Not for the Weak at Heart

In the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation, we sometimes lose focus and the real meaning of the holiday. Inevitably, for me anyway, after the craziness of parties and presents, I usually find myself slowing down and finding time to reflect on the year previous and the one that has yet to come.

The same such scenario has presented itself again this year, amidst the family visits and the food, I have taken some time to think about what these past months have meant in my life. Looking back is sometimes pleasant, sometimes painful...but never for the weak at heart. Why, you might ask? I'm not one for dwelling on regrets, or rewinding past sorrows...instead to simply view the events and take note of how life may have changed, or how the lives of those who are important have changed.

This year has truly been a year characterized by change in our life. Last May we left everything we called "home" and moved to Hungary to begin our "calling". It definitely has been an exciting, challenging, changing experience. We have felt our highest highs and our lowest lows. We have cried in agony and leapt for joy. It has surprised me how these two extremes have been so prevalent in our lives since we have come to Hungary. There is no glamor in the real life of missions. Only the gnitty gritty. Sharing God's love with people is never shiny and smooth. It's raw and rough...it's hard work. And the rewards are real. They're eternal. And that's what gets us through.

Being so far from home amplifies the "misses". What have I missed this year. Some days that pervades my mind. It's not something I like to dwell on, but just the reality of homesickness and living in a foreign land. Today I took a little tally...just to quantify the cost in my mind. Four births, a death and a marriage. We missed those. A stolen wedding ring before our tenth anniversary, holidays with family, birthdays with our boys...those were missed. Having family visit us here is such a blessing, but even their close proximity amplifies the changes we have made. We are not the same. We are not the Long's that left Indiana only 7 months ago. That's where I see the biggest change in my life. It's hard to explain that now, I have less but it's more. That what I want is not what I want. It seems somehow that our differences are proportional to the distance we have travelled. But how do you quantify that?

Not just to dwell on the loss, but the joys have been immeasurable. Two young new believers. A consistent group of young adults meeting in our home each week. Building a baptismal for our church so a young lady can be baptized. New friends, new faith and new family.

So, 2010 is just a few short days away. Our first new year in Hungary. A new year with new hope. Hope is why we came here in the first place. Hope keeps us going. We came to share that Hope with everyone we meet....And that is not a job for the weak at heart.

Going strong,

Corinne

Christmas Letter to You

Sitting on the edge of my bed five weeks ago, I decided that the time had come. After five months of working with Zsofi through many ups and many downs, the time had come. “Zsofi, are you read to finally give everything to Christ?” “Yes,” she said quietly, but with conviction. She asked for help, so carefully I began to lead her through a prayer of salvation.

I don’t know why but I looked to my left and my eyes rested on my digital alarm clock. Holding my phone in one hand, I stared at the clock. My mind skipped for a moment and I felt as though all of Heaven had come to attention. The choir leaders called the angel choir to attention, party angels handed out confetti and those little horns that unravel as you blow into them. A child was coming home. My voice broke, we finished praying and cried together across the line.

Being missionaries in Hungary has already changed our lives, and God is using us to change lives. We continue to learn the language and I’m really proud of Corinne and how well she is doing with this difficult task.

Our boys have handled the change amazingly. Grant is days away from walking, and Carter shows us every day so many amazing, and often humorous truths of childhood. While we can’t replace our friends from home, God has given us relationships that have helped to sustain us, and encourage us. We feel as though there is no height or depth to which God’s blessings have not reached us.

But for me, it’s all about people. I want more. One week after Zsofi accepted Christ, Eszti a young lady from our church who attends our young adult group asked me a question about being a part of God’s family. I explained that faith is a walk, but that it begins by accepting Christ’s gift of Salvation. While walking them to the tram stop we talked about forgiveness, and mercy. I was turning my attention to her 14 year old brother, David, as their tram rolled in, and in a flash they were gone.

The next Sunday David came to me and said, “I thought about what you said, and I am a part of God’s family now.” We ducked into a side room and he relayed how he had decided that night to accept Christ and did just as I had described to his sister.

Ever week brings us into contact with more people like this. Brothers, friends, who are looking for God and want to talk with someone. They are tired of feeling hopeless, tired of feeling there is something more that they are missing. This week alone I will meet with a few of them. Please pray that the spirit would move.

I can’t begin to describe how humbling it is to see God use us this way. It’s a very tangible confirmation for us that He has us right where He wants us. Struggles, fatigue, funding issues aside, being exactly where God wants you is the only place to be.

My prayer for you is that this Christmas season, you recognize that you have been an important part of bring two people home to the manger. Your prayer and support have changed lives. May this Christmas find you exactly where God wants you, that he may use you to do amazing things right where you are.

Wishing you a Truly Merry Christmas,

Jonathan for the Longs

Family Update in Photos

In past few weeks, the Long family has had many celebrations. Carter, Corinne and Grant all had birthdays!

The end of October, Carter celebrated his fourth birthday...

And November 11th, Grant celebrated his first birthday!

Now we are busy gearing up for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! We look forward to sharing more with you about all the goings on here in Hungary!

All A Little Older,

The Longs

It began with a word..."yes". Part 2

"Meet me on the far side of Keleti Train Station in 30 minutes,"I wrote, "I'll get the OMS van and pick you up." An hour later we were piling several large packs, countless smaller back packs, and 7 road weary and wet warriors into our living room. I wish, Dear Reader, that I could say at this point that I had the slightest clue as to what God had in mind, but Mike, Denise, Ashley, Nicole, Ralph, Bambi and Lindsay were camped out in my living room, and my life would absolutely never be the same.

