Lee's Lines

A cookie sheet, snow dump and a little gravity!

Until this week we'd had a mild winter in Budapest. Now, of course just in time for our intense packing and preparations for departure, winter arrives!

I know what you're thinking . . . that's got to be a pretty big cookie sheet . . .

The best Christmas greeting received this year

How many electronic Christmas greetings have you received so far this season . . . five, ten, a dozen or more? This is the best one I've received. It's not fancy or high tech, just the lyrics to In Christ Alone (by Stuart Townsend & Keith Getty) . . .

"In Christ alone my hope is found. He is my light, my strength, my song.
This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh; Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness; Scorned by the ones He came to save.
'Till on that cross as Jesus died the wrath of God was satisfied.
For every sin on Him was laid; here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious Day, up from the grave He rose again.
And as He stands in victory sin's curse has lost it's grip on me.
For I am His and He is mine bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death. This is the power of Christ in me.
From life's first cry to final breath Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man can ever pluck me from His hand
'Till He returns or calls me home. Here in the power of Christ I'll stand."

Excellent! Merry Christmas . . .

A future missionary . . .

I think our 'anti-materialism' training of Mckenna is going rather well. Don't you . . . ?

Final ministry trip . . .

My last ministry effort of our 3 years in Budapest followed a well worn path. Steve Farina (a missionary with United World Mission) and I spent a day with Gavi Moldovan in Oradea, Romania. Oradea is about four hours from Budapest and is about half way between Budapest and Cluj, Gavi's home town.

For a year-and-a-half I have been consulting with Gavi regularly about how to approach the "saturation church planting" strategy for Romania. He and his team have been working on a "20-year plan" to see their vision fulfilled. Here's a picture of Steve, Gavi and I talking over lunch . . .

We spent our hours together interacting about many aspects of Gavi's plan, but particularly we focused on the most strategic way to partner with other organizations . . . Biblical Education by Extension, Youth with a Mission, etc. Now I'm eagerly waiting for the first draft of their complete plan.

Euro-Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving Brooke, Mckenna and I traveled to Belgium to celebrate with my parents. My folks are missionaries with the Free Methodist denomination, planting churches in the Flemish speaking part of the country, largely among immigrants.

About 30 minutes from my parents home is Brugge, one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. In this photo Dena Friderich (Budapest teammate), Brooke and I are standing in front of a really cool building on the town's main square . . .

Your comments are welcome. Please check out our Prayer Wish List too. And of course, have a Merry Christmas!