This week has been absolutely crazy. On so many levels. I'll just talk about some cool things.
We went to a thing here called Para Park. You go into a room and they lock you in and then you have to figure your way out. There are a bunch of puzzles and traps and stuff. Suuuuuuuuper fun. It was a blast! Plus it was cool to just hang out with friends.
We went on splits this week with the missionaries from Kecskemet. Elder Day went with Elder Nyman and I went with a new missionary named Elder Haroldson. It was actually really fun. Also, everyone has similar taste in music to me now. As Sister Carle would say: "boo." Also, he plays the mandolin. What are the odds?
Also, one of our investigators finished reading the Book of Mormon and now has started the Doctrine and Covenants. He is now at SECTION 83. He read all of that in literally like five or six days. Crazy.
So randomly one day we got a text from the AP's asking if we could go on splits in Buda the next day. So we did LOL. I got to spend my time with Elder Gaytan :) he is the greatest. I like him a lot. We also visited a family who,is Serbian, and all of them speak Serbian, English, French, Hungarian and Spanish on a fluent level. I mean, really? It's like a slap in the face.
This week we did a kind of consecration week, where we really tried to dedicate everything to the Lord. It was really cool to see the outcomes of it. We are teaching a couple and we wanted them to accept a baptismal date. We worked all week to make everything perfect and when the time came and we had the program, it didn't work out perfectly, but it sure as heck went really well :) they want to go down this path together, which means that it will take a little longer, but they are so stellar and so willing to help each other, that I know all will be well :) Plus they both came to church this week! Yay for progress :)
This week I have been re-reading my journals and it is crazy to see the changes that I have gone through and the different way that I look at life and the world. I love so many people. There are so many people that I love and miss and care about. I love you so much. So much. You guys should go and watch the "He is the Gift" video, because the music is stuck in my head right now and it feels appropriate for the situation.
I love you all so much. Keep doing the great things that you are doing.
Love,
Neely Elder.
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
12-8-2014
Dearest Beloveds,
That kind of sounds like a wedding or something LOL. How are things going? Things are dandy here in the Szeged, Hungary lands. We are loving life! This week has been phenomenal.
This last Monday, we went with the Sisters and had a family home evening where we drove around looking at Christmas lights and talking. It was super fun. We found probably only five houses with any kind of lights up at all, but it was fun to just spend some time together.
This week we started meeting with a bunch of people from our English Class. This brought us some really cool experiences...and some awkward ones. We met with a nice guy that is really humble and wants to learn more about God. We met with a nice older lady that said, she really needs the Gospel in her life right now. Those were pretty cool. And then we met with our landlord and that was just kind of awkward from the start LOL.
We are also teaching this couple. At the beginning, we weren't really that sure if they were super interested. But then she came to church and loved it so much. She said that she wants to follow this path, but can't do it without her par. So we are working on getting him on the bandwagon as well. Our programs have been getting better and better! It is great.
We also met with the guy that just got baptized. SO. GOOD. Literally this is what he said when he first came into the program: "Okay, so like how can I get the priesthood, and when can I serve a mission, what should I start doing to prepare for a mission, when can I go to the Temple?" I about died. He is so cool! He came to one of our programs and he was such a big help. He has such a strong testimony and it is super awesome to be able to be a part of his conversion. Even if it is just kind of sitting there and watching him grow.
This week we also went up to MLC. It is always super fun to be with a bunch of the great people in this mission and to be able to work together and discuss how to help out our missionaries. This week we talked about our goals for this year. It was phenomenal. We prayed to ask for his help and to decide how to move forward this next year. It was amazing to feel prompted and guided by The Lord through the Holy Ghost as to what we should do. It was awesome.
This last little while we have been trying to use the "He is the Gift" cimu video. It has been awesome to see the results of all of that. Our finding has become a lot more effective and we have been seeing a lot of people open up more to us during the Christmas Season. Yeah buddy! We love Christmas! People are so much more happy during this season and a lot more accepting. Especially when we try to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas. Super fun.
We had a program with one of our investigators that wants to get baptized. This week he finished the Book of Mormon. We read with him the last chapter and prayed about it together. As we were about to pray to ask if it was true, he finally talked about his concerns and how he is afraid of getting an answer. So we are now much more equipped to help him out. He is seriously such a great guy and he really wants to know the truth. So we are praying for him and hope to see miracles.
We also had to take our car into get it serviced. Because of some crazy paperwork problems, we had to sit in the dealership for like two hours, and pay for it. It was pretty expensive! LOL. I forgot about things like that. Cars cost. LOL.
Last night, we went out Caroling! It would have been super great except for: 1. It was raining. Quite a lot. So when we tried to sing outside, no one had brought umbrellas and our books and instruments and jazz were getting wet. 2. When we tried to go tracting with singing, we literally got people calling the cops on us, because apparently no one wants to be happy during Christmas. Especially when it is late (we started at 5 pm. apparently that is super late?). However, it was fun and it felt great to sing about the Savior.
