There's really not much new to write about since we talked Saturday. Yesturday was the 2nd day of Christmas here, but even then, we still had a normal work day seeing as church is on that day. Oh, we have 2 days for New Year's instead of just one day like last year.

Ha I will tell you that too little sleep is making it hard to get up in the mornings but I am still doing it.

I'm actually in a pretty relaxed, calm mood right now but ready for some rest. It's weird that you think, oh holidays are coming up soon. I have some "rest time", grrr. Not really. We travelled a lot and that wiped me out. So it didnt help to stay up a little later and stuff, but it was a rare occasion that I wanted to enjoy.
We played some basketball over the weekend. It's a little weird that even though it's pretty cold again, it has warmed up and the snow has melted away. I'm happy for that. This is how it was last year. A little snow then none for Christmas, then after that a bunch came down around the middle of January.

No, I still have gotten NO more packages, but I am sure that I will get them soon. Hopefully today. I'm super excited to see what was sent.

I love you guys and hope the best for you all.

I cant believe that I'll be home in 4 months. Weirdly enough it seems like a long time away. Well I'll talk to you guys later.
Happy New Year (wishing it early of course).

Love Elder Josh

Well the pics are of me and my comp trying some of the infamous pig jello here called Kurcsonya. I'm not sure if I spelled it right.



PSS the other side of my right eyebrow was just shaved in a little too far. oooopps. My bad, lol!

December 20, 2010

Whoa I almost choked and fell over dead. I am actually getting a package from you guys? I have gotten packages from people though. I got some from Raimund already and I also have gotten one from Tante Liesl.

This week was pretty quiet in the beggining, but then near the end it got better.

Wednesday was transfers and I got the chance to have an interivew with President Baughman. As the talk went on, I kinda realized something. With opposition in all things, we need to feel the opposition to truly appreciate the good sides of things. I think that with coming to realize some of the happiest things in my life, I have also needed to experience the bad part, "the oppostion", or maybe the opposition makes me realize the good side of things.

So with that talk and a really diligent comp, who is a really great guy, I am doing great. I feel like I'm just tearing it up now. Now that I'm enjoying it again, the time will fly and I'll better the people and work here. I still hate the snow and things aren't the easiest to be working in, but life's good. Sadly, I'm feeling each night that I might be getting a little sicker and then on top of that, somehow I have my hip flexer pulled and it's way tender and hurts to walk, I'm almost done though. I'm super happy. I have so much waiting for me at home.

Well to continue, Thursday, I don't even remember,
Friday we went out to a little villiage named Kurd. Its near Dombóvár, which is like an hour away, but a German family lives there that are really nice. We only visit them once a transfer because it was a day-long thing.
They made a really nice lunch/dinner for us. While there i really felt like a greenie again. Its been a long time since I learned some German, but I could hear so many words that were familiar, and since I recognized them, but could not remember the meaning, it got way annoying. I felt like I should know those words, but then again, its been like 3-4 years since I studied it and never really knew it, so it's no big deal, but it made me want to learn it again. If I can learn Hungarian, then I definitely could learn German. The only thing is that the way I want to learn it, to speak like a native, would be through living there for a year or two, but I don't don't have the time to just move to Germany for the sole purpose of learning German! It'd be way cool, though. The son there knew how to speak English, so I could say my two phrases that I can remember and then I'd have him translate.

Saturday we were invited to our branch presidents house for a Christmas lunch. We did it a week earlier because he is from Pécs and so he is going to have the Pécs Elders over another time. He has a daughter over in England on her mission. She is on the little island called Jersey between France and England. It's really small, but that would be fun. Anyway, we just looked at pics of that and ate some Tiltölt kápolszta. (stuffed cabbage). Its SOOOOO good. Then after that we had some time to spare before our bus left so we went to the Christmas party to say hi over at the Pécs branch house and so I got to say hi to a lot of the Pécs member again and got to actually talk with them now that I know how to do that. When I was there before, I couldn't speak Hungarian yet very well.

Other than that we have had a little branch get together, we had an investigator come as Santa and hand things out.

Well things are going pretty good here. The work is picking up and we are getting things done.

It's hard to believe I'm in my 13th tranfer. HOLY crud. And I'll be 21 in a little over a month. Also for Christmas we have zone conference Thursday, then Friday we'll be in Veszprém with Elder Mason, then Pécs on Saturday and stuff. I don't know details on what we'll do. I am just ready for some mental rest. All the traveling and the cold is just wearing me down, so it's going to be nice to have a break.

Well thanks for all the stuff. I don't know what it is yet, but thanks anyways.

I love you guys.
Have a wonderful Christmas and we will talk soon.
Love Elder Hosch

December 13, 2010

From Elder Hosch's email this week:

Yesterday I gave a talk in church and it was based off of President Monson's talk this last conference, the one about expressing gratitude in any situation. I honestly think that I got more out of it than the members that I gave the talk to. As I was preparing that morning, I just felt like I really need to take that talk into my own life a lot more powerfully than I have been. It kind of goes back to my whole trying to be more optimistic. He started off his talk by going over the part in Luke 17 where there were ten lepers and they knew to turn to Jesus for help, but then after doing what he said and being healed, only one turned back and thanked Him for that. It make me think, ya I'm out here and I'm "following" what He has asked me to do, but how earnest have I been in telling Him that I'm grateful for what I have received from all of this. I really felt an urge to just start praying about what I am thankful for. I can only give you a few guesses about what those things are, but it was one of the more spiritually powerful prayers I have had in my life. It just felt so good to read the words of the prophet, take heed to them and then act on them and really feel the joy that comes from it. I love getting those little boosts here and there to really make things more special. I really needed that at that time and I am glad that I took what it takes to just DO IT (Thank you Nike).

Time isn't going by too fast right now but I think that it will soon. Next week we have Zone Conference and then after that we have 3 super P days. The Monday after that I might have to be going up to the place where we get our visas cause my new comp is now in his second transfer. The greenie that was here in Kaposvár with an Elder Miller is now coming over with me. His name is David Runnells. He is from Utah and a way cool guy. We will have some fun. He is really obedient and will teach me a thing or two and we'll just have fun with Christmas and then my b-day. (21!!!)

Love you,
Elder Hosch

December 5, 2010

Man you guys wrote so much I dont even know where to start. Dad wrote me too and it's just so much for me to e mail, especially because Mom, you know how fast I type. That's definetely one thing that I need to learn when I get home. I am a little faster than I was, but still type pretty bad. I need to get going on that.

Dad sure wrote a powerful letter to me that really really helped. Things have been pretty rough lately with so many people dogging us and the work being basically frozen to a slower state cause of the weather. It's pretty cold here too, but really hasn't snowed yet. It's been right around freezing for a week and a half or so. The air is so dry and just cold, I hate the cold, it's not fun at all. But I have been way down and think so much about coming home. Not seriously, but it's one of those dumb thoughts that come across your mind when you are just way struggling, but I love what I have learned out here and love that I have met some of the most amazing people out here. Like the whole ward in Gyor, plus there's a girl that's from Győr who is like my little sister. I love that ward so much I would do anything to go finish my mission there. Some of the young men there are some of my best buds. One that I have become really close friends with might be going on a mission, too. I worked so hard with him to be a good example and a really close friend. He wasn't very active, we would go over to his house and let him see that the church can be fun and means so much to us. I don't know where I would be with out it. One thing I would like Jeremy to realize is that, ya it may be hard, but when you are taken from all the things that you have as a normal person, the things that we get preoccupied with that distract us, we get to really find out about ourselves. We get to hone in on what we are good at, see where we are weak and learn how to work on that, all while we are helping others to be better, too. Because to really understand others, you kind of have to put yourself in their shoes. It's so much evaluation that we don't realize it all the time, but we learn to think within ourselves and truly become better. I have learned where I want to take my life. I have better come to know how we lose our lives to find them. Things get hard because everything that I enjoy doing I can't do right now. It's like signing up for two years of grounded time. Two weeks of no Nintendo was tough at home, but then you come here and it's nothing, lol!

