TRAINING WEEK 1!

Dearest family members and closest friends,

This week has been an absolute delight!  Last Monday we had the opportunity of going to the family we teach, the Horváthék, and we helped them carve an american style jack-o-lantern.  They thought it was the most splendid thing, though they got really scared when Allred elder started cutting out the top and when the whole affair was finished and the inner candel was placed, Erzsi (the mom) screamed and ran out of the room.  It was a bit of an overreaction.  On Tuesday we went to the CifraPalota, which is this really beautiful, famous palace in Kecskemét that's now an art museaum LOOK IT UP :) 

Later we went that night to a Halloween Party, to which we invited all of our investigators, recent converts, and less actives, and also some other active members so that we could get everyone to know each other. It was a smashing success!  Tardi Anna, the woman who hosted the party, had the most amazing time.  It was amazing.  We also went down stairs and with my violin we all sang hymns and Hungarian folk songs to the old woman below us (a sort of reverse trick-or-treat).  We played the game signs and the game "do you know your neighbour" (a sort of musical chairs without music, but with questions)  which were both quite fun, very loud, and slighty overly physical (there was quite a bit of sweat and I think I still have scratch marks from that one).  The next morning we headed up for BUDAPEST for transfers/trainer meeting.  It was sad to part with half of our old district and Allred elder, who has a remarkable ability to "say it like it is" (Donold Trump?).  

After the trainer meeting the the Szabadkai's I met my new misszionary, Elder Morgan from Omaha, Nebraska!!  Something cool, in the MTC he was in the same zone as the ASL elders and he met Tyler Goekretz (so sorry about the spelling) one of my second cousins!  The world is small, and even smaller when it comes to Mormanism.  

We came back to Kecskemét and got right to work!  No unpacking or any of those shenanigins, we planned our day, had companionship study, and headed straight to a lesson with a member, Tardi Anna.  Unfortunately, he did not show up to our lesson, so right off the bat Morgan elder  got a real taste of what missionary work is usually like!  

After that we planned on going streeting at a cemetery, because it was All-Saints Day, a big holiday in Hungary where they all go to visit their ancestor's graves and put candles around them.  It was a beautiful sight, and after that we went to go tracting for a little bit.  At the fifth intercom button, and man started laughing and LET US IN!! First night, first let in!!! Woo-hoo!! I waited about 4 weeks before my first let-in.  We taught Sándor, who has a LOT of questions and ended up being a new investigator! First night, first let-in, first investigator!!!  It was awesome. 

We had so many meetings this week, about 2 a day, sometimes three, we invited three investigators to baptism, and one accepeted, János Attila, who will be baptised on January 6th! Second Day, first investigator put on Baptismal date!  (János Attila also said during that lessson:" making my Solar powered water bus" when I asked him "what is important to you?") Morgan elder was an absolute champ and and invited all of them.  Hungarian is no sinch and he is handling the whole affair with patience and charm.  His first week was essentially a non-stop teaching week, with some streeting and tracting squeezed in here and there (we had ELEVEN lessons since wednesday) and he was saying "yeah im like really surprised because I thought the work was supposed to be slow here" hahaha NOT ANYMORE, BUDDY!!! We make a great team and I am SO excited for what the Lord has in store for us this transfer.  

Also Christmas is this transfer so that's a great opportunity to do some creative finding.  On Sunday we looked up a less active member, this mid 50's woman who let us in and fed us duck and canned peaches and had the most beautiful Hungarian I have ever heard (it was so soothing and slightly mysterious).

Love you all, stay strong, rely on Christ and he will get you through ANYTHING!

Elder Martin

the inner courtyard of the cifra palota

The peacock room of the cifra palota

view of the synagogue

Morgan elder's  first lessonwith our member present though we were DOGGED!! also i love tardi anna in this picture because she looks like she was raised in the hapsburg court but then was kicked out during revolution but still has imperial mannerisms

All saints day in the cemetery