April 6, 2014

The entry of a high school in our neighborhood -- Hogwarts?

This week proved to be a busy one with a few different activities.  We visited people from two different organizations:  1) the Family Castle Foundation, with 1,200 volunteers who help women through pregnancy, birth and then the breastfeeding process  -- especially those having feeding issues – premature births, no milk, adoption, -- and 2) a neonatologist at one of the city’s hospitals who was lamenting the lack of support for the hospitals here.  His doctors get good training, but they do not have the medical equipment, etc. and so many of the doctors leave to other countries.  For example, in his department, the incubators and ventilators need to be replaced, the equipment to test hearing on newborns is 5 years old, and the sterilizer for the hearing equipment is 28 years old and he holds his breath each time it is used hoping it continues to operate.  

Count your blessings that you live where you do, and that (in spite of problems) the medical care is wonderful.   (On that note, let me just say that one of our senior sisters broke her arm and needed surgery a couple of weeks ago.   They provided nothing at the hospital.  Her husband had to go home and bring her a gown, toilet paper, food, eating utensils, toothbrush, etc.  However, once they did bring her a piece of bread – on the bare hand of a nurse!)

Good news!  We just received approval on our first four projects, so will be completing those (ordering and buying a variety of equipment and supplies) and making presentations in the coming days.

We were assigned this week to do in-depth inspections of 4 missionary apartments.   Because we had to look in fridges, ovens, cupboards we discovered that elders keep no food.   They live on cereal and perhaps peanut butter or mac and cheese (if parents have sent them.)  We were advised to take them a treat if they passed inspection.  Instead of a treat, we took a potato casserole, and now one companionship wants to be taught how to cook.  Another one wants their apartment checked weekly! Mission preparation:  teach your children how to make simple meals and to be a bit creative.

Hungarian elections are today.  We’ll see if there are any changes coming up.  Some of the organizations we have met with are worried about what a change in leadership might mean for them.  We are grateful we have not had radio or TV to listen to, but will be glad to have the posters, flyers and info in the mailbox be over (then our only mail will be the internet bill!).

Hungarians have a thing for red hair. . .dye. . .in a plethora of colors.  In two months we have now seen a handful of those with a natural looking red hair color.  Sorry, can't take pictures of people's hair.

Warm weather is here.  The skirts are getting shorter, the tights are going away, the ice cream and gelato kiosks are appearing on the sidewalks (there was even a McDonald’s gelato kiosk in front of the ‘fancy’ McDonalds), and the tables and chairs are coming out to the sidewalks.  Never mind if the sidewalk is narrow, move over pedestrians.  These two platforms appeared this week in front of places we frequently pass. 

Bicycles and skateboards are more plentiful in the warmer weather.  More sidewalk entertainment is out, like this guy playing a Hungarian version of a sitar, we think. 

Posta – the mail bag.   The post man just went inside.  Doesn’t look to be very full.  Perhaps the internet is used more than snail mail. 

Our ‘homeless cart’ – oops, shopping cart – is very similar to the Posta one.   It is very common and oh, so useful when we are riding public transportation!

Saturday was a low-key P-Day.  We went walking through and around Margit Szegit (Margaret’s Island).  During the Middle Ages, the island was a hunting reserve called the Island of the Rabbits.  In the 13^th Century King Bela founded a nunnery on the island and vowed he would raise his daughter Margaret as a nun if Hungary survived the Mongol invasion. 

We were a bit early in the season to see in action the swimming pools, the water park, the musical water fountain, the open restaurants and the open air theater and cinema –although this tower is the front of that structure.  It looked like they were doing work on it; maybe getting it ready.

We did take a stroll through the island (only about 1.5 miles long and 1/3 of a mile wide) on the meandering walkways and enjoyed the sights and the peacefulness away from the bustle of the city.

We saw the ruins of the Franciscan Priory of the 13^th Century and the Dominican Nunnery, 1241-42.

This Medieval Chapel of St. Michael has in its tower the oldest bell in Hungary – from the 15^th Century.

We see quite a few of trees like these.  These are not nests, but mistletoe which is a parasite – sadly killing the trees.

These were interesting, old trees. They are white (even though the picture doesn't show it well) and very large.

The most pleasant sight was seeing families together in the park – on bicycles, riding together on the ‘bringo’ carts or playing games and picnicking. 

With the time difference, we watched just one session of General Conference yesterday, and the rest, including Priesthood and the General Women’s Meeting, we watched today.  Once again we are so grateful for our loving Heavenly Father and His Son, and their love and care for each of us.  We are grateful for living prophets and apostles and for the timely messages and testimonies given for us.

Tomorrow we have an appointment with our mission president to discuss a ‘transfer.’  Stay tuned. . .

