We’re alive! We officially survived furlough! After spending 92 days living out of a suitcase, traveling over 13,000 miles, and visiting 18 churches, Paul and I are very glad to be back home in Hungary. Our summer furlough was a great time of catching up with supporters, family, and friends, but it was also incredibly busy. Needless to say, our post-furlough, crazy lives seem to have gotten even crazier. The day we flew in to Budapest, we hit the ground running and haven’t stopped since! After arriving back in Hungary, we had just one week before the opening weekend of the Bible Institute. Paul got busy right away, preparing his staff of deans, interns, and administrators for the busy year ahead, while I got ready for student registration. On September 10th, the opening weekend of the Word of Life Hungary Bible Institute began. This year we have 38 wonderful students, from
12 different countries! One of the most exciting aspects of our Bible Institute is the unity we all have in Christ, despite the vast cultural diversity amongst our students. Already, these young people are beginning to form friendships that will last a lifetime.Our guest speaker for the opening weekend of the Bible Institute was none other than Pastor Chuck Coleman, of the Community Church of Columbus. He and a team of four members from his church joined us for the weekend ceremonies. Pastor Chuck did a wonderful job of challenging our students for the year ahead. He encouraged them to take their studies in the Word this year very seriously, to get involved with ministry as much as possible, and to be open to discipleship and Christian fellowship. The students were definitely amped-up for the exciting year ahead!
The team from CCC also spent the week ministering throughout Hungary and helping us on campus with various work projects. We traveled to a gypsy church, an orphanage, and a public school, where the team lead kids’ Bible programs and taught English. The CCC team also graciously installed insulation in our castle’s roof, so we can be nice and warm for the cold winter ahead. We were all 
amazed at how much work they could accomplish in just one week! What a blessing they were, not only to us, but to our entire staff and student body! After the first week of school, our entire staff and student population, as well as the team from CCC, traveled on a bus together to evangelize on the streets of Budapest. The very first course the students are taught at the Bible Institute is called Personal Evangelism, and right away they are challenged to put it into practice. The students did a great job sharing the Gospel on the streets, and they were very bold in their faith. Praise the Lord, at least 30 people accepted the Lord as a result of the Open Air Evangelism conducted just this past Thursday and Friday!
What an exciting start to the 2010-2011 school year of the WOL Hungary Bible Institute. We have a great group of students, a motivated staff, and exciting year ahead to study God’s Word and serve the Lord together!
P.S. because I am finally done with school, I can work fulltime and have an official title: “Admissions Coordinator” and “Financial Aid Assistant”. I even get my own desk! I feel so grown up!
