Exciting Times

My Family and Friends! 

What an exciting week this has been! God is so awesome! On Saturday we hosted our first big party. The party started at 4:00 and the three of us girls had no idea how long the party would last or how many would attend. Turns out the last student didn't leave until 10:00 and we had 12 students come! It was a great night of laughter, fun games, eating pizza and just sharing the love of Christ! As each student left we handed him or her a New Testament with a couple of bible verse bookmarks as a gift from us to them. They gladly received them and told us they would love to come back! 

Top Row: Máté, Melinda, Vírag, Petra, Georgina, Annette, Boglárka (Bogi), Barni 

Bottom Row: Barni, Megan, Me, Samantha, Sára, Nóra, Emma (Betsy's on the phone) 

I ask that you pray for each and every person in this picture. Out of the twelve students eight of them do not have a personal relationship with Jesus.........yet. Barni, the boy in the back row, almost didn't come because he knew we were Christians. Sára, however, convinced him to come and he ended up being the last student to leave. The next morning I sent messages to every student that came to thank them, Samantha did the same thing. Barni responded and we set up a time to go and have coffee with him. During this time we shared with Barni why we were here and how Jesus has completely changed our lives. We shared the gospel. Although Barni wasn't ready to receive Christ, he did listen to us which in itself is amazing! Another student, Petra, recently told Samantha today that she is ready and wants to have a personal relationship with Jesus! Please pray that this is genuine and will happen! Wow is all I can say! 

Samantha, Vírag, Petra, Laura, Bogi

Georgina, Annette, Melinda

  Barni, Samantha, Megan, Bogi, Me 

Waiting for the pizza! 

Just Dance! Barni, Emma, Megan, Sára, Nóra

Craft time!! 

Prayer Requests: 

-Leave tomorrow for Ireland! 

-My students (Judit, Lili, Zsuzsanna, Zorka, Dorka, Matyi, Sára)

-Meeting new friends

-Being bold in sharing the gospel 

-Our trip to France 

Love you all! 

Kaitlyn

More News Coming Soon! 

Rejoice!

"Rejoice in the LORD always; again I will say rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The LORD is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." 

Philippians 4:4-6 

 Family and Friends! Szia!  

I can't believe another week has come and gone! Seriously, where is the time going? As these weeks go by the Lord is constantly giving me reasons to fall more deeply in love with Hungary, this city, and these people. This past Thursday the girls and I went to a small village, called Murakeresztúr, to teach at the local primary school there. As many of you might assume I was extremely excited! Getting to spend a whole day with children: Yes, please! As it turned out this day was incredible! Although we planned actual English lessons we spent the majority of the time just interacting and socializing with the students. They had so many questions for us. The big one being why did you come here? Why would you come to a small little town in Hungary? We told them it was simple: we came for them. Because of our personal relationship with Jesus we had a desire to get to know and love Hungarians. There's nothing more beautiful than seeing children's faces light up after telling them this. It will forever be imprinted in my mind. We are hoping to be able to return to this primary school very soon. 

My heart is overwhelmed; overwhelmed by everything. Each week we're adding more "coffee dates + bible studies" to our calendar and friendships we've established are deepening! Rejoice!  Going to Murakeresztúr this week has been a reminder to us that Jesus wants His children to come to know Him. At times I wish I could just make people believe but that wouldn't bring maximum glory to our God. When people CHOOSE to follow Him, He receives glory. This Saturday we will be hosting our first Game Party at our home. One of our new friends offered his Xbox to us and we hope this will get some boys interested in coming to our Friday Night Bible Studies. Pray that many new students will attend and that opportunities will open up to share the gospel with them. 

Prayers:

-March 24 us girls will be traveling with two other HandOn students to Ireland! Pray for safe travels. -Trip to France pray that hearts will be softened before leaving. 

-Us girls staying in the Identity of Christ (Galatians 2:20, Colossians 3:1-3)

-Saturday Game Party 

Love you guys! 

Kaitlyn 

Please worship with me through this song! 

