Wild boars and ferrets.

This week went by way too quick and brought this transfer to an end as well. I don't have much time but I'll tell some highlights. First off I'm staying in Szolnok and I couldnt be happier. This branch has become a replacement family that I have trouble communicating with and I'm so grateful I can further our relationships and the work here for the next nine weeks. Baird Elder will finish the last week of his mission with me then leave and I will get a new companion tomorrow. I'M EXCITED. There's no better way to get to know a person then by living with them 24/7 as you teach people about Christ's gospel in Hungarian hah. 

Highlights:

I have called every person the missionaries in our area have met with since 2008 the past three weeks which has really helped with my language skills and I have learned a lot of bad words as well. It's always scary to start but for some reason I always finish laughing at some ridiculous excuse I've been told or something along those lines. But I did set up a few lessons from all those calls which was the POINT! And I'm so grateful I did. On Tuesday we met with Andras who met with the missionaries in 2008. He's old and grew up in the time that religion was looked down upon and forbidden. He doesnt feel comfortable with talking to God but after persuasion let us offer a prayer before we left. He's pretty great and used to be a traveling water polo professional. Also, he cooked us Wild Boar that his brother-in-law shot. We ate it with bread and chocolate. Hungarians are so healthy-- also the boar was delicious.

Maria is a less-active weve been trying to meet with the entire time I've been here. And we finally came up with a time, so friday we took our Mission leader and went to her home. We had never seen her and were a little nervous which I think is normal since we meet lots of interesting people every day. She answered the door wearing a shirt with a women in her swimsuit on it and holding a ferret in her hand. It threw me off and I thought we had just gotten ourselves into the longest hour but it turned out to be one of the best lessons I've been in on my mission. When we meet with less actives we usually are dealing with people who were offended by someone but it was refreshing to meet with Maria because she wasn't, in fact she loved hearing about who was still there and promised to come next sunday! She also explained her daughter the exact way Mr Fox explains his son Ash...." Shes just.... different." (hand signals and all). 

Last wednesday I talked to this bácsi on the street and had a good conversation. I gave him a Book of Mormon and he told me  how lonely he feels ever since his wife died. I switched numbers with him and called him a few days later. He remembered us (MIRACLE) and told me he'd like to meet! I asked for his address and after at least 12 times of him mumbling some long Hungarian street name I told him about our branch house and he agreed to come to church. Then sunday during the sacrament HE CAME! (MIRACLE) The members here are incredible and all introduced themselves and invited him to the other meetings. We'll meet with him this week. I'm so grateful to be here and to be able to meet these people and help them. The gospel can change your life if you let it. I think too many of us (me included) dont realize that God will help us in all areas of our lives He sees fit. We must turn to him, ask him, wait patiently, and accept his will.

I love you

Hughes Elder

We played tennis this morning on clay! 

And I took some pictures with some of the members since I was getting quite accustomed to leaving after just one transfer and didnt think of this in Debrecen or Szombathely.