Week 26: Seeing AMERICANS! 🇺🇲

 

This week, we had a couple awesome interactions with members from the states! It was so fun. One day we were walking through the streets on our way to go work at a little café, and an American guy stopped us. He told us about his family and how he was a member. He was here for a conference with his company. He then bought us Starbucks and we helped him translate an opening speech in Hungarian to say at his expo. He was so kind, and even gave us money at the end. I'm so glad we were able to help him out. 

This week there are a lot of Ukranian refugees coming into the train stations!

This cute family ran into us on our way out from our apartment, from Sandy Utah! They were so excited to see us and yelled, "Sisters!" We had a cool conversation with them and got to talk to them about the missionary work we do. 

I got to see my friend K that I wasn't sure if I'd see again! I met her when I was serving in my last city. We went to lunch with her and talked about the Book of Mormon, and read verses with her. She really enjoyed the book, and even asked us to send her chapters that we found and loved. 

We taught a man named G this week. We talked for 30 minutes in English and then gave a spiritual thought about remembering God. We invited him to write down all the good things that he saw in his week that he recognized as God's hand. He did, and even sent us the list today!

We were able to go to dinner Sunday with the APs, Myra who is Malaysian and Máté who is Hungarian. They met on their mission in England, and now they live here in Budapest. They are the cutest couple. 

On Sunday we were invited to lunch with more amazing people from our ward. We made a table out of an ironing board and put a tablecloth over the top of it. Eleanor is German, and half Italian, and her husband is Hungarian. The other couple is German and the wife is from Arizona. They met on their missions in Montreal Canada and both speak French, but now live here. So many languages were going around at this makeshift table.  We shared a message with them about Christ's resurrection, and how we can prepare for conference and recognize his voice. 

Kürtőskalács, like a giant cinnamon roll churro thing, SO FINOM 

I've been really trying to talk to people on the metro this past week. Every time I have, they've been pretty positive experiences! Most times they have ended with us getting their Facebooks, or giving a pass along card. 

Church building in Pest

Overall, a good week but very different than I am used to. To be honest, God is giving me the trials that I never thought I'd have. Coming into this position has been difficult because there just really is not a lot of structure. I have felt a lot of guilt and discouragement. I talked to my family about it, and they really helped me see that 

1. God does not give us the trials we like. 

2. This may be a time where I really need to learn patience and love. 

We have many meetings throughout the day to plan zone conference, new missionary calls, media etc. So I really have needed to be spiritually strong in order to give my spiritual thoughts to others. But as I have been studying the spirit, it is pretty incredible!

 We know that God, Jesus Christ and the spirit are all one in purpose. So that means that when we learn of Jesus Christ and his purpose, we should really be able to feel the spirit. The Holy Ghost has the same purpose as Jesus Christ, and as God.

 I love this quote from president Worthen in a talk I listened to this week called, "Receiving Revelation." The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Revelation will increase as we focus more on Christ as we follow His direction to look unto Him in every thought.” As we learn of Christ, teach of Christ, speak of Christ, we will feel the spirit, and we will be guided. I'm so grateful that God loves us and wants to guide us with his hand in this life! 

Elevator selfie