 

Teaching in Murakeresztúr

Group Pic! (7th grade class) 

Playing Spoons at House Church

Tuesday March 15 was a Hungarian National Holiday commemorating the Hungarian fight for independence in 1848. Here students decorated a memorial with flags and other crafts. 

http://hungarytoday.hu/news/hungarians-celebrate-15th-march-49847

Answered Prayers

Dear Family and Friends,

I know its been awhile since I've written to you all and I hope things are going well back home. As for me things are going amazingly well! These past two weeks have been jammed pack with teaching students, visiting schools, applying for residency, building relationships, and going on many adventures. I would love to spend the next few hours telling you all of everything that has happened but since so much has happened here are a few highlights of this past week and a half:

-Us girls are going on a trip to France with a group of students on April 4th-9th. This was a huge prayer of ours answered! Here we have the amazing opportunity to share the gospel, build relationships and enjoy the beauty of another country!
-Having kávé with a girl named Anna. Megan and I met her while teaching a class at a local school. She wanted to spend more time with us and we were finally able to find a date and time to meet! We had a great time getting to know Anna and hope we'll be able to meet up with her again. She is a non-believer and we pray a seed will be planted through the interactions we hope to have with her.
-Our interaction with local schools. This past week Samantha and I had the opportunity to go and talk with students during several classes. While we were there we got invited to go to two other local schools to meet and interact with students. These are two schools that Paul and Tena have never had any connection with!
-I am now considered "cool" to one of my students I'm tutoring because we're going on the trip to France with her. I guess before then I wasn't cool. Haha!
-Friday Nights. We have now started a bible study called The Seven Stories of Hope. Although there normally is a small group of five girls it has been a great time of fellowship and growth in God's Word!
-This past Sunday two girls we've been inviting to house church finally came!
-Our trip to Budapest this past Saturday. See pictures below :)

Love,
Kaitlyn

Prayers:
-The trip to France
-Anna and her salvation
-My students (Judit, Lili, Zsuzsanna, Zorka, Dorka, Matyi, Sára)
-Going into the schools, meeting new students to minister to
-Friday Nights will continue to be successful
- The other 14 HandsOn students around Europe, that their ministry will flourish

 Nora, Me, Samantha, Virág, Emma and Megan at Friday Night Bible Study 

 Playing Games during House Church 

 

 Samantha, Megan and Anna 

At the top of St. Stephen's Basilica 

Cat Cafe, cats roam free throughout the restaurant 

Matthais Church, Budapest 

We found this place that sells chips on a stick! 

Fisherman's Bastion  

For Sale Pub

Restoration

My Dear Family and Friends,

"I am a great sinner, but Jesus Christ is a great Savior." -John Newton in "Amazing Grace"

or as someone else would say, "I suck but Jesus still loves me." 

