would have said that I had a "sheltered" upbringing, but the truth is, most of my friends growing up were from Christian homes or at least held what one would consider moral values.

I attended public schools until my sophomore year of high school when I transfered to a Lutheran school. Even there, I knew that many of the students around me didn't exactly share the Faith, so to speak.

And then one day, God called our family to serve overseas in a big city. I know the statistics about this country when it comes to Christianity. I know that there are numbers of homeless, addicted, and hopeless people here. But I didn't realize how seeing these people would change me so much.

I joked with my husband one afternoon, that I had seen more things in the last year, than I have seen in my entire life. Not the type of things a good Christian girl would like to brag about, but rather the type of things a missionary sees when they get their hands dirty in God's kingdom. This past year I have seen the drunk, the prostitute and the desolate. I have seen people having sex in the park, the car and can hear the girl next door. I witnessed my first drug deal and been the victim of theft many times over.

Do I find these moments shocking? Sometimes yes, but unfortunately sometimes no. This is the culture in which we live...in which we are trying to minister. It is reality in Budapest, Hungary. God puts us in places that sometimes make us very uncomfortable. Why? To stretch our reliance on Him, I think.

A few weeks ago, I went with our young adult group to feed the homeless on a Thursday afternoon. I took along my camera wanting to capture our group at work. Little did I realize the powerful feelings that would come over me. Suddenly, these people were not just "homeless" to me. Watching them accept the soup, the drink, the bread...I realized these people need the Bread of Life. My heart broke. It seems there are so many in need and we can only do so much. Their need is so great. Emotionally, physically, spiritually. We offered them a meal. And for one afternoon, we could share Christ's love with them. The young and the old. The broken and the tired. The lonely and the needy. Christ calls them all to Him and they are his beloved.

Looking Closer,

Corinne

Silence

There are times, I believe, in every Christian's life when God seems silent. Sometimes it may be due to our disobedience, perhaps our busyness, other times our own noise. And other times, God seems silent for reasons beyond our understanding. There are times in our life that God speaks very clearly to us and we know His voice has spoken above the crowd and the commotion, but it’s the times of silence that can be most trying.

The past few years, we have seen God moving, guiding and directing us through our call to ministry in Hungary. He spoke clearly to us about coming to Hungary. Even in my questioning and testing, He was very clear in His answer to us. Even in times where His voice could not be distinctly heard, we could see His hand moving in our lives - His Provision, His Power, and His Presence.

The past few months have been difficult for Jonathan and me. Most difficult has been God’s mysterious silence in our lives. The trials and challenges of missionary life are not exaggerated or imagined by any stretch. The persecution and warfare we experience is very real. We can feel the spiritual oppression that has waged war in Hungary. As we struggle to sense God’s secure grasp around us during these difficult times, sometimes there is a feeling of abandonment. We know in our hearts that God has not abandoned us, but our minds rage battle against our beliefs.
Tonight as I search for some piece of Hope in the Scriptures, I was brought upon a passage underlined years ago in my Bible.

Isaiah 58:8-9
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and he will say: Here am I”

God has not left us alone in Hungary. He doesn’t leave us alone anywhere for that matter. He will answer are call to Him. He has been there all along.

Coincidently, following this time of devotion, I picked up the iPod to listen to some inspiration tune. The song that began playing immediately was Todd Agnew’s “Shepherd”.

It is my prayer. That God will hear his weary sheep and His sheep will hear His voice. Here are the lyrics that spoke to my heart tonight…

Shepherd, Your sheep are weary
Cold and tired, battered and bruised and torn
Shepherd, Your sheep are hungry
We got what we wanted but we still need something more

We need to hear Your voice
Whatever You might say
We just need to hear Your voice
Show us the way

Shepherd, Your sheep are lost
We chased our wants that we thought were needs
Now we can't get home
Shepherd, Your sheep are longing
We ate and we ran, we played and
we danced, but we're empty

We need to hear Your voice
Whatever You might say
We just need to hear Your voice
Show us the way

