Sent Friday, July 11, 2008  1:04 AM

Sent Tuesday, May 13, 2008  10:01 PM

Eastern Hungary Prayer Update

A big thank you to those of you who are taking part this month in 31 Days of Prayer for Eastern Hungary.  We’re very excited to report that there has been a major answer to prayer already—Alexandra (see day 26 on the prayer calendar) has accepted Christ as her Savior!  Please continue to pray for her as she will be returning to her home country very soon.  Pray that she will continue to grow her in her faith and that the Lord will guide her to a good church when she arrives back home.  

Earlier we had agreed to help the small church in Hajduszoboszlo with an outreach English camp during the week of June 23.  We were already short on workers for it and needed more help, and since then there has been a new development that will keep Holly busy during that time.  We’ve contacted a church in the States and asked if they can come work with us, but we don’t know yet if they’ll be able to.  The time is very short for planning and preparation. Please pray for wisdom and guidance for the U.S. church in deciding if they can be involved, and for us and the Hungarian church as we make preparations here.  

If you have not gotten involved in the month of prayer yet, it’s not too late—download the prayer calendar at www.hope4ehu.com <http://www.hope4ehu.com/> .  

Thank you for praying!  

Sent Friday, April 25, 2008  9:43 PM

Eastern Hungary News Update -- Spring 2008

Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Partners,

Thank you all very much for your continued prayer support.  Your prayers mean a lot to us and it is very comforting knowing that many people around the world are praying for us and the work in eastern Hungary.

In our last newsletter we asked you to pray about two volunteer teams coming in March.  The first team came from the University of Arkansas through Baptist Collegiate Ministries.  The students came as part of a culture exchange program and had the awesome opportunity to speak in several of the English classes on campus to tell about life in America.  It went so well that we are talking with the professors about making it an annual event.  The students also had a time each evening to meet at a local coffee shop to really get to know each other and begin to share on a deeper level.  This was a great boost to our new student ministry.  For updates on how student work is going you can visit the blog of our student coordinator Holly McMickle at http://hollyshungary.blogspot.com/.

The second team came from the Baptist church in Rosebud, Arkansas.   All of our plans totally fell apart and the team boarded the plane not knowing exactly what they would be doing.  Praise God that He puts together all the right pieces at the right time.  Easter Sunday we went to the little Baptist church in Puspokladany where the team held a children’s program.  It was an awesome time reconnecting with the church, and the team did a wonderful job.  Carolyn and I were able to talk to the pastor and elder about this summer and began making plans to work together.

The next day the team held an informal Bible club type meeting at our friend’s house in Balmazujvaros where we want to plant a church.  Because of this we had the opportunity for an in-depth spiritual discussion with a young father who had brought his son to the event. The team also went to Nadudvar to visit the pottery shop and to prayer walk.  This team ended up in all three places where we have focused, ongoing work.  They were also able to meet with the Budapest team to discuss the plans for their summer trip to help in the city.

Our summer plans continue to morph.  Every time we think we have details together, they change on us again.  We like to have plans in place before our April newsletter when the prayer guide goes out, but this year plans are still very much up in the air.  Hungarian churches we work with are waiting on replies from other people as we await confirmation of cancellation from teams we think are no longer coming.  It is going to be interesting to see how it all comes together.

This will be our first summer in four years not to have American students working with us as summer interns.  We will not be without a helper, however.  A young Gypsy believer who is being trained as a church planter is scheduled to come and work beside us for two months.  This is an exciting answer to prayer.  For several years we have been frustrated with not being able to get help reaching the Roma (proper term for Gypsy) population.  The Hungarian and Roma cultures are extremely different, and it takes special training and insight to plant churches among the Roma.  We have contacted organization after organization asking for help, but they were already all too overloaded.

For several years now the International Mission Board has had a program to train and send Roma from Romania to Roma communities in surrounding countries.  This is the first year they have had a Hungarian-speaker being trained.  We will work together as a team.  When we have outreach projects he will make a special effort to connect with the Roma who attend.  Once he has a group established we will help find a sponsoring church to help oversee the growth of the new church start.  Be praying as he goes to the orientation the last week of May.  Also pray for his travels and work here in Hungary.

Prior to starting our summer work we want to again cover the area with prayer.  This will be our sixth annual 31 Days of Prayer for Eastern Hungary .  The format is similar to last year’s calendar but with a theme for each day of the week and then a specific topic within that theme for the day of the month.  The calendars are available in hard copy or on the web at www.hope4ehu.com.  Please feel free to copy these and distribute them to everyone who will pray with us during this special season of prayer.  It can be used as a companion to the countrywide prayer guide that is also available in print or electronic versions.

In addition to praying through the calendar we need to ask you to pray for us also.  We are going through very difficult times with our health situation.  Carolyn had to have a hysterectomy on March 31 to remove an extremely fast-growing fibroid and cysts.  In fact we wrote the first rough draft of the prayer calendar in her hospital room while they were prepping her for surgery.  Gary, along with other health problems, has re-injured his back and has difficulty walking or driving.  An MRI was performed but the doctor is yet to make a recommendation as to what to do.  No matter what, outside of a miracle, there is not going to be a quick solution to the problem.  In the past we have experienced both miraculous healing and the sustaining grace of God to see us through.  Whichever He chooses, praise be to His marvelous name!

A quick recap of the prayer requests:

31 Days of Prayer for Eastern Hungary in May

Healing for Gary and Carolyn

Plans for summer projects

Student ministry follow-up

Roma church planting intern

Thank you again for your prayers and support.  Your encouragement is greatly appreciated.  We are also eager to pray with you about matters affecting your life.  It has brought us great joy to be able to lift many of you up as you have done for us.

In His Love,

Gary for the Eastern Hungary Team

Field address: 
Gary and Carolyn Miller
Bem Ter 8, fsz. 3
4026 Debrecen
Hungary

Email address:  gcmiller@pobox.com
Website:  http://www.hope4ehu.com/

Sent Saturday, February 16, 2008  8:23 PM

Eastern Hungary News Update -- Winter 2008

Dear Family, Friends, and Prayer Partners,

Things are happening in eastern Hungary !  Thank you so much for the extra prayers and support for us over the past couple of very busy months.  We want you to know that we appreciate each one of the encouraging emails, cards, packages, etc., even if we haven’t had time to personally reply to all of you yet.  Also a big thank you to those of you who support missions around the world through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.  That, along with Southern Baptist Cooperative Program funds, make it possible for us to live and minister here in Hungary .