          Everyday I'm reminded of these lines written above. No matter how hard I try, every day I mess up and break the bond I have with my Father. Although I deserve punishment I instead receive the loving arms of Christ wrapped around me. Another week has come and gone and through the opportunities God has provided we have been able to share in the amazing grace that He has extended to all of us! This past week has been filled with many amazing adventures and I've only been brought to complete awe and fear of what He has and is allowing me to do. God is restoring my faith in Him. He has brought me here so that I can see and hear him again. So I could be near Him and so that I could fall in love with Him all over again! He’s allowing me to have amazing experiences and He’s given me peace that has surpassed all of my understanding. He’s forming friendships that will have special places in my heart forever and that have eternal value. He is restoring me and bringing me back close to His heart. Please join with me in giving thanks and praises to God! 
          Over the past few days we have traveled around in order to explore our country and learn about it's past and present. Hungary is filled with cities full of history expressed in beautifully crafted building and sculptures, and amazing scenery that takes your breath away. It is rich in culture which is expressed in architecture, art, food, music, and many other things.  I will occasionally catch myself daydreaming of fairy tales and Disney movies while walking through streets or driving through the countryside it is so beautiful!
          On Saturday Sam, Megan and I ventured out on our own to a town about an hour away from our city. The town is called Keszthely (Kest-Hey) and is home to a beautiful palace and quaint city. Adding to the beauty is Lake Balaton. It is the largest lake in Europe and one of the most incredible sights I've seen. We arrived early in the morning where fog was still hovering over the lake and most everyone was still sleeping. After gazing at the lake for a while we decided that a cup of coffee and a pastry would be perfect, so we walked into town and stopped at a small, local Pékség. The 20 minutes we were in there was probably the best 20 minutes of the day. There we met a sweet elderly women by the name of Margol. She has such a cheerful, kind spirit and loved that we were trying to speak to her in her native language. I'm sure we sounded like toddlers with our horrible pronunciations and grammar but we has a decent enough conversation that made everyone smile. Those few moments lightened our spirits; they were a gift from God. From the Pékség we walked to Festetics Palace which took all of our breath away! It had magnificent chandeliers, a gold laden ballroom, stunning furniture and a well-stock library. (Richelle, this library was stunning!)  We couldn't help ourselves but let our inner child come out and pretend to be princesses strolling through our own castle, curtsying ever so often. It was a grand day!
          Then on Monday we ventured off once again to a town called Veszprém. When the city come into view all of our jaws dropped. The hills, the rocks, the river, the architecture, it was all gorgeous. Veszprém has over 1000 years of history and currently around 60,000 people living there. However pretty it may have been, it is a spiritually dark place with no form of evangelical outreach being conducted there. Thus, while we were there we prayed for the city, we prayed for the people. I ask that you continue in prayer for Veszprém.
          Tutoring is going quite well. I am now tutoring 7 students from the ages of 12 up to middle aged adults. Barriers are slowly being broken down and I'm starting to experience how loving Hungarians are. Through tutoring I have been able to introduce the gospel to some and disciple others. It's been really amazing to see how through simple conversations can come deep, meaningful discussions about faith and having a relationship with Jesus. As of right now we have not been invited back to the school but there's a possibility of traveling to France with a group of students. Pray that God will keep this door open to us as it would be an awesome ministry! I love you all and thank you for all of your support! You guys are awesome!

Kaitlyn

Lake Balaton

The Pékség where we met Margol

Festetics Palace 

The Library 

The town of Veszprém 

A Trinity Statue 

 

Complete Surrender

 "In Christ Alone" 

In Christ alone my hope is found;                             There in the ground His body lay, 

He is my light, my strength, my song;                       Light of the world by darkness slain;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,                         Then bursting forth in glorious day, 

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.          Up from the grave He rose again!     

What heights of love, what depths of peace,              And as He stands in victory,   

When fears are stilled, when striving cease!            Sins curse has lost its grip on me; 

My comforter, my all in all,                                       For I am His and He is mine 

Here in the Love of Christ I stand.                            Bought with the precious blood of Christ 

 In Christ alone, who took on flesh,                          No guilt in life, no fear of death --

Fullness of God in helpless babe!                             This is the power of Christ in me; 

This gift of love and righteousness,                          From life's first cry to final breath, 

scorned by the ones He came to save.                       Jesus command my destiny. 

Till on that cross as Jesus died,                                 No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, 

the wrath of God was satisfied;                                 Can ever pluck me from his hand;

For ev'ry sin on Him was laid --                                Till He returns or calls me home -- 

Here in the death of Christ I live.                              Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand.

Dear Friends and Family, 

          Throughout this week the song above has played over and over again in my head. I didn't know why until looking back and reflecting on the week. Everyday this song has brought me comfort, motivation or has brought me to complete awe of how amazing our God is. This week has been incredible, filled with little moments and moments that needed to be completely surrendered to God. It's amazing just how the little moments, such as buying groceries or even toilet paper without problems can bring a girl almost-to-tears encouraged and excited. 

           Tuesday we went into a nearby school to meet the principle and English teachers. The principle was thrilled to see us and told us how thankful he is for God bringing us here and that he cannot wait to see how God will work through the school. What a blessing it was to hear him say this! Meeting with some of the teachers, I was invited to two classrooms, one on Wednesday and another of Thursday.These were the moments where my roommates and I learned to surrender everything we had to God and trust Him. Going into the classrooms, with the expectation of teaching a lesson and not knowing how much English the students spoke was a little intimidating. However, we continually prayed that whatever happened God would be glorified through it all, which He was!
Sam was able to fully tell the gospel to a whole class! 

