Make it about the people

On tuesday we had interviews with President Szabadkai which was fantastic. He closed with a wonderful prayer in which he earnestly prayed for you and Dad's preperations for July. His prayers always seem like blessings to me and he prayed for many areas of your preparation so I hope you can feel all the Hungarian prayers in your behalf. (He also tried to explain the Filipino government news but I understood very little of it, which I'm completely fine with hah. He says he always reads things about the Phillippines now because of you two.) I also had a great conversation with Sister Szabadkai in which she offered that I could live with them for a semester when they return home woohoo! We'll see.

Later in the week we went to Békéscsaba and I was on exchanges with Elder Shepherd (same mtc group). It was so good to talk about the past year we've had in Hungary and also to teach their investigator who has been off coffee for 2 weeks which is a miracle and getting closer and closer to baptism! I also saw a red fox tail in the window of a "ultra néni fur coat store" for an incredible price with the unrealistic purpose of serving as a key chain... I'll send it home and we will now have the full costume attire for Fantastic Mr Fox.

This week was relatively hard but still of course full of rewarding moments when I felt peace, God's love, and renewed with energy to continue this great work. We taught a whooping total of 1 lesson since most everyone canceled. It seems easy for me to get frustrated during these slower weeks until I think about all the little things we do that make the week all worth it. I've found that even the smalleset interactions have been some of the most meaningful. Actually I take that back-- not the smallest since those usually consist of us introducing ourselves then a power statement of rejection followed with a doorslam before we have time to open our mouths. Those, in case your interested, usually include one of the following. (ds=door slam)

I dont have time. ds

I'm not interested. ds

I'm athiest. ds

I'll believe in God when I see him. ds

I'm catholic(or protestant) and I go to church go help people that don't even believe. ds

Go to France! ds (their version of saying "Go to Hell!") (sidenote: this is always interesting because on many days France actually sounds quite nice.)

I'm too old for this. ds

I won't buy anything. ds

JAJ not you again. ds

Yes, so not these interactions but just a little bit longer ones.

The interactions where we can talk about God quickly and testify that he really loves this person we're talking to  and knows them even though it is contrary to everything they've learned in schools or at home growing up. And then even invite them to pray and feel God's lifechanging love.

Or the conversations on the street when I'm able to bear testimony to a young mother whose child or mother has passed away that we can live our families forever. That this is not the end. And once again that God loves her and knows how she feels. 

When we testify of truth we will feel the love of God and our own testimonies will grow. Love your family, your friends, and even the random incredible strangers you meet enough to share your testimony. It is the best way to bring peace, comfort, and joy to another persons life. If you dont have the courage follow Mormons counsel in Moroni 7​​​​​​​​:48 and pray for charity that will supply you with enough love to overcome the fear then repent and start practicing charity by sharing what you have been blessed with. If you feel like your testimony isnt strong enough PUT IN the EFFORT to stregthen in. Start studying the Book of Mormon and pray all the time to know of its truthfulness as you apply its teachings and doctrine in your life.

My testimony is simple but strong that when we bear testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and doctrine taught in it we can feel the love of God and help others feel the same. There is no greater feeling and no greater peace or comfort.

61 For I will forgive you of your sins with this commandment—that you remain steadfast in your minds in solemnity and the spirit of prayer, in bearing testimony to all the world of those things which are communicated unto you.

Be better.

Szeretlek Benneteket

Hughes Elder

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The photos you've been waiting for

Jo reggelt!

This week went just as fast as the other weeks which is really fast. We started off with the Assistants coming down and I was with Elder Miller which was great. Especially since he's the only missionary that has a car in Hungary so I was able to use him for his car and we were able to visit a few families that live so close to the border of Romania and Serbia. We got welcoming texts from both countries in the middle of a lesson.

Later on in the week it warmed up and feels like what I imagine Hawaii to feel like. Yesterday almost every testimony was centered on the Savior and spring. I felt so bad for all the members that are going to be so sad when the cold comes back and they realize this was just a little warm front...

We finally found a new investigator that has faith and desire to find out if this is really Christ's church. We met on tuesdayand had a fantastic lesson where the Spirit was really strong.

