Hungary Week 43

Hello!

We had such a great week this week!  Just living life, smiling and finding, we saw so many great things.  I had a great split with another Elder, Elder Lynch, and Elder Bennett is just great.  How can I not smile at a time like this?

Things just had a way of falling into place and we were able to help many.  I think one of the largest epiphanies and miracles I saw this week was with an amazing investigator named Réka.  She has been meeting with the missionaries for such a long time, but making a big commitment like baptism is scary sometimes.  I felt inspired to ask her about "Why" it would be important to her to receive an answer about "The Book of Mormon."  She shared with us the happiness and truths she had received since meeting with us and she then recognized why it would be important to her to receive such an answer.  

This made me seriously reflect on myself and the "Why" of my mission.  The "Why" is truly what makes the difference in our lives.  If we understand our own personal "Why," than we have in our possession a drive to receive what we desire.

Whether we are actively religious or not, we all seem to have the same habit of turning to God in a time of distress and hardship.  Have you ever wondered why the Lord seems to answer, sometimes in the most profound ways, in such circumstances?  Of course it is because our Heavenly Father loves us and is always looking to help us, but I realized that in those points in my life where I found myself in need of help, I prayed with more purpose.  I understood the why of it all.

My mission and I am sure that every mission is great, but it isn't because I taught more people than some other missionary or saw more baptisms than some other people.  I have been so blessed in my mission to have helped many people, but I would still come home with a smile if the only person I helped was a struggling companion or if all I did was work as hard as I could while I was here.

It was a great week, like I said, and I am sure that this week will only be better.  Have a great week!

Sok szeretettel,

Elder Jake Nelson

Hungary Week 42

Hello!

What an awesome week!  So much has happened!  We went traveling around Pécs with some investigators, taught many people, had a wonderful baptism, were able to help a lot of people.

That first day I came here, we tracted into two great university students.  One of them is a 6'4 Croatian man and the other a sweet girl, both in their mid 20's.  As soon as we stepped into their door, they have been nothing but amazing.  These two college students started feeding us and just sharing so much desire to know more.  This last Monday, or preparation day, they took us to a beautiful valley which opened to a breathtaking lake.  We simply went a little site seeing, then sat near the lake talking about our different life experiences and then about eternal families.  It was one of my coolest experiences I have yet to have.

We are meeting with so many wonderful people here in Pécs.  The people are just so open, young and open.  It is kind of weird because it sends me back to my time at college, but it has been so nice to meet with so many different types of people.  Things are just great here in Pécs.

We had another baptism this last weekend that went great.  Her name is Emilia and she is just wonderful.  She tracted into a couple transfers ago and she is just one happy woman.  She was just ready as soon as the missionaries knocked on her door.  Just seeing her come out of the water with that smile on her face was so great.  She couldn't even hold in her happiness, she had to stand up and share her testimony after her baptism.  

We are smiling and making the most of these moments.  It was really funny this week, we were taking to a recently baptized kid that was having a hard time to get ice cream yesterday after meeting with him.  We were laughing and having a great time, then he turned to us laughing calling us "csecsemők."  It means infants, but then he explained that infants are always full of so much joy, joy that is hard to find in people as they grow up. 

Smile this week, it makes a difference! : D

Sok szeretettel,

Elder Jake Nelson

Year Mark This Week!

Hello,

I never realized this, but every time I write on this blog, it totally feels like I am writing a little article because I have absolutely NO idea who reads this.  I think the funniest thing would be if I have just been writing a mass email to myself for the past year.  Either way, it was a great week!

I absolutely love the dream city of Pécs.  The people are so nice and open.  The first door I knocked was opened!  I am just in a dream land.  We also keep meeting with students in this university town who don't even speak Hungarian.  The majority speak English though, which is strange for me.  

I already miss Szombathely, but I am loving Pécs more and more by the day.  We had a great baptismal service this last Saturday for an awesome kid named Dávid.  He is a goofy 16 year old here in Pécs, but I have already come to love him.  

This next week we are baptizing a very sweet lady named Emilia.  I don't know where to even start with this sweet woman, but needless to say, she is wonderful.

We have already had some INTERESTING experiences this transfer, but I will have to share the goofy stories next week.  

Sorry for the short email, but needless to say, I am smiling!  I talked to my family yesterday as well, things are just great.

Sok szeretettel,

Elder Jake Nelson

Hungary Week 40

Haló!!!!!!

I hope everyone is doing just dandy!  This week was so great!  There were so many unique experiences and I can't help but smile.  We taught, found and had some adventures.  

First, in regards of teaching.  Since coming to Szombathely, we have met a wide range of people, from the strangest of the strange to the most jaw dropping amazing.  From holocaust victims to recovering stroke patients to amazing teenage musicians and artists here in Szombathely, we have been able to help and teach some of the most amazing people I have had the privilege to meet.  It was even our pleasure this week to bring 12 amazing investigators to church between the two companionship's here.  

The elders teach these two English as a service

We were also able to put another person on baptismal date this week.  She is the sweetest néni I have ever met!  This 78 year old woman was once a member of the church and was just waiting to take the step back into things.  Thanks to her daughter and grandson she was found and I couldn't be more excited for her.  

Dessert that Ági made for Jake's 'farewell'

There are so many people taking many important steps towards baptism and I am so grateful I have been able to help them.  The only sad thing is that I got my transfer call today and I am leaving.  I am heading to the bottom of Hungary to Pécs.  I am so excited to get an awesome young missionary, Elder Bennet, but I am going to miss Szombathely and these wonderful people.  There is so many people just waiting next to the waters of baptism, I just hope and pray that they will have the courage to leap into the water.  I have nothing but faith in the wonderful people of Szombathely and Elder Brown.

We found our hearts this week and have found some pretty amazing people.  There was a day in particular that I can think back to.  We had two hours left in the day and we decided to go tracting.  I felt prompted that we should head to the bottom of the city, a 40 minute walk away.  Door after door, people were just waiting for us.  In 1.5 hours, we placed 4 Book of Mormon’s.  Miracles I tell you!

 

We also had a wonderful May 1st!  We went on an amazing trip with the branch to a nearby village to a place called "Lukács háza."  We cooked huge things of bacon by the fire, went on a nice hike, played capture the flag with a Hungarian twist (It is called számháború) and had a great time with two of our investigators who came.  

After the adventure, we met with one of our investigators, an 18 year old girl attending the music school here in Szombathely.  She smiled and thanked us for inviting her to meet our branch or what she called "our little family."  

I am just so excited for another transfer of miracles!

Have a great week everyone!  Make some miracles : D

SZERETETTEL,

Elder Jake Nelson