Back Safely

We celebrated Mere's Birthday in the states

Brannon Family Christmas

Merry Christmas!

New Year's Eve Fun

Practice Graduation

Shay and the girls arrived safely in Budapest this morning. Thank you to all those that prayed for our trip to the states, for our protection and health, and for it to be a restful time. Because it really was an encouraging trip spent with family and friends. These pictures are just a few of the many we took on our trip to states! Good memories!

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

We're Freezing!

The weather this month in Alabama has amazed us. We just heard the weather lady on channel 48 reporting that tonight will be the 5th night this month that the North Alabama area will hit the teens. Yikes! Budapest hasn't had too many more nights like that this month. Curt is in Budapest already and he gleefully emailed us and told us that yesterday Budapest had sunny weather and almost 50 degrees. That's amazing for Budapest during this time of year. So, what gives?? What's going on with these low temps in Alabama? Well, guess we can't complain too much since we had incredibly beautiful weather in December during this state-side visit. Guess this is helping us get prepared for our return to Budapest next week. February is usually full of snow!

Happy New Year!!

Hello to faithful friends and family that check our blog!!

It has been an incredible trip back to the states for the holidays. So many wonderful memories have been created and we all have just been amazed at the relaxed time we've had. It's been of our best trips back and we're grateful to God for that. AND grateful to the many of you that went out of your way to help us feel welcomed and make our time so special.

Curt leaves tomorrow (1/18) to return to Budapest. He'll arrive on the 19th. (Yuck! a long flight!) When we booked our tickets to come for the holidays, we talked about how long we could stay and should stay. There's alot going on in Budapest and Curt, for sure, needs to get back. Not to mention that we've had a house sitter for 6 weeks and she's probably ready to get back to a normal life herself! Shay and the girls will stay for a few more days in the states and return to Budapest on the 29th. They have some more medical appointments to wrap up and then they'll start the packing up process, too. It'll be hard to leave!

Just wanted to check in with you and begin sending our thanks back to you---even before we get back to Budapest. In the coming weeks, we'll update you on our plans for the next few months. In mid-May, we are beginning our transition back to the United States for an extended stay. We want to tell you about some of those plans.

Please contact us! We would love to hear from you and hear how your 2008 has started out.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Last Blog For A While

Pretty bad to say last blog for a while when we haven't been keeping our blog updated in the last few weeks! Our excuses for that are long and boring, for sure. But it has been a crazy, busy few weeks as we move toward leaving Budapest for the states during the month of December and January. We probably won't post to our blog while we're gone. We'll catch back up with you sometime in February. :)

Wow! We'll be home for Christmas. The first Christmas in the states in 4 years. We are really looking forward to this time with family and friends. We leave next week and there is much to be done before then. So many projects to wrap up or at least put on hold until we get back in January. Hopefully, we'll get to see many of you on this trip back and thank you personally for your prayers for us. And speaking of prayer, a few requests from us to cover us during this trip back.

*Meredith sings a Christmas solo this Sunday at church. Please pray that her singing would honor God.

*Pray that our responsibilities here would be covered by the people that we have asked to step in and help us.

*Pray for our house to be safe and that no break-ins will occur while we're gone.

*We tend to get sick on our trips back to the states. Different germs??! Please pray that we will be healthy and safe during this time.

Thank you for caring about us! In case you would like to contact us during the month of December and January, our permanent mailing address in the states is:

PO Box 1943
Madison, AL 35758

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

A Busy Lord's Day

ICSB Choir (Olivia and Meredith are somewhere in that big group!)

Such a full day comes to a close. We're all tired---but it's a "good tired". So much going on at Danube International Church! We arrived early, as we usually do on a Sunday morning. Making sure things were set up, folding the bulletins, checking on childcare, roping off a section for the ICSB High School choir that was singing during the offertory, recruiting ushers, checking on translation equipment, etc. etc. were some of the things we worked on. Olivia and Meredith were singing on the worship team so they were practicing. Plus the girls were a part of the ICSB choir and performed with them.

The service was just wonderful and we had our all-time high attendance for Danube. Worship was so meaningful, Pastor Ronnie did a super job, and we also got some new potential contacts for Danube from all the vistors. The day wrapped up with the girls going to youth group, Curt going to the pastor's house to drop some things off, and Shay going to a Danube Missions Committe meeting.

Danube International is such a strategic church in Budapest and we feel privileged to be a part of its leadership team. Please pray for new leaders to be raised up, for more internationals to attend (especially Hungarians!), and for many people to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.

http://www.danubechurch.org/

First Snow!

