August marks ten years

It was ten years ago this month that we left our home in Corvallis Oregon and moved to Europe. I wanted to give you a brief overview of the last ten years.

I can remember writing a friend, when we settled in Hungary, and telling him that I felt like I was at a men’s retreat everyday. That was the euphoria of being a new missionary talking. We quickly learned we weren’t in Kansas anymore. It was shortly after that realization the trials began.

Every missionary struggles with the balance of sharing with those back home the difficulties of missionary life while not detracting from or making the ministry secondary. The reality is that struggles usually come fast and furious while the ministry progresses at a much slower pace. The result is that the missionary feels a need to gloss over the daily trials of living in a foreign country and put the best face possible on the events of the ministry so that people back home will continue to support the work. Too many missionaries feel that if they share the real hardships of missionary life, people back home will think less of them.

I can recall visiting with a really godly missionary I met, Randy Harvey who was serving the Lord in Kosovo. (Randy just passed away this last month of a heart attack) He shared with me that the enemy attacks every missionary in three areas; 1) Physically 2) Relationally and 3) Financially. I realized later that it was the Lord speaking to my heart, preparing me for the things ahead of us. It wasn’t long after he shared this with me that we met with the first of the three areas of attacks.

While driving back from a day out with Tina and the kids we were involved in an auto accident. While driving around a sweeping blind turn we were met head on by another vehicle that was passing four other cars. When I saw him I moved to the shoulder trying to avoid a collision but he lost control and we collided. Tina and Ashley were 5 days in the hospital, both of them have had serious on going neck pain and headaches ever since. Bryan hit his head and suffered a terrible gash in his leg which required many stitches. Austin experienced no visible injuries but endured neck pain for a long time afterwards. I had a blood clot go to my lung. I have suffered physically as a result of that accident ever since.

Since being in Europe we have had continued problems physically. It seems like yearly I have bouts of either severe physical exhaustion or pneumonia. I have needed surgery on my legs for many years, which I keep putting on the back burner hoping against hope that things won’t get any worse. Bryan has endured stomach problems for years. We have taken him to see many doctors, all of which can’t determine the cause. He recently went through endoscopy to try to get an answer. A few years ago, on our 26th wedding anniversary, Tina collapsed and was unresponsive. We had to call an ambulance and a doctor to come out and revive and stabilize her. Tina suffers with neuromas in both feet and continues to battle the effects of menopause and hypoglycemia. It seems like Ashley and I are always having to visit the dentist and then suffer through the poor standard of care.

Relationally, things have been tough. I don’t know a missionary that hasn’t struggled in their marriage, even to the point of considering divorce, Tina and I are no exception. There has been far too many arguments and fights in our marriage. Thankfully, I can report God has seen us through all those  difficulties.

Tina and I both have lost our dads while living in Europe. We’re constantly seeking the Lord asking Him to show us the balance between the call He has placed on our lives, the ministry He has entrusted to us and being good children to our aging parents. Our hearts break to be nearer to them. That’s not mentioning the desire we have to spend quality time with our brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, and be part of the lives.

Financially, we never have enough. Our margins are razor thin. There’s no date night, no clothes shopping or budget for entertainment. We are always waiting to see if we can pay our rent and buy groceries. Our cars seem to be breaking down too frequently, medical and dental bills have mounted. Our bills and expenses are something that we are always seeking the Lord’s provision for.

One thing that I would add to Randy’s list is discouragement. The enemy use this weapon often and effectively. Billy Graham said, “The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement.” From time to time we have met with deep discouragement. We long for the deep friendships that we had in Corvallis, the fellowship with like minded believers that we enjoyed at Calvary Corvallis. We miss worshipping God in the midst of the congregation. The constant whispering of the enemy that we have been forgotten, coupled with having infrequent communication with our home church and only hearing from those we love now and then, can be very discouraging at times. Not to mention that we have been alone in the work for such a long time, desiring to see others catch the vision and join us in the work both here and at home. At times it has felt like we were all alone fighting an impossible battle. These things can and do lead to discouragement.

That is just a sampling of the things we face and have faced. BUT, and that’s a huge but, that but has made all the difference in the world, God has done great things, and has carried us through many trials and tribulations, delivering us from them all. I understand what Paul was saying when he penned, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”

In the last ten years God has done the unthinkable. He allowed us to be part of the lives of many young men and women at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Hungary. He has graciously allowed us to be part of planting churches in Hungary and Slovakia. He gave us the privilege leading Bible/English camps in England where we have shared Christ and the message of salvation to nearly one thousand Hungarian kids, and a overwhelmingly large percentage of them responded by placing their faith in Him. He opened the doors for me to teach conversational English in high schools in Hungary and Slovakia, and He gave me great boldness to share the Cross. The Lord has wonderfully opened doors for me to teach in Anglican and Baptist churches in England. He has opened our house for everyone we meet to sit and talk, which has opened doors for friendship evangelism.

When the Lord opened doors for us to move to Germany we believed that He called us to plant a church. It’s a work in progress but we trust Him to establish it. This March will be our three year anniversary. Many who have attended has commented that they have never been exposed to the solid verse by verse Bible teaching through the Bible. Our current study of the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ in chronological order has been a real blessing. We have been blessed to have a group of men at our house for a men’s mid week Bible study. If your following our updates you know that we have recently started our “Radical” study. In it we are looking at the Biblical view of the life of a follower of Jesus Christ verses the “Christian” life seen today. It’s only been a few weeks but we are already seeing Him challenge those attending to properly put Jesus first and live for Him on a deeper level.

The bottom line is that God is good, very good, and His mercy endures forever! He has done great things and nothing we have done to date is a reflection of our ability, all of it is a revelation of His great ability to show Himself strong. He leads when we don’t know where to go or what to do, He strengthens when strength is need, He encourages when encouragement is needed, He blesses in the midst of sorrow, He fills when we are empty and he comforts with His Holy Spirit when comfort is needed to cover the pain and discouragement. He never leaves us and has never forsaken us, we are in His hands. He has used us to impact the lives of others, to disciple young believers, to challenge others and to exhort all to grow closer to Him. He has been so good to us and I look forward to the next ten years, to see what He will do in and through our lives and the lives of Ashley, Bryan and Austin.

I have one prayer request and I invite you to please pray with us and for us as we attempt to walk ever closer to the Lord. Pray that He would clearly reveal His heart to us, that He would draw us close and we would draw ever closer to Him.

If you think about it, drop us an e-mail and say hello, we’d love to hear from you.

I would also ask you to let us know if you are interested in partnering with us in the work here.

Tina and I thank you for your continued prayers. We pray God blesses you.

Gary and Tina


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