Praise the Lord for the new five-year residence permits which we received today! We had expected that Ami would get only 9 months because she will be 18 years old in March and will finish high school in June. The immigration department surprised us and gave her two and a half years instead.
Dear Praying Friends,
Understandably, Laszlo was the center of attention in the conference room. His publisher was introducing his latest book, and the kindly looking little man was clearly enjoying the moment. Laci bacsi, as his friends call him, has a doctorate in literature. (“Bacsi,” roughly equivalent to “uncle,” is a polite way to address older men.) Being a retired teacher, he is now putting his knowledge and love of literature into a series of short books.
I first met Laci the night his wife, Ida, was baptized by Gedeon Olah in Nagykanizsa. She was one of their first converts to Christ in that city. Before the baptism, she gave a sweet testimony about how she was saved. Laci is a joy to talk with, being patient with my less-than-perfect Hungarian. He has visited several special events held by Lighthouse Baptist Church, yet he has not yet accepted Christ as Savior. Pray for him. He is one of about ten million reasons God sent us to Hungary.
Thank you for praying about our Christmas events. All were well attended including a high attendance of 83 at the Sunday evening concert. A number of unsaved people were present at every service. Pray that the gospel seed sown will bear fruit.
On January 2 and 3 we were blessed with the ministry of Jim and Laura Pranger, missionaries to Siberia for 11 years, at our annual Couple’s Conference. The Prangers moved to Budapest this past fall, where they are serving as furlough replacements. They are looking for God’s will concerning further ministry in Hungary.
Thank you for praying about our visa and residence permit renewals. We have been told that we will receive the most favorable classification and a five year extension, the longest allowable by law. There is a snag in Ami’s paperwork due to the fact that she turns 18 in March and therefore cannot renew her visa as a family member. Pray that God will work out the details concerning her visa.
I am very thankful for the opportunity to teach in Romania. So far, my trips to and from Beius have been pretty much uneventful. Please pray that they will continue to be so for the next three months. Pray that the students will receive a foundation in the Greek language sufficient to prepare them for more advanced studies.
Classes begin for the Bible Institute in Pecs on January 17. I am preparing a course in Pauline Epistles which will run through the first week in March. I will be teaching the same class in Nagykanizsa to the Olah family.
Bela Horvath, our national coworker, is assuming more and more of the responsibility for the church. We believe that God wants him to become the senior pastor of the Pecs church very soon. Please pray about this time of transition.
I have posted a number of new photos of Christmas events on our web site. Although the site is temporarily unavailable, it should be up and running again next week. Just go to http://www.missioncentral.net/miss/potter/index.htm and click on “Our Journal.”
We thank you for your prayers for Jean. She is slowly recovering her strength. Please pray that God continues to give special help during the times that I am gone.
We cannot conduct this ministry without God’s enabling power which He gives in response to your prayers. Thank you.
Yours for Hungary hearts,
David Potter