Praise the Lord, special gifts from two different churches provided plenty of Bibles for the Scripture distribution project at the Christmas booth during the month of December. About 800 were given away!  Because we were able to purchase more Bibles than we had originally estimated, we will have enough left to allow us to plan a similar project in another town near here.  It’s so wonderful that we’ll have Bibles on hand to use over the coming months, especially since 2008 is the Year of the Bible in Hungary and many people are showing new interest.  [See photos of this winter’s projects at http://www.hope4ehu.com/photo_album/2007dec/index.html] <http://www.hope4ehu.com/photo_album/2007dec/index.html%5D>

In addition to giving away Bibles at the Christmas booth, Visual Bible Book of Matthew DVD’s were distributed to people who signed up to join a small group to discuss the DVD content (a word-for-word dramatization from the Bible).  We have trained leaders, and fifteen small groups are beginning to meet all over the Debrecen area.  Please pray that the Lord will guide the conversations to His glory and that hearts will be turned to Him.

A student mission team from LeTourneau University in Longview , Texas was here from December 28 through January 6.   They did an outreach project to university students by hosting a week-long coffee house in one of the international dorms here over the holiday/exam time.  In addition to sharing fun times and coffee, there was the opportunity for some deep conversations and for the student volunteers to give testimony cards to those who were interested.  Eastern Hungary Journeyman Holly McMickle has also been busy doing student outreach on a one-to-one basis, and has already begun a small-group Bible study with several of her new friends.  See her blog at http://hollyshungary.blogspot.com/ <http://hollyshungary.blogspot.com/> .

We have been asked to share a special prayer request with you all.  An organizer of the 2005 Linda Dillow women’s conference in Hungary said that they are praying and trying to re-connect with the ladies who participated.  They want to form a network that will pray for the men and husbands of Hungary , and hope to hold a men’s conference.  They realize that men must be reached in order for families and marriages to be strengthened. Please join them in praying for the husbands and fathers of Hungary .

Please pray regarding two short-term mission teams that will be coming over Spring Break.  One will be coming the week before Easter, the other will arrive the day the first one leaves and will be here over the holiday.  Please ask for wisdom in planning and that the Lord will use these teams to His glory.

Summer plans are coming along.  We again hope to have several bicycle teams travel through- out eastern Hungary meeting new people and sharing the Good News of Jesus.  These groups keep pushing the boundaries of ministry out even further.  It is our hope that we can continue increasing the effectiveness of these teams as each year we build upon previous successes and learn from our mistakes.

Before summer kicks off we will again lift up the entire region before the throne during our 31 days of prayer for eastern Hungary in May.  We are already working on getting the prayer calendar together and would like to get 50 more prayer partners to join with us this year.  That will raise the total to 700 people and groups standing with us in prayer.  If you know someone who might like be a partner with us in prayer please tell them about our ministry and pass along our contact information.  We greatly appreciate your help in this.  It is one way that you can participate in the work here.

Thank you again for praying for us and the people of Hungary .

God bless,

Carolyn for the IMB Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Saturday, December 1, 2007  12:01 AM

Dear Prayer Partners,
 
Thank you in advance for lifting up these Eastern Hungary prayer requests and for rejoicing with us over the answered prayers.
 
1. Praise the Lord, everything went smoothly when Gary went last Thursday to sign the contract with the city for the Christmas booth.
 
2. BUT-when he got the actual contract he found out that the Christmas
market begins on Dec. 1 instead of the 3rd, as it had said on the internet!  Now we are really hopping, trying to get everything ready in time.  Please pray for all the preparations and for peace for us in the midst of it all.
 
3. So far we only have one national believer who has volunteered to help us in the booth.  PTL for this one, but we need many more so that we will be able to run the booth, distribute the Bibles, and talk to people over the course of the 23-day project.

4. At this point we are still an estimated 1400 Bibles short of what we believe we will need.  Please pray that we will have enough for all of the people who want one.

5. Pray that the Bibles that are given away will be read, and that many people will come to Christ.

6.  Pray for new small groups to be formed from the project, as well new believers for the existing churches.

7. Pray for good leaders for these groups.

8. Gary talked to someone at the university, and we're going next week to see if the location is good that we are looking at for the mission group from LeTourneau University.  Pray for wisdom for us as we make the decision, and that it will be within budget.

9. Pray for the international students that the LeTourneau group will be ministering to (Dec. 28 - Jan. 6.)

10.  Please pray for Holly, that the Lord will give her discernment and steadfastness; regarding her work, pray that students' ears will be open to the truth and that she will proclaim it boldly, that many will come to know Him.

11. Gary and Carolyn appreciate your prayers as they face the first Christmas away from their children.
 
As always, we thank you so much for your prayer support.

Sent Tuesday, November 20, 2007  9:58 PM

Dear Prayer Partners,

 This Thanksgiving holiday we are very thankful for all of you who continue to lift up the work here in eastern Hungary.

There are several urgent matters of prayer this month.

1.  Gary signs the contract with the city for the Christmas booth on Thursday the 22nd (Thanksgiving).  Pray all will go well and that he will find grace in the eyes of the organizers.

2.      Pray for volunteers to man the booth.  It runs every day from December 3-23.

3.  Praise the Lord, some churches have expressed interest in helping provide Bibles for the project; please continue to pray, though, because at this point we are an estimated 1400 Bibles short of what we believe we will need.

4.  Pray that the Bibles that are given away will be read.

5. Pray for new small groups to be formed from the project, as well new believers for the existing churches.

6.  Pray for good leaders for these groups.

7.  We cannot rent the location we had planned for the group from LeTourneau University in December.  Pray we will find the right place for the right price.

8.  Pray for the international students that the LeTourneau group will be ministering to.  

9.  Please pray for Holly as she is beginning to make contacts with the many students here in Debrecen.

10.  Please pray for Gary and Carolyn as they face the first Christmas away from their children.  Amongst the busyness there is the ever-present feeling of separation from family.  That has always been one of the hardest parts of serving overseas, but now it is even more difficult without being able to get together for the Holidays.

Thank you all so much for your continued prayer support.  It means the world to us.

In His Love,

Sent Sunday, November 4, 2007  10:15 PM

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you all so much for your continued prayer support.  It is the constant strengthening from God that keeps us going through all of the ups and downs of mission life.  We have so many updates and prayer requests to pass on to you that we are putting them in a brief list for your convenience, with details below for those who have time to read more.

Praises/Prayer Requests:

* PTL for the follow up done with the help of the Mills team; pray that friendships and seeds will grow.

* Holly McMickle is here and the Lord has provided a great apartment!

* Christmas booth, Dec. 3-23. Pray that permission will be given by the city, and for local church volunteers to man it.

* Please pray that the Lord will provide Bibles to give away at the booth.

* PTL for increased interest here in the Bible and in spiritual matters.

* Pray for local believers to be trained to lead small groups to discuss the Gospel of Matthew DVD, leading to new church plants.

* A team from LeTourneau University will be coming December 28 - January 6 to minister to international students.

More details:

We continue going back to visit people we met during our summer outreach program and are so thankful to see more and more people seriously considering the eternal implications to their temporal decisions.  We are far from seeing the Great Awakening that we are praying for, but we are seeing progress in small steps.