So this week has been fantastic. We have seen a ton of progress with our investigators and we are trying our best to help these people out. This week, we are expecting miracles. We are doing all that we can to allow The Lord to bless us. Something I have learned this week: Heavenly Father works miracles, according to our faith. So all we really have to do is make sure our desires are righteous and then call down the powers of heaven, if we have faith, it is not only possible, but it will happen.
I love you all and hope you all have a fantastic week. Go help some people and share the Gospel!
Love,
Neely Elder.
That kind of sounds like a wedding or something LOL. How are things going? Things are dandy here in the Szeged, Hungary lands. We are loving life! This week has been phenomenal.
This last Monday, we went with the Sisters and had a family home evening where we drove around looking at Christmas lights and talking. It was super fun. We found probably only five houses with any kind of lights up at all, but it was fun to just spend some time together.
This week we started meeting with a bunch of people from our English Class. This brought us some really cool experiences...and some awkward ones. We met with a nice guy that is really humble and wants to learn more about God. We met with a nice older lady that said, she really needs the Gospel in her life right now. Those were pretty cool. And then we met with our landlord and that was just kind of awkward from the start LOL.
We are also teaching this couple. At the beginning, we weren't really that sure if they were super interested. But then she came to church and loved it so much. She said that she wants to follow this path, but can't do it without her par. So we are working on getting him on the bandwagon as well. Our programs have been getting better and better! It is great.
We also met with the guy that just got baptized. SO. GOOD. Literally this is what he said when he first came into the program: "Okay, so like how can I get the priesthood, and when can I serve a mission, what should I start doing to prepare for a mission, when can I go to the Temple?" I about died. He is so cool! He came to one of our programs and he was such a big help. He has such a strong testimony and it is super awesome to be able to be a part of his conversion. Even if it is just kind of sitting there and watching him grow.
This week we also went up to MLC. It is always super fun to be with a bunch of the great people in this mission and to be able to work together and discuss how to help out our missionaries. This week we talked about our goals for this year. It was phenomenal. We prayed to ask for his help and to decide how to move forward this next year. It was amazing to feel prompted and guided by The Lord through the Holy Ghost as to what we should do. It was awesome.
This last little while we have been trying to use the "He is the Gift" cimu video. It has been awesome to see the results of all of that. Our finding has become a lot more effective and we have been seeing a lot of people open up more to us during the Christmas Season. Yeah buddy! We love Christmas! People are so much more happy during this season and a lot more accepting. Especially when we try to help people remember the true meaning of Christmas. Super fun.
We had a program with one of our investigators that wants to get baptized. This week he finished the Book of Mormon. We read with him the last chapter and prayed about it together. As we were about to pray to ask if it was true, he finally talked about his concerns and how he is afraid of getting an answer. So we are now much more equipped to help him out. He is seriously such a great guy and he really wants to know the truth. So we are praying for him and hope to see miracles.
We also had to take our car into get it serviced. Because of some crazy paperwork problems, we had to sit in the dealership for like two hours, and pay for it. It was pretty expensive! LOL. I forgot about things like that. Cars cost. LOL.
Last night, we went out Caroling! It would have been super great except for: 1. It was raining. Quite a lot. So when we tried to sing outside, no one had brought umbrellas and our books and instruments and jazz were getting wet. 2. When we tried to go tracting with singing, we literally got people calling the cops on us, because apparently no one wants to be happy during Christmas. Especially when it is late (we started at 5 pm. apparently that is super late?). However, it was fun and it felt great to sing about the Savior.
So this week has been fantastic. We have seen a ton of progress with our investigators and we are trying our best to help these people out. This week, we are expecting miracles. We are doing all that we can to allow The Lord to bless us. Something I have learned this week: Heavenly Father works miracles, according to our faith. So all we really have to do is make sure our desires are righteous and then call down the powers of heaven, if we have faith, it is not only possible, but it will happen.
I love you all and hope you all have a fantastic week. Go help some people and share the Gospel!
Love,
Neely Elder.
 |
| The Christmas Piac |
 |
| The Christmas lights |
 |
| Fraps with all my favorite people. |
 |
| Christmas light searching with the Sisters. |
 |
| An advent calender I bought. It's Christmas!! |
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
12-1-14
Dear,
I love you all so much! This week has been absolutely insane. It felt like a day and also like seven long months all at once.
I said goodbye to Elder Rae and also Elder Peterson. Which was pretty hard. I miss them a lot. But, they live on, so that's nice :)
My new companion is Elder Nyman. He is from Texas originally, but lives in Utah. He is two transfers below me. He speaks great Hungarian and is such a good missionary. It blows my mind.
On Wednesday, Elder Rae and I packed up the car, drove to Szolnok to help with some luggage there (because one of the Sisters got her appendix out and couldn't really carry anything), drove to Szeged, dropped off things, picked up more luggage, tried to drive back to Szeged, got a little lost (LOL), got home, helped the other missionaries in Szeged move apartments and then fitted our investigator for baptismal clothes, then sleep. SO LONG. That day was so exhausting. I was done with that day.
The next couple of days were just programs and chats with investigators and stuff. It was good and it was fun to get to know Elder Nyman a little better.
