An Apostle in Hungary!

It has been four years since there has been an apostle in Hungary so it was a big deal to all the members here.

This is the only picture that I took, this is all the missionaries trying to find a place to sit. It was all so good I forgot to take any more pictures so this will mostly be a writing blog. I may throw in some random pictures to keep you awake.

We picked up Peter and Timea, the counselor in the branch presidency and also the RS president, Judit. She packed a lunch for all of us which was good as there wasn't much time when we got to Budapest to

get something. We left at 9:00 and got to the stake center at 12:30. Budapest is a big city. The picture below is of Timea and Peter. The picture above is of the RS president Judit.

Our meeting was suppose to start at 1:30 but Elder Christofferson  had met with the counselor over religions in Hungary and thanked him for being instrumental in recognizing our church as an official church in Hungary now, so he and Elder Kopischke and President Baughman didn't get to the stake center until 2:15.They invited all the missionaries to shake their hands and tell where we are from and where we are serving. Elder Christofferson started his part with a question and answer session. He said that we could ask him anything except about the three Nephites. He said they never call, they never write. We thought that was pretty funny. The missionary meeting finished up at 4:00 and the Priesthood leadership meeting started at 5:00 and all the sisters met in the cultural hall and had a question and answer period with Sister Christofferson and Sister Kopischke. They had all the same problems with RS and Young Women as the wards back home.

Here is your 1st random picture, Steve promised me he would buy me a hat like this before we go home. They are the "in" thing over here but I might need to be a little older to wear one.

Back to the meeting, at 7:30 we met with all the church members in Hungary that could come. There were about 550 to 600 members there and there are around 5000 in the whole country. Our little branch had 15 members there. Elder Christofferson gave an amazing talk and told us that the church has not forgot Hungary and that is why he is here. He said that he was blessed to be here with a people that have been too long without the rays of the gospel. He talked a lot about Joseph Smith and all that has happened since his 1st prayer. He also gave an apostolic blessing on the members. I would have to say that is was an amazing experience to be there. We didn't get back home until 12:30 but it was well worth it.

PS: The church is going to invite the Hungarian Religious Counselor to speak at BYU sometime. It is a big deal to have the church recognized as an official church. They has a TV camera man at the meeting to film the first part and most people here are following the election with a Mormon candidate. They know more than we do about what is happening in America.