Muslims and Christians

I'm not sure if everyone else feels this, but like right before something ends is when all the weird things happen. Right before leaving to Cyprus, I had some funny moments.

To start off, on the metro in Athens, no one on the metro usually talks to us. It's pretty standard and if anything, they just stare at us. So you can imagine my surprise when someone leaned over to ask me something. They said something in Greek, pointed to the ground, and the only words I could hear on the loud metro was, "Here, Athina?"
So I took a bold guess and just said, "Nai." (yes) I was guessing she was asking if I was living here, because people ask us that a lot. Then, she switches to English, and asks again.
"Are you part of the play here in Athens, because you know, Elder Hansen? Like or is your tag real?"
Oh. I realized what she meant. She thought I was an actor for the Book of Mormon play from Broadway. Fyi, its not worth watching. It's not accurate to our faith.
"No, I'm actually a member. The tag is real," I tried explaining.
"Oh. Alright!" She remained nice despite the fact she just realized that she was talking to actual 'Mormons', not just people pretending to be.
She and her friends got off, all of them saying goodbye, and we never saw them again.

Honestly though, there were a number of other strange interactions, but this was the one I felt was the most unique. Not only did someone think I was an actor in a play, but there's apparently a character named "Elder Hansen" in it.

A few days later, it was time to say goodbye to the missionaries in Athens and everyone there. Elder Morgan, Sister Hall, and I boarded the plane to Cyprus on an over cast day, flew out to Cyprus. I have to say though, flying out from Athens in overcast weather was almost as cool as flying into Athens at night. We flew through the clouds, surrounded in white cotton like in the film Interstellar, and surfaced above the clouds. The sun was setting right then, reflecting off the clouds. Flying is a special experience.

We arrived in Cyprus around eight at night and were picked up by the other missionaries. It was a unique experience because here was missionaries I had heard of since I got to the field, but never met.

I think the first thing I noticed stepping into Cyprus (other than the fact they drive on the left) was how quiet it was here. The area I live in is called Nicosia, and it's the capital of Cyprus. There's a lot of urbanization, but a lot less people. I really enjoyed being in Athens and look forward to working there again, but coming here was like taking a deeeep breath from the crowds. It kinda feels like being in a tightly packed room, then stepping into another room about the same size, but there is space enough you can stretch your arms out and turn around.
However, they still plant trees in the middle of sidewalks. I still don't know why they do that but I also can't think of any other solution.

Now, I could try to explain the political state of Cyprus, but I probably shouldn't, and it's really complicated. I'll just explain what our experience is as missionaries living here.

Cyprus is split in two-- with the North of Cyprus being controlled by Turkey's military. The south is controlled by Cyprus. This has been going on since the 60s, if I remember correctly. We have a few branches on the South Side and one on the North Side.

The first day I was here in Cyprus, we needed to go to the North. Elder Mueller
and I will mostly work in the South of Nicosia, but since Elder Jenkins has not arrived from Athens yet, Elder Koch and us have been trying to do work in the North and South this week. So we get to the border control between the split city.

It's crazy to get across.
First, you have to make sure you have a passport. You cannot get into the other side of Cyprus without a Cyprus ID or a passport. So I get to the desk and give them my French passport, the exchange being in Greek. This is the first passport check. Once the Cyprus side gives you the OK to go through, you go into, what is marked as, the International zone. From one side of the border to the other, is about 50 yards. So all of us walk down international territory with our passports in hand. I would include a picture, but pictures are not allowed or I probably would have been kicked out of the country or fined. That's when you make it to the Turkish check point.

You walk up to the booth and the military personal are speaking in Turkish but English with you. They scan your ID, and let you pass. Once you're on the other side it's like you've stepped into another country. You remove your missionary tag (as a precaution) because open proselyting is illegal. That sounds scary, but mostly it means we just can't do whiteboards in the North.
All the signs go from being in Greek and English to straight Turkish. The currency is Turkish and your euros are useless. Also, you go from a fairly Christian area (the south) to a Muslim Country. The entire experience I have described is completely standard for the missionaries serving in the North because living in the North is not something possible for the church right now because it is not formally recognized by the country of Turkey. We did some things at the very subtle branch building and did a little bit of finding. It was really us walking around and saying a simple hello to people we walked past. It's about all you can do without getting in much trouble (other than member referrals and such).

The week continued and I came to learn how this area of the mission is busy. It's busy but it's really good. I had my first two non-member lessons this week and it was awesome! It was in English, but it quickly became apparent I need to study up on my French. All of the lessons here in Cyprus are either in French or English. So it's time to add extra time to study French! I didn't really expect so much French on my mission, but I guess here we are.

This Sunday, we attended Sacrament in the South, then crossed the border and attended 2nd hour in the North because Elder Koch needed to be part of the Branch Council. Most of the members here in Cyprus are African. They are all so awesome.

Just as I thought the day couldn't get weirder than passing through international territory on a Sunday to attend a branch council, Elder Mueller walks into the branch council meeting, and beckons me to leave the room with him, and we step into the Sunday School classroom.
In there stands 9 Pakistani men, staring at us.
All three of us look at them dumbfounded. I had no idea what to say. Until Elder Koch says hello, and we shake each of their hands and get some chairs to sit and talk.

We found out all of them where Christian and were working on translating the Bible into their native tongue, Urdu. They were attending a confrence in the North of Cyprus before heading back to Pakistan. They wanted to hear about our beliefs.
"We were looking online, and saw this book," one of them says, pointing at the Book of Mormon. One of us had given it to him. "We found you on Google Maps and wanted to meet you," He continued. They had one main question. It was about the one phrase on the front of the Book of Mormon.
"Another Testament of Jesus Christ"
One of them asks us, "Why would there be a need for another Testament of Jesus?"
At this point, we all took our seats, and began the first lesson. Elder Koch goes, "Alright, Elder Hansen, do you want to start us off?" which caught me really off guard at first.
I guess this is what missionary work is, I thought quickly and began the first Preach my Gospel lesson. We each took our turns explaining and teaching certain things as they asked questions. They were very interested in what we had to say. Then we came to the First Vision from Joseph Smith. Elder Mueller recounted it from memory, and I nearly cried right there on the spot. This was the first time I heard the first vision story on my mission. I would have not expected it to be in the Turkish occupied side of Cyprus in a small Branch building with 9 Christian Pakistanis in a country that has less than 1% population of Christians.
We answered a few more questions from them, until they had to go. One of them finished the meeting with a prayer in their native tongue, Urdu. Someone else had actually started the meeting with a prayer as well.

I feel I have had a lot of special experiences in my mission already, but this is one I will not easily forget. I mean, it was so humbling in a way as well. I feel like it is difficult to be a member of the church here in Cyprus and Greece. But imagine living in a Muslim country, and just wanting to practice.
Before they left, I asked them, "Christianity is not very prominent in Pakistan right? It must be difficult." And they knodded firmly and explained how big of a minority they are. But they held such a strong testimony of Jesus Christ. It was very special.

I have felt a great deal of gratitude to be part of lessons, and even that they are in English. Getting to study and explain the gospel so simply had helped me answer some of my own questions about the gospel, and it had become so much more simple for me. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is special and yet so simple and beautiful.

For this P-Day we went to the North Side of Cyprus and saw a massive Mosque. It was under construction so we could not go in, but it was amazing. It's such a rare experience to go see things like that as a missionary, so I feel very honored to do so. A lot of my pictures will be from that.
I hope everyone is doing well at home or anywhere they are! For my fellow missionaries, I pray for you, and we love you!
I have so many stories, but I guess they'll be for next email.

Elder Dylan Hansen