Oma and Papa Stienstra

So many of us have asked what my parents are doing in Hungary and why they are there...so here is the scoop!

Mom retired in June from her teaching job, and was now available to take a longer trip to Hungary with Dad. They decided to come for the semester. The ESL teacher was going on home assignment and Mom thought she could help out for the semester by covering her classes 4 days week. Dad, was of course excited to go for a longer trip, due to his love for Hungary and all that it entails! Dad wasn't exactly sure what he would do for the semester, but something with KEGY, the EFCA church plant and helping out at ICSB. Of course he would also have to manage his business via the internet while gone. Lastly, let's not forget the their grand kids. They were excited to be by them for a season....

Of course this WHOLE time we were planning on being in Hungary TOGETHER for the semester. Well, we all know that in late July, God confirmed through prayer and leadership, that we needed to stay in the states for this next year. I will never forget sitting in my parents family room, talking with Mom and Dad about how crazy it was that this WHOLE time we thought we would actually be Hungary...our territory...together....and now we were not.

Mom and Dad were faithful to their call and commitments to Hungary and ICSB...and I AM SO GRATEFUL for their witness. Wow...God is using them in AWESOME ways in Hungary, and I am so proud of them. Of course I miss them..we all do, but they are serving exactly where God wanted them.



Dad had NO IDEA that he would be teaching middle school Bible for the semester. Teaching is a new world for him, but he is doing great! Mom has been great encouraging him, which I might add she has ALWAYS been an awesome cheerleader for her husband, and I am thankful for her example to me for that. Mom is doing awesome teaching ESL, and the kids love her too! In fact Mom and Dad took a quick trip to Germany to see my Mom's family and when she returned to her classroom, there was a note written on her chalkboard, "We love you Mrs. Stienstra!"

Yes, I would say that they are very loved.

Mom is also reaching out to the community teaching a local ESL course to our Hungarian neighbors. Rock on, Mom! And Dad is helping out with this class too!

They were even recruited to chaperone the 6th grade Service project and Lock-In! Wow! Can you believe the energy and strength the Lord has given them for all of these new tasks?!?!?

Really, had we been in Hungary this semester, we would have been a distraction for how God is using them in awesome ways. There time in Hungary is quickly coming to a close. They will be back a couple days before Christmas. We are excited that we will get to be with them for the second semester before we head back to Hungary.

Our Little Prayer Warrior Missionaries

Lianna is doing a great job in school and making awesome gains! We are so thankful. I always pray with the girls (and Josiah)as we enter the school parking lot. We pray for Lianna to obey her teachers, do her best, be safe, treat others how she would want to be treated and anything else that Lianna and Alyssa want to pray for.

The last week and half, Lianna has decided to faithfully pray for three of her classmates, Luke, Sophie, and Connor. Lately, as soon as we turn the corner to go into the school parking lot, Lianna immediately starts praying. She never lets me forget now to pray before I drop her off. :)

Last Thursday, I saw two of the moms in the car drop off line. After I dropped off Lianna at school, I saw Sophie's mom and told her that Lianna has been faithfully praying for her everyday as we pull in the parking lot. She looked at me, smiled and put her hand over her heart and said, "That is so sweet!"

As I picked up Lianna from school, God providentially put Connor's mom right in front of me in the car pick up line. As the teacher aides were walking the kids out to their mother's cars, I ran out to tell Connor's mom about Lianna praying for him. I told her that I didn't even know that she could say his name Connor until she started praying for him. She prays for him so much that now even Alyssa prays for him as we pull into the school parking lot! Immediately, she started to tear up and tell me how much she appreciated Lianna praying for him. She went on to tell me that God is hearing Lianna's prayers and answering them. She mentioned that since her son as moved to the afternoon class, he hasn't been doing very well, and they were considering moving him back to the AM class. BUT, just in the last week he has had a TREMENDOUS turn around and is doing VERY well. EVERYDAY, the teachers walk out her son to the car, they say, " I don't know...today he had another REALLY GREAT day! This last week he is doing just AWESOME!"

