Dear friends and partners in ministry,
Grateful greetings. If you are a regular reader of our updates, you already know that these letters can sometimes contain a lot of information – often much more than is recommended by “experts in support-raising.” With that in mind, I plan to structure this month’s update a little bit differently – beginning with an update on our support network, and our reasons for gratefulness. Then the latter part of the letter will include a kind of digest of updates, so you if you are in a hurry, you can get an overview and then perhaps drop us a line for the rest of the story. In truth, the letter may still contain “too much information,” but I assure you it is offered in the spirit of grateful partnership and transparency.
Some of you have commented on or asked about our report in the August update regarding our 2022-23 financial targets. To summarize, we fell short by a small amount of the goal set by Resonate for us. The arrangement between this goal and our employment is not dependent on a one-to-one matching of the goal to the amount raised, so we are fine and confident in our partnerships and supporters. But there is room for growth, in individual monthly/quarterly/annual donors and also for congregational support. If you haven’t yet joined our support network, I would encourage you to consider doing so now – it’s a privilege to see the ways God is at work with university students, refugee families, Hungarian non-profits and schools, and young adults throughout all of Europe – we are privileged to be part of a growing, exciting ministry, and we would welcome your engagement.
[To do so, start with this page, then scroll down to the "donate" section, and click on the "USD" or “CAD” option. This takes you to a page asking for information about the gift - starting with the amount. Below that is a drop-down menu asking "please select" - you start with "MIssionaries - Europe" and then "Choose a Missionary" which then includes our names, Jeff and Julie Bouman. Select. We can also provide a method for giving by mail, on request, just drop us a line.]
In his helpful little book on the topic of fundraising for ministry, Dutch priest Henri Nouwen wrote that, “Gratitude flows from the recognition that who we are and what we have are gifts to be received and shared. Gratitude releases us from the bonds of obligation and prepares us to offer ourselves freely and fully for the work of the kingdom. When we approach fundraising in a spirit of gratitude, we do so knowing that God has already given us what we most need for life in abundance.”
We live in the warmth of that gratitude, alongside those of you reading this and offering prayers and encouragement.
A digest of ministry for the Boumans in August and September, 2023
* Our long-awaited Cohort Europe Hungary participant, Rev. Ivan Santoso, finally arrived in Budapest on August 30 from Indonesia. The Cohort members are now eagerly anticipating a first 5-day intensive time of learning in Romania in early October.
* We said goodbye to Abby Voskuil on August 22, after her year of service and investment into us and our ministry efforts. Deep investment and remarkable skill from Abby really helped us solidify the launch of Cohort Europe – thank you, Abby!
* We had the privilege of hosting several friends who came to Budapest for a variety of reasons in August – Kimberly Oesman, Ed and Cindy deJong, David and Susan Wilkins, and Dana Bates, among others.
* We hosted our monthly poetry and music night, Qarrtsiluni, on August 11 and September 8.
* We were able to take a 3-day, 2-night short trip to visit Hungarian friends in Sopron, a very old city in western Hungary – biking, hiking, and games and conversation were refreshing activities.
* We helped plan, and then attended our congregation’s annual church retreat on the shores of Lake Balaton, with 50+ people attending, September 1-3.
* I (Jeff) continue to enjoy regular opportunities for one-on-one meetings with students and colleagues to discuss ministry, life, vocation, and much more.
* I (Jeff) was invited to join the newly-arrived group of Calvin study abroad students at the World Athletic Championships held in Budapest - I have also been invited to oversee these 20 students’ service-learning practicum placements while they are in Budapest.
* I had a wonderful time worshiping and sharing on-line with Loop CRC in Chicago on September 3rd.
* On September 10th, I (Jeff) successfully completed my 4th Budapest half-marathon, alongside 10,000 runners from all over Europe and the world.
* University classes began on September 12, I am again teaching two classes, including a revised version of my course on the Arts and the American Civil Rights movement.
* Our International Young Adult Fellowship began with a kick-off event at church on September 14. We are planning to use the “For the Life of the World: Letters to the Exiles” video curriculum for part of our time this fall.
* Julie remains heavily involved in the Food Bank for Ukrainian refugee families; is a leader for a women’s ministry called Selah; and is planning to begin her classroom volunteering in early October.
* I had a third visit to Gagybátor, the small village in eastern Hungary where acquaintances have set up a charitable foundation that visits at least once a month. This is a hard but fulfilling ministry of education, sustenance, and play.
* Julie is in Switzerland from September 21-29 for the Breathe conference for global workers, and to visit with her sister Kristy, who has been invited to serve at the conference with her massage therapy skills.
Finally, we are grieving the deaths of several friends, and some deep relationship challenges for other friends. A dear friend, former colleague and mentor Tom McWhertor passed away on August 17 in Grand Rapids; and our long-time close friend and colleague Julie DeGraw died just a few days later on August 18, at age 57. These are occasions in which distance makes things more sad – missing the chance for last conversations, and for communal grieving with other friends. We hold hope in the resurrection, but we also sit with sadness and impatience in the darkness of the shadow of death.
I learned a few weeks ago that one of my former role models, and an elementary and middle school principal of mine, who later became a neighbor, Peter Buma died, at age 92 in early September. One of Pete’s many contributions to the kingdom of God was a small prayer book with a prayer for each day of the year – and I was struck by this entry:
“Holy Father, let me work today for you. Let me know that you come to me in my happiness and in my pain, in sunshine and in darkness, in rest and in work.” September 22, A Prayer for Every Day, Peter Buma (2013).
May God indeed meet each of us in happiness and pain, in sunshine and in darkness, and in rest and in work.
Blessings to you, friends.
Jeff and Julie Bouman
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