Szolnak

I cant believe I forgot to tell you where I was going last week. Im in Szolnok. Its small and less pretty but it has the TISZA river and a plethora of néni's. So its so good. Also no one speaks english here so this will be good opportunity to learn Hungarian! 

We didnt have any time really to visit people before I left which was a little sad but Ill be sure to visit them again sometime. Transfers were so good and our entire group from the MTC was there! It was very good to see them all. My new companion is szuper szuper duper positive and will be good for me the next two months. He goes home at the end of this transfer so he speaks really well and is motivated to work hard this transfer!! We have 4 "progressing" investigators here all of which are nénis and one of them refuses to not give us slobbery puszi (kiss's on both cheeks) everytime we come in and leave her home. so thats not good. But the rest are pretty great. Another one always tells us she is part of the Man Party and tells us howmuch she adores us everytime we pause talking. Its pretty weird and uncomfortable haha but Im at least glad I can understand what shes saying. 

They are all great though-- I love meeting new people but especially members. Now that I can communicate with them on a 2nd graders level its been so fun to get to know them, laugh at their jokes because I mostly understand them, and awkwardly explain my jokes after they didnt understand them! The members here in Szolnok are incredible. It is a lot smaller branch about 25 people come every sunday but they are so willing to help. President Szabadkai has put a huge emphasis on Member Present lessons and the members here are so willing and available to come all the time. We have even gotten two calls from random members calling to see if we had any lessons they could help us with that day SO GREAT! Its so motivating to see their desire to grow the branch!

This scripture stood out to me this week "Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them." Enos writes this after he has felt the power of the atonement and his sins forgiven him. As we access the atonement and feel its powers our desires can actually be changed through God and because we have felt that heavenly power we will desire to share it with others. Use the atonement. Humbly ask God for a greater desire to use it daily and share your experience, joy, and change of heart with others. The Atonement is infinite, use in 24/7 for it never runs out. 

Szeretlek,

Hughes Elder

a nature hike for pday and our treat at district meeting

Cherry trees

I woke up thursday morning to texts from the sisters in our group both wishing us all happy 6 months. I dont know how they keep track but either way its crazy time has gone so fast. This week was busy we had Interviews and District Conference both in Miskolc so we got to spend lots of time on trains! We had some fantastic lessons with investigators. One in particular we were able to talk about the temple. Sealings and baptisms for the dead. It made Bogi so excited for the future when she can go as well. She went on a field trip this week and texted us she was eating carrots and drinking sprite while the rest of her class was vodkázni (the verb "to drink vodka") Hah she is awesome. When she came back she was talking with us and told us how all of her friends are so excited to turn 18 so they can drink and such.(I guess she meant drink legally since they already are drinking) but that she is way more excited to turn 18 in 5 months so that she can get baptized!

We watched meet the mormons with about 20 non-members/investigators after English class on thursday and it was so neat to be able to sit back and let others teach in Hungarian correct principles and not have to worry about them teaching false doctrine hah like going off about how God put lots of couples on the earth at the same time as Adam and Eve because he despising inbreeding haha (Investigator class on Sunday). 

Today was transfers morning and I found out that Im leaving Debrecen (funny cause my companion was all packed and we visited members all yesterday and I took pictures of them with him!). Im pretty sad to leave all these fantastic people but Im excited to meet new members and nénis! (Wish me luck with the nénis.. hopefully my "milk teeth" and "golden wheat field hair" will do the trick hah.) If theres one thing I am trying to learn how to do-- it is saying goodbye. Theres are just so many opportunities to practice itd be a shame not to master that skill. Im so grateful for the time I have had to be here, to meet these dedicated members, and serve with Elder Haroldsen Ive learned so much from him and at least trippled my Magyar vocab. 

I love Alma 17:10. They had such pure, simple faith in Jesus Christ our Savior. Throughout the begenning of the chapter they doubt and fear what is to come but right after the Lord comforts them and they humble themselves you dont hear them complain again. This is something I struggle with so much-- I forget so easily the blessings I have been given. Always keep Jesus Christ in your mind and thoughts. Seek for that comfort the Sons of Mosiah sought after and you will find it. Focus on that and never take the opportunity we have to feel it for granted. Im grateful for Jesus Christ, for his love, and his understanding. 

