Monday, April 13, 2015

Kispest Week 13 (week 103)

End game. Vége.
I'm writing this email with a heart overfilling with emotions. The past days have been insane and all over the place. Ups and downs.
On Saturday, our investigator family was baptized. Oh.My.Amazing. It was like all the stress and work of the past three months with them culminated in a two minute ordinance and it was over. Just all over. I confirmed the mother on Sunday during church and life was just perfect. The Bishop stood up and publicly called me out and said "On behalf of the Kispest Ward, I would like to thank Elder Giacalone for his service in the Hungary Budapest Mission. He will be greatly missed" and then they sang "God Be With You Til We Meet Again". Thankfully I was sitting in the far back row with a brand new investigator, who was probably freaking out by then, so no one really saw that I was crying into my planner and telling the people around me that I had an eyelash in my eye. 
Our last transfer call came this morning. It was from President Smith. He asked if I had been informed of the April Fool's Joke of me NOT going home and staying to continue! Honestly, it didn't even occur to me that it today is April Fool's! Also, turns out we are getting white washed by another set of elders, so we get to go back home, BOTH of us will pack, and then clean the apartment and make sure the investigators are taken care of. Should be a party, but I'm always down for a party :)
So tomorrow I head up to the mission home to drop off my bags and then go with my last companion for 24 hours, Elder Neely (smiles all around) and say goodbye to all our mission friends and make our way back to have our departing interview with President Smith. After that...I don't know what will happen. It's all up in the air...haha, get it? Up in the air? LOL

Today I'm grateful for my mission. The past twenty four months have been the hardest of my life, but they have been so, so very worth it. Every single investigator was so precious, every hour of tracting in the cold in nasty ten stories worth it, and every desperate prayer was heard by Heavenly Father. I've come to love the quote by Ugo Betti "To believe in God is to believe that all the rules will be fair and there will be wonderful surprises". I've learned that when we are obedient and keep the commandments we receive blessings, and that in the end that's all He really asks of us. He really wants His kids home, you know.
I love Hungary. Goodbyes are so hard. But, the other side awaits. I'm ready. Bring it. I started my mission with the lyrics to the song "Lead, Kindly Light", and it seems appropriate to end it with the last verse:

"So long thy pow'r hath blest me, sure it still
Will lead me on
O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till
The night is gone.
And with the morn those angel faces smile,
Which I have loved long since, and lost awhile!"
I love you all! See you soon :)

Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Joe Giacalone (last time I can say that...)

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Kispest Week Twelve (Week 102)

lf you could have a patronus, what would it be? Mine would be a Hungarian Pulli dog. If you don't know what dog that is, look it up! I guess there was one in a Dr. Pepper commercial, the Hungarians are going crazy about it. I WANT ONE SO BAD.
The members are really starting to let the referal gates open and we are getting so many new "legit" people to teach! Many people whose spouses are faithful members and hadn't been interested in the discussions are suddenly opening up to us! Heck, we even set a bapdate with one of them last week! Setting those kind of goals with our new friends are a strange experience by all regards, mostly because...well, I won't be here anymore :( but, it'll all be ok.
Last week we did a zone training on what we learned from zone conference. We "gathered the children together" and poured our hearts into this training. I sure do love my zone. I consider them my good friends. I gave my departing testimony in front of them.
That was weird...very weird. I cried. We'll leave it at that. 

Last week was so beautiful. I know it's hard to describe a week as that, but it really was. Everything that went wrong the week before it was made up for, sometimes even doubled, with what happened last week. The power of prayer, when coupled with obedience and working hard can do miracles. This is the Lord's work, and in the words of Elder Kearon "sometimes he signs His work". For example, we set a goal for two new baptismal dates last week. We got five. Five. Most of them I won't even be here for, but that's ok. It's a strange sensation seeing the work go forward...without me. :( :) ! ?
Elder Zwingli brought up from his personal study something that I really liked. He talked about the Council in Heaven before we all came down here and started this grand adventure and we chatted a bit about those who were "Noble and Great". During our lunch break we were in the city and we sat down on a bench overlooking the river and talked about what it meant to be Noble and Great. In the end we boiled it down to those who were Noble and Great were those that endured, those who went against the crowd and followed God's plan and those who set an example for their brothers and sisters to follow.. So my "dying" challenge to myself and to you all is to be just that, "Noble and Great". Because you all are.
This week is my last week in Hungary...mixed emotions. Scared, a little nervous, and excited for what awaits me next week. But...I get to celebrate my birthday this week!! Yay! I'll be 21! Holy ancient.
Love you all...see you later! Some of you sooner than you think :)
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Pics

