Hungarian holiday

I This most recent Hungarian Holiday was the celebration of a Hungarian revolution that resulted in a whoppin 8 HOURS of freedom. It doesnt sound like much but you better act like its something EVERYTIME an néni or bacsi tells you about it every 3 minutes. They are so proud of their history its great. As far as I could tell they celebrate by buying lots of chocolate and alcohol then drinking way too much. And a new discovery I made is that when people are drunk they are not as kind to you when you knock on their doors and bear your testimony in broken Hungarian hah! We had people yelling out of 10 stories telling us to go away which was awkward at fist but we zoned it out after a while. However its probably easier for me to be yelled at cause I cant understand anything theyre saying. Oh one time a bácsi on the 8th or 9th story threw his lighter at us while we were csengőing (ringing doorbells to try to get let into the building) but its really windy and cold here so it ended up shattering 10 meters away. Obsitcle avoided.

Highlight of the week was Zone conference with Elder Limar of the 70. It was fantastic, motivating, and inspiring. The west and southwest zones traveled to Budapest thursday and Elder Limar answered questions, taught us how to improve our finding and shared some missionary secrets. Its weird but it felt better than a Christmas. One of the biggest things he emphasized was something that I have heard a lot of people say" the Holy Ghost is the missionaries best tool/asset." Elder Limar immediately stood up after that was said by someone and said "We do not, we cannot use the Holy Ghost as a 'tool'. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead. He is a God. You will never use a God. But when you testify of pure doctrine you have a personal testimony of the Holy Ghost will use YOU as a tool/vessel to carry the truth to the heart of the listener!" He is pretty amazing and he challeged us to be more bold at every door we knock at and to testify of Jesus Christ and Joseph Smith at everydoor possible.

After we implemented his teachings into our tracting and began to testify at every door we had more of I guess you could say the "extremes." We were able to find people that were genuinely intested in our message and people that were passionately not interested... yet! And its fine I love all these Hungarian the same. One particular miracle this week was yesterday when we were able to teach Zsuzsanna a 'less active' who we tracted into that hasnt been to church in 12 years and doesnt remember anything really. Which has been a miracle cause we have been able to teach her like an investigator from the begenning. She has two children and desperately wants them on a good path-- and the Gospel is the perfect path for families. We were able to help her feel comfortable enough to pray for the first time in who knows how many years and it was such an amazing prayer. The spirit was so strong she was crying when she finished and so of course I cried a tiny too mostly because of the cat though. ALSO she made us delicous cake! A Win Win lesson.

I love the Hungarians. They are a passionate people who have been through so much and they are some of the most loyal people I have ever met. This branch here in Szombathely is just a big family and its so nice to see people support and love each other instead of gossiping and excluding others. Ill share a quote from my favorite talk in conference Approaching the Throne of God with Confidence by Elder Jorg Klebingat "Become really, really good at forgiving. “I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:10). Forgive everyone, everything, all the time, or at least strive to do so, thus allowing forgiveness into your own life. Don’t hold grudges, don’t be easily offended, forgive and forget quickly, and don’t ever think that you are exempt from this commandment. Spiritual confidence increases when you know that the Lord knows that you bear no ill feelings toward another soul."

The Savior died so that we and others could repent. Support others as they try to repent and make it easier for them by forgiving them quickly.

I love you all and pray for you lots.

Be bold. Be forgiving.

Sok szeretettel,

Elder Hughes

1 is a picture of győr my favorite city Ive seen so far in hungary.

2 is Elder heaps and I with Sister Szabadkai (the best) and Elder Ribar (who was my trainers last companion) at zone conference in the mission home!

Talking lajos

The weeks get better and better and way shorter, which is pretty scary. We have seen lots of little miracles here in Szombathely and have enjoyed a really busy week. On wednesday my trainer and I went up to the mission home and I got to see my MTC family hah I missed them so much and it was so good to see that theyre all doing well. It was so fun to share our crazy tracting stories and here about all over Hungary. I love President and Sister Szabadkai. President Szabadkai is very-- to the point and I love that hes not a people pleaser by anymeans. I can tell very easily that he loves us all and I think that fact that he doesnt put up with disobedience is another testimony of the love he has for each of us. The Szabadkais calling is very hard and Im so grateful they are here serving while I am. 

