Update from Tom Stowe

Some exciting news from Tom Stowe this month. Just click this image to read it.

Pécs, Hungary Mission's Update: Balázs & Leah & Joelle Stanzel

Our Family

We celebrated our two year anniversary this month. It's hard to believe that it has only been two years because the Lord has blessed us so much in that time, we often feel like it has been much longer. Marriage is a definite blessing and we are so thankful to the Lord for giving us one another. Ellie is 8 months now and doing amazing. She got two teeth this month and they are sharp! She loves standing up on everything and walking along. She is a real source of joy and laughs in our house. We have no idea where she got it but she is a stubborn little one:) Please pray for wisdom and guidance as we learn how to love our child, discipline her, and teach her who the Lord is.

Church

In an answer to prayers, we were able to move the church to it's new location in a kindergarten. There is space for the children's ministry, an outdoor play area, and we can even have our monthly potlucks at the church now. It is a huge blessing, thank you for your prayers. Several people from our church attended the Southern Hungary conference with the theme of genuine faith. We were all encouraged as we heard teachings, fellowshipped, and sought the Lord together. Thank you for your prayers for Balász as he coordinated the worship for the conference. It went very well and he enjoyed leading on a couple of occasions with people from our church. In response to a need in the church for women's ministry, we will be starting a women's bible study beginning next month. Please pray for Leah to be led by the Lord as she leads this, for direction in teaching, wisdom with the women, and for encouraging others to also lead the group. Balázs will also be starting a bible study with the worship team as they look into what the Word says about worship. Please pray as he prepares for these times, as he teaches, and for the group to see God's design for the worship in our church. The college group continues to meet though many students are away for the summer. We look forward to their return in September and as the Lord continues to bless this time together in our home on Wednesday nights. Please pray for Balázs as he weekly prepares for this bible study and the Sunday service to be led by the Lord and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit for the leading of the church.

Outreach

While we were at the conference (which is at the Bible college), we were very happy to be able to lead two teams (one was a team from CC Irvine who were doing a VBS for the conference and the other was the Vision for Life students currently at the Bible college) to Palfa, the mental hospital where we led outreaches to during bible college. We were so encouraged that after a year of not being there the patients remembered us, the songs and most importantly the gospel. We had a great two days there and took Ellie with us, the patients loved her and we all rejoiced together. Some of those that had received Jesus previously are bearing the fruit of the Holy Spirit's work in their lives. It was an amazing time.

Balázs was asked to give seminars at the summer conference for MEKDSZ, the large university organization in Hungary. He had a great few days meeting with many different people from all over the country and from many different churches. His seminars were on being double-minded from the book of James. It was a difficult subject but the Lord used it to teach him as well as the students at the camp.

The prison continues to be a challenge and a reward for Balázs as he visits there weekly to teach the bible. The prisoners have asked that he come more frequently or for a longer time. Please pray that the Lord would guide us with this, that the guys would repent and turn toward the Lord, and for Balász as he ministers to these guys.

Other

Leah has gotten to know two of the neighbor ladies who have babies around Ellie's age. Please pray for her Hungarian to be clear, for her as she develops friendships with these women, and for them to see Jesus in our lives.