FROM NOV 23, 2015
So I’m now in Kecskemet
with Sister S. and I love it and I love her! I already love all the art
nouveux here and the members, too! My first comp and former trainer lives here,
so I’ve been to her and her new husbands home-- haha! So crazy to end my
mission this way! I wish i had more than 2 weeks, but oh well :(
We had stake conference
on Sunday, so I got to see a lot of my old pals from Szekes and Szeged, so that
was so fun!
Saying goodbye in Buda
was kinda hard, but like Mom said-- technically I’ve already been a missionary for
18 months (crazy that Sister S. and i hit our 9 months together and now we are
hitting 18 together!) so it’s just a bonus :)
We met with photographer
R. and we talked about the Plan of Salvation. He said "You came to
Hungary, and maybe you didn't do anything else, but you helped me start
believing in God again." It was really touching. He had great thoughts and
we had an excellent discussion about the Atonement. He said he felt bad for
Christ, that he would pay for the sins that we did. We talked about how he did
it because He loves us. He said, “Okay, so the main point of the plan is to
become better every day?" He had a lot of questions about repentance, and
it was just really good. He said the prayer and thanked God for sending us to
his door. He was emotional after the prayer, and talked about that good feeling
he always gets from meeting. Super cool experience.
We did our final zone
training, and Sis. L. and I did a white handbook Jeopardy. It was fun :) I gave
my departing testimony and could hardly give it, I was crying so much. It was
really short, probably like 2 minutes. I just talked about how I know that I am
a child of God and that we all are. That He loves us and that he sent his son,
Jesus Christ, to suffer and die for us. I know the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a
much simpler, more amazing way. I know that repentance is change, even if that
change is small. Even if that change is saying a prayer for the first time in
your life. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. It was so strange to give that and
know I was pretty much done.
We met with E. and it was
so good. She was crying, talking about how she feels guilt and sadness. She
feels like she isn't worthy of repentance. We had a great discussion about repentance
and the Atonement, how we are ALL worthy of receiving the Savior’s grace. The Atonement
is for everyone. I have gained a testimony of this. We testified of God and
Christ’s love for her.
We got to Kecskemet and
Sister N. still had the keys in Buda—hahahaha-- so we had to stay with a
member! Great way to start it off! Okay, sorry I don’t have much time to write
this week, i love you all!
FROM NOV 29, 2015
I don't really know what
to say. I can't believe this is my last week as a missionary. My heart is kind
of breaking. I don't ever want to leave this weird little country with its
strange beliefs that if you don't wear tights you will become infertile and the
smell of bakery goods in the morning when we go running. I can't do this. I
can't bear not hearing the hymns being sung in Hungarian by the 40 people that
come to church every Sunday, or just hearing everything in Hungarian in
general. And I can't bear the thought of not being able to share the Gospel in
Hungarian. I love it-- it has been the biggest blessing of my life. I won't
start my goodbye just yet, though...I still have this precious week left!
I love Kecskemét! I wish
I had more time here :( (and it doesn't hurt that we get fed a lot---- add
Hungarian food to the list of things I will miss :) We teach a lot of older women
and for some reason this week, they all got really emotional as we met with
them. We asked R. to say the closing prayer, and after we looked up to see
tears in her eyes. We also taught M. the
Restoration and she came to church on Sunday. She cried when we left, even though she knew she would see us in church on Sunday. it was sweet. Another lady, J., cried telling us about how she wished she had a better relationship with her family. We taught her the Plan of Salvation and talked about how God is always there for her. She bought us chocolate snails and hot chocolate after; I really hope that our message could help her. We met with I., too, and she also cried. It was so touching; she really misses her husband and is taking his death really hard. So it was kind of strange that they all were very emotional this week, but it felt good to be there for them and to let them know God is there for them.
We also had thanksgiving
because the bishop and his wife were so kind to make us turkey and mashed
potatoes!
We planned splits with
Szeged too, so that I could go to G.'s baptism! It was great to be back in
Szeged--especially because it was all decorated for Christmas, and the lights
had just turned on the night before, so it was just how it was when I got there
exactly a year ago. We went streeting and gave out a Book of Mormon to this mom
and her daughter. I forgot how easy it is to talk to people there, and how much
more open they are there for some reason, haha! Ohhhh, blast from the past. I
didn't really think people were going to remember me in Szeged, but they did!
IT was so great to be able to see those members and some of the RCLAs I met
with there. :)
G.'s baptism was great. :) He was super happy! It's crazy
that almost a year I asked him if he would be baptized, and now he was able to!
It was a long time getting his parents to give him permission, but they did and
his whole family was there, and it was a great day. I feel so blessed that I
got transferred to Kecskemét for these last two weeks and was able to do splits
with the Szeged sisters in time to see the baptism. Another huge tender mercy
from God. He is good.
FROM DEC 8, 2015 (LAST
LETTER HOME)
Sorry, this is going to
be a long email...
I don't really know where
to start. The Dunaújváros sisters came down for splits, and we went to Szeged
again for interviews. I ran into one of my old investigators in Szeged, and
then a Pápa member came to Kecskemét, so it was a blessing to be able to see both
of them. On Sunday, an RM who was
actually a branch president when he served in Kecskemét, came back and brought
a ton of cakes, and so we had a cake party after church, haha. Poor Sister S.'s
feet have been killing her, but she insisted on working! She's a rock.