Saturday was "V's" baptism. He is seriously the coolest person in the world. The baptism was absolutely perfect. Everything was so nice. The music, the talks, everything. We got changed. Before we went into the water, I gave him a hug and then we walked into the water and it was super cold and then I had to say the prayer twice, because I messed up the words :) and then it was over and we were changing and he said, "I am so happy. I could only be happier if Sister Kennedy (the first missionary who taught him) could have been here." It was absolutely perfect.
Sunday was the confirmation and it went well...except for the fact that the person that was supposed to confirm him and the back-up plan were gone (because his wife gave birth, so that's nice). So one of the missionaries here confirmed him. It was excellent.
Outside of that, one of our investigators came to church for the first time and I am really excited for her and her elet tars. It should be really good.
So, yeah. Life is different now here in Szeged, but it is good. Life is good. Our investigators are doing really well. Doing well and living life.
I love you all so much. Keep doing all the good things that you do.
Love,
Neely Elder.
I love you all so much! This week has been absolutely insane. It felt like a day and also like seven long months all at once.
I said goodbye to Elder Rae and also Elder Peterson. Which was pretty hard. I miss them a lot. But, they live on, so that's nice :)
My new companion is Elder Nyman. He is from Texas originally, but lives in Utah. He is two transfers below me. He speaks great Hungarian and is such a good missionary. It blows my mind.
On Wednesday, Elder Rae and I packed up the car, drove to Szolnok to help with some luggage there (because one of the Sisters got her appendix out and couldn't really carry anything), drove to Szeged, dropped off things, picked up more luggage, tried to drive back to Szeged, got a little lost (LOL), got home, helped the other missionaries in Szeged move apartments and then fitted our investigator for baptismal clothes, then sleep. SO LONG. That day was so exhausting. I was done with that day.
The next couple of days were just programs and chats with investigators and stuff. It was good and it was fun to get to know Elder Nyman a little better.
Saturday was "V's" baptism. He is seriously the coolest person in the world. The baptism was absolutely perfect. Everything was so nice. The music, the talks, everything. We got changed. Before we went into the water, I gave him a hug and then we walked into the water and it was super cold and then I had to say the prayer twice, because I messed up the words :) and then it was over and we were changing and he said, "I am so happy. I could only be happier if Sister Kennedy (the first missionary who taught him) could have been here." It was absolutely perfect.
Sunday was the confirmation and it went well...except for the fact that the person that was supposed to confirm him and the back-up plan were gone (because his wife gave birth, so that's nice). So one of the missionaries here confirmed him. It was excellent.
Outside of that, one of our investigators came to church for the first time and I am really excited for her and her elet tars. It should be really good.
So, yeah. Life is different now here in Szeged, but it is good. Life is good. Our investigators are doing really well. Doing well and living life.
I love you all so much. Keep doing all the good things that you do.
Love,
Neely Elder.
 |
| "C's" baptism |
 |
| Baptism |
 |
| I have no idea!! |
 |
| Elder Nyman sleeping. |
11-24-14
Dear Dears,
This week has been super....sad. Good, but sad. We had a bunch of programs and things, but we all said farewell to Elder Rae. I am going to miss him a super ton, but he is off to crazy good things.
With that being said, TRANSFERS HAPPENED. I am staying here in Szeged and getting Elder Nyman as my companion! I have heard cool things about him, so it should be super cool. I am excited.
This week, I have two highlights: 1. The Open House for the new chapel here in Szeged went SO WELL. We had such a blast and we got so much success out of it. So many people were interested and so many people want to meet with us. YAY. 2. We got fed by two members this week and they are my favorite. IDK how to explain it, but it was so happy and I had the best time and the food was delicious.
Sorry this sucks, but I have to go! Time is flying so fast. I love you all so much,
Love,
Neely Elder.
One of the sweet members sent me a video that Elder Neely was asked to make for the Open House. It is on YouTube, just type it in exactly and it should work. Sorry I tried to set it up as a link but I couldn't get it to work.
Go to YouTube, then type: Egy Mormon Vagyok, es Boldog Vagyok!
It was fun to see and hear him play again!!
This week has been super....sad. Good, but sad. We had a bunch of programs and things, but we all said farewell to Elder Rae. I am going to miss him a super ton, but he is off to crazy good things.
With that being said, TRANSFERS HAPPENED. I am staying here in Szeged and getting Elder Nyman as my companion! I have heard cool things about him, so it should be super cool. I am excited.
This week, I have two highlights: 1. The Open House for the new chapel here in Szeged went SO WELL. We had such a blast and we got so much success out of it. So many people were interested and so many people want to meet with us. YAY. 2. We got fed by two members this week and they are my favorite. IDK how to explain it, but it was so happy and I had the best time and the food was delicious.
Sorry this sucks, but I have to go! Time is flying so fast. I love you all so much,
Love,
Neely Elder.
One of the sweet members sent me a video that Elder Neely was asked to make for the Open House. It is on YouTube, just type it in exactly and it should work. Sorry I tried to set it up as a link but I couldn't get it to work.
Go to YouTube, then type: Egy Mormon Vagyok, es Boldog Vagyok!