Elder Heaps and I went 6 days without any bread or sugar. Thats literally all they eat here so its actually really impressive hah. There are pékségs everywhere I go and I actually passed 3 on my 10 minute walk to email. I only stopped at one. 

We continue to see little miracles as we tract and found two fantastic really open familys this week and we met with a less active part member family as well. We have appointments to go back this coming week and hopefully everthing will work out. 

Another miracle: Lajos who is about 60 years old and comes to the pro english class everyweek invited us over to his house to meet his family. We were really nervous going over because we didnt know if wed be able to get a lesson or message in. He talks so much. He really never stops talking. Even when were talking hes talking to himself quietly. I dont think any of you reading this can actually comprehend how much he talks but nevertheless we went. He took us to his cute home and it was CAT FREE so thats miracle one. We didnt think they would make us anything but his wife had made Kakáos Csigas which are one of my favorite pastries here, thats miracle two. We were able to eat with them and talk a normal amount (for Lajos that is) about Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton which we know nothing about. We just sort of listen and he summarizes his points in a sentence or two after his 15 minute tangents. I was able to bear my testimony about the Book of Mormon during a pause he took to breath and my companion bore his testimony about the Gospel a few times. His wife opened up a lot more the longer we were there (we were there way too long) and at the end when we asked if we could return and talk more about the Church she said "You have one chance." It was a little intimidating but good hah. So 2 and a half hours later we saw the sunlight again. So much for the 30 minute visit we had planned. However  Elder Heaps did make a valiant effort to get out of there several times and actually saved us from going on a car tour of Szombathely later that afternoon as well as getting out of a 7 hour castle tour this morning.(Miracle 34) It really did turn out so much better than we both had anticipated. we were able to give them a book of mormon and they let me eat 7 Kakaos Chigas in return. AND taught me how to make them. IN HUNGARIAN! So I dont actually know how to make them but oh well-- its probably for the best.

Pray for charity everymorning. Study it and ponder about it during the day. Charity encompasses all the other Christlike attributes and as we dilligently seek it and do all we can to use it everyday we will change our nature not only our behavior. I love you all and I hope you have a fantastic week. 

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Hughes

If you know anyone that could be helped by learning about the Gospel (thats everyone) tell your local missionaries about them. Referals are the best. We havent got any yet but when that day comes. Hopefully it one day will... Its gonna be surreal. 

we tracted a building right after jehovas witness tracted it. surprisingly it was the most successfull open building yet after we told them we werent Jehovas Witness.

The sign above the door says: Jehovah's Witnesses please don't bother me. 

Dieting

Weather in Hungary has been pretty nice this past week. I formally apologize to you guys for telling you I would send the letters last week. The truth is... theyre on my desk. But ill send them today. I think.

This week I saw little miracles everyday. Wednesday was a long day of tracting. One building we didnt even get in we just got told to go away on the intercom by all 44 apartments hah. Most people are nice about it, they just say "Nem Kosz Nem Kosz" and start to laugh. Then there are always the exceptions hahah but I dont ponder too much on what they say. But anyways after a lot of NI's (not interested) we knocked on the 3rd floor of a 10 story and Ágnes answered the door she looked pretty worn down and was about 30 years old. I went through our little shpeel "We represent the Church of Jesus Christ and would love to share a messsage" sort of deal and then she said Id love to hear it. And hah we froze I think my companion forgot our message for a second but then after a 15 incredibly awkward sentences we asked her some questions talked about the A Mormon Konvye (The book of mormon) She accepted the book and continued to express how incredibly grateful we came at that time that day. I already love her a lot and hope she will continue to be open and learn more.

Wednesday we met with a few recent converts and then Xania an incredible member of the branch invited us to her home for a quick dinner. (She went to BYU a while back married an american and had a girl but her husband died and she came back to hungary married a catholic man and had 2 more boys and is now holding this branch together!) She has a really strong testimony and MADE US TACOS! Mexican food is so good.

