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