It was fun to see and hear him play again!!
 |
| Some awesome members we dinnered with. |
 |
| Bathroom selfie at the open house (long funny story!) |
 |
| A cool member, Dio. At the open house. |
 |
| Nyilt Nap and some of the things we did therein. |
 |
| The Nyilt Nap |
 |
| Playing tennis with our investigator that will be baptized next week. |
 |
| Neely Elder and Ricsi! |
 |
| Elders' Giacalone and Neely |
 |
| People we met at Stake Conference. |
 |
| Sister Geroly and Neely Elder. |
 |
| The bus party to Stake Conference. |
 |
| The Handball match. |
11-17-14
Dearest Everyone,
The weeks have begun to blur and speed up and that freaks me the crap out! This week has been great and I am doing good. Our investigators are on fire! We didn't have a baptism last week, but we might have one this week! Things are looking so good! Transfers will happen next week, so I will be emailing on Tuesday next week. Elder Rae goes home next week and I am so sad :( He is one of my favorite companions and I am just not looking forward to saying goodbye. And Elder Hansen will be coming home with him.
Sounds like Sunday was crazy town for you! But that is good. Sunday was so good here. But I am getting ahead of myself.
This week we just had a bunch of programs with people and all of them were good. There was a missionary that went around the country with his parents, and he came to Szeged, but he didn't visit this cute old couple that we meet with, so they called us over and fed us what would have been his dinner. LOL IT WAS SO GOOD HE MISSED OUT. Seriously, I have never had such good Marha Porkolt. So amazing.
This week we also got to see a handball match. One of our less active members is a handball coach. So he invited us to come see one of his games. It was actually super cool, because all of a sudden he made so much more sense. Idk, it was cool.
This week we also went to a five-star restaurant. It. Was. Amazing.
This week we also gave a Zone Training. It went so well! It just worked fantastically. So cool. Our missionaries are so stellar it hurts. So good.
We also went on splits with the AP's this week. I went with Elder Hansen. St. George stories abounded and we met with a lot of the people that he used to meet with as well, so it was cool. Good times in the Szeged lands.
On Saturday we went to a funeral for one of our investigators that died this past week. It was....weird. His wife is Nazarene and Nazarene funerals are weird. And depressing. And involve probably 20 hymns. I love hymns, but like, that was too much. So that was weird.
Then Sunday .
I have always heard and read the phrase, "fullness of joy" and this Sunday, I experienced it.
Last week we got to go to Stake Conference in Budapest. We woke up suuuuuuuper early and went with all the missionaries, and a bunch of members and one of our investigators. The bus ride was such a party. But then we got to Budapest AND EVERYONE THAT I LOVE WAS THERE! So much joy. I got to meet with all of my companions and all of my investigators and members from Szekesfehevar, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, and I was so happy. One of the people I baptized got his patriarchal blessing and just got the Melchizedek Priesthood and became an Elder and everything was perfect. There is a new Stake President, and the talks were so good and I got to meet President Patrick Kearon (who literally is the best ever) and I am so happy. It was the best day of my mission. After we got home I got to talk to some more of my favorite people on the phone and I just can't even describe the joy I felt.
The church is true.
This is so real.
I am so happy.
I love you.
Neely Elder.
The weeks have begun to blur and speed up and that freaks me the crap out! This week has been great and I am doing good. Our investigators are on fire! We didn't have a baptism last week, but we might have one this week! Things are looking so good! Transfers will happen next week, so I will be emailing on Tuesday next week. Elder Rae goes home next week and I am so sad :( He is one of my favorite companions and I am just not looking forward to saying goodbye. And Elder Hansen will be coming home with him.
Sounds like Sunday was crazy town for you! But that is good. Sunday was so good here. But I am getting ahead of myself.
This week we just had a bunch of programs with people and all of them were good. There was a missionary that went around the country with his parents, and he came to Szeged, but he didn't visit this cute old couple that we meet with, so they called us over and fed us what would have been his dinner. LOL IT WAS SO GOOD HE MISSED OUT. Seriously, I have never had such good Marha Porkolt. So amazing.
This week we also got to see a handball match. One of our less active members is a handball coach. So he invited us to come see one of his games. It was actually super cool, because all of a sudden he made so much more sense. Idk, it was cool.
This week we also went to a five-star restaurant. It. Was. Amazing.
This week we also gave a Zone Training. It went so well! It just worked fantastically. So cool. Our missionaries are so stellar it hurts. So good.
We also went on splits with the AP's this week. I went with Elder Hansen. St. George stories abounded and we met with a lot of the people that he used to meet with as well, so it was cool. Good times in the Szeged lands.
On Saturday we went to a funeral for one of our investigators that died this past week. It was....weird. His wife is Nazarene and Nazarene funerals are weird. And depressing. And involve probably 20 hymns. I love hymns, but like, that was too much. So that was weird.
Then Sunday .
I have always heard and read the phrase, "fullness of joy" and this Sunday, I experienced it.
