Monthly Archives: December 2014

December 26, 2014

Happy holidays friends and family!

Every week just keeps getting better and better. The weather was beautiful and even though there is no snow, the Hungarians really know how to celebrate. The lights are up, Christmas music playing through the town and people are just jolly. There really is nothing better.

We celebrated Christmas right by reenacting the nativity scene. Sister Schnoor and I played the angels and luckily didn’t have to say any lines. After, we enjoyed some hot chocolate and Hungarian desserts that make your mouth water.

We had a bargain with our investigator, Ibolya this week that if she comes to our church, we will go to hers. Yesterday, we headed over to her church for some special Christmas lecture. It was an interesting experience and they were all so incredibly nice. As we walked in, they were playing The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and had all kinds of desserts for us. At the end we were able to talk to people about our purpose as missionaries and why we are here. People were asking all kinds of questions and were amazed how young people like us go out and teach about the Gospel.  How blessed I feel to be a part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

We had great lessons, gave a baptismal date to our good friend Gabor, and received many numbers. The work is going strong and Hungarians are still hungry for the gospel.

Such a special time to talk about a special gift our loving Heavenly Father gave each and every one of us. His Son. I have loved passing our special “He is the Gift” cards out to everyone on the street. Make sure to pay it forward this week, show your love and everyday just try to be a little better.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas! Be safe over the holidays, enjoy it while it last and never forget the real meaning of Christmas.

Merry, Merry Christmas!!!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

December 15, 2014

Győr just keeps getting better and better and the people couldn’t get any nicer. For example, this week we went to a flower shop to buy a rose for Sindy, a member who was performing in her school event later that day. As we go to get ready to pay, a man insists on paying and then tells us to go get another rose for the both of us. In his broken English he says, “Merry Christmas” and gives us both a puszi (which is a kiss) and sends us on our way. We can make the world so much better if we try each day to pay it forward.

 

 This week we were able to show many of our investigators the new video, “He is the Gift” done by the church. It is so beautiful, Sister Schnoor and I have hit the replay button over 100 times and that is still not enough. We had quite the experience as we showed Laura, a new investigator, who is only just nine years old. As we finished watching the video, Laura had the most confused, yet curious look on her face. She leaned over to her mom and said, “Who is that? Who is Jesus Christ?” I am so grateful that I have a knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ and the love He has for each and every one of us.

We bought a Christmas tree that is nestled right in our living room. We also enjoyed 10 kilos of ice cream the Elders bought for us, since all the ice cream shops are shutting down for the season.

I want you all to know that I know this gospel is true. Like I say every week, God is truly there and he loves every one of us. I know God sent his son to save us all, that one day we can live with our families and our Heavenly Father forever. I hope you all pay it forward this week. Do something nice for someone that really needs it. Have a safe week and know that I am praying for you all.

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

December 8, 2014

Sister Schnoor and I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to serve here in Győr among these great people. It was another good week full of programs, dinner appointments and successful finding. We started the week off right with some Yoga that the church holds every week. It was such a great workout that it left us sore for days. Thursday we had a program with a man named Lajos who is the sweetest man you will ever meet. We walk in and there is just bowls and bowls of dessert and drinks lined up for us to choose from. He was so kind and was open to our message. At the end of our discussion he gives us all goody bags for the holiday coming up. I will never forget how he made Sister Schnoor and I feel. He said he has always admired the Mormon missionaries for their kindness and honesty and said he will never forget the good spirit he felt around us.

We had another wonderful program with a sweet man named Gabor. We talked about prayer and what a wonderful gift it is from our Heavenly Father. We told him that he can know that these things are true by putting Moroni’s promise to the test. Gabor sat there for a while and then asked us, “Should I Ask God? Can I really receive an answer?” We testified that he would, if he put his whole heart into it. God will never ever leave us astray and the heavens are not closed.