Realizing I had somewhat of a captive audience, I asked if two of them would be willing to share their testimony at our Friday Night Youth and Young Adult Ministry. They graciously agreed.

Friday night came, and they laid out their testimony's with painful tenderness and honesty. In the moments immediately following I noticed Zsofi, a young girl who was part of our group, talking with a few of our guests, tears in her eyes. I suddenly understood, "this is why they are here,"I thought, but how I under estimate God sometimes.

Over the next week I got to take our guests around my city. They listened patiently while I prattled on about the history of everything from Castle Hill, to my street corner. We laughed, we cried, we wore ourselves out, and even froze a little bit. They quickly grabbed on to Zsofi, and she to them, and most of our trips included this 19 year old Hungarian Gem. Zsofi told me, "you need to have Americans like this around more often."

And so it was, during a phone conversation last Monday night that Zsofi mentioned to me that she had felt God's presence the previous evening, and that she wanted to feel it again. After a short discussion I bluntly asked "Zsofi, are you ready to accept Christ and give him eveything?" Her answer "yes", and while I led her through the first lines of the same prayer I had prayed to God, I looked to my left and saw my clock. 9:06 pm. The world stood still. I suddenly realized what was happening.

This is what it's all about. This is why we are here. This was why our beloved living room squatters were here. In a moment all the angels of heavens choir snapped to the edge of their seats. The confetti angels waited with handfuls of gold confetti, and it seemed that all of Heaven held it's breath. Slowly tenderly she prayed with me, and accepted the gift of Salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ. I came out into the living room and wept like a child relating to our guests what had happened. The following day we had a Re-Birthday party for Zsofi at her apartment. Monday, October 26th, 2009 is a day that a new creation was born, and it was in no small part due to the love of God in 7 stranded Americans.

The Bible says that a single soul is worth more than all of the treasures of our world. I would like to thank Mike, Denise, Ashley, Ralph, Nicole, Bambi and Lindsay for helping to make that kind of investment into the Kingdom of God.

When I picked them up that first day, one of the girls told me that I was an Angel. I don't think so, for in complete honesty Dear Reader, they were MY 7 Angels. In a hard moment, when I was lonely, discouraged and struggling, they came to My rescue, and pulled ME from the hard floor, whilst they slept on mine.

One "yes" has ultimately led to another "yes", and I had the privelage and honor of being a part of it. I am utterly amazed, recharged, encouraged, and ready for more. But I can't help but ask myself the question...What would have happened if I had said..."no"? - Jonathan

It began with a word..."yes". Part 1

It had been a dark month. It wasn't completely unexpected, more than once we had been warned by the more seasoned missionaries that the fifth month was difficult. October was meeting expectations. The weight of home-sickness, intense fatigue and financial concerns were taking its wearisome toll both physically and emotionally.

Then one blustery afternoon, I sank into my computer chair and opened my email. With the usual expediency I began deleting the latest round of spam. News updates from 1070WIBC. A deal on a Papa Johns Pizza. Someone sent me a YoVille request on Facebook. But then my eyes hit upon an email address that I didn't recognize.

I read the email carefully, "Hello, I'm Ashley Weaver and I'm with 13 other AIM missionaries in Szekesfehervar." It appears there is a group of people traveling through Hungary looking for ministry possibilities. I quickly jumped to the AIM (Adventures in Missions) website to make sure I knew who they were. I fired the email off to a national worker and made a mental note to follow up with him in a week.

I few days later, I returned again to my worn out chair perched in front of my desk. Pulling up my Skype to see if my parents were on, I read the first name at the top of my contacts, "Ashley Weaver" and God quietly whispered "say hi". Without thinking I wrote a quick greeting and pressed "enter". It was at this moment I thought, "wow, I really don't have much to say."

Ashley popped back immediately in a very cheerful way. She told me that half of their traveling band had been left behind and that they had trekked to Budapest looking for possibilities. Amazingly, I realized that they were within 2 miles of my home in Budapest, so I offered to set up a meeting for Wednesday evening. Then God decided the time to move had come.

Wednesday, as I sat among a crowd of people on the bus, I contemplated the past month. We were tired, we were lonely, my Grandfather had just passed away, and while I didn't admit this publicly, dear reader, I was feeling a lot of pain inside over it. This time Corinne met me at the door.

"Jonathan, come read this," she said with intensity in her voice. I dropped into my familiar chair and scanned the email. Something bad had happened, they were stranded, at Keleti Train Station. I asked her if they wanted to come here, just to figure things out. They said they might need to, their leader Mike had dared getting twisted about in the large concrete jungle that was Pest, in search of new lodging. We waited. Then I heard a whisper. "Go get them." Why Lord? "Go get them," he said again. Ok, Lord, "Yes". - Jonathan

Nothing Left to Give

It's not surprising to say that a big part of missions is serving others. Sharing our home, our food, our family....showing God's love in all forms. Many times we have seen how God has blessed us so that we may be a blessing to others. As American's in a foreign country, it would often seem as though we give from our abundance...an abundance of resources, finances, and faith. But God does not always ask as to give in our own abundance. Sometimes He asks us to give out of our poverty, in our own time of need.

