Today was a great day of religion.  I enjoyed going to the LDS church here, which you will see pictures of below.  There are three LDS wards in Budapest.  I gave some thoughts today on sharing the gospel during Sacrament Meeting - I have had the chance to talk about the gospel with many people while I have been here (more in France as I spoke the language there).  Today was my last Sunday here and even though I was only here for a few weeks I made some great friends.  After church, I went with my Bihari family (the family that I live with) to a Hanukkah party.  The Bihari's are non-practicing Jews.  The Hanukkah party was at their cousins's house, who are Orthodox Jews.  Among other things, this family strictly keeps the Jewish Sabbath Day holy, avoiding all work from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday.  They have timed lighting in their home so that they don't have to switch on lights, etc.  Most male Orthodox Jews wear the kippah, the small cap.  On Hanukkah (from Wikipedia): "Hanukkah is an eight-day Jewish holiday commemorating the rededication of the Holy Temple (the Second Temple) in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt of the 2nd century BCE. Hanukkah is observed for eight nights and days, starting on the 25th day of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar, which may occur at any time from late November to late December in the Gregorian calendar. The festival is observed by the kindling of the lights of a unique candelabrum, the nine-branched Menorah or Hanukiah, one additional light on each night of the holiday, progressing to eight on the final night. The typical Menorah consists of eight branches with an additional raised branch. The extra light is called a shamash (Hebrew: שמש, "attendant")^[4] and is given a distinct location, usually above or below the rest. The purpose of the shamash is to have a light available for use, as using the Hanukkah lights themselves is forbidden."

I enjoyed the simple Hanukkah ceremony, in particular because I learned more about a religion that has always been very interesting to me.  ^[5]

 With Brother Kovács in front of the Budapest stake center, the first stake center in Hungary 

 Budapest Stake Center

 Preparing the oil in the Menorah

 Lighting the Menorah

Of the three rows, the one to the right is for the father and the two others are for the two sons of the family.

My first political demonstration

Today I attended my first political demonstration, with about 10,000 Hungarians.  The US Ambassador to Hungary, Eleni Tsakopoulos Kounalakis, was also in attendance, along with the Israeli Ambassador.  Please read the article here first for background: http://www.euronews.com/newswires/1746688-thousands-rally-against-far-right-in-hungary/

The event marked an unusual reconciliation between the Far-Right Fidesz party and the Socialist MSZP party after the disparaging remarks made on Monday.  However, many people here are waiting, most likely in vain, for condemnation of the remarks by Prime Minister Viktor Orban.  

 The pre-game meal

 Heading to the demonstration

 Looking towards the stage with the parliament building in the background.  The bright lights are flashing the word "NEM," which means no.

 Most flags in one place I've ever seen outside of the US and outside of Norway's independence day

Castle Hill in Budapest, Hungary

Wonderful day yesterday visiting Castle Hill, the prime territory of Budapest.  Various groups, including the Ottomans, Hapsburgs, Nazis, and Soviets have warred over this strategic location.  Happily, Hungarians now are in charge of their own country.  

World War II bullet holes still visible

 Advertisement against the left political party.  The Fidesz (center-right) party has a majority in parliament and a great deal of power in Hungary.  They are taking increasing controls over the media, universities, and increasing taxes.  Most Budapestians are not happy with the party.  

Parliament offices

Caught a military band

In honor of my alma mater, the Air Force Academy falcons

Royal Guard

Matthias Church, rebuilt often over eight centuries.  Name honors  King Matthias Corvinus (15th century), who led a renaissance of Hungarian political power and culture.  Hapsburg Empire kings were coronated here as well.

Royal Crown and Coat of Arms

Alter in Matthias Church

Overlooking the Danube, Europe's largest river, from Castle Hill.  Parliament Building is the spire across the river.

Chain Bridge, Danube River.  One of the great bridges that span the Danube in Budapest.  Buda is on the near side of the river - Pest is on the far side.

Note the crown over the Virgin Mary (Matthias Church).

Queen Elisabeth, wife of Franz Josef, Ruler of Hapsburg Empire

Military in the Alsace Region

 Outside of the Hartsmannwillerkopf Memorial Site (on the left is Mr. Evan Reade, Head of the U.S. Consulate here in Strasbourg), along with French officers, Tim Stokes, and me).  Along with 100 French soldiers, we participated in the memorial ceremony honoring the 215th Infantry Regiment, which was very important during World War I fighting in this area and continues in operation today (the regiment served in Afghanistan last year).

 With Major General Cochin, French Army, and President of the memorial site.  I asked him if he played basketball (because of his height).  He replied, "I hate basketball"! (-:

Visit to Eurocorps, one of Europe's joint military organizations.  Picture with Major Hans Haegdorens, Belgian Army and Chief of Eurocorps Public Information Office.  Eurocorps is a joint entity comprised of Germans, French, Belgians, Spaniards, and Luxembourgers, along with smaller entities from Poland, and Italy.  Along with the headquarters staff that we visited today, there are 5 French-German combined battalions in the area.  The operational language for the units is English.  