We went to church this morning in the sunshine. But when church was over, it was beginning to snow. And it's kept snowing every since we got home. We certainly weren't expecting this! Only rain was predicted this evening. It's a beautiful sight to see outside our window. Last year, we had almost no snow. This year, the first snow is November 11th! Happy Veteran's Day!

Happy Birthday Curt!

Today is Curt's birthday. This is a picture of some of the celebrating of his day. Curt and Shay went out with several friends to a local Greek restaurant and had such fun---especially seeing Curt blow out the firecracker on top of his chocolate cake! Thank you to those that sent birthday greetings!

Blog Sites for Olivia and Meredith

A reminder that Olivia and Meredith still have blogs. They're just not posted with the family blog. You can check out their sites on:

New Blog for Olivia: www.thinkingclearly.wordpress.com

Meredith's Blog: www.meredithbrannon.blogspot.com

October 23 and November 1

A Mounument Commemorating October 23, 1956

Today is a national holiday in Hungary. It's All Saints Day, a religious commemoration that many Hungarians view as important to their faith. As with many religious holidays in any culture, the significance of the day for younger people has decreased over the years. Younger Hungarians tend to think of this day as something that the older generation cares about. Although the younger Hungarians are not opposed to having the day off from work! So most businesses, grocery stores, and government offices are closed today.

Last week (October 23), was the 51st celebration of the Hungarian uprising against the Soviets in 1956. That uprising in 1956 was eventually crushed after only a few days but Hungarians mark October 23rd as a significant triumph in their history. On the 50th anniversaryof the uprising last year, the celebration was marred by riots against the current government. With this political unrest, the days leading up to October 23, 2006, were very tense. We had hoped that this year in 2007 would be different. But unfortunately, there were some riots and some blockades of the bridges over the Danube. We just tried to stay out of the areas where this was going on.

Please continue to pray with us for the country of Hungary. Pray that there will be spiritual revival in the land and a turning toward God as the supreme authority in life.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Puppy Update

Be sure to check Meredith's blog out for a new puppy video and pictures of the first bath!

http://www.meredithbrannon.blogspot.com/

Purity and Abstinence

Andris (one of the speakers) and Me

Mara and Jay-Fellow Team Members

This past Friday, I was involved in an abstinence outreach night put on by Fek, the Hungarian student ministry I get to work with. As you can see from the title, this night was totally devoted to the topic of saving sex for marriage. This is a VERY unusual message in the Hungary. I think some people came just because they thought we were a little crazy :) Several students, including myself, shared our view on this topic and one newly married Hungarian couple on our team shared, too. The students listened and paid attention the whole evening. I was quite suprised and delighted. When it was my turn, I shared a poem I had written about my promise ring....it went something like this:

With this ring, I make a promise.
I’m waiting just for you.
Purity and anticipation linger in the que.
Even if you’re not here now, this can still be true
With this ring, I say, all I want is you.

I’ve felt the inner longing and wishing just to be,
A girl who gets affection for all the world to see.
And even though I want you now,
Delaying brings true joy somehow.
With this ring, I set myself apart for you.

Though some might call me crazy
Or say my head is full of daises.
In my heart I know, that someday they will see
That waiting was the key that brought you here to me
With this ring, I take my stand.

And while I watch the world go by,
I see misery in people’s eyes.
Society does look back and wish
They’d preserved their bodies as a savory dish.
With this ring, I choose to wait

By Olivia

Please pray for open hearts in the youth of Hungary.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

The English Language

The Two English Teachers At The School

Hungarian is a very difficult language that few expatriates gain fluency in. Our Hungarian is pretty low-level but we do seem to get by with the everyday things of life. But what we have found many times is that English is the language that helps us the most. So many people in Hungary and in Europe have at least some English. So, we are able to communicate. Thank you, God, for allowing us to be native English speakers!

Being a native English speaker has opened doors for us and allowed us opportunities to serve Christ. We are amazed that Hungarians, who many times already speak another language (like German), want to know English, too. We feel ashamed sometimes that we speak only English and most Europeans speak two or three languages or even more. But, for whatever reason, they want to speak with and learn from a native English speaker, if possible. Even "Alabama English"! They don't mind that drawl, at all, ya'll.

Yesterday, I (Shay) was invited to an elementary school to help in the English classes for the day. What a terrific experience and privilege to be exposed to a village school like this and to meet the hard-working teachers. The kids were so sweet and were interested in listening to me. This school was a German-language school which means that children in this school begin learning German in the first grade. They begin learning English in the fourth grade. So, when the 8th graders leave for high school, they have been exposed to 2 other languages besides Hungarian.

