I ADMIT IT - I LOVE FOLK DANCING

We were passing out infomation about the Church and about the English Class that the Church offers when we noticed a lot of people walking toward the Town Square.  We followed them to the King's Mansion or the Castle. They were having a Folk Dance performance.  We couldn't help it, we had to go.  It was FANTASTIC.  See the smoking violin?  It's true, the violinists were smokin' good.  If I could start my life over I would be a dancer.  It was very refreshing to see great talent in modest clothing.  Ah, the joys of living in Hungary.  My new favorite music is The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss II.  Now I understand where the word Danube comes from.  The Danube River flows between Buda and Pest.  

Another great sunset.  

The Elders and Sister Scherrer and I volunteer at a school for handicap people.  Here the Elders are teaching English.  It is fun.  This was another school that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints donated some items to as a Humanitarian effort last month. 

This picture is of Ilona and I.  We make items that the school can sell.  This gives them a little money to buy school supplies.  Ilona made this pencil holder for me.  It is fun to do this once a week.  In the back ground you can see the looms they use to make rugs.  Maybe someday they will teach me how to weave.  

Ok, ok we had another party in the back yard.  This is our Family Home Evening "family".  It wasn't a Branch" party just the group that gets together every Monday night.  

This picture is of Tunda between Sister Scherrer and I.   She teaches (or tries to teach us) Hungarian.  Check out the play equipment in our back yard.  

If we arn't partying in our backyard we usually play soccer in the park by the Branch House.  

I know when you look at this next picture you are going to ask, "Is that all Hungarians do is eat?"  Well ah....yah about the same as Americans.  This is a fund raiser Bogrács.  Each group makes their favorite Bogrács then the judges decide who wins.  All the proceeds go to help some needy organization.  Can you pick out our little Mormon group?  

FOOD, FOOD and MORE FOOD!

PIONEER DAY CELEBRATION with the Relief Society.  You do not have to have American Pioneers in your ancestors to belong to the heritage that members of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-Saint enjoy.  It is a privilege to belong to an organization that people gave their lives for.  Some Sisters told stories of courage, faith, hardship and dedication.   I'm not sure I could have done it, if I lived between 1830AD and 1847AD.  I am grateful for them.  

All five women came plus the Sister Missionaries and the Senior missionaries.  It was a success.

The table decorations were made from a shoe box and the neighbor's Cat Tails.

                HUNGARIAN SÜTI (DESSERT)

                      1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

                       Lemon zest from 1 lemon

                       3 eggs

                       3 Tablespoons Peach jam

                       2 Tablespoons Plum jam

                       2 heaping Tablespoons sugar

                       1 1/2 cups flour

                       1 heaping teaspoon baking soda

                       9 Tablespoon water

                       9 Tablespoons vegetable oil

                       Mix together.  Pour into greased and floured 9 X13" pan.   Add chopped walnuts,

                        if desired.  Bake at 350 degrees.  (Probably 30 to 45 minutes).

                       Be sure to keep checking it.  

 

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION in our back yard.  Not only is our back yard beautifully landscaped but look at the great neighbors we have.  Everyone from our apartment complex came to our party.  We served American hot dogs, American potato salad, chips and dip and watermelon.  We had everything except the 4th of July fireworks.   

The Missionaries are Elder Rae, Elder King, Sister Kovacs and Sister Neagle.  Sister Scherrer is taking the pictures.  

HUMANITARIAN EFFORT.  The LDS Church donated some much needed supplies to two day care centers in Pápa.  This picture shows a local TV station interviewing Elder Miller.  Elder and Sister Miller are serving as Senior Missionaries in a Humanitarian capacity.  They coordinate at least one Humanitarian gift every month from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. 

They are also interviewing the Mayor of Pápa.  Standing by to interpute is Elder Rae and his companion Elder King.  

THE LORD IS WATCHING OVER ME.   On July 21, 2014 I went to visit a new member.  On my new bicyle it only took 15 minutes to get there.  The Junior Sisters played a little video about The Restoration.  They asked me to bear my testimony which I did in broken Hungarian.  By the time we were ready to come home it was 9:00 at night.  I got on my bike and headed for home.  I began to realize that the streets were very dark and I didn't have my bike lights on.  I pulled over to the side of the road to figure out how to turn the lights on.  In the distance I saw someone on a bicycle coming toward me.  I thought, I hope that is a friendly person and I hope they can speak Enghlish because I need to ask someone for help.  When he got close to me I could see he was a grown man.  I said to him, "Beszel Angolul?"   He said, "Yes, I speak English".  So I asked him to help me with my light.  It took about 2 seconds and he was off down the street.  I got on my bike and headed home.  It was about 1 1/2 miles to my apartment.  I never saw another person.  At the "round about" I saw 3 cars but that was all.  I know The Lord sent someone to help me and I am grateful.