There is Sunshine in My Soul 🌞 - January 27, 2020

Splits in Kecskemét! I spent the day with Michaelis nővér (not pictured) but we saw Allen nővér and we got to street together for about 30 minutes! It was amazing to realize how far we've come since being in the MTC!

Every week I feel like I am a whole different person by the time Preparation Day rolls around. I feel like I am a whole new stronger, changed, weathered person because every week is full of unique learning experiences. . My testimony of this restored gospel grows every week, as does my love and gratitude for our family as I think about you all so many miles away. I've been praying for everyone this week--Papa with work, Sam at BYU, Ben and Dani, you supporting all the coming and goings and everything else, Riah as a Senior, Nome with her lifeguard test (Wahoo!), B2 as a leader of so much, Eli and Avi with their happy lives and friends, Autie as Autie <3, and Nico Bobby joefers. Thank you for the updates about everyone and I'm happy that every week is so major! Congrats on a successful pinewood derby and substitute teaching that funny class and putting Linh and Brigitta and Sister Kellmer on the prayer role. 

My testimony of this restored gospel grows every week, as does my love and gratitude for family and friends in both Hungary, America, China, Vietnam, and everywhere else!

This week in Pest has been an adventure too :) like you said, investigators come and go. We experienced that on a very real level this week! Linh moved back to Vietnam Thursday, Ildiko (a sweet néni we've started teaching a few weeks ago from Angol Óra) doesn't want us to come back (we're afraid her son talked her out of it), Dóri said she doesn't want to talk about Christ or commit to all the rules, we're still contacting Brigitta and praying she'll come to church, etc. I haven't mentioned Dóri a lot because we haven't really met with her very much. She found the church in Canada about 7 years ago. It's been hard to meet with her and at her 2nd lesson she said she wanted to get baptized. She is 23 and a little dramatic but we were eager to help her! She lives about 2 hours away from the church building and suddenly texted Saturday and said that she doesn't want to talk about Christ anymore, or commit to the rules of being a member. 

It's hard to know how to handle every situation! Sister Kellmer has handled it very well. So Saturday night Kellmer nővér and I had tons of time so we got off the metro at Keleti and street all the way to another big city center Keleti, about 20 blocks. We just walked and stopped every single person. As we walked and walked and walked and stopped everyone, we felt pure joy knowing that the least we can do is folytassunk! Continue! 

The Millets hosted a lovely dinner with Linh and her brother Bean and Brother Millet ended with a perfect testimony that God is always willing to answer when we turn to Him. They gave her a copy of the 1st vision and the picture of the Savior knocking on a door. Kellmer nővér then shared about the Holy Ghost and how it will testify of truth. I ended with Moroni 10:18, "Every good gift cometh of Christ." As we left, I wanted to give Linh something, so I gave her our family picture that she had seen about a month ago on a bus when we went to the Brown's for dinner together. On that bus she was so amazed and inspired by a mom who could raise 10 righteous children. She is at a cross roads in her life, and said that she needs to take time to ponder and be home. 

We have been in a town called Esztergom today. Beautiful!

It was a special evening with the Millets. That night I read the card Linh gave to me and it said, "Please teach my brother about the commandments," and then flew to Vietnam Thursday at 3 pm. This experience with Linh has taught me so much about people, agency, missionary work, the power and peace of Christ and the power, peace, and answers in the Book of Mormon. I pray she will be reminded of these truths in her heart. 

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Saturday night Kellmer nővér and I had tons of time so we got off the metro at Keleti and street all the way to another big city center Keleti, about 20 blocks away. We usually just street smaller sections each day but Saturday we went all the way from point A to point B! As we walked and walked and walked and stopped everyone, we felt pure joy in this work. I'm so grateful for a companion and for these simple memorable times we share. We talked with a surprising number of foreigners that evening! 

Also, one day this week I met someone from Nazareth, then later a family from Bethlehem! 

Another evening on the bus we always take from our metro stop at Örs vezér tere to our little Csertő utca stop, I talked to our sweet neighbor bácsi named Mihály. He said he'd spent the day babysitting his grandkids, Lili and Emma. He reminded me of Grandpa Joe, especially as he opened and held all the doors for us as we walked together to our building and to our apartments on the 9th floor. It was so sweet 😊

What a week :) We are finding so much on the street and finding so much joy in this work as well as patience, love, hope, faith, and courage! 

I know the gospel is true. I know there is power and strength and guidance in the word of God and that He leads His work. We are simply His hands! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér 

P. S. The email subject is because we had one blue sky day in the past 25 days! We've sung this song7 a few times together this week 😊

We reached our goal! 24 hours on the streets of Hungary in one week preaching the word! 

How Firm a Foundation - January 20, 2020

This week has been a wonderful week in Pest, and we are seeing miracles daily. Sometimes big, sometimes small, but just as sweet every time. 

