Heder Mission Moments: Musical Fireside for members, and residents of Relaxed Palace Dec. 22nd,2015

Last night Sister Heder and most of the missionaries in Athens went to a rest home next to the Halandri Chapel where they sang Christmas Carols and talked with the "aged" residents there. I was gone to an appointment, but when I returned I found them all in great spirits, sharing stories from the encounter with interesting people. One old gentlemen had expressed his disgust because the missionaries near him didn't know anything about the particular Greek Island that he hailed from. On the other extreme was the lady who started talking to Sister Heder and LeeAnn thought she asked her where she was from, when she called a missionary to come help translate he told Sister Heder, "no, she wants to know where she is from?" Most were just happy to have the kids singing to them (Greek, English, Spanish and French). Evidently the management of the place--which had been hostile in the past--was very pleased with our offer to serve and help, and we have been invited back.

Today was spent, from beginning to end, interviewing these same singing Athens Missionaries. I had allotted just 20 minutes per missionary, but with a few that required more time, I ended up doing straight interviews from 10:00 am through 5:30 pm. I ate my lunch sandwich at 5:30 and was grateful for a day well-spent. I’m aware that interviewing 20 missionaries in a day isn’t unusual for Mission Presidents. Some Presidents must interview 15-20 per day for a week or more in order to interview all their missionaries every transfer, as we’ve been counseled to do. Frankly, though, I don’t know how those Presidents can enjoy the experience nearly as much as I do. I’m able to spend 20 to 30 minutes speaking Greek with each of the missionaries. We pray, converse about their needs and concerns and the miracles they’ve witnessed. In all it only takes me a combined three days and two round trip airplane flights to interview the whole mission!

There is something so uplifting about being with the missionaries, perhaps I’ll figure out a way to adjust the schedule to do even more of it. Sister Heder sits outside and talks with the missionaries as they come in. Every time I finish an interview and step out for the next one I get the feeling I'm an unwelcome interruption to a good time... I’m certain that they enjoy that part of their day most, but I’m OK with it.

Bill O. Heder
Greece, Athens Mission

Happy Holidays,

We spent a few days in Cyprus where the weather was nice. While we were there they got the first rain they have had since April. Red hybiscus were all in bloom by the church, natural Christmas decor, the best :) Christmas lights down on the boardwalk gave us some holiday cheer and a big tree out on the pier over the water was a tropical treat. Zone Conference for us is an opportunity for us to build up the missionaries, to tell them how amazing they are and teach them and motivate them so they want to conquer the world, or in this case "Cyprus". We are also the mail couriers for Cyprus and so we take big suitcases from the mission home in Athens full of packages for the missionaries in Cyprus. At Christmas it is especially crazy. I had one of our missionaries ask me twice if we brought mail and when we would get it out. When we finally handed out the packages I felt so bad that none of them were for him. I felt soooo bad. There are a few of our missionaries who didn't get anything from home. (don't worry we got it taken care of) The sad thing is that the families either can't afford to send something or, in the case of one missionary, he is here against his parents wishes and they are making things difficult for him. There are some of our missionaries who worked for several years to earn money to come on their mission. Very impressive group of missionaries, dedicated and focused on things that will make a difference in their future and their families.

The Mission is providing a Christmas meal for the members here in Athens that don't have anywhere to go on Christmas. Last year they fed over 70 people, members, investigators, and people that the missionaries invited from off the street. So I have been doing a lot of shopping preparing to host the missionaries here at the mission home on Christmas Eve and then our member meal on Christmas and all the meals for our missionary activities between Christmas and New Years. We have some great things planned, service projects, a Book of Mormon read- a-thon, (We are reading it in two days) Zone Conf. , a photo scavenger hunt, a few games, finding activities and member visits etc.

Our Christmas Musical Celebration with our 3 branches was so great. I didn't want to be in charge but I wanted to teach them how to make it nice and organized. We had narrators that read scriptures in Greek and English mixed with songs in Greek and English, even a little Spanish and French for Silent Night. The members provided some Greek carols, the primary kids stole the show with their number, missionaries sang 3 beautiful numbers, we had some hymns sung by the congregation and President Heder agreed to sing "Make Me a Channel of Thy Peace" and then we showed a beautiful Christmas video about Christ's birth with narration by the first Presidency. I was touched as I looked around at the investigators there with members and missionaries and they were emotional during parts of the program and their was quite a buzz of translating going on.

Good things happening :). Not time or room to share everything :). Interviews with the missionaries today were a highlight and in Relief Society we shared traditions from our countries. I learned that the true traditional Greek people don't put up Christmas trees they decorate wooden ships and put in their homes. A tradition that came from the islands of Greece.

Merry Christmas,

Sister LeeAnn Heder