SERVING ERD

Elder and Sister Peterson in front of the office building where the Erd Church is located.

 Erd is a suburb of Budapest without the hustle and bustle of the city.  It is about 30 minutes by car if the traffic is good or a 16 minute train ride. The branch house is located down town on the 2nd floor of an office building. We see about 30 people out to church each week.  On Thursday we usually go over to the branch house to help with english classes in the evening.

With the Erd missionaries waiting for the train after teaching a program.

Klara and sister Peterson about to board the train for Erd

I was asked by the Erd Relief Society to write some articles for their magazine.   We are writing on such things as our favorite scripture, and why it is,  how did we feel when we got our call to Hungary,  or what is our favorite place to visit so far.  This last week I reported on what new eating place we have found lately.  We went over to Pest, on the east side of the Danube river and found the Belgian Waffle House.   It was a real treat that I highly recommend. It is located at 51 Vaci utca,  one of the most famous walking streets in Budapest.

 We have been going with the  missionaries to visit Loci and his mother Margit to teach the discussions.  We love visiting with them in their home.  It is a Hungarian tradition to offer food when company comes over.  One night Lacy brought out a 90 cm Pizza for us and the missionaries.  I have never seen a pizza this big in my life.  Hungarians really enjoy their pizza.

Elder Tuttle, Elder and Sister Peterson, Laci, Elder Santander and Margit

I think the four of us can handle this!

We heard that Erd had a unique park that we needed to visit.  It is called Memento Park.  This is the resting place of a lot of the old Russian and Communist era statues.  We drove out there this week with Elder and Sister Simkins to see what it was like.  Very interesting but kind of a somber place when you think of the things that went on in that time period.  We are so thankful that the people of Hungary have the freedom now to choose their religion and govern themselves.  Because of that freedom we feel it a privilege to be called here on a mission. Our message from our Savior is to teach faith, hope and happiness to everyone we can.  We have seen the gospel help so many people as we have worked with the missionaries here.

Boy do we feel small.

As we get ready for the holiday season we have been asked by President Szabadkai to study a different attribute of Christ every week leading up to Christmas.  This week we have been studying about hope.  Our scripture for the week is Moroni 7:41 "And what is it that ye shall hope for?  Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise."