NEW YEARS CELEBRATION

We returned to Budapest for a few days to help the YSA with their New Years's Eve party. It felt good to be 'home' again. We missed our YSA, senior couples and the missionaries serving there. Our YSA leaders did most of the planning of the food, music and games.  We had a smaller turnout than previous years because of the many parties that were planned in the other areas of the country. However those that came to Budapest were not disappointed.  The evening was capped off by the hungarian tradition of serving lentil soup and hotdogs at midnight. It is thought that the lentil  soup will bring you wealth in the new year.

Budapest, a great place to ring in the New Year!

Yummy hungarian "Kuglóf" cake with Lavi, Zita, Panni, and Timi

Pizza always bring a smile!

They couldn't get enough of our "green slush".

Sister Simkins and the YSA

Barbi and Angela from Györ

The music man, Elder Simkins

TP fashion design competition!

Feed me carefully!

"Spot It" was addicting to many of us!

At the stroke of midnight the hungarians sing their anthem.

Here are those that made it to New Year!

We spent the night in our old apartment with the new occupants, Elder and Sister Simkins.  On New Years Day we enjoyed a fun afternoon with our friends.  We visited the Christmas Festival on the other side of the river.  We enjoyed a nice hungarian lunch inside a very unique restaurant. The sights were great but the weather was a little too cold for our liking. By evening we were back on the road to Eger.

St. Stephens Basilica, with the festival lights.

Christmas Festival with the Simkins.

It has been a great year. It is one packed with incrediable memories, of wonderful people and beautiful places.  We have absolutely loved the mission life.  We feel so incrediably blessed.  Is life perfect?  Absolutely not! But we know that because of our Savior Jesus Christ that all things will work out. Faith in our Savior gives strength to move forward and hope for a brighter future.

"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.  Where fore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope."  Moroni 7: 41-42