I'm an Intercity

Pápa is beautiful and really tiny and sort of feels like Europe... I'm not sure how I feel about that. It has less traces of communism than the east and no 10 stories. I already weirdly miss them and the tacky elevators that always feel like their going to break as they "mint egy csiga" get you to the top. 

Leaving the Szolnok branch was really hard but luckily the branch here is really similar. We're 20 people and if we averaged out all our ages I feel like it'd be in the 60's or 70's, hah. However there are 2 six year old kids that built a train track right in front of the podium during sacrament and were vehemently racing trains on it. At one point one of the moms leaned over from a few rows back and said "Ábi be quieter!" he responded quickly "Mom I can't. I AM AN INTERCITY!" hahah (Intercity trains are the fast trains here that we usually ride on.) I feel like Maze and Vi would get along just great with them!

Biesinger Elder is originally from Medina, New York but doesnt know Abbie's family... but more recently was in the MTC and I love that so much. He has so much faith to find, faith to see miracles and a ton of gospel drive. It is refreshing. He already speaks way better Hungarian than I did 8 months ago and he also made the worst chocolate chip cookies I have ever eaten. But I love him anyway.

Back in Szolnok Érnő and Éva came to church and LOVED it, Ribar Elder said! And they are getting pretty close to baptism! I got called as Ward Clerk and did all the tithing computer work yesterday in Hungarian. My best friend: my pocket dictionary. 

Mom to answer your questions: Our district is Pápa, Tatabánya Elders and the Győr missionaries. We travel by train for splits, zone trainings, and district meetings. In Pápa we travel by feet or bikes. Woohoo. There is a hill though and it is quickly awakening me to how out of shape I am! My new apartment is the nicest I've ever been in. It has actual settings on the oven so it actually deserves the name "oven" now instead of "fire box." 

The mormon tabernacle choir sang the most inspiring in the past general conference closing hymn.  I love this chorus:

Fear Not, though the enemy deride! Courage! For the Lord is on our side! We will heed not what the wicked my say but the Lord, our Lord we will obey!"

I love that. Fear not! Courage! If we will obey, this promise is ours. I love it. I challenge you all to share your testimony of the Book of Mormon with someone, whether its a family member, friend, or work partner thingy (what do you call that?) Every active member in Hungary this week is giving away a Book of Mormon with their testimony written in in. Share yours.

I love you,

Hughes Elder

Photos:

Here are some of Pápa and one of Elder Haroldsen at transfers cause he just went home! 

They have a spring and fall cleaning here where people just throw stuff out of their windows and the next couple days garbage men pick it up. Its a littering disaster, but I found this gem (wolf skin?) and took a picture with it for Rocky and Dan. Probably have tics from it too.

Happy hallowen. We did this one Pday cause we couldnt think of anything else to do since Szolnok is not the most happening city.

And there is one in Szeged for our free day we had a long time ago. Our whole district. Elder Ribar's face is my favorite.