March 9, 2014

Our daily path

As we walk down the hill each morning to wherever we are going, the following are some typical sidewalk scenes. 

Each day this week we met with a president/representative of an organization –the Blind and Impaired Association, the National Disabled Association (in two locations), a children’s hospital, and a foundation that coordinates needs/donations for other charities. So we were on the go. 

Thursday was a 3-hour train ride to Nyiregyhaza on the eastern side of the country to the Disabled Association.   Our interpreter was thrilled; she had never been on a train so new and nice. And it came with an ‘in flight’ movie – Frozen – on her laptop in English!  (Good movie with a nice message.)  The president and the handy man picked us up at the station, drove us around town to see it a bit – newer and less congested than Budapest.  We discussed their needs, they showed us their facilities and then the handy man took us to a place for lunch and waited for us to eat (he had already eaten) so he could take us back to the train station.  

  

We learned that the handyman is retired and works there because “his three children were all healthy and he wants to give back.  Not everybody has healthy children.”  He was an auto mechanic and now repairs everything and when something can no longer be repaired, he uses the parts to build things for the disabled people to use – such as a rickshaw, a peddle car – so that they can participate in activities, games and competitions (they promised to email pictures, but haven’t seen them yet).  They displayed lots of trophies.   There are good people helping everywhere.   

 

On our way back to the station, we noticed a nuclear power plant right at the edge of town.  And, they told us the Lego company is building a large Lego factory there, which will surely help their unemployment situation. 

We have some more appointments this coming week, and we need to prayerfully make some decisions if and how we can help these organizations and now submit some project proposals.

We both took the plunge this week and got our hair cut.   We chose someone who could speak English and I showed her a picture and told her what I wanted.  I have a good cut, but it is exactly opposite of what I told her!  

Saturday we were invited to ride with the office couple missionaries to Eger, a town to the northeast a little over an hour away.  They were going to look at an apartment for rent for missionaries, and it was a new town and experience for us.   The land is very flat and the fields are beginning to be green.  As we neared Eger, there were acres of very neat vineyards, along with many very small (10’ x 12-14’) summer homes where people live in the summer and take care of their fields and crops. 

We walked around Eger – the town Centrum (center) was all a walking plaza.  The day was beautiful, so it was very pleasant.   

Sidewalk tables outside of (guess what) restaurant

We had lunch and then went to a Marzipan Museum.  No, there was no candy!  There were several rooms showing the amazing artwork of this master confectioner, Lajos Kopcsik.  The last 16 years of his 60-year career he has focused on confectioner arts – a few are shown below.  They are made to look like a banjo, pillows, apron, clock, Russian dolls, or a Baroque room, but they are ALL made of marzipan/sugar (painted with tempera paints)!  He is internationally-acknowledged, a Guinness record-master confectioner and has a room full of awards to proof it.  Fascinating!  

Marzipan miniature of a 600-year-old Turkish tower in Eger.

Full-size room all made from Marzipan including the floor.

On the way out of town we saw another nuclear power plant near the freeway.  

Today after our block of meetings at the Pest Ward, we had a Linger Longer – a potluck lunch.  I just found out last night that I needed to make something and since I had bought a bag of apples, I made my mother’s Knobby Apple Cake recipe – complete without  vanilla and nutmeg which I discovered I didn’t have after it was all mixed up. It was fine and one member gave me a ‘thumbs up’ after he ate it.  That’s my favorite dessert recipe.  And speaking of recipes, I tried a new one today -- potatoes and celery root (very plentiful here).  It was very yummy.  

Yesterday was Women’s Day, a holiday here where men are to give women flowers. We learned that it is actually an international holiday. Did you know? Flowers were for sale everywhere the last two days.  Stands are set up at bus and villamos (street car) stations, on the squares – along with those selling books, belts, bras, panties, pussy willows, embroidery or any other item they think tourists might buy. Also, in the (underground subway) metro stations, besides the permanent stores, there are always other wares for sale or in this case, a musical band of Romas (Gypsies) -- Hungary's version of a mariachi band. Their music was actually very fun. 

