Signs of Life from Hungary -- 84

Budapest, 5th June 2003

'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses ...'

Acts 1:8

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Dear Friends and Family,

The headline in the Moscow Times this morning read, 'Extraordinary June snow in parts of Moscow!' I felt quite jealous about this during a meeting of the Missiological Research Fellowship held for the first time in the new seminar room of the Missions Institute, situated in the attic. For the second day in succession, despite all sorts of preventative measures like sunblinds, ventilators etc., the temperature was near to and sometimes even above 40 degrees centigrade. Boiling hot. We almost melted. To be honest, it was not easy to concentrate on the particularly interesting lectures by, for example, Prof. Dr J. Andrew Kirk, about apologetics and secularisation, and Rev. András Lovas about his recent study trip to China.

In the past two weeks during the intensive block weeks of the postdoctoral course, the temperature was not much better. Even for the South African guest lecturer Prof. Dr Nico A. Botha the reception was a bit too 'warm'. One thing was very clear - the installation of the air-conditioning cannot be put off any longer.

Heart-warming ...

Many of you responded to my last Sign of Life of over three months ago about 'rejoicing' and 'not being anxious'. It was really heart-warming. Donations began to flood in from Hungary and from abroad. We even received a check for a considerable sum from an organisation whose shares had been reduced to almost nothing due to the crisis on the stock market. I simply could not believe my eyes. Partner Churches, missionary organisations, foundations and friends of the Missions Institute showed an incredible willingness to support financially, which was a great encouragement to us. One American donor wrote that recently Roma people broke into his home. Just at that time this family received a newsletter from the Mission Institute sharing about training people for ministry among the Romani. They re-committed themselves to regularly support the Mission Institute! Even the building contractor chipped in and suggested that we paid part of the bill later in the month.

Even more surprises

There were surprises of all sorts: what do you do if you are expecting a group of fifty students for an intensive two-day course and you do not have the money to buy chairs? It appeared that a Church conference centre about a hundred kilometres from Budapest was just in the process of renovating the kitchen and was prepared to lend us fifty chairs until the middle of June. (We still do not know what we will do after that!) A couple of friends from the Netherlands came to visit and during the farewell dinner said that they had decided to adopt-a-student in the postdoc program.

And the Hungarian Churches took their share as well. A quote from a letter from one of my colleagues Zita: 'I left with Kati (our business manager, AMK) a gift of 61 euros from the pastors' fraternal in M. for the support of students for the postgraduate program in missions and evangelism, and 40 euros for the same cause from the organisation Serving Love. The Reformed Women's Union in M. collected 80 euros for students who have families with several children. I expect that Reformed women's unions from other towns will also give money for the support of the students, because everywhere plans were being made for collections.' To date we received over 12,000 euros from the Hungarian Churches.

All together, in the last three months, we have received more than a hundred thousand USD of which about half are for the extension projects and the other half for the operating budget. This means that our reserves have risen from six weeks to five months, while we always aim to have six months' reserve. Thank you all for your response! It is a great encouragement to continue.To complete the seminar room - including the air-conditioning and tables and chairs - a sum of about 25,000 USD is still needed.

Chronicle

At three o'clock in the morning of Saturday 22nd March the telephone rang. I jumped out of bed. It could only be my brother-in-law Jan. He shared the good news that Mattias Cornelis had joined their family, exactly three years after the doctors had told my younger sister Willemien – at that time suffering from cancer - that she would probably never have children. Something like this only takes place once, and you have to be there. A surprise visit of one day was the result.

This event occurred exactly in the middle of the first intensive teaching weeks of the postgraduate program. By now, the second teaching weeks are. As youi can image there is a lot involved in setting up a program like that. In February, there was an unexpected spanner in the works with regard to the discussion about international recognition. But a new door opened, as it happened in South Africa. Intensive discussions were conducted with the University of South Africa (UNISA), with a positive outcome. An interesting - providential - coincidence was that I have known the head of the missiology department for years; we followed the missiology lectures of Prof. Jan A.B. Jongeneel, Missiologist at Utrecht University.

