Semana 28 - I Hope They Call Me On a Mission...when I have killed a pig or two

(L to R: Elder Liuwanga, Heimuli, Morris, Pasiaka & Donnelly with Babe in front)

Hi peoples of Utah,

Of course, I'm doing good! It is a little bit super hot over here, but this week has actually been tolerable. I think it rained almost every day, but the air still feels heavy and hot. Meh, probably the closest I'll get to serving in South America. In a year and a half or so I can look back and laugh at this, but for now I'm just crying.

Good news! I cut my own hair again and this time I didn't totally fail! I have the blessing of learning many things out here: how to cut hair, speak spanish, roast a pig...you know, missionary things! I'll explain the pig in a bit...

Soccer was never my sport back at home, but the longer I stay here amongst the hispanics, the more it grows on me. It's like a algae. Anyways, the finals for the "Copa de Oro" which is a tournament held in America that includes teams from North and South America, was this past Saturday. Me and Morris have been cheering America on as they moved up the ranks, making to the finals, while Mexico (Juan's favorite team) made it there as well. My hopes were crushed Sunday morning when Juan walked into church with a big smile on his face, shaking my hand and saying, "4-2." His grin told me Mexico pulled it out. The night before I was about to bet him my whole next month's allotment...good thing we're not allowed to gamble hahaha. We're still waiting to hear about their situation, but we were told that we shold recieve word this week!

Anyways, on Saturday Morris and I went to Newnan (which is 1 hr 15min away from our house) to help set up and help with a big stake barbecue. All the Tongan Elders were invited to help mainly with the cooking. We left our house at 7 am and stayed out there all day. We set up, cooked a huge pig and a little pig, some chicken, and helped out with it all during the "Island Roast." Elder Teulilo even did a fire dance. It was a lot of work but it was really fun. There were quite a few people the went and they all enjoyed the food. I manned the grills, cooking chicken and pig that didn't quite get cooked all the way. None of us (polys) got to really eat during the party cuz we were working the whole time, but we made sure to grab some food to take home.


(Pasiaka & Heimuli...and a much browner Babe)

The funniest part was when we went home (or attempted to haha). We drove out from our house to College Park (which is 30 min from Marietta) to meet up with Elder Liuwanga and Elder Perkins to catch a ride with them to Newnan (which is 45 minutes from there). Well, when we went were heading home, we arrived at College Park (45 min drive) and Morris realized he left the keys in Newnan. So, we had to drive back (45 minutes). Once we finally got the keys we went back to College Park (45 minutes) and headed home to Marietta (30 more minutes). We got home SO late, like 11:45 haha...I was super tired Sunday.


(Heimuli, Raul & Morris looking chipper after Saturday's luau)

Transfers are in 2 days and I'm excited to see what happens. We all did district predictions and unanimously everyone guessed I was leaving haha. We'll see when we get calls tonight!


(Elder Morris & Heimuli trying to predict who's getting transferred)

Well, as for the BoM, not gonna lie, I fell behind a bit. I guess it's just you and Jessye that are the true saints hahaha! When Alma and Amulek go out to teach among the people, it's a great example of the agency of people. Alma and Amulek had many people come unto baptism and repentance in one land, while in the other, Ammoniah (I think) nothing happened at all. This didn't happen becuase Alma and Amulek were more faithful in one place than the other, but just that the people had the agency to accept their message or harden their hearts and reject them. I heard a saying that goes, "you can't say the wrong things to the right people, and you can't say the right things to the wrong people." Yeah. The people that will be willing to accept the holy spirit will do it, while the others just won't. It's simple hahaha.

Well, i'm glad you guys are doing good! I'll send pictures in a couple minutes!

Love you all and pray for ya'll!

--Love, Elder Heimuli

(Random note from Mom: Before/if Helam gets transferred this week, here's a pic of a Utah get-together with Elder Morris' family, Elder Benedict's family, and the Heimulis. What a privilege for us to meet the incredible families of Helam's comp and housemate...if Elder Henderson's family had been in town, we would have had them over, too!)

