Tuesday, 22
January
Two dogs today and one reschedule. We met with I this
morning and talked about repentance. Despite it all being in English, Elder
McCurdy found that it was still very hard to teach. However, I think I found
the chink on which I is getting stuck. He is not sure that honesty, virtue,
good desires, and righteous living can actually be learned by anyone. He
believes something similar to the idea that some people are inherently evil or
dishonest, or more prone to steal. And he’s not sure that can be overcome in
this life. During the conversation,
three examples he expressed were how if it really was possible to learn all
this and change, then why doesn’t everyone? As well as that there are people
who go to jail over, and over, and over again, sometimes for the same crime.
Why don’t they change? Thirdly, why do some races and nationalities have such a
higher crime rate, even within the same country? (He used America as an
example). I’m pretty sure this is what’s blocking him and our next big
obstacle. I don’t fully know how to tackle this. Later during the day I made calls from the
Area Book. I offered to let Elder McCurdy try, but got a very quick no way in
response. I have a slight hunch it might be because of the language. (I never
made calls when I was in my first area either). At Angolora no one came to
Profi, and only one old Kezdo student returned. However, in Halado I had seven,
one of which was A. It was good to re-establish contact with him. After Angolora, we met with H. We covered the
second half of the Plan of Salvation in a discussion that went really well. E
was there again. H never prays, so that is the next big step we are trying to
help her take.
My miracle today is a reflection on I’s progress, or
rather how he progresses. It is very much as our typical Church line says,
small and simply and step by step. It will most likely continue step-by-step
for at least a while longer.
Wednesday, 23
January
One cancellation and one dog today. (This was the third
time G dogged, so we will not be setting-up with him again). We met with E for
the second time. We talked about the Restoration of the Gospel. Our program
went very well. Later we went with the Sisters to two newspaper places. It
looks like we will be able to put a little ad in each of them for the next four
weeks. Hopefully that helps our English Class. In the evening we had Seminary,
focusing on Luke 24 and the Resurrection. In the late evening we took a little
time to clean our apartment.
Small miracle: Elder McCurdy will have his first real
split tomorrow going to Kecskemet with Elder Shuck, who is only in his 3rd
transfer.
Thursday, 24
January
Splits were today. This morning we went to Kecskemet, and
Elder Loveday and I returned to Szolnok. We had a program with A. She had
questions for us which was great. She didn’t know what the footnotes were, so
we taught her and showed her how to use them. She also asked where in the Book
of Mormon the stories about Adam, Eve, Abraham, Moses, etc were. So, we had the
opportunity to talk more about the purpose of the Book of Mormon and its
differences from the Bible. After helping to answer her questions, we taught
the first half of the Plan of Salvation. We will be meeting with her again on
Saturday to finish the second half.
Friday, 25 January
Today was a good day. We had our District Meeting this
morning. Sister Behunin chose Reflections for an activity. Although we did the
exact same thing two-three weeks ago, five of the eight here are new. It turned
out well. The training itself was on Preach My Gospel. To help us become better
Preach My Gospel Missionaries we used the time to try to answer every question
any of us came up with concerning PMG. We discussed 18 questions and answered
all but one, which we can ask President Smith on Sunday when he comes. After District Meeting we split back. Elder
McCurdy and I took some time to plan out what we wanted to teach in a couple
programs. In the evening we met with B and Z. We were all together at first,
but later the Sisters took B into the kitchen to meet with her while we met
with Z. In our program with Z we began by discussing faith and hope; defining
them; asking what we have them in. Z failed to ever say anything about hoping
he could quit smoking, or faith that he could, or anything relating to smoking
for that matter. I pointed this out to him and we used this to transition into
the Word of Wisdom. I asked if he had the faith to quick smoking, and he said
he wasn’t sure. So we sat in silence for around 7-8 minutes while he figured
out if he did or not. He finally said yes.
So, we outlined a plan to stop smoking. Z committed one at a time to
each step of the plan. At the end, as the last step of the plan, Elder McCurdy
challenged Z to prepare to be baptized by March 2. And Z accepted that too.
Maybe this will finally be it. I’m not sure we can lighten up before that date
lest he relapse.
The miracle of today is all on Z and this renewed effort,
as well as Elder McCurdy’s opportunity to put an investigator on Baptismal Date
within his first ten days in the country.
Saturday, 26
January
One dog. We met with A this morning. It was good to
finally begin meeting with him again. We helped him learn about the first half
of the Plan of Salvation. A has continued to pray daily and read from the Book
of Mormon once or twice a week. We then met with H, along with T and her
daughter, T. It was a good chance to meet the second two. It was also Elder
McCurdy’s first feeding program. Back at
the Branch House we met with A. I came again to help. We finished talking about
the Plan of Salvation and have begun to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. After
our program was a Family History Activity led by P. A stayed for it and Z came
as well. Following the activity we had Choir Practice. We then met with D. She
teaches English and French to the military here in Szolnok. We invited the
Sisters to the program and at the end gave her over to the Sisters. Tomorrow is Branch Conference. We have had
nine investigators say they will come. That would be nice.
Lastly, today’s miracle, the Elders in Kecskemet have had
an investigator who has been around for over a year and who, during that time,
has kept commandments and been coming to church for months, yet has always
rejected any invitations to be baptized that the elders have extended. However,
tonight she called Elder Loveday and said that she’s thought about it and would
like to be baptized within the next couple weeks. We would all like to see her
be baptized during this coming month.
Sunday, 27 January
Branch Conference was today. We had a priesthood meeting
this morning and the Mission Presidency arrived part-way through it. A, I, and
S all came afterwards to Sacrament Meeting. After Sacrament Meeting, I
introduced I to President Smith, and I asked if they could discuss a few
questions. The two of them talked all through Sunday School. That was very kind
of President Smith to spend 45 minutes to help our investigator. We then had Priesthood Meeting in which
President Balatoni gave the lesson. Csaba was then ordained to the Melchizedek
Priesthood. Our church meetings ended by being interviewed by President Smith.
Elder McCurdy and I returned to our apartment to plan and study. A couple last notes today: I have a lot to
email tomorrow (aka today). President Hickley passed away five years ago, as of
today.
Lastly, my miracle; this last week I more fully realized
the importance of teaching our investigators about the Resurrection as I had
the opportunity to teach the concept of receiving a perfect body to someone who
has had a physical handicap throughout their life.
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