Hungary for the Gospel: October 2016

Sunday, October 23, 2016

Week 9: Happy Birthday to My Mom/Elder Haroldsen's Last Week

First of all,

MAJOR shoutout to my wonderful mother who had a birthday this past week!!! Mom, thank you for everything and thank you for being your wonderful beautiful self! I would not be here without you!! I love you so much!!

This week was pretty crazy! We had a lot of appointments scheduled with investigators and members because Elder Haroldsen is leaving in 2 days to go back to the promised land! It was so awesome seeing how many lives he touched while serving here in Debrecen!

By the way, we got our transfer calls this morning and I AM STAYING in Debrecen!!!! Super stoked! I am getting a new companion, obviously, and his name is Elder Smith! I am meeting with him tomorrow and a lot of the missionaries say he is awesome so I am super excited!

We ran into some nice Spanish speakers here in Debrecen on the Villamos for some reason. I wished them a big "Buenos Noches" and in unison they wished it back!

One of our investigators had her graduation this past Saturday in the NagyTemplom! It was cool and very interesting seeing a graduation by the Reformatus church. You weren't supposed to cheer but Elder Haroldsen did so anyway when she got up to accept her pin. It echoed across the whole room so several people looked but it was super funny!

Besides that not a lot of things happened. I did finish the Book of Mormon and I can truly testify it is the word of God! I feel the spirit every time I read I know that Moroni's promise is true! The spirit works in different ways with everyone but I can testify that through the spirit you will receive an answer! I wish you a fantastic week and I will tell you more about my new comp next week!

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Ballard

Whipping on Monday

Egyetem

Graduation

After the graduation

Játek Est

Week 8: A Miskolc Week

Hello hello!

This week was pretty crazy because we went to Miskolc twice! Once for Mission President interviews and the others for splits! Miskolc is beautiful but I gotta say Debrecen tops. ;)

What was cool for splits was that me and Elder Oliphant, who was in my group at the MTC were companions! We each had to rely off each others language skills for a couple of hours during tracting and lookups and I gotta say it was an awesome experience! On Friday, while tracting in a jungle of ten-stories we accidentally tracted into a member! It was awesome because both of us knew what she was saying and we both were able to share scriptures regarding why trials are important. It was super cool seeing how the gift of tongues worked between us.

Funny experience during tracting: We were in a 10 story and this one guy answered the door and while gesturing to us said the following: "Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah Blah." No lie. Me and my comp were like stunned for a second and we tried to introduce ourselves but he just said "I don't know" and slammed the door. Interesting guy.

On Saturday the branch held a going away activity for Elder Haroldsen (who has served in Debrecen for 8 months now), Sister Adams, and the Sheen family which is the American family in the branch! We invited two investigators to come and they both came! One of them came to church yesterday! Super fun!

We got to watch the Sunday afternoon sesssion yesterday and I loved Elder Bednar's talk about Christ and having faith in Him! I can testify that Jesus Christ knows every one of us! My knowledge of Him is still growing but I can testify that His atonement is sufficient! I wish you all an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Ballard

These golden tablets say that three Jews lived here. Two died in Auschwitz and the other died in a labor camp in Russia!

Miskolc

Week 7: Whips and General Conference

What'sssss Upppp

I hope you all enjoyed General Conference!!! Since Europe is like 8 hours ahead of Utah time, we only got to watch the morning sessions live. On Sunday we watched the Priesthood and Saturday afternoon session. We watched the Priesthood session in Hungarian! I loved it when I saw the MTC choir at General Conference!!! I saw one of my friends from my zone which was cool! I guess three Hungarian missionaries were also in the choir! On Sunday we watched a total of three sessions so a lot of spiritual nourishment.

Monday we got to go to Hortobagy which is this huge area of land outside of Debrecen. We bought whips!!!! Now I'm a pro with the whip. I can officially say "Now watch me whip..." Super cool! We sometimes go to the Nagyerdő to practice in the mornings for exercise. By the time I get back I should be pro X2.

Wednesday we got to go to Budapest!!!! I love seeing all the buildings and the Danube and seeing all the missionaries from our zone! We learned about bike safety and the gift of tongues. I have been praying for the gift of tongues these past couple of days and I can truly say it is real! I feel less afraid to say things and I feel that I am getting better!

A major theme in this past general conference was repentance. What a fantastic gift the Lord has given us to return back to him and feel his love! Repentance is so important especially in missionary work. Our major theme in our mission is Teach Repentance and Baptize Converts. It truly helps you to become rooted in Christ! Take time to reflect the talks from General Conference! I love you all and have an awesome week!

Love,

Elder Ballard

Hortobagy tourist attractions

Now watch me whip

Budapest with Niryegháza missionaries

At a member's home with Démi. Démi is from China and became a member while studying here in Debrecen! He was taught by one of my teachers from the MTC.

At the University/egyetem

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Week 6: Thinking Hungary Has been Attacked

So this week was interesting. Monday it was raining hard but I did get my first haircut in the field! It turned out pretty swell. These Europeans know how to cut hair.

Tuesday morning we got to enact our emergency plan. I was honestly freaked out but excited at the same time because I thought it was real. I thought that Hungary was like bombed and all the missionaries had to leave but it turns out it was a drill. So I got to pack and unpack all my things in the same day.

Wednesday we got to go to a falu (village) outside of Debrecen. It was pretty cool seeing all these old century looking houses. It reminded me of all the pictures I saw in AP World History of all the old looking houses in rural Europe. After coming back we had our first lesson with an old investigator who turned out to be a free mason. He had a lot of questions about our church and we helped clarify some misconceptions he had. Super awesome guy! We plan on meeting with him later but unfortunately he is moving to Budapest so I'm not sure how long we have to teach him.

Speaking of Budapest, we have zone conference this coming week so we get to travel there on Wednesday. I heard about the explosion so I'm making a concerted effort to stay away from crowded people and gas.

Saturday was Elder Haroldsen's two year anniversary so we burned his suit. It turns out the sisters had some vodka left in their apartment for some reason and we used that to burn the suit. It was interesting but fun!

Cool story/spiritual thought about this week. On Monday it was late and we still needed to tract. With little hope of finding someone to teach we went to the first apartment complex we saw. The first person politely told us he wasn't interested. But the second person we tracted turned out to be an old investigator and she let us in!!!! We ended up giving a spiritual thought to her and her roommate, both students from Nigeria, and we scheduled a return appointment! What a miracle that we found her! This definitely helped increase my faith. We found 6 new investigators total throughout this week which was miraculous! Faith brings miracles and miracles build faith!

Viszlát,

Elder Ballard