Back row L to R: Rachel Morris, Bergen Benedict, Mackenzie Benedict, Riley Benedict, Hema Heimuli (eww!), Norma Heimuli
Middle row L to R: Hevynn Heimuli, Dickson Benedct, Houston Heimuli
Front row: His Majesty Harrison Heimuli

Semana 27 - Cornrows, Krupping, Mosiah

Querido mi familia amada,

I am sending a ton of pictures your way, so I hope you like them! It's so great to hear how everyone is doing and to see the pictures of the two boys!


Houston & Harrison Corn-rowed (Courtesy: Pua)

They look so sick with cornrows! I made up my mind that I'm gonna grow my hair out when I get home haha! Speaking of which, my hair is getting pretty long now but I don't have time to cut it...plus I don't wanna total fail at cutting my own hair again ha.

This week has been pretty good! Yes Juan and Emily's legal stuff was all paid for and in the process of working, so now we are just waiting. I am hoping to hear word back this week so we can finalize everything, but I guess we'll just see how it goes. We're getting nervous cuz the transfer ends in a week and a half! Oh no! The time is just flying by here!

Thank you guys so much for the "Krup Day" package, I decided to re-name it that because "Bump Day" doesn't make sense (unless you can explain it to me) and we were Krupping the night I got the package! It was a good time!


Krupping with Elder Morris (guess there's only one chair in the house?)


Krazy krupping with "Beni & Hendy"

We have been finding a few people to teach and it's exciting! Sometimes it gets kind of depressing when it doesn't seem like you're making an impact, but you really don't know the effect of your work 'til it's all over. I hope to look back and see my efforts made a big difference.

Stake conference was really good! Stake President Parker spoke and he did such a good job. He used to be a baptist preacher (and you can really tell when he speaks to you. Kinda intimidating). When he found out that the LDS church was the true church, he said he was so angry! One because the missionaries had proved him wrong, and two because he hadn't been following the church of Christ his whole life. He's a really cool guy. Then we had a new member of the Seventy speak who happened to be a member of the stake. They all spoke on how important the doorway of love is. Love of God, your family, your spouse, your neighbor, and yourself. Going to the temple 2 times a month will strengthen your family relationships immensly as well as your relationship with God. Most importantly, how doing the small things ALWAYS is better than the big things SOMETIMES. Small things like scripture reading, praying daily, going to church every week, holding family home evening (morning).

I have finally given up reading in Spanish and have just read it all in English. I realized that I won't fall behind as easily haha. Recently I have found quite a few scriptures regarding missionary work. My favorite scripture this week is in Mosiah 23:10-11 which reads,

"no obstante, despue's de mucha tribulacio'n, el senor oyo' mi clamor y contesto' mis oraciones, y me ha hecho instrumento en sus manos para traer a tantos de vosotros al conocimiento de su verdad. Sin embargo, en esto no me glori'o, porque soy indigno de gloriarme."

(Note from Mom: For those who don't have Hema nearby to translate, or are too lazy to look it up - Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands in bringing so many of you to a knowledge of his truth. Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself.)

I only have my Spanish scriptures with me, but it basically says that despite all the trials I have called out to the lord and he answered my prayers. He has made me an instrument in his hands to bring all his children to the gospel. It's not my glory, but his. I have experienced this many times already: feeling inadequate and like nothing is happening despite my efforts, but as I call on the Lord HE will make me into the missionary that I want to be. It's through his permission that I can do this great work. I love that.

I love you all so much and pray for you guys every night before I go to bed...and that the cockroaches won't crawl on my face while i'm sleeping:)


This should keep the really large cockroaches off his face! All other cockroaches are welcome...

Love, Elder Heimuli


If you ever wondered why we need CNN when we have Fox News...here's why -- a great place to stop for lunch!


