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Coppages in Hungary: Previous Prayer Requests

Each week we send a short list of prayer requests (which appear on our home page) to Tabernacle Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia. Requests from the previous week are moved here so that we can recall what has been asked for.

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Wednesday, September 1, 2010

• Today was the first day of school. As we begin this year, please pray for good relationships with students and teachers, and that we will be instruments in God's hands.
• Now that we have permission to develop a baseball field, I have been appointed head groundskeeper. Jarrod, the head coach, told me that he doesn't want to have just a good-enough field; he wants to "wow" the city with the results. Please pray that we will have the time, manpower, resources, and money to have a really nice little-league ballpark ready for the kids by the spring of 2012.
• Our Váci church held the first worship service in the new building this past Sunday, and Sára, the pastor's wife, had surgey yesterday. Please continue to pray for her and her family as they deal with many changes and difficulties simultaneously.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

• Our Váci congregation moves into a newly constructed church building this coming Saturday. Please pray for the move, and especially that the building will be a blessing.
• Sára, our Váci pastor's wife, has been in the hospital for two of the last three weeks, and her condition is not yet resolved. Please pray for her health, and for her husband Tamás as he tries to manage two preschool boys, a church move, and a wife with medical problems.
• Karen will be attending a high school orientation camp this weekend. Please pray for good first impressions all around and a beginning of lasting relationships.
• Please pray that we three are disciplined enough to go to bed at a reasonable time.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

• Almost two months have passed since we last wrote you! Wow. When we travel we lose our routine and are often without Internet, so weekly prayer updates didn't happen. We nonetheless continue to depend on your prayers for us. We don't know HOW God works through communication with his people, but we certainly know THAT he does. Thank you for supporting God's work in Hungary this way!
• City Hall has given the Vác Ironmen permission to use a piece of property as a little league baseball field without charge for the next ten years. The lot is in rough condition and needs work. Please pray for the time, supplies, and money that will make this field a useful instrument for God's work here in Vác.
• Please pray for us as we begin a new school year that our schedules and time commitments will allow us to grow in God, to stay close as a family, and to be blessings to those around us. Please pray that we remain in Jesus so that we bear fruit and that our lives and relationships always point to him.

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

• Karen graduated with honors last Saturday. This is an answer to prayer. Now she is preparing for our trip to the US, and Cili (short for Cecilia), her best friend from school, is coming with us. Please pray that these two girls travel well together for five weeks, and that our visits in the US show Cili a few (good!) things that she may have missed out on so far.
• The Vác Ironmen gathered only five players for their last game, officially forfeiting the game. But they borrowed three players from the other team and played a "friendly" match, which they won by one run in the bottom of the last inning! Tonight was the end-of-season pizza party and awards ceremony. Please pray that youth baseball in Vác catches on and becomes a way to minister to kids and their families and to introduce them to the love of Christ.
• As we asked last week, please pray that we do our work well, that we prepare adequately for our imminent trip to the States (next Wednesday!), and that we make sure to include God in everything we do.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

• We are hosting a CEO missions team with a great attitude. They have begun relationships with Lea's students (which can continue through e-mail and Facebook), played with the Deaf kids, painted over graffiti, and helped us around the house. Please pray for their ministry in Budapest next week, their health (especially for allergies), and their spiritual growth while they are here.
• The youth baseball team is learning how to lose with grace. Please pray for their continued willingness to work at a new game. Their last match for this season is on Saturday.
• Karen graduates from elementary school this Saturday! Her exams have gone well, and she has one more tomorrow (Thursday). Please pray for clear thinking.
• Please pray that we do our work well, that we prepare adequately for our trip to the States this summer, and that we do not neglect time with God.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

• Karen has exams this week and next. She requests that you pray for her diligence, memory, energy, and wisdom.
• On Saturday a missions team of five young women will arrive in Vác. For one week they will work with our students and do service projects. Please pray for their safety, for opportunities for conversation, and for the work of the kingdom.
• Tom Foley, the CEO of our missions partner CEO (www.ceokids.org), also arrives in Hungary this week. Tom will travel throughout Europe the entire summer. Please pray for him as he ministers to us and others, and as he opens doors for further work.
• As usual, we ask you to pray for our relationships with people here in Hungary, for a decent baseball field for the kids, and that we will seek God with all our hearts.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

• Good news regarding last week's requests: Lea was healthy enough to attend the wedding this weekend. But now she has a bad head cold. Also, our residency permits were granted. We can stay for two more years!
• Please pray that City Hall will grant the youth baseball team's request for permission to develop a baseball field on city property.
• Karen ends her time at Juhász Gyula Elementary School (4th through 8th grades). Lea wraps up her English classes at Boronkay Secondary School, and Doug has a spurt of extra-curricular activity at the Deaf School before the last day in mid-June (different for all three). Please pray that the three of us finish the years well.
• We travel to the US on June 23. Please pray that we have satisfactory goodbyes with our local friends, good plans for our missions advocacy in Virginia, and safe travel, and beneficial visits with relatives and friends.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

• Lea is sick with a cold and a sore throat. She really, really wants to be healthy enough to go to our Hungarian friends' wedding this weekend. Please pray that she will get over this illness quickly, and please pray for Adri and Laci, the young couple who will get married.
• (Repeated from last week.) For many reasons in our students' lives (pregnancy, family illness, school exams, change of employment), our English lessons have dwindled, and this month our little company faces a cash-flow problem. Please pray that God's work becomes manifest in the lives of our students, and please pray that we have enough students to fulfill our share of our family's support.
• Karen had an excellent week in Austria with her future classmates. Thanks for praying! This week, Karen asks for diligence and energy as she studies for her final exams. She has senioritis: three weeks to go, but she has already been accepted into high school, so what's the motivation? Please pray that she finishes well in her last days of elementary-school education.
• Please pray that two applications will be granted by the authorities: the first is for our residency permits, and the second is the youth baseball team's request for permission to develop a baseball field on city property.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Once again, we thank you for contributing to our work through your prayers. Here are our concerns for this week. Key words (to help you remember) are in CAPITALS.

• Karen is in the Austrian Alps at a German-language camp with next year's high school class. She reports that she is having a blast and that the group is really COOL. Please continue to pray that she matures, gets a good education, establishes healthy relationships, and grows in her faith in God.
• Doug continues to put a lot of effort into the youth baseball team. Please pray that the team develops well and that the coaches can continue to work together despite a schedule that is often like JAZZ. That is, we frequently don't know what will happen next—or when—so we are often not fully prepared and have to adjust as we go along.... Welcome to league organization, Hungarian-style!
• Lea's work schedule at school is fading as end-of-year events wipe out many of her classes. Doug's students are also in a busy time of year, and many have asked for cancellations or long-term breaks before resuming lessons. Please pray that we can maintain adequate income to hold up our side of the expenses, and that we will be God's INSTRUMENTS in the lives of our students.

There: cool, jazz, instruments. Thanks for praying!

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

• Our youth team's first two baseball games weren't the greatest. We lost 14-5 and 19-1 against teams with much more experience. But our players came to practice today and continued to improve. Please pray for the emotional development of the players and continued unity among the coaches.
• We have applied for residency permits that will allow us to stay until 2012. Please pray for favor among the officials who review our applications---ours and other missionaries', too!
• From May 9 to 16, Karen will travel to Austria for a German camp with her future high-school classmates. Please pray for safety, wisdom, learning, and good relationships.
• With our full, full schedules, please pray that God will lead us to do the one thing that we should do at a given time, and that we will have the sense to follow Him.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

• Today Doug and others spent 12 hours working on a backstop for the baseball field, interrupted by a two-hour practice with the kids. The first game is Saturday and there is more work to do, both on the field and in training the players! Please pray that everything comes together smoothly and that it's a fun time for everyone at the game on Saturday.
• Tomorrow all three of us will go to the Immigration Office to submit our applications for a two-year renewal of our residency permits. Please pray for favor among the officials who handle our applications.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

• A baseball ministry. Five believing adults are coaching a young new team, teaching them baseball skills as well as lessons for life and godliness. Please pray for good relationships among the coaches and for a decent field to play on.
• Adequate funding so far, and approval from the Hungarian government to be here for 6.5 of the past eight years. Please pray that both money and governmental approval continue as long as God wants us to be here.
• Relationships with Hungarians. We know some special people over here, but many of them don't understand how much God loves them. Please pray that our relationships deepen, that we can show people the love of Christ, and that we can introduce them to Christ himself.
• Karen! She repeatedly amazes us with her depth and abilities. Please pray that she makes wise choices, seeks truth, and becomes the woman that God has created her to be.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

• We continue to average about 15 players at youth baseball practice. One Hungarian parent wrote to me: "I really liked the [Team] Rules and Objectives sheet the kids got on Wednesday. It is really important for the Hungarian kids to learn to think this way." Please continue to pray that this baseball team becomes an effective instrument in God's hands.
• We are still gathering the documents that will accompany our residency permit application. Please continue to pray for our efforts to stay here for two more years (at least).
• Our individual schedules will be VERY full until school ends in mid-June. Please continue to pray that we remain sane, that our relationships will be preserved, and that we are true ambassadors of God's kingdom in our everyday lives.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

• The first practice for the new youth baseball team was today. Fifteen kids showed up. Please pray that the five adult leaders, all of whom are believers, will be good ambassadors of the kingdom of heaven to the kids and their parents.
• For the first time, some folks in Karen's school did an Easter presentation using the story of Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection. Please pray that people see that this story is true and not just an ancient myth.
• The next few months are going to be very busy for Doug and Lea. Please pray that we all treat each other nicely.
• We are gathering documents for our residency permit applications. Please pray for this process so that we can stay here at least two more years.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

• THE BIG THING: The beginners' baseball camp is on Friday and Saturday! Please pray that the right number of kids will show up, that the weather will be decent, that everyone stays safe, and that the youth baseball ministry will begin on the right foot.
• Please keep praying that our application for new residency permits goes smoothly. Pray that Lea's school will provide the paperwork that will make the immigration officials realize we should stay here. Pray for good moods among the people who decide these things.
• Many people go to church because it is Easter. Please pray that they will hear the GOOD news—not the institutional rules. Pray that as they read and hear God's word, their hearts will be open to the reality of God's intense love for them through Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

• This week, four American baseball afficionados (including Doug) are going to local elementary schools to demonstrate baseball. Many, many kids seem interested in coming to the baseball camp on April 2 and 3. One lady at school saw the children's eagerness, multiplied by the number of schools that we will visit, and asked, "What will you do if 200 kids come to your baseball training camp?" That's a very good question! Please pray that the baseball ministry will begin on the right foot and be a benefit to the kids.
• Lea found out today that she will be given a solid half-time (instead of hourly) position at her school next year, which will make applying for residency permits much easier. Please pray that our residency application goes smoothly.
• On Friday and Monday, Lea will be teaching her kids about the Most Famous Person, Jesus. Please pray that she is coherent, and that the students' interest is stimulated.
• Karen's 15th birthday is this weekend. Because of the generosity of a good friend, we are able to grant her birthday wish of a trip to Vienna. We are very grateful for Karen's presence in our lives!

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

• Our big missions conference is this weekend! Please pray that we have all our ducks in a row, for health, safe travel, and rest for the participants, and especially that God does what he wants!
• New regulations regarding residency permits means that the income requirements for our company will increase, and we are barely breaking even. Please pray that we can satisfy the immigration policies and continue to work here.
• Doug is now a cheerful assistant coach for the youth baseball program. His responsibilities are to teach throwing and catching, and to find a suitable Little-League-sized baseball field. Thanks for your prayers for him. Please pray that many young people show interest in the team.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

• We have been unofficially informed that Karen has been accepted into Boronkay high school. Thanks again for your work on her behalf. Please pray that she stays healthy and that she finishes her 8th-grade year well. (Only three months remain!)
• Doug resigned as coach of the Vác Stars this past weekend. Please pray that the guys on the team will learn how to be part of a team. Doug will now join other missionaries in a project to begin baseball for 10- to 12-year-olds. Please pray that this program will be a blessing to the kids who try it.
• We will host a Christian Educators Outreach missions conference in Vác not this weekend, but next weekend. Thirty-six persons in all will attend. Please pray for our final preparations and for the health and readiness of the partners in missions who will be involved.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

• Karen did well on her German exam last Friday. Her prospects for entering high school look good. Thanks for your prayers for her!
• We are starting the long, burdensome, expensive process of renewing our residency permits, which expire on May 10. Please pray that everything goes smoothly and that all officials will be in a good mood.
• The Christian Educators Outreach missions conference starts here in Vác on March 19. Please pray for our preparations, for everyone's health, and for our spirits to be open to what God wants to do.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

• The final part of Karen's high-school entrance exam is on Friday; this one is an oral exam in German. After this, all her points will be tallied, which will determine which school and which class she will be in. Please pray that she does well and that God puts her where He wants her.
• Please keep praying for the baseball team. About six dedicated players are left on the Stars, and two of these guys despise each other. Starting tomorrow, some people will meet together to pray for the team. Please join them in praying for relationships, emotional maturity, a field, a youth team, and God to work in all their lives.
• Please continue to pray for Chris, my student from last year who wanted to be a sniper. Please pray that Chris allows God to rescue him, fill him, and use him for good.
• Some days, we are full of joy. Some days, we get discouraged. Please pray that we will continually look to God for strength, wisdom, and hope.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

• Karen has many school competitions and tests coming up soon. Please pray that she can maintain her composure and do her best, and at the same time not take these things too seriously.
• The guys on the Vác Stars baseball team need to learn how to be a TEAM. Many of them don't know how to give to something beyond themselves. Please pray that they can learn the rewards of self-sacrifice in a small way, and that this leads to their learning about what Jesus has done for them.
• Lea's to-do list is very long. Please pray that she accomplishes what is necessary and proper, and that she rests when she should.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

• Please pray for a good baseball field in Vác, so that God can effectively use baseball to bring people to himself.
• A team of students from Lea's high school will be coming to our apartment every Friday for the next few weeks to prepare for a competition. Please pray that they feel God's love and presence here, and that our time with them leads to relationships with him through Jesus.
• It is becoming clearer to us that knowing the love of God is essential. We need to understand it better so we can live it and share it better. So please continue to pray that we intimately know God's love.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

• Please pray that all three of us Coppages understand and know the love of God, which goes beyond knowledge. Pray that we are filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Pray that God makes us into the people that he wants us to be.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