Shepherd, these sheep are Yours
We tried to be king, but we
don't want to anymore

Listening Carefully,
Corinne

Swimming With the Sharks

This past weekend our family went for a visit to a local "Tropicarium". There were monkeys and birds, alligators and snakes, and many sea creatures. They had a large tank with a tunnel which you could walk through that made you feel as though you were in the bottom of the ocean. Inside there were several moderately sized sharks. I have to admit, every time I see a shark up close I realize how very impressive they are. Generally speaking, these encounters do not encourage me to go swimming anywhere near the ocean. It does seem silly to fear such a minor threat, but none the less, the fear is there.

I suppose in life there are many more things we could justify fearing. Carter is more than happy to share with us at bedtime all his various fears. Dinosaurs outside the window, lions in the closet, strangers peering in from the dark....his imagination can run wild. The truth is, I have real fears too. Not of dinosaurs or creatures under my bed, but fears like "failure," "disappointment," "conflict" or "pain". Often in my Christian walk, I find these fears have been the sole reason for my lack of action in the cause for Christ.

As often does, God taught me a lesson through a simple conversation with Carter about one of his fears. He was sharing with us about his fear of the dark one night on the way home in the car. "You don't have to fear anything, Carter..." I told him "because Jesus is always with us and helps us to not be afraid."

Do I live like I have nothing to fear? That isn't to say I want to go swimming with the sharks, but I do know that Christ offers us peace and security even in times of fear and that He empowers us with courage through the Holy Spirit to go boldly into the world.

Acts 4:31 "...And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly."

Our Friday Night Group finally Has a Name

For weeks our group has been brainstorming, suggesting, and considering names. We meet on Friday nights at 6pm for dinner and have a program at 7. Our group has slowly been growing and we have become involved in more activities.

Every other Thursday we are now partnering with the Salvation Army to feed about 300 homeless at Keleti Train Station. It's been an amazing experience and many of our group have felt really good about being involved in this type of ministry.

We have also helped out friends, and friends of friends, with various projects from wood chopping to collecting cardboard to burn in the cold weather. There seems to be a plethura of ministry opportunities.

Our group ranges from 15 to early 30's and amazingly get's along quite well.

So it seems like it's become hard to identify just exactly who we are, and how to encapsulate that in a name. The last week, after a vote during our normal weekly meeting, we settled on a name.

CIA. No, not the intelligence agency. Christianity In Action. It means that we are searching for authentic Christianity. We are looking for a real relationship with Christ in the realest of senses. But we're not satisfied with stopping there. We want more. We want our relationship to inspire action. Action to love, care and show Christ to those around us. So we are CIA. We are putting Christianity in Action.

When Being Handy, comes in Handy

It's funny how you never realize how important right now is...until later. It seems like time and time again, I find myself realizing how the experiences of yesterday can be used by God today. It gives you a sense like he has a plan, eh?

In the past year I have seen many instances where what was seemingly a random experience has come in handy.

Several years ago I accidentally found myself in leadership of the Young Adult group at our church. We worked hard and created a dedicated group of young adults. I didn't realize it at the time, but that wasn't simply filling a need at the time.

Years later I find myself in Budapest, Hungary, running a program for Youth and Young Adults that in some ways is remarkably similar to "The Loft". Who would have thought years ago when we were meeting in the upstairs of our church, that I would be doing the same thing in Hungary?

As a child I grew up with a handy man for a dad. Craftsmanship runs strong in our family, and I remember many days of handing nails, tossing roof shingles, holding dry wall, and even rewiring wall sockets. I failed to appreciate then the life experience gained in these small tasks.

Missionaries really don't have a hard and fast job description. You often find yourself doing tasks that you never really thought you would do.

So it was this last wednesday. Our church is small. Space is at a premium, and we've been thinking of ways to make our space more useful for the various ministries that use our church during the week. We had plaster falling off the wall in our office, we had junk piled upon itself in another room, and our sanctuary, while being nice, had a plank topped stage that shall we say, had become less than inviting.

