Heder Mission Moments: New Beginnings and a Baptism in Athens

February 23, 2016

Recently I’ve become convinced that the Adversary has launched a noisy campaign to interrupt all good things in Greece. Today during the Sacrament prayer in one of the Acropoli Greek branches, a little car with loudspeakers mounted on top turned down the alley behind the chapel and slowly passed by, blaring a message advertizing Orthodox scriptures, icons and other religious items desirable to all “true believers.” I couldn’t hear the young man who was trying to give the Sacrament Prayer. Last night in the middle of a baptismal service in a different chapel (on the other side of Athens) the landscaping crew who had been working on the church grounds all day (but had no business working so late on a Saturday night) fired up a gas-powered blower just as Alinda’s musical number began. It raged on through the musical number and then sporadically started and stopped during the actual baptismal ordinance--and may have led to having to immerse the poor fellow three times before it was done right... The noise seemed to reach its peak volume exactly when we most needed reverence. The night before, while LeeAnn attempted to hold the first ever “New Beginnings” meeting for the young women in Athens, an old roto-tiller fired up outside, and we could barely hear the speakers.

So today, as Beelzebub blared down the alley behind us, we just figured it was par for the course.

I’ve always loved peace and quiet, but now, in its comparative rarity, I value it even more. I remember how my sons used to look at me when I forbade them to bounce basket balls inside our home. From their body language at the time I knew they thought I was just opposed to all fun, games and the enjoyment of life in general. But in light of what I’m witnessing here lately, I’m pretty sure I was doctrinally right: like so many other good things that have been turned to diabolical purposes, basket balls, loudspeakers, rototillers and gas-powered blowers have no place in the kitchen or the chapel.

Bill O. Heder

Greece Athens Mission

Hi family,

President Heder told a story in Branch Conference about watching a young boy play soccer with his Dad in a field across from the mission office. The little boy was trying to be a goalie, and every time the dad kicked the ball towards the goal the boy would run and fall on the ball the same dramatic style, no matter how it came and at what speed. No matter if the ball had no chance of getting to the goal he would still dramatically fall on the ball.

The point that Bill was making was that from this little play was that sometimes we get into habits or ruts and don't stop to consider why we do things that way. Relating this to our Sabbath Day worship, he asked what it would take for us to evaluate what we have always done, and look for a better way to show our Heavenly Father what this covenant means to us. He invited the congregation to mark in their lives for everyone else to see, that their God had helped them, and they acknowledge it.

Two highlights for the week. We held New Beginnings in Athens for our 4 great young women and it was a wonderful evening. Alinda did a lot of the planning and we explained the Values, Personal Progress, and enjoyed a slide show of the girls and video of this years theme etc.

Then the baptism of Athanasios was Sat. He was just so happy and when we talked before his baptism he held his hand on his heart and told me that his heart was so full of so much happiness. We exchanged air kisses on both sides of the face, (which you do a lot here) and I told him his life would never be the same and so many blessings were in store for him. He is a very big Greek man, and our font is small. Elder Teal did his best, but on the third try he successfully immersed all of him and Athanasios came up so happy.

Thursday if we are home in Athens I always visit the traveling farmers market that comes to our neighborhood, because the veggies and fruits are so amazing. I was happy to take Alinda with me so I could introduce her to my orange farmer friend. He has lots of kinds of oranges, mandarins and clementines, etc., and he shows me which ones to get. He is a very kind and happy person and it makes me sad that the farmers have so many problems with the government right now. After buying strawberries and some other veggies we headed home but I told Alinda I had to take her past the "tree of life." I found it here in Philothei :)

There is a lemon tree that is full of a least a hundred lemons. This time when I went by the house I just had to stop to take a picture. Well the owner was out pruning the tree and I talked to him the best I could, and I told him how "oraiah" his tree was. He got a bag and gave me some of the lemons and had me pick some as well. I could tell he loved his tree, he had pruned it and taken care of it and it was loaded with lemons. (I once had a tree that I loved in my yard, until my son Trevor took the weed eater and cut the bark off all the way around - I told him to pray for the tree because his life depended on it). Anyway it was a nice to stop and admire this great tree and tell the owner that I thought his tree was beautiful and celebrate this tree, the sunny day and a new acquaintance.

Marie and Austin are healing from their various injuries. Marie fell hard on her hand (basketball game) and got a hairline fracture in her radius. I don't have space enough in the letter the fully share the fun I had going to a Greek hospital - luckily the doctor spoke some English and lets just say it's different than home. The sad thing was she missed a big tournament at her school with eight basketball teams from Italy, Slovenia, Serbia, and Thessaloniki Greece. Her team took 2nd place and Marie was great to go support all the games. They had a fancy banquet on Friday night with all the players. Luckily she got her cast off and she can start playing again this week. They go to a tournament in London the first part of March so she is happy she isn't missing that.

Now for Austin it has been tough. (also rough for Mom who is not close enough to help) He probably broke a bone in his foot at the end of last season, but played through it thinking it was turf toe. During lifting he had something snap and ended up getting surgery to put a screw in to hold his sesamoid (sp.) bone together. Everything went well and he has a big cast on his foot and he is getting around on a scooter for his one leg. (I know we need pictures, right) The hardest thing is that this will probably take him out of Spring ball and that is a major bummer. He is optimistic and still very positive, the coaches have been great and he is enjoying their new energy. Thank goodness he has his darling finance Chloe to keep his spirits up. They are getting married May 6th. So exciting!

I have been on the phone a lot this last week trying to connect with some of the organizations here that are helping the refugees here in Greece. We have a member in Rhodes that is working with "Helping Hands" and we are trying to figure out if we should make the hygiene kits here and ship them or ship product from Germany straight to Rhodes. Anyway it is fun to be a part of all this - I love it, but like many people have expressed, I wish I could do so much more. I have to take consolation in the fact that the Church has people in place and relationships with organizations who are best positioned to make a difference. Our fast offerings and humanitarian aid contributions go where they do the most good.

Love ya,

Sister LeeAnn Heder

Pictures: New Beginnings, my favorite - the fruit market and flower market, flowering quince, loving this lemon tree, Alinda and I on top of Philothei hill, old churches, every flavor of eclair you could imagine,

Pics of some of our great missionaries !