"Οταν είστε στην υπηρεσία των συνανθρώπων σας απλώς είστε στην υπηρεσία του Θεού σας."

ΓΕΙΑ

λοιπόν, δεν ξέρω τι να πω απλά να ξέρετε ότι πέρασε μια χαρά η εβδομάδα αυτή!

On Monday we went and had Family home evening with a member and her two younger siblings. Her parents decided to sit in the other room and not join us but we had a good time. Her younger brother who is 14 wants to meet up with us sometime and has the best questions which is awesome!

Tuesday, we had a good day we got to go out and do some service at a place in Greece that was affected by some fires. We helped clean up, it was pretty fun, and it was great to be able to help out.

Wednesday, we had a lesson with Kosta and then to be honest I don't remember what else happened this day. 

Thursday was a great day we got going and had two lessons in the morning with Kosta and Johnny in the park. Then we headed to the church for a Facebook meeting. Then we started an exchange with the APs I got to go with Elder Goodwin and that night we just went out and smashed the finding. We were able to make a lot of friends at Syntagma Square it was super awesome!

Friday we finished off our exchange. In the evening we had a lesson with our friend Athanasios. He is a good guy just a little confused about what religion actually is.

Saturday we had a good finding activity in the evening with the Voice of the Lord survey.

Sunday we had a great Sabbath day I love it every week we are able to have the opportunity to take the sacrament every Sunday and just feel of the spirit. 

Well that was my week. Also this week we got something called the Book of Mormon Challenge here in Europe. It is for 21 days to read the book of Mormon or just a section each day to answer a question. It is great here is the link to check it out and I would invite you all to give it a try! 

https://www.lds.org.uk/the-book-of-mormon?lang=eng-gb

ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΩ

Πρεσβύτερος Χάλβερσον

ΧΡΟΝΙΑ ΠΟΛΛΑ ΚΩΣΤΑ!!!

ΓΕΙΑ!!!!

Well what an interesting week it has certainly been full of the good and the bad but mostly the good.

Tuesday was a day!  We were in Church most of the day getting some training on the Europe Area Presidency's Book of Mormon Challenge. Then also being trained on doing a Self-Reliance course here in Greece. 

Wednesday we met up with Kosta in the morning and had a good lesson. We in the afternoon were just about to head out to the church because we were in charge of the youth Family History Activity. Right as we were leaving the power went out. Turns out they had a black out and the metro by our house was down so we had a nice hot walk to a bus over a mile from our house so we could get to the church. That night we had an awesome lesson with Stephen he is really starting to develop his testimony about the Book of Mormon even though he doesn't see it yet.

Thursday was a very interesting day, we started with Kosta because it was his b-day and while we were with him I was able to teach our friend Johnny about the plan of salvation. He is a huge LEGEND he is so enthusiastic about the gospel and just wants as many "weapons" he can have to fight against evil it is super awesome! Then we later that day were going to check up on our friend Ralph cause he has been super sick for the past couple of years. He recently had given us a key so that we could check up on him if he didn't answer his phone. He hadn't been answering his phone for a couple of days so we thought we would stop by and well lets just say he passed away on Monday, and we spent the rest of that day with the Police but the police officer was super cool and has a girlfriend who lived in Utah for 3 years. So he knew about us and he was just super cool.

Friday, we met up with Kosta again and then we went out and had lunch with Heidi an awesome Filipino member.

Saturday we had another lesson with Kosta and then we went and saw Manolis. In the evening we did again the Voice of the Lord activity and it went well.

Sunday was a great Sabbath, we were able to have a great lesson with the youth. On the way home from church we were able to give out 2 Books of Mormon and we taught a man named John the restoration it was super cool to see how the Lord always places people in your path.

ΑΓΑΠΗ ΜΟΝΟ

Πρεσβύτερος Χάλβερσον

here is a video of Kosta opening his Birthday present

ΔΕΝ ΣΤΑΜΑΤΑΩ!!

ΓΕΙΑ ΣΑΣ!!!

So it was just a great week! I hope all of you had great ones as well.

So last Monday we were able to go and have a meal again with Tasos and Spyros to celebrate the birthday of Tasos. Gogo the branches grandma came and joined us as well we had a good time with a good message.

Then Tuesday, oh man crazy day, so we had a good plan to get everything done and to get our friend Kosta to a clinic for an interview. But when your friend drinks about 5 to many beers your plans change and it takes all day to get to the center ha ha. It was for sure a fun adventures and things are turning for Kosta which is awesome! That night we had a dinner appointment with the Webb family from America/Honduras and helped with Family History it was really cool to be able to help!

