January 20th, 2014

Hello Everyone! So in addition to my family and a few friends from home, Csaba (pronounced Chaba) from Szolnok has been added to the email list.

Everyone: "Hi Chaba!"

Csaba: "Hi everyone!"

Now proper introductions have been made. I miss Szolnok, what a great place. I really loved the people there, the members were amazing, the investigators were incredible, and the city was great. Csaba was one of those amazing members there, he is preparing to serve a full time mission right now, but has already done great missionary work and has a powerful testimony.

Talking about powerful testimonies, Ive been reading from the last general conference recently. Its been really good for me and has made a difference in my life. I encourage all of you to do the same.

I read a talk that referenced Isaiah 52:7 and 8, and then read a verse in the Book of Mormon very similair to it. The though expressed in these verse is intriguing and inspiring to me, but reading forward Is. 52:9 really caught my attention as well "Break for into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem." Does it sometime feel like you are in a waste place? I think we can all feel that way sometimes. And yes, there are hard time, but despite it all we can have joy and recieve comfort, for our Savior Jesus Christ suffered everything for us so that we could come off conquerer in the end.

I want to take time to mention just a few of the great people I left behind in Szolnok:

• I already mentioned Csaba, hes great.
• Biro Elnok, the branch president. Super solid foundation for us in Szolnok. Always helping and supporting and being incredible for the members, missionaries, and investigators.
• Csaba's family: His Mom, grandparents, and siblings were all way great.
• Ircsi: Super fun chior director, often found smiling.
• Laci: 30 yr.old investigator Ive talked about before. He really changed through the gospel in my time knowing him.
• Ildiko: Way cool mom who was very effected by the gospel, specifically when she found out who she was, she said that finding out that she was a daughter of God was huge for her.
• Akos: Cool water polo player, mother is a member in England, reads BOM with her over skype.
• Strojan Jozsef: Neat investigator who we werent sure if we wanted go back to for some reasons, but when we went back it went much better than it previously.
• Elder Shuck: Wonderful companion and great friend. Ill miss him

Theres more, but moving on, because, hey Im in Szeged now, not Szolnok. Elder Cutler is a great companion, very supportive, understanding, and patient. We have some way cook people we are meeting with. One is Mati, who used to be pretty strong and buff but has lost like 20 to 30 pounds because he was sick. Just got out of the hospital, he was in there for 2 weeks almost. They didnt find anything big and hope he will start getting better. Said the sickness has helped him think about some things and although has only met with missionaries like 3 times, came to church this last week and would have the week before too if it wasnt for being the hospital. Super neat guy, 20 yr old.

Way nice branch. There were 74 people in church which was like double what im used to the past few months in Szolnok and Eger. It felt a lot more family orriented, there are some way cool kids and families, along with individuals. The branch president is a Hungarian who served a mission here in Hungary when he was younger.

Szeged as a city is much larger than Szolnok or Eger, it also feels a lot more modern. We ride the vilamos a lot, a tram that runs through the city. There is also a new branch house being built currently. We went to a ceremony at it, itll be awhile till we can use it though, like summer or something. There was an article about it in the newspaper I think, way cool. Itll be nice to have a baptismal font! :) The place were using right now is rented.

Sunday a cool member had us over, Pauli, who used to be less active. He fed us a good dinner and then we taught him an inspired lesson, it was way good.

The people in this branch like soccer a lot so we play soccer on saturdays for the branch activity and then again on Pdays because thats when us missionaries can, its way fun.

I wish I could share everything, but I cant. There are so many incredible experiences as a missionary. As we do what we need to, pray , read sciptures, follow commandment, miracles really do and can happen every day. Im greatful to know and experience that we have a loving Heavenly Father who hears our prayers and really does answer them. I testify of that.

Sok szeretettel,

Elder Shoop