Hughes News #111

 

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends,

  

In our last prayer letter we mentioned starting up Sunday school during our afternoon service in Bulboci.  The believers in whose home we meet have three grandkids living with them and there is another sister in Christ who brings her three grandsons.  After sitting through the first message with the adults, the kids go with Viola for their lesson while we have another sermon with the adults.  As with any kids, they are still learning appropriate behavior (two haven’t started school yet) but they have already shown improvement, have memorized their verses and have been excited for their class.

 

Our various midweek studies have gone all right.  With (L) it has been hit and miss due to various things, but after a lesson on baptism, she said that while she’d like to be baptized at the same time as (M), she is willing to take that step even if her friend is not ready.  February was my month to teach in Visoca.  We are now covering Christ’s ministry.  Most of the stories are somewhat familiar to the folks that come but it has been enjoyable to revisit the life of our Savior.  

 

Jacob teaching in Visoca

  

On March 7 we hosted a special event for ladies.  This years’ theme was “To Every Thing There is a Season” and was our best attended ladies’ outreach so far.  Included in the number were both regular attendees and acquaintances who don’t normally come to service.  (There was also some confusion as we had four kids that came.)  Viola, Stephanie and her girls did most of the preparation with decorations and gifts, three other ladies helped Stephanie with the food, and Viola prepared a lesson challenging the unsaved to consider the shortness of time and their eternal destiny and the saved to effectively manage their time to serve the Lord.

 

 

This week we are playing catch-up with several tasks (like writing a prayer letter) and taking a trip to the capital to pick up Viola’s renewed passport.  We have other planning and preparation to do as our nephew is due to arrive in just 11 days.  He will be here a month, helping us with house projects as well as just spending time with us and seeing our life here.  One of the weeks we plan to cancel some of our typical activities to focus on the house projects.  We would appreciate prayer for efficiency in work and for the Lord to use us to be an encouragement to our nephew.

 

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

 

For Prayer:

1. Those considering baptism

2. Wisdom in allocating time for various responsibilities

3. Our nephew’s travels and time with us

 

For Praise:

1. Kids’ participation and cooperation in Bulboci Sunday school

2. Good turnout and reception for ladies’ event

3. Sunny days and beautiful spring weather   

Hughes News #110

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends,

  

As there probably were in your church, we had several special events focusing on our Savior’s birth.  In addition to special music through the season and messages, we had a carol sing on the morning of the 25^th.  Viola and our coworkers’ kids prepared a small play depicting key moments of the Christmas story.  They presented that on December 28^th.  It was their first time acting in a play (or directing) and they did really well.

  

  

On January 6^th and 8^th we had outreaches for kids with the theme “The Wise Still Seek Him.”  At the Grosses house we had 21 kids, all who had come to a program in the past.  In Bulboci 13 kids from 4 different villages participated.  In each place the kids cooperated and paid good attention to the lesson.  May the Lord us the seed of His Word in their hearts! 

 

At Grosses in Zastinca

At Grosses in Zastinca

 

In Bulboci

The boy on the right and I had similar sweaters.  
I, however, did not have the spiffy camo pants!

 Several of us went caroling in the villages of Bulboci and Regina Maria on January 7^th (a day many celebrate Christmas).  In addition to singing we invited to the outreach the following day and passed out 2026 calendars that our ministry provided.  Maybe I’m mistaken, but in the past it seemed people more reluctantly received us to carol but this year more gladly. 

 

Viola and some of her younger friends caroling

 

Caroling in Regina Maria

Viola is doing well recovering from a minor surgery on her nose.  The doctor straightened her septum (the bone and cartilage wall that divides the nasal cavity in two) and corrected another minor problem that was found during surgery.  She stayed one night in the hospital and since has been resting and healing up at home.  Next week she is supposed to have a follow-up visit with the doctor. 

 

We don’t have any big plans for the upcoming month – just weekly services, individual studies, typical errands and planning for spring events.  Thank you for your prayers.  May the Lord keep you in the upcoming days. 

 

In His service, 

Jacob and Viola Hughes 

 

For Prayer:

1. Starting Sunday School in Bulboci in February 

2. G expressed interest in baptism; David is to meet with him 

3. Bible studies with V (unsaved) and L (unbaptized) 

 

For Praise: 

1. Good season remembering the Lord’s birth and work 

2. L again coming to services (had missed almost a year) 

3. Successful surgery and good start to recovery after Viola’s surgery

 

Hughes News #109

 

"Tie your shoes and pray for the Hughes"

 

Dear Friends,

  

A few weeks ago I was picking up some photos for documents when a guy recognized me and started a conversation.  He first asked if we were planning to move back to America.  When I answered in the negative, he then wanted to know where was better to live.  We have gotten this question before, but this time I answered, “It depends on what you mean by better.”  To that he said, “Money.”  About that time I finally recalled how he knew me and when we had talked before.  Especially because of the back story, I more bluntly told him that money isn’t the most important to us and that it doesn’t guide our decisions.  This guy’s mindset certainly doesn’t represent that of all Moldovans, but it does some.  Because they come from a poor country, many have made money their priority, if not their god.  It was a reminder to me of the outlook the truth gives and of many souls’ need of the Gospel.

 

We have had four visitors in the last couple of weeks.  A couple came two weeks ago then brought their teenage daughter last week.  The Grosses visited with them this week and it sounds like they are very new to any kind of belief.  Last Saturday a lady we have a Bible study with called to say her friend wanted to come to a service.  She came last Sunday.  It was the first time she had been to any kind of non-Orthodox church.  It sounded like she was interested in coming again.  Please pray that these individuals would understand the Gospel, accept it and be saved. 

  

We have several things planned around Christmas.  We will have a special service with extra music on the 25^th and a Sunday school play on the 28^th.  Most likely we will go caroling on January 7^th (when some Moldovans celebrate Christmas).  Finally, we are hoping to have outreaches for kids on January 8^th and 9^th but there is still a question when some schools will start back.  Certainly, we’d appreciate your prayers that things would run smoothly, but more specifically please ask the Lord to speak to hearts and draw people to Himself through these different activities. 

  

After some appointments with doctors in November, Viola is scheduled to have a procedure done on her nose in the middle of January.  (She does not want me to tell people that she is having a nose job. J)  The doctor found that Viola’s septum (the cartilage and bone wall separating the nostrils) is crooked and suggested a surgery to correct that.  We are hoping this will resolve some dryness and bleeding issues as well as aid her breathing.  The procedure is fairly straightforward, but we’d be grateful for your prayers for both it and the recovery afterwards. 

 

Thank you for taking time to read our news.  We appreciate your investment in our lives and your prayers for the requests mentioned above.  We wish you a very Merry Christmas! 

 

In His service,

Jacob and Viola Hughes

  

For Prayer:

1. Christmas programs / outreaches 

2. Some difficulties with a family who has been attending 

3. Viola’s procedure in mid-January

 

For Praise:

1. Visitors (G, C, S and V) the last couple of weeks

2. The exterior of our house finished  

3. A regular attendee (M) has started praying during midweek service