Real Hungarian Gulyas!

We had dinner with this investigator family in Kaposvar.  They are a very cute family. They served us authentic Hungarian Gulyas, which we call goulash.



I think Greg might have needed some tapatio and lime juice on it, but it was delicious.  He needs tapatio and lime juice on everything!  The meat in it was pork, cooked to perfection.

Rakott Krumpli

Rakott Krumpli (Stacked Potatoes) is a typical Hungarian dish that our sister missionaries, Sister Adams and Sister Gordon, were kind enough to teach us how to make last night.



This is a half stack of Rakott Krumpli.  You layer it like Lasagna.



And this is a half-eaten completed stack of Rakott Krumpli!  We were so excited to eat it that we forgot to take a picture of the finished product.  It is delicious!  Thank you, Sisters!

Sunday in Kaposvar

This is the government building which is our signal to turn left to go to the branch house.  It is a beautiful, well-kept building, as many government buildings are.  The red sign with the white line thru it means "Do Not Enter."  We have only done it once.  I don't recommend it.



The very heavy iron merry-go-round in front of the branch house.  It is very, very impressive--and heavy.  Did I say it was heavy?  These children are the kids of the High Councilman who spoke today.  They speak Hungarian, English, and Chinese.  Very interesting family.  The Dad served in England, the Mom served on Temple Square, and his business sent him to China for two years.



Tejfol  (sour cream).  This is the staff of life for all good Hungarians (maybe after bread).  It is better than our sour cream.
They put it in many, many dishes.

Zone Conference in Dunaujvaros

We drove for two hours to get to this city just south of Budapest for a zone conference.  The mission president was there with his wife.  The zone leaders did a great job teaching.  We are so impressed with young missionaries.  They work hard.

These are called 10 stories.  They were built by the Russians in this factory town.  This is where most of the people live.  The name of the town used to be Stalinvaros.  When the Russian influence left in 1989, the people changed the name of their town.



Elder Fitzgerald and Elder Peterson



President and Sister Szabadkai and Zone Leaders, Elder Paul and Elder Beaumont.



Our elders, Elder Dietrich (District Leader)  and Elder Fitzgerald.  Elder Dietrich (on the right) is from Germany.  He went to the MTC in Provo and had to study English in order to study Hungarian.

Walking Around Kaposvar

The walking street.  No cars allowed!

On Sunday, the city streets look a lot like the walking street because almost everything is closed!

A theater that does plays.

Branch Meeting House in Kaposvar

We meet in a remodeled bank that the Church has purchased.  It is small, but it is very adequate for our needs.

First District Meeting

We went to our first District Meeting with Elder Dietrich, our District Leader, Elder Fitzgerald, and Sisters Adams and Morgan.  They are very courageous and faithful missionaries.  They are dividing up tracting areas.

Our Apartment in Kaposvar

Kaposvar is a two hour drive south from Budapest.  When we got there, the missionaries, Elder Dietrich and Elder Fitzgerald, helped us carry our luggage to our 4th floor apartment.  Bless them!
No elevators in this building!

Welcome to Hungary

President and Sister Szabadkai served all of the new missionaries dinner at the mission home the evening we arrived.  There were 10 young missionaries and 2 seniors--us.  The assistants were also there.  A very delicious meal with pleasant conversation.  The Szabadkais charmed us completely.  We are so happy to serve under them.



After dinner they took us on a walk up to Castle Hill where Elder Simkins read us the Dedicatory Prayer for the Land of Hungary that Russell M. Nelson gave in 1987.  Beautiful view of Budapest. Beautiful Prayer.  Beautiful evening.

     

Leaving the MTC

After a wonderful week of training, we packed up to go to Hungary.  We would have willingly stayed a while longer. . .

At the MTC

We spent a week at the MTC with this wonderful group of Seniors.   We loved them.  Can you find us in there?  There were three Peterson couples.

The Famous MIssion Map at the MTC

Missionaries generally stand at the map in the main hallway of the MTC and point to their missions.  Even Seniors get to do it!

Setting Apart

We were set apart by President Robert Chandler on Saturday, January 30, 2016.  All of our children and grandchildren in the area were there to support us.  President Chandler gave us wonderful blessings to help us serve the people of Hungary.

Mission Call

We reported to the MTC to serve in the  Hungary Budapest Mission as Member Leadership Support missionaries on February 1, 2016.