It has benefitted me in so many ways and I'm trying to be more of an optimistic person out here. If I only look at the bad, then I only feel the bad. If I look at the good, the bad stinks, ya, but it's easier to forget it.

Well it seems that the Bishop wasnt kidding when he said that I would be the first of many to go out. When the time comes around to go home for me, there will be many guys from our ward who will be getting papers in or are already out. It's cool to hear how many are getting ready.

There were a few times this transfer already that people have told me that I have a really strong European accent and others say I have no accent, saying that I sound like a Hungarian when I speak. It's one of the coolest compliments that you can get when learning a language and from the natives too.

Well also this week I thought that I got my package from you guys, but I actually got one from Raimund. He is soooo nice. He really looks forward to seeing us up there after my mission. I wonder if all that could go through. He sent some of the left over forint that he didnt use and then he sent some wrapped Christmas presents. That's a real test of patience, having to wait to open them. Lol.

Well I love you guys and hope that you have a csodálatos hét (wonderful week)
Love you.
Enjoy the pics. Im going to start taking more.
Love Elder Hosch

Thanksgiving, 2010

The week of Thanksgiving, the missionaries didn't have their usual p-day on Monday because they were going to have a "super" p-day on Thursday, Thanksgiving. It's so wonderful to know that when serving abroad, home traditions are not forgotten. Elder Hosch and his companion, Elder Proctor, and several other missionaries were treated to a Thanksgiving feast prepared and served by a missionary couple, The Rollingson's. They posted this picture on their blog:

"Eight hungry Elders serving in Pécs and Kaposvár. Elders Galland, Mullen, Bennion, Proctor, Crandall, Miller, Runnells and Hosch."

It's so great to know that there are people like the Rollingson's (a missionary couple), mission President and his wife, members, investigators, and even strangers who are so good to these young men and women who go out to serve others and forget themselves for 2 years.
Cyndi

November 15, 2010

Hey guys,
First off, here is my new address.

7400 Kaposvár
Városház u. 1/2/2
Hungary

Well I'm feeling a lot better now. I'm not sick at all. More just back to the good old tired.

The new city isn't as bad as I thought it would be. It's more laid back as a ctiy. Not as many people and not big enough to have people always on the go, so things move a little slower here.

As for right now I'm with Elder Proctor. He's a pretty cool guy. He is from Southern California, I think not too far from San Bernadino, which is way cool.

But anyway, the branch here is pretty small and only has a handful of members. I had to translate for the senior couple that came to talk on Sunday. It was pretty hard to translate that kind of stuff, but I got it done. It's pretty cool to be able to translate some pretty serious stuff into a very hard language.

My comp and I get along pretty well. We're still getting to know each other and we're working pretty hard, but boy do transfers wipe me out. I get super tired everytime, especially when it's me that is moving. We have to carry everything that we own on and off trains and all over the place to try and get to where we want to go. We had to pack up everything, then when we get there we have to unpack it into a totally new place.

The cool part about being here now is that there are 4 elders here and so we can have a bit more fun with things and stuff. Elders Miller and Runnels are the other 2 that serve here. Runnels is a greenie, but on fire. They came in on a hard situation where they had to white wash as a greenie and trainer, that's not easy, but he talks to everyone, and I mean everyone. We were standing in a little group outside their building right before we were all going to go our seperate ways and then go home, there was this lady that got "too close" and so the new elder jumped out of the little group of the 4 of us and then started talking to this older guy. Then the guys stops him and says, "I'm sorry, I don't understand", grabs a random guy and says, "here tell your story to him, I don't understand." So then Elder Miller turns to us and says, "REFERRAL", lol. It was pretty funny.

I talked to the senior couple that are working in the office and they said that I tell president what the situation is for the end of my mission and then people will arrange the flight plans and stuff with you guys. I need to know if you are coming or not to let pres know whats up. I can e mail him today and let him know that if I want to take summer classes then I need to take the early transfer in order to get home in time to start them, reguardless if you guys come or not.

I sure miss my brothers. It kinda sucks to think that yes, I'll be home from my mission, but we won't be kids anymore. We won't have just school to worry about and think that homework is a pain in the butt. lol Sadly we are growing up, but I still miss them like crazy. Every time I have a dream of me walking off that plane I see Adam screaming my name like he does after a week-long camp, acting like I've been gone for much longer. (But in this case, that is how it is.) I see Jeremy kind of being ashamed of crying like I am, but we don't care then, I see Austin with that cute, big goofy smile on his face and all of them almost as tall as I am. Even here in the e mail place I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. It's going to be a crazy day. Holy Crap. I will have sooo much fun getting to do things with them again. To them it might just be what they have been doing the last two years, but for me it will be like "OHHHH remember when we used to do this or this?" It will be soo much fun.

Well I hope that you guys don't eat all of my food (you're sending me) because I'd like to actually get some of it. And I hope that you guys have a wonderful week.
I love you all and hope to hear from you soon.
Love Josh.

About Kaposvár:

Coordinates: 46°21′50″N 17°46′56″E / 46.36383°N 17.78225°E / 46.36383; 17.78225
County Somogy
Area
- Total 113.59 km2 (43.9 sq mi)
Population (2005)
- Total 67,954
- Density 598.23/km2 (1,549.4/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 7400
Area code(s) 82

From Wikipedia, some history of Kaposvár:

According to legend, the city was founded on seven hills (like Rome). The area had already been inhabited by 5000 BCE. From around 400 BCE, Celtic tribes inhabited the area.

The city was identified as "Kapos" in the founding document of the Episcopate of Pécs in 1009. The rectangular motte castle was reconstructed as a stone castle in the 15th century. The castle was destroyed in 1702 at the order of Leopold I, Holy Roman Emperor.

The Ottomans occupied the city after a five-day siege in 1555, and stayed for 131 years. The city and area were freed from Ottoman rule in 1686.

In 1749 Kaposvár was designated the county seat. During the 1800s the city developed considerably, due to the importance of the railway line between Budapest and Zagreb. Kaposvár became an important industrial city.

In the early 20th century, the city became the center of an artists' colony associated with the rise of the modernist movement in Hungarian art.[1] In 1950 the city annexed the village of Kaposszentjakab; this was followed by annexations in 1973 by Kaposfüred, Toponár and Töröcske.

In 1990 Kaposvár, as a city above 50,000 inhabitants, was elevated to the rank of city with county rights. Since 1993 it has been an episcopal seat of the Roman Catholic Church. The University of Kaposvár was founded on 1 January 2000.

aerial view of Kaposvar from Wikipedia

November 8, 2010

Ya time goes by too quick or too slow. But never the way you want it to. LOL.

Anyway, things are ok here. Im leaving too, by the way. We got our calls and I'm going to the other side of the country again. I'll be over in Kaposvár near Pécs, so hopefully I can go visit over there. I will be serving with Elder Proctor.

I have been sick this week so things have been a little slower feeling, but ok.
Nothing special has really been going on around here.

Oh well. I hope that I get your package here soon. I will be leaving and I saw that you sent me a package and I still have yet to get it.

I saw on one of the MSN headlines as I got onto the CPU that they are trying to get rid of the health care plan now. When I heard about that and just how bad it sounded I really hated it, so I'm happy that they are trying to get rid of it now. I hope that with all of those new Republicans in the Senate too, we can get some good stuff going.