Szeretlek,
Hughes Elder


P.S Tracting is so much easier now because cherry trees are full and everywhere so we never get hungry!

P.P.S We got to go to one of our members wedding it was the best but when we were about to go into the ceremony a little old gypsy man came over to me and pointed at my name tag then followed us into the wedding and took pictures on his phone of it the ENTIRE hour in various distracting positions hahah. When the real photographer asked who he was here for (to try to get him to leave) he said "For both of them of course." Adventures.

The Baloghék-- best family in Hungary I love them so much.

Us with our ward pianist who tried to drown us in Paprikás Chirke.

Goodbye Ice cream with Bogi.

It's that time of year again

The sun has come out and is quickly burning up the earth here in Hungary. Which means two things 1. that my clothes are constantly wet and 2. that the nénis and bácsis are wearing significantly less clothes (bikinis and speedos) A L L the time. It always throws me off when they come out in their underwear/swimsuits and I forget all the Hungarian I knew which then again wasnt that much but still-- the secret Ive found is just really locking in on their eyes! haha. God Bless America.

This week we were able to visit Zsuzsa the lady that we tracted into around a month ago. She is around 45, is divorced, has a 17 year old son, and one of her legs doesn't really work or at least it is in a lot of pain constantly (She explained what was wrong in Hungarian so I know now as much as I knew before she explained it to me) She has always been a little closed off and Friday night when we went over to visit her we were both a little nervous. One of our investigators that was progressing very well had just told us she didn't need God in her life right now and that it was just going perfect and we were scared that might happen with Zsuzsa despite her many trials. But right as we walked in the door I felt at peace knowing that this is where we were supposed to be.

We challenged her to pray last week to know if the Book of Mormon was true and if our message was true and she asked us how we get answers to our prayers because she felt she could not recognize the answer God was giving her. As we bore our testimonies of the Holy Ghost and the power of prayer she closed her eyes and sat rather still for a little. Then with tears in her eyes she told us how that day when we came to her door she had been praying. Praying for help. And that every time we come over she feels the peace that we talk about. She told us how she wants a relationship with God and was certain that God sent us to her to help her. In her sweet humble closing prayer she REPENTED for not doing all she could to receive answers to her prayers and told God that she knows he is trying to answer her prayer. She prayed with a sincere heart and the most humility I have ever witnessed-- for God to forgive her and help her recognize the spirit.

I cant attiquitely describe this moment to you but It was one of the most sacred experiences I have witnessed. Here a 45 year old women whose husband had left her, has a son not making good decisions and addicted to smoking, and has a disability where everytime she walks it hurts and still has to do all on her own-- kneeled down to her Maker with us and begged Him for forgiveness. She is so prepared and I felt Gods love for her so strongly in that moment. I am so grateful for Zsuzsas inspiring example of Humility. 

Her example reminded me of this scripture in Alma 37:33 Preach unto them repentance, and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ; teach them to humble themselves and to be meek and lowly in heart; teach them to withstand every temptation of the devil, with their faith on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Im so grateful we can humble ourselves, repent, and withstand EVERY temptation through the power of the Atonement. I know this is true. 

Sok szeretettel,

Hughes Elder

Pictures from Elder Haroldsens dr appointment in Budapest will be included as well as me in old Hungarian clothes which a crazy néni who was trying to sell them to us told me I was wearing the womens vest. I was too scared of her to try on them mens too so we just left. So enjoy the picture of me in traditional Hungarian womens? clothing.

Hungarian hospitals

This ones gonna be long. My thoughts are all over the place so bear with me cause itd take too much time to organize them. Last tuesday we had a lesson with Balázs a University student studying here in Debrecen. We met him tableing last week and he brought his friend to meet with us. After we said a prayer we asked if they had any questions (Most people say yes but I forgot them) but these guys were the real dea and pulled out a phone that had a long list of questions including:

Why we have big families.

