Semana 54 - Christmas, Wedding, Baptism

Yep, this may be a little short because I did just talk to you guys:)

[Note from Mom: We waited an hour for his call on Christmas morning. Hema & Norma came over before they had to head to the airport for one of their fun day trips -- this time, to San Diego. The rest of us were packed and ready to go to Hawaii. After we talked to Helam, we rushed to the airport only to find the flight overly full, so we switched last-minute plans and flew to San Diego, too. Our married ones met us there and we had a blast. The Mormon Battalion Visitors Center is amazing...and free...a must-see! The zoo, on the other hand? VERY expensive, but Harrison still loved it.]


The family at the Mormon Battalion Visitors Center. Harrison at the San Diego Zoo.

This week was really great! We didn't get as much done lessons wise because there was a lot of administrative work that we did this week, but hey, numbers don't matter. What matters is that Luis Figaroa was baptized last week!!! That day was crazy cuz there was so much we HAD to get done before the baptism. First of all I had to prepare a talk with very late notice and study 4 hours cuz I'm training. Then that afternoon, even though I'm not a DL, I was the one that interviewed Luis because everyone that could speak spanish taught him, including me. I was just the one that taught him the least amount of time haha. Not gonna lie, it was my first one so I was stressing a bit. If he would have surprised me with a deep dark secret during the interview I wouldn't know what to do...but it was all good haha. That night they got married, he was baptized and we had our branch christmas party all rolled into one.


This is what it's all about!

Christmas eve and christmas day we just spent the whole time house hopping. We had an appointment with members just about every hour and every appointment was to eat...oh man.


The missionaries enjoying Christmas Meal #5.

I survived and so did Padawan.


Elder Heimuli & Elder Bakes

The members here are so awesome and we also got a few gifts. I got this awsome sweater and beanie.



Nayeli bought us all these matching sweaters...except for mine.



She couldn't find a black one in my size, but I just figure she did it cuz I'm her favorite and she didn't want to let everyone else know. It was a good last christmas on the mish. I went out in style. ha.


Playing home-made ghetto ping pong -- creative.

Love you and I'll talk to ya'll later!

Love, Elder Heimuli

"The Lord Will Provide a Way"

Found this Elder Heimuli original on YouTube...cool.

Semana 53 - Padawan

Hey mom!

It's true, Prince headed up north! Transfers was kinda crazy cuz we were sure we were gonna stay together for one more but Charlesworth was called DL only 6 months out and I am still here and TRAINING!!!! What the weird?



I'm one of the youngest trainers in spanish for years hahaha so I didn't feel ready. It's going well though, haven't totally failed in spanish yet haha. My padawan's name is Elder Bakes. He makes my job easy, though, cuz he's not scared to talk and teach. Super legit.



So everything here is going great! We just had another investigator, Sonia, go with her 2 kids! Then we had Norma and her daughter! Rosana didn't go cuz her baby got sick the night before. She did tell us last monday that she wants to go every week cuz she knows it'll be good for her baby. So in total we had 4 inv. and 4 less active members attend! Yay! I just have a big testimony of service and that it goes a long way! In the meeting we had with Pres. Satterfield at transfers, Sis. Satterfield said, "you don't serve someone because you love them, but you love them because you've served them."

I have been really trying to serve everyone and I can truly say that I have a greater love for everyone here. It's a good thing I didn't get transfered or I'd be a wreck haha. God won't give us something we can't handle:)

So for calls this sunday we're gonna only go to sacrament which ends at 10:30. So I guess whenever is good for you guys after that I can call? Just let me know! And I'm just gonna call your phone this time?

Everything here is going well and I'm doing good! There's not too much to say since I'll be talking to ya'll here in a bit, and all there is to do is work, work work--but I just wanted to say that I love you mom! I love you all and I'm so happy I have such a great family! I'm so blessed!

Love, Elder Heimuli

Semana 52 - Hump Day, Half-way, 1 Year

This week has been so great!!! Which is a good thing cuz we have transfers this wednesday so we ended it in style! We are thinking that we won't be transfered but who knows, we get calls tonight so I'll let you guys know what happens later!

Anyways, I just wanna say thanks for the packages! I got all of them, I believe. I'll send a thank you to Grandpa and Grandma Murray soon. When I got the "Hump Day" one I kinda tripped out. It's been a year already?? It's SO INSANE how quickly time flies by!