One thing that I told my comp is that I think there should be some way that when a person running for office promises something to the people, then he should be accountable for what he said. I think that its crap for a President of the USA, the most powerful man in the world, to lie to people to just get what he wants. There should be some way that he should be accountable for what was promised.

Well, its a rainy day and we were hoping to go play some basketball, but I guess that's not going to happen. It's alright though. We have things to do. I have some packing and de-junking to take care of.

I love you guys and miss you guys. I hope that all the sport stuff is awesome. Sports are sweet and I miss them a lot as well, but well see what's up with me and sports when I get home.

I can't wait for flight plans and stuff too. I can't believe that I might be getting the call soon. I don't know when, but it'll come sooner or later.

I will also have to have Jeremy hook me up with some In and Out when I get home. That place is talked about a lot over here as missionaries and we are all trunkie for it. lol

Love you all
Love Josh

November 1, 2010

Hey guys. Whats up?

Man basketball tryouts for Jeremy? I think that he will make it. As far as I've heard, he seems to be doing pretty good. I hope that he makes it so he can teach me a thing or two when it comes to coaching and stuff. Thats one thing that I think has held me back is that I have never been coached. So I don't have the best smarts when it comes to the game, a lot of it is just my smarts, and you know how much I lack there. lol.

Well I hope that he makes the team. I think that everything would be cool if he could get on a team. Make playing ball with him again a challenge for me. We are going the complete opposite way when it comes to basketball skills. I haven't had time or resources to practice at all. We have played but on the sport day and for a short period of time. I think that it will come back, and with the new challenge from Jeremy being a lot better when I get home, it will help me improve as well. I really love that game. I miss it a lot and I hear about all kinds of trades but I'm not really sure. I hear Shaq's already off of the Cavs and with I think the Celtics, and Lebron James is out in the Heats. D wayde and King James. Man the Heats are going to kill. I wonder if they will still have Big baby glenn davis play the center with Shaq in there now. I think Shaq should retire. I think he is just being pushed around here and there more for an audience attraction. Anyone who knows anything about basketball knows who he is and that he is way over his prime and is almost done.

Anyway as for what happend this week, we had a Halloween party over in Nyiregyháza. The sisters and elders from here in Debrecen all had basically matching costumes. The sisters wanted to be "faith without works is dead"...boring, but then again we didn't have any better ideas, but then the sisters found out that nobody here really knows about that scripture as much as they do in America, so they said that we should be the 4 seasons. Sister George was spring, Sister Jordan was summer, Christensen was fall and I was winter. I drew and made masks for all of us and then Sister George painted on my face. I had her paint a huge smile on my face like what I saw in one of the Fall out Boy music videos on Pete the bass player, but a lot of people said that it made me look like the Joker from Batman. Which is funny cause guess what shirt I bought on saturday too???? Yep a BATMAN shirt.


The party was pretty fun. I was tired, though. But then again it was nice to see some of the members and Elders from Nyiregyháza, Eger, Debrecen and some members from Miskolc. Speaking of which, we will be going up there this week for interviews.

As for this week, our schedule is set up. The week is going to be pretty full and so the last full week of transfers might fly by pretty quick. Things are basically already set up for tomorrow. Then Wednesday is interviews and then the normal English class on Thursdays. Man last week of transfer 11. Then it's 12 and I'm only going to 15. I still haven't recieved any calls about when I'm leaving and things like that, but I know that the time is probably coming soon.

As of now my comp and I are both kind of sick. It was worse last night, but a lot better now. My throat was just raw and I had a bad headache. Luckily today we can just rest for some time.

Well I love you guys. Send my love to everyone, especially the Moyers. That's good that Isabelle is doing ok. I hate when people get sick like that. Especially now having to go without my loved ones close to me, losing one would be really hard, even harder to have to see them suffer. So let them know that I'm grateful for what they have been doing for me. It really means alot. I will be sending them a letter soon too. I have some time to write today. I'll get one off to G ma and them and see who else I need to write. Sadly because of the holiday almost nothing is open today, but then again that means more free time because we can't go shop.

Love Josh

October 25, 2010

Well here are some pics of me with Elder Christensen.


There really isn't anything going on with us. He's chill and laid back, pretty quiet. We do get to joke around a bit here and there and still have a pretty good time. I think that the biggest question is what is going to happen with us. Just because he has had 4 areas. 4 comps in 4 transfers. And then again there are 14 missionaries coming in and so I might have to be training and because of that, he might have to leave again. But the next transfer is shorter, too, because the 6 weeks would end like 2 days before christmas and the travel plans would be pretty big for those that have to go home, they have made the next transfer 5 weeks and the following 7 weeks and what's wierd is that I will turn 21 in that transfer. I can't believe that.

Wanna know something funny? There is this guy here in Debrecen that is about 70 years old and he dresses up like the captain off of Giligan's Island and seems to be messed up pretty bad mentally. I've seen him a few times and he always comes over and salutes us and then starts telling us about how awesome the whores and sluts are up in Budapest. I just keep nodding like.....um ok. It's happened a few times before and it's like the same thing every time. It's funny as junk.

Man I am tired though, cause we played basketball on Saturday from about 10:30-2:00 and I haven't done that for a long time. So Sunday I ended up doing that thing where your head feels really heavy all while you are trying to pay attention, and you keep going in and out of sleep sitting up. And where your head hurts when you try to force your eye lids to stay open. So after Priesthood the teacher, in a joking way, wiggled his finger for me to go talk to him and then asked me what's wrong, who/what bothered me. I just explained it to him and then he was cool with it and showed us this funny video of this guy who goes off this huge ramp on a slip-n-slide and lands in a pool way far away and it looks really real.
here is the link if you wanna see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wAjpMP5eyo

If it doesn't work then just look up huge slip and slide on youtube and it is a big one with a yellow material as the slide.


Man I can't believe that Austin is 14 now. I totally forgot to send off his stuff. I even got it ready. Crap. I need to send that off today. I really hope that he had a fun b day.

Well I love you Guys, Hope you have a great week. I need to go nap and draw right now lol.
Love Josh

October 18, 2010

Hey guys I thought that I would just write a quick pretty cool story. This week is a concecration week in our whole mission. Our purpose is to strive to be perfectly obedient this whole week as a mission. And this morning I recieved a call from a lady that was just over at the church building for some reason. But she called and asked about the English class that we teach every week, but for some reason I decided to through with telling her that we teach people about our church outside of English class, as well, and she said, "well I read the bible and stuff, so I think that we could meet some time tomorrow." Thats the best way to find, just have people call you and get them to meet with you that way.

My mission has really taught me a lot and made me forget even more, but it's all for the better. There are things that you learn on your mission that are not learned in school.

well I dont really have much else new to say. I'm just really tired and can't think too well right now.
Love you guys.
Love Josh

October 12, 2010

Hey mom.

Things have been going a little better here. Not really work wise, but I've just gotten to a point, like with the language, where I got tired of things not going how I want them to, so I'm just working harder and feel better about it. I can't really do anything that I used to know how to do, but that's just more things to work on when I get home. I can't believe that I'm almost a year and a half out here. It just seems surreal and like it's not been that long.

So how has the car been going? Jeremy emailed me and told me that Dad worked on it for like ever this week. I think he's funny. I think that Jeremy's doing better. He has a really great job and is doing great. He seems to be happier too and feels really small--his words cause he said that Adam and Austin are getting huge.
I wonder what it's going to be like when I get home and see them almost as tall as I am and bigger mass-wise.

