27 February 2012 Letter (Budapest)

Dear Family,

Right now there’s a big argument going on nearby.  The manager has even had to come out, and it sounds like he’s threatening to fire the front worker; and two people might end up getting thrown out of the place.  The Police just arrived.  Hopefully it doesn’t work its way in this direction.  Blaugh

Monday, 20 February

Today was my first P-Day in Buda.  We spent all day with Elders Mathews and Pendleton, and were joined by Elders Christensen and Anderson and Sisters Skiba and Mills for half of it.  We spent some time at the “West End” mall, and wandered around to other parts of Budapest.  My miracle today was a small, free Zoo we walked through on an island in the middle of the Duna.  In the evening we went emailing, and due to the events of the day and the new schedule, I had left my letters from last week back at the apartment so I couldn’t email as much….oops!

Tuesday, 21 February

Finished the “Teachings of Wilford Woodruff” today, but haven’t been able to find one for Lorenzo Snow; I’m not even sure it exists.  We made calls out of the old Finding Sheets for several hours.  Found one or two that might set up.  We also went tracting for two or three hours, but got nothing.  We tried going to a University to see about helping with English or any other opportunities, but that failed miserably.  My miracle today was finding over sixty Libraries in our II and XII District to try to contact to hold an Angolora class.  I narrowed down the list to the fifteen most promising, which we will contact tomorrow.  Last of all, I heard that Dad’s beard is coming back in full force.  I had not known.

Wednesday, 22 February

Well, the snow is all gone, as is our hope of teaching Angolora at a Library.  We managed to contact them all through calls or visits.  Only one granted us permission; but upon further inquiries and verification, we learned they only had a small room where we could seat up to three other people.  So, we might try holding some private lessons there, but I think we’ll try to organize a new Angolora on a different night at the Mission Home instead.  My miracle today was that Sister Smith invited and treated Elder Reese and me to dinner.  She’s very open, and I really enjoyed talking with her.

I have one last thing I’d like to record.  I’m not sure when the last time I wrote this was, but it’s been too long.  Perhaps I could try to blame it on my already saying it so often everyday to people while streeting or tracting; but in the end, that is no excuse, and is shameful that I haven’t written it “just one more time”.  So, enough with the slothful shame: The Church is true.  Jesus is the Christ.  The Book of Mormon and the Bible are his words.    God loves us.  The Plan of Salvation was made for each and every one of us.  We can all, any and every one, partake of eternal life.  Shall we not go on in so great a cause?  Let us arise, and shine forth; following our Captain, in the footsteps of the ancients.

Thursday, 23 February

Today we met with a man named A who we managed to set-up from the Area Book.  Like the Area Book said, we met with him; and he has a testimony; he’s read the Book of Mormon, as well as prayed about it; however, his wife and family have always been openly and aggressively against it.  To not cause too big of problems with his wife, he had told her this was the only time he would meet with us and mostly to say “Hello”.  So, we’re not quite sure how to get through, but we gave him a lot of reading material that he can learn from without us, hoping his family doesn’t confiscate or burn it.  We had also arranged one other program with another new person, but he dogged us.  We tried streeting for 2-3 hours, but it was a near failure with only a single email we managed to receive.

Today I came up with a short analogy comparing life to the seasons of the year.  When a new year is born, it starts partially through winter.  In this fresh state of our lives, things are white and simple; it is also harder to get places and we aren’t able to do as much as the other seasons and the rest of our lives.  We then advance to the next season: the Springtime of our Youth.  During this time, we begin to bud, grow, and develop.  This is the first time that individual color and variety begin to appear in the world.  Then comes Summer with its full days, often of intense heat.  Whereas in Spring the weather was a rolling, mild calm, and school was in session, people were learning and preparing; in Summer things are in full bloom.  School is over, and the entire day is open to work.  The public is often outside, and the world is often hot.  Then comes Fall, the retirement.  You begin to rest from your labors with age, and watch as a new school-year starts for the next generation.  Finally, last of all, the year ends with the second half of winter.  Like the winter of birth at the start of the year, things become more basic and simple.  You aren’t able to do as much, get around as fast, and the days are continually getting shorter with your going to bed earlier.  Until, at last, Winter, the year, and life ends.

I met the new senior couple going to Szekes: the Cromars.  Within a few moments of talking to him, I learned he went to Pleasant Grove High School, and told him I did the same.  I asked him if he knew my grandparents.  He said he knew both.  He also said something about Royal West, but I wasn’t familiar with that name.  Still, it was cool to talk to him.

My miracle today was having the opportunity to meet with A, even if his wife didn’t want us to.

Friday, 24 February

Today was Zone Conference and Interviews.  It was the first time that I didn’t have to travel for it.  It also seemed to go by quicker than usual.  President Baughman gave the training, focusing on Chapter Two in “Preach My Gospel”, which I really enjoyed.  I also thoroughly enjoyed Elder Saunder’s short training about our online resources.  I’m glad to see someone much more competent than I really working on it, trying to improve and spread it.  It’s already beginning to work.  Last of all and my miracle today: in the evening, Elder Reese and I were assigned to give the spiritual thought at Gofri Est.  While there weren’t any Gofri’s (waffles), it was really cool to have the chance to go.  There were 20 or so youth there, and I got to talk with a few of them.

Saturday, 25 February

This morning I slept through the alarm…oops!  Many more phone calls today, and we managed to schedule two more programs and possibly a third.  We went tracting for three hours again, but didn’t get a single number or let-in.  This evening was the first night for a “Waters of Mormon” class.  Only one investigator (for our entire district) showed up, but it went well.  My miracle was the last part, as we went around the circle and eight Missionaries (including myself) bore our testimonies.  Hopefully we made up for quantity with quality and really helped that investigator have a spiritually-uplifting experience.  We finished our evening with a meeting.  It’s past 11:00pm.  I’ve now slept in as well as stayed up late, so I’m going to go find sackcloth and ashes so that I can repent and go to bed.  Good Night!

