"It was faith that made Abraham obey when God called him to go out....He left his own country without knowing where he was going." (Hebrews 11:8)

When we are called to go out into the unknown we need to focus on our relationship with God, trusting Him and knowing He is in control helps us to keep everything in perspective.

HUNGARY AND SLOVAKIA - We felt a bit like Abraham as we travelled out to Hungary in May and we were pleasntly surprised at how things worked out. There is revival among the gypsies in North East Hungary and in spite of grinding poverty churches are thriving. We found a warm welcome and a tremendous response to the gospel from adults and children alike. As usual we visited families in their homes and distributed food, clothes and literature. We also had an opportunity to speak in a Baptist chuch where Sonnie was their first ever Gypsy visitor! Hopefully he will not be the last! The highlight of our stay in Hungary was a visit to Sirok where some Gypsies still live in caves in the mountainside. We had heard about the cave-dwellers and were excited about meeting them at last. We were delighted to find out that many of them were already Christians. As we met together for prayer in one of their humble homes with the dirt floor under our feet and the rocky roof just inches above our heads. We were reminded very forcefully that the Christ-child had been born in just such a place as this! Surely God has no favourites and though man looks upon outward appearences the Lord looks into our hearts.

In Partizanske, Slovakia we found that the little church had experienced differculties since the English missionaries had left. At once we set  to work and visited as many of the chuch families as we could with gifts of food and clothing and words of encouragement. We were well received and many who had not attended fellowship for a while came along  to church on Sunday morning. On this trip we were able to visit a prison for young offenders in Martin, where most of the lads were Gypsies. We spent about an hour and a half with thr group of 80-100 young men and all of them stood in response to the gospel and received prayer and literature from us. Many were in tears as the Holy Spirit moved upon the gathering. We also visited a Gypsy/Slovak church in Banksa, Bystrica where we held an evangelistic meeting. It was wonderful to be in such a large mixed group and experience the lively worship led by Gypsy musicians and join in the dancing with the Gypsy women. There we were also told of revival among the Gypsies of eastern Slovakia. Praise the Lord!

SIBERIA - Since we have not received a letter of invitation for the trip to Siberia we will be returning to Slovakia and Hungary in August and going on to Romania in September. We would value your prayers for our travels and for the Roma of Central and Eastern Europe.

PAKISTAN - Basharat Ureem writes that the situation in the Punjab is getting worse and staying  in one place can be very dangerous. He and the team of four voluntary helpers now travel from place to place under the name of Abdee Hyalt (Everlasting) Travelling Gospel Van - Gypsies For Christ Pakistan. These young men work during the week and on Sundays and official holidays travel out in a hired vehicle. They are dedicated to sharing the gospel with the Gypsies and working within the Christian community. Bash would like to come to England for the Annual General Meeting in November to share his vision for the work in Pakistan with us. Please pray for him, his family and the team, for the needs of the Gypsies in the Punjab and for the provision of a suitable vehicle for the work.

HOME NEWS - Terry Hurst is kept busy with the many preaching and speaking engagements and travels widely to keep in touch with his many contacts in Buckinghamshire, Norfolk and other parts of the country. Please keep him & the family in your prayers.

TRANSLATION WORK - Valdemar Kalinin has finished translating "The Good Shepherd" for Scripture Gift Mission in the language of the Belarus Gypsies. He has also finished work on The New Testament and Psalms and continues working on Proverbs. Please pray for Valdemar and his family. He has recently become a grandfather! Congratulations!

AU REVOIR! - We are sorry to have to tell you that there will be no more issues of 'Byways' for the time being. Please pray for Penny Foster and her husband, David, who has not been well for some time now. Penny has resigned from her position as trustee of the Gypsies For Christ. Golden Spearman has returned to Wales  following the death of his father. We extended our sympathy to Goldie and thank him and Penny for all the help and support they have given us.

THANK YOU - We want to say thank you to everyone who prays, gives or supports Gypsies For Christ in any way and to The Woodford Christian Life Church for their encouragement and backing of all our endeavours. We appreciate your partnership with us in the cause of the gospel. A special thank you is due to Hallmark Gold whose generous donation has enabled us to upgrade the office.

With love from all on the GFC Team.