On The Road Again....



Indeed we did hit the road again!   What a trip...long with lots of driving.  First we headed out and then found we had to return home for some very important items.   We finally arrived in Miskolc to do the audit there.   Always a pleasure to visit with President Samosfalvi and President Kuchkar.  The audit went well but did take just a tad longer than usual.  We told them good-bye for this time.



We then drove to Oredea, Romania to do the audit there.
Along the way we found that the "baby" storks are getting much bigger.




We met with Presidents Geambasu and Weber and Elder Walquist at the
 chapel and did the audit and then went to dinner with Elder and  Sister Walquist and President and Sister  Geambasu  and their darling son.   We have so enjoyed them.   In fact, everywhere we go we find wonderful people.  President and Sister Geambasu have been very special to us as his sister is our friend from our ward in Bountiful.




The following morning  we headed on our way again.   As we skirted Debrecen we did drive by the Rooster Church.   It has been fixed up so nice since we lived in Debrecen.  We have noticed that all over Eastern Europe where we travel there is a lot of  "fixing up" of churches that have been sadly neglected for a long time.  I hope that it is an indication of several things, including interest in church by the population, and that maybe the economy is trying to improve just a tad.



Next stop, Nyiraghaza to have a quick visit with the VictorVecony and his mother.   We had seen Victor while he was on his mission in Romania, but not since he was released last September.  He dressed up for us and here we are just a tad bit casual.  

We had a wonderful time visiting with them both.  Victor is a ballroom dancer.   If I was younger I would love to have a waltz with him.  He is a wonderful young man.



On our way again we found some fields of sunflowers.   It seems to me that the sunflowers are early this year.   It is probably just that I want to see the fields that go as far as the eye can see.   They truly are beautiful.



We drove up through Tokay which is wine country.  Beautiful scenery.

Interesting monuments all over.



Then through so many small towns in Slovakia.   Trish Allen, I am sure that this in one of your uncles, several times removed.




Most of the houses in this area a very like Hungary.




Always castles to see.



As we drove into Poland we began to see more wooden houses.   Many have been remodled and added on to make them look very modern.   Some are as they were built.  There is a huge lumber industry in this mountain area.



We love to see the cities in the distance.  To us they are so beautiful.

And soon (a day and a half) we arrived in Warsaw.    More to come.



An Interesting Week....

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We were excited to get pictures of the Bountiful Handcart Days Parade.  There were 2200 Stripling Warriors marching behind Captain Helaman in that parade.   Our Grandson Trevor Randall is right smack dab in the middle of this one.  Don't pay attention to the Red shirt guy...He just was there.



Here they are preparing properly to begin their march.   What a tender  and most approprriate moment to pray before their march.   One of those experiences for those boys to never, ever forget!




Here is Helaman leading out 
We understand that the crowds went wild with cheering.   It took 15 minutes for the whole group to pass by each spectator.  We are sorry that we were not able to be there, but are so grateful to all who posted their movies and pictures so that we could enjoy it.



We headed to Egar this week to train a senior elder to do the audits in the Miskolc District. It was a great day. While Elders Gudgell and Hartwell were doing the audit with Elder Scott, the sisters went to the Piac to help carry the bags of good fresh food back to Sr.  Scott's apartment.    We also were able to have a nice visit with the Hartwells and the Scotts over some delicious palicintas, for our last time in Egar. 




We will always remember this great big church right by the humble chapel of our church.

 

We headed home on a road that eventually got us to the M 3.




It was a beautiful, somewhat cloudy day.   The temperatures were perfect!  Actually it has been unusually mild weather this whole week, with some rain and thunder.   We have five new tomatoes ready to pick out of our "garden" today.




A couple of neni's pushing their bikes. 




We found a Snelgroves wanna be....




Thursday we attended Zone conference, where we were asked to give our farewell testimony.  We love being with the young missionaries.   They are so great!  Actually, the Senior Missionaries aren't too bad either.




Sunday morning we headed west to attend church in Szombathely.   On the way we found a few Sunflowers.   The seem to be almost done.   I think it is early for that.




