September breeze, falling leaves and movie time.

Summer is coming to an end with shorter days. Here we are at our Church Ward picnic with The Toth family. Little Ezra is in the nursery class that Clark and I teach on Sunday. We are officially called Grama and Grampa from America. The little ones keep us in practice for our own greatly missed grandchildren. Next are some beautiful flowers on our walk to our apartment. They stay tightly closed all day, but when the night comes, they open to a beautiful almost florescent color.

They had a special concert at Hero’s square that we were able to attend with the Hungarian National Symphony. You forget how many instruments it takes to make such beautiful sounds. We were one of thousands who attended.

This is a restaurant in the park of Eger, Hungary. We took the missionaries to lunch at Excalibur, which is midlevel themed, complete with the sword in the stone, wooded plates and cups, and meats that look like they were just cut off the animal. Look close you see the Dragon on the roof.

We had a wonderful surprise from my cousin Kathy and Alan Swensen, who stayed an extra couple days after a princess cruise on the Danube. We laughed, cried and shared stories that took us back to California, Mar Vista, visiting with cousins all over the valley with Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents. We all are so grateful for our heritage and the connection of family. Thank you, Kathy and Alan, for sharing your days with us. It was a treasure. This last picture is of Alan Swensen meeting his relative from California on the streets of Budapest. It is a small world.

Did I mention our mission is AWESOME! We were able to be backdrop people in a movie being filmed in Budapest about the miracles that occurred when 30 missionaries were stuck behind the German lines as World War II began. We spent the day looking like people from 1939 who were in a train station in Germany.

The film is being directed by T.C. Christensen who also directed 17 Miracles, and The Fighting Preacher. We had makeup and a hairdresser with clothing from that era. I looked just like my mother. It was spooky.

It was concerning to see the train station with all the German Swastika’s hanging all around. The Station was not closed so people were also watching us from the background. It was a lot of walking, “Action, walking- Cut”. But very fun. The movie should come out within the year, if we do not end up on the cutting room floor, it might be our big breakthrough to stardom. HAHAHAHA.

This is our visit to Tapioland, in Tapiobiscke, Hungary. Our project was with Equal Opportunities. This organizations helps those with disabilities who are too old for state institutions. They help them with life skills, learning communications and working skills. These residents find value, learn work skills, and realize they have something to give. It is a fantastic organization. We provided indoor/outdoor tables and chairs with shade umbrellas so the residents can gather for meals and activities. This was the feast they provided for us, and two young missionaries we brought to help us with the language. We enjoyed Chicken Paprikas and many other delicious items. We also outfitted their medical room. This facility will have the only Defibrillator for the community. The local Mayor was pleased.

This was our project with SOS Children's Village in Kecskemet, Hungary. They are a foster parent program since 1970’s. We helped with the renovations to their community center, where they have events, provide training and counseling for the children. It was a beautiful old building, and now has updated windows and doors, with better insulation. The young missionaries in the area came and helped us with after construction cleaning.

As our year winds up, many of our projects are coming to an end. We are working with so many great organizations who help and lift the poor and the needy. We are honored to be representing the many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as they have given so freely to others through the Humanitarian Aid fund. The Lord is in the details of our everyday work. He continues to provide us with information and communication to meet our needs. Melody is especially grateful for M & M’s being sold in Hungary. Happy Wife, Happy Life. You are all in our Prayers!