Hungary Week 4

Hey everyone!

These past two weeks have been the craziest two weeks of my life.  The work is going, my companion is awesome, the language is still hard, but coming and I am just loving life.

When I arrived in Veszprém, which already has a reputation for being a hard area, we really didn't have much going on.  The reputation comes from some bad missionaries who served here and made some bad decisions.  Those missionaries just made it more difficult to make relationships quick.  There was a lot of attempts to find those ready for the gospel, but it really wasn't giving us much.  It was looking kind of down, but it is coming now!  We have some new investigators that are making us really excited and we are simply hoping to help them.  We teach English and that is where these two have come from so we will see where the Lord will take it.

Elder Knight is one of my best friends already.  We have so much in common it is kind of creepy, but I like it!  We didn't seem to get along amazingly from day one, but just over time we have become so close.  He, along with the Lord, has taught me so much over these past few weeks.  I think the biggest thing that I have learned is just the concept of relationships.  Missionary work is simply relationships.  Before my mission I feel like I was who I was and I clung to certain people.  That is not what life is about.  We are here to live and love everyone.  I just have truly had my eyes opened and I see just the good in things.  It really makes life happier and easier.

Last Monday I took a trip to Budapest for some new missionary training.  It was so strange, but awesome to see everyone from the MTC once again.  It felt like no time has passed.  We met with the mission president and discussed his vision for Hungary.  We are truly meant to change this country and bring some happiness to this people.  All I can say is that I can't wait.  Lives are changing already, I can't even imagine how many lives will be changed by the end of this adventure.

There is one other thing that I really have learned since being here and it is the relax.  A mission is two years and I think a lot of people feel like they are just going to be serious for every minute.  I am sure some people can do that, but that most definitely is not me.  It is okay to smile, have fun and joke.  This really is the best two years and it is what you make it, make it amazing.  The sooner people realize you are a real person, the sooner they will listen.

The key is just to make the most of every moment.  Love it all.

Nelson elder

Picture Week

This week Jake didn't have much time to write, but he was able to get some pictures to us. Here are a few of them for you to look at.

An old friend of Jake's in the airport right before he left for Hungary

As long as there is a Burger King, we know Jake will be alright! ;)

Hungary Week 2

This week was csodálitos, but so hard.  When an investigator doesn't show up, we call that being dogged.  We were dogged A LOT this week, but there is a reason for everything right?  I got to see Gould elder for my first time after being here because he is in my district.  So much to say I don't even know where to start.

First of all, our first week was one of my companions greatest weeks for handing out Book of Mormons, but the only problem with that is that we didn't anticipate handing out so many so we ran out of Book of Mormons.  The mission home is 2 hours away and that is the closest place to get Book if Mormons.  We called the president and decided to just wait for 5 days until the senior couple headed to the mission home in Budapest.  It turned out that the office elders gave them 5 boxes of Liahona magazines, not 5 boxes of Book of Mormons.  We have now been 9 days without Book of Mormons and we have to wait another 6.  It is a little hard to tell about a book that we can't even give them, but we all have challenges in our lives right? hahaha

Being dogged is a little rough.  It's not that bad for me as a missionary, but it is hard to realize the person we were going to meet with may not get to hear about the gospel.  I just found myself down after only being able to teach a total of 3 investigator lessons after an entire week, but as I just knelt down and cried to my heavenly father, I realized that it is all for a reason.  We worked super hard on finding and we are finding some of the most amazing people.  We are changing lives already.

I can talk!  I am understanding and talking more and more every single day.  Success is attitude, so I figure if I can just be the happiest guy ever, it will come.  I weirded out my companion the first couple days because I asked to street on the opposite side of the street.  He was shocked as he asked, "Alone?!"  I was just like, "Alone!"  It is helping so much and I feel myself getting more in the flow of conversation thanks to the help of my Savior.  I still don't understand insults yet though, but that's okay.  I once said to my companion after streeting someone, "That was a really nice person."  My companion then said, "That person said f--- you."  I then said, "I don't care I don't speak Hungarian."  Attitude is everything.  I'm already getting the name "mosoly elder" (smile elder).  A smile changes the world.

My apartment is so nice!  Everyone here stays in these 10 story apartment buildings which were built by the Russians.  We stay in one of those and it is way better than I expected.  The only problem is when you hold the shower head wrong it electrocutes you, de semi baj (but no worries).  Makes me feel alive.