• Praise report: Karen has been praying that the graders for the entrance exam would be merciful. Her best friend's grandmother graded her Hungarian language test--and the grandma didn't know the paper was Karen's until she had finished grading it. Even better, Karen got a 48/50 on that half. The math exam was paticularly difficult this year (as was reported on the national news), and we don't know her results on that part yet. Thanks for praying for Karen last week!
• Please pray that God's love will come through in our conversations with students, colleagues, and friends.
• Several of Doug's clients have taken a break from English lessons due to snags in their jobs or personal problems. Please pray for them, and please pray that Doug gets more English students to take up the slack.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

• Karen will take her high school entrance exams on Saturday morning (January 23). She has completed several practice tests, and she was disappointed by some of her scores. Please pray that Karen stays healthy, prepares well, and thinks well during the exams.
• Doug had good conversations with several of the older Deaf kids and a teacher today. Please pray that God uses him in the lives of people at the Deaf school.
• Juliano, a young man from Brazil who speaks fluent English, is teaching at Lea's school for six weeks. We have invited him and several American friends to dinner on Saturday night. Please pray that Juliano is blessed by this gathering.
• Please continue to pray for our health.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

• Our (hearing) church in Vác expelled a member this past week. Please pray for the church during this difficult time.
• Karen's private German lessons started yesterday (which she enjoyed). Please pray for her as she gears up for her high school entrance exams on Saturday, January 23.
• Our connections in the community are gradually spreading. Please pray that we live the gospel in our daily lives.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

• The Vác Stars baseball team had their first practice on Monday, which seemed to go well; at least there were no fights among the team members! "Juvenile" baseball, primarily for 10- and 11-year-olds, is gearing up as well. Please pray that God uses these sports opportunities to share his reality and love with Hungarians.
• During January, some churches in Hungary are praying, fasting, and asking God to sanctify his people so that they can "vigorously witness about" Jesus Christ. Please pray along with these believers that God's people will humble themselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14.)
• Please continue to pray for our health, especially Doug's allergies and Karen's hands and feet.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

• Please continue to pray for our physical and spiritual health.
• Please pray that Lea and Doug will learn more Hungarian (and Hungarian Sign Language) and that they will be brave in using it---not only in everyday situations, but for evangelism, too.
• We know missionaries who must return to the US or who have had to stay in America for extended furloughs because they must find more financial support. Currently, our cash balance at CEO will pay us approximately through the end of February. Please pray that we will have all we need to stay here.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

• We have been giving a candy cane to each of the cashiers and retail clerks at our regular stores. It is great fun to see their faces brighten when we drop these little "happiness bombs". Gratuitous acts of kindness are rare here. Pray that we, with all God's people in this region, will demonstrate grace and love our neighbors day by day.
• Please continue pray for our spiritual health. We need to stay attached to Jesus so he can do his work and bear fruit without our obstructing him.
• And may you know the greatness and goodness and depth and holiness and fierceness and abundance of God's love for you as we celebrate Jesus' birth this year. Snow might make a winter wonderland, but the presence of the Holy Spirit is a taste of the Kingdom of the Heavens. Grow in God!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

• Today Karen has a fever, and recently Doug has had many wintertime allergy attacks. Please pray for our physical health.
• Please pray for our spiritual health, too! We need to stay in Christ so he can work in and through us without hindrance.
• Please pray that we use the holiday as an opportunity to point people to Jesus.

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

• We got a shipment of over 500 traditional American candy canes from friends at Slate Hill Baptist Church! Please pray that we use these to share the story of Jesus with our friends. The true gospel suffers at Christmas, because in Hungary the Baby Jesus, not Santa Claus, brings the presents on Christmas Eve. This makes Jesus into a fairy tale.
• Doug met with the baseball team captain last night. The two players who almost got in a fistfight met and talked about their problem. Things are going better than expected, thanks to God working through your prayers! Please keep praying for emotional health and TEAMwork among members of the Vác Stars. We start indoor practice and field preparation in January.
• Since Karen is in her last year at her school, the class will dance a waltz in full ballroom regalia on Friday night. This is a big event, similar to our Senior Prom. Please pray that it won't be cancelled due to illness, that it goes well, and that she does well.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

• Ildi and Lea had some deep talks on Saturday, which could easily be followed up by deep e-mails. Please pray that Lea has/makes time to write them.
• Many families here do not have enough money to live on. For instance, one dear six-person family in our church receives about $330 per month, which of course cannot cover all their expenses. They are faithfully looking to God for help. Please pray that God will meet His people's every need.
• Karen and Doug have had minor illnesses, and H1N1 is now rearing its ugly head in Hungary. Please pray for our health, and for the health of God's workers here.
• Please pray that we obey God in the little things.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

• Karen will attend a youth girls' retreat in Budapest Saturday and Sunday. Please pray that God will show himself clearly to her.
• On Monday Lea had a short but meaningful conversation with her former student Chris, who wanted to be a sniper. Please pray with us that he will turn over his life to Jesus Christ, and that he will eventually minister to those whom he has hated.
• Instead of having an entire family over to celebrate Thanksgiving on Saturday, the mom (Ildi) will spend the day with Lea. Ildi said that she wants to talk with Lea about deep matters. Please pray for a rich and fruitful time with her.
• Please pray for maturity, emotional health, and peace among members of the Vác Stars baseball team.
• Karen is stressed about schoolwork, competitions, flute recitals, etc. On the other hand, we are seeing lots of spiritual growth in her. Please pray that God will continue to work through her, and that he will give her peace when there's too much to do and not enough time. (No kidding! We all could use that kind of peace!)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

• Tom Foley, the director of our missions partner CEO, is in the middle of a four-week trip to visit CEO's partners in several countries. He will visit us on Thursday and Friday. Please pray for Tom's health and stamina, and please pray that we have good conversations with him.
• Lea has recently been teaching on Jim Crow laws, the Civil Rights movement, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Please pray that her high school kids will get a sense of true justice and that they become willing to work (and maybe fight?) for righteousness.
• Karen is considering taking private German lessons. This will help her get into her high school of choice. Please pray for guidance in choosing a good teacher and for the finances to pay for this.
• We ask you to continue to pray for two items from last week: That our Thanksgiving celebration may do good among the Hungarians, and that Doug establishes deeper relationships during his time at the Deaf School.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

• At the Deaf School, the kids now understand that there will be no baseball until spring. Doug's hours at the school will be spent indoors during free time, with many opportunities to speak with students and teachers. Please pray that Doug's language abilities will improve, that he will stay healthy, and that his relationships at the Deaf School will become deeper.
• Hungary has no Thanksgiving holiday; Thursday the 26th is a normal workday. But we would like to celebrate it nonetheless, and we are considering inviting a Hungarian family (but which one?) to join us for the traditional meal. Please pray that God uses us and this holiday to share his love with others.
• Karen is participating in six academic competitions this month! These enhance her prospects of getting into her high school of choice. Please pray for stamina, adequate sleep, and the wise use of her time.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

• We three Coppages will take a real vacation for three days! Please pray that our time away would be restful, refreshing, and re-energizing.
• Doug has spent the last year learning how to be practical. Now he has to remember to remain connected to God. Please pray that God will be at the center of our lives.
• We know several missionaries who are going through hard times: financial, personal, and spiritual. Please pray for strength and endurance for our colleagues in ministry, and for us.

Friday, October 23, 2009

• Please pray that we and our missionary colleagues will follow God closely day by day.
• Please pray that we stay healthy and can do our work without hindrance.
• Please pray that things like our English classes and the baseball teams will be opportunities for changed attitudes and improved relationships among Hungarians (Deaf and hearing), not to mention eternal benefits.
• Please pray for our students, Doug’s teammates, Karen’s teachers and classmates, and our friends and neighbors, that they grow tired of stale life in a closed universe and instead reach out for the invigorating expanses of fully-functional (Jesus calls it “perfect”) life with God.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

• Doug here this week. Thanks for praying for us. Sometimes we see obvious progress, sometimes not, but I am convinced that conversation with God changes us and those around us.
• Please continue to pray for the Vác Stars baseball team. Their attitude showed marked improvement at Tuesday's practice. We have practice tomorrow (weather permitting) and a game on Sunday (the forecast high temperature is 48 deg F). Please pray for team spirit, a team atmosphere, and team work.
• In recent weeks, Lea has had trouble getting to bed on time. She requires adequate sleep to function well. Please pray that she knows when to sign off on today and get her rest for tomorrow.
• As an 8th grader, Karen is under pressure to perform well this semester so that she can enter the high school of her choice next year. Pray for her that she sets priorities, manages her time wisely, and holds up under the pressure.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

• Thank you so much for your prayers; we can really feel them! According to reports, the women's conference in Szeged went exceedingly well. Some of the touchy situations mentioned last week remain touchy, but we can see God working in these situations and through Doug's words.
• Doug's body is not doing well. Doug pulled a leg muscle this summer and recently tore another muscle in his abdomen. It's painful and limits his motions. Please pray for quick healing and wise movements.
• The Vác Stars are having trouble coming together as a team. A few players are dealing with emotional issues that prevent healthy teamwork. Doug's style of leadership (encouraging) does not meet their cultural expectations (drill sergeant). Please continue to pray for wisdom and tact.
• Karen has recently been praying that we will be obvious lights wherever we go. Please pray that our relationships with God are strong, so that he can shine through us.

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

• Doug asks for prayer for wisdom and tact. He's dealing with a lot of touchy situations in many departments of life. He needs to say the right thing to the right people at the right time.
• Karen is learning to not rely on people for her sense of self-worth and value. Please pray that she will depend completely on God in all areas of her life.
• This coming weekend (October 3-4), there will be two major events in Szeged, a city in southern Hungary. The first is a multi-church (!) women's conference; the second is a city-wide worship concert on the site where a witches' convention was held. Please pray that God shows his reality, truth, and power in both of these events.
• Please keep praying for the same teenager we mentioned the last two weeks, especially for his school situation and for his relationship with God.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

• For many years we have hoped for a Deaf Bible study or church in Vác. We have found that the local Deaf community is mostly separated from the Deaf school. Pray that believers will have more personal connections with the Deaf community in Vác.
• Today we (Doug and Lea) met with the Hungarian teenager we mentioned last week. We had a honest discussion with him, which we hope will do good in his life as well as ours. Please pray for his school situation and for his relationship with God.
• This year most of Lea's students are new; this is their first year with her. But she sometimes bumps into former students like Andris (the believer and encourager), Fanni (who seems to be making poor choices), and Chris (the sniper wannabe). Please pray that these three kids hear, trust, and follow God.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

• Update: On the advice of another teacher at Lea's high school (who is Karen's friend's grandma), Karen decided not to study with a German tutor this semester. Thanks for your prayers for her wisdom in this matter.
• A Hungarian teenager from our church is going through a really hard time. We hope to talk with him soon. Please pray that our words will be wise, loving, and truthful, and that we all learn to trust and follow God even when life is tough.
• The baseball team played respectably in their double-header last weekend. They won the first game 20-9 and lost the second by only three, 11-8. Please pray that the Christians on the baseball team will have a good influence and that their words and actions will encourage good attitudes in the other players. Plus, Doug re-injured a leg muscle that causes frequent discomfort and occasional pain; his playing days are numbered!
• Last week Lea's fellow teacher Csilla was called into the principal's office because of rumors that she was recruiting for a large cultish/toxic church in Budapest. This is not true, but it shows that she has some opposition. Please pray that God will continue to use Csilla, Lea, and other believing teachers in ways that bless others and please Him.

Wednesday 09/09/09

• Please keep praying that we pray, and live our lives conscious of God's presence. We need this more than anything.
• Doug and our missionary friend Caleb are starting to visit the Deaf school for English and recess-type baseball. Please pray that their relationships with the kids at the Deaf school lead to the kids' relationships with God.
• Everything in eighth grade is geared toward their high school entrance exams. Now Karen is trying to decide whether she should be tutored in German, and if so, which tutor should she choose. Please pray for her to make a wise decision.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

• Please pray that we pray. Jesus said that apart from him, we can do nothing. Our friend Tom recently talked about cultivating the skill of prayer. We really need to keep in close touch with God.
• School has started. Karen has quite an academic load this year. Lea must do some creative class preparation. Doug and the English teacher at the Deaf school will meet Thursday morning to plan strategy. Please pray for competence, endurance, and especially wisdom.
• We are in need of English students to support our company. Please pray that we have enough students and that we teach them well.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

• Please continue to pray that we will have God's priorities and follow through on them with God's strength in this school year.
• The Vác Stars baseball team lost two games (miserably) over the weekend. Doug re-strained a tiny muscle in his left leg that causes some pain and a bit of a limp. Please pray for the team's continued development and for Doug's 45-year-old body.
• As Karen matures, she becomes more independent. This is good, but as everyone knows, there are risks. Please pray for her safety, her wisdom, and her continued growth in Christ.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

• It seems like many believers in Hungary, especially American missionaries, are tired, discouraged, and irritable. Please pray that we will all stand strong and let God love each other through us.
• In these last few days before school starts, we are trying to organize our lives for the next year. Please pray that we will have God's priorities and follow through on them with God's strength.
• Doug's baseball team travels to a tournament on Sunday. They will have a double-header with only nine guys. Please pray for strength, stamina, and no injuries!
• We have a new colleague! Matt Brenner arrived on Sunday and will be teaching English at a high school in Budapest. Please pray for him as he begins teaching, learns Hungarian, and ministers in a new place.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

• Please continue to pray that we follow God's plan for our time in the US, and that we always do the One Thing he wants us to do.
• Kristián, the captain of the Vác Stars baseball team, injured both hands in a collision during the last game of the season and underwent surgery to fix the damage. Please pray for his quick healing.
• The government in Vác is in chaos. The mayor is on extended sick leave, the opposition in the City Council has taken over, and many people in the city government are being fired or reassigned. Please pray that God will work out his will in our city.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

• Last week's visit by the mission team was a big encouragement to us. We have also found a lady who is willing to feed the cat (except for one week). Thanks for praying.
• We continue to plan for the Big Trip, which begins one week from today. Please continue to pray that we set priorities well and achieve a proper combination of rest, regeneration, and work while we are in America.
• The Vác Stars baseball team will have an end-of-season cookout this weekend. Two team members, both American missionaries, plan to give their Christian testimony. Please pray that the event will open a few eyes and ears, and that the team can enjoy something that is rare in Hungary: UNITY.
• Please pray for Doug's family, as (1) his 71-year-old mother in Australia is too ill to come to the US this summer; (2) Doug's brother is trying to arrange to go to visit her for a couple of weeks; and (3) Karen plans to travel with her uncle to Australia. Doug's Mom cries from sadness that she cannot travel and cries for joy when she hears that some of us may go to her. Plus, she needs faith in God very much.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

• The CEO mission team (Tom, Mariko, Lauren, Jasmine, Maddie) are here in Vác until tomorrow afternoon. Today they will go to the Deaf school first, then play games with high schoolers in a local park; tomorrow they will lead Lea's classes in wiffleball. Please pray that eternal things will get done while they are here. They leave us on Thursday and will work in Budapest until they fly home on June 20.
• I (Lea) freaked out a bit earlier this week, so I need your continued prayers for being kind, gracious, and not worried. I (we?) also need to set our priorities for this summer, to trust God, and to do the One Thing that God has for us to do at the moment.