This week was a week of
lasts. Last time tracting (we got kicked out of a building, and in the next
building everyone was mean to us... haha-- at least we ended on a typical
note!). Last time talking to people on the bus (which I have really grown to
love, honestly) and I pretty much taught a guy the Restoration on a bus, so
that was nice. Last time streeting and tabling. I'm going to miss it so much.
Last time teaching programs in Hungarian. Last Church service as a missionary,
looking out at everyone sing while I played the piano, tearing up as I played
"God Be With You till we meet again" and tearing up hearing the
Sacrament prayer in Hungarian. We ate at a member’s house and sang Christmas
carols with them. It was sweet.
As I was reading in
Mosiah one day I realized that being a missionary has helped me in many ways
fulfill my baptismal covenant... "Mourn with those that mourn...comfort
those that stand in need of comfort...stand as a witness of God at all times
and in all things and in all places." (Mosiah 18:8-9)
I have grown to love so
many things on my mission. I Love Hungary! And not just because the food is
amazing (please tell me you can find good pickled stuff in America... otherwise
it'll be a hard time). I love Hungarians and their sometimes annoying honesty
and realistic-ness. I love that they could go on for years about how Hungary
used to be twice the size it is now, and how they can just talk your ear off
about anything. I love their frugality and their superstitions and the fact
that just about any Hungarian can for some reason cook super well (well... most
of the time :) I love that they love karaoke and they cook ALL their food in at
least half a bottle of oil (or, ya know, pig fat works too). I wish they had
more hope and confidence. Religion isn't a huge part of their lives, especially
because going to church was forbidden during the Communist era, but the fact
that many Hungarians still believe in God is always inspiring. I will miss the
nénis that are still out and about in their hats and skirts even though they
are so old! I will miss the sound of kids blabbering off in Hungarian, and I
will miss all the funny sayings and quirks of my Hungarians. Sometimes they
just need a friend; they need support, someone to tell them it's gonna be okay.
I love being a
missionary! I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to share my testimony
with so many people and sharing with them something that I love so much and
that has truly changed my life. I love teaching about the Gospel, and especially
about Jesus Christ and his Atoning sacrifice. I am so thankful for all the
moments I've felt the Spirit as I have taught or talked to people, and for the
moments I have seen the Spirit working in the hearts of people, and for all the
times they have also experienced blessings from the Gospel in their own lives.
I know that any change is good change if it brings us closer to God, and I am
thankful that He has helped many people make these little changes in their own
lives. I love the Book of Mormon, and my testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ
and His divinity has grown so much because of the testimonies and records of
those ancient prophets. I am so thankful for Joseph Smith and his sacrifices to
enable us to have this amazing testament of Christ. I know that he was a
prophet, the prophet who restored Jesus Christ's church to the earth. My
testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Restoration of the priesthood has also
grown so much this year and a half.
I love finding! It's not
always easy, but it really is just another form of teaching. I am again so
grateful for the opportunity to talk to people about the Book of Mormon, or
about the fact that God is our Heavenly Father and that He loves us. I know a
lot of people don't know that, but I do, and I am thankful for that knowledge.
I love prayer...Prayer
works :) I know God has given me all those things... especially trials... that
I needed to grow and become better. I know He never gives us commandments
"save He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing
which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7) There have been so many times I
may have doubted being able to do something, but companions have helped me
learn that having faith that God will help us follow Him has helped me see that
it is true. I know it's so oversaid, but God helps us follow the commandments
and blesses us for doing so!!
I am thankful for the
Holy Ghost and the many times it has testified of truth to me (even when I bear
my testimony in an email!) and to those I have taught. I’m grateful for the
times it has made up for my mistakes or when I've fallen short. God will not
leave us comfortless.
I have gained such a
deeper understanding of the Gospel. It makes sense in so many ways that it
never did before. But more than that, I have developed a LOVE for the simple,
basic principles of the Gospel. That God IS our Heavenly Father. We are His
Children. He loves us. He sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Because of
Jesus Christ, we can return to live with our Heavenly Father, with our
families. We can feel peace and love, and we can change. I am thankful for
Jesus Christ.
I know that it's time for
the next part of my life, but I don't really feel ready to end this part of my
life yet. I guess I'll never really be able to express how grateful I am for
the opportunity I had to be a missionary in Hungary. I am so grateful for all
the amazing people I met and all the amazing friends I have made. I have
learned countless things from them all and they have all been such great
examples to me. Whether they just show kindness for others, or go out of their
way to come to church every Sunday even though they have a lot going on, or
just being friendly and patient with me. It's hard to think of this end, but I
know the Gospel is all about starting over and continuously becoming better
every day (as one of my investigators once put it.) Again, I am thankful for my
Savior Jesus Christ, He tells us all that it's gonna be okay.
Magyarországnak mindig
lesz helye szívemben. Nem tudom mondani hogy mennyire hálás vagyok a
Magyarokért, a missziómért, a barátaimért, Jézus Krisztusért. Tudom hogy Isten
él. Ő szeret minket... nem is tudjuk képzelni hogy mennyire szeret minket. Ez
az evangélium az egyetlen dolog, ami tartós boldogságot hoz nekünk. Tudom hogy Jézus
Krisztus engesztelése miatt, szabadak lehetünk.
Sok szeretettel,
VanDenBerghe Nover
VanDenBerghe Nover