I had a neat experience last week on
Friday night while I was still in Budapest. One of the three wards in Budapest
was putting on a special presentation, a musical performance which was recorded
by a news station. I had the opportunity to be in it, but since I had never
practiced with them and I still wasnt sure excatly how great I was feeling, I
opted to sit in the audience next to President Smith and his wife. There were
about 25 or so people in the chior and they put on an absolutely amazing night.
The performace was based on Joseph Smith and included many neat video clips,
some they sang to, some we just watched. It came at the perfect time, Id say. As
I was getting ready to head back to normal missionary life.
Throughout the week I think I was
focussed a lot on myself. Which is weird because as a missionary you are
primarily focussed on others. The performance helped me feel the spirit and
refocus, it helped remind me what this is all about.
I testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet. That he did see God and Jesus
Christ. That he restored the fulness of the Church of Jesus Christ, that he
recieved priesthood authority, and that he was called as a prophet. This follows
the pattern that we can read of in the Bible, God loves us and he calls
prophets. But, God knew it would be hard for some of us to accept these things,
so He gave us proof. Real hard proof, the Book of Mormon. We can hold it in our
hands, read it, and pray about it. What a blessing. I have read it and I
continue to read it. It really is the word of God, and testifies that Joseph
Smith was a prophet, and most importantly it testifies of our Savior Jesus
Christ.
So, I spent Tuesday and Wednesday in the mission home and then went in
Thursday for the "vessekuzuzo" which I believe literally translates to kidney
stone pulverizer. The treatment took like 20 or 30 minutes, was non invasive,
and only hurt a little bit. I had the APs with me (who translated) and Pres. and
Sis. Smith, so I was definitely in good company.
The kidney stone honestly hasnt been the biggest problem of recent. The
anti-biotic that they had me on seems to have pretty well destroyed my stomach.
That was fun! So I spent the rest of the day Thursday and all Friday in
Budapest, by Saturday I was feeling a lot better so I got to go back to Eger. Im
still having some stomach problems but I seem to be getting better every day so
Im sure in no time I will be able to be back to full speed.
Im really looking forward to this next week, work wise. We are hopeing that
another one of our investigators will choose to commit to a baptism date. Her
name is Dori. Dori is about 40 and a very fun person, she has one daughter who
is at college (I think), and Dori herself goes to college in Budapest during the
week. She was apparently very touched by the plan of salvation lesson taught to
her last week. Lili is doing great and came to church for both hours this last
week, I feel pretty confident she will be ready for baptism by her baptism date,
Nov. 16. We recently found some awesome male investigators who seem like great
people who really need the gosple and its answers in their lives.
Moms there is an extra email coming to just you with some extra information
in it, like insurance stuff.
Questions and stuff:
- Why did I have to go to the hospital in Budapest if the one in Miskolc was so great? The kidney stone crusher machine at the Miskolc hospital wasnt working and since the mission home is in Budapest thats where I went.
- Why did I wait till Thursday for the procedure? They only use the machine at the hospital I went to on Mondays and Thursdays and we were too late to do it when I arrived on Monday.
- What side was it on? The Right side.
- Finally, a fun question, do they celebrate Halloween in Hungary? No, but kind of. They dont really celebrate and there is no trick or treating, but apparently recently they have been recognizing it more and more and apparently there will be halloween decorations and such maybe even some carved pumpkins. They also celebrate a different holliday the day after halloween.
- What was the hospital like? Well, it definitely wasnt American, no TV on the front of my bed with a remote for me to control. But the important thing was that it seemed clean and my doctor was pretty awesome, most doctors (atleast the younger ones) can speak adaquate English too. Unfortunately I didnt have my camera with me, but some other Elders took some pictures and hopefully I will be able to get those.
I really appreciate all of your love and support. A kidney stone and
stomach problems from anti-biotics arent life threatening things. They really
arent big problems at all. But going through all that the last week was kind of
crazy and I was so greatful to be able to think of all the awesome people behind
me who were rooting for me, thinking of me, and praying for me. I had my picture
book with me I got for my birthday with pitures of all of you in it. I had it
because I carry it in my backpack to show to investigators or members my family.
I loved looking through it when I was having a tough time.
I love you all so much and wish the best for all of you and the strugles
you are going through.
Sok szeretettel
Elder Shoop
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