Why we obey the word of wisdom? Even when some things have been proven healthy.

The churchs stand on: Gays

                                  Divorce

                                  Evolution

I was terrified when they started. After a few moments of staring at my companion in shock neither of us knowing our "evolution" vocabulary well enough they told us they spoke english as well MIRACLE. After our lesson which somehow we managed to teach the Restoration. I was astounded at all the answers we were able to give. And the emphasis the Gospel has on the family. We do so many things to protect the family. They took our answers so well and agreed with many of them. The Gospel cannot answer all questions but when it cant we must simply exercise faith and knowledge will come. Not in our time but in Gods. Knowledge will come. Anyways it was just nice to talk to intelligent young people after listening to a lot of 96 year old nénis tell you how wicked the world is everyday. 

Other neat things that happened this week include:

A giant Sport Day for the West District. President Szabadkai agreed to let missionaries from other cities in our zone come if they brought an investigator. It was such a blast to meet all the investigators and see the members interact with them and create relationships without us in the middle. We had a race (I got fourth) (I should probably include most of the kids I raced with were under 10 but nonetheless I had no mercy.) We played tons of soccer, gospel jeopardy prepared by the best senior couple who wrote questions and put them in google translate into Hungarian which made it especially interesting hah! Then finished it off kareokeing, I cannot speak Hungarian very well but I must say Im a profi Kareokier or whatever you call them.

-Bogis mom came to chuch with Bogi yesterday! And she told us that we can meet with Bogi still so were super happy. Still no on baptism but her heart will continue to be opened im sure!

-Elder Haroldsen pinched a nerve (we think) and was out of commision for a day and a half. We called Sister Szabadkai and she told us to go to a general doctor to see what was up. So we set off to find the sketchiest of hospitals. The highlight of our adventure was at the second hospital we visited (the first told us they didnt know and couldnt help us) you first have to understand customer service which is just not good. We walked in to find an info desk with a man chewing gum loud and watching music videos on the computer. He looked up at us and we asked him wed like to meet with a general doctor. He just pointed to his left and said "Elevator on your right 2nd floor." So with hope in our hearts we got in and waited only for the doors to open on the second floor to a huge white room full of groaning nénis probably all in their 90s on their death beds! hah so since we couldnt see any doctors and we didnt want to catch whatever disease was killing this horde of seniors I told Haroldsen to stay in the elevator and began pressing  the close door button in the elevator as fast as I could. The hospital search continued.

Yesterday we were tracting and met the kindest, happiest man Ive met here. He was 92 years old and within 2 minutes of meeting us he told us all about his life in communist Hungary, how smart his granddaughters are, and how much he loves walking in parks when its good or bad weather. He accepted a Book of Mormon in the same hand as he was holding his dentures HAH and told us he was excited to read it then have his granddaughter read it. It reminded me how we can choose to respond. We have been given the opportunity while we are here on earth to act and not to be acted upon.

 23 Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves—to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life.

I love you and hope you have a super week.

Sok szeretettel,

Hughes Elder

eating islers (2 sugar cookies with jam in the middle dipped in chocolate)(heaven)

after most everyone left the sportday only the hardcore kareokers left

Grateful for our knowledge.

"He who cannot forgive others burns the bridge over which he himself must cross."

Thats just a random quote I love from the Christian cookbook you sent me mom hah! RIght under each recipe theres a quote or scripture from the bible hah. This one was right under the recipe for ''Deep Dish Taco Squares' I dont think Ill ever get around to making that in this life but its a tiny bit tempting now with the lack of Mexican food in Hungary!

This week was a study in contrasts. Ill try to make sense and share a little of what Ive been feeling. I think I have talked about Bogi a little but anyways she is an investigator we found in the area book that was taught by the sisters a year ago. We looked her up and started meeting with her. She is 17, reads Hungarian poetry, is in a Latin corus, and uses HUGE unrecognizable words. Weve had some good lessons with her where the Spirit has definetely been there comfirming the doctrine right there in the room. We have focused on the Book of Mormon a lot and challenged her to read out of it everyday. Shes been reading at least two chapters out of it everyday. She even texted us one day when she read Enos that she loved it so much she had read it 3 times already and loves the thought in the last verse of finding rest in the Savior.

