News From Hungary! vol. 30

It occurs to me that if I'd been doing this all along we'd be up to volume 91, or something like that. But, in my defense, his emails before I started doing this weren't all that informative...

*1

Anyway: 

Woweee!

I am pooped. But that is because I have had a wonderful past few days that have made my last week just a fantastic experience. *2

The hardest day of the past week was really this Monday. St. Stephens day was really a huge pain in the butt for missionary work. And the worst part was that I really didn't get to participate in the Huge Nationwide Festival. There was music, and dancing, and a parade, light shows, firework shows, awesome food, and the list goes on. I was working every day of the Festival which lasted a week, and at the climax of the Festival, which was last Monday, no one wanted to talk to me at all. No one was at home, and everyone on the streets was too busy enjoying the Festival to really give us any attention. Thinking about it now I am actually really bummed out. Although at the time I was really just frustrated that I couldn't find anyone who wanted to hear about the gospel. It all looked like so much fun. I have to come back to this country next year so that I can participate next time. *3

Tuesday, Yesterday.
I met with my MCM Leader, and I had two lessons. The lessons were really good and I am super happy for the investigators out here. They are really progressing that it is quite amazing to see how the gospel has been affecting their lives. In fact, one of the investigators is a new investigator and he really only started meeting so that he could improve his English. We let him know that we use English classes for teaching English and we use private meetings for teaching about the gospel. So he decided to hear about the Gospel, and we talked a lot about families. Now he is super excited about family history work and we are going to use this as a lead into the Plan of Salvation.

Monday
It was Szent István napja (St. Stephens day) and no one wanted to talk to us. And we missed out on all of the fun, and the firework show kept us from sleeping until something like 12 o'clock.

Sunday
We had an investigator in Church. His name is Ádám and he is really one of our coolest investigators. He is also one of our newest investigators. He has been really prepared by other missionaries, actually in London, and he already prays and he has said that he will read the Book of Mormon. He has been coming to church for a while now, and I really think that he could be baptized really quickly, but we will see. We met with him today and we will be meeting with him again tomorrow.

Saturday
We finished doing a split in another city called Szolnok. It was pretty good and I helped the elders there to find and teach a new investigator.

Friday
We started our split in Szolnok, and I got to help teach a different investigator who is being baptised this Saturday.

Thursday
Just a lot of tracting. And I got a new haircut. I would have gotten it on Tuesday, but the hair place that we went to was a place where you need to make an appointment and the day was already filled out. But they did a really good job, and I have a European style hairdo now. *4

Wednesday
We met with one of our most progressing investigators. This man has come from a background that is really skeptical of religion, but since investigating he has said that he wants to make scripture study a regular part of his life, as well as prayer. He has even said that he would like to come to church sometime.

And last Tuesday was when I last emailed you all. Whew.

The hardest part of life right now is helping the Branch out here to pull their act together. There are some pretty scary things going on with them and I am doing all that I know how to to bring it to a halt and make this city a Zion in Hungary. I think that it can happen, and so while it is hard I refuse to give up.
Now I think that there were some questions asked so I will look at those. I do however remember that I was asked if I have had Chimney Cake, the answer is yes, and it is really good. I have had more than one kind as well. I don't know that I can say that it is my favorite dessert food out here, but it is among my favorites. *5

Helyes, yes, Boldog Szent István Napja is correct Hungarian. *6
I am indeed still serving with Elder Hess. This means that For about a fourth of my mission I will have been serving with him.
St. Stephen's Day is basically the Hungarian 4th of July. It is a huge holliday, and everything shuts down for it. Not a single store is open. The only businesses are food stands, restaurants, and Ice cream stands.

*7

I think that that is all for now. If I remember anything I will see if I can tell you about it.
Love you!
Brandon.


Mom's Notes:

1. This picture has nothing to do with this email; it is from June of last year. But it's one I'd never seen before yesterday. I was searching google drive for something else, and found a few pics from Brandon!

2.I'm glad it's been a good week! Prayer works. :-)

3. When he goes back next year, I hope he takes me with him!

4. Seriously? He tells us all about his new haircut and doesn't send a single picture?!

5. I don't know why, but I chanced to come across a recipe for Hungarian Chimney Cakes last week, so I asked him about it. Now I'll have to try to make some.

6. Bruce sends him little lines in Hungarian, translated from English by google. So far they've all been OK. (But when I first glanced over "Helyes" it looked like Brandon had said something inappropriate! Actually helyes just means "correct." According to google translate. And, in case you're wondering, "Boldog Szent István Napja" means Happy St. Stephens Day.)

7. Another picture I'd never seen before, that has nothing to do with this email, from last January. I'm glad I found these!