Sunday, 17 June
Today included a lot of studies, which was nice.
During the two hours of Church, Sister Barnhart gave her last talk
that she'll give in Hungary; I played piano for what may be the last time
for this Branch; and Elder Vandermark and I taught Sunday School. Transfer
Calls will come tomorrow morning. I have five Missionaries telling me
that I'm leaving, and I think they're right. If so, this will be my first
"one and done" and the only time I will not have been in an area with
the same companion for two transfers. I'll probably go Senior as
well. My miracle today was that although I chose Hymn #152 "God Be
With You Til We Meet Again" as the closing hymn for Sister Barnhart's
last week, while playing I realized this might be the last time I see the
members here.
Monday, 18 June
Transfer Calls came today and were full of surprises.
I’m leaving Bekescsaba and am going Senior with Elder Headrick as my
Junior in Szombathely. I won't be Branch President here, but will instead
be serving in yet another corner of the country. The other Elders
from my MTC District all got interesting calls as well. Elder Rosen left
Nyiregyhaza after one transfer and is coming to take my place in
Bekescsaba, and will be the next Branch President. Elder Swett is staying
in Szolnok, but will go from being Junior Companion straight to Trainer.
Elder Snyder's moved from Veszprem next-door to Szekesfehervar with a
second Transfer, and is expected to be training soon. These were
President Baughman's last transfer calls.
For our P-Day, Elder Vandermark and I saw a castle, a fourth of a
castle, and some castle ruins. First, we biked out to Doboz.
There we saw a little, but cool looking, fortified church. We
called the number on the door and the owner's daughter came, unlocked it
for us, and took us on a small tour inside. We were able to explore all
the little nooks and crannies, and go up into the bell tower. Elder Vandermark
and I then doubled back to Gerla where we saw 1/4 of a castle. I say
1/4 because it was a very small mansion (smallest one yet), so it only
counts as half, and we couldn't go past the front gate, which cuts it in half
again. After Gerla, we biked through a forest to get to Postelek, the
castle ruins of the day, and the coolest ruins I've ever seen. They
were so cool, so large, and we had it all to explore for ourselves. It
completely made up for Gerla and was the best castle I've been to (with
the exception of Buda Castle). For
Csaladi Est, we went with M and the Sisters to B's place to help with
gardening, picking raspberries and zucchinis, and shelling two giant buckets of
peas. I was sweating all day long, and Elder Vandermark and I both
got slightly sunburned. Tonight, I actually don't feel too well
emotionally. I'm fairly certain it's from dehydration slightly, and
in large part, from change. Soon I will be changing cities, apartments,
branches, districts, investigators, and companions. Yet, I think the changes which are exhausting
me the most and stretching me the most are the internal and personal
changes I have been trying to make. My miracle today is that we can
change, we need change, and the one thing that will never change is that
life is full of change.
Tuesday, 19 June
This morning, I was all packed by 9:00am (except for
laundry). We met with D, my last program in Bekescsaba with an
investigator; followed by E, my last member program. We then received a
call from B that she would like to meet for 2-3 hours tomorrow night and learn
all of lesson four in one day rather than the planned two or regular four.
She is hoping, and Elder Vandermark and I are hoping, that she will
be baptized within the next three weeks. We also went around the town
looking at places and statues. It was the hottest day yet on my
mission: 111 degrees and super humid. In fact, due to the humidity,
I had to keep the two fans on my laundry from last night as, after twelve
hours, they were still wet. Luckily, a couple hours with the fans did the
trick, and I finished packing. This is
my last entry from Bekescsaba. I'm not sure if this transfer or last
transfer went by the quickest, but this was definitely my fastest
city. Today's miracle was the Lord deciding
that, although I don't know everything, I do know enough to go Senior.
I don't want to let Him down. On to Szombathely!
Wednesday, 20 June
I'm on the other side of the country now. This
morning we got up early to catch the train. Once we reached Budapest
I met my new companion, Elder Headrick. As always, there were a lot of Missionaries
there. Elder Wright, one of the first missionaries I really got to
know or serve around, is going home. On that note is something even
weirder, and my miracle today. With some counting and basic math, I
was able to find that there are exactly 40 missionaries older in the Mission
and 40 missionaries younger in the Mission today than me and my group (not
counting senior couples). We are exactly at the 50% mark. By the
end of this transfer, fourteen missionaries are going home and thirteen missionaries
are arriving, which will put it at 53/26 (younger/older), putting my group
almost perfectly in the top third. In six weeks I'll be one of the
"old" missionaries. About
Szombathely, I haven't gotten to see much of the town yet. We had
Angolora tonight (ten people came; four were members). We also
ordered pizza with the other Elders: Bullock and Loveday. The apartment
here is on the fourth and top floor. It's bigger and nicer than all
my past apartments, with the exception of Buda. However, it is super
hot with no A/C and only one fan for the whole apartment. The Branch
House here is a full-size, American-style, actual Church building. That's
it for today.