During October Markley and Bobbie Mills from Arkansas came and we were able to go back to Puspokladany and reconnect with people we met during the baseball camp a year and half ago.  Some of the people connected to the school where the camp was held had retired or changed jobs due to restructuring the school system.  The Mills' presence gave us a "legitimate" reason to search for the people without appearing to "pursue" them.  We actually went to people we know with a picture and asked, "Do you know this person?"  Through strings of connections, by the end of the second day we had visited with every single person we were looking for and had taken them a small gift from the team.   Please pray that these new friendships and the seeds that were sown will continue to grow.

Also in October our new teammate Holly McMickle arrived and began studying Hungarian and making friends at the university.  She has already been such a blessing, and seems a perfect match for the job.  She is currently staying with us until her apartment opens up.  We had asked everyone to pray for an apartment for Holly.  Well, the Lord answered those prayers and the prayers of a Christian couple that is going to work in London for two years.  They had been praying that God would send someone they could trust to rent their apartment while they are gone.  I had no idea that they were leaving the country when I called the wife of the couple to see if she was interested in part-time work making phone calls and setting up appointments for Holly to look at places.  When I described what we were looking for, I described their apartment.  The only appointment she had to make was asking what time we wanted to come see the place.  It was perfect!  Exactly what we were looking for, and within budget. Holly moves in November 12.

There are a number of new prayer requests we would like to share with you.  First is the booth during the annual Christmas Market December 3-23.  For several years we have wanted to rent a booth during the huge Christmas Open Market to be able to share Christ with many people who will never come to a church-related event.  In the past the city has not allowed us and we had to go to other places, but we have applied again this year for here in Debrecen.  Please pray that the city will grant permission to rent the booth this year and that local churches will provide volunteers to man the booth.

We do not plan to sell items in the booth, but rather to give out several different translations of the Bible.  2008 has been declared the Year of the Bible in Hungary, with the motto "Happy is he who reads..." from Revelation 1:3.  We want to give a Bible to everyone who signs a commitment card pledging to read through the Bible in one year.  The problem is we do not have enough Bibles.  Our Mission Board provided $5000 for Bibles this year for our team alone.  We have used over half of that already just since June.  The other two teams in Hungary have used their Bible funds as well.  Please pray that God will provide copies of His word for this project.  This request is not meant to be a veiled request for funds but a genuine prayer request that God will provide what is needed.  Our leadership is working hard to provide what we need, but we are also asking for divine intervention.

The need for Bibles leads us to a praise.  Three years ago no one in Hungary seemed interested in a Bible or New Testament.  But there has been a definite change in attitude.  One team gave out over 1200 New Testaments in one week at a university.  A German team came, providing another 1000 New testaments which they gave out in another town.  A new interest in spiritual matters has arisen and the people seem hungry for God's word.

Another urgent request is for finding and training new small group leaders.  In addition to providing a platform for scripture distribution, the Christmas booth will serve to help launch new small groups for church plants.  We have 500 DVDs of the Visual Bible's Gospel of Matthew that will be provided to people who will come to a discussion group.  The project will function like a book club, only using a DVD version of The Book.  The dialog in the film is word for word from the Bible, but is also acted out.  Each time the group meets they will discuss the assigned section of the DVD.  If we have a 20% success rate, over the next three months we will launch 10 new groups of 10 in a number of different towns.   Many different churches will need to provide small group leaders trained in a totally different type of ministry than they have used before.  Pray that God will raise up strong teachable believers to lead these discussions.

Also please pray for the team from LeTourneau University that will be coming December 28 - January 6 to minister to international students who cannot go home for Christmas.  There are still many details to work out for this team, but we are excited for the opportunity to provide friendship to these students while they are away from their families.  Specifics to pray about regarding this team are their funding to come, safe travel, a meeting place for evening events, and for divine appointments as they go out and try develop friendships.

Again we thank you so much for your prayers.  We also want to stand together with you in prayer, so send us any requests you have.  It truly is a privilege to lift one another up to the throne of the Almighty.  We always stop and pray for each request as soon as we receive it.

Love in Christ,

Sent Saturday, September 15, 2007 7:40 PM

Dear Family, Friends and Prayer Partners,

            Wow!  It was a wild and wonderful summer in eastern Hungary and we are so grateful for all of your prayers and support over these very busy months.  The 31 Days of Prayer for Eastern Hungary during May was a great way to start off.  Many people shared with us that they faithfully prayed for each of the cities listed and were asking God to move in the hearts of the people.  Those days of prayer helped prepare the soil for the planting to come.

            Our four summer interns did a wonderful job.  One was not able to come as planned, but each that could come served whole-heartedly, putting all of their energy into the work for the sake of the Gospel.  They spent many days prayer walking and meeting new people in cities where we are trying to plant churches.  Together we prayer walked every street of three cities, praying that God would draw the people to Himself. 

            In the town of Balmazujvaros, where there is not an evangelical church, we partnered with a Christian family to hold a goulash cookout to provide a relaxed atmosphere where we could spend time getting to know people and share the Gospel.  Our friend invited many lost people and some people from the church where they attend in a city 15 miles away.  During the course of the evening one of the ladies prayed to give her life to Jesus Christ.  She will be discipled through the church where our friend is a member. 

            In the city of Nadudvar we had been prayer walking asking God to bring us in contact with those people He was already preparing to receive the Gospel.  We often call these "divine appointments," because God is the only one who brings all the right people together at the right time in the right place.  After several days of prayer walking without any results, I (Gary) prayed, "Lord, we've been praying for divine appointments, so where are they?"  Just as I finished that prayer a man behind me called out to me.  I couldn't understand what he said, so I went back and began talking to him.  In the meantime, two of our interns came along and we talked with the family for two hours.  They are very open and have invited Carolyn and me back to visit them again.  It is the first time I have prayed for divine appointments and had someone chase me down the street.

            In the town of Puspokladany we partnered with the local non-denominational church of 8 people and a Baptist church about 10 miles away from there to hold another evangelistic cookout.  Many people came and everyone had a wonderful time.  As we got to know each other we were able to share how Jesus makes a difference in our lives.  No one accepted Christ that evening, but it was the first contact that many had had with the church.  This opened the door, and some people have come to other events because of the contact made during the dinner.

            The September spotlight story on the Heart for Hungary website is about our summer goulash evangelism.  You can read more about it at http://www.teamhungary.com/spotlight.html.

            Volunteers also helped the Hajduszoboszlo Baptist Church with an English camp.  It was a busy week of grammar, vocabulary, Bible stories, songs and crafts.  Most of the 45 children who attended were not affiliated with the church.  The camp provided an opportunity for the church to meet a need in the community and share the love of Christ at the same time.  The church is continuing contact with all who came to the camp.

