Ancient Cities and histo-- Is that TGI Fridays?

Not sure exactly why, maybe it's since I'm nearing the end of my mission, but I've reflected a lot on my mission. It's really interesting the progression of things as my mission has συνέβη (happened).

Those that have been following along for a while would recognize this story as I recount the time the missionaries in Athens went caroling and the Orthodox Priest began to shout at us. Needless to say, people were not very receptive at that time. I honestly would think, "Are we ever going to reach these people? Not in my mission life time..."

I now think forward to Elder Schneider's and I's time in Nicosia. We called a referral who wanted to learn more about baptism. The man who answered was in 20's, born and raised in Cyprus. First words he said to me were,

"I was baptized in the Orthodox Church as a child, but I don't feel like I got to choose Christ. Now that I am older, I feel like that would mean a lot more if I chose Christ and I am baptized now. I want to get baptized again, but the Orthodox Church won't let me."

I was in shock, and we discussed more beliefs about the church, all of which agreed with excitement. We spoke on the phone for nearly an hour. We agreed that he would come to church on Sunday, and witness the baptism we would be having that day. He agreed and we concluded our call.

20 minutes later, he sent me a text, sending a anti video, explaining that he was not interested at all after looking us up on YouTube. Elder Schneider's German bluntness overtook me, and I sent to him, "Man, honestly that video is not it. It is not even remotely correct, and this is what we talked about how people don't always have the best intentions and you need to check your sources.“

We called and spoke for another few minutes since our lesson for that block had fallen through. He eventually was open to the idea of maybe talking again, but really didn't want to talk to us anymore.

My first reaction was to get frustrated. After all, we had just spoken to someone, who had a very real realization, and we discussed with him for 1.5 hours about it to end in "nothing".

But to get frustrated was quickly overtaken by a second thought. Have you read "To Kill a Mocking Bird"? It's a good book. Without getting too much into the details, I couldn't help but think of my English teacher.

"Yes... It is sad. But have you thought of it as, maybe, ‘progress‘?“

I thought back to my days in Athens, where giving a pass-along card or getting a simple, "hello" back on the street was victory.

Now, I'm sitting in here, having a conversation with someone for over an hour about something they have recognized that would be part of Christ's church; that being the agency to choose Christ.

Regardless of his decision at the end of the conversation...

"...have you thought of it as, maybe, ‘progress‘?“

Our mission president has recommend to us to continue to pray for the hearts of the people to be softened.

I personally can testify that I've begun to see that in my mission.

This is no time to slow down or stop. Brothers and Sister's, we're just getting started. I just wish I could be here as it picks up faster than we can keep up. God cares so much for these people. Even in times when we are yelled at or called things on the street and it feels hard to love these people, there are the small moments where the love of God for these people is beyond human understanding.

Well, shall we talk about Thessaloniki for a moment?

What a wonderful place! The history here is crazy, I couldn't stop talking about it with Elder Fronk on the way to the Ancient City of Dion today.

Oh, how I missed the Greek. I feel I've lost some of my confidence in my Greek since I've been in Cyprus, but I'm hoping to regain it. Elder Xanthos and I are working on that. But it's so wonderful to speak it again.

I have never served here before, so I had no idea what to expect. So you can imagine my shock when we walked into a TGI Friday's, saw two Greek Orthodox Priest and Deacon stand up and greet us missionaries like old pals after a long trip.

The father has been a friend of the missionaries for a long time, and we have good relations. I discovered the last transfer the missionaries had a 3 hour interfaith meeting with these two. It went wonderfully, and the deacon was particularly interested in family history.

Well, we got lunch all together, and had a wonderful discussion about the early church in Thessaloniki, among other things.

"Well, that's one way to start off the transfer!" I couldn't help but think.

Yes. Everyone was staring at us. Not everyday you see the Orthodox Church and Latter-day Saints eating at a TGI Friday's.

My first introduction to the members was also interesting, considering my first interaction with Brother Tanto was him jumping our car.

Long story short, after arriving from the 5 hour drive to Thess, our car wouldn't start the following morning. We called the Fronks, who then refered us to Brother Tanto, since he might have a better idea on how where to replace the battery or what our options where.

"Που είσαστε; (where are you?)" he asked through the phone. We explained our location, and he pulled up in 15 minutes.

"Get in!" he beckons, as we slide into his car. We guide him to the van, and he promptly jumps the vehicle, sends us the location for a battery store, and leaves.

I thought it was a scene out of a movie, or he was the main character and we were a side quest he decided to fill out.

We later discovered the vehicle had other issues in it, so we had to put it in the shop for a week.

This resulted in us going on an hour and a half bus ride to some members' house twice that week. It was such a unique experience. And hey, we got Ikea meatballs after the third time! It was great!

That P-day was really the first day I had to get to know the Fronks. We took it slow since we didn't have the van. Let me say, I haven't cry-laughed for some time. He did a wonderful job helping us feel welcome to Thessaloniki. I am so grateful for them.

I was particularly thankful for Elder Fronk's concern as I got food poisoning last week.

I had eaten something that cause me to awake at 5am to puke my guts out. Honestly, I haven't gotten that sick in a long time. I promptly returned to bed, hoping it was a one-time thing, and I would only suffer with an upset stomach through Sacrament Meeting the following day, of which I was giving a talk.

Boy, was I wrong.

... One puking session later, I walk into the study room.

"Elder, how are you feeling?"

"I'm alright, are you sick?"

"Sort of. I feel great as of right now. Let's see how this morning goes though." The feeling of "good" did not reside, and I found myself puking about 10 minutes later.

The urgent return to the restroom persisted the rest of the morning. Eventually, it was decided I couldn't give a talk.

"Elder we invited so many people to church, and we gotta get the zoom laptop returned to the church!" Elder Xanthos proclaimed.

"Well, let's go to church then. We can decide then."

After a short terrible trip to the church I think Elder Xanthos thought I was going to die on, we made it to the church. Honestly the next events are bit of a blur, but I find myself laying in Elder Fronk's office on an oversized teddy bear for three hours since Elder Fronk and Elder Xanthos questioned my ability to return to the vehicle. In reflection, it was a valid concern since I threw up at some point when we got the church (thankfully I made it to the bathroom to do so).

It took a couple days to recover, but I was thankful it was quick enough to not slow down the work too much. Elder Fronk asked me to give my talk the next week, which obviously to prepare the best as a thanks to the care he gave.

The adventure getting home was something of itself, but I've probably elaborated enough as it is. Needless to say, I could figure I was not feeling very good when I began to sing "The Spirit of God" in Greek and English to myself. Not sure exactly why I did that. Huh.

Well. I should get to bed.

I hope you all are doing well! I hope the weather has been treating you well! It's cooling down here, so it's a little more bearable every day!

Elder Dylan Hansen