May 1, 2004

Dear Friends,

Aldas Bekeseeg! Greetings from Budapest in the love of our resurrected Lord, Jesus. It is our joy and happiness to share with you on our ministry in Hungary especially on the mission for the Roma.

It is our joy and happiness to let you know that the construction work of the Hosszupalyi Roma Church building is now in the final stage. The Reformed Church of Hungary will have the installation worship service of the Roma Church in Hosszupalyi on May 27, 2004. We’d like to invite all who are concerned about and have love for the Roma to attend.

This is the first church building of the Roma in the Reformed Church of Hungary. In God’s love through your support and prayers the Roma have their own place to meet God. Now the Roma (Gypsies) don’t have to wander around to look for a place to worship God.

The 12 students who are supported by your contributions and prayers are healthy and doing well at school, except for a few students.

Angi is a 14-year-old girl, but she almost quit school in order to prepare for her marriage. We have supported her studies for more than five years, so all that seemed to us to have been in vain. But for the Roma, it is normal for any girl over 12 years of age to get married. Angi is more than happy to get married.

Sandor could not continue his study in high school after eight years of elementary school because he didn’t score high enough on the national exam and because of the poverty of his home. Yet his two brothers, Tamas and Gabor, are studying hard. Sandor works in a factory.

Jonas Zsolti and Janos, now in high school, really want to continue studying theology and become ordained pastors for the Roma people. To support and pray for these youngsters means to establish other new church developments like Hosszupalyi for the Roma.

Once more, we appreciate your support and prayers for our ministry in Hungary. We will write you again after the installation service of the Roma church building in Hosszupalyi.

God bless you!

In Jesus’ Love
Stephen and Kaeja

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 332