Adams' prayer update excerpts

Hello,

Solomon advises his sons in Proverbs 4:26 to “Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.” This verse describes what I was thinking as Mike and I prayer-walked Torokbalint this month. Our colleague and friend, Betsy, accompanied us one day and took the attached photo of this colorful fence and straight sidewalk. Many of the sidewalks, however, were not so straight. They were broken and overhung with ill-cared for trees that blocked our way. I was careful to watch for holes and low-lying branches so I would not stumble and fall. Sometimes we had to walk in the street, which made us feel like Hungarians. In the book of Amos, the prophet calls the Israelites to repentance when he said, ”Seek the Lord and live,…” . I prayed that verse many times as I strolled through Torokbalint this month. One man we met seemed to be a seeker of wisdom, if not God. He listened as Mike shared the salvation story with him and he allowed us to pray with him. He even asked if he could pray for us. You can pray for him. His name is “Frank.”

You can rejoice with us, because two of our campers became believers this month. One of these, “D,” attended a subsequent Christian camp where the seeds planted by the team from North Carolina were watered and we saw the fruit for which we long desire . Please pray for her mother, who told us the news about her daughter, but admitted that she herself is not a believer.

Mike and I had the opportunity to sing with a friend who officiated at a funeral this month. It was the second time we have been asked to sing at a  funeral of someone we had not known. The three of us were standing outside near the wall where the ashes of this lady were going to be placed. As we started singing the 4th song, two of the cemetery workers came forward, took the urn and placed it in the small opening in the wall, covered it with her marker, and then started sealing the grave. I didn’t know whether to stop singing or keep going, but opted to continue just as our friend Pisti was doing. Our singing wasn’t that bad.  We were so glad that Pisti was able to share the gospel with the family during the ceremony. What a joy to know that they still have hope.

By now many of you have heard that IMB has had to make the decision to offer voluntary retirement, available to 600 – 800 field personnel and office staff in Richmond, Virginia, in order to become more financially in line with our budget. Our age and years of service in Europe make us eligible for this opportunity. Please be in prayer for us and our colleagues as we seek to know God’s will for our future in ministry here in Hungary. We need to make a decision in the next few days and this is very difficult after pouring our lives into the lives of the people we have come to love over the years. We are so grateful for the support we have received from each of you and ask that you offer up additional support during this time of decision and potential transition.

Mike and Terry

Adams' prayer update excerpts

      Perhaps you have heard on the news about the growing refugee crisis in Europe. Here in Hungary, about 1500 men, women, and children come in each day. Most of these are coming from Syria, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. They travel to Budapest, are met by government officials, and are processed. Most do not want to stay in Hungary, but want to travel to more prosperous countries such as Austria and Germany. While they are here, though, they put their blankets on the ground in the parks and train stations and wait for processing. Aid agencies, some churches, and many volunteers help provide food and other amenities. The city has cordoned off areas where these folks can shower. Mike and I were able to meet some of the refugees as we handed out bag lunches one afternoon. Nearly everyone we gave lunches to thanked us, and some even smiled.

           I pray that you lift up the refugees in Hungary to God. Pray that Christian volunteers find a way to reach out to the thousands who are now in our city.

Adams' prayer update excerpts

Dear Friends,

We are grateful for all you do to contribute to the Lord’s work. As I read stories about summer camps and outreach events here in Hungary and across the globe, I am reminded that Mike and I are just a very small part of a much larger team of believers intent on using our gifts and talents to spread the Gospel and make disciples. Thank you.

We finished our second camp on July 3rd and were able to follow up on a few of our campers. One is a strong believer, one is looking for a church home and answers to difficult questions, and one is not yet a believer. Please join us in prayer as Mike and I meet again with these teenagers in the weeks and months ahead to encourage, disciple, and once again share the love of Christ.

Our third camp experience this summer occurred this month in Erd. We were invited to help our IMB colleagues, the Browns, teach English for a short time each morning. It was a joy to work with the students and to come alongside other believers in sharing Christ.

The month ended with a beautiful wedding we attended in Balatonszemes. Tunde, who has helped translate in several of our camps in the past, married David. The high point for me at the seven hour wedding and celebration time came when I introduced myself to Tunde’s mother. She threw her arms around me and thanked me profusely for our prayers for Tunde. It took me a minute before I realized why she was so thankful. A year ago Tunde stayed at our house during camp week and asked us to please pray specifically for God to lead her in finding the man he wanted her to marry. We did not know about David at the time, but we prayed earnestly with her over those days. I believe God answered by giving her a wonderful and Godly husband.