So a church workday was in order. My guys Norbi, Sanyi, Doni, and I set about the tasks of doing maintenance and beautification to our space. The hole in the wall was expertly patched by Norbi, Sanyi and Doni and I muscled the stage around (see picture above) and I installed carpeting and trim to it. Random things were organized, and a place was even made for small children and babies to nap for Sunday Mornings and Mondays Baba Mama Klub.

I couldn't help but think of the endless hours of helping out dad with various projects and how they had equipped me to do the task at hand. I never would have imagined that they would come in handy, years later, in a small church in Hungary. Who knew? Well, God knew.

So when your at a place or time and you feel like what your doing seems insignificant, remember that what your doing may not just be for today. Someday you might find yourself looking back and saying "wow, it's a good thing I learned that, it has really come in handy".

From the Eastern Front,

Jonathan

The Blind Man of Budapest

One things that amazes me in our district is the number of blind people on the streets. I would think that the streets of Budapest are hazardous enough even with the benefit of sight, let alone being blind. But it seems a daily occurrence that I see someone tentatively walking down the sidewalk, standing at a cross walk, or just trying to find their why, white stick before them fanning out for contact.

A few weeks ago I was at a major intersection ready to get on the bus. The bus pulled up and as I walked towards the forward door I observed a man attempting to make his way onto the bus. He was still standing on the edge of the curb, white stick through the door looking for contact. His arm outstretched groping for where he hoped he would find a handhold in the open door way.

As I came next to him I saw the the handhold was a few feet beyond his hands and while moving ever so slowly towards it, the bus would soon ring it's buzzer to close the doors. So I reached over and placed my hand over his. Immediately his body relaxed. Realizing someone was there who could see, he put his trust in me and stepped boldly onto the bus without hesitation. A few steps and I placed his hand up the hold he was searching for.

We never exchanged words. I didn't linger there but walked to the center of the bus where I like to stand. He was still clinging onto the hand hold at the front of the bus when I hopped off at my stop.

I realized that this is a good metaphor for spiritual life. In many ways we are like this blind man of Budapest. We can't see the future, we're not sure what lays before us. Sure we have clues, and we desperately grope for what we hope is in front of us, but ultimately we live life in a cautious way, step by step, dealing with what is within arms reach.

Oh how I long for God to take my hand and lead me to where I should be! To rest in the knowledge that someone is there who sees what is in front of me, and can guide me to the safety of a hand hold. Do you feel this way? Like your life is a mixture of fear and caution.

Christ says that we do not have to be afraid. He is our Shepherd, who's rod and staff are comforts to us. He knows the way, and he offers his hand to help us through the snares and pitfalls of life, if we will simply allow him to take our hand, and put our trust in Him.

I don't suppose that the blind man of Budapest knows that he reminded me of an important lesson a few weeks ago. But I thank him for it, and pray that this week, you find God's hand, relax, and let him lead the way.

From the Eastern Front,

Jonathan

The Importance of Dr Pepper (and other pick-me-ups)

For what other beverage would you Google Map directions, travel 45 minutes to the other side of Budapest, turn down numerous unmarked side streets in a snowy suburb? Well, our beloved Dr. Pepper of course.

Some of you may find humor in our passionate quest, but that is exactly what our family did this past Saturday afternoon. Why? you might ask. Simply because you cannot buy Dr. Pepper anywhere else!

Life in a foreign country certainly has its perks and prices. We get to experience (taste) the amazing culinary endeavors of our local cuisine. We have found the best local soda, best local dessert (ask Jonathan about this one), and the best Hungarian soups, dishes and sides - so to speak. We try to embrace all the yumminess they have to offer. But then there are days you just crave a flavor from home...the days your tongue must sacrifice.

Just a few weeks ago, my parents treated us to a box of flavors from home. Inside Carter was thrilled to find Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, Goldfish Crackers, Hershey Kisses, Fruit Roll-ups, and our favorite Brown Sugar Pop Tarts. Since then, we have carefully rationed each item like we might never taste it again! It's funny what a little food can do to give you a taste of home.

