Pride and Prejudice

It's remarkable how much can happen in a week, and you struggle to remember where to even begin.

I was originally planning to do an email every other week, but it seems it is just as hard to write anything at all even with the gap. It's never a lack of things to write about, but the simple ability to recall them. So delaying it to every two weeks was not super helpful.

We had the Thessaloniki Elders come down to Athens this last week! Needless to say, it was an adventure. I could talk about the specifics, but I wanted to particularly note certain items.

It's remarkably interesting to see how missionaries change over the course of there mission. Having such a small mission, of course, makes it difficult for the work. However, it would be a disservice to honesty if not stating there's a beauty in it. Each time we have an exchange, we have the opportunity to see missionaries throughout their missions.

I've felt a lot of progression from each missionary. The distance from them makes it more evident each time we meet. For example, Elder Huhtala. Without going into details (since I know he sometimes reads my emails) I have felt we could always speak with a certain level of comfort and openness, which resided still, during this exchange. However, there is a certain wisdom from the experience he has had that laid in the foreground of each conversation.

The progression of a missionary is hard to explain yet it's something that completely changes someone. In many ways. I recall when my brother left to his mission and fearing that someone else would return.

I was right--someone else returned-- but it was someone that he needed to be. He was still my brother and we still had the same old fun we could, but the blanket of experience coated it.

Something I've begun to learn more since the start of the second year of my mission is how important the little experiences matter. The little acts of kindness or efforts of respect really mean something.

Elder Huhtala and I met with a man, Teddy, this week. He was an older gentleman that has gone through harder things a man his age should have.

We spoke to him and naturally asked him what he already knew about our church. And, to quote, he said, "I meet those people that follow the person Mormon when I was in California." Which it now appeared that he was intrigued when he saw our Facebook post to contact us.

The church has learned that it takes about 7 run ins with the church for those that might be interested to begin to learn more.

You could choose to see that as a number to strive for, but I would include the truth that God doesn't stop trying to talk to his children. He gives us so many chances.

As we got our haircuts today, the woman cutting our hair said to us, "Where are those young men that used to live down the street?"

Assuming she was refering to the last Elder's living there, I simply explained I thought they might have moved to Cyprus.

"Oh, I see... Once they came up and-- they brought me cookies-- I couldn't help but think, thank God!" and she proceeded to also discuss about how God has helped her and her husband. We thanked her for the haircuts, and left. She asked us to send her regards to Elder Christensen's and the Sisters that now live down her street. (If any of you I just mentioned reads this, she says hi! Lol.)

To me, this was a beautiful moment. The vail of time blinded my identity from her because-- it was Elder Paez and I that gave her cookies. That was a nearly a year ago.

Yes, people remember. Yes, every interaction you have is important. Value them and always have respect. Everyone won't remember when you have respect and love, but they sure will remember the moments you don't.

Unfortunately, I found myself upset at a situation where respect was not provided, which is something that I want to get better at responding to rather than exploding. I am very thankful for the missionaries of my district that made the effort to still treat me normally after and knowing what to say. Apologies are underated, but for them I'm very thankful.

I don't have a lot of time now, but I would like to include some quotes from President Nelson's talk, "Peacemakers Needed".

"Vulgarity, faultfinding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!"

"My dear brothers and sisters, how we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters. Today, I am asking us to interact with others in a higher, holier way. Please listen carefully. “If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” that we can say about another person—whether to his face or behind her back—that should be our standard of communication. If a couple in your ward gets divorced, or a young missionary returns home early, or a teenager doubts his testimony, they do not need your judgment. They need to experience the pure love of Jesus Christ reflected in your words and actions. If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help. Building bridges of understanding will require much more of you, but that is exactly what your friend needs."

Often, there are many difficult or even bad things about anything. If you look for it, even by accident, you will find it.  Before pre-judging anything about anyone or any group of people, always understand there is more at play than you might know. So regardless, why could respect ever leave the conversation?

Prejudice is any "preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience." This means race, sex, education, nationality, simply where someone was raised, or even an entire culture.

We are not all the same. The members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are unique in the fact we span many countries and cultures and yet remain as one sol church under Jesus Chirst. Because this is His church.

Splitting ourselves apart or alienating ourselves from other members simply because of race, sex, education, nationality, or culture, is of Satan's most effective efforts to stop the light of God. Do you see him as it begins? It strikes fear to me at times. He leaves just as quickly there as when a non-member makes remarks as such to members. Just because we are members making the same remarks or using the same names as they do, it doesn't make us any better than them. It is still wrong.

A fire rages within me --prejudice is not a matter I take lightly-- and yet the spirit compels me to contain it. I'm thankful for the guidance of the spirit. I am a better follower of Christ as I adhere to it's promptings. I am far from perfect. So I better keep listening.

I love you all, and I want you know how much God loves you. How desperately he wants us to return to Him.

In quiet moments, such as that sacrament, oh, so long ago, where the spirit confirmed to the missionaries, "God needs you here," the love of God leaks ever so slightly upon his children. We see a fraction of his love for us. And it's overwhelming.

Differences deplete, fear fades, and we inquire to walk in unison with the Savior.

Someday. Someday soon, we will walk his stride. But first, let's begin with our best, thus the sooner that day may come.

Love to you all, and I hope the weather has been treating you kindly. It went back to cold here, but that's just 'awl right.

Πρεσβύτερος Dylan Hansen
Bulgaria-Greece Mission