"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
Throughout Scripture God makes it plain that He wants each generation to share with the next about who He is and the great things He has done. Joshua 6 is an excellent example of this mandate.
"So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, 'Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, What do these stones mean? tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israsel forever.'" verses 4-7
We offer the following reports as a testimony of the majesty, power, faithfulness, love and mercy of our God. As you read through them, please join us in praise for who He is and all that He does and is doing for His name's sake.
The Netherlands, Bosnia, Hungary (September)
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5
The contacts made during this combination trip were many and varied. It was an extended time of changing environments and multiple needs for which only the Lord knows the eternal impact.
Sandra's time in The Netherlands was rich and wonderful. she was able to spend quality time with each of the core families who coordinated the BHC09 conference in May. The Lord allowed her to deliver educational materials, encouragement and support, as well as remembrance gifts to the children.
The meaningful fellowship of this portion of her journey was topped off with a day-long ladies retreat. The mothers gathered in a comfortable and inviting Dutch living room for an adaptation of the Purim celebration from Esther 9. The focus of the event was to consider the personal application of the biblical view of authority.
The day was a blessed sharing of fellowship, good food, and serious discussion around God's Word. Each lady was challenged to bring her own life and home in line with scriptural standards. God poured His love over the gathering in many ways, not the least of which was through songs of praise offered up simultaneously in English and Dutch.
Sandra's stop in Bosnia was a whirlwind. Each day was made up of several appointments and had her going from mroning until evening. She was privileged to deliver curriculum to a family of seven followed by a testing consult and lunch. This family's home is several stories high in an apartment building almost identical to one the Lovelaces visited in Lithuania in 2005. Evidence remains of the major impact Communism had all across Europe.
There were also informal consulting appointments over dinner in the city, lunch at a brand new mall, and tea amidst a trip to the grocery store. The needs of those living and serving in this area are many, varied and deep. The spiritual battle is heating up and violence in the streets is incrasing. We are thankful for God's provision and protection for Sandra during her time in Sarajevo.
Returning to Hungary was almost like returning home. The setting was familiar, transportation was convenient, and the fellowship was sweet. Sandra stepped off the airport shuttle right into a time of connecting with friends and meeting new contacts. She was welcomed into the home of some long-time freinds and encouragers where a long-time prayer partner surprised her by coming by for a cup of tea. God is so good to give us tastes of the perfect continuity of our relationship with Him through our earthly relationships.
Sandra spent the next day delivering curriculum and other items as she held a meeting with mothers to review test results. The time together turned into a strategy session for the current academic year. When lunch was finished, she delivered her gifts to the children and spent some enjoyable time playing games with them.
The next day was spent meeting in Budapest with a mother who'd been sick the day before and unable to join the meeting. An outdoor Turkish restaurant was a great location to discuss test scores over lunch. There was plenty of space and comfortable seating for the children to relax while the ladies talked. Then everyone headed for GGIS, the Christian school that offers an umbrella program.
Sandra introduced the family to Jim Schirmer, the administrative contact for homeschoolers. He met the new student who is entering the first grade and her registration process was completed. Then Jim and Sandra met to put the final touches on the new Homeschool Umbrella Program (HUP) Guidelines. The document is now in place for the foreseeable future. Praise God!
From the school Sandra went to the newest aspect of this portion of the trip - a mini-retreat for ladies held at the Budapest Christian Library. God arranged Friday evening and Saturday morning sessions to which He brought several nationals and expatriates. The combination was dynamic and it was hard to end the lunchtime conversations to gather again for the closing presentation. It was an incredible time of fellowship and learning built on God's Word.
Sandra spent her final afternoon with dear American friends settling back into life in Hungary. She was delighted to hear about the progress they've been making on their "Books for Reading Centers" ministry. Of course another highlight of their visit was enjoying ice cream together in the form of Magnum bars, one of Sandra's favorite treats. :-) The Lord certainly provides blessings for those who follow His call.
Two notes we've received as follow up to this adventure:
"I am eternally grateful to have you as a friend. You are so much more to me, a mentor, a counselor, prayer warrior, sister in the Lord ... Your kindness and sincere care for the big work of teaching our children never ceases to amaze me. You have a very special place in my heart. Thank you again so very much!" mother of five
"I just wanted to let you know we are praying for you. As a family who has been inspired and challenged by you and your ministry, we value greatly what you do and your sacrifice of time and traveling." family of four
There were trials along the way, such as
discovering at the last minute that the weight and baggage count limits had changed,
spending more than 30 minutes at a bank to change a few euros into forint,
getting off the bus on stop too soon and having to walk past a bar after dark, and more that don't need to be mentioned.
Some of the blessed highlights were
experiencing no jet lag symptoms,
witnessing the sounds of delight as items were delivered, and
being sustained in God's hands every step of the way.
There's no better place to be and God gets all the glory, honor and praise for another journey undertaken at His bidding.
