Monday, November 24, 2008

Ch-Ch-Changes

As of tomorrow, things are going to change in our household.
We are in the process of taking in a young guy from our church as a foster child (fogadott gyermek), making us foster parents (nevelőszülők), and he will begin living with us, as part of our household, tomorrow.

His name is Balázs and he's 14 years old and in the 8th grade.
He's being taken away from his mom, and would have ended up in an orphanage if no one had been willing to take him in.
We've know him for the last 2 years that he's been part of our church; during that time his dad died, and he's been living in a pretty rough situation at home, without basic needs.
He's from the village of Szihalom, where a few people from church are from, and where our church does outreaches from time to time.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?
So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17

This is the verse that the Lord placed on our hearts and brought to our minds as we were praying about what to do with Balázs, and I think it directly applies to this situation.
We believe this is God's will for us and for Balázs, so we're going for it. Its going to change our lives quite a bit - our apartment is going to be a little cramped and its going to be tighter financially, but, as we talked about in church this Sunday, if we would know how everything's going to work out, then it wouldn't be a step of faith.
We are here to have an impact on people's lives for the Lord, and this is a good opportunity for us to do that in Balázs's life.
  • Please pray for the 4 of us as we make this transition!
  • Please pray that we would have wisdom to raise a teenager!
  • Please pray that we could raise him in the Lord's ways.
Here's an interview I did with Balázs a few weeks ago at our clothing donation outreach in Szihalom, for part of another video we made as a report for the church about the outreach:

12 comments:

  1. PROUD OF YOU GUYS...
    PRAYING.
    L

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  2. I'm praying for you and for Balazs.

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  3. Anonymous10:29 PM

    i am speechless. God is unbelievable. i am praying for you guys. you are great

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  4. Thanks! We appreciate the prayers! We need them!

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  5. Anonymous5:11 AM

    Balazs is fortunate to have you and Rosemary to open their arms and home to him. We never know what's in store for us do we?
    Lots of love and prayers to you all.

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  6. Anonymous5:54 AM

    This is amazing you guys.. what a great reminder of what thanksgiving is really about. congratulations to your growing family! im so happy for all of you!

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  7. Aunt Merilyn and Jessica - good to hear from you! Thanks for your support :)

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  8. I'm sure that's a very big step for you and it takes a lot of courage to have him live there. As his friend I really appreciate the help you give him with that. I'll pray for him to be God's man and that he could share the gospel with others and of course for you, that God would give you wisdom to raise him in HIS ways. I'm sure that God will give you everything you need (financially as well). He gave it before, so why should he stop?

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  9. Joe - thanks for the encouraging words. That means a lot :)

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  10. Anonymous2:29 PM

    Köszi Nick,hogy így közzé tettél engen a neten meg azt,hogy hozzátok költözök,igaz nem ismerem ezeket az embereket akik írtak kommentet de nagyon jó érzés nekem!!!!

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  11. Anonymous2:26 AM

    Hi Nick and Rosemary, What a wonderful thing to do! I'm sure your lives will be enriched by his presence as well his by yours. Happy Thanksgiving.

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  12. Hi Aunt Cecelia! Happy Thanksgiving to you too!

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