31 January 2003
'My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.'
Phil 4:19
Dear Friends and Family,
My 'furlough' in the Netherlands is over. It was good to meet many of you and to be encouraged by your faith, hope and love. Despite everything, the Lord is still at work in the Netherlands, in the Churches, in your families and in your lives. I praise Him for each of you. Thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome. During the five weeks that I was in the Netherlands, I shared meals will at least thirty-two families, attended more than fifteen meetings in some way related to my work, and gave seven talks. In total, I drove about 4,000 km in the Netherlands. I don't even manage that in Hungary! It was a wonderful experience when two days before my departure, a dream became reality. We were able to skate on the Alblas, a small river, in the village where I am born. The skating trip to the windmills of Kinderdijk gave me a huge kick. How pretty the Netherlands can be!
I also recall with much thankfulness the farewell service and the sing-in on 16th January. It was good to be reminded of Ps 77, the text with which I was commissioned almost ten years ago. Did you know it is the Scriptural basis of the well-known song, the title of my doctoral thesis: God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform. How true this has proved to be! He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. That is more than enough to live with for today and tomorrow. He does not change!
'Otthonrol haza jottem' - Home again!
And now I’m back home again. In Hungarian there is a nice expression: From home, I come home. This is how it felt. The first few days I was overwhelmed by the mountains of work, which had piled up during my absence. But there were many encouraging reports. I would like to share a few with you.
Vast interest in the postdoctoral program
As you know, in March we hope to start a postdoctoral program in missions, Church development and cross-cultural ministry. During my absence, my colleagues sent out about 140 letters with information about the new programme. In response to this, we received in total more than 160 (!) telephone calls and email messages with requests for more information (including e.g. from Slovakia, Poland, Estonia, Switzerland, Romania, Ukraine, Finland and Egypt). In response to a letter sent to fifty-seven pastors in Hungary, within three days we received more than ninety telephone calls. Interest is being shown in various denominations. We have planned to start this first round with a maximum of fifteen students, but we may have to come back to this decision. Registration closes on 15th February. (Information from Hilda Rohn (rohn@pmti.edu.hu)). When you are interested, or know others who are interested, do let us know!
Big drop in exchange rate of dollar
We are really very pleased that after four months of recovering from a serious illness, Kati Kerekes, head of finances and administration, is back at work. At last I again have a good insight into the financial situation. Again I realise that even though a bit of common sense in financial matters goes a long way, it is easy to let something slip. Every man (or woman!) to his trade, we'd better say.
The problem, which became very clearly evident last week and which I had not fully realised, is that due to the sharp drop in the exchange rate of the dollar and the rise of the forint, we are getting 30% less Hungarian forints for every dollar. This means that the budget for the expansion project, which was drawn up in USD just over a year ago, is by far not valid anymore. This is not because the expenses in forint have increased that much, but because far more dollars are needed to make up this sum. In the past, we always drew up budgets in USD because the inflation of the Hungarian forint was so high. But the world has changed a lot.
To give you an idea of the consequences of this:
* The expenses for the expansion project of the seminar room have increased by over 32,000 USD in a year. This sum is needed as soon as possible in order to complete this phase, because this room is to provide accommodation for the new postdoctoral program from 15th March onward.
* Besides this, at least another 13,000 USD is needed for the expansion of the library with new study desks. At present, we have five only study places for the students. There is one computer available for them (which to make matters worse crashed completely last month). At the end of March, a minimum of fifteen students will regularly be using the library. Please pray for a solution to this situation.
* Besides this, another 57,000 USD is needed for the furnishing, computers, shelves etc. We have already received part of this, but the vast majority is still lacking.
And as if this were not enough, last week it also became clear that last year the donations from abroad for the running costs had decreased by 40% - to a great extend due to the same problem as mentioned earlier). We had to draw on 60,000 USD of our reserves, even though it was possible to reduce the expenses by 10%. A reserve is left of only three months to cover running costs. No wonder that this week I received an e-mail from Kati: Top Priority Issue! Money is running out.
A third challenge which we recognise is that the students who are going to be following the postdoctoral program will only be able to pay at most one third of the tuition costs. Fortunately we perceive a great willingness to support on the part of the Hungarian Churches. But additional grants are needed!
* A sum of 1,500 USD per student per annum is needed. Please pray that we will find fifteen Churches, organisations or persons who are willing to adopt a student.
God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform…
On the one hand there is an overwhelming interest in training and education; on the other hand, we face these tremendous financial needs. Two weeks ago, I had a conversation with someone from an international missionary organisation. He was of Indian descent, grew up in South Africa and had worked as a missionary in Albania for ten years. Now he was responsible for the training of new missionary workers in Central and Eastern Europe. He was with a colleague of Brazilian descent, who had also grown up in South Africa. Their request was: We would like to ask the Missions Institute for help in the training of our missionary workers. The international director of another organisation had made the same request a few days previously. In Hungary, there would be sufficient capable people available to give instruction. This is not the problem. An increase in the teaching staff would be a consequence, which would have significant financial implications.
Last week, the financial, administrative and PR staff decided to hold a prayer meeting every day for this untenable situation. Will you pray with us?
'"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit", says the Lord Almighty.' (Zec 4:6)
Praise and Prayer…
* …for the many responses we have received, which show that there is a great need for this new program
* … that the right people will apply, who will benefit from the program
* …that the obstacles will disappear! For many, the tuition fees are a great obstacle (even although they are heavily subsidised). Please pray that we will find Churches, organisations and persons who are prepared to adopt a student.
* …for the admissions interviews to be held during the last two weeks of February.
* …for the lecturers and tutors, please pray for their preparations.
* … that the seminar room will be ready on time, and that it will be possible to undertake the extension of the library in the very near future.
* …that the Lord 'will meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.'
“The examination”
Only two weeks to go. Then I have to undergo the examination - of my qualifying thesis for the “professors degree”. The exam will take place on Friday 14th February in the Reformed Theological University of Debrecen, from ten to eleven o'clock. After that, I have to deliver two public lectures at eleven and twelve o'clock. Please pray for peace and concentration during the preparations in the coming two weeks. Pray above all that Gods Name may be glorified and that it may serve the cause of the extension of His Kingdom.
Thank you for your continued concern and prayer.
Blessings and Peace,
Partnering with you for the sake of the Gospel
Anne-Marie Kool