             The summer finished off with a team from Crossgate Baptist Church in Hot Springs , Arkansas, which came to combine fun and service by bicycling into nine different cities and towns.  They were looking at places for possible future projects and at the same time sharing Christ with those they met.  The tour helped extend the reach of our ministry area, as they were able to make several new contacts in these towns; now we are following up with cards and letters.  Please pray that God will continue working in the lives of these people, and that planted seeds will grow.

            We are very excited that a new teammate is coming.  Holly McMickle will be joining us on the field the middle part of October.  Her focus will be student evangelism.  But she will not stop with reaching students for Christ, she will mentor them to become effective carriers of the Gospel after they leave school and start their careers.  You can read a short bio about Holly on our website at http://www.hope4ehu.com/team.html.  Please pray for Holly and her family as she finishes her training in the States and packs up to move overseas.  Also pray that she will not have a problem getting a visa to come.

            The week before Holly arrives we will sponsor a teacher information exchange.  Bobbie Mills from Arkansas will be coming with her husband Markley from October 5-12 to dialog with Hungarian teachers about how schools can share information to better prepare students for the future.  Please pray for the Mills as they travel and that this opportunity will open doors for a positive relationship with the schools here in Hungary.

            Plans are developing for a Christmas booth on the main square here in the city of Debrecen.  We have tried before to rent one of the booths during the annual Christmas market held through the month of December, but so far they have not allowed us to rent one because we are a religious organization.  We are searching for a Christian business person to partner with to rent the booth in the company's name.  We are also looking into other ways to get the true message of Christmas to the thousands that come through the market during the holiday season.

            Please be in prayer about a possible volunteer team coming from LeTourneau University in Longview , TX , over the New Year's break.  One of the students is trying to organize a team to come and reach out to international students who cannot go home for Christmas.  The team will hold a nightly coffee house to give students a safe, fun and friendly place to gather, along with someone to talk to while they are away from their families.  While meeting a need for companionship, they can share about the Faithful Companion who never leaves you or forsakes you.

            Thank you for your prayers and support.  The role of prayer supporter is a critical part of the team effort, and without you we could not be here doing what God has called us to do. 

We would love to hear from you also.  Please pass along prayer requests so that we can be prayer supporters for you.  Or just drop us a line sometime.  It is great getting news from back home, and we appreciate being updated on what is happening in your lives.

God bless,

Gary and Carolyn Miller

Sent Friday, July 13, 2007 11:35 PM

Dear Praying Friends, 

For those of you who haven’t heard, we did get the internet working in our apartment again.  Praise the Lord! 

It’s a very busy time for us right now and we’ll give a fuller update later, but please be praying for the current work in Puspokladany.   Our team has been prayer walking and talking with people there all throughout this week, and an outreach cook-out dinner is planned for tomorrow (Saturday) evening beginning at 5 PM (that’s 10 AM CST).  The event is being held in the yard of the city’s family aid center and is in partnership with the little evangelical church in town (currently 8 members.)  Because it’s a public facility we are limited to having 30 people there, so please pray that the number of people coming will not be a problem. 

Contact was made in the Gypsy community this week and a family was invited, so please also pray that racial/ethnic tensions will not be a hindrance.  We are planning a time of food, music, and casual conversation-- as the believers present interact with the lost guests, please pray that the Gospel will be shared in a non-threatening and understandable manner, and that hearts will be open to accepting the message that they hear. 

Please also pray that good relationships will be formed between the guests and the local church members, and that many will come to the special service that is planned for the following day at 3 PM.  The town of Puspokladany and its people are very much on our hearts, and we thank you for joining us in prayer for them. 

God bless, 

Carolyn for the Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Tuesday, June 26, 2007 11:29 PM

Dear Prayer Partners, 

Thank you very much for praying for our time in Balmazujvaros.  During the course of the week we prayer walked every street, including the alleyways.  On Thursday we held a gulyas dinner at our friends' house -- Tibi and Marian became believers about a year ago.  Lost friends were invited, as well as some national believers.  Praise the Lord, during the course of the dinner one person accepted Christ during conversation with one of the national believers!  We are yet to form a new outreach group, but we have many open doors for future work, and we believe there will be a new Bible study group forming soon. 

This week while we are in Greece for our annual mission meeting, our summer interns are prayer walking several districts in Debrecen, trying to create open doors there for sharing the Gospel.  Next week, July 2-6, we will be prayer walking the town of Nadudvar and praying for opportunities there.  Then July 9-13 we will be repeating the process in the town of Puspokladany. 

Thank you so much for your prayers! 

Love in Christ,
Gary and Carolyn Miller

Sent Monday, June 18, 2007 11:20 PM

Hello again from Hungary. We pray that you all are doing well.  A quick update on what's happening here....first of all, prayers were answered in regard to our telephone connection at home--it was hooked up within a matter of days instead of the weeks they had warned us it might take.  We still don't have an internet connection at home yet, though, so please keep praying about that. 

All four of our interns are now here and have had their basic Hungarian lessons and introduction to the work.  Please pray for Gary, Stephen, Jennifer, Jalaine and Jessi as they travel and work this week.  Early tomorrow (Monday) morning they leave for Balmazujvaros, a town of 20,000 not far from here that has only five known believers.  Pray for divine appointments for our team as they interact with the people, make new friends, and encourage the believers that are there.  Pray especially for a Thursday evening party that we are planning to have at the home of one of the believers, who is a professional chef.  It will be an informal time of music, traditional Hungarian food, and time to chat and interact.  Our group and the local believers will be inviting lost friends to the party.  Please pray that friendships will grow and strengthen, and that this special time will allow the Gospel to be shared in a relaxed and friendly way. 

Thank you for your prayers!  We will try to keep you updated as we are able, and when we  have internet at home again we will be posting pictures on our website.

 God bless,
Carolyn for the Eastern Hungary Team

Field Address:  Gary and Carolyn Miller -- Bem Ter 8, fsz.3 -- 4026 Debrecen -- Hungary

Sent Monday, June 11, 2007 9:49 PM

Hello, 

Just a note to let you all know we arrived safely with all our bags.  But there's been a issue with communication.  Unfortunately while we were gone, there was a mix-up about some bill payments, and our phone was cut off, so we do not have phone or internet at home.  It could be a couple of weeks before it can be reconnected. Our Hungarian cell phones work but with no internet this is a real handicap in our work. 

Please pray for us that it will be reconnected as soon as possible, and that we will be able to accomplish what we need to do. Please pray for wisdom, safety and ability to communicate as we plan for the summer. 

