Letenye Part Two: Witnessing Together

There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

1 Corinthians 12:4-6 NIV

English camps are the backbone of the One Mission Society Hungary field. From the fall of communism in Hungary in 1989, OMS missionaries have taught English in Hungarian schools and hosted summer English camps. However, it’s not a solo effort. Teams from all over the U.S. and the world come to serve with the OMS team and local community every summer. At one English camp in Letenye, there is a piece of what God is doing globally – many different people working together as the whole body of Christ.  

This summer, a team from Asbury University School of Education came to teach at the Letenye English camp. They prepared months in advance writing lesson plans, prepping materials, and praying for the students. The lessons they created guided students through interactive learning activities that used active recall to reinforce concepts. But the students received more than English lessons. 

“The kids at Letenye often say that this is different from any English class they’ve been a part of because they know that they are loved and they feel cared for,” said Sadie Sprankle, director of English ministries for OMS Hungary. “It’s a beautiful way for us to be the hands and feet of Jesus.” 

Many students begin camp hesitant to answer questions for fear of being wrong. The teachers encourage students to think critically and independently which helps create a safe environment for curiosity and confidence in their English skills. It also motivates their exploration of faith.

“This is such an opportunity for us to minister to kids in a way that gets them excited to learn about English but also shows them the Gospel,” said Makayla Carpenter, an Asbury team member. “It’s a space that allows volunteers to share their faith in a way that the kids can see how we act out of love and how Christ works in us. It makes them curious and prompts them to ask us questions.” 

The Asbury team working alongside the OMS team brought energy and a diversity of skills to the English camp. Each of the teams – crafts, Bible, English, and recreation – supported one another and embraced flexibility to fit the developing needs and levels of the students. By watching the students, the team learned so much from them. They invited the kids to share their culture and their lives.

“I think just as much as we have a lot to bring to the table to these kids, they have a lot to bring to the table to share with us. I want to open my eyes to what Jesus would have to show to me through them,” said Faith Goddard, the craft team lead.

And God did show the team much through the students. They reflected on their experiences during a nightly debrief time when the team members shared how they saw God working in the activities they led and the conversations they engaged in. This allowed them to examine their successes and challenges and adapt as the week progressed. 

“This trip has taught me the importance of community and being with God together as a group – being a Christian is hard by yourself,” said Jared Harned, an Asbury team member. 

One of the teams’ major takeaways was that God not only wants every kind of person in his kingdom, he needs everyone to carry out his plans. Each team member used his or her unique personality and giftings to connect with every student – the outgoing ones as well as those on the outskirts – which ultimately caused their ministry to be more effective. 

“I’ve learned about how Jesus brings his body together. In each person I see a specific gift and a specific calling. It’s been a really beautiful picture of how Christ needs every personality in his kingdom,” said Olivia Parsons, the English team lead.

When all the different people came together to work for the kingdom, they witnessed a greater view of how God works both in themselves and in one another. 

“God has an agenda and a purpose bigger than ours for His kingdom and we see parts of that, but something happens as a team when we’re all together,” said Barbara Hamilton, leader of the Asbury team. “When we’re together, we see more clearly what it is that our God is doing.”