Thursday, October 10, 2013

Literally (No Subject) just an update (Oct 7)

This week has been a rather slow one. Actually a really slow one. Most of our programs just cancelled or said "nest week" or just dogged us. It was kinda hard on us. But! We put our heads up and enjoy everything we can! Mostly we have been tracting. for quite a few hours a day. We have even started to show symptoms of "tracting fever", which is really us just acting weird...er than normal haha. But weeks like these are necessary. That way we can feel even happier at times like this last Wednesday, when we invited Máté, our 19 year old investigator, to be baptized! And he said yes! His date, for now, is Dec 14! Little while, but we feel confident that he will be ready and excited by then! 

Otherwise, our week had nothing too exciting. Other than I have eaten a lot of "máj". A kind of meat. And it tasted alright, it was just a weird texture. And then I heard that word again, so I decided to ask my companion what it was. Oh. It means "liver". So I ate a lot of liver in the last two weeks..... Missions are certainly full of new  experiences...! haha. 

Conference was also this week! :D For those who don't know, general conference, its full name, is when the prophet, apostles and other leaders of the church get up and talk to the world about all sorts of topics. For some reason it seemed to be that this conference was all about missionary work! It was like they were talking directly to me! I love hearing conference and listening to men called of God to lead His church here on the Earth. We also got to see it in English, hallelujah!!, because we have an old American lady in our ward who doesn't speak Hungarian, so we watched 2 and a half sessions (sad, but we will just have to wait for the Liahona to read the rest) in ENGLISH!!! haha. And it was definitely a neat experience. :) 

Well, I hope all is well! It is getting colder here, and I get to buy a new coat today, so I don't freeze this week! Well, I love you all, and I pray for you daily. :) 
Sok szeretettel,
Flake Elder 
well, this week was a little low on pictures. but here is one of this little really nice playground in the middle of a super not-so-nice falu hahaha. and the playground is super fun! :D hahaha

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Sziasztok! From your favorite Flake Elder! (Sept 30)

This week has been one of the longer ones, but a dang good one! Overall, this work is hard, and the people don't really wanna listen. But when they do, and when we do missionary work, real missionary work where you teach people, help with their problems, join them in their search for the Savior Jesus Christ--that is when everything feels.... perfect. And that is real missionary work.

Well, this week has been very interesting.. It started with using our brand new WIHPS we bought! That was a ton of fun! It was certainly not easy to start out, but I got the hang of it after a while. And by the time I come home, I will be a pro! 

Our tracting this week started out with us tracting into 2 older ladies that talked about their husbands that died. Then, they started crying. It is amazing how much people are willing to show at the door sometimes, and then other times, people don't show an ounce of emotion at all.. But we helped the ladies feel better, and shared the message of the plan of salvation with them, that we will see our loved ones after this life. And that is some good news to be sharing with people! 

I have never been a big fan of soups. And since I have been here, most of the things we are fed are soups.. So i finally decided to just get over it, and eat it. Then one night, we even made it for dinner! And it was.. the best soup I have ever tasted. We threw some of the most random things in it, like beans and sausage and other veggies. But it was so yummy. 

We also got a new investigator this week! He is 19, named Máté, and he is really cool! He even rode a bike from his falu to the church building in the city, which has to be a good 20 or 30 min bike ride. He is very quiet, but really willing to listen and try out what we are saying! I am so excited to see where he goes with the gospel, cause he is pretty smart, and I have high hopes for him. :)

On day, we decided to go out tracting in our falu. It was a nice day, really sunny, and even a little warm. Then, suddenly, we see the darkest, scariest looking clouds. And they are moving--fast. So we said a prayer to know if we should stay out there, or go back to our apertment. So we decided to get outta there, and come back inside for an hour and do language study that we didn't do that morning. And right when we got near the bus stop, the rain came. And it came, hard and fast! Rain was pouring out of the thick, gray clouds! Luckily, we were only at the bus stop for a few minutes, then the bus came and saved us! But the strangest thing was that there was no reason for the bus stop to be there. Either it was late by 20 mins or early by the same. And neither seems very likely. It was just a good ole miracle. :) 

Okay, last thing, promise. :) We went out to a farm to have a lesson with a member and her nonmember husband. And while we were there, the family told us that they were getting ready to eat some meat. From their farm.. From one of the geese that were running around as we were talking to them... So, we got to see a goose get its throat slit, blood go pouring out of its neck for a good 90-120 seconds, and then get dropped into some boiling water so it is easier to feather it. And then the mom started to feather the thing. Well, I can now say I know why we call them goosebumps! But it was pretty gross. But way cool. :) 

Well, that was a glimpse into my week. :) Hopefully you made it through, I don't know how I did! 

Until next week. Take care! Love you all, and I pray for you daily! 

Sok szeretettel,
Flake Elder

Just me and my dork of a companion Elder Decker. :) Gotta love the kid! 