All is well here.  We love you all.  The Gospel is true and we are so grateful for it.

March 2, 2014

Our interpreter, Timi Rusz, and the director of one of the shelters, Eva Toth, with a donated washing machine.

Minden jo’ itt Budapesten.  All is good in Budapest. 

We had visits this week to the four locations of a temporary family in crisis shelter to which appliances were donated.  The appliances are small, apartment-size because that is the size the families will probably have when they leave the shelters.   These families are assisted to find employment, share in the care for the facilities inside and out, follow schedules for use of the common areas, pay some for their stay and generally learn skills that will benefit them when they return to living on their own.  The buildings were very old, but we were impressed with the cleanliness and care given to them by the families.

Erika Urban and Elder Miller with donated refrigerator.

We had a very nice visit with Erika who on her own started the homes several years ago.  She and her colleagues are providing a wonderful and needed service to these families in crisis; and they were all very grateful for the appliances and mattresses. 

In one location the children presented us with a poster –‘ koszöneük’ (we thank you) surrounded by their signed hands.

On the way home from the last visit we stopped to see Hero’s Square – statues of famous men who made their mark on Hungarian history. 

We also walked past the Liszt Academy and stopped to pose with Mr. Franz Liszt himself. Can you see how big his hands are? Good thing he was a pianist.

After a busy week, on our Saturday P-Day we went to visit Szent Istevan’s (St. Steven's) Basillica. This is the oldest Cathedral in Budapest, and one of the three tallest buildings in the city. Now the law is that no building can be higher.

We climbed the stairs to the top of the dome where we could walk out for panoramic views of Budapest.  It was a beautiful day; I only took a picture on one side because the sun was too bright on the others (fairly bright on this side, too).  Budapest is an architectural paradise.  You can see the old along with the new.  In the back, you can see the Parlaiment buildings. About the center is a black glass, modern building.  We walked there, the Bank Center, housing such companies as Citibank, the Bank of China, other banks,  several investment companies, and Amgen Pharmaceutical.

From that area we walked around in the ‘high rent district,’ and passed the US Embassy, which has fences and guards.  I could only take a picture from across the square.  (We actually pass several embassies in our neighborhood on our walks, but they don’t have fences or guards.)

We met two other missionary couples for lunch –Hungarian goulash and bread – on Vörösmárty Tér (Square), the famous, tourist (and expensive) area of Budapest.   Of course, there are several McDonalds, along with two H&M’s, many shoe and clothing stores-- all the name brands and a few interesting ones like Stradivarius, Heavy Tools and Brand Bible.

Afterwards we headed to do some grocery shopping at the Arena Mall (a new place to discover).  It is gigantic!  Perhaps we got a bit carried away since we ride buses and subways to and from.  When we got home we weighed our bags and had 50+ pounds!  And Elder Miller’s Fitbit reported that we had accomplished 20,077 steps for the day!

On the bus ride home, a lady asked us if we are Americans.  We told her what we were doing and asked if she knew the Mormon Church.  “Oh yes,” she said.  “I live here and in Sacramento.  When my boys were growing up they had Mormon friends and I didn’t ever have to worry about them.  The Mormons teach good things.”   We did give her a Pass Along card and our card.  She did not give us her name. Interesting, she said she loves the west – Arizona and New Mexico, especially Silver City. I told her that is where my mother was born, she would be pleased.   She said she went to the mayor to tell him that he should be promoting the sites around Silver City because it is good for tourists.   And now, she says many European tourists go there. 

Today we attended the Buda Ward, which was in Hungarian. Later in the day we went to a ‘program’ (teaching discussion) with the elders as they taught a woman and her boyfriend they had contacted earlier in the week. It was a bit crowded in their home; they only had the sofa and one chair, so someone was standing.  He seemed interested, said they would read in the Book of Mormon and come to church this week.  

We are grateful for the Book of Mormon.  We have just started it again.  We are grateful for the testimonies of Nephi, Jacob and Isaiah -- their witness and teachings of Jesus Christ truly make this book 'another testament of Christ.'

