Eβδομάδα 56: "our bodies are like a tree!"... ?!?!

Καθαρή Δευτέρα (clean Monday)... another random holiday in Greece. All the shops were closed up and instead people were out flying kites! Kinda random right? Well it represents 1) the resurrection of Jesus Christ and 2) in hope that our prayers are reaching to the heavens. It always seems like there's some deeper meaning to these celebrations and it's pretty cool.

Talk about findinggg because that's literally all we did all week long. Tuesday was actually bearable tho because the zone leaders came up to Thess for exchanges and we had all us 8 missionaries together for a Book of Mormon/ whiteboard activity   along the sea. That was fun. Plus mother nature flipped a switch and we hit the low 70s... wowza is that a blessing because I was about done with the cooler weather. Anyways, we were out talking to people from the end of district council at 2:30 till the end the day so we talked to a ton of people. Youssef joined us and honestly I wish he could get baptized right now because this guy is killer when it comes to talking to people. Plus all the Arabic people we come in contact with he just picks right up with in his native tongue which is 10Xs better than the google translate convos us missionaries would be doing otherwise. I think I'm so used to people calling us a heiracy nowadays to where it doesn't even bug me...well sometimes. I'm at a point where I don't even feel like continuing the discussion with them that 9 outta 10 times leads to no where. So I just tell them we are only here to invite people to hear a message we know has blessed our lives, and we only want to share that joy we have with them. Then they can accept or reject and then its onto the next person. We haven't found a new friend to teach in ages but we sure are giving our best efforts. And it ain't just with Sister Ahlström and I but the elders too. It's been rough and it's really hard to not get discouraged but we feel like right now we're in "planting season" where we just have to talk to every single person and plant the seeds in their hearts and then "harvest season" will come (hopefully) soonish where people will want to learn and be taught. My favorite missionary activity hands down is teaching and since we aren't as much as I'd personally like to be it's been hard. But I've been working on having patience and I know this is one of the ways the Lord is testing me and allowing me to have faith in Him. Since ultimately it's Him we are serving and His kingdom we are building and strengthening.

We did get into a conversation with these 2 guys our age when they actually stopped us as we were walking to out bikes about to head home. Honestly I couldn't figure out what their intentions were because they kept with the convo we led but first they asked where we were from and when I told em I was from the states they looked at me confused and asked if I was Polynesian or something else because I didn't look white. And then they kept saying "you are very beautiful, very very beautiful." Lol. This kinda thing happens way more than it should and I'm glad I'm always with companions haha. Also think I might just tell people I'm Polynesian from now on because it's easier than getting more questions and explanation, plus the boot has always fit and no one questions it. Sis A rerouted the convo and asked em some questions, some deeper than others, but something to make them think. One of which was what they desire in their lives. Their answers consisted of beer, money, fancy car, big house, etc... all worldly things. Aka all temporal happiness. We told them those things wouldn't last them long nor bring them the happiness they think they want and they actually agreed. But they didn't know what could bring them real, pure happiness because that's all they knew. We told em our purpose here and they found it fascinating that although we were all the same age, we were doing literally polar opposite things in life and they acknowledged it. They were, I guess you could put it as "stuck" in in their lives and didn't really know what they were doing. We shared what we desired and invited them to do something that would improve their lives and make them a better person in general. Whether that's strengthening their relationships with their family, or serving someone, but just something other than what they were headed towards right now. They agreed and said they might join us for fútbol we invited em to. So maybe we'll see em again.

We've also been on the hunt for some less-actives we have addresses for but no missionary nor member here has ever heard about them nor had any contact with em. One day we spent a whole 40 minutes biking out to this lady's address, knocked her entire 5 story building for 1 1/2 hours, and didn't even find her. I was praying for a miracle that someone would know her but no one had even heard her name. So that was sad. I wouldn't say it was a complete waste of time tho because it was basically doing door knocking finding since everyone wondered why the heck 2 foreigners were looking for an old greek lady so at least now that whole apartment complex knows the church exists haha. Another day right before we were about to head out it started down pouring hard core and Sister Ahlström looked at me, very not excited, asking, "so you got a plan B Sister Gale?" And me, being super excited to go out since I love rain storms, smiled and said, "welp you can use the umbrella!" We got out, and since the streets were flooded, we couldn't bike so walked the 20 min bike ride route and to our luck Χρυσούλα was home. Nothing has really changed since the last time when Sister Vennerholm and I visited her. She was baptized 30 years ago and hasn't been active in 30 years. Sis A asked if she wanted us to continue to visit her if she didn't want to change as well as told her we could be doing other things as missionaries if she really didn't want us there. So Χρυσούλα told us no she didn't want us to come back. So uhhhhh.... that was not exactly how I woulda have gone about the situation but Sis A took charge and now it looks like we won't be seeing her. After leaving Sis A had asked me if we should just ask her if she wants her records removed because then missionaries won't continue to visit her and it was an interesting conversation that we don't see eye to eye on. I never want to be an influence on someone's decision to leave the church. I'm a missionary! My soul purpose is to "invite others to come unto Christ by helping them RECEIVE the restored gospel!" I understand she may have a hard heart and not want to change right now but that doesn't mean in the future she can't change her mind. There's hope for everyone no matter what their life choices are currently.

