Dear my favorite family
Well, the end of another transfer and the calls come tonight. We're all pretty sure that I'm leaving cuz we have 6 spanish missionaries coming in and Stockman is projected to train. I'm a little sad but we find out for sure tomorrow. I have loved this branch and this area so much!
It's been a very growing transfer for me and I have a lot of people here that have helped me is so many ways! Other than that I am, "happy but never content," as we all should be in life. I'm happy with where I am at the moment, but I constantly strive to be better. This is the counsel that Elder Clarke of The Seventy gave us.
The weather here is really cold in the mornings, but around the afternoon it heats up to where we usually can't stand to wear our suitcoats, but we'll see how long that lasts haha. As for the food situation, I really am ok. You actually don't need much food to survive hahaha I'm kidding, but if you feel you need to send something, I wouldn't be against it:)
So, this week was a little shorter than usual--be it that I wrote Wednesday--so not too much has gone on. We prayed very hard this week to find out what we could do to help start up the area. As you probably know, we haven't really had too much success recently and this past week all of our investigators dropped completely. So now we have an empty pool hahaha! It's ok, cuz we have been working hard with the less actives in our area and we now feel that them and the members are key. So pray for the members and less actives in our area, please, that they'll have friends that are searching for the gospel. Other than that, our "former" investigator L (now Stone Mtn's) is progressing fine. He and K came to church and that was really exciting! Other than that our week was full of good bye pictures and farewell dinners and even a birthday party.
I don't know too much info on Elder Jones and his homecoming. I can try to find out more so we'll see, but yes he is going home this wednesday. I'm getting old!
I was studying the talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks titled, "Desire." Where he talks about the important role desire has in what we become. He says desires turn into thoughts, which dictate our priorities, which shape our choices, and then turn into actions, and THOSE ACTIONS DEFINE WHO WE ARE. We must always strive to have righteous desires, because they ultimately lead to our becoming. To really change our desires Elder Oaks suggests that visualizing what you can become, will give you that strong desire to reach that goal. We are all sons and daughters of heavenly parents. We can become like them. We can live for eternity with our family, friends and loved ones in infinite happiness...and the first step to reaching that goal is desiring it. As we constantly look towards what we MAY become, we will shape our lives in righteous ways to achieve it. Something like that. Ok, so I just decided that I speak confusingly in Spanish AND English now hahaha!
Thank you for all the prayers and support. Please pray for me as well that I may constantly have an 'eternal perspective' as I work. Love you all and I'll talk to you later!
Luv, E. Heimuli
ATLANTA GEORGIA TEMPLE
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Semana 45 - P-Day, Pumpkins, Persevere
Dear mom,
First off, I apologize for not writing on Monday, but I have a very good excuse: it wasn't P-day hahahaha! I am writing you today because we switched our p-day from monday to wednesday so we could go to the temple today. We JUST finished a session and it was great. Crazy that's been almost a year since I've been in the temple to do a session. Sorry for the bummer Monday ha.
Anyways, it's great to hear from you guys. Since we didn't have p-day on monday my internal clock's been out of whack. I thought yesterday was friday all day! It felt like just one, big, long, week. It's great.
I'll fill you in on the happenings starting monday...
As you heard, we had dinner with the Huckabys last monday and got to participate in their FHE. It was super fun! We ate super good food, had a lesson by us missionaries, and carved pumpkins (while eating super good desert).
(This little guy is too adorable...even with his messy pumpkin hands)
We were split up into 3 teams, but I think Stockman cheated cuz his partner was the "pumpkin judge" haha.
For the record, me and my partner had the COOLEST pumpkin--not just the "cleanest/best smelling" one.
Earlier this week we lost Luis who had a baptismal date...to the Stone Mountain Elders! We realized last week that he actually lives in the Stone Mountain area and not ours so we had to hand him over to them...sad. But Stone Mountain is still in our branch so that's still cool. We can still go to the baptism and see them at church.
