Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Debrecen.

What a busy and incredible week! We are thankful for the team and the church that came to serve with us during Thanksgiving. God brought the people from our neighborhood and from Darrel's class, and there were others who invited their lost family and friends. We are hopeful that they heard the message of salvation in words, song and actions.

I would not be able to share all the things that God did but one story in particular stuck out in my mind. One young lady from our Bible study invited her mother, grandmother, sister and family to the dinner. She said that her family was lost and at this point would not come to church. They came and stayed the whole time and enjoyed talking with people as well as hearing the message of salvation. She told me later that her grandmother's heart had softened to the things of God. We stand in awe and thank the Lord for the seeds planted and how they will grow.

Several of Darrel's students came, including one who spent two days cooking and talking with us. God is at work in her heart. Thank you Jesus for the work that you are doing in Hungary. It is so encouraging to see the students and their desire to know God and to share with their lost family and friends.

Please pray:

• My heart is really burdened for the different lost people that came to the dinners. Pray that the seeds of the gospel that were planted and received by those who came would grow and bear fruit. Ask that others would come and water them and that many would give their lives to Jesus. 
• The student who helped us cook, that God would continue to draw her to Himself. 
• We have our language exams this coming Friday and Saturday. We have been studying diligently since the Fall; pray that God would show us how to best prepare this week and to have His peace when we are taking the exam. 
• Transition for us continues as we make plans for the States; we are working with a couple to continue some of the ministries that we are doing and to hand them over to others. Pray that we can encourage and equip them in the best possible way, and we know that God will continue His work. 

Thank you so much for your prayers!

One of His servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Betsy's update for the week

Walking around the lake soaking up the last colors of fall

Hello Everyone,

Things here have been moving right along.  We have been teaching students and we were able to have a youth group this past Friday night.  Please pray for those who attend the Friday night group that they would be bold in proclaiming the gospel, remembering that Christ Himself resides within them and that He promises to never leave or forsake them.

"A" and I during the children's lessons

Our Sunday house group was also quite full.  We had about 25 people in attendance and we were even able to have a children’s class and discuss the story of creation.  Please be in prayer for our group as several of the group are from the other church and are deciding where God is calling them to go.
 Please pray that everyone in the group would be bold and passionate about reaching their own.  This week we will have a youth party and watch The Blind Side.  Please pray for those in attendance and that many would come, relationships would be formed, and seeds would be sown.  We will also be celebrating Thanksgiving as well as a team.  Pray for relaxation and rejuvenation.

"J" and I during children's lessons

Finally, please continue to be in prayer for me and my team as we transition.  Three girls will be coming to serve in my role in January.
 Please pray for them as their fundraising deadline approaches, but above all pray that God would prepare their hearts and give them a love for the Hungarian people.

In Christ,

Betsy

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Debrecen.

I want to wish everyone a blessed and happy Thanksgiving! It is a good reminder to us all to be thankful everyday. We are thankful for this holiday and the opportunity to invite our friends and their lost friends to a Thanksgiving dinner and for the group that is coming to join us in preparing these meals. We prepare and wait and see what God will do!

We continue to run the race that God has prepared for us and these days it feels like we are running. Let us first run to Jesus and He will give us the strength to keep running. We continue to equip our students for continuing on in ministry after we are in the states. We continue studying Hungarian so we can make good marks on our language exam. We continue with the daily tasks and keep investing our lives until the day we leave. I am so glad that this is God's work -- what an honor that God would let us be a part of what He is doing in the lives of students in Debrecen. Yeah God!

Please pray:

• That we would keep our focus and eyes on Jesus.
• For the Thanksgiving dinners and a meeting with an English class this week, that the seeds of the Gospel will be planted in their hearts and that they would experience God's love; may it draw them into a relationship with Him. 
• All the logistical details and cooking, that it will come together. Strength for the team that is coming and that we will see God's hand in it all. 

We value your prayers this week! Thank you for your faithfulness to pray for us!

One of God's servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Betsy's update for the week

Hello, Everyone.

I hope that this email finds each of you well.  Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and soon Christmas will be upon us.  I am always a fan of Christmas and this time of year.  Everything here is going well.  We have been meeting with students and getting to have some great conversations with them.  I have two new students, S. and K.  Please be in prayer for them.  Pray that God would open their hearts to hear the gospel.  We also had Sunday House Church this week.  Eszter taught for us completely in Hungarian.  It was great to be able to follow along about what she was saying.  Please also be in prayer for our group.

