OUR EASTER CELEBRATION

This week we enjoyed the Easter week.  For many of the Hungarians, this week was a very special one.  Churches held meetings and rang bells in memory of the events leading to the crucification and resurrection.  The clear egg hanging on the Easter bush represents the empty tomb.  Another interesting tradition is the spraying of the women with water or cologne.  The men and boys recite a  poem and then ask for permission to spray the girl.  In return the girl gives the boy a chocolate.  One of our friends taught Elder Peterson a poem to recite.  It goes as follows:

Zöld erdöben jártam

Kék ibolyát láttam

El akart hervadni

Szabad -e locsolni? 

I was in a green forest

I saw a blue violet

It wanted to wilt

May I spray you?

Interesting tradition, as Sister Peterson was sprayed several times on Sunday at church.
The Monday following Easter Sunday is a holiday as well.  They call it Easter Monday.  Most all the stores are closed but they have Festivals everywhere in the town squares where celebrations take place with traditional Hungarian music and dancing as well as the selling of food and handmade crafts. We took a P-day on Monday and traveled to Budapest where we met Daniel Nyman and his parents.  Elder Nyman was one of the AP's when we arrived here in Hungary and we served with him for about 6 months.  It was a wonderful experience as we were able to assist him in teaching Klára and Bertold and prepare them for their baptisms.
We meet the Nymans at the mission home and then hiked up to Geliert Hill, which over looks the beautiful city of Budapest and saw the place where Preident Russell M Nelson dedicated the land of Hungary for the preaching of the gospel.  We then walked over the bridge and walked down Vaci Utca to where the Easter Festival was.  We enjoyed a wonderful day with Daniel and loved meeting and spending time with his parents.

"Pussy Willow", a traditional dried flower to hang your Easter decorations from.

Our Eger missionaries enjoying 'Palacsintavar" after our district meeting.

Branch  members at 'Játék Est', coloring brown Easter eggs.

Pres. Békés, Elder Seamons, Elder Larson and Kriszti

Our Sunday Easter dinner guests, Elders Seamons, Bradshaw and Larson with Zsuzsa

You know spring is here when you see the Néni's filling their window boxes with flowers.

Daniel Nyman, a wonderful missionary whom we served with for 6 months returns with his parents, Mark and Sherri Nyman

Easter Monday celebration with the Nymans and other friends from the country at Varsmarty ter

"Our Savior experienced and suffered the fullness of all mortal challenges "according to the flesh" so he could know "according to the flesh", "how to succor" (which means relief and to give aide) his people according to their affirmatives".  He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our sufferings, for he willing suffered it all,  (experienced) it all as it is an essential part of the Atonement. Because of the Atonement- it gives us strength to bear it all.  "The healing and strengthening power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement is for all of us who will ask." 

  (Dallin Oakes, GC October 2015)
We are so grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and his sacrifice for each of us. Through the Atonement we have the opportunity to change and become more like our Savior and our Heavenly Father as we exercise our faith in His enabling power. We know he lives and that we all will live again.  For this gift we are so grateful. We are never alone in our trials, he stands by us and gives us the strength to endure. These blessings we are so grateful for as we celebrate this Easter season.

TOURING DOBOGÓKÖ

We headed out on Friday morning to spend some time with our YSA in Budapest.  We took Timi to lunch and then she showed us some of the sights on the Pest side. We attended Institute that evening and enjoyed a fun time playing 'charades' with them as well as Elder and Sister Simkin.  Sister Simkins made a delicious 'shepherds pie', Hungarian style.  They also let us crash on their hide-a-bed again(our old apartment), and we are grateful for that
The next morning in preparation for the International YSA Country Conference we took the organizing committee to tour the facilities at Dobogókö.  The YSA committee met at the Hajnóczy building in Budapest to car pool to the location which is about a 30 minute drive. President Vasvary (Counselor in Stake Presidency)and Oliver Szobonya (High Counselor) organized the event which included team-building activities. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch, a good indication that the food is going to be another plus factor for the location here.  We can tell this place will be even more beautiful in the summer when every thing is green and lush. In addition  to the team-building  activity we held a meeting so each of the committee heads could report on their ideas so far.  The excitement is definitely building and we can hardly wait to see all of this come together.
                                               

Enjoying one of my favorite Hungarian treats , Kürtöskalács.

Our organizing committee for the 2016 YSA Conference (Most of them were there)

Elder and Sister Oldham with Elder and Sister Peterson

Hotel provided a wonderful meal before the tour and organizing meeting.

Beautiful entrance to the Walden Hotel

Team building activities helped us to connect as leaders.

Niki, Antonia, and Peter

Zita, Viktor and Panni

Sister Peterson and Antonia

Our theme for this years conference is "The Standard of Truth has been erected: no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing...the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done."  Joseph Smith

                                                    Sunday March 20, 2016

Today we enjoyed a nice Sunday dinner with Leah and President and Sister Szabadkai after Branch Conference here in Eger.