Thursday, 21 June
First full day in Szobathely. This morning I
continued unpacking; I cleaned part of the apartment, and spent an hour defrosting
the fridge. The freezer had layers of ice on both the door and the box,
and Elder Headrick said they haven't fully shut the freezer in at least two
transfers. It can close now. The freezer has a lot more space, but
the fridge changed even more, with me melting and removing three pieces of ice,
each bigger than my head (one significantly more so). We also went shopping so I could have food to
eat. We spent over four hours streeting,
during which we found an Eternal. He's been an investigator since 1991,
almost since the country first opened. His brother's a member; he's met
with missionaries throughout the years, speaks Hungarian, English, and German
fluently, and has been to America twelve times. He's also our neighbor,
living only two buildings away. It was interesting to street him. Last of all, for my miracle, was while
reflecting today, I realized that, while I have seen very little to almost no
success tracting during my mission, it has been during those times when I've
spent the most time and energy tracting, that the most investigators fell into
my lap or appeared out of nowhere. The Lord's ways and views are higher than
our ways.
Friday, 22 June
We went streeting for several hours again and had five
finds. We met with A (my first program here in Szombathely). She
was baptized last month and we began reviewing Lesson Four with her. We
had a game night for FHE in the evening.
Today, for a miracle, I have chosen a part of our lesson with A.
It is obedience. Thanks for it – for consequences when we do
something wrong and blessings when we do something right. Also, it is a
realization that without obedience, the commandments would be useless.
People joke that "rules are made to be broken." Yet the
truth is the opposite: rules exist to be kept. If no one followed them,
rules (with the commandments included) would be completely worthless.
Saturday, 23 June
Today was filled with tabling. We ran into a
"Bible Hippie" who actually persuaded a couple past investigators to stop
investigating the Church and avoid us. We set up a program with him for
next Wednesday morning. We also talked to a Satanist. He was super
creepy. We had a small meeting in the evening followed by a very
unproductive Fiatal Est. I ended up practicing the piano. In the
evening from our roof, we could hear a concert going on and see fireworks. Today, the miracle is serving as Missionaries
– not being Missionaries, but rather using our time and energy for two years to
serve others and bring temporal and eternal blessings and well-being into their
lives.
Sunday, 24 June
Today was the first time going to Church in Szombathely.
It's a large branch and there's a lot more families here than any other of
my areas except Buda. We actually have several priesthood holders.
Also, I ended up playing the piano again, but only for Priesthood.
After church, Elder Headrick and I went with a member to take the
sacrament to an elderly member of the Branch.
We then went with the other Elders and had lunch with the S family. On the bike ride back, Elder Loveday and I
crashed on the highway when he tried swerving. My bike is a bit messed up,
but I'm fine. I'm just super grateful that there wasn't a car within 5
seconds behind us, or that really could've turned out badly. In the
evening, I organized a surprise birthday conference call, got some other Missionaries
on the line, and then called Elder Moffett so we could all sing "Happy Birthday"
to him. For my miracle today, I'm grateful that the bike accident wasn't
worse; and I echo President Hinckley's gratitude for the women in our lives.
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Monday, June 25, 2012
25 June 2012 Pictures (Bekescsaba)
The Front Door of
Postelek
Underneath Postelek.
(It felt so nice down there. It was over 100 degrees outside; but
underground, it felt 30 degrees cooler.)
Fortified Church in
Doboz
On the Stand inside the Church
Elder Shipp and his new
companion, Elder Headrick
Monday, June 18, 2012
18 June 2012 Letter (Bekescsaba)
Monday, 11 June
The storms are continuing and limiting our options for P-Day. We started with shopping, business, and email. Afterwards we went to one of the two big cathedrals in the middle of town. This was followed by roaming around the Csaba Center. That was actually most of our day, lots of roaming between rain showers. During Family Night we played the bean game. My miracle today is that I received an email of thanks from S. That was very uplifting and encouraging to read. It's kind of ironic how his letter of gratitude made me grateful.
Tuesday, 12 June
I'm in Szeged right now, on splits with Elder Nealy. Today we had three programs. This morning Elder Vandermark and I met with D and had a lesson focused around 1 Nephi 7 & 8. We went to J's for a feeding program and read Alma 22 together. Afterwards, we took care of some Branch House maintenance. When the Zone Leaders arrived we had a short district meeting before Elder Nealy and I rushed back to Szeged for a program. The program went super well and the investigators there were my miracle. There was a mother, daughter, son, and her son's girlfriend. The three in the family have only met with the missionaries five times, but all said they believe the Church is true. That's just the beginning though. They had been researching religions, and found information on our Church, ordered some books and the Restoration Film, and then later, looked-up the number for the Elders here in Szeged, and called them up. So, in addition to looking up and finding the missionaries, they'd all seen the Restoration Film, and had begun reading the Book of Mormon. The mother already finished completely reading the Booking of Mormon, the Gospel Principles book, and a couple pamphlets! Whoa! They came to Sacrament Meeting back on Fast Sunday, and after the Branch President turned the time over to the congregation, the mother was the first one to get up and say she believed and knew most of everything we taught them about Prophets, Apostasy, and Dispensations. The son bore his testimony and the mom said, "This is the true Church of God. I have investigated many churches, but this one is the closest to God. It has the Book of Mormon and I know it is scripture from God." Yep. This has been the best miracle in a good while.
