Half way

This week was pretty great. This email is going to be very disorganized just a disclaimer. 

Tuesday we were able to teach our investigator who just got back from Italy. Shes really neat and we taught her about faith and invited her to be baptized. Our teachers really got us though cause in the middle after I invited her to be baptized she began to talk really fast and with a vocabulary that none of us had any idea of what she was saying. Luckily were pretty good at charades. A talent that is irreplaceable when speaking a foreign language especially if you've only known it for 4 weeks. We found out through lots of different charade actions that she hates smoking but she doesn't think she can stop. Our vocabulary at that point did not include anything from the word of wisdom. But what do you know the next language lesson we had with our teachers was on the word of wisdom. They definitely planned the lessons with investigators to humble us to the point that we will pay CLOSE attention the entire lecture. 

Bishop Dean Davies came and spoke to us Tuesday evening. He gave a fantastic talk about putting your entire trust in the Lord. He challenged us to 'go in our might' and reminded us that if we want to bring about miracles in the lives of our investigators--we need to STOP thinking that we are the ones bringing about the miracles. His wife gave a great talk as well.

My prayers have been long. I have so much to be grateful for. The gospel, my family, the atonement, friends, chocolate milk-- all make it into my prayers daily. Also I have never prayed as many times before in my life as I do here. Its pretty insane and I'm grateful God doesn't ever get tired of hearing from us. Because if he did-- he'd think our companionship was just the worst hah. Thanks for the donuts Rochelle and Dan and Amy!! They were delicious and we ate every single one of them even though they all came on the same day!

Thursday was one of the best days. Our teacher worked with each of us personally and went over some cases which are 'legrosszabb' (the worst). Everyday I leave class confused but some days like Thursday, a little less confused than usual! The best part was definitely that evening though when we finally did our first TRC-- where we share a spiritual message with Hungarian members (previous missionaries). THEY TALK SO FAST. I picked out every 20th word. But that's okay because the spirit was there even though I couldn't understand them and they sounded like Orcs. I loved it and learned a surprising amount for not being able to communicate. It was fun to hear how much each of the missionaries loved Hungary and I cant wait to be able to sincerely express my feelings and bear my testimony.

Our meetings Sunday were great. Elder Brent H Nielson of the seventy came to teach the elders about seeking personal revelation. Then we had sacrament meeting where a talk was in Hungarian it was neat to be able to understand it. I also wrote my first talk in Hungarian. And had a ton of meetings all day which ended up being good cause our companionship got to know the new branch presidency really well. That evening we watched the Joseph Smith movie and that was great I hadn't seen it in a while. You should all watch it again I love Joseph's mothers testimony.

The Finns left this morning which means were now in charge of organizing our secret bootleg guacamole parties in residence every Thursday. I had a great session today at the temple and am so grateful that we can go for a couple weeks before we get to Hungary. Only 4 weeks left! It feels like we just got here!

Quick spiritual though sort of. Sorry this email is so long, feel free to cut it in half or something. This week I watched a talk given by Elder Bednar in the MTC some years ago. I wish you could all watch these talks but I guess you have to go on a mission if you really want to hear them. Anyways Elder Bednar addressed the question I've heard a lot in seminary classes, sacrament meetings, and Sunday schools that is "If I get a though how do I know if its just my own emotions or a spiritual prompting." I love his answer. He said this. "Don't worry about it. Stop worrying about it. Get over yourself. Keep the commandments and covenants you have made, do your best and you will be guided." He explained that in culture of the church not the gospel but the culture we have come to think that we will and must know if a promptings of the spirit. He went onto explain with fantastic stories that the overwhelming majority of spiritual promptings you have you will not know they are from the spirit. But not to worry about it. To keep the commandments and covenants and you will be guided.

I love that. Keep your commandments and covenants and you will be guided. Learning to teach the gospel in a foreign language has forced me to think about how simple this gospel really is. Its a gospel of love. And I bear my testimony that it is true.

I love you all.

I pray for you lots.

Have a stellar week.

Sok Szeretettel,

Hughes Elder