We have been talking with another group of believers in the city.  They attended house group this last week, and are seeking about what the Father would desire of them.  Please pray that God would reveal to us how we can best partner with them so that the gospel goes forth.  Finally, please also be in prayer for me, personally.  I have decided to accept a position with the company when I return to the states.  I will be acting as a J3.
My job duties will include partnering with a church in LaGrange Georgia, and working with the company on helping recruit people to serve in Europe.  Please pray for me as I make this transition.  I am confident that this is the next step for me, but please pray for me as I say goodbye to everyone here, a quick hello to my friends and family, and then move onto work in Georgia.  Please pray for peace within my heart.

Thank you all so much for the prayers.  I appreciate them so much.

In Christ,
Betsy

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Prayer Requests:
-believers to be strong and mature in their faith
-devotion and commitment from believers
-wisdom on how to partner with this other church
-my future steps

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Debrecen.

God continues His work in Debrecen. Last Sunday there were so many who attended the Super Sunday service who heard the Gospel. Thanking God for all the seeds that were planted over the last two weeks. I get excited and encouraged when I see how students are serving and inviting their lost friends to know more about Jesus. God is working in and through the lives of students. Last Thursday's coffee house was very interesting because one of Darrel's former students came with a friend, and for two hours they had a respectful discussion about Christianity and his own different religion. So thankful for what God is doing -- it is amazing.

Please pray:

• That God would soften the student's heart to the truth of the Gospel, and that his eyes will be open so he can see clearly what his own religion is really about. 
• For a medical student, that he would realize that he needs someone (God) greater than himself to help him with his struggles. 
• For another student, that he would completely give his life to Jesus, and that whatever is hindering him would be removed. 
• For a student who indicated that he gave his life to Jesus; pray that he will grow and have the courage to talk to others about his decision. Ask that his life will reflect the commitment that he made in his heart. 
• That God would draw the students He wants to come to the Thanksgiving outreach dinners. That they would clearly see and hear about Jesus during the time that they are with us. 
• For the church that hosted the MGI team to see the importance of contacting those who attended the English classes and continuing that relationship that began over the last couple of weeks. Pray that people would respond to God's invitation to go fishing and make disciples. 
• That God would continue to enable us to learn Hungarian as we meet with teachers this week. Our exams will be December 4th and 5th. 

Thank you so much for praying for us!

One of God's servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

I hope that this email finds you and yours doing well.  My apologies for being a bit tardy this week; however, better late than never I suppose. :)  Things here have been going well.  The weather has been quite nice and the leaves are falling leaving the trees bare, a sure sign that winter is approaching.  I was able to meet with several students the past week, and the Father blessed me with some wonderful conversations with them.  Please be in prayer for R. and Z.  I was able to discuss spiritual topics with both of them.  However, both agreed that it was very interesting, but they aren’t quite ready to make that step yet.  Please pray that the Father would open their hearts to the gospel.  I also got a new student this week, A.  Please be in prayer for her that the Father would open her heart to hear the good news and believe the gospel.

Sunday, our house group met and continued in our study of Luke’s gospel.  Please be in prayer for this group as they consider what it truly means to be a follower of Jesus and how they can be obedient to that.  Please pray that they would have a great desire to reach their own and the people of Nagykanizsa.  Finally, this week we celebrated Eszter’s birthday!  We are so thankful for her and her vital part in our ministry!

The holiday season is upon us and with that comes Lottie Moon Christmas Offering!  Please consider giving this Christmas season.  One hundred percent of this offering goes to the IMB to fund missionaries like myself and others to proclaim the gospel where it isn’t known.  Due to your sacrificial giving, I am able to live here and completely focus on working with Hungarians.  I don’t have to worry about support or fund raising.  This offering really means so much to me and others, especially with the changes that have taken place at the IMB.  If you would like me to give you a video telling what we do here in Hungary for showing at your church or small group, please let me know!  I would love to help in anyway that I can!  You can also search #whywego and find many videos from others around the world, explaining exactly how Lottie helps us in our everyday lives!