If you had asked me a week ago what I had to offer to 7 strangers...7 people I had never met, I would have told you I had nothing to offer. Our family has struggled the last few weeks with a feeling of emotional and spiritual poverty. We were tired, lonely, homesick and financially drained. We were struggling with distance from home during the passing of Jon's grandfather. Our frustrations with learning a difficult language, bridging the cultural gap, and relying only on God's provision had left us feeling as though we truly had nothing to offer to anyone.

That's when we received the message...when God spoke to my heart and said "Give." When we felt our resources were gone, our passion waning, and our selfishness overwhelming, God told us to open our homes and give not out of our abundance, but out of our poverty.

Today, a week later, we can say God has truly blessed us beyond measure once again. Last Wednesday, a group of American young adults with Adventures in Missions contacted us for assistance finding accommodations in Budapest. Without hesitation, I found myself inviting them to stay in our humble home... nothing special to offer, just a warm, safe room in which to lay their sleeping bags...a warm shower and a washing machine. In the past few days, we've been able to share stories, encouragement, ministries and prayer. These 7 strangers have become 7 friends. They have given to our Hungarian family and shown them God's love. And once again, God has turned what would seem as our sacrifice into our great blessing.

Has God asked you to give in your abundance? What about in your poverty? When you seem to have nothing left to give, what can you sacrifice for God? After all....He wants it all.

Abundantly Blessed,

Corinne and Family

(Photo: Some of the Hungarians from our Bible study with our '7 Strangers')

To Be Honest.....

Let me ask you a question. When you sing in church, do you ever think about the words your singing? I mean, do you ever stop and consider what it is exactly that you're saying. It may sound strange, but I find myself doing this a lot. So often I think we sing the same songs over and over that we really don't think about what we're saying.

"We stand and lift up our hands, cause the joy of the Lord is my strength." I look around. In fact, nobody has lifted their hands in the air, and most of us don't look terribly joyful. What an odd thing to say then.

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene." Really? I happen to be sitting at the moment, and am I really amazed, right now? What if we were forced to sing how we really feel. It might more accurately be "I sit, thinking about Colts football, in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder, how badly they'll beat the Seahawks, I hope the defense plays clean, singing how wonderful.....".

Now I know that songs and hymns are important, and I'm not saying we should stop singing them, we should praise God even when we may not feel like it. I just find myself asking "Do you mean it? I'm standing here singing praises to Almighty God, and have I thought about what I'm saying?"

Sometimes I think that growing up as a Christian has desensitized me a little bit to really how amazing it truly is. The things that are truly cosmic ideas have seemed ordinary at times. We hear them over and over again, and somehow we find that while singing about some of the most amazing events and truths in history, we're thinking about whether to go to Denny's or Cracker Barrel (by the way, it's Cracker Barrel, Momma french toast breakfast can't be beat). Somethings missing.

Sometimes Carter gets amazed by the most ordinary looked over things, and for a moment I'm reminded the snails are amazing, or that riding a bus is kinda fun. I love the fact that I can wink at Grant and pretty much blow his mind. I find myself enjoying things again through them. Things that somehow I forgot were so cool.

This is why I like hanging out with new Christians. Somehow many of the things that have grown to be mundane or "normal" , are still so vibrant and amazing for them. They in-turn remind me of that.

A few weeks ago we watched a video about God's love. Afterwords I was talking with a young lady from our group who told me, "I can't believe it's all true, I mean, when I think about it, I feel so lucky."

At the risk of warranting a good "stoning" let me admit to you that I don't always feel this way. God's "Love" and "Grace" are probably among the most preached on subjects in churches, we talk about it constantly. And sometimes it feels like my attitude is, "Yeah, God loves me. He kinda has too right, I mean, He IS Love. That's sort of his m.o. right? His grace is sufficient cause it has to be, and it's pretty cool that I don't need too much of it, I'm not a A-grade sinner."

But then I stop and think about the words of Amazing Grace. I hear the pure honesty and gratitude, and it reminds me that God's Grace IS truly amazing, mind-blowing in fact (and completely undeserved). I read David's words in Psalm 8:

"When I consider your Heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?"

and realize, just as the young lady reminded me, I am lucky, I am fortunate, I am amazed, I am blessed. Nothing about me is warranting of God's love. There's nothing I've done, or am that has earned it, or deserves it. Yet He would leave the 99 to find me.

I endeavor that I not let the awesome and amazing truths of God's word become diminished or common-place in my mind. I know who I am, and when I consider how He looks at me, and what he offers a "wretch like me", I realize that I'm luckiest person I know. My hope is that you are too.

It kinda makes me feel like singing.

-Jonathan

I Never Thought I'd Hear...

Raising children in a foreign culture definitely has its challenges. Some days just figuring out the baby food labels alone could drive a mother to tears! When God called our family to serve in Hungary, I faced many fears about how my children would adapt to a new language, a new city, and so many new people.

When I was young I never dreamed I would have so many "out of the ordinary" experiences. I always anticipated raising my family in a community similar to the Indianapolis suburb where I grew up. But God had other plans and those plans have brought us to the hustle and bustle of a major metropolitan capital. Crowded city streets, public transportation, and multicultural interaction has become our new normal. Over the last few months God has faced each exciting (and sometimes scary) situation with us. And through these experiences, we have found that despite our fears and concerns, God does have the best interest of our children in mind even when we must leave home and go clear across the world.