 

February 23, 2014

Elder and Sister Miller with former Hungarian ambassadors to the US, George Balint, February 18,2014

We started this week by attending the only English speaking Rotary Club in Budapest (there are 10 others) at the Marriott Hotel.  This gentleman saw our tags and introduced himself and said, “I am one of the few Hungarians who has met with the presidency of your Church.”   He is George Balanki, former Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, and had visited the First Presidency in Salt Lake City.   We did make a few  other contacts that may be helpful for future projects. 

The speaker that evening was fascinating.  Mr. Gabor Bojar, spoke about “How to Foster Innovation and Leadership.”  He is one of the 10 most successful businessmen in Eastern Europe, received Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award, founded Graphisoft, Acquincum Institute of Technology (AIT) Budapest, is a member of the Governing Board of the European Institute of Technology (EIT), as well as many other awards.   His company designed the first 3-D architectural (CAD) program for PC’s.   Now, 50% of the buildings around the world are designed with 3-D use Graphisoft software.

A few interesting points he made: 

• The secret to success is when you have no choices.
• When competition is over, innovation is over.
• Don’t announce successes too early.
• There are differences between thinkers and doers, analysts and leaders.
• Thinking too much prevents you from action.
• Analysts are happy if they understand the world; leaders are happy if they change the world.
• Leaders should not be the most intelligent person; they can do harm.
• "You are a good leader because you don’t let the facts obscure your vision.”
• Good leaders are born.

We did purchase a number of appliances for several locations of a family shelter (the project that was left for us to finish) – to the tune of about 384,000 forints.  Lest that number scares you, it is less than $2,000.  Our interpreter followed up on Friday, and it seems deliveries were successful so we will go this week to meet the people, take some pictures and make sure they are happy and all is in order. 

There was a bit of a mix up with the delivery of the mattress order.  We went back to the store yesterday and made that correction, so mattresses should be delivered tomorrow. 

The first time we went to KIKA (large department store) to check out mattress prices, we talked to the salesman about the Church, and gave him a Pass Along card.  He said he has a Mormon book but has not read it.  When we were back this week he was busy with customers so he had his associate write up our order, but he came in to tell us that he talked to his girlfriend who is studying religions and she wants to talk to the missionaries (when she finishes this school term because she is so busy), so he gave us his contact information.  

We met with a lady from an agency who helps disabled people to talk about the possibilities of a wheelchair project.  The Church has donated wheelchairs to this agency in the past, however, there are some new guidelines that the partnering agency and us need to meet so we are working on those details.  We will go this coming week to another city to meet with a county center for disabled adults to see if we might help there.  

We also went this week to Tatabanya (an hour away) with the office couple to do apartment checks of the young missionaries – they were training us because we will have that assignment also.   Well, after seeing those two apartments, I am very thankful for ours!   

We went to dinner at another couple's home this evening.  They have a few 'luxuries' -- dishwasher, nice leather sofa and matching chairs for instance.  We are fine.  I'm now used to turning on the tea kettle to heat water to wash dishes and to get a bit of hot water in the washer.

Yesterday we attended a baptism because our interpreter was doing the special number and invited us.  We arrived a bit early and they were looking for a pianist, so Elder Miller volunteered. 

All is well here.  We continue to be amazed at the convenience of the public transportation system – the busz (bus), the villamos (street car/tram), or metro (subway).  Our monthly pass is good on any of these anytime and we have put them to good use.  We have been known to go the wrong direction (we miss those mountains for directions), but no matter, we get off at the next stop, turn around and take the next car the right way.  It’s amazingly efficient!

We attended another LDS ward today – Kispest.  It was all in Hungarian, but the missionary sisters sat by us and did some translating.  These Saints are living and teaching the same Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Many are new converts, but they have strong testimonies. 

Henning Sorknaes, past-president of the Budapest City Rotary Club, with Sister and Elder Miller. Notice the large lighted castle across the Danube.

 

On the freeway returning from Tatabanya

Taken from our table at the food court of a nearby mall. There are shops on every level.