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

• Please continue to pray for the mission team that's coming, for Lea's student Chris, and a caretaker for our cat this summer.
• There's a huge amount of stuff to do. Please pray that we get everything done, and that attitudes remain kind and gracious.
• Please pray that donations increase.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

• We are planning for a mission team who will come in early June for five days. They will be working/playing with Lea's students and at the Deaf school. Please pray that the preparations go well, that the hearts of the students here will be open, and that God will accomplish what he wants.
• Pray especially that Chris (Lea's 15-year-old sniper wannabe) will meet God through the team's visit.
• Please continue to pray for a caretaker for our cat this summer.
• Please continue to pray for the Vác Stars baseball team, that their friendships deepen, and that they learn to overcome their self-centeredness and begin to work for the sake of the team.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

• Our church's youth group will meet at our apartment on Friday evening. Please pray that God will work in their thoughts, conversation, and fun.
• Lea hasn't worried much this week about a summer caretaker for Pascal, our cat, so those prayers were answered! We still need somebody to take care of him (and the plants, etc.) while we are in the States, so please continue to pray for our summer arrangements.
• All three of us are tired, which sometimes makes us grumpy, irritable, and reluctant to do what needs to be done. Please pray that we will treat each other with humility, gentleness, and patience, and that we will do our necessary tasks with a measure of cheerfulness.
• Please pray that the baseball team learns lessons from their recent successes at least as much as they learned from last year's failures.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

• Please pray that we find our worth in God alone, not in our own competence or works, which continually fall short.
• Please continue to pray for a house- and cat-sitter this summer, and also pray that Lea doesn't worry about it too much.
• There are about five weeks of school remaining. Please pray that all three of us end our school years well.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

• Lea's seniors have their comprehensive (exceedingly stressful) final exams in the next two weeks. Please pray for the girls, Bella, Dori, Emese, and Kata, and the guys, Dani and Dani.
• We need to begin making arrangements for our house and cat care while we are in America this summer. Please pray that we find a good temporary home for the cat (or better yet, a house- and cat-sitter).
• On Monday we had a good conversation with a friend who is working with the Deaf in Russia. He had some interesting and encouraging suggestions. Please continue to pray that a Deaf Bible study will begin in Vác.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

• Please pray that something more than baseball comes from Doug's involvement in the Vác Stars baseball team.
• Please pray for Karen's youth group, that they continue to grow in their relationships with God and with each other. Also pray for their leaders, our friends Jarrod and Shannon McGuire, who are in the States for two months.
• Please pray that a students' Bible study begins at Lea's high school.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

• Karen will be baptized on Sunday at 3:00 PM at a local swimming pool! While some would see this as a goal, we see it as a beginning. Please pray that she will grow in Christ.
• Karen's test for rheumatism came back negative, which is wonderful news. The doctor would like to examine her for this annually, and she still has a couple of minor problems to deal with. She also has a head cold, so your prayers for her health are welcome. (Her parents are doing remarkably well.)
• Doug's English students have cancelled many lessons this month, often at the last minute. This is rough on our little company's finances. Please pray that he gets more students.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

• Karen has decided to commit to Jesus and be baptized! This will probably take place within the next two weeks.
• Lea's students are studying Famous People, and on Monday the famous person she taught about was Jesus. Please pray that they will want to know more about him, and eventually choose to follow him.
• Lea is doing much better! Her x-ray showed bruised bones, which was the original diagnosis. Doug's back is still giving him grief, and Karen will see her next doctor (a pediatric immunologist) Friday evening.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

• Lea's hip injury has not improved; she is using a walking stick. Karen's fingers continue to swell, and her feet are discolored. Doug's back hurts after every baseball practice. Please pray that Lea can find an interpreter to go with her when she gets her hip X-rayed. Pray that the doctors find out what's wrong with Karen's fingers and feet. Pray that Doug's back gets better.
• On Monday, Lea's school lesson will be on Easter. Please pray that eternal good will come from these conversations.
• Doug is learning that leading a group (a baseball team) is not so easy, and neither is teaching at the Deaf school. Pray that he learns good self-discipline and time management.
• The financial crisis is beginning to affect people's everyday lives here. Pray for the Hungarians, that they find and receive hope and trust and strength from God, who won't let them down.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

• The youth group's progressive dinner went very well! Please pray that the core youth will make Andris, a newcomer who is also a student of Lea's, feel welcome and loved.
• All of us are now dealing with health problems. Doug's back continues to hurt, Lea now feels pain in her hips with every step, and Karen is going through medical tests to determine why her fingers are swollen and her feet are discolored.
• God's frequent message lately has been "trust me." Please pray that we trust him with health, time, commitments, finances, everything.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

• We heard through the grapevine that Miki, our young Deaf friend, is very discouraged and wondering whether life is worth living. Please pray for him, that he will realize that he is valuable.
• Doug is feeling divided between many new opportunities with the baseball team and his previous commitments. Plus, the situation at the Deaf School has not improved much in the past week. Please pray for his priorities and time management, and that he can make a worthwhile contribution in the Deaf community.
• On Friday night, Karen's youth group will hold a progressive dinner--- which is a novelty to Hungarians. Our house is the first stop (soup). Please pray that the kids will have a good time and that their relationships with each other will deepen.
• Lea's bruised coccyx is healing slowly. She's back to her normal walking stride, but she feels pain when bending and changing positions. This problem can last for months or years, so your prayers for healing and patience are still welcome.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

• Update from last week: After three days of moderate pain, Doug's back got better on Thursday.
• Doug went to the Deaf School as usual today, and when he got there he found that a teacher was very upset with a student (who was equally upset back). Later, another girl got angry and broke a window, and yet another girl said that she will have an operation to remove a cyst over spring break. So things are a bit loopy there. Pray for wisdom and maturity for those who should have it.
• We met with some colleagues from the Czech Republic recently and shared notes on our lives here. Please pray for the skeptical peoples of Central Europe and for the faithfulness, persistance, and JOY of all the Christ-followers and missionaries here. This is not (yet) fertile ground for the gospel, but there is hope!
• Last Sunday, Lea slipped and fell on wet stairs and bruised her coccyx. She is feeling a fair amount of pain and is moving rather slowly. Please pray for a quick healing and, meanwhile, patience.

Thursday, March 4, 2009

• Updates from last week:
  • Mark Newell's presentations to Lea's classes went very well.
  • Next year, Lea will probably fit her classes into two six-lesson days.
  • The baseball team meeting on Saturday was a success.
• Doug's back went out (again) after baseball practice on Sunday. He's rather sore and is taking it easy this week. Please pray for a quick recovery. Also, Karen's two fingers are still a bit swollen and painful.
• Please continue to pray for our interactions with students, colleagues, classmates, the Deaf, and the baseball team.
• Kosd, a village near Vác, appears to be full of emotionally injured Christians. Please pray that God heals people's hearts, their faith, and their relationships. Pray particularly for our friends János and Klára, who live in Kosd and whose marriage is shaky.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

• First of all, thank you for praying for Andris! He came to youth group on Friday and church on Sunday, and he told Lea's colleague that he really enjoyed it. His family regularly goes to a "modern" (his word) church in Budapest on Sunday afternoons.
• Mark Newell, a friend and colleague from Budapest with the Navigators, will teach Lea's classes on Monday. His topic will be the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Lea and her kids have been preparing for this visit for quite a while. Please pray that it goes well, and that eternally good things will happen.
• Lea has been unofficially asked to teach three days per week instead of two. They would like to know by Monday. Please pray for God's wisdom in this decision.
• Karen's right index finger (and sometimes her right middle finger) has been swollen for several days. We had planned to take her to the doctor Monday afternoon, but since then she said that her finger keeps getting better. Please pray that this problem heals up, preferably without medical intervention; but if she does need to see a doctor, pray that we find a good one and that we can communicate well.
• Many of the students at the Deaf School are going through difficult times (which includes bad behavior and, frankly, some pretty stupid decision-making). Please pray for the teachers' wisdom, compassion, patience, and effectiveness in dealing with these confusing and compicated situations.
• The Vác Stars Baseball Team will have a general meeting this Saturday. Please pray for unity, purpose, and harmony among the members.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

• God did lots of good and amazing things at Lea's school last week--even more than we expected. And already there is opposition. Please pray that the will of God will be done in people's lives there.
• Lea's student Andris told someone that he would like to go to our church's youth group this Friday. Please pray that he goes and finds it worthwhile.
• Please continue to pray for God to work among the Deaf here in Vác.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

• Lea here. Doug's cold passed very quickly, and he was up and teaching by Monday. Thanks for your prayers for him!
• Next Wednesday (February 11), three leaders from our church will be speaking to 32 of my students about Love and Marriage; and then the next day, my lesson will include a passage from I Corinthians 13. Please pray for Tamás, Sára, Tibi, and me as we prepare for these presentations and then talk with the kids. Please pray that God's word will not return void/empty, but will accomplish what he desires and achieve his purposes.
• Tom Foley, director of CEO (our missions organization), announced that he was resigning from his day job as chaplain at Covenant School in Charlottesville in order to devote more time to CEO, which he calls his "vocational passion." This is exciting for us, and it is more evidence that God is working! Please pray that God continues to use him in powerful ways, and that God supplies every need for him and his family.
• I keep doing stupid and clumsy stuff, such as forgetting to pay a big bill and breaking my new camera in a fall. Please pray for my brain and coordination.
  Interestingly, a couple of days after my camera broke, we received a digital camera in the mail (a miracle!) from Lindsay Comstock, who sent it from Indonesia many days beforehand--another miracle! God's people continue to take care of each other!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

• Doug has a sore throat and is resting. Please pray that he gets better quickly.
• Please pray that we will have opportunities for good spiritual conversations with the people around us.
• Karen now thinks on her own about God, faith, etc. Please continue to pray for her spiritual growth.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

• Miki's former foster mom, who cannot keep him anymore, found a cousin of his in eastern Hungary where he can stay. We hear that Miki was thrilled to find family. Please pray that he will be a good guest in his cousin's home, that he won't be isolated, and that God will continue to speak to him in powerful ways.
• Erzsi néni (Aunt Lizzy), a very old lady in our church, had surgery yesterday. Her equally old husband, Feri bácsi (Uncle Frank), broke his arm during an ice storm last Thursday. Please pray for both of them as they heal and try to manage life in this difficult time.
• Some students at the Deaf Boarding School are getting out of hand. Recently, three young teenagers broke into a kitchen and stole champagne, after which they got drunk, stole other students' belongings, and beat up a younger kid. They will have a hearing soon. Please pray that these and the other students at the school will wake up and learn about real life.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

• Thanks for praying for our young friend Joelle last week; she was doing much better by Thursday night, and she continues to improve.
• Please continue to pray for our Deaf friend Miki. He is not experienced in life, and he expects others to do stuff for him, like find a job and a place to live. The court will review his case sometime in February. Please pray for the two churches, hearing and Deaf, who are trying to help him, and also pray for Miki's honesty with both God and other people.
• Please pray that we will be open to spiritual conversations with all of our students, or in Karen's case, classmates.
• Baseball practice (winter training) for the 2009 season has started, and Doug is honing his skills as a coach. There are five believers associated with the team: Doug, two American missionaries, a son of one missionary, and a Hungarian. Please pray that they will have a good influence on the other players.

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

• On Monday, our unemployed, homeless, young Deaf friend Miki sent messages to leaders of the Deaf church. Later, we received a message from them: "Miki needs us to pray for him, he wants to change," followed by lots of praises to God and Hallelujahs. Please continue to pray for Miki, his faith, and his situation.
• Also on Monday, students in two classes asked Lea about her faith. Chris (nominated by Lea as Most Likely to Commit Murder) was one of the questioners. Please pray that this leads to deep conversations and wise decisions on the part of both Lea and her kids.
• Joelle, the 3-year-old daughter of American friends here in Vác, is having major intestinal problems. Please pray for her quick return to health.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

• Miki (sounds like "Mickey") is a Deaf guy who used to come to the orphans' Bible study, but now he's too old (22, maybe?) and has no place to live. He has been hanging out with our good friends Jarrod and Shannon McGuire AND Shannon's family, who are visiting for three weeks. The McGuires don't know sign language, Miki is not good at Hungarian, and he certainly doesn't know English! However, Shannon's dad told me that they have been ministering to Miki since Christmas Eve.
  
  Today Miki came to our hearing church, and Doug and I tried our best to interpret for him. Even better, he and Doug just left for Deaf church in Budapest. Please pray that the Deaf church will minister to Miki, God will call him, Miki will respond, and that a Deaf church or Bible study will start in Vác soon! Also pray that godly people (the Deaf church? our hearing church? us?) will help Miki find a safe place to live.
  
  In additional good news, last week the pastor of our hearing church in Vác said that the church would be delighted to provide a place for the Deaf to meet. Our new location is great--in the center of town, near the Deaf school.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

• One of Lea's students, Chris, has expressed hatred toward specific groups of people. Lea mentioned this to her prayer group on Tuesday, who prayed that Chris would have a powerful experience with Jesus as Paul did, and even that he would minister to the people whom he currently hates---as Paul did! Please pray that God tenaciously pursues this young man!
• Lea's friend Ildi attended the Ladies' Christmas Tea this past week, during which an enthusiastic evangelist talked with her for a while. This conversation has renewed her thinking about eternal matters. Please pray for wisdom as she and Lea spend some time together soon. Even more, pray that Ildi starts to believe that God loves her and is deeply concerned about her life.
• During the next two weeks, our work schedule will be greatly reduced, and Karen will be off school. Please pray that we will use this Christmas break wisely and begin the new year refreshed and ready to go.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

• Please continue to pray for the students at the Deaf school: Anett, Zsuzsi, and others, that they will discover God's love and grace through his people.
• Next Wednesday afternoon, there will be a Christmas party for the English students at Lea's school. Lea is organizing a Spontaneous Melodrama based on the shepherds' story of Luke 2. Please pray that the students will hear and understand that a Rescuer has been born, bringing glory to God and peace to people.
• Please pray for our health. It has been iffy during the last few days, especially for Doug and Karen.

