"As he now prepares to return home..."

Received this letter in the mail from President Snow.  Can't believe Elder Heimuli's time is coming to an end so soon.  It really does go by too quickly...yes, even for Mom.  :)

Of course, we don't yet have a picture of Elder (Helam) Heimuli's homecoming, but flashback to May 2008 when Elder (Hema) Heimuli returned from Ecuador -- same language, same family -- but soon it'll be the guy sitting underneath the sign (holding the guitar) to hear, "Bienvenidos Elder Heimuli"

Week 91 - Just Be a Normal Missionary

Hey Mom!!!

Life is THE BEST!!! This week was such a blur -- but a good blur :) 

I actually took some pics this time so I could remember some events haha. Yes, going to Chamblee last week was a DREAM! We taught a lot of people and got to visit some members too! We ate like 3 times that night hahaha, good ol' Chamblee. I miss those days when we literally ATE BY FAITH -- not knowing whether or not our stomachs could keep it together, but pushing on with hope. My stomach has shrunk a lot.

This past week we had interviews with Pres. Snow. We all met in the morning at the Chamblee building -- we met with one of the other districts in our zone. 

President Lowell M. Snow

I was the last one to be interviewed. Pres and I sat down and we just talked about things: what I've learned so far, the growth I've made, what I could do to help the Chamblee branch, etc. We had some good conversation. 

I went into that meeting with something on my mind, and I finally brought it up at the very last. I said to him, "President, I've been thinking how I am so grateful for the many opporitunities I've had here and for all of the things I've learned as a Zone Leader. I almost hesitate in asking, but I would like to be dropped and put into Spanish for my last transfer and just be a normal missionary."

Pres. Snow looked at me very thoughtfully. My heart rejoiced! I took this as a good sign. After a few seconds, he smiled and said, "Elder Heimuli, I can't do that."

Dang it. I won't share with you all that he said after that, but it was good. He appreciated the work I've been doing here and said I have a LOT more I need to do before I leave -- especially now with Pres. Harding coming in on the 22nd.

That probably means I'm staying right here.

This past Friday we had a Zone Leader Council meeting and it was a bittersweet one cuz it was the last one with the Snows. That may be the last time I get to see them in person. They have only been here for 9 weeks and they've made such a great impact on me. Some of the greatest people I've known -- and I've really come to love and respect them. 

At the end of the meeting they expressed to us how much they loved us. They didn't expect to get so attached when they left. Sister Snow put it this way, "It feels like we adopted a baby, and 12 weeks later the birth mom comes and asks for it back."

We all chuckled half-heartedly as she shared this with tears in her eyes. Everyone of us felt it, too. I am hoping to see them one more time before the 22nd rolls around, but IDK. They are just SO AWSOME!!! I'll really miss Pres. and Sis. Snow a lot.

One of the many great benefits of ZLC -- besides the obvious blessing of meeting with Pres. & Sis. Snow -- was reuniting with other great leaders/former companions Elder "Prince" Charlesworth (from Pleasant Grove) and Elder Anderson (from Canada)

Things are going well here. E. Smith and I are getting along great and just doing work. We're both amazed at how quickly the time goes by. 

Sitting in front of a pub (what?) with Elder Smith (from North Carolina)...

H is very excited to be baptized. Oh, and he's the only one who went to church. We got in to see him the other night and he said he wants to get baptized this month! We're just gonna keep teaching him and when he's gone, he'll just hop on into the water. Ky, we haven't talked to for a little while. I don't know who Karen is, but Kn is doing well. She reads everything we give her and is there for all our appointments. We're going back this Wednesday.

Thanks Mom and Dad for all that you do for us kids. I know that things are stressful and tight and you don't get the appreciation that you deserve, but I wanna say thanks for all you do from all of us kids. I'm sure the Lord is blessing you for giving me the chance to come closer to Him and to help others know the Gospel as well. Probably the best way to thank you is to just work hard here in the mission field. I'm sure Hevynn feels the same. She's working and studying hard to make the best of the opporitunity you've given her.

It kinda works that way with the Atonement, too, yeah? Christ doesn't expect us to pay Him back, or anything like that, for His sacrifice. He just wants us to make the MOST of the Atonement. That is how we can show our thanks to Him. Judging from biblical evidence, I am SURE that when He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, He felt like things were tight and pretty stressful when he cried out, "Abba (father), why hast thou forsaken me?" But He did it for each one of us! As we read the scriptures, we understand that Christ did it alone, but He did it so we don't ever have to be alone. We can ALWAYS have faith that He will be with us. That's the kind of faith y'all have and it's so cool to see!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

It's Elder Bakes (one of Elder Heimuli's sons) b-day today so last night E. Smith and I made him a MAD b-day cake. It's freaking cool. 

Upon closer inspection, the MAD b-day cake E. Smith & E. Heimuli made for E. Bakes appears to be the Savior standing outside the tomb. That IS pretty freaking cool!