Wednesday, 13 June
Back in Bekescsaba. Two programs today. First was T, an inactive member's wife. Unfortunately she's not progressing, and Elder Nealy and Elder Moffet are planning on dropping her in their next program. We went flyering then met with Z, a really cool young man who has already done some pretty amazing things in life, but isn't quite as amazing when it comes to the gospel. Szeged is a beautiful city. It is a college town and has the most beautiful cathedral I've ever seen.
Thursday, 14 June
This morning and afternoon were entirely free from programs, so we had full studies then went tabling. The Adams came down from Szeged and took our District out to lunch for Sister Barnhart's last Thursday in the country. Afterwards, Elder Vandermark and I went flyering for English Class, which is restarting next week. Our evening concluded the day with a program with G on 1 Nephi 3-6, followed by M talking about Daniel and the Lion's Den, and then a cancellation. The weather was good throughout the whole day and I spent a while cleaning our apartment again. Today's miracle is how much cheaper food is here. At lunch, we went to a nicer sit-down restaurant and were each able to get a soup, small salad, and main dish for the equivalence of about $2.60 a person.
Friday, 15 June (One Year Mark on Mission)
Only one program today, which was with E and her family. We read together the story of the Title of Liberty. It is always a good feeling to be in their home. E, the mother, is a fully active member of the Church, all three of the children are growing up under the gospel and attend primary, and the Sisters are working alongside Edina to help the husband be baptized. Their family is one of the most complete, ideal-feeling families I've met in Hungary. That is my miracle today. We spent the rest of the day tabling and giving out several hundred flyers. We're hoping that they prove fruitful and flood English class with all sorts of new, promising investigators. In the evening my MTC District all did a conference call to commemorate our year-mark. It was nice to talk to them all.
Saturday, 16 June
Spent the day flyering, cleaning the Branch House, and teaching three programs. The first program was the hardest, with B. He's very much gone downhill emotionally and mentally and spiritually to the point where all he was willing to talk about was how he hates everything: his job, his family, his life, the country, everyone in it, etc. We learned he has already fallen back into old habits, and he desperately wants to leave (all of Europe). He has become very disillusioned on "how perfect his life in the States used to be" and that "life can never be good or amount to anything again." The whole time his plea to us was to send him back to America. I realized four main things in this program. First, how much situations, struggles, and desires vary person-to-person. B's desire is to go back to America, but is stuck here, the opposite of F’s back in Buda, who was doing everything in his power to try to get through the struggle of staying here and not having to go back to America. Second, the degree of the results of sin can vary and have very far-reaching effects. For B, one sin has permanently and drastically changed his life. Some people in the world might think that since others are able to break greater commandments and commit larger sins such as adultery, and seemingly escape any punishment within this life, that they would be even safer committing more minor sins. They do not seem to realize that all sins will be suffered for, and not always in the next life. Nor can we predict entirely what that suffering will include. Third, as we all know, the Atonement applies to everyone and every circumstance. Its reach, power, and effects are infinite and eternal. It can heal both the heart and the soul. It can raise anyone far beyond their own capacity. Fourth, it helped solidify and more blatantly show the blessings and the safety of the gospel and all of the commandments in it. My gratitude deepens every time a realization of those blessings hits me and I further recognize them and the happiness they have brought into my life. Stay on the path. The highest way is both the safest and the happiest way. Elder Vandermark and I both pray daily that we can help B change his life and lift it into a much greater plane in the gospel light. Program number two was with M on 2 Kings 22 and the importance of both having and living the scriptures and the laws they contain. Last was G, with whom we read and discussed the first chapter of Mosiah. Today's miracle is that so many people in the world have made the conscious choice to love life. I am one of them.
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The storms are continuing and limiting our options for P-Day. We started with shopping, business, and email. Afterwards we went to one of the two big cathedrals in the middle of town. This was followed by roaming around the Csaba Center. That was actually most of our day, lots of roaming between rain showers. During Family Night we played the bean game. My miracle today is that I received an email of thanks from S. That was very uplifting and encouraging to read. It's kind of ironic how his letter of gratitude made me grateful.
Tuesday, 12 June
I'm in Szeged right now, on splits with Elder Nealy. Today we had three programs. This morning Elder Vandermark and I met with D and had a lesson focused around 1 Nephi 7 & 8. We went to J's for a feeding program and read Alma 22 together. Afterwards, we took care of some Branch House maintenance. When the Zone Leaders arrived we had a short district meeting before Elder Nealy and I rushed back to Szeged for a program. The program went super well and the investigators there were my miracle. There was a mother, daughter, son, and her son's girlfriend. The three in the family have only met with the missionaries five times, but all said they believe the Church is true. That's just the beginning though. They had been researching religions, and found information on our Church, ordered some books and the Restoration Film, and then later, looked-up the number for the Elders here in Szeged, and called them up. So, in addition to looking up and finding the missionaries, they'd all seen the Restoration Film, and had begun reading the Book of Mormon. The mother already finished completely reading the Booking of Mormon, the Gospel Principles book, and a couple pamphlets! Whoa! They came to Sacrament Meeting back on Fast Sunday, and after the Branch President turned the time over to the congregation, the mother was the first one to get up and say she believed and knew most of everything we taught them about Prophets, Apostasy, and Dispensations. The son bore his testimony and the mom said, "This is the true Church of God. I have investigated many churches, but this one is the closest to God. It has the Book of Mormon and I know it is scripture from God." Yep. This has been the best miracle in a good while.
