If You could Hie to Kolob...

I dont have too much time, but I do have important information to share.

So remember how I found out from one of the people we meet with that Kolob is ACTUALLY in Debrecen, Hungary? Well ladies and gentleman. I hiked to Kolob. I need you to all go and read the

hymn about Kolob and I would just like you to all know that I agree. What most people don't actually know is that Kolob is a 5 story building. It was an incredible experience I will never forget.

I want you all to go and read this talk this week. it was something that really helped me. I was on splits and sister Hughes gave me this printed out talk and said how much it helped her, and then I looked on the front and realized, "Thats Elder Simmons! the  Man who teaches sunday school in my ward!". He really is such an incredible man.
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2004/04/but-if-not?lang=eng

JÓ HETET KÍVÁNOK 

1.  What are your pday plans today?
go out to eat, play games with the elders yay 

2.  When you knock on someone's door, what is the first thing you say to them?

hi we are missionaries from the church of jesus christ.... then kinda whatever i feel i need to say! i bring up how we believe we can live in happiness with eternal families, how we know that jesus christs original gospel is on the earth today, and then i usually ask them questions right off the bat, like if they believe in god, what brings them happiness, if they could ask god one question, what would it be?

3.  What percentage of your clothing that you took with you are you bringing home?

uhmmmmmmm definitely depends! a good portion, but definitely leaving a bunch

4.  What did you have for dinner last night?

tacosssss

5.  Do you know what your branch president does for a living?  Just curious what Hungarians do.  :)

i actually have no clue :/ i am sorry haha 

6.  If you were living in Hungary....would you live in the city or out in the country?

absolutely the country. budapest is really cool, but if you live in the countryside you can just visit budapest, and the countryside is to die foorrr

7.  Do you speak Hungarian with your companion when you are just talking?

we try to yes!

8.  Are you up to a rousing pickleball match with your mamma when you get home?  They actually built some new courts in Kaysville!!!

if youre ready to lose

9,. Have you figured out what meal you are going to make us all for your night of cooking when we are down at the beach?

yes! either paprikás csirke with nöl kedli, or lecso

10.  Did you know that there is not one way in the entire world that I could be one little itty bitty bit more proud of you and the beautiful woman you have and are becoming?

i love you so much 

Sunflower fields

So listen. sometimes you want to get another set of pictures in a sunflower field, you know, because the last time you went,  the sunflowers were droopy and the sun wasn't in the right direction. And sometimes you decide to wear your jelly shoes sandles that you bought that your companion thinks are for 7 year old girls but you don't care because you think they are hip and you are an athlete. And sometimes you and your jelly shoes underestimate the fact that the path to the sunflower fields consist of stinging nettle, and scary bug noises. And then maybe you and your companion become trapped in the sunflower field with three options.

1. Go the way we came and cry at the thought of stinging nettle
2. Trek a new path through the unknown bushes right in front of us

3. Take a B-line straight through the bee infested sunflowers three feet above our heads :''''')

Sometimes you have to call the Elders for a solution to get out. and sometimes that Elder spent his whole life in the military service and you would trust him if his directions to you were "hey, you know what? eat that stinging nettle, that will help the situation"

GUYS THIS SITUATION IS ME, THAT WAS MY LIFE. but he didn't tell us to eat stinging nettle. he told us a fantastic solution and we were able to saftely make our way out of the sunflower fields.

Here is information about three of my investigators that I am in love with

Eugene: We got to meet with Eugene for the first time of the transfer this week, and she is just fantastic. I need to just paint the picture a little bit for you guys here, cause this lesson is one I will never forget. Her living situation is kind of crazy, and there are like 23 people that live in their one little családi ház. So, when we go over there it is a little chaotic. There is like the hip new tunes blasting out of the window, like 8 people running back and forth throughout the lesson, people just like gazing in awe that we are Americans.  But, we were able to have such an amazing lesson, teach her the whole szabadulás terve. She told us that she knows the Book of Mormon is true, and that she feels like she is coming closer to Christ when she reads it. She is amazing, seriously her life is crazy crazy but I can't even imagine giving up on her. Her testimony is so solid, and she really just has such a good grasp of the important things in this gospel. She even called us when we got home to say that the teaching was amazing, and to make sure we got home safetly. I love being here guys holy cow. 

