Cyprus Living

I almost stepped on this little guy as we were on our walk this morning.

I was a little frightened to hold him, but I thought the grand kids would be so proud of me.

 On Preparation Day we went bowling with our zone and celebrated Elder Clack's birthday!

 The Branch had a party for him at our flat that night!

 Nine investigators came with twenty of the members.  It was a full house!

 Our district before the transfers this coming week.

Michelle Wu from mainland China is a recent convert that is getting ready to receive her mission call soon.

 Elder Neville is leaving us soon to serve in Athens.

 Our good friends, Elder and Sister Smith, finished their mission and are gone home now to Utah.  We miss them!

It was our turn to put on the Culture Night for our country.

 What's more American than hot dogs, hamburgers and apple pie?

 It all turned out great, and we even got to brag about the good old US of A.

What a Mission!!!

 It's the little every day things that we love so much, like being with great young missionaries in our district, (Elders Brandenburg and Uhlig)

 and watching them grow. (Elders Clack and Sorg)

 Being one of four senior couples here on the island is always fun, 

 and we never tire of being together.

 Witnessing baptisms, even in another branch 

 and being a part of their Relief Society for the RS Birthday,

 Or in our own branch with the members we love so much!

it is all great.  Here is an after Sunday dinner in our flat shot,

at Zone Conference with the Assistants to the President.

 the sisters from Limassol with dresses a branch sister made for them. (Sisters Werner and McArthur)

 President and Sister Freestone at Zone Conference.  Out the window we saw lots of people lined up trying to get money out of the banks in Nicossia.  Even our account here in Larnaca is frozen.

 Back inside at the Zone Conference all is well as we celebrate Elder Clack and Konietz's birthdays.

 Another thing we love about our mission is how many different activities we have every week.  We got the seminary kids on the island together for a Super Seminary Saturday.

 Kali helps Marios put on the whole armor of God.

 Great youth!  Later that same day we got to go to the airport to meet another senior couple, the Rebers from St. George, Utah.

They were sent here to help with the work and take the place of the Smiths in Paphos who will be leaving, sadly.

 The Church auditors came to church today and over to our flat afterwards for dinner, Elder and Sister Madsen. 

 Great people!!

We can't imagine a better mission for us than right here in Cyprus!

Elder W. Going Home!

One of the hardest things about a mission is saying good bye to those we have grown to love.  Elder Wilderspin is like a son to us.

 One of the very best ever to come to Cyprus!

 We hope he remembers us when he gets back to England and becomes famous....

 It was hard on everyone to see him go. Investigators and 

 members alike, and everyone that came to know his kind and gentle heart,

his funny personality,

 his teaching skills, great stories and his testimony of the Gospel of Jesus Christ,

his great smile and caring spirit.

 We won't ever forget him.

 We decided to take a short trip and forget our cares.

 I found a cat in Lefkara to hug,

 Elder Christensen found a strange lady in a quaint restaurant that we went to with 

 Elder and Sister Watson.

 It was lots of fun to get away with another senior couple for a few hours.

 A few days later we found a beautiful beach in Aiga Napa with President and Sister 

 Ivanov and their cute baby,

 Alexis!

We ended the week today by going to Paphos for branch conference and ran into President Freestone, Elders Matthews and Kopischke.

What a wonderful mission we are privileged to serve.  We love it all!