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

• Doug reports that Anett (recently truant from school after violently threatening her mother) was back in school this week. Now another girl, Zsuzsi, an orphan whom we have known for six years, seems withdrawn and depressed. Please pray for the students at the Deaf School, that God will give them what they need as they go through tough times and learn how to live.
• Thanksgiving for Lea's students went over very well. Thanks for praying! Now her room is colorfully decorated with paper turkeys in the form of the students' hands, and every kid has written on them four things that they are thankful for. Please pray that they learn who to be thankful *to*!
• As usual, there seems to be more to accomplish than there is time. Please pray that we will do the One Thing that God wants us to do at every moment.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

• On Thursday, Lea will teach all five of her classes about Thanksgiving. They will play games and eat representative snacks. Please pray that God will use her to plant seeds of thankfulness in these kids' lives.
• Anett, an older teenage student at the Deaf school, has been absent for two weeks. A teacher told Doug that Anett brandished a knife at home and chased her mom through the house. Please pray for Anett's family, and pray that Anett's heart will be healed through coming to God.
• Please pray for the growth and maturity of the Deaf believers in Budapest—and that a Bible study for the Deaf will start in Vác.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

• Please pray for József, a friend in his forties who recently found out that he has severe liver problems because of a blood transfusion when he was a baby. Please pray for his physical healing, his spiritual healing, and for his family.
• Doug asks that you pray for his continued spiritual maturity.
• Lea will take part in a ladies' retreat in southern Hungary this weekend. The theme of the retreat is "Abiding in Christ" from John 15. Please pray for the leaders and participants.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

• Doug arrived safely home this morning. Please pray for his re-entry into Hungarian society.
• On Monday Lea found out that three of the other English teachers at her high school (Boronkay) are meeting to pray for the school for an hour each week. Isn't that fantastic?? Please pray that God will work in the lives of students and faculty there. Pray in particular for Jorgeosz ("yor-gos") and Andro, two students (brothers) who have been on her mind a lot lately.
• Please continue to pray for a Deaf Bible study in Vác, and pray that the Deaf church in Budapest will be willing to lead it. Hopefully Doug will be able to talk with the Deaf church about this on Sunday afternoon.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

• According to the Internet, Doug's plane has landed in New York, and he will be in Richmond late tonight. Please pray that God accomplishes HIS purposes for Doug's visit to Virginia.
• This afternoon one of my colleagues, Csilla (cheel-la) and her students sponsored the first English tea at my high school, which was a lot of fun. Csilla is a strong believer, and it is a joy to work with her. Please pray that the Christians in the school will be light and salt in a dark and tasteless place. Please pray the same thing for Karen in her school, too.
• Please continue to pray for a Deaf Bible study in Vác, and pray that the Deaf church in Budapest will be willing to lead it.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

• Our hearing church in Vác moved closer to the city center last week, which made us wonder if we can start up the Deaf orphans' Bible club again. This will need cooperation from lots of people, most importantly the Deaf church in Budapest. Please pray that Deaf people in or near Vác will have a way to learn about God through the Bible.
• We had a delightful visit with Tom Foley, the director of our missions organization. He is incredibly helpful to our souls, and we are glad that he can come as often as he does.
• Doug flies to Virginia next week, and he will probably be in your midst a week from Sunday! We know that this trip is the exact right thing at the exact right time. Thanks so much for encouraging us in it!

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

• Lea's voice is not the strongest in the world, so it tends to fade by the end of each teaching day. Please pray that, especially on Mondays and Thursdays, her voice holds out as long as it needs to. Also pray that she helps her students learn to respect each other.
• Tom Foley, the director of our missions organization, has just arrived in Hungary. Please pray that we continue to have a good, productive, and encouraging visit with him.
• Please continue to pray for Doug as he grows spiritually and prepares to visit Virginia.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008

• Please pray that we can show God's reality and love to our colleagues and students (and in Karen's case, to her classmates and teachers).
• Our hearing church will soon relocate and is now renovating our new meeting place. Please pray for adequate help, safety, and good fellowship.
• Repeated from last week: Doug is planning his visit to Virginia (October 22 - November 04). Please pray for his scheduling decisions. Also pray that he will continue to grow spiritually and will fulfill his responsibilities well until he leaves.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

• Please pray for the person who stole Lea's purse (a costly loss: passport, residency permit, credit card, camera, Palm PDA, Virginia driver's license, cash, etc.). You never know what God will do with sinners, including us! You can also pray that no one uses the information to steal her identity. God made us each unique, and it is good to stay that way.
• Doug is planning his visit to Virginia (October 22 - November 04). Please pray for his scheduling decisions. Also pray that he will continue to grow spiritually and will fulfill his responsibilities well until he leaves.
• Our church's lease has expired, and so we will change buildings in early October. The youth (including Karen) will be celebrating their last meeting in the old building with an all-night party on Friday/Saturday. The youth will also be dividing into older (college-university) and younger (middle-high school) groups, which has introduced some anxiety. Please pray that the youth of our church will grow.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

• Please keep praying that a Deaf Bible study begins in Vác.
• Lea likes being a teacher! Thanks for your prayers, and please don't stop!
• Doug continues to grow in grace; please continue to pray for his spiritual development.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

• Lea's first day of teaching is tomorrow. Please pray that she will be consistent, respectable, and firm (strict!), and that she will find the best way to reach her kids.
• Karen has a lot of new subjects this year, including chemistry, physics, and biology. She also has a lot of memorization to do. Please pray for her brain.
• In addition to beginning a new year at the Deaf School, Doug is undergoing a lot of spiritual growth, which is beneficial but not always easy. Please pray that he stays intent on God and manages to fulfill his responsibilities well.

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

• All public school students in Hungary start classes on Monday, September 1. Karen will enter the seventh grade, Lea will teach at her new high school, and Doug will return to the Deaf school. Our lives will be full. Please pray that we work well, that we not worry, and that we show God's love to the staff and students at our schools.
• Lea found out today that her school schedule is intense but very convenient. She will have five or six classes—straight—every Monday and Thursday. One of her fellow English teachers is a believer, and another one unloaded lots of personal concerns. Please pray for chances to minister to coworkers and students.
• Last week we asked that you pray for us to (1) trust God, (2) deal with past grief, and (3) love unloveable people around us. We truly appreciate your prayers for our continued spiritual growth. Please continue! God is working on our hearts in deep and interesting ways.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

• Just like many of you, in a week or two, things will really start cranking here as the school year begins. The three of us will all be involved at three different schools, potentially with less family time than before. Please pray that we will prepare well, that we not worry overmuch, and that we can show God's love to the staff and students at our schools.
• Please pray for our spiritual growth, that we (1) trust God, (2) deal with past grief, and (3) love unloveable people around us, sometimes including ourselves! :-)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

• Lea and Karen worked at the VBS in Kosd, and they say that it went very well. Now we can pray that the seeds planted there will one day grow to fruition.
• Lea's trip to Zirc with Ildi also went well. Please pray that our relationships with Hungarians will grow and deepen, and that we will have opportunity and boldness to share the love and message of God with them.
• It is now August in Hungary: a slow, lethargic time when the country goes on vacation. Please pray that we will prepare for September, when everything begins cranking again: Lea begins her new job at the high school, Doug resumes volunteer work at the Deaf School, and Karen enters the seventh grade.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

• Next Monday through Wednesday, our church in Vác will hold a three-day Vacation Bible School (not a common thing here) in Kosd (pronounced like "coached" but with SH instead of CH: "coaSHed"), a village about ten miles away. Please pray that, through this VBS, many people will be brought closer to God and to each other.
• This coming Saturday, Lea plans to go with her friend Ildi to Zirc ("zeerts"), Ildi's hometown. Please pray for Ildi's health (she's sick now), good conversation, and that they will both see God at work.
• A couple of the Deaf kids went with Doug to watch baseball practice yesterday. Please pray that Doug's relationships with the Deaf kids and the baseball guys will lead to eternally good things.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

• Please pray that we go through each day conscious of God's presence, love, and power, and that we treat those around us accordingly.
• Please pray that we will have enough students and enough work to pay the bills.
• Please pray that what we do will lead to a Deaf Church in Vác.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

• Please pray that we will listen to God and plan well.
• Please pray that we will be good teachers and fulfill our responsibilities to our students.
• Please pray that what we do will lead to a Deaf Church in Vác.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

• During our time in England, we had several "divine appointments," plus the joy of being with Lea's sister and her family. Please pray for our brother-in-law Brian, who has been sick the last few days. They travel back to the States on Friday.
• Stewart, an unemployed young man in York, made a decision to follow Christ two Sunday nights ago. Please pray that he will grasp how vast God's love is, so that he will be completely filled up with all the fullness of God.
• Renata, a good-hearted young lady from Poland, has had a difficult first year in London. Doug met her at her new, better job at a laundromat. Please pray that she will find real life in God.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

• Doug's meeting with the Deaf believers on Sunday turned out fine. Relationships among them have improved.
• On Friday we will begin twelve days of vacation in England, spending time with Lea's sister, Donna, who is taking part of her sabbatical there. Please pray that we will grow closer to God and do his will, even in our "free time". Some missionary colleagues report that England has forgotten much about God and is a hard place for the gospel; so every little bit will help them!

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

• Good news: This week we received new residency permits, valid for two years!
• The three major Hungarian denominations (Catholics, Calvinists, and Lutherans) decided that 2008 would be the "Year of the Bible." The Catholic basilica in our town is holding a big gathering this weekend (June 27-28) to encourage "renewal of the church through the power of the Bible." Please pray that this will indeed be the result. It would be a tremendous boost if the existing churches could experience awakening by meeting God in the Scriptures.
• There is a bit of friction among Deaf believers in the church in Budapest. Please pray for their reconciliation.
• We have incurred some unexpectedly large expenses: federal and state income tax for 2007 ($2500 and $500), estimated withholdings for 2008 ($1500 per quarter), immigration lawyer's fees ($1500), not to mention our "money-saving" vacation to England. (We thought it would be cheaper than visiting the US this summer. Oops.) Please pray that we will have enough money to continue, especially considering the weakness of the U.S. dollar.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

• On Wednesday we spent a delightful day with IMB colleagues from Hungary and several surrounding countries. Doug interpreted for Deaf missionaries, while Lea and Karen enjoyed fellowship with friends. Please pray that all Christians in Central Europe work together to bring the good news of Jesus' love to hopeless, hurting people.
• On Tuesday, Lea accepted the offer of a teaching job at the high school! Hungarians are saying, "The children will love you," while Americans (especially teachers) are saying, "Don't smile until Thanksgiving!" Please pray that she prepares adequately for the challenge of teaching teenagers.
• Please pray that we walk closely with God every day. We need this the most.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

• On Friday at 2:00 PM (8:00 AM Virginia time), Lea has an interview with the high school where she would like to teach next year. Please pray that it goes well, and that God's desire will be made clear to them and to us.
• Thank you for praying for more English students for us as the school year comes to an end. They are starting to call us! Please keep up the prayers, because we need the work.
• A five-member missions team has been with us the last five days. They have been able to spend time with the Deaf church, with the kids at the Deaf school, and with our hearing church's youth group. They have been a real encouragement to us and have helped a lot. Please pray for the remaining weeks of their trip. They will be spending time with English students in Budapest (June 11-21) and serving in war-scarred Vukovar, Croatia (June 22-28).

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

• From Saturday to Wednesday (June 7-11), a five-member missions team will join us in Vác. Please pray for a fruitful time with the Deaf kids and with our Váci church's youth group. Pray for the team's flexibility, unity, and an attitude of servanthood. Please pray for us as we prepare, and pray especially that our relationships with God will flourish.
• The school year is coming to an end, and so is Doug's time at the Deaf School and many of our teaching appointments with students. Please pray that we will take opportunities to have good conversations with students and that we can gather enough lessons during the summer to pay some of our way.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

• Please pray for our relationships with God and our prayer lives. When life is busy, it often seems that God gets short shrift.
• Please pray that Doug's involvement at the Deaf School and with the baseball team will yield opportunities to plant the seeds of belief in the people he works with.
• Please pray that we will have enough English students to pay our bills.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

• Thursday morning (May 15), Karen leaves for her five-day exchange trip to Austria with her classmates who are learning German. That afternoon, Lea's parents arrive in Hungary for three weeks. Please pray for health, safety, and good visits all around.
• Please pray that Doug's involvement at the Deaf School and with the baseball team will plant the seeds of belief in the people he works with.
• Please pray that we will have enough English students to pay our bills.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

• On a very mundane but necessary topic, we have just started the process of renewing our residency permits. Please pray that we will find favor with all those officials who will review and approve our applications.
• Early next Thursday morning, Karen will go on a five-day exchange trip to Austria with her classmates who are learning German. Please pray for her health and safety, and that she will have a good influence on the people she meets.
• That same day (May 15), Lea's parents arrive in Hungary for a three-week visit. Please pray for their health and safety also, and that we will have a good time together.
• Please pray that Doug's involvement at the Deaf School and with the baseball team will plant the seeds of belief in the people he works with. We are starting from scratch in many places.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

• Lea is safely (and happily) in Virginia. Please pray that she gets rest and refreshment from her visits with loved ones, and that her presentations will lead others to deeper commitment and service to God.
• Doug is very, very busy doing his own work plus those things that Lea normally does—but he's not so good at them. Please pray that he has the energy and sense of duty to do the one thing that needs to be done at the moment, and that he is not distracted by the hundred other things that whine for attention.
• With Lea absent, Karen has carried herself rather maturely in what could be a trying situation. Please pray for her continued growth in body, mind, and spirit.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

• Lea flies to Virginia today, where she wants to make about a year's worth of visits in three weeks. Please pray for safety, health, and useful service to God for all three of us.
• Please pray for Karen, because she will lack the accustomed degree of parental attention. (Doug will be teaching Lea's students in addition to following most of his regular schedule.)
• Please pray for Doug, that he will be able to function adequately during Lea's absence with good humor and gratitude.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

• Many students in Karen's class are consistently picking on a girl named Blanka. Now there are two opposing groups, and Karen has been called a "traitor" by some because she has come to Blanka's defense. Please pray for Blanka's reconciliation with the rest of the class, and pray that these kids learn to respect each other.
• Lea has a lot to do before she departs for America, and not much time in which to do it. Please pray that she keeps her sanity, so Doug can keep his, too. Pray that we all do the One Thing that God has put before us at a given moment.
• Please pray for Doug, that he will have a good attitude about things that he must do.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

• Karen is now a teenager! Give thanks with us for her presence in our lives and for the person that she is. Please pray that she will be the person God has created her to be.
• As prices go up, the dollar goes down. With this week's dive, the dollar is worth about 2/3 what it was when we arrived in late 2005. Inflation in Hungary is at least as high as in the U.S. Please pray that God provides through our work and through the donations of his people so that we can stay in Hungary as long as he wants.
• Our little Deaf church moves around! This past Sunday they met in Györ, in northwest Hungary. They are trying to start churches in several places. Please continue to pray that a Deaf church will start here in Vác!

