YSA AT JÁNOS-HEGY

János-hegy is the highest point in Budapest.  A popular destination for hikers, runners, bikers and families.  On the top of Janos hill stands the Erzébet Lookout Tower, built in 1910, where you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of the city.  On a clear day you can see as far away as 50 miles.
We started out in the light but by the time we arrived to the lookout tower it was dark and the city was aglow for miles.  There was even a beautiful crescent moon in the view.  After enjoying the view for a bit we hiked back down to the grassy park area known as Normafa.  We had brought supplies to make s-mores.  Everyone rounded up logs and kindling from the surrounding forest area.  After much effort we managed to built a beautiful bonfire.  The elders brought many investigators to the program.  We enjoyed getting acquainted with them and hope that we can see them again soon. We enjoyed a wonderful spiritual message from one of our elders. Before we knew the time had passed so quickly and it was time to caught the bus back home.  A great time was had by all.

A 15 minute bus ride to the trailhead.

A very nicely groomed trail.

YSA, friends and missionaries enjoying the hike together.

Adri, Sister Peterson and Panni, with the Lookout Tower in the background.

Elder Tuttle and three of his "friends" enjoying the view from the top.

Elder Tuttle, Elder Simmons, Elder Gonzalez, and Elder Heilein enjoy the activity with "friends"

Beautiful Bonfire!

For some this was there first Smores experience! Not exactly the same ingredients, but good nonetheless!

Elder Peterson loving the experience!

DISCOVERING EGER

We were asked by the branch president of Eger to come give talks in their sacrament meeting this past Sunday.  We went there on Saturday morning to see some sites in Eger.  What a wonderful place to visit.  It is about a two hour drive east of Budapest.  Eger has a small branch but the members are strong in the gospel.  We were welcomed and felt right at home.  We hope we will be able to come back and visit them again in the near future.

Members and missionaries in front of the Eger Branch house.

Eger is a famous town in Hungary because of the great battle the Hungarians had over the Turks.  It is famously known as the "Siege of 1552". The old fortress still stands where this battle took place.  The Hungarian Army of about 2000,  including women, withstood an army of 60,000 Turks for 39 days.  The Turks had lost so many men that they gave up and went back to their country, not to return again for another 50 years.

Eger, with Cannon Hill and the famous castle in the background.

View from the castle overlooking the town square.

Another view atop the castle

A statue depicting the battle between the Hungarians and the Turks during the famous"siege of 1552"

Where every we go we get referrals of where to eat.  This Palacsinta place was highly recommended and it did not disappoint. Not only was it delicious but the presentation was amazing.

Curry cream Palacsinta

Coconut cream Palacsinta

Beautiful tree, in the Eger park, not quite big enough for us to wrap around.

Elder and Sister Bailey, our wonderful friends and hosts this past weekend. They serve as the Area Auditors and Elder Bailey is the Branch President in Eger.  They complete their mission in December.  This is their second mission to Hungary. This shows you how much the senior missionaries love this country.

There is so much to love about this country of Hungary.  The more we see and the more we meet with the people the more we appreciate their culture and traditions.

We are so grateful for our many blessings.  This gospel, if lived, brings the richest blessings into our lives. Life is difficult but we are assured that blessings do await to those who are faithful.

The scriptures testify of these things.  

"And ye cannot bear all things now; nevertheless, be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.  The kingdom is yours and the blessings thereof are yours, and the riches of eternity are yours." (D&C 78:18)

HUNGARIAN CULTURE CONTINUES

Another busy and amazing week in the mission. This week the students Are back in school and Fall Institute started. We had a few more YSA attend that hadn't attended in the past and we were excited  for that. Also this week Paul Cardell came to our Stake center and presented a Fireside/ Concert, it was great. There were many investigators there and they were not disappointed.
We had an opportunity to attend a concert in the famous Matthias Church this past week.  This historic church is over 700 years old.  The church was the scene of several coronations, including that of Charles IV in 1916, the last Habsburg king.  It was also the venue for the great Hungarian King Matthias' two weddings, in the 15th century.
Today the church is one of the most visited sites in Budapest, sitting atop Castle Hill

The beautiful Matthias Church on a clear night. 

Inside of Matthias church

The Burial chamber of Franz Joseph and his wife Elizabeth. The King and Queen of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Enjoying the concert with an orchestra and choir seated in the organ loft above our heads. Klara and Elder and Sister Simkins attended as well.

This has been our ongoing construction since we have arrived in January.  We walk past this daily doing errands.

A higher and more panoramic view of the construction site.  The former Moscow square is being renamed and rebuilt to add beauty to this area.  Completion is expected in Spring of 2016

This monument is a tribute to those who lost their lives in the Revolution of 1956.  We are reading the book, "The Bridge at Andau"  right now so we can better understand the things they went through and had to overcome.

We leave you with a quote from the book," The Bridge at Andau" by James A. Michener
"But by an accident of history it became, for a few flaming weeks, one of the most important bridges in the world, for across its unsteady planks fled the soul of a nation.  Across the bridge at Andau fled more than 20,000 people who had known communism and who had rejected it.  They had seen this new way of life at close hand, and they had learned in sorrow that it was merely ancient terrorism in horrible new dress, for it not only robbed and cheated a man of the material things to which he was entitled; it deprived his mind of every challenge, every breathe of new life and all hope.  It was at Andau that the refugees from Russian terror finally told their story.  It was here that the world learned, in unmistakeable accents and dreadful clarity, how bankrupt communism had become as a system of government."

SUMMER YSA ACTIVITY

This past week we enjoyed a 3 day "End of Summer " event with our YSA.  This was a country wide activity that included YSA from our stake and the two districts in our mission.  The YSA planned and conducted all the activities. Our responsibility was to provide the meals for those days.  It was a marathon week as we shopped for and prepared 7 meals for 35 YSA. By Sunday evening we were pretty exhausted having endured many late nights.
We had a variety of activities including firesides, dances, karaoke, outdoor activities, games, and plenty of just hanging out and enjoying each others company. On Sunday we attended church together in the Pest Ward.  It was a wonderful experience sharing this time with our YSA.  We love hearing their conversion experiences and how they deal with life's challenges.  We are so proud of them and all the good things they are doing in their lives to stay close to and follow our Savior Jesus Christ.

Sunday meetings with some of our YSA

Elder and Sister Oldham arrived on Saturday morning to help us.  They are serving the YSA in  the Szombathely District.  They live in Sopron (Western Hungary).

Food is always an important part  of every gathering!

Enjoying each others company

YSA from all around Hungary attended.

Celebrating one of the YSA's birthday with a yummy cake

Our YSA were able to be their own DJs for the 2 dances.

Everyone had a great time.

Karaoke singing was hilarious.

We held our own YSA Sunday School class at the Pest stake center.

Zita was our translator for Sunday School.

We are so proud of our YSA group.  They are preparing to be the future leaders of this beautiful country.  We pray the Lord will help us as we serve these young men and woman.  We know that many wonderful blessings await them as they choose to follow their Savior Jesus Christ.