Monday Night: One of our three sisters in our district had to be rushed to the ER and found out she has a 7cm Sist in her Ovary and unless a miracle occurs she will have to go home and have surgery and recover for two months. There have been countless prayers for her offered this week and we've all grown closer than I thought was possible in 8 weeks. We held a district fast for her Sunday. Funny thing about that was that the food is getting so old that I actually went into the cafeteria to talk to our Branch Presidency while they ate and I went in super hungry and came out not hungry at all. I guess thats just what fruit loops and instant potatoes do to you after 8 weeks. They couldn't fit her in for a week so today is the day!
Tuesday: We had the opportunity to listen to Donald Hallstrom of the Seventy. He talked about how we need to become converted to the Lord not JUST the church and that we need to convert new members to the Lord and not JUST the church. He talked about how the only way to do that is to have or help others have a PERSONAL experience with Jesus Christ. Our branch president compared it to his experience with Elder Maxwell. He told us how he never could really read or listen or understand Elder Maxwells talks in General Conference. But once he was at a funeral and Elder Maxwell some reason came over and spoke with him for a few minutes. After that experience his complete perspective changed he read every single one of his talks, books, and devotionals he could find because of that one simple experience. He suggested that we ask Heavenly Father in Prayer two questions. 1. Are we okay? (Just figuring out where you are with your relationship. If theres anything you need to take care of.) 2. Am I on the path for exaltation? Exaltation is our goal. If we earnestly seek for a personal experience. Praying, Pondering, Reading we will have a experience through some form. And then we will become converted to the Lord. We will not need to become converted to every single new change or part of the Gospel. We will accept everything the Lord will reveal. And Life wont be easier because we will ALWAYS have trials but we will be able to get through them so much easier.
Wednesday: We had the opportunity to orient the 21 new Dutch and Albanian Missionaries. Their testimonies strengthened mine and it was so funny to see how scared they were. I know that sounds awful. But really they were terrified and overwhelmed I remember being them all too well. ONE out of the 17 Zustersand Motras that came in PLAYS THE PIANO! So now we both play in sacrament and our Hymn collection has been expanded!!
Thursday: We had our last lesson with one of our pretend investigators and it was surprisingly sad, but good. I studied a lot about faith and in result read a lot about Abinidi. Who is one of the best exercisers of faith I have read about. We also got to sit in on the Branch Presidencies orientation with the new missionaries. One of the Zusters from Northern Ireland bore a strong testimony of why shes here. She talked about how she came from a country where religion is used as a divider and used to break up families. She talked about her and her families conversion. Her Dad and his side of the family left and cut off complete contact with them when they were baptized 3-4 years ago. She talked about how that is not the role religion should play and that she wanted to help others who learn about this gospel that has brought her so much happiness (I was blown away by her faith) and then she told us about a miracle! that her Dad just called them last week before she left and she bore testimony about how God know us personally and loves us individually. How he softens peoples hearts when it is right and how grateful she is for this opportunity she has to serve and reap the blessings of serving a mission. (Keep in mind she is saying this all in a Irish accent hah that much cooler)
Friday: We had Skype TRC which is always much more humbling then it is uplifting hah! We skyped with a super nice Néni (old woman) for about 40 minutes and shared a message in our pretty terrible Hungarian about receiving revelation through scriptures study. At the end two missionaries showed up and basically all they told us was how cold it is there. That got us less excited to leave but luckily well get there half way through winter so It will warm up a few months in! We also got our flight plans which made leaving a lot more real.
Saturday & Sunday-- Were both so busy and full. Its funny because all the new missionaries have been complaining about how much free study time they have now and it took us all back to when we were saying the same thing and now it seems like we dont have nearly enough! Our teachers continue to amaze us-- they're the most patient college students Ive ever met hah. I dontreally like how I formatted this email at all so dont expect an organized letter like this ever again.
Pray and seek out a personal experience with Jesus Christ.
I love you all so much.
I pray for you daily.
Sok szeretettel,
Hughes Elder
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