We pray that this Easter time God would humble our hearts, and set us on fire again with passion to live for Christ, proclaim Christ and suffer for Christ until we meet him in glory.
​
We also wanted to thank you for your prayers over the past month, but particularly for the joint winter camp. It really was a blessed occasion. I won't say too much as the official Acorncamps Newsletter should be arriving at your door or inbox soon. [Please email us if you don't receive this and would like to] That contains a full 2-page spread on the weekend with great praise and thanks to God for all His work, love and grace.
​
Easter Weekend 
We also wanted to let you know of our planned whereabouts over the Easter weekend in case you are in the area and would like to say hello, we'd be delighted to see you there. 

Maundy Thursday:

• 19:00 Agape Meal                 @ Christ Church Fulwood (A&Zs)

Good Friday:

• 15:00 An hour round cross   @ Christ Church Fulwood (All family) 

Easter Sunday 

• 10:30 Family Communion     @ St. John's Chapeltown (All family) 
• 18:30 Easter Celebration       @ Christ Church Fulwood (probably A&Zs) 

Here's a couple of prayer and praise points to fuel your prayer - and do sign up to Acorncamps prayer feed via prayermate if you'd like to receive the daily pray requests.
Praise God for … 
Personal

• Réka and Zsófi really enjoyed their special time at the Mums & Daughters weekend at The Oakes
• Evangelistic evenings for friends (1st March) went well. 3 of Andy's friends enjoyed eating, drinking and chatting about suffering. Important issues were discussed and praise God for open and honest conversation. 
• The book of Revelation ... even if it is not the easiest book to read as family quiet time! 

Acorncamps:

• Great, blessed winter camp with 100 people
• Encouraging feedback from Andy teaching at Youth leaders conference and more people joining the Biblical-teaching workshop
• Very encouraging Langham Preaching Conference and exciting plans for development in this area with Andy getting more involved

Please pray for …  
Personal: 

• Ongoing safe travels and good time as we enjoy being here in the UK. (22 March - 5 April)  
• wisdom with the idea of repeating our 'street Party' on 1st May as a way of building relationships with our neighbours.
• David, Réka and Emily to enjoy, feel more a part of and more at home in the British culture

Acorncamps: 

• Clear communication with Hungarian churches regarding finalising summer camps, and for all UK teams to be filled and flights to be booked asap! 
• Andy prepping four talks for national youth weekend for the Brethren Church in Hungary over the Pentecost weekend (19-21 May)
• Five-year vision: Pray for wisdom as we prayerfully consider how to focus our time, gifts and resources to best equip and serve the Hungarian church. 

Please click here to subscribe to Daily prayer items (via Prayermate) for ACORNCAMPS.
 
Peeking into April ...  
Lots of prep for the summer camps & Brethren weekend  plus:
8 Andy preaching at Anglican Church Budapest
10, 17, 24  Expository Bible-teaching workshop 
13, 14 Andy leading youth groups with two churches
17, Andy facilitating Langham Preaching Group for pastors in Budapest
20-22  Acorncamps Mission Week Training week in Sheffield

Summer's coming ... it's warming up!  ​

Please pray for …  

• Kids (& Parents) as they study hard for the last two weeks of school and sit lots of exams. Pray that the Biblical knowledge they learn from home and church/school would go deep in their hearts.
• a relaxing time away as we try to have a short family holiday (16-21June) before the camp season begins.
• Camp preparations - particularly that teenagers would apply to come on camps (some churches are reporting low numbers!) and team members would find time to prep well. This includes Andy team leading and doing talks, Zsófi liaising with all the Hungarian pastors and teaching English on camp. Please also pray that the kids would enjoy the camps.
• June 24th - July 2nd AC Wk 1: Attending Tahi Camp as a family, (Andy doing the talks and preaching on the first Sunday).
• Wisdom as we continue to try and set up a Hungarian Charity, and purchase a vehicle for Acorncamps before the summer. 
• Relationships with neighbours: We now have two new neighbours and are hoping to organise a street party on June 4th to get to know each other a bit more. Pray for opportunities to share our faith.

Peeking into July & August ... 

