FARSONG- YSA ACTIVITIES

Friday and Saturday we hosted the country wide Farsong activity.  Three times a year all the YSA's from across Hungary come to Budapest to enjoy dancing, hiking, fun, food and spiritual enlightenment.  These types of activities are very important to the building up of the YSA program in this part of the world.  Many travel long distances to attend these country activities. The missionaries also use these activities to introduce our new friends (investigators) to the many single adults and show them that we do know how to have fun.  The YSA in Buda had the center well decorated and arranged for a DJ to play for the Friday night dance.  Sister Peterson and Sister Bagozzi  had made lots of trays of food and desserts.  Part of the festivities included group games and even a Farsong mask piñata.  After the dance, those that have traveled far stayed with ward members for the night.

Cute kitchen help!

Our friends Andras and Katie with the missionaries

Farsong piñata

Flora, my new friend!

Elder Gaytan one of the AP's.  So sad, he leaves to go home this week!

Center guy is Augustone who is submitting his mission papers and hopes to be called to Utah.

Saturday morning our activities continued.  We met at the Church to have breakfast sandwiches and fruit.  Some even made sack lunches to take to be eaten later on our 5 mile hike.  We walked along the streets of Budapest to the foot of the Buda hills.  There are some famous rock outcroppings located high on one of the hills.  This area provides a great opportunity to look out over the city below.  This is a famous lookout called "Tunder Sziklov" (Ferry Rock).  We enjoyed the hike with the group and made it to the top of the hill with them.  Spring is coming to Hungary now and we saw many flowers and buds popping out.  Still jacket weather however.  We love these young single adults and love to serve with them in this beautiful part of the world.

Roland and Adri leading the pack.

Don't you love my bright missionary shoes?

See the tram in the background?  Next time!

We made it to the top

Beautiful view of the city

SOPRON

This last Saturday we had an opportunity to visit the city of Sopron. It is one of the largest cities in Hungary, next to Budapest. It is located up in the Northwest corner next to Austria. We had the opportunity to participate in a Relief Society birthday celebration with the small Branch there. Elder and Sister Jensen ( Senior Missionaries ) serve here! They helped the members reenact the very first Relief Society meeting held. It was all in Hungarian but we were given a script in English so we would know what was being said. Enjoyed a nice Hungarian lunch afterwards.

Sopron Branch members with Elder Oakes , Elder Mortensen and Sister Peterson

Later we drove out to the Austrian border where the famous country picnic crossing occurred on August 19, 1989. The Hungarians were trapped behind what is called the 'Iron Curtain '. The border was surrounded by barbed wire and electric fences, security gates and armed guards. At this location on August 19th the borders were opened for one day so that families from Austria and Germany could meet with their families from Hungary. The Hungarians were so anxious for freedom that thousands of Hungarians streamed over the borders to Austria, putting their lives in peril. The Russian guards had been given orders to shoot to kill but on this day they laid down their weapons and let the people go. This was the beginning of the "freedom movement " that brought about the fall of the Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall. We were really touched by the pictures and stories of these brave people who gave up everything for freedom.

Steve behind the Iron Curtain

 Monument depicting Hungarian freedom

Freedom at last, August 19, 1989

Castle tower in downtown Sopron

Beautiful city of Sopron

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DISTRICT CONFERENCE IN MISKOLC

We traveled out to Miskolc last weekend to attend their district conference.  We went with the Bagozzi's on Saturday so we could visit with the Bailey's, the senior couple assigned to that area.  We had a wonderful time seeing some of the sites around the city and then touring a 13 century castle, Diósgyőr-Lillafüred. The castle felt to us just like we were in a scene out of "Princess Bride".  We find that every where we go in Hungary it is rich in architecture and culture.

Art work outside of the Opera House made of bottle caps.

Here you will see Valorie with both the Bailey's and the Bagazzi's standing by a huge mural made with different colored bottle caps .  Opera and plays are a big part of Hungary so most every city has an arts center.  Big productions like Mama Mia and Wicked are very popular here.

Elder Bailey and Sister Peterson waiting at the train station in Miskolc

Diósgyőr Castle in Miskolc

Castle is full of period artifacts

Castle tower before it is restored.

View of the city from the guard tower.

Independence Day in Miskolc, March 15

Our church building in Miskolc

Decorative gates cover the roads to the alleyways. 

