IT'S A HARD JOB BUT SOMEBODY'S GOTTA DO IT!

Zone Conference was in Budapest on June 20, 2014.  Elder and Sister Brown picked us up for conference.  However, we decided to go a day early and take a detour trip to Szentendra.  The Mission President is flexable when it comes to the Senior Missionaries.  This is a view of the Daube River.  This sky is pretty typical of Hungary.  

Just look at the Browns!  Acting like they're in love and all that.  This is the board walk next to the Daube River.  Our hotel was on the other side of this road.  

Elder Brown's niece is Melissa Brown.  She married my son Joshua Taylor.  Guess that makes us relatives.  Yeah!  The Browns are a totally enjoyable couple.  P.S.  Zone conference was great also.  I am very impressed with the Missionaries.  They are great leaders, they are motivated and smart individuals.   Pic is of Elder and Sister Brown, Sister Scherrer and yours truly.  

This is in the center of Szentendra.  A few hundred years ago this was a little town.  Now they have turned it into a "tourist trap" where people love to spend money.  This picture is of a water well.  The Dad is pumping water so the kids can get a drink.  And yes, I did manage to buy a few Hungarian things.  

What a beautiful sunset.  There are church steeples everywhere.  In the foreground is the cigarette  store.  Yup that's all they sell.  They sell cigaretts for 1400 Forent or $7.00 a pack, I think.  I haven't actually tried to buy any. :) They are open 24/7.  The government is the only one that sell cigarettes.  This is how the government supports itself.  It is no wonder there are no infomercials warning the public about lung and throat cancer.   Everyone in Hungary smokes.  Ok, let me clarify, everyone over 16 years old smokes.  

Another beautiful sunset.  This is the house across the street from our apartment.  Too bad the camera doesn't do it justice.

HUNGARIANS LOVE THEIR COUNTRY

I admit I love Hungary also.  I feel very blessed and lucky to be here.  I was walking down the street  when I saw a lot of young people in Traditional Hungarian costumes.  They said everyone was meeting at "The Theatre" in the park.  Of course, I followed them.  

It turned out to be a country wide competition.  Each group represented a different city.  It was free but they could have charge a good price.  They were very good.  While I was in the entre of the theatre I ask several people if they spoke English.  One beautiful girl said, "Yes" and we began to talk.  She told me which city she was from and asked me if I was a grandma.  I told her about my family and she said, "I think large families are happy".  Her name is Temeki (last name withheld in case her parents don't want her name on the internet.  Here is her team of performers.  They all seemed confident in who they are.  

Before the performance I bought a piece of handmade Hungarian art work. It is made with a coconut shell and corn husks.   These people love The Lord and so do I.  

A few days later there was another celebration in a different park.  This one is 3 or 4 doors from our apartment.  They are celebrating what their country used to be before The Tready of Trinon in 1918.   I explained a little about their history earlier on this blog.  

A gentlemen gave a speech I did not understand.  A group of adults sang a song I did not understand. However, when they sang their national anthem everyone stood up, out of respect, just like Americans.  Here are the words of the National Anthem.  

Oh God bless the Hungarian,

With joy and bounty.

Extend toward him a guarding arm,

If he strives against the enemy;

Long torn by ill fate,

Bring upon him joyous times,

This people has suffered,

For sins of the past and future! 

I feel that joyous times are in their near future as they open their arms to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  The Lord has promised us freedom from the enemy as we live in righteousness.  These people in costumes are standing next to markers in the park that represents various cities in Hungary.  

The four pieces of land is what Hungary used to be before The Tready of Trinon in 1918.  Now the lighter colored one in the center is present day Hungary. 

Wow, just look at these Poppies.  There were several patches like this on the way to the grocery store the other day.  What a beautiful county this is.

"Look ma no hands".  Yup, that's your's truly on the bike.  Yeah, we bought bikes.  This should be better on the ol' feet.  Picture taken in front of the St. Stephen, the Martyr Roman Catholic Parish Church in the town square.  Do you know how to tell if it is a missionary that is riding the bike?  Answer:  He/she is wearing a helmet.