Oxi Day and the ArchBishop

"Oh, Mormons-- you guys are Mormons!" one of the two people at the university said to us as we spoke to them.

Elder Jenkins has had an idea of walking through a university, since folks of there tend to be more open to new ideas. Little did we know, we would actually be recognized! The two people that called us 'Mormons' were from the UK, but attending the University of Crete. After they explained where they were from, I think it made more sense why they knew who we were.

Funny enough, it almost felt good to be called Mormons. It may be an incorrect title, but explaining who we were was something I felt we've gotten so accustomed to, it was fun to get right into things.

We couldn't help but think, "No wonder we were called foreign-speaking. English would have been too easy to get into things!" Honestly, I don't think it's 'easier' but it's different and refreshing to talk to someone about the faith in our native tongue.But I also think  I needed the humbiling of a foreign language.

We didn't have a lot of success there or the rest of the week, but I think we've come to learn a lot. I believe there is a certain strength in the young community here in Greece. The time will come that they will become strengths for God's kingdom on Earth. Not only in Greece, but in the entirety of it.

We had a unique experience of providing service this week, which isn't something we always get the chance to do. As we were leaving, I believe a cafe, Elder Jenkins felt he needed to get something from the local corner market. So, instead of heading straight home, we heading in the other direction. Maybe that recollection of the thing we needed was inspired, because we saw a man across the street seemly struggling to pick up something from the ground.

"Do you think he needs help?" I remember Elder Jenkins asking. My response is dismissable since we already found ourselves crossing the street to help him retrieve papers from the sidewalk.

As we approached, we quickly realized that a portion of his face was coated in fresh blood, and his hands covered.

"Are you alright?" we asked, but he seemed to disoriented to form a proper response. We ran to a local bakery to get something he could put on a cut on his chin, that became apparent to us as we assessed where the blood was coming from. As we ran back with a stack of napkins, a man --we would come to know as Niko later-- was there trying to help the man as well.

We handed the napkins to the man and Niko crossed the street to fetch someone from the pharmacy. The man didn't recognize the napkins was for his gash and held them in his hands. Which may have been a good thing, as the employee came over with a bunch of gauze and bandages and a set of gloves on.

Once the man was sat down on a bench, we figured out that he had fallen and hit his chin on either the concrete or one of the metal sidewalk guards. It bluggened his chin enough that it would definitely require stiches at some point.

Meanwhile, as I tried to talk with the man, Elder Jenkins was talking to Niko. Niko said he reconized us from walking by one of the cafes near our home. This lead into a very short gospel discussion.

I was just very glad that we had shown up when we did and were able to offer a helping hand. It was very nice change of pace from our usual activities, so selfishly, it was nice to interact with Greeks in an unopinionated situation.

We actually got to spend a portion of Oxi day with Niko, which made the day feel that much more authentic. Oxi Day is the day Greece said, "No," to the Nazi occupation, and here it's one of the biggest celebrations. Most of my pictures are from that from this week. You'll see in the number of pictures that I've really enjoyed seeing the traditional Cretan clothing in person. Also, Elder Jenkins had made homemade Gyros! It was really good! I had fun taking pictures of him cutting the meat.

As we were walking home from Oxi Day, a blacked-out car stopped in front of us with one of it's windows down.

"Yeia sas, pedia! (Hello you guys!)" A man with a big beard says from the passenger side.

Oh my goodness. It's the Arch Bishop-- again! And he recognized us! We responded very enthusiastically, and he says to us back, "Oh, you've learned Greek now!" We exchanged some casual greetings, and the driver took down the road.

I guess we should give him a Book of Mormon at this point? Haha! Very kind man, I will say.

Hope you all are doing well! The weather had gotten hotter actually, but maybe soon we'll get to wear sweaters!

Elder Dylan Hansen