Feeding His Sheep

Being able to provide spiritual food on a weekly basis is a blessing not only for us but also for the members of the little Gypsy church in Hajduboszormeny. On Saturday, December 13th we also had the opportunity to provide physical food as well.

Seeing the joy and surprise on the faces of the families brought tears to our eyes. Having the opportunity to pray for each family individually is also a part of our annual visit. When you've experienced the tears of gratitude, the joy on the faces of the children, and the desperate situation most families live in, it reinforces how rich are the Lord's blessings. His love and grace know no bounds.



Once again, our brother in Christ from California, single-handedly blessed the Christmas Food distribution through his personal support. We are reminded that the prayers, obedience, and faithfulness of God's children availeth much.



As you click on the photos (the better to see individual faces) please lift up a prayer for them. They are aware there are people in America and around the world who are praying for them, sympathize with their plight, and support the on-going ministry among them. They are very grateful and send you their thanks and wishes for a blessed Christmas.

Comments from CBS Sunday Morning

Remarks from CBS Sunday Morning

I only hope we find God again before it is too late!!

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning

My confession:

I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees, Christmas trees.. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.

It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, 'Merry Christmas' to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu .. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.

I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of g getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.

Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to.

In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her 'How could God let something like this happen?' (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said, 'I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?'

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shall not kill, thou shall not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with 'WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.'

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing yet?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on
your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they
will think of you for sending it.

Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.

My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Anticipating Christmas

We don't always remember that Christmas begins with the word CHRIST, but that is the reason we celebrate this time of year. It is precisely because of Jesus that a time of celebration is observed. It's easy to forget that with all the emphasis on gift giving. Let's help one another rejoice in the true meaning of Christmas which is the gift of eternal life through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

MISKOLC ORPHANAGE MINISTRY. Last week 12/3, we made the trip to Miskolc, this time to help the Neni's (caretakers) at the orphanage purchase Christmas gifts for the children. A military chapel in Germany has donated the funds and each child will receive a hand-picked gift. It was fun getting reacquainted with the Neni's and getting to know a few of the newer caretakers. Since it is my hope to interact with them on a weekly basis when I start going regularly in January, it was a fun way to connect.

On December 20th we are planning to spend the day with the kids, hanging out,making and baking cookies, and sharing a bit of Christmas cheer along with the story of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Please keep this in your prayers. It's always a challenge to corral all the kids in one place with their diverse schedules and also varying interest in spiritual truths.

DEBRECEN WOMEN'S MINISTRY.
This past Saturday December 6th, the women of Calvary Chapel Debrecen came together at the Greathouses for a Women's Christmas Tea. Everyone brought loads of goodies to share, the youth group came early and helped me prepare sandwiches and fruit salad and other treats, and everyone shared a belly laugh while playing the "White Elephant" gift exchange. This was something new for the Hungarians so it took a bit of time to fully understand it was OK to "steal" a gift from your neighbor. It was a special time for us to just have fellowship time together, time being a rare commodity at this time of year.

GYPSY MINISTRY IN BOSZORMENY.


Mikulas (Santa Claus) came to the Gypsy church a bit early this year since our regular meeting time fell on the 2nd of December. Usually Mikulas makes his appearance on the 6th. Here is a photo of the Hungarian man who played the part of Mikulas and handed out a package of goodies to each child and adult. There were at least 100 people crammed into our tiny church that night!

Szundi and Dani, our teaching leaders had the brillant idea of showing how unreachable God's gifts are unless they are accessed through the blood of Jesus. To illustrate that idea, they brought in a large gift wrapped box. Inside were 4 baloons filled with helium and the words LOVE, HOPE, FORGIVENESS, and ETERNAL LIFE. The baloons immediately flew out of the box once opened and drifted far above the reach of everyone. They then shared that through the blood of Jesus we have God's gifts to us if only we will reach out and accept them. It was a really powerful demonstration and we are hoping everyone there understood what it all meant.

On the 11th of December, we will be shopping with a group of volunteers for the Christmas food baskets to be delivered to our Gypsy brothers and sisters on Saturday the 13th. While delivering the baskets, it's a great time to talk about God's love, His provision for them, and the free gift of salvation. I hope to have some photos to upload and share with you later. Please pray for our time with the families and for ears to "hear."

CHRISTMAS AT THE GREATHOUSES. It will be a bit different this year. We have invited 6 of the orphan "graduates" to come and spend the holiday with us December 24-28th. It's always a joy for us to be "Mom and Dad" to the kids and Rob outdoes himself spoiling them with his cooking and special treats.

To each and every one of you reading this blog, we wish you a blessed Christmas filled with many memory making moments. Thank you for your love, your encouragement, and your financial support this past year. Thank you for standing in the gap with us.

God bless you one and all.
Rob and Carol, Debrecen

An update at last!

Between busyness and an internet provider that goes up and down faster than the stock market, it's been a bit of a challenge to find the time to keep our readers updated.

The last time we wrote, we shared our renewed commitment to the ministry at the orphanage in Miskolc. Since then, a lot seems to be happening and it's all centered in Miskolc!!! Go figure.

First off, thanks to all of you who have prayed for Reni and David. As you may remember, Reni is one of the orphan "graduates" who has a young son and for a time, had been homeless.

God has certainly moved hearts and it seems, mountains, in order to get Reni and David established in a permanent home. Reni and David's father had purchased a 150 year old house which after they broke up, was totally gutted with nothing left except the bare walls. There was no way Reni could move back and was in jeopardy of losing David if she didn't have a home suitable to Social Services. That's where the body of believers stepped in and have provided many of the things necessary to set up housekeeping. The two most important things were a way to heat the house and a bed for Reni and David. Both of which were donated in time to meet the criteria of Social Services and eliminate the concern David would become a ward of the State.

During the past several weeks, many trips to Miskolc (about 4 hours round trip) were made in order to get the donations to her. There has also been money donated to help them with food until she is able to start working. There is a promise of a part-time, 3-days a week job, beginning in January. David is signed up to begin pre-school at the same time.

Again in Miskolc, November 21-22nd saw a large group of volunteers come together to share an American tradition...Thanksgiving.











During our two days there, we played crazy games (think fear factor), heard a gospel concert by Bible School students, saw a pantomime with a spiritual message, heard the children's choir from the orphanage, baked and decorated Christmas cookies, and ate a huge Thanksgiving meal together.

We've shared before that Rob has a twice a month cooking class for the young people at the church (photo of them at left). Well this year 4 of the most daring agreed to head up the cooking in each of the 4 houses at the orphanage. The rest of team were on hand to lend a helping hand (with the exception of Luca who is in California) and all in all, everyone enjoyed the time together and the yummy food. We give thanks to all the helpers, translators, and teachers who shared their love and God's blessings on our beloved orphans.