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

• Last week Doug handed papers to our immigration lawyer to begin the renewal of our work permits. Thus begins another round of applications necessary for us to stay in Hungary. Please pray that our case finds favor among the officials who will be responsible for allowing us to live and work here.
• Easter will be "open mike" day at our church in Vác, where anyone can stand and tell the group what God is doing in their lives. Please pray that the body of Christ will take this opportunity to open up to each other.
• Because it's Holy Week, many Hungarians will make their annual Easter-time visit to a church. Please pray that the story of Jesus' death and resurrection will make its way into their hearts and that they will be changed.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

• Turnout was high at Sunday's national referendum, and the vote was strongly (80-20) against the government’s recent acts. On Tuesday Parliament reversed some of its decisions (effective April 1) but warned that money would not be reinstated, particularly for education and medicine. Numerous demonstrations are planned for this weekend, a national holiday with strong emotional content. Please continue to pray for Hungary!
• Also this Saturday, Doug's baseball team has a scrimmage against the old (mid-1990's) Váci baseball team. Please pray that God will use these events to bring people closer to Him.
• Here is one that Doug will repeat from time to time: Please pray for awakening among the Deaf to the things of God. Ask God to nudge people in ways that we cannot, that they might be hungry for something besides physical food.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

• Karen often thanks God for our happy and loving family. I second that. Please pray that our relationships deepen through her teen years and that our family's love is a testimony to Hungarians.
• Lea intends to hand in her résumé and cover letter (freshly translated thanks to friend Ildi) to the high school where she wants to work. Please pray that this job possibility goes well—that is, according to God's purposes.
• I need to avoid discouragement and distraction, two great killers of missionary endeavor. Please pray for my attitude and diligence. If my relationships with God or people go sour, then it is not useful for me to be in Hungary.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

• The baseball clinic on Sunday was a mission of three Christian major-league players. Doug learned many things about baseball, and one of his Hungarian teammates heard a player's testimony. Please continue to pray that Doug and our young friend Caleb will be good influences on these guys.
• Today Lea asked Ildi what she thought about Jesus, particularly from what she's read in the gospels (Matthew, Mark, and part of Luke). Ildi said that she doesn't always agree with him. That's understandable, of course; but please pray that God opens her heart to his truth, goodness, and love.
• Karen doesn't think her score at the math competition was good enough to please her teacher, but the teacher nominated her to be one of six kids from the school to join a city-wide math club. Please pray that Karen will learn to handle lots of schoolwork in a finite amount of time.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

• Report: Thank you so much for praying with us! We have all been healthy for the last week, for which we thank God—and you! Also, we had an encouraging visit from Tom Foley, the director of CEO (our missions partner) and two men from a CEO-partner church in California. The train strike was scheduled to resume at midnight last Thursday, which would have been rough on their plans. But at the last minute, the railroad union decided to continue running trains for five more days.
• On Friday (February 22), Karen will be participating in a school math competition for the first time. Please pray for her nerves and her brain!
• Please continue to pray that Doug's work at the Deaf School and with the baseball team will have good results. The baseball team travels to Budapest on Sunday for a clinic run by a major-league pitcher. Please pray for safe travel and good "bonding" time.
• Since Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia on Sunday, life there has not been peaceful. People are worried about war and about having enough food to eat. Please pray for this part of the world, where people can remember offense and retain hatred for centuries. Only Jesus can break through such prejudice and enmity. Also pray for believers who are working to make the Prince of Peace known in these lands.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

• Tom Foley, the director of CEO (our missions partner) has just arrived for a five-day visit to Hungary and Croatia. He will be traveling with two men from California whose church supports an orphanage in Ukraine (another partner of CEO). Please pray that their bodies will adjust quickly, that the train workers won't go on strike during their visit, and that we will all be an encouragement to each other.
• Doug continues his regular work with the baseball club and at the Deaf School. Please pray that his work will have lasting and beneficial results for everyone involved.
• Three times in the last month, Karen has vomited for two hours straight, and therefore has missed three days of school. We took her to the doctor this morning after episode three, and we have no real news or diagnosis. Please pray that she has nothing chronic or long-lasting.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

• Please keep on praying that Doug overcomes internal resistance to important changes that God wants to make in his daily routine, his general attitude, and his outlook. Good things are happening, and we want them to continue.
• Please continue to pray that an effective Bible study for the Deaf will be established here in Vác. (Note use of passive mode; we do not know exactly how this will happen.)
• The general situation in Hungary is not good. We are in the fourth day of a national railroad strike, so transportation is limited. Most people are quite fed up with the current leaders, and the next elections are in 2010. So the mood is rather sullen. Please pray that hopeless people can find hope and that some in this very pessimistic nation can find faith in God.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

• Doug had a very good time with God last weekend while Lea and Karen were out of town. He is experiencing good changes in his daily routine, his attitude, and his outlook on life. Please pray that he can overcome internal resistance to these changes and that he regularly walks closely with Jesus.
• Szabi (rhymes with "Bobby"), a young leader of the Deaf church in Budapest, already has many demands on his time, and he just got a new job. Please pray that he will have strength to do all that he needs to do.
• Lea's good friend is reading her New Testament and asking great questions. Please pray that God continues to open her heart and mind to his love and good news!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

• Doug's flu started abating rapidly last Wednesday. He's okay now. Doug is, however, going through a time of fighting discouragement. It is hard to go week after week with no apparent progress, no manifestations of the kingdom, no visible changes in the people around us. Please pray for hope, for perseverance, and for opportunities to be more open and obvious with the gospel.
• Kriszta's children are trying to stay together, with the help of their aunt and their great-grandmother. Karen reports that Roland, the 12-year-old, got a black eye in a fight during the last few days. We are praying that God will provide a healthy family for the youngest two (Roland and Attila, age 2).

Wednesday, January 18, 2007

• Doug's got the flu. The real thing. Please pray that he gets healthy quickly, and that he doesn't share it with anyone.
• Late last year, we asked you to pray for Kriszta, a schizophrenic lady whom our ladies' prayer group met with to pray for. We just heard that she committed suicide around Christmastime. We are, obviously, very sad about this. Please pray for her children, that God would redeem them out of a very bad situation and into His love and salvation: Sandor/Alexander (age 20), a boy (18), a girl (16, who is living with her boyfriend), Roland (12), and Attila (2).

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

• Lea's good friend Ildi recently reported that she is reading her New Testament while she waits for her daughter during various activities. Please pray that she understands what she reads, and for good conversations between her and Lea.
• Baseball training got started again yesterday. Please pray for Doug's good influence among these guys. Also pray for Doug's body; he says he's feeling his age. :-)
• We've received a few requests for new English lessons, but we could certainly use a few more. Please pray that we will get enough students to prove to the Hungarian government that we can support ourselves reasonably well.

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy New Year! I am both excited and apprehensive about the coming year. The general situation here is not improving, but God can still work in our lives and in the lives of the Hungarians.

2 Chronicles 7.14 has come up repeatedly in recent weeks: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." Revival here must start among the churches; I don't believe it will start as if by magic among non-believers.

Please pray for us Christians in Hungary, that we will seek God and his kingdom first, and that great things will happen thereafter. That would be a good start for the new year.

Thank you for praying! Grace and peace to you and yours,

---Doug C., for the family

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

• This coming Saturday afternoon, we will be visiting a dear Hungarian family, with whom we will eat a huge lunch and celebrate Christmas. Please pray that our words and actions, our questions and silence, lead them closer to knowing God's love for them through Jesus Christ.
• According to Hungarian tradition, "Baby Jesus" brings gifts to children on Christmas Eve, which makes him out to be a fairy tale character rather than a real person. Please pray that the many people who attend church on Christmas Eve have open hearts and minds and ears to hear the real good news about the real Jesus, the incarnation of God into this fallen world.
• Karen has found out that one of her schoolmates is a believer. This has been an encouragement to her. Yesterday they talked with two other girls about worship and the Bible. Please pray that God uses Karen and Lili in their school to make himself known to the other students.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

• The Ladies' Christmas Tea on Saturday went very well. Lea's good friend Ildi was able to come! Please pray that she—and all of us—will understand the significance of Christ's advent into the world.
• This past Sunday, three leaders from the Deaf church in Budapest came to our home. No Deaf folks from Vác showed up, which was a little disappointing. But we discussed the possibility of restarting a Deaf orphans' Bible club that hasn't met for 3 or 4 years. Please keep praying that their visit to Vác may be the beginning of a regular Bible study here.
• Please pray that Doug and Caleb, the teenage son of another missionary family, will have a good influence on the local baseball club. We practice on Tuesday evenings (that's Tuesday early afternoon Virginia time), so you can pray then, too.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

• On Saturday afternoon our hearing church will host a Ladies' Christmas Tea as an outreach. Lea's part is to give a three-minute speech on what Advent means to her. Please pray that many ladies hear and understand the good news of Christ's coming into the world.
• On Sunday, December 9, "our" Deaf church will come from Budapest to meet in our home. Please pray that the right people come and that they will have open hearts to hear God's message. Please pray that this may be the beginning of a regular Bible study here in Vác.
• Last week, we asked you to pray for Kriszta, a depressed and terrified woman. We learned that she is schizophrenic. Wednesday evening, Lea and two others went to Kriszta's house, but she wasn't there. They conversed with her eldest son, Sandor (Alexander) for about an hour. Sandor said that they took her to the hospital, but then she left and no one knows where she is. Please continue to pray for Kriszta and her family.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

• Every Tuesday morning, a few ladies come to our apartment to pray. Yesterday one of them brought Kriszta, a Hungarian woman who has had a rougher life than any I have ever heard of. She was recently in a mental hospital where she was tied down and abused by the staff. She is very depressed and understandably terrified of being sent back to the mental institution. We prayed for her the entire hour yesterday. Please pray for her sanity and safety, and that our group will be God's instruments in her life.
• Next Tuesday evening, Doug will begin attending the baseball team's weekly winter training. Please pray for his, and God's, influence on these young cussing guys.
• The Deaf church in Budapest has agreed to meet at our house on Sunday, December 9! Please pray that the right people come, and that this may the beginning of something regular here in Vác.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

• Lately we have been doing a lot of financial analysis. The most noticeable conclusion is that our living here is totally insane, at least from a worldly point of view. Please pray that God keeps us on this joyful and crazy endeavor as long as He wants us to be here.
• More and more we realize that "seeking first His kingdom" is crucial to our usefulness here. Please pray that all three of us keep God's kingdom as our first priority.
• Thankfulness is not frequently found among Hungarians, who often feel that they are at the bottom of the barrel and therefore have nothing to be thankful for. Please pray that Hungarians will find Real Life in Jesus, and thus overflow with thankfulness. (John 10:10, Colossians 2:6-7)

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

• Lea is sick with an intestinal bug and a fever. Please pray for her return to health---and that no one else catches it.
• We continue to be mindful of our spiritual "sharpness." We recently read in a book that "bearing fruit for the Kingdom of God" means living so that my *neighbor* will love God, too. Please pray that we can do this in an emotionally damaged society.
• The Deaf church in Budapest plans to meet in Vác on a Sunday in December (not November, as previously mentioned). Please pray that many local Deaf people will come and meet these believers and meet God, too.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

• Our company's income in October covered about half of its expenses. We are gradually getting more students (thank you for praying!), but we still need more work. Please pray for guidance about pursuing some possibilities that our Hungarian friends have suggested.
• Please pray that our communication skills will become sharper, so that we may become more involved in the lives of others.
• Today Lea had a "talky-walk" with a dear Hungarian friend. They discussed who Jesus is, why He came to earth, and why the Bible can be believed. Please pray for her, that she will get to know God and not just learn more information about him. Please pray for her family, too.
• As we wrote last week, both Lea and Doug feel that God is finally getting their attention about some general truths as well as some specific matters. Karen seems more in tune with spiritual things, also. Please pray that we, as followers of Jesus, may love God and our neighbor so that the Kingdom of Heaven may be made more obvious on Earth.

Wednesday, October 31, 2007

• On Tuesday night, Doug taught an English class of four who wanted to know why he lives in Hungary. He explained that he first moved here as a Baptist missionary. The question that arose (as time ran out) was, "Why do Baptists need to send missionaries to Hungary?" We will address this question in the next class. Meanwhile, please continue to pray that our connections with people will lead to such interesting conversations.
• We feel that we are reaching a "tipping point" when we shift into a deeper knowledge and understanding of our host country, and which requires a deeper commitment to learning, praying, working, and just plain *staying* here. It also requires a deeper relationship with God and each other. Please pray that we will not be afraid to do what is necessary to walk more closely with God and to love our neighbor.
• Karen requests prayer for her classmates Blanka and Anna, that they will come to know God.