You guys can pray for Jose, who is a guy we've been working with for a while but has been making progress. These last few weeks we've had pretty solid lessons with him but we need to see him more frequently. Like many others, he works a TON and is usually not there for the first appointment we set with him. We have to drop by a few times until we actually find him at home. He's really cool and humble though.
This whole week has been pretty lame on lessons. We thought we'd get a whole bunch cuz we planned to find all week--ask for referrals, knock, whatever we can. But it's super hard to find trailer parks or complexes here in this area (besides where we live) and more around the temple. We just keep finding neighborhoods with giant houses full of rich people...the opposite of what we want, haha. And when we did find some Spanish-speakers they either didn't wanna talk to us, or lied to our faces that they would be home for another appointment.
But the best thing that happened this week? JUAN GOT MARRIED AND BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!
Yessir, you heard me right. My beloved Garcia family is now fully Mormon.
On Saturday, Stockman and I had a busy day. First we went to a baptism for the Sisters that was great, and Stockman and I shared the story of The Restoration in English! Talk about STRESS. And I was the one who had to share the First Vision by memory. It's hard when I've never EVER had it memorized in English, and the Spanish version is all mixed up. It went good, though. Then we bounced quickly over to M to go to Juan and Emily's wedding, which they held in the chapel. There were SO MANY missionaries there and it's really amazing how many people were actually involved in Juan's conversion.
(Note from Mom: Wish I could name all the missionaries who worked with Juan...but I can't. Here L to R: Anderson, ____, ____, Heimuli, ____, Stockman, Luis, Emily, Garcia daughters, Jones, Carpenter, Charlesworth, ____).
It was really great and then immediately after they were married, Juan wanted to be baptized ASAP. When the service started, I was asked to translate for a lady who only spoke english. Talk about more stress than the first vision. It was my first time translating too, but they said I did good. The baptism was so awsome!
Me and Jones (my trainer) were so excited when he was dunked, we almost jumped up, screamed, and gave each other high fives--but we refrained and settled for girly squeals of joy.
Time moves by pretty quickly out here in the mission. My dad (Jones) dies next wednesday and it seems just like yesterday I was a greenie struggling with spanish.
(Looking back to when Helam was a greenie, with Ramon and Elder Jones)
Now I'm ten months old and still struggling with it, hahaha). The mission is really fascinating and scary. It makes me reflect on the sadness and joy i've experienced and will yet experience. A mini-life is what i've heard it called, and the one thing that needs to be done in life (and in a mini-life) is PERSEVERE. From all the things I've been hearing from home, the happy and the sad, that same thought comes to my head: what needs to be done is persevere. There is a quote by Pres. Monson that says, "Faith is always pointed to the future." We all know what our goal is: Eternal Life. Now the only thing that needs to be done is persevere. Despite challenges, sadness, or other obstacles, we MUST persevere in faith towards our Heavenly Father who is waiting for us with His arms extended. Tell everyone I love them. The family, Pres. Gordon, and others.
I'm doing perfectly fine out here! Thanks so much for your support and prayers. It really does help. The weather is a bit warmer now, so it's all good:)
--Elder Heimuli
ps. pics are coming
First off, I apologize for not writing on Monday, but I have a very good excuse: it wasn't P-day hahahaha! I am writing you today because we switched our p-day from monday to wednesday so we could go to the temple today. We JUST finished a session and it was great. Crazy that's been almost a year since I've been in the temple to do a session. Sorry for the bummer Monday ha.
Anyways, it's great to hear from you guys. Since we didn't have p-day on monday my internal clock's been out of whack. I thought yesterday was friday all day! It felt like just one, big, long, week. It's great.
I'll fill you in on the happenings starting monday...
As you heard, we had dinner with the Huckabys last monday and got to participate in their FHE. It was super fun! We ate super good food, had a lesson by us missionaries, and carved pumpkins (while eating super good desert).
(This little guy is too adorable...even with his messy pumpkin hands)
We were split up into 3 teams, but I think Stockman cheated cuz his partner was the "pumpkin judge" haha.
For the record, me and my partner had the COOLEST pumpkin--not just the "cleanest/best smelling" one.