MARCH HAS ARRIVED

We begin another month.......

Our beautiful city of Eger

Eger Branch Relief Society! Andi, Tunde, Henni, Agnus, Krizsti, Agi, Piroska, Kati, and Zsuzsa .( Lili and Kiti are not pictured, they were on a temple trip to Ukraine)

Amazing Mural on the castle wall. depicting the battle of Eger, 1552!

Splits with the Zone Leaders and lunch at one of our favorite places. (Zone Leaders are Elder Evans and Elder Mortensen)

Our Eger District!  Elder Peterson, Elder Bradshaw, Elder Larson, Elder Seamons, Elder Kellogg and Sister Peterson. One final picture before Elder Kellogg's departure for home.

We know spring is close when the outdoor markets are full of produce.

We love March because that means that April General Conference is just around the corner.  We have been studying the October messages in preparation for the upcoming conference. We would like to share a thought from Elder Quentin L Cook.
        "Life is not easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial.  Like the old ships of Bristol Harbor, there will be times when the tide goes out and it seems as if everything in this world that keeps us afloat disappears.  We may hit the bottom and even be tipped over on our sides.  Amid such trials, I promise you that living and maintaining temple-worthy lives will hold together all that really matters.  The sweet blessings of peace, happiness, and joy along with the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, will be realized."

ANOTHER ADVENTUROUS WEEK

Where has the month of February gone? Transfers were on the 9th and we now have two sets of elders in Eger. And with transfers always comes the goodbyes for the missionaries that have completed their missions and they are going home.  We lost some wonderful missionaries this month.  In particular Elder Watson, one of the AP's in the mission.  Also going home is Elder Mellor, who served with us for a time when we were in Budapest.

Our Eger Elders!  Elder Seamons, Elder Larson, Elder Kellogg and Elder Bradshaw!

Elder Watson and Elder Mellor we will miss you both so very much!

Elder Peterson, Elder Watson and Sister Peterson, saying our final good byes .

Eger, is known as "Wine Country" because of all the rolling hills covered with vineyards. The most famous wine is named 'Bull's blood".  This last month our friends here in Eger took us to a famous restaurant in the vineyard valley surrounded by wine sellers.  Of course we turned down the wine but enjoyed a great Hungarian meal.

Fine dining in Eger!

Barbara and Péter have been showing us the great places to eat in Eger!

Beautifully decorated walls with the famous wines of Eger.

Sunday we had our first organizational committee meeting to start the process of creating a wonderful YSA Country Conference. August 8-12 will be the summer conference that Hungary will host with nine other countries participating. We had 20 YSA's in attendance as well as President Vasváry of the Stake presidency and our High Counselor, Oliver Szobonya. There was much excitement as everyone is ready to put together a very memorable event.

So good to see our some of our YSA friends again.  Berta, Zita, Timi, Sister Peterson, Panni and Enikö

Panni and Sister Peterson

Early morning baking raspberry sweet rolls for district meeting, because we love our missionaries

The gospel of Jesus Christ gives each of us hope.  Elder Bednar teaches us that, "We should not underestimate the power of the Lords tender mercies.  The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in troubled times in which we now and will yet live.  When words cannot provide the solace we need to express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the justices and injustices of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance." (see 1 Nephi 1:20)

And Ether gives us a promise in the 12th chapter, 4th verse.  "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope of a better world, yeah, even a place at the right hand of God, which HOPE cometh of FAITH, maketh an ANCHOR to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abiding in good works, being led to glorify God."

May we all recognize our true source of real Hope.  We are all sons and daughters of a loving Heavenly Father and he sent His Son Jesus Christ to save us from this fallen world.  May we never lose that Hope, no matter the circumstances in our life is our prayer.

MISSION LIFE IN EGER

Time is passing far too quickly here in Eger.  We have loved everything about this city and the people. We just had transfers and sad our goodbyes to Elder Lawrence who transferred to Kispest.  And we have a new set of elders as well instead of the sisters we thought were coming.  And now we are our own district so we will no longer be traveling to Miskolc each week for district meetings.

Our Miskolc district,  Elder Veres, Elder Howard, Elder Lawrence, Elder Evans, Elder Mortensen, and Elder Larson.

Rainy days in Eger at our favorite Pékság.

Sister Peterson and Kriszti.  We are excited for her baptism on March 12th!

Elder Peterson and Agi!  One of our YSA who also serves as the Primary President in our Eger Branch

Elder and Sister Peterson with Henni!  She is one of our YSA and she is working towards serving a mission next summer!

Branch members that dressed up for Farsong.

The Vas family at the Farsong party. Their family makes up all of the Primary in the branch.

