April 2021

Japanese. Sunday, April 11, 2021 Each day and each week of our lives here are a miracle. I am constantly in awe at the Lord’s blessings to our family. Last week in general conference, we heard that, “The Lord is in the details of the details of the details of our lives.” That has proved so true again in just the past 7 days. At 10:30pm last Sunday, after eating dinner with the Payo family, Mark and I looked at each other and knew we had much to do, but no more time and we needed sleep. Our biggest concern was Emma’s flights home, which had changed constantly since the Church booked them a few weeks ago. We decided we didn’t have any energy to discuss it, though, so we both knelt by the bed and fervently prayed for answers. She would be leaving Budapest in just 24 hours. We poured out our souls and then crawled into bed, exhausted. However, a few minutes later we both woke up and sat up. We had ideas of things we could do to try to facilitate her flight home. I discovered a past email I had overlooked, that said there was a possibility for her to take the Patriot Express from Seattle to Okinawa on April 7th. At first, that seemed impossible, but when we looked closer, we realized she would be returning from Budapest on the 6th. Maybe it wasn’t too late! But everything in Utah was closed at the military base for another 36 hours. Mark realized the Seattle military terminal would open in a few minutes, though, so we called and emailed. They clarified that she didn’t need a military ID to fly! Another answer! We asked if they could put her on the 7th flight, since Utah was closed. In the meantime, I called Emma in Hungary. They were watching conference, but an hour later she called back and put me in touch with Sister Mortensen, the mission secretary. Sister Mortensen was hesitant to change Emma’s plans (she was originally scheduled to fly to Tokyo and do a 2 week quarantine, yuck!) Sister Mortensen said the 24 hour hotline in Salt Lake might be open, so she tried. Meanwhile, the Seattle office emailed back that they had officially put Emma on the April 7th flight!!! It was a total miracle!!!! We still didn’t have flights from SLC to Seattle, but that was OK. Salt Lake couldn’t rebook emma on a flight to Seattle without going through Amsterdam, which was a huge risk, but then Emma asked about flying direct to Salt Lake. It worked!!! At 2:30am, we called all of our Utah kids and shared the news: Emma would be in Utah on Tuesday for a few hours!!!! They were ecstatic. They cried. It was a tender mercy for them to know they would see their sister in just a day. They had thought it would take a month to see her!!! At 3am Mark and I went to bed, exhausted, before waking up to take Naomi to seminary. However, our hearts were FULL! The Lord had answered our prayers. ALL our prayers. Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday were a flurry of preparations for Emma to come home, 2 weeks earlier than we thought, but just a day later than we had hoped and prayed for. Miraculously, she had to leave Budapest half a day earlier, but she was already packed and had said her goodbyes to President and Sister Rucker. When she went to board the flight, her Covid test had not come back, but…she was inspired to try to get a rapid test, which she did. She continued to take one step forward and smiled at the check in attendant. One miracle led to another, and soon she was at the gate waiting to leave Hungary. Her heart was full and we were both in tears!!! More miracles! She flew safely to Paris and then to Atlanta and then to Utah, where she had a midnight reunion with Ben and Dani, Sam and Emily, and Sariah. They all hugged for joy. Her first time meeting her new sister-in-laws!!! They all drove to Aunt Linda’s house and crashed in the basement. On Tuesday at 7am, Sam took Emma to get another Covid test. Then, they went to our Kaysville home to pick up a few items. At 10am, all four grandparents arrived at Linda’s for a yummy brunch. What a special time to visit and catch up! Kessler Baker also came to say hello. At 1pm they drove Emma to Tooele, Utah to get her military ID card. Another huge miracle! Then they crashed at Aunt Linda’s for a few more hours, then went to get dinner together, and then drove Emma back to the Salt Lake airport at 9pm to catche her flight to Seattle. I am so grateful for all of our kids. They dropped everything to help Emma get settled and ready for her flights to Japan. They stayed up 24 hours. They gave up class and work and homework time to help each other. Then they put her back on the plane. Emma flew to Seattle and waited for hours in the terminal. Then flew to Anchorage, Tokyo, Iwakuni, and finally… Okinawa! We went to the Kadena Air Base terminal to pick her up at 8:30pm, but found out she wasn’t arriving until 11:30pm! So we all went to the high council room at the church and slept for a few hours. Then we went back to the terminal and picked her up! What a joyous reunion! We then went to the church again and Mark released her in his office. The clock on the wall said 12:55am!!! It was such a tender mercy for Mark to release her in person. We were wondering if and when it would ever happen, but it did!!! At 1:30am we sang Happy Birthday to Nico!!! And then we drove Emma home and crashed into bed!!!

Minden megeri - March 29, 2021

 Halihó! 