Yay! Houston made a TD! I almost jumped out of my chair I was so excited!

Anyways, that is all. Much love from the ATL and I hope to talk to you next week!

--E. Heimuli

Week 90 - Hope

Hey mom!

 

It's tuesday and it's looking like we're gonna be having a busy busy week and it's gonna go by fast--again! We just got done w a district meeting and I'm on exchanges with Elder Thomas in Chamblee!!!!! I'm so excited to be in Spanish!!

 

This past week was one of our slower ones...but looking back now it went by pretty dang fast. It was slow because it was the end of the month, and as you could probably guess, we were out of miles. COMPLETELY out of miles...with 4 days left. So, we strapped on our walking shoes and worked worked worked. Our area is pretty dang big and most of our investigators live about twenty minutes away. We just decided to walk and talk and knock. Not super effective but it's the kind of work that we could do.

 

We were able to see some investigators when members came w us and we had some really good lessons. One of them was a new investigator named Kn. She was a former who we talked to again and she let us teach her! She is used to going to a mega-church, which is held in a stadium and has about 10, 000 members hahaha CRAZY! She doesn't like it, though, cuz she didn't feel it on a personal level. We have invited her to church and she said she would come, but she didn't tell us when.

 

Ky called us this past week crying cuz her oldest son (12 years old) ran away from home. We felt bad cuz we were stuck all the way south and she lived in the very north of our area. We wanted to help look for him so bad but it just wasn't gonna happen. The only thing we could do was call some people and organize a search party. So we did. All ended well and he was found that night in a nearby neighborhood. I don't know why he bounced but they're all home safe and sound now. Ky is still working through some things and can't seem to take that step of baptism.

 

Sunday was good. We fasted as a zone to find, but we did it personally by inviting each area individually. We felt if it was labelled as a "zone fast" the missionaries wouldn't be as gung ho about it. Well, the missionaries all were into it and we had good results. We are already finding some great people who want to progress! It's awsome!

 

I have had such a wonderful time here in the mission. It has been hard but it has been great. The reality that it will be over soon has been looming closer and closer and really it's kinda scary to think about. I don't know what my new life will bring. Will i make good decisions about what i do with the rest of my life? Will i be ok? I'm starting to think that i will. 

Recently I have been thinking a lot lately about Hope. Hope is so important and w/o it we really can't get to the kingdom of God. (Ether 12:32) We usually think on baptism as the key and it is, I'm not dissin it. But what is baptism worth if you don't endure to the end? How can you endure to the end, through the trials and tribulations and such, if you don't have hope? 

Well hey, I know that with the knowledge that we are sons and daughters of God (which means we are heirs to his kingdom and ALL that he has[Romans 8:16-17]) and the knowledge that Jesus Christ performed the atonement (which paved the way and made it possible to inherit all things), we will have the strength to press on! 

I have a hope that I will be a better person when I go home and it has motivated me to work hard and use the atonement daily. God loves us!!!! He won't leave us comfortless and he knows that we are ALL strong enough to over come our difficulties and trials to make it back home. We just need to know that for ourselves :)

 

Thanks Mom for everything! I don't really need anything at the moment. Keep praying for me!

 

--Love, E. Heimuli

Week 89 - Hansen Died (R.I.P.)

Hey Mom!

The new transfer has begun and it's going well. Elder Hansen died (RIP) wednesday.

Funny, he doesn't even look ill.

He was replaced by E. Kyle Smith. E. Smith is from North Carolina and has been out for a little over a year. All the Georgians love it cuz they finally have a 'southern boy' instead of all these crazy random Utahns...

Elder Smith & Elder Heimuli

We kinda just rolled into this trasfer so nothing has changed too much. We have been trying to find the past half week and it's had a little bit of success. Smith's southern hospitality (if you could call it that) has opened up a few doors.

H was the only investigator that came to church yesterday. We still haven't been able to sit down with him this week and teach. He did start his job today so that was a blessing. We met this awsome guy named B who is staying w a member for a little while. He came to church and the baptism last week and LOVED it. We sat down with him and the member he lives with, T, and had a good lesson. B is this quiet but funny guy and just loves all the things he is learning in church. Neither of them came yesterday to church but we're not worried. Things will work out the way they're supposed to.

Now, K is stuck and we've been at this point with her for about a month where she knows that she needs to get baptized but just won't do it. She says that she 'isn't ready' but won't tell us what she needs help with. A member couple invited us all over for dinner last night and we were able to talk there. We read the BoM and invited her to read it everyday! She accepted and we even have a member who will call her every night to help her read. I know that if she reads she'll receive and answer to be baptized!!!!!

I was walking through the chapel yesterday, talking to people and Sis. W grabs me and the first thing she says is, "Your Mom is so sweet." (or something to that affect) Of course, I smiled and agreed:) Sis. W's Mom came to church! I was really excited about that and I bet she was too. MIRACLES! Cuz we for sure didn't do much but that's just a testimony that the Lord hears prayers and the Lord does his work.

