Baptisms and Food

December 31, 2018

Baptisms of D. and D., Friday, December 28, 2018
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming

Hey, guys! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

TUESDAY, December 25th: We went in the morning with our "Christmas Crackers" (aka burnt Christmas cookies) to go visit our friends, and we surprised many of them (wow, that grammar makes me cringe...sorry, Hillary!) [Editor’s note: LOL! I edit Elder Müller’s more egregious grammar mistakes, but I’m glad he no longer makes fun of me about the importance of grammar. Learning another language has helped him appreciate English more!].

D.'s face when he opened the door was priceless; his eyes were like an owl's, lol. We spent the rest of the day with the Flemings and the other elders. We did our video chats home, played Yahtzee, ate an amazing dinner (including Stove Top stuffing, thanks, Mama!), and then played Apples to Apples with D. at the church. He came and celebrated with us at the Flemings because it was his very first Christmas as a Christian!!!!!!!

Christmas Video Chats from the Fleming's Apartment
Elders F., Muller, J., H., and I.
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming

Christmas Dinner with the Flemings and D.!
From Left to Right: Elders. F., Muller, J., Sister Fleming, H., I., and D.
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming (Who is sadly missing from the picture!)

WEDNESDAY, December 26th: We met with J., and even though he was still a little tipsy from the night before, we had a good lesson with him. We went to R. and L.'s place and ate so much food I was stuck on the couch for 20 minutes unable to move. After a sparkling water, I was finally able to stand up, lol. Then, we went to the Glenns’ home (American embassy family/branch president) and celebrated President Glenn's birthday/boxing day with awesome finger food and the like. We had a lesson with D. about the priesthood, and Elder Fleming came to help us out. He does amazing in lessons, and the Spirit was there as we taught D. all together.

THURSDAY, December 27th: We went in the morning and saw F. and had a good lesson with him and his friends at their home. We then went to a member’s home and had a Christmas FEAST. Like when I say feast, I mean it. There were almost as many desserts as there were entrees. Oh yeah, we also found this awesome park before we went to that meal. On our way to an appointment right after the feast, Elder J. hit a pole and kind of smashed our phone and his bike. So, Elder Fleming had to come and rescue us and ferry us back and forth to some appointments.

A Feast!
Photo Credit: Elder Fleming

FRIDAY, December 28th: We went to Larnaca for D. and D.'s baptisms!!!!!!!!! Everything went well, and my goodness, that water was soooooooo cold. But as always, as soon as the ordinance began, I lost all feeling of being cold from that point on. I'm so happy for D. to be able to be free of so many things that have weighed him down. The light of Christ is visible and gets brighter by the day. We had a celebratory dinner with D. and the other guys at our favorite sushi place. It was a good day, lads.

SATURDAY, December 29th: We had Weekly Planning for most of the day and then received a referral from the Limassol Elders for a man that lives here. We were able to schedule an appointment for that evening and had an amazing first lesson with him. He had met a lady online from America who is a member of the Church. He bought a Book of Mormon at a bookstore for 3 euros and had started to read the first few pages already.

He studied to be a Catholic priest in Pakistan, but five years before (to the very day that we taught him), his mentor had cast him out, and he has never known why. He is a refugee here and is just amazing. R. and L. gave us a call as well and gave us groceries!!! They are amazing. The promise that my mom received that I would be taken care of because of all the help she has given missionaries in the past sure has come true!!!!

SUNDAY, December 30th: It was raining, but we biked to the bus station in hopes that J. would come. She never did, but we did get nice and wet, lol. Church was good, and D. and D. were confirmed members of the church and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I translated for our Cypriot friend during Sunday School, and that was different. I haven't spoken that much Greek in a long time #pidginenglishismynativetonguenowlads. In the evening, we had a short lesson with D. and a long one with D., O., F., and R. The Gift of the Holy Ghost makes such a difference in peoples' countenances. Right after church, we had a lesson with D.'s friends from Nepal. One of them Elder H. and I met a few months ago and have gotten to know her a little bit. We taught with five elders, D., and R., and the synergy was awesome. Also, I learned a little Nepali, so it was a successful Sunday.

MONDAY, December 31st: We cleaned and watched Incredibles 2. Also, I became a man today. I bought an actual razor and shaving cream and shaved without an electric razor for my very first time. Go me, lads! Tonight, we get to watch The Greatest Showman with the Flemings and the other elders on the projector in our apartment. LEZ GOOOOO!

Love y’all. Because of the trio, we have to use an internet cafe with really slow internet, which means that I can't upload pictures....

- Elder Müller

The following pictures were taken by Elder Fleming:

Christmas Eve heading to Limassol to visit a care centre
Elder and Sister Fleming
Elders I., Muller, J., H., and F.
Nicosia Missionaries

What happens when young people get a camera in their hands!

Performing at the care centre in Limassol

Performing at the care centre in Limassol

Missionaries doing a talent show at the care centre in Limassol

Explanation of this picture from Elder Fleming:

Top row, left to right:
- Sister G. has a great singing voice and once again did not disappoint.
- Elder F. showed off his talent for "skinny-ing" ties.
- Elder Muller tried to bring us all back down to earth by telling us the proper pronunciation of some English words.

Bottom row, left to right:
- Elder C. put his whole soul into his recorder with Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On." (At least that's what we think it was.)
- Elder J. and his squeezebox treated us to a familiar tune from Star Wars.
- Elder Z. played "Name That Tune" with his mini-accordion, which he learned how to play on the Metro in Athens.