Weekly Planning got a little...cold
Walk in the park by the US Embassy

It's me and the Lion from the "Firework" music video....and Elder Zwingli's finger..

Planning a baptism


Friday, March 20, 2015

Kispest Week Eleven (Week 101)



As much as I love Hungary, I am not going to miss it when people yell at me for not wearing a jacket. Like, swearing and calling me an idiot. Seriously, why do you even care?? Haha.
We had Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy come and visit our mission last week! Oh my gosh guys, it was AWESOME. So spiritual and everyone was touched. He is such a charasmatic British man! He said "Fantastic!" like fifty times! WOO. He used a scripture from...somewhere in the Bible...about how sometimes we need to ask Christ "What Lack I Yet?". It was very powerful and made you want to just look into your soul and want to do better. After the meeting, the zone leaders met with him for a special MLC, and it honestly answered some questions that I had been having recently, not just about helping my zone but also about...the "after-life"...
People always tell us as missionaries that we're weird. Whether we are knocking on doors, teaching English class or stopping people on the street. In one of our programs last week an investigator said this after being taught the Plan of Salvation: "I really, really like this...but it sure is weird. You guys are weird, too!" We really are a strange people, and I think that missionary work can seem strange to people as well. But it's the BEST, most WONDERFUL work in the world. The Gospel can come off as strange, with it's many "do's" and "don'ts", but we know that it brings so much happiness into our lives.
Even Elder Kearon said this just last week: "We're strange, we're peculiar...and I don't think you know just how wonderfully strange you are."
I know with all my heart that this Gospel is true. I love being weird :) I'm sad that I only have two more weeks of full-time service as a missionary. I'm excited to go home, but also nervous, and tinged with a bit of fear of the unknown, but I've still got time left!
So...be weird! You've all got it in you :) and smile! It's a wonderful time to be alive.
OMG I almost forgot...we had to shovel COW POOP last week on a farm in the boondocks! Second time on my mission, folks!! 

Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Monday, March 16, 2015

Kispest Week Eleven (Week 101)



As much as I love Hungary, I am not going to miss it when people yell at me for not wearing a jacket. Like, swearing and calling me an idiot. Seriously, why do you even care?? Haha.
We had Elder Patrick Kearon of the Seventy come and visit our mission last week! Oh my gosh guys, it was AWESOME. So spiritual and everyone was touched. He is such a charasmatic British man! He said "Fantastic!" like fifty times! WOO. He used a scripture from...somewhere in the Bible...about how sometimes we need to ask Christ "What Lack I Yet?". It was very powerful and made you want to just look into your soul and want to do better. After the meeting, the zone leaders met with him for a special MLC, and it honestly answered some questions that I had been having recently, not just about helping my zone but also about...the "after-life"...
People always tell us as missionaries that we're weird. Whether we are knocking on doors, teaching English class or stopping people on the street. In one of our programs last week an investigator said this after being taught the Plan of Salvation: "I really, really like this...but it sure is weird. You guys are weird, too!" We really are a strange people, and I think that missionary work can seem strange to people as well. But it's the BEST, most WONDERFUL work in the world. The Gospel can come off as strange, with it's many "do's" and "don'ts", but we know that it brings so much happiness into our lives.
Even Elder Kearon said this just last week: "We're strange, we're peculiar...and I don't think you know just how wonderfully strange you are."
I know with all my heart that this Gospel is true. I love being weird :) I'm sad that I only have two more weeks of full-time service as a missionary. I'm excited to go home, but also nervous, and tinged with a bit of fear of the unknown, but I've still got time left!
So...be weird! You've all got it in you :) and smile! It's a wonderful time to be alive.
OMG I almost forgot...we had to shovel COW POOP last week on a farm in the boondocks! Second time on my mission, folks!! 

Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Beautiful Pest

View of Pest

Kispest Week Ten (Week 100)

I HAVE BEEN A MISSIONARY FOR 100 (ONE HUNDRED) WEEKS.
That is insane!
So this past week was full of heart-to-hearts. Some with investigators, some with members, some with other missionaries, and even some with my dear companion. I felt like last week was all about communicating and figuring out what people wanted or needed me to do to help them. We prayed a lot last week that we would know what Heavenly Father would want us to teach His children, and we knew He helped us a lot last week.
Last week we made some chicken noodle soup and wanted to bring it over to one of our investigators with a leg problem. We knocked on her door forever and her dog was barking like crazy, but she didn't answer. Sketch. So we figured that maybe she was in the hospital again, as she wasn't answering her phone calls either. Elder Z took Elder N to the nearest hospital to see if she had checked in there, and I took Elder N (there are two lol) and a member and we kind of just wandered around the neighbour hood for a bit until the member offered a prayer for guidance. Elder N said that he felt we should go back one more time. We started knocking and ringing her doorbell. No answer. Then something weird happened, it was like someone was standing by my shoulder and said "Say her name". So I started yelling her name like some crazy lunatic. The others were like "What are you doing?"...then the door creaked open super slowly and her face creeped around the corner. Turns out that she had been in the bath and hadn't heard anything until my voice came through her bathroom window. Awkward. I still don't know how she couldn't hear the bell, but we were just happy to get a hold of her.
So that was cool. We went up to Gellert hegy this morning. It's like a mountain (I would say large hill instead but whatevs) right by the Danube river. We took lots of pictures and I just stared at the massive city that lay stretched out before me. I really, really love this city. It's like my favorite area. Heavenly Father has blessed me with so much lately. I can't believe that I only have three weeks left! That's nothing! I have no idea what to even think about. Guess I'll just keep trucking along until I kick the bucket. That's all I can do!
BUT SERIOUSLY. 100 WEEKS??
Love you all. Life is beautiful and Heavenly Father loves His children. The gospel is here to help us be happy in this life and so that we can return to live with Him someday. I love being a missionary, and it's sad to think that it's ending. But, I'll keep going!
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Saturday, March 7, 2015

Recent pics

Parliament for daysssss!

We went to an island in the middle of Budapest called Margit Sziget. Aren't we soo cute??

Nigh time at the bridge

Kispest Week Nine (Week 99)

My dears,
You guys, why are blessings so real? Nowadays, I get a lot of "dying advice" from old returned missionaries who talk about what they did their last month in their mission. Sadly enough, I have arrived at that point where 30 days from today, I report to the airport. Anyway, they all talk about how these last few weeks are where you see the most miracles and also the most trials. This is true.
Last week, one of our bapdates like vanished. Off the radar. No idea where she went. We knocked on her door and called her like crazy. Finally I got a hold of her and she had hurt her leg and was in the hospital. Those days when I didn't know what was going on with her were the worst in my entire mission. I realized then just how much I worry about others out here. Back at home, I don't think it would've bothered me a whole lot if a stranger hurt her leg, but out here it can ruin your entire week. We fasted and prayed that she'd be ok, and she's doing ok now. Whew. I'm pretty sure I lost like five pounds just stressing about her. But that's good, cause I need to lose weight. #dyingprobs
"D" and her daughter "M" are getting baptized! Woo! On Sunday, she wanted to bear her testimony. I was a little nervous because hello, investigator going to bear testimony, but I let her go. She went up and was just so awesome. She was like (paraphrased) "Hi, my name is 'D'. I'm an investigator, but I want to get baptized. I know that there is no such thing as chance, and that all things happen for a reason. I know Heavenly Father loves me as His daughter, and (looking at us) I'm grateful for His 'boys' finding me in English class and asking if I wanted to learn more about their church..." So by this point I'm bawling. Naturally. The members are all, like ALL OF THEM SWIVELED AROUND IN THEIR CHAIRS AND JUST STARED AT ME. ALL 90+ OF THEM. And they all just smiled and nodded as if to say "Atta kid. You got her."
And I think that's just the tip of the iceberg with what happened last week. Lately, I've been going through some serious home makeover of my testimony. Heavenly Father has been so good, so good to me. He's helped me learn this crazy language and help some His children come home. I love Pest. I love it so much. Sometimes we are tracting, or streeting in the rain, or riding the Metro home, and it just hits me: this is all ending. That just stokes my flame to keep going hard.
I can't wait to see what these last thirty days have in store. Bring it on.
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Kispest Week Eight (Week 98)