Wednesday, 13 June
Back in Bekescsaba. Two programs today. First was T, an inactive member's wife. Unfortunately she's not progressing, and Elder Nealy and Elder Moffet are planning on dropping her in their next program. We went flyering then met with Z, a really cool young man who has already done some pretty amazing things in life, but isn't quite as amazing when it comes to the gospel. Szeged is a beautiful city. It is a college town and has the most beautiful cathedral I've ever seen.
Thursday, 14 June
This morning and afternoon were entirely free from programs, so we had full studies then went tabling. The Adams came down from Szeged and took our District out to lunch for Sister Barnhart's last Thursday in the country. Afterwards, Elder Vandermark and I went flyering for English Class, which is restarting next week. Our evening concluded the day with a program with G on 1 Nephi 3-6, followed by M talking about Daniel and the Lion's Den, and then a cancellation. The weather was good throughout the whole day and I spent a while cleaning our apartment again. Today's miracle is how much cheaper food is here. At lunch, we went to a nicer sit-down restaurant and were each able to get a soup, small salad, and main dish for the equivalence of about $2.60 a person.
Friday, 15 June (One Year Mark on Mission)
Only one program today, which was with E and her family. We read together the story of the Title of Liberty. It is always a good feeling to be in their home. E, the mother, is a fully active member of the Church, all three of the children are growing up under the gospel and attend primary, and the Sisters are working alongside Edina to help the husband be baptized. Their family is one of the most complete, ideal-feeling families I've met in Hungary. That is my miracle today. We spent the rest of the day tabling and giving out several hundred flyers. We're hoping that they prove fruitful and flood English class with all sorts of new, promising investigators. In the evening my MTC District all did a conference call to commemorate our year-mark. It was nice to talk to them all.
Saturday, 16 June
Spent the day flyering, cleaning the Branch House, and teaching three programs. The first program was the hardest, with B. He's very much gone downhill emotionally and mentally and spiritually to the point where all he was willing to talk about was how he hates everything: his job, his family, his life, the country, everyone in it, etc. We learned he has already fallen back into old habits, and he desperately wants to leave (all of Europe). He has become very disillusioned on "how perfect his life in the States used to be" and that "life can never be good or amount to anything again." The whole time his plea to us was to send him back to America. I realized four main things in this program. First, how much situations, struggles, and desires vary person-to-person. B's desire is to go back to America, but is stuck here, the opposite of F’s back in Buda, who was doing everything in his power to try to get through the struggle of staying here and not having to go back to America. Second, the degree of the results of sin can vary and have very far-reaching effects. For B, one sin has permanently and drastically changed his life. Some people in the world might think that since others are able to break greater commandments and commit larger sins such as adultery, and seemingly escape any punishment within this life, that they would be even safer committing more minor sins. They do not seem to realize that all sins will be suffered for, and not always in the next life. Nor can we predict entirely what that suffering will include. Third, as we all know, the Atonement applies to everyone and every circumstance. Its reach, power, and effects are infinite and eternal. It can heal both the heart and the soul. It can raise anyone far beyond their own capacity. Fourth, it helped solidify and more blatantly show the blessings and the safety of the gospel and all of the commandments in it. My gratitude deepens every time a realization of those blessings hits me and I further recognize them and the happiness they have brought into my life. Stay on the path. The highest way is both the safest and the happiest way. Elder Vandermark and I both pray daily that we can help B change his life and lift it into a much greater plane in the gospel light. Program number two was with M on 2 Kings 22 and the importance of both having and living the scriptures and the laws they contain. Last was G, with whom we read and discussed the first chapter of Mosiah. Today's miracle is that so many people in the world have made the conscious choice to love life. I am one of them.
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012
11 June 2012 Letter (Bekescsaba)
Dear Family and Friends,
This week I hit an achieving mark for my mission. On Thursday, I finished the final page of my first journal. I am now onto the second of the three books. It was slightly strange to finish it. It's weird to think it contains over a year of my life. I began it last year, and have only missed writing about 2 days (both of which were before my mission). When I finished, I spent a while thinking back and being able to remember sitting at home, in the MTC, in Nyiregyhaza, at my desk in Szekesfehervar, in Buda, and now here in Bekescsaba writing in my journal each night. This one book contains the first half of the tale of my mission.
