Budapest, Szeged, and Szent Istvan Nap!

Hello everyone! 

As indicated by the title, I really went several places this past week. We headed on up to Budapest for interviews with President Smith so he could make sure that we were doing good. While up there I talked to some missionaries whom I really had never talked to before and got to know some more of them! It was way fun. I really love Budapest, the city is just full of excitement and energy.

Last week, we went on down to Szeged for zone training. Elders Nelson and Miller did a wonderful training and afterward we went and got lunch at the mall. Super fun time. Then, since Elder Loveday is a District Leader, the Zone Leaders went on splits with him, which ended up with me staying in Szeged with my old trainer, Elder Miller! We had fun driving around in their car (just the zone leaders and senior couples have cars in our zone) and went to a few appointments and what not. I got to eat pig's feet (yes, you read that right) at an investigating family's house, it was actually really chewy and soft! Super funky, but hey it tasted like chicken! 

Also, Elder Loveday and me had to make some tough decisions on some of our investigators which ended up with us dropping about four of them, just because they weren't progressing and keeping their commitments. It was really, really hard saying goodbye to people you invested so much patience and love in, just to say "Maybe things will work out in the future". That resulted in our numbers not looking so good on paper, and we had LOTS of finding hours. So a rough week in terms of the work, but we still tried our absolute hardest in finding peeps! Regarding our progressing investigators, "E" is doing great and told me in church on Sunday that she didn't drink coffee that morning! And she brought her whole family with her to the branch party on the 20th. 

The fun part of the week was definitely the party on August 20th, or Szent Istvan nap! It is the day that they celebrate the time in like 998 AD when the Magyar tribes conquered this part of Europe and established the Magyar nation! So they didn't "declare independence" or anything, they totally went and conquered this place! Woo. They have cultural parties the whole day and end the day with an epic fireworks display in the main square. We got to watch it from the Smith's balcony because they have a perfect view! During the day, we did a bit of working in the morning, but then it turned into our PDay for the week, and we Totally went fishing! I didn't catch anything, but Elder Smith, one of the Senior missionaries, totally caught a fish! Super crazy! We then went to the branch party at the branch house and then headed off to the Smith's and ate brownies, popcorn, and played Phase 10 all night until the fireworks! It felt like I was back at home! Super weird but so much fun!

My favorite part of the night was right before the fireworks and a hush fell over the big crowd assembled on the main square and they began to sing their national anthem. Absolutely beautiful. Compared to our national anthem in America, which we sing to kind of get pumped up and to be like...well, Americans, the Magyar Himnos is actually more of a prayer to God. In it, they say "God bless the Hungarian, who have been struggling with so much". It is a very, very reverent occasion. Hungary's history is fraught with death and tragedy, and it is all reflected in their anthem. It is absolutely gorgeous, and I recommend you look it up on YouTube if you get a chance. But the whole crowd sang it, and they were absolutley quiet at the end, thousands of people just waiting quietly. How did they do it? I have NO idea! Cameras were flashing and what not, but the anthem just has this way of quieting them all. It's almost a sacred event. Absolutley touching thing to witness. I loved it! 

Well, that's about it from my side of the world. I still miss going to temples all the time...kind of bummed. But, I know that what I am doing here right now in Hungary is helping them all prepare for their own someday in their country! How awesome that will be! The weather is actually starting to cool down a bit, they say that September is a pretty cool month here...maybe I'll go buy a jacket soon! I hope you all have a great week, and have fun at Back to School everyone! :)

Lots of love,

Elder Giacalone 

Good ole' Elder Miller and I driving in the car

Fishing on P-day, pole cost 1$

checking out the booths in the main square

Party in the main square followed by fireworks

Branch party, so fun!

It was a coke/diet coke kind of day! Sister Griggs

Branch party activities