Tender mercies of the Lord

We've had a good week overall. It was interesting because it was a week of some change. It didn't go at all as planned. Then again, when does it go like planned? xD It started out quite difficult because we just couldn't manage to meet with the people that we wanted to. They were all busy, out of town, sick, or otherwise not interested anymore or unreliable. It was quite hard on me, and by Wednesday I was honestly discouraged. It wasn't too great.

Eating Giant Gyros on P-day. Elder Kopischke (right) had two!!!

Soldiers and Dinners

This has been a wonderful and also very eventful week. There is much to tell and not enough space to do so. I would like to share some very beautiful experiences I had with the Lord's influence in the work that we do this week. He does guide this work.. I know that and I've seen it again many times this week.

The guards at Syntagma, we saw them last Monday.

Last Monday evening we had family home evening in church and Karim, a member, who always comes didn't show up until late. So we were wondering what had happened to him. When he turned up he shared a miracle that had happened to him. He had been on his way here when he ran into a man we'd taught together and they started talking on the street for a little bit when the police suddenly showed up. The thing is that Karim has no papers. This meant that he was naturally very nervous. So the police started asking them questions and then seeing Karim's scripture bag they asked him to show it to them. They took out his beautiful new quad he has and when they saw it they seemed impressed and looked at him and said: "you are a good kid, be along your way." Then they just let them go and left as well! I know that was the Lord's influence protecting him so he can have the chance to go on a mission. (He is preparing at this time to go and serve.)

General Conference

I look back on last week with mixed feelings... We had a lot of people cancel on us in the last minute and/or change the appointment on short notice. This caused us to have to change plans on the fly and try to figure out how to still be able to meet up with these people as they really need our message and everything we can offer. Sometimes it is sad when people don't realize or even when they realize what they reject. The life of a missionary in the footsteps of Paul can be tough...

Jacob (whom we're teaching) and Elder Reading at church

Translators on the Loose

This week was very wonderful. We had a lot to do, many people to teach and as the icing on the cake we had a baptism on Saturday and I got to participate in the translation of General Conference into Greek. This was a great and wonderful opportunity. I'm so grateful for that opportunity that I had to do such a service for the Greek Saints and also to have such a wonderful learning opportunity.

Richard from Ghana was baptized on Saturday and he got confirmed on Sunday in church.

Elder Reading and Elder Stevens 

Athens, the Sleepless

We had a very good first week in Athens. I loved it. We were busy from the first night. Hardly finished with the training on Wednesday we had the great opportunity to go visit Karim (member) for a small lesson and we did a little contacting by the way. Elder Uhlig's first contacting and teaching experiences. I think he liked it a lot. The first person he spoke to was a little lady and he just jumped in front of her and said "hello, do you know the Book of Mormon?" Naturally she was quite scared and scurried off very quickly xD. He took it well and after some helpful tips it went quite well after that and we got our first name that evening. xD

Mars Hill (Acts 17) on Elder Uhlig's first night.