Just your favorite Flake Elder. :)

This is me and my midget investigator with his dad. How. Cool. Is. That?! :) 

Some awesome Kecskemét missionaries. :) That is Sister Fowers, from Missiouri, Elder Decker, and Elder Jones, from California. They are coool. :)

Good ole ward lunch!

Oh, you know, just a farm where you get to see goose heads get CHOPPED OFF!! haha.:) 

Just me and my dork of a companion, Elder Decker. :) Gotta love that kid.

Greetings from Magyarország! (Sept 23)

It is weeks like this one that I live for as a missionary. :) We talked to a ton of people, taught some people, got some members to help, and overall felt the power of the Spirit in this work. I went on splits twice this week, once to Szeged. If you ever get a chance, go visit Szeged, Hungary. It is one of the prettiest cities I have ever been in! I have visited a few times before, but I am continually astonished at the beauty of it! 

Anyways, nothing too exciting happened. And while it was a great week, it was still pretty boring haha. But I love every second of it. :) it is so exciting to know that I am helping these people find God and come closer to Christ. My companion and I have been called "faith changers" a lot this week. But we aren't that. We are "hit építők" or faith builders. We don't like to change what people believe in, just help them and give them more to believe in, and a greater understanding of what and who God is. 

Well, anyways, this week we had a lot of fun walking around a Renaissance Fair type festival, with a ton of booths. It was good to take a look and enjoy the Hungarian culture! Well, that's all. But I love you all! And I pray for you all daily! 

Sok szeretettel,
Flake Elder

Another Week! (Sept 16)

This week has been really good! Kind of a lame, cliche way to start an email :) but it is true!
This week, we did a lot of tracting. In the rain. It was definitely not the easiest thing in the world. But it helps us get in people's houses! Haha, they are much more likely to invite us in when it is pouring outside. Which I didnt actually mind much, being from one of the drier places. :) Another thing about the weather: it is starting to get cold already! The weather is so nice, and I can't wait to see the snow!! :D It is also very humid, which is weird for me. But overall, I love the weather here.
This week was kinda strange, because we taught a man from Mexico that speaks Spanish and English. He came here for a girl, and now he is here working for a guy in our ward at the best Hungarian-imitation (because it is an American guy running it I am guessing haha) Mexican food, modeled after Cafe Rio. It is actually super yummy!! And pretty cheap, which is good for our missionary budgets. :)
Overall, this week has been a little frustrating with the language, but so much help to know that I am where I am supposed to be. I love being able to help so many people come closer to God and help them understand what God wants for them.
Love you all! Take care, and God bless.

Sok szeretettel,
Flake Elder

This is my companion and the butt potato. Haha. And yes that is my jacket he is wearing hahaha.

My little buddy, Charles, the snail. :) hahaha.

My companion! And what happens when I put too much soap in the dishwasher hahaha.

Transfer #2! (Sept 9)

This week has been filled with a ton of good things. :) 

It started out with eating at a ridiculously fancy all-you-can-eat restaurant with 12 other missionaries. :) I mean what better kind of start can you ask for?! It was fun, and the food was really good! After that, I spent Monday, Tuesday, and half of Wednesday in Buda, hanging out with some other elders. It was a really good experience, and taught me a lot about how important it is to be doing something, in the sense that it is so important for us to never give up, slow down and say "Meh, I've done enough today. Let's chill out for a while." I saw how important it is to really enjoy the time we have been given, in whatever capacity we have been called. On Wednesday, my new companion and I came back to Kecskemét and continued with missionary work! His name is Elder Decker, from Pleasant Grove, UT. And we are absolutely loving it out here! We get along super well, and we have tons of fun, and do lots of work. :) Overall, I would say this transfer started off really well! I love being out here, on the Lord's errand. 

After we settled in the city, we went to a falu, which is basically like a village outside the main city. We have been going out there pretty much daily, and are finding a lot of people who might want to hear about the gospel! We also saw a lot of...strange things. Including a horse-drawn carriage, with 2 big pigs in the back. On the main road with other cars and modern-day devices. It was really funny to see a random pig trailer haha. Then we saw a really drunk guy being pushed in a wheelbarrow-type cart. Then, not 10 mins later, we saw a little boy herd a flock of geese into the same house that the drunk guy went into. We haven't knocked on their door yet, but man I am excited to!! Haha. 

Other than that, this has been an awesome start to what is shaping up to be an awesome transfer! I love it here, love this gospel, love my Savior Jesus Christ, love the Hungarian people, and love this work! 

Legyetek jók! Emlékezzetek arra, hogy Krisztus szeret benneteket. 

Attached is the picture of the herd of geese. :) Enjoy haha.

Sok szeretettel, 
Flake Elder

 The picture of the herd of geese. :) Enjoy haha.

This is a relatively common sight here in Hungary. :) gotta love those Bácsi's in Speedos! 

Just thought this would be a good photo op. :)