Today as Carter and I were drawing together, I took a moment to reflect on some of the fun times we've had since arriving in Hungary. Carter is going to be four years old this fall and it seems he has so many interesting and fun things to say and do. I remembered some of those comments he has made, that as an suburban American parent, I never thought I'd hear. I thought you might enjoy reading some of those funny (and sometimes embarrassing comments)...

• "Guess what, Mommy! We get to ride a bus and a tram!"
• "Mommy, how come there's no water in that toilet?"
• "Look! I drew a subway."
• "You have to tell him 'cause I don't speak Hungarian."
• "I can't ride my motor(cycle) because someone stole my gas" (we had a problem with the gas being stolen out of our car a few times)
• "Do we get to take a bus, or do I have to walk?"
• "Mommy, 'hal' means fish"
• "I had to take two airplanes to get here."
• "Can we call grandma on the computer?"
• "Hooray! It's macaroni day (or pancake day)!!" (Kraft MacNCheese isn't available here, which Carter loves and syrup is very expensive)

Everyday I am blessed to have Carter and Grant in my life. They bring me much joy and some challenges too, but always a lot of love. I wouldn't want to be raising my family any other way.

Mommy a.k.a.

Corinne

ABC....it's as easy as 1-2-3.

Years ago I purchased from the store a plastic model kit. On the front was a really impressive photo of an F-4 Phantom fighter jet that had caught my eye. With anticipation and trembling I cut away the cellophane wrapping and unloaded the contents of my kit out onto a folding table, carefully laying out the little plastic frames side by side.

I organized my modeling glue, set out my little paint pens, and opened the instructions to step one, and after 10 seconds I promptly threw away the instructions. "C'mon, it's a fighter jet, how hard can this be right," I said to myself.

I made two mistakes that day, one being that you should not paint and glue together an entire model in 38 minutes. When I finished my fingers were mostly silver and black, my index finger was glued to my thumb, and instead of admiring my F4 Phantom, I was staring at something that seemed more to be an ugly paper weight, than anything that could actually fly, which was clearly impossible with so much glue all over the cockpit glass.

I learned something else that day, my second lesson. Start at the beginning and take it step by step. Years later as an FAA certified aircraft mechanic I can appreciate this approach.

When we arrived in Hungary I was faced with this question, "What is step one?" We arrived on a field that has had its shares of struggles. Our church has shrunk dramatically over the past few years, and many of our hungarians that we ministered to have simply vanished. In a way it feels like we're starting over, and in Corinne and my ministry, we found ourselves looking at a blank page. So where do we begin? This job didn't come with the well laid out instructions I've come to appreciate.

As we prayed and contemplated our first steps, Christ's example really seemed to point us in one direction. Christ knew that his days were numbered. He understood that at an appointed time He would pay the price for mankinds disobedience and sinfulness. In many ways, though far less critical, we understand that our days in Hungary have a number. Though we intend to be here for a long time, we're Americans, the day will come for us to go home.

So what did Jesus do? He started with what he had. He knew that after he left he would need someone to carry on the ministry. So he called his disciples and he formed his Church. He poured himself into his disciples. He ministered, and he mentored. He modeled for his disciples a life lived for God, and how to continue the ministry.

Corinne and I can't be every Hungarians best friend. I also realize that we can't be directly involved in saving them all. So we endeavor to follow Christ's example and pour ourselves into those he's brought to us. This has meant everything from short Facebook posts to long conversations at a local coffee shop. This has involved opening up our apartment twice a week for ministry, and simply spending time on our knees in prayer in the darkness of our bedroom.

What we do here isn't simply for our group. I have fallen in love with these people, but my hope isn't simply for them. It's for the friends, family, and someday children they will have. It's for those who come in contact with them that they will minister to, and for those that those people will then reach. I'm not interested in a moment, I'm interested in eternity. This isn't about 12 - 17 people in a apartment in Budapest on Friday nights, or throughout the week. This is about the countless lives that will be changed because of them.

I consider being involved in the discipleship of many as the greatest honor God has given me second only to my role as a husband and father. So where have we begun? Well Step One of course. Laying the foundation for the salvation of many. Praise and Glory to God.

Taking it one step at a time,

Jonathan for the Longs.

Spiritual Climate Change is Coming

I read a story recently about tropical plant life found frozen in the ice of Antarctica. This story caught my attention because when one thinks of the frozen tundra down south, we have thoughts of ice flows and penguins, not tropical vegetation, but here was a scientist discussing some tropical plant they had found. Fascinating.

I also considered the Garden of Eden. When I think of the Garden I think of lush vegetation, a rainforest like land of sorts. Have you ever seen the land between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers? I don't know that I would consider it anything close to that sort of topography.

So when I recently watched a TV show on the cycles of the planets as far back as they can study them, I was fascinated. Turns out that where once great rain forests stood, deserts now lay across the expanse. Where tropical climates once thrived, ice now covers the landscape in thick sheets. I was wrapped into the show, and though I disagreed with some of the political implications of the show and perhaps some "scientific" conclusions they came to, it really got me thinking.

I think sometimes the spiritual condition of our world seems to go this way. We look around our world today and see the Spiritual Climate in some areas rapidly heating up, and yet, in some areas, we perceive rapid cooling.

Looking around the world you see areas of the globe that were once spiritual hot spots. I enjoy reading letters from missionaries who share about distant spiritual wastelands being opened up for Christ. Where once icy or desert expanses ruled, we are now seeing revival fires being lit and the Gospel spreading.