Eszter: So ezster is the most prepared human in the world and SHE literally streeted sister Solomon and sister Tishner, and told them she would love to hear more about the Mormon church. We finally decided to just go over to her house, and stop trying to go through her daughter to set up, and we had the most amazing lesson. She is seriously basically a Mormon, and really believes, and loves what our church teaches. I had such a strong feeling to ask her to be baptized when she believes that it is all true, and she accepted, and said that she needs to recieve all the lessons, but she is more than willing when she feels like she knows the foundations. So amazing. After, sister Solomon and I were talking, and Sister Solomon had a strong feeling to talk about baptism, and then I started talking about it. It's really cool to me when we are able to work together so well, and when the spirit tells us the same thing.

Piroska: Piroska is our ward mission leaders wife, and she is amazing.  We had a lesson with her this week before she got sick, and we had planned to talk about faith, but that morning we did not feel like that was the right lesson. We decided to talk about the youth theme for this year of 'kérj' and the 5 questions to ask yourself when you feel like your prayers havent been answered. We asked her if she feels like her prayers are answered, and she told of how she had a cool experience, that the restoration helped her to feel at peace with all the craziness going on in her life, and how she really felt like this path is one that she need to walk. She was crying slightly for a lot of our lesson, and the spirit was there so strongly. It was such an amazing teaching enviornment and i am so glad we were able to listen to the spirit. We visited her yesterday and brought some süti so that she knew she was loved, and that we were thinking about her, and had a fantastic discussion about patience, and how god will deliver us out of our trials.

THIS IS MY LIFE PEOPLE. I love being here way too much

1.  Pday plans today?

the zoooooo

2.  What did speakers in sacrament talk about today?

it was beautiful, they talked about meekness, and patience, and how to aquire those godly attributes in our lives 

3.  Does your companion play an instrument?
she is amazing at piano

4.  Are you going to remember how to sing hymns in English?

no and i dont want to haha 

5.  What is your favorite part of your day?

teaching. i love teaching and just feeling like someone is really understanding, the spirit is guiding, or the person is really being helped. i love it. and i love to just tract and talk to people, and ask them questions, make them think about what they probably havent thought about before. i love it 

6.  Have you ever heard of pickleball?

yes i have haha why?

7.  Do they have "farmer's market" type events in your town?

uhm, i wish i could tell you i remembered what a farmers market even was :/

8.  Have you mastered the art of Hungarian embroidery?

haha i actually havent worked on it in awhile, but i am planning on doing it on the plan

9.  Do you know your Hungarian History well?

haaat well enough!

10.  Did you know I am down too counting DAYS?????  Love you so much!!!

I KNOW ITS CRAZY AHHHHHHH

For my fourth of July I became a legal citizen of Debrecen in Hungary

For my fourth of July I became a legal citizen of Debrecen in Hungary. if that isn't patriotic i don't know what is.

I did ask every hungarian I talked to what the date was, and when they said "the fourth of july" I would say, "wait a minute, isnt tha't AN AMERICAN holiday?" I was just curious you know?

We went on splits this week, and I finally got to be with Sister Hughes. I have served with half of her companions, and I know everything about her, so it was about time we got to go on a split or something. My goal for the split was to do absolutely every single thing that I didn't want to do. cause sometimes as a missionary you have these thoughts like 'ah I should talk to that person, but like look they are looking at their phone, they are OBVIOUSLY BUSY'

So, my goal was to every time I had one of those thoughts, I just had to do it. so it started out by me stopping this individual who was flying by on his bike. I thought, "who in their right mind would stop someone going that fast on a bike?" So I just stood right in front and said, heyyyy uh excuse me for a second... (spoiler alert this guy ended up already knowing who we were, scheduling with us for the next day, and he actually showed up and became a new investigator. he is SO COOL.) when that happened, Hughes and I just got SO EXCITED. and ended up having the craziest, boldest little split. Things that were done:

1. Stopped individual mid bike ride

2. Streeted terrifyingly handsome youth with headphones in at bus stop

3. Grumpy néni as she was about to get on the vilamos

4. A group of 15 people having a BBQ. 

5. finding out from said group of 15 people having a BBQ that it was a reformed catholic church mid single adult activity :')

Yesterday all of my dreams came true and we found a real, hungarian SUNFLOWER FIELD.  After tracting all day in the cutest Hungarian village that i wish i was a painter and had the skills necessary to paint you a picture. it was that adorable. i have only been searching for one of these guys since the moment I entered this country.

life is way too good.

time going way too fast

I am way too excited to see you all

Iam way too sad to leave.

HAVE WAY TOO GOOD OF A WEEK

with a lot of szeretettel

Swenson nővér

1.  Pday plays today?

HORTOBÁGY to get a whip cause i am in the east babyyyyy. so excited

2.  Where are the Elders in your district from?  How long have they been out?  Have you ever served with either of them?

gajdos is from utah. its his 5th transfer. Cushing is from Kansas/New york, 4th transfer i think?

