This past week has been awesome!
We
had the greatest miracle. Sister Papritz and I, like I have shared,
have this goal of getting standard and speaking Hungarian for every one
of the six weeks this transfer together (we are calling it the six by
six goal). Anyways, this past week was looking to be a doozy. We
didn't have any new investigators scheduled, and we need two new
investigators to make at least standard. But, believing, we wrote down
our goal of getting two new investigators and got to work. We
remembered that we had taught one of our cute little néni neighbors a
lesson, but had never set up with her again (which is required for it to
count as a new investigator). So, we went over to her apartment, set
up with her again, and check! One new investigator. After that,
though, we were out of clever little ideas like that, so all that was
left was the ol' grind. We got to work. We tracted a LOT this past
week (as that was the only other way we could find a new investigator,
if someone let us in, let us teach a lesson, and set up again), with
mixed success. We were able to hand out quite a few Book of Mormons and
got some promising numbers. We also had some pretty discouraging
doors. Saturday, for example, we faithfully went out to tract (despite
the GIANT bridge festival set up right outside our apartment (torture...
we could literally smell festival food while studying haha)) and
encountered some of the worst reception I have ever seen on my mission.
The first twenty or so doors just slammed in our faces, with things
like, "Why on earth would you think I would be interested in that?" "I
do NOT like the Book of Mormon!!!", eye-rolling and shutting of doors
without any words, etc. etc. We honestly felt like God was testing our
faith and diligence. But we kept at it and tracted for a few hours
straight, giving out some "Book of Mormon"s and getting numbers, but no
new investigators. We weren't worried, though-- we had planned for a
couple of hours to tract on Sunday, hoping that we would meet someone
then. As our Sunday worked out, though, a program got moved, a
different one ran long, and we ended up with literally only THIRTY
MINUTES to tract and find, teach, and set up with somebody before we had
a scheduled program. We got to work on the top floor of our program's
ten story, knocking and introducing the Book of Mormon. We handed out
one, but basically, most people weren't interested. We moved down to
the next floor and started knocking. Nothing! We had five minutes
before our program, so we decided to try ONE LAST DOOR. We knocked on
the door, and a cute little néni answered. It was my turn to go (we
switch every other door introducing ourselves and why we are there), so I
smiled nice and big and told her who we were and that we were giving
this book away today. She was interested. We talked about the Book of
Mormon, how it is scripture, like the Bible (which we love and read),
teaching the same principles, but from different prophets in America.
Still interested! We kept talking, explaining more about the Book of
Mormon, and then asked if we might be able to say a prayer with her.
She was excited and said," You want to pray with me? Come in! Come
in!" So, she invited us in, we were able to talk a little more about
the Book of Mormon and how the gospel blesses families, prayed, set up
to meet and again, and then left, absolutely GRINNING. She shut the
door behind us and we just looked at each other disbelieving. We had
just gotten the new investigator we had been working and working
towards! It was so awesome! God really has such a hand in missionary
work! I can't tell you how many miracles I see like that! We work and
work and work, and then God hands us miracles. So, we are going strong
with our goals!
The rest of the week was really great, too. We were
able to go to Békéscsaba, a cute, small town about two hours away, and
"blitz" the area with our elders. Basically, that means that all four
of the Szeged missionaries stayed there and worked with the missionaries
there to really give their work a boost. I was able to go with one of
the Békéscsaba sisters to a program with a less-active member, who was
very cute. We were able to talk to her about some of her concerns and
just simply visit with this lonely lady, too. When we left, she gave me
two big kisses on my cheeks and told me she hopes that I serve there
someday. The people in that city are so kind and friendly! After that,
Sister Barnhart and I went tabling. We were able to hand out 13 "Book
of Mormon"s in under two hours and get 13 numbers to go with those. It
was such a big help to the sisters, who have really been struggling to
find new people. Now, they have a whole bunch of new people to meet
with! Sister Papritz and I are really in such a good position to help
these other sister companionships. We will be actually be doing the
same thing in a different city (Kecskemét) tomorrow. It takes a big
chunk out of our own week, but it is so worth it! We just work harder
on the other days :)
We also had branch conference here this past Sunday.
President and Sister Baughman came down to Szeged and spoke to the
branch. I really appreciated their comments. They are going home in a
month and shared some of the things they have learned in the past 3
years serving here in Hungary. President Baughman gave "Five Humble
Suggestions for Strengthening the Church in Hungary" that I think are
applicable for all of us. They were 1) Continue to love and study the
doctrines of the church ("We all need to be nourished by the good word
of God. -Hinckley) 2) Live worthy to recieve personal revelation
(Revelation is not just for prophets and apostles!) 3) Be united, not judgmental! (We are ALL works in progress.) 4) Always look for opportunities to share the gospel with others (If we pray for
opportunities, miracles will happen) and 5) Point your lives towards the
temple.
We had a lot of amazing programs, small moments,
laughter (we had quite the adventure rearranging our apartment haha),
growth, and happiness this week :) This upcoming week is looking to be
very very busy, but just as good!
I love you all!
Love,
Kramer Nővér aka McKenna
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