One last thing, it is so weird to see how different the styles are here.  Not everybody is super immodest, but some of the things I see people wear makes my jaw drop.  I literally saw a girls underwear my first day here because her skirt was so short.  There is also very descriptive statues of women here.  It's very weird especially as a missionary.  My only problem is I have a habit of starring when I see it.

I couldn't love this place more though.  My companion, the people and the work is just like I dreamed of.  Loving life and giving all I've got.  Never waste a moment.

Nelson elder

Hungary week 1

Wow, crazy week I tell you.  I am in Hungary right now and it feels like nothing short of a dream.  As I drove along the Danube last Tuesday, chills went through my body.  This is the most beautiful place I have ever seen and more importantly, the people everything I dreamed of.

I don't have much pictures for everyone today, but I am taking them after this for next week.  My first area is called Veszprém, a city just south west of Budapest.  My companion is a Brit from Liverpool named Knight elder.  I love this elder so much!  He is one of the hardest workers I have ever met, but he also needs his fun which is good.  He was super excited to meet me when he found out I played rugby.  Apparently we are the only two in the entire mission who even know how to play hahaha.  We are like best friends already because we just work so well together.

Veszprém is so sweet!  We legitimately street people next to a castle!  See, that is the nice thing about this area.  Knocking doors doesn't really help as much as just contacting people as they are walking on the street.  These people are so nice too!  I often think back to when I did door to door sales in Oregon and how rough it was.  These people, like 80% of the time stop!  They don't even know me and I have some of the worst Hungarian known to man, but they stop for me.  They are so receptive too!  My companions best week on the mission was when he handed out 12 Books of Mormon, but we got 11 in our first 3 days.  It's so wonderful to see my excitement and our success creating that greeny faith in him again.

The weirdest thing that I have come to see is weekends in Hungary.  You either have programs (lessons) or you are simply sunk.  Everyone mysteriously disappears, it is the weirdest thing in the world.  We surprisingly still handed out two with the deserted streets on Szombat (Saturday), and it shocked my companion.  Vasarnap (Sunday) was amazing though.  I got up and bore my testimony the best I could and that was enough.  The spirit spoke better than I did, so that's all that matters.

I was a little intimidated when I got here and saw all of the Hungarian signs and everything I couldn't understand, but I have no fear anymore.  People often let rejection, fear and nervousness stop them, but why?  Tudom hogy Jézus Krisztus által minden dolog lehetséges.  Why worry about when the language will come?  Why worry about rejection?  It will come and in the timing in which my Savior sees fit.  I will work myself to death, collapsing every single night from working so hard, but I will never be down.  The Lord asks for my best and I will give it too Him.

I'm in Hungary, in Eastern Europe.  Supposedly one of the hardest missions because it is labeled as a "European mission."  People hear that and just think that it is impossible because it is "Harder here."  I'm here to tell you that that is a lie.  I am here as a servant of the Lord.  I am here to change lives and wash them clean through baptism.  I am here to make these people smile.  Yes, I am in Europe, but that is all the more reason to have success.  This is the Lords children and I will make miracles happen.  The Lord will make miracles happen.

Szeretlek,
Never stop smiling
Nelson elder

Hungary

 

Jake is officially in Hungary! The missionaries were able to see a few landmarks in Budapest, and then were able to make their first Hungarian contacts. They were then given their new city assignments and departed with their companion the following day. His new P-Day is on Monday's, so we look forward to hearing from him then! 

President and Sister Smith - Jake's first Hungarian photo

Letters about Jake

We were fortunate enough to have some insiders watching over our Jake while he was in the MTC.  
The first ones are friends of Patriarch and Sister Greeves from our stake and were keeping an eye on people from Salem for them. They are in the branch presidency of the branch that Jake is part of in the MTC and wrote an email to the Greeves, who then forwarded it to us, and here it is! 

Dear Ruth and Eldon,

On Mon, July 30, one of my favorite missionaries at the MTC leaves for his field of labor in Hungary.  It is Elder Nelson from Salem, OR.  (He's in the Turner Ward.)  Please let his parents know what a fine, young man he is and how well he has done at the MTC learning a very difficult language.  He is always happy, cheerful, and concerned about others. His smile lights up a room when he enters!  He shares his talents humbly--he sang a solo in our branch Sacrament Meeting last week and always is one of the first to share his testimony.  We will miss him but are so excited for his mission president to get such a wonderful missionary.  Thanks for passing this message along to his family. :)                  

 Love, Kathy

And here is another one! Autumn Papritz is in our ward and just finished serving in the same mission in Hungary.  She was in Utah and able to get us the scoop on Jake!