But then consider places also like Europe. Where once the soil was ripe for growth, and produced tremendous crops that spread around the world, we have now seen a hardening of hearts. A cold breeze has blown away the top soils, and we find the work in these fields now to be very challenging and at times it appears fruitless. This in a land where much of our theology came to light.

This week I was taken back to a message that God had for Solomon at the completion of this Temple in Jerusalem.

II Chronicles 7:13-16

"When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there."

Spriritual climate change is not permanent. God, who set into motion the physical changes and cycles of our world, also desires to change our spiritual climate as well. Where he finds hard hearts of ice, it's His desire to set them ablaze for Him. Where deserts rule and vegetation is non-existent, he desires to see fields of flowers stretching up to the Son.

How is this accomplished? If we as His people, will humble ourselves and pray. If we will turn from our ways of sin and seek his face. He says that He will hear us from Heaven, forgive our sins, and heal our land. This last week in Hungary, a place that seems to often be spiritually desolate, I found some flowers. In between rocks and sand, I found delicate vegetation growing for the Lord.

The Lord is really speaking to us lately about humility and prayer. If we're going to the spiritual waste land changed into a thriving tropical spiritual climate, we must be willing to humble ourselves and pray. We must seeks His face and His holiness.

I've recently begun a pray walk through the city ever morning. Will you join me in Spirit? I am passionate about the spiritual revolution that God wants to see here. I am expecting change lives, and a changed country.

This is our goal. Nothing short of this will make the difference that we all long to see. In Hungary the wind is starting to turn, please join our prayers and help us turn a light breeze into a strong wind of revival.

God Bless You,

Jonathan

Life Goes On

One of the realities of living abroad is that like or not, life goes forward. Events occur, both in our lives and the lives of those back home, that are of importance or significance. These times are poignant reminders of the sacrifice we have made to do God's work here in Hungary.

In the three months since we arrived here, we have celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary and Jonathan's 30th birthday (just this past weekend). Our boys have continued to grow and change. Grant is getting more teeth weekly it seems and he has begun to babble incessantly. He crawls now and can even pull himself up to stand. Carter has developed so much as well. We can see it and hear it in his problem solving, his conversations and his observations. (We've add some family videos of these moments under the Links)

And too, many things have happened back at home that we have missed. Corinne's parents moved into a new home. Babies have been born and others are expecting. Our good friends are getting married in just a few weeks. The emails and phone calls and Facebook photos are gentle reminders that you too have experienced so much in our absence. Our hope is that you realize you are greatly missed, but that in a way you are here with us.

Each day we live and work in Hungary is put into motion in part by your sacrifice as well. Your prayers and support are the fuel for our ministry. Part of the reason we write is so you may know what a difference your contribution has made. Sure, we feel a sadness to celebrate without you and quietly wish to partake in your special occasions, but God replaces our losses with new joys. Thank you for sharing your moments with us in whatever way you can. We love to see what you are doing! Would you continue to pray that God would make special moments in ministry for us here?

Going On,

Jonathan, Corinne, Carter & Grant

I Know You Never Said It Would Be Easy...but

I cried this evening. I tried not to, I really did, but alas my emotions, having overflowed the spot deep inside where I traditionally ignore them, came tumbling down my cheeks in the form of warm tears. Truth is I'm a sensitive guy. While at some point I fantasize about being Clint Eastwood, meeting out justice in a cold-masculine way, in reality I'm more Elmer Fudd-like crying over that Daffy Duck I thought I wanted to shoot.

I'm a momma's boy. I love people. I love to help, and often I try to be a part of the solution to people's problems. I'm usually the first to volunteer, and I love to lead. I enjoy making tough decisions, and working on complex issues. I love figuring out the puzzling issues that sometimes pop up. I like to be out front. But sometimes being out front has consequences.

When you're out front your exposed. Like the first guy down the ramp onto Omaha Beach, you don't have something to duck behind. Everyone sees you, and whatever comes your way, you feel it. There's no place to hide at the front. So it is in ministry sometimes.

I came to Hungary to make a difference. So far I think I have in a small way. But I think that what I'm discovering is that when you place yourself in the center of pain, while you lie amidst the suffering of many, you feel it too. I'm not immune to it. I feel it physically gnawing at my insides as if trying to get out.

I may have always said it, but now I know that humans are messy creatures. While we might delude ourselves into believing that we somehow we have things tidied up, in the recesses of our hearts and minds, we find baggage and pain that we haul around. Sometimes are messiness cannot be contained.

English camp just ended and I was amazed at the many stories I heard that boggled the mind. I mean, I knew that these types of issues existed, but not in anyone I know, or thought I knew. One after another many of our students revealed their messiness, they allowed us to peer into the recesses of their hearts and see the scars, the hurts, and tears. Like sitting in the front row of a Gallagher concert, I walked away with emotional watermelon all over me.

I tried to pour some of myself into them, and in a small way, I felt some of their pain pour into me. When you reach out, it's inevitable that when you touch someone, they are indeed touching you. I found a new level of appreciation for Christ, who while expressing the greatest act of love ever recorded took upon himself the weight of the world. I struggled under the weight of the few people I've met.

I didn't take long to be disappointed. I didn't take long to be saddened, and I've discovered that it hasn't taken long to be brought to the point of tears. There's honestly a part of me that wishes that I could disconnect. There is a part inside that wonders how nice it would be to be able to walk away from such situations with a casual stride and leave it behind. How nice it would be to not deal with the sleeplessness, or the gut wrenching conversations. I only let these thoughts linger for a moment.

