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