Sunday, 26 February

Today was a crazy day for a Sunday.  I had a member come up to me before Sacrament Meeting and tell me that she brought a non-member friend, and wanted me to give him a Book of Mormon.  Now, having only been in this Ward for one Sunday, and only knowing about a generous 10% of the members, I automatically assumed the person she walked over to right after talking to me was her friend.  So, I did my Missionary duty, marched on over and began talking to him and offered him a Book of Mormon.  Those first five to ten seconds went fine until he said that he already had one, followed by “I’m a member.  I’ve been a member for 8 or 9 years.”  How do you respond to that?  The girl burst out laughing.  I awkwardly apologized; talked to him a little more to get to know him a little better, and then said it was great to meet him.  Then, the girl showed me whom she had brought.  The second try went much, much smoother.  The investigator seemed to really enjoy Church and Sacrament Meeting.  A fun miracle was that a member of the Stake Presidency came and spoke today, and right in the middle of his talk, he told everyone: “The Stake President has asked that we all feed the missionaries more.  Please feed them more often.  Invite them over to your houses; spend some time with them, and get to know them better.  You will feel more comfortable trusting your friends and family to people you know.”  Yes!  That was a very funny and nice thing to hear.  After Church, all the Missionaries, including myself, were asked to help with the Ward Choir.  Our choir will be singing at the end of the Open House for the Pest building next Saturday, and they needed the Missionaries to help and boost the number of men in the choir from 2 to 12 (to try to catch up to the women, and help it be more than just a duet).  So, we practiced singing Hungarian hymns for 2 ½ hours. Finally, I had the question come to me: “Why do Paul and some people say “Christ Jesus”?”.  The thought occurred to me that “Christ” is a title, while “Jesus” was His name; so it would be like Mr. Smith, Mrs. Anderson, Elder Shipp, Lord Cunningham, or Queen Elizabeth.  So, then the question arises, “Why do most of the Christian community say “Jesus Christ”?”  I’m still working on this one.

One week from Wednesday Elder Christofferson (of the Twelve) is coming.  I’ll get to hear him in a fireside as well as a conference he’s holding with our whole mission.  I’m looking forward to that!

Out of time.  Love you all!

Szeretettel,

Shipp Elder

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20 February 2012 Letter (Budapest)

Monday, 13 February

Today was a very long and surprising P-Day.  This morning we received transfer calls: Elder Molnar is going to be a Zone Leader in Gyor, and I'm opening up a new companionship area in Buda with Elder Reese.  The only things I've heard about it are that we're getting the Sisters' old apartment (which sounds promising, since Sisters often get nicer places than Elders), it had been a very dead area when missionaries were there in the past, and that we're starting from ground zero with no investigators or finds.  Our companionship here in Szekes is actually closing – no new missionaries are coming to replace us.  This is now the second area in-a-row that Elder Molnar has closed, and I'm going from closing a companionship to opening one.  The other Elders (Remy and Peterson) have mixed feelings.  They're going to be alone in the area, have to pull off the Book of Mormon Art Show alone, as well as Angolora and any other big projects they try to do.  However, they inherited our work, boosting them from five scheduled programs this week to 19.  So, they'll be busy this coming transfer.  There is also a new senior couple coming in a week or two to either Szekesfehervar or Veszprem.  Being here in Szekes is my miracle.  Today I spent emailing, followed by a visit to the Basilica.  I found out that the UPenn Men’s Fencing Team is undefeated 17-0 having beaten Penn State, making them the only undefeated Division1-A Fencing Team!  Way to go Penn!  We had two programs today.  The first was with the three girls.  We told them "Farewell" and had the other Elders join us in the program so we could hand them off.  K and N have continued to read and to pray, and both committed to come to Church this weekend.  We also met with L and passed him off.  His program was great and he said he really wants to be baptized.  We tried to arrange a baptismal date right there, but he said he wants to wait and think a little more before picking a specific date.

Tuesday, 14 February

Happy Valentine’s Day!  This holiday feels slightly stranger as a missionary; not too much though.  By 9:30 this morning I had finished packing; however, we need our apartment spotless, and our Area Book and Find Sheets filled out and organized and ready to give to the other companionship.  Elder Molnar and I went to a coin shop where I got some of the three previous currencies used in Hungary.  We also got pictures with the other Elders, and the sheep of Szekes.  We had two more farewells with our investigators, passing them off.  The first was I and his family, who we found out, was born in one of the new areas: Nagykanizsia.  The rest of his family still live out there along with many of his relatives, and he said he would be willing to give their information so that we could get them to the Elders going there as referrals.  We also saw R, who came in the evening to say goodbye.  The Branch threw a Farewell Surprise Part for F, who's moving to England.  The surprise part could've used some work.  At the party, most of the members found out that Elder Molnar and I are both leaving and were all disappointed about there only being two missionaries left.  Things will be interesting.  My miracle today was remembering and seeing so many of the investigators who I've taught and met with for the past several weeks.  Finally, something I learned during our second lesson with I, but never remembered to record, was that several years ago, he had two strokes that left him bed-ridden and partially paralyzed for some time.  After not too long though, he made a full recovery, and hasn't had any problems since.  He attributes the majority of his faith that there is a God who loves us to this major event in his life.

Wednesday, 15 February

I am now in Buda.  It is cold.  Our apartment, while large and pretty nice, hardly has anything in it.  The Sisters were under the impression that the apartment was going to be closed, so they took everything they could.  Also, the main heater doesn't work.  Luckily, our kitchen is nice and we have one of the best showers in the mission.  We are also within a 10 minute walk of the Mission Home.  Transfers went well.  I got to see a lot of familiar faces and talk with many Missionaries whom I had met before.  Elders Velasquez and Headrick are spending the night with me and Elder Reese before they head out to Nagykanizsia tomorrow morning.  That's about it.  We really are starting from scratch – no investigators, no Area Book, no programs, not even an Angolora Class.  My miracle today is my new companion, Elder Reese.  Last of all, it snowed incredibly hard today.  Worst snow yet.