One little girl, Gaby, especially tugged on my heart. Gaby is an orphan and she is 12 years old. Gaby's English was really good and she even gave me a sweet note when the class was over. I could have taken her home with me! But I will pray for her and pray that she will be exposed to the gospel despite her living in an orphanage.

Be thankful for your English! It truly is a gift from God and can be used by Him.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Great Trip to Serbia

Curt and Shay in Ruma with Igor

At the Bible School in Opovo/Ronnie Stevens teaching

Shay with Jarko and Elena

This past week, Shay got to visit Serbia for the first time. Curt has been so many times! And Olivia has been once. But Shay and Meredith had never been able to work things out to go. So now, we need to get Meredith to Serbia for a visit!

It was a very full 3 days of driving, visiting, meeting people for the first time, and listening to Pastor Ronnie do 2 of his sessions on Matthew at the Bible School. What a great trip! We were so encouraged to see how God is working in Novi Sad, Erdevik, Belgrade, and Opovo. It's a slow process in Eastern Europe to spread the gospel and for people to respond. But there are diligent believers in Serbia that are staying the course and working tirelessly for the sake of the gospel. What a privilege to come along side them in the work of the harvest.

Thank you for praying for our safety as we went to Serbia and for the girls back in Budapest. They did very well and didn't seem too sad that we were gone for a few days!

If you want more information about the work in Serbia, email us and we can give you more details. Most of all, please pray for the people of Serbia to respond to the gospel and pray for Serbian Christians that are being persecuted for their faith in Christ.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Prayer Points

Just a few prayer requests that we have for the next couple of weeks. Thank you for praying!

*Curt and Shay are leaving tomorrow (Oct 3) for Serbia for 3 days. The plans are to see Jarko and Elena, Igor and Anita in Ruma, and maybe swing into Erdevik to see the believers there. Also, we plan to stay one night at the Bible School in Opovo and listen in on Ronnie Stevens' Matthew study. He will be teaching all this week and next on the book of Matthew. Please pray for travel safety, that we will be an encouragement to the believers in Serbia, and that the girls will be safe here in Budapest while we are gone.

*Pray for Olivia as she begins leading a Discipleship group for 9th grade girls next week. She and her friend, Lauren, are co-leaders and will be training and teaching on evangelism. Meredith will be a part of that group, too.

*Pray for Orsi, a Hungarian girl that Shay meets regularly with to help her with her English. Orsi needs a relationship with Jesus Christ.

*Pray for Meredith as she takes care of all our pets! At this point, we have 7 pets! The puppies are growing and doing well. Pray for homes for all 4 puppies when they're old enough. (about 6 or 7 more weeks)

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Discipleship Group

An essay by Olivia that explains a little bit about her new Discipleship Group that will be starting in October. If she comes to mind, please pray for her. Thank you!

I have been given the privilege of working with one of my dearest friends, Lauren, to start a discipleship group this year for 5 freshmen girls. Lauren and I have spent our high school years working with Fek, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. We have been taught, encouraged and trained to make Biblical evangelism a part of our daily lives. We’ve gone from being scared beyond belief to wanting to share our faith with our peers. We have learned the value of our faith and now we’ve reached the point where we want to pass along all that we have learned to another generation of young believers.

First of all, we know that evangelism needs to be a part of our lives. Normally there are people that work on a short term basis with Campus Crusade. These people take students like Lauren and me out in Budapest to share our faith. This year, however, there are no short term workers. So we were posed with the problem of meeting our evangelism requirements and needs. So Lauren and I began thinking about what we could do that would challenge us and involve evangelism.

The possibility of leading a discipleship group is something that I have been thinking and praying about over the last few months. I have gotten to the point that I feel that I have been given and taught so much that I need to be doing my part of returning the favor by passing it on to others. I continued to consider the idea and mentioned it to Lauren while we were working at an English camp this summer. It “just so happened” that God was speaking to her heart about working with a group of girls, too. We talked about the possibility of leading the group together and made the commitment to keep praying and seeking where the Lord would lead.

Lauren and I discussed having a discipleship group with Kelly Butts, the women’s university and high school director of Fek. (my Hungarian ministry) She loved our idea and prayed and met with us to help plan our approach. We then spoke with the girls and plans are in order to start the discipleship group here in the next two weeks.