Well this week Elder Mason has been over with some other missionaries to help clean up some of the damage that has gone on over on the west part of the country (contaminated mud). I think that it's crazy how that will never be the same.
It's sad to add this to the things that Hungary has gone through.

The people really love when we do Hungarian things over here, though. Like today we were whipping and a Hungarian came up to us and just started talking about how they used to use them in the Army when they faught. I think it would hurt like crazy to have one of those things hit you. It might not kill, but definitely make you cry and run from the pain. I'll have to show you guys when I get home how to whip and how loud I can get those things cracking.
Well I love you guys and hope you have a wonderful week.
TTYL
Love Josh

October 4, 2010

Left to right: Elder Mason, Elder Houstman, Elder Hosch

(Elder Houstman heading home to the U.S.!!)
Hello guys,
Not much has happened this week. It was transfers, but then just back to normal.

Well, conference really made me think of you guys a lot, so when Elder Holland was taking about while he was on his mission and how he really appreciated his family, I realized that I never really tell you guys how much you mean to me. I love you guys so much and I am happy for all that you have done for me. I love my brothers and being able to do things with them. I am also very glad for all that you have gone through to make me who I am today. I am happy with who I am today and I know that a lot of it is because of the things you have done before.

Speaking of conference, it makes you really proud to be a missionary when they talk like that to the whole world about you. It's good to hear that some people are happy with what we do. I'm not saying that there aren't those people, just way out here I don't hear it often and feel like what I do isn't important to the people that try to help. I love this church, even more so since I've been a missionary and feel welcomed by another people. I've learned to love them and really want them to be happy, especially after all that they have gone through, when they feel like there is no future or hope, I want to tell them there is and they don't want to hear it. That's why missions are hard. To me the work is easy, it's just the fact that so many people are cold and bitter towards God for there lack of good earthly riches and those who are good in that way aren't satisfied with what they have and miss out on what makes them truly happy.

Mom, I've been a senior companion for three transfers. Elder Johnson was only in his 2nd. I loved serving with him, just not much happened. My new comp is Elder Christensen from idaho. He's also pretty quiet but I make up for it. He is really cool though. We have had a great week together. Lots of fun and trying to figure out how to get things going here. Other than that we are just getting things going.

I love you guys. We are going to Hortobágy today to get some whips and have some fun.
Love you and I'll write you guys a letter, too, with more details, when it comes to e-mailing I have no idea really what to talk about.
Love,
Josh

September 27, 2010

Sorry if this is a little short. I wrote an email to you earlier but the internet was down at the place we were at and so when I went to send it, it wouldn't send so now I have to try to rewrite my email.

I basically said that I'm staying here in Debrecen and that Elder Johnson is going to Pécs. And the funny thing is that I called that. I have been good at calling stuff like that. I dont know how, but I knew when Elder Houstman was going AP and I knew that Elder Egan was going to Budapest and that I was most likely coming here. So I'm guessing that I'm going to either train next transfer, here, or go ZL. We'll see.

I also said how much I miss Györ. No city that I serve in, I think, will ever compare to the memories that I have there. I love that branch over there so much and I wish that I could take them all back to our ward back at home. I think that would be legit.

Anyway, other than that not much has happened. The work is still kind of slow but we have a few things on the way. I hope that things pick up. I hate having to street about 20 hours a week. It's not very fun to have to do a lot of that. I'd much rather teach.

Well tell Gma pinky that I love her to pieces and I love you too, mommy.
Love Josh

September 20, 2010

I'll fill this in later when I get a copy of Josh's email from 9/20 from our old computer.

September 13, 2010

Hey guys.
Well this week was a little rough, but I'm glad that it's over.
I'm tired mostly from so much finding, but also from translating for like and hour and a half yesterday. It is a lot harder that I thought it would be. You try to tell the people you are translating to what was said and you've already missed a lot of the next few sentences. It wipes you out like crazy.

I remember the (York, Pa) Fair ok. Mostly from when I was there with you (September, 2008). I remeber that pig-racer guy being pretty weird and then the pigs racing around.

I hope that you feel better. I'm sorry that I don't have much to say, nothing really happened this week.

I cant believe that Zac is getting married, as well. Is it that girl that he baptized before his mission that waited for him or is a different girl? I know that they had something before he left. Where did he serve? I don't remember.

I hope that Jeremy's package gets there and that he enjoys it. I put some things in there for Adam and Austin, as well.

Love you guys!

September 6, 2010

Well to start off I have a little story of basically all that really happened this week aside from the training...

Well this week was kinda hard for a few reasons. We were in Budapest for 3 days like I said, and so the work suffered around here. But then when we met with that guy that I told you about a while ago, the one that just walked into the branch house and wanted to meet with us, he was the guy I have had the most hopes for when it comes to maybe seeing a future in baptism in such a short time. Well, we met with him on Saturday and he told us that the Bible says we shouldn't add or subtract from the book and that he will never accept the Book of Mormon and so it was also way hard cause he brought up that we are wrong and he feels bad for us cause we are going in the wrong direction. He only wants to follow Jesus and His teachings and if the Bible says that we shouldn't have more books then we are not following Him.
I had no idea what to do, so I prayed inside while Elder Johnson was talking on what to say, because I didn't want to argue with him or make him feel bad. He is a really good guy and has good intentions, I just was heart-broken in a sense to have him tell us that the Holy Ghost told him that we are going in the wrong direction. He told me to put down the Book of Mormon for 3 months and only read from the Bible and then I will see what he is talking about. I responded by telling him that I'll do that if he would put down the Bible for those 3 months and he will only read from the Book of Mormon (BOM). He wouldn't take it so I didn't either. I thought it was pretty funny and so did Elder Johnson. He was kinda laughing from it. But going back to the "what would I say to this" part, all Elder Johnson and I could think of was to tell him where we stand and that the Holy Ghost has told us that what is in this book is true. I did wonder why that part was in Revelations if God and Jesus themselves would appear to Joseph and have him translate more scripture, so I looked into it more.

When I read it, I went from cross-reference to cross-reference and saw that in the BOM in 3 Nephi 11 (the chapter that we gave him and he said that he read) it says the same thing-- "Don't take or add". But looking at the words that are used, he read it wrong, along with many other people who use that excuse for not accepting the BOM. The scripture in Revelations says not to add or subtract from the prophecies that the book contains. 3 nephi 11:40 says that as well, that we should not expand or diminish from the prophecy, or in other words, the "word" or in simple terms not to add or subtract from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to build our faith on its teachings. Upon the rock. So that we can be safe from the gates of Hell. It says to not change the doctrine, basically not to add or take away from the teachings of the Bible. It was really fun to do all that stuff and just be amazed that everything we teach is within the guidlines of the gospel of Jesus Christ and so we are in a very great position. When he asked me how happy Jesus would be with me for reading out of the BOM, I told him that He would be very happy with me.
I then briefly shared this experience in Fast and Testimony meeting yesterday and was able to tell the whole congregation to never doubt anything and to ask God for answers, and then can possibly come from a passage of scripture. I know that to be true from this experience. It was just so cool to wonder and honestly question why things like that would happen, and then to find out that we are on the right path.

Oh, I wish that I could sit there and watch tennis with you (The U.S. Open). That is one of the only sports that I'm not too good at that I just love to watch. I really do miss Agassi and Sampras. And I'm with you--I dont really like Rodger Federer, but love Nadal. I'm not a Roddick fan either. I forget his name but I saw a new tennis player, or at least one that I'm not too familiar with, while I was in the store. His name was Aaron or something like that from Australia. He has an amazing serve. One of the best that I have seen.

How are all my bros doing? I hope that Jay has a great B day.

