Zoo and Budapest

 Last P-day we drove to Niregyhaza with the sisters to see the zoo there.  It is the biggest one in Hungary and a really nice zoo.  We are inside the aquarium in this photo--it was pretty impressive.

 See the camels in the background?

 All four of us inside the aquarium.  I can't help but think of old Esther Williams movies at times like this.. 

 Exiting the zoo.

 We took Sister Weberg into Budapest to bid her a fond farewell.  While there we went to the Nagy Piac for a couple of hours.  It is a huge market with fresh food on the main floor and touristy things on the 2nd floor.  It was a fun place to look around.  I did actually buy a few things also.

 We ate there also--stuffed cabbage and golyas soup--very Hungarian.

 On one of the many bridges that goes across the Danube in Budapest.

 In the background is Gellert Hill.  I think it is the hill where Elder Russell M Neilsen dedicated Hungary for the preaching of the gospel, around 1990.

We took our elders out to dinner last Saturday.  It is Elder Nabrotsky's last week in Hungary and he will be going home to Toronto, Canada on Thursday.  He has been a wonderful, hard-working elder.  He has a mastery of the language, is a great teacher, speaker and trainer.  Elder Hofrel was fortunate to have him as a trainer.  We were blessed to have him in Debrecen his last two months in the mission.  Well done, Elder Nabrotsky!

We have grown to love Elder Hofrel.  He is a humble, sweet missionary with lots of faith and isn't afraid to speak up and declare his beliefs. What a blessing to work with him.  These young missionaries are a great joy to us  in the mission field.

A Baptism!

 We had a baptism!  Not just one but two!  Not just any baptism but Michael and Szivlia--two awesome young people whom we love dearly.  The sisters taught Michael and the elders taught Svilvia.  Elder Nabrotsky baptized Michael and Elder Hofref baptized Svilvia.

 Michael has been investigating the church since last spring and has been active since then. His parents didn't give him permission to be baptized until recently.  We love Michael so much--he is always so happy and spreads sunshine everywhere! He is in medical school here in Debrecen. Sweet little Szilvia met the elders on the train.  She approached them.  It has just been two or three months and she has been coming to everything.   We love her and are grateful for her also.  She is going to school to become a photographer. We are so thrilled to have them be baptized.  They will be a huge asset to the branch. 

 This is the Balough family with Michael.  Also Kaity in on the right.  She loves Michael and loves to have him come visit her and her mother.  Michael has a really kind heart and is good to everyone.

This is one of my cute little primary children, Janos.  He is so smart!  It's been great to get to know Janos.

Lots of photos

 Our new Elder Hoferl from Austria.  He is Elder Nabrotsky's greenie.  He is really sweet and has quite a German accent.  He speaks German, English, Hungarian.  Elder Nabrotsky also speaks German so they have a good time together.

 Our new sister, Sister Westover from SLC.  She is a sister trainer with SisterWoofinden.  She is an experienced, very good missionary and goes home in May the same time Sister Woofinden does.

 These are branch members that we had to Sunday dinner--Kristanini, Otilla and her husband.

 Sister Weberg.  She is about ready to go home.  She has been serving in YSA here in Debrecen and has been a lot of help to us.

 We just started an art class on Tuesday nights.  Zsoka is the teacher.  She is a very good artist in the branch and a sweet lady.  It is a fun class; all we have done so far is sketch with a lead pencil.

 This is where we live--our apartment building.  We are on the 2nd floor.

 Out taking a wintry walk.  It finally snowed in Hungary--about six inches.  It got down into the twenties but we really bundle up and it isn't too bad.

 Walking in a wintry wonderland.  This is the Nagy Erdo--big forest, that we walk through almost every day.

 Some people in our English class invited us to dinner.  Or rather, the sister's asked if we could come and they fixed us a huge meal.  I love cultural experiences like this.  Tibor and his wife Ilona.  Tibor works really hard practicing English while we are around.

 Here we all all around the dinner table.

 The beautiful meal she had prepared.  We had already had soup.  Their son, Tibor, has downs syndrome.  He comes to English class with his parents.

 Beautiful suti (sweets)

 Tibor, Ilona, Tibor

 We have quarterly senior conference in Budapest.  All the senior couples come into the mission home for training--plus we eat together, play games, and do sightseeing.  We love it!  It's about the only time we meet with the other seniors; we wouldn't be able to get acquainted otherwise.

 We took a tour of the beuatiful parlilament building.  Their guards are pretty classy.

 Our guide, Anna, inside the parlilament building.

 President and SisterSmith.

 Parliament bilding.

 I feel likeI'm in a spy movie in Budapest--don't they all take place in Europe?

Riding in the train with a wintry landscape outside, going inside the parliament building and imagining Tom Cruise suspended from the dome of the capitol building trying to rob the crown jewels--it all reminds me of being in a movie.

 The US embassy in Budapest

 St. Stephen's catherdal.

 The escalators are so steep going down to the subway, they people look like they are  leaning backwards

 Our first primary activity day.  The sister's helped me by braiding hair and painting nails.  We also made valentines and frosted cookies to leave on the branch president's desk.

 Emilia is 11 years old.

 Regina is 8

 My primary children at sharing time.  Eva on the left is the primary president. Dorie on the right translates for me.

 Martin is 10

This Martin is four, showing off his new CTR ring they received today.  I'm really grateful to be working in Primary.