What a good week! On Saturday we took muffins to the Bauerék. We hadn't been able to get ahold of them so we just walked over hoping they would be home. And they were! He and his wife were outside playing with their little girls and we were able to talk for about ten minutes! I am always amazed when even after crazy unplanned days we are somehow in the right place at the right time. I am so grateful. It's also so cool to be a missionary and serve until the last day, knowing that even though I won't see the fruits of these efforts, these little ripples will keep going. I know that they will because Heavenly Father is aware of them--so much better than we are! 

We also had a special lesson with Iza and András. We had to let them know that the member they were closest to in the ward just passed away and they were so sad. The Spirit was strong as we talked about Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and how missionary work continues beyond the veil. Béla was such a good missionary, teacher, scholar, and friend to everyone. I know that Heavenly Father's plan for us is perfect. We need never fear or doubt because of Jesus Christ, we can be together forever with our families.

I love that this whole week we get to celebrate Jesus Christ, the Resurrection and Easter. This last week of my mission lines up exactly with Christ's final week and resurrection next Sunday. (And General Conference, too.) What a good week--it's like a gold mine of missionary opportunity! This week we are planning to meet with all of our friends atleast one more time. I know they'll keep doing well and I'm so grateful for each of them--Ágnes, Lilla, Alexandra, Gabriella, János. Oh how I will miss them. 

I love this work. I love this gospel. I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father let's us be a tiny piece in the puzzle and feel His love for these people and places. Today on our pday we hiked up to Gellérts Hedge, where President Nelson dedicated Hungary almost 30 years ago. As we looked out across the whole city (we could even see where I started my mission and lived in training) I was filled with so much gratitude that someday there will be a temple here. I just can't even imagine a pure-white lighted house of the Lord standing here in this country. It will be such a beacon of hope! 

I love you, all. I love these Hungarians. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Hurrah for Israel! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Departing Testimony - March 26, 2021

I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission.  I know that it is worth everything.  I knew I wanted to serve a mission when President Nelson spoke in 2018 about gathering Israel.  That is when I decided that it would be the most important thing in my life.   I know that Heavenly Father knows us individually.  He asks us to do the things that He knows will be a sacrifice for us so we can show our love for Him.  Though it all it doesn’t’ feel like a sacrifice.   I feel that it is such a privilege to be a missionary. I hope that we enjoy every day that we get to wear our missionary tags.  As a missionary we need to ‘hear Him’ and ‘talk with everyone’.  President Nelson said it is mentally rigorous to turn our thoughts to the Savior and to hear Him.  It is worth it.  We can share the gospel with everyone in such simple ways.  I will never forget Christmas.  We spent the whole day talking with everyone we could.  We had chocolate and pass along cards.  I know that small things will cause the flood.  I could see that through the video that Sister Rucker shared today.  I feel gratitude for the way that each of you have influenced me.  I know that the love that I feel for all of you is a gift from God. There is no other way that we can feel charity accept from God.  We can pray for it.  I am grateful that I was able to serve a mission and I hope that all of us who lives will continue to do the things we have been asked to do, to share the gospel and be representatives of Jesus Christ.

 

The Worth of Souls D&C 18:10 - March 22, 2021

 For some reason this email won't send! I've tried for the past 3 weeks so I'm sorry for the lack of contact. I love you all and I love this place so if I actually don't come home in a few weeks, you'll know why :) I'm sorry pictures won't attach. It makes Gmail crash.... 

Parker nővér is in Miskolc! I'm with Linford nővér! 

One miracle this month was on transfer day. Sister Van Wagoner updated me on néni we met with together and she showed me a picture of our first lesson with her and then her last lesson with Thompson nővér before they were transfered.her eyes are SO CHANGED. Literally, she has been filled with light. I want you to see the pictures so I'll send them to you in Messenger if you request them when you read this you can see her  :)The gospel really does change lives, doesn't it?

Also, I wrote a mission song. Watch for it on Facebook later this week. It's a surprise for the Ruckers during zone Conference this Thursday..

I hope Spring is coming beautifully to Kaysville, Japan, Provo, and wherever else you may be. Love and miss you all!

Love,

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Akkor jó, akkor van - March 1, 2021

These past two weeks have been good in Érd. I love how many aspects of missionary work still surprise me. There are always new experiences, people, and corners to turn. Speaking of which, my companion is being transferred to Miskolc and I'll be serving with a new sister named Linford nővér from Herriman, Utah! Every companion is like a built in best friend and I'm excited to get to know Linford nővér, too 😊

Highlights from the past two weeks:

Ágnes (who we practice English with) got her DNA test results back and was SO excited to tell us. It's really cool to see Hungarians ancestry because she has pieces from all over but is mostly Asztanazi Jewish. I think a big part of the gathering of the lost tribes of Israel will happen in Eastern Europe. Sunday night we walked down the lane near us to go over and for Parker nővér to say goodbye. Family history is really opening her heart. She started meeting with the Érd sisters to practice English, but now we mostly talk about family history!