And with the same excitement, Sunday evening we savored the Dr Pepper. It was alot of fun really. I realized I hadn't had a drink of this soda for over 9 months. And for those moments we crave home, it was just what the doctor ordered.

A little less thirsty,

Corinne

A note from the Eastern Front

In 1 Kings 19 God commands Elijah to "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of God, for God is about to pass by." I can only imagine what must have gone through his mind. What did he expect?

I read stories in the Bible about the awesome power of God. The power to hang stars in the sky, to make mountains and valleys, hold back the waters, and even bring dead to life. I remember the first time I read the story of the crucifixion and was awed at the idea of the earthquake following the death of Christ. In my mind this is a scene of power, a temple veil torn from the bottom up. I can see it in my imagination like a $200 million dollar hollywood epic.

I guess if I were told to go stand on the mountain and wait for God to pass by, it's these ideas I would expect. If you recall the story, you know that these things happened. First a wind comes, so powerful rocks are shattered. The wind is followed by an Earthquake. In the pictures of devastation from Haiti, do we need any evidence of the terrible power of an earthquake.

Following the earthquake comes a fire. The folks from southern California can tell you about the rage of fire. But yet, in all of these, the wind, the earthquake, the fire, God isn't in any of them. I guess that's where I kind of hoped he would be at times.

No, in this story, God is found in the gentle whisper. A light breeze, an almost imperceivable voice on the wind. When I think of the awesomeness of God, it just strikes me a little strange that this is how he reveals himself. In the quietness, in the little voices in our heads, the words of friends, the kindness of a loved one. God can be found in the little things.

This was a hard week. As you can imagine in ministry, one of the challenges is facing disappointment. In a very real way, the disappointment that I have encountered as a missionary is much greater than anything I realized in previous employment. While before I might lose a sale, or have to stay late for work, I never really felt like I dealt with the disappointment that has more to do with eternity than a few bucks.

In ministry I have realized that I have to be careful. I tend to be somewhat sensitive, and I really hurt for people. While on one hand it seems to be a good thing, I find too that it's equally at times more of a curse.

Coming to Hungary has been both the most exciting and perhaps excruciating thing I've done. Honestly though, sometimes, in the quiet of our apartment, I long for the days of old. I reminisce about the days when the hardest thing I had to do was sit behind my desk calling dealerships trying to wholesale a Silver Nissan Pathfinder with a puke-colored interior. At the end of the day, it was just money. Here it's people, and souls.

Sometimes it's hard to see God here. This country is so spiritually starved. I have to confess to you that at times I've really wondered where God is in Hungary. This week has been that week. It's had moments of hope, but mostly moments of just hanging your head and crying. It's been days of trying to quickly think of the right words to say, to simply realizing that you have nothing left to say. You can only sit and watch people walk away, meanwhile you scream with all your might within the confines of your skull "GOD DO SOMETHING".

I feel like "God, lets see the fire, bring the fire! Write it on the walls, blow some people over with mighty wind, shake some foundations....help us out here!" But just as it was for Elijah, God didn't manifest himself that way. Most often God is found in the background, yet somehow, he always can be found.

Thursday morning I was on the metro heading toward language class. I'll admit I was guilty of a little pessimism, and I found myself actually begging God to show himself. "I just need to know you're there today," I said in the corner of my head. I looked up from the floor and saw a young woman sitting a seat away on the black vinyl benches of the metro car. My first thought was "so many young people here Lord, we have our work cut our for us."

Then I noticed her book. On her knees was an open Bible. I detected from the page heading that she was reading the book of Luke. Just as fast as I noticed her, the metro pulled to a stop and she was up and out the door. For a second, amidst the screeching subway tracks, I felt God say, "I was here all along." I couldn't help but smile, and I actually prayed for that girl, whomever she was, all the way to my subway stop.