Earlier this week we lost Luis who had a baptismal date...to the Stone Mountain Elders! We realized last week that he actually lives in the Stone Mountain area and not ours so we had to hand him over to them...sad. But Stone Mountain is still in our branch so that's still cool. We can still go to the baptism and see them at church.
You guys can pray for Jose, who is a guy we've been working with for a while but has been making progress. These last few weeks we've had pretty solid lessons with him but we need to see him more frequently. Like many others, he works a TON and is usually not there for the first appointment we set with him. We have to drop by a few times until we actually find him at home. He's really cool and humble though.
This whole week has been pretty lame on lessons. We thought we'd get a whole bunch cuz we planned to find all week--ask for referrals, knock, whatever we can. But it's super hard to find trailer parks or complexes here in this area (besides where we live) and more around the temple. We just keep finding neighborhoods with giant houses full of rich people...the opposite of what we want, haha. And when we did find some Spanish-speakers they either didn't wanna talk to us, or lied to our faces that they would be home for another appointment.
But the best thing that happened this week? JUAN GOT MARRIED AND BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!
Yessir, you heard me right. My beloved Garcia family is now fully Mormon.
On Saturday, Stockman and I had a busy day. First we went to a baptism for the Sisters that was great, and Stockman and I shared the story of The Restoration in English! Talk about STRESS. And I was the one who had to share the First Vision by memory. It's hard when I've never EVER had it memorized in English, and the Spanish version is all mixed up. It went good, though. Then we bounced quickly over to M to go to Juan and Emily's wedding, which they held in the chapel. There were SO MANY missionaries there and it's really amazing how many people were actually involved in Juan's conversion.
(Note from Mom: Wish I could name all the missionaries who worked with Juan...but I can't. Here L to R: Anderson, ____, ____, Heimuli, ____, Stockman, Luis, Emily, Garcia daughters, Jones, Carpenter, Charlesworth, ____).
It was really great and then immediately after they were married, Juan wanted to be baptized ASAP. When the service started, I was asked to translate for a lady who only spoke english. Talk about more stress than the first vision. It was my first time translating too, but they said I did good. The baptism was so awsome!
Me and Jones (my trainer) were so excited when he was dunked, we almost jumped up, screamed, and gave each other high fives--but we refrained and settled for girly squeals of joy.
Time moves by pretty quickly out here in the mission. My dad (Jones) dies next wednesday and it seems just like yesterday I was a greenie struggling with spanish.
(Looking back to when Helam was a greenie, with Ramon and Elder Jones)
Now I'm ten months old and still struggling with it, hahaha). The mission is really fascinating and scary. It makes me reflect on the sadness and joy i've experienced and will yet experience. A mini-life is what i've heard it called, and the one thing that needs to be done in life (and in a mini-life) is PERSEVERE. From all the things I've been hearing from home, the happy and the sad, that same thought comes to my head: what needs to be done is persevere. There is a quote by Pres. Monson that says, "Faith is always pointed to the future." We all know what our goal is: Eternal Life. Now the only thing that needs to be done is persevere. Despite challenges, sadness, or other obstacles, we MUST persevere in faith towards our Heavenly Father who is waiting for us with His arms extended. Tell everyone I love them. The family, Pres. Gordon, and others.
I'm doing perfectly fine out here! Thanks so much for your support and prayers. It really does help. The weather is a bit warmer now, so it's all good:)
--Elder Heimuli
ps. pics are coming
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Semana 44 - Blisters, Maps, Conversions
Hi mom!
I'm doing good and everything is still moving along here. Not as well as we'd like, but it's going as well as God likes, hahaha.
Our zone sports day went well. We played a big game of soccer, then rugby, then football. By the time we got to football I was SO tired! We had about 30 missionaries and it was really fun! It rained the ENTIRE time we were there haha. The weather held until we got to the park, then it poured non stop until about 8 that night, it was great! It felt more like we were swimming than running. I did make the mistake of buying brand new cleats the morning of, so I had a couple nice blisters and a pretty pronounced limp to go along with it.