Wednesday was the Fall Easter or the death day of Panagia or the Virgin Mary. So nobody was outside it was a bit weird. But that night we were able to go and celebrate at a members house. We had some good Greek food and also were able to have a really good spiritual thought because everyone prepared before hand. We had about 10 people sharing testimonies it was great!

Thursday was another great day and we had yet another meal appointment! It was so weird and crazy by this point we were like man this must be what it feels like to be a Utah missionary ha ha. We are excited to have more time for some good 'ole finding.

Friday we had a meeting with our investigator Stephen and it went really well. He is searching for an answer on the Book of Mormon and we were able to watch President Nelson's talk on the Book of Mormon and discuss it. It was amazing! Then we met up with Manolis. It has been a while since I saw him last but he is still doing great! That night we did some good finding and made a lot of good friends with our new finding activity. It is kinda just like a quick survey on the Book of Mormon it is cool. 

Saturday was yet another busy day. We had a meeting with a former investigator in the morning and then right after had a meeting with a less-active. We had both meetings in the mall by our house. Right after we hear someone calling out "Elders"we thought we were hearing things because that wouldn't ever happen where we were but it turns out we ran into some members out here in the outskirts of Athens fun stuff. Afterwords met with our investigator named Awesome (yes that is actually his name) he is a cool guy and really knows that bible and agrees with a lot of stuff that we say and also has other views but overall really cool guy. 

Then Sunday was just a good sabbath day! 

I love the Lord and I love His work!

ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΩ,

Πρεβύτερος Χάλβερσον

P.S. sorry no pics this week.

ΑΘΗΝΑ ΠΑΛΙ!!!

ΓΕΙΑ!!!

ΤΙ ΩΡΑΙΑ ΕΒΔΟΜΑΔΑ!!!! 

So last Monday evening I was able to go to FHE for one last time and see Dimitris and Brother Matrapazis. I really will miss them a lot but it was a good last time with them!

Tuesday was a crazy day, we headed out first thing in the morning for the airport to head to Athens! it was a great day we got there and they had a meal all prepared for us. So we went and ate then we had interviews with President. After interviews me and Elder Balser prepared for Zone Conference.

Wednesday we had Zone Conference it was awesome! Me and Elder Balser talked about receiving revelation and how that means we must qualify for the Holy Ghost it went well. After Zone Conference we headed and went out with the youth is was cool we had a good time in Syntagma.

Thursday we had a busy day, I was able to meet our investigator Kostas who used to live in America but since his mom passed away he moved to Greece. He is a really awesome guy and he loves the message that we give him it is so cool. Then we had some meetings at the church. In the evening I was able to meet Steven our other investigator who is searching for his answer if the Book of Mormon is true and that is also just really cool.

Friday, was a good day. We met up with Kostas again and also with Micheal a less active member, he is a great guy. We went for a meal with Tasos and Spyros they are members of the Greek branch and good guys. They gave us some good food. That night was great! We went to play soccer in this hidden field with one of our investigators. It had a dirt track and one of our investigators friends asked if anyone wanted to run. So I got to do some missionary work while running! It was so sick!

Saturday was a good day, we had a Baptism in Athens the sisters' investigator and her son were baptized it was such a cool experience, the spirit was there and it was very cool. 

Sunday was great, we in the evening went out and tried out a new finding technique with a survey that President Anderson wanted us to try. It went alright but we now know how to make it better so I don't have to talk with a crazy guy for 30 minutes next time, I think I said I had to run about 15 different times during the conversation but he just kept following me it was so weird. 

But that was my week amazing and so full of amazing blessings! I love the work!

ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΑΩ

Πρεσβύτερος Χάλβερσον

Me and Dimitris

Me and Elder Nelson at Zone Conference

Me and Elder Balser teaching at Zone Conference

LAST WEEK IN THESS

Hello to All!

Well what a great week!

I am sorry but I don't remember at all when happened on Tuesday it was a great day though for sure it just disappeared.

Wednesday we were going out in the morning to do some service. We starting talking to this guys and he starting asking lots of questions about the church. At the end he is like well I would love it if you guys could help me out cleaning up parks and stuff so we said yes! We ended the day by finishing off the painting at our neighbors house!

Thursday we went and helped out our new friend Nikos at the park and it was good. He even invited us to come to his house so that we could talk we are excited! Then we went up to Dimitris house with Elder Carroll and were able to have a good lesson it is cool to see the spirit work on him slowly slowly. 

Friday we went up and helped out Dimitris at his house - or really we were able to help his mom with work in the yard. It was awesome. Then we went and visited Brother Matrapazis one last time I am going to miss my big guy. Then we had a meal at Brother Todi's house with Dimitris it went great!

