Week 2 - Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

Christmas-Eve-sans-Elder Heimuli at Ichiban Japanese restaurant. Hoping they have sushi in the MTC, but I don't know.....Pictured below (L to R): Lakei, Pania, Jessye Johnson, Harrison, Hevynn, Norma, Hema, Houston, Sifa, Grandpa, the-back-of-Grandma's head, Charney taking the photo

Hola mi familia!

So it is almost the end of week 2 and it feels more like the end of month 2. I'm glad to hear that everyone had a good christmas--and it sounds like you had a big group this year! I'm sure Jessye had fun, she might have been a little worried at first but i bet you guys made her feel just fine. Hopefully everyone else had fun w her there! hahaha and i'm happy that you guys ACTUALLY got some sleep this Christmas w/o me there. Tell Harrison and the rest of the family Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year...i'm sad i'll be missing the Japanese food and the fireworks--but i'm sure i'll have loads of fun...learning

Not gonna lie, week 2 was not much fun for me...especially around Christmas time. Probably the best part of this whole week is writing to you guys right now. I didn't think i'd say this but I maybe miss home a little bit...

Christmas was alright, besides the three 2 hour devotionals that we had. Elder _____ and his wife came and spoke to us, which was really cool. The funniest part is when Elder _____'s wife made a comment about Santa isn't real and if that's news to anyone in the MTC that's kinda sad--what she didn't realize is that the mission President's grand kids (about 5 and 7) were in the room too! Oh well, they had to grow up sometime right? Christmas was a cool experience here and it's one very few people get to say they have done. But Christmas really isn't the same when you're not with your family.

I have relied more and more on the Spirit to help me as the days go on...My reason for coming is not the reason i'm staying anymore. I realized that i came for myself, because i want a family and to be a good father and husband and such, but the reason i'm staying is for God. I know i can do this and once i get out in the field i'll feel so much better...I have taught lessons w the spirit and it feels so good to be able to have the Holy Ghost take control and just tell me what i should say...

I'm not getting fat. i've been working out twice everyday and i'm slightly more tired but slightly less fat, so it's a good trade off. I get up at 6 and run and then at night i do those workouts Houston gives me! Hooray! tell him he's my hero!

So all in all, i am still learning and still growing spiritually. i love that part. And i'm excited for tomorrow when Ben and Connor come in! Hopefully they're in my district! I am holding on to God to help me and i know i;'ll be fine...

Sorry, i don't have my scriptures again and i can't remember what the reference is, but the the scripture says something like, "think not on the hour on what ye shall say for it shall be given unto you the very moment that thou needest..." or something like that. i think that this is very important to know.

I love you all and i'm sorry that this is such a short letter, i type really slow i guess. I think and pray for everyone of you guys! tell Ben Heimuli to keep on trucking, he's doin great! Happy New Year mi familia favorita!

(and try to find a microcasset player, i sent something in the mail for you guys...)

Love, Elder Heimuli

Week 1 - First P-Day

Hola madre!

it's finally my p day and i can only write letters then hahaha sorry. this first week has been really hard and really cool all at the same time. i sent a letter in the mail the other day and it had letters for the kids and my paragraph for Gayla. I wanted to write you and dad through email so it would get there faster.

i've learned twice as much about the gospel and ten times more spanish in one week here than my 4 years of high school. it's a really cool experience. Just fyi tell hevynn to send me Ben Heimuli's address cuz i wrote him a letter that i need to send. But all in all Hema was right and i am excited for christmas. i would much rather be teaching in atlanta already, but listening to an apostle is ok too...haha

I've seen lots of people i know: richard buys, sam nelson, kevin allen, jonny holmgren, travis lignell, alex knowles, tj farr, royden heslop, and plenty of others that i can't remember right now. My district is really cool and i have a really smart companero. Most of the teachers here are great! and they teach a lot.

Through what i've experienced thus far, i have really grown to love the gospel and this church. i have felt the spirit help and guide me multiple times and i love it so much! i want to share the gospel with as many people as i can! I have a much stronger testimony of the book of mormon and it's importance in converting those to the true church. i am so glad i am here and i know this is where i'm supposed to be.

I'm happy to hear about jessye goin to christmas eve w you guys, i think thats great and i thank you guys so much for that. Tell everyone at home that i love them and i wish i could be with you guys for christmas, but i know that i NEED to be here even more. i hope by next week i can write to you guys todos en espanol...but i doubt that hahaha i'm not that smart, but i have learned that through the spirit i can do anything.

