Memphis to Austin to emergency skin graft surgery

It was 2 weeks ago that EB and I returned to Budapest from the US. I spent the first 10 days in Memphis with two of our Polish staff. I wish I had great news to report to you. I wish I could tell you that both of the Polish men I worked with got their support fully raised. We had several great volunteers really sacrifice a lot and work hard to open doors for these two guys (their names in English were Mark and Luke; together we were Matthew Mark and Luke!). But for whatever the reason, folks weren’t buying. Some support was raised but these men will return to Poland soon (they remained after I left Memphis) still in great financial need. The battle may have been lost but the war is not!

From Memphis, I hooked up with EB and together we went to Austin. There the President of Campus Crusade (Steve Douglas) and many of the Vice Presidents of Campus Crusade had a weekend with some of the top donors of Campus Crusade from across America. There the dreams and goals of our ministries world-wide were presented to some of the ministry’s best friends and most generous donors. Poland was given center stage one night and Marek Wyrzykowski, who traveled with me in the States this past summer, gave a great presentation on what the Lord is doing and has done in Poland. Money was raised but still not enough to meet the needs of our Polish staff and ministries.

In Austin at the conference we met one man whose business was bought out by a large corporation. I asked him, “So what are you going to do with the money? Buy a bigger house, another car or new clothes?” “No!” he said as if I had just insulted him, “I am going to use the money to fund the Great Commission!” Music to my ears! We need thousands of men like this who will invest not in the temporal things of this life but who will channel their resources and abilities toward the work of the gospel around the world. God calls ALL Christians to live sacrificially in view of the Great Commission. Not all are called to go but all are called to live passionately whether that is through sending others, giving generously, or praying continually.

EB and me at the Austin conference.

The money is out there for the fulfillment of the Great Commission; there is no doubt. The Lord has blessed abundantly the church in America. There is no greater cause, no greater pursuit man can commit himself to than the spread of the gospel. The Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of worship of all peoples everywhere. Outside of the direct worship of and communing with the Lord, there is no greater pursuit of the Christian church than missions.

Ben's foot 10 days after skin graft surgery

Perhaps the biggest news is what happened while I was in the States and EB was still in Budapest. Our son Ben suffered a third degree burn on his leg just above his foot. It required immediate skin graft surgery. It was over before I even knew what happened. I logged onto my email while in Memphis one morning and had received several emails saying, “Heard about Ben; we will be praying.” I was clueless. When I finally reached EB by phone she was with Ben at a hospital in Budapest where he was recovering nicely. The time change and an out of order phone kept EB from contacting me. Even though it will take some time, we are expecting a full recovery for Ben’s leg.

When we got back to Budapest our hot water was out, the heat didn’t work and our internet phone (with a USA phone number) was broken and there were 21 new mole hills in our front yard (I have been battling a mole for a year). Eventually everything came back on line but it took several days of repairs.

Thank you for your love and for standing with us in ministry; you are valued and needed. As you pray for us, please remember the four Ps:

1) passion: we will passionately follow the Lord Jesus

2) protection: from our kids and teenager to us as we travel, may the Lord watch over us and protect us.

3) provision: may the Lord provide abundantly for the work of the gospel across Eastern Europe

4) Poland specifically; may the Lord give us wisdom, strategy and energy to help raise people to fund the work of the gospel in Poland.

Everyone is costume for our office fall festival party: EB is a cowgirl, Rebekah is a hula dancer, Quentin is a cowboy and Savannah is a super model.

Here Elizabeth is helping with one of the games at our fall festival party.