Szent Mikulás Day was on December 6th. This holiday is where their Hungarian Santa comes and puts candy in children’s boots during the night. If you were good you got candy, but if you were bad you got sticks. Because it is a holiday of giving, Sister Schnoor and I received so much chocolate. We enjoyed an adorable party that was put on by the ward for the little children. Santa came and brought them all kinds of goodies and they even provided a horse ride at the end.

It was Sister Schnoors birthday on the 7th and it was quite the party. We celebrated it by going to church, then later, the elders invited us to go caroling in the main part of town. It was quite the hit!  We even had little helpers pass out the new “He is the Gift” Christmas cards we received this month. What a wonderful time it is to spread the gospel and talk about our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. At the end of the night the elders surprised Sister Schnoor with a delicious dinner and cake! Have I mentioned how much I love Sister Schnoor. I feel so blessed to be serving with her.

I love Hungary. I feel so incredibly blessed. I can’t believe that Christmas is just around the corner. Always make the best of each day. Life is just too short and we need to enjoy every single second. Thank you all again for your words or encouragement and love. I know this church is true!

God bless you all!

All my love, Whittaker Nővér

December 1, 2014

Oh what an incredible, wonderful week it has been here in beautiful Győr. It is simply breathtaking! Pictures don’t do it justice. It is literally the prettiest place I have ever seen and it feels like we are in the middle of a movie and I LOVE my companion!

We made it safely here with the help of our elders and settled in quite nicely. Our apartment is in the middle of town just in the center of all the Christmas fun that is happening. Cobblestone roads, Christmas decorations and markets, hot chocolate stands and beautiful architecture. We feel so blessed. As I walk out every morning and I am just amazed. I don’t feel worthy to be serving in such an incredible place with such an incredible companion.

Our first night in Győr was quite the adventure. The elders invited us for yoga at the branch house so we changed quick into our clothes and ran out the door. Once we made it out we realized we didn’t even know where the branch house was. We ended up asking people on the streets if they knew where the church was and it ended up being a great opportunity to teach people about the gospel. Unfortunately we didn’t ever find the branch house but we did plant a few seeds.

Thanksgiving day we were anxious and ready to find some people to teach this week. We enjoyed our walks through the town and received a few numbers along the way. The Elders invited us for a big feast at a popular place called the “Hajo” Where you eat on the Danube in a boat. We ordered two big Mississippi platters and weren’t even able to finish the first platter. We took more home then we ate that day.

This week was the big Christmas event they do every year before the month of December. Everyone gets hot chocolate, (or hot wine which is everywhere around here) and waits for all the Christmas lights to turn on. It was a cold night, but so perfect.

Our apartment is nice but gets so cold! We only had 2 blankets, one for me and one for my companion, and I would just wake up freezing in the night, but so much cold air was seeping through our windows and so we thought, “what would our dads do? They would come up with something to stop the air” so we stuffed all our blankets in the windows, taped all the seams and my companion stuffed her shoes in the top. It is so funny, but now it’s warm! Well the day we stuffed our blankets in the window, I used mine so I didn’t have a blanket to sleep with and all the shops were closed so Sister Schnoor secretly gave me hers and slept with towels and coats on top of her. I just love her!

On our first day here we went on a little adventure while we were finding and ended up at a Catholic church. It was a beautiful church and we heard singing, so we decided to go in and see what we would find. There was a choir festival going on and many people were there. We weren’t able to preach but we would ask people questions and that would lead into deeper conversations. There was a sweet women we stopped and started talking to. We asked her about the Catholic Church and their beliefs. At the end she wanted a card and said she would call us. It was truly a blessing to have met her. As I walked out of the church that night, I felt such a deep desire to spread the gospel more than ever before. These people have no idea what they are missing out on. The gospel of Jesus Christ. They have no idea the joy they can have in their lives. God is truly there. We also have 8 new investigators!!

I feel so blessed to be here in Győr. I feel there is no better place to be. I love the gospel. I love being a missionary. I thank you all for all your kind words of advice and prayers to all the missionaries out in the field.

I hope you all have a great week. Be safe and God bless.

All my love, Whittaker Nővér