Week 72: FINAL WEEK!!!! and Balázs's baptism!!

February 06, 2023

Week 72: FINAL WEEK!!!! and Balázs's baptism!!

These last days have been like little bits of magic that I'll never forget. My final week as a missionary has been very very emotional and FULLY packed tight with meeting people I love so so so much. In some way it was like God showing me that he has accepted what I have done as a missionary and truly loves me. He blessed me with the best last week I could have ever imagined.

In addition to saying goodbye to these wonderful people, I got to witness my friend Balázs be baptized. Balázs was found from an AD that sister Smyth and I made about strengthening faith in Jesus Christ. Initially, he accidentally clicked the google autofill and signed up for the ad. He decided to meet up with us anyway. He was a very spiritual guy who believed in karma and had some spiritual experiences but knew almost nothing about Jesus Christ. We started at the beginning with him. We told him how Christ was born of Mary and continued on with the story of his life. We were able to pull so much from the Book of Mormon to explain how he felt all our pains has he atoned for us and his sacrifices allowed us to live with our Heavenly Father again. He is a man of little words. But week after week, personal story after personal story, and after many prayers, he began to grasp the importance of Christ's character and divine role. I can truly say the gospel has been simplified and written in my heart by teaching Balázs. He has made the decision that will bring him the most lasting happiness.

About 8 of Balázs's friends showed up to be part of his special day as well as his mom and of course missionaries and ward members. We got to sing "Peace in Christ" as a special musical number and as I talked to him after, he told me that this has been one of the best years of his life.

We began teaching Him last April and he continued to meet with missionaries after I left. He was originally going to be baptized after his birthday February 9th which is the day I go home. Thankfully he agreed to move it back a bit so that we could participate in his Baptism. God has so much to offer us. As we CHOOSE to partake of all he offers us and act with the little faith we can muster, we will realize that he is so so loving, patient and willing to give us everything. I have been given so much more than I ever could have imaged because if my mission. Köszönöm Istenem. Köszönöm Magyarország! Nagyon szeretlek.
(Thank you God, Thank you Hungary ! Love you so much!)

❤️Jones Nővér

Goodbye with Bettina. We met with her last Monday and she expressed some trials in her life. We talked about God and patience and shared scriptures about knowledge with her. How one day all things will be made known.

Service activity!!! We had to find a last minute service activity and we miraculously found a soup kitchen! They were part of thr Krishna religion but the main organizer had known missionaries in the past! He was so happy to accept our help and even posted pictures of us on their fb account

Our lesson with Noémi. We had a member join and it was really hard to set up. But it went extremely well and they became great friends. Our member answered so many of her questions and even offered to take her to church in the future!

Saying goodbye to 1 1/2 years of Hungarian flashcards!!

We helped our member érszi find her church account and sign up to do temple work in July! I love érzsi!!!!

Final night/ goodbye with Piroska. She made us an awesome dinner and we played some games.

HOME MADE ORANGE JUICE

Goodbye to the girls we teach English to

Beautiful Eger, Hungary

Dinner and a board game with our member Ottilia and her husband Lajos. We talked and she gave me life advice. I love them

Got to meet with Katalin on our exchange in Budapest! I met her in my first area. She is doing very well and has a wonderful relationship with the people from our church. She works with some of our members Dotera!

Orsi, a member in Pest. we got lunch with her

Viktória! I went to the balett with her and she gave me the sweetest goodbye gift. She also paid for our meal! I will never forget her kindness!

Prep for Balázs's baptism. We all got to sing and all 4 of us have taught him and seen him progress so much. We all were a little emotional.

Exchange with My MTC Comp Sister Jensen

The Török family had us over one last time for dinner! They have done so much for me throughout my mission. I love them with all my 💗!!

Eszter and Adrienn came to church to hear me bear my testimony in sacrament meeting!!! Eszter even stayed for second hour and loved it. The night before church she sent me a text with a picture of a verse from the book of mormon! She also told us she would wear her "church dress" and even brought her book of mormon to church with her just in case she needed it!

Little barbie. I love this girl. She draws me pictures every week and yells JONES NŐVÉR every time she sees me at church

The branch had a goodbye send off for me. Most all the nénis ( older women) brought treats after. And the whole branch pitched in and got me a shirt that says I LOVE EGER! HAHA

Noémi at church 💗 She still has a long way to go but has made so much progress. She has so much faith and the members are so loving and ready to welcome her.

My Eger Grandmas 🙂🙂🙂

Adrien took us to a chocolate factory for pday and gave me a little Hungarian koala. She told me that when I see her next, I have to give back to her. And when she sees me after that, she will give it back again. We will keep passing it back and fourth throughout our lives. How cool is that?