The Westefelds' Short Term Mission Trip to Hungary

by Holly Westefeld 
01/06/19
Free to Share
Author requests article critique

  Message Writer
  Hire Writer

Tweet

Overview

Who?  Holly and Art Westefeld.
What?  Distributing audio Bibles to people who are blind or illiterate, in partnership with the Bartimeus Foundation.
When?  As soon as funds and scheduling permit, prayerfully no later than Spring 2020.
Where?  Budapest, Hungary and surrounding area.
Why?  To share the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ, to provide accessible Bibles to those who do not currently have access to read it for themselves, and to encourage those recipients to be active participants in their local churches.
How?  By the grace of God, your faithful prayers, and the blessing of any donation God puts on your heart.

Progress:  25%

Passports arrived.

History

I (Holly) have always loved to read and hear missionaries speak about their ministries, but never imagined that I would ever be more of a participant than praying and contributing to their work. That all changed this past July, when I just HAPPENED to sit next to a woman who was visiting family at our church. When she noticed me using my BrailleNote, (a braille tablet I use for reading Scripture and hymns, and taking notes), she asked about it, and told me about her friends Tibor and Marta Miklos, who are both blind, and have a ministry in Hungary distributing solar-powered audio Bibles to individuals who are blind or illiterate. After the service, she asked if I would pray about taking a short-term mission trip to participate in their work. With many reservations, I said that I could pray about anything, and gave her my email address. That evening, I received an email from her, introducing me and Tibor to one another. He responded first, excited to explore the possibility. My reply was much more hesitant, explaining that I do not speak Hungarian, and could not fathom what benefit I could possibly be to the ministry there.

To make a long story shorter, we were speaking via FaceTime by the end of that week. Tibor, Marta, Art, and I shared our testimonies with one another, and continued to pray. Tibor introduced us to another couple who had gone to minister with them in 2016. After talking with them, praying, asking our pastors and a few close friends to pray, not to mention some extraordinary God-incidences along the way, it became clear that this unexpected curve in our path would lead us on a short-term mission trip to Hungary.

The Trip

We are planning for up to two weeks, accompanying Tibor and Marta to gatherings of various formats and sizes to distribute the audio Bibles, both in Budapest, and surrounding regions of Hungary. We will share our testimonies, primarily focusing on how Christ gives me strength to persevere in life's challenges, and how I actively participate in our local church, with Tibor translating. While also prepared to share, Art's primary role will be to guide and support me in an unfamiliar environment, take pictures to share, and be open to anything else in which the Spirit leads.

We will go as soon as funds and scheduling permit, prayerfully no later than Spring 2020. The expenses, including airfare, lodging, meals, local transportation, event expenses, and a minimum of a hundred audio Bibles, are estimated to be about $11,000. 

Any funds raised beyond what is needed for the trip will provide additional Bibles.

Partnering in Prayer

Please partner with us in prayer as we embark on this journey:

* That God's precise timing will be clear.

* That God would guide us to churches that would share in the vision for this ministry opportunity.

* That God would prepare our hearts and minds for each speaking opportunity and personal contact, both as we raise support, and in Hungary.

* That God will guide Tibor and Marta as they plan the meetings to distribute the Bibles.

Partnering Financially

If God is leading you to partner with us financially, checks may be made payable to "Calvary Baptist Church", and mailed to:

Calvary Baptist Church

850 Railroad Dr.

Little Egg Harbor Twp. NJ 08087

Please write "Westefelds/Hungary" on the memo line.

Other Ways to Help

* Please share this page on your social media accounts, and bookmark it to check back for updates about our trip.

* If you know of any churches in New Jersey or surrounding states that would be open to a presentation about our trip, please send me a private message.

Thank you for taking the time to read this information, and for praying for us!

Related Links

The Bartimeus Foundation

Bridges to the Kingdom, In Touch Ministries

Messenger Lab

MegaVoice