Do you remember Timi with cancer? She is still not doing well so we called her a few nights ago to see if she would be able to talk. She had gotten home from the hospital with the news that she can die at any time now. A member in the group chat joined, too, and it was a good conversation. My favorite part was when Parker nővér asked, "Timi, van hited Jézus Krisztusba?" Do you have faith in Jesus Christ? This question helped her won dad with cancer a few years ago. Timi said, "Ya, but it's pretty small." "It doesn't matter how big or small it is." "Oh really? Akkor jó. Akkor van." (Then good, I have faith.) Something about hearing that all in Hungarian over the phone brought us all such a feeling of peace. I wish you could've all felt it too. I know you can feel that same peace if you also have faith in Jesus Christ, no matter how big or small. I love Timi. It is a really special time to be in her life and I'm grateful for it. We just keep praying and loving. ❤️

Even though we didn't know Parker was leaving until Saturday, this week leading up to transfers couldn't have been more perfect. We talked to Melinda in person, Béla joined a lesson with Iza and András, we met with 2 investigators I still hadn't met yet, and we had a really cool district pday hike in a little village up north called Visegrád. All around, it was a good week and there's another transfer right around the corner! Happy March!🍀

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures:

I'll just attach a bunch today about different random missionary moments :)

The street we walk down, dinner, member visits, saying goodbye to Agnes, district service day... The blurry one is with Iza and András--their nephew took it for us 😅

Egyek Tudunk Lenni - February 15, 2021

 

Boldog Bálint napját yesterday 😊🥰

We had a special Relief Society lesson with Sister Eubanks October 2020 talk about being unified. It was tender when our investigator (bed-ridden with bone cancer) shared some of her struggles right now. I'm amazed that she's willing to join church and Sunday School/Relief Society every week. She got a priesthood blessing last week and her cancer has actually only gotten worse since then. We are praying fervently for her to be able to turn the corner and are waiting with faith that she will somehow see a miracle. We love Timi so much. I hope we can meet her in person someday. Right now she lives with her parents in a small town far away so we're planning to get permission to visit her soon. We hope we can! She's one of the most special people I've met on my mission so far. ❤️

Another is our friend Ágnes! Last night for Valentine's Day and her birthday we made homemade bread (thank you Mama and Grandma Hunsaker!) and delivered it. She made little pogácsas (biscuits) for us and we were able to see her home and meet her husband. Guess what!? We found out that they met with missionaries 23 years ago in France! She sent us a picture of the pass-along card he gave her and after some quick Facebook finding, I discovered that that Elder is related to one of my high school friends, Sarah. What?! There are no coincidences! Ágnes and the elder are now texting again and we just know this is a step in the right direction for her and her husband. We love her so much. There's something in her you just don't see in most Hungarians we meet. It might take 23 more years but I know she recognizes something special here. I know it's true. 

A few days ago I felt washed with a wave of relief as we sat in a missionary meeting. It might sound silly but I felt like I really might be able to do it and finish serving my mission. And then I'll have done it! Wow. I've been a missionary for 455 days and I can now say that I  wouldn't trade any of this time for anything. I'm so grateful I can serve. I know this is the Lord's work, even way over here in Hungary--it's own little corner of the world. 

We had a special pday today that I've been hoping to do since being trained in Pest a year ago. There are about 50 bronzed shoes on the banks of the Danube in memorial of 1944-45 WWII victims. The specific story is quite sobering (write to me to find out more) and I actually got a little bit emotional as we walked a long and looked at them all. There were mom, dad, youth, and even baby shoes. I just felt overwhelmed with gratitude. Sometimes as a missionary you feel like you give so much, but I can't even compare my time in Hungary to what these Hungarian people have endured. This is a special place with blessed people. The future temple is evidence of it and I know it will bring such a light and hope to Hungary that is just a glimmer right now. The past 33 years of preaching the gospel have just been drops in the bucket. There is a flood coming! I love this place and these people. I'm so grateful for 50 more days to serve them. 

Until then, happy February! 

Love, 

Emma Rae

Francis nővér

Pictures: 

Filming a district video (to be posted March 16th:) with the new mission go-pro yay! P. S. We heard from Sweden that Facebook algorithms are being altered and effected by all the missionary posting, liking, ads, etc. Kind of cool, right?! 

The shoes on the Duna

It was so good to talk to Riah this morning!

Passing through one of the many factory towns near Budapest. +long-awaited sunshine

One of a few member visits this week! We somehow made cookies without sugar 😅 thank goodness for honey and cinnamon!