PRAISE GOD that HE ALONE can prompt even the smallest of hearts to pray for those around us!

PRAISE GOD that HE HEARS our kids' prayers!

PRAISE GOD that we all have a purpose for drawing others to HIMSELF despite what abilities the world may see as disabilites! God CAN and WILL use us all for HIS GLORY!

WOW....PRAISE GOD!

Josiah Richard Olsen

We are very happy to introduce you to our newest member of the family, Josiah Richard Olsen. He was born on July 12, 2011 at 9:26AM weighing in at 8 pounds 5 ounces and 21 inches. Praise God he is a healthy little boy!

Here are a few pics from the day when the girls came to the hospital. We had a great time watching the girls meet their little brother for the first time. I guess by looking at these pictures we should probably fix the date and make sure that at least the right day and year are on the pictures...oops! At least we had the month right....I guess were weren't so on top of things with sweet Josiah, baby #3....

Photo Shoot with the girls....whew...

Take 1

Take 2

Take 3

And we're done...whew...it is tough to get a picture of these little ladies these days!

ICSB Supports Dozens of Ministries in Budapest...read about ONE of them!

In December, Trisha participated in a Christmas program put on by KEGy, a local Hungarian church here in Budapest. KEGy is the city church plant that our Budapest City team with Reachglobal of the EFCA leads. Within our mission organization there are technically three teams here in Budapest. There is the City Church Plant Team, the International Christian School of Budapest team, and our EFCA Reachglobal Europe Headquarters team.

God is doing amazing things through their church plant, and it was a real honor for Trisha to be part of the community choir that particpated in their special Christmas program. The goal of this choir was to bring people together in the community who love music, and enjoy singing. Praise God that through this choir, God is working in the hearts of some of the particpants and drawing them closer to Himself. There is once couple in particular that is really seeking answers to their personal spiritual questions, and God is using Mark and Jodi, the choir directors and our EFCA Reachglobal teammates to pursue answers to their spiritual questions. Praise God! The choir was a small part of the overal program that the church plant put together for Christmas. I was so excited to see that Mark, one of our Budapest City teammates posted this video of the Christmas program.

Seeing work like this keeps Bjorn and I on fire about our ministry at the International Christian School of Budapest. Mark and Jodi's kids attend ICSB, and it is a blessing for us to hear of the work that God has called them too. Their kids started in the Hungarian school system, but for personal reasons had to move their kids to ICSB this semester. Praise God that ICSB is in existence and allowing so many families to stay on the mission field and remain committed to the work that God has called them to.

Check out this video of the Christmas concert!

January 2011

We love bundling the girls up and taking walks as a family!

Uncle Bruce Olsen came to Budapest while he was leading his Bethel University students on their International Business trip. It was so fun to get to see him and hang out for a couple days!

Little miss personality, AKA Alyssa Noelle makes us laugh all day long! She is crusing along in her development walking everywhere, talking, feeding herself with a spoon...wow..I mean...wow!She is now 14 months, and we are so thankful for her! It is hard to believe that this little munchkin is going to be a BIG SISTER! Yep, in July Baby Olsen #3 is due! :)

Lianna Joy, our champ. She is making HUGE gains in her development..and we are soooo grateful. Lianna just turned 4 years old a couple weeks ago, and it's perfect because 4 is her favorite number. Wherever she sees the number 4, on clocks, house numbers, anywhere..she makes sure to tell us that she sees the number 4. She is doing great identifying letters, and trying to talk more each day..and actually using new words that we've never heard her say before. PRAISE GOD!

Bjorn LOVES his girls..and of course so does Mommy. It has been so fun to see Lianna and Alyssa starting to play with each other more. Alyssa loves to chase Lianna and tickle her...it is soo funny. Lianna loves to bring Alyssa puppets for her to play with her. It will be fun to see how they both react to being big sisters in July.