Strasbourg introduction

 This is my language school.  

 Strasbourg loves its students

 Near the Cathedral of Notre Dame, an amazing edifice that dates back to the 1400s.

This photo is blurry, but the small figure on the bottom center seems to be The Undertaker.  This set is part of a cool astrological clock that dates back to the 1400s.  Each half hour, the undertaker beats his drum, apparently proclaiming the onset of death.  The 12 Apostles appear once per day.  

Bienvenue à Strasbourg

Well...it has been awhile since I blogged, and you guessed it, I'm starting again because I'm on the road.   I'm in Strasbourg, France to be specific.  I arrived here on Sunday evening.  Strasbourg is in eastern France, on the German border.  I am here to learn more French and to gain a deeper understanding of Europe politics and military activities.  Strasbourg seems to be a great town, quiet and low-key.  The architecture of the city is cool, as there is a mix of Parisian-like stately buildings with balconies as well as Germanic buildings.  I started French school yesterday and the school is awesome!  I have 3 hours in the morning of group instruction, then 1.5 hours of group conversation, and 1 hour of individual instruction.  It was fantastic talking in French for the whole day yesterday - it had been a long time since I had done that.  I am living in a nice apartment, as my work couldn't find a French family for me to live with.  I miss my family a lot, but am grateful for this opportunity and will make the most of it.

Finding the church in Nice, France!

This morning I started out to find my church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) here in Nice, France.  One of the things that I love about my church is that no matter where in the world I travel, my church is always there, no matter the country.  It's wonderful to meet with those of your faith wherever you find yourself.  I think the only places I have been so far where my church is not established are Ethiopia and Egypt.  Anyways, onwards...

From my map calculations and my host's comments, it appeared that the church was only about a 15-minute walk from my apartment.  But there is an extra iota for this journey.  I met a missionary while in Paris who is from Nice.  He is also an amazing concert pianist.  Anyways, he asked me to take a suitcase back for him to his family in Nice when I moved from Paris to Nice.  He had entertained me thoroughly with his piano talents, so this was an easy way to pay him back.  (-:  Or so I thought.  When I received the suitcase, it was in fact, but it was not, in fact, shall we say "light".  It was and is one of the heaviest objects I have ever encountered.  Somehow, I managed to enclose this beast in my suitcase and successfully brought it to Nice.

Well, as I made my along the route, it quickly became apparent that my route would involve climbing up a mountain (the map had given no indication of this and I of course had not thought of this).  In shirt and tie, I started to monte (climb) up the streets.  The morning heat and humidity quickly drenched me in sweat.  When I reached the summit, I could not find an identifying street and I wandered aimlessly for a little while to search for the right street.  I also noticed that the handle of the monstrously-weighted suitcase was disengaging, due to the onerous burden that I was exerting on it taking it up that mountain.  Being close to Italy, I was reminded of my time living in Italy, and how the Italians are so generous in matters of helping for directions.  I was hoping that the French here would be the same.  I asked a passerby if I was going the right way, and she politely informed me that I was somewhat off course.  She  told me to climb up a set of stairs and that would put me close to the church.  I said, "Up?!" You have got to be kidding me.  She could tell I was desperate.  And so I started my climb up the steps....

At the end of the steps, I realized that the suitcase handle had completely come off of the suitcase.  I yelled a few choice words, and thought of the pioneers from my church's early history who had suffered immeasurably in their journey to the Salt Lake valley.  I thought of the many people throughout the world who walk to church each week, many at much greater distances than I was doing.  This helped calm me down enough to seek out the help of another local.  She, true to southern European nature, said that she would take me in her car to the church (at that point, we were not far from the long-sought after destination).  And a short few minutes later, my Shangri-la appeared (see picture below).  I entered the sacred edifice and was greeted with one of the greatest feelings known to mankind - the perfect sentiment when the human body is aware of the presence of air-conditioning.  I had not expected it, but I embraced it with all my being.  My door-to-door journey ended up being 1 hour and a half instead of 15 minutes.

A few minutes after entering the Sunday school class, I looked down and noticed that the front part of my pants were a different color than the rest of my pants.  It very much looked like I had peed my pants (the perspiration).  A nice way to greet new friends.  I was able to recover, though, and I even put my tie back on before the Sacrament Meeting (Communion).  I really enjoyed the meeting - there is something absolutely wonderful about listening to the gospel in a foreign language and understanding the messages, singing the hymns, etc.  The bishop discussed a recent period of struggle that he had in feeling close to God - where he didn't feel that he knew how he could receive revelation from God.  He then listened to a recent speech from Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle in the church.  Elder Bednar said that if you have doubts about revelation, about feeling close to God, you are perfectly.....normal.  He said that the Lord speaks to us here a little, there a little, but that He does speak to us.  This counsel really helped this good Bishop and it has helped me as well.  Here is a link to this speech:
http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng
What an adventure church was today - and I am very happy that I managed to make it there and to unload that suitcase! (By the way, the missionary's family forgot to take the suitcase home with them. You had better believe that I am never touching that thing again.  (-: ).