BHC09 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands (May)
"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
God used this year's Blessed Home Conference (BHC) to secure His call for this annual event. It takes a lot of prayer, dedication, focus, energy, time, and resources to prepare for this outreach. Frankly, it's quite a stretch for everyone involved in the ministry of Lifework Forum. Amsterdam may have taken us over the top this time around and we praise God for meeting and providing for us at every turn.
First, various situations caused the final details of the trip to come together much closer than usual to our departure date. While we rested in the Lord's provision of arrangements and material to present, we received the growing impression that BHC09 was going to unfold solely by the grace of God. We understand that is always the case, but just like so many others we tend to fall into the trap of thinking that our efforts are somehow making things happen.
On our first evening in the Netherlands we realized that the talks and workshops we had laboriously prepared were not going to meet the needs being expressed to us. We went back to our room that night and with divinely-granted smiles and giggles disposed of our carefully organized folders. We humbly approached our Father and asked for His wisdom, direction, and power to carry out His purpose for us and for those we'd come to serve in His Name.
We made our way through the week that followed with increasing confidence and joy in our Father's provision. Curt and I began each day by seeking His providential plan through His Word and prayer. He responded by filling us with His Spirit and giving us just what was needed by those He brought to us. We learned to rest in Jesus for timing, preparation, travel, etc. moment by moment. We are jokingly calling BHC09 our divinely appointed course in "off the cuff" ministry.
There was the request that we present separate meetings for husbands and wives for which we had 48 hours notice. All of our notes for this type of meeting were on Sandra's computer at home. God provided each of us with an outline from His revealed mandates to open up the subjects. The deep and fruitful discussions that developed went on for more than three hours. Nobody got to bed before midnight that night.
The next day we were driven more than an hour way to a curriculum fair. The event was a coordinated effort of Americans serving in the military and national homeschool families. Sandra has been praying about this very combination for almost 10 years. It was a blessing to be part of this first-ever event. In the opening prayer we learned that we were the speakers who would be filling the 2.5 hours from lunch to closing. Someone just neglected to inform us. We didn't even have our Bibles with us, thinking it was a time of fellowship. The Lord directed Curt about an outline and then carried us through the afternoon. It was a hearty and joyous discussion of God's provision for His people as we seek to build families that reflect His glory.
One of our favorite parts of the ministry is being camels for the Lord. This voyage was no different. One mom who came in from Norway went home with almost 50 pounds of educational items she had shipped to our house. She graciously shared them as examples of the quality items that are available. The other parents enjoyed the opportunity. Beyond curriculum, we shared special materials from HSLDA, NHERI, and Apologia, along with CHEO's magazine, and the Victory in Jesus booklet by Lorraine Lostroh of Nebraska. We were able to leave behind many wonderful resources for the growing group of homeschooling brothers and sisters.
Of course, as we've come to expect, there were countless conversations with fathers and mothers about family life and education as they shared their questions and concerns. The Lord also provided our hoped-for blessing of children of various ages enjoy as His unique and delightful creations. Some of these relationships were informal and casual while others were more formal and specific as parents asked for particular assistance. Our days were filled with pointing people to Jesus, our Redeemer and Lord.
The final report for this outreach would not be complete without sharing its two major highlights. One is our own experience of the John 15 type of "remaining" in the Vine. We usually sit down after each trip and consider what God has shown us personally as a sort of by-product of our ministry to others. This time we were aware of God's work on our behalf throughout our field assignment. There wasn't a moment that we didn't need to look to Jesus for something and every response was in accordance with Ephesians 3:20, "immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us."
The other major highlight was the response of our Dutch brothers and sisters. They took steps to get to know us in the Lord and when they recognized our true kinship they welcomed us with open arms. They not only received what was offered to them from God's Word, but expressed their deep desire to know more. Not only that. They have obviously read Titus 3:13 and are working to put its meaning into practice. They expressed their appreciation for God's provision by showering us with thoughtful touches of gratitude. There's a maturity in the Christian homeschool community of The Netherlands that is a joy to witness.
At the end of our time, two of the women mentioned to Sandra that their marriages were already being transformed by what the Spirit had showed them through what we shared. I let them know that Curt and I were growing through our time together as well. We revelled in God's economy at its most fruitful: everyone growing in grace by every portion of His provision. John Piper says, "When we think God is doing one thing, He's really doing a thousand things." We've learned that the quote can be revised to, "When we think God is doing one thing, He's really doing millions of things." Hallelujah!
God deserves all the glory, honor and praise for what was accomplished in and through us at BHC09 by the power of His Word. Our prayer is that you also know His infinite and intimate love.
Budapest, Hungary 2009 (April)
The Lord is amazing and His ways are perfect. He is an on-time God!
The April Lifework Forum trip to Hungary has become an annual event. Sandra's role as overseer of the Homeschool Umbrella Program for GGIS, a Christian School in Budapest, takes her there for standardized testing. This year the group of children all came to one place and Sandra needed help with administration. The travelling companion she'd been working with for almost a year had to decline due to serious health issues, but God provided a replacement. Christina Guy, a mom from North Carolina has the exact credentials and experience that were needed.
