Pics from Duna

Sister Magda is going home! :( My sisters' missions are almost up!)

PECS

Pecs

Neely and I in Székes.

Baptism last week! Elder Peterson baptized and I...watched. Haha ;)

Hungarian Risk

Duna's ten-stories-they color them so they won't be as depressing as they already are! Haha

Smelly factories- sadly, them employ like half of the city

Hungarian countryside!

Duna at night!

Dunaujvaros Week Three (Week 75)

So, first of all, I forgot my planner out in my apartment :( So now I don't remember what happened this week! But, I'll try...

Last week, we went down to Pécs to give a training. The car ride down the highway was about two hours, and the countryside was absolutely gorgeous. We passed lots of plains, mountains, and small villages carved into the sides of large valleys. I love Hungary! The last time I was in that city was a year ago for a zone training, back when I was in Kaposvár. Crazy how fast time goes! We also gave another training in Székesfehérvár, and we got a nice surprise of President and Sister Smith coming on down to watch the training! They did an amazing job of adding the Spirit into our teaching, and we were super happy they showed up.

It's been raining SO hard recently, I cannot believe it. We'll be sitting in our car about to get out, and then suddenly it sounds like someone is pounding out roof with a hammer and then the road disappears into a fog of rain. Dang, that sounded pretty poetic, didn't it? :) Anyway, my days of getting caught in the rain seem to be coming to an end, since we've always been in our around our car. Soooo don't have to worry about ruined ties.

Last week, I won my Risk game! Woo! Still rocking it. Also, a member had us come over and give back-to-school blessings to her neighbor's kids in her ten-story. They weren't members, and the thought of a random American boy coming and putting their hands on their heads and muttering Hungarian in a weird accent wasn't the most exciting thought. Noticing that the kids were kind of scared, the member said that she would get a blessing "as an example". She then told Elder Peterson to give her a blessing. Talk about awkward blessing! He didn't really know what to say, so he said something along the lines of "I bless you that....your things in your life will go well...?" I don't know, I can't give it justice. It was just so awkward for someone to be like "Give me a blessing as an example"!  I admit that I was also nervous, but once I put my hands on the head of a small little seven-year old girl, the words came and the Spirit was so strong. Very special moment indeed! 

Don't have a whole lot to say, just that I'm loving being a missionary! Next week is transfers, and there is something like twelve new missionaries coming in: pretty big group! Going be awesome :)

Loving everything. I am so happy to be out here in this beautiful country, speaking this amazing language, and serving these incredible people! Super happy! :D 

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Giacalone

Dunaújváros Week Two (Week 74)

The weather is starting to get colder...and it's only September...ehhhh

What happened last week? Well, we got invited over to a less-active family's home for family night last week. They wanted to play the beloved board game "Risk" with me, my companion, and the other two elders. Not wanting to give up an opportunity to utterly thrash everyone in my favorite board game, I obliged. I took up my position in North America and diplomatically weaved my way out of any serious situations. In fact, I currently have everyone thinking they are in an alliance with me...oh dear.

Currently, I'm in a position to win. Don't even worry about it. We're going over again tonight to finish it. I felt like I was back with my friends at home, except it was a bunch of Hungarian getting screamed instead of English! Haha way different! 

I went on splits to Székesfehérvár last week! I've never been there before. It was a super pretty city, and apparently it was the first capital of Hungary "back in the day", that meaning like the year 1000. So it's pretty old. I got to see my good friend Elder Neely, and that's always a treat!

I had a dream about Harry Potter last night. I miss Harry Potter. 

We had a program with a new investigator, and I showed her pictures of my family and said how I have three younger brothers, a mom,a dad and now a dog. She took the picture from me, looked at it, and said: "My dear, I see your brothers and your dad, but you didn't tell me about your beautiful sister! Where's your mom? Is she in the back somewhere?" Peterson started laughing and I had to awkwardly explain to her that my "sister" was in fact my mom. So...shout out to my mommy for looking young! HAHA

We had our first MLC (Mission Leadership Council) this past Wednesday. We drove through Budapest's winding streets until we got to the Mission Home and were able to discuss the needs of the mission with President and Sister Smith, the other eight Zone Leaders, and the Sister Training Leaders. It was super cool to hear President in that kind of setting, as we talked about problems and solutions regarding the work here in Hungary. He's a super awesome person, and really in-tune with the Spirit.

We had a baptism last Saturday! "K" was super excited! She was found tracting by some elders in this past March, and she has just been progressing awesomely since then! I kind of got here just as we were finishing up her teaching, but after her confirmation she still grabbed my hand and with tears in her eyes said "Thank you, thank you, thank you for teaching me." I have to admit, it had a massive affect on me. You just never know who you might touch with what you say, nowadays.