Some responses of students: 'These teaching weeks forced me to conduct a personal re-evaluation. My whole life was shaken to the core.' Another, who had been a pastor for ten years, said that he had come as 'a dried out sponge, now able to suck up spiritual and intellectual water'. Many agreed that the lectures by experienced lecturers from the Netherlands, Norway, England, South Africa and Hungary were a huge stimulus and offered them a new perspective on the work of missions and evangelism. It seems that eleven of the sixteen students have been 'adopted'. The support from within Hungary is also taking on shape.

At the end of April, a delegation from the Rhine Evangelical Church in Germany paid a visit. It was mutually very stimulating to gain insight into what it means to be a missionary Church in each of our situations, and in the questions we face

A few days later, I visited some Reformed/Presbyterian Churches in Ukraine and Poland with an international delegation. We heard of vast Church growth, especially among the Baptist Churches. One of the high points was undoubtedly a service in a small Church in a Czech village which was not even on the map. Christians from different backgrounds and nationalities who had never met or wanted to meet came together to praise and glorify the Lord. We heard of God's faithfulness in families, in which the parents or grandparents had been imprisoned for their faith. It struck me particularly how important the role of grandparents was in passing on the faith. Many had prayed faithfully for years for their children and grandchildren. They literally kept the strain of praise going. I wish you could have heard the wonderful singing - in Czech!

Relaxation after a hectic time

You will understand that the past months were not easy because of the financial problems at the Missions Institute. Besides this, on a personal level, other disappointments and uncertainties played a role, which did not leave me unmoved. 'But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses'. In missionary work, there is always a Comforter at our side. We are not alone. I was able to experience this, when the responsibilities sometimes weighed very heavy. This meant that it was good to be able to get away for a few days in the middle of May with my German friend Ute. In three days, we cycled round Lake Balaton, a trip of about 200 km. It was wonderful to leave everything behind and enjoy the beauties of nature.

Finally

'A friend in need is a friend indeed.' In recent months, we have experienced this at the Missions Institute. It was good to stand 'shoulder to shoulder' with colleagues in the battle. What motivates us in this? To help the Churches to be a shining light and the salt of the earth in Hungarian society, so that they can live out the gospel! The new Bishop Istvan Szabo expressed this recently in conversation with a colleague: 'We look to the Missions Institute for help in analysing the situation of the Churches and of society, and to offer a significant contribution in missionary training of the congregations.'

On a personal note, on Saturday 28th June, I will be awarded my professors degree at 10.30 in the Great Church of Debrecen.

Yours sincerely in Christ,

Anne-Marie Kool

Signs of Life from Hungary -- 83

Budapest

6 March 2003

'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!...

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.' Phil. 4:4; 6-7

Dear Friends and Family,

Recent weeks have been characterised by significant highlights and serious disappointments. Paul’s admonition to “rejoice in the Lord always” has been as real and relevant as his reminder “not to be anxious about anything”. Recent financial figures have revealed that we have enough money in the bank for another two months. What to do? 'Rejoice in the Lord!' and 'Do not be anxious.'!

About “Rejoicing” and “not being anxious”

When Paul wrote these words to the Church in Philippi, he was in prison. One wonders how it is possible to rejoice when everything around is against you. His secret lies in the fact that this joy is not based on the situation in which he finds himself, but on the Lord! What a lesson, to remind each other of constantly! In the following verses, he expresses himself even more specific. Do not be anxious. Do not take any notice of the situation around you, but focus on the Lord! Hand over your burden, give thanks for what you have and do not be bothered about what you do not have.

The fruit of this attitude is 'the peace of God', the shalom of God, a deep peace based on the knowledge that whatever happens, our life is in God's hand.

Rejoice (1) - 'Passed'

When I think back on this month, there is much reason for thankfulness, for rejoicing. Valentine's Day took on a very special colour this year, because the exam to be fully qualified as a professor took place. The previous evening, shortly after midnight, Sára and I had finished the final corrections of the lectures. It was indeed a 'difficult delivery'. Fortunately I had 'expert' help from my sister Heleen, a midwife by profession. She had come with my parents to share in this momentous day. The colloquium with the qualifying “habilitation” commission of the Reformed University of Divinity went very well. The professors asked very good questions, and showed a real interest in the topic! It was followed by a 'happening' in the auditorium, where I had to deliver my “Public Lectures”, to show that I am able to teach at university level. I had the feeling that with this exam there was much more at stake than obtaining a qualification. It was a unique opportunity to underline the relevance of the discipline of missiology in the theological curriculum in Hungarian and Central European seminaries. Students, friends and colleagues from all over the country came. From all over the world I received signs of encouragement. Thank you so much!