Love in Christ 

Carolyn for the Eastern Hungary Team 

Field Address:  Gary and Carolyn Miller -- Bem Ter 8, fsz.3 -- 4026 Debrecen -- Hungary

Sent Friday, June 1, 2007 9:59 PM

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for continuing to pray for the work in eastern Hungary.  Please pray about the plans for the summer outreach projects.  Last night about midnight, while I was praying and planning, I suddenly realized why I was having such difficulty planning - it is humanly impossible to do what I believe God is calling us to do.  That means it has to be a God thing.  He has to provide additional human resources, places to meet, and equipment.  Most of all He has to provide the divine appointments.

Carolyn and I leave the U.S. June 5 and arrive back in Hungary June 6.  Two of the summer interns arrive with us on the same flight.  Two more leave the U.S. June 11 and arrive June 12.  Projects start June 18.

Please pray for safe travel and protection while we are in route.

Please pray that the last minute details will all work out.

Please pray specifically for the outreach in the cities of Balmazujvaros, Nadudvar and Puspokladany.  They will be our main focus and are places we desire to plant new churches.

Pray that God will give us clear focus and the resources we need.

Thank you again for your prayers and encouragement.

In His Love,

Gary, for the Eastern Hungary Team

Field Address:  Gary and Carolyn Miller -- Bem Ter 8, fsz.3 -- 4026 Debrecen -- Hungary

Sent Sunday, April 29, 2007 10:53 PM

Eastern Hungary News Update

Spring 2007

 Dear Family, Friends and Prayer Partners, 

It is hard to believe that we are nearing the end of our Stateside Assignment.  It has been wonderful meeting so many of you again, although there are still a lot of folks we want to see before we go back.  It has also been great making new friends, both across the country and at our church here in Texas.  Cross Timber Baptist Church has been such a blessing to us, and we will miss these wonderful brothers and sisters greatly as we return to Hungary.

Thank you to each one of our committed prayer partners that has supported us through the years.  Now many more have also come alongside us to lift up the Lord's work in eastern Hungary.  It is a blessing to go back to the field with such a mighty army of intercessors under-girding the mission. 

            May marks our fifth annual "31 Days of Prayer for Eastern Hungary."  We invite all of you to join us in this special prayer emphasis.  This year we have developed a prayer calendar highlighting strategic cities and towns.  Each of the featured places has been surveyed, and we believe that focused prayer for these key places is vital in helping to accelerate the work.  The printed calendar has information about each town on one side, with a calendar of corresponding prayer requests on the other side.  On the Eastern Hungary website there is an online version, plus downloads in both PDF and MS Word formats.  The online version, www.hope4ehu.com/maypray07.html  also has links to pictures and further information about many of the places.

            June 5 is our anticipated date to fly back to Hungary, but the Medical Department still has not fully cleared us to return. Gary has to undergo a few more tests over the next couple of weeks, but we do not believe that we will be delayed.  There is no reason to expect any problems; the doctor is just playing it safe.  Please pray that the official word will come soon.

            Summer plans are still developing.  This year the focus changes from ethnographic research to evangelism and church planting, and we believe that this will be the most challenging summer yet.  Pray for wisdom as we focus on the three or four strategic locations that we believe will yield the most for God's Kingdom. 

A total of five summer student missionaries (interns) are coming to help.  Two interns will be returning with us on our flight; a week later two more will arrive, and then on July 1st the fifth arrives.  It is going to be wonderful working with such a large group again!  Please pray for them as they prepare--some of them are still going through the application process and raising their financial support.  Most of all, pray for their spiritual growth and strength.  We are very thankful that other short-term volunteers will also be coming to work with us this summer.  It's so exciting to see the Lord raising up people to come and minister in our area.  You can read more about our interns online at http://www.hope4ehu.com/team_2007.html.

            Please pray about the prospect of longer-term workers coming to help in the Lord's harvest.  Several people have been in contact with us about possibly joining us on the field as two-year Journeymen, and another as a career missionary.  We're very excited about the prospect of having additional team members!  May the Lord work out all the details and bring those He has prepared to come help in the work.

            Thank you for your prayers and support.  We would love to hear from you.

God bless,

Gary and Carolyn Miller

IMB Eastern Hungary Team

Field address:  Gary and Carolyn Miller  -- Bem Ter 8, fsz. 3  --  4026 Debrecen  --  Hungary

Sent Tuesday, March 13, 2006 10:27 PM

Sent Saturday, December 16, 2006 11:31 PM

Sent Thursday, October 5, 2006 10:50 PM

Dear Prayer Partners,

We have just received word that, due to a political demonstration
planned for Friday, Oct. 6 at Kossuth Ter in Budapest, many Hungarian believers
will be observing a day of prayer and fasting. They will ask God that the
demonstrations remain non-violent, that the situation in Hungary will
improve, and that God's will may be done.  They have also invited other
believers to spread the word and to join them in praying and fasting.

Thank you for helping to stand in the gap for the nation and people of
Hungary during this difficult time.

In Christ,
Carolyn Miller
Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Wednesday, September 20, 2006 8:43 PM

Dear Praying Friends,

Please pray urgently for Hungary, as the country is going through what is being called a "moral crisis."  Statements by the Prime Minister were leaked to the press Sunday, which have resulted in anti-government protests in towns across the country.  Last night what began as a mainly peaceful demonstration in Budapest turned violent; about 150 people were injured, including 102 police officers. In a statement today, the Prime Minister said that the overnight riots were "'the longest and darkest night' for the country since the end of communism in 1989."  As of this morning the crowds have dispersed, but protesters have said that they will not be satisfied until the Prime Minister resigns.  Please pray for safety and stability in the country, but most of all for the Lord to be glorified as people re-examine the governing of their nation and the basis of their way of life. As they look for something or someone to put their hope and trust in, may they turn to the One who is always true and faithful. 

We personally do not feel in danger, although we are of course avoiding problem situations as much as possible.  Gary is in Budapest for a language course now, so please do lift him and our Budapest colleagues up, for wisdom about when to not be in certain places.  The crowds that have gathered in towns outside of Budapest have been much smaller and calmer than the Budapest scenes being shown on television. Thank you for interceding!

In Christ,
Carolyn
Eastern Hungary Team

P.S. Here are some English resources that tell more about the current events:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060919/ap_on_re_eu/hungary_politics
http://www.cnn.com/interactive/world/0609/gallery.hungary/frameset.exclude.html

4026 Debrecen
Bem Ter 8, fsz.3
Hungary

gcmiller@pobox.com
www.hope4ehu.com

Sent Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:23 PM

Summer 2006

Dear Family, Friends and Prayer Warriors,

Wow! What a busy and wonderful summer this has been. Yesterday Aug 15^th the last of our volunteers left for the US. For four straight months we have had guests or volunteers here helping us. Many of you were praying for them, and God answered your prayers. If you would like to some photos of some of these projects emailed to you, please reply to Nancy at n.lucas85@sbcglobal.net, or look on our website, http://www.hope4ehu.com/.