As nice as it would be sometimes to think God should be in the fire, the fact is that's not how he choses to operate. It would be nice for an attention getting crack of thunder or lightning, but God seems content to silently whisper in their ears. A cosmic versions of "Pssst, turn around, you're going the wrong way."

More than anything I want God to use us. Not to scream and explode and such, but to gently and passionately show people everyday who he is. I want to be His ambassador. Sometimes that means watching people walk away, and realizing that it's up to God now, I've said all I can, and can only pray. Sometimes it's listening to someone relate terrible stories of heart ache. Sometimes it's praying for a Grandma or loved one.

This is what I realized this week. Let someone else worry about dollars and cents. This is where I want to be. This is the front lines. Sure it hurts, but some days, when you're riding a subway, and you get really quiet. You just might hear God in the tunnels of Budapest.

From the Eastern Front,

Jonathan

Keeping Things In Perspective

One big thing that God seems to be teaching me is about perspective. I'm not Mr. Webster or anything, but I would define perspective as the way you see things, or the viewpoint from which you observe a situation.

Work in Hungary is hard. It's very easy to get down, to take the perspective of negative futility. Even I have been guilty of this every so often. But is perspective something that is thrust upon us, or do we get to decide how we look upon a situation?

Albert Einstein was walking once when it started to rain. Taking his hat off of his head and tucking it under his jacket, he walked through the rain, soaking his hair. Someone commented to him incredulously, why would you take off your hat when it's raining, to which he replied that his hair would dry more quickly than his hat. He had a different perspective.

I'm a goal oriented person, and I like to achieve things. I like checking off tasks or feeling that I'm getting things done. Somedays here do not lend themselves to this kind of operating style. Recently during one of these tasks I got to spend some time with a friend that yielded important conversation. As I look back now, I can see that the most important part of that task wasn't the end result, but rather the conversation that came in the process. If I took the perspective that accomplishing my task was what made the moment worthwhile, I would have totally written off a tremendous opportunity to be with a friend.

Tonight my team the Indianapolis Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints in the Super Bowl. It's tempting to look at the score and be devastated. I'm saddened, and I know that tonight there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in Indianapolis. But as I really contemplate this evening, I guess I'm deciding from what perspective I wish to view this night.

I honestly thought that I would be upset tonight. I joked with people that if the Colts lost, they should give me a week to mourn the loss. But honestly, while I would have preferred the Colts to win, it was truly a GAME. I think about this night, and I realize what tonight was really about for me.

Tonight wasn't about watching a football game. Tonight was about quality time with 9 Hungarians that I am proud to consider friends. Tonight was about fellowship, food, fun, and yes, some football. Tonight wasn't our ministry night. Friday night is ministry night, tonight was an impromptu party, with people making cookies, Chick-fil-a nuggets, drinking soda and energy drinks, laughing, telling jokes, making fun of cheerleaders, and Super Bowl commercials. While the score of the game wasn't what I was hoping for, tonight was what I needed. Tonight, my soul was ministered to, even in the midst of a Colts Super Bowl loss.

Part of dealing with homesickness I think it when you finally can get perspective. You miss your friends at home, but when you realize that you feel completely comfortable with the person next to you. That you enjoy and trust them, and that they truly enjoy and trust you. When you find yourself in authentic community, and while it appears so different than home, on a deeper level, it ministers to your soul. This is what I felt tonight.

I guess my goal tonight was to watch the Colts win a Super Bowl. That didn't happen. But in the process I found out that it wasn't nearly as important to me as enjoying the people God has brought into our lives.

For me it was just another sign that we're fitting in. It was another sign that we're making the transition from homesick missionary, to perhaps one of the gang. That's where I want to be. The Colts will win and lose games, and hopefully the will do more of the first, but at the end of the day, I must keep things in perspective. I'm starting to really like the view from here.

From Baths to Baptisms

I am an idea guy. I am fairly creative, which I think comes from the arts/history side of my brain. I'm sure I have a math/science side, but so far a doctor's have failed to locate it.