On Sunday we enjoyed a wonderful "district conference".  Elder Patrick Boutoille (an Area Seventy) presided at the conference.  Elder Boutoille is from France and was here despite the fact that he works at his "regular job" Monday through Friday- then spends most weekends traveling to countries like Hungary, to help lift and encourage the Saints.  How blessed we are to have such wonderful leaders that are so willing to help the work of the Lord move forward.

ZONE CONFERENCE

We enjoyed two wonderful days of zone conference with about 120 dedicated missionaries. We were blessed to have Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy as our visiting area authority. Elder Kearon started the meeting by personally shaking every missionary's hand and complimenting them in some way. He expressed to us how grateful he was for our service and that we had heeded the words of our prophet.
A great spirit was felt there through wonderful counsel and instruction from our leaders.
Elder Kearon reminded us all that when we were set apart we were given power and privileges to act as representatives of Jesus Christ. We talked about attributes of a successful missionary, and how we acquire them. A thought from Elder Kearon that was so powerful is, " In so many ways it is about you becoming the message." We were reminded of the message from the First Presidency in Preach My Gospel. "We challenge you to rise to a new level of commitment to assist our Father in Heaven in His glorious work." ( Preach My Gospel, pg. v)
It was a tender time for Elder Kearon as he had just gotten word that morning that his mother in law had passed away. We felt so blessed that under such hard circumstances he chose to spend the time with us.


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TRIP TO THE COUNTRY

This week we were able to go out of Budapest to meet with an investigator.  She lives in Mány, about a 45 minute trip by bus.  We went with 2 young missionaries out to meet her at her home.  This sister was a referral from a member friend who lives in another part of Hungary.  Last week she came into Budapest to meet with us and the elders.  She has been struggling for quite some time and has been looking for some answers.  As we got off the bus we had no idea where to go.  The elders called her to get directions to her home. She said she would meet us along the road.  We walked up one muddy road then another, still no sign of her. We called again and got more instructions.  After walking another 1/2 hour we were finally able to meet where she was waiting for us.  After that it was still another 1/2 hour walking  to her house.  She was so excited to think that we had come all this way to see her.  We felt bad that we could only spend a few minutes with her because we were out of time.  We had to go back and catch the bus to Budapest before dark.

The elders talked to her as we were walking and found out that she had been reading the Book of Mormon and she felt that it was true.  She showed the book to her cousin and had her read a passage in it.  After reading, her cousin looked up at her, with tears in her eyes and said, "This book is true."
They are such humble people and live in such humble circumstances but they are so grateful for what they do have. We loved seeing her again and hope she will recognize that the restored gospel can bless her life.

At the bus stop in Mány

Are we on the right road?

LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

 We are slowly learning bits and pieces of the Hungarian language, otherwise know as Magyarul. This is a language related to only one other language in Europe and that is Finish.  We know we won't be proficient in the language but we are trying to learn as much as we can.  We spend at least 30 minutes each morning reviewing and practicing words. We are also reading the Hungarian Book of Mormon (A Mormon Konyve) every night. Even though we can't understand much of what we are reading, it is helping us learn a few words and helps greatly with our pronunciation.
We have now learned to greet people as we see them either at church or in the stores. We can ask them how they are doing and even ask for a few things at the Pegseg (bakery) or the grocery store.  It is very frustrating to try to find something that you need and not be able to find someone to help you. So if we need to get something at the grocery store that haven't purchased before we google the item before we go to the store.  Then if we cannot locate it we can say "elnezest"(excuse me) to a clerk and then point to our word. That seems to help most times.

The weeks are getting busier as there are many more programs that the missionaries are asking us to assist with. Many of the investigators have been referred by their friends who have shared their testimonies with them.  They can see how the gospel has blessed their lives and they want to know more.  Of course we are happy to share our testimonies with them and to let them know what great truths we can add to what they already have in their life. There are eight elders and two sisters in our district that we serve with.  They are all so wonderful.  We love teaching with them.  Most Saturdays there are baptisms and we love attending them and feeling the spirit that is there.  This is a great work and we love serving in this capacity.
We can't say enough about this work and the importance of sharing the gospel.  We love it here and highly recommend this to any of you out there that would like to feel joy like you  have never felt before.  Come and serve with your companion, (there are many places and ways you can serve) and you will never regret that decision.  The Lord will bless you in ways you never thought possible.

Arches to Castle Hill

Our walk over Chain Bridge