3-7     July  Kids attending, Zsófi serving on our local church's kids camp
8-16   July  AC Wk 2: Family attending Reformed camp, Andy doing talks
16-21 July  Andy in Keswick as part of the Youth Team. 
22-30 July  AC Wk 3: We are visiting and spending time with different camps.
4-13   Aug  AC Wk 4: We are setting up the camp in Nagybajom on the weekend pre-camp
10-29 Aug   Holiday in England, seeing family and friends

We're now off school which is really nice and mummy and daddy aren't working too. We're going to an International church service this evening, then having a walk with family tomorrow (Sat) then a big Sonka Vacsora (Ham meal) in the evening. This means we eat lots of different ham with eggs, salad, and mayonnaise / mustard. Then on Sunday we will go to a different Reformed church because Daddy's friend is getting confirmed. Then on Monday we go to our normal church too. Lots of going to church! I'm happy at Easter to remember what Jesus did for us. Then on Wednesday we're going to Balaton to stay with Tünde mama and Péter papa cos mummy and daddy are going to England. 
Thank you for praying for us ​

​Please pray for …  

• That we (David, Emily and me) have a nice time with Tünde mama & Péter papa (19-23) when mum n dad go to England for the camp planning weekend (21-22). We wish we could go too! Oh and please pray for that weekend in Sheffield. I'm sure it's important.
• That we could have more family time. Mum and dad work too much! 
• Jasmine, a new girl who joined my class. Pray that I could help her make friends
• Emily doesn't really have a best friend which is a bit sad. Please pray for her. (she does like going to school though and likes most people)
• Daddy's preaching at some churches - He does it in Hungarian which is good, but he gets a bit stressed preparing.
• Mon 24th - we go back to school :( and Daddy says please pray for the Acorncamps trustees meeting in Sheffield.

Peeking into May & June ... 

7 May - Mothers day in Hungary and then 12 May Mummy's birthday. I like my mummy.
21 May Daddy preaching at two churches Székesfehérvár & Kelenföld 
28 May Daddy preaching at Anglican church
15 June It's our last day of school - yippee 
10 Aug We fly to England - supppeeeee 

Please pray for …  
UK Youth Conference (16-19th January: Swanwick)
We're taking a group of 16 people from Hungary to this conference Please pray: 

• safety as we travel, as it’s very cold and snowy here
• for us all to cope well with the cultural differences, and mix well with other youth workers from the UK
• to get to know the Lord better and His will for our ministry, and return inspired to keep going
• For David, Réka & Emily staying in Hungary with grandparents

  Preaching

• Sun 22 Andy preaching at Strandtown Baptist Church (Belfast)
• Sun 29 Andy preaching twice at Somorja Lutheran Church (Slovakia) 

Peeking into Feb ... 

3 Running a youth group with Győr Lutheran Church. (A new church we are working with.)
16 Andy's 40th Birthday, family visiting from UK
TBC: Anglican youth group at our house
General: Planning for Winter/Spring camps and getting teams for summer camps, starting mentoring programme with Hungarian youth leaders 
Réka was disappointed not to be writing this edition ... so look forward to a February special

Boldog Karácsonyt! (Merry Christmas)
and thank you so much for your prayerful support ... 

We've finished work, put on our automated 'out of office' reply but wanted to say a big thank you before we fly to the UK tomorrow. As we look back on the year (see praise points below) we are so grateful to God for being able to carry out this work in Hungary and Slovakia. It's not always easy, but we are so blessed, and have so much to be thankful for. A huge thanks is to you. Thank you for being interested in our work, for supporting us through prayer, finance, or serving on teams in the summer. We would be doing very little without you!

We do hope that you have a blessed Christmas as you remember again the truly awe-inspiring truth that God became one of us ... Wow !! 

​​Please pray for …  
Family:

• Returning to UK for Christmas (16 Dec - 2 Jan) Please pray we would use our time wisely to see friends and family but rest well, stay free from illness and be amazed again at the wonder of Christmas. 
• For all the team returning to the UK (Anna, Shepherd family and us) Returning to the UK brings culture shock and can often be tiring. Please pray for peace, patience and kindness all round.

Peeking into January 2017 ... 
2 Flying back to Hungary 
3 First day back at school for kids
6 Anglican youth group at our house
16-19 UK Youth Conference: (Swanwick) Zsófi & Andy together with group ~15 from Hungary   
21-23 Andy speaking at Strandtown Baptist Church (Belfast) and meeting with prospective summer team
29 Andy preaching at Somorján Lutheran church in Slovakia
General: Planning for Winter/Spring camps and getting teams for summer camps 

Advent & Christmas approaches ... 
Many thanks for replying to Emily. She enjoyed understanding that people are interested in her, and not just mummy and daddy and their work and world. 

