Page 33 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Summer 2019- Online Magazine

As a couple, Larry and Melinda one year, then decided to return
served in the university department permanently. Larry later said, “We
for thirty-six years at FBC Lubbock, sold the business of 34 years, the
teaching Sunday School and house of 30 years, the cars, gave
investing in the lives of Tech our daughter the dog, kissed the
students. My childhood memories kids and grandkids goodbye and
include many dinners with a house returned to Hungary to serve long
full of hungry college students, term.” This decision was simply
enjoying a homecooked meal, an act of surrender to the plan
which often included Mexican that God had for their lives; God
casserole. We also went as a family has a different calling for every
for nine consecutive years with believer. Their Hungarian home
the FBC college department on church grew, a high school group
mission trips to Utah to share the was formed, and flourished, and
hope of knowing Jesus personally. multiple individuals were saved,
I watched Mom and Dad cook discipled and trained to continue
countless meals and work very hard the ministry on their own.
physically on those trips, investing
once again in people. In 2016, God called them back to holidays, going for visits, helping
Texas! Instead of retiring, they with homework, and leaving a
In 2003, my brother, Austin, have carried on their ministry to godly heritage. Forty-nine years
saw an advertisement from the college students. They currently later, Mom is still laughing at those
International Mission Board seeking are leaders in the Navigator “dad jokes”! Life is not always
full time missionaries to go to organization at West Texas A&M easy; there are mountain tops and
Hungary to share the Gospel and University in Canyon, TX. It is their valleys, but God is always faithful.
to start home group Bible studies joy to continue teaching the Bible,
for university students. He told discipling, mentoring and feeding “Do not lay up for yourself treasures
my parents, “You love God’s Word, the age group they love so much. upon Earth . . . But lay up for yourself
love college students, and love treasures in Heaven…”
having them in your home. Why Larry and Melinda continue to Matthew 6:19-20
don’t you go to a place where they invest in their own children and
don’t have opportunities to hear the grandchildren’s lives by hosting
Good News? If you take that first
step of faith, God will open every
door.”

8 0 6 . 3 5 8 . 2 4 7 2 9 C A R E C I R .
That is exactly what happened.
Larry and Melinda went to
Hungary and quickly formed
relationships with the Hungarian
students by helping them practice
conversational English, teaching
the Bible verse by verse. Students M A K E M E S m i l e
began to find faith in Jesus, and
their home meetings became a
house church! They were there for
two years initially, came home for
D R . E D D Y S A U E R D R . N A T H A N I E L A V I R E T T

Amarillo Senior Link 33