HUMANITARIAN WORK IN HUNGARY

This past week we went to Budapest, Hungary to train Elder and Sister Moser.  Even though it was very cold there (-6 degrees Celsius average daily temperature) this is the part of the missionary work we both love.  The senior missionaries assigned in humanitarian roles have such a wide variety of talents and personalities.  It is interesting to work with each one of them and see them develop their projects using humanitarian principles. During our week of training we also visit some of the past NGO partners. We get a feel for each organization and what kind of future projects they would like to pursue.

Russell, Eileen and Elder and Sister Moser (The women did not plan the matching outfits)

Elder Moser is a CPA and Sister Moser has had many years of helping him in his private practice. Both are very adept with computers, which is a very beneficial skill to have as a humanitarian missionary. At one point we had their 2 personal computers, the welfare computer, my Ipad and Russell’s welfare computer all going at the same time. Technology can be a challenge and also a marvel.  My job (Eileen) is to make sure all the computers are syncing together with all the appropriate programs on every computer. I would not say I am particularly good at computers, but during our 3 missions I have learned a lot.  It can be humbling when you realize how much you don’t know, but a wonderful “yes” moment when all the programs work on every device.

The Mosers have been asked to live in Miskolc, in the northeast section of the country. When they arrived the previous week at their house they did not have any hot water.  I think they were glad to come to Budapest and stay in a hotel with us for their training at the mission home.  It also was very convenient for us as we visited 3 NGO’s based out of Budapest.

On Tuesday morning we met with Melinda Kassai from ProCserehat. Our previous humanitarian couple had set up a few projects with this organization.  Melinda is a psychologist who saw a real need to help the poor, many who don’t fit socially into their small communities.  She has developed a gardening project where participants can not only reap the benefits of the produce from the garden, but also develop social skills as they learn to work with others.  In one community we visited last summer, the mayor said that individuals who came to her for welfare subsidies were encouraged to work with the ProCserehat gardening project.  The numbers of those on welfare had been reduced dramatically.

Melinda Kassai with Elder and Sister Moser

On Wednesday we met with two other NGO partners.  The organization SOS has a program to reach both vulnerable children and refugees.  Their focus is to strengthen families, provide foster homes for children who have lost parental care, and to assist as adolescents move from being teenagers into adulthood. They also work closely with the refuges that are stuck at the Serbian-Hungarian border providing assistance as the refugees wait, hoping to be let into the country.  We heard a well-organized presentation regarding their work. LDS Charities has made donations towards foster children and also with refugees.  Both Sister Moser and I were extremely touched by the wonderful programs SOS has developed to help children in need.  We both loved the idea of helping vulnerable children.

SOS presentation on vulnerable children

SOS works with refugees in the transit zone between Hungary and Serbia

Receiving goods funded by LDS Charities

We also visited Menedek. This organization is involved in promoting the social integration of foreign citizens migrating into Hungary. LDS Charities recently provided over a thousand hygiene kits which were given to refugees. We were told these kits were greatly appreciated as the refugees arrive with just what little they can carry along their journey.

Menendek

We had significant problems finding this NGO

Wednesday afternoon we attended Zone Conference. There were about 16 young missionaries and 3 missionary couples attending this conference. President Szbadkai presided.  There had been 3 previous zone conferences that week and this was the only one conducted in English. President Szbadkai said he felt inspired to do his presentation in English rather than his native tongue of Hungarian. I am assuming he probably did this for our benefit and that of the Mosers.  The Mosers are trying to learn Hungarian, but it is a difficult language to master.  It was enjoyable to be with the young missionaries.   I was very impressed at the quality of the questions during the women’s breakout session. Considering the female missionaries are only 19-22 years old, they seemed to have maturity far beyond their years.

Zone conference

On Thursday we did some more training and then at the end of the day went on a quick tour of the beautiful parliament building in Budapest. We also tried to take a hop-on hop-off bus tour of Budapest. We knew it was nearing the closing time, but we didn’t realize that we would only go a few stops and then find out the tour was shutting down and we would not be able to go back to where our car was. Considering we had already gotten one parking ticket earlier in the week while visiting SOS, we determined it would be best to get off and take a cab back to our car. Budapest is a lovely city. Most of what we saw of the city was as Elder Moser was driving from one location to another.  We appreciated his willingness to drive in a foreign city.  It kept us from having to take public transportation, and we were able to enjoy some of the beauty of Budapest.

Photo of the Parliament building taken out of car window-ice floating on Danube

Night Photos of the Parliament Building

Looking across the Danube

Budapest is lovely at night

Museum in Budapest

We travel to Romania this coming week. We came home just long enough to catch up on our work in the office and do the wash. I would like to say that for the first time in my life I am loving doing the wash. A couple of weeks ago we were given a dryer for our apartment.   Even though our washer and dryer are only made to hold a small amount of clothes, it is a wonderful blessing to not have our clothes hanging for several days trying to dry.