Thursday, 16 February

Not much happened today.  Finished unpacking; took an incredible shower; still trying to figure everything out; got my new Bus and Metro Pass; and am trying to learn where things are.  We are in-charge of the II and XII Districts of Buda.  We spent some time trying to get a new Area Book, as well as planning out a new Angolora course.  We have our work cut out for us.  We went to the old Ujpest apartment (where I slept over in my first transfer with Elders Moffet, Molnar, and Braman).  It's a winter hurricane here.  It has lightened since yesterday, and it is still snowing most the time; and even when it's not snowing, the wind is strong enough to pick up the snow and make it look like it is.  My miracle today was trying a bunch of Bulgarian chocolate, left by Elder Nikolov.  Last of all, I had previously said there was no Hungarian accent.  To be more precise, there is no pitch-accent.  The only thing this language changes is unique sentence structure (word order), and mannerisms.  But sound-wise and pitch-wise, it's all the same.

Friday, 17 February

It is still snowing.  Today we had a District Meeting, set some goals for the transfer, and most importantly, received some records in an old Area Book.  Now we have a place to at least start from.  We also had our first program this transfer.  We met with a Kurd (Turkish) man named A.  He's from Elders Reese's and Nikolov's old companionship, so we'll need to hand him off to the Pest Elders in the near future.  Anyways, he speaks English and Hungarian very well; is a student at a nearby university, and is actually doing his thesis on Mormonism.  He would like to read the whole Book of Mormon before writing his thesis, and is already mostly through First Nephi.  He can't meet next week as he will be in Turkey for a while, but he agreed to meet Sunday evening, and, just as exciting, to bring us some real Turkish Delight when he returns.  My miracle tonight was a short tour, walking from near Parliament down past the Lion Bridge.  There are some amazing buildings and architecture here.

Saturday, 18 February

This evening we went on splits with Elders Lindelof and Christensen.  The other two went to a trade-over program with one of Elder Reese's investigators, while Elder Lindelof and I went to Kispest's "Fiatal Est".  They have a nice, big building, as well as way more youth than Szekes and Nyiregyhaza combined and doubled.  Also, this evening I saw a sign for a two-part Count of Monte Cristo musical.  I didn't know that existed.  My miracle today was that the snow finally stopped, and it was sunny and actually quite warm.

Sunday, 19 February

Today was my first Sunday in Buda.  It was a strange feeling to be in a big ward again; one that was over 3-4 times the size of the Szekes or Nyiregyhaza Branches.  We spent several hours making calls again.  In the evening we taught A.  He really is an open, kind, and happy guy.  He leaves for Turkey on Wednesday.  Elders Pendleton and Mathews came over for P-Day tomorrow.  My miracle today was our investigator (at least for a little while longer) Ali.

That's it for the blog.  We went walking around Budapest today, and stayed in a large group (a group of six other missionaries – eight of us total).  I'm a little short on time.  I'm enjoying my time here, and serving with Elder Reese.  We're getting along pretty well.   Talk to you all later.

Szeretettel,

Shipp Elder

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20 February 2012 Pictures (Budapest)

13 February 2012 Letter (Szekesfehervar)

Monday, 6 February

Not much happened today.  One program called and cancelled.  With the other, we went to their apartment, but no one was home.  We did hook the DVD player and TV up to the speakers in the chapel and watched "Tarzan".  It was the first time that I've seen it in several years.  It was great to have surround sound, and like "Mulan", it made me realize how amazing and ingenious the Disney Classics really were.  Great music too.  "Tarzan" and "Hercules" have always had my favorite Disney Songs: “Son of Man" and "I Can Go the Distance".  Anyways, that was my miracle today.

Tuesday, 7 February

Our only planned lesson today was with S, which went well.  We also met with L's mother and her boyfriend, as well as K; both of which were more "spur of the moment".  The first was very short and we scheduled to meet again Thursday.  The second program was the first time we taught K by herself.  It was great.  She swung by the Branch House on her own to see if we were there and could talk.  She was able to ask more personal questions during the encounter which she normally couldn't ask in our Saturday meetings with the other girls.  It was the best program we've had in a while, and at the end she said she would probably be okay being baptized.  Her two concerns are that she would like to learn more first, and she's a little afraid to talk to her parents about it.  To quote Nephi, "I have joy and great hopes for [her]."  Last of all, it's still snowing.  K's progress and the lesson was my miracle.

Wednesday, 8 February

Only one dog today.  We met with T for the second time and this time he brought his friend, P.  P's really cool and seems interested in the gospel.  I'm excited to see how it goes.  Apartment inspections were today, and we passed with flying colors.  We spent a couple hours in the evening making the borders and captions for all the pictures for the art show.  Once again no one showed up to Csaladi Est, even after we had been asked not to cancel it...whatever...I think we'll cancel it anyways.  Getting P as a referral was a miracle.  Referrals are really rare out here.  It was cool to get him from another investigator.

Thursday, 9 February

This morning we got up early to ride our bikes through the snow to go visit the M family.  They said they weren't coming to church this Sunday because it would be too cold, and will only come next week if it's warmer.  After watching the John Tanner and John Moyle stories, it really seems like such a whimpier excuse that they can't come because it's cold (especially after we biked out in the snow).  Our lesson with S went relatively well.  We watched the Restoration video.  My only problem was that after the video, he talked for 5-10 minutes about how cool, amazing, and wonderful it would be if the Restoration Film was in 3-D ...(That's not the point)... Anyways, the next program cancelled.  We then met with K and N and continued answering their questions.  Both are continuing to read and pray daily.  Our last lesson was with L, who is still incredibly interested in the Plan of Salvation.  He's really opening up to us.  After Angolora we watched “The Testaments”.  Half a dozen investigators stayed to watch the film (over 500 Trillion times more than there have been people (investigators and members) at activities in the past 2-3 weeks, literally).  That was today's miracle.  After the film, L approached us, said he's like to tell us some things, said he'll come to church, and that he'd like to begin meeting twice a week, rather than just once.  P.S.  One last thing I've never written.  Some missionaries come back with an accent, however, there is absolutely no such thing as a Hungarian accent.

