Semana 67 - I just knocked out

Oh man, this week the pollen has been KILLING me!!! I don't know if you know, but spring here in georgia is crazy! The first couple weeks of spring we practically have pollen storms out here haha. The cars, streets, houses, EVERYTHING is covered with a blanket of pollen. It's all just yellow. I don't know how allergies are for you, but I'm constantly sneezing, I get huge headaches and I can't breathe thorough my nose haha! It's fantastic!


(Makes you wanna sneeze just looking at this pic, right?)

I usually don't like taking medicine, but a few days ago it was so bad I finally broke down and took some benadryl. Then, I tried to keep working...but that didn't happen haha. We were teaching the Flores fam and I just knocked out. Elder Thomas taught the whole thing! It's good for him to practice his spanish, haha. I guess it was funny cuz I woke up and said some crazy stuff and then went back to sleep! The kids thought it was so funny! Since then I haven't taken any meds and I'm just suffering, but the pollen should be done this week.


(Thomas & Heimuli at the F fam house before Heimuli went into a benadryl-induced stupor)

E Thomas and I are doing great. We're getting along and just doing work here! This week has been kinda slower. L canceled his appointment with us this week and I haven't heard from him since, but I keep praying for him. Maybe we can talk to him this week. We've dropped a few of our investigators and are just trying to start over. It's a long process but it is what it is.

Church was great though! Luis didn't come and neither did the Flores or Ramirez families...but Norma and her daughter Athina came!!!! Athina is 15 and super cool! She reminds me SO MUCH of Hevynn--super sarcastic, funny and kinda mean to her younger siblings (kinda?) but you can tell she really loves them:) I was so happy because her and her mom are in a weird situation but are so close to being baptized! Can you pray for them?


(Athing blast from the past with Athina at her quincinera when Elder H was companion to Prince)

Things are just moving along here, and the time is starting to pick up...a little scary for me, haha! I was on exchanges with my ZL Elder Landsaw this week from Bountiful, and he goes home in a couple weeks! That was weird cuz I remember when he picked me up from the airport when he was AP. Time flies!!!!

I didn't get the package cuz they didn't deliver it to the house, but I'm gonna go pick it up from the post office right now! Thank you so much!

I'm super excited for General Conference this weekend! I hope you guys are too! I love you mom and tell everyone else I love and pray for them!

--E. Heimuli

Semana 66 - Hot Week

Holy cow, it's been a HOT week! Try mid to high 80's hahaha. And of course, this is the week where we've had to walk a lot because we don't have that many miles left:) It's been a really busy week filled with lots of walking and tracting to find. Being able to work all day is such a BIG blessing for me becuase my area has been a little slow for a long while, but Elder Thomas just came from an area that was booming with investigators. He was packed with set appointments every day for 3 transfers, so that means he hadn't spent much time tracting and contacting...spoiled hahaha. He's a trooper cuz he just keeps trucking along with me even though he's dying of thirst or getting rejected all day or sweating waterfalls down his face. This area is the best haha!!!

We have started to see that hard work pay off. We are getting some solid investigators now and dropping the ones who have no interest. We have found some formers who are cool and we are also trying to help the less active families kick it into gear.

Want to know the BEST thing that happened this week? Yesterday we weren't expecting too many great things to happen at church cuz Mireya wasn't home yesterday and our other investigators just didn't have time to come, as well as some less actives--I was just excited for the 3 hours of rest. When sacrament started I got a text from Luis Soriano (an investigator that I've had since I got to Chamblee and I've been trying to get him to go to church, but it's never happened) who we haven't talked to for weeks, asked us what time church starts. I thought that was weird, but answered him. He said he'd try to come, but I was skeptical after he's told us that so many times. Sacrament ended and he never showed. After sacrament meeting I was sitting in the back talking to I and just enjoying my time when this guy walks past whom I recognize--it was Luis!!!! I was shocked but so happy! He came in a taxi (which is expensive!). Long story short...ish: he was very interested about the priesthood and wants to know more so he's coming back next week! But we'll find him a ride so he'll have some money to live on.

We are starting up family home evenings with the less actives here and I would really love some good activity ideas! Your FHE's sound super fun and that's exactly what we need cuz a lot of the less active families have young children or teenagers.