My favorite scripture is in d&c 84...it talks about god being on your right hand and on your left...sorry i can't be more help, i don't have mi scripturas. but i know that scripture is true and i read it everyday to gain the strength i need to make it through the day. i love this church, i love and appreciate every single one of you guys, i'm sorry if i never acted like it. I'll pray for you and send you some pictures soon!

Adios!

Going, Going, Gone...But Not Without a Tender Mercy

If this is your first time to the new MTC drop off rodeo (it was ours!), here is your up-close-and-personal view...

(Below) Headed down the street from the Provo Temple in our packed Suburban. A little earlier, when the line was longer, we could see Elder Tyler Farr's van ahead of us stopped at this light (TJ's drop off time was 15 minutes before Helam's). Elder Farr is serving in North Carolina Raleigh mission -- all these Southern Boys!

Here's where it REALLY starts to get crowded, but all those nice traffic conductors keep everybody moving

So there are 25 stops this morning. We heard from our dear friends Kevin & Sheri Scheffler that their son Tyler would be a sidewalk greeter since it was his last week before he left for Costa Rica. I didn't really think we would spot him because there are SO MANY elders out there, but that didn't dissuade me from reverently reminding all our kids to "try and keep an eye out for Elder Scheffler." As soon as we turned in front of stop #1, we saw him -- and our formerly civilized ride turned into rolled-down windows, frantic waves, and shouts of "Tyler! Tyler!" As soon as he saw us, he started booking it down the sidewalk toward stop #2.

 

(Below) As you can see, it was a long walk/run for Elder Scheffler (no, this is not a picture of him). This is the friendly, waving Elder assigned to our stop (let's just call him Elder Waver for entertainment purposes) -- which also happened to be the LAST stop at the MTC. Poor Elder Scheffler...I get tired just thinking about his trek to our Suburban. If you know how efficient EVERYTHING is that the Church does, you can understand my anxiety that Helam would be whisked out of our grasp, we wouldn't get to see Tyler, and possibly not even get to stop the car! Meanwhile, I'm telling Lakei to "slow down, slow down" as I keep an eye on Tyler's advancing steps in my sideview mirror (thank goodness he's a soccer player and in great shape). I did NOT want Elder Waver to get to us before Elder Scheffler did. So I said to all the kids, "Move SLOWLY. Don't hurry. Take your time getting out of the car."

(Below) Now, THIS is Elder Tyler Scheffler. I know, he doesn't even look out of breath, right? And he just stepped right in and said to Elder Waver (I really do wish I knew his real name), "Is it okay if I take this one?" YAY!

(Below) Before Elder Scheffler could shake hands or grab suitcases, Helam said, "I need to give you a hug from your Mom." Mission accomplished right there. Only 1 more mission to go.

And that's how Elder Scheffler became Elder Heimuli's first "companion" -- even if it was just to take him up the sidewalk and into the MTC. That's Mom on the right, trying hard to smile. Really, it was so quick, he was gone almost before we knew it. See you in 2 years, Elder Heimuli. We love you.

MTC Morning

When his mission call arrived in early October, it felt like Helam's MTC drop-off day would never arrive...but here it was -- it got here sooner than we thought it would.  Helam -- er, I mean, Elder Heimuli couldn't wait to leave.  Harrison didn't really want him to leave.  The rest of the kids were somewhere in between.  And Mom and Dad?  Well, you know.  

Morning of Dec 15th -- The Kids' Table at breakfast in Provo. Helam's best bud Evan Parry (BYU student) joins us. Pictured below (L to R): Norma, Hevynn, Houston, Evan, Elder Heimuli, Hema & Harrison

(Below) Elder Heimuli at breakfast with Grandpa & Grandma before the Murrays head off to work out (so that's how they stay looking so young!)

(Below) Evan looks pretty happy -- probably because Helam's leaving for 2 years, and it's also Finals Week, so that would make Evan extra happy. We're excited that Evan will receive his own mission call in about 3 weeks!

One last family picture taken at the Provo Temple before we head down the road to the MTC drop off point. Pictured below (L to R): Lakei, Elder Heimuli, Harrison, Houston, Hevynn, Norma & Hema

Elder Heimuli and his favorite brother (Harrison made me say that!)

Dad, Elder & Mom