Friday, 10 February

We taught B the Plan of Salvation this morning.  The lesson was followed by a two-hour discussion with A and I.  Next time, we've invited T to help it go a bit smoother as well as quicker.  A program cancelled.  We met with L and conversed about our Heavenly Father's Love; then, the miracle, three people (members) showed up to Gyuli Buli.

Saturday, 11 February

Today we met with T and P a second time.  My miracle today was having P commit to attending Sacrament Meeting, as well as, getting two more referrals from T.  The one thing I'd like to help them with next time is prayer.  P said a truly beautiful closing prayer.  We met with K and N to teach them the third lesson.  It was fairly...’interesting’; at first as they told us they were going to go party from 5:00pm to 6:00am.  However, even with the situation, they'd still read, we had a great lesson on Faith, Repentance, and Baptism, and even committed K to come to Church.  While we couldn't get the two of them to promise not to drink, K promised to "drink less" so she'd still be able to come.  We ended our day with a "Poem Day" for Valentine's Day in Angolora that I organized and led, followed by an interesting meeting.

Sunday, 12 February

Transfers are tomorrow.  My guess is that Elder Molnar will leave, but I'm not sure.  We'll see tomorrow.  Today was another five hour day at church.  My miracle was that, despite having partied until 6:00am and getting only two hours of sleep and being slightly hung over, K kept her promise and came to our 9:00 Sacrament Meeting.  Elder Molnar and I were impressed.  Half the members of the Branch swarmed and welcomed her.  It was awesome!  Despite today being the warmest day this week and it being beautiful weather, and their concern/excuse having been the cold, the M family never came to church.  The last thing I have for today is that we met with A and I again, with T this time, and it went a lot smoother.

Sok Szeretettel,

Shipp Elder

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13 February 2012 Pictures (Szekesfehervar)

At the Branch House... 

Elder Shipp & Elder Molnar

(companions)

6 February 2012 Letter (Szekesfehervar)

Monday, 30 January

We finally met with K today for the first time in forever.  He still doesn't have a job, and has had more than one person say that the reason they didn't hire him is because he's in his fifties.  He's still really stressed about what he's going to do.  Our other program was with I.  In the past day and a half, he's read nearly 50 pages of the Book of Mormon; (more than any other of my investigators, except possibly Z in Nyiregyhaza).  His girlfriend and son also joined us for the hour and a half that we were there.  The two programs were my miracles today.

Tuesday, 31 January

Today, our only program was with L.  She still knows the doctrine and the gospel just as well as always.  I really wish there were more girls in Hungary like her.  In the afternoon, I went on splits with Elder Peterson so that we could go to the internet place and prepare as much as we could for the Book of Mormon Artshow.  My miracle today was that I tried my first Kinderegg.

Wednesday, 32 January (Nealy Day)

So last transfer, while Elder Nealy was here, he talked about how Martin Luther King and Columbus both got their own days, and asked why he couldn't have his own day.  The result was "January 32", also known as "Nealy Day".  We created an extra day just for him, and we all formalized him today.  (That was today's miracle).  With only one program at 4:00, with I and his family again, we spent the early afternoon streeting our way out to the large TESCO, to look for a table.  While they did not have a good table, I did pick up some Oreo Milka, and a pocket-size version of "RummyCube".  Still no luck locating "Ladybaby".  On the way back we stopped by the best Pekseg in all of Szekes.  Our lesson with I and A went well, and they said they'll come to the Buli on Friday and will definitely come to Church on Sunday, bringing their son and daughter as well.  Things are continuing to go great with them.  I read another 8-10 pages.  We finished our day with a long meeting.  Only one person showed up at Csaladi Est again.  I think it's past time to cancel it.  I'm tired.  Happy Nealy Day!

Thursday, 2 February

So, first off, it has been several weeks since we've met with F, so we swung by her apartment.  We had tried calling her multiple times during the past two weeks, but she hadn't answered.  Even when we knocked on her door, still nothing.  We have no idea what happened to her.  Later in the day, we went to put an advertisement in the newspaper and the person we talked to last time recognized us, and told us she still had our ad for Angolora (which she sure did, posted on her bulletin board), and that she and her daughter would be coming tonight (which they indeed did).  It was cool to see them both come and would be very nice if we built a good relationship with her and the marketing department.  We met with a new man from Angolora, L.  Due to his mother's passing-away when he was just eleven, he's always had a fear of death (he's thirty now).  Anyways, the Plan of Salvation and eternal families has been a great way to start.  Now, for three miracles, and two baptisms...R met with us today, and we set up a Baptismal Date in May (on the 12th), as her class finishes the end of April, and we told her we would like to wait until she can come to church again.  Her response was a stunning surprise.  She asked if she were to find a way to make it to church in Kispest, if it would be possible to move her baptismal date forward to March?  We very, very happily answered "yes".  It feels great to finally have a date for her to aim for.  The second baptism miracle is that on this past Saturday, Nyiregyhaza received a new member.  M was finally baptized.  Last of all, on the inside of one of the Dove wrappers my family sent me for Christmas was a quote that said, "Happiness is celebrating the little things."  It's been good for me to look for and record my daily miracles.  I've found it to be a way to help keep in mind those "things which matter most".

Friday, 3 February

This morning we met with a new investigator, T.  He's meeting for half English, half gospel, and it is hard to see yet where it will go.  We also met with B and G, both of which went well but not the best.  More planning probably could've helped.  Because they are two of the people we've met with the longest, I think we may have relaxed and slackened ourselves.  In the evening we hosted a movie and pizza night.  Half of what we were expecting, and a fourth of what we had hoped, showed up.  We won't be doing that again.  My miracle today was finding a way to use a broom handle and weight to make a good practice weapon.

Saturday, 4 February

It snowed all of today.  Something I forgot to write was that yesterday it was 15 degrees (F) and windy.  So, it's been cold.  We met with S this morning and finally began teaching him.  Every time I see him (multiple, 2-3 times a week), he expresses his great desire to be re-baptized.  I really am looking forward to teaching him more.  I believe it will be a great experience, and that he really is trying to do everything he can to repent and change.  After his program, Elder Molnar and I biked out in the snow for almost two hours to try to find a new table, but were unsuccessful.  In the evening, we taught Angolora.