This week has been a really, really cool week. Like, serious amazingness is going down in Kispest.
We met with an investigator last week on splits and taught her  the Word of Wisdom. She went into the program having already heard about it from members and said that "without my green tea in the morning, I cannot function". And then pretty much said "convince me about it". Then, out of the blue a member walks into the room (this is in the branch house, forgot to mention that LOL) and says he wants to bear testimony of the Word of Wisdom. Then they just had a massive question and answer exchange for like five straight minutes. They kept looking at me, as if waiting for me to stop them, but I let them keep going. Then the member left because his infant daughter...well, messed herself. So he ran out of the room. The investigator just looked at us in silence. Elder B and I bore testimony to her of God keeping His promises contained in the Word of Wisdom, and of keeping promises in general. She looked up and said "I'll stop drinking green tea." MUSIC TO A MISSIONARY'S EARS EVERYBODY.
Another cool thing! Almost a year ago, I was serving in the city of Szeged in the south. I loved Szeged. I still love, and miss very much, Szeged. It seems that some of my investigators from the past are being re-contacted by the elders there and are meeting and progressing again! SO HAPPY.
We had a moment last week tracting where I knocked on a door in a ghetto 10 story building and a lady answered the door with her husband like hovering over her shoulder. I had just gotten out that "Hello! My friend and I are from America, and we are-" when she literally yelled "BYE!" and slammed, literallyslammed the door shut. Then we heard her telling her husband how pathetic I looked, how horrible my accent was, and how weird I was dressed. Talk about slam to my esteem. Elder Zwingli just kind of rubbed my back and said let's go to the next floor. So we go down a floor. I'm still incredibly mad at this lady, I mean who does she think she is? I was just done with that day. We had a program that we needed to leave for in a few minutes, and I wanted to leave. Then I thought that I'll do one more door. Sure enough, it was one of those awesome families that let us in and wanted us to come back.
What do we learn from these moments? I shared this story in a district meeting in northern Pest while on splits with the elders there. I said how we go through times like this when we are just done with everything and want our day over with. And it's right then, right when we are done, that there is someone just waiting for us to talk to. In real life, I mean not "missionary" life, sometimes God has things planned for us right when we are ready to give up and quit. But in all reality, there's something (or someone) right around the corner, or just down a flight or stairs, ready to hear you or what you have to say.
So keep an eye peeled :)
Lots of love and Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

pics week 7





Kispest Week Seven (Week 97)

So last week as I was emailing it was snowing outside and was freezing. Now it's sunny and warm and they're saying it's supposed to be like 60 degrees? What is this? Utah?
We had a killer week last week. Went on splits with our fearless Assistants over in Óbuda, or Old Buda. They have such a fancy apartment we were super jealous. I went with Elder N, he's a super cool kid. We talked a lot about life and, naturally, about my upcoming "death".
Then we gathered the children of our zone together for a zone training, like unto a Mother Hen. I'm serious when I say children because EVERYONE IS SO YOUNG. It was then that I realized that this mission is totally different from the one I came to 21 months ago. I still love it, but all my old friends are gone :( and now I have new ones :) That's just how the mission goes.
We went Ice Skating last week with an investigator, her daughter, and the other elders in Kispest. Such a good time. I have no idea what my legs are doing in the picture, but I never was athletic so whatever. My feet still hurt from that.
Both "L" and "A", our bapdates for March, showed up to church on Sunday. Woo! They loved sacrament meeting. I think sometimes as missionaries we cringe because of the talks sometimes and when we see who is giving them we get a little nervous, but both talks were solid and the members bore great testimony. One of our investigators that was there afterwards asked me if I could baptize "if we (her and her daughter) decide to get baptized". I was like "Um...yeah." Duh! 

