God is Good - September 21, 2020

 Life is so good. I love serving in Kecskemét with Hutchinson nővér. And it's so fun to serve "négyen" (with another set of sisters). 

Too much to write, too little time. But as I always say, read my journals someday! 

Elder De Feo joined our mission for a mission-wide Zoom conference Tuesday and Wednesday. It was incredibly spirit-filled as he shared about different aspects of missionary work during the pandemic. Here are a few of my take-aways: 
-"It's not so important the means as it is the Spirit."
-The virus broke centuries-old traditional missionary bridges. It's time to build new ones. 

-"The purpose is not only what you DO, but who you BECOME, my friends." 

We gathered with three of the branch youth Thursday evening to play sand volleyball! A few parents had shared concerns about their youth in Sunday School last Sunday and we wanted to reach out to them. Also, Enikő's (the sister who just left to serve in England) younger brother was baptized with her years ago but hasn't come since and we hope he joins us to play next week. As we were there, the other sisters saw their investigator who is a professional VB player and he offered to join! Always so many uncoincidental coincidences. 

We also ran into Enikő's mom today at the mall. She cried and hugged us. She is not a member but we've already seen her heart open and change so much. She said she wants to learn how to pray. YES!

The Kövessyék invited us over for dinner Saturday night and it was so. much. fun. This is only the 4th or 5th time I've been to dinner at a members house in Hungary and it was like a little piece of home. Their kids poured our drinks, refilled them about seven times, and shared all their many talents with us during dinner--their artwork, pictures, dancing, etc. :) We ended with a special discussion about how they've individually felt God's love for them in their lives. They each talked about their baptisms and it reminded me of Autumn's baptism one year ago, a few days after I left home to serve as a missionary. Heavenly Father really does love all His children "...Whatsoever land they may be in..." (Alma 26:37). 

I read the coolest thing this week. I can't remember which talk of President Nelson's it was but footnote #20 says, "Gratitude is another spiritual attribute that can be developed. Gratitude shapes mood and productivity." Isn't that incredible?! 

May we all be more grateful this week! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures: 
So much fun to play VB together!

Hungarian crepes/palacsinas with our favorite Tardi Anna.

dinner with the Kövessys

My cute sister Autumn. Boldog Születésnapot

A Második Kilométer - September 14, 2020

 Another great week in Kecskemét! When Hungarians say 'go the extra mile' they instead say go 'the second kilométer' 😄

The best miracle was that Enikő's mom and brother came to church on their own accord. They just walked in right as it started and everyone almost fell off their chairs because we were all so surprised! The bishop, me playing the piano, my comp, and the other sisters all made shocked eye contact. We are excited to keep getting to know them better especially as Enikő serves her mission in England. 

This week literally flew by. We celebrated Bell nővér's 20th birthday on Wednesday with the pékség (bakery) in the morning, pizza at lunch, and a surprise piñata from Flying Tiger. We also celebrated Hutchinson and Bell Nővérek 9 month mark and a few other things this week. We celebrate everything in Kecskemét and it's so fun :) 

We ran a mission wide Zoom training about running Facebook pages, had a joint district hike today for pday, planned an upcoming video about the Family Proclamation with the new video specialist elders, and ran to Tardi Anna's one morning to say hi. We also did exchanges Friday so I spent the day with Thompson nővér! We worked together in Facebook groups, filmed a music video, and tried a new fagyi shop. It's so fun to serve négyen in Kecskemét. I love them all. 

Another miracle from this week is that my family in Okinawa met a sister missionary from Hungary who is serving in Japan! I met Sindy Klein at the very beginning of my mission in Budapest before I could speak a lick of Hungarian and now she's serving with my family across the world. Isn't that incredible?? The world is so small. Kicsi a világ. 

Yes, I think I'd like to stay here forever:) I'm so grateful for the past 360 days I've spent being a missionary. They have been days of so much growth. I remember the first phrase I learned a little over a year ago: "Hogy vagy" pronounced "hoyj vawj" I promise. Hungary has a special place in my heart. I can't believe I was called here, came here, and stayed here during Covid. There are miles to go before I sleep--people to find, love, and serve. I'm so grateful for the last year and looking forward to the next six months! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures: 

I love these funny little Hungarian bikes people ride. 

Notice the broccoli on the pizza. Who can quote that line from inside out? :) 

District pday! 

We walked past these huge flowers today! 

Daily exchange with kedves Thompson nővér! We had the best time and my friend Anna in Las Vegas served with her a little bit! 

"I Believe in Christ" - September 8, 2020

Hurrah for Israel! 

Halihó! 

Sister Hutchinson and I decided to learn "I Believe in Christ" as a piano duet together a few weeks ago. We bought the music and printed it out and were a little horrified when we saw the key signatures and key changes. Our goal is to learn it by the end of this next transfer! It is so fun to play and practice together. We will practice hard:) Hopefully it'll be on Facebook someday!

Miracle with Laura! 

I know Heavenly Father knows us and is aware of all of His children and their needs. I know this! There were a few special experiences this week when I was shockingly reminded of this. We tell this to people as missionaries all the time. I know it with my mind, but sometimes I need to believe it more with my heart. 