A lot of our time this week was spent making our map of the area. We pin up our investigators, members, and potential investigators. It takes hours to do. We're still not completely done but we're getting there. The map is useful for visualizing the areas we can work in throughout the day as not to waste miles and time.
As for investigators, we haven't had much success. There were a couple families that we found and seemed really great but they never answer the doors again haha. This week an English elder came on exchanges with me (again) so that meant I had to teach all by myself for a few days. It's a great experience but very overwhelming. We went by Luis' house and gave a blessing to him and his girlfriend. Then we taught them how to bless their house. I guess Casey felt like there was a weird spirit in the house and recently they've been feeling contentious and stuff like that. We talked with them later in the week, and they were feeling better and decided that they're getting married the 1st of December and we set up a date for his baptism for the 3rd. Those are for next transfer and we're all positive I'm being transferred. Just my luck, right?
So, as for the "conversion story" I don't know if I'm gonna have a crazy one any time soon, but I don't really expect them cuz God doesn't work like that...too often. He is more of a "step by step" kind of guy. The conversions I have heard of or seen have been progressive things. Even in Ramon's case, I found out my last transfer in Marietta that he was actually a former investigator of Elder Henderson's when Henderson was in Marietta as a greenie...almost two years earlier. He didn't just fall out of the sky and into the font. The Lord prepared him and he was converted through the Spirit over time. There is that scripture in Alma 25 (?) that talks about how the Lamanites that were converted by Ammon were converted by the Spirit and for that, they stayed firm in the gospel. Even though what I witnessed with Ramon was a quick, he-obeyed-everything-we-taught-him experience, he was actually shown the gospel earlier and the Lord worked with him over a period of months and years up until the point he was finally spiritually converted and told us he wanted to be baptized.
Thank you so much for the shoes, shirts and packages! You guys are the greatest! Oh, and before I forget, How is Ben Heimuli doing? I've been thinking about him a lot. How is his family doing? Can you tell them that I say hi, and I love them, and I pray for them? Has my cousin decided on the mission yet?
Yes, mom, we're eating at members' homes:) Don't worry about me! And we're going over to Berwynn's granddaughters house tonight to eat and teach a lesson in their FHE. It's gonna be good!
Anyways, I love you all and I hope you all have a good week!
--Elder Heimuli
(Note from Mom: I received a wonderful email from Berwyn's granddaughter Emily with pics of her family and the elders' Monday night dinner/family home evening/pumpkin-carving contest! Her oldest daughter and Elder Stockman took the "best-lit" pumpkin award, while her youngest son and Elder Heimuli won "cleanest/best-smelling" pumpkin (not too many years ago, Helam never would have won a "cleanest/best-smelling" award...I'm so proud).
I'm doing good and everything is still moving along here. Not as well as we'd like, but it's going as well as God likes, hahaha.
Our zone sports day went well. We played a big game of soccer, then rugby, then football. By the time we got to football I was SO tired! We had about 30 missionaries and it was really fun! It rained the ENTIRE time we were there haha. The weather held until we got to the park, then it poured non stop until about 8 that night, it was great! It felt more like we were swimming than running. I did make the mistake of buying brand new cleats the morning of, so I had a couple nice blisters and a pretty pronounced limp to go along with it.
A lot of our time this week was spent making our map of the area. We pin up our investigators, members, and potential investigators. It takes hours to do. We're still not completely done but we're getting there. The map is useful for visualizing the areas we can work in throughout the day as not to waste miles and time.
As for investigators, we haven't had much success. There were a couple families that we found and seemed really great but they never answer the doors again haha. This week an English elder came on exchanges with me (again) so that meant I had to teach all by myself for a few days. It's a great experience but very overwhelming. We went by Luis' house and gave a blessing to him and his girlfriend. Then we taught them how to bless their house. I guess Casey felt like there was a weird spirit in the house and recently they've been feeling contentious and stuff like that. We talked with them later in the week, and they were feeling better and decided that they're getting married the 1st of December and we set up a date for his baptism for the 3rd. Those are for next transfer and we're all positive I'm being transferred. Just my luck, right?
