Heder Mission Moments: Cyprus

Hello Family and Friends, (this was written on Monday)

Last night was an interesting experience for me. Before the mission I knew that I would not be
around for many of the events that my boys at home would be involved with, like Brooks homecoming talk and Austin's football games etc. I knew that it would be hard but until last night when I was sitting on the couch during the sacrament meeting that Brooks was speaking at back in our home ward (pause, I had to go get some kleenex) that it would be that hard. One of those moments when your heart doesn't understand but your spirit is telling you it will be OK. I was pondering and praying for my son and thinking back on moments we had shared together where we had either laughed together during a fun moment or talked sincerely about something he was concerned about in his life. It was a sweet experience but not an easy one. I did pull it all together and after Bill took a nap and the girls watched a movie and then we were able to face time with everyone that came to see Brooks. (Even though it was 1 am here) I then appreciated more than ever what it means to have friends and family that will step in and do what you are not there to do, and they ( YOU ) were amazing and made Brooks feel welcomed home and you celebrated his service as a missionary. Thank you to all of you that were able to be there, and that took salads or cookies over, I hope I can someday repay the favor. Speaking of cookies I really wish I could figure out a way to take some to my neighbors. Everyone here has gated yards and so you can't just knock on their door. I will figure out a way, maybe yelling over the fence, "Hey neighbor, how about some cookies" ( in Greek of course) and then just toss the cookies over the fence by the plate full.

We were in Cyprus for three days last week and I was able to sit and talk with the missionaries as President Heder interviewed their companions after all the training was done. They are so great and so diligent. We talked about stretching ourselves and doing hard things, things we didn't think we could ever do ( learn to speak Greek etc.) How it is necessary so that when our mission is complete we go home knowing that we did all that we could and the reward is greater because of our sacrifice. Good stuff. I love them. They are so motivated and I love their English, French, and Scottish accents.

Cyprus can be unbearably hot in the peak of the summer, (up over 110 degrees F) at times. Sometimes the missionaries adjust their schedule so that they go teach and find and contact earlier in the morning and then come back inside the apartment to study in the peak of the heat. They ride bikes in Cyprus because they don't have a Metro system, and sometimes riding a bike at those temperatures and that level of humidity is deadly.

We enjoyed part of a P-day on Sat. where we drove all the way up to the West end of Cyprus in the hills around Paphos to a place that everyone said was really cool. It was a very long drive to find the "Baths of Aphrodite" which was basically a small pool of water in a little grotto, with trees and plants and pigeons--but nothing really that great. But the people coming in to visit it were almost emotional about washing their face with the water that Aphrodite bathed in. (it said so right on the sign by the Cyprus Dept. of Forestry at the entrance.) Of course all this bathing thing happened after she was born from the foam of the sea about 80 miles south on the Coast of Cyprus closer to Paphos. Just imagine how strong these people could be if we could get them to open their minds to religious concepts that are actually true, actually make sense and give depth and meaning to their lives?! It's so interesting sometimes what we will hold onto because of the traditions of our Fathers.

Later that day we visited an ancient serious of burial sites carved into limestone outcroppings lining the Paphos sea wall. The Tomb of the Kings was interesting and we enjoyed that but not as much as the swim in the Blue Lagoon which actually had good snorkeling and the water was almost so warm you had to wonder if it was real life.

We probably should not talk much about our beach adventures because in actuality they are few and not significant when compared to the real reason and purpose of why we are here, but when it is 110 degrees outside we understand why the people here go to the water... and we've certainly done the same.

Our pictures have shown some amazing vistas and we are grateful to have enjoyed some of those things, especially while Brooks was here, but now that the girls are back in school our schedule will not be as exciting as what we were able to experience before. We are here on the Lords errand, and it is about the missionaries and the work. Still, I think that there is beauty wherever we live, and getting out and experiencing it and taking the time to see what God has made will open our minds to new inspirations and give us a little of the energy that we are going to need for the next unexpected challenge--which seem to come up every other minute here. ...So everyone go take a P-day and see something that inspires you and charges up your batteries!! :)

One last quick thing: Bill and I spoke in Limassol, a small branch on the South-West coast of Cyprus filled with mostly faithful sisters and very few priesthood holders. We spoke about being spiritually self-reliant and after the meeting the sisters surrounded and hugged us and were so sweet. I am sooo tall here around these little Philippino women. I visited with one sister who had to leave here husband and 4 children, ages 7, 5, 3, and 1 because she could only find work here as a housemaid. Her contract is for 4 years and she only gets Sunday's off. (some of the ladies that are in domestic home care only get one hour off a week, enough time to only come to sacrament meeting) I couldn't imagine her sacrifice to leave her children for that long. Hers is a very common story unfortunately. She sends what she makes home to them so they have enough to live on, and any sacrifices I think I've made pale in comparison to hers. We had a good visit and she told me that I was suppose to come speak on that subject for her. Sometimes it really is about the ONE.

