Hello Happy: 2017

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Thank You for all the memories! Last mission update!

This will be the last post from Brooke on her mission! It is impossible to believe that 18 months has come and gone and she will be home Friday!!

I just wanted to let everyone know that Brooke will be speaking in church this Sunday, 6/11 at 9am. Brooke will be sharing some of her experiences from her mission in Hungary and would love to see anyone that would like to come!

Brooke would also love to visit with anyone who would like to come over to our home to see her and welcome her home after church, this Sunday, from noon - 4pm. Our address is 1965 Tyndrum Lane in Folsom. Hopefully you will enjoy her last letter home!!!

Chris (Brooke’s Mom)

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^Vékony elnök, the branch president

I never understood how my grandma was able to leave her family and home in New Zealand to start a new life with my grandpa over in the states. Leaving a place and people that have become a part of you is really really hard. Before I left on my mission, I felt some similar feelings, but felt okay knowing that my family and friends would be there after the 18 months was over. I never planned on getting so attached to all of this. But then again, I am me, so of course I didJ This last week I actually thought about my grandma extra and her brave decision to look ahead and face a new chapter in life! I have decided to follow her example and do a hard thing by leaving Hungary. (cant wait to squeeze you gramma!)

I never thought this day would come. It sounds cliché, but it is so true. I spent a lot of time (probably too much) worrying about the future and being so sad to leave it all. These past 18 months I have learned how important it is to turn outwards instead of inwards and I will admit that I forgot for a second. Luckily I have wonderful family and friends, back home and here in Hungary that have helped me to gain a new perspective. I am going to choose to be happy.

a few of my family here in Nyíregyháza!

Ilona

^Johanna and Márton

^László. Cant find the words to express how much i love this man

^Valika (and her adorable granddaughter Noémi)

This is impossible to put into words, but I am going to try.

My mission was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was given a year and a half to be independent. To, on my own, come to know that this gospel is true and that I have a Father in heaven that knows and loves me. And with that independence, I have learned to depend on Him and on my Savior, Jesus Christ. They have always been there for me- when homesickness came, and with all the rejection and let-downs, and feelings of frustration and inadequacy (just to name a few). I have turned to them for everything. And they have been there for me and more and helped me to become someone I had no idea I was capable of becoming. I wouldnt trade these past 18 months for anything in the world. And with all of the experiences, I have gained so many special relationships with people I never would have met had it not been for the mission. The hungarians have changed my life. They are such incredible examples to me of strength, dedication, selflessness, patience and love. They will always hold such a special place in my heart- all of the members, investigators, and even the random people I met ont he street. One of the biggest blessings I have recieved as a missionary is to feel God’s love for the hungarians. If I love these people with all of my heart, I can only begin to imagine how much He must love them.

one last little branch activity before I left!

^Jelena

^Judit

^Kata

One thing is for sure- God loves each and every one of His children.

last splits with the Egri nővérek! love them to death

I am so sad that this will be my last email as a missionary. But I find hope in the thought and the plans I have to go home and continue to serve. To keep sharing my testimony and helping others to be happy and feel loved. Fort he first time in the longest time, I do feel peace. I am ready to be reunited with my family and friends. It has been a whileJ Leaving Hungary is going to be hard. But if one thing I have learned on my mission, its that I can do hard things. I will come home. And I will take everything I have learned with me. I really have so much to be happy about. My heart is full of gratitude for all God has given me. He really is the best.

Before I end this, I wanted to share my testimony in hungarian one last time!

Ez a bizonyságom, hogy meg szeretnék tenni-, tudom, hogy ez az egyház igaz. Egyik a kedvenc szentírásom mondja: ” A lelkek értéke nagy Isten szemébe.” És azt biztosan tudom, hogy igaz. Éreztem egy misszionáriusként Isten szeretetét másokért és tudom, hogy ő szeret minket végtelenül. Nem vagyunk egyedül. Emlékeznünk kell arra kik vagyunk- Isten gyermekei. Fontos az, hogy alázatosak legyünk a megpróbáltatásainkban és tudom, hogy ha igyekszünk és próbálunk, akkor a mi Mennyei Atyánk látja és, mellettünk fog állni és segíteni fog nekünk. Tudom hogy ő szeretne hogy boldog legyünk és szeretne ha visszajövőnk Hozzá ez az élet után. Tudom hogy a család egyűt élhet mindörökre és nagyon hálás vagyok azért mert a családom a legfontosabb dolog az életemben. Nagyon szeretem a Szabadítómat, Jézus Krisztust. Hálás vagyok érte és ő engesztelő áldozatáért és tökéletes példájáért számunkra. Egy misszió nem egy könnyű dolog, de megérte. Egy jobb ember lettem mert szolgáltam a Magyarország Budapest Misszióban. Annyira hálás vagyok a misszió elnökömért és ő feleségéért és a kedvességükért. Hálás vagyok minden társomért és barátomért akit megismertem a misszióm során. NAGYON SZERETEM A MAGYAROKAT. Teljes szívvel. És hálás vagyok ezért a tapasztalatért. Kaptam a biztos tudást hogy ez az evangélium igaz. Ez az út. Boldog vagyok az evangélium miatt. Mindezt mondom Jézus Krisztus nevében, Ámen.