Later on in the week we met with Csaba. We brought a very intelligent member who was able to answer all his questions about the information that he had seen on youtube. Csaba was not willing at this time to accept / believe that we were telling the truth but we encouraged him to pray and find out for himself.

Saturday night we delivered cookies to some members, less actives, and former investigators and asked for referrals. We didn't get any but hopefully softened their hearts so either next week or the missionaries in 2030 will get some referrals! Other than this weve been tracting, tracting, streeting and tracting some more.

I love you all and finally got the camera working so enjoy some pictures along with a video that shows how gross cats really are. Also, our new investigator loves cats.

Please remember that in difficult situations we can always learn and in the lack of comfort we feel we can come closer to God and progress faster than we would in comfortable situations.

 5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land; and thus they were tossed upon the waves of the sea before the wind.

 6 And it came to pass that they were many times buried in the depths of the sea, because of the mountain waves which broke upon them, and also the great and terrible tempests which were caused by the fierceness of the wind.

 7 And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

I don't think "the furious winds" were comfortable while being tossed around in a little wooden dish but this experience strengthened an entire generation'​​​​​​​​​​​​​​s testimonies because they turned to God, thanked him, and learned from the experience as opposed to doing the opposite.

Szeretlek benneteket

Hughes Elder

Wrinkled Pages of PMG Chapter 9

So many great things happened this week. The worldwide training was like Christmas but better cause it was basically general conference but completely centered on us!!

All public transportation was free (which doesnt matter to us cause we have passes but the missionaries that came on exchanges were grateful) due to the cold weather and bad air.

President Szabadkai came to weekly plan with us. It was fun to talk with him  in our apartment and learn from him. He is so incredibly patient (getting calls from random missionaries every 10 minutes for the whole day is not easy) and I'm really grateful for his heartfelt prayers; they always inspire me and bring the Spirit in abundance into each of our meetings.

This week we taught Kitti, the best recent convert ever, who is certainly prepared by the Lord. Also Pali (a less active) helped us with that lesson which was awesome to hear about his conversion. 

We didn't find any new investigators but we met some great people who we were able to bear testimony to.

Church was great as usual and I was able to help the branch president when he asked me for ways to help his family learn more about the gospel. I basically just told him how much FHE helped me and how crucial it was to me being here. It's a little hard for the converts to think about the effects of these things since they didn't experience them themselves. But he was very grateful and told me to tell you and dad thank you.

Yesterday we taught Csaba. He seemed upset and told us he saw a video that bothered him. He started it and we realized quickly it was anti mormon material depicting sacred things. The Spirit instantly left the room. Something I havn't felt for a long time. I felt the strongest urge to ask him to turn it off. So I did, then when he didn't listen my companion did as well. At first I felt angry. Angry that this existed, that some one made it, and that Csaba watched it and believed it.

I prayed and prayed and prayed harder as he expressed his concerns about us worshipping Satan etc. Then as clearly as I felt the Spirit leave, I felt it return and felt full of God's love for Csaba. The anger went away and I felt that I should be as loving as possible as we answer his questions. Thanks to the Spirit and Gift of tongues we were able to answer questions and once again refer him to the Book of Mormon through which he can know if the Church is really Christ's church on the earth.

After we talked with Csaba about all of this he asked the question almost crying why would people leave God's church and try to destroy his faith and others as well? I felt again strongly, which is unusual (to me,) to bear testimony of repentance. I explained that sometimes people mess up and sin and make big mistakes and don't completely understand the atonement and what it means for each of us. Sometimes they didn't feel repentance could help them and decided to stop trying. I have a testimony that Christ suffered everything for us so that if we turned to him and gave our burdens to him we could be free of all the pain and sorrow. My testimony is President Packers testimony:

“The Atonement leaves no tracks, no traces. What it fixes is fixed. … It just heals, and what it heals stays healed.”⁹

He continued:

“The Atonement, which can reclaim each one of us, bears no scars. That means that no matter what we have done or where we have been or how something happened, if we truly repent, [the Savior] has promised that He would atone. And when He atoned, that settled that. …

“… The Atonement … can wash clean every stain no matter how difficult or how long or how many times repeated.”¹⁰

Repent Repent Repent!!! So you can feel God's love more abundantly in your life. I know this is true and repentance works.

I love you all.

Hughes Elder