December 11, 2017

The Missionaries on Mars Hill

Hello everybody from Pafos!!!!!

I will try to answer all your questions.

Q. Do you have a senior missionary couple in Cyprus? 

A. The senior couple here in Παφος is INCREDIBLEEEEEE. 

Q. Are you with Elder P. in Cyprus? 

A.  I love Elder P. Είναι στον Κατώ Παφος και είμαι στον Πανώ Παφος. Or, he is in lower Pafos, by the beach and stuff, and I am in Upper Pafos. They have nine investigators, we have zero, lol.

Q. Where did the Ether District end up serving? 

A.  Elders P and Müller=Pafos, Elder R.=Nicosia, Elder Z.=Larnaca, Elder N. and Sister S.=Thes, Elders F. and G. and Sister S.=Athens

Q. What was it like arriving in Greece?

A. Greece is stunningly beautiful. When we walked off the plane onto the tarmac, we felt like we were home. The Heders (The Mission President and his wife) are as amazing and hilarious as everyone told us they are. 

Q. How is your companion/trainer? Are there a lot of brand new missionaries training?

A. Elder J. is good. The mission actually has an extra missionary above its allotment right now, and that is why Elder Z. is in a trio. A lot of the brand new missionaries are training.

Q. Is there a lot of English spoken in Cyprus?

A. There is a LOT of English in Cyprus.  The only branch members that speak any Greek are us Elders. It is quite fun to be able to talk about stuff without anyone knowing what we are saying.

Q. How many missionaries are in the mission now?

A. The mission currently has 44 missionaries serving in the Greece Athens Mission (GAM).

Q. How is your apartment?

A.  The apartment is large. It is old but okay. Let me tell you, I am grateful for learning how to clean. Teenage guys are disgusting. 

Q. What was church like on Sunday?

A. Church is very small right now. We have around 20 or so members, but everyone is away on holiday. On Sunday, there were four members and then the missionaries, plus Elder P. and Elder C.’s friend. 

Q. What is the church building like?

A. The church building is very nice. We have keys to it and go there a lot.

Q. How is the food? 

A. I haven't really had much Greek food except a gyro, which was very good. I EVEN ATE FRESH SALAD WITH CUCUMBERS AND TOMATOES AND ONION AND CHEESE. THAT'S RIGHT! BE PROUD! I'M A BIG BOY EATING MY VEGGIES.

Q. What is the weather like?

A.  It was cold the past couple days. It is warming up now. 

Q. Will you be serving and working with refugees in your area?

A. There are no refugees around us, so no.

Q. What will your prep days be like on Mondays?

A.  P-days, I don't know. Today, we are emailing and watching Disney movies (in Greek) and playing board games.

Q. Do you have a phone?

A.  WE HAVE NOKIA BRICKS, HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LOVE IT. The battery will last longer than the 7th inning of a baseball game.

This week has been weird. The mission field is not as busy as I thought it would be, and this area needs A LOT of work. We are doing our best to find ways to contact people and meet new friends. The highlight of the week was English class with Chloe (not real name). She is 10 years old and insanely smart. She speaks three or four languages: Latvian, Greek, Russian, and English (which she is learning now). She is a little ray of sunshine. She makes fun of our Greek and loves reading from the Book of Mormon comic book. She is amazing. Her mother was investigating the church, but her husband died of cancer a few months ago. We are trying to work with her and be her friends. She isn't too keen on the gospel right now. We have no other investigators right now. :(

I hope all is well in Florida. 

Cyprus is interesting. It has a Middle Eastern feel with a unique culture and environment. There is a government, but nobody really cares about it because they are broke so can't enforce anything anyway. There isn't really any crime other than theft. Everywhere in Greece and Cyprus you keep your hands on your valuables at all time. DON'T YOU DARE FREAK OUT AND START WORRYING! WE ARE PERFECTLY SAFE. THERE IS NO VIOLENT CRIME, AND MOST THEFT IS OF RICH TOURISTS FLAUNTING THEIR CASH AROUND.

Love,

Elder Müller

Elder Müller's Greek Name Tag

P.S. Please tell everyone thank you for all of the emails! Please let them know that I love getting the messages, but I just cannot answer everyone! I just don't have time! Please don't be upset with me!!

Editor's note: There are quite a few pictures this week! There are pictures of the flight, the missionaries in the mission home in Athens, missionaries on Mars Hill, and the views in Cyprus. Click on an image to enlarge and scroll through all of them at once.