Truth is, I am exaclty how God made me. At some point God worked all of my innermost parts together and with great purpose put together my heart. Sometimes I can't solve problems, but I can make a difference precisely because I do care, and hopefully they know it. Though it hurts to stand by and watch people make mistakes, my compassion for them drives me to be there to try and pick them up, to try and wipe the tears. I just wish it didn't hurt so much.

I hope, dear reader, that you can appreciate my honesty. I would love to write of only the good things, filling page after page with happy glorious moments of triumph, but alas that world won't exist until the trumpet sounds. My hope is to share with you the true story of a young missionary couple called from a life in the suburbs of Indiana to stand in the gap in Hungary.

Throughout English camp we poured ourselves out onto and into people. In return we felt their stories and walked away carrying some of their struggles. I invite you to continue this journey with us through spirit and prayer. But I must also add this warning, you might just walk away with some emotional melon in your hair. You might just find that at the end of the day you feel it too. You may just find moments where your driven to your knees and crying out for God to move. I profoundly hope that you do.

Living in Front,

Jonathan and Corinne

Praises All Around!

This past week has been a week full of praises! Let us share some with you...

1. The picture to the left is from last Friday night's Young Adult meeting. We are so blessed to have such an amazing group of young people coming to our home for dinner and a Bible study each Friday night. Some of them attend the OMS church and others were invited by their friends or Jonathan and me. Praise God for their desire to know more about God and the crazy American family that moved in only a few short weeks ago!

2. This past week, Jonathan and I completed our first intensive language course. Fortunately we did learn some Hungarian, and we both passed our final exam with flying colors! Praise God! We will be taking a short break from language study so we can participate in the upcoming English camps and plan to continue courses in August and into the fall. We both have already had many opportunities to practice our new skills as we are out and about in the city.

3. Jonathan received a call last Tuesday that our residence permits had been approved for two years! (This is a huge praise, since often they will only approve one year at a time.) Thursday of last week we travelled back to the immigration office to receive our official "stamps" in our passports to say we are legally residing in Hungary. Praise God!

4. Just yesterday we received an email from our property manager (that is handling the home we own in Indiana) to indicate he had signed a lease with a tenant for our house. And much to our surprise she was beginning the lease on July 1st (only 2 days from the time we were notified). This is a huge praise as we were concerned the house would remain empty the entire month of July and thus burdening us with paying our house payment an additional month in the states. God does provide - even at the last minute!!

5. On a personal note, we have been blessed this week with the visit of Jonathan's brother and family to Budapest. They were able to join us for the Young Adult group on Friday night and for church on Sunday morning. It has been such a joy to share with them the beautiful Hungarian people and their culture. Carter has especially enjoyed the visit of his two older cousins.

Only a couple weeks ago, I struggled to see how God could provide for us in all our areas of need. I was reminded during my devotional time that "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37) Through Christ we cannot be defeated! Praise God! What a reassurance we have. When trials seem to get us down, God has already won the battle and we will overcome! He has proven this to me once again!

Still conquering,

Corinne

It's All Hungarian to Me

Learning Spanish came easy to me.  Growing up in Colombia, my earliest days were filled with the Spanish language.  I guess that probably calls in to question the C+ in Spanish I at Greenwood High.  As my mother would put it, "I just didn't apply myself". Sorry Mrs Brown.  

I like Spanish. Spanish is easy to learn.  I already speak Spanish. So why on earth did God call me to Hungary??  Lord, Costa Rica was already taken?  

I'm kidding of course, but with a new country comes new challenges, and right at the top comes language study.  Hungarian is an intensely complicated language, with nuances and such, and more exceptions than actual rules.  Learning hungarian is like smacking yourself in the face with a sock full of quarters, it's hurts really bad, so it feels good when you stop.  Every day Corinne and I leave language school with a head full of tapioca that used to suffice for brains.

But God is faithful and we've been told by several Hungarians that they are surprised with how well we're doing.  I don't see that, but they seem to.  Ok Lord, I'm over the Spanish thing, how about some divine language knowledge??  Please??

One great thing about learning the language is that it already feels like it's opening up the world to us.  Corinne came home recently all pumped up because she was able to read a sign hanging in a car window.  I've been trying to read the advertisements on the subway walls.   During a recent picnic I was actually able to carry on a simple conversation with several non-english speaking Hungarians who were more than gracious with me.  It's amazing how much being able to talk with someone, albeit in a foreign language makes you feel at home.  

How we took for granted something so simple as walking up to someone and being able to speak to them.  Now I get excited if I recognize the TV show name on the TV guide paige. 

We've also been able to get out some and try out our hungarian with good friends. The above picture at a picnic in Vac (pronounced Vautz) was a tremendous experience.  Rupi and Eva, are host couple, are precious Christians and we truly enjoyed our time there.

Of course our ultimate goal is to be able to share the good news of Salvation  with precious Hungarians in their heart language, Magyarul.  But as we learn the language, we are finding out that though challenging, it can be a lot of fun, and an experience we won't forget.

Getting Settled

In the past three weeks, we have spent many hours unpacking, assembling, and settling. When we first arrived in Budapest, we were greeted with a wonderful apartment (that our landlord has held for us the past year) although sparsely furnished. The first days were filled with shopping for furniture and household items, organizing our belongings and familiarizing ourselves with our neighborhood.

