almost home October 24, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.1 comment so far
Im using a european keyboard, so please bear with me…z and y are switched, plus there are about 17 million punctaution code combinations, so please ignore the grammar on this one… cant find the¨code for an apostrophe or question mark or exclamation point or parënthesis, etc etc etc
¨The classes have finished. It was a great time and I have received some positive feedback, which is encouraging. I apologize for not being able to update the blog since sundaz night. once the classes started, i taught the first then prepared for the next days class, and before i knew it…time for dinner. each night they had us over to a different WOLH staff members house for dinner and fellowship, then we came back and crashed, since the morning classes were fast approaching. We have had a wonderful tïme öf ministry and fellowship with everzone. it was great to renew old seminary friendships änd form new ones in the midst of ministering His life transforming Word.
since the net¨and free time have been hard commodities to purchase in unison, this may be our last post until we arrive back in the states on Sunday evening. you are all just getting back from work, but its midnight here, so i§m hitting the sack…will fill in many more details later…
with much love, R and T
From Teah (Sunday) October 20, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.1 comment so far
Written by Teah
It is Sunday night and we have been in Hungry for three days now. It has been wonderful. We got here on Friday afternoon and spent most of the day on Sat and Sun touring Budapest with Paul and Jill to guide us. It is absolutely beautiful! It is amazing how old things are around here. We spent much time understanding the history of the Hungarian people which is rich as well as sad. I feel that one of the reasons God has sent me on the trip is to minister to Jill. She is Pauls wife. They have been married for 1 1/2 years and have been in Hungary full time since February 2008. She is amazing as she has such a servants heart. She has been cooking constantly since we have been here, not only for us but also for the other guests that are here. She is constantly trying to make others comfortable and at ease. Even though I am ten years her senior we have much in common. I hope that my time here will be encouraging and refreshing for her as she has few close friends here and none she feels are in her stage of life. I know I have not been doing this long but since she is a new wife and new to the ministry I hope God can use me to encourage her.
Ryan starts his classes in the morning. He is watching football through the internet at Paul’s right now. Paul and Jill have an adorable little home in the village. It was built in 1900! I am currently back at the campus in the castle, yep, you heard it right CASTLE! The school is located on the property of a historic castle which was given to them years ago after the fall of communism. It is basically what we would call a mansion from ancient days. We are staying in the lecture suite as they call it which has a bedroom, bathroom, and entry way with a desk couch and kitchenet. Yeah, we are really roughing it! I asked to be dropped off here so I could relax instead of sitting with a bunch of guys watching football. I am still struggling with jet lag during the day and find I get really tired quickly.
We will be having dinner with a different ministry family each night this week but so far have spent most of our time with Paul and Jill. Ryan is enjoying the time with his long lost friend, Paul. It also feels good to share our struggles with another ministry couple who can really relate. We will be having fellowship each day with the students but we don’t know what this will look like. I look forward to seeing the Kadar family when they come back in town tomorrow night. They are the couple who lived next door to us when we lived on campus at DTS. They are also full time missionaries here. I brought as much “supplies” as I could to give to bother Paul and Jill and also the Kadar family (ie. used clothing, toys for the children, household items and food they can not get here). I hope these things will help them. Life here is not extravagant and they generally go without things that we take for granted in the US.
Thank you all for your prayers and please keep praying for Ryan as he begins teaching tomorrow and me as I continue to keep my heart open for opportunities to minister.
Love you all:)
Teah Doyle
Settling in October 18, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.1 comment so far
We have settled in and are getting to know our surroundings a bit. Paul Weaver, the academic dean, showed us around Budapest today. It is a beautiful city, but we saw a lot of culture today as well. We’ll probably wait until later in the week to give you the “tourist” rundown.
The village we are in, Toalmas, is about 45 minutes east of Budapest. I was surprised at how similar everything felt (Well, everything except basic communication 
). Hungary is about the size of Indiana, and they grow a lot of corn. So you could say I felt right at home driving through the Hungarian countryside! We visited a Tesco (basically a Hungarian version of Wal-Mart), and we could see a McDonald’s and a Burger King from the jam packed multi acre parking lot. HA! Sorry Charis, no Starbucks (I guess they haven’t taken over the whole world … yet)
The campus is beautiful, and we are staying in the castle that is on the property. It was built in the 1800s and was owned by Count Androssy (the brother of Hungary’s first PM). It was one of about 4 residences for the count. Rough life, huh? The castle, during the communist rule, was used as a communist youth camp to indoctrinate the kids with communist propaganda. Isn’t that just like God? Taking a property that was once used to teach kids to worship a man is now being used for His glory!