So, as for the "conversion story" I don't know if I'm gonna have a crazy one any time soon, but I don't really expect them cuz God doesn't work like that...too often. He is more of a "step by step" kind of guy. The conversions I have heard of or seen have been progressive things. Even in Ramon's case, I found out my last transfer in Marietta that he was actually a former investigator of Elder Henderson's when Henderson was in Marietta as a greenie...almost two years earlier. He didn't just fall out of the sky and into the font. The Lord prepared him and he was converted through the Spirit over time. There is that scripture in Alma 25 (?) that talks about how the Lamanites that were converted by Ammon were converted by the Spirit and for that, they stayed firm in the gospel. Even though what I witnessed with Ramon was a quick, he-obeyed-everything-we-taught-him experience, he was actually shown the gospel earlier and the Lord worked with him over a period of months and years up until the point he was finally spiritually converted and told us he wanted to be baptized.
Thank you so much for the shoes, shirts and packages! You guys are the greatest! Oh, and before I forget, How is Ben Heimuli doing? I've been thinking about him a lot. How is his family doing? Can you tell them that I say hi, and I love them, and I pray for them? Has my cousin decided on the mission yet?
Yes, mom, we're eating at members' homes:) Don't worry about me! And we're going over to Berwynn's granddaughters house tonight to eat and teach a lesson in their FHE. It's gonna be good!
Anyways, I love you all and I hope you all have a good week!
--Elder Heimuli
(Note from Mom: I received a wonderful email from Berwyn's granddaughter Emily with pics of her family and the elders' Monday night dinner/family home evening/pumpkin-carving contest! Her oldest daughter and Elder Stockman took the "best-lit" pumpkin award, while her youngest son and Elder Heimuli won "cleanest/best-smelling" pumpkin (not too many years ago, Helam never would have won a "cleanest/best-smelling" award...I'm so proud).
Monday, October 10, 2011
Semana 43 - Columbus Day, Surprise Contact, Back to M-town
Yeah, it surprised me that the libraries were open today as well. I guess people here don't believe in Christopher Columbus...haha. Maybe a bit like how some don't believe people need to actually keep the commandments to be saved. Weird.
Anyways...I'm doing great! The sun is shining and it is another p-day! We're gonna go play sports today as a zone so that's really exciting. Especially since I haven't exercised in a transfer and a half, and you can tell.
This week has been good. We find some investigators and we lose them. We still have our couple semi-solid ones. There hasn't been much progression, but we are still working with them. We're still waiting for Luis to see if he is gonna marry his gf so we can set a date, but we didn't see him all this week. We got in to see Jose and he is progressing once again. We didn't teach an actual lesson to Francisco this week, but saw him on the street once. So pray for them.
We're still working hard every day. One day we got a referral from Chamblee elders and we decided to go contact it. When we knocked on the door, we were shocked when Tony answered! He is 18 and lives where Stockman and I both served before. I thought I'd never see him again, and the night I left he wasn't in town so I didn't get a picture with him. But there he was and we were both speechless! I was so happy and all of us just started talking. His dad and brother both live there. The referral was from his sister in law. So now we're gonna go by and teach them! Super cool and I was so happy!
Saturday we went to another DIA DE LAS NACIONES but this time back in Marietta! How awesome! Stockman and I were so excited to go and see everyone! Pretty sure one of my happiest moments was just seeing everyone I knew and talking to them.
(Guess this is Elder H's happy face? Hm.)
It felt like I was home! Everyone was doing great! J has a date for this Saturday but is still waiting to see if the divorce went through. He'll hear word back today. The coolest thing was that there was a lady there named Margarita. She was an investigator I found and taught and she was really awesome. We later fell out of contact cuz her machista boyfriend came back and he didn't like us. Anyways, she recognized me and we started talking and she is getting baptized with her son on the 22nd! Oh man, I was SO happy! One cuz she still knew me and two cuz she is finally getting baptized! I knew she was a good one!