Last week we got to go to Stake Conference in Budapest. We woke up suuuuuuuper early and went with all the missionaries, and a bunch of members and one of our investigators. The bus ride was such a party. But then we got to Budapest AND EVERYONE THAT I LOVE WAS THERE! So much joy. I got to meet with all of my companions and all of my investigators and members from Szekesfehevar, Kaposvar, Kecskemet, and I was so happy. One of the people I baptized got his patriarchal blessing and just got the Melchizedek Priesthood and became an Elder and everything was perfect. There is a new Stake President, and the talks were so good and I got to meet President Patrick Kearon (who literally is the best ever) and I am so happy. It was the best day of my mission. After we got home I got to talk to some more of my favorite people on the phone and I just can't even describe the joy I felt.
The church is true.
This is so real.
I am so happy.
I love you.
Neely Elder.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
11-10-14
Haho.
This week has been pretty crazy. All over the place and sadly, we don't have much to show for it. PSYCH. This week two of our investigators decided to get baptized! Yay! Monday was pretty relaxed and fun and what not. But Tuesday we had so many things to do, it is not even funny. We met with seven people and all of the programs went great. This one couple are quitting smoking and they are doing so well now! I am super proud of them. This week we also went up to Budapest for MLC. It was great! So many ideas and thoughts are being thrown around it is great. My favorite thing is that now, there is going to be a bigger focus on Faith in Christ as the basis of our lives and our missions. It was super good. Then we had interviews it was great! THEN I DROVE A CAR AROUND BUDAPEST I HAVE MY LICENSE NOW TERRIFYING BUT SZEGED DRIVING IS NOT THAT BAD. On Thursday we went on splits with Elder Meek and Elder Depallens! They are so cool. It was fantastic. Splits are always kind of crazy. In the fact that cool things always happen. During this transfer one of our cool investigators finally decided he was ready to be baptized! We are super excited for him and he is planning on getting baptized on November 29th. Also, I met with a man who lives on a farm and he is SO. COOL. I can't even explain. He is super cool. Yesterday we went to help him with his farm a little bit and afterwards they made us food. Did I mention they are Krishna's.? Yeah. I guess I am meant to meet a lot of Krishna's. LOL So, yeah. This week has been great. We had fantastic lessons with our investigators and we have seen so many miracles. OH AND I HAVE PICTURES FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. Sorry, this is all over the place. I love you all so much! Have a great week!
xoxo,
Neely Elder.
This week has been pretty crazy. All over the place and sadly, we don't have much to show for it. PSYCH. This week two of our investigators decided to get baptized! Yay! Monday was pretty relaxed and fun and what not. But Tuesday we had so many things to do, it is not even funny. We met with seven people and all of the programs went great. This one couple are quitting smoking and they are doing so well now! I am super proud of them. This week we also went up to Budapest for MLC. It was great! So many ideas and thoughts are being thrown around it is great. My favorite thing is that now, there is going to be a bigger focus on Faith in Christ as the basis of our lives and our missions. It was super good. Then we had interviews it was great! THEN I DROVE A CAR AROUND BUDAPEST I HAVE MY LICENSE NOW TERRIFYING BUT SZEGED DRIVING IS NOT THAT BAD. On Thursday we went on splits with Elder Meek and Elder Depallens! They are so cool. It was fantastic. Splits are always kind of crazy. In the fact that cool things always happen. During this transfer one of our cool investigators finally decided he was ready to be baptized! We are super excited for him and he is planning on getting baptized on November 29th. Also, I met with a man who lives on a farm and he is SO. COOL. I can't even explain. He is super cool. Yesterday we went to help him with his farm a little bit and afterwards they made us food. Did I mention they are Krishna's.? Yeah. I guess I am meant to meet a lot of Krishna's. LOL So, yeah. This week has been great. We had fantastic lessons with our investigators and we have seen so many miracles. OH AND I HAVE PICTURES FROM THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. Sorry, this is all over the place. I love you all so much! Have a great week!
xoxo,
Neely Elder.
 |
| The nice building in Kecskemet. |
 |
| Graveyard selfie on the Day of the Dead. |
 |
 |
| So happy to see friends from Kecskemet! |
 |
| Great places in Kecskemet! (Bakery) |
 |
| Old friends I was so happy to see again!! |
 |
| Fancy, fancy chocolate! |
 |
| Elder Rae. |
 |
| Elder Rae's birthday dinner. |
 |
| A member polishing my shoes, sweet! |
Monday, November 10, 2014
Week of 11-3-2014
This week feels like a quantum equation. I don't even know what that means, I just know it might have to do with time being weird and stuffs.
We had a program last Monday with these people and they dropped us and they got mad at us for trying to meet with them on Sunday...but they were the ones that called us to meet on Sunday...and then they made fun of us for being virgins LOLOLOL #missionarylife
The rest of this week was full of programs and people and fun. So many things. We met with "A" again. He is so cool. His only real concern is that he still has not gotten an answer from God about the Book of Mormon or anything really. Which is kind of a problem. So we are trying to help him realize how he can recognize the Holy Ghost.