March 30, 2014

In between appointments one day we walked past the statue of Ronald Reagan.  Hungarians revere him and are grateful to him for helping them regain their democracy when he said, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”  
 (An aside:  Some of you might like this comment made by Reagan, 
“There is nothing as good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horse!”)

Jó napot mindenki!  (Good day everyone!)  Blossoms are out in Budapest, and sometimes when we walk past them, the smell is so refreshingly spring.  Birds are singing.  Buds are coming on the trees.  We are told that we must watch carefully, because on a warm day trees will suddenly be green!  It will be beautiful.  Daylight Savings Time started today.  It must be spring. 

This week we continued visiting – two foundations that helps children who were born prematurely or who had trauma at birth and have delayed motor skills.  The first one was started by a woman who has been doing this for 40 years.  She has written the ‘curriculum’ so to speak.  We asked her if her methods were known outside of Hungary and that very day someone was presenting her method and the statistics at a conference in Germany that now show most of the children who have attended her ‘school’ are at normal status.  We also met with a school who helps children with their speech and communication, a school for mentally disabled children and the director of the children’s cancer foundation.  All have fascinating stories, many needs and are serving and caring in most Christlike ways.  We are waiting to hear from several of these foundations so that we can submit projects, and waiting to hear if the ones we have submitted will be approved.  In the meantime, we keep visiting and learning.

Here are a few fun things in Hungary that are different than in the US:

There are little pékségek (bakeries) all over – in fact several to a block, some right next to each other.  Here is one selling loaves of bread that weight 3 kilos or 6.9 pounds!

Some items come in different sizes and shapes:  This 1.5 liter bottle is what people carry around to drink – either water (‘gas’ or ‘still’) or soda.  Eggs are always brown, small and only come 10 in a carton.  The common napkin at any eatery is one-fourth of what we are used to – and one-ply.

Baking items mostly come in packets – yeast, vanilla (I did find a tiny bottle), baking powder and baking soda.  The Shake Shake is the only way I’ve found malt powder to use in my bread sticks recipe.  Spices also mostly come in packets, i.e. nutmeg, thyme, black pepper and paprika.

On our Saturday P-Day we took an excursion to visit Parliament.  Any photo we could take of this magnificent gothic building would not do it justice, so we’ve included some ‘commercial’ photos. The Parliament building is a landmark in Budapest.  It is the largest building (691 rooms and 29 staircases) and the tallest, 96 meters (which represents the nation’s millennium from 896 – 1896).  It is one of the oldest government buildings in Europe; completed in 1904 (construction took 19 years). 

This model was made a few years ago by a Hungarian family.  It took them 3 years to build and is made with over 100,000 matches.

This is a section of the carpet in the Reception Room where we were standing.  It was made by Hungarian women using the Turkish method – meaning that when you walk on it, the knots get tighter – or in other words, it does not wear out.  Turkish rugs have every right to be expensive!  This carpet is 70 years old (the original was burned in a war); the one on the other side is 120 years old; they are all in one piece (23 x 7 meters) and are the third largest in Europe.

Beautiful stained glass windows all throughout the building.

On the window sills outside the meeting chambers are these brass fixtures, each space with a number.  These were to hold the cigars of the representatives.  They each had a numbered space.  If the session was boring they could come out and continue smoking. If they stayed and listened to a whole speech and came out and nothing was left of their cigar but ashes, they might say “that speech was worth a Havanna.” 

There are two identical Chamber Rooms.  One is always in use; the other can be used for conferences and tours.  Currently there are 386 representatives, but elections are coming up and they will be changing 199 elected officials.

 

Looking up at the ceiling of the Dome Room.

The guards move their sword and head and do a little two-step every 5 minutes, change places every 15 minutes and change guards every hour.  Other than that they do not move a muscle.  Well, one of them blinked when Stan asked him a question. The Holy Crown has been used in coronations since 1000.  It has had an adventurous history, much like Hungary.  It was lost, found, buried, stolen and turned up in Ft. Knox, but has now been displayed here since 2000. 

Standing on columns around the rooms are sculptures of kings, rulers and only one female Queen to rule in Hungary, Maria Theresa.  She reigned for 40 years, loved children (she had 16) and was the mother of Marie Antoinette.  Who knew? 

Too much history?  That’s it for this week.  Tonight we hosted our first senior missionary couples dinner at our apartment with 3 other couples who are close by:  President and Sister Smith, Elder and Sister Felsted (YSA couple) and Elder and Sister Bagozzi (office couple).  (Forgot to take a picture.) 

We love you all.  We send our best wishes and blessings.  We are so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives.  We are grateful to be serving in Hungary.  We look forward to hearing from prophets this coming week.  Have a great week.