The training wasn't much new. Well, it was and it wasn't. I thought that they had a new process or something, but it was just a lot of training on how to be a better and more effective teacher. I think that I did learn things, though, because as people we kind of get into routines and get comfortable in that place, then because of that we don't really help our investigators the best because we teach them the same way that we taught the last guy.

I love you guys and miss you a lot.
Enjoy the pics.
Enjoy tennis too. Update me on stuff that's cool from it.


Elder Cheney leaving:


One of my favorite families, the Szabo family:


With Elder Tanner Johnson in front of "The Great Church" in Debrecen:

Monday August 30, 2010

Wassssupppp.
Hey mommy pick up the phone.
WAZZZUUUPPPP
jk
Well this week was pretty good. We worked pretty hard and got a lot of the appartment de-junked. It's one of those appartments where the missionaries have been here for years and so it had a lot of old things that were not needed.
We also wanted to work hard this week because tomorrow we head up to Budapest for 3 days. They are changing the way that they will train the new missionaries coming into the MTC around April. So every mission is now getting trained on the stuff that they will teach the new missionaries, so that we know it by the time they even start the training in the MTC. The training will be long, but I think that I will like it. I always love zone conferences because, let's say, it puts that gas on my fire. I get really excited to get back out and work and do stuff like that. I know that I can do it. As the senior companion I am the example and want to make sure that the work here goes well, so I need to work hard in order to do so. I have really come to know what you guys have been talking about. It's a lot easier to just go out and do what you need to do than to try and figure ways out of it, or short cuts, just to find out that you still have the same stuff to do. So I am glad that you guys have always taught me to be like that. It is really paying off and I'm still getting better. I sure am glad that I came out here to learn all this for myself. We as people can train and tell people whatever we want, but for the most part, most people don't really learn things like this until they get out and experience them. So I see why this is such a great learning experience for so many people. Yes its not easy, but how would we learn if it was easy.

Elder Johnson and I are having a blast. We can laugh and joke around with each other and we get along way well, work well together... Today we will go to the guitar store and play some electric guitar, I hope that we get to have two or more transfers together. I think that it would be way nice to have that happen. Then we wouldn't have to worry about all the transfer stuff, we could just keep going with what we've got going.
His learning of the language is going actually pretty well, I think that he will surpass me sooner than he thinks. He is a great go-getter, and has a great knack for knowing who to stop. We have been pretty successful with finding and I think that it's a direct result of being obedient and working hard. If we do that then we are placed in front of those people that are ready to hear the gospel or at least meet with us.
Ya we are running every morning and am feeling ok. I would like to run a lot more and work out harder when I get home though. That P 90 X all the way through and run, man I'll be lookin really good at the end of next summer.

Well, I'll talk to you guys next week.
Love you~
Love,
Joshy

Monday August 23, 2010

Well Debrecen is the second biggest city in the country and is really pretty. It is another college town so lots of opportunities to talk to young, well put-together, intelligent people. We have programs every week that the senior couple puts on. It's a nice way to still work and relax a little bit almost every night while we can talk to members, non-members etc....
I really am drawing a blank on what to say. I'll try my best. I don't really know the city too much because since I got here a majority of the time I haven't been here or having to work.
Wednesday was tranfers and so we got here and because the trip is so long it was basically the night. Then after that, Friday was a super p day and so we got to go to the flower festival where all of the people go every year here. It's a really big thing in Hungary and I heard about it and then was lucky enough to be here for it when it happened.
Then after that we had church and stuff on Sunday. I was lucky enough to be told on Saturday morning that I had a talk and also have to help the senior elder in his meeting before church. I translate for him. Translating is harder than I thought. I can understand it but trying to put it together into English is another story. I think that it is easier translating the other way into a simpler form.
The talk went well and I had lots of fun being able to get up there and see all the new members in a different way than normal. I got to stand before them and tell them whatever I felt like I needed to before I knew them personally.
Well then today I spent all of the day up in Budapest cause Elder Johnson had to go complete some of the visa stuff to be able to stay in the country. So while all of the missionaries did that, the senior comps went and had fun. Elder Mason and I went to the guitar store down in Kispest. The guy that owns it ended up being an investigator after he and Houstman went in on a few p days. He is the guy that gave Elder Houstman his Uklele. So it was nice to be on an electric guitar and just feel the power level that it has over a dang little acoustic. It was freakin sweet.

I'll tell a little bit about my comp-
He is from Rigby, idaho and is the oldest of 3 boys in his family. We get along way well and we both have a few things in common. He likes guitar and so do I. We just get to work and all kinds of stuff really well. We have set some good goals to get some things going. He played football in high school, he played nose guard and line backer. He says that his job as the nose blocker was to make sure that the other team couldn't hit his teamates in the nose. He also says he did really well cause no one got a bloody nose the whole season. I think that might have been a school record, too.
I have been keeping track of all the people that I was a part of teaching. I know how important all this is to these people and so I want to remember them and when it all happened. I am hoping and working for some more pretty soon here. I don't think that we have any coming soon, but we got a few really good finds. One guy came in after English class and asked about our church because he said that he lived in this city a long time ago and has been in England, but never knew that there was a church built around here. So we talked to him and he said that he would like to come to church when we are holding our meetings so we told him when and so he and his GF came on Sunday and we are meeting with them on Tuesday and will have lots of hope for him. I think that people are meant to run into certian people at certian times. If you know what I mean, I have a strong testimony about that.
Well I hope that you have a great week and tell everyone hi for me. I sure miss them over there, but I am glad that I'm out here. I have learned so much that you can't even tell. It's just one of those things that you'll have to see in me when I get back. It's hard for me to really tell you myself, but I definitely do feel a big difference.
Love Josh

Debrecen, Hungary

Area
- Total 461.25 km2 (178.1 sq mi)
Population (2010)
- Total 207,270▲
- Density 442.53/km2 (1,146.1/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC1)
- Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 4000
Area code(s) 52

"Debrecen is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the capital of Hajdú-Bihar county. The name was first mentioned by the name "Debrezun" in 1235. Like most of Hungary, Debrecen has a rich, full, history. In 1849 Debrecen was the capital of Hungary for a short time. During World War II, Debrecen was almost completely destroyed, 70% of the buildings suffered damage, 50% of them were completely destroyed. A major battle, the Battle of Debrecen, occurred near the city in October 1944. After 1944 the reconstruction began and Debrecen became the capital of Hungary for a short time once again."

Deri Museum:

Csokonai Theatre:

Kossuth Square:

County House:

Cemetary:

Yes, this is a McDonald's!

The "Great Church":


Ethnic groups (2001 census)
Magyars - 94.7%
Roma - 0.5%
Others - 0.8%
No answer - 4%

Religions
Calvinist - 38.7%
Roman Catholic - 15.4%
Greek Catholic - 8.2%
Lutheran - 0.5%
Others - 1.5%
Atheist - 24.8%
No answer - 10.9%


(information and photos taken from Wikipedia,shared with permission via creative commons.)

