Heder Mission Moments: New Friends and Greek Customs

February 7th, 2016

Sunday, LeeAnn and I and the girls attended the two Acropoli branches (English and Greek speaking) that meet in central Athens, so that the girls could have a chance to say goodbye to Sister Bakewell, a dear Sister Missionary to whom they’ve become quite attached in the past 6 months. Sister Bakewell has been in Athens now for the entire time that we have lived here, and I’m now transferring her to Cyprus, where she will finish her mission.

I bore my testimony (Greek and English) in both meetings, and LeeAnn wanted to share her testimony in the Greek meeting and asked me to translate. Luckily the first counselor in the Branch Presidency jumped at the chance and I didn’t have to do it. While I could have explained most of what she said, it would not have gone so smoothly and there was a good chance some false doctrine would have made it into the meeting...

In the English branch, the closing hymn was “The Time is Far Spent.” It’s not my favorite hymn anyway, (even when the meeting has gone into over-time) but this time the pianist picked it up at a lively pace. If I’m not mistaken, the tune is an old German folk song, so two little toddlers who were already having a hard time being reverent couldn't resist. They found their way to the front of the meeting and danced around the front of the chapel with reckless abandon for all of the second, third and fourth verses. Mom was watching from the back, too tired to intervene.

Once again, I found myself in that awkward spasm (one that has become all-too familiar here in the mission field) where I wanted to stop the trainwreck but the muscles wouldn’t fire. From where I sat, I could see no good way to gather both children from opposite sides of the stage and then haul them (squirming and screaming) out the central isle--without wrecking what was left of the meeting. So I did what everyone else did and kept singing and smiling “sweetly” at them, hoping all the while that those new-comers present could overlook the chaos and take something meaningful from the meeting.

I have to admit, that while I was debating taking drastic action, the thought did enter my head that I know two sets of parents right now in Missouri and Arizona who, on any given Sunday, as the closing song is sung, are barely hanging on to sanity as their little ones rage on. It might be a while before the concept of "the Sabbath" becomes a delight. But I hope they will keep trying. :)

Bill O. Heder
Greece, Athens Mission

Hello Family,

Being a full time missionary gives me a full time responsibility to look for and find people that are looking for more in their lives, especially religion. I had an experience this past week where I was able to meet a lady named Eva who was walking her 2 big dogs and she was delightful. She wanted to know why I was in Athens, (which always leads to a good discussion about the church) but as we shared contact information we became friends on Facebook and I now have a way to follow up with her. She has already commented to one of my posts and this makes me hope that she can link to other things that will connect with her heart. When I told her I was the Mission Presidents wife here in Greece she was excited. (honestly, I think it made her want to talk to me longer because I was associated with a "President" figure and that gave me some "credibility".) I felt prompted to talk to her about her family and if she wants to have a family here in Greece. She felt very strongly about this, frustrated with culture barriers that a bad economy has imposed and created.

I have been learning a lot from the people I meet about the Greek culture and how it is evolving and adapting to the times and pressures? They are very close as family units but in difficult times here, the young men are waiting for a very long time to get married because it is so difficult to support a family. Many men don't leave home until they are 30+ (really) and then they look for work, but won't marry until they are 40+ often late 40's. For the young women who want to marry and have their children in their late 20's and 30's this is a problem. When I tell people that where I am from most people get married in their 20's and often their early 20's, they literally just laugh out loud.

Alinda has had many interesting discussions in her Psychology class about these social traditions that are being challenged. It is one of Alinda's favorite classes and the teacher likes her insights and often calls on her for her opinion and I just love how she is teaching gospel principles. People agree with them but don't even know they a related to her religion. Her teacher, a very religious Orthodox man, is trying to teach the students a better way than they are going, and he strongly disagrees with some of the cultural norms and habits that the youth are following.

Mariana is another friend here. She is a carbon copy of the aunt in the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"--the one who says, "what you mean he don't eat meat?!... That's ok, I cook lamb." She happens to be one of the landlords that we rent an Elders apartment from, and she wanted to meet us. So Sat. night when she opened her apt. door we were met with a whirlwind of Greek goodness full of hugs and kisses and the next 2 hours were delightful. She had made us Greek cheese and spinach pies and served us on beautiful tray with dollies along with a beautiful tea set.

In our Fast and testimony meeting several of the missionaries that will be leaving and going home or to Cyprus bore their testimony and expressed thanks to the members for their support, example and friendships. When they find, love and serve new investigators and go through life changes and conversion with them it is hard to leave these cherished friendships.

Alinda played a musical number in the Halandri Branch conference and President Heder said that from where he was sitting there were several tearful faces that showed how beautifully music brings the spirit.

Love and Hugs,

Sister LeeAnn Heder

Pictures: Around the neighborhood in Feb. - First is Alinda at our front porch, and then at the end of our street you go up the stairs and through the trees to a Fitness Park with a pool, (they swim year round ) soccer field, tennis and basketball courts. Continuing around the mountain are some nice homes with a great view. The view today includes a rare sighting - SNOW on the mountain tops ! Olympic Stadium in the foreground. Our visit with the Acropoli Branch this past Sunday. This is Marie before a girl stepped on her foot causing her to fall backwards hard on her hand. She has a hairline fracture in her radius.