Sister Hannah Schoendorfer in Hungary: József's Baptism

This has been one of the most special weeks of my mission. It has been such a blessing to teach József over the past few months and I have learned so much from this sweet man.

The week started on Monday when we were able to go to Gellért hegy (a 235 m high hill overlooking the Danube River) with our district and it was great. The view was stunning at the top and you are able to see so much from up there. After walking home, we went to visit Zibrányi József. Since he lives on our same street, we saw him every day this week. He is beaming with happiness lately. When I think back to the sad man I met a few months ago to now, it is a testimony to me that Heavenly Father is truly aware of us and that miracles can occur in our lives. József is a miracle in my eyes and he is a blessing to everyone around him with his smile and positive naturre. I am also so grateful for the members here who have welcomed him in with open arms and treat him like family. József really looks up to them. In the evening, our landlord came (after there were more electric/heating issues) and again we got not only our heat/warm water fixed but the electricity was turned back on too after it had gone out once again that morning.

On Tuesday, the sisters from Győr came for splits here. We also went to their Zone Training after being asked to help out. We conducted a training on the topic of bravery, confidence, and the unknown. We used jelly beans that my mom send where you can't tell what the flavor will be - good or bad. For example, there are two flavors - peach and throw-up, but they look exactly the same. Everyone picked one and it was fun as well as a good way to encourage them. József told us the cutest story when we met with him that day. He said he was at home with Anna's (his daughter) and the dog and he was reading a scripture (Alma 7:27) about the peace of God and said that the dog seems to be more calm when József is reading the scriptures or praying. And it is true! When we were there, the dog was going crazy and jumping all over us and then when someone started saying the prayer, the dog really did lay down and was calm for the rest of the time. I love being there with József and his daughter Anna and sometimes some of his other kids are there as well. In the evening we visited a member, Kriszti who is so kind and a great example to me. She made us palacsintas (crepes) and we had the nicest chat with her.

On Wednesday, we finally met with Krisztián again. He has been having health problems lately and we have really missed him. It was wonderful to see him again and hear his powerful testimony and to observe him being his happy self again. When we met with József today, he retold the story about how Willets and I knocked on his door in August. At first, he didn't really want to talk to us but I remember that Willets and I really felt prompted to go to his building that night. József's mom was a faithful member of the church and passed away in 2009. József learned a little about the gospel then but after that he stopped. I know that it was his time to come back and he even told us about how a few days before Willets Nővér and I had come that he was really praying about what he should do and that the thought of getting baptized and learning more about the church came to his mind. He loves to tell that story to everyone and since then he calls us his angels. In the evening, we met with cute Piroska and her young daughter, Hanna who loves when we come over. Piroska told us about how she first learned about the church because of a Mormon family who makes a series of YouTube videos. It is so interesting to me the different paths that lead people to the church.

On Thursday, we had our Budapest Zone Conference which was great. We even got to do the jelly bean training again! We also got to preview the new Christmas video that was just made! It had me crying after I watched it. It hasn’t been put out to the public yet but I think it will be on YouTube this Friday. It is so beautifully done; I think it is my favorite video so far that the church has ever made. We met with József shortly afterwards and read some of my favorite scriptures, especially dealing with baptism. Alma 37:16-17 and 3 Nephi 12:47-48. Baptism represents the start of a new life and even after baptism we have the opportunity to repent, find new life and be perfected in Christ and our faith in him on our quest to be like Him. We may not reach perfection here in this life but as we do our personal best, He will help us in that.

In the evening we were able to go to the cutest little violin shop, where a sweet bacsi makes violins, violas, cellos and basses. He is a real life jolly elf in a little tiny shop. They were so excited to show us everything and I got to play a lot of different incredible instruments. McGregor Nővér also plays the violin and so we rented 2 violins for four days. József loves the violin and so we prepared a duet to play at the baptism.

On Friday, we went to the hivatal which I was expecting to take hours but it only took about 20 minutes, we were so lucky! Afterwards, we practiced the violin a bit and got things ready for the baptism. We had a great meeting with József where we talked about promises and covenants. He has such a strong testimony and talked about how he wants to promise God to go to church each week and share the gospel with others, which he has already done. He met with an old friend recently who he gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to who was really grateful for it. He is a great missionary himself. Also, his daughter Anna, was there as well. She recently moved in with her dad and she is such a sweetheart. I enjoy seeing Anna and her dad together and how much they love being around each other is such a blessing. József is a great dad to his four kids.

In the evening we met with a new guy named Tillman and he is from Austria and he is attending the University here. He speaks English and German and it's too bad that I don’t remember a lot of German, but at least I able to tell him the name of our church in German. We had a great lesson with him and he is really accepting and respectful. It is always so fun to start meeting with new people. After that, the Eger Sisters, Willets and Morris Nővér were able to come back for the baptism and it was so amazing to see her again, she’s great.

Now for Saturday, the best day ever!!!

The first part of the day was filled with baking cookies and making sure everything was set for József’s baptism. The ward was really instrumental in helping out and many members brought food. Some of the older members remember József’s mom and so it was really special. József's two daughters were there and he was so happy. The program was beautiful and the spirit really was very strong. McGregor Nővér and I played our violin duet, “If You Could Hie to Kolob” and it turned out really nice. Willet’s Nővér also sang and I accompanied her for a song we performed together a few months ago. Everyone was so happy and I don’t think József stopped smiling the whole evening. The talks were also so inspired and it was really a wonderful evening.

After we left the baptism, we went to visit a guy named Chidi who is Nigerian but living here. He found the church online and asked for us, the missionaries to come by with a Book of Mormon. He is such a nice guy and we taught him in the barber shop where he works.

Church was great yesterday and József was so happy and excited for his confirmation. One of the members, Vilmos, who gave the blessing was really sweet and he also knew József from 2009 when he attended church just a few times. I’m so grateful to have been able to see József through this whole process. He has changed his life and just being around him I feel happier. He is so genuine and cares so much about others around him. After church we had a lesson with a guy named Mert from the country of Turkey. Speaking of Turkey, Happy Thanksgiving on Thursday! The lesson was great and he had a lot of questions that are answered through the plan of happiness which we taught him about.

Have a great Thanksgiving! I am so grateful to be a missionary in Hungary and I am grateful for my Heavenly Father who truly loves and knows me. One of my favorite quotes is one that Neal A. Maxwell said in a general conference, he said, “I testify that the Lord has known you for a long long time. He has loved you for a long, long time. He not only knows the names of all the stars, He knows your names. And by the way you have never seen an immortal star. They eventually fade away. But, next to you are immortal souls. Imperfect, but nevertheless trying to be like Jesus.”

I am grateful for each of you, and I love you!

Sok Szeretettel,

Schoendorfer Nővér