Bonjour tout le monde!
We got our transfer calls today and I am staying here in Pécs. Elder Paul will be my new companion. This is his last transfer before he finishes his mission. He was an AP before coming here. Elder Fitzgerald is going to be a zone leader along with Elder Priest in Szombathely. It has been a great 9 weeks and the time is for real flying by so fast. Elder Fitzgerald and I basically started out with nothing and now we have around 6 teaching programs a week. I've had so many great spiritual experiences and funny stories, and I know there will be way many more to come. Sister Peterson is going to train and Sister Hawker is going home. Elders Martineau and Krueger are staying together.
Last week, during P-Day, we visited the university in Pécs. It was really cool but it felt weird being at a university campus again. I have to admit, I miss York. A senior couple, the Petersons, visited our apartment to do a checkup and we passed it with flying colours! It helps that our landlady has an arrangement with a cleaning lady to come once every 4 weeks but we still clean too.
The sisters had a baptism scheduled for Saturday, but since their investigator didn't feel ready, it got cancelled at the last minute. We went to a funeral in a small village called Tengeri. The brother of a member was being buried. It wasn't a grand religious funeral, just a simple one. At the end, we sang "Nearer My God to Thee" with the member.
Tuesday, 16 August 2016
Monday, 8 August 2016
Week 8 in Pécs
Last P-day we went to the Pécs cathedral and the inside was really nice. We went up the tower and the view was great. After that we went tracting and we got a let-in! The lady who answered the door was in her 60s and said that she respects us, but she is Calvinist. However, she accepted a Book of Mormon and said that she would love to meet with us again.
We had interviews with the mission president on Tuesday. It went well and President Szabadkai said I would probably stay here in Pécs. He also said that after the next transfer he will come with me to where my Hungarian family is from to help me do genealogy work.
We had interviews with the mission president on Tuesday. It went well and President Szabadkai said I would probably stay here in Pécs. He also said that after the next transfer he will come with me to where my Hungarian family is from to help me do genealogy work.
Monday, 1 August 2016
Week 7 in Pécs
Hi everybody,
Last P-day we visited this Turkish mosque that got converted into a catholic church and then we visited a synagogue. There you have it: world religions in one day!
On Tuesday we went up to a small town 1/2 hour from Pécs called Komló and taught an inactive member there. Then we ate pizza with our branch president. We also tabled near the main square this week. It was really effective and I talked to a ton of people of a variety of cultures, ages, and religions. We gave our some copies of the Book of Mormon and a few people gave us their phone numbers.
Lots of people we talk to aren't interested in our message. They say no, I'm catholic, or just wave us off. So it's really important to always have a positive mindset. If someone is polite, I don't feel bad about the rejection at all (and if they're not nice, I laugh it off).
Another day we brought some bundles of water and milk into the home of a branch member and I gave her a priesthood blessing of healing. I was nervous (it was my time giving a blessing), but I felt the spirit strong in that room. We then ate watermelon and we shared a spiritual thought from the Liahona magazine on prayer.
Last P-day we visited this Turkish mosque that got converted into a catholic church and then we visited a synagogue. There you have it: world religions in one day!
On Tuesday we went up to a small town 1/2 hour from Pécs called Komló and taught an inactive member there. Then we ate pizza with our branch president. We also tabled near the main square this week. It was really effective and I talked to a ton of people of a variety of cultures, ages, and religions. We gave our some copies of the Book of Mormon and a few people gave us their phone numbers.
Lots of people we talk to aren't interested in our message. They say no, I'm catholic, or just wave us off. So it's really important to always have a positive mindset. If someone is polite, I don't feel bad about the rejection at all (and if they're not nice, I laugh it off).
Another day we brought some bundles of water and milk into the home of a branch member and I gave her a priesthood blessing of healing. I was nervous (it was my time giving a blessing), but I felt the spirit strong in that room. We then ate watermelon and we shared a spiritual thought from the Liahona magazine on prayer.
Week 6 in Pécs
Hello!
The hot and humid weather is back here. Lots of water and shade are essential. On Tuesday we went up to Buda for zone training and then we had splits with the zone leaders in Dunaújváros. I was with Elder Jensen. In the evening we tracted a 10 storey building (not the whole thing) and then we met some teenagers. I taught them some English slang and they taught me some Hungarian slang. We also biked there, which was really fun. On the way back, we took a bus. The trip was 3 hours long, but the bus was super comfortable.
