Heder Mission Moments: Cyprus Zone Conf. - Camel Park & Lefkara Nov. 20th, 2015

We’ve spent the past several days in a desperate rush: flying in, housing and training the trainers, then welcoming, bedding down and orienting the 10 new missionaries, then shipping them out to their new areas. A breakfast of waffles with buttermilk syrup, fruit and whipped cream for the whole lot before getting loaded and off to the mission office for orientation was complete chaos. We had three waffle irons going, a blender for smoothies, and more sugar than most European kids will have in a year... but they were happy.

We finished their orientation by taking them all to Mars Hill. That required three cars just for the new missionaries. Their trainers came on the metro and joined us there for a brief testimony meeting where the new elders and sisters were able to bear their testimonies for the first time in Greece. They did great. One or two showed signs of having real language skills, while others were fearful and halting; but they are all outstanding young men and women, and with the help of the trainers that have been prayerfully assigned, they will do great things.

Now our attention turns to the details of receiving and hosting the guests who begin arriving this afternoon. There are meetings with executives and officials from the two largest and most active charitable organizations in Greece, then travel routes to practice and time, parking considerations, program/agenda adjustments and food arrangements to make for their flight out; and there are nerves. I find it odd that the same Apostle (Elder Ballard) who is coming with all this security, and the calls and details regarding how, when, where, what and why everything must be done a certain way--this is the same apostle who drove himself to our local stake center last year in Pleasant Grove in his silver Honda Accord, strolled into the building to be greeted by President Allred and the other members of the Stake Presidency and then strolled with them to the chapel without a single security person, aid or other entourage of any kind. Here, it seems everyone is at such a high level of detailed attention--it is putting me in panic mode trying to make sure we know where and how to avoid the slightest bump in Kiffisia Boulevard on the way to a refugee camp in the city and then on to the Hotel. It’s hard to know if I took too much for granted back home, or if we are over-reacting here in. Perhaps there is a sweet spot somewhere in between these two extremes that I can find--at least for my nerves’ sake it would be a good place to be.

--Bill O. Heder

Greece Athens Mission

Hello Family,

I feel like I have been living our mission scripture this last week. D&C 128: 22 "Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!" Each day being so full of wonderful opportunities to teach and train and speak in conferences and even ride camels with the girls. Some of the days were so full that we thought, "how will we possibly get this all done in the next 5 days?" but we reminded ourselves to take "courage" and go "forward" on to the "victory." The victories come in small and simple ways usually with individuals and moments when you get to talk with humble members or missionaries that share what gives them courage and helps them go forward in this cause.

Our Zone Conferences in Athens and Cyprus and District Conference in Cyprus were wonderful but we came home with 6 missionaries who would be transferring back into Greece, and we prepared to pick up 10 new missionaries on Monday. Our girls flew over to Cyprus after school on Thursday all by themselves and met us at the airport there, thanks to our great senior couples helping them - they felt very independent :) Alinda has many opportunities to play the piano and she performed two different musical numbers in 2 different meetings at District Conferences. Marie has become quite proficient at leading music and they are a good musical team now - always needed. They could not have known a year ago how much they would use this talent. Alinda and I played a duet at the Sunday session of District Conference. I love how music touches hearts and lets the spirit teach such personal messages. A cute little old man just couldn't help himself and he had to clap for us!

I want to tell you about something very beautiful that I was able to see last night and not only last night but this last week, as they have been extraordinary. I had just a little time before a meeting and I went on a walk and I noticed how the sky was started to light up with pinks and gorgeous tones of yellows and blues as the sun began to set.

I decided that in order to really see and experience the sunset from the best vantage point I needed to climb to a higher point and so I explored around until I ended up on the roof of our hotel with a great view and I thoroughly enjoyed the sunset and all of its colors and the lovely breeze. I took a moment to thank my Heavenly Father for this beautiful day and for allowing me to be here and witness this and have it make me feel good, refreshed and ready for more -- even another meeting after a full day of them!

I went back to the room and told Bill and the girls about how pretty it was, and I showed them pictures. But it wasn't as meaningful to them because they did not experience it themselves. They didn't go there, they couldn't appreciate how I felt being there and having it make so many things feel right in my day at that moment.

I had been preparing to speak on the Sabbath day and this became a connection with many similarities. We cannot know what we are missing from a meaningful sabbath day worship until we go there and experience it. When we devote ourselves to that moment we can feel the richness of what our Heavenly Father has covenanted to give us. It can be a blessing and inspiration in our lives. Never allow the details, the stuff that has to be done, the assignments, make you miss the moment or the miracle.

Love, LeeAnn