Time seems to be flying and Advent is almost upon us. Again, another great opportunity to marvel at the enormity of Almighty God coming to earth. Sorry for the delay on this edition - and that some events have already passed! But hopefully this will further fuel your prayers, for which we're very grateful. ​

     
Praise God for … 
Family:

• a good family time during the Autumn school break (29Oct -6Nov) We managed a few days in the Matra mountains with friends and then Réka and Emily spent time with grandparents whist we worked and David studied. 
• Zsófi's family here, who are often ready to look after our kids, study with our kids and care for us, particularly so we can run training events, and visit churches. We're very grateful.
• Andy's parents being able to visit us very soon (21 Nov - 5 Dec)

Church:

• We have many friends in our church, and whilst it's not always easy - we give thanks for faithful godly leaders, and a focus on Bible teaching.  

Acorncamps: 

• Good meeting with Lutheran church leader in Győr (27 Oct) who would like to partner with us and run a youth camp in the Summer.
• The two training days (Oct 3, Nov 5) went very well with over 30 individuals attending on one or both events. Some travelled several hours to be there.
• Good time in the UK for Andy (16-23 Oct) sorting out the new financial systems, and for a new website for short-term volunteers and online application form which should make our admin easier.
• The Shepherd family will extend their work with us until August 2017. 

Please pray for …  
Family:

• Returning to UK for Christmas (16 Dec - 2 Jan) Please pray as we think about how to use our time wisely. 
• School: It's a slog. As Emily said: Please pray for mummy and daddy! For patience and energy. 

Church & other service

• Ongoing Thursday evening bible studies: We are still meeting at our house, finishing studies on marriage (Ladies) and beginning to look at the book of Daniel (Guys). Pray we would be shaped and formed to Christ as we open His Word.
• Our church: We are no longer involved in the Sunday teaching at our church due to reorganisation of groups and leaders. This is a bit sad, and hopefully we'll be able to be involved at some point in the future.

Anglican work: (Separate from our Acorncamps work) 

• Youth events: We have agreed to run a regular youth event (maybe monthly) for the Anglican community here in Budapest until next summer. We're excited about being involved in direct youth work. Please pray for wisdom to know: what to do, when and how.
• Baptism prep: Andy is giving Baptism preparation for Emily (16) and her parents. Pray she would really understand what it means to give Jesus everything and follow him!
• 13 Nov: Andy taking part in Remembrance service
• 11 Dec: Andy preaching & leading at the Anglican Church in Budapest. 

Acorncamps:

• 11 Nov & 9 Dec: Andy doing a youth-group visitation, evaluation and training for a Budapest Reformed youth group. 
• 20 Nov: Andy speaking at St. Paul's Hadley Wood for their annual mission-partner Sunday service. 
• 3 Dec: Andy prepping for final training day teaching from the book of Daniel. 
• Youth conference (16-19Jan). We are delighted to have a group of ~16 Hungarian pastors and youth leaders joining us on the Good Book Company youth conference.

Peeking into January 2017 ... 

2 Flying back to Hungary
16-19 UK Youth Conference with Hungarians  

Praise God for …
Family:

• I had a nice summer, we went to Croatia for 3 days and I swam in the sea to an island and walked up the rocks. The sea was really cold. I love time with just my family.
• We are all happy. I'm at school now, Réka is in the same class, and David has moved into a new class because he's big. We all have nice Christian teachers who are kind. 
• I went to the hospital to blow out computer candles and they said my Asthma is still there but it's not too bad - I use an orange ventilator before I go to sleep.

Church:

• I like my church, it's really good and we all have friends. It was very nice that some people came on our camps to see what we do. I had a good time at my kids camp and the family camp too.

Acorncamps: 

• I like going on 3 Acorncamps but sometimes I didn't know what to do. Dad says the talks were really good and teenagers became Christians and were encouraged. I'm not sure what that means but I like camps especially when Uncle Simon & Aunty Becca come.  