          Friday night was another of complete surrender. Friday evenings are set aside to spend time with students and have a bible study. Unfortunately this Friday there was an obligatory school program and was discouraging to hear from five students that they could not come. Still Friday came and we prepared and prayed that God would bring students. He brought one, which was one more than what we expected! We spent time talking with her and making Valentine crafts. It turned out to be a great night. Little by little God is allowing us to make new friends! 

Much love, 

Kaitlyn 

Prayers: 

-God will lead us to more opportunities in the school 

-Pray that while tutoring students will be open to hearing God's word 

-Learning the language 

-Totally relying on God's plan and not my own  

-Paul had sinus surgery, pray for a quick recovery

Megan, Sam and I enjoying Chimney Bread at Sunday's Market

Sunday Market

Took a scenic drive with our supervisors. Found a very beautiful and peaceful pond. 

We're enjoying our Pékség's (Cafe) 

Monday we spent exploring beautiful Budapest 

Shoes Along the Danube

It is a memorial to the Jews who were forced to strip naked along the river before being shot in the back by the Arrow Cross Militiamen, 1944-1945.  

Welcome to Hungary!

Dear Family and Friends,

Arriving in Budapest after a long week of training

          Szia! (see-uh)  Üdvözlet Magyarország! Greetings from Hungary!

On January 30, my roommates (pictured above: Sam and Megan) and I arrived at our new beautiful home in Hungary. Why Hungary? Well, many of you might have been wondering why I choose to do missions in Europe and since arriving I have learned this:  

1.10,000 churches in Europe have closed their doors since 1960

2. By 2020 another 4,000 churches will close while 1,700 new mosques will be built 

3. France will soon have more mosques than churches 

Just like the rest of the world, Europe is a very spiritually dark place. Although Hungary is considered a Christian nation, God is very distant in the hearts of most Hungarians. 

          Since we have been here I can say it has been amazing, crazy, overwhelming, and incredible all at the same time. I could not have asked for a better team than the one God has put me on. Hungary is very beautiful but also shows evidence of once being a communist nation. The building next to our supervisors home used to be a torture house where the elderly can tell you stories of hearing screams echoing off the walls. The Hungarian people are very closed off in a way but once they feel you're trustworthy, you'll be their best friend. 

         Hungarian is a very confusing language and there are many stories of me struggling trying to communicate. The second day in Hungary I went to the store to buy some grocery's and the cashier started talking really fast in Hungarian to me. I froze. Not knowing what to say I just stared at her with a very blank look. Finally, I said the only thing that popped into my head, "No, Nem, Nem!" She started laughing at me really hard and held up one of their coins. Supposedly I didn't give her enough money to pay for the grocery's. It was quite embarrassing! 

         My roommates and I are still adjusting but we know that God has great plans for His Kingdom while we are here. This past week we have already been introduced to tutoring students in English. Throughout the week I tutored three middle school students which turned out to be a challenge. With them not knowing a whole lot of English and me barely knowing any Hungarian leads to a lot of acting out and use of technology. Friday we had a game night at our flat which was a lot of fun! Starting next week we will use this time to conduct bible studies. On Sundays we spend most of the day at Paul and Tena's (Hungary missionaries) preparing for House Church. During House Church Paul will give a sermon, then worship through songs and prayer and eventually enjoy visiting with one another while eating dinner together. 

Prayers: 

-God will continue to relieve me of anxiety and equip me with boldness

-Learning the language  

-For Friday nights pray that more students will show up 

-God providing us students to tutor and opening their hearts to hear the gospel 

My new beautiful home for the next 4 months 

Trinity Statue in Main Square. This statue was erected after the black plague hit Europe as a thanks to God for not allowing all of them to die. 

Countryside in Hungary

Many statues of Jesus are placed along roads as a sign to God to provide healthy crops

Us girls enjoying time in a Kave shop

Enjoying the Fank Festival

Ez Finom! Delicious! 

A Cathedral that was built right after the Black Plague hit Europe

Friday's Game Night 

Boat Lake. It was very cold and windy that day. 

Remnant of WW2 and the Communist regime are still very prevelant in our city. 

Playing Uno at House Church 

Enjoying dinner at House Church

Playing the violin at House Church