This past week I've been studying a lot about change. Missions are all about change. Investigators change their lives, members change their testimonies, and more importantly, missionaries change their faith. I think that is just something that I'm starting to grasp, and it's almost the end. I've figured out why obedience is important and how the Lord always keeps His promises.
It's a real thing.

All is dandy over here. Budapest is just incredible. The guy next to me smells very strongly of alcohol.
Life is great. It's all about perspective. :)
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Monday, February 9, 2015

Kispest Week Six (Week 96



It's snowing outside! And we're going ice skating later today! Yay! I love winter!
And it sounds like it's a lot more like winter out here than back in Utah. Really, 70 degrees?? That's messed.
So last week, I was sick. Oh, so very sick. I had a fever that was on and off for like five days. Being sick at home is so much better than being sick on a mission. You just suffer through the day and hope that your drugs will kick in. Bleh. But, I'm feeling much better. I got a blessing from one of the elders here, and bam! Totally fine now. Loving life.
Last week we finished teaching "L", one of our bapdates, the Law of Tithing. We had a member of the Bishophric there to help, and it was sooo good. Like, this ward knows how to do missionary work. They don't steal the entire program, and they aren't just silent. They know exactly when to bear testimony or when to share an experience. I've been to eight cities, but this ward seriously knows what's up. "A", our other bapdate, was only able to meet once and didn't show up to church and isn't answering her phone, which was a little alarming. I hope we get a hold of her soon.
We streeted out to Parliament and took pictures. The weather was FREEZING but sitting there besides the massive castle was worth the trek out (granted there is a Metro stop that plops you off right at the gate, but there's no adventure there! Lol). We also saw the memorial to the Holocaust by the river. It's a bunch of bronze and iron cast shoes set up by the Duna, because that's where they made them take them off before they threw them in the river in winter. Super sad but very moving.
So last week was hard because I was sick, and because it didn't go away at first, That was hard. But there were many beautiful moments last week that were little bursts of sunshine: getting a beautiful health blessing that included some other "extra" bits of advice from Heavenly Father that left me in tears, tracting and getting "let-ins" left and right and moments to bear my testimony to people who would hear it, and getting commitments from people to change their lives. A missionary couldn't ask for more. I have been so blessed, and I just didn't realize it in the moment.
Life is great. Just take it a day at a time, and you'll see the greatness in each day.
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Kispest Week Five (Week 95)

So the entire city of Budapest is caught up in a freak out mode because of this flu bug that is like taking over the entire world. It's super scary!
Well the weeks are just flying by and honestly it's a little scary! This past week was just packed full of awesome things. The lady with the broken back made her way to church, absolutely loved it, and is on bapdate for March 14th! We are super pumped for her!
On Saturday there was a funeral for a member here in Kispest. He wanted his ashes scattered over the Danube river, so we (the elders) all went on this ferry boat with the rest of the ward and cruised for a few minutes out to a specific area. They put the box containing his ashes in the water, and then everyone threw a flower in the water. It was very sad. I thought about how happy I was knowing that this guy still lives, and that death isn't the end. It's just a very important little step we have to take. The weather was beautiful, it was the only time during the week where the skies were blue and the sun was out. The river was gorgeous and the four of us elders all stood on the bow of the ship and just looked at Budapest from the river. For some reason it was a very calming moment for me. Sometimes nature can just take our breath away.
Cool moment when Elder Zwingli and I were streeting by the Duna and a guy came up to me and asked me if I had any cigarettes. I said "No, but I have a Book of Mormon", and I pulled it out and we chatted for it for a while. He accepted a copy and we set up to meet later this week. Lol.
The new missionary here is Elder Nordberg. He's a convert of like a year and a half, and he's just seriously the coolest guy ever. It's definitely weird talking to him because he's just starting his mission and I'm...well...I'm further down the road. Haha.
We are loving life. So many miracles and great moments daily. I love being a missionary and being able to help people. It's the best! Heavenly Father loves His missionaries and it always surprises me how much He is willing to go to help you with anything.
Have a good week everyone!!
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Friday, January 30, 2015

Kispest Week Four (Week 94) PICS

"Hey...show me your tongue!"-Aintablian Elder

The Duna is so brown right now...ew

PEST

I had Hummus! SO GOOD

Found A&W root beer...of my YES!!!