OUR 1 investigator became a Progressing investigator this week when he built up enough courage to come to Sacrament! We had a fantastic sacrament meeting and afterwards were so excited to hear what he had to say but all he said was how disruptive Xanias 2 year old was hah. Im sure he'll come around with time.

We didnt get any new investigators this week but were able to give away 8 books of mormon the past 6 days. Its incredible to be able to feel the spirit so strong while you share a testimony of Jesus Christ on the street for 90 seconds. I will try and take advantage of every moment during every day. I know its gonna fly by.

I love you all and miss you lots. One thing I learned this week is about obedience. I was reading an article by a sister missionary who had served in Hungary and a general authority came and he asked her why do you think they made the age change? She responded so that more people would go. But he said the lords work will roll on no matter what-- they made the age change so that there would be stronger marriages. When you go out on a mission and are obedient and change-- your standards change, your perspective changes, and you change a lot (if youre striving to be obedient) and when you return home you look for people that share your same standards and are able to cope with difficult situaltions better. So theres that I just thought that was intersting. I hope it makes sense I probably messed it up more than I messed my side of my head last week when I tried to cut my own hair hah.

Opps I forgot to even mention the subject line. This week my comp and I arnt eating bread or sugar. The nénis at the pekseg know my name (granted its on my chest) but of course.. they call me milk teeth. So no more pastries or sweet milk. for an entire week.

I love you all.

be good and do good

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Hughes

they call me milk teeth here

sziasztok,

 

I miss you all a lot. But I love hungarians more and more everyday. all the nénis here call me milk teeth because I have white (in contrast to them) huge teeth. I swear I dont think any of them have called me by my actual name yet... Also youre reading from the new szombathely ward organist hahah. Its as bad as it sounds. I learned how to play sunday before they called me and practiced last night during game night. pedals are a challenge but like me, hungarians are pretty tone deaf as a whole so it ends up working out.

 

So many miracles this week. Our third companion left. We cleaned. and cleaned. and cleaned the  next day so that was good. I gave myself a haircut which was the worst decision I have made thusfar in my life and I have several bald spots but then again no one actually looks at me except for my milk teeth. They seriously just sit and stare at my teeth. It was uncomfortable at first but now as long as their listening to my message Im perfectly fine with it!

 

But back to the miracles... we go tracting everyday. Because to be short in writing. We have no investigators here (we were both whitewashed in). And after 4 days of getting doors shut and my teeth stared at we started to see some great miracles. One day after lots of prayers we decided to tract a pretty scary looking 10 story. I was seriously debating taking the stairs to the top when I got in the tiny communist elevator. But we got more success than Ive seen then past two weeks. 5 FAMILYS told us to come back at a specific other time and one SUPER old man (who we had to shout into her ear that was already so close it was basically touching my lips) heard our lesson and accepted a book of mormon. Hungarians have a hard time accepting book of mormons because they always think they need to pay us for them. But after we told this man lazslo for the 8th time this book was free and it was a gift he finally settled parting with us his favorite trinket coin thing that he placed in my companions pocket and it had the pope on one side and the vatican on the other haha.

 

One family we tracted into the dad answered and told us he wasnt interested but then the daughter who is 23 years old and spoke PERFECT english jumped us and begged her parents to let us come in and talk. MIRACLE! She told us last night she had come accross the prepared to serve videos by hungarian missionaries randomly last night and watched them. MIRACLE! and they talked with us for 45 minutes and accepted a Book of Mormon. miracle! (Not to mention we only got let into the building because a confused néni thought we were her grandsons) MIRACLE! Hah! God answers prayers. And im so grateful for all your prayers.

 

I did almost die twice this week when we were being fed by members-- both nénis. They got super offended when I said I was full and dished me up more and more and more and more. It was good at the start but I ate at least 5 whole potatoes both meals and left wanting to throw up and never eat again. Hungarians are great cooks and always have PLENTY of food for the missionaries. Theyre so kind.

 

Also they talk to their dogs like they are people. They talk with way more respect to their dogs then they do to us. Basically in summary-- grandma hughes should have been born in Hungary.

