Opening Sopron!

My friends. I am in Sopron.

I am on the border of Austria! There is so much history here! Everyone speaks German and Hungarian. The cultural differences are so beautiful. I love it. I think I will learn German when I go home too. Language is so beautiful to me. It is so powerful, and changes everything. 

We are the first Sisters here in Sopron so it is quite the experience. There are parts of old Roman castles all over the place and it is seriously something from the movies. It is incredible. We live right above the branch house. So we just walk downstairs for church and we are there! We have a senior couple. I had to translate for them in church. That was probably the weirdest thing I have ever had to do. A completely foreign feeling. It is like you are empty and are just a microphone and headset for someone else. My brain was fried after church. 

We got back from transfers EXHAUSTED. And we were supposed to be taking the Elders old apartment. It was filthy. I was so ticked off. They left dishes in the sink......Hmmmmmm.  So I called them and explained this to them. They then told us that they left green Jello in the fridge, and that should make up for any inconveniences. Yeah, okay. I'm saving that Jello for a very special occasion.... maybe like the next transfer day. I hope they wear green ties.

I had to vacuum the floor 5 times and rip all the dumb posters they made off the wall. It took like a good 10 hours to get it all cleaned up. And don't get me started on the kitchen and bathroom........

But now it looks great! We rearranged the furniture and made it all cozy. It is on tallest level and overlooks the whole city. I do my personal study from a window that overlooks one of the castles. It is pretty great. 

Now the ward here. So, I go downstairs to the branch house and it is filthy too! No one has vacuumed  and everything was just all over the place. I guess they clean it twice yearly. So, I have now set aside the first 2 hours on Saturday for district cleaning. That should be fun.  

The ward here has about 20 people and the church has only been here for 12 years! This is just the beginning stages for this area. It is so interesting to see, a once in a lifetime experience and it is not all just beautiful and easy. I can only imagine what Joseph Smith went through trying to organize the church. Poor guy.

I guess the last time the area president was here he basically told the members if they didn't stop acting like it was a club he would shut the area down and lock it up. It is just interesting because Hungarians in general are very "tribe" oriented. They have groups that they form and it is very hard to break into those, so it was hard to bring nonmembers to church and not have anyone acknowledge that. Lots of gossip too. Drama, love it! So, I figure if we are going to be taking care of the Zion here it is starting with the branch house looking presentable. 

The other thing is that last year there was one baptism in Sopron and that was an Elder's fiancé. So......yeah. This place needs work, it needs good faith. We are pretty excited to perform miracles here. We talked to this man the other day on the street that told us it wasn't worth it. He was kind of up in our faces and kept saying that we would have no success in such a small, already traditionalized town.  I basically told him:

1. We are staying.

2. He needed to learn about us.

3. We had something important to do and we were going to do it.

It was great. I didn't even fear him. Just let him know what was up. I am becoming more blunt. It is a real problem. And if you know me that is a HUGE change. I like it.....:)

The senior couple. Let's talk about how great senior couples are: Family dinners on Sunday, take us out to eat, make cookies for English class ( Cookies is a bad word in Hungarian but they always say it anyways....pretty hilarious.), they love us, and they call us "children". Sis. Br. is probably the funniest lady I know. She was playing in the butter at dinner last night. ahahahahahaha. Sis. Br. is exactly who I want to be when I grow up. She just cooks, and cleans, and sews during church, and smiles, and makes rolls with smoking hot heels on. I love her. Elder Br. is great too.

Finding. Remember Veszprém? Yeah. Repeat. Finding 24/7. But we have already set up a few programs for this week and because I have already opened I know how to open effectively. It is really weird being an older missionary. Makes my head big. We get kicked out of a lot of buildings. I think that happened 2 times yesterday. BUT we are testifying our little hearts out and specifically looking for Priesthood holders, and families. We are going to see miracles so just hold on to your little nadrágok. 

Also. I love my companions. We had a little reunion at the train station the other day and we all cried and laughed and ate. and ate. It was great. Sister D. is my new compie. She is super relaxed and fun, and I think we are not going to have any problems. That is probably good because we will be talking to each other for about 8 hours every day. And do you know what? I KNOW WHAT MY CALLING IS IN LIFE?!?!??!!?!?!

Let's go back in time to when Sis. Adley Fowers said her first prayer about what to do in life. She had no clue! She just knew that the Lord was going to bless her and help her find it. Well, it has all just been building up and Sis. D. said what it was. The first day. She was describing what her sister's husband does and I just felt like whatever job it was it was mine. I could just feel it! She hadn't said it yet and I just felt like," here it comes. Here is the answer...."

Then she said....Diplomat. BLAHALBLAHBLAHBLALHBLAHBLAH!!! ( That was the sound that one of those old computer game makes when finish a level. ) I am serious. I need to figure out more deets but she said they write, they travel, they learn languages, they make peace. YOU GUYS!?!? It is perfect. And not too much schooling. I feel so good about it. It always amazes me when I it all just comes together. Like a puzzle. A big, fat, puzzle. So yeah. Isn't that great?!

Well. Wish us luck this week. We need to find 2 families and 5 priesthood holders. Pray people! PRAY!

Jaaron: You stud. 

Peter: If I get another grotesquely drawn obese person from you I am severing our relationship. 

Okay, just kidding....as long as it isn't about me. Glad you had a party at the BYUof I. Are you playing soccer?

Nathan: I love you boy. I think you are going to go Spanish speaking on your mission......So keep studying.

Brooke: ( Whoah, so much easier with fewer kids.) I wuv you. I would give you a big fat kiss if you were here. Your drawing was beautiful. Thanks for making me the prettiest.

Boys in Africa: If you run over to Hungary we could have a party before mom and dad get there. Just saying. It's an idea.

Love Sis. Fowers