Grain Game camp photos from the Bakers

Recently the Bakers asked that you pray for the Grain Game camps in Dunakeszi and Békásmegyer.  Praise the Lord for the kids who came and for the gospel seeds that were sown!  Continue to pray for these kids and their families, and that God will move in a mighty way in these two areas where we would love to see churches planted.

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

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

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

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

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

I hope that this email finds each of you well and that everyone is enjoying the beginning of fall.  It has gotten a bit cooler here in Nagykanizsa, which I am super excited about since fall is my favorite season!

First off, let me apologize for the pause in updates.  Things have been a bit busy around here; however, I will now attempt to update everyone.  Two weeks ago, I traveled to Helsinki, Finland with another friend who is a journeyman for a quick vacation before the semester starts for us.  It was a wonderful time of relaxation, encouragement, and rejuvenation.  It was great to hang out with my friend as we encouraged one another to finish our time off well.  (Some pictures are below).  I returned last Monday and taught my first student of the semester, Z., on Tuesday.  We had a great conversation about what exactly Passover is and how Jesus became our Passover sacrificial lamb.  She was very interested, but didn’t fully understand that she needed a Passover lamb.  Please pray that these conversations would continue and that God would work on her heart to hear and understand His word. 

On Wednesday I traveled to Croatia, as my supervisors had surgery.  Please be in prayer for them and their recovery.  Sunday we also had house church and celebrated several birthdays.  It was a great time as we learned from Luke chapter 4 and how prophecies of Jesus have come true.  Please pray that this news would work on hearts and that believers would be faithful to share with their friends and neighbors.  Finally, please be in prayer for this upcoming week as I will be traveling to a school to discuss what American holidays are.  Pray that I might form relationships and might even be able to relate our holidays to the gospel. 

Thank you all so much for the prayers.  They mean more to me than I can say.

In Christ,
Betsy

Prayer Requests:

-upcoming time at school
-supervisors’ recovery
-youth group this Friday
-new students and conversations with them
-Z. to understand her need for a Savior
-to finish well as I have only four months remaining
-future decisions
-upcoming Bible studies with non-believers

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,


I hope that this email finds you well and that you are enjoying this last week of August.  Here in Hungary, this is the last week of summer and most of our students start back to school next week!  So everyone is soaking in those last few moments of summer break before hitting the books again.  I have seen on that most of you guys have already started back and that even football season has kicked off.  It is definitely signs that fall is right around the corner. 

This week we were able to have house church and continued our study in the book of Luke.  Please continue to pray for our house church and for those who are coming to be obedient with what they are learning.  This Sunday was also the last Sunday for one of our students, "Zs".  He will be traveling to Debrecen (in Eastern Hungary about 5 hours away) for medical school and probably won’t return until December.  Please be in prayer for him and his adjustment to university.  We are so excited for him, but will miss him very much!.  Another student, "Z," will also be starting high school in Budapest next week.  Please pray for him and his adjustment as well. 

Finally, I have some absolutely wonderful news to share with you guys!  We have a new sister, "E."  She is a student of my supervisor’s and she prayed to receive Christ this morning!!! Praise HIm.  Please be in special prayer for her, because as it turns out, she is moving to Norway tomorrow to join her husband.  Please pray that God would make Himself known to her and that she will be able to find some other believers to grow with! 

Thank you so much for y’all’s prayers.  I am grateful for each and every one of them.  Please let me know how God is working in your life and if there is any way that I can pray for you.

In Christ,
Betsy

Prayer Requests:

-new believer, E. and her growth in Christ
-Zs’s move to Debrecen and adjustment to university life.
-Z’s move to Budapest for high school
-Sunday Group and Friday night group
-Our new students

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

I hope that this email finds you and yours well.  It is turned off cooler this week in Nagykanizsa, which I am loving.  Last week was a busy week for us as we had an American gentleman from Memphis, TN come and conduct a seminar, answering hard questions.  It was a great time of fellowship with some of our students as we dug deeper into what does the Scripture says about certain issues.  Attached are some pictures below.  Please be in prayer for the students that came, and that they would really consider what was talked about and how it applies to their lives. 

This week we are relaxing and resting a bit.  We also will have our Discovering Bible Group meeting as well as, the Friday night group meeting.  Please be in special prayer for these times and that many would come to discover more about the Bible or to be trained in how to be a disciple of Christ. 

