(Aug 18)

This week was a little slower, kinda lame. I guess that is what happens after a birthday, right? haha. Lots of fun doing all sorts of things to try and find the people who are ready for us. But it is never easy. 

All in all, the birthday week was a success, had a good time with people I love, and the branch even threw a little party for me! :) how sweet! haha. After that, we had a meeting in Pécs, one of the most pretty Hungarian cities! I consider myself extremely lucky to have been to so many cities and see such beautiful parts of Hungary! I love this work, I love God, and I love you! Have a great week!

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

 One of our investigators made a birthday cake for me! :D So nice. :)

This was at the birthday party, and the man in my arms is 15 year old Buci, an incredibly strong young man that loves the gospel and is one of the funnest kids I know here in Kapos! 

The whole party! :) (From the left): Abigél, Buci, me, Larson, Loveland, Blake, Balázs, and the Millers. 

a little district shot from our time in Pécs! 

when i tried to use my broken glasses as a monocle. hahaha. and sister daniels, someone I know from my time in Sopron!

 Pretty Pécs. :)

And the main square.

 Fő tér selfie! 

Me and Buci on the walking street of Kapos!

 The fountain right off the walking street. Puurty. 

 Fiatal Est! which turned out to be a guys night since it was us and Buci ahhaha

 and the good ole Elder Flake picture off the balcony. pretty views all around. :)

:)

Happy Birthday Jordan!

Since Jordan's 20th birthday is coming up this Tuesday, the 12th, we'd like to reminisce about past memories and pictures of Jordan! Happy Birthday, we love you!

Playing the violin for Grandma Pidd for Mothers Day back when you still loved to play the violin. 

 The good old days. 2007

 Jordan and Corey, who is on his mission in Atlanta, Georgia

Jordan and his dad at 8th grade graduation at Combs Middle School

After the 8th grade graduation ceremony (in may!) we drove to his Uncle's house and it snowed (in Arizona!) 

Jordan and his brother Jacob hanging out on some horses 

 Such a good big brother with his sister Elizabeth

With the family to get his brother Jonathan's new bike! 

Visiting grandpa and grandma Flake while they were on their mission in Nauvoo! Having fun dressing up as pioneers!

Jordan participating in a mock trial for 8th grade. He is in a real court room!

Hanging out with his dad and brother Jacob from a priesthood campout for his stake

Family pictures at around Christmas/New Years in 2000. Such a cutie!

Showing off his smarts at the 9th grade science fair with his project board. 

Just want to say how proud we are of such a great missionary who has been preparing for the last 20 years to be where he is today in Hungary! We miss you Jordan but are so excited for you to celebrate your birthday serving the Lord!

(We posted his bday post a couple days before his bday so he could see it on his pday!)

Slow and Steady Wins the Race (Aug 4)

So this week, we had very few real programs. We hung out with investigators a lot, like playing sports, family night, youth night, game night, anything you can think of! We got it. But, it has still been really hard to find new investigators who are wanting and ready for our message. I guess there is a ripe and a not so ripe season for everything, right? Hopefully we see some fruit sometime soon. 

This week I realized the importance of being committed to something. When you just go halfway, and dont give it your all, there is no way you are ever gonna get anywhere. But when you try your best and are never willing to give up--you see results and experience the fruits of your labors. 

Hopefully you are all well and safe and happy. :) Enjoy the summer! I know I will. 

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

me and Blake Elder on splits. He is from Montana, and a good guy. :) gotta love the elevator selfiessss. 

Pack It Up & Move It On Out (July 29)

So, My life now continues in Kaposvár, a rather pretty city! I mean, that doesn't necessarily mean a whole lot coming from me, haha. but I like it. :) I will be district leader again, which means coming up with a training once a week.. haha, but I am actually really excited for it. :) 

So this week was a little less than usual. We went up to Budapest on Wednesday for transfers, then we got back pretty late, had to do some things around the apartment. So we didnt do a ton. But, we met with people, made some friends, and enjoyed our time together. :)

My new companion is Elder Loveland, and he is.. well, a pretty big guy. He is 6'4" and about 200 pounds and one of the politest guys I know. He is from Virginia, and he is super funny. We get along well, and we are both ready to work hard! 