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

• The Deaf church in Budapest has expressed willingness to hold a meeting in Vác some weekend in November. Please pray that this is a step toward establishing a regular Bible study here.
• Please pray that we seek the Lord with our whole hearts, and that we won't be distracted by things that are unimportant or a hindrance in God's sight.
• An unusual personal request: Please pray for Lea's mother, Nancy Hopkins, who has a cornea transplant scheduled for Tuesday, October 30. Please also pray that shingles do not return to her eye, so that she doesn't lose sight in the eye.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

• We gave a card of condolence to Ica ("eet-sa"), our recently widowed next-door neighbor. When Lea saw her on Monday, Ica expressed her appreciation through tears. Please continue to pray for her and that God will show us how to build a stronger relationship with her.
• Doug has added two more students to his weekly schedule, and he will also teach a class at a local English language school. One man found out that Doug was accepting new students by seeing the prayer request on our web site. Thank you for praying! Please pray that God will use us in the lives of all our students to bring them closer to himself.
• This Sunday Doug will ask the Deaf church in Budapest to visit Vác some time in November. Please pray that this will lead to a Bible study among the Deaf in our little town.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

• One of our older next-door neighbors died this week. We almost never saw him. Please pray for his family, and pray that we will do the proper thing for Ica ("eet-sa"), his widow.
• Doug has added one student to his weekly schedule. Please continue to pray that he will get the right students at the right times.
• Please continue to pray that the Deaf church in Budapest will start teaching Bible stories here in Vác.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

• Lea's friend Ildi sent an e-mail saying that her close friend Zsuzsa's father committed suicide yesterday. He happens to be the grandfather of two of Lea's young students. Hungarians have a reputation for suicide, but this is the first time it has happened so near to our circle of acquaintances. Please pray for Zsuzsa's widowed mother and the whole family, including Lea's two students, Flora and Sara.
• Please continue to pray that Doug will get more English students so that we will have a break-even business. (He added one student today.)
• Please continue to pray that the three of us will follow God closely and make choices consistent with His will and His call.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

• Today Lea and her friend had another "talky-walk." They were both expecting to talk about prayer, so Lea marked passages on prayer in a Hungarian New Testament and gave it to her. But God led their conversation toward forgiveness: deep forgiveness for grievous sins. Please pray that she accepts God's forgiveness through Jesus Christ, and that she can forgive those who have sinned against her. Please pray that she reads her Bible and that God opens her heart to understand it.
• Please continue to pray that a Deaf Bible study will begin here in Vác. The Deaf church in Budapest is somewhat inclined toward outreach, and we see potential here.
• Please continue to pray that Doug will get more English students so that we will have a break-even business. (Lea is teaching several students!)

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

• Please pray that Doug's time at the Deaf School will bring lasting good for the people there. Sometimes he feels like he just goes there, does his thing, and comes home, and nothing has happened.
• Please pray that we will get more English students and run a break-even business. This is not a selfish request. We are here on business visas, not as missionaries. Eventually, we will need to demonstrate to the Hungarian authorities that we can maintain our household here.
• Remus, our hamster, died on Monday night after living with us only six weeks. Please pray that we get the right pet for our family. (This is important to Karen; she is contemplating getting a more long-lived pet.)

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

• Please continue to pray for our teaching schedules. Deaf school (volunteer work) is now established and has started well, but we need more English students and the time slots to teach them. Lea would like the time to complete items on her perpetual to-do list.
• Please continue to pray for the strengthening and growth of the Deaf churches in Budapest.
• Karen asks that you pray that she will be able to handle stress at school, and that she will have a positive effect on her classmates.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Reports on previous prayer requests:

• Lea's conversation with her friend Ildi went very well. Ildi was very frustrated when they didn't have enough time to talk about prayer.
• Regarding the meeting Doug attended in Budapest: There is a good chance that a Wycliffe Bible Translator will move to Budapest to help render the Bible into several sign languages.
• The principal, teachers, and students at the Deaf School gladly welcomed Doug when he returned.

Now for this week's prayer requests!

• When it rains, the Vác baseball team (www.vacstars.atw.hu) sometimes comes to our house for analysis of Major League baseball games on DVD. Please pray that these guys will feel the love and peace of God in our home.
• Karen started school with more enthusiasm that we expected, especially considering her attitude last week. Please pray that she will be a light and an encouragement to her classmates.
• The companies where Doug taught English in recent years probably won't need him much longer. Please pray that we will get enough students to make our own little company at least break even. We need to demonstrate financial viability to the immigration office.

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

• Karen starts school on Monday. Please pray for her peace of mind and that her teachers and classmates will have a good year together.
• Doug has yet to arrange his schedule at the Deaf School. Please pray that the administrators and teachers will welcome him. Please pray for the students as they return to school.
• Please continue to pray that we get enough students to make our company at least a break-even proposition.

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

• Karen and Lea went to visit our friend Ildi and her family Wednesday afternoon. Right before we left, Ildi asked Lea what she says to God when she prays. Lea gave her a quick synopsis: "Whatever I want to say, whatever I am thinking, whatever I am feeling at any given time." Please pray that Ildi will realize just how much the real God wants to communicate with her.
• Wednesday and Thursday, Doug is participating in (and often interpreting at) a meeting of representatives from the IMB, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Deaf Opportunity Outreach (DOOR) International, and the local Hungarian Deaf church. The purpose of this meeting is to decide on how best to translate the Bible into the sign languages of Central Europe. Needless to say, it is very exciting to be involved. Please pray that we will follow God's guidance and that the Deaf in Central Europe will some day receive a faithful translation of the gospel in their heart language.
• Please continue to pray that we get enough students to at least make our company a break-even proposition.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

• A Hungarian eighteen-year-old has latched onto Doug. He is Kis Tamás, a heavy-metal-rocking, beer-guzzling, gypsy-hating, unkempt, wiry, emotional redneck from Kosd, the village where the Tabernacle Team prayer-walked this spring. Tamás wants to spend time speaking English and playing baseball. Doug has set a time to meet him: Friday at 1:00 PM (7:00 AM Virginia time). Please pray that Doug can escort Tamás at least one step closer to God.
• Doug has accepted the volunteer position as baseball instructor for the Vác Stars baseball club, a group of (hearing) twenty-somethings. They are inexperienced and a bit rowdy, but very eager to learn. Please pray that Doug can be successful in this position of leadership, responsibility, and influence. And yes, he wants to lead them one step closer to Jesus, too.
• Please pray that we will find enough students to make Old Dominion English Instruction a viable, break-even business by next summer, while still having enough time for family, ministry, etc.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

• Doug has agreed to be the instructor for the new "Vác Stars" baseball team. These guys are in their teens and twenties, and they are typical: sports, girls, cars—not always in that order. Please pray that Doug will be more than just a "good influence".
• The Deaf church in Budapest is still tentatively interested in starting work in Vác. Please pray that we can work together to see good things happen here: the gospel among the Deaf.
• Please pray that Doug and Lea will find enough students to make Old Dominion English Instruction a viable, break-even business by next summer, while still having enough time for family, ministry, etc.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

We are back from a wonderful visit to the States, and now we are trying to get back into a semi-normal routine. Please forgive the long absence!

• These are the folks we mentioned many times this summer. Please continue to pray for them:
  • Feri, the good-looking Deaf guy with remarkable spiritual understanding;
  • Tamás the Red, who surprised us by finding the Deaf church in Budapest;
  • Rita, the only Deaf teacher at the Vác Deaf school; and
  • Ildi, Lea’s friend who has many spiritual questions.
• Karen and Lea will be attending a church retreat this coming week. Please pray for a good time with God and others.
• Now that we are legal here, Doug and Lea must teach many hours to keep our little company afloat. Please pray that we have enough students and that we balance our time wisely between work, ministry, and home.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

• Doug and Karen are slowly getting over a stomach virus, and Lea is being very careful. Please pray for our health, and pray that we don't share this virus with anyone.
• We handed in our visa applications at the Embassy on Monday. We hope they have everything they want, although Doug later remembered one box that we didn't fill out. The lady expected that the visas would be ready in three to four weeks, which is good, because we need our passports back before we fly to Hungary at the end of July.
• Please continue to pray for the strengthening and the growth of the Deaf churches in Budapest.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

• Graduation at the Deaf school is on Friday morning. Please pray for these young people as they finish a school year and go home for the summer.
• Please continue to pray for the strengthening and the growth of the Deaf churches in Budapest.
• We must alter some of our company's legal papers and get everything ready for Karen and Lea's visa applications before we leave. Please pray that these things will be taken care of in good time.

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

• Dinner with our Deaf friends last Friday went very well. Please continue to pray for Feri, a local Deaf guy, that he will get to know Jesus.
• We continue an e-mail conversation with Kriszta, the young lady we met on the train last week. She is asking deep questions about God and her purpose in life. Please pray that she hears the truth and that her faith grows.
• A team of seven people from Charlottesville will be working with us at the Deaf school early next week. Please pray for safe travel, unity of the team, and effective time here in Vác and the other places they visit.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

• We had an excellent holiday this past weekend; all of the not-yet-Christian adults staying at the house had deep God-conversations with believers. As we were coming home, our train got stuck on the tracks for more than two hours due to electrical failure. During this time, we had a delightful conversation with our seatmate, a young lady named Kriszta. We also had deep conversations, and she wrote us an e-mail this morning thanking us for reminding her of God.
• Friday evening (June 1), a few Deaf believers from Budapest and a young, interested Deaf man from Vác will have dinner at our house. Please pray hard that this will lead to a regular Deaf Bible study among the Deaf in Vác.
• We are still in awe that Doug's residency permit is valid for two years. We will apply for residency permits for Lea and Karen while we are in the States. Please keep praying that we will get these before we return to Hungary in late July.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007

• Doug's residency permit has been granted! We will apply for residency permits for Lea and Karen while we are in the States. Please keep praying that we will get these before we return to Hungary in late July. Once these visas are in hand, we'll be legal until January!
• On Friday, June 1, a few Deaf believers from Budapest and a young, interested Deaf man from Vác will have dinner at our house. We hope that this will lead to a regular Deaf Bible study. Please pray that God will use this time to accomplish his will among the Deaf.
• Monday will be a public holiday in Hungary. Here they celebrate Pentecost, not Memorial Day. We will spend the weekend with several families at a retreat house. Some of the Hungarian families don't speak English, and some don't know God. Please pray that God will use us to show them the love of Jesus. Also, Karen is not feeling well. Please pray that she gets better in time for us to go.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

• Please pray that we live according to God's priorities, that we choose wisely, avoid temptations, stay healthy, and love God and our neighbor.
• Please pray that Deaf believers from Budapest will meet our Deaf friends in Vác, beginning relationships of eternal significance.
• Please pray that God and his people will reach our Deaf kids, so they will begin to understand how much they are loved.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

• Now that Doug can legally work, we are discovering how much of a commitment our company is. We are bound to a certain income by the conditions of Doug's visa. This will require us to teach many more hours than we anticipated. Please pray that we can balance our time among family, work, and ministry.
• Deaf believers in Budapest have agreed to come to Vác and teach the Bible through stories—a method much respected in Deaf culture. Please pray that we can gather the right people at the right time so the hearts of the Deaf will hear the truth of the Bible.
• Please pray that God will intervene in the lives of our Deaf kids, so they will begin to understand how much they are loved.

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

• Please pray for Lea's friend Ildiko (ILL-dee-koe). Their conversations have deepened in recent days and have come around to the topic of God, faith, purpose, etc. Ildiko has problems with priests. Pray that she will nonetheless see God and come to saving faith in him.
• Please pray that the Deaf churches in Budapest will grow strong and will begin to reach out to Deaf communities in the surrounding towns... like Vác!
• Please pray that Karen will meet God in Jesus. As she approaches her teen years, she has made some profound statements about her own faith, God's work in her life, and her desire to see her friends and schoolmates have real life. Karen herself has not yet been baptized.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

• This past Sunday afternoon, we travelled from Budapest to Vác on the train with Tamás the Red. You prayed a great deal for him in February. It turns out that for the past few weeks, he has been regularly attending the other Deaf church in Budapest—the one Doug usually doesn't go to. So your prayers are being answered! Please continue to pray for Tamás as God brings him to your minds.
• We also ask you to continue to pray for Rita Gedeon, the Deaf teacher at the school. In a conversation on another train, she told Doug about her future vision of a new school in Budapest, where administrators, teachers, and students would all be Deaf. This excites us! Also, please continue to pray that she will become a disciple of Jesus.
• Good news: We just found out that our work permits were granted! Also, on Monday, Doug applied for his residency permit, and for the first time in our history, they didn't require any extra papers or signatures. Please continue to pray that Doug's residency permit and Lea's and Karen's visas will be granted before we leave for the States on June 21. Pray for good moods among the officials and that they will be fair.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

• Please pray that our work permits, Doug's residency permit, and Karen's and Lea's visas will soon be granted. Pray for good moods among the officials, and that they will be fair as they make their decisions.
• Pray for Bléga Feri (= Frank Blega), a young deaf man, that he will hear the gospel and know God. He is a graduate of the Deaf school in Vác, and we run into him every now and then in town. He is under-employed, and with nothing better to do, he seems open and receptive.
• It is our continual prayer that the Deaf house churches in Budapest will grow strong through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and that they will work with God to spread the gospel among the Deaf in Hungary.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

• We ask you to pray that our work permits will be granted soon. We turned in our last documents to the lawyer yesterday. We hope that the papers received from the University Registrar will be adequate for the requirements of the labor office.
• Pray for Bléga Feri (= Frank Blega), a young deaf man, that he will hear the gospel and know God. He is a graduate of the Deaf school in Vác, and we run into him every now and then in town. He is under-employed, and with nothing better to do, he seems open and receptive.
• It is our continual prayer that the Deaf house churches in Budapest will grow strong through the presence of the Holy Spirit, and that they will work with God to spread the gospel among the Deaf in Hungary.

Wednesday, April 4, 2007

• Please pray that the Deaf church in Budapest can link up with the Deaf community in Vác.
• Our work permits are stalled because we don't have our original diplomas. We received confirmation letters from the University, but we doubt that they are fancy enough for Hungarian authorities. We might need to get replacement diplomas, which can take two months. Our current deadline is April 10. Please pray that we can find a quick solution to this problem.
• Many people in Hungary have no thought of God, and many others believe that empty ritual will buy acceptance from God. During this Holy Week, please pray that Hungarians—priests and pastors included—will "see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn to God and be healed." (Isaiah 6, Matthew 13, John 12)

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Wednesday, March 28, 2007

• Please pray that Deaf churches in Budapest be equipped for missions to Deaf communities around Hungary—in Vác, for example! We would like a Bible study or similar meeting here soon.
• Karen just turned 12. Please pray that she will grow closer to God as she goes through her teen years. Recently, her history class has been studying Christianity, which got her into some theological discussions with some of her classmates. She gave a Hungarian New Testament to one of them. She has not yet been baptized or participated in communion.
• Please continue to pray for the seven members of the Missions Team from Tabernacle Baptist Church in Richmond: Emily, Erin, Erin, Megan, Robert, Terry, and William. Mission trips tend to start things, not end them.