It was rather tiring work, but now that we have mostly finished the tasks, we can sit back and see how God has blessed us even in our short time here. The boys have transitioned amazingly, getting over jet lag and sleeping well even the first night we were here. We have quickly learned the local bus routes and the good places to buy groceries. We have met several of our neighbors, two of which are young adults who speak some English. We have been blessed by new friends in our church community who make us feel so welcome and even translate the Hungarian lessons for us. God has been so good!

Slowly we are starting to learn some Hungarian phrases and vocabulary, which will hopefully improve with our language classes beginning this Monday. Also starting soon is a Friday night Bible study at our home for young adults. We have already enjoyed hosting some of the young people in our home and look forward to getting to know them better and sharing with them how God has changed our lives!

We are preparing for English Camp which begins in just a month. And we are praying that God would supply all that is required for camp. We look forward to working more with our OMS team as well!

We wanted to share a few pictures with you of our apartment and neighborhood. Also a few fun items from the Hungarian grocery! (See slideshow to the right) Also, we have added a link for family videos under the "Link" section to the bottom right. Thank you for your continued prayers. God is working in our lives for sure!

In Christ,

Corinne

 

Finding God at 33,000 Feet

Friday, May 15^th was a stressful day for us.  Wrapping up our last minute plans, we packed into our van and headed for the airport.  Walking through the hallways of JFK airport in New York City, Corinne and I finally understood the horror stories we had heard about flying with small children and bags.

After a 3 hour trek to get our baggage put back onto the right flight, Corinne and I finally settled into our seat on the Boeing 767 and the gravity of our journey began to set in.  I had an aisle seat, and Carter was in the middle seat to keep him from escaping our aisle.  This worked well, but secretly I was hoping that he wouldn’t be too much of a pest to our neighboring passenger.

A few minutes later, a woman in her 50’s sat down in the seat next to us.  After watching me trying to keep Carter from pestering her, she leaned over to me and said “don’t worry, I am a Grandma” in good English, through a Hungarian accent.  She soon was talking with Carter and soon after take off, Carter, a normally shy boy actually leaned over, put his head on her lap and went to sleep with her running her fingers through his hair.  We didn’t hear from him until after we were on the ground in Budapest.

During the flight I began to chat with our new “grandma” and found out that she worked at the Hungarian Art Museum off of Hero Square.  I related to her that two years ago when we were in Hungary we had tried to get into to see a Van Gogh exhibit that Corinne had been dying to see, only to find that it was sold out.  She lit up.

“I put that exhibit together,” she said…..”it’s coming back in 2011.  I told her that Corinne was an artist and loved art.  She dug into her purse, produced a card and gave me specific instructions.  “When you are able, call me before you come….we have no Van Gogh on exhibit now, but we have some in storage, come and I will give you a private viewing of Van Gogh.”  Her card read Director of Art.  She had been in the states giving lectures to art students at many prestigious colleges.

So here we were on an international flight, stressed out, and wondering what was ahead of.  I had a delightful conversation with our neighbor, both boys slept the entire trip, and Corinne even managed to get a few hours of sleep with the boys occupied.  I wonder if our neighbor knew that God was using her to add some rest to an otherwise draining day.

God works anywhere, and through anyone.  At 33,000 feet Carter found a Grandma, Corinne, a fellow art lover, and I found a precious woman who wants us to meet her family.  I don’t know her spiritual condition, but I’ve been praying that I get the chance to find out.

Commissioning Ceremony

Just a few weeks ago, in preparation for our missionary service, we were commissioned with OMS International. It was a very special event in our lives and we were able to share it with many of our family and friends. For those of you not able to attend, we wanted to allow you the opportunity to witness the event. We have prepared a video of the service that we hope you enjoy. It has been divided into four segments (unfortunately we were not able to upload the entire message that was shared by Randy Spacht).

Introduction and Opening Prayer

Commissioning with Rev. Randy Spacht

Reflecting on the Past Year - A Photo Diary

Closing Benediction by Rev. Duane Mathias

A Fair Exchange?

Last week, I had to make a visit to the doctor's office before we head for Hungary. The nurse (who has known us a couple years) was asking about our upcoming move. It seems that we often hear the same questions or comments from people when they find out Jonathan and I are "missionaries".

Once such question came up last week..."what did you do with all your stuff?" Our usual answer: "Well, to be honest, we have departed with most of our household belongings and really only have a few keepsake items we have placed in storage. We are just taking suitcases with clothes and linens, mostly." That typically receives a look of interest. Another comment we hear alot "It must be hard to leave your family. They are going to miss you alot" Our response: "Yes, we will miss them...but it's not too bad now, we have skype and they hope to come and visit." Also common..."Moving to Hungary must be pretty exciting, do you think you'll like it there?" and I'll reply, "Budapest is a modern city. We really have the conveniences we are used to. The biggest adjustment - not having a car"

You know, sometimes it is easy to focus on all the things we are giving up to be missionaries. I was reminded this past weekend of one such item when a friend of ours drove his motorcycle up to our house. Jonathan is a lover of motorcycles and he has always wanted to own another one (he had one when we were dating, but that is another story). We had always planned that once he was out of school and our careers were stable and money wasn't tight, that we would try to get him one. Well as you can imagine, Hungary has kind of put a detour on that plan.