Nothing new is really happening, just enjoying the time while I can. On a side note, it was so strange to see some sisters go home, since they aren't that much older than me in the mission..! I am growing up..! :o Well anyway, love you all, have a great week! 

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

me and heilein and réka, our baptism! she is way cool, and I am so proud of how far and how much she has progressed in the gospel! 

Of Goodbyes And New Beginnings (July 22)

So the time has come once again. I am leaving Sopron after a good, hard 18 weeks here. It has been good--I have learned a lot, and have grown as a person, as a missionary, as a leader in the church, as a friend, and as a servant of God. It is hard to say good bye. For a couple reasons, but in short--well, first a little background: when I came to Sopron, we had 2 investigators. Linda and Erzsi. that was in March, when Elder Sterri and Waldvogel and I were together. so when we got here, it was not super good. THEN, we went to work. after 4 long, painstaking months, after all our hard work, miracles, meeting tons of people--we baptized two people and have 2 more people (maybe even 3 tonight) on bap date for august. it is has been an incredible growing experience for me, and has showed me that when I work hard and obey, I see a lot of success. This last week we had 14 lessons taught and 5 RCLAs, mostly with newly baptized members, that we baptized. It has been so amazing to see, and it is sooo hard to see it go. But. I know this is the right thing. I know the Lord knows better, and that when He calls, we better listen.

This week was incredible, full of miracles, good experiences, and following the Spirit of the Lord. On Tuesday, we had a total stranger, and very drunk, I might add haha, let us in and his wife was nice enough to give us some water and a little chat. Not interested in our message, but she was at least very kind. Then on Thursday we met with our Egyptian friend, and he was so touched by the Spirit. He is just so excited to do what God wants, even if he doesn't totally understand what or who God is. It is really neat to see someone who has been kept so religiously blind his whole life be opened up to religious freedom and God and what not. Good stuff. :) 

Well, that was this week. Hope this finds you all safe, happy, and cool! I know I have the first 2 down. Still working on the third.. :) haha. Well, have a great week! Love you all! 

És ha esetleg egy magyar olvassa ezt, aki talán nagyon kedves a szívemhez: Nagyon szeretlek. És remélem hogy találkozunk még valamikor. Sőt, biztos vagyok benne! Szép hetet kívánok mindenkinek! 

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

 Say hello to Karim, the Egyptian guy we teach. He is SUCH a neat guy, and is so ready to feel the Spirit and God's love. :) 

  2 pregnant men. :) hahaha, boys will be boys.. :) 

 The district when we got a visit from Beaumont Testvér, who just got married, who was our teacher in the MTC! He is kind of a legend out in the mission.. :)

  And me and Beaumont, way awesome guy. :) 

 me and Anikó. She isnt smiling because she is still talking. During the picture. Nonstop. hahaha, she just goes and goes. Nice lady though. :) She is one of our bap dates! 

  This is Erzsike, and she is our other bap date. She has had such a neat life, including being born in the Ukraine (not even old Hungary when Hungary was bigger, but actually in the Ukraine) and worked as an actress in the theater for 18 years. way awesome lady. She is very excited to be baptized, even though we have only known her for about a month! 

And my companion, the German.. :) gotta love him hahaha.

 Me and Ádám, a guy who is working hard to come back and get the Melchezidek priesthood! Way awesome kid, and I absolutely love him. :)

  Family night at the Browns! Top, left to right: Josie (Beaumont's wife), Beaumont, Heilein, me, Edit (Ádám's mother-in-law and our investigator), Sister Whitaker and Sister Sexton. Front row, left to right: Debi, Réka, Anikó, and Ádám. Always tons of fun! :D

final district picture! what a cute little family. :)

The Setting Sun is Sometimes the Brightest (July 14)

Another transfer is coming next! And, as the transfer comes slowly to a close, I am reminded of the miracles we have experienced. I dont feel like miracles are something that happen to us in huge spectacular ways. Yet they have huge spectacular effects--when we let them.