I LOVE YOU ALL. Thank you for all the constant love and support you have given me my entire mission. I genuinely mean it when I say that I would not be where I am today if it weren't for you. I am so excited to see your beautiful faces and hug you so very tight!

And to Hungary, my home away from home, I bid you a heartfelt farewell until we meet again. Thank you for all the memories.

Sok-sok szeretettel,

Gertsch nővér

some pictures trying to capture the beauty of Hungary. doesnt do it justice!

the beautiful city of Nyíregyháza

Friday, June 2, 2017

MISSIONS ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST!

May 29, 2017

In all honesty, I am SO nervous about the future. I look back and laugh at how nervous and stressed I would get right before transfers. Getting a new city or new companion was exciting, but it also meant change which has never been easy for me. I have learned time after time to trust in the Lord and His plan for me. Each and every transfer call was EXACTLY what I needed and I know He knows me perfectly. If after 8 transfers I have figured that out, why am I so scared? Why do I not want to leave? Well, I DO know that I have fallen in love with this country and it’s people. I have grown to love being a missionary and serving the Lord, and truly be happy while doing it. I feel the Spirit all day, everyday and can focus with little to no distractions. I will spend the rest of forever saying - MISSIONS ARE THE ABSOLUTE BEST! and they are so worth it.

Don’t get me wrong - I miss my family and friends at home and cannot wait to squeeze them. So I guess I will go home. Leaving Hungary is going to be the biggest change to happen to me in the last 18 months. Big events, big changes always bring fear and hesitation. I know Heavenly Father is watching out for me though because a thought came to me randomly one morning last week during personal study. I pulled out the talk by Elder Holland - “Cast not away therefore thy confidence”. It was exactly what I needed and gave some peace to my stressed-out self. To sum things up, the talk references Moses when he has just seen God, and then Satan tries with all his might to shake him. While reading, I realized how relevant that is to being on a mission. Elder Holland said, “we cannot sign on for a battle of such eternal significance and everlasting confidence without knowing it will be a fight. A good fight and a winning fight. But a fight nonetheless.”

^ and this is Zsolt, our amazing Ward Mission Leader

The past year and a half I have spent coming closer than I ever have to my Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ. And now, the end is near and I am freaking out!! I now and have experienced, that I’m not alone in these scary moments! “Don’t panic and retreat. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t forget how you once felt.” I have so many experiences (I have shared many of them) that have only continued to solidify my testimony that God knows and loves us perfectly. Satan is also very much aware of us and will try all he can to make sure we do not continue on the path of happiness in front of us.

I could go on and on about this talk. I highly recommend reading it! To end this letter, I will share this scripture Elder Holland uses in his talk:

“cast not away therefore thy confidence - which hath great recompense of reward.”

“we can hang on, whatever the assault of affliction, because we have paid the price of real conviction.”

I KNOW that the future is good and I have prepared myself for it. I know that I have heavenly help and I have no need to worry. There always has to be a first.

^ spent the day with a senior couple, the Mosers, from another city called Miskolc

This next week - I am going to enjoy every single thing, just as I have this whole time. I have the biggest prayer of thanks in my heart ALWAYS that I could serve the Lord here in this incredible country that has become my home away from home. Don’t even get me started on the people. Needless to say I have gained countless forever friends.

^ Sárika, a less active i adore! this week we worked lots in her garden!

^ Debrecen

Well, that is all the rambling I will do for this week. Get ready for next week as I try to put my emotions into words (It will be my last email from my mission!!!)