Final goodbyes. 

One was literally an hour ago! As we were crossing the street, a girl on the other side said timidly, "Are you Emma?" I looked at her for a few seconds and said, "Yes. Wait... Are you Laura??!" yes!! It was Laura who Tyler nővér and I texted for weeks and months in Szeged! She never wanted to meet or come to church but Tyler nővér never gave up on her. For some reason we just felt like it was worth just developing a really deep good relationship with her. We even did two of our Facebook Lives focusing specifically on what we thought she needed to hear that week. She watched both and I remember feeling so happy. We both moved away from Szeged without meeting her in person. She is a professional pianist and just got a job teaching in Kecskemét. What are the chances. She was very kind and quiet as we talked, and we offered to let her come to the branch house to practice on the pianos there. I literally can't believe it. She also asked about the church service and is interested in attending. Her heart is opening. I walked away feeling the most gratitude and love that I've ever felt inside of me and said the silent prayer I often say, "Heavenly Father, I thank Thee, I thank Thee, I thank Thee. Please don't let me forget this moment." Laura is elect. I can feel it. I hope she comes to feel it, too.

Helping Enikő move her things home before her mission. 

Daily exchange in Szeged: 

I served with Pyper nővér and we taught Ibolya and Bonnie, two of the miracle people in Szeged. Such a highlight of the week! 

Soccer with the sisters: We ran outside at lunch one day and played with Enikő, Sister Thompson, and Sister Bell. She has been doing online mtc at the church for the past 9 weeks and flew to England today! She is the happiest Hungarian I've ever met and we already miss her in Kecskemét. She will be an incredible Hungarian missionary in England. 

There's no way to wrap this week in a nutshell. I'm so sorry. Read my journal someday. 

In May, Elder Robert C. Gay gave a young adult devotional called "Choosing Righteous Desires". He shares his experience of meeting with a member of the Quorum of the 12 apostles about serving as a mission president. He and his wife were hesitant to accept because of all they were involved in with his job, callings, and their family. This quote has been on my mind throughout the ups and downs of the week: 

“You know, you really don’t get it. The Lord is calling you to save your life. You are either going to live your life by covenant or by convenience. There is never a convenient time to serve. This is a matter of faith. You either believe the Lord will bless your life with the blessings you need as you do His priorities or you don’t.”

The Kecskeméti nővérek. The 5 of us have had the best past 6 weeks. Kis nővér will be missed. 

The whole talk is powerful. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/broadcasts/worldwide-devotional-for-young-adults/2020/05/12gay?lang=eng

This really is a matter of faith. Sometimes we just need to believe and keep going. I layed in bed a few nights ago with raw feet, shin splints, a sore back, and peeling hands from the bike handles but laughed with Hutchinson nővér, "We're also smiling so everything's okay." Heavenly Father is real. He really does love us. I know He is aware of our needs.

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

#Őt Hallgasd - September 1, 2020

The Knowltons did our apartment cleaning checks today and treated us all to lunch. 

 

What a great week! We went to Budapest for Zone Conference on Friday. I love going back to the same places I was at almost a year ago when I first came to Hungary and the places I first served. I love those streets and train stations and people. 

We got to know a few of the ward members better this week. Irma, a sweet néni, invited us over for lunch and we read from the Book of Mormon together, Zsolt treated us to ice cream one evening and shared about his conversion story, and we took peach bread to the Patai family and they sang all their favorite hymns for us. We are trying to reach out to all the members individually to get to know them better. So many wonderful members. 

As we sat with the Pataiék, their 9 year old daughter told us about her baptism that happened in March right as CoVid started. I had a picture of Autumn's baptism from last year tucked into my Preach My Gospel book so I pulled it out to show her my little sister on her baptism. Then after story time, they sang the cutest Hungarian song about how God loves all of His children. They cut fruit into a bowl for us, too. They are a wonderful family in this ward. The gospel turns lives around.  We made the peach bread for them because Zsolt had given us a big bag the night before. So much delicious fresh produce here! A fun tender mercy, too :)

The Knowltons, Bonnie, Rebeka, and Levi from Szeged came to Kecskemét for Sacrament meeting. 

Zone Conference started beautifully on Friday with a training by President Rucker about being Christ's hands. Sister Rucker then taught about creativity + order and about how God is a God of order. Both President and Sister Rucker are very artistic--graphic design, video-editing, etc. Their weekly Come Follow Me FB live as a family is always so fun to watch. 

A few other highlights from this week! District musical number in zone conference, seeing Szegedi friends who came to Kecskemét church yesterday, apple palacsinta with Tardi Anna Tuesday morning, meeting with Brian Cordray and the Ruckers about media in our mission, serving lunch at the barátság központ with the other sisters... and so much more!

Happy Autumn Day tomorrow Nico :)

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

BIGGEST miracle of the week! We are planning and creating #HearHim videos by Hungarian church members to post on FB. Soltis elder filmed and video edits them and they are GORGEOUS. He is so talented and the members testimonies are incredible. We are so so excited to share these on FB with everyone. It is amazing to see followed revelation come to fruition! First one coming tomorrow!