Church in the city of dreams

Kispest Week Four (Week 94)

It's another great week here in the Kispest-lands! We destroyed all our goals we had set and now we're here again emailing. It feels like we were just here like yesterday! It's insane how fast time is flying. 

Remember the lady that broke her back and let us in to her apartment like a few weeks ago? Yeah, so she's like super legit! She continues to astound us with her determination to learn and grow!

Great moments like week:
  • Coming back to a let-in a few days later to find out that she has read like fifty pages out of the Book of Mormon and had like a million questions. We answered her questions and taught her the Restoration. She sat there and soaked it all up and as we finished with a prayer and got up to leave, she grabbed my suit sleeve and said: "Find the others who are waiting for you, like me."
  • Having one of those moments when your bapdate is so set on baptism that he is willing to take any advice on how to quit smoking. I just sat back and soaked in the moment with so much gratitude in my heart to be able to teach him. He's awesome.
  • Splits with a good friend from the Buda side. Got to talk some things out with him about life and everything. At the end of the split he said :"Elder Giacalone, I just love you!" and gave me the biggest hug. I'm grateful for amazing missionaries to work with!
With transfers here, I am sadly losing Elder Spedding. He's off to the mystical land of Győr. I am getting Elder Zwingli! He's a couple groups beneath me, and I served around him during my little adventure out to Eger for a month. Haha. He's a good kid, I'm excited to work with him.
And...I guess I'll state the obvious: yes, I have started the last transfer of my mission here in Hungary. It's a weird feeling, with just nine weeks remaining out here. We have a LOT to do out here, and I intend to make the best of it! Here's to working till I drop dead!...literally. 
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Monday, January 19, 2015

Kispest Week Three (Week 93)

The good news: I do not need to get eye surgery! But I have a stye...ugh. So not needed right now. Gotta love getting random bumps in your eyelid.
I had sushi for the first time last week! Our investigator took us to this really good Japanese restraunt and they had a moving little Sushi conveyer belt. You just sit by a little window thing and snag the sushi on a dish as it moves by. Soo much fun! I had octopus!
We had a baptism last week in the other companionship, it was so sick! It was another one of Heavenly Fathers children making his way back home. So cool, and really pretty.
We had Zone Training with the whole zone! We taught about being "Smarter Missionaries" and using our time wisely. We also divided the city of Budapest amongst the ten companionships here since the old lines were like five years old, and some companioships were closed down. I felt like someone after World War One carving up Europe amongst the winners, but this time it was the city of Budapest to Mormon Missionaries. Lol. 

I was thinking about my mission a lot the other day last week, since just ten weeks are left, and we went to a program literally like three blocks south of the Parliament building (you know, the big one with spires). It was our second time meeting with her. and we had a beautiful program on the Plan of Salvation, and life after death especially. I got to bear testimony of eternal families, something that is so precious to me and something my mission has given me. As we were getting ready to leave she asked me something that hit pretty deep: "did you think your mission was a success?" I looked at my companion, and he just kind of raised his eyebrows and gave me the "this one is all you" kind of look.

At first I started by saying that I am by all means an imperfect missionary, that I am full of flaws and things I can work on, but then I saw in my minds eye faces of people that I love here in Hungary, faces from more than twenty-one months worth of work. Some were special investgators and some were my own companions!

I told that lady that my mission changed my life. I told her that life, and missions, aren't always what we expect, but honestly in the end it's not about what we expect-it's about doing God's work, and trusting that things will be ok if we follow Him.

I still have ten weeks left and who knows what is around the corner or what I am going to experience tomorrow, but I know that my mission is a successfull thing. It can be and will be for anyone, if you choose to make it.

