Fall has finally set in here in Budapest. The trees are in full color and the air is brisk. We have some woods by our home and we have all enjoyed afternoon walks with our dog. As much as I miss year- round sunshine in Florida, I must say that the change of season is gorgeously dramatic. I feel like our lives have been a reflection of the changing seasons. This summer we felt like we were in winter. With prolonged illness and the stress of Tom’s job, we were weary and our life felt dreary. It is due to these things that you haven’t heard from us in a while. In the midst of all this, we have seen the Lord change our circumstances dramatically in the last few weeks.God has begun answering our prayers to help Tom with the overwhelming workload in his job! Michael Purath has lived in Budapest for two years and has worked at our church as the executive pastor. He felt the Lord was leading him elsewhere, but wished to remain in Budapest, as his wife has a thriving women’s ministry. The Lord very graciously led him to work in the Director’s office with Tom. He is a former military guy with the eye for details…JUST WHAT WE NEEDED. He will be serving as Executive Assistant and will free Tom up so much to focus on the leadership aspects of his job. Between Michael and Moni, Tom’s amazing assistant, God has done amazing miracles to help with the workload. We are all so thankful.
Another area where we have continued to struggle has been with our family’s health. After weeks of stomach bugs and bouts of bronchitis, we feel like things are improving. October brought multiple days where everyone was healthy and in school. We are so thankful and pray that the Lord would continue to strengthen our immune system.
We had a few firsts this year. We now have our first high schooler. Kendall is a hard working ninth grader. So far, her work load has been very intense. We keep assuring her that high school is fun, not just work! She is volunteering as an assistant for the Middle School musical, and is looking forward to basketball season.
Reed has joined his brother, Trent, in Middle School this year. Together they are enjoying soccer season. They have traveled to a game in Vienna, and have another away game in Bratislava, Slovakia this month. We have to talk a lot about their fun experiences traveling to the games, as the scores of the game have not been so great. They are both in the Middle School musical and are also looking f orward to basketball.Our baby (ok, she is 7) started school this year at Balint Marton Iskola. After three years of Hungarian “kindergarten,” her Hungarian language had progressed so well that we decided to try national school. The Lord has provided a great situation in our little village. She is in a class of 20 children with two very kind teachers. She is having a great experience so far, and seems to understand everything. This has been an amazing way for me to build relationships with some amazing Hungarian women. I think I like her school as much as she does.
After a few tough years as a full time “nurse” in my home, I am enjoying a few ministry
opportunities this month away from home. Tom and I attended our National Director’s Conference in Croatia last week. It was a great time of fellowship, encouragement, and planning. I really enjoyed connecting with many of our directors’ wives. This week I will travel to a women’s conference for our Polish staff. I am so excited to get to meet some of our amazing national staff women, and hopefully to encourage them while I am there. I am also planning an evangelistic Christmas gathering in my home for my Hungarian friends in early Dec. Pray that the Lord would bless this and bring many women into a relationship with him.
Tom is beginning his second conference in as many weeks on Tuesday. Leaders from our campus ministry around the area are coming to Budapest to spend time talking about how we can reach more students with the gospel. The slogan for the week is: Evangelistic movements of spiritually multiplying students everywhere! Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom over the next year as we seek the Lord and ask Him to work across the area in the hearts of students.
Thank you so much for your continued prayers for our ministry and for our family. We need them and feel them. We are grateful for a team that intercedes on our behalf.
Valerie