3.  Do you have a 3 hour block at your branch for Sunday?

yes we do because debrecen is rad

4.  What is the number one sport in Hungary?

hmmm probably soccer?

5.  What did you have for breakfast this morning?
a yogurt parfair. coconut yogurt, pomogranite granola, apples, and bananas because i am classy

6.  Is your new companion a runner?

YES :') i told you i am in love with her

7.  Do you get any potential investigators from your branch members?

no because member work in hungary is rough man

8.  Do Hungarians have good dental work? (I am watching a dental commercial...)

NO. i am not joking you most of the nightmares i have had on my missoin consist of my teeth falling out because of all of the terrible teeth here. BRUSHING YOUR TEETH IS IMPORTANT PEOPLE

9.  IF you were a hungarian teenager, what would you do for fun Friday night?

sit by the nagy templom and smoke haha

10.  You write the best letters.  You are a gifted writer sweet Lindsi!!!

haha i feel like i just make 6 sassy comment and then bear my testimony, but thank you haha

I am on my dying transfer, in my dying city of DEBRECEN.

If someone was to sit me down right now, and tell me that I actually never had a family, or that I am actually never going home, I am not kidding you I think I would believe them?

But I couldn't be anything but happy being here. My new comp is Sister Solomon, and she is just a dream. We just clicked instantly the moment she made a sarcastic comment to one of the elders at transfers. Thats when I knew I would fall in love with her :') But really, we just walk around all day on the beautiful streets of Debrecen having way too much fun.

I need everyone to know that I am just genuinely the happiest I have ever been in my life. and that is 100 percent because I get to be here, as a missionary, doing the Lords work every single day. The time is just flying by, and I really don't want it to go. My poor heart is just in 2 different places right now, and I think it will be that way for the rest of my life. 

Debrecen is giving me so many memories of last summer in Szolnok, because we get to tract in all of these little villages, which is my favorite thing in the world to do. 

This week we met with one of the members here, who told us that he is, in fact, God. Which is crazy because I had no clue! He also translated the little picture in Abraham for us, and told us that next week he is going to show us where Kolob is in Debrecen. STAY POSTED.

Don't forget to be happy this week.

sok szeretettel,

Swenson nővér

1.  So, what are you doing on your first pday in your new area?

we are going on a debrecen tour, going up the nagy templom to see the streets, gonig to this delicious panini place, just kinda a chill day getting to know the city!

2.  Do you email your future roommates every week?

hahaha YES WE DONT MISS A WEEK AND I MISS THEM SO MUCH

3.  How big is your new ward/branch?
its a branch and there are maybe like... 30?

4.  What did you do your last day in Pest?

visited a lot of investigators and members and said bye, then took one last duna walk

5.  Do you have another zone conference before you come home?

yes! one more around like august 4th?

6.  Do you miss your car?

haha so far not really, its kinda nice to walk throughout this beautiful city!

7.  What did you have for dinner last night?'

i made this zuccini, brown rice and quinoa, ground beef, téfől (kinda like sour cream?) and with this delicious seasoning. i am a chef. 

8.  Do Hungarians even know what American football is?

haha yes they do

9.  Do you have a funny companion first week together story??

haha honestly nothing that would be funny enough to everyone that is not me or sister solomon haha but trust me, we are having fun every second of every day i love this woman. 

10.  You just have to know how amazingly beautiful you are????The outside, obviously, and the inside...just wow beautiful.  Love you so much.

gosh i love you so much mom thank you!

Pest. :)

Welllllllllll my pdays have been crazy for like the past three weeks, but tomorrow Sister Morris and I get to spend the whole day with the new missionary that is coming.  We get to take her streeting, and have dinner with her and the Szabadkais, so our pday got switched again to Monday. President told me that I will be leaving Pest, and the only problem with this is that he didn't tell me where i am going. so I mean, that hasn't even been the only thing on my mind for the past week. 

We were teaching a lesson this week at our branch house and we walked out of the room to a member of the Seventy, Elder Holmer, and the stake president. We then got permission to stay for a discussion that he was having with the youth ages 18-30. It ended up being about 10 people sitting in a room, receiving direction from one of the Lords called Prophets. I feel so blessed that I was able to be there, and like the whole discussion was everything i needed to hear. I wanted to share a quote that he shared. 

"Beware of tolerence- it is an unstable virtue. often demanded, seldom returned." 

