ENJOYING THE SPRING IN EGER

Our favorite thing to do on P-day is spend time with our missionaries.  This past Monday it was Elder Robinson's birthday so we planned a special activity.  We took a bus ride to a beautiful little town about 60 minutes away. Szilvásvárad is known for its beautiful hiking trails, best trout in Hungary, waterfalls, and the training grounds for the famous Lipizzan stallions. It was a perfect day for an outing. The lush forest kept us cool enough as we enjoyed some of the beautiful walking trails.  The elders even had an opportunity to slide down the mountain in an alpine slide.

Elder Seamons, Elder Haws, Elder Deitrich, and Elder Robinson with Elder and Sister Peterson

We we amazed by the size of these leaves in the forest!

Photo moment!

Our fun loving elders whom we affectionately call our "sons", and they call us Dad and Mom!

Our activity would not be complete without ice cream from our favorite server, "Gabi"

Celebrating Elder Robinson's birthday with his choice of "Lemon Poppyseed Cake"

Sister Peterson's new passion, practicing the piano at the branch house.

Enjoying some good food with Kriszti and the missionaries.

Beautiful bike trail photo!

Helping Elder and Sister Lund celebrate 34 wonderful years of marriage!

Congratulations to Elder and Sister Lund!

DISTRICT FAMILY SPORTS DAY AT DEBRECEN

We traveled to Debrecen to help with the 'Family Sports Day', a couple of weeks ago. Our District includes the cities of Eger, Miskolc, Debrecen and Nyiregyháza. We were asked to provide a "gospel game" for the event. We created a Jeopardy game and the missionaries helped us translate it in to Hungarian. Everyone really enjoyed it. There were lost of crafts and games for the little ones, soccer, ping pong, basketball and even a 1/3 k run for those interested. The District provided a wonderful Hungarian lunch as well.  It was great to get out and go visit another city and enjoy branch members there.

In front of the Debrecen Chapel with Viktor, one of our YSA and the Branch President in Nyiregyháza 

Everyone enjoyed running a 1/3K on a track at a local soccer stadium.

Elder Peterson, feeling good completing the run

Ricsi, Elder Stephens, Alex Zwingly(former missionary here), Elder Ure, and(Unknown)

Sister Lund and President Pétercsek (Miskolc Branch), enjoying a ping pong match

District members, investigators and missionaries enjoy some good Hungarian Gouylas.

Gospel Jeopardy

We love the beautiful poppy fields this time of the year!

The Lord's invitation to seek our daily bread from our Heavenly Fathers hand speaks of a loving God,  who is aware of all of our needs, even the seemingly small ones.  He is desirous and anxious to bless each one of us.
"And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life; he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst..  "Verily, verily I say unto you.  He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. " I am the bread of life." ( John 6:35, 47-48)

HUNGARIAN CULTURE

We took an excursion with Elder and Sister Lund to an "Open Air " museum, near Szentendra.  It is literally a village that has been created by bringing in historical buildings from all over the country. They have created an atmosphere where you feel like you are living in the culture and traditions in the country of Hungary over there last two hundred years.  It was fascinating to see how they did their beautiful needle work, hand stamped fabric, dancing, cooking and farming.

Hungarian children doing the traditional wedding procession

Elder and Sister Peterson with Elder and Sister Lund

MARK AND JAN VISIT HUNGARY

We love it here in Hungary and we love it even more when we can share it with someone.  This past week Mark and Jan (Val's sister and Steve's brother, who happen to be married) came to spend a week with us here.  How cool is that!  Anyway we had an amazing week as they saw first hand what missionary life is like.  We spent the week sharing all the beautiful sights from Budapest to Eger.  They tried many Hungarian dishes, Hungarian made chocolates, Hungarian bakeries, and Hungarian ice cream.  We visited beautiful Churches, Castles, and Historical sights. We also introduced them to the mission life as they attended teaching programs, met some of our investigators, attended our branch activities and Church services. The highlight of their trip was the much anticipated visit to see Éva.  She is the sister of their good friend Anna, from their home state.  Anna and Éva have been separated for more than 60 years as Anna fled to America during the 1956 Revolution.  It was a sweet visit that Mark and Jan had been looking forward to for a long time.

Beautiful Parliament backdrop!

The Chain Bridge across the Danube

In front of the majestic "Saint Stephens Basilica"

Ice Cream, a must here in Hungary, but so many options to choose from!

The girls checking out the local "Pékség"

We love the "Virág" shops!

Lilac's adorn this door of a school, celebrating their graduation!

Beautiful Buda Castle at nighttime!

Check out these warriors! (The live ones)

The views of the Danube are spectacular at night!

The mountain above Sirok with the "Sirok Castle" in the background!

Sirok Castle walls built in the 1300's by the Turks!

Check out Jan and Mark in the traditional Turkish clothing!

Beautiful Vajdahunyad Castle in Budapest built in around 1850's

Outside of the Vajdahunyad Castle wall that was built in the 1850's, near Heroes Square

Jan and Mark finally get to meet Éva after knowing her sister for more than 20 years.

Enjoying good food and conversation with Éva in her home in Budapest!

Another wonderful week in the mission field.  We love the gospel and we love the people that we get to share it with. We are so blessed as members of the Lord's restored church. May we never forget those tender mercies and miracles we witness in our everyday lives.