Everything is going really well out here, mom. Thanks so much for everything! We're just busy busy busy (I even forgot it was St. Patricks Day ha...but not my 15 month  mission b-day hehehe). I don't need anything as of now.

I love you and the whole family! Talk to ya'll later!

--Elder Heimuli

Semana 65 - Same Place, Different Companion

Hey mom!

It looks like I have lots of stuff to write you today, so I'll be writing fast!

It's true that Bakes left and went up to Cartersville with Prince, so that's means I am still here in the Chamblee area and starting my 4th transfer! My new companion is Elder Thomas from Bear Lake, ID. It's funny cuz he was in Stone Mountain area (which is still in the Chamblee branch) and just jumped over here.


Elder Thomas & Elder Heimuli

Elder Klus came back to the branch too so now we have 4 missionaries who just jump around but stay in the branch.

We don't have very many progressing investigators and we are just deciding to start over and just find a whole bunch this transfer. So pray for us.


Knocking...

But, this week we had a really cool experience. We were just working as usual and we had nothing special planned. Thomas and I just thought we'd knock and look for some potencial investigators. We are just doing our thing and I recognize this lady outside so I go up to talk to her and I find out it's Mireya! Mireya is an investigator that we had my first transfer here in this area and she had a baptismal date, but then disappeared after two weeks. Well, we talked to her and found out she still wants to be baptized! She just moved and had no way to contact us! So now we are working with her! Crazy, yeah?

These past few weeks we've had these two visa waiters in our branch, Elder Harrison and Elder Buxton. Both from Utah.


Visa waiters Harrison & Buxton on their way to Argentina!

They're both super awsome and funny, but they are leaving for Argentina today so last night we snapped some pictures at dinner with a member last night.

My feelings about being here on a mission in Atlanta? I LOVE it! I've got everything here! I am learning spanish. I drive a car. I have running water and heat/ac. The mail system is great. I get to preach the gospel. I get to see all the many different ways people try to avoid us as we are walking down the street. The people here already believe in Jesus. I get to see the surprised faces they make when my white comp starts speaking spanish (they all think I'm mexican here, so none of that for me). And there are still MORE!

Besides all that I am just grateful for my mission. I am growing so fast and learning so many things. This is why I came out, because I saw the example of those who served and how they matured, and I wanted to be like them. Plus, learning a second language is a big persuasion haha. Really, I can't describe how it's blessed me cuz I still don't know all the ways my mission has blessed or will bless me.



I know that I am so glad I'm out here and am part of the Lord's work. Yeah, it's hard most times, but thank you all for your prayers and other ways you have supported me and my family! You guys are the greatest and I love ya'll!

--Elder Heimuli


Elder Benedict "Beni" and Elder Heimuli

Semana 64 - Burning, Explosion, Tornado

Hey Mom!

I'm doing good, and padawan is doing good. We're just wrapping up our last couple days of the transfer. It's really weird that Morris is going home already haha. But, we're sure that I'm gone, so I'll be sure to let you guys know where. I LOVE this area here, but I am wanting a bit of change.

Yesterday was my last day of the 12 week training program, our last day of studying for 4 hours, and I am so happy! Now we can just WORK instead of train! To celebrate, I burned the program...





but Stockman predicted that since I did that I'm gonna train again next transfer hahaha.

I did get the package from you guys and thank you so much! The oatmeal exploded everywhere but it was still good:)

I am actually not sick for the moment! The weather here has been a little crazy lately: it's really hot for one day then cold for a couple then hot again. We had some tornado warnings a few days ago but nothing really happened.

I am going to send a letter to Jesse Scott. It may be next week but I think I'll just email it to you, if that's ok?

Church was really great this Sunday. We had a really good fast and testimony meeting and I enjoyed hearing everyone's testimonies. Bakes and I were talking and it's really interesting how we both felt the same experience with our testimonies. That when we go and BEAR our testimonies, they become strengthened. I have had a few very distinct experiences where I was impressed to give my testimony, and I just spoke whatever came to my head and as the words left my mouth, I felt a strong assurance that what I was saying was true.

Everything is great here and I am excited for another new transfer. I love you mom and tell the fam I love them too.

--Elder Heimuli