I thought this was so powerful. I think that is such a pressing issue on all members of the church today. We really do live in kind of a crazy time. I know I havent been home, or on the internet for more than a year, but when i think about all the just junk out there, it really scares me. A big portion of the discussion was on anti-mormon material on the internet that a lot of people find doubt from being involved in that. This world is so quick to tell us what we should think. who we should be, how we should act, and how terribly wrong we are if we have any other opinion. which i am sure can get extremely confusing for many people. I just think it is so important that we know the pure sources we can turn to when we have these questions, when we have these thoughts. I feel nothing but peace, answers, and saftey when i turn to my scriptures, to conference talks, and to God with my concerns. Elder Homer shared an example of people that hike Mount Everest. If you are a big hiker you would be familiar with the phrase "the death zone". that is when hikers hit a certain point of altitude, where there is not enough oxygen in the air to support human life. He talked about when the hikers step into "the death zone" . Obviously they dont immediately die. It is after a certain amount of time that they cannot survive any longer. Basically the point of this example was that if you spend time in the death zone, you are going to die. And that simple truth is true all across the board. Turn to the scriptures. Turn to your leaders, turn to God. You will find peace, and you will find answers. 

I cant believe I am starting my last transfer this week. I literally only have 5 weeks in this amazing place, and people, and language that my heart has completely fallen in love with. I cannot wait to just leave it all out here, work hard until the very end, finish with absolutely not one regret. I feel blessed to be here. I feel blessed to be a missionary. Honestly, i am just so happy. 

sok szeretettel,

Swenson nővér

1.  Where is Morris going?

she will be staying in pest!

2.  How was your last Pday's boat ride?

nem sikerült:(
3.  How often do you talk to your MTC group?

whenever is see them at zone conferences or something! 

4.  Do you have a favorite restaurant in Pest?

Gringos :')
5.  Where did you go for your split last week?

We went to Kispest

6.  How is the souvenir shopping going?

I think i have almost everything, i am pretty proud to say so myself. nothing too huge but i love everything!!

7.  Do you know if there are a bunch of sisters coming to Hungary this summer?

this next transfer there is only one, the one after there is like 5 i think?

8.  How much time do you guys spend in personal study a day?

1 hour.i honestly cherish my personal study

9.  What are you studying now during your personal study?

i just finished the pearl of great price, and so much doctrine studyit was the most amazing thing ah

10.  Did you know that you kind of SPARKLE!!!  Love you!!!

haha i think i should say thank you to this love you mom haha 

HAPPY FATHERS DAY DAD. you are kinda the best. i kinda look up to you in every single way.

FIRST OF ALL I HAVE THE MOST IMPORTANT NEWS. Desző was baptized ladies and gentlemen. It was the most perfect day in the whole entire world. I didn't have time to write about it last week, but I have just seriously never meet a more pure person in my whole entire life. His only desire is to follow Christ, and do what he is supposed to for the rest of his life. He bore his testimony after his baptism and talked about how he grew up as an orphan, and how he never received love from anyone in his life, but here, in this church, he has found that love. You could say that my heart shattered into a million pieces, cause that might be an accurate way to describe it. Ah I just want to take Dezső back home with me to America in my pocket so you can all just meet this human being. I AM IN LOVE WITH HIM LITERALLY. 

We got to take a ROAD TRIP to Pécs for splits, which I know means nothing to you people, but like think of the most beautiful place in the world, then forget about it because you are wrong if you haven't been to Pécs. 

We had a zone day this week because we performed a MIRACLE and had 5 baptisms in the budapest zone this transfer. The day was nothing but fantastic, and we got to play mafia and unfortunately I had to lead and explain the game, and like I am just not funny, so that was a rough point in everyones day. it's okay though. We got passed it. 

I had the privilege of sitting through 12 hours of meetings in the last 3 days. I love meetings yay. BUT our mission President is the most amazing human and every single time I am in a room with him I just feel so much love, and I have such a strong testimony that that man is called of God specifically to serve in the Hungary Budapest Mission. maybe I can bring him home in my pocket too so all of you can see this greatness in real life? 

IT WAS MY COMPANIONS 20TH BIRTHDAY SHE HAS BECOME AN ADULT AND NOW WE DO ADULTY THINGS CAUSE WE ARE ADULTS.

