I love you!
Wow, I can't believe I'm writing a missionary email to you! I'm so happy to be a missionary and Sister Allen is so good! This week has been an absolutely incredible rollercoaster. I don't even know where to start! I want to tell you and the family every detail! I'll just start at the beginning and get as far as I can. I'm thinking about starting on this email and copying/pasting some things to a group email but not everything.
How is everyone?? I've been thinking about you ALL WEEK! As I waved goodbye, we carried everything up stairs to the outside big area you can see from the road. I kept watching for the van but didn't see it. I'm glad you honked! I walked from table to table in the new building lobby where a nice Grandma put on my missionary tag!!!!!! AHHHH!!!! I kept looking at it all day and every night I prop it up where I can see it while I lay down. I love seeing the Hungarian and the coolest part is that all the tags you see people wearing have Jesus Christ's name bolded, no matter what language it's in. Sister Allen and I always feel so happy when we see other missionaries and tags and our own tags.
We took my luggage to my room--on the 4th floor and I sleep on the top bunk above Sister Allen. Then that nice Sister Missionary said goodbye and sent me to another building where they gave me a Samsung phone and case to use here at the MTC. We use it to see our daily schedule and to take pictures. I was by myself now so someone else pointed me to the classroom building (T2) where I walked up to the 4th floor and found the HUNGARIAN CLASSROOM! (we actually have since switched to a bigger classroom on the 5th floor that has more desks and bigger windows.)
Hopwood nover took me to a computer lab where I took a survey about gospel skills and then I emailed home to tell you I made it safely! We went back to the classroom where we got to know everyone and such. Everything since then has felt like a blur because we are literally always running! It's so exciting! I never understood the 'work' part of missionary work until this week! I have so much respect and gratitude for EVERY person who has every served a mission.
Thank you Papa, Mama, Ben, and Sam! You are all incredible!
Every day we start with daily planning, Book of Mormon study, and exercise. Then we shower and go to our classroom for companion language study and personal study time, then lunch and class, dinner and more class. There is so much Hungarian in my brain that I don't think I can possibly squeeze one more word in! BUT we continue to study our vocab lists, phrases, and scripture mastery and I know the Lord will strengthen us. I've learned so much about faith this week. It involves moving forward with courage, putting in all the effort I can, and trusting that the Lord will enable us to accomplish what He has asked. We often talk/study about the gift of tongues and I've learned that it's not a gift so that you can say what YOU can to SAY in the moment you'll need to but so that the person you're teaching will HEAR what THEY need to hear.
It is SO FUN to learn Hungarian! Sister Allen and I literally study every second we can. There is a small pamphlet called the 'Hungarian Basic Core'. It outline everything we need to do by the 15th day here at the MTC (Oct 4th), including (but not limited to!) prayer, bearing testimony, teaching, get to know you phrases and questions, nouns, verbs, adjectives, and 4 passages: The Missionary Purpose, the First Vision, the baptismal invitation, and Moroni 10:3-5. I know that if we put in all the effort we can, we will be blessed. I can't even explain it, but I feel like I was born to speak Hungarian. Chinese and German never quite worked in my mouth, but the other day after I prayed in class, Squire Testver said "Wow, you have beautiful Hungarian. Don't change your pronunciation at all. You sound very Hungarian!" I wanted to cry because I feel so grateful I have the opportunity to dedicate the next year and a half to the Lord and His children.
We have three Hungarian teachers: Hopwood nover, Durney Testver, and Squire Testver. They have all served in Hungary within the past 5 years and are so knowledgeable. We have class 8-9 hours a day to learn conjugation, practice, study the scriptures, practice pronunciation, etc. Allen nover and I memorized the missionary purpose by Saturday night and taught our first missionary lesson on Monday morning! We got to know our teacher, said an opening prayer, bore testimony to her, and closed with a prayer--all in Hungarian! What!? I often pray for both a desire to work really hard, and strength to do so. It feels good to literally use every second of every day! As we studied Monday morning, we walked in circles around the hallways on the 5th floor. I felt the Spirit so strongly as we walked past all the languages: Finnish, Arabic, Chinese, SWEDISH, etc. It is a holy place.
Our branch includes 4 districts. We had a branch introduction meeting Thursday night and President Samuelain interviewed us each individually. He said that he could tell I have wonderful good parents and gave me suggestions of how to prioritize and manage the many tasks required. Then yesterday evening (Tuesday) he interviewed Allen nover and I together and called to serve as STL's together! We start Sunday evening because the current one's are leaving next Monday to Australia. I know the Lord will enable us to accomplish everything we need to and I'm so honored and grateful we get this opportunity--and that we get to do it together! The last 2 weren't companions! It seems like Heavenly Father wants me to learn more than just Hungarian in the MTC, just like at BYU and DHS. I have had the greatest opportunities when I get involved in things bigger than myself.
Here are a few other fun things from the week!
We had class in the Swedish classroom one day! It made me think of you, Sam! I can't believe you learned how to speak Swedish! And Ben, good job learning Danish! I guess I never really comprehended what it meant to 'learn a language'!
On our missionary nametage, the last name goes first, so people often say, "Hi Sister Nover? What are those funny symbols on the word? Oh wait, you two are twins??" "No, that's the word for sister in Hungarian and it goes after our last name:)" "Ohhhh okay!" We love when it happens! And the elders get called "Elder Elder???" "Nope, the last name is first" It's so funny and fun to be Hungarian speaking missionaries!
Our district is so good! There are twelve elders (6 companionships) and we call them our 'band of brothers'. They take really good care of us and let us sit in the middle in class and invite us to play sports with them, etc. It's fun to all be having this adventure together!
On Thursday morning, we picked up our language books! It was a huge bright yellow bag with a beautiful leather/gold Hungarian triple combination, Hungarian Preach My Gospel, language books, dictionary, grammer book, etc. We sat at a table outside where it was so pretty and it felt like Christmas morning as we opened the bags! We then had our first planning meeting and started with a prayer and we just love being missionaries! We want to do our best to be our best!
I want to teach you my favorite Hungarian word from the week: "biciklizn" (beetseecleeznee) to ride a bike! It's it such a cute word!? Also "Szeretetedet" means to love and it took LOTS of practice to learn how to say!
Our teachers explained the Hungarians as "frozen m&m's" There's a hard shell to crack and you have to thaw it our but then they are wonderful inside <3
We have created a rewards program to learn Hungarian! Every time we pass off something, we get a cup of chocolate milk! So far we've had one cup when we finished the missionary purpose. Good thing there's an endless supply of chocolate milk because we have a long ways to go!!
Mama: I have some things I'll send home. I'm going to use Sam's black bag so I'll send the purse home.
Ben and Sam: What books do you suggest reading while I'm a missionary? True to the Faith, Jesus The Christ ? How's BYU?
Sariah: How's the iphone working??
Nome: I just sent you a letter in the mail. Thanks for your letter!
Baden: How was your next week of 7th grade president? How are the drums going?
Eli: THANK YOU ELI! I found your nice note and alarm clock! I'm so honored and I love you!!!!
Avi: Thank you for the cute notebook! I love you so much!
Autumn: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HAPPY BAPTISM! I thought about you ALL DAY on Saturday and I'm excited to talk to you today!
Nico: How are all your preschool's going?
Papa and Mama, I've thought about many wonderful family memories. We sang "How Firm a Foundation" and "If the Savior Stood Beside Me". The Spirit was so strong. Also, thank you for teaching me that "Our family can do hard things" <3
I love and miss you all! The MTC is a wonderful place and I testify that He knows and loves each of us!
Love,
Emma Rae
Francis nover
I'll send pictures after the temple!
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