Happy December to you! Christmas is here just like in America. They do have an extra holiday on the 6th, but that's about it.
As for me, I have a new calling. Can you believe I am already in my third transfer? This month I hit my six month mark in my mission. I am almost a fourth way through. That is crazy to me.
Anyway, I am going to Veszprém with Elder Bowen. It's pretty interesting. I don't know what to think about it. I am doing another one and done. Supposedly he is a super hard worker. I am happy about that. Just means I have to move again. I don't like moving. Burch elder is getting a Greenie, that is why I am moving. So we'll see how that goes.
My last week was pretty awesome. First off that I am super happy about, is what Rozália told us last week during a program. She always comes to programs and shares us something that she has read from the Bible or Gospel principles. This time she came with a scripture that she found out of Gospel Principles. I believe it was Mormon 8:25-26. It talks about how baptism is the first fruits of repentance. What she said about this is she remembers me sharing her those scriptures a few weeks ago and that was one of the reasons she chose to be baptized. Two little scriptures I had found from Personal study, that I thought were just interesting, ended up being one of the reasons she wanted to be baptized. Talking about following the spirit again. I have been so blessed with those experiences this last transfer.
Talking about following the spirit, we met up with that guy we found through the book store. He is super golden. He had read through Alma in a week. It was funny because we were waiting outside of English class to meet with him, and so, english class ended and we got distracted for a moment, and then we saw him walk outside. Burch elder and I just looked at each other, then he told me to run and catch him. So I run out into the run yelling Hungarian at him, and I finally get his attention, and so I get to him, and the first thing I say to him is,
"még szeretnél találkozni?"
Mondta, "Igen, de nem szeretem hogy a siszterek nevetnek egy csomo."
Mondtam, "Az nem baj, csak beszélgethetünk a Mormom Konyveröl. Csak velünk, az Elderekkel."
Basically I ran out and was like, "hey you still want to meet." And he said he was scared off by the sisters because they were too laughy. I was just like, don't worry about it, you can come in right now and we'll just talk about the BOM. So he came in and we talked about Jacob 5, which lead well into the Restoration and the BOM, and it was just an awesome lesson/conversation about the gospel. He is super interested, and he even came to the baptism last week. That is the next item of business.
Rozália's baptism was awesome. I played piano again. I actually also accompanied Sister Johnson, who sung "Savior, redeemer of my Soul". A different arrangement though. It was super pretty. Now everyone wants her to sing solos for all the Christmas programs that are coming up. It was super cool though to stand by Danyér and watch an investigator, who I've become great friends with, Take upon herself covenants with God, and then the next day I was able to stand in the circle as she was confirmed and given the Holy Ghost. That scripture is so true when it says that our joy will be full when we help just one person to be baptised, but as I have now experienced, now I have helped three. I love this gospel and this work. I can't express the joy that comes from it. I am totally addicted though. I hope to keep having experiences like this my entire mission, but I just know I have been extremely blessed recently. This won't be my entire mission, but I am happy for what I have already had.
Today so far we went to Gellért hegy* and we went to Vapiano's for lunch. Super good place. Now I am writing an email to you.
I am loving my time, and the gospel. I know the spirit can truly direct our lives if we just listen and respond. Love you all
Szeretettel
Decker Elder
In case you are interested in knowing a little bit more about where Justin is serving, I've added a little information about the place he visited today. -Justin's Mom
*
Gellért hegy
known as Gellért Hill in English, is a 235 m (771 ft) high hill overlooking the
Danube in Budapest. Gellért Hill was named after Saint Gerard who was thrown to
death from the hill. The saintly bishop was killed by the pagans during the
great pagan rebellion in 1046. He was put in a barrel and rolled down into the
deep from the top of the hill.
In the 18th century a small calvary was built on the top of the
hill which was rebuilt around 1820. On Easter Mondays a procession climbed the
steep road leading to the calvary to celebrate the resurrection of Christ. Many
tents and vendors were erected on the nearby meadow. The emmausjárás
(Emmaus-walk) or tojásbúcsú (egg feast) was one of the most popular Catholic
holidays of the year during the 18th–19th centuries.
The Citadel was built after the
1848–49 Hungarian uprising by the ruling Habsburg Austrians, as it was a prime,
strategic site for shelling both Buda and Pest in the event of a future revolt.
Gellért Hill also saw action in
the Second World War and the 1956 Hungarian Revolt, when Soviet tanks fired
down into the city from the hill.