And it's true: You NEVER know how you can affect someone. So, always be YOU, but more importantly, remember who you ARE. 

Love you all! Peace and blessings from Duna! ;)

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Giacalone

Eger Week Five (Week 72)

I hope everyone had a great week! Also, somewhere along the line my Week Number got messed up, so it's on 72 now. #sorrynotsorry

Anyway, CHANGE HAS COME TO MY LIFE AGAIN. Transfer calls were this morning, and we were both surprised to see President Smith on the caller ID. Elder Barbour is being sent to my good friend Elder Neely in Székesfehérvár, and I am also leaving and going to be a Zone Leader in the city of Dunaújváros. Kind of scary, but I am super excited! I will be serving with Elder Peterson, who is actually my "mission mother", and he is a super cool kid! Also, I get a car! My dirt road biking days are over! 

I talked to a German the other day! I was surprised by how much I could understand him, but literally when I tried to reply to what he was saying, just Hungarian came out. Gosh dang it, so much for three years of German in high school. #fail

August 20th was last week! Happy Birthday Hungary! That was said in the voice of Katy Perry, by the way. We hiked up to the castle that overlooks the city, and I guess it totally stopped the Turkish invasion in the 1500s. Just a little FYI. It was gorgeous, and later that night there was a super cool fireworks display outside of the Basilica. There were booths set up on the walking street, and you could buy lángos (a giant scone) and lots of yummy candy. Hungarian holidays are the best!

It has been a super good ride out in Eger. A super fun....five weeks. Dang, they call this "one and done", when you get to an area and then you leave like at the next transfer. Also, our companionship, and our massive amount of work, is going to the other elders because we are getting "shut down". Simply because they were more elders leaving than coming in, so some had to go down. So I have to CLEAN SO MUCH TONIGHT. 

I MET A MAN WITH FOUR PET GOATS.

HE HAS A TWITTER.

WHAT IS LIFE.

Love you all! Be good and pray that I don't crash a car next week!

LOVE,

Elder Giacalone

Eger Week Three (Week 70)

So, I discovered this past week that the metro in Budapest is an unforgiving, terrifying place.

Just don't ever go there.

Anyway, I had such a good week. As previously mentioned, we were in the capital for a day for interviews with President and Sister Smith. I love them both so much! They care so much for us missionaries and are amazing examples AND I JUST REALIZED THAT I FORGOT MY BELT AGAIN TODAY GOOD CRAP.

We also got permission from President to go to a ghetto circus! #missionmemories 

There were like at least nine million screaming Hungarian children in that hot tent, but I saw a real live Llama in Hungary! Score! Super great moment when during the show the main circus clown guy stops everything, stares straight at Elder Barbour, who had just taken a picture, and says in English: "And for those who do NOT speak the Hungarian language, we do NOT take pictures or record during the show performance! Thank you!" We all laughed super hard.

Sick moment of the week: like about four hours ago we had a program with one of our new people at the branch house. I still can't believe what happened, so I'm going to go to express it like this:

Me: "So "N", did you read out of the Book of Mormon?"

N: "Yes, I did."

Me: "Where exactly?"

Barbour: "Did you pray about it?"

N: "I just kind of flipped around it. I read a story about some intense warfare. It was very interesting. But while I was reading it I kind of just realized that this book is like really God's Word, isn't it? Like, how cool is it that He gave us this book?"

Me: "...so, like, do you want to get baptized?"

N: "I would most certainly enjoy that. My birthday is October 24th, so I was thinking maybe the Saturday after that? If not, that's fine. I have a coffee problem."

Member present: "I had that same problem. I will personally help you overcome it and be there every step of the way!"

N: "Wow! You are all so fantastic. I am so glad that I know members of the church like you, this church is fantastic!"

(Lots of other random but amazing things discussed by him and member present)

So yeah, super sick program. He's totes gettin baptized. He's got his problems, but "Nobody's perfect" in the words of Hannah Montana. 

It's still so hot. So incredibly hot. But the work is on FIRE. We had  SEVEN people at church yesterday, I didn't know what to do, mostly because I was translating for Elder Herd for sacrament, blessing it, and then preparing my talk for priesthood. Props of serving in small branches, but you know, you love it. It's the best :) I love where I'm at, and life is grand! 

És ne felejtsetek el, mennyire értékesek vagytok Isten szemeben :) 

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Giacalone So, I discovered this past week that the metro in Budapest is an unforgiving, terrifying place.

Just don't ever go there.

Anyway, I had such a good week. As previously mentioned, we were in the capital for a day for interviews with President and Sister Smith. I love them both so much! They care so much for us missionaries and are amazing examples AND I JUST REALIZED THAT I FORGOT MY BELT AGAIN TODAY GOOD CRAP.