Sunday, 5 February

Our only program dogged today, causing us to just barely miss "Standard".  Church was crazy long, five hours total, due to meetings before and after.  My miracle today was spending our lunch break going around the Belvaros taking pictures with the other Elders.  There really is a lot of history here.  That's all today.

Well, next time I email I'll have received the call for next transfer.  I think I'll stay and Elder Molnar will leave.  Rumors once again say otherwise.  We'll see what happens.

Sok Szeretettel,
Shipp Elder

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6 February 2012 Pictures (Szekesfehervar)

30 January 2012 Letter (Szekesfehervar)

Monday, 16 January

Today was indeed more of a day of rest.  We got dogged once, and then met with C.  In our lesson with her we discussed the Law of Chastity, which doubled as both something that was good for her to hear again as well as a practice for our lesson with R tomorrow.  My miracle today was an article President Baughman had forwarded of a non-member's testimony.  He recorded a few of his experiences with the Church and its members.  It was a great testimony of the truthfulness and amazingness of the Church.

Tuesday, 17 January

It snowed all today.  I liked it; it wasn't cold.  In addition to making everything white and brighter, it also made the ravens everywhere seem much more beautiful.  Normally, ravens are fairly ugly birds, but their black feathers became slicker and they looked almost classy in the snow.  Dogged thrice today, but B discussed the Restoration with us, and we reached the long-feared Law of Chastity lesson with R.  It went smoothly.  She had a question or two that were easily answered, said she understood the rest, my miracle today, without hesitation or resistance and agreed to start living it immediately.  Wow!  It was much easier than we had supposed, and needless to say, I felt very content afterwards.  We are now completely out of all our Pass-Along Cards and fliers.  In the evening we had a two hour meeting with the other Elders and our new Branch President.  He wants to do things much differently than they've been done.  He has some big goals; changes are coming.  We'll see how it goes.

Wednesday, 18 January

Like yesterday, we got dogged thrice; however, we only had three lessons planned...ouch!  This morning I wrote over three pages for my talk to send home.  This evening the Zone Leaders arrived for splits and we had a good District Meeting.  The most interesting part is that there have been workers doing construction on the floor below us.  Two nights ago we learned it will be a Night Club (Club Revenge).  Tonight, during our meeting, they installed and tested the speakers.  The entire floor of our Branch House was vibrating the entire time.  The music speakers were loud and powerful enough that not only could we hear the music in the Branch House, but we could also see all the chairs in the chapel vibrating as well.  When Elder Molnar and I returned to our apartment a couple minutes away, even up on the 9th floor with all the windows and doors closed, we could not only hear it, but could tell which song it was.  Things will definitely be interesting to say the least.  So, while we couldn't meet with the three lessons we planned, we had a miracle.  Around 5:30pm we went out streeting, and the first two people we talked to, two men in their mid-to-late twenties, stopped to listen.  One had never heard anything about the Church, while the other had met with the missionaries once before and had received a Book of Mormon.  We talked for a few minutes, and then asked if they had a half hour to watch the Restoration Film.  They answered yes.  They came with us to the Branch House.  So, we not only had an hour long restoration discussion with them, but they said they feel like visions and angelic visitations are possible, and while they aren't sure it's true, they at least think everything they learned is a possibility.  We got their phone numbers and plan to meet again on Monday.  Hopefully they stick around.  They really helped save our day today.

Thursday, 19 January

Today we had two lessons and only one dog.  However, both the dog and the second lesson told us that they don't care to meet in the future.  In other words, they both dropped us.  Interestingly, though, the second of the two said he read two chapters of the Book of Mormon, thought it was unique and wants to continue reading, just not meeting.  Our other program was with G on dispensations.  My miracle today is that he has become one of our two best investigators, the other being R.  Last of all, today I found a cinnamon-orange-nut Milka, which is by far the most Christmas-y tasting chocolate ever.

Friday, 20 January

So, today was a day of failures, more so than any other day of my mission.  Not only did we have another person drop us, nor did just all four of our programs today dog, nor did just one person show up to our "Big" Branch Activity that the Branch had been planning for 2 1/2 weeks, but we also biked an hour and a half to a store to replace a piping valve, only to be unable to find the size we needed; and also, we spent so much time trying to get something to work, that we didn't do any proselytizing.  So, today we had no programs at all, lost an investigator, no streeting, tracting, flyering, or tabling, a branch activity outrightly failed, and our piping still isn't fixed.  From all perspectives it was a failure of a day.  Yet, strangely, and my miracle today, I don't feel bad.  Not that I feel great about today, but I don't feel bad at all either.  I'm sure in large part it's because we did what was in our power.

Saturday, 21 January

I only have one thing to write about today.  It is that we met with K, N, and L again.  This time we discussed the Plan of Salvation.  They not only thought that the questions "Where did we come from?" and "Where are we going?" are important (L especially said she thought about it a lot), but they also all participated in the lesson, as well as each one of them prayed and read a part of the Book of Mormon.  That was my miracle.

Sunday, 22 January

Today our Landlady came over.  Things went a lot better than we thought they would, and she complimented us over and over on how clean our apartment is.  Hopefully they can have our washing machine fixed by next week.  R came to church for two hours today.  We are still hoping to put her Bapt. Date in our next lesson.  So, this week we were dogged eleven times, and didn't have any new investigators...however, my miracle today was that this evening we managed to arrange two lessons, with two different Is, successfully meet with them, arranged a second lesson with each, and finish last minute with two new investigators!  We also have seven potential investigators lined up for next week.

Monday, 23 January

The water in our bathroom, in addition to our laundry machine, is not working, so we did laundry and showered at the other Elders' apartment.  While showering for the second time in 3 months, I really, really felt like going swimming.  My miracle today was Faith, the topic of my talk.

