Welcome back to the
City of Overeating, Football Playing, Jewish Guard Playing, and Missionary Work,
aka Paphos!
This has been a VERY
busy week for us here in Paphos. I have spent way too much time on the bus, and
the whole week was just out of whack.
TUESDAY: We went to
check out a service opportunity with a care center for people with special
needs. They set us up an appointment for Thursday. We also had District
Meeting here in Paphos. After it finished, I started my exchange with Elder G.
(He is one of our district leaders; we have co-district leaders right now, and
his companion is the other one). Our exchange was a blast and very successful.
We met with my friend A. from the charity shop and made a new friend in the
park while doing service. Both the people were from England, and so Elder G.
was able to talk about his home country with them (he is from North Hampton,
England).
WEDNESDAY: We had our
studies and reviewed how the exchange went. This includes the District Leader
telling me what I am doing well and helping me find ways that I can improve. We
caught the bus to Limassol, and Elder G. was able to talk to yet ANOTHER
English couple on the bus. The Lord definitely puts people in our paths, even
on exchanges! Elder R. and I had to almost immediately start walking back from
the Limassol apartment to catch our bus home. We had language classes, and a
former missionary here was visiting and helped us with Greek class.
THURSDAY: We went to a
care center for people with special needs. We weren't too sure what to expect
when going there. I had offered to play piano for the people there and anything
else to help. We got there, and they wanted a full-on concert! They had a piano
up on a stage and everybody seated waiting for one hour of piano playing!
Thankfully, I brought just enough music to make it to an hour. I played almost
everything I brought with me to the school. It was a really cool experience and
my first concert that I have ever performed. We went to church after that and
finished polishing up our presentation for Zone Conference. We caught the bus
to Limassol in the afternoon and had our Return and Report role play with
President and Sister Heder. It didn't help we had to do it in front of half our
district and the assistants as well. It didn't go too well, haha. But, we will
smash it next time. We also had our interviews with President, and I practiced
with Sister S. for our musical number on Friday.
FRIDAY: Friday was
a pretty simple day schedule-wise. We got up and rode the bus to Limassol yet
again and had zone conference all day. It was really good. Elder R. and I gave
our presentation on Obedience and Diligence. It went well. Be obedient, guys;
it brings miracles. Be diligent too, but if you are obedient, you will
automatically be diligent as well. I also performed “Consider the Lilies” on
the piano with Sister S. on the flute. It went well. That night we also met
with R. and talked a little bit more about the Plan of Salvation. He has so
many questions; it's great!
SATURDAY: We got up,
and guess what we did after studies? WE GOT ON ANOTHER BUS! YAY!!! It was only
a city bus this time though. We took it down to Gino’s and had breakfast with
President and Sister Heder, the B family, the Sampsons, the assistants, and the
Kato elders. It was very good, but even with all those people, we still could
not finish the amount of food G. had made. He's crazy!!! We love him. We had
some more studies at the Kato apartment and had a discussion with the
assistants and Kato elders about the priesthood and life after death. The
priesthood is a huge deal. The more we study it, the more we realize how much
responsibility we have. It's incredible that we give such responsibility to 12-year-old
boys and 18-year olds.
We got dressed and
headed to the rehearsal for the Passion Play. One of the actors, who plays a
thief who gets crucified, didn't show up. That meant that Elder K. got to be a
stand-in, haha! I will hopefully get the pictures by next week. He was up on
the cross even! You just see an Indian guy, a Sri Lankan guy, and THE WHITEST
GUY FROM FINLAND. We headed to the bus station by the rehearsal site and bought
some water from a shop nearby.
I accidentally left a
bag that had gear and the football for football finding in the shop. Once we
get to the football pitch (after yet another bus ride), I realized that we
needed to go back and get the bag. So, Elder R. and I waited for the next bus.
However, that morning, I had the distinct feeling to buy the Daily Pass for the
bus (unlimited rides for 24 hours) instead of the two individual tickets that
we had planned on buying (which were cheaper). I had followed this feeling, and
we both had Daily Passes. We knew immediately that there was a reason for that
feeling and for forgetting the bag in the shop. We said a prayer that we would
be able to find the person the Lord was putting in our path on the two bus
trips we needed to make. Both times, we sat next to people who spoke German
with Elder R. I also saw a young couple who were just amazing. I wanted to talk
to them so badly about eternal families, but we had to get off the bus before I
got the chance to speak. I gave them a card. Elder R. and I are not sure who it
was or why we needed to be on those two extra busses. But, we know it was part
of the Lord's plan. We played football, and it rained! I actually played okay.
We came home and did showers and just spoke about stuff until we fell asleep.
SUNDAY: We went to
church with our friend. We had Branch Conference, and it was all about having a
broken heart and a contrite spirit or a repentant heart and obedient spirit. It
was very good, and I enjoyed it. We had a munch and mingle afterwards and then
headed to the Passion Play. We got done up in face paint, fake beards, and our
costumes. The play went well, and we didn't mess up on our parts (we were the
Jewish Guards who arrest Jesus and beat him up). President and Sister Heder
were there, as well as the assistants (Elders S. and K.). (See the Passion Play put on in Paphos last year.) We came home and did
weekly planning (Finally! We are supposed to do it on Thursdays, but we didn't
have time) and hit the sack. (See below for pictures from the Passion Play that Elder Muller participated in!)
So, that's my week!
I've learned a lot about the responsibility of having the priesthood and the
keys thereof. I know the Lord had a plan for each one of us and will speak to
our hearts what we should do. If we align our will with Heavenly Father's, we
will see miracles and blessings in our lives. But first, we must have the
humility to accept His will as our own.
Love you all and hope
everyone has a great week!
- Πρεσβύτερος Μούλερ