Please pray for …  
Family:

• Mum, Dad & Réka are going to England tomorrow (till Tue 13th Trustee's meeting 9th). Please pray the plane doesn't crash and me and David will be okay at home with Péter papa and Tünde mama.
• We try to read the Bible together and we learn a bible verse in the morning on the way to school. I like looking at my Bible when I go to bed and soon i will be able to read it too. I don't find praying easy (but Daddy says he doesn't either) I'm happy God loves me. Please pray I'd understand more about Jesus.
• School: It seems very difficult for David, especially to do his homework without being tired or grumpy. Please pray for mummy and daddy! 

Church & other service

• Daddy & Mummy are teaching in sunday school again, but now for older kids like David or 14 year olds. Please pray for them leading that and also some bible studies for friends in the week, oh and for talking with the neigbours about Jesus.

Acorncamps:

• Daddy says we really should pray for the training events they are organising on Saturday 1st Oct, 5th Nov, 3rd Dec. Daddy's never done this before and is a bit nervous and busy. 
• He also says there will be more camps and more work now as more churches want to work with us. I hope that doesn't mean Daddy will be too busy. Please pray he & mum know how to work hard and enjoy time with us too. 
• We're going to Székesfehérvár next Sunday (18th) so that Mum and Dad can help the church and youth leaders teach the Bible better. It sound's like a long day so please pray I won't be bored. 

The summer is upon us. Today is David and Réka's last day at school and Emily's last day at nursery ever. It's one of those moments in life when you realise kids grow up so quickly. David will move from lower school (yrs 1-4) to upper school (yrs 5-8) This means a new form teacher and separate teachers for different subjects. Emily is all excited about 'becoming a big girl' and we're so delighted that she'll have the same teachers (for 4 yrs) that David had. And so as the school year ends and most people wind down ... we gear up for the busy season, and we'd certainly value your prayers for us all ...  

Praise God for … 

• Acorncamps: 
  • Good pre-camp training events with Nagybajom, Tahi, Budaörs and Vác church 
  • Generally ready-ish for camps and very excited ... 
• Church:
  • we're excited to be attending the first half of the family camp (20-22 July) - and have even been asked to help organise the first nights entertainment :)
  • Andy also managed to not lose the plot completely doing the Sunday school class when Zsófi was in the UK 
• Family:
  • Zsófi had a good short time in the UK spending time with our work colleague and friend Anna.
  • The neighbours cat - who is very cute and bringing lots of joy to David, Réka & Emily!
  • Family surviving another year of school, homework, and learning. 

Please pray for …  

• Acorncamps: Please pray we'd work well together as a family, that teenagers and team would be either: saved / encouraged to continue following Jesus / at least brought closer to understanding what Jesus has done. 
  • 25-3 July: Andy leading the team on Tahi Baptist camp.
  • 9-17 July: Family attending Vác Baptist camp (Andy team leading)
  • 23-31 July: Family attending Farnad Lutheran camp in Slovakia. (Andy team leading, Zsófi translating)
  • 6-14 August: Family attending Nagybajom Reformed camp. (Zsófi translating, Andy on parent duty.)
• Family time over summer: Please pray we would have good family holiday time before (16-22 June) and after the camps (14-28 Aug), and on the few days between each camp week.

Peeking into September 2016 ... 
1st First day of school for Emily, Réka & David! 3rd Andy and brothers in law running Mission day for Lutheran churches in Balafon region. 9-13th Andy, Zsófi & Réka in UK for trustee meeting and wedding.

Praise God for … 

• Mummy and daddy and Emily who arrived safely (picture above) and had a nice time in the UK. 
  Réka and I had fun times with Tünde Mama and Péter Papa - especially being able to play lots on Minecraft.
• the builders who put the right windows in our house
• my new cousin - Benjamin Péter Garádi (Beatson) who's very cute 
• Acorncamps: I went to Farnad church with Daddy and enjoyed learning about Superheroes and Jesus. (Mummy was poorly so couldn't come) 
• helping me to find good friends in Hungary at my school 

Please pray for …  

• Emily's asthma to go away - she's going for a check up at hospital this month 
• Our house to be finished ... it's very messy 
• Every Monday that the sun would shine at 5:15pm (4:15pm in UK) because I play football with daddy and my friends at school.
• Mummy and Daddy not to be too stressed because of work as they have lots of work
• Me to be better at studying and annoy my mummy less when I'm studying

Peeking into June 2016 ... 

12th I'm going to the Anglican church because Daddy's preaching  
15th My last day of school!
​25th Acorncamps are starting.