I like coming up with solutions. As a kid I wanted to be an inventor, and to this day I still enjoy watching fabrication shows on The Learning Channel. As an adult many of my friends have partaken in my edible creations such as Jonwiches, and Chaijon (I always put my name in the title).

A few months back I was presented with a new challenge. One of our youth had decided she would like to be baptized. The issue at hand was that our church is a small apartment church in Budapest. It occurred to me that we didn't have a set up for baptisms. She had asked to be baptized, and our field was desirous that it be done in front of our congregation. But how?

We talked about options. Everything from spray bottles to dunking in the Danube (which is not blue by the way), but in the Winter time, hyperthermia isn't a good idea. The other issue you must deal with is that Hungary has 1000 years of Catholicism. If you get too creative you run the risk of scaring people, even those comfortable with attending church in an apartment as opposed to the big Cathedral at the corner.

Almost every day I take a prayer walk. I walk to our missionaries homes and pray in front of them. I usually listen to some music, or an audio tape while I walk, sometimes a sermon podcast. This particular day I was praying for guidance.

As I approached a missionary home I observed a deep bathtub sitting out next to the fence. I had helped pick up a new shower for their neighbors and I knew they were doing a bathroom remodel. A thought struck me. I asked our fellow workers to approach the neighbor, who actually attend our church, about the bathtub. Long story short, we bought a bathtub for a good price, and they appreciated the financial help.

So when my parents visited over the Holidays, I grabbed my dad and began plotting and planning what we wanted to make. We made multiple runs to OBI (think home depot with a creepy voice hissing 'welcome to OBI' over the intercom every 90 seconds.) We sawed, we hammered, we got yelled at by the neighbors for making too much noise. Dad and I engineered a draining and filling system, and in the end, we converted a bath tub into our very own baptismal.

This month we will finally baptize not only one, but at least three people, possibly more. There has even been a suggestion of the former bath tub owner being baptized in this group. God has a sense of humor. Regardless, praise God for his creativity and provision. We will be videotaping the baptism and will post video links as soon as we can.

Jonathan for the Longs

Big Plans for the Summer!

So...what will you be doing this summer? We hope you will be joining us for English Camp July 7-23, 2010! We need YOU! For more info, please email us at Long4Hungary@aol.com

Hope to see you there,

Jonathan and Corinne

What's In a Name?

OMS International becomes One Mission Society

One Lord. One Life. One Calling.

In early January 2010, OMS launched a new name, tagline, logo and mission statement. These changes were designed to help One Mission Society better communicate what it has stood for since its inception in 1901 as The Oriental Missionary Society.

One Mission Society’s sole reason for existence as a mission organization remains steadfast―to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ spread throughout the world and to see God glorified in all that is said and done. This is the command of the Great Commission. This is their “One Mission.”

God has blessed OMS by using it as a tool in His hands for more than 100 years. Today, One Mission Society is seeing, on average, one person come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ every two minutes. In recent years, thousands of new churches have been planted and tens of thousands of people are actively participating in discipleship programs.

These are historic times to be involved in missions. As never before in the history of the Church, One Mission Society is poised to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Make no mistake; the task is huge. OMS recognizes that it is only a small part of the body of Christ and that it joins with many other individuals, churches and like-minded Great Commission organizations called and equipped together for One Mission, God’s mission. This is the unity in mission to which all Christians are called in Ephesians, chapter 4 by our one God and Father of all.

One Mission Society currently works in 50 countries. It was founded on the principle that the most effective way to share Christ is by training a nation’s people to lead and multiply their churches. That principle still fully applies today and is the basis of their dynamic four-fold focus: intentional evangelism, church planting, training leaders and strategic partnerships.

OMS currently has six international offices from which missionaries are recruited and sent out: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the Untied States. Today, One Mission Society has 430 missionaries and is a member in good standing with the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

Here is One Mission Society’s new mission statement: By God’s grace, One Mission Society unites, inspires and equips Christians to make disciples of Jesus Christ, multiplying dynamic communities of believers around the world.