P-DAY EXPLORING

What an opportunity we have had to enjoy riding bicycles here in Eger on P-day.  The bicycles were donated to the mission by a very nice American couple who were here in Europe making a 600 mile bike trek that followed the Danube river form Germany to Hungary.  They did not want to ship them home so the bikes will stay here for missionary use.  We took the bike trails north of Eger and covered about 10 miles.  We saw some pretty interesting scenery and witnessed some interesting country life. There are many people here that ride bikes, since owning a car is not as necessary as in the US.  Cars are expensive and drivers licenses are hard to get.  Thankfully the public transportation is pretty good here.  Out on the trail we saw something that I wish I had a picture of.  One man was coming from Eger with a wheel barrow filled with lumber which looked like finish work lumber.  Another man on a bicycle with a load of scrap wood tied to the rack crosswise.  His load took up most of the width of the bike trail.  This was probably his fire wood since most of the houses in the country have wood burning stoves for heat.  Several more bikes passed us carrying back packs and sacks full of scrap metal.  At first we could not figure it out but later down the trail we came to a scrap metal yard and we saw the men waiting in line to have their metal weighed.

Riding Bikes in the country is the best way to really see your surroundings and get a feel of what country life is like.

Interconnecting trails tie these small towns together.

This street is much wider than you will see in most small towns.  Nice to see greenery on both sides.  Very few homes have a front yard.  The back yard much more important.

Along the edge of the hills there are lots of these cellar doors.  Most of them we have seen are wine cellars.  This one is under the big yellow church so not sure what it would be used for.

Our favorite part of the bike trail was following the little stream.

The bike trail in Eger close to the center square and our apartment. Elder Peterson is carrying fresh fruit and veggies we bought on our way home.  We almost feel Hungarian.

More of the wonderful trail.

BUSY WEEK, TRANSFERS AND SZEGED CONFERENCE

It is that time again, every nine weeks when we say our goodbyes to our missionaries.  It is so hard to see them go because we have grown to love them so much. Then we receive our new missionaries and then they become dear to our hearts. We said goodbye to Elder Larson who has been in Eger since we arrived, now he is training a new missionary in Kecskemét.  We also said goodbye to Elder Bradshaw who was only here one transfer and now he is our Zone Leader in Miskolc.  We received 3 new missionaries.  We served with Elder Dietrich in Budapest and so we are thrilled he has come to Eger.  Elder Haws is training a brand new missionary, Elder Robinson and we are excited to get to know them better.

Elder Dietrich, Elder Seamons, and Elder Peterson

Elder and Sister Peterson with Elder Haws and  Elder Robinson

 On Friday we traveled to the city of Szeged for a 2 day Institute Conference with our YSA.  We had 52 YSA come from all over the country of Hungary. They enjoyed a fireside, dancing, institute class, treasure hunt, socializing, games and plenty of good food.  It felt so good to see so many come and to see them so happy as they enjoyed seeing each other.  While they were enjoying the fireside and the classes Elder and Sister Howell showed us the sights of the beautiful city of Szeged, where they serve.

Getting ready to start the YSA Conference at the Szeged chapel with Zoli, Timi and Kriszti

The Seniors!  Elder and Sister Goulding, Elder and Sister Howell, and Elder and Sister Peterson

Elder Peterson, Istvan, and Richi

Our twins, Agi and Marcsi with Sister Peterson

Good friends!

Good Food!

Great Company!

The Jewish Synagog in Szeged

Beautiful church in Szeged

Enjoying our breakfast outside in Szeged!

More beautiful statues in Szeged

The city of Szeged with a view from the Tisza river bridge.

Just one of many beautiful flower gardens in the city of Szeged.

The YSA were taught in their institute class about the importance of preparing to enter the temple. It reminded us of a quote from President Monson. "Until you have entered the house of the Lord and have received all the blessings which await you there, you have not obtained everything the church has to offer. The all-important and crowning blessings of membership in the Church are those blessings which we receive in the temples of God."

SPRING FLOWERS IN EGER

Spring flowers are popping up everywhere here in Eger.  We have had a ton of rain and now with the warmer weather this city is bursting with flowers everywhere...even the dandelions are huge.  They don't get rid of them because they are a 'yellow spring flower". We are so excited about the beauties and the warmer weather that we can hardly contain ourselves.  We have even been out on our bikes on P-day. It is like living a dream to have this opportunity to serve here in this city.

Beautiful fountain and tulips in the "Bishops" park

The Eger Basilica

Street corner next to the Basilica

The" Pizza Club", the best pizza we have found in Eger!

Enjoying the sunshine in "Dobo Square"

Canola fields all over the countryside.  In the sunlight they standout like patches of gold!