I have a testimony of this work and that it is the Lord's work. And it is a great work. :)

This week, we had a great time suffering a little (well, I did--blisters and scabs :) ) and also helping others a lot. We even found ways of randomly serving others! Like going to a playground and finding someone's lost phone! Miracle. :) 

We also went on a chocolate factory tour-type thing and eating as much chocolate as you want. :) quite a treat! :D 

Well, have a great week! Love you a ton! And so does God. :) 

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

  And this is her greenie, Sister Whitaker, and her. And this is what they do when Elder Flake walks out of the room away from his camera. hahaha payback ;)

 selfie timeeee! :)

some dinner. :) little smileys and wieners. :) yum yumm! 

this is Sister Sexton, who will go home next week! She is a great missionary, and it has been so great to be in the same district as her! 

Field is white already to harvest! Love those random wheat fields. :) Though it is more like a tannish yellow... 

the other battle wound for the bobsled haha. this little sucker lasted until Friday, when I finally popped it. so gross. :)

 when we went on the summertime bobsled, and i fell out. :) dont worry, it looks a lot worse now. bruise about 2 and a half full inches down my arm to my elbow or so. :) lovely flaming tattoo, right? ;D  

  This is the amount of chocolate we had to choose from. All you can eat. :) and some of the weirdest flavors!

Ohhhh, chocolate. :)

and the district. :) after the tons of chocolate haha, some of us werent doing so well.. :) and yes, i need a haircut.. haha.

This is Zsolt and I. and this is what happens when Zsolt buys the drinks. ;) (don't worry, it's non-alcoholic!)

As A Phoenix (July 7)

So this week was kinda.. well, full of ups and downs. we saw really happy things and really sad things. its always good to do the Lord's work and help His children, but it is also so sad when they fail to recognize the blessings they have or unwilling to do what He asks so they can be blessed even more. we saw a few people end up going to the hospital, one RCLA that we were working with, one investigator that has some panic sickness really really bad, and ended up having to go to the hospital for it, one less active members son also went. We even went to give him a blessing and everything. but then the member called a day or two later and told us that he died. pretty intense, being that close to death. it was a big shock to hear that he had passed away. but at the same time, it was nice to hear from her that she was at peace with it, surely to some degree because of the blessing we were able to give. so that was kind of a big thing this week haha. after that we found a new investigator who is a little older, but is really willing to listen and is trying to understand the gospel. really amazing to see. :) she even came to church! and we met with her this week! way way awesome. :) 

i think this was the week of renewal. some of the investigators and members just kind of went up in flames, and we werent able to do anything about it. we lost them, whether literally or figuratively, quite a few just kinda left. but we found a few new ones. And just like a phoenix rises from the ashes, so is our work and our outlook starting to be born again. it is never an easy thing. but it is always worth it. 

then today for Pday, we went to this summertime bobsled park, and had so much fun! :D it was cool, a little painful hahaha, but way worth it. :) and then we went to this zip line adventure park and climbed around in the trees, sometimes swinging, sometimes walking on a tight rope length wire. :) way way fun hahaha.

We also met with an Egyptian man this week, who told us about the religious situation in Egypt. and it is not very good. He said that the government chooses what religion you are (i think everyone is Muslim) and if you change, you are killed, your family could be killed, and they write a newspaper story about you as if you are a murderer. it was really intense to hear that. Especially right around Fourth of July, when Americans celebrate their freedoms. I am so grateful for my freedoms, and the chance I have to worship God whichever way I want. 

So go and enjoy the freedoms you have, and worship God the way He wants you to. :) Love you all! Have a great week! and dont let the sun get you! He is trying..! haha. 

Sok szeretettel,

Flake Elder

getting ready to go to the Volt Festival! google it. :)

so i counted and organized my ties this week. 32 and counting. :)

gotta love the paparazzi push back. :) hahaha and elder heileins face!

   us on fourth of july, celebrating with some naps and selfies. ;) and some awesome sunglasses!

 so (yes i know they dont look like it!) i tried my hand at making biscuits this week. and they turned out really good! yummy and soft. :) shout out to Sister Brown, the senior couple sister.

 so we rode on the BOB pálya, a summertime bobsled thing. way fun. :)

getting ready for the ride!

 gotta get those selfies in the greenery.

 some of the scenery in the forest by the bobsled thing.  

 another selfie, with good ole Heilein in the background.

 part of the zip line adventure park we went to.

 more of the obstacle course of the sky.

scary times in the cords in the sky. :)