Boldog Karácsonyt! Merry Christmas!
“Lo, in the Silent Night a child to God is born,
And all is brought again that ere was lost or torn.
Could but thy soul, o man, become a Silent Night!
God would be born in thee and set all things aright.”
Thank you, Mama, for the nativity advent calendar! Every night I added one piece and added the baby Jesus last night, just in time for Christmas Eve. In Hungary, the Christ Child brings the gifts the evening of December 24th and all the children dress up as shepherds and wisemen and go door to door singing, similar to Halloween in America. What a sweet reminder of the true meaning of Christmas!
Kellmer nővér and I spent Christmas Eve day on so many busses as we traveled between a few referrals and service projects. At the end of the day, we met up with Robertson and Christiansen nővérek the sing at a children's hospital. The city streets were empty as we walked through the gates into the Children's hospital. No one was in the lobby, so we went back and offered to sing to the night gate guard instead. In our best Hungarian, we sang my new favorite christmas song, Csendes Éj (Silent Night). He picked up the book he had been reading (Biblia) and leaned out his window to read the Christmas story to us. It was such an unexpected, simple, sweet way to celebrate this special Christmas as a missionary.
For Christmas Eve, Kellmer nővér and I watched The Christ Child one final time together. We've watched it so many times this month, in so many different places, with people of all ages. My favorite part is when Mary sings the lullaby to baby Jesus. See sings Psalms 27:1 in Hebrew ("The Lord is my light and my salvation"). It's been a special experience to share this video with so many people this season!
Last week was Zone Conference! I got to see my mtc companion, Allen nővér, again! It was so exciting to hear about her experiences and adventures, and to share all the things we've learned since the MTC. At Zone Conference, President Hettinger and the AP's initiated a new push to drastically increase finding time each day. The senior couples made a big turkey and potato lunch, and they handed out all the Christmas packages. It was an exciting day and energizing to be with so many other missionaries!
Some favorite Hungarian Christmas memories:
Singing in the rain! Kellmer nővér and I found ourselves at a bus stop in the rain a few nights ago. The streets of the little town were completely empty so we just sang all the Christmas songs we know in Hungarian! Singing in the rain, what a glorious feeling 😊
We tried roasted chestnuts last pday at a little Christmas market with Fillerup nővér!
I love singing and I love Christmas songs, so it's has been so much fun to do both this December! We carolled on Sunday night, sang at a rest home Tuesday morning, and have just found other random opportunities to sing, whether it's as we walk home at night or bake cookies or whatever. I might keep singing these Hungarian Christmas songs now that I'm finally learning them :)
Linh and her brother made us Vietnamese food today so we celebrated Christmas Vietnamese style, with American and Vietnamese in Hungary--what a cool combination! We then went to the Millets (a senior missionary couple) for dinner with Linh and her brother, and a few other friends. Such a fun, busy day.
Merry, Merry Christmas everyone!
"His life... neither began in Bethlehem nor concluded on Calvary. He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world" (The Living Christ).
Love,
Emma Rae
Francis nővér
Pictures:
Nativity advent calender--thank you!
"chestnuts roasting on an open fire..."
Vietnamese Christmas!
Boldog Karácsonyt!
Our Christmas English class lesson
We went to Gellérts hedge today, where President Nelson dedicated Hungary for the preaching of the gospel. Beautiful view and special feeling.
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