A Joyous J-Term -- January Newsletter
Taylor University
One of the joys of missions is opening the field to short-term teams. Long-term missionaries get to share their home, while short-term teams gain a glimpse of what life is like as an overseas missionary. This was especially true for the Hungary team this January.
For three weeks, we had the privilege of hosting 20 college students and two professors from Taylor University. From lost luggage to long, exhausting days, this group showed up each day with joy in their hearts. It was a true blessing to get to know these students and serve alongside them. God is doing amazing things in each of their lives, and I feel so grateful to have played a small part in their journey.
Ministry Highlights
Throughout the three weeks with the Taylor team, we organized an extensive schedule, with the students serving in a variety of ministries almost every day. In total, we partnered with seven different ministries, including the Salvation Army, two local schools, an international church, two homeless ministries, and our Vác English club.
Each student eagerly embraced every opportunity to meet new people and serve. It was truly inspiring to witness their passion for Jesus and their desire to share His light. One of my favorite moments from their trip (and there were many) was the night they hosted a welcome-back party for our English club. It was such a special moment to see the Hungarian kids I’ve been working with all year being celebrated and loved by these college students. The way God brought us all together for that moment moved me deeply, and I couldn’t help but be brought to tears.
1. Praying over the directors of the Salvation Army 2. Presentations at an Arts school 3. Worship workshop at Riverside International Church 4. English club welcome party in Vác 5. Worship/Street Evangelism at a metro stop Metro Stop
The Fun Stuff
As much as the ministry events were fun and exciting, we also made sure to create space for the students to rest and explore the city during their time here. One of my roles was to help them navigate the transportation systems, and in true teacher fashion, I turned it into a game— a scavenger hunt! On their first day, just hours after landing in Hungary, we split the students into five groups and sent them off on an adventure. Armed with clever clues (thanks, ChatGPT!), simple directions, and fun tasks, they explored some of the city's most popular spots and raced to be the first team done. By the end of the game, they were all pros at getting around. Who knew education could be so fun?!
Another big task I took on that month was planning a surprise party for their last night in Hungary. With a lot of help from Emi, Shannon, and Aaron, we transformed our office space into a special place to honor the students’ hard work. The evening included a fancy dinner, punch, and an awards ceremony, making it the perfect way to wrap up our time together.
1-5. All the students on the first day doing the scavenger hunt 6. A group of us heading to a ministry event 7. Sadie and I with a student in Vienna 8. All of the girls at our end-of-term party
The time spent with these students felt like such a blessing from the Lord. After the decision regarding the preschool was made, I felt a bit lost in my purpose, but God provided this opportunity to use my gifts in new ways. It was a needed reminder to me that just because I am not in the classroom, it doesn’t mean that God isn’t using me in other ways. He also gave me this time as a helpful distraction when my mom’s health took a turn just days after the team arrived. The whole month was a beautiful reminder of how loving and present God is in my life, always there working, even when I can’t see what is coming.
What's Coming Up
- I will travel back to Hungary on March 19th
- We have new team members joining our field (they landed March 4th).
- We have our regional summit in Poland at the end of March.
Prayer Points
- Praise for the ability to spend time in the states with my mom while she goes through chemo treatments
- Pray for my upcoming travels back to Hungary and then to Poland for the Regional Summit
- Praise for a new family joining our Hungary team.
- Pray for the OMS missionaries who are all meeting in Poland to connect and grow together.
- Pray for the students at English clubs, that our time with them will be fruitful and a testament to God's love for us.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I look forward to updating you on how the Lord continues to move in Hungary.