Monday, 4 June
Today was a great day activity-wise. This morning after taking care of Branch business, we went emailing. Afterwards, we met with the Sister Missionaries and biked out to Gyula. On the way out, Elder Vandermark and I learned how to ride with no handlebars. Once we arrived out there, we left our bikes and just walked around. Gyula's a really small, but nice tourist town. The balvaros is probably the best I've seen. After a while of roaming, we found our way to Gyula Castle. This one was an actual castle, and the second medieval-looking one I've seen (with Buda Castle being the first). I loved it. If I stay in the area, we'll go out there again next transfer as it was closed and we couldn't go inside. After the castle, we resumed wandering around town. We found a fountain you can walk under, which felt really good (as there was a mist underneath). We finished our Gyula experience with a visit to the Hamburger Bar, and biked back. Something about the bike ride I forgot to write is that the bike-ride only takes about 45 minutes, and half of it is through a path alongside a small river where you are surrounded by trees and bushes on both sides. The bike ride itself was one of the most enjoyable parts. My miracle today is that, in the end, all will work out. With the Plan of Happiness, all will, one day, end well. Our day today, like the path of life, ended with a blessing. After everything was done, and we had made it back to our apartment, one of the biggest thunderstorms I've seen since being here started and continued all through the night, with flashes of lightning every few minutes, some of them waking us both during the night. (I'm glad it waited until the evening to rain.)
Tuesday, 5 June
Four programs today. First was with E about the temple trip. Second was with E on the sacrament. Our third program was with G on 1 Nephi 17. Last was with B on Baptism and the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ. She still very much wants to get baptized and is happy that we only have 3 or 4 programs left. She'll probably be baptized next month. We're praying for her. My miracle today is that one day, at the appointed time, we will be judged by our Heavenly Father and will be granted those things "according to [our] wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction." It's up to us. We have been given our agency and that will determine what kind of eternity we will ultimately receive.
Wednesday, 6 June
Three programs and one cancellation today. D was first. We went over 1 Nephi 1 with her, talked about her trip to Italy, and wished her luck on her big oral exam on Saturday. We went to E’s again, and were able to get her registered for the temple trip. M was last on endurance. Today we also managed to get a good amount of flyers passed out and an advertisement in the newspaper. I'm having trouble recognizing a miracle today. The main thing coming to my mind is that E will get to enjoy some of the blessings of the temple, and that members who don't have a temple in their land can travel and attend ones in nearby or even distant lands.
Thursday, 7 June
Today was my last Zone Conference and interview with President Baughman. We caught the train to Szeged early in the morning, then started with President Baughman's training on Leadership Principles, followed by Sister Baughman's on the commonality of sins which are committed by both disobedience and perfectionism. The Assistants gave one on Finding, and the Zone Leaders finished with Teaching. We made it back just in time for Angolora. I tried to challenge all of my class to meet with us to learn the gospel, but none accepted the challenge. My miracle is that the Spirit can work through all five senses: sight - visions and illusions; hearing - still, small voice/visions; touch - tingling or burning; taste ~ eh, speak by power; smell - some things just "smell" wrong or bad.
Friday, 8 June
My first entry in my second Journal! Hopefully this journal becomes filled with things as meaningful to me as the last. Today we spent up in Pest. We took an early morning train and were joined by Elder Swett and Elder Wright in Szolnok. Upon arriving we made a few shopping detours before being joined by Elder Wiscombe, Elder Carlsen, and R. After that we just walked and talked with R, mainly about his wedding, our reason for being up there. R is from France, but served his mission here in Hungary, and was companions with Elders Vandermark and Wiscombe (R was his trainer), and served around Edlers Wright and Carlsen. He was engaged, and is now married to a member here. The actual wedding happened around 12:30. (The ceremony lasted only ten minutes.) It was a really interesting experience. It was the second wedding ceremony I've ever been to, with the other being one of my aunt's. All the music I recognized from the Bella Tuscany Symphony, and the song during the actual wedding was Pachelbel’s Canon in D. It was an interesting thought to suppose that I could still be a missionary when Elders Vandermark, Molnar, and Moffett all get married. R finished his mission the day I arrived in the country, about nine months ago, and all of them will have been home for nine months before I finish my mission. It's definitely possible. After the wedding, we went and got lunch with E from Nyiregyhaza, and I took some time there to write a short message and testimony in my Hungarian copy of "True to the Faith", which I gave to the ZL's to give to Elder Reese, to then give to S at his baptism tomorrow. My miracle today is that although I haven't been able to see any of my investigators being baptized, the third one is about to. I have now, however, had the opportunity to see a marriage and the start of what will be an eternal family on my mission. Lastly, today was Sister Baughman's birthday. I'm thankful for all she does for us, as well as all the love and support she gives President Baughman.
Saturday, 9 June
Three programs today. First was with E. Second was with M on the story of Nehemiah. Last was G, talking about King Lamoni's father. Today was ridiculously hot, and we literally fulfilled the Lord's words to Adam, "by the sweat of they face shalt thou eat bread." We were sweating all right. In the evening there was a big thunderstorm. However, the first hour it was just lightning from cloud-to-cloud with neither thunder nor rain. However, later it did end up raining hard. S was baptized today. Yay! One of my investigators has been baptized in each area I've been in. My miracle today is the Word of Wisdom that not only helps improve health, but causes me to avoid being drunk or hung-over.
Sunday, 10 June
Thunderstorms continued today (rain has been on and off). Our only program today was church. The Zone Leaders, Elder Nealy and Elder Moffet, came and were our two speakers in Sacrament Meeting. My piano playing is continuing to progress, although not as fast, as I haven't had much time to practice recently. My miracle today is water. Today it is as necessary as it ever has been, but it's so much more convenient and accessible. We no longer have to walk one or two miles to a stream or well and haul back buckets to get it.