Elder H designed his own Krup Day (or Bump Day) tie to celebrate 6 months in the mission...which tie is then ceremoniously torched in an intense Krup Day fire!


Uhhhmm, guys? Where's the huge fire? Anyone got a light?


Oh well, back to a fierce game of Krup-football...Heimuli at center, Hendy at Q, Beni on D, and Morris...Morris?

Semana 26 - P-Day, Early Father's Day, Krup Day?

(Note from Mom: The Heimuli Family has their holidays all mixed up. We celebrated Father's Day on Sunday, June 12, 2011...oh well. On Wednesday, June 15, Elder Heimuli will celebrate 6 months in the mission, a.k.a. "Bump Day" -- at least, that's what we thought it was called.)

Dear Family,

Sorry I'm writing so late, but I'm finally here! Everyone here is doing good, like always! Can't complain about anything, especially cuz it's P-day! Ummm...Oh, Norma has sent me a couple e-mails talking about their trip and it all sounds great! I'm sure their sad that they have to go backk to work but that's life haha. IIt was cool about Hema and Tyler teaching together, I'm sure it went a lot smoother than when they were comps cuz Hema can actually speak Spanish now.

I think it wouldn't be a bad idea for Houston to go to the camps this year. When he goes he should go play the positions that he wants to go out for, learn as much as he can, and play HARD! Especially at his age now, the camps will give him a small idea of how high school ball will be. It puts on display great athletes and the not so great at the same time so he can get a feel for who he should be competing (and winning) against. It's not comletely necessary in order for him to try out for BHS. If anything, at the Poly Camp, the BHS coaches will be watching out for him and how he does. It's a good oporitunity that way.

I know what you mean about Father's Day. I didn't even know it was next Sunday until after church hahaha. It was funny cuz we even had this thing where we ate food in the gym after the block to celebrate it. I was like, "Well, the Father's Day card will be a few days late, hope dad doesn't mind." Then the whole deal happens and Ybarra tells me that it's NEXT sunday but we had that thing because we have stake conference next week. So hey, I actually got a card out to someone not a couple days late, Good for me!! (The Lord provides!)

I love Houston's thing from the scriptures cuz it's kinda what I got out of it. Everyone's gonna burn--except if they use the atonement. We had a speaker come talk to us this past Tuesday at Zone Conference. He talked about how we need to put off the natural man (who is against God) in order to progress in this life. The natural man likes to be lazy, eat crappy food, party it up, get 19 on the ACT, etc...but doing everything the natural man will just get us a one way ticket to Hell. The Atonement is here for us to save us from that impending doom. Like it says in Mosiah 3:19, "...putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the Atonement of Christ..." I'm grateful for the mission because it gives us rules that pushes us towards that sainthood by doing things that the natural man would fight against. Wear boring clothes, go to bed at 10:30, wake up at 6:30, work all day, exercise, CONSTANTLY think of others, etc. It's very hard to do at first becuase all the rules seem lame, but it's all just how we overcome the natural man to obtain a higher plane of thinking in order to preach the gospel.

Like I said, we had Zone Conference this past Tuesday which was really great. We watched the talk that Elder Holland gave when I was in the MTC about missionary work. It was such a powerful talk--I loved it when he gave it in the MTC and I loved watching it again. The rest of the week has been pretty so-so. We're going to the court tomorrow to pay the money and get Juan and Emily's thing all figured out so that was great! (And now me and Morris are broke hahaha, but it's to save a soul!) We also met little boy whose Mom is an inactive member and his step dad isn't, but he wants to be baptized. We set a date for the 22nd of this month. Yay! Church we didn't have any investigators come, but we got Father's Day food...I'd probably have liked the investigators more haha.

As for the best thing, I'd say getting my tooth fixed haha! Sorry that happened, but the filling came out. Hope it wasn't a big hassle. I don't know which one Bree was but I'll tell her hi! As for the thing I need, this is random, but if could send me one of those 3D movie glasses if you just happen to have one of them lying around that'd be great!

