Monthly Archives: October 2014

October 27, 2014

We started off the week right by going to the “Trap Factory” with our district. In the Trap Factory, you walk into a “crime scene” and try to solve puzzles and problems and hope you find the secret murderer. You have to do it under an hour or you fail. It was quite the experience and luckily we made it out alive.

Splits this week were here in Buda and Sister Martineau and I had a great time together. There are a few language barriers when we are talking to the Hungarian people, but that doesn’t stop us. All you need is a smile and the spirit and you can teach the gospel no matter the language. We met awesome people, received a few numbers and improved in our Hungarian.

We saved a life this week! It was on a cold, rainy day while we were out streeting through the park and we see this old woman sitting with her head lying down on the table. She didn’t seem to be moving and we were worried she had passed on to the next life. Another man came walking by whom we got talking to and he was also worried. A few minutes later another man walks up that knew the woman. He had been trying to find a phone to call an ambulance and thankfully we were there to help him. The ambulance came and took the old woman away. It was quite the day!

It feels like winter here in Buda and it doesn’t seem to be warming up. We pulled out our coats and boots and even made ourselves some delicious hot chocolate. We even listened to some Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas music!

We had another successful week of finding and teaching. Sadly, Aniko had the flu all week so we weren’t able to teach her but we found many others.

I want to wish you all a happy Halloween this week! The Hungarians don’t celebrate it here, but during our English class we passed out American candy and before they could grab a treat, they had to sing, “trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat”. They all loved it!

I absolutely love being a missionary. There is truly no greater happiness. You see other lives change and yourself as well. Starting this week up till Christmas, we will be studying a Christ-like attribute each week to work on in preparation for the holiday season coming up. I commit you all to study more about our loving Savior and try each week to follow His example.

I know this gospel is true. I know that God loves us and I know with all my heart that after this life, it is not the end.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Be safe and God be with you!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

October 27, 2014

It has been another great week here in Buda. We found many new people to teach and we have two golden investigators who both accepted a baptismal date. It is a privilege to teach them the gospel. We had a great lesson with Krisztian and the spirit in the room was so strong you could touch it! I know that the gift of tongues is so incredibly real. We taught him the restoration and we got talking about Joseph Smith. As I began to repeat the first vision, the words came out like butter. Every word I said was so true yet so perfect and confidant. Always trust in the Lord. Have faith and confidence that it will all be okay, because I promise you it will.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! Be safe and God bless you all!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

October 13, 2014

This week has been full of miracles and finding many new people to teach. But we started the week off on p-day by going go-carting and eating American style burgers. It felt like the good ole days back in Provo.

We have the most incredible investigators and found three more to teach that are ready and prepared. Funny story that happened…One day we were out streeting and we stopped a guy who looked around 30 and very friendly. He was completely open to what we had to say and was interested in receiving the Book of Mormon. Now in Hungary, that is very rare. We were completely taken back, and he asked us if he could meet with us. HE asked us! We then gave him a Book of Mormon and he said, “Well I can’t wait to read it, where do I start so we can talk about it later?” At this time, we thought he was totally joking with us. We met with Kristian yesterday, and all I can say is that I know God is preparing people. Kristian told us that for a while now he has been praying about what church to join. He said that day when we stopped him was a sign for him of what he should do. I know God is very aware of each and every one of us. He loves us so much!

Anikő is an absolute champion! We taught her the Plan of Salvation and she loved it. In her prayer she said that she thinks this is what she has been looking for her whole life. That she is grateful for the Book of Mormon and the peace is brings her. She is the sweetest, cutest little thing who always has a smile on her face. She came to church this Sunday and loved it. As I said before, God is preparing everyone!

I go on splits every week with Sister Martineau and this week she came to Buda to stay with me. She and I don’t know the language all that well, but we trusted in the Lord and opened our mouths. I see myself progressing with the language everyday. It is hard, and you hear thousands of times, Nem értem (I don’t understand) but that is what helps you progress. Even if the language is limited, the spirit is what touches the hearts. We were very successful and found more future investigators.

We didn’t have any unusual food this week, but I have grown to love the Hungarian food. I want you all to know that I am enjoying meat now and I am brave enough to just eat it.  Last week we had fajita night with the Elders and there is a rule that you can’t eat it in each other’s apartment. So, we literally ate it right outside of the door. As we were cooking, the elders were waiting for us outside and they were setting up the table and as Hungarian people would walk past them with confused looks, the Elders told them it was a tradition in America that people have to eat outside of each other’s apartments.

Sister Jensen and I started a tradition where every Thursday we have “Fajita Thursday“. It is quite delicious and makes things feel like home.

I love it here. Buda is such a hoppin, busy city with so much to do. We have a great strong ward; incredible investigators and we have opportunity to speak the most beautiful language. I just love it here!

I love this gospel. I know God lives and loves each and everyone of us.

I hope you all have a fun, safe week! You’re always in my prayers!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

October 6, 2014

(Meggie was not able to take any pictures this week. The photo above is with her previous companion in Békéscsaba)

This week in Buda has been full of adventures! Last week we hopped on a boat ride and journeyed down the Danube. That took us a little farther then we planned. It turned out to be a 2-hour boat ride with no air circulation, and the fear of not knowing where we were. Turns out we made it on the other side of Buda and walked for hours completely lost. Luckily, we made it home safe and laughed along the way.

On Thursday I went on splits to Pest and worked with the sweetest sister! Sister Martineau hasn’t been out much longer than I, so we both don’t speak the best Hungarian. We had quite the time trying to speak and communicate with others and we got many confused looks. I can now testify that the spirit is so incredibly real and no matter what language you are speaking, the most important language is the language of the spirit because that language will change any persons heart.

We have this golden investigator who we both LOVE! This week we watched the Restoration film and at the end, Anikő said, “wow, I just got goose bumps, that was beautiful!” She loves the Book of Mormon and feels like this is what’s been missing in her life. She is so incredibly prepared.

Conference was so great but sadly it was all in Hungarian so I didn’t understand a whole lot. Although, as I was watching a thought came to my mind, what kind of missionary I want to be. What kind of person do I want to be when I get home? The mission is preparing each and every one of us for the rocky road ahead of us. The mission is not easy, as well as life. You can either let the mission change you and make you become a better person than who you were before, or come back exactly the same, going back to your old habits.

I know that God lives and that He loves us. He will never leave us in the storms of life.

I love you all and I hope you have a great week! God bless!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér