Old Updates: The One From 2020 a Year in Review

4 min read
Old Updates: The One From 2020 a Year in Review
Photo by Zoltán Cse / Unsplash

Winter 2020

For our final update of 2020 we wanted to take a look back at the year. I know this year has been hugely different than anyone expected, unfortunately largely for the worse than for the better. But looking back, we can also see amazing ways that God has proven himself faithful and good. It feels so easy now to become overwhelmed with sadness and grief, especially when painting this year in broad strokes and only looking at the bigger picture. But we realized when we slowed down, even just to look back at photos we had taken this year, that there were still so many victories and joys. Even if they did seem “small” at the time. We wanted to share those with you and encourage you to reflect on this year, holding the tension of the good and the bad as you experience the negative and submit it to God and and cling to his love and promises.

 

Before we begin, a quick business moment: As of right now we are a little bit blown away and so thankful for your responses and support of our last update. We have raised close to 60% of what we need to raise during our time in the states. Thank you so much!! We are still in need of the last $600/month so if you think of anyone that would love to hear what God is doing in Hungary, please do let us know we are so excited to share! We are currently scheduling in person and virtual meetings with people :) 

 

Ok so 2020:

 We are going to break the rest of this letter down into the seasons with some highlights, a lot of photos and recommendations from each of us that we really enjoyed or learned from during that time. You’ll see that we started the year off with a booklet we highly recommend created by Hungarians called Year Compass, and I think it’s pretty easy to see both of our words displayed throughout the year; “Yield” for Amanda and “Engage” for Daniel. The irony of the way our words interact with each other is not lost on us, God has been working on us both this year to give up some of our “standard operation procedures” and instead be obedient to Him in the difficult things. Whether that was struggling feeling like we weren’t “doing enough” during lockdown, or digging into time with our team here in Hungary to focus on unity, He has been challenging us to follow His plan rather than our own.

 

Winter

Year Compass to start year the year, Hungarian class, volunteering and getting involved at church, (Amanda got to be behind an espresso machine again!) coaching training for Daniel

Amanda Recommendations: Fuzzy blankets and Year Compass

Daniel Recommendations: Meeting with friends to watch football (soccer) and adding jalapeños to frozen pizza

Spring
 Exploring the city in the warmer weather, lockdown #1 leaning into plants and home as well as the brunch business plan, zoom, zoom, and more zoom.

Amanda Recommendations: Holy Noticing by Charles Stone and Springtime by Chris Renzema

Daniel Recommendations: Hoopla/Libby (library apps that allows for the downloading of audio or ebooks), walks to beautiful places

Summer

First excursion out of Budapest to Balaton for Amanda, painting Methodist parsonage, Austria doctor trip, Vajta Church Retreat for Amanda.

Amanda Recommendations: Hamilton and Bible Project Video on Hope (Qavah)

Daniel Recommendations: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, try to recreate favorite restaurant food at home

Fall

Dog-sitting for Longs, finishing up the brunch business plan, communications work creating OMS opportunities catalogue, built greenhouse, team retreat, started meeting with friends for house church, Pop-Up practice

Amanda Recommendations: The Holy Post Podcast, Ted Lasso (tv show)

Daniel Recommendations: World on Fire (tv show), a really good notebook that is nice to look at as a gratitude journal

Through this entire year we are also thankful to you. Thank you for reading our letters, praying for us, and supporting us. We pray you have a very Merry Christmas and a hopeful New Year!
Apr
10
We are Going Back!

We are Going Back!

In the interest of not burying the lead (and if the title of this left any room for guessing)... We’re going back to Hungary!  After two years at OMS headquarters in Indiana, we’ve said yes to returning to Hungary, this time as Field Directors. It’s a role we honestly didn’t expect at all, and one we’ve spent a lot of time praying over. But the
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April Prayer Focus

April Prayer Focus

For April we are praying against spiritual strongholds that exist in Hungary specifically. Again, we created this calendar because we believe in the power of prayer and are so thankful you are willing to join us in praying for the people of Hungary, that they get to experience the love of God. We believe God is present and moving in Hungary, but there are some strong cultural barriers that continue
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March Prayer Guide

Our March prayer prompt is for our family. We will ALWAYS take your prayers, we know that your prayers are the only way we can do any of this. Specifically this month you can pray for our continued adjustment to being a family of 4. Pray for both Arlo and Felicity, that they continue to grow physically healthy and strong. But please also pray that they grow deeper in their
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