Projects in Hungary and Slovakia

Map of the Europe Area - for reference as you read our posting

Hungary
Monday - We took an hour and a half flight from Frankfurt, Germany to Budapest, Hungary to meet and work with Elder and Sister Moser who live in Miskolc, a town northeast of Budapest. We arrived on time and found the car rental desk, got all the paperwork completed, GPS installed and drove the car to Budapest to meet the Moser couple. The GPS got confused and took us on several loops through Budapest and then directed us back to the airport, so we pulled the plug on that and used the Maps app on our phone and found the Mosers.

We visited a partner NGO in Budapest that is working with LDS Charities on a project to develop Roma leadership, self-reliance and community service in nine communities throughout Hungary. We spent the rest of the evening with the Mosers getting to know each other and reviewed their projects. They have been partnering with other NGO's that help the Roma community through food, clean water, education and employment projects. The Roma are the gypsies of Europe and have traditions that have created complex issues of segregation, idleness and lack of education.  The children and women are key to change in this culture.  We loved meeting both Roma and non Roma men, women and children who are key to hope and a better life for these people in Europe.

We traveled 2 hours from Budapest to Miskolc where the missionaries live. We'll see more of their projects and meet with their partners tomorrow. The part of Hungary we saw along our way was beautiful farmland with a vast expanses of tilled soil ready for planting in the spring. It reminded me of the fields in Kansas or Nebraska.


Tuesday - We stayed in an apartment on the main street in town. It was a spartan room, but was clean and had all the essentials. The main street was very clean, cobblestone pavement on each side of the road/rail line. The only vehicles allowed on the road are delivery vans. The light rail goes quietly through the middle of main street. There were several groups of school children walking through the streets receiving a history lesson along the way.

The cold fall air has changed the colors of the trees and most of the leaves have recently fallen. We joined with the Mosers and went to see the Roma valley where they have been working on a project.

This is the new cultural center of their partner. It has rooms for training, education, town hall gatherings, etc.

Today the community has provided bread for distribution to Roma families.  Later this afternoon, when the distribution is done the room will be set up for tutoring Roma children after school.

The backyard of the building has an outdoor entertaining area with gather areas for parents and play areas for younger children.

We met with the director and discussed plans for future projects and discussed the needs of the Roma community. The LDS Charities missionary couple is working on an education project with them currently.

We went to another Roma community to review a successful gardening project they have completed. The garden plot provides food for 12 families and has the support of the Roma community and civic leaders.  

We had a mid-afternoon dessert snack with the local gardening project leader and talked of plans for next season and possible expansion of the project.  These are little dumplings covered in cinnamon sugar and set on yogurt with raspberry sauce on top.

This is Elder Moser and the garden manager. He is a member of the Roma community that has made a successful transition into the local community.

This is the LDS Chapel in town. In the evening we joined the branch in their Self-Reliance devotional that was attended by 32 members and a few of their friends. We also observed a BYU-Idaho Pathways online class of Russian students in an English language class that was hosted by the Self-Reliance missionary couple that also supported the devotional.

 A glimpse of downtown Budapest.

 Budapest takes on a different look at night when the lights come on.

 Beautiful bridges that cross the Danube River are lighted at night.

Beautiful churches are everywhere and are also lighted at night.

 The capitol government buildings are strikingly beautiful at night.

 Bridge crossing the Danube river on the way to the capitol building.

 The capitol building

Our room for two nights.

Slovakia
Wednesday - We left Hungary and traveled two hours to Slovakia to meet with Elder and Sister Schultz, the LDS Charities missionary couple before 9:30 that morning. We crossed the border and went through Kosice and on to Presov. We met the missionaries and immediately got into their car and went to meet with a partner organization to celebrate the closing of a project there. The partner works with mentally disabled adults and provides wonderful care for them. LDS Charities provided ceramics equipment; clay, pottery wheel, tools and a kiln. 

 Closing ceremony luncheon

 Project review, kiln that was donated

 Pottery Wheel

 A professional ceramic artist volunteered to train the residents

 LDS Charities presented a small gift

 and they presented LDS Charities with a token of their appreciation.

Thursday - Presov, Slovakia Run for the Homeless & English Class
We returned to Presov, to meet the full-time elders and sisters that serve there and go to the start of a super marathon that goes from Slovakia to Rome, Italy. The leader of the homeless shelter is a Catholic priest and he has organized this run to draw media attention to their project and raise money for his homeless center in town.

LDS Charities has supported the homeless shelter for several reasons, but a key aspect is the guiding principle of work that is implemented in all that they do. The homeless can receive shelter, a place to sleep and soup. But if they stay they will have to work. The shelter is like a farm with livestock, chickens, dogs, gardens, and wood to chop. There are also cleaning chores in the shelter. The homeless can sign up to work and they are paid a small wage. With that money they can pay for lodging in the clean, heated building that is much like a college dorm. They can have a bed, showers, meals, TV, reading library and other amenities if they work. The principle of self-reliance is reinforced daily with an immediate reward, the joy and dignity of working, as well as warm food and shelter.

 The missionary couple, missionaries and Peter, the director of the homeless shelter

English class for Roma children

 Sisters in Presov - Sister McDonald on the right is from our home stake. They were the translators/teachers of the English class.

Brother and Sister McDonald, your daughter is a wonderful missionary.

Playing games, using English language - Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

Counting in English as they unwrap the candy ball

Friday - 

 The church in Kosice, Slovakia meets in this building on the first floor

We deeply appreciate all of the help that the zone leaders in Miskolc, Hungary gave us, 

Elders Lowe and Durney. 

We had a wonderful week with the LDS Charities missionary couples in Hungary and Slovakia and some of the young missionaries that work with them. They are doing a great work and serving the Lord by serving the poor and needy in these countries. We will continue to review their new projects from the area office in Frankfurt, Germany, and remember the wonderful people that we met and have grown to love because of their humanitarian hearts. We will bid them all adieu, until we return again to train a new humanitarian missionary couple next year.