The First Convert Baptism in Greece for 1.5 years

Well. It's been a couple weeks since I've been able to write an email. I could explain why, but honestly, I don't really feel a need! Things happen as a missionary, and I gotta say, we get busy. Maybe as I explain the events of the last few weeks, you'll see why.

Before we left Crete, Elder Jenkins and I had the opportunity to go to Thessaloniki once again for the transfer. Which, each time of doing that has been an absolute adventure. I've loved each of the missionaries serving up there, particularly to see my MTC companion and my trainer.

We were listening to Christmas music driving down the road, and to be honest, it was fairly loud. One of the missionary sung along to a particular verse and sort of stuck his head out towards an open window.

He, already making us laugh, goes, "Oh crap, is that a priest right next to us?" And low and behold, there was an Orthodox Priest in the car right next to us. Needless, the window rolled up, and we just laughed at the chances of that happening. I figure it was least good to that he saw we have Christmas spirit! It's actually particularly interesting, when we missionaries are in a group, talk with each other, and honestly having fun doing normal things. I got really excited in Thess since I had my first 5 to 10 minute conversation in Greek on my own, and I had a lot of fun with it. I was really happy.

I think something very cool about the gospel is that we have the knowledge that the entire purpose of us being on this Earth is to have joy, and eventually have the fullness of it. That's pretty cool.

It's interesting to see how the mission can really make your innerself show more. For example, I have found myself enjoying things that I had never thought about. We arrived to Athens, and the apartment we are currently staying at for the next few transfers (probably), was not quite to the standard I wanted it to be. To clarify, in the way of cleanliness. It wasn't bad, but it didn't quite meet the standard that I didn't even know I had! So we spent a little time cleaning the apartment, but still have some stuff to do. But before leaving Crete for the last time, I spent as much time as I could getting that apartment cleaner that we got it. And the feeling you get in a clean house! Amazing! I understand more what you mean now, Maman! When everything is just neatly organized-- awesome!

I don't have an insane amount of time since we had quite an adventure this P-day, but since so much has happened this few weeks, I wanted to list a few things that were particularly interesting, and focus on the highlight of, probably, my entire mission.

1. This is something I wrote on the last Sunday in Crete:

"It was hard saying goodbye to the Linsays at church today. It was pretty emotional for me. They have been some of the biggest supporters for us missionaries since I got here. I made the goal to help them feel that they were missionaries too as members, but I felt I didn't get the chance to achieve that. Then one of their kids said during a prayer, "Please help us to share the light of the Gospel to the people around us." Then an hour later, Sister Linsay shared a very similar thought when she prayed. I nearly shed tears right there. They are awesome, despite how hard it is here for them, being so isolated with their faith."

2. I had some of the best meat I've had on my mission, and also probably in my life. On Crete. The guy in the kitchen was this little man that surely knew what he was doing. It was a bit more in price than probably would do regularly, but, man, was it authentic.

3. We had a preperation day with all the missionaries Greek speaking missionaries in the mission at the ancient and modern city of Dephi. It was really cool and a lot of fun. Funny fact. They found Dephi, and rather than trying to do an entire dig under the city, they just moved the entire city like a km to the right. It's crazy.

4. My trainee is super awesome. He's making a lot of effort to learn Greek, and I am super impressed. I would say 90% of the time, we are speaking in only Greek to each other, which has been doing wonders for our communication and practice. Sometimes I wonder if we would get along differently if we were speaking more in English! Honestly though, we've been having a lot of adventures here, and it's only been a week. Often, he's the one teaching me the structure of Greek. It's pretty good experience for the both of us.

So. This week has been an awesome adventure, because we've had the opportunity to prepare our friend, David, for baptism. He's basically been waiting 3 years to do it, but never really received the lessons.

I would love to get into so many more details in this email, but there's a lot of security things that I have to keep in mind when sharing information about the baptism.

Basically, to explain, he's from a country that doesn't really support religious freedom. And one of the last things the church wants is someone to come in mortal danger by joining the church. So we had to jump though so many hoops to make sure everything would go smoothly.

Last Wednesday, we got the information that he needed to be a permanent resident of Greece, or a dual citizen in order for it to be okay that he was baptized. So after having an adventure way to long to explain in one email, we finally asked him the question if he was one or the other (via text).

I think I might have startled my companion when I jumped to my feet and shouted, "YES! YES! YES! THIS IS HAPPENING THIS SATURDAY!" When David confirmed he was a resident of Greece. We could baptize him! He didn't have to wait any longer.

So we began the preparations, which in of themselves, was something. But the day of was when the climax of crazy hit. We began filling the font, but after about an hour, it went ice cold! The water was feezing! We tried to do everything we could, but to no success. So I went into the Sacrament and began to pray. At first, I thought it was going to be that the water would go warm, but somehow I felt the spirit guide me and it turned into,

"Lord, make me worthy, I will do anything I can to make this baptism go well. And if anything don't let me get in the way of it, cause I know that I have sinned, and have so many imperfections."

I could feel the spirit nearly as an audible voice;
"Everything is going to be okay."

From that point on, I knew it would. That confirmation from the spirit was so comforting.

I had the honor of helping him joining in this covenant with God this Saturday, and I have to say, this was one of the most special moments of my mission. The excitement David had was something I will never forget.

That was an honor I will remember for the rest of my life.

"Can you send me your first and last name for my journal?" He asked me at the Christmas Party that was conveniently right after the baptism.

"Sure, but how come?" I questioned.

"You baptized me! I will remember you forever. We will look back at this moment and cry in 40 years." My heart melted.

I would include pictures, but as for now, that's not a luxury that we can indulge, due to safety reasons for David, and his family. As much as I love pictures, I want David to be safe.

Next email, I'll see if I could include more details about the event and how awesome David is.

I hope you all are doing well! The weather is getting cold! I've got a jacket on half of the time outside!

Love you yall!

Elder Dylan Hansen