Heder Mission Moments: Crete - August 20th, 2015

Hello All,

I thought I'd just pass along some of my impressions of Crete, since I think Lee will send pics of our time there. We went over when we did for multiple reasons. We wanted Brooks to see it before he went back to the States. We wanted to meet and administer the sacrament to a member family, and I wanted my two assistants to come with us to have a chance to proselyte and place some Books of Mormon there.

We accomplished all we set out to do, and then some. Crete is a special place. The pace is more relaxed, the roads all feel like rural or country by-ways. The restaurants and shops are plentiful and open, and there are olive trees literally everywhere--followed closely in number by beaches. I've decided old olive trees are the greatest subject for artistic study ever, and since Lee will go to a beach wherever she can find it, we were both in heaven.

Crete has a rugged mountain range running down it's middle, cut by deep gorges and winding mountain passes between tiny terraced villages. It's an island that has snow on its mountain peaks, and mediterranean blue beaches a few miles away. Wherever you go outside its small cities, when you don't see an olive tree you can usually see a goat. Most often you can see both. Usually, the goats or olive trees are not far from another beautiful seascape either. Some of the most breathtaking beaches we have ever seen are in Crete.

We went there to meet and support/strengthen a wonderful family, the Hollenbacks from Grantsville. They are sweet and generous and were great hosts. Their home overlooks Suda Bay, near Chania (pronounced "hania"), and it was the perfect base of operations as we and the elders ventured every different direction for several days.

We get spoiled so quickly. After seeing something that is so beautiful or so quaint, we are constantly looking for something even more beautiful or more picturesque. Ultimately it meant Lee was wondering off and taking pictures constantly.

It was a beautiful place and will be a sweet memory until we get the chance to go back.

Bill O. Heder

Greece, Athens Mission

Hey there,

Well here it is again getting our Monday letter out on Thursday, doing our best :) Today was a tough day, we had to say good-bye to our boy Brooks this morning as he is headed back to Utah to start the next phase of his life. Soooooo hard to see him go, we have had so much fun hearing all about his mission, meeting some of his investigators (who he is so good to keep in touch with) using him in specialized trainings with our missionaries and seeing some of the wonderful sights of Greece with him. He made smoothies for us everyday and made us laugh. What are we going to do without him?... just be really depressed today and then move on and figure out how to not feel so far away. Thank heavens for FaceTime :)

I may have said this before (but I can't remember) but sometimes I think Heavenly Father sent us to Greece because he knew how much I would appreciate the admire the beauty, it makes me so happy! I realize that when we send pictures of our adventures (P-day's) it makes it look like we went on a major vacation. But I promise we are mission minded 24/7--because even on most P-Days we have on our badges and get to talk to people about the church--but seeing the sights is a welcome time with the kids.

We have seen many interesting things while Brooks has been here and because it would be our last day with Brooks, we spent a great day going back over to Sunio yesterday so we could enjoy Poseidon's Temple with Bill and a picnic at the beach. Greece is just about surrounded by sea, so it is easy to find a beach... but due the quality of sand or rock, or scenery or crowds, etc. make a difference. This time we found a gem that very few people go to, but those that go tend to include some who don't care to wear a suit... so we had to stay in a little cove that we staked out and let "the weirdies" (as Alinda calls the really "european" europeans) stay on the other side of the rocks. It was some of our best snorkeling yet; beautiful clear water makes for amazing visibility.

You might remember me telling you about the 1000 steps that we hiked on a P-Day a few weeks ago to reach an old fortress overlooking the ocean, well yesterday I swam with 1000 fishes. Brooks and I swam through a deep area where lots of little black fish, silver fish, and white fish were coming up from the bottom to the surface and we were swimming through them. It was unbelievable, they were all around us. Good last day with Brooks :) He has had some fun with a GoPro camera over here and last night we watched the movie he made for us to celebrate his time in Greece with us. Good times!

Now he is on a plane to Kansas City to meet his little nephew Henry and see Michael and Sarah and my sister Laur and her family. Then he heads home to Utah where Austin is waiting to be his roommate. They will have fun together :) I mentioned in my last letter that his homecoming talk is Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. 300 E. 500 N., Pleasant Grove for those who want to see him.

Bill was right in his description, Crete is gorgeous and so unique. I am pretty sure the Celestial Kingdom will have some of the beaches of Crete in it. Breathtaking, I found myself saying, "Is this real life?" I loved the little towns and villages, we visited a Monastery that makes their own olive oil, wines and vinegars from their own trees and grapes. The elders actually taught much of the Restoration lesson to the receptionist working at the museum there. I started talking to her and explaining my badge and, as has happened before, it opened a conversation about what is different about this church, which is where the elders came in very handy!

We loved the olive trees and some of them are over 2000 years old. Wow! The sweet couple that lives in Chania loves the paradise they are in but they miss the gospel family that they are used to being a part of. We had a beautiful, small sacrament meeting with them and felt the spirit so strongly through testimony and song, and many lessons were taught without words, through impressions and feelings. We can't wait to go back. The elders we took also had a memorable time as they had the opportunity to make contacts for the first time on the island and get a feel for how the people respond to the message. They had some good discussions and placed several copies of the Book of Mormon.

Back home, we got a chance to do a little clothes shopping with Brooks (since his brothers have taken his wardrobe apart except for his Hawaiian shirts) and we got lost a few times, but thats all in a day of driving in Athens.

School registration is next Monday for the girls. They've been reading up on the rules. It turns out that there are "house points" awarded for good behavior and accomplishments by students from that "house" and there are "demerits" noted for misbehavior and poor performance. Both girls are hoping that the sorting hat puts them in Griffendor. They get demerits for talking in any language besides English during class, for chewing gum and a bunch of other things. Alinda is sure she's going to be the rebel dancing in the halls (which is also a no-no..). She is hoping that when Bill and I show up at registration in our missionary cloths and badges, the school administration will know she is "legit!" We only have a few days of summer freedom for them left, then the challenge will be how to get them to and from school (about 10 minute drive on a good day) each day, while at the same time doing all of our mission stuff.

Hugs, LeeAnn Heder