The Time Has Come, Crete

It's remarkable how much can happen in a week, and yet it can feel so short and so long at the same time. I think I'm still feeling pretty new in the field, so the time feels like it's moving super slow, and yet super fast at the same time.

This last week, we had Zone Confrence, and it felt different than any other Zone Conference I have ever had. Our Mission President, President Nelson is a professor at BYU, and I have felt the way he has structured his trains has just made sense to me. We are learning a new way of finding people to teach that has been proven to work in the New York Mission, and we hope that it will work here. It's called, "The Finding Flow." We basically stay in a certain area, and as people walk past us, we invite them to church. Just start with the invitation right at the begining, and allow them to choose if they would like to talk to us. Basically every area of the world, there are people ready to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we can't go search for every single person. But, we can pray for our plans to include the opportunity that we can cross paths with those that are ready. The entire Zone Conference felt very opptimistic, and I have really gotten the impression things are changing in the mission. The Lord has this remarkable ability of finding those to lead his work in the exact time they are needed. I feel that the Burdons where exactly what was needed for the last 3 years, and the Nelsons are exactly what we need right now.

So basically, I have been floating in limbo for like 4 days before I arrived to Crete. Both of my companions have been released, I was the only young missionary in all of Nicosia, and the only Elders were in Limmisol. Sooo, they stayed with me up in Nicosia until transfer day(2 days from Zone Confrence) and spent time in my area. We still found ways to stay busy despite the fact all of us were leaving that week. It's interesting how missionary work... works that way.

Because of Zone conference, this was the first time I've gotten to meet some of the Bulgarian missionaries! They are awesome! They surely have a different vibe than we Greek speaking missionaries, but I think in a few months we'll feel more united. Maybe when some come serve in Cyrpus(fingers crossed, but I also reconize it's God's will).We Greek missionaries are a little more... colorful... for better or worse. It's weird to say it like that, but that's honestly what I have felt. I think eventually we will be able to combine and get the best of both worlds. I just love how expressive and firery our side of the mission is. It's pretty fun. It's a big part of why I came out again.

Let's talk about the highlight of this email-- the 'interesting' part!

As of right now, I am writing this sitting in the apartment of the missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Crete. It's a humbling experience.

For those of you that might not know, Crete is basically a brand new area. Missionaries have been sent here in the past, but never for long. However, by inspiration from the Lord, this apartment is contracted for a year. I see it as, "Let's do all we can in the year we are given!"

I'm going to speak honestly for a second.

Since I've returned, I've stuggled to feel the spirit as I used to, or even as I was home. It was unconfortable, and I wasn't really feeling it last transfer, except a handful of times. For me, that absence of the Spirit was very difficult for me. I like the silence it gives me, and yet I couldn't quite feel it. So I strove to do everything I could be connected. It was so bad, I wanted to go home because I felt like I couldn't teach, feel success in the work, or communicate with the Lord.

When I heard I was going to Crete to serve with Elder Jenkins, my mouth dropped. "Are you serious? Shouldn't you send someone more prepared?"

Alas, here I am. With Elder Jenkins.

And yet, I couldn't feel anything but pure excitement on the plane. I felt bad for Elder Jenkins on the fight cause I must have been acting like a literal child the whole fight. Which, I have never felt in my entire mission.

We stepped of the plane and I kept getting this feeling we are supposed to be here.

The love I feel for these people of the island of Crete, is almost something I feel bad to express due to the fact I have only been here a matter of days. And yet, the thought of how much the gospel could bless the lives of these people, really affects me.

There isn't a branch in Crete yet. There isn't actually even a group yet. So you can imagine sacrament every Sunday could be unique. And, indeed it is.

Last Sunday, in attendance of our Sacrament meeting in our rented-out hotel confrence room, was Brother Tassos, Spyros, and an American family which live 2 hours from Hirakion(where we have sacrament). They have many kids, and yet they commit to traveling to partake of the sacrament every Sunday. Not only that, but they have made food for us, that when we got back to the apartment, would still be warm. In total, there was about 7 in attendance last Sunday Testimony Meeting.

And it was beautiful.

I haven't felt the spirit more in my entire missions than that.

Every single person over the age of 10 bore their testimony, and I sat, tearing up, the whole time.

It has been more than 5 months since I have had the chance to hear the testimony from a Greek. In that moment, I wanted to begin to sob.

I felt I could nears here the words, "Find them. They are here."

I'll be honest, I had felt that the Greeks weren't ready for the Gospel. After so much rejection, it's sometimes hard to feel any other way. But then, it was my turn to share my testimony.

For those who know me, I don't really get emotional bearing my testimony. It's not quite how I work. It's not that I can't feel the spririt when I do, I just don't react that way very often. And yet, I stood in front of this group of members on the island of Crete and became overwhelmed with emotion. I did not cry infront of everyone, but it became difficult to nearly speak.

I've been in many different sized meetings now. I've seen small branches, big branches, small wards, and large wards, and even unofficial groups on and island now.

I thought it would be the large groups that would testify to me this is the true church. But no. I couldn't be further from the truth.

It is in loud, noisy cities and two young men or women walk the streets humming a hymn.

It is the man who has lost nearly everything he has because of his faith, and yet continues to get down on his knees and pray to God with the words a Saint of the restored Gospel could utter in his own toungue. "Praise to my God for all he as given me! For I know the truth of my Salvation! For we all can be saved!"

It is in the quiet moments of studying the scriptures in faith that God will answer your ponderings. Experiementing on your testimony and your faith.

It is in the small groups of faithful members, that no matter the size, they will come to worship their God and their Savior.

Because our numbers may be small, but numbers do not change TRUTH. The TRUTH will prevail!

It doesn't matter if you stand on the mount alone or the wall as armies combine against you. Because you know the TRUTH! As Samuel the Lamanite stood on the wall unscathed by the arrows, our testimonies may stay the same if it's grounded on TRUTH.

I know Joseph Smith did indeed see God the Father, and Jesus Christ that day in the woods. I know CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD, LIVES AGAIN!

I know this is his Church. Though they may throw you into a lion's den, or into a pit of fire, you know the TRUTH. Who can take that from you except yourself?

It was a special meeting. I look forward to building Zion on this island. It is ready.

Elder Jenkins and I are feeling very ambitious this transfer, because we believe there are many people ready here. We just need to find them. I promise, if it be God's will, we will find even the one ready to reseive the gospel on this island, and welcome them to the waters of baptism. I promise to God that we will do all in our power.

The gospel has returned to Crete once again. It is time that it's restoration takes heed. No matter what happens, I know it is God's will. If it's God's will, we will teach an entire village.

But we'll just have to find a car... we'll get there.

I love you all, and I hope the weather is treating you kindly! The weather here is nearly pleasurable now. It is very kind near the shores.

Also thank you for all the birthday wishes! I really appreciate it.

Elder Dylan Hansen