The City of Athena

Monday, January 28, 2019

Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece

Athens, Greece

Hey, guys! I am finally in GREECE!!!!!! It has been a long five days, and I have loved every minute of it.

MONDAY, January 21st: We went to Yummy's for the last time and said goodbye to D., O., F., and R. They are doing really well, and both R. and D. are doing amazing as recent converts.

TUESDAY, January 22nd: We went to Caritas for the last time, and I got to say goodbye to everyone. I made poor Elder H. do all the paperwork so he knows how to do everything, and I could just chill and talk to people. I left with the Flemings and Elder H. for the airport at 1:30 pm, and it felt just like driving to the airport to leave from home. The Flemings have been my parents in Cyprus for a while now, and I miss them a lot. We met Elder Z. at the airport, and we flew together to Athens. We arrived in the evening and went straight onto the metro (after being dropped off at the church by Elder H.) and went to go meet Elder A. and Elder C. at Monastiraki. We all headed to the Kato Patisia apartment to drop off our luggage and then immediately went out to work. We did a whiteboard activity, and my days, I actually understood like 75% of the conversation. They speak so clearly, but my Greek has gone so far downhill; it's crazy. I am working hard to bring it back though. We also ate gyros that night.

WEDNESDAY, January 23rd: We went to the Friendship Center (LDS Charities' refugee helper place), and I was thrown right into it. I taught basic ABC English to a bunch of refugees, and only four of them understood anything at all. We got to eat a gyro and then went to church (40 minutes or more with the metro if you make every connection...) for leadership training, and then, we went to teach M. with the help of B. They are both from Congo and only speak French, so I enjoyed trying to keep the kids quiet while B. and Elder C. took care of the teaching. We also did another whiteboard activity, and it went well.

THURSDAY, January 24th: We had Zone Conference, and that went very well. I enjoyed it. It was about finding balance. 

FRIDAY, January 25th: We went to an appointment, but the guy we were meeting with was late, so we taught a lady who was by us about the temple and a bunch of stuff. We had a great lesson with the guy and then were able to keep teaching a bunch of people on the street as we went to M.'s house to finalize everything for her baptism the next day. She passed her interviews and was sooo ready. We also helped the Friendship Center to move locations in the morning, and we carried a metal filing cabinet down five stories of stairs.....

SATURDAY, January 26th: We helped a member move her friend into her apartment and played footie with some guys from Congo and a bunch of gypsy kids. I was able to wear my black suit and brown shoes and belt for the first time as well. What was the special occasion? M.'s baptism!!!! It was great, even if I didn't understand very much because the entire thing was in French. We went after the baptism and saw our friend G., who is a Greek guy who knows the missionaries. He was chill, and we had a good time with him. He loooooves America. He wants to try In-and-Out Burger and Burger King and Taco Bell, haha. 

Elder Muller, M., and Elder C.

M's baptism....in a font! Not the Mediterranean Sea!

SUNDAY, January 27th: We went to church and guarded the doors, haha. Our friend didn't come, so we did language study in the lobby while the Greek branch had Sacrament meeting. I was very sad I wasn't able to experience Greek church. We attended Relief Society so Elder C. could translate for M. and C., lol. Our Sacrament meeting in the international branch was good, and I helped the three deacons pass the sacrament—talk about a height difference! 😊 We had interviews with President, and they went well. We had lunch at a member's home and then had a white board that wasn't the best but wasn't the worst either. 

Also, sometime this week during one of the whiteboards, I saw a lady who I thought I recognized. She and her daughter were writing on the whiteboard, and I asked if I knew her. She told me that she knew me, and I was embarrassed to have to ask from where. Turns out, she is the receptionist at the eye doctor I went to in Limassol! She knows Cypriot Dad and Mom, lol!!! Also, the very first person who I spoke to on Tuesday evening for the whiteboard was a Cypriot, lol.

I love you guys and love Athens! Today, we ate and chilled with Elders Z. and B. and went up by the Acropolis.

- Elder Müller


From the Taj Mahal in Cyprus, to being a missionary in Athens! Let the cleaning begin!

Grease on the underside of kitchen cabinet

Same cabinet!

The "After Elder Muller spends 20 minutes
cleaning the underside of the cabinet".

Study Area

Bathroom - hasn't been cleaned yet

Let's get cleaning, boys!

Street Wok

Elders C., Muller, Z., and B.

Lukamades
http://lukumades.com/

Authentic Greek Loukoumades Pastries

Elders Z. (front) and B.


 Exploring the Acropolis Hill:

Elders B. and C.

Elders Muller, Z., B., and C.