On Saturday we visited an inactive member and we ate schnitzel. It was really good stuff. Lots of missionaries in our district are getting sick, but my companion and I are doing fine. We also played soccer with the branch members and the turnout was good. On Sunday we taught a lesson to an investigator who was a really nice old woman. She made us great food and she talked a lot about Hungarian history and sang some folk songs.
This week I've been looking through the area book and member records a lot and really feel as if I'm getting lost in the work. During meals, studies, and free time, I looked through the information. I even had a dream of the area book on time hahaha. Also I was making phone calls to inactives and then when I got to the last person, I said a prayer in my heart. The person answered the phone and he said he'd gladly meet us next week. Prayer works! :)
The hot and humid weather is back here. Lots of water and shade are essential. On Tuesday we went up to Buda for zone training and then we had splits with the zone leaders in Dunaújváros. I was with Elder Jensen. In the evening we tracted a 10 storey building (not the whole thing) and then we met some teenagers. I taught them some English slang and they taught me some Hungarian slang. We also biked there, which was really fun. On the way back, we took a bus. The trip was 3 hours long, but the bus was super comfortable.
On Saturday we visited an inactive member and we ate schnitzel. It was really good stuff. Lots of missionaries in our district are getting sick, but my companion and I are doing fine. We also played soccer with the branch members and the turnout was good. On Sunday we taught a lesson to an investigator who was a really nice old woman. She made us great food and she talked a lot about Hungarian history and sang some folk songs.
This week I've been looking through the area book and member records a lot and really feel as if I'm getting lost in the work. During meals, studies, and free time, I looked through the information. I even had a dream of the area book on time hahaha. Also I was making phone calls to inactives and then when I got to the last person, I said a prayer in my heart. The person answered the phone and he said he'd gladly meet us next week. Prayer works! :)
Tuesday, 12 July 2016
Week 5 in Pécs
Hi everybody,
Here in the mission field time is flying by so fast. I've already been in the country for over a month. We tracted every day this week. We talked to an old lady who was crying a lot over the deaths of several family members of hers. It was a unique feeling and I felt that God really does love this woman.
While Elder Fitzgerald and I tract, we sometimes talk about the doors and bells: which ones are cool and which ones are not. It's really funny and helps the time go by. We also met a drunk guy on the street who said that he's Jesus. Yeah, sure.
The weather right now is really hot. We were in Bányatelep, near Somogy, and we asked an old man for water and he let us in. We talked and he said that he used to be an officer in the army. A few doors down the road a couple gave us cold Coca Cola drinks. It was a really nice gesture and my challenge for you all is to do something nice to the missionaries back home. Lots of people on the street think that we are parking enforcement officers which is way funny.
Here in the mission field time is flying by so fast. I've already been in the country for over a month. We tracted every day this week. We talked to an old lady who was crying a lot over the deaths of several family members of hers. It was a unique feeling and I felt that God really does love this woman.
While Elder Fitzgerald and I tract, we sometimes talk about the doors and bells: which ones are cool and which ones are not. It's really funny and helps the time go by. We also met a drunk guy on the street who said that he's Jesus. Yeah, sure.
The weather right now is really hot. We were in Bányatelep, near Somogy, and we asked an old man for water and he let us in. We talked and he said that he used to be an officer in the army. A few doors down the road a couple gave us cold Coca Cola drinks. It was a really nice gesture and my challenge for you all is to do something nice to the missionaries back home. Lots of people on the street think that we are parking enforcement officers which is way funny.
Week 4 in Pécs
Hey!
This week went well and I will tell you some of the adventures that happened to us.
We knocked on a very old apartment and there were still Russian letters on the door! We talked through the door to a very old man who called us in for a moment to show his Bibles. We gave him a Book of Mormon for his collection. Outside, we talked to a group of older ladies and one said she had seen me there before. So I knew that she had definitely met Miguel! We found out that Miguel had given her a Book of Mormon when he served here about a year ago.
One day I decided that we should randomly take a bus and so we ended up in a small village near Pécs that is called Somogy. It is a very nice place, very rural and charming. A lot of dog barked at us, but we managed to talk to a lot of people.