Tuesday, 24 January

Today was Zone Conference.  I didn't enjoy it as much as past conferences.  It was a very basic overview of “The Plan of Salvation” and “How to Teach Investigators”.  I didn't learn nearly as much as past trainings, only a small handful of new scriptures.  While there, we picked up another 44 Books of Mormon, and 500 Pass-Along Cards (half of what I wanted).  Within the past couple days (5 or so), I have developed a love for oranges that didn't exist before.  Lastly, (and the miracle today), Elder Crandall gave his departing testimony and I met and talked to Elder Runnells, who is also from Orem, and who, for some time, lived in my home-Stake.  That makes three of us from Orem. Yay!

Wednesday, 25 January

Another half and half day: two dogs and two programs.  We met with B and reviewed the Plan of Salvation.  Our second lesson was with A, one of the people I spoke of in my talk on faith.  We talked with him briefly and then went into a lesson I had prepared.  He expressed last time that he likes short films with lessons or life teachings.  So, I brought the Mormon Message CD and we watched 30 minutes worth of the spiritual thoughts and testimonies of the Apostles.  Twice we stopped and asked him how he felt, and he thought a moment, then insisted we continue and he would tell us at the end.  Three or four times during the clips, he took off his glasses and wiped his eyes (although, I never actually saw any tears or anything).  After thirty minutes, we paused the video and told him we had one last one we wanted to watch.  We said it was about Joseph Smith's martyrdom and the Book of Mormon.  We then commenced watching Elder Holland's "Testimony of the Book of Mormon".  After, we again asked him how he felt.  I am sure he felt something.  That much is certain.  When we asked the question, he sat there a while in silence.  We waited for over a full minute (though, less than three).  Finally, he said there are a lot of churches, they all have good messages; then unfortunately, built into his same rant as last time, that God could be anything, that we can never know, that faith doesn't exist, nothing is important, etc.  Dang.  Well, Elder Molnar and I shared our testimonies.  I told him we can only invite others to come unto Christ.  I bore testimony that I know God lives, that He loves us; that I prayed and received a powerful witness that the Church is true, and that I invite time to learn and ask as well.  After finishing our testimonies we quickly departed.  I did, for some reason, ask if he learned anything from the Mormon Messages, to which he replied, "of course", and said that they all were good ideas and philosophies.  He just doesn't count them as being alone in the truth, or more important than other theories of the world.  My final impression, both in the lesson and looking back on it is that, as told to Nephi, the churches of the world would become a great stumbling block to many.  I truly believe that the apostasy and the abominable churches and religions of the world have destroyed this man's faith.  Other than that, I have had one thought and memory come to me that I never before thought about on my mission, nor while at college.  It was my Dad's weekly Sunday evening call, "Waffles are ready!!!"  (Sometimes with Jonathan running up and down the hall yelling it, and Buddy barking.)  It's been a long time since I've heard that.  My miracle is my family.  One of, if not the greatest, blessing Heavenly Father has given me in this life.

Thursday, 26 January

Four dogs today.  Our only program was with I (the second one we had met with last Sunday).  We spent all 45 minutes answering questions he had about the gospel and our church.  I thought it went quite well.  Today was supposed to be the day that we gave R a Baptismal Date, but, she missed the bus and called us.  Not only was she unable to meet, but we learned that something has come up and she has to travel to and from Pest every Sunday for the next several months.  So, she won't be able to come to church until Summer or Fall.  It definitely put a damper on the idea of Baptism and on our day.  I'm still thinking about it trying to figure out what's best.  Luckily, she's still keeping commitments, the commandments, and will continue meeting with us each week.  My miracle today was that the repairmen came, and we have a working washing machine, as well as both hot and cold running water in the bathroom for the first time in several months or even longer.  Also, it was Elder Peterson's birthday, so, I rebelled against mission rules and gave him a pet rock, along with a family of oranges with some funny faces drawn onto the peels.  Last of all, while talking with Elders Molnar and Remy, I quoted and referenced some things that came out during my time at University of Pennsylvania, and when noticing they didn't react, I realized how many things they've completely missed or are unaware of during their isolation out here.  It reaffirmed that I'll miss a thousand and one things during my mission.  Oh well.  They are all just insignificantly temporal anyways.

Friday, 27 January

Today was a day of dropping.  One of the three Is dogged us for the third time, so we're dropping him for a couple weeks.  We met with a different one, K, who said he was atheist, laughed at everything we said, then after twenty minutes, got up and left saying that "he was bored".  Needless to say, we won't be contacting him again.  A third person called and said they don't care to meet in the future either.  In the evening we met with G.  The big struggles with him are that he thinks Peter is the first pope and wants to read the entire Bible and Book of Mormon before committing to baptism.  He said he thinks and feels the Church is true, but needs to make sure by completely reading everything.  Gyuli Buli bombed again, with next to no one showing up.  Lastly, in the late afternoon, we went streeting, and while the first person we stopped was actually a Catholic Priest, the second person we gave a Book of Mormon.  That's my little miracle today.  Hopefully it changes her life.

Saturday, 28 January

So, right now I'm pretty depressed.  Although I charged my MP3 player this afternoon, it died a few hours later mid-song.  I've tried charging it, and doing what I can to revive it, but have been unsuccessful.  I'm not sure what all I'm going to do.  Anyways, another dog and drop this morning.  We met with K, N, and L.  L read a little and K read the entire Plan of Salvation pamphlet.  All three have begun to pray weekly.  Things are going well with them.  We tried to meet with I.  We had scheduled a time with him, but, when we showed up at his house, we learned he had forgotten, and he asked us to return later.  My miracle today was the opportunity to perform service.  I have been hunting for opportunities to help with a bigger project, and one of the member's relatives needed help moving; so, Elder Molnar and I spent over an hour (almost two) helping a 60-70 year old man move.

