GOODBYE!  This was a sad week as we said goodbye to 3 sister missionaries and one senior couple.  It will be very strange not have them here since they were here before we were and we have loved seeing and working with them.

Elder & Sis. Malzel are on the far right. They are from Austria.

Sisters Mueller, Deeley and McKenna are heading home to new lives.  They are special sisters that we have grown to love.  They say they will come visit us in Utah and we are hoping they will.

We had a fun zone outing and went up to the Troodos mountains to some cooler weather.  We visited a couple of monasteries there.  One has been there since the 700's.  

We hiked up to a couple of waterfalls which were beautiful.  Not quite Bridal Veil Falls, but nice just the same..

Said goodbye to this wonderful family from Tazmania.  I think I've mentioned them before.  Bro. Rogers served here 20 years ago and brought his family here for a 4-month vacation.  They added so much to the branch and the missionary work while they were here.  They will be greatly missed.  They not only visited but worked and served each Sunday they were here by teaching Sunday School, Primary and Priesthood lessons.

Attended the wedding of Rosalie & Stephen.  Rosalie lives and works here and Stephen just moved here from England.  It will be good to have another 'family' here on the island.

Today, Sunday, we got to go visit Jacob across the boarder on the Turkey side of Nicosia.  Once again, we were so impressed with this young man.  It was the Bingham's last time as they go home on Monday, the 17th.  Very emotional as they have been seeing him monthly for 18 months.  He is going to try to make it over for General Conference in October and luckily the Binghams will be there to help him with everything.  Someday we expect him to be in a leadership position in Nigeria or someplace - he is just that kind of person!

Hope everyone is well and doing good.

Kalamera

Great Week!  This has been an amazing week.  We started out with zone conference here in Larnaka with a visiting authority, Elder Dykes, from the area presidency.  Fantastic is all I can say.  He and his wife taught us so very much.  His emphasis was on "applying" what we learn.  How we will apply what we learn on Sunday to the rest of our week?  How will we 'apply' what we read in the scriptures to the rest of our life?  How can we 'apply' living and sharing the gospel with those we meet?  Much food for thought.  He also stressed the importance of attending Sacrament Meeting.  There is a real emphases being placed on church attendance, especially Sacrament meeting and I can see why.  This is were we re-covenant and start new for the week.  It is were we make amends with the Lord and repent.  We thank Him for the blessings and tender mercies He has given us.  He also mentioned the common phrase:  I can or we can do 'hard' things.  He tweaked it a little to say:  Choose to do hard things.   It teaches me that I need to be willing to do before I'm asked not just do when I am asked.  Choose to take the more difficult road or path or choice.  I think that separates true believers and followers from the rest of us.  This will take a lot of courage and time to perfect, if ever.

Elder Dykes

President Heder 

Our Sacrament meeting today felt like the United Nations and we had a whopping 53 in attendance - almost a record (56).  We had to keep setting up chairs and finding more hymn books.  It was wonderful to have so many there.  Even with the confusion and little ones running around, it was great.  We had a family of 5 from Bulgaria come and stay the entire time.  They are coming to English class this week and said they really like the feeling in our church.

Below is a picture of Pres. Jacobsen's Sunday School class.  He had some Philippino sailors come.  They loved the meetings and stayed for the entire block.  One of them actually has a brother who is a member.  They were only here for this week but gave all their information so the elders can forward it on to the missionaries where they live.  They all said they wanted to hear more.  :)

Elder Lyttle (left) goes home tomorrow to Scotland.  Great Missionary.  Also pictured are Pres. Bingham and Elder Dastrup

Same group but with Sis. Bingham.

Went to a fun art exhibit entitle: A Sack of Clay.

Very interesting.

Just thought I'd throw this picture in of an egg on toast.  Have you ever seen a yolk that golden?  The picture really doesn't do it justice. Trust me - the brightest yolk ever!

Hope you all had a great weekend and that the week ahead is good.  Think of someone to share the gospel with - even if it is yourself!

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!!