During a spontaneously organised celebratory gathering on Sunday evening, there was the opportunity to rejoice with a house full of friends, Church members, colleagues and board members of the Missions Institute, as well as my neighbours. It was a real open fellowship where the love of Christ was present.

Rejoice (2) – Courses

Usually Wednesday is really the highlight of the week. Together with two of my colleagues, Hilda and Dóra, we then go to Papa, a journey of 175 km. On the way, there is plenty of opportunity to talk about current affairs. In this Reformed Seminary we teach two courses this semester. One about 'Missionary spirituality' and another on 'The missional Church in the twenty-first century'. They both prove to be very popular, all together attended by almost thirty students.

Just a glimpse of last weeks class. I had asked the students each to ask five people who call themselves Reformed but never go to Church. It turned out to be quite a new experience for them to break out of their sheltered environment in the seminary. I was not really surprised to hear one of their conclusions, that about 40 to 50% never go to Church because of a great disappointment with the Church or pastor. Often these disappointments date back to Communist times. However, a surprise for us all was the conclusion that 75% of those questioned demonstrated an openness to hear more about the gospel. We wondered, whether the hindrance for many people not to come to church does lie with us as 'Church people' rather than with those hardly attending church?

I was reminded of the crucial importance of training the local churches to grow into open, missionary communities and recalled the women’s conference we had just attended before we went to Papa, at which we gave talks on the importance of open, welcoming small group bible study in the Church. More than fifty women attended this three day conference organized by a colleague of ours, Zita. There was a real desire to learn!

Rejoice (3) - Many applications

In the 1980's, Csaba, born in Rumania, was in prison for eighteen months because he wanted to study theology in Hungary. He was intercepted at the border. Now he is actively involved in prison ministry, besides pasturing a Church. Gabor was not allowed to continue his studies because he was too active in his Church in the work of evangelism among Roma. Elena grew up in Orthodox Russia and studied to be an English teacher. After the 'changes', as a translator for evangelical groups, she came in touch with the gospel for the first time. Now she has been living in Hungary for several years, and is involved in child evangelism. Tiina born in Estonia, has a great desire to look into missiological questions which apply to the context of her country. It is her church’s desire that she teaches missiology at the Lutheran seminary. László has for several years been a pastor somewhere in rural Hungary. He is very concerned about how to reach those who only formally adhere to the Reformed Church. Erzsebet has just been appointed as the missionary instructor in her town. Carlos comes from Brazil and is a missionary in Hungary. Péter has worked for years in Venezuela. Eszter is an artist and has the desire to go into missionary work.

What do these people have in common? Each one of them has a desire to be better equipped for their ministry, how to spread the gospel in a contextual, Biblical and relevant way, in local or global mission. They have all enrolled for the postgraduate diploma in missions. Last Tuesday was a real high point in recent weeks. The whole day there were entrance examinations. It was wonderful to talk to such motivated future students. In the end, we accepted eighteen people, representing seven nationalities and seven denominations.

Will you pray for the final preparations of the program and for these students as they start their course on 17 March? Pray also that the necessary finances will be found to fund their studies. For each student still USD 1,500 is needed. Five of them are already “adopted”.

Rejoice (4) – Great progress in expansion project

Tomorrow the first course will be held in the new seminar room. Even although it is not completely finished yet, we are very excited about it, since the project has been going on for almost two year. The interest in the course is overwhelming: more than fifty students from all over the country. Theme: What do people in Hungary and Central and Eastern Europe think about faith and religion? Why do they go to church, or not go to church?

“Do not be anxious”

But besides joy, there are great concerns. Two weeks ago, Kati presented me the precise figures, after her four months illness. It was a great disappointment to hear that we have money in the bank only for another two months.

Cause 1: the fall in the exchange rate of the dollar by 25%, which especially affected the expansion project. We urgently need USD 50,000, which we now had to borrow from our operating budget.

