Minden megeri - March 29, 2021

 Halihó! 

What a good week! On Saturday we took muffins to the Bauerék. We hadn't been able to get ahold of them so we just walked over hoping they would be home. And they were! He and his wife were outside playing with their little girls and we were able to talk for about ten minutes! I am always amazed when even after crazy unplanned days we are somehow in the right place at the right time. I am so grateful. It's also so cool to be a missionary and serve until the last day, knowing that even though I won't see the fruits of these efforts, these little ripples will keep going. I know that they will because Heavenly Father is aware of them--so much better than we are! 

We also had a special lesson with Iza and András. We had to let them know that the member they were closest to in the ward just passed away and they were so sad. The Spirit was strong as we talked about Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and how missionary work continues beyond the veil. Béla was such a good missionary, teacher, scholar, and friend to everyone. I know that Heavenly Father's plan for us is perfect. We need never fear or doubt because of Jesus Christ, we can be together forever with our families.

I love that this whole week we get to celebrate Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and Easter. This last week of my mission lines up exactly with Christ's final week and resurrection next Sunday. (And General Conference, too.) What a good week--it's like a gold mine of missionary opportunity! This week we are planning to meet with all of our friends atleast one more time. I know they'll keep doing well and I'm so grateful for each of them--Ágnes, Lilla, Alexandra, Gabriella, János. Oh how I will miss them. 

I love this work. I love this gospel. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father let's us be a tiny piece in the puzzle and feel His love for these people and places. Today on our pday we hiked up to Gellérts Hedge, where President Nelson dedicated Hungary almost 30 years ago. As we looked out across the whole city (we could even see where I started my mission and lived in training) I was filled with so much gratitude that someday there will be a temple here. I just can't even imagine a pure-white lighted house of the Lord standing here in this country. It will be such a beacon of hope! 

I love you, all. I love these Hungarians. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Hurrah for Israel! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Departing Testimony - March 26, 2021

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission.  I know that it is worth everything.  I knew I wanted to serve a mission when President Nelson spoke in 2018 about gathering Israel.  That is when I decided that it would be the most important thing in my life.   I know that Heavenly Father knows us individually.  He asks us to do the things that He knows will be a sacrifice for us so we can show our love for Him.  Though it all it doesn’t’ feel like a sacrifice.   I feel that it is such a privilege to be a missionary. I hope that we enjoy every day that we get to wear our missionary tags.  As a missionary we need to ‘hear Him’ and ‘talk with everyone’.  President Nelson said it is mentally rigorous to turn our thoughts to the Savior and to hear Him.  It is worth it.  We can share the gospel with everyone in such simple ways.  I will never forget Christmas.  We spent the whole day talking with everyone we could.  We had chocolate and pass along cards.  I know that small things will cause the flood.  I could see that through the video that Sister Rucker shared today.  I feel gratitude for the way that each of you have influenced me.  I know that the love that I feel for all of you is a gift from God. There is no other way that we can feel charity accept from God.  We can pray for it.  I am grateful that I was able to serve a mission and I hope that all of us who lives will continue to do the things we have been asked to do, to share the gospel and be representatives of Jesus Christ.

 

The Worth of Souls D&C 18:10 - March 22, 2021

 For some reason this email won't send! I've tried for the past 3 weeks so I'm sorry for the lack of contact. I love you all and I love this place so if I actually don't come home in a few weeks, you'll know why :) I'm sorry pictures won't attach. It makes Gmail crash.... 

Parker nővér is in Miskolc! I'm with Linford nővér! 

One miracle this month was on transfer day. Sister Van Wagoner updated me on néni we met with together and she showed me a picture of our first lesson with her and then her last lesson with Thompson nővér before they were transfered.her eyes are SO CHANGED. Literally, she has been filled with light. I want you to see the pictures so I'll send them to you in Messenger if you request them when you read this you can see her  :)The gospel really does change lives, doesn't it?

Also, I wrote a mission song. Watch for it on Facebook later this week. It's a surprise for the Ruckers during zone Conference this Thursday..

I hope Spring is coming beautifully to Kaysville, Japan, Provo, and wherever else you may be. Love and miss you all!

Love,

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Akkor jó, akkor van - March 1, 2021

These past two weeks have been good in Érd. I love how many aspects of missionary work still surprise me. There are always new experiences, people, and corners to turn. Speaking of which, my companion is being transferred to Miskolc and I'll be serving with a new sister named Linford nővér from Herriman, Utah! Every companion is like a built in best friend and I'm excited to get to know Linford nővér, too 😊

Highlights from the past two weeks:

Ágnes (who we practice English with) got her DNA test results back and was SO excited to tell us. It's really cool to see Hungarians ancestry because she has pieces from all over but is mostly Asztanazi Jewish. I think a big part of the gathering of the lost tribes of Israel will happen in Eastern Europe. Sunday night we walked down the lane near us to go over and for Parker nővér to say goodbye. Family history is really opening her heart. She started meeting with the Érd sisters to practice English, but now we mostly talk about family history!