Love all of you! Oh, and I don't understand why it's called "Bump Day" so i'm changing the name to "Krup Day."

Love, Elder Heimuli

Semana 25 - Car Fast Day (nothing like Fast Car Day)...Eastside Trailer Park...Collection for Juan...Uncle Sifa with hair?

Buenos dias!

Holy cow! Everyone looks so much older!!!! Harrison is looking more and more like me everyday...a super stud muffin! hahaha! First off, I will be sending pictures to your gmail account mom, so yeah.

From the sound of things you guys have been BUSY! It's a good thing everyone is out of school now! So is Hevynn done with high school now or what? Tell her to write me and tell me what's up! Houston better be getting ready to dominate in summer conditioning. I wish I was there to see it but hey, I'll be back soon enough yeah?

I'm not really sure what was the BEST thing that happened this week, so I'll just share some highlights and you guys can decide! The first part of my week was spent in Atlanta on exchanges with the Zone Leaders. I was up there just doing work with Elder Carpenter.

It can really make the missionaries' day to run into the perfect investigator who listens without interrupting...


Every day this past week it has been 98 degrees and hotter outside, and with humidity that's a huge punch in the face. The best part was that Wednesday was a car fast day (we have one every month designated by the Pres where we can't use the car all day) so we walked in the heat!

Carpenter and Heimuli on Car Fast Day


I felt like a missionary in South America...weird. While we were walking along the side of the road we hear this voice yelling from behind us, "You boys are far from home!" We were thinking, "Oh great, someone else that hates Mormons." When this car passes us, there is a guys hanging out of the passenger window with a Utah license plate in his hands. What the? Anyways, they pull over and we walk over and talk to them. They were both middle aged guys and both converts from Utah. They are working in Atlanta for an alarm system company. So they give us some cold bottled water (the lord provides!) and invite us to breakfast the following day. Pretty cool stuff. Most of our appointments fell through during the transfer, but hey, I'm used to it hahaha! I got back into Marietta on Thursday, but not before Carps and I walked from the MARTA station past the temple to the Liahona in the heat again!

C&H wiped out after a long day in the heat & humidity


Pretty big news here. You can look up the story on line, but in the Eastside Trailer Park (across the street from our house where we work everyday) there was a 16 year old kid who shot and killed his younger brother. We taught his mom a few times and we're actually good friends with his younger sister. It happened Wednesday night/Thursday morning and the kid ran away after. We were in the park all day Thursday talking to families and finding out what happened.

We're still working on the divorce situation with Juan. All the missionaries in the zone are giving some money and Morris and I will finish up the rest.

Elder Morris & Heimuli's collection for Juan


We're hoping to get everything wrapped up and Juan baptized this transfer. I've been working with this since I got here. A little frustrating sometimes haha.

As I've been reading the Isaiah chapters in the BoM, I realize that no matter how many times I read them, I'm still just as confused as the last time hahahahaha! Nephi relates the Isaiah chapters in the BoM again because they are so important for us in this day. Remember that when God repeats himself, we'd better be listening. Nephi constantly pushes us to keep to the word of God cuz that's the one thing that will guide us in a world of changing values. Amen:)

Well that's it for now. I love all you guys and pray for you always! Thanks for everything that you do for me, I know it's a lot!

--Love, Elder Heimuli

ps. I was looking through a book of church art and I came across a photo entitled 'Paying Tithing' or something like that taken in 1996. The thing that took me by surprise was that one of the men looked like Uncle Sifa...but with hair! haha I must be crazy:)

(Note from Mom: Elder H sent these pics just for fun!)

Elder Morris & Heimuli having dinner with a family (ahhh, Tampico!)


Elder Henderson & Heimuli (food critics) at the Varsity: "very expensive, not very good!"


Elder Benedict & Elder Heimuli starting a "friendly" game of indoor basketball (then WHY the helmets?!)


Well, no wonder! The ball is huge...deadly...dangerous...puh-leeze!