Sr. Carpenter and I attended Relief Society with these sisters.  What a great solid group of women.   Only two of them have been members less than ten years.   This is an exceedingly well run Branch.   We had the privilege of being able to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  How wonderful to be able to do that. 
We were able to meet Jeno Erdosi while there and look forward to seeing him when we get home, as he and his wife Edit are in our ward in Bountiful.   We hope and pray all goes well today as he goes to get his final approval for his visa to return to his wife.




We met this young married couple.   They quickly showed us pictures of their son, who was at home with his grandmother.  They are Kovacs Balazs and Orsolya (Orsi) .  Balazs' brother used to live in our home ward in Bountiful, but have now moved away.  This is the first time we have met them, at least knowing who they are.   We could have seen them at young adult activities when we were here before.  It was so nice to get to know them.




These folks bid us good bye.

We had a very pleasant trip with the Carpenters, helping them to know a little more about what is in store for them in Hungary.   Each day makes us just a little more thankful for this journey that we have had and will continue to have for a while. 



A Week of Firsts and Lasts...

 This has been a week of showing places to the "newbies" and seeing things for the last time with the Bagozzi's.  How fast the time flies.

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We went to a wonderful restaurant where we were serenaded quite royally throughout our dinner



We all had water or lemonade to quench our thirst on a fairly warm day.



The base player was standing over my shoulder.   They played music that we could sing to, but no one wanted to sing except me....and I know that I am not allowed to sing in public...even when I know the words.



This is a picture of Sr. Hansen, standing by the river. 




The Men of Budapest... actually there are three current or former Senior Office Elders, along with President Smith.




The Senior Women of Budapest. Note the lights behind us.




St. Istvan's with a fake moon.




Saturday we went with the Bagozzi's to the Chinese Piac one last time and then met the Carpenters for checking out the Nagy Piac and lunch and wandering around Pest.  When we got hot and tired, we stopped  for a lemonade on Vaci Ut.

   

One last evening for lemon pie and dominoes.




Monday was a luncheon given by the Buda Zone in honor of the Bagozzi's.    They are much loved by the missionaries.  This was our contribution to the lunch...a  tearful expectation cake.




Sr. Bagozzi talked and cried.  She used the tissues from the cake.  It is hard to leave.   She mentioned how our Sullengers have adopted their daughter and thus we will always be attached!  We are glad to that.  It is so incredible the friendships that can be forged when serving as Senior Missionaries.  You learn to help each other, buoy up each other and play  well together.  We will miss the Bagozzi's and all the other senior missionaries with whom we have served.  There are a whole slew of them leaving about the same time we are leaving.




Elder Bagozzi also was able to speak.  Yeh, he cried too!





The young sisters of the zone sang to Sister Bagozzi.



Then the Elders sang to them.   They were all so good.




When it was all over Elder B put on the wrong jacket...or was it that his diet didn't work?

Farewell Bagozzi's...Safe Journey and we will see you soon.



Before and After the Fourth of July...

Well you can now tell it is Summer; the sunflowers are blooming.   There are fields and fields of them.  After they are spent, they will  be cut down and use them for eating seeds and also make cooking oil from them.   The color is so vivid and spectacular to look at them.   Unfortunately, on Tuesday last, we had no spot to stop and  get a picture without the guard rail.  
Tuesday was the day of our last apartment inspections.   Those lasts are coming quickly.   We drove to Kispest and then to Erd and then on to Dunaujvaros.  In all we checked five apartments.  It is really fun to be with the missionaries even if it only for a few minutes.




After we did the last inspections, the Elders and Sisters led us to a pizza place.   In spite of the fact that it was hot, and they had no airconditioning, the pizza was the very best crust we have had in Hungary!  The missionaries weren't bad either. 




We saw some of the harvest being done.   It looks like wheat to us.  Thought it was interesting that there were sunflowers, looking the other way, just in the field next to the wheat.




This is a little closer to the harvesting.  Can you imagine doing that with a cythe?   We have observed many more big pieces of harvesting machinery throughout Hungary being used than we did several years ago. 

