Praying for a Miracle

(Pray with me)

I mentioned in my last Journey e-mail that my car had to be towed to the mechanic. I am still evaluating my options, but in the mechanic's professional opinion the car is not worth repairing because of the cost of the transmission repairs and the fact that they are not guaranteed. It is frustrating. Still, I know that even at home things like this happen, even in newer cars. The car purchase was made with careful thought and advice and this could not have been foreseen.

This car is a gift from the Lord and it is His to take it away. Yet, I am still in need of a vehicle and am now not sure of how to proceed. I am looking into all options (including the crazy ones like flying to the UK to bring back a big, heavy, difficult to mail, used part that currently can't be found here in Hungary) but, in reality, it looks like I need another car.

So I'm praying big. I am asking God for someone (or several people) who would in the next few weeks give generously to make this possible. Or for someone who would make an interest free loan for a car purchase knowing that they would be paid back slowly as I again try to raise car funds. (Foreigners can not buy on credit in Hungary and I simply do not have the funds) This is, of course, coming when support is already low and monthly expenses are continuing to rise. This is a big prayer! But God is both the God of miracles and the God who owns everything, so I know it is possible. Please join with me in praying about this need.

Also, I am heading out to a ladies conference/retreat and will be back Sunday night. My allergies are awful and my teammate Brenda is sick. We are two members of the worship team so we could use some prayer that we would be able to sing. :)

Thanks for praying!

Pray for Julika's Surgery Today

This morning at 9:30 GMT+1 Julika went into surgery for Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Please pray for:

• Pray for the doctor doing the surgery, Dr Meszaros.
  
• Pray for a successful surgery.
  
• Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they decide what kind of treatment she will have in the future.
  
• Pray for Zsolti, Mani and David her children.

Thank you for your faithful prayers for this precious servant. If you want to follow up on Julika's progress in this fight against cancer or go to: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/julika

Call for Prayer

Scary! I heard about this from a Christian author in the UK and then went looking for the details. Pray for this decision in the UK!

These are excerpts from the article.

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Cardinal O'Brien criticised plans to permit the creation of human-animal hybrids for research. He and other Church leaders see it as an attack on the dignity of human life.

The government says the medical benefits of allowing the creation of hybrid embryos for research purposes could ease the suffering of millions of people. The embryos are made by combining animal eggs with human nuclei, which can then be grown into stem cells and used by scientists. The bill comes in response to a shortage of available human eggs for research.

Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation are among more than 200 charities in favour of the creation of human-animal hybrids for research. Prime Minister Gordon Brown faces dissent over the bill, from some of his Labour MPs. But Health Secretary Alan Johnson has said an "accommodation" will be reached for those Labour MPs who are opposed to parts of the bill.

It is understood Labour MPs may be allowed to abstain on parts of the bill, as long as its passage is not threatened. The bill received its first reading in the House of Commons in February, and while no date has been set for its second reading - or approval in principle - it is viewed as a key piece of legislation on the government's agenda.

You can read the full article here. This article actually centers around a debate within the Catholic church and the objection by Catholic MPs over the issue, but it also outlines the basic tenents of the bill.

Other articles about this issue are located at:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7310496.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7309445.stm

Just this weekend, I learned that Kompan Julika, a dear Hungarian teammate and a faithful servant, has advanced, aggressive, stage 4 cancer which has spread to her Lymph nodes.

Currently, Julika is going through more tests and meeting with a group of Oncologists. She has not been given a detailed prognosis at this time, but without treatment (surgery, chemo & possible radiation) she doesn't have long with us. The doctors have said that because of the size of the tumors, there is no option but radical surgery alongside other treatment such as chemotherapy.

Pray for Julika as she goes through this very challenging time. Julika is a widow. Please also pray for her children: Zsolt 20, Julika (Mani) 16 and David 15. Please pray for healing, grace, strength, peace, wisdom and understanding.

Furthermore, please pray for us. Julika is part of our family and we hurt with her. Additionally, many of the ministries that are going on now and/or are planned for the spring/summer have to be "re-worked" with the knowledge that Julika will not be able to assist very much or at all because of treatment. Julika plays a major role in many ministries in Hungary and she will be greatly missed during this time.

Also, if you would be willing and able to give, Julika needs financial assistance.

For the past 7 years, Julika has worked faithfully beside us in ministry. She is an employee of our Hungarian Foundation. Like all our team members, the foundation employees also have to raise their support (salary and ministry funds). Because of the drop in the dollar and the loss of a couple of supporters, this past October, we had to reduce Julika to part time "officially" (on paper). She continued to work, not only full time, but overtime, investing in the Kingdom tirelessly. Now that she has been diagnosed with cancer, the foundation must put her back on full time for health insurance purposes. She will not be able to have the surgery and treatment if she is not a full time employee. Therefore, we need the additional funds to bring her support up to full time because we do not have any extra money in the foundation account to cover this cost. We have informed the accountant to restore her status to full time in faith that the funds will come.

If the Lord places in you a desire to help Julika financially please click here to contact me and I will give you all the information on how to do so.

Please feel free to share this news with your small groups, Bible studies, family member and friends who would pray for Julika.