Quick story:

Two days ago we went tracting and got into this building, and there was this door that said it was a business, and i was like, "no Sister Morris we definitely aren't knocking on that it is a business you goon" and she was like "no lets give it a shot"  and so obviously i said "no way Sister Morris you are wrong" and we went on to the next door.... K,  no actually we knocked on the business door and this guy named Gyula came out and we asked if he had heard about the Mormon church and he said he had heard nothing but good. (which number one is a miracle cause that just doesn't happen out here.) Anyway, he said that he was busy, but to come back tomorrow. which almost every single person says to us, BUT yesterday we got home after the longest day of our life, and we were ready to sit down for some nice language study. But, then I got that dang prompting to go back to Gyulas house. Anyway you all know where this is going, but we went back, by the grace of god, got let into the building again, walked straight up to his door, and he let us right on in. I just was shocked at how much the spirit led that lesson with Gyula. We were able to talk all about God, prayers, and faith to recieve answers. I think the number one disconnect with people not recieving answers to their prayers in any religion, is a lack of action that follows. They ask, and then they do NOTHING about it. Sincere heart, real intent, means that you are willing to act on any tiny answer you recieve, and to actually act. The lesson was amazing, and I felt so blessed that we followed those little promptings once again. He also might of asked me to marry him at the end of the lesson but listen that is not important.

Hey esto es español que ustedes me miran hey!

-Swenson nővér

1.   So, what are your pday plans today?

boat ride on the DUNA. WE ARE SO EXCITED. 

2.  Do you do anything on a regular basis for Family night?

honestly no sajnos

3.  What do you usually do in your ward on Sunday?  Do you go to Relief Society, Young Women's?

just the usual sacrament meeting, then the investigator sunday school class, then relief society. haha sometimes we get to go to young womens if they need a translator and its the best thing in the world.

4.  Is Pest or Buda bigger?

Pest

5.  How long do you get to exercise for?

usually around 30 minutes 
6. Do you ever have lessons with the Elders there too?

the only time that has happened to me is when it was a hand off lesson, like when we have to give one of our investigators over because they life in the elders area

7.  If you had to pick a food that was Hungary...Like America is hot dogs and apple pie...what would it. Be?

uhm, probably pörkölt, leves, and turó rudis

8.  What food are you looking forward to eating when you get home?

a home made meal of mash potatoes and gravy by my amazing mother

9.  How hot has it been lately?  Is it pretty humid?

it is hotter than literal hell. 

10.  Did you know I think about You ALL THE TIME?????  LOve you so much.

hi i think about you at least 46 times more. 

NINCS SOK IDŐM BOCS BARATAIM

Where is time going? holy cow.  I dont have lots of time, but I will hit the highlights of the week real quick
- we went to Esztergom last pday, and i say slovakia with my own eyes. also everyone needs to stop what theyre doing right now, save up money to go to hungary, SPECIFICALLY to see esztergom. it was that pretty ladies and gentleman.

- no cats in the apartment this week. GOD BLESS AMERICA
- we got a car because we are spoiled and air conditioning exists if you guys didnt know that
- Desző is getting baptised on FrIdAy and i have never felt SUCH A JOY IN MY LIFE. he is so excited, so prepared, and so cute
- it poured rain and sister morris and i (are you proud of me for my correct grammar mom?) stood in it because thats what you do as a missioanry for fun
- we had interviews with president yesterday and i need you all to know that i dont know a better man on this earth. that man is amazing. also we celebrated by going to hummis bar which brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. :')

ALSOOOO i finished the new testament this week, and I just wanted to say how amazing that book is. It is such a blessing that we have VOLUMES of scriptures talking about Christ's life, and talking about his perfect examples, and his teachings. also the teachings of paul, and his apostles. there is such a spirit that comes from studying about Jesus Christ. It gave me such a motivation to continue on in being one of his disciples. I absolutely LOVE being a full time missionary. It is beyond insane to me that my time is running down so quickly (but then i feel like i have been here for my whole life so i guess that makes sense?) i feel seriously honored every day to wear christs name on my chest, and to bring anyone that will listen the message of complete joy that comes through jesus christ. I love my mission. I love Jesus Christ, my older brother. 

HAGS



-swenson nővér



1.  Pday activity today?
GELERT HEGY. ah its going to be so pretty!

2.  When you go grocery shopping do you usually get everything for the week, or do you go and get stuff like daily?
we get everything for the week at one time!

3.  Did you say that you are learning how to do that Hungarian Embroidery?  I think about that all of the time when I look at the table runner that you sent me.  :) yes i am learning how to do it!! its not too hard but it takes years haha but i learned how to do it so i can defintiely teach you :)

4.  Have you ever used a sewing machine?  Did you like it? 
like in my life? haha yes probably, and i mean yah i liked it haha

5.  At your ward, are there more Hungarian speaking folks, or more English speaking folks?
its honestly a big half and half split!

6.  Does Hungary have a lot of immigrants?
uhmmm. honestly not a ton!

7.  What is your favorite part of going on splits?
getting to know the sisters, seriously and seeing beautiful places

8.  ARe you still running for your exercise?
yes i cant live without it haha 

9.  What was the holiday Hungary celebrated on Monday?
pentecost!!! some catholic thing!