Albania and Sleepy Spirit

Honestly-- I never thought I'd travel to 3 different countries in a single day, let alone on my mission, but yet I guess here we are! This week has been on of the biggest adventures of my life, and I've felt quite honored to have experienced it, even in it's absolute craziness.

Elder Mueller and I are the Zone leaders over Cyprus, and every transfer the mission alternates having Missionary Leadership Council in person or over zoom. This transfer was in person! So the Sister Training Leaders and us went to the airport early Thursday, and off we went to Albania. We had a stop in Athens which was perfect because the young missionary leadership there could come with us for the last flight to Albania.

Elder Mueller and I are just sitting at a terminal gate, and I hear Elder Huhtala from about 30 meters away, and I'm like, "It's them!" I don't know why, but I love when missionaries from different Zones or districts get together. I gave Elder Huhtala a big Elder-style greeting and after a little bit, we boarded the flight.

Seating arrangements are always an adventure flying, so I was actually sitting on my own on the way to Tirana, Albania. Of course, the adventure flying on your own is you have no idea who you will be sitting next to.

So, I took my seat, and a few moments later a burly, 6 foot Albanian looking man sits next to me. The challenge whenever you are missionary flying, is to talk to the person you are sitting next to. One, it helps them be comfortable and casual with you, and two, they and you can learn a lot from each other.

"Where are you from?" I ask. I was just praying that he would speak Greek. He answered back, and we spoke for a moment. He actually worked in Crete doing dry wall. He was full Albanian, but had lived in Crete for 30 years! So his Greek was really good. And he actually complimented my pronunciation when I spoke Greek!

"I like your Greek!"

"You do?? Actually?" I just couldn't believe it, but I determined that he was actually saying it. In a mission where you don't get to use your mission language a lot, it was so honoring.

After landing, someone asked him to get their carry on down for them, and he did very kindly. Then he turned to me and just flexed his muscles downwards like, "Oh yeah," and I just started laughing, really quite hard. He left with a, "Nice to meet you Dylan, and enjoy Albania!" It was such a kind interaction and I really loved it. It felt so nice to meet such a kind person.

We had long and really cool meetings at MLC in Tirana and I would recount them to you, but it's kinda like pouring water into the shampoo; yeah it works, but it's really just watered down. So rather than boring you, I'll keep it brief haha.

The really special thing of spending time in Albania (which is actually a really pretty country) was meeting the other side of the mission. Just because of the sheer size of the mission geographically, we don't get to interact very often from the North to South sides of the mission. So we arrived at the mission office, for my and a few others first time, and there stood faces we had maybe seen on Zoom meetings. It was special. Even though that was the first time meeting them, you could feel some sort of connection with them despite serving so far apart. We Greek missionaries would ask the Albanian and Macedonian missionaries literally hundreds of questions just to get to know our own mission. A lot of the Albanian missionaries thought it was awesome how many Albanian words we had adapted into daily vocabulary because of the presence of them in Cyprus. For example, work hours on P-day are called "Poon hours" because poon rolls off the tongue a lot smoother. That's just one of quite a few examples. Some of them are... really funny.

It was also funky to be in a different culture and language. Because for the last 4 months-ish, I could pretty much depend that whoever I spoke to would speak either Greek or English. It's completely different in Albanian. Apparently, it's pretty uncommon for people to speak English, so you could understand why Elder Mueller and I were extra careful taking a walk after meetings.

As we walked down the road, this man recognized us missionaries, and began speaking some very intense Albanian.

We stood there for about one minute before we could finially say, "Sorry, we don't speak Albanian." And he continued to talk to us, until he stood up and walked away quite agressively. Honestly, out of concern, we left the area pretty quickly to avoid a bad situation.

Again, I could explain the events of the entire trip, but even just traveling back was an adventure in of itself.

Χρόνια πολλά Πρεσβύτερε Mueller!! (Happy Birthday Elder Mueller!!)

Our day to travel back was my companions Birthday! So of course, we wanted to do something. Analizing our tickets home, we realized we would have a 5 hour layover in Athens before flying to Cyprus.

So what better way to spend your birthday than in Athens? Soo off we went! We got off the flight, Sis. Larson helped an Albanian to her connecting flight, and off we went to the center of Athens! It was so awesome to come back to Athens for a little bit. It was just weird to not be there with Elder Paez, my prior companion, but somehow we still got around.

We tried to visit the Acroplis, but unfortunately it was closed. We still stopped by Mars Hill, and it was special to see people's experience to seeing it for the first time. It really is quite special.

We stopped by the place I picked up my "Greek Uke" as people who have forgotten it's name (baglamas) and spoke to the man who sold it to me. It kinda sucked for him because one- it was Greek independence day, and it was his name day! But he was at work from the morning till night. He expressed his frustration with me, and honestly I get it. It was already as unfortunate as it is to be traveling on Elder Mueller's birthday, it would be unfortunate to be working on your Name Day while in Athens. I hope he felt a little better with us coming by to say hello to him.

After saying goodbye, we walked past a store that had thought about getting a shirt from since I arrived in the mission. The fact I was still thinking about it 3 months later told me it was time to buy it. It's a gorgeous blue and white, the best color scheme in the world.

After, we went and got ice cream, took care of Elder Mueller's package and back on the plane we went to Cyprus. I don't know what it is, but flying to and from Athens is something special. It's hard to describe the feeling, but it's near emotional.

I have to head to bed now, but one last message I feel I should share. It's pretty simple.

I remember before my mission, I felt so nervous doing roll-plays of lesson. I did not, and still don't like them. Even in the MTC, it was so intimitating.

Then, boom. We're in the field doing the real thing. I braced myself to get stressed out or nervous, but nothing. Some of the most relaxed I have ever felt on my mission is on the mission. It is so contrary to the initial thought of teaching someone the literal Gospel of Jesus Christ, and yet the spirit has a way of calming your heart and mind. I've begun to use it to tell if I'm feeling the spirit. If the spirit of God is in the lesson and discussion, the feelings of fear or distress dissipate. I am convince that part of the reason you feel so tired after some lessons even though you are doing your best to listen intently is the working of the spirit. The gospel of Jesus Christ is comforting. And you know what you wanna do when you are comfortable and content?
Ya feel sleepy sometimes.

But I will testify that the Spirit will steady your heart as you preach the word of God. I promise you, even if it takes time or has to be in your way.

Speaking of sleep, I'll get some! I love you all and hope you have a wonderful week! The summer is on the horizon if you are still waiting for it. I promise!

Elder Dylan Hansen