In the Spring newsletter there were a lot of things we asked you to pray about. Here are the updates on those. The flooding in Hungary caused much damage to property but very little loss of life. Clean up and dike repairs are still going on, but it could have been so much worse. On a positive note, the flooding created an opportunity where we were able to partner with Hungarian Baptist Aid to help some of the victims. We provided and helped hand out 200 boxes of food and cleaning supplies. Each box also contained a “Jesus” film and a Bible. Please pray that the many seeds that were sown will take root in the hearts of the people.

May was the annual month of prayer for eastern Hungary. Many of the topics in the prayer guides were encountered this summer, and God worked in amazing ways. The prayer guides are still available online at www.Hope4EHU.com, or in booklet form from Nancy Lucas, 3826 Westlawn, Wichita, KS 67203.

God brought the summer plans together. First of all, of our volunteers were able to get flights. Tickets were more expensive than normal and we are very thankful that the volunteers made the extra sacrifice to come.

The summer interns, Stephen and Jennifer, were able to complete our huge ethnographic survey project. The information-gathering took two years, and now begins the final analysis of the data which will give us more direction as we plan long term work.

The blood pressure booth and baseball clinic went very well, providing many opportunities to share the gospel. The spotlight story on the Heart For Hungary website is about this project. You can read more at http://www.teamhungary.com/spotlight.html and see more pictures on our website at http://www.hope4ehu.com/photo_album/2006_june_puspok/index.html

Chris and Dennisa Reade, the couple from Arkansas, stayed for two months to help with the projects and research more possibilities for student ministries. They were able to begin some very good things that we pray will continue to develop in the future. You can read more about their work at http://www.hope4ehu.com/events.html.

New prayer requests for this month:

We have turned in the paperwork to get our residence permits extended. It takes about three weeks for the paperwork to go through the process. There is not a logical reason for the requests to be denied, but lately a number of other people have been having difficulty. Please pray that everything will go through smoothly and we will receive our resident permits without any problems.

Planning for the next two years is already underway. Several directors of missions from Arkansas came on a vision trip to see how they can help with the work here. In addition to seeing what is already happening, they were a valuable resource to brainstorm additional ways to reach the Hungarians for Jesus Christ.

Our summer projects brought us in contact with many national believers that desire to reach out to their own nation. Several have asked us for help in training, planning, and outreach. Please pray that God will show us how to wisely use the time he has given us.

The new school year is about to start. Last year there were 35,000 students here in Debrecen, and the number is likely to be higher this year. We are still praying for two workers to accept a two-year assignment to reach these students. Please ask the Lord to send laborers into the very fertile field of student ministry.

Thank you again for your continued prayer support.

May God richly bless you as serve Him.

In His Love,

Gary, for the Eastern Hungary Team

4026 Debrecen
Bem Ter 8, fsz.3
Hungary

gcmiller@pobox.com
www.hope4ehu.com

Sent Wednesday, July 26, 2006 12:02 AM

Dear Prayer Partners,

Thank you for praying for the disaster relief package distribution that we did in conjunction with Hungarian Baptist Aid last month. Kunszentmarton was a major command point in fighting the floodwaters, and also took in a lot of refugees from the flooding.  Many people in the town had
self-sacrificingly worked in holding back the waters and in aiding refugees, and in doing so had missed work or had given out of what little they had. This project was to help out these individuals who had helped others.  Please continue to pray for the people affected by the flooding, and that those who
received a package will benefit not only materially but spiritually as well (along with the aid items were included a Jesus film and a New Testament.)

Praise the Lord for the work that the summer volunteers and interns have been doing this summer!  The outreach project in Puspokladany made a great impact, and we saw a spiritual receptivity greater than we've ever seen since we began working here in eastern Hungary. The gospel was presented many times, and although there were no known decisions for Christ, the message was received in a positive and even eager manner by many. Please pray that the Spirit will continue to call these people, that they will read the New Testaments that were given, and that we will be able to do the
follow-up that's needed.  Also URGENTLY pray for the people of Puspokladany, as we have just heard that the "big news" around town now is that a Jehovah's Witness church is being built there.  Pray that people will not be deceived by this false witness, but will see the truth as is revealed in Scripture.

The interns have been working in many towns around eastern Hungary gathering useful ethnographic information to help us in future outreach, have prayer-walked/bicycled countless miles, and have made a lot of new contacts. Praise the Lord for keeping them safe so far in their travels, and for the impact that they are making in the lives of those they meet.  Please pray for the follow-up that needs done, and for wisdom in how to strategically use the data they have collected.

Please pray for summer volunteers Chris and Dennisa Reade as they teach at an outreach English camp this week, a joint project with Hajduszoboszlo Baptist Church.  May the children and young people involved be drawn to Christ through the Bible stories, songs, and love shown to them.

For photo albums and more information about the projects, see www.hope4ehu.com. More pictures and updates will be coming soon.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

In Christ,
Carolyn
Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Wednesday, June 7, 2006 11:10 PM

Dear Praying Friends,  

Please pray as we go today (June 7) to the central-eastern Hungarian town of Kunszentmarton [KOON-sent-mahr-tohn] to assist in distribution of disaster relief care packages, a joint project between Hungarian Baptist Aid and the IMB.  The packages contain food items, cleaning supplies, and a New Testament in modern-day Hungarian.  There will be a package for each household in the town, and the mayor welcomes the assistance even though he knows we are Baptist and the packages will contain Christian materials. Praise the Lord for this wonderful opportunity to break down barriers for the Gospel in a place with no evangelical church, to do some broad sowing of the Seed, and for the chance to work alongside Hungarian Baptist brothers and sisters. Pray that those receiving the New Testaments will be drawn to read them and let the Spirit speak.  May the love of the Lord shine forth, bringing hope to the hopeless and drawing hearts to Him. 

In His service,
Carolyn Miller
Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Sunday, May 28, 2006 12:01 AM

Dear Prayer Partners, 

This is the fourth update during the May month of prayer for Hungary.  Thank you to each and every one who has been praying with us through the prayer guide.  Please continue with us for a few more days.  It is difficult to stay focused since the topics in the prayer guide are so general, but those are things we face over and over. 

Several have asked for more specific requests.  We have tried to add some during these weekly updates. 

Our friend who is also a translator called the city of Puspokladany regarding our request to hold the projects there.  It has not been fully OK'd, but they foresee no problem; it is just a matter of insuring there are not schedule conflicts for the areas we need.  So we are going ahead with the planning and will soon begin the promotion work.  Please continue to pray about this.  This is our largest evangelistic project this year. 

Also pray for more translators for the project.  We need at least five more.

On the health front, we received an email from our doctor this morning (Friday) saying that he is being reactivated for the US military even though he retired about a year ago.  He is an American who teaches here at the medical university.  Please pray for him and his family, who will stay here in Debrecen. 

