Changes

Changes, and more changes

Change is inevitable.  We see this each time we return to a city and hotel where we’ve stayed before, this time in Budapest for 15 years.  We’ve seen the name of the hotel change, General Managers come and go, and hotel staff members start out in entry level positions and move up to places of leadership.  This time is no exception: three young men who began as waiters and bellmen, have been promoted several levels up in leadership within the hotel.  Over the years, as we’ve gotten to know these young men, we have observed their leadership qualities and thankfully, so have their superiors.

Much like the leadership development we see in this hotel is the overview of Christian younger leaders with whom we’ve ministered for now 16 years. 

Change:  We’ve seen leaders begin haltingly and develop into more confident and able leaders. 

We’ve also seen leaders be mishandled by their superiors and leave ministries in defeat and discouragement.  This has happened recently with one of the young leaders with whom we were to minister on this trip.  Now it is our opportunity and desire to encourage and stand beside this leader and his wife, and see what we can do to offer love and support for them.

More Change:  In the meantime, a long-time friend is now located here in Budapest with a new mission and we look forward to seeing and having fellowship with her. At the same time, a young couple with whom we have ministered for 15 years, has now relocated to the US.

Changes – life’s ebbs and flows are ever with us.  We constantly must flex with these tides of change!  And be open to change and what God will do in our lives and through us!

A special personal prayer request for you: 
A group of missionaries were injured last week in a small plane crash in Southern Sudan.  Check it out at Sim.org or at the following blog:   Congdons In Doro (Dr. R Congdon and his wife, Nancy.  Rob is currently the medical director for this project and others in Sudan.) Http://rnkijabe.blogspot.com/2006/11/congdon-news.html     We are particularly interested in this ministry because two of Carol’s aunts and uncles (both doctors)  have served there as medical missionaries in past years. One aunt and uncle, Dr. Bob and Claire Grieve, are buried there in Doro. Their commitment and dedication to serve the Lord have strongly influenced my life since I was a child.  Oh, if they could see the changes now!

Blessings,  Carol