Budapest or Bust

IT'S OFFICIAL...WE ARE GOING TO BUDAPEST!!!

As you know from our last update, we have been in the process of deciding to possibly move our new location to Budapest, Hungary.  We took a trip there in the middle of April with our team leaders, Casey and Heather Goff, to scout it out.  It was a great trip!  Susan and I loved it!  We were able to see much of the city, meet with other mission workers that are already there, and meet with Hungarians, including a pastor and his family.  We were encouraged by all of them that there is a great need for people to hear the Good News and that there is definitely a place for our team in Budapest.

For a city of over 3 million people it had a very laid back feel.  It is a beautiful place full of history and culture.  We loved the people and our hearts were attached to them quickly.  However, behind this great surface lies a city, a country, and a people that are hurting and in great need of hope and love.  What we heard  and felt was a deep hopelessness about life and the future.  There are many challenges Hungarians face: corrupt government, growing unemployment, poverty, increasing racism and antisemitism.  Our hope and prayer is that we can go and be a part of bringing light where there is darkness, hope where there is hopelessness, and love where there is hatred.

So, yes, we have officially made the transition toward Budapest, Hungary!  We could not be more excited!  We really feel that this is the direction of the Lord.  We said in our last letter that point A to point B with God is rarely a straight line and are we ever thankful for that.

We still hope to launch in November and are working hard toward that goal.  Thank you again to all of you for your prayers, encouragements, and patience as we continue to push forward, trusting that God is guiding every step we take.

So what's next?

Now that we have made the decision to move to Budapest we will continue to raise funds to do so.  That will bring us back to the north country.  We are going to be spending most of May and the first week of June splitting time between South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota.  This will be a time of sharing our hearts for Europe, reconnecting with friends and family, and hopefully having some time to just enjoy being a family.  The kids are really excited!