Szaba family

 We visited the Szaba family last week.  Such a sweet family.  While there we sang a few hymns together.  They have beautiful voices.  They don't come to church much, I think because they can't afford the bus ride.  Hope we can get them to come.

Downtown Debrecen

 All the sisters and elders (who we totally depend on) were off to Budapest doing transfers so we thought it would be a good day to explore downtown Debrecen.  This yellow church is Debrecen's landmark.  Virgil and I climbed the stairs to the bell tower on the left.

 Debrecen's crest. Must have been a millennial project in 2000.

 Sister Michaud and me. Debrecen is a lovely city.  The Plaza is beautiful.  The city has lots of tree-lined streets.

Life in Debrecen

 This is the piac.  They are farmers' markets and this one is fairly close to where we live.  I really love it because there are all these wonderful fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the farm.

 Virgil is paying for our raspberries.  So yummy!

This is FHE with the YSA.  I brought the game Tenzi with me.  Each person has 10 dice to play with. There are a lot of variations to the game and it is really fun.

Trip to Nyredghaza

 We saw this restaurant selling Buffalo wings, Hungarian style.  We had to go in honor of Bron, our son-in-law.  He went to Buffalo for dental school and loved to go to Duff's, a famous spot for wings.

 Senior Sisters that we hang out with.  Sister Michaud is 77 years old, Sister Weberg abt 64?  They are the YSA leaders

 Our plates of wings and hamburgers.  Not as good as Duff's, but not bad.  Yes, I hope to experience Hungarian food while here.

On the way to Nyredghaza there were lots of beautiful fields of sunflowers  I think they make sunflower oil here in Hungary.

 After District meeting.  The elders and sisters from Nyredghaza came to Debrecen for District Meeting.  Several of these were transferred so this was the last meeting of this District.

 My little washing machine in the bathroom which I am grateful for.  It sure beats what Britney Mecham is doing--hand washing.

My Dryer.  Probably about the same as Britney Mechams, but not bad at all.  My clothes will have a fresh air smell. 

Branch Members we have been visiting

 Vera is a member of the branch, really sweet lady who is unfortunately homebound and can't attend church.

 Agnes is a service missionary who went with us to visit Vera

 Otillia.  Most of these people are the only members in their family.

 Eva and Atilllia

Dorie and Vili.  YSA in the branch.  These people are all so sweet and easy to love.

We Truly truly are in Hungary

 Our last day in the USA.  We are in the Chicago Airport, ready to get on our long flight to London then Budapest.

 We failed to get a photo with our first meeting with President and Sister Smith, our mission president. She will mail me one later. The president assigned us to be Member Leadershhip Support instead of Young Single Adults. This is our apartment in Debrecen where we have been assigned. So European. This is the dining room/extra bedroom.  We even have a piano. 

 As you enter the apartment you go down this long hall.

 This is our toilet room.  The flusher is held together with rubber bands.

 Our bathroom

 Our kitchen nook.

 Our cute little kitchen.

 Our teeny fridge and microwave.  Sorry, the picture is sideways.

 Our bedroom

 Our living room.

 Our living room from another view.  Overall, quite a nice apartment.  We even have air conditioning in the dining room and bedroom, which a lot of apartments don't have.

 Our gated apartment building.  They all are gated.

 On the street where we live. There are many beautiful tree-lined streets.  Our apartment is in the Great Forest region.  Not far from where we live there is a forest with lots of trails; just flat trails, no hills.  Makes a nice morning walk.

 Our very cute and very nice branch building.

 Our car.

Our

 Our elders, doing "tabling."  They set up a table in front of our church and pass out pamphets.  They are Elders Brown and Gould.  Such cute boys.  We are just getting acquainted with them.

These are our sisters, Sister Madga has only been here one transfer. She is really sweet and we love her already. She came out with Elder Neeley from St. George.  On the right is Sister Perkins.  She has been in Debrecen for quite a while so we are afraid we will lose her next transfer which is this coming Tuesday.  She knows the language well and gets us around town and is a great little missionary. This week  we have been going with them to meet branch members and the less-active.  We have to go with someone who speaks the language since we speak  so very very little--about two words.  There are also two senior single sisters who do YSA.  I'll get a photo of them later.

Shots from the MTC

 The dining hall.  They serve 10,000 meals a day

All 4000 missionaries walking to the devotional at the Marriott Center.

Reporting from the MTC

Mosses and Steels at the famous map

  Ruth and Marvin Smith are also going to Hungary for Member Leadership Support Mission.

We are divided into districts at the MTC.  This is our district.  (L to R) Our teacher, Brother Lee, The Keefers--going to Italy for Military mission; the Thelins--going to Finland for Young Single Adult, Caldwell's--going to Honolulu for Military Mission, Steel's--going to Hungary for Young Single Adult Mission.  We were with these people all week and grew to love them.

Reporting from the MTC

 

 Leaving our home on Desert Dawn.  Bye for 18 months!

We found Janiel and David Moss first thing!  It has been so fun to be with them here.  They are going to Fargo, North Dakota, doing a CES mission.

Guess who else we found?  Abbey Hafen is in the MTC before departing for the Philippines.  She looks so great!.