Hello 2023

This is going to be a very exciting year. We finished the year with a visit from our Son and his wife Thomas and Makayla. What a fun 10 days of touring, walking, riding, walking, eating, shopping, and did I mention walking. The weather was brisk, the lights were wonderful and having family here for Christmas was a joyful pleasure. We enjoyed facetime videos of Christmas with each child's family. We are so thankful for modern technology that allows us to see, hear and send love across the air waves. We watched a Gender Reveal to see Cupcakes filled with BLUE filling to prepare for grandchild # 9 arriving this summer with Christopher and Megan. We receive kisses on the phone from our Grand children and grand dogs.

Here is our ride on the Double decker Hop on and Hop off bus.

Christmas morning at our Apartment.

Budapest public skating area on December 26th.

Our humanitarian work seemed to come to a halt the end of December then the day after our family left, emails started coming. Fortunately, we were ready to get back to work. We spent November and December visiting many organizations preparing for new project to begin in 2023. We have proposed 5 new projects, have 3 continuing from last year and 3 more in the development stage. We will continue to follow each project until completed. Some will be complete in a matter of months, and others will be operating until December 2023.

We enjoyed watching skaters on a a small skating rink out our back window through the holidays into January.

We enjoyed some beautiful sunny days, and YES, I still have Begonia's blooming on our porch. Every so often we enjoy some snow flakes. Nothing is sticking so far in the city.

The days have been cold, we bundle up with hats, gloves, scarfs, and continue to walk and ride the Villa-Mush, and buses. Most of January has been spent in our Apartment on the computers preparing the documents needed for our projects. We still go for walks to the grocery store or just fresh air, they are shorter than the fall. Clark has the computer and accounting skills that organize each project, complete the required information and keep us in compliance with our area managers in Germany. Melody uses her typing and writing skills send emails, search for new organizations and help our managers feel our projects have merit by describing the projects abilities to relieve suffering, foster self-reliance and provide opportunities for service for people of all nationalities and religions.

These are photos of our work at the School for the Blind in Budapest. The building is one of the most beautiful school we have seen, built in 1901. Part of this project is providing soil for 12 grow boxes they have in the courtyard. In April or May we will gather our Missionaries and young people to work with the students and staff to prepare the boxes for there spring and fall gardens.

We are honored to be a part of the great work of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Hungary/Romania Mission, of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We gather with our "District" (a designated group of missionaries) at least twice a month to talk, teach and laugh. The missionaries serving here have learned Hungarian and serve the people with respect and

honor. We sometimes bring the young Sisters and Elders to appointments with us to help translate our communications when the organization does not have people who speak English.

This is Sister Carlton and Sister Jensen, when they helped us with translation one day.

Clark is busy at work in our of apartment office.

Our District meeting with Sister Smyth, Sister Huntley, Elder Price, Sister Jensen, Sister Carlton, Elder Verkler, Elder Brewster, Elder Hartman (our District leader is out of the photo) and me trying to hide.

As our projects progress we will have more photos and stories of our travels. We are privileged to associate with people and organizations who are doing a great good for the disadvantaged in Hungary. It is an honor to be here and represent all the good people who give to Humanitarian Aid. Love to all! Clark and Melody