Do you remember Timi with cancer? She is still not doing well so we called her a few nights ago to see if she would be able to talk. She had gotten home from the hospital with the news that she can die at any time now. A member in the group chat joined, too, and it was a good conversation. My favorite part was when Parker nővér asked, "Timi, van hited Jézus Krisztusba?" Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? This question helped her won dad with cancer a few years ago. Timi said, "Ya, but it's pretty small." "It doesn't matter how big or small it is." "Oh really? Akkor jó. Akkor van." (Then good, I have faith.) Something about hearing that all in Hungarian over the phone brought us all such a feeling of peace. I wish you could've all felt it too. I know you can feel that same peace if you also have faith in Jesus Christ, no matter how big or small. I love Timi. It is a really special time to be in her life and I'm grateful for it. We just keep praying and loving. ❤️

Even though we didn't know Parker was leaving until Saturday, this week leading up to transfers couldn't have been more perfect. We talked to Melinda in person, Béla joined a lesson with Iza and András, we met with 2 investigators I still hadn't met yet, and we had a really cool district pday hike in a little village up north called Visegrád. All around, it was a good week and there's another transfer right around the corner! Happy March!🍀

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures:

I'll just attach a bunch today about different random missionary moments :)

The street we walk down, dinner, member visits, saying goodbye to Agnes, district service day... The blurry one is with Iza and András--their nephew took it for us 😅

Egyek Tudunk Lenni - February 15, 2021

 

Boldog Bálint napját yesterday 😊🥰

We had a special Relief Society lesson with Sister Eubanks October 2020 talk about being unified. It was tender when our investigator (bed-ridden with bone cancer) shared some of her struggles right now. I'm amazed that she's willing to join church and Sunday School/Relief Society every week. She got a priesthood blessing last week and her cancer has actually only gotten worse since then. We are praying fervently for her to be able to turn the corner and are waiting with faith that she will somehow see a miracle. We love Timi so much. I hope we can meet her in person someday. Right now she lives with her parents in a small town far away so we're planning to get permission to visit her soon. We hope we can! She's one of the most special people I've met on my mission so far. ❤️

Another is our friend Ágnes! Last night for Valentine's Day and her birthday we made homemade bread (thank you Mama and Grandma Hunsaker!) and delivered it. She made little pogácsas (biscuits) for us and we were able to see her home and meet her husband. Guess what!? We found out that they met with missionaries 23 years ago in France! She sent us a picture of the pass-along card he gave her and after some quick Facebook finding, I discovered that that Elder is related to one of my high school friends, Sarah. What?! There are no coincidences! Ágnes and the elder are now texting again and we just know this is a step in the right direction for her and her husband. We love her so much. There's something in her you just don't see in most Hungarians we meet. It might take 23 more years but I know she recognizes something special here. I know it's true. 

A few days ago I felt washed with a wave of relief as we sat in a missionary meeting. It might sound silly but I felt like I really might be able to do it and finish serving my mission. And then I'll have done it! Wow. I've been a missionary for 455 days and I can now say that I  wouldn't trade any of this time for anything. I'm so grateful I can serve. I know this is the Lord's work, even way over here in Hungary--it's own little corner of the world. 

We had a special pday today that I've been hoping to do since being trained in Pest a year ago. There are about 50 bronzed shoes on the banks of the Danube in memorial of 1944-45 WWII victims. The specific story is quite sobering (write to me to find out more) and I actually got a little bit emotional as we walked a long and looked at them all. There were mom, dad, youth, and even baby shoes. I just felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Sometimes as a missionary you feel like you give so much, but I can't even compare my time in Hungary to what these Hungarian people have endured. This is a special place with blessed people. The future temple is evidence of it and I know it will bring such a light and hope to Hungary that is just a glimmer right now. The past 33 years of preaching the gospel have just been drops in the bucket. There is a flood coming! I love this place and these people. I'm so grateful for 50 more days to serve them. 

Until then, happy February! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures: 

Filming a district video (to be posted March 16th:) with the new mission go-pro yay! P. S. We heard from Sweden that Facebook algorithms are being altered and effected by all the missionary posting, liking, ads, etc. Kind of cool, right?! 

