Project Embrace, Hungary

Always cool when Michel plays guitar

On several occasions we have shared about the work that Michel & Janet van Boxtel and their children are doing in Hungary. They are the founders of Embrace, an organisation that works among the poorest of the poor.

We regularly receive their newsletters and on their Facebook page you can read how their church for homeless people (Korál Mission Church) is growing and flourishing. Last year they shared about their work during a mission night in Twinkeltje.

Last year in Twinkeltje

Janet says: “Starting a church was never on our minds or hearts, but God had a different idea. People started asking for it, which resulted in a service every two weeks and as of January this year every week. The church services with lunch are always special."

Between 15 and 25 people show up each week. They know that Michel and Janet care for them and love them unconditionally. Michel and Janet visit them where they "live", hand out food and blankets, help them with doctor's appointments or refer to detox or rehab.

Recent baptisms

"These are just the practical things," Janet said, "we see and experience that the greatest gift we give them is personal attention. People are going from being invisible to being seen and that is a huge difference. They feel the love that God has placed in our hearts for them."

Visiing the homeless

Most of their church visitors have multiple problems. They struggle with addictions, have trauma and/or have psychological problems. Yet, recently they had the privilege to baptize seven people!

For Embrace, the summer period usually means ... visits from the Netherlands. This summer they are expecting two youth groups that will help with the renovation of houses (where families live that Janet supports as a social worker) and with the organization of an English camp for students from Tapiobicske and Nagykata. Reservation for 2020 have come in already.

During camp in 2018

In the meantime, all other projects are continuing, such as the construction of tiny houses for the homeless, renovating and expanding the Embrace mission home where guests can stay, building a greenhouse and the education project 'be cool, stay at school' in Tiszakeresceny where children receive extra attention and are being motivated to do their best at school. Janet teaches about health, hygiene and social skills.

A few years ago, the Boxtel family emigrated to Hungary to roll up their sleeves and to give hope to the hopeless. We are grateful for the lives that are changing in Hungary because Michel and Janet (with their children) have said ... we are going into the world to share God's love!

Gifts for the work of Michel & Janet are more than welcome. Within Europe make gifts payable to: St. Traveling Light, Papendrecht IBAN: NL91RABO0118582275 BIC: RABONL2U. Make sure to mention: HUNGARY.

For more about their work, please check out their FACEBOOK page or their WEBSITE.