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!