The Tree of Life - March 30, 2020

The Tree of Life moment from our evening walk.

I hope you're all doing well and adjusting to this new normal--or not so normal? Everything feels like it's slow motion. Hungary has gone into lock down for two weeks, and you're only allowed in the grocery store from 9-noon if you're 65 years or older... We learned that this morning :) I got a letter from my little brother that said "2020 is going well so far." That brought me a smile :) 

On one morning walk we walked past the Kispest cemetery. 

Last week a lot of family and friends asked what our schedule is like, so I thought I'd share what our day looks like: 

A day in the life...

6:30 wake up

Outside exercise

Morning prep and breakfast 

9-10 personal study

10-10:15 Call with our district to talk about the previous days successes and ideas

10:15-11:15 companionship study

Lunch

12:30-7 contacting people online, lessons, and one hour language study

7 Dinner 

8 Mission wide Facebook live call

8:30-9:30 outside exercise

10:30 bed

Our little weekly supermarket, Aldi

Péter: we met Péter on the street corner near the branch house about a month ago. He came to church once, but we never met for a lesson. However, he's become one of our most progressing friends! We've taught him four times online, and have another call scheduled for Wednesday. He's a deep thinker and has obviously spent a while learning about religions and theories. I pray he'll pray and read The Book of Mormon sincerely and recognize this truth from God. In a lesson about the Plan of Salvation, he said the closing prayer. His prayer was so good! We felt kind of like proud parents :) After the call Arps nővér and I couldn't contain our joy about his prayer. We love Péter! And watching these small yet significant steps towards Christ. 

A lesson with Zsuzsa. Sorry our heads are cut off...

Zsuzsa: we now meet twice a week! We've tried to get creative in our last few lessons with her and teach about family history or Come Follow Me, but every time she says "Oh, yeah I already know this!" Her best friend, Kriszti, is the best friend a missionary could ask for. They call each other every day and read scriptures together often. Kriszti was baptized in August and referred Zsuzsa to the missionaries. We love them both!

One of our online proselyting efforts this week--asking a thought provoking question. "If Moses were talking to people on the street, would you stop and listen?"

We're staying busy and productive as we adjust to this new normal. I hope you all are too! And every day we look forward to General Conference next Saturday and Sunday! 

What an unprecedented time. There's so much to learn about this new method of missionary work! 

My favorite part of the day is 8:30 - 9:30 pm when we go outside to walk. The stars are out and it smells like spring. We walk in silence and I just think and think and think and think and think. Here are some of my evening walk thoughts... 

In Lehi's Dream, the Iron rod provides safety, security, and direction when the mist of darkness encompasses everyone. The Iron rod is God's word: words of living prophets, scriptures, and personal revelation. Let's use all three! Read the scriptures, pray for guidance, and listen to the living prophet and apostles. This week on an evening walk, a street light was lit up in the middle of a big blossoming pink tree. It looked just like what I'd picture the Tree of Life to look like. I've attached a picture below. It was such a pretty and peaceful walk. 

We're excited for General Conference! Hurrah for Israel!

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér 

Letter from Elder Sabin, Area President - March 27, 2020

March 27, 2020


Dear Parents of Consecrated Hungary/Romania Mission Missionaries:



Below is a letter sent by Elder Gary B.  Sabin, the Europe Area President, to all Missionaries in our Mission. We hope that you will find peace in his encouraging words. Thanks for raising such extraordinary young people. We are honored to be fellow servants with them.

With much love,

President and Sister Hettinger  



26 March 2020 

To all Missionaries in the Europe Area

Dear Elders and Sisters,

Thank you for taking a few minutes to read this message. We know you currently have time to do this!  We hear of wonderful ways you are using this time of isolation to fortify and deepen your faith through personal study and introspection and to pursue new on-line missionary possibilities.

Letter from the Mission President - March 26, 2020

Dear Parents of the Spectacular Missionaries in the Hungary/Romania Mission:

Below is a letter that we received from the Missionary Department early this morning. We are excited to remain in the field of service with your daughters and sons doing the most important work on the earth today, gathering scattered Israel. We sincerely appreciate you and your prayers of support, and love serving with your noble and consecrated children! 