 

I love you all and pray for you daily. The only really frustrating thing ive noticed is member missionary work. Im pretty disappointed in myself before I left. I couldve been so much more actively involved. The missionaries cannot do it alone. And members testimonies can help strengthen investigators and members alike. Please share your testimony with others. Be a missionary. 

 

I love you all

Szeretetlek,

 

Hughes Elder

P.S pray that my stomach will be expanded when I eat with nénis hah SO. Much. FOOD

Dallin's address.

Hughes Elder 

Hungary Budapest Mission

Hajnoczy Jozsef utca 14

Budapest 1122

Hungary

Photo evidence.

The homes we tract all day. 

My first door. 

A church near my apartment. 

Communist monument of sorts. With my trainer in the middle.  

First letter from Hungary.

The Szabadkais are two of the kindest people I have ever met. They picked us up at the airport then drove us back to the mission home/office/branch house for buda. Right after we unloaded the bags two of the office missionaries came and grabbed me and Beans and told me I'd be teaching about faith in a lesson in 5 minutes! Within 10 minutes of me being in buda I was in an investigator lesson talking in probably some of the worst hungarian they've ever heard hah. I hope they understood at least a little but either way that got me on my toes hah.

 

Later that evening Sister Szabadkai made the most delicious food and sure my expectations were low because I've been in the Mtc for so long but it really was so good. I had 7 bowls of fruit soup THE BEST (legjobb) in hungarian. We shared our testimonies-- got interviews earlier and streeted with missionaries the rest of that afternoon. Later The Szabadkais took us on a walk to Buda Castle and it was one of the prettiest views ever. We read the dedicatory prazer for hungary and the spirit was really strong.

 

The next day we had the sorting hat meeting. Where we got our trainers. I lucked out-- and my prayers were answered. My trainer is Elder Heaps he has been in the country for 8 months so he's not professional at the language but he's exactly obedient and that is not as common as I would have wished hah. After the meeting we were off and managed to find and climb every staircase in Buda with our luggage in hand before we got on the train and headed to Szombathely (which directly translates to saturday place) I'm right on the austrian borders (about 15 minutes by car (which we dont have)) and there are mountains not too far away so it seems like home.

 

Until tomorrow we have a third companion who has been showing us around and helping us meet with all the eternal investigators he has racked up. Szombathely is so beautiful and the people here are surprisingly kind while rejecting us-- it means a lot haha. I have definitely had more doors slammed on me this week than anyone who has served in South America will ever have-- Sister Szabadkai always tells us whenever a door gets slammed in our face the missionaries in Brazil baptize someone hah.

 

I have really loved Alma 8:14-15. After alma has been rejected he starts getting down on himself but an angel appears and tells him to continue the work to lift up his head and rejoice for he is doing what God has commanded. It's sometimes hard when other don't accept this message that you know could change their lives or when you have companions that may not be as obedient as you'd like but it's important to Lift up your head and rejoice, keep Gods commandments, and remember Alma 17 verse 11 i believe (I cant fact check it) But be patient and be good examples.

 

This week has been great I'm so grateful for this opportunity I know that i'll grow and mature a lot. Thank you all for your prayers. I miss you lots and am so grateful for these kind of experiences that help us grow.

 

Be good

 

Love,

Hughes Elder

 

One funny thing that happened this week besides our branches kareoke party (that was as awesome as it sounds...) and my trainer tumbling down a metro escalator with three bags of luggage-- Is one day we were tracting haha I LOVE tracting its always the biggest surprise behind evey door...

 

This is what one old néní told us hah:

 

Me: Hi were representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ and we've brought a message about Jesus Christ.  If you have a minute we could share it with you

Néní: Um no no um i already have a church

Comp: Oh really we'd love to talk about it with you. What church?

Néní: Ummm I'm Mormon

-sheer confusion-

Comp:(after a minute making sure he heard her right) Oh we're Mormon, too!

Néní: (disssapointed her tactic she probably uses for jehovas witness missionaries had failed) Oh you are? Um well um i dont actually know. good afternoon

-door slammed-

 

love you all miss you tons