That's all I have for this week. Went to a wedding, S was baptized, and also had Zone Conferences. Quite a decent week. Email you all again next week. I look forward to reading all of your emails.
Sok Szeretettel,
Shipp Elder
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This week I hit an achieving mark for my mission. On Thursday, I finished the final page of my first journal. I am now onto the second of the three books. It was slightly strange to finish it. It's weird to think it contains over a year of my life. I began it last year, and have only missed writing about 2 days (both of which were before my mission). When I finished, I spent a while thinking back and being able to remember sitting at home, in the MTC, in Nyiregyhaza, at my desk in Szekesfehervar, in Buda, and now here in Bekescsaba writing in my journal each night. This one book contains the first half of the tale of my mission.
Monday, 4 June
Today was a great day activity-wise. This morning after taking care of Branch business, we went emailing. Afterwards, we met with the Sister Missionaries and biked out to Gyula. On the way out, Elder Vandermark and I learned how to ride with no handlebars. Once we arrived out there, we left our bikes and just walked around. Gyula's a really small, but nice tourist town. The balvaros is probably the best I've seen. After a while of roaming, we found our way to Gyula Castle. This one was an actual castle, and the second medieval-looking one I've seen (with Buda Castle being the first). I loved it. If I stay in the area, we'll go out there again next transfer as it was closed and we couldn't go inside. After the castle, we resumed wandering around town. We found a fountain you can walk under, which felt really good (as there was a mist underneath). We finished our Gyula experience with a visit to the Hamburger Bar, and biked back. Something about the bike ride I forgot to write is that the bike-ride only takes about 45 minutes, and half of it is through a path alongside a small river where you are surrounded by trees and bushes on both sides. The bike ride itself was one of the most enjoyable parts. My miracle today is that, in the end, all will work out. With the Plan of Happiness, all will, one day, end well. Our day today, like the path of life, ended with a blessing. After everything was done, and we had made it back to our apartment, one of the biggest thunderstorms I've seen since being here started and continued all through the night, with flashes of lightning every few minutes, some of them waking us both during the night. (I'm glad it waited until the evening to rain.)
Tuesday, 5 June
Four programs today. First was with E about the temple trip. Second was with E on the sacrament. Our third program was with G on 1 Nephi 17. Last was with B on Baptism and the Doctrine and Gospel of Christ. She still very much wants to get baptized and is happy that we only have 3 or 4 programs left. She'll probably be baptized next month. We're praying for her. My miracle today is that one day, at the appointed time, we will be judged by our Heavenly Father and will be granted those things "according to [our] wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction." It's up to us. We have been given our agency and that will determine what kind of eternity we will ultimately receive.
Wednesday, 6 June
Three programs and one cancellation today. D was first. We went over 1 Nephi 1 with her, talked about her trip to Italy, and wished her luck on her big oral exam on Saturday. We went to E’s again, and were able to get her registered for the temple trip. M was last on endurance. Today we also managed to get a good amount of flyers passed out and an advertisement in the newspaper. I'm having trouble recognizing a miracle today. The main thing coming to my mind is that E will get to enjoy some of the blessings of the temple, and that members who don't have a temple in their land can travel and attend ones in nearby or even distant lands.
Thursday, 7 June
Today was my last Zone Conference and interview with President Baughman. We caught the train to Szeged early in the morning, then started with President Baughman's training on Leadership Principles, followed by Sister Baughman's on the commonality of sins which are committed by both disobedience and perfectionism. The Assistants gave one on Finding, and the Zone Leaders finished with Teaching. We made it back just in time for Angolora. I tried to challenge all of my class to meet with us to learn the gospel, but none accepted the challenge. My miracle is that the Spirit can work through all five senses: sight - visions and illusions; hearing - still, small voice/visions; touch - tingling or burning; taste ~ eh, speak by power; smell - some things just "smell" wrong or bad.
Friday, 8 June
My first entry in my second Journal! Hopefully this journal becomes filled with things as meaningful to me as the last. Today we spent up in Pest. We took an early morning train and were joined by Elder Swett and Elder Wright in Szolnok. Upon arriving we made a few shopping detours before being joined by Elder Wiscombe, Elder Carlsen, and R. After that we just walked and talked with R, mainly about his wedding, our reason for being up there. R is from France, but served his mission here in Hungary, and was companions with Elders Vandermark and Wiscombe (R was his trainer), and served around Edlers Wright and Carlsen. He was engaged, and is now married to a member here. The actual wedding happened around 12:30. (The ceremony lasted only ten minutes.) It was a really interesting experience. It was the second wedding ceremony I've ever been to, with the other being one of my aunt's. All the music I recognized from the Bella Tuscany Symphony, and the song during the actual wedding was Pachelbel’s Canon in D. It was an interesting thought to suppose that I could still be a missionary when Elders Vandermark, Molnar, and Moffett all get married. R finished his mission the day I arrived in the country, about nine months ago, and all of them will have been home for nine months before I finish my mission. It's definitely possible. After the wedding, we went and got lunch with E from Nyiregyhaza, and I took some time there to write a short message and testimony in my Hungarian copy of "True to the Faith", which I gave to the ZL's to give to Elder Reese, to then give to S at his baptism tomorrow. My miracle today is that although I haven't been able to see any of my investigators being baptized, the third one is about to. I have now, however, had the opportunity to see a marriage and the start of what will be an eternal family on my mission. Lastly, today was Sister Baughman's birthday. I'm thankful for all she does for us, as well as all the love and support she gives President Baughman.