That's all really. Our area is still trucking, slowly, but at least the work is progressing in the world. Well, that's all for now, I'm gonna send pics in an email.
Love you!
Elder Heimuli
Anyways...I'm doing great! The sun is shining and it is another p-day! We're gonna go play sports today as a zone so that's really exciting. Especially since I haven't exercised in a transfer and a half, and you can tell.
This week has been good. We find some investigators and we lose them. We still have our couple semi-solid ones. There hasn't been much progression, but we are still working with them. We're still waiting for Luis to see if he is gonna marry his gf so we can set a date, but we didn't see him all this week. We got in to see Jose and he is progressing once again. We didn't teach an actual lesson to Francisco this week, but saw him on the street once. So pray for them.
We're still working hard every day. One day we got a referral from Chamblee elders and we decided to go contact it. When we knocked on the door, we were shocked when Tony answered! He is 18 and lives where Stockman and I both served before. I thought I'd never see him again, and the night I left he wasn't in town so I didn't get a picture with him. But there he was and we were both speechless! I was so happy and all of us just started talking. His dad and brother both live there. The referral was from his sister in law. So now we're gonna go by and teach them! Super cool and I was so happy!
Saturday we went to another DIA DE LAS NACIONES but this time back in Marietta! How awesome! Stockman and I were so excited to go and see everyone! Pretty sure one of my happiest moments was just seeing everyone I knew and talking to them.
(Guess this is Elder H's happy face? Hm.)
It felt like I was home! Everyone was doing great! J has a date for this Saturday but is still waiting to see if the divorce went through. He'll hear word back today. The coolest thing was that there was a lady there named Margarita. She was an investigator I found and taught and she was really awesome. We later fell out of contact cuz her machista boyfriend came back and he didn't like us. Anyways, she recognized me and we started talking and she is getting baptized with her son on the 22nd! Oh man, I was SO happy! One cuz she still knew me and two cuz she is finally getting baptized! I knew she was a good one!
That's all really. Our area is still trucking, slowly, but at least the work is progressing in the world. Well, that's all for now, I'm gonna send pics in an email.
Love you!
Elder Heimuli
Monday, October 3, 2011
Semana 42 - Conference, Marshmallows, Polys
Hi mom and family!
I decided to recount my week backwards. So I have to agree that conference was amazing this weekend. I can't tell you how many things I learn now that I actually watch it! It's great! Since all of the talks were so great, it's hard to pick a favorite. I did my questions again this Conference and every single one of my concerns were answered. I know it shouldn't, but it surprises me every time I do it and it builds my testimony that God really loves us. He knows our problems and the challenges we face and he tells us the answers through our prophets and other leaders of the church. Like the words of President Uchtdorf, "Our Heavenly Father is the most powerful being in all of the universes and he loves you." ...or something to that extent. I know that's true. I have more light and direction in my mission and my life.
I did get the package! We swung over to pick it up as we headed over to the saturday morning session. I actually got it a couple days before but we were out of miles and had to walk everywhere. Thank you so much Hevynn for the chex, and mom and dad for the letters and the food! ESPECIALLY the letters! The shoes are great too, of course I want them! I just didn't want to get them dirty and ruined like my other ones...but I busted 'em out just for conference--I was lookin' good haha!
In between sessions on Saturday we went to a little girls' birthday (I forgot her name...) and that was fun. It's ok that I forgot her name cuz she's not in my area haha. There they had these GIANT marshmallows and I tried to see how many I could fit into my mouth at once, without chewing, and I only got 2!
They were as big as my face! The Sunday session we just all got together (8 of us) and cooked a bunch of spam, rice, eggs, and corned beef. Oh yeah, I'm converting everyone in the mission into polys.
Speaking of Polys, here's Elder Kivalu, Elder H, Sister Havili, Sister Nansen and Elder Lauese
Stockman and I were hoping to see a couple people at Conference but no luck. We spent the last half of the week walking and tracting and inviting our little hearts out. We know that if someone hears the prophet speak, there's no WAY they won't know he is sent from God. But yeah, no one came. It's ok though, cuz that meant I could watch conference in english and I get a lot more out of it that way.