First off, the lesson we had with Rosana and Silvana and their family Monday went great!! Thank you for your prayers. We met them with Nicolas and that first lesson Rosana commited to come to church! Her sister wanted to come too, but she couldn't because of work but said she will ask for the next Sunday off so she can come! That was Monday. Then we went over again thursday and taught them the BoM. They were all very interested and S said she would read it and everything by the next time we come over (which is tonight). Rosana was ready to go to church and everything, as long as we got her a ride. Gladly.

During the week we have been working with a lot of other potencials and formers. Had lots of good lessons and even found 9 new investigators this week!!!! We have worked so hard and this week we've seen some of the "fruits of our labor." It's really cool.

We were with N cuz he came with us to help teach someone, and we just asked him when his birthday was, then he said, "I turn 34 on...December 4th (which was two days prior to that)." We freaked out and were like, "You didn't even remember your own birthday?!" Haha he said no. No one did haha. So we told him we were having a party at his house in an hour. Prince and I made cupcakes for the kids and bought him a sweater!



Good time! I love that family!!!!



Sunday was so awsome! We had Rosana and her two month old baby come! The members were so cool and EVERYONE greeted her and asked how she was doing. We were both stressing about how she would feel in church but it went great! The teacher didn't even teach false doctrine in class either, so yay!!! I was just really happy cuz we had her, and the Flores family is committed to getting active. They were all there as well. A was there too, an excommunicated member who was ready to give up trying to re-join the church after last week. But we talked to him and had really spiritual lessons with him and now he is trying twice as hard. I just love missionary work and I can finally see why I'm out here!

Well, the weather is chilly here. Just in time for Santa.



We're doing great here and just excited to do the work. Prince and I don't wanna be transferred cuz we're doing such good work here. It's great. He says he finally feels like he belongs in this mission. I know how he feels. It's great out here.

I just love everyone here. I love the Church. I love the season and the Savior Jesus Christ. I love our investigators. I love the members. I love my companion. And I love all of you at home!!! Take care and I'll let you know about calls, Mom!!

Love, Elder Heimuli

Semana 51 - December Already?

Hey mom!

I love you!!!

Wow, is it December already? It's hard to remember because it just seems like Fall over here haha. No snow! I'm SO happy about that, but the cold is kind of a killer. It hasn't been too bad the last week, so we'll see what happens later in the month. And i'm almost half way done too. Yep, it's flying by and it worries me a bit to tell you the truth. All I can do is work even harder, like Dad says yeah?

Thanks for the package and all the shaving stuff, man, I needed it. I felt I was shaving off my skin rather than my facial hair. But I got all the letters and I loved them! I'll be sure to write back to everyone.

Quick story: So one night last week we were at a dinner appointment and we were about to leave, then we realized we didn't leave with a spiritual thought. We felt impressed to do that first. So we shared the thought and got home a little late. When we got home, we got out of the car and there were these two ladies carrying a mattress. We ran over and offered to take it from them. Found out they were from Uruguay and their ceiling collapsed so they were moving everything from their apartment to one clear across the complex. They didn't own a car, so they called a taxi to help them move their stuff. Well, we told them that we could put their things in our car so they didn't have to pay for a taxi and then we carried all their furniture for them as well. The lady just had a baby 2 months ago as well. We moved everything and they were so grateful. They tried to give us money but we declined everytime, so they INSISTED that they at least feed us dinner, so we are going over tonight to do that and share our message. Pray for us!

Church was good. We didn't have any investigators but we did have 3 less actives, and Nicolas Flores came and he drove himself! Despite his back problem he still came. That shows me that he is changing and more willing to do what is needed in order to go to the temple. We had a good lesson with Nicolas and his family and then we cut Ivan's hair into a mullet cuz we thought he'd look super cool...and we were right! He's so cute and pretty much one of my best friends out here!


Cute, huh? One of my favorite 'chamacos' out here!


Just us cutting I's hair. I was trying to get him to get the hair out of his mouth so he wouldn't eat it.

So yes, everything out here is good and I am excited to be doing the Lord's work! The more time goes by, the more I realize that I love all the people here so much, and that one day I'll be gone. So Charlesworth and I try our best to do whatever we can to make all their lives just a little bit better.

I love you mom and all you guys at home! I'll see you in a year but it may be a bittersweet kind of deal, ha. Just ask Hema.

Love, Elder Heimuli