Sunday, 29 January

Today in church Elder Molanr gave a talk on sacrifice.  The main event today was a humbling miracle that was a sad way for me to learn a few of my weaknesses.  This morning, my MP3 player was still dead.  I had tried charging it overnight.  This morning I performed the standard procedure of what to do when an electronic device starts failing and began whacking it against things.  When it still didn't turn on, I whacked it some more and tried again.  After that, I went N64 style: took it apart, opened it up, blew inside it, and put it together again.  Nothing.  After church, I tried it again; still nothing.  Several hours later, before Weekly Planning, I simply picked it up, slid the button, and it turned on!  I hadn't done anything.  It is still working.  It is a miracle.  However, shortly afterwards the whole experience made me feel like a fool.  I am a missionary.  I try to be a good one.  I pray for my investigators and my companion.  However, when my MP3 player broke yesterday, one of the first things I did was pray.  I repeated including that in my prayers this morning.  I put a fair amount into worrying about how to replace it so I could listen to MoTab again.  I was saddened, even at church thinking about it.  I was so happy when it amazingly started working again...WHY?...Why was that so important to me?  While I pray for many things, including investigators, why is it that I immediately drop into prayer over a $40 music device, when I never do or even consider doing so when someone drops or rejects us, putting eternal salvation at stake?  Every time we get a phone call from someone who's not interested or doesn't want to meet anymore, why do I not drop onto my knees and pray for their heart to be softened, their mind changed, and the gospel suddenly becoming everything to them?  Why do I not pray each time for each and every one of their salvations, yet I make it such a priority to pray for my MP3 Player?  Am I that materialistic?  Where are my priorities?  I'm always asking and hoping that others will constantly consider these things more important, yet am so blatantly failing to do so myself.  "Can [ I ] be so foolish?"  Anyways, I'm happy I have my music back, but was just disturbed that I cared more about listening to "Come Thou Fount" one more time more than praying for someone to change their heart, pick up their phone, and call us back asking to meet.  Hopefully this motivates me to be better.  I'm still thinking and reflecting upon it all.

Overview for the last two weeks:

Just one thing to add in while writing these and looking back in hindsight; things are topsy-turvy.  We had some really high points a little while back, however, now we're hitting some lows.  Both weeks we had more lessons fall through than succeed.  Also, G and R, who had become our top investigators, are vanishing.  We haven't met with G for over a week and a half, and he hasn't picked up his phone since we last met with him.  R is in a type of internship for training to be a police woman (her dream since childhood).  She at least says she'll still be able to meet with us, but everything is being pushed back.  Also, I wrote that this last week we started with seven potential investigators.  Not a single one went through and they all dropped (with the exception of two who told us to call them later this week).  Hoo-haa... Well, we are still finding new people, but it just goes to show, nothing is stable in predicting missionary work.  On to this week!

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30 January 2012 Pictures (Szekesfehervar)

23 January 2012 Talk on Faith

Dear Family,

So, I wrote the talk for Bishop Borup.  I had thought that I had read that it should be “at least 10 minutes”, so I wrote a 12 ½ minute talk, went back later, and read “at least 5 minutes” (so I guess I had figured if I wrote a 7-10 minute talk I’d be good, but later combined the two)….oh well. 

Tomorrow is a Zone Conference in Budapest.  I’m sure I’ll write about how that goes in my next email.  I’m about out of time.  Hope you all enjoy the talk!  =)

Szeretettel,

Shipp Elder

Faith

Dear Brothers and Sisters, it is great to have the chance to write you all while serving a mission out here in Hungary.  During this short time that I've been enlisted by the Lord, I have had many opportunities and experiences to build and solidify my faith.  Sometimes these take the form of more common circumstances that are constant in almost, if not, every day; such as witnessing the gift of tongues in this language, the daily miracles I remember and reflect on each evening, or simply feeling the guiding influence of the Holy Spirit on a regular basis.  Other times it's a little bigger or less common event; seeing troubled hearts calmed by the hand of God, recent converts or maybe even non-members bearing testimony of the gospel, unexpected success in finding and teaching those we encounter.

With faith being one of the most recognized Christ-like attributes along-side Hope and Charity, I would like to share a few reflections as a reminder of what faith is, the different roles it plays, its importance within those roles, and ultimately, a few of the grand blessings for which faith is a requirement.

While in the Missionary Training Center, one of the speakers, Gerald N Lund, an Emeritus Seventy and well-known author of many books, such as The Work and The Glory gave a presentation of the process of gaining a witness of the gospel.  Within the presentation, one of the first things he introduced were a few short points describing faith.  He started with the words of Alma, who said, "Faith is a hope for things which are not seen, which are true."  Faith is a principle of power and action, which is developed by obedience and righteousness.  Faith is a gift we must earnestly seek.  It is a process, not an event.  Is it personal.  It is something we need, to save ourselves as well as those around us.

While in the MTC, I also had the opportunity to devote much of my time to studying the book Preach My Gospel.  Within the sixth chapter of the book lies my favorite section: a discussion of the nine Christ-Like Attributes, the first of which is identified as Faith.  My favorite page in Preach My Gospel is the very last page of the chapter.  The page is titled an "Attribute Activity", which contains a list of 57 short points that both summarize the chapter, as well as provide a way for the reader to evaluate themselves, learning their own strengths and weaknesses, then finding ways to improve.  I spent many hours studying that page and would like to share the first nine points, which all focus on the reader's faith; and with each point, add to it many feelings that we express each week through our beloved hymns.

1) I believe in Christ and accept him as my Savior

            "I believe in Christ - my Lord, my God!  My feet he plants on gospel sod.  I'll worship him with all my might; He is the source of truth and light."  (Hymn #134)

2) I feel confident that God loves me.

            "I am a child of God, And he has sent me here.  Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear" (Hymn #301)

3) I trust the Savior enough to accept his will and do whatever he asks.

            "I will go, I will do the things the Lord commands.  I know that I will find a way.  He wants me to obey."

4) I firmly believe that through the Atonement of Jesus Christ I can be forgiven of all my sins.

            "In humility, our Savior, grant thy Spirit here we pray...Let me not forget, O Savior, Thou didst bleed and die for me, When they heart was stilled and broken, on the cross at Calvary." (#172)

5) I have enough faith to obtain answers to my prayers.