We will be attending the Toalmas bible church tomorrow, the only church in the village. We’re excited to start to really experience the ministry here and get to know more of the Word of Life staff and students. I will begin teaching on Monday morning at 9am. That is 3am EST, and will continue on through 1pm (7am EST ). So be praying for us as you begin your morning devotions 
Teah will be leading ladies devotionals in the dorms and I, as you know, will be teaching through Galatians. Please lift us up in our last brush ups with preparing. We so appreciate your partnership with us in prayer. We’re really excited to teach these excited students about God’s transforming Word!
Arrived! October 17, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.1 comment so far
We’re so happy that we’re here. And without any complications.
We’re six (not 8 ) hours ahead of est, so its about 9pm here and we are going to send Mr. Sandman after Mr. Jet Lag. Will write more tomorrow.
Thanks again for lifting us up to the throne.
10 Days Before Departure… October 6, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.2 comments
We have much to report this Monday.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in prayer as we prepare for our upcoming mission trip. Here is the latest:
1. Our tickets have been purchased. We’ll be leaving Thursday evening, October 16th, and returning on Sunday the 26th. Hungary is 8 hours ahead of us Hoosiers, so we’ll be losing a day on the way over. On the return flight, though, we’ll be gaining 8 hours. October 26th will be a 32 hour day for us! Where’s my pillow…
2. Teah’s passport has been received by the government. We called our congressman’s office, and they have also placed a call to the passport agency. We are anticipating having the passport in hand by Friday the 10th. Yippee
3. Last night I emailed the syllabus and student’s class notes to Word of Life-Hungary, so that the translators could work their magic with time to spare. I’ll be emailing the quizzes, exam, and background info in a few days. After that, we Pack !
We’re humbled by the prayers and support. Thank you all so much.
Let the Countdown Begin!
Preparation Hungary September 25, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Uncategorized.add a comment
For those of you who may not know, allow me to fill you in concerning the mission trip.
We have many friends in the Word of Life (WOL) Bible Institute in Hungary (WOLH). WOLH is a bible school in Hungary that desires to teach and train the next generation of church leaders in Europe. WOL is an organization that is headquartered in NY, but has many bible schools located in many countries. To learn more about WOL, you can check out their website here; wol.org
To learn more about WOLH, you can check out their website here; www.eletszava.org
The academic dean of WOLH, Paul, was my roommate in seminary before I got married. After Teah and I wed, we moved into married student housing at Dallas Seminary (affectionately called the Swindoll Suites by DTSers). Take a wild guess who our next door neighbors were…you got it, a couple from Hungary, Lazi and Szandra Kadar (well, the wife, Szandra is from Croatia, but Lazi is from Hungary), and they are currently ministering at WOLH.
One day a few weeks ago I got a phone call from Paul, my old roommate. He explained that at the Bible Institute, sometimes they have a guest teacher who comes and teaches through a book of the bible. The week of October 20th was assigned for the book of Galatians. In finalizing the class, the originally scheduled teacher thought he was coming in October of 2009. WOLH had him scheduled for 2008. Which meant they had a class starting 7 weeks without a teacher. Paul said gulp.
And then Paul thought, “who can I call, on short notice, who is an extremely gifted teacher and an expert in the scriptures?” Paul called the first and only person of whom he could think.
Well, that person declined the invite…so he grudgingly called me! After all, he did room with me … Be quite, Teah.
The English language does not contain the words to express how excited I am about this trip. God has planted a desire within me to help teach and train foreign national pastors in their ministries. This trip is my first opportunity to express and foster that desire. Paul told me I would be teaching the second year students, around 40 in all, from many different countries on 4 continents. I am just humbled that God would call me to serve Him in this capacity. I can’t wait for October!
Of course, this whole experience has just been a God thing; Having so many friends at WOLH, Galatians being one of my favorite books, the fact that I preached through Galatians a while back (so I am fairly familiar with it, helping immensly with the preparation), the support of our family, friends, and church, etc
I also forgot to mention, the orginally scheduled teacher is a prof at Dallas Seminary. This prof is the same person who hosted me the first time I visited Dallas Seminary, and not only that, but he and I are shirt-tail relatives. He told me he knew about Van Buren, IN, and that a member of his family married a Doyle from Van Buren many years ago. How wild is that?
I know people often say the Devil is in the details, but I think we can find God there a lot of times, too
Hungary Here We Come! September 17, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Hungary Mission Trip.add a comment
I still can’t get over the idea…us, in Hungary, in a month! Its exciting, but I sure wish I had about another 5 months to prepare the lessons:)
It really is a whirlwind. Getting the lesson plans ready, studying, planning an overseas trip without a current passport for Teah. Oh yeah, and there is also our jobs! Good thing I only work one day a week:)
There will be much to share in the future, but as for now, remember me in your prayers as I prepare my lessons!
