Elder Bryce Oakes: Week 18 Transferred to Szolnok!

Hey Mom and Dad!

Things are super great here. This week was a lot better than last week! Thank you so much for all the prayers! Well, I have served in Debrecen for the last 4 months, but tomorrow I leave for Szolnok! Today is pre-transfer pday, we get our calls, and have time to pack up and get ready, and Wednesday we go to Budapest to make transfers. Since I have been in Debrecen we have been super fortunate to have 2 baptisms. Sometimes we had a lot of people to teach and other times we had a lot of time to find people to teach. We did a lot of tracting here because it is the most effective method to find investigators. Referrals are difficult to get here since member work is really slow, but it's still good because I love the members!

Leaving Debrecen for Szolnok

I just got my transfer call this morning. Tomorrow morning I will be leaving Debrecen for Budapest and then heading off with a new companion, Elder Weaver, to Szolnok.

Elder Weaver

The sisters are getting broken up here too. Sister Schnoor is going to Szekes and Sister Sholly to Eger. I am really going to miss it here! I have made so many new friends. Michael is super awesome! I love him. He is one of the best friends I have made here on my mission. He will do anything you ask and always has a ready smile for everyone.

Michael

Yesterday I said goodbye to Jozi, maybe for the last time, hopefully I will see him again. I've really grown to love him too!

Elder Oakes and Jozsi

I also said goodbye to Ezster (who said she was leaving the church if I left, we are hoping those are empty threats). She was the first baptism I got to be a part of on my mission.

Ezster with Elder Oakes

We went to the college to say goodbye to Szilvia and Dori. Szilvia made a cute decorative cookie heart with "szeretlek" written on it.

Sylvia and Elder Oakes

Elder Oakes and Dori

College at Debrecen

I have a few more goodbyes planned for today.

Fortunately, I am really excited about my new companion! He is a really great guy and I am looking forward to being with him. We met last transfer when I dropped off Elder Whiting and he is super funny. He also likes the card game I like :P He has been here for about a year. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be able to step up and contribute more. Maybe learn the language even better! I think it will be a good transfer and I am looking forward to it!

I sent you a picture of our new investigator, Arpad.

Arpad and Elder Oakes

He is a super great guy! He was in a very bad car accident that paralyzed the left side of his face and caused him some mental problems. But he is overwhelmingly positive and is a great guy!

Yes,yes...I did make my own settlers game out of magnet (takes a standing bow). It isn't finished yet, no pieces or cards.