Christina was able to arrange to have her passport renewed in less than two weeks! Then she jumped right into the final preparations for the trip. She blessed Sandra in every way possible from the beginning of their relationship. Folks thought it was strange that Sandra would travel with someone she was meeting for the first time at the airport. Sandra was so overwhelmed and relieved by God's smooth and speedy provision that she didn't have such thoughts. The greetings the ladies shared at the Logan Airport curb in Boston were warm and an indication of what was ahead.
Sandra shared the plans and materials she'd been able to put together to that point with Christina as they waited for their flight. It was obvious throughout that the Lord had ordained the new partnership for His glory. Everything fell right into place with Christina's fresh insights being added to the earlier preparations. By the time they boarded the plane for Amsterdam He gave both ladies a peace about what was ahead.
They arrived late the next afternoon in Budapest and went straight to work. The first job was to set up the testing space. The needs of the children from grades 1 to 9 had to be met under the standardized testing requirements. Once the seating and everything else was set in place they were taken to their host home for dinner. Janos* and Lidia* are a wonderful Hungarian couple who are an integral part of the umbrella program. They and their four wonderful children have previously opened their home to Sandra.
The two ladies headed out early the next morning to begin the testing schedule. Mornings were filled with directions and supervision and afternoons included reviewing what was done and preparing for the next day. The children were quite happy and excited to take the tests. Part of their exuberance was from being able to see friends they don't get to see very often. They were cooperative and respectful, a joy to supervise. These families show their appreciation in many ways - a bag of Bosnian coffee, freshly baked goodies, smiles and hugs, gifts for the ministry, and heart-felt words of gratitude. Lord please bless each one with your love and truth.
On Wednesday afternoon a trip to the city for a meeting at GGIS was added to the mix. The Academic Dean took Sandra and Christina to a local restaurant for a working lunch. Various details of the umbrella program were discusssed over traditional Hungarian meals. God is developing a wonderful working relationship and it was a joy to behold. The visit was a gastro-academic blessing. Please pray that God continues to watch over this unique program and bless GGIS for it.
After lunch the ladies were met by a mom who lives outside Budapest. She brought Sandra and Christina to a tea room in her own village for a consultation. Sandra and Kathy* were able to catch up on the Lord's work in their lives since their last meeting. Kathy had some specific questions about her teenage son and the Spirit led Sandra in her responses. On the drive back to their host home Christina got to visit Statue Park. The decision had already been made that this historic site was too far out to reach by bus/tram. This particular provision was another reminder of how lovingly God was arranging every one of our steps.
The last day of testing was celebrated with some time together outside. The children enjoyed the small prizes brought for them and graciously posed for some photos. One of the boys is having a birthday soon that will bring him above the Hungarian compulsory education age. That is a great point of relief for him and his parents, but means we probably won't see him again. The last evening with our hosts was spent on baseball lessons as requested by the children. Great fun was had by all, even if Sandra limped away from it, and some of the basics of the sport were passed along.
Friday was spent caring for the mothers. A friend of one of the regular participants was warmly welcomed into the gathering. Sandra and Christina gave a brief report of how the testing went and how they felt the children responded to it. Various materials were shared such as brochures from HSLDA, CHEO's magazine, and samples from Apologia. The ladies were especially moved by the Victory in Jesus booklet of Lorrraine Lostroh of Nebraska. It was hard for them to imagine that Christians could be so severely persecuted in America. Workshops on relevant topics were presented. Meaningful discussions were spawned that continued over lunch. It was hard to part company, but Sandra plans to return in September eased the good-byes.
The next two days had been set aside to show Christina around Budapest. Little did Sandra know that the Lord had other plans. First, He arranged for her to meet Esther*, the Hungarian contact for Moms in Touch. After a brief review of each other's ministry the two ladies decided that the Lord might be leading them to coordinate a future event together. Please do pray that He would make His plans clear to them and bring them to fruition.
There was also a divinely appointed meeting with a Hungarian pastor. A family in his congregation is considering homeschooling. Enthusiasm and email addresses were exchanged and it appears that the door is being opened for further communication. The two "extra-curricular" meetings were set up through the efforts of some other long-time friends who were back in Budapest at the time. They were gracious enough to give time to Sandra and Christina in a number of ways to ease their travels and bring enjoyment to the close of their adventure.
By the end of the trip both ladies were ready to return home. The schedule was full and the blessings were rich. Forging a partnership in the midst of service to our King is a wonderful experience. Sandra and Christina parted in Boston with prayers for similar opportunities in the future as God leads. They both agreed that He was the One who put the adventure together, carried them through it, and blessed their time together for His purposes. Hallelujah!
*names are usually changed to protect everyone's privacy
Budapest, Hungary and Paris, France 2005
Budapest, Hungary and Prague, Czech Republic 2004
May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ reward you for your faithful partnership with us by empowering you to leave behind the patterns of this world and be transformed by the renewing of His Spirit. Amen
We want this website to reach out to people as effectively as possible. Contact Us with any encouragement to accomplish this goal.