March 23, 2014

Couldn't resist! This store sells bits of dishes, crystal, jewelry -- lots of good schmuck!

Our days were a bit different this week.  As mentioned, we have visited several organizations and have talked to them about their needs and how we might help them.   It was time to actually submit some project requests, which requires a write up and some paperwork.  We did go out to price some items and then submitted three projects.  The others we are still waiting for responses from the agencies about their wishes and suggested vendors.  You might think that if they were getting something they would be right ‘on it.’  Someone said, “Remember this is Hungary.”

We’ve mentioned before how efficient the public transportation is.  We needed to price some outdoor equipment; I looked up the address and went to Google Maps, found the route and we headed there.  We got further and further away from the familiar city.  Stan was getting a bit worried and kept asking if I was sure about the directions.   We got off as directed – the 24^th bus stop – walked the designated block and lo and behold, there it was!  And it was HUGE!  We priced our items, one of which they did not have, but the salesman said they had it at their other store, which was bigger!  Okay U.S. Scheels or Cabellas have nothing over on Decathlon in Hungary.  Well, maybe the ferris wheel and the aquarium and mounted animals.   And then next door was a grocery store we had seen advertisements and bags from, but did not know where it was.  So when we finished, we took a detour to visit Auchan.  And that store had 60 cash registers!  No, they were not all in use, but they were built.  So there, Costco and Sam’s.  

A couple of weeks ago, one of the elders told us about Medvehagyma (wild leeks), affirmed that it was delicious and that we should buy some when we see it for sale.  Within a day or so, you could buy it on most street corners, in the markets and every grocery store.  And then an email came from Delicious Living (online magazine) and it highlighted ramps.  With a bit of looking, this is the discovery.  Medvehagma is the star of Hungarian kitchens in early spring.  It is also called ramps, ramson (in England), wild leeks or wild garlic.  It is a relative of chives; both tasty and nutritious, even being known to reduce high blood pressure.  It is rich in Vitamin C, is from the cancer-fighting allium family and in Appalachia is a venerated folk remedy.  It grows wild throughout Hungary and is popular in salads, soups, eggs, as a side dish or used instead of basil as a pesto.  So far we’ve loved it best over baked potatoes.  One place said it is now popular because 'foraged food is fashionable.'  Have you ever seen this?

As mentioned, McDonald’s is plentiful here.   We tried to find how many actual restaurants are in Budapest, but could not.  There are 35,000 in 100 countries in the world; they’re taking over!  Below is a typical McDonalds here and one that was just featured in the news – the fanciest in the world – at one of our most frequented tram stops.

Typical Budapest McDonalds

McDonalds version of "Have it your way."

 

The fanciest McDonalds impressive exterior, only betrayed by the always timeless golden arches.

This station building was built in 1877 by the Eiffel Company, which also built the Eiffel Tower. Opened in 1988, this McDonald' became the first in Hungary, and was a particularly symbolic gesture given the timing. The chain's golden arches, considered by many a symbol of America's foreign policy and capitalism, made their way into Hungary shortly before the end of Communism. (from Google Alert)

Notice the grandeur -- unlike  any McDonalds we've ever seen.

U.S. fire hydrants are short and fat; Hungary’s are tall and skinny.

Saturday morning Sharon attended a stake Relief Society celebration meeting so we didn’t go ‘adventuring’ this week.  The theme of the RS meeting was family history (that’s what we want our next mission to be), and here are a few tidbits from the meeting:

• Family history is no longer about charts; it’s about knowing your family (the teachers said if we were doing anything on the list below, we are involved in family history).
• Start with your heart, then go to the charts by:

   Stories – everyone has a story.  Discovering their story makes them real.  When finding/hearing a story, be sure and write it down.  “Except a living man, there is nothing more wonderful than a book! . . .those little sheets of paper speak to us, terrify us, teach us, comfort us, open their hearts to us as brothers.”  Charles Kingsley

   Letters

   Photos – With all the writing don’t forget the photos.  “Of all the inventions for mass communication, pictures still speak the most universally understood language.”  Walt Disney

   Heirlooms

   Pedigree Charts

• Family history is not just a program, it is a lifestyle!

We are so grateful for Heavenly Father’s Plan that we come to this earth in families and He wants us to return in families.  He wants us to know our families when we walk through the veil.   

Reading the Allegory of the Olive Trees in Jacob 5 this week is another testimony strengthener of the great love and mercy that our Savior and our prophets have for us and our families.   Over and over - 15 times – the Savior wants to give us one more opportunity; and when He grieves that He should lose a tree, the servants (prophets) want to give us another opportunity.  His love is exemplified to the utmost through His Atonement in our behalf.  Elder Holland commented that “returning, repenting, reuniting – at-one-ment – this is the message throughout.”