December 17, 2015'

There's nothing more satisfying than laying down in my teeny tiny bunk bed in the MTC after working hard for 14 hours. A normal day starts at 6:30 at the latest. we shower and get ready then go to breakfast. I don't know why people complain about the mtc food they're clearly crazy. The MTC has a chocolate milk dispenser and tons of cereal so I think ill be fine for 9 weeks ha ha. Don't worry mom I don't eat cereal every morning. after breakfast we have staggered classes throughout the day 5 hour sessions usually making up 8-10 hours of language study that is mixed in with gospel study (still feels like language study since I don't speak Hungarian...) Our teachers haven't said one word in English yet and the fact that I can bear a simple testimony in Hungarian, pray, read some scriptures (don't understand what they mean at all but I can pronounce them) and also have memorized the missionary purpose in Hungarian is a MIRACLE! the gift of tongues is real and D&C 31:3 has single handedly got me through this week. 

Remember how I shared my fear of having a thespian companion at some point in my mission? well every. single. person. in my district is a passionate thespian but because we have shared some of the highest highs and the lowest lows we have grown so close. I love them each individually and like a normal family each person brings something completely new and enlightening to the group. Its made up of 7 elders. I'm in a trio with miller elder a lacrosse enthusiast hahah from Idaho who is fantastic and is on a mission the same reason as me. He has a strong testimony and strives to be exactly obedient. smith elder is my other companion who actually is beans from even stevens. not actually but looks exactly the same its so funny I learn something new about him every day that just makes me laugh usually to the point of tears. Our district is so close and unlike most districts in the MTC we do everything together walk to class, study, eat, and share our testimonies and thoughts every night the spirit is so strong all the time.

our branch presidency is fantastic we have the best president and counselors who come and visit us almost every night during the week to share inspirational messages and just talk. We write a talk every Sunday and 3 people in our zone get called up at random during sacrament to share it. I have 2 more weeks of English talks then ill be expected to write it in Hungarian!! crazy to think about.

The best part of the week was the opportunity that i got to participate in a priesthood blessing with one of my companions for a sister who was struggling a little bit. Im so grateful for the priesthood and the power that comes when you exercise it regularly and worthily. everyone  has told me that i will either hate or love the mtc just depends what you decide to do but at this point I cannot even justify pondering on all the negative things because the spirit is so strong its like studying in a temple at times.

The devotionals are incredible every sunday and tuesday we have one. The mens chorus at byu came and shared experiences and Christmas songs on sunday and again the spirit was so strong I know I sound like a goob saying that everyother sentence but im still in awe at what a special place this is! Our zone takes in the albanians who are nice and funny and the finns which we could probably do without but we love them anyways hah. Our tuesday devotional was by Lynn g Robbins and his wife who shared inspired messages on building spiritual reflexes so that we dont have to think what would christ do all the time and instead can live as he did because the way he led his life is truly the best example/miracle he performed.

Im in choir of course. because the thespian family im in now hah. And it is so great brother egget who worked with the mormon tabernacle choir is our directer and he has stories for every song we sing. Sorry this letter is all over the place but so is my mind so it actually makes perfect sense. I think my brain is slowly pushing out all the information i have taken in the past 18 years of my life to make room for hungarian so right now I cant actually speak english or hungarian fluently.

seretet,

hughes elder

(in hungarian the elder is after I dont know why yet but I really need to find out soon because every missionaries comes up and asks us.

Sorry for the grammer mom you dont have to capitalize the letters if you dont want to this keyboard is the worst part of the MTC!

Love you!

If you ever want to see what its like to speak hungarian instead of making a word plural by using an s try putting a k on. its hard then just throw a bunch of dots above random letters and throw in an unexplainable amount of z's. :)

My testimony has grown so much. I have felt the spirit almost constantly Im so grateful for all you guys support and help getting me where I am today. The church is true and it is so personal for everyone. Read your scriptures and thank your heveanly father for everthing all the time everyday because we have been given so much.

ELDER DALLIN HUGHES

HUN-BUD FEB 8 Box 65

2005 N 900 E

 Provo UT 84604