Heder Mission Moments: Humanitarian Project - Trip to Thessaloniki Oct. 23rd 2015

I was standing up on the side of a rocky hill that rises above ancient Philippi, looking down at the excavation site--and I was baffled at how a city that grand, or like Corinth, or Delfi could end up under 15-20 feet of soil. That question came up when we were touring Ancient Corinth with Elder and Sister Hamula. We postulated that earthquakes had something to do with it--but then there are still entire sections of walls and foundations and arches intact--so that many earthquakes couldn't be the answer. We thought it was a bit beyond the realms of reasonable human behavior for ancient city folk to haul in millions of cubic yards of soil and cover the old city. So we were stumped.

So, a week later, as I looked at a monument marker on that rocky hillside that included old photos of the early excavation sites at Philippi, I thought of something that Joyce Hamula had said jokingly about an ancient staircase as we climbed it--and a weed was growing between a couple of the chiseled rocks. She said something like, "this whole ruin is an example of what can happen if the elders don't clean their apartment up once in a while." We all laughed because we've seen how the bathroom in an elders' apartment can get without some apartment checks.

I'm no geologist, but I'm thinking she was right, even if she was just joking. When a little dust blows in, there is place for a seed. The seed grows (and in a Mediterranean climate things GROW) and in no time it collects it's own teaming ecosystem beneath and around it, and then leaves fall, things decompose, the plant drops seeds, it dies, things grow and the cycle repeats and within a year or two you have 6-8 inches of soil. After a few hundred years, or a thousand, and you're ancient history lost under 15-20 feet of pasture and farm sheds.. I mentioned the theory to a young Elder of ours who already has his degree in biochemistry and it seemed plausible...

I think there's a gospel lesson here (like there is in EVERYTHING right?).. we really do have to sweep out the corners and dust off the edges and pull a few weeds on a regular basis or before we know it, however grand our testimony was, however inspiring our service has been, we're now irrelevant, buried under tons of more recent routine events and mediocre days... until it takes a serious historian to dig out our legacy and see what they can learn from it. Chances are they'll tell someone we used to be inspiring and great--but we should have kept sweeping out the corners and dusting off the edges and pulling weeds on a routine basis.

Just so you know, I'm grateful for the examples in my life who have always kept things trim in their lives and who still stand as majestic examples of what I want to become. There won't have to be any excavation to figure out what they stood for.

Bill O. Heder
Greece, Athens Mission

Hello,

At our most recent Mission Leadership Council (Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Sister Training Leaders) I challenged our leaders on how they could be witnesses of Christ, as his mouthpiece and example. The Apostle Paul, Nephi and Captain Moroni (some of my scripture heroes) were men with conviction and power, in word and deed. They were great examples of how to be bold yet humble witnesses. "Ye shall go forth in the power of my Spirit, preaching my gospel, two by two, in my name, lifting up our voices as with the sound of a trump, declaring my word like unto angels of God." D&C 42:6 The early missionaries of this last dispensation set a wonderful example of faith and courage as they shared the truths of the Restoration, "it is necessary and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming my gospel . . . " D&C 71:1 President Monson stood as a prophet and witness in this last conference and declared, "Each of us came to earth having been given the Light of Christ. As we follow the example of the Savior and live as He lived as He taught, that light will burn within us and will light the way for others . . ." Elder Hamula taught our missionaries, "Act in confidence in the name of the Lord and you can expect Him to honor and support you." I am so grateful that I get the opportunity to stand as a witness here in Greece.

I had the opportunity to speak in Thessaloniki last Sunday. We had some visitors show up as a surprise and found out that they live in Kavala. They drove 2 hours to come to church, they had her family visiting. The wife is a member and her husband plays professional basketball for the Kavala team. We hope to go to one of his games that he plays in Athens.

We spent Saturday following in Paul's footsteps in Philippi. Such a blessing to see these ancient and historical sites. We stood at the gate where Paul was in prison and I couldn't believe that I was looking at things that were built over 3000 years ago, where Paul was imprisoned until set free by an earthquake.

Monday President Heder and I took our missionaries in Athens on a Zone Activity to the beautiful town of Nafphlio where we climbed 1000 steps to the fortress on top of the mountain. After some lunch and gelato we traveled on to Corinth and read from the New Testament together while looking at one of the places Paul was brought to be judged.

Humanitarian Aid has been our focus this week. We had a member and missionary service project last Friday night where we made 400 hygiene kits. We delivered those to a licensed charitable agent, Caritas this last Wednesday (This is the organization that is legally helping the refugees) and it was a great experience. We completely filled our mission van with food and kits and one other car. We dropped off 210 bottles of oil, 600 cans of milk, and 918 cans of different kinds of food. There were quite a few refugees sitting outside of the building on the sidewalks and the guy in charge called the young men over to help unload the van. They were excited to help and I thanked them at the end and wished them well and good luck in their search for a new home and future. Definitely the highlight of my week.

We had some rain today that was unlike anything I have ever experienced. I know I have mentioned the rain but this was truly the definition of deluge, complete and total downpour. (Like what happened when Noah went into his ark) The streets were rivers and in our area there were several broken and uprooted trees.

Love to you all,

LeeAnn