Saturday, 9 June
Three programs today. First was with E. Second was with M on the story of Nehemiah. Last was G, talking about King Lamoni's father. Today was ridiculously hot, and we literally fulfilled the Lord's words to Adam, "by the sweat of they face shalt thou eat bread." We were sweating all right. In the evening there was a big thunderstorm. However, the first hour it was just lightning from cloud-to-cloud with neither thunder nor rain. However, later it did end up raining hard. S was baptized today. Yay! One of my investigators has been baptized in each area I've been in. My miracle today is the Word of Wisdom that not only helps improve health, but causes me to avoid being drunk or hung-over.
Sunday, 10 June
Thunderstorms continued today (rain has been on and off). Our only program today was church. The Zone Leaders, Elder Nealy and Elder Moffet, came and were our two speakers in Sacrament Meeting. My piano playing is continuing to progress, although not as fast, as I haven't had much time to practice recently. My miracle today is water. Today it is as necessary as it ever has been, but it's so much more convenient and accessible. We no longer have to walk one or two miles to a stream or well and haul back buckets to get it.
That's all I have for this week. Went to a wedding, S was baptized, and also had Zone Conferences. Quite a decent week. Email you all again next week. I look forward to reading all of your emails.
Sok Szeretettel,
Shipp Elder
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Monday, June 4, 2012
4 June 2012 Letter (Bekescsaba)
Tuesday, 29 May
Three programs today. We actually started our day by going to the bank and then the newspaper office so that D could help us get an advertisement for English Class in the paper. We then met with E and had a lesson on Happiness and Joy. Afterwards, Elder Vandermark and I left D and rode our bikes out to try to squeeze emailing into our day. When we got back, we had lunch with D and went with him to the train station. Now that he’s gone, it's back to just the two of us. I'm glad D came. To be honest I was really impressed by him. His great help to the work, sense of humor, love to talk, willingness to discard humanly pride to help others smile and have a good, yet clean time, his teaching skills and testimony, and his love for his fellow Hungarians is a great miracle. After we saw D off, we met with B. B got his old job back after talking to both his bosses. They are now on better terms and more respecting and understanding of each other. He is also doing well on his reading and praying. Our last lesson was with M on the Plan of Salvation. Every now and then, it's best to just review the basics.
Wednesday, 30 May
W met with E, E, and K. All three programs varied in detail, but the root message of the main parts of each of them focused on Sin and Sorrow versus Righteousness and Joy. Today, pictures win the miracle-seat. They allow me to see my friends' and family's faces almost anytime. I can hang pictures of Christ or Temples above my desk and bed. And they can help preserve the memories I make here.
Thursday, 31 May
Two programs, two cancellations. With G we discussed the stories in the first few chapters of 1 Nephi. In Angolora, we spent a while talking about service in an open discussion and I ended sharing a part of King Benjamin's teachings on the same subject. I haven't written anything in my Book of 1000 and 1 Testimonies for several weeks now. The Liahona-a-day is keeping me busy. Today has left my soul very weary. I greatly sought knowledge and put effort into learning, applying, and trying to feel the Atonement. I felt its healing power and its humbling power more this morning than almost any other time in my life. I hope this morning's trials and searching will eternally change me. I need it. With the knowledge, gifts, opportunities, and circumstances I have been given, I often feel that I am and have been living below my potential and where I need to and should be. Yet today I know I made progress and that's my miracle. I just hope it proves to be lasting. This evening reflecting on it, I have noticed that I feel greater love, from both the Savior as well as from those back home.
Friday, 1 June
Two programs today, but one cancelled. First was M. We still aren't quite sure what his thoughts are about moving to Austria. It sounds like he's still planning on it, he just doesn't know when. We gave him a Book of Mormon and a Liahona and used the big picture in it to discuss and teach Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life. Second was Institute. Usually there are only 5-6 of us, however today there were 8. We read different parts of Psalms concerning prophecies of Christ, and then jumped to the New Testament to read about the fulfilling of them.
Saturday, 2 June
Today can be broken down into three parts. We started off our day with studies, so for me, reading Liahona's. The second part was a Branch Bogracs/Picnic. Elder Vandermark and I went over early to help start getting the food cooking and set things up. It was a good thing we did; the food took five hours to cook. In the meanwhile, we all talked, played with the dog, cat, and kitten, and played a card game called "Ligretto", during which I earned the nickname "Vilam Kez" (translates to "Lightning Hands"). My miracle was that over 25 people showed up, including B, K, and M. It was also cool that it was my first Bogracs, delicious, and fed all of us, with there even being food left over. The last stage of the day was clean-up. Elder Vandermark and I stayed until after 8:00 cleaning up the picnic, then the two of us biked back and cleaned the Branch House until 9:30. Yay cleaning. Today's Bogracs was a good meal to have before tomorrow's Fast Sunday.