Also, as many of you know, many of our fellow colleagues have taken the Voluntary Retirement and have felt God calling them back to the states to further the gospel there.  With that being said, many transitions are upon the horizon.  One is that probably around 800+ individuals are returning to the states by the beginning of the year.  Many of them didn’t have this in the plans.  So many are returning and have some needs that need to be met quickly, such as housing, cars, jobs, etc.  If you or your church would be interested in helping returning missionaries, please let me know or contact the transitions team at transitionsteam@imb.org.  They will be able to let you know more specifically what currently needs to be met.

On another note, unfortunately, my time here is winding down.  I now have less than three months remaining in Hungary before I return to the states and to the next chapter of my life.  I am overfilled with a mixture of emotions during this time of change.  My hearts breaks knowing that I have to leave this place that has grown to become home and the people that I have grown to love so deeply.  At the same time, my heart longs to return back to those that I left and give some very long overdue hugs.  Also, added to this mix, is the anxiety of my next step.  Please pray for me in the days ahead.  Pray for guidance, assurance, and comfort from the Father.  Please pray for the people that I have met and with whom I formed relationships.  Pray that the Father would work greatly and mightily in their lives, and pray for good times ahead and good “goodbyes” and closure.  Finally, pray for my next step that I would be faithful and obedient, even though I don’t necessarily know the way, but that I would lay myself down all for Him to use as He sees fit.  I greatly covet your prayers in the days ahead.  Please know that I am so thankful for each and everyone of your prayers.  They mean so much to me and to the ministry that we do here.  Please feel free to respond and let me know how the Father is working in your lives and if I can pray for you in any way.

Until He comes,

Betsy

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Prayer Requests: 

-Students: R. and Z., Anikó

-Sunday Group: obedience and growth

-Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

-Future of IMB

-My time remaining: I would finish the race, strong

-My future steps:  God would show me and give me assurance and comfort

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Debrecen.

We are thankful for how God is at work in the midst of this intense English course. God is using them to share His love and to plant the seeds of truth in many hearts. We are encouraged by the eagerness we see in the hearts of students to know Him. Last week Darrel talked about the role of religion in medical care, which led to so many interesting discussions. We are thankful that we know of one Christian in his class who can also share the truth. We had a great group on Thursday and it is exciting to see the students inviting their friends. Saturday worship was also good. It was such a blessing to meet in the church on campus and to have a mix of students and families.

Please pray:

• Today the Michael Gott team, which is teaching the English course, will present the Gospel very clearly as students were asked to bring their friends and family. Pray that their hearts would receive the truth and that they would put their faith in Jesus. Pray for the team to have renewed strength to continue the second week, for many conversations about Jesus, and that many would decide to trust and follow after Him. 
• Wisdom for the church hosting the English classes in how to respond to all that has happened over the last couple of weeks. People would respond to God's call to disciple the new believers and that their eyes would be opened and hearts burdened to the lostness around them. 
• We are in the midst of working with a team from the States who will be coming to cook and serve several Thanksgiving meals to students. Pray for wisdom in the planning and that God would be drawing the lost students and their families. They will hear about and see Jesus in the lives of those serving. God has provided the places to host these dinners and the turkeys have been ordered. (It is unusual for Hungarians to cook a whole turkey so we had to order them.)
• The students who come on Monday night that are believers, that God would show them specifically who they are to disciple. We still have some unbelievers who are coming and we are praying that they will know Jesus. Wisdom for us as we teach and prepare them. 
• I was reminded of the fact that many Hungarians struggle with depression and thoughts of suicide. Please pray that the truth and hope of Jesus would penetrate their hearts. 

Thank you so much for your prayers,

Kimberly Hathcock

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

I hope that this email finds each of you doing well.  I am so sorry that I haven’t written in almost a month.  Things got quite busy, but now they are getting back into our normal routine.  With that being said, I have so much to update you on!  First of all, my godparents were able to come and visit me along with their friends!  To say that this was fantastic is an understatement!  We spent a week in Budapest where I was able to show them part of a city that I have come to love.  We then traveled onward to Nagykanizsa and I was able to show them a bit of what life looks like from day-to-day for me.  I am so thankful and blessed that this could happen during my time here.  Although, unfortunately, parting had to come and it was quite bittersweet.  So please be praying for all of us in the days ahead.  Pray especially for me to remained focused during my finals months and weeks.  