One thing I think is crazy about being a missionary is that people trust us with the strangest things. A man told us all about his different affairs and things that he had done during his whole marriage and the awkward part is that he is like 60. It was just so awkward and I think the weirdest thing is that I will miss that when I go home I think. LOL. #missionarylife
This week the Branch Missionary Leader asked me to make a kind of music video thing for the New Branch Open House. So I went and we made a video with me playing a hymn on the violin and the organ and the piano and stuff. It actually turned out pretty good and it was a lot of fun to do :)
We also had lunch at a members house. IT WAS A FIVE COURSE MEAL OF SO MUCH FOOD I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE OR FEEL NORMAL AFTERWARDS IT WAS SO DELICIOUS THOUGH.
Friday was crazy. We met with so many people that it was crazy. I still look back at it and am baffled that we were able to do it. Crazy. We met with Five people in less than four hours and all of those people lived in crazy far places from each other. Yikes. But it was great and we felt super accomplished.
This week we -as a district - fasted together to find one person ready for baptism. It was super cool. We were all in. We all worked together and we just had faith. And it worked. It worked in a way we weren't expecting. We didn't find a person that said that they wanted to get baptized, but we found people and we all re-realized how much we love being missionaries. It was kind of a weird thing, but it all inspired us. I don't know. It was a miracle. I think the things that are the most beautiful are those that cannot be described. They're so special that they only make sense to you.
I am feeling all the things right now. I love being a missionary. I love life. I love that I get to help people. I almost feel selfish being a missionary. I love the experiences that I get and the changes I get to see. It is such a blessing to me.
Love,
Neely Elder.
We had a program last Monday with these people and they dropped us and they got mad at us for trying to meet with them on Sunday...but they were the ones that called us to meet on Sunday...and then they made fun of us for being virgins LOLOLOL #missionarylife
The rest of this week was full of programs and people and fun. So many things. We met with "A" again. He is so cool. His only real concern is that he still has not gotten an answer from God about the Book of Mormon or anything really. Which is kind of a problem. So we are trying to help him realize how he can recognize the Holy Ghost.
One thing I think is crazy about being a missionary is that people trust us with the strangest things. A man told us all about his different affairs and things that he had done during his whole marriage and the awkward part is that he is like 60. It was just so awkward and I think the weirdest thing is that I will miss that when I go home I think. LOL. #missionarylife
This week the Branch Missionary Leader asked me to make a kind of music video thing for the New Branch Open House. So I went and we made a video with me playing a hymn on the violin and the organ and the piano and stuff. It actually turned out pretty good and it was a lot of fun to do :)
We also had lunch at a members house. IT WAS A FIVE COURSE MEAL OF SO MUCH FOOD I COULDN'T EVEN MOVE OR FEEL NORMAL AFTERWARDS IT WAS SO DELICIOUS THOUGH.
Friday was crazy. We met with so many people that it was crazy. I still look back at it and am baffled that we were able to do it. Crazy. We met with Five people in less than four hours and all of those people lived in crazy far places from each other. Yikes. But it was great and we felt super accomplished.
This week we -as a district - fasted together to find one person ready for baptism. It was super cool. We were all in. We all worked together and we just had faith. And it worked. It worked in a way we weren't expecting. We didn't find a person that said that they wanted to get baptized, but we found people and we all re-realized how much we love being missionaries. It was kind of a weird thing, but it all inspired us. I don't know. It was a miracle. I think the things that are the most beautiful are those that cannot be described. They're so special that they only make sense to you.
I am feeling all the things right now. I love being a missionary. I love life. I love that I get to help people. I almost feel selfish being a missionary. I love the experiences that I get and the changes I get to see. It is such a blessing to me.
Love,
Neely Elder.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
10-27-2014 Swell in Szeged!
Dear Everyone!
I am doing absolutely fantastic. I had a glorious week! The work is going absolutely swell here in Szeged. We have a ton of investigators right now. All of them are doing well. The only thing that is a little annoying is that all of them are ready for baptism-they know everything, they keep the commandments, everything-they just have one thing that holds them back. Which is sometimes annoying as a missionary. My favorite investigator right now (is it allowed to have a favorite investigator?). We actually met before this once in Kecskemet and he is seriously so cool and stellar and so prepared and so classy. Seriously, he dresses so nice. But he has a baptismal date for November 15th and things are looking good for that! This last week we taught the Word of Wisdom and he was like, "Okay, so this means I have to stop drinking coffee and tea, right?" LOL. Right. And after that he has not :)
This last week we have seen a lot of crazy fun stuff.
We have been meeting with this member a couple of times (like she gave me a haircut and at church etc.) and she came to one of our programs with another investigator. Afterwards she takes us to this inactive member and was just so cool in the program. It was crazy, just realizing how good the Hungarians are at missionary work. IDK, it was really cool.
This week one of our less active members shined our shoes for us :,) it was so nice. He's really cool and it was just such an act of kindness, IDK. Right after that, another less active member took us out to lunch. It's like, why are people so nice to us?
This week was also Elder Rae's birthday, so I made him French Toast in the morning with a candle and Birthday song and everything. Then that night I took him out to dinner. THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD, I THINK IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I had Camembert cheese with blackberry sauce. Who knew, that that could be so amazingly delicious. DEFINITELY NOT ME.
