Thanksgiving Bus Stop

Monday, November 26, 2018

Baptism of B. by Elders R. and F.
Photo credit: Elder Fleming

1 year+ missionary shoes

Hey, guys! It has been a good but long week here in Nicosia.

TUESDAY, November 20th: I taught a guy some piano at the church building, #trainyourreplacment. We found this guy from Voice of the Lord survey, and it turns out that his name is F. and not Henry Fusy...we are still confused how that happened. We saw our less active Cypriot member who has dementia. He was better this time and was more there. Plus, there was more light, so I didn't feel as scared... We had a lesson with Squad 1, but things weren't going to well for them. But, we gave them priesthood blessings before we left...apparently one of them has the gift of laying his hands upon the sick and healing them and also preaching the gospel, and he isn't even a member of the church yet!

WEDNESDAY, November 21st: We were at Caritas, and the US Ambassador came for a visit to see what they do there [Editor's note: Elder Müller wasn't specific about the name of the ambassador, but the current US Ambassador to Cyprus is Kathleen Doherty.]. It was cool to see there one of our branch members who works for the Embassy, and it was also great to speak to other Americans. I had a great conversation with the guy who runs the Migrant Center at Caritas, and he wants to learn more about what we believe.

We walked a guy to church so he would know where it was for Greek Class. Ya’ boy implemented the new Teaching by the Way initiative and taught the first lesson as we were walking—got a good ol' Book of Mormon in his hands and got him to come to Greek Class that night: "Droppin’ some doctrine" - Aubrey Shafer.

We had a lesson with our Chinese member and her friend, and her friend agreed to be baptized once she feels the Spirit tell her it is the correct choice. Chinese people are simply amazing. Did I tell you all that I am learning like 4 languages at the moment? Greek, Punjabi, Pidgin English, and Chinese. It is pretty awesome, I know ;)

THURSDAY, November 22nd: I don't have a journal entry for Thursday, but we had a lesson with a friend, and he brought HIS friend who has heard about us before and wants to learn as well. We were at the bus stop to go to Larnaca and speaking to these two guys from Punjab, India, when the bus pulled up, didn’t stop or open its doors, and just kept going. So, we had to take the next one, a half hour later. So, we made everybody late for District Council/Thanksgiving dinner at the G.'s home. By the way, I completely forgot that it was Thanksgiving during the day until we were at the bus stop. 

FRIDAY, November 23rd: We had service with R., our English LA friend. He was actually pleased for once with the work that we did and kept telling us how well we did, haha. We got loads of food from his wife as well. We did some finding right before sushi with the Flemings and the other elders. We met this group of Nigerians (#Squad 4) and started preaching, man. Then, their friend came up and started attacking the Book of Mormon. We shut him down HARD. He was asking for money and how we needed to pay for him to come to church.

Sushi
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming

I got his whole squad on my side and just shut him up with pure doctrine. I told one member of the squad that God would smite him if he comes to church only to look at girls and told the other troublemaker God would smite him if he suggests that he must be paid to worship God. It was a fun night, haha. It was raining, and I had a fall right before we got to Squad 2's house. The lesson did not go well at all. 

SATURDAY, November 24th: Baptism day! We had a bus rented and loaded it full of Cameroonians!!!!!! All the way down to Larnaca, we got to learn Pidgin English, and they died, man. The baptism was incredible, and B.’s testimony afterwards was PERFECT for all of our friends. READ THE DANG BOOK, GUYS!!!!! We had a celebratory dinner of Papa John's pizza with the other elders and the Flemings.

Baptism of B. by Elders J. and F. 

Baptism of B. by Elders J. and F. 

Elders J. and F. 

Elder J. and F. 

Elder J. and F.

Baptism of B. by Elders J. and F. 

Elder Fleming, Elder H., Elder Muller, Elder J.,
 Elder F., Sister Fleming
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming

SUNDAY, November 25th: We biked far out to pick up F. for church. We walked for 30+ minutes. This kid is awesome. We had 5 friends in church and a great potluck afterwards. We had a great finding session and found Squad #5, lads. That's right...Elder Müller wins hearts through Pidgin!!! "HowFa?" Oh, I forgot to mention how our embassy member has like the cutest little family and is just incredibly awesome in every way. He speaks HINDI!!! And, this guy just smashed a talk directed right at our friends. I want to grow up to be like him. We had a miracle moment of meeting a refugee right by our church as we were heading home and being able to take him up and give him a hygiene kit.

Love you all. The work is amazing! Read the Book of Mormon for goodness sake, and change your life!

- Elder Müller

High Energy Lunch

Little Cypriot Alleyway

                 My nightly foot bath of salt and vinegar. 

This night, I put olive oil in as well. Gotta keep them feets all nice

Rainbow!

The Turkish flag on the mountain
It lights up and flashes at night

The Turkish flag on the mountain
It lights up and flashes at night

Pictures from Elder Fleming in no particular date or order:

Elders H., Muller, J. and F. with Sister Fleming

Elder Muller teaching a Greek class!

Elder Muller and Elder F. 

Sushi with the Flemings

Elder Muller learning baking skills from Sister Fleming
Elder J. learning with him.

A training meeting. Elder Muller on the piano

Returning from Larnaca to Nicosia

The football game where Elder Muller was the agent!

A pie eating contest!
Elder Muller didn't send any pictures of this!
Thank you, Elder Fleming!

Pictures from Sister Grover:

B's baptism

Elder J and Elder F
B's baptism

Elder Muller
B's baptism

Joy in the Mediterranean Sea
Brothers in Christ 

From B's. baptism

B's baptismal service

Thanksgiving table

Thanksgiving with the Grovers, Flemings,
and Elders J. & F.

Thanksgiving feast!

Thanksgiving feast!