We were over at the Stillos' on Friday when Jhoe called me telling me he was able to get off the boat and was in Thessaloniki. And he wanted to meet us so he could be given a Book of Mormon like we had been continually teaching and testifying of. So we wrapped up our visit and booked it over real quick to go meet him. We didn't have any Bisaya copies of the Book of Mormon because they are all in Cyprus at the moment, but Jhoe said he could mostly understand Tagalog as well and gladly accepted that. So that'll have to do until either we get a Bisaya version on our hands or he returns home and meets the elders there. He even brought a friend along who also wanted his own copy! We didn't have time to visit with Jhoe since we had an MLC meeting we had to attend so it was a quick drop off, say hi, and off we were. It has honestly been such a fun, memorable experience with all the little miracles that have been taking place in the process of helping Jhoe learn about the restored gospel. His energy, excitement, and gratitude for all the things he is learning makes my heart really happy. The Filipino people are by far some of the most friendly, warm-hearted people I have met on my mission and I am grateful for the opportunities I've had to work so closely with them all the way in Greece! The next day we had a lesson with him and taught him about the Word of Wisdom. He's on board with everything and even compared it to growing a tree haha. He goes, "our bodies are like a tree. You can't grow a tree by giving it alcohol, tea, coffee, and drugs. You can only give it water! That is why I only drink water." I mean hey, whatever logic he's got it works! Found out later that he had arrange for friends to cover his shift and whatnot on the ship to get on land because of how much he wanted to have his own copy of the Book of Mormon. Now he's been reading it daily and updating me on things he is learning about good ole Nephi!

Some fun things:

1 So the missionaries were in charge of a musical number on Sunday and we were practicing this week and ended up singing a ton of random hymns together. District unity right? Welp Elder Blackhurst and I convinced our entire district to sing the Star Spangled Banner even tho the foreigners were all really resistant to sing an "American hymn". So that's Switzerland, Germany, England, and Sweden all representing the good ole US of A haha. 

2 Thursday night we're in our apartment after 9 and someone buzzed our door. We were both confused who'd be at our place this late but Sis A lets em up and its a pizza delivery??? Uhhhh hahaha?! Turns out Heidi, a Filipino member in Athens who LOVES the missionaries, sent us a pizza for her "Pizza Thursdays" as she calls it. SO random and SO unexpected haha, she's pretty funny. 

3 We've been loving the fruit trees around our place, especially the fresh grapefruit we get to pick!

4 The sister who normally conducts music on Sunday wasn't there so President Tanto has his 9 year old daughter lead us

5 Riots in the center kept everyone in lockdown at the church after our linger linger. We all watched out the window as crowds were chanting and lighting off handmade bombs across from the line of police decked out in their shields and gas masks. Made for an interesting Sunday. 

Just thought I'd share a quote I've thought a lot about this week! "God does not begin by asking our ability, only our availability, and if we prove our dependability, He will increase our capability." By Neal A Maxwell. I love it because it is so true, we have to make ourselves available to the Lord so that He can ask us to help Him with whatever He may need. As we make ourselves available, He will then make us capable to do whatever he asks of us! The Lord needs each of us so I hope we all will strive our best to make ourselves available and dependable! 

Think that's enough to sum up another week of mission life here for y'all! Hope you have a great week! Σας αγαπώ!

Love,
Αδελφή Γκεϊλ

PICS!

1 Taking our shift on keeping the poster and board from blowing away during our finding activity 

2 Jhoe's finally got a Book of Mormon! 

3 linger longer

4 front row seats to Sunday's riot