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Wednesday, March 21, 2007

• Please continue to pray for the Traveling Team as they re-enter "normal" life. It takes a lot of time and energy to process an experience like this. Listening to stories such as theirs may even fire you up for future adventures—at home, in Hungary, or elsewhere—that God has in store for you.
• Our work permit applications were held up because the Labor Office doesn't have a translation of our original University diplomas. These diplomas are misplaced somewhere in Virginia, and none of our relatives can find them. The Registrar's Office at UVa has been very prompt to provide degree verification documents that might please the Hungarian authorities. Please pray that the letters from the Registrar will be adequate.
• Please pray that all those in Hungary who are known by Jesus' name will develop a strong sense of unity with each other. Please pray that the "extras" that each group has—traditions, rules, added beliefs, added prohibitions, etc.—will not hinder the development of each person's relationship with the one true God.

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Saturday-Monday, March 10-19, 2007

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

• Doug got his visa at the consulate in Serbia just fine; he's now legal until January 23, 2008. Next we apply for Karen's and Lea's visas. Please pray that these will be granted soon—along with our work permits.
• Baseball training has begun at the Deaf school! Two classes, 1st-2nd grade and the 3rd grade, have shown great interest in learning how to play. They are all beginners, and many of them are mentally or emotionally impaired. Please pray for safety, patience, and fun for everyone.
• Please pray for the Team from Tabernacle Baptist in Richmond as they prepare to travel and adjust and adjust and adjust.... Pray that their time here will be a great benefit to everyone involved, and that people will eventually be drawn closer to God as a result.

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Wednesday, February 28, 2007

• Good news/Bad news: Doug will go to Serbia on Friday to pick up his new visa! However, Tuesday afternoon we found out that there is a snag in getting our work permits. The Labor Office needs some documents that were provided with previous (successful) applications, so they should have them on file somewhere. Please pray that they can locate these papers before the deadline next week!
• This past Sunday, a 17-year-old neo-Nazi skinhead gang leader named Imre came to our little church. He seems open to the Lord's leading. Please pray for him and his gang, that they will know God's love through Jesus, and pray that God will create a love in their hearts for their fellow humans as well!
• Please pray for the strengthening of the Deaf churches in Budapest, that they will become mature in their faith, and that their obedience to God will have an influence in the Deaf community.

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Wednesday, February 21, 2007

• GOOD NEWS: We just found out that Doug's visa has been granted! Thank you so much for all your prayers! Now that we have Doug's visa, we can apply for "family unification" visas for Lea and Karen. Other than that, we adults still need work permits, which are also in the works.
• The Deaf church in Budapest is trying to develop every member into a leader of some kind, which is a healthy sign. New people are learning how to lead the group in their Bible storying sessions, and it's a slow, grinding process. Please pray that Deaf churches in Hungary develop and grow, and that the gospel will be propagated throughout the Deaf community.
• Tamás, a teenager at the Deaf school, was not able to go to the Deaf church in Budapest this past week. He expects to be available on Sunday, March 4. Please pray that Tamás will visit the church soon, understand the incredible love that God has for him, and also see how Deaf people are completely capable of doing and being church.

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Wednesday, February 14, 2007

• We are gearing up to have Tabernacle's delegation come visit us, and we are excited! Please pray for us as we prepare for the Tabernacle Traveling Team's visit. We've never done this before, and we would like it to be a rich and joyful experience for everybody.
• Tamás, one of the older teenage Deaf students, plans to go to the Deaf church in Budapest this coming Sunday. (He expected to go last week, but the entire Deaf Church met in another town.) Please pray that Tamás will come to know more about life in Jesus.
• Please continue to pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, who teaches at the Deaf School. We hope she soon understands that following Jesus leads to an abundant life.
• Doug's visa application is still in the works. We hope to hear good news by mid-March. Please pray that the governmental officials allow us to live and work in Hungary in the future.

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Wednesday, February 7, 2007

• Tamás, one of the older teenage Deaf students, plans to go to the Deaf church in Budapest this Sunday. Doug will go with him. Please pray that he will really go, that he will have a great time, and that he will come to know more about life in Jesus.
• Please continue to pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, who teaches at the Deaf School. We hope she soon understands that following Jesus leads to an abundant life.
• Doug's visa application is still in the works. We hope to hear good news by mid-March. Please pray that the governmental officials allow us to live and work in Hungary in the future.

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Wednesday, January 31, 2007

• Lea reports that the Ladies' Retreat in Pécs was a great success. There was good conversation, good listening, good prayer, and good worship. She returned fired up and in very lively spirits (or rather, with a good Spirit).
  
• Szabi and Fritz's visit to the Deaf School was also one of the month's minor triumphs. Szabi had some engaging conversations with the students, and I introduced him to Gedeon Rita (American name order: Rita Gedeon). And Fritz gave her some information about Gaulladet University, in which she is interested.
  

• Please continue to pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, the only truly Deaf teacher at the Deaf School.
• Please pray for the strengthening and the outward reach of the Deaf churches in Budapest. There are so many opportunities, and so few Deaf believers!
• Please pray for our so-called chance meetings and our encounters with others: friends, acquaintances, and strangers. Please pray that we will not fail to meet our divine appointments, and that we will say and do the things that bring people one step closer to God, regardless of their beliefs or their standing with him.

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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

• Tomorrow Doug will bring visitors to the Deaf School. One is Szabi Wéer, a Deaf Hungarian church planter who knows some English. The other four are an American family with Deaf parents and two hearing boys. One goal is to tell the 8th graders that English is a worthwhile subject. Another goal is to show the Deaf family the inside of a Hungarian Deaf School. Still another goal is to link the Budapest Deaf church with the Deaf community in Vác. Yet another goal is to introduce Szabi, a skilled Bible story-teller, to Rita Gedeon. (See the next item.) Please pray that this visit will be a great success and that it will open doors to future meetings between the Deaf of Vác and Budapest.
• Please continue to pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, the only truly Deaf teacher at the Deaf School.
• Lea and four other missionary women will go on a retreat this weekend in the small city of Pécs (rhymes with the letter "H"). Please pray that they will grow closer to God and to each other and return home re-energized for their work.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007

• Doug's visa application was turned in last Friday, so now we wait. This visa can take 60 days to process, but the consulate told him to call back after a month, and then call back rather often after that. Please pray for approval by all officials and a quick turnaround.
• Please continue to pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, the only teacher at the Deaf school who is truly Deaf. Doug spends two afternoons a week in her class. This gives him the opportunity to learn a lot of sign language and to build relationships with both Rita and her learning-disabled students. Please pray that Doug will have good opportunities to share the love of God with these people.
• We are very excited about Tabernacle Baptist Church's emissaries coming to see us! Please pray that we will prepare well: that we will find the right lodging, plan our time appropriately, and give everyone the opportunity to see and share God at work among us.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

• Doug is gathering the papers to apply for an income-earning visa in Serbia on Friday. Please pray that everything will be in order and that he will have safe and uneventful travel. Also, please keep praying for good moods among the officials!
• The English-speaking Bible study on Wednesday afternoons has been quite a help and encouragement to us. We are hoping to soon start a Bible study among the Deaf. Please pray that this happens, that we find the right people, and that we pick the right time and format.
• Please pray for the salvation of Rita Gedeon, the only teacher at the Deaf school who is truly Deaf. In a recent conversation, she seemed interested in the format of Deaf church, but Sunday is her day off, and she is reluctant to give it up.

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Wednesday, January 3, 2007

• Please keep praying for our visas. Every bit of news we receive seems to change our emotions 180 degrees. Faith is hard to come by sometimes.
• Since things have been so uncertain, we have been a bit touchy with each other. Please pray that we will set our hearts and minds on God instead of circumstances, and that we will speak to each other with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
• We hope to apply for Doug's visa in the next few days. Please pray that we go to the consulate at the right time, that Doug's application is complete, that his application is accepted, that we have no problems crossing the border, and that all officials are in good moods. Good moods are amazingly crucial!

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Wednesday, December 20, 2006

1. We now have a solid plan to apply for visas.
   
2. Lea's presentation at the ladies' Christmas Tea went very well. She reports that the women of the churches responded much more openly than Hungarians usually do.
   
3. The missionary couple whose residency permits were denied submitted their appeal, and the word through the grapevine is that the result will be the issuing of two-year permits.
   

• One of our goals in the coming 6 months is to link the Deaf missionaries in Budapest to the Deaf community here in Vác. Please pray with us that this will happen soon and that it will be frutiful.
• We are relying on the word of a Hungarian consular official that we can stay here as "tourists" until we get residency permits and legitimate visas in the spring. Please pray that we will not run into any legal difficulties until then.
• After the Christmas holidays and the turn of the new year, the price of many things will go up as the economy here worsens. Please pray with us that the Hungarian people will look to Jesus, not just for relief from their problems, but for salvation, healing, direction, purpose, and strength in their lives.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006

• Yesterday we spoke with an immigration lawyer, who has a new plan on how we can legally work here. Over the next few days we will get the plan in motion. We ask you to pray that all our paperwork goes smoothly.
• Lea will be speaking at a Ladies' Christmas Tea in southern Hungary this Saturday afternoon. Please pray that God uses her.
• One missionary couple we know were recently denied residency permits after living here 14 years! Please pray that God would use people in official positions to accomplish what he wants to accomplish here in Hungary.

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Wednesday, December 6, 2006

• Tomorrow (Thursday) is a big day. Krisztina, our landlady, will tell us whether she is willing to join our company. Whether or not she does, we will need wisdom, cleverness, ingenuity, imagination, and all kinds of smarts to stay in Hungary and/or make the company a success. Please pray that we will do God's will in every circumstance we find ourselves in.
• The Wednesday afternoon Bible study is proceeding well. There is even one Hungarian lady who is interested in coming. Please pray that this will turn all our hearts more toward God.
• Now that the weather is bad and the playground has been planted with grass seed, we cannot play baseball out of doors at the Deaf School. The new gymnasium is enclosed but not finished, so we might play whiffle ball inside or watch baseball videotapes this winter. Please pray that Doug's time at the Deaf School will have good consequences for everyone involved.

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

• Today (Wednesday) we held the first weekly Bible study for English-speakers, mainly for the feeding of the missionaries here. As we asked last week, please pray that our joining together will strengthen us and lead to a wider witness to Jesus in Vác.
• Friday morning we will meet with our landlady, Krisztina, to talk about her becoming our company's managing director. We think they like us as tenants, and we ourselves would like to stay in our apartment as long as possible. However, "managing" this company would be an involved, long-term commitment for her. Please pray for wisdom for all of us and that things will work out well.
• Éva is a young, hard-of-hearing teacher at the Deaf School. Doug interacts with her class the most at baseball time. She is a believer, and she's had unspecified health problems for a couple of months. Please pray that her health will improve and that her work at the Deaf School will be a good influence on the children.

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Wednesday, November 22, 2006

• Our list of candidates for the company's managing director has shrunk to one: Krisztina, our landlady. We plan to to ask her this week to consider it seriously and to think about the disadvantages (the phrase we use is "counting the cost") before she commits. Please pray for wisdom for all of us.
• We will start a weekly Bible study for English-speakers next Wednesday, November 29. This is for the feeding of the missionaries here. Pray that our joining together will strengthen us and lead to a wider witness to Jesus in Vác.
• Lea is considering getting a job teaching English in a public high school through ESI, a missionary teacher placement agency out of California. This would give us visas, but it wouldn't allow either of us to work free-lance. We are just starting to investigate this path. Please pray for wisdom in figuring this out.

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Wednesday, November 15, 2006

• A couple of Hungarians have offered to consider being the managing director for our company. This is quite an encouragement to us, and we thank you for your prayers for this! Please pray that we will discern who the right person is, and he or she will still be willing when they find out the details.
• Some English-speaking folks in Vác are thinking about starting a Bible discussion group in English. We would greatly welcome this. Further down the pike, we still hope and pray for Bible studies in sign language.
• The weather here has been astoundingly warm for this time of year, so baseball continues! Please pray that the relationships that Doug is establishing through baseball will lead to Real Life for these Deaf students.

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Wednesday, November 8, 2006

• Hungarians, especially Deaf ones, assume that "missionary" means you are a salesman with lots of money coming from the United States, and you don't have to do any real work. Therefore, they have more respect for people who "work for a living" and who have to deal with the problems of "normal" life. We are not the only missionaries in Hungary who are trying to work part-time and minister part-time. Please pray that we—and our missionary colleagues—can be *trusted* by Hungarians.
• Please pray that we will find a Hungarian to be the director of our English-teaching company. We are still trying!
• Doug went to a gathering of the two little Deaf churches in Budapest this past Sunday afternoon. The community of believers among the Deaf is slowly increasing. Their leaders are young, well-trained, dedicated, and clever. Please pray that they can join God in touching and changing lives in one of the most easily overlooked groups in society: the Deaf.

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Wednesday, November 1, 2006

• Last Sunday we visited a small but growing mission church, founded by a nearby Hungarian Baptist church, in the village of Körösladány in southeast Hungary. They asked Doug to say a few words, and he greeted them on behalf of our home church: Tabernacle Baptist of Richmond, Virgina. (It's so FUN to do that!) This little church is in an economically and spiritually depressed area, but they are reaching many outcast and estranged people like gypsies, ex-convicts, etc. Please pray that effective little churches like this will multiply throughout Hungary.
• Please pray that we will find a Hungarian to be part of our English-teaching company. We are still trying!
• Today is the "Day of the Dead" in Hungary, a holiday when most people go to cemeteries to tidy up the graves and honor their deceased loved ones. Pray that Hungarians will realize their mortality and start to ask questions beyond material existence.

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Wednesday, October 25, 2006

• On Monday, Hungary commemorated the 50th anniversary of their unsuccessful revolution against the Russians; however, the day was marred by anti-government demonstrations. Lea and our friend Liz spent several hours poking around Budapest, looking for ceremonies or exhibitions. Instead, they got their first whiff of tear gas and watched a large number of police in riot gear clear out a nearby area. Please pray for Hungary and the Hungarians! They are in a quandary and divided.
• We are still waiting for a Hungarian to step forward to be managing director of our company. We have a feeling that this person will have to be called by God, because no one in their right mind would want to do it, given the silliness of Hungarian business laws. So, as we asked last week, please pray that God will lead us to a trustworthy person who is able to shoulder whatever responsibilities there are.
• Due to the lack of work for pay, Doug's volunteer time at the Deaf School has increased greatly. Plus, the weather has been unusually pleasant, so we have enjoyed a lot of baseball. Pray that this time bring long-term benefits!