His activation is going to interfere with Carolyn's medical treatment.  He is the one who finally diagnosed Carolyn's back problem correctly after a year of going to one doctor after another.  He not only properly diagnosed the problem but also knew how to treat it.  Please pray that he will be able to train more doctors before he leaves to the states. 

Again, thank you all for your prayers. 

God bless,

Gary, for the eastern Hungary team

Sent Tuesday, May 23, 2006 12:14 AM

Dear Prayer Partners, 

Thank you for your continued prayer support.  It is difficult to keep a month-long focus, but we believe the benefits are well worth it.  The topics for prayer in the Heart For Hungary prayer guide are topics that we face continually. 

There are a couple of additional requests, besides the items in the Guide.  We still haven't heard back from the city officials in Puspokladany about whether they will give us the official permission for the project or not.  We are in the States right now for our son's graduation from Southwest Baptist University, but we keep checking email and have someone watching our mail in Hungary so we can let you know as soon as we hear something.  We also need to get about five more translators for the project. 

We'd also appreciate prayer regarding finding places for the intern team to stay along the bicycle routes  We're getting out into areas where we do not currently have contacts who can help us.  It is exciting to break into new territory, but it also brings a whole other set of difficulties to overcome. 

Thanks for praying!  Your prayers are making a difference in eastern Hungary.

In Him,

Gary for the Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Thursday, May 11, 2006 11:11 PM

Dear Prayer Partners, 

Thank you for continuing to pray with us through this month of prayer.  There are other mission organizations now using this same prayer guide so that their prayer partners will join with you to multiply the effect of our intercession for the Hungarian people.  To me it is very exciting to see how God brings people from all over the world together to pray that the barriers in a culture holding back the gospel will be broken down, and that the good news of Jesus Christ will spread unhindered across the land. 

Last week we reported how we got in to see the local leaders in Puspokladany in spite of the offices being closed.  We are still waiting for the official go-ahead from the city for the project.  Please pray that this will come soon so that we can continue with our planning of the project.

The Hope for Eastern Hungary website has been updated with pictures and information about our summer workers.  You can check it out at http://www.hope4ehu.com/team_2006.html

Thank you again for your continued prayers.

In Him,

Gary

Sent Thursday, May 4, 2006 11:00 PM

Dear Prayer Partner,

As we come to the end of the first week of focused prayer for eastern Hungary, I want to share with you how your prayers are making a difference.

On May 3rd the topic for prayer was "Local Leaders."  (These are the people we often deal with directly when making arrangements for projects.)  On that day, we needed to take an official request to city hall asking to hold a project in the town of Puspokladany in June.  I thought to myself, "I wish we could go after the people in the States had time to pray about this."

As it turned out, a computer problem necessitated postponing the trip until the next day.  When we walked up to the door of city hall there was a note posted saying they were not seeing patrons.  We asked the security man at the door if we could leave the request there anyway.  He directed us to take it to the secretary's office.  When we went into the secretary's office she called the person we needed to talk to and he came out and talked with us personally and read the request right then.  He said the request was in order, and that they would check the dates on the official calendar and get back with us.

If we had gone on a day when they were normally meeting the public he would have been too busy to immediately read the request, and our time would have been very rushed.  Thank you for praying!  God gave us grace in the eyes of local officials even though the office was closed.

Please pray that we can get everything for the project scheduled in a way that will give God the greatest glory and further His Kingdom the most.

In Him,
Gary, for the Eastern Hungary Team

Sent Wednesday, April 26, 2006 11:23 PM

SPRING 2006

Dear Family, Friends and Prayer Warriors,

At times it is hard to believe how God has blessed us with such loving, caring family and friends who stand by us as we serve in a land so far from where we grew up, and many prayer partners who continually lift the Hungarian people before the throne.   Many of you fit into all three of these categories.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support. 

As spring is finally arriving in Hungary, so has the rain.  It, along with the melting snow, has caused many rivers to flood; numerous towns and villages have been hard-hit.  The cost of evacuating areas and trying to contain the floods as much as possible is about 2.4 million US dollars per day.  This is an astronomical figure to the state, and as flooding is expected to continue through May it is projected to use up the entire annual national reserve.  The flooding is affecting many other countries along the Danube, too, and they need your prayers as well.

May is the annual month of prayer for eastern Hungary.  The prayer guides are online at www.Hope4EHU.com, with both a day-at-glance and a scrollable version.  They may be copied, printed, and distributed in any format.  They are also available in booklet form for those who do not have internet access.  To request your copy, write to Nancy Lucas, 3826 W. Westlawn, Wichita, KS 67203.  Due to the fact that we’ve been blacklisted by several email companies we are not able to send out daily requests via email.  However, if you can, please feel free to copy the electronic versions from the internet and send them to those who are interested.

Many colleagues have asked us why we do a month of prayer, and not just a day or a week.  The original goal was not to do a month of prayer, but simply to get the information out regarding the topics we constantly need lifted up in prayer.  These needs focused on three areas: bridges into the culture, barriers to the gospel, and influential people.  It turned out to be thirty topics.  We thought it would be wonderful if people could add just one topic to their prayers daily, then over the course of a month the entire list would be prayed for.  At the end we added one day to pray for missionaries working here.  May was chosen for this emphasis in order to coordinate with Operation Mobilization’s days of prayer for Hungary, and also to saturate Hungary with prayer prior to starting our summer projects in June.

Summer plans are coming along slower than hoped, but are progressing.  Please be praying for the volunteers that are coming to help.  Due to the Football (soccer) World Cup many people are having difficulty getting airline tickets, and the prices are much higher than normal.  Some churches have had volunteer teams cancel.  Thankfully, our teams are still coming, but it means they have to raise more funds to do so.

There are two college interns coming to work with us for the summer.  We had requested four and are still praying for at least one more, because the work will be very difficult for just two.  Pray for them as they prepare spiritually and physically for the long, hard days ahead, and as they raise both their prayer support and their financial support.

In addition to the interns, a couple is coming from Arkansas to help in our summer projects, as well as try to help find what types of student ministries are needed here in Debrecen.  They are coming through the new partnership between the Hungarian People Group Team of the IMB and the Arkansas Baptist Convention.  Their assistance this summer will enable us to do more evangelism projects with local churches, plus let us get a head-start on student ministries for the future.

Another team is coming through Macedonia Mission Ministries to conduct a multi-faceted project in Puspokladany.  They will be prayer walking, conducting a free blood pressure booth, holding a children’s program in the park, and a baseball camp at the sports complex.  This town is very special to us and we long to see a new church planted there.

We are still praying for two student workers to come for about two years.   According to the latest statistics, there about 35,000 students in Debrecen.  Students have become one of the most responsive segments of the population, so many cults have started targeting our city and turning many hearts to the false hope they offer.  We would love to reach them for Christ before they turn to the cults.