Then Saturday we helped out our friends at the Laiki and then went and visited Vasilios in the evening it was great.

Sunday was a great fast Sunday. We had a great church service and we were able to meet up with the Stilos in the afternoon, it was great. Then we visited our neighbor Marina she is amazing. We were able to give her a book of Mormon and she will be coming to church next Sunday. It is so amazing to see how service can open hearts!

Today has been a good day, a lot of packing, but I also found a store that sells some American goods and so we had a good time exploring there!

I have loved my time here in Thessaloniki sad to be leaving but excited for the adventures ahead, God is really in our lives!

Love,

Elder Halverson(Sorry Greek keyboard broke)

ΑΛΒΑΝΙΑ!!!

ΓΕΙΑ ΣΑΣ!!

Wow what a great week!

Tuesday and Wednesday were interesting days as in all of our plans went away. But then it all seemed to work out perfectly and we were able to meet with Marina and her family and teach Dimitris a lesson out of the Book of Mormon. It was just great days led by the spirit. Oh yeah and I got bit by a dog one of these days while running along the beach don't worry nothing to bad but good memories!

Thursday was fun I took off in the morning and was able to spend some time in Athens helping out there at the church. I was able to help Elder Goodwin teach a lesson to their investigator is was really cool. That night we headed out to Albania. When we got there then they split us all up and we did some finding. I just have to say it is nice to be able to speak with people in a language you actually know.

Friday was MLC. It was great and so interesting to see the differences between the people of the countries. That evening we attended a musical fireside put on by the missionaries. It was amazing. I didn't understand anything but felt the spirit it was cool.

Saturday was a good day, we got up way early and played some ultimate Frisbee it was pretty sweet. We had a good morning and President took us all out to lunch then we headed for home. I got home at like 11pm so that was fun. I had to fly back trough Athens so a lot of back and forth.

Sunday was a great sabbath. Man I love the sacrament every week. We as missionaries got to teach the 5th Sunday lesson and it was just an awesome day at church!

Today I went around Thess for my last p-day and visited all of the sites I see everyday, like the white tower, it was cool and a good last p-day in Thess!

ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΑΩ!!!!!

Πρεσβύτερος Χάλβερσον

Pics:

Painting break with Elder Forsey and Dimitrios 

 Albania and Athens

 Today

 

ΒΑΨΙΜΟ!

ΓΕΙΑ!

So lets see how did my week go? Oh well as always it was great! Hard but great!

So last Tuesday we met up an played basketball with Dimitris and then had a lesson about Faith and Repentance. He asked us a few questions about the WoW. Then we had District Meeting and we watched President Nelson's youth devotional from a little bit ago. Wow it was amazing! That night we were able to visit the Branch President and his family it was really nice. They are such a cool family. 

Wednesday we had a good day helping out at the warehouse. We were also able to go and see Brother Matrapazis that afternoon. He is out of the hospital. It was good to see him at home again. That evening we had a lesson with Dimitris on the WoW again with the Carrolls. It was an awesome lesson and the spirit was strong!

Thursday was good. We got a call from Dimitris in the morning and he asked for help painting a friend house. So we dropped our planning and headed over, met an amazing family, and helped paint their house! Then in the evening we were able to visit the Stilo Family. We worked on some Family History so that they can take names as they work towards the temple. 

Friday was great we went by again and painted the house some more. In the evening we went by and visited Basilios, taught English, and then visited Jimmy. We were able to talk about our church and wow he had so many questions. They were all so awesome and had good answers!

So Saturday we went back and helped out our friends at the Laiki. They told us they were going to come pick us up one day to take us to their house! We also continued with some painting, then gave brother Matrapazis a haircut, and taught English again. We were able to have good conversations about why we are members of the church. That night we were able to have a good night and cook with our investigator Haralambos. It was so awesome he just kinda opened up and accepted everything we said in the situation. It was so cool! Oh yeah I also got my transfer call. I will be going back down to Athens to be ZL with Elder Balser. I get to travel to Albania this week!

Sunday was just a good Sabbath day! I love the opportunity every week to take from the Sacrament. It is such a great experience every week. It is something that I look forward to as I don't need to feel hopeless because I can overcome anything with Jesus Christ by my side!

Update: Dimitris unfortunately isn't ready to give up coffee so his date has been moved to the 12th of August. 

Today we had a good day we went around and hung out and bought some jerseys for our soccer teams here in Thess.

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ΣΑΣ ΑΓΑΠΑΩ!

Πρεσβύτερος Χάλβερσον