Monday August 16, 2010

Well another transfer has gone by. That's so crazy. Now I am in my 10th transfer. Only 5 more after that and then you guys will be here and I'll be at home after that. It goes by so quick.
This week I reread the talk by Elder Uchtdorf about patience. It was really good. It made me think a lot about how I can better use my time here. I am doing the work and doing what I can, but more of how I can be different and more effective as I do the things that I am supposed to with a different approach.
I had a nice long talk with Houstman, too, about a new transfer and a new place meaning a new slate to work all of that stuff out. How to better improve myself and be 100% obedient instead of 90%. I really saw a big difference in him when he came back to help for splits and so I really wanted to see myself like that. He is a great AP (assistant to the President) and has been one of my greatest friends out here. I'll room with him for sure up at BYU. But he has really grown in the little bit of time that we spent apart. He has become a great role model for me and said that it has partly been his commitment to be perfectly obedient this last transfer. I can't believe that he already goes home this next transfer. I'm going to miss him, but I'm sure we'll keep in touch. I have just gone through a lot of change this last week, but all for the better. I am anxious to see what I am at the end of my mission and to see how much it has helped me in my life. I know it will. As I grew up you guys know that my testimony was shaky and iffy and I wondered if this is really what I want. Out here I have come to realize that I want nothing else. I love this church and all the things that it has given to me. I have gained a stronger desire to take my wife to the temple and so have my kids grow up in the church and have them be as happy as I am because of the choices I have made in my life to get me to the point that I am at right now. I know where I stand with certain things. We have all messed up and made mistakes, but we can always get better. As I have come to realize the atonement better, I have gained more of a desire to change for the better. So I am spending the rest of my mission going about things in a different way. I am not only going to work harder over in Debrecen, which is where I am going by the way, with the other Elder Johnson, whose mom got ahold of you by the way, but I am going to learn how to better control myself. Learn how to constantly be better and love everyone that I come across. I want to be a good example and have many more friends out in this mission. I want to take care of my wife and kids the right way. The way I see it is if I dont have control over myself then how will I be able to take care of other people that way and teach them those things that are important in life.
So like I said, I will be in Debrecen and I think that I will be having a great time there. I heard that it's a really great city and there are lots of good people there so I hope make it better. This week was a really good learning experience for me and even though it was a little long I bet I will be a lot better in the future because of it.
I accidentally shocked myself this week while was trying to pull a plug out of the wall. The converter was plugged into my camera's battery charger and so when I tried to get both of them out the charger came out and still had a little charge to it and got me on the finger. It felt weird and stung for a while but I'm better now.
I will let you know what Debrecen is like a little bit later when I, too, know more about it.
Love you guys and hope that you have a good week.
Love Josh

Monday August 9, 2010

Whats up,

Well the trip was way relaxing and I got to hang out with Elder Mason for the most part. It was cool to spend the day up in Budapest with a bunch of other missionaries. Also now as Elder Houstman being the AP he gave a training with his new comp and it was really, really good. It really helped me want to be better, like every zone conference, but this was really cool. I loved serving with him. I think that it will be really cool to room with him up at BYU if i make it there. I really hope that I get in there. When I am going it's going to be during the January semester, and not as many people are applying at that time as they are compared to August.

On Tuesday we went up to a little city called Szentendre (if I spelled it right) and there we went to this little town within it that is like a museum called Skanzen. It was pretty wierd that there is just a like square mile town fenced off and it was like going back into the middle ages. There were little huts with like hay roofs and what not. It wasn't the most fun thing but pretty interesting.

But there was another part to the whole thing. We went to the Szentendre town and it was basically a walking street with tons of little shops set up and thing like that, I didnt really get anything except a cool looking shirt that looks like a Hungarian soccer jersey. I think that it's pretty sweet. I'll send a pic of it some time.
Well we basically just walked around the little stores looking at things and then went home.
It wasn't a huge thing. It was nice to hang out with Houstman again. I stayed in the mission home for some time after the trip because we planned to go on splits after ZC (zone conference), so the ZL (zone leader) was going to take us home instead of us having to take the train home. But because in Pápa they started a game day, they wanted to get an American football for it, so they took my comp and then the ZL and his comp went out to get one and they called me and told me that they would be back about a half hour later but it ended up being about an hour and a half and so when the APs, being the last people in the mission home, had to leave they went to drop me off with the President and then they got back. So we didn't end up getting home until about 10:30 after getting up that morning at about 4 AM. Long day but was nice to have some good trainings and some down time after a while with a bunch of other missionaries. Other than that, there wasnt much going on this week. There was this one guy that Elder Johnson stopped that was pretty jerky to us. We told him our names and then he was like, "Oh you're the Mormons, huh? Well you guys are the ones with all those wives in America, huh?" We told him that it isn't us, and he was like, "ya it is." I knew about one of your people that came here and took some girl and locked her up, then she had to call for help a lot before the guy would finally let her go." We tried to explain that we have no idea what hes talking about and then he was like, "No this is how it is" and walked off. Johnson and I just looked at eachother like, uh we are Mormons and he has no idea what's up. How does he claim to know more about us than we do. lol It was a funny experience that was really weird at the same time.
Well I love you guys. If you were going to send the package to the Győr home I would hold it off or send it to the mission home cause transfer calls are already next week, Dang.
Love Josh

Monday, August 2, 2010

Well as a mission this week it was a goal to have each companionship get 30 finding and teaching hours. So my comp and I made goals to make sure that we work hard and get things done. Never on my mission have I had to go tracting for 5 hours straight and especially as the senior comp, but seeing it was concecration week and we needed to get some people to find and had nothind else to do, we did it. We didn't get much out of it, just a few maybes, but we will see. We only got 28 hours but that's better than the 20 or so from the previous week and the 25 the week before. So improvement in any form is really good. I feel really comfortable in the lingo too. I love when I just naturally understand a lot of what people are saying without really even trying. I can just listen like I would in English, just let it in and then respond without much thought. I still have much room for improvement, but I know being the senior comp now, I run the programs a lot more than before. I am glad that Elder Johnson isn't afraid to speak though. One thing that really held me back is that I used to be one of those people that wouldn't do something unless was sure it was going to work. It held me back with lots of things when I was at home, but I know that now I am getting better at making good decisions as they come. Not really just winging things, but not being afraid to just get out and do. So when I started just saying things whether is was right or not, I really saw lots of improvement. I know that with the time that I have left I will get to have many chances to grow. This week has really shown me that it's not much harder to just get out and do the work than to wonder how it can be better. It's all my choice and I think that I have really learned to apply that this week. It's my choice to do what I want and be what I want. Not just what work field do I want to go into, but more like it's my choice to be happy and sad. Yes some things effect it for bad or good, but I have been a little better by just getting out there and trying. It's a lot better to sit at the end of the week saying that I tried instead of 'well that week sucked'. lol
So things are going better. I have you guys. Things will be wonderful when I get home, but I am in one of those moods right now where I am just glad I have made the right choices to come and because of it I am happier. I never would have gotten to meet anyone in this amazing branch or anything, and I know I wouldnt have been able to grow to what I am now. It's hard for me to explain the differences, but I am sure that you guys will see them when I get home.

I really hope that dad can come get me. I think that it would be great to have both of you come, but if nothing else at least dad. I think that I will serve in Pest next, only cause I have hinted to the APs, one of which was my last and one of my favorite comps. lol but well see. I go where they need me. It's how it works. I want you guys to come so that I can introduce you to this ward and so that you can see me talking with the people in their language. You have never seen me talk to a Hungarian and so I think that it would be cool to have you guys see that when you come out. Then we will get to visit some more family that I would never have met otherwise....maybe. But you know. It's always fun to have Kolja come over and show some pics to me of dad when he was on his mission, and then when he met Kolja when he was a little 8 year old boy with dad around my age, and also with Raimund too.

Well as for tomorrow I finally get to see Elder Mason after like transfers. I have wanted to see that guy for a long time. He is one of my best friends out here. I am so glad that I got to meet so many amazing friends out here. Missionaries or members here in Hungary. He told me that if you guys come get me, he wants to come too. lol. IDK it would be fun. We have the ZC tomorrow that I told you about. All I really know is that it's going to be a long fun day. ZC is usually from about 10-4 but because of the field trip its going to be from 9-6 and that doesn't include travel to and from Budapest. We are going to have some of the trainings in the morning and then around noon we will get going to have a bus tour around Budapest and then go visit some famous little villages near the big city. So I'll take lots of pics and see if there is anything cool to buy.