Towards the end of my godparents’ time in Nagykanizsa, we also had a jazz group from America come to put on some concerts.  This group was about 25 individuals from all over the states.  They played concerts in Nagykanizsa, Lenti, and Körmend, as well as some orphanages and care homes, while they were with us.  We were able to strengthen our partnerships with some national Baptist churches in the area, as well as pass out over 300 Bibles and testimony tracts.

Please be praying for those who received a Bible or tract.  Pray that God would use those resources to open their hearts and that they would not be afraid to contact us with further questions about spiritual things.  I was also able to share with a believer that we met in one of the cities.  Her name is Anna.  She really needs to be encouraged in the Lord and His word.  So please be in prayer for her and her walk with the Father.

After having to part again with some great people, we were able to get back to teaching students and somewhat of our daily routines. We had a halloween pumpkin carving party with the youth and had about 13 attend.  Each one got to carve a pumpkin as well as make s’mores and play games.  Finally we passed out comic-book gospel plan tracts and information about our English lessons and Bible studies.  Please be in prayer for these kids who attended.  Pray that we would be able to strengthen and deepen relationships with them, and pray above all else that we would be able to either grow them in their faith or help them understand and come to know the Father.

This past Sunday we traveled to Székesfehérvár and attended the Baptist church there, as they had 7 people choose to follow in obedience and be baptized!  Praise HIs Name!  In addition to that, this church seems very open to working and partnering with us as we attempt to reach Western Hungary.  Please be in prayer for this relationship, that it would be glorifying to the Father and furthering to HIs kingdom.

 Teaching time with students finally got into high gear again this week.  I have been able to have some great conversations with some of these students.  Please pray that many more opportunities would present themselves and that I would be bold and courageous to seize such opportunities.  Pray that the Father would continue to work on hearts as they come to learn English.   Sunday group is continuing as well as Friday night.  Please pray for these times and that they would be glorifying and kingdom-building.  Also, please pray for our Tuesday and Thursday night groups.  Pray that more would show interest and attend these groups.

There is so much more that I could share with you, but since it is getting a bit long, I think I will cut it here and continue on next week.  Thank you all so much for your prayers.  Please know that they are felt and appreciated more than I can express.

 In Christ,
 Betsy

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Family and Friends,

We are grateful for the time Dr. Ard and his daughter Anna spent with us in Debrecen this past week. God did give them divine appointments and some great conversations with students. God is at work in the lives of students who are coming to Bible study, and they are growing and serving. We had the opportunity to go to Darrel's class and meet some of his students, they are so precious, please pray for them. So thankful for the conversations that we had with them and the opportunity to be a light. 

Coffee house went great with many students coming, including one of Darrel's former students. Several people had a great discussion with him. God is using this in so many ways. So thankful for God's creativity and how he orchestrates the events in our lives to work together for His Kingdom.

Please pray:

• God would draw people, especially lost people, to the Intensive English classes that will start on Monday. Today people will have the opportunity to sign up as well. We are excited about how God will use this to reach people who are lost and to open the eyes of the church to how they can reach out to the lost in Debrecen.
• The young people coming on Monday night would continue to desire to know Jesus more and more and to be a light where God has placed them in school and at work. God would give them boldness to share about Him.
• Our focus would be on Jesus, totally. Many of our colleagues will be finalizing their decision to leave or stay with IMB this week. Pray that they would discern God's voice in this area and that His peace will remain in their hearts in the coming days. FYI - Darrel and I were not offered the VRI because of age, so we plan on continuing with our plans for STAS in January. It is hard to say goodbye to people who have become like family to us.
• God would continue to stir in the hearts of Darrel's students a curiosity about Him and desire to know more about Jesus.
• Pray for Darrel's former student who knows a lot about his own faith but is willing to learn and talk about Christianity as well.
• Update on the refugees in this part of the world. They are closing the refugee center in Debrecen and moving them away from the bigger cities. There are mostly men, several from Iran, who are left. Several of these men have become Christians recently. There is also talk about a big group coming through Romania but we will see what happens. This border does not have a fence as of yet. Please pray for the refugees, discernment for the government to see who really is a refugee, terrorist, or someone just taking advantage of the situation. There is no easy solution. There are several groups assisting and ministering to the refugees so pray that they will have opportunities to share their faith.
• Jesus would be lifted up during the Saturday evening English worship this week. We are excited about being able to meet on campus.

Thank you for praying for Hungary!

Blessings,

Kimberly Hathcock