            To this one I actually ask you all to remember Joseph Smith, the prophet of the restoration, to which everything in this church can be tied back.  As a missionary, each day I am sharing the story of

            Joseph Smith with the people of Hungary, telling them that God lives.  He hears and answers prayers.  He heard and answered Joseph's prayer, and He will hear and answer theirs.

6) I think about the Savior during the day and remember all he has done for me.

            "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me.  Confused at the grace that so fully he proffers me.  I tremble to know that for me he was crucified.  That for me a sinner, he suffered, he bled and died." (#193)

7) I have the faith necessary to help make good things happen in my life or the lives of others.

            "I would be my brother's keeper.  I would learn the healer's art.  To the wounded and the weary, I would show a gentle heart." (#220)

8) I know by the power of the Holy Ghost that the Book of Mormon is true.

            "What glorious scenes mine eyes behold!  What wonders burst upon my view!  When Ephraim's records I unfold, all things appear divinely new." (#16)

9) I have enough faith in Christ to accomplish anything he wants me to do --- even miracles if necessary.

            "Go forth with pow'r to tell the world the Gospel is restored.  That all may gain eternal life, Thru Jesus Christ, the Lord." (#263)

The words of those hymns have often been a powerful reminder; a way to invite the Spirit of the Lord into my life; to both maintain and strengthen my faith.  As the Lord said in Doctrine and Covenants section 25, "The songs of the righteous is a prayer unto me".

Here in Hungary, I have encountered a certain situation weekly, if not daily, which, I never really experienced in Utah.  Out here, where our church is new, there are many other churches and religions that have been around for centuries, such as the Lutheran, Baptist, Evangelical, or the most common having been dominant for over a millennium, the Catholic Church.  While only the smallest percent possess much knowledge of our church, nearly everyone has some background in one of the other religions.  In each of these different religions lie different views concerning Grace, Faith, and Works. 

Like in Joseph Smith's time, many argue that by grace alone we are saved.  For others it is through our faith; and the remainder claim we must save ourselves through our works and actions.  I cannot begin to tell you how many times, in my short stay out here, I have heard people say to me, "Don't worry, God will save me", or "No thanks, I have enough faith," or "It's okay, I attend church".  In the restored gospel, we are blessed to know, as taught in both the Bible and the Book of Mormon, that we need all three.  In the Bible it is recorded, "For by grace are [we] saved through faith" (Eph 2:8) and "Faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone" (James 2:17).  Just like the Godhead is made up of Heavenly Father, His son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, all together; or the present made possible by the Creation, Fall, and Atonement; or the mighty Plan of Salvation containing the past, Pre-mortal Existence, the present, mortal earth-life, and the future Kingdoms of Glory; so are Grace, Faith, and Works tied together, bound by the everlasting laws of heaven.

Faith is really such an important and powerful topic that it is knitted into nearly every aspect of the gospel, insomuch that it is hard to try to comprehend the gospel without it.  Two weeks ago, on January 12, my companion and I taught a man who had a very disturbing view of things.  During our time with him, he not only said, but heavily and aggressively insisted and pursued ideas that the scriptures are not important, but are ink on paper and nothing more; that the gospel is just a philosophy and is not important; that God may or may not exist, but if He does, then God is God, and there's nothing we can do about it, so He is therefore not important; that our families and actions are not important either; and that the only important thing is ourselves.  Our own lives are the only thing we have that matters.

Also among the things he said was the statement that there is no such thing as faith.  That it doesn't exist, either you know something, or you don't.  We can try to imagine what we don't know, but we can't actually believe in it.  He continued telling us that there is no way that we could even know that God exists, know that the gospel and scriptures are true, or know anything that we cannot see, hear, or touch.

I have two remarks that I would like to share about that experience.  First, in the Hungarian language "faith" and "belief" are the same word, "Hit" (pronounced hee-t).  To have faith or to believe are likewise the same verb "Hinni" (pronounced hee-nee).  I've found many good thoughts within the idea that having faith and truly believing in something are one and the same.  My second remark is that to those who have learned and embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ, a life without faith or belief seems not only ridiculous, but also impossible.

Now, away from the grumpy man, and onward to a more joyous tale.  Five days later, my companion and I taught one of our other investigators.  Although she has progressed magnificently up to this point, keeping the commitments we have given her with excelling diligence, things had gotten slightly harder recently, and we finally felt like it was time to teach her the Law of Chastity, the lesson we had been most dreading, even from our first program with her nearly eight weeks earlier.  Yet, she opened her heart.  She not only understood everything we taught her after a question or two, when the time came after twenty minutes when we asked her to live it, without a moment to pause or doubt, and with only a promise of unseen blessings to come, she exercised the faith she had developed to begin living this great way, starting that very instant!  What a change.  What a marvelous and beautiful change in Spirit, light, and life from the faithless man.  I know that these are only written words, not even verbally spoken, recounting these two encounters, but I hope anyone reading this can obtain a glimpse of the immense difference, the complete change that faith will make in each and every one of our lives, no matter who we are, where we're from, or what we do.

I have two last thoughts that I wish to write concerning faith.  The first is that all things must be done in order.  Long before faith can be obtained; there must first be a desire.  In the eleventh chapter of the first book of Nephi, in which he recounts his great vision, the Nephite prophet records at the very start of the first verse: "For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen."  In his letter to the Romans, Paul explains the next step.  "How then shall they call upon him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?"  Hearing is necessary as the next step, whether it be through the scriptures, through other people, or through the Holy Ghost.  In the same chapter, Paul writes that after Hearing the gospel, we can finally begin obtaining our faith.  He wrote, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

The second and final thought is that even after obtaining faith; our faith must still be tried.  Each one of us will face the refiner's fire.  Brigham Young once wrote that anyone who desires exaltation must battle every day.  I end with my testimony -- that maintaining our faith is not always the easiest thing.  Sometimes we may be called upon to battle every step of the way; until we finally reach that glorious threshold, where our Heavenly Father will say to us, as He said to Enoch of old, "Walk with me". 

These things I write and share in the sacred name of our Savior and Redeemer, even Jesus Christ. Amen.

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