Heder Mission Moments: Cape Gkreko in Ayia Napa Cyprus

We spent several days last week in Cyprus for a Coordinating Council meeting with Elder Christopher Charles, our area 70, and then Church on Sunday. It's been a little while since we'd been able to go to Cyprus, (actually only a couple of weeks, but it always feels like longer when we're missing the missionaries). It was a good opportunity to meet with the Senior Couples on the island and to enjoy Elder and Sister Charles again. They're very sweet people and it's always a great experience to be with them.

We went part of a day early so we could see a little more of Cyprus. We had wanted to see a place called Cape Greco; a rugged inlet on the South East end of Cyprus where a volcanic shoreline is being pounded by the sea. Standing up on the rocks above the surf and looking out, you are on the closest land mass off the coast of Lebanon.

Anyway, we took pictures of the surf smashing into the rocks, and were having a great time. Then LeeAnn turned her back to the surf so we could take some pictures of her. She and I travel in missionary dress, and we hadn't had an opportunity to change yet since getting off the plane, so... as she stood there in her dress clothes, a large swell rolled in and crashed into the rocks behind and below her, sending a huge spray of water up. She couldn't know it was coming. She was just smiling for the picture, but a wall of white spray welled up behind her and she suddenly found herself in the Splash Zone at Sea World. It drenched her from top to bottom. It was awesome! She loved it!

It could have been tragic for some folks, but she loved it. A few minutes and miles later, down the coast, she changed into water gear and we were ready to snorkel--so no harm done.

In the Coordinating Council we discussed the importance of truly keeping the Sabbath Day holy, and it was a great opportunity for me to re-evaluate how I've regarded that day and what I can do to make it a sign of my relationship with my Heavenly Father. The following day, in Church in Nicosia we got to meet the saints there for the first time and enjoy a beautiful meeting with them. The Senior Couple there is working so hard to love and minister to the people, and it shows. It's amazing what good a couple of real converted saints can do in a struggling branch!

I came back to Athens that evening just so thankful for the missionaries! You can hardly get anywhere close to this work without feeling the enormity of it and the miracles that accompany it. It's really a daily thing to have missionaries telling me (by phone or letter) of another small (or not small) instance where the hand of the Lord was evident in their missionary work. It's just wonderful.

Take care,

Bill O. Heder

Greece, Athens Mission

Hello Family,

While all of you were enjoying conference we were in Cyprus having meetings with our senior couples and then a specialized training for all the branch leaders on Spiritual and Temporal Self Reliance. Our best language missionaries were up until 2 am translating the talks into Greek, this is after they have reviewed the talks in writing but have to watch for any changes during the live broadcast. Then they are sent to SLC where it is approved and we get to watch this weekend. Sunday evening we did listen to your Sunday morning session online. It was wonderful, I love our dear prophet Pres. Monson and he taught with such loving kindness. He actually looked better and spoke more clearly than when Bill and I saw and listened to him in the MTC in June. He doesn't even need to say anything, you just feel his goodness and love for the Lord. I love his example.

So many more great things felt from spoken and unspoken messages, can't wait to hear them all.

I was wandering down the street heading to the grocery store and I saw a hair salon and decided to go check it out, I have needed a trim for sometime but been nervous where to go etc. They were nice and I glanced around the salon and saw a gentleman that seemed to know what he was doing and asked if I could make an appt. with him (Spiros) to cut my hair. Well today was the day and with the little english that he spoke I somehow told him what I wanted :) mostly sign language and then he went to town. He did only the hair cut, another gentlemen washed my hair, they he cut it, and another lady blow dried it and then he came again with these crazy ninja scissor sips, flipping and spinning his scissors around. It was really unlike any cut I have ever had but I think it is good, you can never tell for sure until you do it yourself. As long as I still have hair on my head I was good.

What does it mean when you have lots of little packages of kleenex tissues in your car and clean windows? Well it means that every time you stop at a stop sign there are many people wanting to sell you something or wash your windows. Yesterday a guy dressed up like a mime was entertaining many drivers at a crazy intersection and then held out his hat as he danced past us on the street.

Back to school night was unique but good, as I got to the reception hall all I could hear were parents speaking Greek to each other and I became a bit worried. But they had a nice presentation on the school and introduced the teachers etc. The girls teachers are amazing, I was so impressed and two of their teachers are actually from the states enjoying the experience of living abroad. During a couple of the class presentations I sat by a very nice lady who just moved here from Israel, her husband is the Ambassador to Holland and as we walked out to the parking lot together they had a car waiting up front with their driver and a couple of body guards or something. I got home and asked President Bill (who was at meetings all evening) why I didn't have body guards and a limo pick me up. Ha ! Our assistants have helped chauffeur us around a lot in the last three months and we are grateful to them.

Coming back from a morning jog yesterday morning (I love exploring the hills of Filothei when I get a chance, so many big pine and cyprus trees etc.) guess who met me on the front steps ? Our tortoise friend Tommy, I knew it was him because of the superman sign on his back with a big T in the middle, that Brooks had tattooed on him with a black sharpie. I hand fed him some tomato and apple pieces and then helped him down the steps to the lawn. Turtles are the pets to have.

Lots of love, LeeAnn