We've given up our furniture and our house, our kids toys and my Christmas dishes. But you know what? God has given us something even greater in return. Sometimes it is easy to overlook at first glance, but in reality it is a prized possession. He has given us the desires of our heart, the joy of being in the center of His will, and a peace that passes all understanding. He has put passion and fire and intensity in our relationship with Him. He has blessed us day after day. We received so much more than the material possessions we have relinquished. And in my book, that is more than a fair exchange.

Corinne

A Surprising Find

Today we came across a rather surprising find. In preparation for our move next month, we decided to "unload" some of our superfluous books at a store called "Half Price Books". There they will purchase your unwanted books and in return they sell them at a reduced price.

While we were waiting for our quote, Jonathan and I browsed through the aisles and somehow landed in the Foreign Language section. In the past we have enjoyed looking over travel and foreign language sections to see what Hungarian resources they might have. Usually few and far between, we often resort to purchasing our Hungarian finds on websites such as Amazon. Jonathan is particularly fond of the Hungarian history books. For example, a recent Amazon order included The Siege of Budapest: 100 Days in World War II.

Well today we were pleasantly surprised to happen upon a cute little picture book called the Beginner's Hungarian Dictionary. Quietly slipped between German-English dictionaries and Italian phrasebooks, it contains illustrations and Hungarian translations for a whole variety of everyday vocabulary words. Quickly, this inconspicuous dictionary found a treasured place in my arms as we meandered through the store and an unplanned $6 purchase brought a smile to my face.

This evening as I poured through the pages, silently mouthing the difficult pronunciations, again I felt the excitement, wonder and awe of the great task God has laid before us. Both Jonathan and I know that language will not be our only challenge as we move to Hungary in just a few weeks. We also know, however, that God is not sending us alone. We have a wonderful team of missionaries and Hungarians waiting to welcome us to our new home - and of course God is going with us!

I'm not sure who our little book belonged to before we found it hiding on the shelf, but someone put it there for us to find. In Hungary, God may seem hard to find, but we are going there to help Hungarians see Him. God isn't so hard to find, when you know where to look!

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ~Jeremiah 29:13

Searching for Something Special,
Corinne

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

This view is from the plane ride on our last trip to Hungary and soon the Long family will be peering from a small window again. On May 15th we will finally be heading to Hungary!

Our move in May has brought great excitement to our house and a flurry of activity as we finalize our packing. We are finishing the last of our planned meetings and starting to say our "goodbyes". In the midst, God is preparing our hearts for a journey to the other side of the world. We are anxious to start our work in Hungary, but also saddened to leave our families and friends. However, we know that the God who worked this miracle to get us to Hungary will not leave us when we arrive!

As we reflect on these months of planning and traveling, we are humbled by the blessings that God has poured out upon us through people like you. From the ocean waves in Massachusetts to the waves of grain in Montana, God has knit our hearts to the people and places we've visited. We feel the prayer of our friends in the mountains of Tennessee and Pennsylvania. We've grown to love the farmers of Indiana and North Dakota. All over the United States, we have spread the news of God's work in Hungary and in return, God has sprouted the support for our ministry.

And our move to Hungary does not mean the end of these new relationships. As we begin our ministry we look forward to sharing what God is doing in the lives of Hungarians. We cannot wait for the days we return to travel again and share the impact you have had around the world through your prayers and support. Thank you so much for the love you have shared with our family, we hope that you have felt our love in return!

He Knows the Plans

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." - Jeremiah 29:11-12

The Long family waits...

Waits for the time when we will get on a plane and fly to the land of the Magyars. We wait for the day we arrive in the country to which we have been drawn by God. We wait for the "Go into all the world". We wait to be transplanted onto a new soil on the other side of the sea...

And yet, in the waiting God works. In the waiting we work. Each day we share again our vision for the Gospel to reach another soul. We walk where He leads and we tell the story of how He has changed everything. We work to grow our faith and our committment to His will in our lives. We pray...and we call upon God. He listens...and we listen. We search out His guidance and His direction.

Why all the working and waiting? Why not just go? Others have gone before with less...why?....Because He knows the plans He has for us. Plans to prosper and not to harm. Plans for hope and a future. We encounter setbacks...He anticipates them. We fight against struggles...He fights for us. We come up short...He makes up the difference.

God has a future for the Long family...and so we wait.

To Boldy Go...

A few weeks ago, while visiting a church in North Carolina we had the privilege of visiting Kitty Hawk, the site where Orville and Wilbur Wright first experience flight. Many of you are probably familiar with the Wright brothers and their historic plane. As we walked through the museum at Kitty Hawk, I soon realized there was so much more to the Wright story. The Wright brothers were dedicated to there goal. They lived on site at the airfield for months. They built models and gliders and had numerous test flights. They failed and tried again, and had teams of people to help with their tests. And finally, they had success.

The past week and a half our family has been residing at the headquarters of OMS as we participate in CROSS Training (OMS's preparation for cross cultural ministry and living). We have learned alot about everyday life as a missionary, as well as various aspects of our ministry. What continues to amaze me is the incredible team that stands behind us here in the United States and supports our efforts to go! God has reminded us that He not only provides through finances and prayer, but also through the faithfulness and guidance of men and women in leadership and support at OMS. We could not be successful missionaries to Hungary without an incredible team! We are thankful and blessed to be part of such an organization.

While we were at Kitty Hawk, we enjoyed photographing Carter posing as an astronaut in the history of flight pavilion. It has been a long path from first flight to walking on the moon...and our journey in missions sometimes seems to reflect this idea. As ambassadors of Christ we strive "to boldly go..."