My desire is that the girls would learn to treasure and explain their faith. I want the importance of evangelism to grow in their hearts and minds. I want them to learn to share their testimonies but mostly I want them to grow in their relationships with God and with the understanding of who they were made to be. I cannot wait to see all that God can and will do in these beautiful freshmen girls.

Puppy Anouncement!

I am proud to announce that Tessa gave birth to three girls and a boy today! They are only an hour or two old in this picture. There are two white girls, a black girl, and a black boy! Awww!

P.S. I will be putting up pictures of Tessa and her babies on my blog, www.meredithbrannon.blogspot.com, for the next few weeks while the puppies grow up!

Meredith

A New Home

A new home for our church, that is. It's time to move on to the next phase of our spiritual growth as a church by looking for a building that looks like it might grow with us---physically, that is.

The building we currently are in has worked pretty well for us for the last 3 years or so. But if our hope and desire is to be a firm presence in Budapest for years to come, we've got to start thinking about a building that works better for our needs. Obviously, our OWN building would be wonderful! But that's something that will probably stay on our "wish list" for a while until it makes sense to go down that path. So, the next step in our church life needs to be a different rental facility with accomodating rental management, better rooms for our children's program, more privacy and less distractions during the actual worship service, and more storage for things we need to leave during the week.

Curt has the huge task of finding this building in Budapest! Not as easy as one might think in a city full of 2,000,000 people and many buildings. He's got a great guy working with him, Andras, a really neat young Hungarian guy. Andras is Danube's new worship intern and he has already been a blessing and a big help to our congregation.

Please pray that a new facility will be found for a new church home. Also, please pray that we will be open to the possibility that God might want us to stay where we are for a while and just continue to search for the new building in the coming weeks, months, years.

Thank you!

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Street Ball Fever

Curt was asked to join a 3 member basketball team to participate in the annual Street Ball Competition that happened yesterday in downtown Budapest. There were at least 70 or so 3 member teams made up of all ages including guys and gals. The teams played simultaneously on one goal courts with double elimination rules. It was neat to watch so many games going on at once. The event last all day and there were also free throw competitions along with a fancy hoops competition.

Curt's other team members included an American and a Hungarian. Great relationships have been made through Curt's basketball contacts. Curt agreed to participate just for the fun of it and the experience. But his team ended up winning in the category they entered!

After his part in the competition was done, Curt and Olivia raced off to participate in another invitation that Curt had received through a different group of Hungarian guys he plays with. It was a garden party with his teammates and some of their family members. A very busy day of continuing critical relationships and waiting for opportunities to share Christ.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Remembering 9/11

Curt and Shay got the opportunity yesterday to represent Danube International Church at a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. It was by invitation from the American Embassy with Ambassador April Foley hosting the event. The ceremony was held in a unique Catholic chapel on the Pest Side near Hero's Square--the Jaki Chapel. It was an "interfaith" ceremony with a Catholic speaking, a Muslim, and a Jew.

Some of the remarks from the Cardinal: ..."Almighty God. We are unable to accept hatred and aggression. Please, behold mankind suffering from wars and the victims of the terrorist attacks. Strengthen the hope in the heart of your people so that peaceful and happy days will dawn upon them through your assistance....."

The Jew said: ...."We now have learned that history repeats itself and if we do not put an end to hate speech, then sooner or later we will be hit by war again.....We can never be safe when hate speech emerges anywhere in the world...."

The Muslim said:..."Only those who nurture a feeling of true love towards others are the ones who work together and strive to know each other better. Prophet Muhammad-peace be with him-who was sent by the Creator to all creatures of the world as a sign of his mercy, talks about unselfish love in a way familiar to both Christians and Jews....."

Ambassador Foley said: ..."As human beings and citizens of the world, the similarities between us are greater than the issues that divide us. We share a common humanity. We share a commitment to social justice, compassion, concern for the poor, love of family and community..."

Although it was a solemn and moving ceremony, we were struck by the fact that at no point was the name of Christ lifted up as the only hope that the world has for eternal peace and salvation. The name of Christ was not spoken at the ceremony as the answer to all the questions and fears that the world has. Only Christ can protect us ultimately from the evil in the world.

At the end of the speaking and the music, we were asked to light candles and to bring them to the front of the chapel to commemorate those that had lost their lives on 9/11. We filed quietly out after that where Ambassador Foley greeted each person as they left the chapel.

We were thankful to represent America and we were thankful to represent a church that names the Name of Christ as the only way to salvation and eternal life. How different the ceremony would have been had we been in charge! Glory be to God and to His Son, Jesus Christ.

brannons4christ@yahoo.com

Pictures from Adult Sunday School and Childcare