Sister Nelson! 

I went to the MTC today and saw JAKE! I was so lucky to be able to watch him teach a lesson in the TRC (where they practice teaching to returned missionaries). He did an INCREDIBLE job he is really a very impressive speaker and an amazing missionary.  You should be very proud. I was also able to be sneaky and get you a little video of him teaching! SURPRISE!! I hope you love it and I'm sure you will watch it hundreds of times.  It is too large to attach to the email, so I posted it on youtube:

They are teaching a returned missionary and that is his companion on the right and the "solo" sister in the middle, she was teaching with them. In the beginning there is some background talking, but then you can just hear Jake. Here is the translation of what he is saying:

"I am very grateful for my testimony and for you. There have been a lot of trials in my life and a lot of times I didn't know what to do, I just knew it was hard but I know that Jesus Christ loves us. He loves me and he loves you. He wants the best for us. He wants every blessing for us. I know that it is very important, I know that I don't speak very well in a short amount of time, but I know that through Christ everything is possible. I know everything I do is for Christ and Christ did this for every person on earth. We can know how to love and how we can give our love and show Christ's love. I know that Christ loves you."

The best part is, he was so sincere and really just spoke from the heart. I don't know if you can tell in the video, but he was emotional through most of it and there were little tears streaming down his face. The spirit was very strong. He did so good. We were able to talk afterwards and he is just SOOO excited to get to Hungary. He will do so great, don't you worry!

Autumn

10 hét (week 10)

FIVE DAYS!!!!!!  I'm so excited to finally go to the field!  It's finally here.  Don't get me wrong, I love the MTC, but I am excited to serve the people I love so much ALREADY. 

Consecration week was crazy!  It was so rough, but I could actually communicate.  I realized my biggest problem with the language though.  I am determined to tell stories about things I don't even know how to say.  Az nem jo, but it's all good.  Can't know until I try right?  An upside is that I began thinking in Hungarian!  My prayers just automatically go to Hungarian, a weird feeling, but awesome one at the same time.  It was also a great week for Gould elder and I.  We have just become so much closer it's ridiculous.  We talk more, teach better and just want the best for each other.  I'm so lucky to have him as my tarsam (companion).  Life is just so wonderful.

So I leave Monday at 1:30 for the airport in Salt Lake City!  I then fly at 4 to Paris, Chas De Galle.  Two hour layover and then Budapest here I come!  When we get there we are going to be picked up by the mission president and with our companions we will hit the street and hand out some Books of Mormon.  We will also get to see some of the sites in Budapest.  We stay the night in the mission home which will be awesome.  The next day we will get our companions and get shipped out to our first areas!  I'm so ridiculously excited I can't even handle it.  Oh and some bad news for those who are writing me, I only get mail every 6 weeks.  BUT!  I can write every P-Day so it's still a happy day!  Just let me know if you want me to write you consistently.

So my eyes were opened this week to what the gospel really is for.  It's not just a gospel for individuals, but for families.  I just have really come to understand this as I have pushed through these past couple weeks.  I know that my family is the reason why I wanted to go on my mission so bad.  I want more than anything in the world for them to know how much I know that my Savior lives.  This is not the Church of the Book of Mormon; it is the Church of Jesus Christ.  The Book of Mormon is here only to bring us to Christ.  To bring us to love others more.  To love our families more.  I know that I wouldn't be the man and missionary I am without my family. 

I already missed the birth of my nephew and I'm about to miss the birth of my niece.  It's so hard to realize that I'm going to get home and they won't even know "Uncle Jake," but I know this is the place I need to be.  This is where I need to be for my niece and nephew.  This is where I need to be for my family.  This is where I need to be for my Savior. 

It's my last Wednesday in America for a while so I'm going to give my testimony in English.  I know my Savior lives.  I know that this church is the most wonderful message to have touched the world.  It's so we can know our Savior.  It's so we can understand the why.  I know that miracles happen.  I know that I can make miracles happen in Hungary.  Lives change through the gospel.  Most importantly, I know my Savior died for me.  He knows me and he sees me hurt.  He sees and knows all of our hurt.  I know more than anything that through Him, we don't have to hurt.  Through Him, is a smile. 

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Szeretlek,
Nelson elder