Rózsa február! - February 1, 2021

Yay! It's February! So many times this week I felt like I was back in my training a year ago. I can't believe it has been a whole year and that I'm back in/near Budapest again. I'm grateful for everything about the past year, and especially that it's this year! :)

The Ruckers are such good people. You can just tell that they are 100% good through and through. I am so impressed by their cheerfulness, diligence, and goodness. Ever since the first interview I had with them, I've felt their warmth and light fill Hungary. I know their family has to sacrifice a lot to be here. It reminds me of a YSA devotional that talks about living our lives by covenant or by convenience. I really recommend it. The Rucker's faith is so inspiring. 

Érd is so so good. I feel really blessed to serve here my last two transfers. I've been really surprised by the branch members and families. This branch has so many little kids! (about 10:) ) Parker nővér and I just really feel like this place is holy ground. Apparently the temple will be built between Érd and Budapest and we just need one more Melchizedek priesthood holder to have a ward. There is so much good to do here! I feel really grateful to have two more full-proselytizing transfers. Missionary work is just the best. The coolest part is that we visited four members this week, and 3/4 had nonmember family members we also met! What?? So I feel pretty optimistic about the push for member work. Basically, missionary work is missionary work and miracles will come if we're obedient to what we're asked to do. And we totally saw that this week. 

One evening as we were coming home to Érd from a small village by train, we tried to buy tickets at an automatic machine in the dark but it wasn't working... It started a conversation with a nearby fiú and he helped us figure out the machine. He is on a Budapest basketball team and was intrigued by why we were there. Who wouldn't be surprised by 2 American girls at a dark train station in the middle of Hungary in January? Let alone 2 that speak Hungarian--a language no body really has a reason to learn (unless they're sharing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!!) We talked to him the whole way home and prayed right after we got off the train that we'll be able to teach him. There are so many people who would be so blessed by the gospel of Jesus Christ! And it's not even that hard! The blessings are worth it! 

Goodbye blue January and hello pink February :) 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures:

I've attached a few pictures with members (Béla the gpa, Orsi who is so good at family history, and the little girl is Csila's daughter. Csilla means star.

An old turkish minaret was on the way to Béla's so we had to stop! It's from the 17th century and was all closed but so so cool. 

Purple lavender cheese! 

A few pictures of roads bc I love these old Hungarian country roads and fields. They've been here for ages. 

2 sisters came for a daily exchange. I got to serve with Sister Nielsen from Payson and we had the best time. She's a really good missionary. 

Making our apartment a home with these little lights and we moved a really big bookshelf!