This week English Class started again. Guess how many people came to our class? 1. LOLOLOLOL. It was a holiday here and the only person that came was like an 85 year old neni. It was super funny and she was way nice.
Friday was a super good day too. We had soooooo many people to meet with it was cray cray. One of our programs was with this couple that aren't married, but they live together. This week we talked about Temples and eternal marriage and then baptism and the Holy Ghost. It was so amazing to feel the Spirit enter the room as we testified of those things and they felt it as well and it was just so...good :)
Sunday was just great. Church was great. Life is great :)
I love being here, I love being a missionary, I love my comp, I love my city, I love everything :)
Sok szeretettel,
Neely Elder.
I am doing absolutely fantastic. I had a glorious week! The work is going absolutely swell here in Szeged. We have a ton of investigators right now. All of them are doing well. The only thing that is a little annoying is that all of them are ready for baptism-they know everything, they keep the commandments, everything-they just have one thing that holds them back. Which is sometimes annoying as a missionary. My favorite investigator right now (is it allowed to have a favorite investigator?). We actually met before this once in Kecskemet and he is seriously so cool and stellar and so prepared and so classy. Seriously, he dresses so nice. But he has a baptismal date for November 15th and things are looking good for that! This last week we taught the Word of Wisdom and he was like, "Okay, so this means I have to stop drinking coffee and tea, right?" LOL. Right. And after that he has not :)
This last week we have seen a lot of crazy fun stuff.
We have been meeting with this member a couple of times (like she gave me a haircut and at church etc.) and she came to one of our programs with another investigator. Afterwards she takes us to this inactive member and was just so cool in the program. It was crazy, just realizing how good the Hungarians are at missionary work. IDK, it was really cool.
This week one of our less active members shined our shoes for us :,) it was so nice. He's really cool and it was just such an act of kindness, IDK. Right after that, another less active member took us out to lunch. It's like, why are people so nice to us?
This week was also Elder Rae's birthday, so I made him French Toast in the morning with a candle and Birthday song and everything. Then that night I took him out to dinner. THE FOOD WAS SO GOOD, I THINK IT CHANGED MY LIFE. I had Camembert cheese with blackberry sauce. Who knew, that that could be so amazingly delicious. DEFINITELY NOT ME.
This week English Class started again. Guess how many people came to our class? 1. LOLOLOLOL. It was a holiday here and the only person that came was like an 85 year old neni. It was super funny and she was way nice.
Friday was a super good day too. We had soooooo many people to meet with it was cray cray. One of our programs was with this couple that aren't married, but they live together. This week we talked about Temples and eternal marriage and then baptism and the Holy Ghost. It was so amazing to feel the Spirit enter the room as we testified of those things and they felt it as well and it was just so...good :)
Sunday was just great. Church was great. Life is great :)
I love being here, I love being a missionary, I love my comp, I love my city, I love everything :)
Sok szeretettel,
Neely Elder.
10-20-2014
Dear Everyone,
Things are splendid. I am loving life and our investigators are awesome as well! This week we had 6 people at church, four or which had never been before. THAT IS HUGE. It was so cool and they loved it. One of our investigators is going to meet with us a ton this week and we are super excited for it, because HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED I AM SO HAPPY HE IS SO CLASSY AND COOL. He's the best.
This week some funnies:
Things are splendid. I am loving life and our investigators are awesome as well! This week we had 6 people at church, four or which had never been before. THAT IS HUGE. It was so cool and they loved it. One of our investigators is going to meet with us a ton this week and we are super excited for it, because HE IS GETTING BAPTIZED I AM SO HAPPY HE IS SO CLASSY AND COOL. He's the best.
This week some funnies:
- A ladybug flew onto my arm. Elder Rae ATE IT OFF OF MY SLEEVE IT WAS SO FUNNY AND ALSO A LITTLE TERRIFYING I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE, BUT I SURVIVED.
- A couple that we were going to meet. We were late by like thirty minutes and they didn't answer their doorbell or their phone, so we went into their building and knocked on their door and she answered. She told us to sit down and then went into the kitchen and told her husband that we were here. THEN NO ONE TALKED TO US FOR THIRTY MINUTES. It was so awkward I am dying. But it was so funny. LOL.
- This week I went back to Kecskemet! It was so fun. I was so happy to see all of the people that I had taught and see their progress. Lot's of love in Kecskemet.
I can't describe to you in words how fast this week has gone and how fast life is going. There are so many things that I want to tell you, but there is never enough time! I hope all is well with you guys! I love you lots!
Sok szeretettel,
Neely Elder.
p.s. The picture thing isn't working today :( Sorry!
Sunday, October 19, 2014
10-13-14 New Branch House
Hellosztok!
This week has been fantastic and it sounds like it was at home as well! I LOVE WEDDINGS. I am super sad that I missed it, but but I am sending something to the newlyweds. Bless them.
