We were assigned to talk in Békéscsaba (pronounced Bake-kash-chah-bah) on Sunday Feb 10th. Sacrament meeting was at 3 PM, with SS following. We left at 11:30 AM because our google map said it was 3 hours away. AND since it was snowing, we wanted to make sure that we made it. Felsted Elder had emailed the Branch President (a native Hungarian, who is serving a mission in Hungary) to let him know we were coming.
The first half our our 200 km trip was on freeway. The second half was on roads like the one below. It went through many little towns and villages, past farmland, orchards, etc.
Although it snowed nearly the whole way down, the roads were not icy.
Orchards along the road – have no clue what kind of trees – maybe peaches?
What I have been saying is this is obvious housing built during the Soviet occupation. Not sure how accurate it is, but this style of plain, block shaped buildings are all over the place in Budapest, outlying suburbs and little towns, too! Not sure what town this was in.
There is also a lot of very colorful paint on businesses and homes. Here are a few:
We arrived at the Békéscsaba Chapel about 2:30 PM and rested a bit in the car before going into the building. Cute stand-alone building. Modern and up-dated. Drive in place for the few cars there (2 – plus our mission car parked next door). Also place for bicycles. On a main road near the center of the town.
We saw that the Hurlberts were there! They just arrived in Hungary the previous Sunday and are living in Szeged, about 1.5 hours southwest of Békéscsaba; but they are taking over where the Adams left off! Sister Hurlbert led the singing and Brother Hurlbert passed the sacrament. Two sets of Elder Missionaries (one being the Branch President), the Hurlberts and the Felsteds, and eight women in attendance (two were young women). Pretty small group; but we do not know if there were more members who were not in attendance that day. One of the Elders told me that they have some men investigators. Priesthood holders are sometimes rare in these little branches. Why do men often have problems with religion?
Our talks went fine. It is amazing to us how much more comfortable we are feeling with pronouncing Hungarian words these days. So I guess we are improving somewhat. Due to the weather conditions, we did not stay for the following meeting. It was dark when we returned home to the still-snowing weather in Budapest.
Our Hungarian Mission 
It is so fun to read your blog again. Nothing for several weeks, now three this week. It is most fun to see the photos. Thank you for all your hard work and service.
Felsteds! I am so glad that you went to Békéscsaba. I love that place. I served there for 5 months. There are more members and there was an active priesthood holder named Misi. I miss him. I believe he will come back someday. He has an outstanding sense of humor.
Elder, love reading about your adventures in Hungary. If you run into an Elder Jones tell him.mom says Hi.
Enjoying your blog very much. Can you possibly put me in touch with a senior missionary couple or English speaking member in the Debrecen family history center? My wife and I are visiting Hungary in August and plan to visit the town in which my grandfather was born – Mandok in eastern Hungary. I hoped to find out what records might be available, etc.
You can give them my e-mail address and ask them to get in touch with me.
My wife and I served a mission in Kiev, Ukraine and Vladivostok, Russia 2003-2005. It can be challenging, but is also very rewarding. We hoped to visit Hungary after our release, but ended up going to Vladivostok instead.
Good luck with your mission and God bless.
Thank you,
Larry Brasher
Helló! I really love your photo-journalizing with the images accompanying your output to us homelanders foreign to Hungarian soil.
I will introduce your mission blog to Priscilla as soon as she awakes.
Ron, thanks for the personable run-down on your adventures, challenges, and recent Hungarian background.
Jó szerencsét!
Ted Maybury