All my love, thank you again for loving and supporting Brooks,

LeeAnn Heder

Hello All, and thank you for your interest and support. It's not always easy to remember what things have been shared with you already, and what is still news from Greece. I suppose one of the hazards of weekly updates is that time rushes on at such a pace that my memory can't keep pace.

I mentioned last week that we welcomed our first set of new missionaries from the MTC. Of all the things that have been so surprising and exhilarating about this experience, one consistent theme is that the best part of all of it is the missionaries. These courageous young men and women are the miracle that repeats. When this one young sister from Switzerland, and 4 elders from England, Scotland and the Netherlands walked off the plane, my heart just swelled. I remembered again how good it felt for Lee and I, when we were in the MTC for a week--after several days of listening to apostles and other general authorities--to get the chance to go down into a cramped, stuffy class room where a group of 10 young elders and sisters waited, ready to be taught. It was the highlight of the MTC for me. So it doesn't surprise me to find that time spent with the missionaries here is also the best thing. There is just something powerful about consecration, particularly when it is combined with young courage and faith.

In recent weeks I'd worked with my assistants and with Brooks' help to develop training for new missionary trainers that mirrored our mission goals and instructions we have received from the Mission Department and MTC. I picked my absolute best missionaries to be my trainers, and had to release a zone leader and district leader to do so. (My feeling is that the mission can rise only to the level of the trainers.) After selecting the trainers I spent a couple of days pondering which young missionary to pair with them. Of course, the single sister and her trainer were slightly easier to decide than the 4 elders and their trainers! But in the end, with prayer I was able to confirm who needed to be with who.

Unlike most missions, I don't have the luxury of waiting to get acquainted with the new missionaries before assigning them to a trainer and area. I needed to make that determination about two weeks prior to the new missionaries coming to the field, because we needed to book flights in advance for those new missionaries and their trainers who would be serving in Cyprus. All I had to go on was their picture and a scan of their mission papers, but it's amazing what the spirit can do. I felt a confirmation of the pairings and was at peace with it, and when I sat down with each of them for their first interview after they arrived and came to the mission home that first night, I was pleased to feel that same confirmation each time. Then, the following morning, when they were introduced to their selected trainers, it was confirmed all over again. They each were paired with the elder (or sister) who they needed, and sent to the area they needed to serve in. It's a wonderful thing. I've called and talked to each of them now after their first few days, and I can feel the love and trust that is already there for their trainers.

We took them to Mars Hill, in the shadow of the Acropoli, and after finding a quiet, shaded spot on the side of that historic place, I invited their testimonies in Greek. They all shared a short testimony, and did it beautifully. I then offered my own testimony in Greek, including my promise that if they would be diligent and obedient, the Lord would bring them back to that mount in 18 or 24 months a changed person with a powerful witness of His purposes in their lives.

They all went their separate ways with their trainers, and one day later our family loaded up our bags (small bags) again and headed for Cyprus to interview the missionaries serving there, and do some training. Because we are making a change in the mission so that our elders and sisters have the same responsibilities to repair and replace their bikes as happens in other missions in the church, we did some bike maintenance and usage training--and it was a lot of fun to be able to put on grubbies with these missionaries and work through the process of taking off and repairing a tire, or cleaning a chain, or adjusting a front or rear brake. Our hands were dirty, but it was fun.

We've just returned from that Cyprus trip a few hours ago. We've unpacked again and had a sweet chance to say "hello" to many of you by facetime on the phone as you gathered for Brooks' homecoming. It was real great to see you all and say hello. Please know that we love you and thank you for your interest in our family. Many thanks to the Lovells for opening up their home and hosting the event--and to the great neighbors and friends and relatives who contributed in so many ways. Somehow we were sure that Brooks would find that people cared for him even if we were not there.

I don't know if you all know how important that basic act of "true religion" is. I have a couple of branches that are really struggling to survive---let alone grow--because only some of the members have grasped that essential element of true worship, to serve one another. There are those who are very vocal about missionary work, and very vocal about their hope for the future of the church in Greece, but it is those who love one another and welcome and serve each other who make the Branch a place where new members find Christ. Thank you all for your example of Christian living!

We love you,

Bill O. Heder
Greece, Athens Mission