Every week during training, my MTC group (the 12 elders and Sister Allen and I), Skype call with the AP's and President Hettinger to report on our weekly challenge and receive a new one. This week's challenge was to lead conversations about the Book of Mormon, and to invite all to read and pray about it, and then follow up. There is a little pamphlet we use called "The 21 -day Book of Mormon challenge" and we gave it to Brigitta, Linh, Ildiko, and a few other friends.

Each day, a Book of Mormon reference answers questions like "Is there a God? " or "Can we really be forgiven of our sins?" As I've studied these questions and scriptures this week, I have learned so much about the power of the Book of Mormon and why it is the keystone of our religion. In it are restored truths and teachings necessary for the world as we prepare for the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ.

"Egy fényoszlopot láttam..." (I saw a pillar of light...) - January 13, 2020

Sziasztok! 

Last Monday after P-day ended at 6, the Tóth family invited us over for Family Home Evening and dinner. They just got sealed in the Ukraine temple and moved to a new apartment, so after dinner Brother Tóth dedicated their home. Sister Tóth is from Ukraine and Brother Tóth is Hungarian,so they communicate with each other through a mixture of Hungarian, English, and Ukrainian! Sister Tóth served borsch (a Ukrainian soup) and they sent us home with a huge bag of potatoes! It was such a neat experience, and a witness of the power of the priesthood. 

This week we streeted at Örs vezér tere, Nyugati, and Keliti pályaudvar, three big city hubs in Budapest. Our goal is to share the Restoration with as many people as we can in preparation for the upcoming April General Conference. While reading 2 Nephi 30 this week, verse 8 almost jumped out of the book at me! The gospel is going to all corners of the earth and our goal is to teach the Restoration! Joseph Smith's simple prayer was a turning point in history, and our lives will be forever blessed by this knowledge of the fullness of the gospel.

We had two lessons with Brigitta this week. We've been doing lesson with her where we spend 30 min teaching English, then teach a lesson during the other 30 minutes. We are trying really hard to help her come to church so we can continue to teach her. She has a son, and works as a radiologist. We love teaching her and hope that she continues to come closer to Christ and progress towards baptism! 

Every csütörtök (Thursday) at 6 pm, there's a free English class at the branch house! Come and join us! 😊 Kellmer nővér and I teach the advanced level. The first 2 levels have books to use but level 3's is still in production, so at the start of this year we created a new class schedule where we start with a spiritual thought then review last week's assigned homework, then learn a new topic (foreign customs, cooking, sports, doctors office vocab, etc.), and assign new homework for the next week! The first 2 weeks have gone well and I think our class members are enjoying it and learning!

The Millets are in charge of the YSA in Budapest, and just adjusted it so there are activities for interested friends with games and such, and others with more in depth learning. The first one with this new system was at our branch house in Pest instead of at the Buda building, and it went well! There was a good gathering of young adults and missionaries, and the Millets made it a fun night and a good experience with the gospel for these new friends. 

Kellmer nővér and I started have been humming "Hark, All Ye Nations" all week so we finally learning it in Hungarian so we can sing it together! It's becoming a fun tradition to sing and harmonize together as we walk and cook and such :) Kellmer nővér is such a good trainer and friend, and we learn so much together every day. The best feeling is when we walk in the door of our apartment and know we gave the day everything we could. There is no better feeling!

I'm constantly grateful for this opportunity and learn so much daily. I know this is the Lord's work and His hand is in every detail. 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér 

Fénképek:

Mily nagy vagy Te! (How Great Thou Art) - January 6, 2019

Another great week in Pest! The holidays put everything in slow motion for a while, but we're getting back into a more normal routine again! 

President Hettinger invited our mission to record a daily miracle every day in January,so here are a few of this week's:

Kellmer nővér and I talk to people on the street, a bus, the metro, pretty much everywhere! In Hungary, there is a bell called a csengő on the fence around a house, or outside an apartment building. We usually stand by the little csengő box and ring each apartment number one at a time. If they answer, we talk through the microphone and ask if we can share a message about Jesus Christ with them and hope that they'll be willing to h lock the door so we can go up to their apartment. As we stood there on Wednesday, we started by saying a prayer together and right then a man walked out of the building so we were able to just go in and knock on the doors and talk to people face to face! It was a little tender mercy that makes a missionaries day 😊

Preparation day adventure to Buda Castle

Dinner with the Friend of a Friend - January 3, 2020

Mission accomplished, Sean! Let me send some photos in a minute. Oh, these sisters are so lovely, I am happy to have met them. They are doing some amazing work in Hungary. So grateful for them. Just glowing with light and kindness, both of them. Sister Francis is so beautiful inside and out. I took them to a nice restaurant, and fed them good fattening Hungarian, the REAL stuff. If there is anything else I can for you or missionaries in Hong Kong or other Asian countries, please let me know. Happy to help! Best wishes for you and your family Sean!