Cause 2: a reduction in the donations for the operating budget of last year of 25% - due to the same reason -. In addition we have to cope with a situation that donations pledged (USD 15,000) were not transferred because of the collapse of the stock market.

Will you pray with us for a solution? Should we now close the missions institute, stop the programs, at a point were the interest never was so big?

'Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.' Phil. 4: 6-7

In partnership for gospel of Jesus Christ,

Anne-Marie Kool

Signs of Life from Hungary -- 82

Budapest

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 15^th 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

Signs of Life from Hungary -- 81

Zeist/Budapest, 13th December 2002

'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life' (Jn 8:12).

'You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden' (Mt 5:14).

Dear Friends and Family,

Receive warm advent and Christmas greetings from my temporary home in Zeist, a comfortable garden house on Vondellaan (no. 10, tel. 06-15406127), particularly comfortable since I got a new stove yesterday. I am grateful for this quiet, centrally located spot, close to my two sisters and their families, and near to my sending Church in Houten, in the centre of the country.

About 'more fever' and rest

In these days of advent, we focus on the promised Messiah, Who came to bring perfect peace, shalom, on earth. He is the Healer, the One who gives purpose to relationships, the Light of the world, who calls His disciples, His Church, to follow in His footsteps and not to put that Light under a bushel, but to let it shine clearly. But in our world, which is characterised by 'more fever': buy more, own more, relax more, work more, enjoy more etc., it is a great challenge for all who follow Jesus to keep Him at the centre of our attention and not to loose sight of the relationship with Him and others.

I pray that we will all have the courage over the Christmas period to include Sabbath times in our daily routine, so that we can focus our attention on the One needed.

“Rest rust”?

Recent months, and in particular recent weeks, were again particularly hectic (I can hear some of you saying, Will things ever be any different with Anne-Marie?). Our financial and administrative coordinator Kati Kerekes is still recovering from a serious operation, which means that matters she would normally deal with, such as responsibility for the building project, financial and legal matters and the restructuring of the Missions Institute, fall to me.

Besides this, there were also structural problems in organising the library, which required a lot of extra attention. Fortunately former missionary workers Angelika and Andras Jo held their ground in the difficult work of classifying the collection. Again you realise that the pioneering work of establishing a missionary library, with a unique collection of books - for Hungary and for Central and Eastern Europe - brings with it problems in a class of their own. The world of the Hungarian university library is suddenly confronted with a completely new discipline, and is there then the willingness to adapt the system? Fortunately the bumps have been ironed out. Even Ma Kool offered a much appreciated helping hand in the reorganisation - she came a week before I went on furlough to help me 'fasten off the loose ends'.

Update: today I saw the result of the fantastic work of the last weeks in the library. Great progress was made. But problems continue: since the middle of december two of the three library computers fail to work. We now have enough capable workers to continue the timeconsuming cataloguing work, but they have to work in shifts with only one functioning computer. You can imagine what happens when students are looking for literature. Pray for a quick solution, the more since the postgraduate program is to start soon which requires an accessable, catalogued library!

Missiological Research Fellowship

During the last week of November, the Missiological Research Fellowship was again held. What began about three years ago to assist a handful of doctoral students who write theses about missiological subjects for the University of Utrecht has now grown to become a multi-faceted, international, interdenominational group of about forty participants, the majority actively involved in missiological research. During three days doctoral students in missiology, recent MTh, and PhD graduates lectured about their subjects of research. It was very informative to hear about 'Factors in the rise of the (Protestant) foreign mission movement in Central-Eastern Europe', 'The Hungarian reception of the Dutch missiologist Johannes Hoekendijk', 'Taboos in the Central European Church'. Various studies dealt with the life and work of Hungarian missiologists at the beginning and middle of the last century. Extremely interesting was the lecture about the Romanian immigrant Churches in Spain by a Spanish pastor who is studying in Prague. It was surprising to see the cross links and the continually recurring thread: the regularly recurring conflicts with Church structures by those who were actively involved in the work of missions and evangelism. Because many of the members of the Research Fellowship are (or will be) involved in missiological teaching, for the first time there was a special lecture focusing on how to go about. It was an eye-opener for us all to hear from a Polish professor of missiology that from Poland alone there are already about 3,000 Catholic missionaries active worldwide!