Mike and Terry

Adams' prayer update excerpts

We hope you enjoy these pictures of our English camps. Thank you for your prayers of support. May the Lord bless you as you serve him.

Mike and Terry

(Left) Kickball was new to some at the Teenage Camp. (Right) Whitley and Donna are helping out a camper with his picture frame in crafts. Donna and Mike taught the Bible stories during the second camp.

 

(Left) Wade got "netted" during sports. (Right) Kriszti and Kinga led the Hungarian teams during the second and first camps respectively. Lilla was a big help as well. Ricsi just liked to photo-bomb.   :-)

 

(Left) Barnanne kept the campers moving as she imparted Biblical truth during recreation. (Right)  This is Jerry and Susan's 7th year of teaching the Bible stories at Children's Camp. We are very thankful for their leadership.

 

Jesus paid it all

  

(Left) Here is music in motion from the teenagers. (Right) English classes in 

the afternoons also prompted spiritual questions during both camps.

 Lincoln, Dylan, and Kayla are singing camp

 songs with the younger kids.

Adams' prayer update excerpts

Examples of the "jurta" houses of ancient Hungary

During a recent festival in Budaörs, our church set up a tent and invited people walking by to come in to take a love language test. It was a chance for our members to introduce folks to the church and talk about Jesus.

This picture was taken in a small  town near us. I couldn’t resist showing the beautiful  flowering trees there.

Mike and I were asked to judge a Beatles competition in Kinga’s school in Budaörs. Here she is on the far left, singing a Beatles song with her fellow English teachers. The competition, however, involved only English students in grades 5-8.

Before our Bible study began, Mike shared a pie crust recipe with Erzsi and Judit.

Adams' prayer update excerpts

A yummy new pizza was introduced to an elementary school in Törökbálint in April.  Mike and I were invited by Krisztina to watch her marketing students (some of our English students) as they prepared their new sardine-topped pizza for sampling among the kids and their parents.

The high school students from the Bálint Márton School asked that those participating fill out questionnaires about the new food item. These were collected, tabulated, and made into a class presentation.

Mike and I were asked to check the written part of the presentation for English mistakes. This was a fun way to help students and meet new people.

We are grateful for our friend Zoli, who secured locations for the two camps we will have this summer. Please pray for faithful friends from North Carolina who will minister with us.

Our first camp in Budaörs will be for children. The second camp will be for teenagers, and it will be located in Törökbálint. Our desire is that those who come will clearly hear the Gospel and make decisions that will honor Christ.

Adams' prayer update excerpts

Mike and I had a very good time in the States this month with our family and friends. We are grateful to those who let us use their vehicles to travel many, many miles in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. Thank you for housing us at various times.

We got to help Papaw put a complicated puzzle together (it still is not completed), hear a beautiful hand bell choir directed by my sister-in-law, and finalize summer plans in Budapest with a partnering church. We spent time with Alexander during his spring break, went shopping with Rebecca, saw where Robert works on army helicopters, and lavished hugs and kisses on our grandchildren. This was our first time meeting our new granddaughter, Haley. I had a wonderful time talking with my mom (who likes bacon by the way ;) , and being with my brothers. Spending the day in D.C. in the cold and wind, walking 12 miles around the city with our friends was also a good thing. Listening to Mike as he struck up conversations with waiters, people on the subway, and people at the airport, hoping to have those important spiritual talks, was a lesson in humility for me. It was a good trip.

We are grateful that we were able to meet with the students at the school before their spring break this month so we could share the Easter story.  Today when we arrived at the school, the English teachers surprised me with a bouquet of flowers for my birthday. Hence, the picture I sent. When we walked into one of our classes, the students sang Happy Birthday to me. I was overwhelmed. I was blessed also by birthday wishes from colleagues, and family and friends in the States as well. One of the happiest feelings we can have is to know we are loved, and I certainly feel that I am loved. God loved all of us so much that He even gave His son to die. Then God raised Jesus up. What a Resurrection Sunday! Pass the story and His love on to others you meet.