She is very prepared and accepted our invitation to be baptized on June 11 after she recieved an awnswer about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. She did have to ask her parents if she could be baptized though and so we have been praying SO much this week. Friday night we got a phone call from Bogi telling us about her conversation with her parents. She was so sad they told her she needs to wait a year to be baptised (they want to make sure she really wants to do this) and that she cant meet with us until school gets out at the end of June. It was probably one of the saddest phone calls I have had but it was so neat to hear her tell us how she was praying in her heart the whole time. Pleading with the Lord for patience and peace during their conversation. Its so good to see that she know has a personal relationship she is working on developing with God. She is continuing to read from the Book of Mormon and pray and we are excited to meet with her at the end of June. 

It was interesting to see how happy we were not when she accepted baptism but when she told us she believed and wanted to know the Book of Mormon was true, as well as when she told us how hard she had been praying and that she knows that it will all work out in the end. Her testimony and faith inspire me. Im so grateful for the hope that repentence gives us. Repentence is what we are sharing as missionaries and baptism is just a small step in the process of repentence. Im so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who sent his only Begotten Son to earth to experience suffereing beyond any comprehension. I cannot imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch his Son go through that and all because he loves us, his other children.

Im so grateful for the knowledge we have. Dont take it for granted. Share it and choose to be happy because of it. 

2 Nephi: 15 But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

-- 

Love,

Elder Hughes

A month ago we told our investigator that we couldnt find a good Kakáos Csiga in Debrecen and this week her friend and her made some Kakáos Csigas and then went to 10 different bakeries and brought us one from each so we could know where to get the best one! Theyre the best! SIdenote: It was also the hardest day to get up at 6:30 the next morning.

Tupperware and the wicked world

It was super talking to you yesterday. I dont have lots of time so Ill throw out some highlights:

-We got to visit a member with an autistic daughter who had a birthday! It was so fun to talk with them, sing happy birthday (at least 14 times), and eat brownies (they requested them the first week I got here hah). The best part was the spirit in their home. I could feel the love of God. I was reassured in that hour that God loves each of his children uncomprehensably and knows them personally. Im so grateful to be able to work with the members here. Their testimonies inspire me and their selfless diligence motivates me.

-Later that night we had a Sajt night.I was unfamiliar with this body destroying activity when I agreed to it. It consists of cutting large pieces of mozzella cheese dipping it in water then flour then egg then breadcrumbs then repeat with the egg and breadcrumbs then FRY. It is a recipe for disaster. My body still hurts-- but it is rediculously delicious. Not worth it.

-We visited Rozsika Néni (an eternal investigator that we have been told to visit once a month and tell her we love her sort of idea...) We brought the childrens book 'You are Special' to our visit and planned on reading it with her. Well she is the perfect stereotypical néni! She saw me and came over a few inches from my tag to read my name. She started "Hug---hesh" Then I made the mistake of saying actually its pronounced Hues. Hah she went off for a solid 25 minutes telling me how stupid english is and how wicked the world is (classic néni talk). She told us that she lets us come over because were not wicked but every other person is wicked in this world hah. Then we had a prayer and asked if we could read the book with her and she immediately responded "My dears my dears I cannot stand to hear you try to read in Hungarian I will read it to you that way we dont have to bear listening to all those mistakes you will make!" #selfesteemboost Hah then after EVERY single page for 5 pages she would ask us if it was ever gonna make sense hah! And EVERY time we told her yes yes wait till the end and finally after taking five minute breaks between each page where she somehow got off track to tell us how wicked the world is-- she just gave up and read the last two pages and said "Oh youre right my children it does make sense in the end." And proceded to finish the book finally! Hah at this point we were trying to leave since we didnt want to be late so we asked if she would pray and she offered a great prayer and after she finished as we tried to slip out she said "Not so quck my dears I made you some food!" I had a little stroke when I heard that... probably because my heart was working so hard trying to digest the fried cheese from two days before. But she ended up giving us 12 tupperwears full of fruit soup, potatoes, chicken, old pasta, nuts and anything else she could find in her fridge. Hah so much for our grocerys we had bought. Were still working on eating through it all. 