A high light of the week was the establishment of the Central and Eastern European Association for Mission Studies (CEAMS), an interdenominational platform for (future) missiologists. The aim in brief is to help one another in the area of the study of specific missiological questions which are related to the 'post-Communist' context of Central and Eastern Europe, and the exchange of experiences in missiological education, which in many places is still in its infancy. We received responses from all over the world. The reception was attended by the general secretary of the International Association for Mission Studies, the Dane Birger Nygaard.

Building project: good news and bad news

One thing became clear during the conference. The capacity of the present lecture room and the library has become completely inadequate. We have definitely grown out of our shoes. There is a pressing need for more extensive accommodation for courses and meetings and adequate study places for graduate students in the library in order to make good progress in their work possible.

The good news is that considerable progress is being made on the new seminar room on the third floor. It looks as if the deadline of 1st March 2003 will be met. We are grateful for the gifts received recently.

The bad news is, however, that a considerable sum is needed to complete the project. It is the case that there has been an increase in the estimated costs, partly due to the fall in the exchange rate of the dollar with regard to the forint of 20%! Also some gifts initially pledged have not been received, and even though we received a substantial gift for equipping the library, this can only be used when we reach that phase. To a lesser degree, it is a question of extra expenses which have not been estimated. At least 50.000 USD is needed!!! In the next Signs a more detailed update.

Postgraduate program in mission launched!’

We are grateful that everything has been arranged so that the postdoctoral program in missions, missionary Church development and cross-cultural ministry can start at the end of March 2003. Many serious candidates have already applied (more information available from Hilda Rohn, rohn@pmti.edu.hu). The deadline for application is February 15.

Update: in the middle of December we sent out about 60 letters to responsible people in the Church. Within three days 90 (ninety) people asked for more information! It confirms our sense that there is a great need for teaching and training in missions.

But the completion of the building project is also of great importance for this course! Please pray for a speedy completion. May we call on you for help in this by means of a Christmas gift?

Finally: 'furlough'

You will not be surprised to know that after such an intensive period, I am looking forward to a time of rest to 'recharge my battery' again and to visit family and to strengthen the bonds of friendship. In a period of furlough like this, it is also good to strengthen the contacts with my sending Churches. But to be honest, there is also another side to this. As I have to be back in Hungary by mid January because of the preparation of lectures for the coming semester, I can only come for half of the official time of “furlough”: five weeks instead of ten. This period covers what is known as the deputation weeks, talks about the work given to highly diverse groups around the country. This requires a lot of preparation. And of course, a period of “furlough” like this is also an important opportunity to strengthen all sorts of partner relationships with the missions institute. This takes time too!

Update: in the end it turned out that my time of “furlough” was even more busy than my usual schedule in Hungary. Not only the many talks contributed to it, but also the persisiting problems with my laptop computer were a great hindring factor in preparation.

In addition to this, I heard the day before yesterday that the defence of my qualifying thesis will take place on 14th February next in Debrecen. As you know, I expected this already in November. I still have to prepare two lectures for this, on subjects set in advance.

A personal note

In my qualifying thesis, I paid a lot of attention to missions as a matter of relationships, and linked with this, the concepts of Sabbath and shalom. If there is one thing to which I have paid much too little attention recently, it is precisely these matters! As they say in Hungarian, 'Vizet predikal es bor iszik' (You preach water and you drink wine), in other words, 'Practice what you preach!'

Thanks and prayer

* May I ask you to pray for wisdom in filling in my 'furlough', so that despite everything, it can be an 'unhurried' time of ‘recharging my battery’? (Update: I missed your prayers, but due to many technical problems and a computer crash I could not send this Signs of Life)

* Give thanks and pray for the staff of the PMTI. They have been wonderfully dedicated in recent months. It was great to share the burden with a team like this.

* Please pray also for the countries which today in Copenhagen are to be officially admitted to the European Union. New doors for cooperation are opening up. What does this mean for missions in Europe and cooperation and exchange between Churches in the area of missions and evangelism?

I wish you all a blessed holiday period. I am snuggling down again in front of my stove with my feet up. This seems to me to be a good start!

Thank you for your continued concern and prayer.

Yours in Christ, our Saviour,

Anne-Marie Kool