JEWISH SYNAGOGUE, FOLK DANCING and STORK FAMILY

O

In Budapest, Hungary is the worlds largest Jewish Synagogue.  It is a tear jerking experience to see plaques with 10,000 names of people that died because one stupid, power hungry man wanted to kill 600,000 Jews because he (Hitler) thought he was so perfect.  The Jewish Synagogue in Budapest hid many people trying to escape the German soldiers.  There were 10,000 Jews that were shot next to the Synagogue.  This is a picture of the area where the people were lined up and shot. 

P

This is the picture we have all seen in history books.  (Compare the arches in both pictures - proof that this is the location where many were killed).

I am so grateful that the United States got involved in stopping Hitler.  It is too bad we didn't go after Hilter,s soldiers sooner.  I'm proud that my dad served in World War II.  In this next picture I am standing in front of  "The Tree Of Life".  It has a few names engraved on each branch of the tree.  

These next pictures are the inside of the beautiful Synagogue.  

During a Jewish service the men sit on the main floor and the women sit in the balconies.  I'm not sure why.  

Relices of the Jewish tradition.

The famous Hungarian "Folk Dance Koncert" was in the: 

I love to dance so, of course, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  A picture of the concert hall.  I just love the Hungarian architecture.

Sister Helen Brown, Melissa Taylor's Aunt and my companion Sister Scherrer enjoyed the concert. 

The Browns are great people.  They are serving a Mission in Hungary, also.  

The dances were amazing.   It gave me a peek into Hungary's history. 

On the trip to Budapest we saw another Storks nest.  This one had 2 parents and 1 or 2 babies in it.  

One of them flew away.  Can you see him almost to the neighbors chimney? 

Here he is standing on the chimney of the orange house.  Wow! A once in a lifetime experience.

BAPTISM

Valentina Orsós was baptized on June 21, 2014.  She was confirmed the next day and her baby sister was blessed on that Sunday.  They are such a cute family.  Her parents are Sándor and Sándorné Orsós.  They are a big asset to our little Papa Branch.  

BLUE DYERS MUSEUM in PÁPA:  For centuries blue dye was an important element in folk costumes and household textiles.  Blue dyeing comprises two basic operations:  pattering with a drye-resistant material, and the dyeing itself in an indigo solution.  The insulating material alloyed with wood or metal forms and stains is impressed onto the white cloth, and on drying this seals the printed surface from contact with air.  The indigo is reduced with ferrous sulphate and lime, and an appropriate concentration dye wash is "set" in the dye-becks.  The patterned cloths are hung on a bar and immersed in the dye, left to soak, and when it is lifted out into the air the oxidized indigo turns blue. 

This is the picture of the dye-becks.  

This is a picture of one of the men making the patterns by nailing the small nails into blocks of wood.  

A picture of the pattern-maker's workbench.  

This is a picture of me in a traditional costume looking up to the ceiling where the fabric is hung to dry. 

The fabric is lowered and raised with the rope.   Check out the fabric patterns on the wall.

This is the how they would iron the fabric to get it ready to sell.  This box is horse drawn and maybe 30 feet long.  The fabric was placed under the box.  Then the horses pull the box which would iron the fabric.  Amazing!

YET ANOTHER CASTLE

On the 5th of July we went to see the castle Sümeg Vár in the city of Sümeg.  It is just so interesting that the ground is flat except where there is a castle.  Obviously, in those days it was important to their defense.

On the trail up to the Castle, Elder King saw a goat. Can you see the goat at the top of the grass.  He is running up the hill to get a picture of it.   This cute family was just walking down the hill when I snapped the picture.

This is where their church services were done. 

This is at the back of the church.

There were a few people in costumns.  The horse and donkey were just walking around with the people. 

Elder King had to give the stilts a try. 

This sign on the "cage" says "nursery for children".  I wonder if that is really true.  Elder Rae is taking the picture of Elder King in the Nursery.

The most up to date armor of the day.  Notice the pointed shoes.  Wow, would that be easy to walk in or what?????  I hope the warror never tripped or fell over.  

The typical clothes

This is the torchure room.  

This is a girl they are going to burn at the stake.  It reminds me of the Book of Mormon story of Abinadi see Mosiah 17:14-15 and Alma and Amulek see Alma 14:8.  

This is a model of one of the wars.  It might be the war with the Turks.  I'm not sure.  During the American Revolutionary War, the British wore bright red and also stood in straight lines like this.  I'm glad the Americans got smart and hid in the bushes.  

We also went to the ruins of the Castle of Döbrönte on a different day.  Can you see the modern windmill on the horizon. It's like looking at old technology and new technology at the same time.  It's mind boggling to look at both ends of the time spectrum.

This picture is of Sister Kovacs and Sister Neagle.  In the next picture Elder King is trying to climb the castle wall.  (And no he didn't make it.  He had to walk around).  

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.