SISTERS CONNECTION IN BUDAPEST

A couple of weeks ago we had an opportunity to visit Éva again in Budapest.  This time Sister Szabadkai (mission president's wife) offered to be our translator.  Last spring we meet Éva after much searching and walking the streets of Budapest with our sister missionaries. Éva's only sister and sibling, Anna,  lives in Washington and is very good friends with my sister Jan. Éva had asked that we come visit her again.  She speaks no english and we speak "kicsi" hungarian.  So when Sister Szabadkai offered to go with us and to translate, we were thrilled.  We had a wonderful visit with her as she once again shared many experiences in her life.  The challenges she as had and the sorrow she has felt not being able to live all these years close to her sister. (Anna and her husband immigrated to the United States in 1956 when there was so much turmoil in Hungarian). Éva and her sister Anna were orphaned at a young age when their parents were killed because of their Jewish faith.  The children were then raised by the Catholic nuns.
 Sister Peterson shared her testimony of the Book of Mormon and how it has blessed her life and gave Éva a copy of her own.  She accepted the book gladly.  We hope she will read it and know for herself that it is true and that it can bless her life as well. We ended our visit with a promise that we would return for future visits.  Éva's health is not so good.  She spends many lonely days sitting by herself in her overstuffed chair.  Marta met her sister Anna while she was living in the US.  She now lives here in Hungary and does much service for Éva.

Marta and Éva, 

 We enjoyed a surprise this week!  A couple of our special YSA's from Budapest came to visit us here in Eger.  We had such a fun time showing them around, neither one of them had been to this city.  We spent a half a day walking the streets, exploring the castle, eating pizza and trying  new sutti. We are grateful for the time we have to spend with our YSA.  We love them and are so impressed with all the wonderful things they are doing in their lives to serve others and improve themselves.

laci Tem and Énikö at the Pizza Club in Eger

Elder and Sister Peterson, Laci and Énico, from castle hill.

This is how they make "Eclairs" in Hungary, Maple frosting and filled with chocolate mousse.

Beautiful spring like day from castle hill.

A great view of the "Minaret".  The only one left in Hungary after the Turkish occupation.  It was saved because the  priest at the nearby church put a cross on top of it.  Now it has both the crescent moon cymbal and the cross.

The small stream that winds through the city.

We are so grateful to be here in Eger.  We love serving the people of this beautiful city. We love the quieter and slower pace of this city.  The people are friendly and curious about what we do.  We have many opportunities to share our testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Our blessings are great and we recognize our Heavenly Fathers's hand daily in our lives.

THE MISKOLC CONNECTION

Eger is part of the East Zone here in the Hungary Budapest Mission  Other cities that belong to this zone are Miskolc, Nyiregyháza, and Debrecen. Eger typically is its own district as well but since we have only one companionship of elders we combine to attend the Miskolc district meetings each week.  It takes us a little more than an hour to drive there.  We enjoy meeting with the two companionships of Elder Howard and Elder Veres, Elder Mortensen and Elder Evans. This past week we held our Zone Training as well in Miskolc.  The elders and sisters from those other cities attended.  It was a wonderful training by our zone leaders.  We were asked to do some training on companionship studies.  After all we have been companions the longest of anyone in the mission.  (Tuesday was the one year mark that we started our 'special' companionship of being missionaries together).  We were blessed to have President and Sister Szabadkai attend the training. Afterwards Sister Peterson fed them a nice lunch of cheesy potato soup/rolls and mint brownies.  What a wonderful opportunity to gather as missionaries and enjoy one another as when learn to be better missionaries.

The Miskolc Zone, January 21, 2016

Our Arizona Elders!  Learning to make a snowman!

Just out side of Eger you will find "Wine Cellars"  built right into the hillside.

More wine cellars.

Our Hungarian friend, "Eugene" proud of his American flag that was given to him by a previous senior missionary couple.

Gathering to watch the YSA Worldwide Devotional in Hungarian.   President and sister Békés, Elder Lawrence, Elder Larson, our YSA, Heni, Kristi, and Agi with Elder and Sister Peterson.

Enjoying a game of "Dominoes",  for FHE, just the two of us!

We had an opportunity to listen to President Nelson several times in English and once in Hungarian as he spoke to the YSA in the Worldwide Devotional.  We heard some wonderful counsel for our YSA and for us as missionaries.  He said that we should "Expect and prepare to accomplish the impossible." President Nelson shared his experience when he was first called to the quorum of the twelve, when President Benson  asked him to open the countries of Eastern Europe for the gospel to be preached.  It had seemed like an impossible task to him because of the communist rule which existed in each of those countries at the time. He was obedient to the prophet and he was successful  President Nelson said, "The Lord is able to do his own work and I was privileged to watch the unfolding of one miracle after another, always and only after I had brought my best thinking, my most courageous efforts, and my most fervent prayers to the task. You will be asked to accept challenging assignments and become an instrument in the Lord's hand.  And he will enable you to accomplish the impossible."
We know that when we follow the prophet, keep our covenants, and defend God's kingdom we will be blessed to accomplish those things which might at first seem impossible to us.  We have seen miracles on our mission.  We know that this is His work.  We feel privileged to be a part of it in these last days.  We love our Savior and know that through Him all things are possible.