Sunday, July 26, 2015

WE HAD A BAPTISM!!!

Yes, it's true but let me back up to the first of the week.  I'm not sure I posted pictures of this momentous occasion but we FINALLY got our official visas.  It has only take 9 months and numerous trips back and forth to Nicosia and a little legal help, but the visas came.  And guess what?? we get to renew them in 3 months!!!.    Crazy how the system works here but we are grateful to have them.

Every morning when I go down to the seaside I meet this cute lady and we walk together.  Her name is Comfort.  She is originally from Nigeria but came to Cyprus from England.  She was a midwife for 30 years and now lives here with her daughter and grandson.  She is so friendly and fun to talk with.



I'm just learning her amazing story.

  

On Friday we went to Limassol on mission business and had lunch with our good friends the Binghams.  They go home next month and we will truly miss them.  Limassol is quite the tourist port and they are reconstructing their marina. 

This past Saturday we had a baptism for the Larnaca branch.  His name is Pavlos.  He is Cypriot with two little children.  He is so humble and we are so excited to have him in the gospel and in our branch.  He was baptized in the Mediterranean Sea.  It is quite a historical moment because as far as we know it is the first time a Cypriot has baptized another Cypriot.  So glad we were part of it.  Thanks so much for all your prayers and fasting.  I know they played a big part in this!


Elder Dixon, Elder Teal, Pavlos & Pantyotis




Walking out.  The extra fellow is an investigator that wanted to really see what was happening  WE are hoping he is next.


Pavlos was confirmed in Sacrament meeting today and looked to happy!

The Lord has truly blessed us and answered prayers.  Sometimes He  makes us wait and work a little harder but that only makes the answers that much sweeter and that more appreciated.

Have a great week coming up and as someone dear to me said:  LOVE YOUR WAY!!


  





Sunday, July 19, 2015

Well, it's Sunday night and time to wind down.  It has been a good week.  We started off on Tuesday with some service at the chapel.  The driveway and parking area were horrible and needed some sprucing up - so we met the elders and sisters and did a clean up project that transformed the area.

Sisters Linekar & Indelicato


Elder Dixon


Elder Teal being photobombed by Sis. Linekar

 Now that is one clean drive - wish I had a before pic.


Pres. Heder teaching us.


Sister Heder

The Elders learning.


The sisters eating.




Elder Lyttle and Alex. Alex is the  newest member of the Church in Cyprus.  Baptized in Nicosia on Saturday.

Been a great week - talked to family and was glad to hear the girls survived Girls Camp and Pioneer Trek.  Getting to face time them is the highlight of our week.  The grandkids are getting so big!  Hope they remember us when we get home.  WE really appreciate all they are doing for us while we are gone and making it possible for us to serve.



Sunday, July 12, 2015

HALF WAY!!!!!!!

Can you believe that we are half way through our mission??  Where has the time gone???   We can still remember getting off the airplane after 26 hours, lost luggage, driving on the wrong side of the road and being totally clueless to communicate.

Well, it is 9 months later, we can both drive on the left side of the road, we have everything we need, Bill can communicate a little (me no at all) and we LOVE being here.  What an adventure it has been - we have learned so much and know that we have lots and lots still to learn.  We are grateful to a loving Heavenly Father who is so patient and understanding.


This was in preparation for our game night for FHE.  Can you put all the books in the Book of Mormon in order? and stack them faster than the other team?





 FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!!


No words necessary!


Elders Dixon & Teal.  Elder Teal had a mishap on his bike. Luckily the injuries were minor!  An answer to prayers the whole way we were driving to pick them up.  We ended up taking him to the hospital and it was totally night and day different from the one we took Sis. Deely to earlier (THANK GOODNESS!)  This one actually looked and functioned as a hospital.  Haven't seen the bill yet and that may change where we go next time.

Today was a long day and it isn't over yet.  We spoke in the Pafos Branch, stopped by the Limassol branch, are white boarding with the missionaries, teaching Seminary and meeting with the District President - all in a day's work.  We love keeping busy and working with these great people.

Today we spoke about Pioneers and Faith.  How grateful we are for the legacy that has been given to us. The sacrifice and effort given to the work and glory of God.  May we each day strive to do a little better and be a little better.  Love you all!!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

The past week was great but we don't have a lot of pictures to show for it.  Probably the highlight of the week was meeting our new Mission President - Pres. Heder and his family.  He has brought his two teenage daughters with him and the whole family is delightful.


The Heders are originally from SLC but currently live in Pleasanst Grove, UT. He is an attorney which may come in handy during his time in Greece.  They have 4 other children, all boys.  The two oldest are married and away at graduate schools, Austin Heder is playing football at BYU and Brooks  Heder gets off his mission to Mexico in two weeks and will come here for a month before going back home and attend BYU.  We feel blessed to have them in our mission and look forward to wonderful times ahead.


We had a little 'meet and greet' at the chapel when they flew in prior to meeting with all the missionaries on the island.  I picked up some flowers to brighten the room (Bill couldn't understand why) but they were lovely (at least I thought so).  The poor family was functioning on very little sleep, jet lag and pure culture shock.   They were heading on the next day to do the same thing in northern Greece, Thessoliniki.  I'm sure by the time Sunday came around they were all exhausted.


The sister missionaries kidnapped my phone again but they always leave such sweet selfies =


These two sisters go home in August and will be dearly missed.  They are working hard right up to the end and chances are very good they will have multiple baptisms before they leave.  I hope I didn't just jinx them!?!?!

Whiteboarding down at the seaside.

Sis. Indelicatro and Panyiotis passing out cards.

Elder Jacobsen and Sis. Linekar


FAMILIES ARE FOREVER!