“To: Mission Presidents in the Europe and Europe East Areas 

Dear Presidents and Sisters, 

Thank you for the excellent service and wonderful care you are providing to your missionaries. These are days never to be forgotten, and your leadership and faith will create memories that the missionaries will cherish for the rest of their lives.

Israel, Israel God is Calling - March 24, 2020

What a week. I've been thinking and praying and eagerly reading updates from my missionary friends and the church multiple times a day. We are trying not to hold our breath as things change each day. I'm grateful we know a loving Father in Heaven is in control. 

Our week started normally with proselyting on Tuesday, then our mission's quarantine started Wednesday morning. Since then we've received training and schedules for our quarantine time, with emphasis on online finding, contacting, and teaching. Incredibly, we've had more lessons this week than we've had in a long time! We also have stayed in really good daily contact with our closest progressing friends. Hearts are opening in a special way during this time. Thankfully, we run/walk for an hour every morning and evening. We've explored our corner of Kispest pretty well, and found a beautiful forested walking path near our house.

From the Mission President - March 21, 2020

Dear Parents of the Wonderful Hungary/Romania Mission Missionaries:

The Europe Area Presidency just confirmed to us that the March 20, 2020 First Presidency announcement concerning changes to missionary service, etc. does not change anything that we are doing at this time. The Europe Area Missions were already doing what was needed,  which was confirmed in communications between the Europe Area President, Elder Gary Sabin, and Church Headquarters. The Europe Area Presidency clarified that the announcement was to inform others who were not already involved. Our missionaries have been instructed to strictly observe the self-isolation guidance received from the Europe Area Presidency, including the senior missionaries . We have a Mission Medical Advisor and physician, Sister Fillerup, who is monitoring the health conditions of our missionaries, and we will be informed if there are any missionaries exhibiting symptoms. We will report any such matters to the Area Medical Advisor and the Area Presidency and take appropriate measures.  

As we are sure you can appreciate, we are very busy taking care of your missionaries and your individual communications to us may not get immediate replies. We do believe that the actions now being taken by us under the direction of the Europe Area Presidency are right for our Mission at this time.

Your missionaries are doing spectacular on-line proselyting, and are creatively using technology to bring souls unto Jesus Christ. We are astonished and humbled by their diligence and faith, and are ever grateful for the prayers and support of each of you. 

With much love and gratitude, 

President and Sister Hettinger 

Hungary/Romania Mission 

Church Newsroom - March 20, 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We take very seriously the health and safety of our missionaries and of those they teach. The rapidly developing travel advisories and restrictions that are emerging around the world present significant logistical and other challenges. Therefore, the following temporary adjustments are being made:

In the coming weeks, based upon world conditions, substantial numbers of missionaries will likely need to be returned to their home nations to continue their service. This will be done in a systematic way based on the urgency of travel restrictions, level of COVID-19 concern, and other considerations. Returning missionaries will go through a 14-day period of self-isolation and then may be assigned to serve within their home country, based on local conditions. The term of service for missionaries returning to or serving within the United States will likely be reduced to accommodate the large number of missionaries returning from around the world. Missionary training centers worldwide will not receive new missionaries. MTC training for missionaries will take place through technology, and missionaries will be sent to their assigned mission as soon as possible.

As we evaluate changing conditions, further necessary adjustments will be made.

We love and pray for our missionaries and their families. We are grateful for the continued prayers and support of parents, loved ones, and Church members as we make every effort to help them remain safe and well in these challenging times.

Sincerely,

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

A Green Hill Far Away - March 16, 2020

Sziasztok!

What an interesting week. I'm pretty sure we checked newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org at least 20 times a day this week. In Hungary, we are still proselyting and are prepared with the 2 week food supply if we're asked to stay inside. We're planning to do lessons over video call this week. The work moves forward! And I have a feeling we'll see lots of unique miracles from these experiences. 