In His service, and for His glory,
Mike and Terry

Adams' prayer update excerpts

Friends,

Thank you for praying for us and the people we are in contact with each day. It is always a delight to see non-believers react when we tell them that prayers are being  lifted up for them by people who do not know them. They don’t understand such concern and love, but they do appreciate that others care about them. Others that you might take the time to pray for are our IMB colleagues in Hungary. They serve in many areas, from logistics to gathering people together who are raising children with special needs, to those personnel who mentor church pastors. I know they would appreciate it.

Each week when we go to the school, we have new opportunities to share God’s Word. Last week, Mike and I talked about Nature with one of the classes, and we were able to share Psalm 8. Can you imagine that some of the students and teachers have never opened a Bible to read anything from it? It’s a great way to teach new vocabulary and an even greater way to let them see and read the Word.

"K" came to Bible study this past Thursday night. Our story was from Matthew 18: 21-35-“The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant.”(NIV) She read out loud to the group. Her only question concerned the seventy times seven. What does it mean? How would you have answered her?

"J" came over to tell us that she was very sorry she didn’t come to Bible study. She said she was tired and she had been feeling overwhelmed with guilt since her husband took his own life four months ago. For the next 30 minutes, we just talked. We had our own little Bible study. I would love to say that she accepted Christ that night, but she did not. Please keep her and her children in your thoughts and prayers, especially her 13-year-old son "A."

A teacher from the school, also named "J," said it was hard for her to come to Bible study because she has young children. But she was wondering if she could come to our house before classes started, one day a week, to have conversational English. I said that would be great, but I told her that I would use Bible stories in our time together. So far we have been over “The Creation and Fall of Man,” “God’s Promise to Abraham,” and “Abraham and Isaac.”

"A" is a carpenter who lives in our city. He and Mike spend time each week going over his English lessons from the school he attends in Budapest. Please pray as Mike imparts eternal truth along with English.

In Him,
Mike and Terry

Adams' prayer update

Question: “Are you religious?”

A student recently asked me this question. I hesitated to answer him, because of what I thought would be his preconceived idea of religion. In other words, a “yes” response was what he was waiting for, but it was not all I wanted to leave with him. The bell was going to ring soon to dismiss class, so I quickly answered with this response: “No, I’m not religious in the way you might think of that word. I don’t DO things so I will get to go to heaven. I simply enjoy a personal relationship with God’s Son, Jesus. Because of His forgiveness for my sins, this relationship I have makes me want to go to church, to pray, and to worship God as I look forward to being with Him eternally in heaven one day. I think this student got the answer he was expecting, but I pray he received a lot more.

Question:  “What does this passage say about people?”

Mike and I were facilitating the Bible study based on Luke 18: 9-17. In the story, the Pharisee and the tax collector prayed. One of the men recited a list of virtuous conduct on his part, while the other emotionally pleaded with God for mercy. Judit responded to the question above by saying that we just need to love each other and be kind. Krisztina didn’t say much all night, but a few days after this study she emailed me to say that, while she understood we are to pray humbly before God, she didn’t know why it should be important for her. It was not until she read the same thing in several devotional books that she realized God was speaking to her about humble prayer in her own life.

We appreciate that you took the time to read our update. Please let us know what you think and how we can pray for you.

Mike and Terry

Adams' Prayer Update

I trust all have had a very Merry Christmas. Thank you to those who contributed to Lottie Moon this month and to those who support missions by your prayers and your going.

Mike and I had the joy of helping the Koszikla Church to package, wrap, and deliver over 100 shoeboxes of goodies for children in Torokbalint and Budaors this month. We also shared the Gospel with several students and adults.

Besides celebrating Jesus’ birthday, we enjoyed relaying birthday wishes to our son-in-law, Nick, to our younger grandson, Lucas, and Mike’s dad, LeRoy, this month. Mike’s dad made it home from the hospital just in time to celebrate his birthday on Christmas Day. The family is grateful to the Lord for the doctors and nurses who tended to Papaw.

As you all bring in the New Year tomorrow, I ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we minister here in Hungary. We specifically ask for wisdom in making plans for our summer camps and for those who will come to assist us. Pray that the groups we have meeting in our home will want to meet more often for Bible study and prayer time, and that from these groups there will come a  desire to start a new church here.

Mike and Terry