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Wednesday, October 18, 2006

• Our first task toward getting our work visas is to find a Hungarian who will be managing director of our company. Please pray that God will lead us to a trustworthy person who is able to shoulder whatever responsibilities there are.
• We keep running into three teenage Deaf guys on the street. We are hoping to get our Deaf friends from Budapest to come and tell these guys Bible stories. Doug will be trying to get in touch with our Budapesti friends. Please pray that the path is smooth!
• Karen seemed to jump back into school life okay, but P.E. is stressing her out. She showed no signs of stress during our recent ordeals, so we are keeping our eyes open. Please pray for her mental, physical, and spiritual health!

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Wednesday, October 11, 2006; updated Friday, October 13, 2006

• Your love, support, prayers, encouragement, insights, scriptures, songs....
• Your e-mails, including forwards to others....
• Your offers of help, travel, finances, places to stay, sandwiches....
• Your advice, suggestions, experiences....

• That, when we cross the border into Hungary Friday afternoon, the border guard(s) will be in a good mood.
[ANSWER #5896: We're back in the country we love! The border guard was, evidently, not in a bad mood, and let us through without comment!]
• That the results of the tests on the lumps in my neck would be happy.
  [ANSWER #5895: The lumps are not malignant! I'll find out next week if I have to do anything about them, if anything.]
• That the other box of academic books for Karen that were supposed to arrive in late September would show up sometime, although we don't have a deadline now. [Not a huge priority....]
• That we continue to trust and thank God for all he's done for us! [And how could we not???]

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Tuesday, October 10, 2006

• That God gives Doug lots of wisdom in knowing what to do. Doug's been shouldering much of this burden.
• That we go to the right place, and find the right people, and they're in a good mood.
• That Karen's health improves, and that her resilient self survives so much upheaval and uncertainty.
• That the results of the tests on the lumps in my neck would come quickly, that the lumps would be easily remedied, and that not having insurance coverage in the United States would be no problem.
• That the two boxes of academic books for Karen that were supposed to arrive in late September would show up before we leave Vác.
• That we can quickly find a temporary home for our two hamsters.
• That we can pack for we-don’t-know-how-long, take care of bills, etc., and close up the house really fast.
• That we don't worry, don't get impatient with each other, and do trust God!

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Wednesday, October 4, 2006

• Please continue to pray that we will find a Hungarian who is willing to be the Managing Director of our company. We cannot make progress getting new work visas without this person!
• There will be a called demonstration against the current government administration on Friday. Many churches are requesting a day of prayer and fasting, that the protests not become violent and that the country's situation will improve.
• The emerging Deaf churches in Budapest might start to send evangelism teams on short trips to other cities in the near future. Vác is a prime candidate. This would be great!

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Wednesday, September 27, 2006

• Please pray that we will find a Hungarian who is willing to be the Managing Director of our company. This will enable us to apply for new work visas. One of our old friends is thinking about it....
• Doug has met several times with Feri (Frank), a graduate of the Deaf School in Vác. The conversations are starting to get deep. Please pray for his spiritual awakening.
• The political situation here is unsettled. Please pray that those in government will be honest and work for the public good, not their own.

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

• Doug's been saying for a while that "Hungary can't go on like this." Monday night's riot in Budapest proved that others thought the same thing. Please pray for wisdom and peace for Hungarians.
• On Saturday Doug talked with an immigration consultant, and we decided not to appeal the decision of the Immigration Office. Here is our latest plan:
  * Reorganize our company with a Hungarian as the managing director. According to the law, this person CANNOT do "the work" of the business (that is, teach).
  * Sign contracts of employment (Doug & Lea) with the restructured company.
  * Get new work permits (Doug & Lea) to teach with our company.
  * Apply for new visas (Doug, Lea, & Karen).
  Our immediate need is for a Hungarian to accept the responsibility of being the managing director. This is like asking someone to co-sign a loan; it takes a lot of trust on both sides. Please pray that we can find the right person for this, and that he or she would be willing!
• Until we get matching work permits and work visas, what will we do with our time? Should we go to the Deaf School more often? Or teach some of our students without pay to continue the relationships? Or concentrate on learning Hungarian? Please pray that God leads us to do what he wants us to do.

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Wednesday, September 13, 2006

• Our residency permits were not renewed, but we can appeal! Please pray that the labor office in Vác will grant Doug's work permit more quickly than usual.
• We would like all the governmental people we talk with to have a GREAT day when we talk with them, that they are in good moods and feel like helping. No kidding! Over here, the mood of the person across the counter can make or break a transaction.
• We get the impression that God wants to do something through this confusion and red tape. Please pray for that!

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Wednesday, September 6, 2006

• Legal obstacles continue. Please pray that they get resolved soon! This afternoon Doug leaves for Croatia, so he can get a different visa and then re-enter Hungary. Friday morning he travels from 3:30-9:30am, and then goes straight to an appointment with the Immigration office. Doug's residency permit extension expires Sunday night. For some reason, Lea and Karen were granted extensions until September 22.
• Andrea, our lawyer, has asked Lea to have an English conversation session once a week. Andrea is very interested in spiritual matters, and we are interested in what happened during her El Camino walk. We consider this time to build a strong relationship a major answer to prayer!
• To our surprise, Karen is excited to be back in school! She got in the advanced German class, so she studies her third language five days a week instead of three. Please pray with us that she would be a good influence on her classmates.

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Wednesday, August 30, 2006

• The legal procedures involving our permits and legal papers becomes a crazier circus every day. For example, it is discouraging to hear an accountant say that the national tax office can give her no advice about new laws. Doug will go to the immigration office in Budapest on Thursday morning to ask for an extension of our current visas so that we can complete our applications.
• We still need wisdom on formulating our work and ministry schedules for this semester.
• Karen starts school on Friday 01 September.

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Wednesday, August 23, 2006

• Andrea, our lawyer, just got back from her 500-mile El Camino walk a week earlier than expected. She had a "spiritually great" time. We will know more next week. Please continue to pray that God will show himself to Andrea.
• We have a few more hoops to jump through for our residency permits. It is baffling, but seems hopeful!
• We still need wisdom on formulating our work and ministry schedules for this semester.
• This Friday evening (lunchtime in Virginia), youth from our church will go to the riverside park to share the love of Jesus with the youth who hang out there. Please pray that people will be open to God.

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Thursday, August 17, 2006

• We haven't yet heard that (or whether?) our residency permits have been granted. Please pray that they are granted before our current papers expire on August 30.
• Soon we will be planning our schedule for the next semester. Please pray that we order our lives so that God's purpose for us is accomplished.
• Andrea, our lawyer, is on the 500-mile El Camino pilgrimage until August 30. Please pray that God will make himself obvious to her as she walks.

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Monday, August 14, 2006

• After a month in the States, we are back in Hungary and back to a consistent connection to the Internet! We would appreciate your prayers for re-entry into Hungarian life. Doug is already teaching after being here less than a full day!
• Doug's dad's lung biopsy came out fine. He's doing very well, as are all our parents who have dealt with surgeries this past year. Shingles is still giving my mom's eye some grief.
• Please pray for Lea's Uncle Bill and Aunt Emily, whose house burned up a few days ago.

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July 5, 2006

• Your prayers are working! Please don't stop! All official meetings so far have gone amazingly well. We delivered our company papers to the Court of Registry this morning, and we seem to have all the appointments we need for work and residency permits between now and Tuesday. This is good, because our plane takes off at 7:00 am on Wednesday!
• Doug's dad gets the results of a lung biopsy today. Your prayers for him are welcome.
• We would also appreciate your prayers for temporary farewells in Hungary and preparations for our trip to the U.S. next week.

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June 28, 2006

• This week we have been joined by Catherine, Kami, and Liz, who are part of a mission team from Charlottesville ministering in Hungary. This has been a time of encouragement for us and prayer for our city. On Friday, they and the 12 others on their team go to Ukraine to work with street kids. Please pray for their ministry and safety.
• Thank you for praying for our all the legal rigamarole regarding our work permits and our English-teaching company! Things seem to be going smoothly so far. This week is meeting week: the accountant Wednesday, the lawyer Thursday, and the notary Friday. Sometime next week we will deliver our papers to the Court of Registry.
• Doug's dad is having some tests regarding his recent lung problems. Please pray for his health.

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June 21, 2006

• Last Thursday we ran into Feri, a young Deaf man who is a former student at the Deaf school. A couple of years ago, Feri went with Doug to see "The Passion of the Christ." It would be really neat to get Feri and other young Deaf (late teens, early twenties) into a discussion group about Jesus.
• While we wait on our work permits, we continue to pursue the establishment of a little English-teaching company here in Hungary. We now have Hungarian taxpayer ID numbers, and we will soon have a local bank account. The renewal of our residency permits are still pending. Please continue to pray that this bothersome and time-consuming process works out well.
• We recently learned that Doug's dad is having some serious lung problems. Please pray for his health and general well-being.

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June 14, 2006

• We have much to do between now and our trip to the U.S. next month. Please pray for wise use of our time, especially that we don't neglect prayer.
• The timing for our work permits is down to the wire. If all goes well, they will be issued on the day before we leave for the States. However, in Hungary, "all goes well" is a miracle. Please pray for a miracle!
• More American friends, including a 10-month-old baby, went to the Deaf school with us yesterday. The baby was a big hit! The kids will disperse for the summer after graduation on Thursday, but we hope they will take with them a bit of God's love.

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June 7, 2006

• Our friend Lee Hlavka's nerve disease (CIPD) is worse than ever. Please pray for him, for his wife and children, and also that our little church will go out of their way to help them.
• It sounds stupid, but baseball is really extending Doug's social network. Carrying a baseball around can open surprising doors! This also sounds stupid, but Doug believes it is valid: please pray that play will someday become joyous worship of God for these people. (Think like in the movie Chariots of Fire: "When I run, I feel His pleasure!")
• Repeat from last week: We are here at the mercy of the Hungarian government. Please keep praying that application for our work and residency permits go smoothly.

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May 31, 2006

• A 14-year-old American MK is now playing baseball with Doug at the Deaf school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. This adds credibility to Doug's presence there. The kids have a fair amount of free time during the last few weeks of school. Pray for good conversations to lead the kids (and teachers) at least one step closer to God.
• Doug has a dream: That a Deaf mission team will come and play baseball with and be witnesses to the students in May or early June. Pray that this miracle happens! Also, if you know of any Deaf Christian baseball players, please let us know!
• Residency permits: We are here at the mercy of the Hungarian government. Please keep praying that application for our work and residency permits go smoothly.

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May 24, 2006

• Lea's father had a heart attack on Sunday. He is doing remarkably well now. Please pray for him and for Lea's family.
• Please pray for diligence and motivation in learning Hungarian and Hungarian Sign Language.
• Same as last week, with good progress since then: Please pray that the last month of Doug's volunteer work at the Deaf school will be meaningful and worthwhile, and will bring the people there (including Doug) closer to God.

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May 17, 2006

• Please pray that we live and spend our days with God, especially that we spend adequate time in prayer.
• Please pray that the last month of Doug's volunteer work at the Deaf school will be meaningful and worthwhile, and will bring the people there (including Doug) closer to God.
• In the next few weeks, we will be renewing our residency and work permits: gathering lots of papers, making trips to the city, waiting in line, and hoping that the clerks are in a good mood. Residency permits are usually given for only one year at a time, but it would be great if ours were granted for a longer period. Please pray for smooth sailing!

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May 10, 2006

• We recently heard about a deviant "Christian" cult in our area. This is depressing news. Please pray that people won't be deceived by lies but will come to know the real Jesus.
• In two recent English lessons, Doug talked about Bible study and the Lord's prayer. Please continue to pray for good conversations.
• Some of our time is spent helping and encouraging other missionaries. This weekend (May 13-14) we will visit friends and colleagues in southern Hungary. Please pray that these visits will be mutually beneficial.

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May 3, 2006

• Please pray for Lee Hlavka, an American living here with his Hungarian wife and their children. He has a debilitating chronic disease. He is not a believer and is extremely frustrated with God.
• Please pray for Zita, a Deaf woman who claims to be a "good person" who doesn't need to be saved. She cannot hear the gospel.
• Please pray for István, a Deaf man who recently discovered that his father [CORRECTION: mother] has terminal cancer. Pray for his family, too!

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April 26, 2006

Updated May 1, 2006

• Karen has been reading the Bible a lot lately. Please pray that she gains insight into what she is reading and that it leads her to firm faith in Jesus.
• Please continue to pray that playing baseball at the Deaf school will lead to something significant. [Also pray for safety. On Tuesday a skinny little girl gave Doug a nice lump on the side of his head with an errant throw. Physics is amazing, sometimes!]
• Please pray that Rita, a Deaf teacher at the school, will be moved a few steps closer to God by Eva, a Deaf believer who is also a teacher there.

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April 19, 2006

• Zsuzsi, a teenager, was grateful to receive the New Testament that Lea sent her. Please pray that she will read and understand it.
• Please pray that playing baseball with the Deaf students will lead to something significant in their lives.
• Please pray that our faith will deepen and that our love for God and for people will grow richer.

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April 12, 2006

• Eszter and Ildiko, two hearing teachers at the Deaf school, commented to Doug that he is a "religious person" and therefore he is "good." Eszter said that maybe what Hungarians need is to be "more religious." Zsuzsi, one of Lea's teenage English students, believes that when people die they simply cease to exist, and therefore resurrection is not possible. Please pray that this weekend many of our friends and acquaintances will be struck by the startling message of Easter: that Jesus in fact rose from the dead and that he is alive today.
• Karen was sick and was absent from school from Thursday to Tuesday. Please pray that the three of us stay healthy.

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April 5, 2006

• It is time for baseball at the Deaf school, starting today. Please pray that this will be not only a fun time, but that it will lead to opportunities to talk of spiritual matters with these kids and their teachers.
• The first round of elections for the whole Hungarian Parliament will be on Sunday, April 9. Please pray that honest and wise people will be elected into office and that the country can overcome a history of corrupt politics for personal gain.
• Please pray that Karen's faith grows and matures.

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March 29, 2006

• Please pray that our faith grows and that all three of us live more deeply and more constantly in the presence of God's Spirit.
• Please pray for our next steps at the Deaf school: what to do, when, and with whom.
• Please pray for Krisztina (our landlady), Ági (our doctor), and Kriszta (Karen's classmate's mom) as Lea tries to reach out to them.

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