The shoes on the Duna

It was so good to talk to Riah this morning!

Passing through one of the many factory towns near Budapest. +long-awaited sunshine

One of a few member visits this week! We somehow made cookies without sugar 😅 thank goodness for honey and cinnamon! 

Instructions for your Departure - February 8, 2021

We received instructions for Sister Francis to return to her new home in Okinawa, Japan after she finished her missionary service in Hungary. We knew it would take NOTHING LESS THAN A MIRACLE for her to make it safely home! 

Dear Sister Francis:

Below is information received this morning concerning your departure.  I wanted you to be aware of this in advance.  If you have any questions, please let me know~!

Thanks!  Sis. M

We have received information back on what will be required for Sister Francis to be able to enter Japan and rejoin her family at the conclusion of her mission in Hungary/Romania.  It does appear possible for her to be able to rejoin her family.

Some of the procedures are somewhat complex. If you have  questions, pls feel free to ask me.  We have a contact in the Travel Office in Japan who will be happy to communicate with the mission/missionary/family if needed.

Immigration requirements

• COVID test negative result with the test taken within 72 hours of departure to Japan – for details pls see https://www.mofa.go.jp/ca/fna/page25e_000334.html
• U.S. military order copy with the missionary’s name on the order as a dependent (the scheme is called SOFA status)
• Valid U.S. passport
• Pledge – the attached file to be printed out, signed and carried

Quarantine requirements

• Another COVID test at the arrival airport in Japan (if positive, the passenger will be taken directly to a medical facility)
• No use of public transportation including trains/buses/flights
• 14-day self-quarantine
• Health reporting using SNS (LINE) – pls see the pledge attached
• Install government-created contact detector app. (COCOA) – pls see the pledge attached
• Keeping GPS on of your mobile device – pls see the pledge attached

Please let me know if I can assist you further on this.

Kind regards,

Scott Loveless

Elder A. Scott Loveless

Associate Area Legal Counsel

Sister Diana Mortensen

Hungary/România Mission Office

Mission Secretary

Rózsa február! - February 1, 2021

Yay! It's February! So many times this week I felt like I was back in my training a year ago. I can't believe it has been a whole year and that I'm back in/near Budapest again. I'm grateful for everything about the past year, and especially that it's this year! :)

The Ruckers are such good people. You can just tell that they are 100% good through and through. I am so impressed by their cheerfulness, diligence, and goodness. Ever since the first interview I had with them, I've felt their warmth and light fill Hungary. I know their family has to sacrifice a lot to be here. It reminds me of a YSA devotional that talks about living our lives by covenant or by convenience. I really recommend it. The Rucker's faith is so inspiring. 

Érd is so so good. I feel really blessed to serve here my last two transfers. I've been really surprised by the branch members and families. This branch has so many little kids! (about 10:) ) Parker nővér and I just really feel like this place is holy ground. Apparently the temple will be built between Érd and Budapest and we just need one more Melchizedek priesthood holder to have a ward. There is so much good to do here! I feel really grateful to have two more full-proselytizing transfers. Missionary work is just the best. The coolest part is that we visited four members this week, and 3/4 had nonmember family members we also met! What?? So I feel pretty optimistic about the push for member work. Basically, missionary work is missionary work and miracles will come if we're obedient to what we're asked to do. And we totally saw that this week. 

One evening as we were coming home to Érd from a small village by train, we tried to buy tickets at an automatic machine in the dark but it wasn't working... It started a conversation with a nearby fiú and he helped us figure out the machine. He is on a Budapest basketball team and was intrigued by why we were there. Who wouldn't be surprised by 2 American girls at a dark train station in the middle of Hungary in January? Let alone 2 that speak Hungarian--a language no body really has a reason to learn (unless they're sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!!) We talked to him the whole way home and prayed right after we got off the train that we'll be able to teach him. There are so many people who would be so blessed by the gospel of Jesus Christ! And it's not even that hard! The blessings are worth it! 

Goodbye blue January and hello pink February :) 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures:

I've attached a few pictures with members (Béla the gpa, Orsi who is so good at family history, and the little girl is Csila's daughter. Csilla means star.

An old turkish minaret was on the way to Béla's so we had to stop! It's from the 17th century and was all closed but so so cool. 

Purple lavender cheese! 

A few pictures of roads bc I love these old Hungarian country roads and fields. They've been here for ages. 

2 sisters came for a daily exchange. I got to serve with Sister Nielsen from Payson and we had the best time. She's a really good missionary. 

Making our apartment a home with these little lights and we moved a really big bookshelf!