Heder Mission Moments: New Missionaries and saying goodbye to Brooks

Well, we just managed to get our first group of new missionaries from the Preston MTC off the plane, to the mission home for dinner, interviewed, asleep, up again, stuffed full of waffles with whip cream and peaches, oriented, to Mars Hill for testimonies (they did great in Greek!) and then off to their new areas with their first companions! Two very busy days but such a joy to see these great young missionaries. They are so capable, and their trainers are the best sort of missionaries.

This last week also saw the girls registering for school here in Athens. It only took several hours... We are learning that nothing is as efficient or as "customer-oriented" as what we get spoiled with in the States. You can stand for an hour, waiting for a chance to meet with the counselor, and he/she will continue on with their current work in complete disregard for why you are waiting or what you want. Oh well.

I'm so pleased with the way the girls have handled all this transition. They've never complained or stepped back for a minute. Instead, they've participated in almost all our missionary meetings, sometimes for 6 hours in a day. They've rolled with everything and kept a great sense of humor. They seem tough enough to handle whatever comes in the new school, and are actually anxious to see and talk with someone their own age. Alinda is determined to be known as the "crazy girl" just because she thinks that these folks need to "lighten up."

The temperatures are beginning to drop. At night I actually have to turn the air conditioning down a notch. The days are still warmer than most Utah days (outside of St. George or Lake Powell) and obviously more humid, but the nights are beginning to be pleasant, and we're hopeful that the days will shortly follow. If only there was a way to keep temperatures in that mode year round!

The missionaries here continue to impress with their courage and diligence. It takes something special to keep your sense of humor and adventure each day as you face a somewhat hostile environment. These young men and women do it, and usually with a real fun accent!

Bill O. Heder
Greece, Athens Mission

Dearest Family and Friends,

I guess I need to get used to speaking in more than one meeting in a Sunday. President Heder loves preparing talks more than giving them but I am still gaining a love for that, but once they are prepared I don't mind giving them. President ended up giving his first talk all in Greek and in the second meeting he changed and gave a completely different talk than he had prepared. I am not that skilled. During the meeting a young man passed the sacrament to me and my girls and was very friendly before the meeting started. Later that afternoon I asked the missionaries about him and I found out that he is another miracle story. One of the assistants found him on the street. Earlier in life he was a drug dealer and gang leader and drove a very expensive car, etc.. but turned his life around because he chose to listen to the missionaries and the spirit changed his focus and he is such a great young man now. He doesn't care about what his old friends think, his conversion runs deep and it is awesome to feel his strength.

Marie and I were going to the store the other day on one of the busier roads when a guy on a motorcycle zoomed right between me and a car in the next lane. He was flying, it was so loud and fast that it shook our car: it was unnerving, and I am amazed that I don't see more accidents around here because of the way scooters and motorcycles think they rule the roads.

We have done a lot of hosting this last week. One of our Elders finished his mission so we enjoyed his company Sunday night and Monday morning before we took him to the airport. Then, for the last couple of days, we've had new missionaries here from the England MTC, and meetings for the trainers as well. In preparation for feeding the missionaries Marie and I thought it would be fun to try lasagne for one of the dinners. We stood in the store staring at 8 or more kinds of white grated cheeses-- and realized this meal was difficult. We tried to ask them at the cheese counter for grated mozzarella (good cheese is huge over here) but they only gave us the fresh mozzarella balls. So, anyway, we ended up buying 4 different containers of white cheese and hoped that when we mixed them all together it would be good. Same thing happened as we tried to figure out which ground meat was hamburger, pork or turkey and in the spice aisle guessing how basil looks different from oregano or other spices. We just laughed a lot and decided we needed to learn more Greek food words.

We have not seen our turtle friends in our yard and in the streets lately but lots of people walk their dogs at night out in the park area of our neighborhood.

We welcomed 4 new Elders and 1 new sister into our mission last night. We enjoyed meeting them and having a meal at the mission home with them, taking pictures and learning how to say their names, (they are from Scotland, England, the Netherlands and Switzerland) They spent the night at our home and this morning we spoiled them with waffles topped with peaches and cream and buttermilk syrup. Then they met their new companions, which is so much fun. We spent the day training everyone, and then went to Mars Hill where they were able to see the vast view of the white city of Athens and bear their testimony in a very historic place before leaving in every direction (with their new companions) to begin their service.

We registered the girls for school this week. They start Sept. 4. It is an American International school so the main language is English. The family that was registering in front of us, the dad was the Ambassador to Holland and they had 2 boys in highschool. It looks to have an exceptional faculty with lots of extra-curricular clubs and teams, but it will be much different than what they are used too, but they are excited for the experience.

Marie and I took a bike ride this morning and we saw a turtle right in the middle of the street. Cars just go around them. (Hopefully)

I have been writing this letter here and there for a couple of days so it is a bit disjointed, not as polished as I would like but we are leaving for Cyprus in two hours so it will have to do. We are excited to see the missionaries over there again to do some training and speak in a small Branch up in Paphos on Sunday.

Hugs, LeeAnn Heder

Athens Greece Mission Mom

p.s. I know I have mentioned this before but our missionary Brooks is back in Utah and he reports in our home ward this Sunday, at 1:00 p.m. 300 E. 500 North, Pleasant Grove Our great neighbors (who I am so grateful for) have planned a small lunch at the house (currently the Lovell's house) after the meeting. Brooks would love to say Hello if you can stop by :) Give him a hug and tell him it's from his MOM !

p.s.s. Here are some pics of our new missionaries, you can't beat peaches and cream waffles for breakfast, and our new missionaries with their trainers all ready to GO!