Our Monday evening lessons with Zsuzsa are my favorite part of every week! Her daughter, Bella, usually plays on an iPad during the lesson, so Arps nővér and I pondered about how we could involve her more in our lessons. This week we took the Friend magazine with us to the lesson and gave it to give to her. We showed her the story of Enos in The Friend, taught her how to pray like Enos, and asked her to pray for her mom this week as she continues to stop smoking. It actually turned out really well! Bella was so honored and happily did all the activities the rest of the lesson--the maze, dot to dot, and puzzles :) 

Children of God - March 9, 2020

Our lesson with Zsuzsa last Monday

Sziasztok! 

Zsuzsa! Last Monday evening we had a lesson with her and Kriszti, her member fellowshipper. Kriszti was baptized in August and referred Zsuzsa to the missionaries earlier last year, so they're already really, really close friends. Kriszti had a similar journey as Zsuzsa towards baptism (with smoking) and is such a support to Zsuzsa. The lesson went so well. We love Zsuzsa. 

Meeting randomly in Csepel

Then on Tuesday, we were near the mall in Csepel, and we ran into Zsuzsa and her daughter! We'd spent the day in Csepel because both of our lessons cancelled, so seeing her was a little tender mercy. The Lord knew we needed to be there at that time. After we talked to them for a minute and parted ways, Zsuzsa called us and asked us to come back to the mall. Her daughter had picked out little gifts to give to us. It was so sweet! 

Flowers for Nő nap!

Zsuzsa's been sick for a few weeks, but started to feel well enough to come to church this week. However, on Friday she called and said that she'd woken up with tons of pain in her knee and could barely walk. We prayed so much Friday and Saturday that she'd heal enough to be able to come to church. 

A classic Hungarian csengő bell

A holiday is Hungary is called "Nő Nap" (Girl day), so Arps nővér and I thought it'd be fun to get flowers to deliver to our neighbors and Zsuzsa. We surprised Zsuzsa on Saturday night with the flowers and she was so happy! However, she was still struggling to walk and we felt discouraged that she probably wouldn't come to church the next morning. 

[Side note: on the bus ride home with the flowers for our neighbors, we asked a couple how to celebrate Nő Nap, and they said it's really weird for girls to gifts to other girls. Only boys give flowers to girls. Whoops! Well, we still gave our neighbors the flowers and were glad to have something to laugh about :) 

Sunday at 8 am we called Zsuzsa and guess what!? Her knee was completely better and she came to church!!! Her baptismal date is in 3 weeks and we think she will make it! 

The most amazing thing about miracles is that they happen.

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

 

 

I Love to See the Temple - March 2, 2020

Thank you for the fun emails this week! And happy March 😊

Zsuzsa is doing well, and we had another lesson with her this week. She knows the Book of Mormon is true and that she wants to be baptized. She just needs to stop smoking. We fasted as a district for her and the other missionaries investigators who need to stop smoking. Tonight we'll introduce the church's 12 step program in our lesson with her. My favorite scripture I've found to share with her is 1 Nephi 14:1. We all have stumbling blocks, but they can be overcome with Christ and the goal is worth it! And we grow from the journey.

On Tuesday and Wednesday we went to Érd for a napi csere (exchanges with the Stls). I spent the day with Gillette nővér and learned so much from her, especially about being bold about sharing the message of the Restoration. After a few hours of streeting, we met a mother and son who were interested in meeting again to learn more and in coming to church! I hope they go to church in Érd!

Other than that, our week was spent in Csepel. Yesterday as we knocked a 10 story, a Kispest egyháztag (member) came out! We talked to both him and his wife who is currently inactive. It was such a tender mercy that we were led to knock at that building and we could talk with them. We love Csepel :) and we love these kind Hungarian members!

I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér 

Pictures:

My favorite bus because it's so colorful :) This is the one we ride from our apartment to the church Sunday mornings.

Napi csere with the Érdi sisters

Welcome to Kispest 💛