With all our actual investigators we really focused on reading the Book of Mormon. All we really do as missionaries is ask people to read and find out if this message is true for themselves. Our call is not to Bible bash and convince like the Jehovas but rather to show people how to find out for themselves and show them the happiness they will feel if they do. I hope and pray you will all take advantage of the Book of Mormon and the knowledge that you have that no matter what is happening in your life you can always find peace and feel Gods love as you read from it. I know it is true. It is the reason Im in Hungary and Im so grateful for it. It has helped me in the hardest of times and made my life so much more enjoyable in the easiest of times.

I love you all

Hughes Elder

"You can have what you want or you can have something better."

Szuper week

This week was super! My companion and I have been struggling a little bit tracting here. We have been doing it because President Szabadkai asks us to tract for an hour every day but usually complain when we do it and dont look forward to it at all. But last monday we went to a random building in the main square (usually cool buildings but meaner people in general) after no success in one building we started in the other. 4 doors in we knocked on Zsuzsas door. She is about 45 years old and has a problem with one leg so she has to limp a lot. She believes in God and he has played a big role in her life but she wants to develop a personal relationship with him. She was so kind and genuine as we shared the restoraton with her and answered some of her questions. Im so excited to go back tonight and talk with her and her son. Talking with people about Jesus Christ always strengthens my testimony whether they cuss us out or hear us out then slam their door or on miracle occasions let us in!

Another mirlacle we saw this week was while we were on splits with the zone leaders in Miskolc (A place that used to be really pretty before communism dropped a ton of ten stories all over the place.) Elder Haroldsen got a call from one of our new investigators Bogi telling us that her friend really wants to learn about the Gospel!!! MIRACLE! We met with her on friday and she explained to us that her family is very religious (Catholic) but recently she hasnt been able to go to church because she is having a hard time believing in God cause she cant see him. There is nothing more than she wants to know if he exists so she can go to church but she cant bring herself to do it just for her mom. I really appreciate that-- she is searching for a testimony and as she continues to search for it she will find one for herself and wont have to lean on her moms. We taught her the restoration and talked about the Book of Mormon, about how everthing we just said sounds bizarre and hard to believe and that we are not here to convince her but that if she will read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it is true with sincerety and true intent she will know God exists and not only that but that he loves her. I am here because I have felt the love of God. The most powerful feeling there is and I want everyone to feel that-- reading the Book of Mormon and praying/striving to develop a personal relationship with God and Jesus Christ will create the appropriate environment to fell his love. I love this Gospel. I love how personal it is and I love that we have something to offer to each one of Gods children! Share It!

Other highlights of this week:

After getting let into a building we climbed 6 stairs cases to the top to meet a néni looking out the little peep hole. Before we said anything (because we had no oxygen in our lungs after the stairs) She yelled "Who the **** are you! You better leave fast fast Im calling the police." Although we could have argued with her or waited for the Police (since we havent done anything illegal) we decided to just leave. Hah three steps later she yelled "faster! Im calling the Police Faster!" Hahah Im gonna miss when I dont have these experiences every day...

Coming back from Splits in Miskolc we got on the train and the train started to move in the wrong direction. I stared at my comp with panic in my eyes and asked the lady next to me where this train was going. She said it was going to Pest... and then saw my ticket and started laughing hysterically. Luckily it stopped in a tiny town half way through and five hours later we were home. Fail.

My companion loves eating the tops of strawberrys which is weird right?? But it works great for me because I can cut off the top and eat the good part then he eats the leaves... he argues that they are healthy or something. 

I love you all. Sorry my letters everywhere. Have a amazing week. Be missionaries.

Sok Szeretettel,

Hughes Elder

Cant wait to talk next week!