The SMART Trip to Hungary

by Mark & Charin Patton

A few friends thought we were crazy when they heard we had a group of young people coming for two weeks just two months after the birth of our third child. “Just think of all the time and energy it will take to keep them busy,” they said. “This is not your average group of young people,” I replied - and I was right!

The SMART team arrived in Hungary on May 29 and spent two weeks with us. During the first week we set up a tent on the edge of a large apartment complex for a week of evangelistic meetings. The team pitched right in and went to work. Clearing the tent site, helping with the set up and take down of the tent, passing out flyers, folding and distributing tracts, providing special music, conducting children’s meetings, guarding the tent over night - the team was involved in all these activities and more. In fact, we could not have done it without them. The young people also gained a good view of the difficulty of church planting. Despite all the advertisement and promotion, the visitors were few and far between. They saw that church planting is hard work and full of challenges. On the other hand, they were able to see the fruit of church planting as well. They saw our young Christians pitch in and get involved. They saw the tears of our young believers as they gave testimonies in the evening services. They also saw a young couple for whom we had been praying for months come to Christ.

Their second week was spent on a work project at church. It was dirty, it was exhausting, it was - well, work. The team used picks, sledge hammers and shovels to begin the work of converting an old stable into a future Sunday School room. I was impressed to see even the girls swinging the picks and pushing the wheel barrows. The team finished a 3-day project in two days and was even able to do a little sight-seeing to boot.

I had two major purposes for inviting the SMART team to Hungary. First, I wanted our church to be exposed to American young people who are ready to “leave it all behind” to serve the Lord. Most Hungarians would love to be able to live in America and cannot imagine people voluntarily giving that up to serve the Lord. Second, I wanted the SMART team to get a true and accurate vision of mission work. I wanted them to see the ups and the downs, the victories and the defeats, but most of all that God is still working, moving and changing lives all around the world. I trust that their vision and burden for missions were enlarged through their time here.

Just another group of young people - Nah! - It’s the SMART team! They’re here to work, to learn, to serve. May God bless them as they move on to seek God’s will for their lives.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Jonathon & Mandy Crews -  BRAZIL
Joel C & Brooke Daku -  KIRIBATI
Paul W & Martha Daku -  FIJI ISLANDS