Elder Fitzgerald and I cooked roast chicken with potatoes. We also made Hungarian crêpes (palacsinta). Many people invited us for lunch or dinner. One day we had four programs. :) The freezer in our apartment needed to be defrosted, so we melted the ice with a hairdryer.
This week went well and I will tell you some of the adventures that happened to us.
We knocked on a very old apartment and there were still Russian letters on the door! We talked through the door to a very old man who called us in for a moment to show his Bibles. We gave him a Book of Mormon for his collection. Outside, we talked to a group of older ladies and one said she had seen me there before. So I knew that she had definitely met Miguel! We found out that Miguel had given her a Book of Mormon when he served here about a year ago.
One day I decided that we should randomly take a bus and so we ended up in a small village near Pécs that is called Somogy. It is a very nice place, very rural and charming. A lot of dog barked at us, but we managed to talk to a lot of people.
Elder Fitzgerald and I cooked roast chicken with potatoes. We also made Hungarian crêpes (palacsinta). Many people invited us for lunch or dinner. One day we had four programs. :) The freezer in our apartment needed to be defrosted, so we melted the ice with a hairdryer.
Tuesday, 5 July 2016
Captain Gonzalez reports!
Hey!
I am starting to get used to being a missionary in Pécs and it is has been going well. On Monday we tracted in the rain, so we focused on apartment buildings. The older people were really grumpy because 8 o’clock in the evening was already too late for them, haha. On Tuesday we taught 3 lessons! That doesn’t seem like too much in some other missions, but here in Hungary it is great. Just ask Miguel! My brother has been of a great help in getting appointments for us and meeting people here. One of the people we taught was a member called Éva whom Miguel asked us to visit. Csaba, another member of the branch, came to teach with us. We also met with an investigator called Marcsi. When I phoned her, I said to her that I’m Miguel’s brother and right away she wanted to meet with us! The third person was another investigator called László who had many questions on things like polygamy and raising from the dead but we read together from 2 Nephi 31 and ended up giving him a baptismal date of August 6. It may get pushed to a later day, but that’s the goal. :)
Wednesday was greenie training in Budapest, and it was good to meet with the other new missionaries who came in my group from the MTC. On Thursday we taught anoher lesson to János and at the end we talked about Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill. (Bud Spencer passed away recently.) We also talked about a lot of old TV series, movies, and books that I have watched and read in Hungarian with my family in Toronto. He was very happy about it. Thanks, mom, for the knowledge of Hungarian culture that you gave me! Then we taught English class. I really enjoy teaching English and at times it’s a lot of fun. During streeting Elder Fitzgerald borrowed some teen's skateboard and I took a sick picture of him on it.
I am starting to get used to being a missionary in Pécs and it is has been going well. On Monday we tracted in the rain, so we focused on apartment buildings. The older people were really grumpy because 8 o’clock in the evening was already too late for them, haha. On Tuesday we taught 3 lessons! That doesn’t seem like too much in some other missions, but here in Hungary it is great. Just ask Miguel! My brother has been of a great help in getting appointments for us and meeting people here. One of the people we taught was a member called Éva whom Miguel asked us to visit. Csaba, another member of the branch, came to teach with us. We also met with an investigator called Marcsi. When I phoned her, I said to her that I’m Miguel’s brother and right away she wanted to meet with us! The third person was another investigator called László who had many questions on things like polygamy and raising from the dead but we read together from 2 Nephi 31 and ended up giving him a baptismal date of August 6. It may get pushed to a later day, but that’s the goal. :)
Wednesday was greenie training in Budapest, and it was good to meet with the other new missionaries who came in my group from the MTC. On Thursday we taught anoher lesson to János and at the end we talked about Bud Spencer and Terrence Hill. (Bud Spencer passed away recently.) We also talked about a lot of old TV series, movies, and books that I have watched and read in Hungarian with my family in Toronto. He was very happy about it. Thanks, mom, for the knowledge of Hungarian culture that you gave me! Then we taught English class. I really enjoy teaching English and at times it’s a lot of fun. During streeting Elder Fitzgerald borrowed some teen's skateboard and I took a sick picture of him on it.
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