^ train rides make me feel so sentimental nowadays

Nagyon szeretlek titeket es vigyázatok magatokra

sok szeretettel,

Gertsch Nővér

^ one last splits in debrecen! with the lovely Solomon Nővér

Monday, May 22, 2017

Nem vagyumk egyedül (we are not alone)

Brooke's email address: brooke.gertsch@myldsmail.net

Week of May 16 - 22 - I’ve never been alone.

Summer is coming! I love Fagyi!!!

Never have I ever been so physically exhausted. Never have I ever been so spiritually strong. Part of me just wants to sleep for a couple days. But luckily, a much bigger part of me wants to finish off strong and I have so much motivation to go out and serve the Lord. I am able to see that I have been preparing myself for this my entire mission. I have acquired habits that I can now fall back on when times get a little bit trying. And because I am choosing to not only go out and serve, but I have this desire to do all I can, and the Lord is with me and blessing me every single day.

Tracting

If I were to write about every single miracle I saw this week this would be a very long letter. I kid you not. Every single time we went out either talking to people on the streets or knocking on doors, we found at least one person that was interested and we are going to be meeting with this this week! I have gone so long on my mission with not a lot of work and a whole lot of rejection. But then, in my last city, and on my last transfer, it all starts to pick up. It’s funny how things work. All according to the Lord’s planning and timing.

Nyíregyháza - i.love.hungary

I’m so glad I’ve leaned how to trust in the Lord. It’s one of the most important lessons I have learned out here on the mission. If we trust and rely on him, then we really have no reason to fear. Even if the future is scary - and you don’t want to leave your life for the past 18 months - I’m not alone in this. I’ve never been alone in this. And for that, I will be forever thankful.

Kristóf, my heart

This is Magdika, one of the members here whom i love SO much

Nem vagyumk egyedül

(we are not alone)

More to come next week!

Sending you my love!!!

sok szeretettel

Gertsch Nővér

The zoo on Pday with the Elders

splits with Hughes nővér

It snowed cotton?!?!

It's All Getting Real

Week of May 9 - 15

“It’s All Getting Real”

Check it out! I'm in the newspaper here!

IN BUDAPEST FOR ZONE CONFERENCE

Elder Kearon, a member of the Quorum of the 70 in our church came and did a training for us! And I have to say it was one of the highlights of my mission. He is a man of God and I learned so much from him. But I think one of the the biggest things I loved was his focus on choosing to be happy. Currently, I have been kind of freaking out about the future, when I really need to just be happy with the now and make every day a happy day.

Mission Leadership Council with Elder Kearon

The next day we had a Mission Leadership Council with all of the leaders in the mission, led by Elder Kearon and with those two experiences, he gave me so much perspective and motivation to not only end strong, but to keep going strong even when I am back home. I had to give my “departing testimony” at the Zone Conference and attempted to do the impossible task of expressing my feelings about my mission and my testimony - IN TWO MINUTES. I only cried a little and gave a simple testimony of what my mission has taught me. But it was perfect, because that is me - simple. All in all, these retrospective moments are starting to truly amaze me and it is incredible to see where I stand today.

This week I have been starting the “see you soon’s” to some of my very best friends and it is not easy. But I am forever thankful for the friendships I have made out here They are some of the most special and irreplaceable ones I will ever have.

Here are some pictures with captions from the week:

at one of the meetings last week, Robinson Testver (our teacher from the MTC) popped in and it was so cool to see how far we have come and how old we have gotten haha.JPG

going to Budapest every time I just fall more and more in love with this country. I got called to serve in the most beautiful country

because we had to stay the night in Budapest, i got to go on slits with the incredible SWENSON NŐVÉR aka one of my best friends. you know its a special friendship when you can have so much fun while being a missionary and working hard

while tracting, we got a let in and found a potential investigator who is in a jazz band.

so many throwbacks! This is Edina and Janka, I did skype TRC with them in the MTC- back when i couldnt speak more than 3 words in hungarian!!!

I have learned and realized that I can't ignore the fact that in a little, I will be finishing this chapter of my life. In all honesty, I don't know if I can get myself to leave this country, it's culture ESPECIALLY the Hungarian people, my mission president and his wife, and all of my missionary friends. I have fallen in love with the missionary life and this work.

But, the time is getting closer to opening a new door and I am going to do all I can to be happy. These next few weeks are going to be absolutely crazy, but I am ready to continue to love and serve the Lord with all my heart. I’ve said it before, but I will say it again -

I love my mission I love the person I have become because of my mission and am ETERNALLY grateful of the relationships I have made here in Hungary.

God is Good - Life is Good

Theme song for the week - “Don’t worry - be happy”