Horseshoes don’t always bring good luck… September 11, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Uncategorized.2 comments
I am happy to report…Da Bears stomped the Colts.
I have to be honest. When I was driving to Indy to go to the game, I kept thinking, ‘Why am I wasting the gas to go watch my Bears get destroyed?’ I reminded myself that fans are fans in the bad times too. If you’re not there in the downswing, then you’re just a bandwagon jumper.
So there I was, in my navy and orange, looking like a gigantic pumpkin in a sea of blue. I was a little on edge, waiting for the verbal taunts as I entered Lucas Oil Stadium for the first time (by the way, the stadium is awesome). The Colts fans were surprisingly classy. They probably felt sorry for me and just let me go without taunting. I figured I’d get it after the game, though.
But Horseshoes don’t always bring good luck. It was especially sweet ruining opening night in their brand new stadium. Yea, they have the ring, but that was two years ago. What have you done for me lately?
After the game was over, as I was walking to the car (a little taller and a lot prouder), I knew there was no need to say anything. After all, everyone saw me. I was the only 10 foot pumpkin walking down Merrill in a sea of 0 and 1 blue!
May we meet again in Tampa!
Da Bears Tickets July 2, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Random and Fun.2 comments
I found out yesterday that I will be at the Colts/Bears season opener in Lucas Oil field.
Needless to say, I am pumped. I only have one question: Do I wear a Bears Jersey into the Colts stadium? What do y’all think? I’m debating whether or not it is good to wear Bud Light Cologne all the way home
I’m also pumped that I won’t have to cheer for Cedric Benson or Tank Johnson…good riddance.
Now, why can’t we find a QB?
What really matters? June 17, 2008
Posted by Ryan Doyle in Spiritual Musings.add a comment
As I find time, and energy, I will dive into stories and share ideas and express thoughts about everything under the sun. I will intentionally be sharing it under the name, the banner, of 63three. Why you ask? Because this name is a reference to the only thing that actually matters…God’s love for us.
Psalm 63:3 is not a cliche. It was written by King David, when he was hiding in the wilderness, under the very real threat of death.
David was not speaking from platitudes when he wrote, “your unfailing love is greater than life.” Not a cliche. An actual acknowledgment, that hey, I may very well die soon, but even if I do, I will still have your unfailing love. But he didn’t stop there. He said he would praise Him.
WHAT?!? Praise Him? There are “Wanted, Dead or Alive” posters all over Judah with your mug on it, and you’re praising Him?
Yeah, he is. Cause he knows there’s something way more important than life itself. And even in the face of death, David praises God because of His unfailing love toward him.
I wonder, how much of my life is spent in pursuit of the things that make up life? All the while, the only thing that does really matter is neglected.
I strive for importance and ask for His strength to help me. When I fail, will I still praise Him as David did?
I strive for independence and ask for His wisdom to help me accomplish it. When I fail, will I praise Him?
I strive for success and ask for His blessing on my plans. When I fail, will I praise Him?
When I am falsely accused and mistreated, will I praise Him as David did?
Sadly, if I’m honest, praise is not my natural reaction. It’s because my focus is on this life, and on the things that don’t really matter. And therein lies the problem.
I ask for health, for wealth, for security, for safety, for blessing, for titles, for importance … for life.
And the whole time He is offering me the only thing that really matters…Himself. And when I stop and realize the peace I have with God through Jesus Christ, all the sudden I’m praising Him.
I’m praising Him with no health, no wealth, no security, no safety, no blessing, no titles, no importance. I’m praising Him cause the only thing that really matters is Him, regardless of my circumstances.
I’m not discounting the tough things, though. Life at times is tough. I found out recently that I have sertoli cell only syndrome. It’s medical jargon for sterile. My wife and I really wanted to have our own family. But I’m incapable of fathering children. Now that was and is a tough time. Thankfully, I’ve never stopped praising Him (even through my tears). Not because life was easy, but when the white coats came and said there was nothing more we can do, I was able to rely on the only thing that matters…peace with God through Jesus Christ.
God has taught me that even fathering children is not as important as His unfailing love. He has taught me that His love is not found in the things of this life, in what I do or don’t possess. It is only found in my relationship to Him. His love and my possessions are two different things. When I don’t have one, it doesn’t mean I don’t have the other.
If only our smiling TV preachers would tell us that
