SENIOR CONFERENCE--FAREWELL TO TWO MORE SENIOR COUPLES

We had our quarterly "Senior Conference" this past week. It is always such a wonderful experience when all the couples serving in Hungary come to the Mission home in Budapest.  We enjoy hearing about all of the missionary experiences they are having in their particular city where they serve. This time Elder and Sister Jensen and Elder and Sister Bailey shared their tearful 'good-by' testimonies.  They have been amazing missionaries here and great friends to us. It has been such a blessing to us to have been able to serve with them.  They both leave on December 15th.

This week our conference focused on the welfare needs of the members in Hungary. Brother Matthew Mathias came from France to train us on how we can implement the program, "My Path to Self-Reliance. This program it not new to the members of the church, but it has just recently been released in the Hungarian language so the leadership here can now be trained.

Afterwards we all attended the dance production of the "The Lord of the Dance".  Many of you will recognize this as the "River Dancers" that is popular in the states.  It is an Irish musical and dance production. It was so amazing, we couldn't stop tapping our feet all night.

Elder and Sister Simpkins, Elder and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Jensen, President and Sister Szabadkai, Elder and Sister Bailey, Elder and Sister Lund, and Elder and Sister Oldham

Enjoying being together!

Always a lot of laughs when we are together!

 The next day October 23 was a huge national holiday here in Hungary. It commemorates the 59th anniversary of the Revolution of 1956, when Hungarians rose up against the Soviet ruled communist system.  It also commemorates the "Day of the Republic', as in 1989, after the fall of communism, Hungary was declared a republic on October the 23rd.

Enjoying the festivities at the Parliament

With Elder and Sister Lund, overlooking the Danube with Castle Hill backdrop

They always decorate with beautiful wreaths everywhere for the national holidays.

Elder Peterson standing with the statue of Imre Nagy, Hungarian leader at the time of the 1956 revolution.

CELEBRATING OUR 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IN HUNGARY

Saturday Oct. 10th, we were able to take a day trip to the northern border of Hungary where the beautiful city of  Esztergom lies next to the Danube.  The Basilica of Esztergom is the third largest church in Europe. Surounded by castle walls this is a mighty fortress for the protection of the city.  We have learned much about the people and history of Hungary by visiting the beautiful sights around us.  This is a very special day in our life, our 40th wedding anniversary, what a way to celebrate.

Enjoying the beautiful grounds of the Basilica with our friends, Elder and Sister Simkins

Looking over the Danube into Slovakia from the Basilica wall.

Beautiful church below from the Basilica wall.

Monument on the castle wall depicting the crowning of St. Istvan, 1000 AD

Elder and Sister Simkins and Elder and Sister Peterson on the bridge, half way across entering Slovakia.  (We stayed on the Hungarian side)

Through the mountain roads on the way to Esztergom.  So very beautiful and lush!

We are learning to ponderize our scriptures.  This week we share our scripture in Mosiah 5:7
"And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters, for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for you say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and daughters."

JAM PARTY IN ERD

About a month ago our mission president gave us an assignment to attend the Erd branch each week and give the missionaries and members support.  This branch is located about a twenty minute train ride just south of Budapest. We have been warmly welcomed into the branch and have enjoyed getting to know the members and working closely with the missionaries.  On Friday we were invited as guests of honor to attend the "Jam Party".  This is an event held every year to share the 'homemade jams" of the season with others.  This is their  'thanksgiving' tradition to show the blessings of the harvest since they do not have a Thanksgiving holiday like we have in America.
After the jams and pastries were enjoyed the branch president announced that there was something else we were celebrating.  He then congratulated us on 40 years of marriage and they presented us with two gifts.  They had made an autumn picture that included a picture of the branch members and then gave us a beautiful Hungarian picture book, signed by the members.  We were totally surprised and grateful for their kindness. We will never forget this anniversary that we spent in Hungary.

What a wonderful surprise from the branch members, celebrating our 40th anniversary!

Yummy jams and pastries to celebrate the harvest season.

Some of our branch members enjoying the treats.

Elder Peterson with our Erd missionaries, Elder Tuttle in the front and Elder Santander, Sister Hafen and Sister Cribbs in the background.

Elder Santander showing us his tricks.

Sister Hafen and Sister Cribbs, beautiful smiles!

We enjoyed a wonderful General Conference with the members in Erd.  We feel so blessed to have heard wonderful words of counsel from our apostles and prophets.  We were excited to learn of the three new apostles that the Lord has chosen, Elder Rasband, Elder Stevenson, and Elder Renland.  We look forward to hearing from them more. 
Our dear prophet, Thomas S Monson gave us this wonderful council on Sunday morning of the conference.  
"Throughout our lives we will need to nurture strong testimonies by studying the scriptures and by praying and by pondering the truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  When firmly planted, our testimonies of the gospel, of the Savior, of our Heavenly father will influence all that we do."

OUR NINETH MONTH IN BUDAPEST

The Young Single Adult program is well coordinated throughout the world.  Elder and Sister Anderson serve as the the directors over all the YSA programs in Eastern Europe.  We are grateful for all of the support and direction they give us to help our program to grow.  They came to Budapest for the first time to visit with us and see how the program runs in Budapest.  Elder and Sister Anderson were able to meet with our YSA leaders and were able to attend our Institute program.

That morning we had a little time before the activity so we took them on a tour of Budapest.  This was their first time visiting Hungary.  The weather was perfect for walking through the city.  Later this week they will be visiting more YSA leaders as they make their way through several European countries.

Elder & Sister Anderson, Elder & Sister Peterson in front of freedom bridge in Budapest crossing the Danube river.

Elder Heilein and Elder Tuttle's, our AP's,  farewell lunch with Klara. They are going to be greatly missed. Transfers are hard.

Buda district before our transfers. Elder and Sister Peterson with Elder Gonzalez, Elder Simmons, Elder Mellor, Elder Heinlein, Elder Tuttle, Sister VanDenBerghe, Elder Dietrich, Sister Dohn, and Elder and Sister Simkins.

Enjoying district meetings together every Thursday.

Our new missionaries arriving in Budapest, October 6th, from the Provo MTC

Farewell to these seven wonderful missionaries who have served faithfully.  Sister Sellers, Williamson, Cropper, Schnoor, Simons, Martineau and Sister Whitiker.  We will miss you!

VIEW OF VESZPRÉM

Veszprém is one of the most beautiful cities in the Lake Balaton region.  The walled castle district, atop a plateau is one of the oldest castles in Hungary.  It is a living museum of baroque art and architecture.  The towns people say "Either the wind is blowing or the bells are ringing in Veszprem."

Every nine weeks, before the transfers, the senior couples have an opportunity to inspect the missionary apartments.  We we asked to visit the city of Veszprém where there is a set of elders and a set of sister missionaries. It was a perfect fall day as we made our way to Veszprém.  We were impressed with the beauty of this city.  It was about an hour and half car ride from Budapest. We wished we could have had more time to check out the beautiful sights here but our schedule was tight.

Sister Simons and Sister Smith in their Dr. Seuss apartment, crooked walls and all.

Elder King and Elder Heaps with the newest  apartment in the mission.

Road marker pointing the way to the Castle

The view of the Castle in Veszprem, from below the hill.

The beautiful windy streets below the castle.