So make it awesome, cause it's totally worth it.
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Kispest Week Two (Week 92)

I cannot believe I have been a missionary for 92 weeks...oh my.
Still an amazing time in the Pest-lands! I am so mad right now though because I CANNOT FIND THE USB PORT IN THIS COMPUTER BECAUSE THEY PUT IT IN UPSIDE DOWN.
My area is beautiful. I would show you pictures, but sadly I still cannot find the USB thing. So, you all just have to believe me.
Here are some happenings from the past week:
  • Whilst (I have found myself saying "whilst" a lot, its so fancy!) tracting, getting four (4) let-ins in like an hour. One of them had a broken back and told us to come back in an hour. So we came back an hour later and she sat us down in her tiny kitchen, shuffled over to her boiling pot and turned off the heat, turned around and with great difficulty sat down (broken backs suck) and said: "Boys, teach me about your church. I am ready now."
  • Sitting on a rock by the Duna and gazing up at Gellert Hegy (a big hill overlooking the river) and feeling a huge confirmation that Hungary really was the place where I needed to be and when. Gosh, I love this place and the people so much, and I do NOT want to leave!!!
  • Getting a call this morning from a member who said: "I have been thinking a lot about your investigator that came to church two weeks ago, and I have a very strong feeling that she will be baptized. I would like to come to a program with you so I can share my testimony of the Gospel..."
  • The throw-up from the New Years party last week is still frozen on the ground. Under a sheet of ice...Yum yum!
Honestly, the work here is on fire. We slayed our weekly goals last week, but this week looks a bit more slow. I guess it means we will just go tract out the beautiful city center in this great weather. I am so happy!
Also, apparently I have an eye infection. Cool....why could it not have waited for just another couple months?! LAME. It doesnt hurt or anything, so I am just going to get it fixed in America...
I literally dont have anything else. I love the work. I love Hungary. I love bringing people closer to Christ. I love my companion, and my past companions as well. Its weird with all my friends starting to go home, its starting to sink in that I have only a couple of months left!
Have a great week everyone. There is so much to be GRATEFUL for. This world is beautiful and life is GREAT.
Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone

Kispest Week One (Week 91)

Holy cow. Holy cow everyone. 

I am in Budapest! Like, this is where I first landed in the country, and where I have been going for zone conferences, interviews and transfers. Except this time when I went up for transfers from Duna, I stayed in the city. 

That was weird.

Anyway, so KISPEST. Seriously, this place is where it is at. Serving in the city is very different from anything I have ever experienced. People are everywhere. Everyone is bustling somewhere. Its loud. I just went from a small factory town to the biggest city in my mission. Its insane. For New Years, the city did some serious fireworks. It sounded like the bombs you hear on CNN describing the war in Iraq...freaking terrifying haha. 

I am still a Zone Leader, and the Budapest Zone is divided into four areas, each comprimising districts from the city. Like unto the Capitol in the Hunger Games, the city of Budapest is divided into districts, and the missionaries here are giving districts to work in for their areas. The four areas are Buda (the left side of Budapest from the Danube River), Pest (the northern districts of the east side), Kispest (the southern districts of the east side of Budapest and the largest area, "Kispest" itself means "Little Pest") and then Érd, a suburb of Buda. So its been fun getting to know the city.

We travel by city trams, the Metro (or the subway) and buses. I mourn the loss of my car, but honsetly driving in this city is a nightmare and parking is just as bad. So, I am kind of grateful we do not have one. Plus, walking more is going to help me lose more weight before I go home! :)

Our investigators are so cool. So cool. I am getting to meet them more and more. The ward is legit. There was like 100 people at church on Sunday...like what the heck?! Thats huge! 

We got to set a bapdate with "E" last week, and she has only been investigating for about a week! When I met with her, she had only been taught the Restoration, but she had prayed about it and knew that the message was true! I asked her if she had prayed about the Book of Mormon, and she said that she just knew it was true from what we said, and that when she met with us outside of English Class (how she originally came in contact with us) it wasnt random. She is so cool.

I don't know what else to say! I feel like as time goes by, I'm getting worse and worse at writing these things. Shout out to Sister Carle's blog, because I said I would do it. 

Be happy people. For this New Year, be a little bit better. Remember that God loves His children, and don't forget how important you all are to Him. 

Sok Szeretettel,
Elder Giacalone