Salt and Light - November 26

Greetings from Debrecen,

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving! Thank you so much for your prayers! God did an amazing work during our Thanksgiving celebration. I love the way He brings just the right people and how he connects them for His purposes and the encouragement that results from our fellowship with other believers. God's ways are higher than our ways!

Sophia is making progress with school!  God continues to give me opportunities to influence "M." Many of the University students are finishing up classes and preparing for their final exams. God continues to give Hungarian Baptists freedom and influence in the public schools. A new family is coming to work in one of the schools supported by the main Baptist church in town.

Please pray:

• The Good family as they move this week to Debrecen that God would provide just the right place for them to live. They would have peace as they travel and that they would see God's hand providing for them as they get settled.
• The girls would be diligent as they study and have courage and peace at they tackle difficult subjects.
• That Debrecen, Hungary would see the manifestation of the glory of  God!
• University students as they prepare for exams that they would realize their need for God and how they can depend on Him.
• Wisdom and strength for Joseph Steiner and his family as they lead Hungarian Baptist Aid and the opportunities God gives them to influence the lives of Hungarians and others.
• Courage and strength for us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus.

Thank you!

One of His servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Salt and Light - November 19

Greetings from Debrecen,

God hears us when we call out to Him. Psalms 138:3 "On the day I called, You answered me; You increased strength within me."  Thankful! My friend M. had her trial this week and it wasn't the worst outcome, but it wasn't the best. Thank you for praying because God gave me the opportunity to speak with her and share with her the hope she can have in Jesus. We are so excited about Thanksgiving, which we will celebrate on Saturday with a mixed group of believers and non-believers.

Please continue to pray:

• God would continue to open M.'s heart to her sin and need for a relationship with Jesus.
• God's presence would be evident during our Thanksgiving celebration and that those who are not Christians would see this and want to know more.
• Sophia would be encouraged and able to be caught up with her school assignments without any stress.
• We would give God our full attention each day and not be distracted from the most important things.

Thank you so much for praying for us!

One of His servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Hungary 4 Him: Katelyn's October update

At the beginning of October, I traveled to Prague, Czech Republic to meet with other journeymen on the field.  The time was refreshing and eye opening in many different ways.  I am so thankful for the friends I have met on this journey. We were able to reflect over our last year on the field, pray over one another, and encourage each other.

Since arriving home from Prague, I have been very busy with students. On October 27-28 I had a sleepover at my house.  There were 5 girls who came.  In Hungary, it is very uncommon to stay the night at another person's house unless they are family.  This was an experience that some of the girls had never had.

We did hair, make-up, nails, watched movies, made crafts, ate lots of pizza, and played many games. Some of the girls went to sleep around 4 am.  However one girl stayed awake all night, so I stayed up with her!  I am not cut out for all-nighters any more!  Haha.

Prayer Requests:

• I am going through some things that have been disheartening lately.  I have had lots of encouragement from family and friends that has been helpful.  Pray that Satan will stop using these things against me and I can focus on what I am here to do.
• As you know, Thanksgiving is coming soon.  I am going to make a Thanksgiving meal to go have at Bible Study on Nov. 24th.  Pray that all goes smoothly with it, that the students enjoy it, and that I can clearly share the gospel and the reason to celebrate.
• As the holiday season begins, pray that I wouldn't struggle being away from family.  Last year wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Pray that I would have peace during these times and that missing home won't become too big of a distraction.
• I have not been sleeping well.  I tend to be tired during the days and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I'm wide awake.  Pray that I would begin sleeping better.
• Pray for "G."  She was asking lots of questions and I was getting excited talking to her about spiritual things.  Recently, she has been put off by anything to do with God.  She doesn't pay attention during Bible Study and has started to be a little disruptive as well.  Pray that God would grab hold of her heart and that she would come to understand the love and grace that He has for her. 

LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING

Some important dates to remember for Lottie Moon Christmas Offering are:

November 28: GIVING TUESDAY: Annual Global Day of Giving
December 3-10: Week of Prayer for International Missions.
December 10 is the LMCO official Sunday.  Our national goal this year is $160 million.

Your giving enables missionaries to be sent to make disciples and multiply churches among unreached people and places for the glory of God.

For more information on LMCO you can go to imb.org.

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Bonham, and welcome new prayer partners!

We just love Thanksgiving and the opportunity to focus on who and what we are thankful for. It has been crazy these last two weeks but we have been blessed by meeting some incredible people.