I will tell you guys more next week about what the ZC is like and all.
I hope that you have a cool week.
Well I love you guys and miss you a lot.
Have a wonderful week.
Love Josh

Monday July 26, 2010

Anyways how are you doing?
I’m doing ok. It was a long week, but has gone by pretty fast. I can’t believe how fast the transfer is going by and then it will be over. I think it’s insane how fast it goes when you are senior, cause you have to do pretty much the majority of the work and because of that you get lost in the time, you know.

I always enjoy getting a visit from Kolja. He is a really great guy and I’m glad that you set things up a little bit to allow us to meet.

Next week we have zone conference and it’s going to be a special one that happens once a year. We will have it start early and then we are going to go on a Budapest tour and a famous little town tour near the Duna (Danube) and will get to get things and have lots of cool pictures to take. I will try to send you some pics in two weeks since the time that we will go on the trip will be after the next e mail opportunity.
I am unsure of the details so I will let you know more about it when I know. Sound good. Lol.

Well it has cooled down a lot here and it feels really good. It rained last night and a little bit near the end of the evening yesterday. But the past few days it has been cloudy and therefore no sun has been able to get through top the ground and has made it really nice to be outside. It really helps your mood you know.

Well Elder Johnson is doing great. He is a great guy and we get along great. I am so glad that I have always had missionaries that I can get along with really well. I never have had a struggle with having to deal with a trouble comp. Everything is going ok here. The work could be a little better so we are going to work on getting a few more investigators this week, and so I hope that we can get some really good ones like the one that just got baptized on Saturday. Her name is Guóth Niki and is one of those people that we hear about that are the people that are completely ready to hear the gospel. She was found about 8 weeks ago and has been to church every time. She has done everything we ask her and because of that she has been properly prepared by the spirit and then on Sunday the second councilor in the bishopric had her get up and explain how she converted and knew this is what she wanted. I haven’t felt the spirit so much in my life. I could understand everything that she was saying PERFECTLY and was on the verge of crying because it was so heart felt that she was so happy to have found her place. I wish that you guys could have been there to hear it. It was amazing to hear the new converts’ testimonies. Mainly cause they are fresh and way happy to be where they are. Sort of like when Jeremy Ruettinger gave his talk in church. He was way happy to have this in his life now, and the same with Niki. It’s just a crazy good feeling to see your work actually work. If you look at how the things work on missions the number of people that get baptized compared to the number of people that we meet with you are very slim. So we constantly have to cycle things and do our job and hope for the best.

I always hope for the best cause I don’t want to waste my talents or time out here. I would have just spent two years doing nothing if I wasn’t trying my best to fulfill my purpose. So I really hope to grow even more now that I’m the senior comp. the feeling is kind of exhilarating.

As time goes on the excitement to do anything dies and so we as humans look for some way to excite it over and over again. So it’s a constant search for more and with enough faith it comes to those that wait. I have definitely noticed that.

Well I love you guys and hope all is well. I hope that your job goes through and you get what you are looking for. I will pray and keep you in mind.
Love Josh

Monday July 19, 2010

Sup dudes?

Well my memory card is full and I have a letter to send out so I will have that included in there.

Well anyway,about the whole Superman thing. Yes, Superman is awesome, but somehow everyone that hates him in the movies always seem to find Kryptonite. I'm not saying he isn't cool, but I just like the idea of Batman even better. And what's cool is that now there will be a Green Lantern movie. I have always said that they should make one. Just cause GL is another one of my favorite super heros. Not that I'm trying to be different, but I like liking things that arent just the 3 main guys. Almost everyone has a favorite superhero and they are all most likely between Superman, Batman, and Spiderman. LOL...

I'll bet it's way nice to go swimming. I really miss that, and not being super white. lol. I'm not too bad cause my skin doesnt get pale like some people's does, but it's still weird cause as far as I can remember I have never had a farmer's tan. Speaking of Goodmans, Jordan has one of the worst farmer tans I have ever seen. HAHA I miss camping with those guys. Those were some of my favorite memories from being at home. How are all the missionaries doing? I hear a little bit here and there, but not too much to know details. Thanks dad BTW for sending me their addresses.

But ya its been way hot here, and the missionary clothes dont really help~the long dark pants in 100 degree weather with a lot of humidity. But thankfully it did cool down a little bit. The downfall is that here they don't have screens so you either have to deal with a no-air-conditioning house or the bugs coming in. So most try to deal with the heat by being almost completely naked, and so tracting is always a great way to see 70-80 men in their underwear. ughhhh. But it rained a little bit on saturday night I think and because of that it's cooled and has brought more cloud coverage. So the shade and wind are helping a lot.

Well i told you that I would update you on the Hosch visit, it was way cool to see them. I really like Kolja and it was crazy to finally get to meet some more of my family that I never knew. I am also getting the family connections down like who is whose son or daughter and things like that.

Raimund took all of us out to McDonald's and we got to get to know each other there. He has had so many huge jobs in his life and is going to retire in a like 3 years here. He doesn't even look like he is 65 years old. It's insane. They are all really nice.


Well I hope that your fasting has worked or will work. I know that it helped me for the time being. I still have rollercoaster feelings, obviously when things are harder and you know the potential of the city and things like that. It just makes it harder to push, but at the same time you have to. It's a great experience and I will forever love some of these people that I have met and taught here. I love this branch a lot and not just because they have a nice building or have a bigger number of people, but more of the fact that I love the people and who they are, and how strong of members they are even after only a few years of membership. Almost everyone except for a few of the youth whose parents were converted like near the begining of the church here are all first generation members. It's crazy to see how fast this church is growing here. I really want to come back for the temple dedication. I know they will have one. I just dont know how long it will take. I will be so happy to hear when they announce one. We'll just be watching general conference and they will anounce it. ( I'm getting goosebumps just writing about it.)

Well as for my companion. He is way sweet. We get along really well already. We went on splits when I was in Pápa for a few weeks and so I got to know him there a little bit and then we kind of called that he would be my first junior, kind of in a joking manor and then when we got the call it was like I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT. I SO CALLED THAT ONE. Haha!

He is from Ogden and has one older sister. He loves to snowboard and just chill with his friends a lot. He said that he and his friends never really had a specific thing that they would always do, but rather that they went through phases of things. One summer was rope swings into lakes or the next was just mountian biking etc. Other than that he's only in his 3rd transfer. Putting things into perspective, when I was first put with Elder Cheney, he was in his 9th and I was in my 3rd. He goes home this transfer and now I'm in his positon when he got me. 9 and 3. It was a long time ago but then again it's hard to believe how fast it went and how fast it is going to go.

Well i love you guys and hope that everything is going great. If Adam and Austin are bored they should just work out. Thats one thing I'm really going to work on when I get home. Some P 90-X and what not. Johnson and I have been really good at running and stuff so I am feeling a lot better cause of it.

I don't really have a limited time, just to let you know. In the MTC we had half an hour but here we aren't limited. I just am not a good typer and don't really have much to talk about every week and I email a few people. But you are first this time. I still have to e mail President and now that I'm DL. I have to fill out infomation weekly and stuff then send it back to the office.
Anywho I hope that you love the pics I'm sending. I loved the ones that you guys sent. I really liked that.
Love Josh aka Slim
Elder Hosch

Monday July 12, 2010

Hey~
I had to give a talk in sacrament meeting and then also had to teach elders quorum. I think that its funny how I never have even taught Priest Quorum and then all of the sudden I'm out here in another country and in a different language I have to teach and talk all in the same church day. And the funny thing is, is that when the Elders Quorum President asked me to teach, he asked me to teach from the 12th lesson and so I was prepared for that and everything and then all of the sudden as he was announcing that I was going to teach, he mentioned that I will be teaching them from the 13th lesson and so in like 5 seconds I had the chance to read the title of the lesson and then teach it. Ugh. Worked out ok. At least I have the language excuse to say thats why it wasn't the best lesson in the world but you know.