Finally, next week we will be traveling to Poland for our annual company meeting.  Please be in prayer for this time as it is a time for us all to come together, worship and fellowship together, and to also regroup and refocus on what our jobs are in our cities again.  Please also be in prayer for me as this is my last big company meeting, and I will probably be seeing people for the last time.  Pray that there would be great times of encouragement and fellowship for us. 

Thank you all so much for praying for me.  Please believe me when I say that each and every prayer is felt and appreciated.  So often, the Lord reminds me of what blessings all of you guys are and how difficult my job would be without you.  So thank you!  Please let me know how it is going in your life and if there is a way I can pray for you guys.

In Christ,
Betsy

Prayer Requests:
-follow up from last week’s conference
-Discovery Bible Studies meeting on Tuesday and Thursday night
-Friday night meeting
-Upcoming company meeting
-Upcoming decisions to be made about my future after I return to the states.  May God’s will and glory be done.

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.

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

I hope that this email finds you and yours well.  This past week in Hungary has been quite busy.  First off, my supervisors have returned to Hungary.  Thank you so much for the prayers for their safety as they traveled.  Please continue to pray for them as they get adjusted to life back on this side of the world.

With students

Friday and Sunday groups met this week.  Please pray that those who met would be obedient during this week with what they learned.  I also had to teach this Sunday in Hungarian.  Many of you guys prayed for me during this, and I just want to thank you guys so much.  I was able to do it, and everyone was at least able to get the point of the lesson.  So thank you so much for your prayers they were heard and felt!

We also met with students this week.  I was able to have some great conversations with students.  Please be in prayer that we would be able to have more conversations, especially since our time with them is coming to an end as summer approaches.

Thank you so much for each of your prayers.  I appreciate them all.  Please feel free to email me back and let me know what the Father is doing in your life.

In Christ,
Betsy

Betsy's update for the week

Hello Everyone,

Students taking selfies after church

I hope that this update finds each of you well.  First, let me apologize for this update being a bit late.  However, better late than never right? :)  This week has had times of busyness and times of calm, interesting right?  Friday was a holiday here in Hungary, so all of my students cancelled.  We also had students graduating and getting ready to start exams, so many others were also busy.  However, we were able to have house church this week, and we studied on the book of Daniel. 

This upcoming week, I am preparing for my supervisors to return Thursday.  Please be in prayer for their safe travels, and mine as I go to pick them up in the capital city.  Please also be in prayer for our groups meeting on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Finally, this week is a time of prayer and fasting for the whole organization that I work for.  If you feel led, please join me in praying for God’s will and glory in the upcoming days of our organization as we strive to make His name known.  I hope that each of you are doing well, and please feel free to reply back with what the Father is doing in your life.

In Christ,
Betsy

P.S.  If you are interested, I have updated my blog recently with updates about my first year in Hungary.  To access it, please go to https://www.saraemccarter.wordpress.com

Prayer Requests:
-supervisor’s travel
-groups meeting this week
-students taking exams
-days of prayer and fasting
-upcoming summer camp June 28-July 3

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.

Update from the Browns

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you for your prayers! God is at work doing great things and we know that it is because you have partnered to pray with us. Your support of the Southern Baptist Cooperative Program and gifts to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering make it possible for us to serve here. Thank you!

Attached is our newsletter for April. Share this with your church, Sunday school class, Bible study and mission group.

Grateful for your prayers and encouragement,
Ron & Robin

Hathcocks' prayer update

Greetings from Debrecen,

We are thankful for this week and all that God is doing. We had a good visit with the doctor and he thinks that I am healing normally and that some nerve pain is ok and should get better. I will start physical therapy and hopefully see more improvement.  We are looking forward to seeing how God arranges the time that Dr. Blair and his wife will be with us this week.

Please pray:

• Dr. Blair as he lectures this week and meets with students, that he would be sensitive to God's divine appointments and to have the wisdom to respond to them.
• Safety and joy in serving as Arianna goes to Germany this coming weekend to serve those who are planning a youth conference and to practice her German. God would encourage her and speak to her heart.
• Darrel as he preaches today that God would use the things he says to encourage our church during this transition without a pastor. Our church would also see this time as an opportunity to grow.
• Wednesday we will start a time of discipling students, pray that God would draw whom He wants to come and they will come with teachable hearts.

Thank you so much for your prayers.

Blessings,
Kimberly Hathcock