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."