Thank you again for praying with us.  Without your prayers and support we could not stay and work here in eastern Hungary.  Here is a short recap of the main prayer requests, with dates:

May God richly bless you as serve Him.

In His Love,
Gary, for the Eastern Hungary Team

Sent March 19, 2006 10:12 PM


Dear Prayer Partners, 

We just got the news this morning that some funding has opened up for us to have an Easter outreach project.  Please pray for wisdom as we make plans on very short notice for how to best make use of this opportunity: exactly where it should be, what we should be doing, and who among the local believers might agree to partner with us in this. 

Please also continue to pray for us in the preparations for this summer's work, and that the Lord would raise up workers to come and help.  We have been planning to do the 2-month project using 4 summer interns, but so far just one has been officially approved, and only one more that we know of is going through the application process.  The project will be similar to the one we did last summer--see http://www.hope4ehu.com/articles/2005_biking.html, or our 20005 summer photo album pages at http://www.hope4ehu.com/photo_album/photos.html for more information. 

Thank you for your prayers for me as I recover from last week's surgery, as I continue to undergo treatment for my back, and for Gary as he tries to narrow down exactly what additives/foods he is allergic to.  Your prayers and encouragement make a huge difference to us, and we appreciate your support very much. 

God bless,

Carolyn Miller
Eastern Hungary Team

Thank you very much for your continued prayers for the work in Eastern Hungary.  As I (Gary) sat down to write this newsletter I realized that we never sent out last fall’s.  Somehow in the hustle and bustle I just missed it.  Sorry for not keeping you updated as I should. 

What is happening here is very exciting, and we continue to believe God is preparing a great spiritual awakening across the nation.  One of the most exciting things to see is new fervor in the prayers of the Hungarians for their own nation.  This movement is cutting across denominational lines, and there is a new stirring in many of the churches.  This is something in which we have not really had a part, it is simply the God of the Universe moving in their hearts. 

Something we got to take part in was a booth for Christmastime in the open market at Puspokladany.  We had originally planned to be in the large Christmas market on the main square of Debrecen.  The company organizing the event mistakenly put us on the list for another place.  Two weeks before the kick-off we were informed that the event was cancelled.  After much prayer and seeking, God led us back to Puspokladany where a volunteer team had held a free blood pressure booth in June.  During the December project we were able to give out many New Testaments and witness to people.  Since then we have been back twice for follow up.  Please pray that small home Bible studies will be started as the first step in planting a church in this city.  This month’s feature article on the Heart for Hungary website is about this event.  You can read more about it at http://www.teamhungary.com/spotlight.html 

Another wonderful opportunity God has allowed us to participate in was a fact-finding trip to Serbia.  The northern part of Serbia was once part of Hungary, and 300,000 Hungarians still live there.  We went to research the living conditions, state of the church, and possible ways to help.  The area is extremely poor due to the civil war during the break-up of Yugoslavia, economic sanctions, and the two NATO bombings.  Much of the infrastructure was destroyed and valuable resources wasted.  Today, many people struggle just for basic needs.  

Ethnic and religious tensions still abound, but very few of those who claim a religion actually practice it.  Pastor Zoli, who showed us around, said that out of the 300,000 Hungarians less than 1,000 are true believers.  The economic conditions and the missing relationship with Jesus Christ have caused a deep hopelessness.  Yet in the midst of the despair, the churches are working hard to meet the people’s needs.  Through much humanitarian work Pastor Zoli has won the respect of people of all ethnic and religious groups.  He says he now wants to feed the people spiritually as well as physically.  The needs are greater than the financial resources, but not greater than God.  He has a divine plan to call these wonderful people back to a vibrant relationship with Him.  Please pray for our leadership team as we plan how to reach Hungarians not only in Hungary, but in Serbia also. 

On a personal note, Carolyn hurt her back last spring.  The prescribed physical therapy only served to worsen the problem.  It came to the point she was almost totally incapacitated by pain.  After many months of going from doctor to doctor and many trips to Budapest without improvement, God has graciously provided a specialist right here in Debrecen who can treat the real problem.  He is an American doctor who studied medicine here and has returned to teach in the university.  In addition to his medical skills, he is a believer, and is becoming a close friend.  Carolyn is still experiencing a lot of pain, but is once again able to work limited hours on the computer.  Please pray that her back will be totally and completely healed, and that we will find ways to catch up on the work that is well behind schedule. 

Part of the work that is behind schedule is the planning for our summer projects.  It takes a lot of researching, scheduling, planning, and then waiting for pieces to fall into place.  That is a major part of our work.  Pray that God will put all the pieces together quickly so that we can be as effective as possible. 

Also, please pray for workers to come into the harvest and help.  We would like to have four more summer interns this year.  Once again they will travel by bicycle across eastern Hungary conducting surveys, prayer-walking and doing outreach projects.  So far only one has agreed to come, so we are praying for three more, two males and one female, to take on the adventure.  

In June a team will come to do the blood pressure booth in Puspokladany again.  This will be our third project in this same city.  God keeps leading us back to this place, and we so desperately want to see a new church planted there.  Pray that even now God will begin raising up those who should come on the team and providing the resources they will need, and that those who hear the gospel will become true followers of Jesus Christ. 

We have also requested two people for a two-year assignment working with students here in the city of Debrecen.  Students have become the most responsive segment of the population in Hungary.  It is our desire to not only reach students for Christ, but also to equip them to be effective carriers of the gospel wherever they go after graduation. 

Prayer is the most important work we can do.  As the statisticians study the great movements of God where huge numbers of people come to Christ, the number one common element involved is prayer.  The fastest growing of all these movements in the world right now was triggered by a missionary who spends two hours a day on his knees in prayer.  He passes this practice on to the new believers.  Prayer is what aligns us to God’s call and purpose, as well as empowers us for the journey and for the great spiritual battles that rage around us.  That is why there is much focus on prayer in our newsletters and emails.  It is not something we just talk about, but try to live out in our daily lives. 

Every May we have 31 days of prayer for Hungary.  The first couple of years we sent out the requests by email, but spam filters have blocked us from many servers even though we do not send out unsolicited requests.  We now have difficulty getting regular emails through so we cannot send out the daily reminders, but all of the prayer requests are online at www.hope4ehu.com or in booklet form.  (These are the same booklets as before, because these are items we continuously encounter and we still need to lift them up before the throne.)  

They can be copied and passed along in electronic form or on paper.  It is not important to us how they get passed along, only that they do.  This is one way that anyone can be involved with the ministry here:  Praying for us and the Hungarians, and passing these requests on to others who will pray as well. 

Also, please send your prayer requests to us.  We commit to lifting each and every one of them before the Lord.  It is a privilege to stand together with you asking God to work His good and perfect will in the lives of His children. 

Love,

Gary, for the Eastern Hungary Team

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