Knives and The Olympics on the Side, Παραλούμε

I feel that Elder Jenkins and I live on an island by ourselves, kinda just hit me this week. Yes, there are thousands of people that live on this island, and there is a couple member families across it, but... we're alone. We are the only people that have covenanted to be missionaries for the Restored Gospel on the entire island.

It's humbling and very terrifying. There's often a feeling of not being enough for the work. But that's what's really cool about this calling. God's help fills in the rest. The Atonement is pretty cool.

We may be alone on this island for the time being, but that doesn't make us blend into the crowd at all. In fact, today, I was stopped in the mart by a young man asking, "You guys-- I've seen you walking around wearing these suits or nice clothes all time-- what are you doing here? Are you buisness men or something?" And he was genuinely confused by us. I explained our purpose, and gave him an info card on the Book of Mormon and how to find it online.

Elder Jenkins and I walked through a new part of town that was very quiet, and walked passed an old lady sitting in a chair by the street. We said hello, and she gave us the biggest smile. We stood and spoke to her for a while. Unfortunately, I think we might have been some of the most social interaction she has gotten in a long time. We left, and I felt nearly ready to cry for how touching, and difficult that was.

"Καλά πεδία," she would say as we spoke to her, if remember correctly.

It's interesting to see how God has been having us preform his work as he sees fit. Even if it is difficult.

We've been trying this new way of finding, finding flow, and honestly, it's been a big struggle for me. I don't find it very natural to just say, "Do you want to come to church on Sunday with us?" as the first thing I say to someone on the street. I've had to adjust to asking how someone is doing, and trying to getting to know them first and then leading with something like, "Oh! You're from around here! That's cool. We actually are missionaries for our church, and we hold it in the hotel over there," which has felt a lot more natural. I just gotta learn how to do it in Greek better haha. We're still learning how to really connect with the Greeks, and I feel every day we learn something new. Which, is really good I think.

Though, going out and about, doing this new finding method, has resulted in traversing this island a lot more. And I must say, Crete really is undeniably beautiful. I haven't seen a place quite like it. The only thing more beautiful though, is the culture of these people on this island. I have felt a strong connection with the heritage of this island, despite having not one drop of Greek blood in me. I just wish we could find more of the traditional things or events on a daily basis. I have felt that once we find a way to show the Gospel of Jesus Christ and this beautiful culture can co-exist, the work will change here.

Which leads me to my hunt for a Cretan blade! My goodness! It's either what I'm looking for is the hardest thing in the planet to find, or I'm the pickest person on the planet! It probably doesn't help I've watch more 'Forged in Fire' than what's probably considered healthy. The craftmanship of their blades here are wonderful. There is a lot of tradition around knives. One, in a traditional festival, you wrap your knife in a belt-cloth and dance with a blade (sheathed) in front of you. When you are courting a woman and decide you want to marry her, you gift her a KNIFE, and at events, she wears it as a sign of being engaged or married. HOW COOL IS THAT. Maybe I like knives too much. The handle is of such a particular design, going into nearly this 'prong' shape at the pomel, typically being made out of bone on each sides of the steal. The sheath is traditionally made out of pure silver. Being gifted a knife in Crete, even if it isn't of this particular design or craftmanship (in my understanding), is considered sign of lifelong friendship and respect. Often there is something edged into the blade reading something about friendship or something. It's such a beautiful thing to me.

We went to a museum last P-day, and it makes me want to go to the mountains of Crete even more. I would love to see this traditional side of Cretan life. Someday. And--oh my gosh-- Crete has the best honey I have ever had in my life. It's remarkable.

Back to regards to the work here in Crete, I really feel like it's like we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Because a lot of work has already begun here, and we're starting to figure out how things work here. What is wonderful, is one of our friends we can only meet at a cafe, but each time we've gone to meet with him, 1 or 2 others show up and listen to our message! A few days, he didn't even show up, but we stayed and taught his friends! It's been a unique finding, and we really enjoy spending time with them and getting to know them.

I don't have as much time today to write as much as I would like, but this preparation day, for Elder Jenkins' birthday, we went to an Olympic sponsored event with Olympic athletes! It was so cool!!! We watched Beach Football and Handball, and it was something else to watch in person. I think I've been able to get some of the coolest pictures from my mission there. Funny enough, we kinda blended in a little bit because we looked like offcials with our nice clothes, and my freakishly large camera. No one asked us any questions. That would be a lie, actually. One of the players on the Macedonian team started talking to Elder Jenkins, and it was a really good experience for him.

I've been super excited about the fact we went to this event, because now I've *technically* have been to an Olympic event in person, and in Greek. It was super cool, cause all of the Mediterranean countries where there to compete.

Well, before it gets to late, I better go.

I hope the weather is treating you all well where you are at! It's getting pretty good here now. It actually almost rained one day.

Love you all!

Elder Dylan Hansen