Εβδομάδα 47: Καλή Χρονιά! 🎉

Think one of my new years resolutions is gonna have to be not turning into an ice cube these next few months because as soon as the sun goes down it is FREEZINGGG!! Especially when we bike by the sea front on a daily... gonna be a long one.

Tuesday and Wednesday were really quick days because we had meetings in the morning and then had to be back in our apartments by 6 for safety reasons for new years. Lucky us we got permission to watch some movies so we had 2 movie nights watching some solid classics, "Remember the Titans" and "Chronicles of Narnia"! So that was way fun just chillin with Sister Venerholm basically having a girls night haha, felt like we were in college.

We found a new friend this week! His name is Youssef and he speaks Arabic so that's super cool. Thankfully he knows English too so we teach him that way. We met him at a Book of Mormon finding activity Wednesday afternoon. He was intrigued by all the languages we had laid out of the Book of Mormon and wanted to know what the big deal was. So we gave him one and told him a few things about it before he had to go but then met him the following day. When we met him again he already had read a good amount of 1st Nephi and came with lots of questions! He takes notes on literally everything we help him understand/teach him, it's great! Since he was raised Muslim, he doesn't have a super deep understanding of the Godhead. It was new news to him that God is our Father and that Christ is His son. A whole new concept to him. But he loved it and said it makes so much more sense! He feels like since he's only know Muslim beliefs, he wasn't able to explore other religions and always felt like there was something missing. He's mostly definitely in the right place finding us ;) It was pretty funny because he gave us a gift because he felt like he needed to give us something after we had given him the Book of Mormon for free and were willing to teach him, and that gift ended up being a huge bottle of wine and a Muslim prayer rug haha. The elders were just laughing at us when they saw what it was because it seems like every investigator we have always gives us something no matter how many times we tell them we don't need gifts and we will willing teach them for free, no strings attached. We are actually really excited about Youssef and his desire to learn and how much he's already addicted to reading the Book of Mormon! If there's s anything to be addicted to this has got be be one of the top things haha.

We tried a few times meeting with a potential investigator name Σοφία, but she hasn't made any appointments. There was one day where we had agreed to meet at 4:30...waited...waited some more... then finally decided after an hour that she wasn't coming. So we continued with our other appointments for the day and than at 6:39 she messages us saying "Είμαι εδώ, που είστε;;" (I'm here, where are you guys??") Uhhh lol we were already off with our other plans, we don't have all day people, we got missionary work to do! That's one thing that I've had to exercise a lot of patience with my entire mission, people not arriving at time. Makes me want to never be late to a single thing in my life again!

Friday was kinda sad because we had to drop one of our investigators, Ussman. His 1st language is Urdu and then he speaks a tiny bit of Greek, enough to communicate at least. So we skyped in the Pakistan Elders in a lesson with him so they could speak in Urdu but Ussman didn't want to show his face. We were a bit confused why but found out the following day when we got an update from the Pakistan elders. Turns out Ussman is Muslim and as much as he wants to learn, he's scared for his life and our lives if he continues to be taught by us and learn about the gospel. As missionaries here, we have really strict rules about teaching people with a Muslim background and aren't allowed to if their lives or families lives are at risk. We have faith that Heavenly Father will take care of him and he will have the opportunity to learn about and accept the gospel to receive all the blessings in store for him one day!

Κυριακή continues to be doing amazing and although the lessons with her can be very long because she loves to tell stories, we can always see the Spirit touching her heart and bringing back remembrance of the things she already knew. She loves everything about the gospel and is sad others don't accept it or don't have it.

I loved our district council this week, so uplifting! We discussed the JOYS of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what our lives would be without it. Thinking about this a few things came to mind. First, I don't think the relationship I have with my family would be so strong. Also, my priorities in life wouldn't be so clear or my standards so high. I wouldn't be HERE doing THIS right now. And I wouldn't know my purpose nor my potential as a daughter of God.
Wow. I am so grateful for the knowledge and truths we have as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to have been born into the covenant and raised by 2 incredibly amazing parents. Every day as I've tried to think about all of the gifts the Lord gives us daily it has made me so so grateful. And now I invite you all think about what you can give the Lord this new year. Write it down! And genuinely try to give more this year to the One who never stops giving to us :)

Ξέρω με όλη την καρδιά μου ότι ο Χριστός ζει. Αυτός είναι ο τρόπος, το φως και η μεγαλύτερη ελπίδα της ζωής μας. Είναι μόνο με αυτόν που μπορούμε να επιστρέφουμε στον ουρανό να ζήσουμε με τον Θεό και τις οικογένειές μας για αιωνιότητα. Επίσης, δεν είναι μόνο Θεός, είναι Πατέρας μας. Δεν είναι μόνο δίκαιος, είναι στοργικός. Του ενδιαφέρει όχι μονο τι κάνουμε, που είμαστε και ποιοι είμαστε, αλλά επίσης (και πιο πολύ!) τι θέλουμε να κάνουμε, που θέλουμε να πάμε και ποιοι θέλουμε να γινόμαστε ΑΙΩΝΙΑ.

LOVE YOU ALL!!

lots of love from Greece,
Sister Gale

PICS!
1-5 Book of Mormon finding activity!
6 NEW YEARS EVE