Luis gave us a scare cuz he's been canceling his appointments with us for the past week and a half, but we finally did see him last night and he's doing good. He watched conference in another ward and he really liked the talk about the BoM. He knows it's true now haha! We need to work on his marriage but once that happens we'll have a date. Other than that we have a couple ok investigators but we are still trying to find the elite! I want a good story to tell Harrison...maybe he can just tell MY conversion story, cuz that's the biggest one i've witnessed out here. It's cool, I'll find one.
Besides that our week has been a little iffy, but super great. I'm so blessed to be out here and learning the things I am! I love it--the good and the bad!
I just barely destroyed my running shoes this morning playing basketball so I think I need other ones. But please don't go and buy brand new ones, I feel bad. Go to DI and grab some 5 buck ones and that would be AMAZING! Besides that, just send me your love! Well, here's me sending my love! (and pics in a little bit...)
--Elder Heimuli
General Conference broadcast: Elder Kivalu (from Tonga) and Elder Heimuli (from Utah)
I decided to recount my week backwards. So I have to agree that conference was amazing this weekend. I can't tell you how many things I learn now that I actually watch it! It's great! Since all of the talks were so great, it's hard to pick a favorite. I did my questions again this Conference and every single one of my concerns were answered. I know it shouldn't, but it surprises me every time I do it and it builds my testimony that God really loves us. He knows our problems and the challenges we face and he tells us the answers through our prophets and other leaders of the church. Like the words of President Uchtdorf, "Our Heavenly Father is the most powerful being in all of the universes and he loves you." ...or something to that extent. I know that's true. I have more light and direction in my mission and my life.
I did get the package! We swung over to pick it up as we headed over to the saturday morning session. I actually got it a couple days before but we were out of miles and had to walk everywhere. Thank you so much Hevynn for the chex, and mom and dad for the letters and the food! ESPECIALLY the letters! The shoes are great too, of course I want them! I just didn't want to get them dirty and ruined like my other ones...but I busted 'em out just for conference--I was lookin' good haha!
In between sessions on Saturday we went to a little girls' birthday (I forgot her name...) and that was fun. It's ok that I forgot her name cuz she's not in my area haha. There they had these GIANT marshmallows and I tried to see how many I could fit into my mouth at once, without chewing, and I only got 2!
They were as big as my face! The Sunday session we just all got together (8 of us) and cooked a bunch of spam, rice, eggs, and corned beef. Oh yeah, I'm converting everyone in the mission into polys.
Speaking of Polys, here's Elder Kivalu, Elder H, Sister Havili, Sister Nansen and Elder Lauese
Stockman and I were hoping to see a couple people at Conference but no luck. We spent the last half of the week walking and tracting and inviting our little hearts out. We know that if someone hears the prophet speak, there's no WAY they won't know he is sent from God. But yeah, no one came. It's ok though, cuz that meant I could watch conference in english and I get a lot more out of it that way.
Luis gave us a scare cuz he's been canceling his appointments with us for the past week and a half, but we finally did see him last night and he's doing good. He watched conference in another ward and he really liked the talk about the BoM. He knows it's true now haha! We need to work on his marriage but once that happens we'll have a date. Other than that we have a couple ok investigators but we are still trying to find the elite! I want a good story to tell Harrison...maybe he can just tell MY conversion story, cuz that's the biggest one i've witnessed out here. It's cool, I'll find one.
Besides that our week has been a little iffy, but super great. I'm so blessed to be out here and learning the things I am! I love it--the good and the bad!
I just barely destroyed my running shoes this morning playing basketball so I think I need other ones. But please don't go and buy brand new ones, I feel bad. Go to DI and grab some 5 buck ones and that would be AMAZING! Besides that, just send me your love! Well, here's me sending my love! (and pics in a little bit...)
--Elder Heimuli
General Conference broadcast: Elder Kivalu (from Tonga) and Elder Heimuli (from Utah)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)