What's way cool is that Kolja is coming this weekend with Raimund and his family too and so I will get to meet them and get to know some more family. I really enjoyed the time that I got to get to know Kolja and his family.

I really hope that you guys can come pick me up so that we can go visit them after going to Győr and stuff again. I think that way blows that the cars are constantly breaking down and that no matter how many times you fix them they get broken again. I would sure like to learn how to do all that stuff so when I get home I will have to have you show me how to fix all kinds of things. Yesterday I learned the word for handy-man in Hungarian. Its Ezermester. Ezer is 1000 and mester is, wow, Master so it's basically master of 1000 things. lol Hungarian is funny somtimes when you break it down.
I'm glad that I'm now at the point that I can say and understand pretty much whatever I want to in another language, even one this hard.
It's been pretty hot here too, and way humid. I hate the humidity.
Im sure anxious to get back to that dry Arizona heat. I love that feeling.

Well I hope that mom is doing well and that you had a great birthday. I feel so bad that at the time I literally had no money to get a card, let alone send one out to you. So happy late birhtday.
I love you guys and hope that I can hear from all of you next week.
Love Josh

P.S: I'll update you on the visit of all the Hosches later.

My new companion:

July 5, 2010

Hey guys,
Well not much news this week but definitely got some good news to hit you up with.
First off, you are reading from the new Győr District leader and so obviously I get to stay, but sadly my comp is going to Budapest to be the AP. The Nagy kutya(big dog). I am going senior finally with an elder from Szombathély named Elder Johnson. I will update you guys about him more when I know more about him.
I'm stoked to be asenior companion. And I'm also the 3rd missionary in a row to be in this city for at least 4 transfers. I am definitely going to bring you guys back here when you come pick me up. I love this city, even though there is a lot of work to be done, I still am way glad that get to stay here and I'm pretty sure that I get to stay here for just this last transfer but then again I might get to meet Raimund and see Kolja and stuff again. I would love to get to meet up with them and stuff again. I loved being able to meet some of the family members that I never had the chance to meet before.
A lot has happened and I have grown a lot and I think that it was just in time for me to take on even more things in my mission. And I know that before I know it will be home because am now in my ninth transfer and then I hit my double digits and after that it will be crazy fast.

Yes the guy that was baptized and then went to the temple and then had us over and talked to you guys was this guys wife, she is the one that got baptized in the river in the same place that he did. They are such a wonderful family and I really like getting to see them. Since I am staying in Győr I will most likely get to see them a few more times, which I don't mind. They are a way nice and well put together family.

I dont really have much else to say so might close for now. We had a program earlier and thats why I wasn't able to get out a message earlier. So now I'm writing to you but transfer weeks are soooo hectic and hard to try and organize your thoughts and things like that.
Well now that I'm staying I do have to give the talk in church and teach Elders Quorum next Sunday. It was only a maybe because we were unsure that I was staying or leaving. But since im staying I have to do those and then we are starting another round of the PMG lessons and thats held during the 2nd hour so I might just have to give a talk in church and then teach the second hour and then after that teach the elders quorum.
crazy huh.
Well I love you guys and hope that everything is ok with you up in AZ-
How hot is it there? I hate that it's humid and has bugs here and just ugh...
Well we have things to take care of because of the big transfer.
I love you guys,
Love Josh

June 21

I think I have seen Elder Johnson's picture up in the mission home. As soon as a person gets their call their picture is put up and when they are coming to the country and stuff.

Ya it was really awesome to meet Kolja. His wife did tell me about her sister being married to Kevin's older brother. LOL. She is a really nice lady as well.
Their kids are definitely Hosches. Tristen, the older one knows German and Spanish but I couldn't talk with him. I got to say hi and things like that from what I could remember in German, but it is not very much. Every time I think of how to say something in a different language, the first thing that comes to my mind is always Hungarian so my German is basically gone. To be honest, I really never had it. Just liked to know a little bit of another language that is in my blood.

Well this week was really full.
I was in Pápa on monday and then I went on splits {splits are when a missionary pair break up and each go with a different companion for an appointment or short time} to Tatabánya that night, spent Tuesday there and then spent my last day in Pápa before Zone Conference on Thursday over in Budapest where we had Elder Caussé from France come speak to us. He is really an amazing guy. Way helpful with the way we can improve the work here. He is a member of the area presidency and said that this mission is one of the most improving missions in the area. That was really good to hear, especially with how hard you have to work and as one person you only really get to see the work around your area in the field but he sees all of it. So it was really awesome to have that experience with another member of the Seventy {general church area authorities}. The other member of the Seventy that is also in the area presidency is Elder Erich Kapischke (think I spelled that right) and he came a little bit before Christmas and helped us a lot as well. Then that night I went back to Győr and am way happy to be back. It feels like I never left and so the rest of the transfer will be really quick and then I only have like 6 or 7 left. They fly by quick.

Then on Friday President Baughman and his wife, along with Elder Caussé, came to Győr to have a meeting with the district president and the relief society district president. President wanted us to be there since we have a perfect baptismal calendar and progress record to be the examples during part of the presentation, so Elder Houstman and I basically got a private training with a member of the Seventy. It was really well focused on the fact that sometimes people worry too much about the meetings or numbers that they forget to help the people and that the people are what are important in this work.

Then on Saturday I was in Tatabánya again because Houstman was baptizing a lady whose husband was baptized and went to the temple and loved it like crazy. She went with him, but obviously never went inside, but she still loved the feeling she had. He had a private bus take everyone to a little villiage called Dunaalmás and there the lady Róz, or in English Rose, was baptized in the Duna or Danube to you guys. She loved it and then after the service we went to a close by friend's ranch and had a big lunch and everything where they put on dances and just had a good time talking with members and getting to know more members in Hungary that I havent been able to serve around yet. They are so nice over there. They only have a rented out old bakery as their branch house, but it's still pretty sweet.

Then that night as you know I met with Kolja. He is way nice. I wish that I had more time with him. He told me cool stories of Opa and how he would look out his window when he was around 8 and because of the war and Michelstadt is basically in a valley, and the war being around them, Opa could see the shells flying over head and then when a plane crashed near by, he and a few friends went to it and found one of the grenades and they took it home. Lol he said Opa just put on the table like "look what I found". Then his dad took it to the dismantling place and got it taken care of. He also cleared up my understanding of how the family line works. Things like who is the brother, son, father, mother, daughter and what not of who. So I understand a little bit better. Its a lot to explain, but I know that he is Raimund's son and Raimund is Heinz's nephew. Heinz, Opa, is dad's dad and my g pa and so we are 2nd cousins and it's just a crazy thing to hear about Heinz's great g pa and how there were 2 brothers and one left and moved to america. And there are books, all in German, about the stories of how things were back then all written by our older family.

Then we had church then next day as usual. I got caught up on being back in the city and now it's a new week to get out and work. The mission is doing a mission-wide consecration week and so we are going to really work harder than before to make this week a special one.

Other than that I suck at typing when it comes to grammar and where commas should be and everything but I dont really care right now. Just wanna get the information to you lol
Love you guys and hope that you guys have fun at your camps, with family, and getting things done.
Until next week love Josh