We also got permission from President to go to a ghetto circus! #missionmemories 

There were like atleast nine million screaming Hungarian children in that hot tent, but I saw a real live Llama in Hungary! Score! Super great moment when during the show the main circus clown guy stops everything, stares straight at Elder Barbour, who had just taken a picture, and says in English: "And for those who do NOT speak the Hungarian language, we do NOT take pictures or record during the show performance! Thank you!" We all laughed super hard.

Sick moment of the week: like about four hours ago we had a program with one of our new people at the branch house. I still can't believe what happened, so I'm going to go to express it like this:

Me: "So "N", did you read out of the Book of Mormon?"

N: "Yes, I did."

Me: "Where exactly?"

Barbour: "Did you pray about it?"

N: "I just kind of flipped around it. I read a story about some intense warfare. It was very interesting. But while I was reading it I kind of just realized that this book is like really God's Word, isn't it? Like, how cool is it that He gave us this book?"

Me: "...so, like, do you want to get baptized?"

N: "I would most certainly enjoy that. My birthday is October 24th, so I was thinking maybe the Saturday after that? If not, that's fine. I have a coffee problem."

Member present: "I had that same problem. I will personally help you overcome it and be there every step of the way!"

N: "Wow! You are all so fantastic. I am so glad that I know members of the church like you, this church is fantastic!"

(Lots of other random but amazing things discussed by him and member present)

So yeah, super sick program. He's totes gettin baptized. He's got his problems, but "Nobody's perfect" in the words of Hannah Montana. 

It's still so hot. So incredibly hot. But the work is on FIRE. We had  SEVEN people at church yesterday, I didn't know what to do, mostly because I was translating for Elder Herd for sacrament, blessing it, and then preparing my talk for priesthood. Props of serving in small branches, but you know, you love it. It's the best :) I love where I'm at, and life is grand! 

És ne felejtsetek el, mennyire értékesek vagytok Isten szemeben :) 

Sok Szeretettel,

Elder Giacalone

Eger Week Two Pics

Eger

our District

Park where we play soccer

Out in the boondocks!

Inside of a massive church!

The Synagogue!

Whip it good!

People do this here, put locks on this gate by the church. I think it's about declaring your love or something?

It's a midget horse!

Eger Week Two (Week 69)

Dear everyone,

What a good week! But one of the best things was that I RODE A BIKE FOR THE FIRST TIME ON MY MISSION LAST WEEK. It only took me about 16 months...but, I have finally done the "whole shabang" regarding missionary work. I've seen it all! 

So here in Eger, the missionaries are much more involved in what the branch does and everything, due to the small member size. We are also in charge of finances for the branch. Which means we are at the bank for long, long amounts of time. Elder Herd, the senior missionary here, is the branch president and doesn't speak Hungarian, so I get to follow him around and translate for whatever he wants to say. Perks of being the oldest missionary here. Lol. 

We went out to a part-member family in a small village about thirty minutes from Eger. The dad is a bus driver but also makes whips in his spare time. Now children, these whips are not the black skinny little things like the circus, instead they are designed, slaved-over, beautiful and TERRIFYING pieces of art. Hungarians LOVE their whips! I had only "whipped" once before this, and it was another missionary's whip and I couldn't even get it to crack, but this time I had the Hungarians to help me and I got it to crack! I can finally "whip it good!" :)  

I also ordered a whip :) I'm so excited! Soon, Utah will also hear the mighty thunder of my whip! Wah chah! Well, in 8 months. Haha! 

Yes, it's still blazing hot outside, and I am sweating like crazy as I type this, but I am so happy! Life is good here in the East. I have interviews tomorrow in Buda with President Smith, and I'm excited to talk to him about what the heck the future has in store for me here in good old Magyarország. But...that also means train rides...which I despise. Ugh. 

Awesome moment of the week: we met with one of our new investigators and taught him the Restoration. He soaked it up and loved it! He said he couldn't wait to pray about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. As we finished it up, we asked him if he would like to say the closing prayer. He asked us if during the prayer he could ask God if the Book of Mormon was true. We said of course. He then proceeded to say a prayer that put literally all the prayers that I have said in my life to shame! It was beautiful. Right when he asked Heavenly Father if he could "open his heart to the Holy Ghost", a sweet Spirit filled the room, and Elder Barbour and I looked up at eachother and just smiled like crazy! Our investigator was silent after the prayer, and we just sat there and soaked in the Spirit. It was incredible! And the best thing is that these things happen ALL the time here! I am so grateful for my mission! 

I love you all! Have a good week!

Love,

Elder Giacalone :)