 

Wednesday was the 4th of July and not to break with our personal tradition, we hosted the senior couples here in Buda.   Unfortunately it was too hot outside (not to mention the heat inside) to be able to have a picnic outside.  You will notice some faces that are new to this group.   President and Sister Lowell Smith were in last weeks pictures.   Sr. L. Smith is in the Orange, and she is standing by Sister K. Smith, who appropirately came dressed in red, white and blue.    The Bagozzi's are in the middle and next to them are the Carpenters who are from northern Utah and will be in the office.  Elder Gudgell and then Sister Hansen.   Sister Gudgell is doing the superb photography.



Saturday we had a llittle bit of free time before attending a baptism, so we made a quick run to Szentendra.   This was to give our newbees a taste of delicious blueberry fruit soup.   Yes, I used the word blueberry and delicious in the same sentence.   We went in two of the stores that we bought things at on our last visit and the propriators recognized us. 

Sunday morning began with our electricity going out and and making loud noises.   After a an hour or more of it being out, we began to make plans to walk to Buda ward for church, as we have an electric garage opener and there was not a manual pull string.   It made for an very interesting morning.  After I had put my makeup on in the dark, the electricity came back on and off we went to Pest, where the airconditioning was working.

However, the most bestest thing of Sunday was something that we could not attend, but  are awaiting pictures, or reports on the events from back home.   Our son, Robert, was ordained a Bishop on Sunday.   Many of our family members were able to attend and  fortunately Brent's mother could be there with them.  We are sure that Rob will be a great bishop. 

We  are very aware that we are winding down on  this great adventure we are having.  We are so grateful that we have had the opportunity to be here and associate with some very incredible people. 



See Ya, See Ya, Hello!

This week has shown us a bit of emotion.   None of it being bad, but different.  In Hungary when people are sayinging good bye on the phone, or in other circumstances  they say what sounds to an American ear,   See Ya, See Ya, Hello!   It is spelled differently than that.   This is was how the past days have felt like to us.


We had one last dinner at the Branko Steak House with the Baughmans.  We had a great time, and all ate too much.  When we all got back to the mission home and had to say our goodbyes, it was just a bit teary.  We know that we will see them in just a few short months.  We have loved serving with and under the Baughmans...twice.  We have no doubt that there will always be a tender place in our hearts for them.  I can't help but be excited for them as they are now with children and grandchildren.   Should I say that we are looking forward to that happening to us too?

Saturday the Baughmans flew out and the Smiths flew in.

After a little rest, the Smiths came to a baptism in Pest with the Bazgozzi's and we met them there.   They are wonderful people and will be great leaders of this mission.



This is the lady that was baptized. She is posing with the last two missionaries who taught her.   I was told that she has been taking the lessons and learning about the Church for two years. 

 

I thought you might like to see what goes on on the other side of the camera.   Everyone wants pictures.  The lady in white was baptized a couple of weeks ago and actually spoke at the baptism.   Then there is Sister Smith and Sister Hansen.  Next are Sisters Roney and Suranyi.



This was taken right after the service was over.   President and Sister Smith aare flanking the lady who was baptized, encircled by many missionaries. 

On Sunday in the late afternoon, we were invited to the Senior Sisters Apartment for a delicious dinner.   We enjoyed the time, getting to know the Smith's better.  For some reason no one took pictures.

 

This is Elder Cox.   He is from Kaysville and is a really good missionary.   He also spoke at the baptism and did not have to use notes to give his talk.   He is doing very well with the language.   That is not the reason for the picture.   I took the picture because we know that when he was a tiny baby his family lived next door to the Barnes in Brown's Park.   I thought there might be some others who know his family and would give them a good report on him. 

We had the opportunity to talk with our replacements on Skype yesterday.   They are the Heath's who used to be our backyard neighbors.   We know that this experience will be coming to and end for us and we will not get the opportunity to come again.   This is the time that we savor all the sights, sounds, and smells of this wonderful country.