August 26th, 2013

One of our investigators, Lili (pronounced lee-lee), has decided to prepare to be baptized on November the 16th. Elder Quinton and myself are very excited for her. We are excited to see the gospel bless her life and her family (which only consists her and her 9 year old son). Elder Quinton has known her longer than me and he says he sees that she is already different, already seems happier.

I want to quote something I read in Jesus The Christ, its a long quote, but I really like it. In the Scriptures there is only 1 sentence (I believe) that talks about Christ's years inbetween when he was 12 to 30 years old. However, I believe this quote helps us better know what he did during these years: "As shown by His public utterances after He had become a man, these years of seclusion were spent in active effort, both physical and mental. Jesus was a close observer of nature and men. He was able to draw illustrations with which to point His teachings from the varied occupations, trades and professions..." I'll stop there because its a really long quote, but it goes on to talk about how he had learned of the ways of the lawyer, physician, scribe, Pharisee, rabbi, poor, rich, shepherd, farmer, vinedresser, and fisherman. It talks about how he had "considered the lilies of the field, and the grass in the meadow and upland" and also the birds, foxes, dogs, vagrant cur, hen, weather, seasons, and "all the phenomena of natural change and order". See Jesus the Christ, page 117, first full paragraph. Im sure these things are only a short, short list of what all he learned in his youth. Yet it is astonishing to think about it all. Yes, we only have one verse about his youth and early adulthood, however, enough has been revealed to us about His perfect character to enable us to be able to place full and complete confidence in Him. Or in otherwords, to have faith through Him.

Additionally, it shows us, I think, how valuable our time is. Even during times when we feel like we are going nowhere, when we feel like there is no purpose in what we do, or whatever your strugle or challenge may be. During the last few years of His life, Christ did basically all that He is know for from his earthly life. He performed the miracles we read of in the scriptures. He gave the sermon on the mount. He called His 12. He suffered and died for us. He did all these things in the last few years of His life. However, if He hadn't lived humbly and perfectly during His youth and early adulthood, the atonement could not have been brought to pass. How important every moment of our lives is!

On Friday and Saturday morning I was on splits with Elder Headrick in Miskolc (my comp is a district leader so he has to go on splits alot). Miskolc is a bit bigger than Eger and Elder Headrick is a very hard worker so that was fun. Also, Elder Headrick lives in the same appartment as the ZLs, who are way awesome so that was cool. One of the ZLs is Elder Nabrotzky, and in my 4 to 5 weeks of being here Ive already become known as being exactly like Elder Nabrotzky. Its really crazy how immensly similair we are, but fun too.

Wednesday we visited Füzesabony for just a few hours. The mental hospital is there and there is a member there we visit once a month with the senior couple. That was actually a pretty neat experience. 

Oh ya! The 20th was an indepence day here! It was way fun! The castle was free to visit so we went to the castle for awhile which was way awesome. Then we made palacsinták (Hungarian pacakes). Then we went to the community concert, a big band jazz band was playing which was cool for me to get to here, then there was a sweet firework show (the fireworks were shot from the top of the castle) and then there was a rock concert afterwards (the mission president said we could be out until 10 that night and that we could attend public concerts).

There is a European underwater hockey tournament going on in Eger right now, sounds like an interesting sport.

Questions/fun facts

• Weather: Seems like Washington but with a lot less rain and more humidity.
• McDonalds exists here?: Yep, its pretty expensive here and a more nicer place to eat
• Pictures?: Yes! Sorry if I dont get to emailing individuals, Im going to try to send some pictures.
• Any Hung. dishes I can cook at home?: Kind of, but we really need Hungarian ingredients. If you can find Kolbasz and or Tejföl anywhere then yes.
• Light switches here are generally alot bigger than at home
• The middle of eggs are orange instead of yellow
• There is a list of names that everyone must be named from when born. The only exception is if you apply for a different name.
• They rarely use ice

Transfers are next week, Im probably going to stay in Eger but my comp is probably going to leave, thats the word on the street. I'll be super sad to see him leave if he does.

Thanks for all the emails this week I love reading how people are. Thanks for the support love and prayers.

Sok Seretettel,

Elder Shoop