Tripanionship

HOWDY,

So.  Things be going down.  Last P-Day, we went with the Sisters around town (Kecskemét, that is) searching for an emailing place, and finally found one (and get this, it's FREE), leaving us to our own devices on the computers for two hours (all within the strict internet bounds of LDSmail server, that is).  After emailing, we headed to Tardi Anna's a very sweet church member that always has us over for lunch, though we were a bit late because we missed our bus and the food was a bit cold.. Anyway. She told us an interesting story about how when she was a young mom, her husband drove home one day in a new red car.  But upon closer inspection, she found out that is was a three-wheeled, wingless WWII German bomber #magyarország and she was so ashamed that she had to drive it around everywhere.  After a cold lunch, we went on a templom tour of Kecskemét!  The Hungarian word for church is templom .  Kecskemét has a bazillion huge beautiful old churches, and we tried to go into as many as we could.  The Synagogue had actually been converted into a multi-purpose building, so that was really sad because in my opinion, it was the coolest looking from the outside, but the other churches were very beautiful.  See pictures below.

In any case.

Tuesday was wonderful.  We got a new investigator from the sisters (they just found out that she actually lives in our area).   She now has a baptismal date for Oktober 6, which works out really well, because we also put one of our other investigators, Gábor, on baptismal date for Oktober 7, which means they will both be confirmed at church together on Oktober 8th!

Wednesday morning, we got up early to get ready to go and give a blessing to someone at the church building, and while Elder Allred was in the shower, we got a call from none other than PRESIDENT SZABADKAI, who informed us that another Elder in our zone, Elder Howard, was later that day having his appendix taken out and we were instructed to immediately travel to SZOLNOK (45 minutes away by train) and do missionary work with his companion, Elder Rohner from Melbourne, Australia (who is also my mission brother because we had the same trainer, Elder Stringham).  So, we hauled over to Szolnok, and have been in a trio since Wednesday.  Elder Rohner was actually in the country when Rogue One came out so squeezed out some details during dinner one night.  Also I have been working on my Australian accent and geography. Its funny because Hungarians literally freak out when he tells them that he's from Australia, because it is literally on the other side of the world.  When I street with him though, I just tell them that I'm from Australia and that he's from America, which kind of bugs him but its not like he can correct me in front of them so...

Our days have been pretty packed with teachings and traveling to and from the hospital to check up with elder Howard.  I determined that I was very glad to have all my health problems in Budapest, because the hospitals outside of the capital are a little... sketch. :)

We even got to go to church in Szolnok, where they were having ward conference and the Stake Presidency came!  That was a really fun experience.  The Stake President for the Budapest Stake is President Southwick, who is actually a former missionary who served in Hungary, and moved back with his Hungarian wife and kids some years ago.  He speaks Hungarian fluently, however.  He gave a really good talk about the atonement.  He said, that Christ suffered everything we go through.  He, said nothing is impossible for us to do, that which is impossible, Christ already did.  Are we going to turn to Him and put our trust in Him.? He already did his part, we just have to do ours and take that first step toward Him.

I'm so grateful to be here right now serving these people.  They really are all so special and deserve so much love.  We're heading back to Kecskemét today, and I'm excited to get the work moving along in that city.

Love you all,

Martin elder