News From Hungary! vol. 39

No new pics today.  :-(
This was very nearly two years ago, when Brandon was set apart for his mission. We'll have a repeat soon, when Brandon goes with us to have Ryan set apart.

Pretending

This last little bit of my mission is strange, I often find myself wondering how long until the end of the transfer, and realizing that the end of this transfer is the end of my mission. Usually I pretend that I still have my whole mission ahead of me, but there are times when I am looking forward to all the great things that come with the end of my mission. I don't know, I honestly wish that the end of my mission was something that I was unaware of, and that I wouldn't have to think about it at all until it was actually here. *1 But until the end I guess that I will just go ahead and keep pretending. 


Sunday
Well, I really enjoyed church, it was really good, I am finally at the point where I can really understand what is going on for the duration of the whole three hours. This last Sunday was excellent. Afterwards we went and did a ton of tracting and a little bit of streeting (stopping people and speaking to them in the streets *2). 

Storytime:
We were riding home at night, I and we were going down a gentle but long hill. I had just crossed the street at an intersection and made it safely to the sidewalk and so I began to pick up my speed a little bit. As I did so something caught my attention and I glanced back over my shoulder. Right as I looked over my shoulder the left handlebar of my bike hit a pole and twisted out of my grip. I went flying off of the bike and as I did so my leg hit something. I don't know exactly what happened next but I remember my hands hitting the ground first, then my left shoulder, and finally my head. Lucky for me my head was safe inside my helmet and actually I have come out without a scratch. Almost, I hit my leg pretty hard and it is sore now. I have a slight limp but nothing too serious.
Thank you all for your prayers on my behalf, If it weren't for those prayers and the hand of God, then I could be dead right now. I honestly for a second thought that my helmet and head broke, but the fact that all I have is a nasty bruise on my leg is to me enough proof that God saved my life last night, and not only saved my life, but preserved my body enough to continue working hard for the rest of my mission. *3

Saturday
After such an interesting Sunday it is sad, but probably good, that all I can say for Saturday is that we did a lot of tracting, and looked up a couple of people.

Friday
We had an excellent District meeting. I don't remember what it was that I had originally planned, but we ended up talking about planning, faith, and carrying out those plans. I know that we had the spirit there to inspire us, and that I at least know better how to do missionary work. If only I knew two years ago. (That long?!)  Then we went out tracting.

Thursday
We did a ton of Look Ups. And we found one person who was really interested in meeting with us again. I am not really sure how interested, she is in the gospel, but it is something that we can work with and I intend to try and meet at least once more before deciding whether we ought to meet frequently with this person. The teaching record suggests that I shouldn't, but hey what do I know but that this woman now is ready to accept the gospel.

Wednesday
It was a Zone Conference day! And it was pretty exhausting. I spent pretty much the entire day in Budapest. And then came home in time for pretty much nothing. I had to walk from the train station to my apartment, and by the time we made it back and dropped off our stuff it was too late to really do any kind of finding activity. So we sent a text to our investigators.

Tuesday
I actually really don't remember what it was exactly that we did. So probably streeting, tracting, and anticipating Zone Conference.

I do know who Sister Hopwood is. I also know who Elder Castellano is. I have actually been in the same district as Elder Castellano, he is quiet, but pretty funny if you are listening for the things that he has to say. *4
I don't really know what else to say.

Love you all!
Brandon.


Mom's Notes:

1. I once wrote a paper about this in high school: If kids didn't know when the last day of school was, they would work harder the whole time instead of slacking off at the end. It's funny that Brandon should express the same idea.

2. That's what I thought streeting was, but I never remembered to ask him until this past week.

3. Michael saw Brandon's email before I did. He said it was really interesting this time and I said, "What? Was he in a car accident or something?" Close—and not particularly the kind of news I want to hear. I'm glad he's OK!

4. Bruce went to church in Greeley, CO and saw the stake map of missionaries who are out. Sister Hopwood and Elder Castellano (who, obviously, are serving in the same mission as Brandon) caught his attention. Not only that, but Greeley, CO also has a missionary serving in Gilbert, AZ, which is where Ryan will be headed. :-)  Small world!