This week has all been kind of revolving around moving buildings. Here in Szeged, we are getting a new Branch House and let me tell you THE NEW ONE IS SERIOUSLY THE CRAZIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN HUNGARY IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING AND THE BIGGEST ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN IT IS AMAZING IT HAS A WATER FOUNTAIN THAT SHOOTS OUT ICE COLD WATER IT LITERALLY MADE ME CRY I AM NOT EVEN JOKING TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND IT IS MASSIVE AND I HAVE PICTURES I WILL SEND THEM AND IT IS IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PART OF TOWN AND I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH. So. Yeah.
This week, that also means that we got out of the old branch house. This Sunday we had church with no piano. Probably the most awkward church I have ever attended. Crazy, crazy quiet and awkward. But it was such a good church. I got so much out of it and we also had a new investigator come. He stayed for all of the meetings and it all was directed at him I think. It was so good. I just got so much out of church this week...it was just really good :)
This week we also went on our first "Blitzes", where we both go to another city to "train" the missionaries there. This week we went to Bekescsaba, and of course I am an idiot and I did not take any pictures. LOL. But let me tell you, the missionaries here are absolutely stellar. It was great. Also, this week we got to talk to President about our missionaries and I just gained such an appreciation for our mission president. He really cares about us. We also got to go up to Budapest for Missionary Leadership Council. I got to visit with some of my friends and it was good fun. I love those gents. Good days.
The last cool thing from this week, is that we randomly went out looking for some inactive members to meet. One of them came out and started shouting at us (she is like a 20 year old girl), "What are you doing? Why did they send you? How did they know I was home?" Turns out, she had been living in Tanzania for the last year or so and she had gotten back the day which is just crazy. It was good to talk to her and it reminded me of a quote from a man named Gyorgy Zoltan: "Never forget, that God is looking for us." God is looking for us. Even when we don't want to be found, he is looking for us and he cares about us and he wants to find us. Sometimes we want to hide and run, but he never gives up. Something Elder Rae and I talk about a lot is how every soul is important to God. He loves every single one without bias and loves them perfectly and understands them perfectly. Billions upon trillions upon google souls he loves, yet he loves us personally. I can't wrap my head around it, but I am so grateful for it.
I love you guys. I can't love every single soul yet, but I sure do love you all. Do good things. Keep being amazing and I love you.
Sok szeretettel,
Neely Elder.
This week has been fantastic and it sounds like it was at home as well! I LOVE WEDDINGS. I am super sad that I missed it, but but I am sending something to the newlyweds. Bless them.
This week has all been kind of revolving around moving buildings. Here in Szeged, we are getting a new Branch House and let me tell you THE NEW ONE IS SERIOUSLY THE CRAZIEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN IN HUNGARY IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING AND THE BIGGEST ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN IT IS AMAZING IT HAS A WATER FOUNTAIN THAT SHOOTS OUT ICE COLD WATER IT LITERALLY MADE ME CRY I AM NOT EVEN JOKING TEARS WERE STREAMING DOWN MY FACE IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING AND IT IS MASSIVE AND I HAVE PICTURES I WILL SEND THEM AND IT IS IN SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PART OF TOWN AND I JUST LOVE IT SO MUCH. So. Yeah.
This week, that also means that we got out of the old branch house. This Sunday we had church with no piano. Probably the most awkward church I have ever attended. Crazy, crazy quiet and awkward. But it was such a good church. I got so much out of it and we also had a new investigator come. He stayed for all of the meetings and it all was directed at him I think. It was so good. I just got so much out of church this week...it was just really good :)
This week we also went on our first "Blitzes", where we both go to another city to "train" the missionaries there. This week we went to Bekescsaba, and of course I am an idiot and I did not take any pictures. LOL. But let me tell you, the missionaries here are absolutely stellar. It was great. Also, this week we got to talk to President about our missionaries and I just gained such an appreciation for our mission president. He really cares about us. We also got to go up to Budapest for Missionary Leadership Council. I got to visit with some of my friends and it was good fun. I love those gents. Good days.
The last cool thing from this week, is that we randomly went out looking for some inactive members to meet. One of them came out and started shouting at us (she is like a 20 year old girl), "What are you doing? Why did they send you? How did they know I was home?" Turns out, she had been living in Tanzania for the last year or so and she had gotten back the day which is just crazy. It was good to talk to her and it reminded me of a quote from a man named Gyorgy Zoltan: "Never forget, that God is looking for us." God is looking for us. Even when we don't want to be found, he is looking for us and he cares about us and he wants to find us. Sometimes we want to hide and run, but he never gives up. Something Elder Rae and I talk about a lot is how every soul is important to God. He loves every single one without bias and loves them perfectly and understands them perfectly. Billions upon trillions upon google souls he loves, yet he loves us personally. I can't wrap my head around it, but I am so grateful for it.
I love you guys. I can't love every single soul yet, but I sure do love you all. Do good things. Keep being amazing and I love you.
Sok szeretettel,
Neely Elder.
 |
| P-day goods: Coke and Chocolate! |
 |
| The fountain of ICE COLD WATER! |
 |
| The excitement of the new branch house!! |
 |
| Elder Neely |
 |
| The new branch house. |
 |
| Trying out the new building. |
 |
| District Lunch |
 |
| MLC |
 |
| BEKESCSABA! |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)