Sunday, 3 June
Today is my halfway point. 354 Days gone and 354 Days to go. This has all been so fast. This morning waking up at 3, 4, and 6:00 I discovered I am sick. I've found that the only two times I really allow myself to sleep-in on my mission are Super P-Days and when I'm sick. Luckily I'm already starting to feel better. Fast and Testimony Meeting was pretty good today. A good number of members shared their testimonies, as well as B. My miracle today was a realization that I have made and had friends in every major area of my life: as a child, elementary school, junior high, high school, in our cul-de-sac, at church, in fencing, at college, and now during my mission. While I may feel alone and the odd-one-out at times, Heavenly Father has never suffered me to actually be alone. That's always a happy thought for me to remember.
That's all for this week. We're going to try to go to Gyula and to a castle today. Hope you all have a good day too.
Szeretettel,
Shipp Elder
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
Three programs today. We actually started our day by going to the bank and then the newspaper office so that D could help us get an advertisement for English Class in the paper. We then met with E and had a lesson on Happiness and Joy. Afterwards, Elder Vandermark and I left D and rode our bikes out to try to squeeze emailing into our day. When we got back, we had lunch with D and went with him to the train station. Now that he’s gone, it's back to just the two of us. I'm glad D came. To be honest I was really impressed by him. His great help to the work, sense of humor, love to talk, willingness to discard humanly pride to help others smile and have a good, yet clean time, his teaching skills and testimony, and his love for his fellow Hungarians is a great miracle. After we saw D off, we met with B. B got his old job back after talking to both his bosses. They are now on better terms and more respecting and understanding of each other. He is also doing well on his reading and praying. Our last lesson was with M on the Plan of Salvation. Every now and then, it's best to just review the basics.
Wednesday, 30 May
W met with E, E, and K. All three programs varied in detail, but the root message of the main parts of each of them focused on Sin and Sorrow versus Righteousness and Joy. Today, pictures win the miracle-seat. They allow me to see my friends' and family's faces almost anytime. I can hang pictures of Christ or Temples above my desk and bed. And they can help preserve the memories I make here.
Thursday, 31 May
Two programs, two cancellations. With G we discussed the stories in the first few chapters of 1 Nephi. In Angolora, we spent a while talking about service in an open discussion and I ended sharing a part of King Benjamin's teachings on the same subject. I haven't written anything in my Book of 1000 and 1 Testimonies for several weeks now. The Liahona-a-day is keeping me busy. Today has left my soul very weary. I greatly sought knowledge and put effort into learning, applying, and trying to feel the Atonement. I felt its healing power and its humbling power more this morning than almost any other time in my life. I hope this morning's trials and searching will eternally change me. I need it. With the knowledge, gifts, opportunities, and circumstances I have been given, I often feel that I am and have been living below my potential and where I need to and should be. Yet today I know I made progress and that's my miracle. I just hope it proves to be lasting. This evening reflecting on it, I have noticed that I feel greater love, from both the Savior as well as from those back home.
Friday, 1 June
Two programs today, but one cancelled. First was M. We still aren't quite sure what his thoughts are about moving to Austria. It sounds like he's still planning on it, he just doesn't know when. We gave him a Book of Mormon and a Liahona and used the big picture in it to discuss and teach Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life. Second was Institute. Usually there are only 5-6 of us, however today there were 8. We read different parts of Psalms concerning prophecies of Christ, and then jumped to the New Testament to read about the fulfilling of them.
Saturday, 2 June
Today can be broken down into three parts. We started off our day with studies, so for me, reading Liahona's. The second part was a Branch Bogracs/Picnic. Elder Vandermark and I went over early to help start getting the food cooking and set things up. It was a good thing we did; the food took five hours to cook. In the meanwhile, we all talked, played with the dog, cat, and kitten, and played a card game called "Ligretto", during which I earned the nickname "Vilam Kez" (translates to "Lightning Hands"). My miracle was that over 25 people showed up, including B, K, and M. It was also cool that it was my first Bogracs, delicious, and fed all of us, with there even being food left over. The last stage of the day was clean-up. Elder Vandermark and I stayed until after 8:00 cleaning up the picnic, then the two of us biked back and cleaned the Branch House until 9:30. Yay cleaning. Today's Bogracs was a good meal to have before tomorrow's Fast Sunday.
Sunday, 3 June
Today is my halfway point. 354 Days gone and 354 Days to go. This has all been so fast. This morning waking up at 3, 4, and 6:00 I discovered I am sick. I've found that the only two times I really allow myself to sleep-in on my mission are Super P-Days and when I'm sick. Luckily I'm already starting to feel better. Fast and Testimony Meeting was pretty good today. A good number of members shared their testimonies, as well as B. My miracle today was a realization that I have made and had friends in every major area of my life: as a child, elementary school, junior high, high school, in our cul-de-sac, at church, in fencing, at college, and now during my mission. While I may feel alone and the odd-one-out at times, Heavenly Father has never suffered me to actually be alone. That's always a happy thought for me to remember.
That's all for this week. We're going to try to go to Gyula and to a castle today. Hope you all have a good day too.
Szeretettel,
Shipp Elder
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
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