They Killed My Diet...

Monday, July 9, 2018

Elder Muller and Elder M.

Elder Muller and  Elder C. Zone Leader on Exchanges

Elder  Muller and Elder S. & Chinese Family that are Legendary

Hello, everybody! It has been an extremely hot week in Cyprus. The humidity is nuts here, and the sun feels like it is only 10 feet away. 

TUESDAY: We had breakfast with A. and F. at The Cookhouse. A. said he wanted us to have "real" pancakes. Man, they were real! They were the best pancakes I have ever had in my entire life: crispy, yet fluffy, with amazing maple syrup and a whipped cream and blueberry topping. Heaven! The heat wave started today, and Elder V. and I now drink about 10 liters of water every day. We have a water dispenser and 10-liter bottles. So, we try to empty those by each night. We saw A. at his shop, but the visit didn't go too well. He wasn't in a very good mood. We had Greek class with a Chinese couple, and they are really sweet. We saw A. and N. that night, and I just want to say for the 10th time that they really are the greatest people in Cyprus.

WEDNESDAY: Can you believe it has been 9 months since I arrived at the MTC (the Missionary Training Center)? Yup, Independence Day marks 9 months as a missionary. We had service at the Red Cross and went to see J. We talked about football as always and spoke to him about the talk he would give on Sunday about the Book of Mormon. We went and gave a blessing to Elder Riser, our senior missionary couple. He has been laid up in bed for a few days with a hurt back. We had interviews with President Anderson for the first time. He and Sister Anderson are very nice. We had a lesson with an old friend. He is still not ready to accept the gospel. And, we followed up with a guy we met last week.

THURSDAY: The Northern APs (Assistants to the Mission President) and the Cyprus Zone Leaders came to our apartment before we all walked to church together. We had a Zone Meeting to meet President and Sister Anderson. It was also for us to be introduced to the Adriatic South Mission program and to have a question and answer session. The best news of the week is WE CAN STILL SEE DISNEY MOVIES IN GREEK ON P-DAY!!! We made two new friends by the boardwalk. They are from Bulgaria and want to meet up and talk.

FRIDAY: We had service at the charity shop. While at the church building, I fell asleep while Elder V. and N. did Branch stuff on the computer. We saw A. again, and he gave us cake and "hamburgers" from Zorpaz bakery. They were meat inside a pastry thing with tomato paste—actually not bad. We then went to our Chinese family. They are going back to China for two months, and so they made us our last Chinese food for a while. They are so nice to us. We went from there to visit C. She is from Sri Lanka and gave us cake. We were so full, but she made us eat the whole thing, plus two glasses off orangeade each. We. Were. Dead. I actually loosened my belt buckle once we left the house I was so full from all of the food. 

SATURDAY: We cleaned the church building and went back to the Riser's with N. We taught N. about priesthood blessings and consecrating oil. He gave his first priesthood blessing ever to Elder Riser. N. loved it, lol.  We went home for lunch. I was so exhausted I fell asleep during our lunch time. Elder V. didn't wake me up when that ended and our language study time started. You will see some cheeky pics the Red Devil took of me. We never stop drinking and sweating with 10 liters of water, easy, every single day. We had dinner with N. at our usual restaurant and then played football. I sat with one of our friends because he was hurt, and I am an embarrassment on the pitch, lol. I could actually understand what he was saying and reply back. The gift of tongues is real. 

Elder Muller napping
(Pictures are payback from Elder V.)

Elder Muller napping
(Pictures are payback from Elder V.)

SUNDAY: It was a rough day to try and get out of bed. I was wrecked. All of personal study I was awake but sleeping at the same time, if that makes any sense. Church started 20 minutes late because we didn't really have anybody there! #lifeonthechurchfrontier 

Once more people arrived, we had a good sacrament meeting. J. gave his talk about the Book of Mormon and did a great job. I gave a 5-minute talk on the Book of Mormon as well. We also had a great day with L.! She is from China and is great. She came to church and stayed for Sunday school. Then, we went to the Riser's house to have a lesson with her and eat lunch. She is sooo nice and just awesome. We came back later in the evening to give Elder Riser the Sacrament as he is still not able to move out of bed. That was about it.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, but we aren't going to let that stop us! 

Have a great week!

- Elder Müller


Pictures from last week's baptism in Larnaca:

Elder Muller and his friend, F. before the baptism
June 30, 2018

Friend from Nicosia that Elder Muller and Elder S.
taught during their one transfer there.
June 30, 2018

June 30, 2018

Mediterranean Sea

Arriving for the baptsim

Joy and Excitement

A wonderful time in Larnaca
June 30, 2018

The happiness that the restored gospel brings

Friends in the gospel of Christ

 

Happiness personified!

Miscellaneous pictures:

Lunch with friends
Elder V and Sister B, former sister missionary

 A diseased pigeon has been living on our balcony for a week.
It finally died this morning (2 July 2018)
 

A diseased pigeon has been living on our balcony for a week. 
It finally died this morning (2 July 2018)

This mission is hard!
P-day July 2, 2018

P-day July 2, 2018
Lunch with a friend

Elder V. with flowers they purchased for a member.
They were on their way to dinner and brought her flowers.

Elder V. with flowers they purchased for a member.
They were on their way to dinner and brought her flowers.

Elder V. with flowers they purchased for a member.
They were on their way to dinner and brought her flowers.

Elder V. with flowers they purchased for a member.
They were on their way to dinner and brought her flowers.

Elder V. with flowers they purchased for a member.
They were on their way to dinner and brought her flowers.

(Middle) A former sister missionary, Sister B., from the GAM.
She came to visit the people of Cyprus and Greece

Husband of a member

The lads

Elder V. doing Branch business
(before I fell asleep)

P-days in Limassol - Elder V. sleeping on a rug.
(These two love to take pictures of each other sleeping!)