What a beautiful world we live in.  We are so blessed to be have been able to enjoy the beauties of Hungary these past fifteen months.  We have experienced much as we have served here. We have learned so much about these wonderful people and will cherish this experience forever.

BAPTISM AND GENERAL CONFERENCE WEEKEND

We enjoyed a wonderful General Conference weekend.  Because of the eight hour time difference our conference didn'tt start until 6 PM Saturday evening. We finished up our Senior Conference in Budapest in the morning and then headed back to Eger to prepare for Kriszti's baptism which was held before the conference session started.  We do not have a font in Eger so we rented the swimming pool at the St. Istvan Hotel not too far from the church.  We had about 17 members and missionaries that attended.  This was a great spiritual experience and we were so happy that Kriszti chose to take this important step in her life.  She will be a strength to the Eger Branch.

Kristzi, Sister Peterson and Gabi outside the Szént Istvan Hotel where Kriszti was baptized.  We rented the pool for this occasion.

Our Eger elders, Elder Seamons, Elder Larson and Elder Bradshaw and of course Kriszsti.

These are all those who came to support Krisztis baptism.

Congratulations to Kriszti's for taking this very important step in her life.

"Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again: for the Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye maybe washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to cleanse from all unrighteousness." (Alma 7:14)


We enjoyed a wonderful General Conference.  Such inspirational talks that we can use in our lives to help us know God's will for each of us.  It is always hard to see conference come to a close. It was wonderful to hear from our dear prophet, Thomas S Monson.  What a blessing to know that we have a prophet to guide us in these latter days.  Elder Holland closed the conference in such a powerful way and gave us these words of encouragement,  "Keep loving.  Keep trying.  keep trusting.  Keep believing.  keep growing.  Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."
"Please remember tomorrow, and all the days after that, that the Lord blesses those who want to improve, who accept the need for commandments and try to keep them, who cherish Christlike virtues and strive to the best of their ability to acquire them.  If you stumble in that pursuit, so does everyone; the Savior is there to help you keep going. " (Elder Jeffrey Holland)
We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ, for his perfect life and for His infinite sacrifice for each one of us.  We are grateful for our Heavenly Fathers plan of happiness so that if we are faithful we will live forever with our families.

SENIOR CONFERENCE April 1-2

Senior Conference is a wonderful time to reconnect with all of the senior couples serving in the mission.  We have the opportunity to serve with seven amazing couples here in Hungary(which includes President and Sister Szabadkai). Since our last senior conference we have received two new senior couples. Elder and Sister Peterson II, arrived in February and Elder and Sister Howell arrived in March.  Both of these couples are from California, in fact they come from the same ward.  What are the chances of that happening?
When we have senior conferences we try to attend a cultural event so we can learn a little bit more about the history of Hungary.
We toured the "House of Terrors" here in Budapest. Having survived two terror regimes, the Nazis and the Soviets, Hungary fittingly opened a museum dedicated to those who died, suffered and survived those horrendous periods of Hungarian history.  The museum fittingly housed within the building where victims of the Soviet regime were captivated, tortured and killed.  The museum strives to paint a picture of these bloody periods of history; honor the victims and remind us that the struggle was not in vain and that victory was achieved in the form of freedom and independence.
It is a pretty sobering experience to see what horrific experience these people had to endure.  We are so grateful that democracy is now found in Hungary.  This allows the missionary work to go forth.

Sister Szabadkai, Elder and Sister Lund, Elder and Sister Peterson II, Elder Goulding, Elder and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Howell, Elder and Sister Simkin, and Elder and Sister Oldham after our tour of the "House of Terror"

  Tanks like this one rolled into Hungary to crush the 1956 uprising.  Behind the tank, stretching to the ceiling, is a vast wall covered with 3,200 portraits of people who were victims of the Nazis and Communists. regimes in this very building.

All of the senior couples on our way to the theatre to enjoy a traditional Hungarian wedding through song and dance.

Enjoying a wonderful Hungarian lunch at one of the seniors favorite restaurant, just a block away from the Mission Office. "The Muzzo"

The original culture of the Hungarian music and dancing has been preserved  in a region which is presently in the country of Romania.

Beautiful theatre where we enjoyed a traditional show of Hungarian music and dance.

Some of the senior Elders enjoying the Spring Festival at Vasmarty Ter on Saturday

The next morning, on Saturday, the senior couples wanted to tour some sites in Budapest before returning to the cities where they serve.  We got on the Metro and headed to the other side of the river where there was a "Spring Festival".  Here in Hungary they have festivals for everything.  Basically they have these portable little wooden booths that they set up in the squares of the city.  They sell Hungarian crafts and cook traditional Hungarian food and there is even Hungarian dancing and music.  It is a very festive sight to behold.  We love the atmosphere at these events.  After a few hours of enjoyment the couples returned to their cities.  Another wonderful, successful senior conference packed away in our memory.