Yesterday as we were on our way home passing through Springfield, Missouri, we decided to drop in at the Old Navy to do some Black Friday shopping. The Lord allowed us to see two friends of ours, one of which was our friend/colleague that we were praying for, who had brain surgery a few weeks ago. We also got to visit with his daughters who we haven't seen in a while, in the middle of Old Navy. Another was a friend of Arianna's from the youth group from our home church. It was a good reminder of how God is at work around us and His timing his perfect. 

Please continue to pray:

• God would give us peace and diligence to get caught up with school. You can pray especially for Abigail and Sophia since we have not been able to do as much while traveling.
• Divine appointments as we will meet with some international students on Monday night at a dinner. Pray that we will be able to have spiritual conversations that would encourage them to follow Jesus.
• Ezra (my sister's son who has Krabbe disease) has had a pretty difficult week. Pray for the parents Karlita and Ryan as they face a unknown future about how this disease is already effecting their baby. The chemo is finished and the stem cell procedure was completed and now it is time to wait. Asking God to heal him.
• Pray for our friend and colleague who had brain surgery. They are now in the states with family. Pray for his wife and their children, as he faces radiation and chemo and they are hoping for the best prognosis. Ask that God's peace would continue to rule their hearts and minds.
• The students in Debrecen, Hungary who participated in our Thanksgiving celebrations last year, that they would remember and desire to know more about Jesus, the reason that we are thankful. There were so many Hungarian and international students and families that joined us. God's spirit would continue to draw them.

Thank you so much for praying!

One of God's servants,
Kimberly Hathcock

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Texas,

We have been incredibly blessed by our time at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Thankful for the body of Christ and their encouragement to us. God in working in and through this church. We were also incredibly blessed to visit with some dear friends. We appreciate the wisdom and encouragement from those God has placed in our lives.

Updates:
Our colleague who had brain surgery had a successful surgery and all the cancer was removed. He and his family are returning to the states for the holidays and some follow-up treatment. Their plan for now is to return to the country where they are serving for further treatment.

Ezra had his stem cell transplant and now it is the time of waiting. In the next couple of weeks his body needs to accept these new cells so it can replace the abnormal cells. He is expected to be pretty sick during this process, also the effects of the chemo will be more evident in his body.

Please pray for them as well as:

• "J." - God continues to stir his heart. Recently he has had some spiritual conversations with a friend. Pray that he would surrender to Jesus.
• We are traveling again this weekend to Perryton, Texas, and Darrel will preaching and we will have the opportunity to encourage some friends who will be serving in Lesotho.
• Many of the University students in Debrecen are taking exams this week so please pray for them that they would realize how much they need God to help them and they would see His hand in the midst of stress.

Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

One of God's 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

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

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

Hathcocks' prayer update excerpts

Greetings from Debrecen.

Thanking God for His creative work in Debrecen. After talking with some students Monday night, we decided to have a movie night on Saturday. It was a great time to connect with the students! Good conversations! It has been a joy to see one of the students serve at a camp this week and how God is changing her and drawing her closer to Himself. It has been encouraging to see the sense of community that God is building among these students who have such different backgrounds. Darrel continues to talk with a group that is planning on doing a Thanksgiving dinner for students in order to have opportunities to share Christ.

Hard to believe that we will start school in about a month, so I have been preparing things for the coming year. I still get excited about starting a new school year and all the things that we get to learn about.

Please pray:

• God's priorities would become our priorities. We would be attentive to the H.S. in our daily lives and that we would be obedient to the things He tells us to do and say.
• Continued wisdom in reaching out to the students who are not believers. We would have opportunities to share our lives and our faith with them.
• There is a big refugee camp in Debrecen. Over the last few months there have been a lot of refugees. Pray for those who are working with the refugees that they would have wisdom, patience and discernment in doing the best thing for each person. You can read in the news about the different political problems that have developed. These are displaced people, many of whom need Jesus. Pray as God's Spirit leads you.
• Faithfulness in the daily things of life that need to be done.
• Darrel would be able to talk about spiritual things with "D," and that as he returns to his home country for a month that God's Spirit will continue to reveal who Jesus is to him.
• I have been meeting with a neighbor for language, Illona, and we started reading the children's Bible so I could learn some different vocabulary words -- I am praying that we will be able to talk more about spiritual things. Pray that God would give me the ability to speak Hungarian.

Thank you so much for praying for us this week.

Blessings,
Kimberly Hathcock