I am just so grateful for all of you and for the support and love I feel here. One thing I am definitely grateful for is the knowledge of eternal families--I can't say that enough. Probably the most rewarding feeling is helping someone else come to the same knowledge and you're all helping in that cause!

Love ya'll very very much
--E.Heimuli

MORE PIX!

Left to Right: Unknown, Unknown, Elder Morrill, Elder Hansen, Elder Heimuli, Elder Fruean

Elder Romero, Hansen & Heimuli

Left to Right:  Elder Shelley (Springville UT), Romero (Taylorsville UT), Smith (Somewhere in NC) & Elder Bad-Hair-Day Heimuli (Woods Cross UT)

Week 88 - Think About Jesus

Hello mom!

I am doing fantastic! Transfers is in 2 days and I'm not gonna lie but I'm excited that my comp is leaving -- but not for any bad reasons haha. I love Elder Hansen and I'm gonna miss his awsome leadership abilities, but this boy has been making me TRUNKY!!! and it's not even his fault.

He's the furthest away from trunky I've ever seen and he is going hard until the end, but I swear EVERYONE that we talk to has to ask: "Wow, you're almost finished! What are you gonna do when you get home? Do you miss your family? blah blah blah." and I just sit there and try to think about Jesus, instead of thinking about home. Hallelujah, E. Hansen's bouncin'! I hope I get someone younger than me. That'd be great.

This past wednesday we went and did a session at the temple! It was awsome. We can go to the temple every six months, and then our last transfer,  so we went for E. Hansen's last time. We went up with the other ATL ZLs, and lo and behold other missionaries were there at the same session! There were a total of 10 missionaries in that session. Max Kimball (ward mission leader for the Cedartown Branch) was there and he gave me a big hug! He's such a cool, spiritual guy. He is a sealer there. This guy has got the hook ups too! He left thursday to go to Salt Lake for Pres. Monson's b-day party.

The work has been pretty slow recently. No one is home anymore! We finally got in with H last night and we talked to him about baptism. He's still very busy but he found a job! He still wants to be baptized, we just need to find time to sit down with him and teach him. I think some prayers in helping him read the BoM will help him out a lot.

So that text was from Sis. W, one of the members down here. Did you get the pic of Me and Hansen too? That's the whole reason she sent the text. She is wonderful -- but struggling health-wise and in and out of the hospital a lot. Her mom is struggling emotionally and spiritually. It's hard for a mom to see her child suffer so much and it's taking a toll on her mom's faith. And it's amazing to know a daughter who cares so much about her mom. It's what families are all about. Sis. W invited us to teach her mom and hopefully encourage her to go back to church. They invited us over last night to eat dinner and we had a good discussion about faith and miracles and the atonement.

In a few days we will be losing a lot of leadership, so Pres. Snow has called a LOT of young missionaries into leadership positions. One missionary has been out for 3 transfers and is being called as a ZL--has never trained, hasn't been district leader, hasn't even been senior companion, and is being switched over to english from spanish -- and that's probably freaking him out the most. But I know he'll do good. Anyways, there is a big need for good, well-founded leaders and they need to be ready for when Pres. Harding comes in. A bunch of the leaders now are leaving this week and the rest of the leaders leave with me in November and December, so we are trying to train the new ones NOW. A leader is converted to the WHY of the gospel -- the doctrines -- so E. Hansen and I have been studying tirelessly the doctrines of leadership in the church for hours every day in preparation for this training we're having with our zone tomorrow. It's interesting that a leader in the church is one who helps others BECOME disciples of Jesus Christ. We can't become a disciple without having our own personal experience with the atonement of Christ. We can't just talk to someone and then they become a disciple, but rather we inspire them to act and seek that discipleship and through their own action they become that disciple. It's hard to lead that way sometimes (especially as a parent): through example and love and persuasion, but it's the way Jesus Christ taught and the way we MUST lead. If we continue leading and teaching in this manner and do so with faith in Christ that He truly did show us the way to do all things, then we'll be successful.

The Saldanas moved into our ward and I am so happy! I get to spend time with one of the coolest families ever in the world and I can also practice my spanish! Happy day!

We are working very very hard and we'll keep at it for the rest of our lives! I am so grateful for the wonderful people who have worked hard on my behalf. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of all of you and how you've given me the opporitunity to teach others the gospel. To invite others to know what we all know--that families are forever, and that one day we will rest from our troubles.

I love you guys!

--E. Heimuli

Week 87 - Elder Mexican

Good morning mother!

How did you hear about the ET already?! That was one of the biggest things I was gonna write about today...well, since that's done, I guess that's it for this week! Love ya:) Bye!

--E. Heimuli



















Hahahaha jk jk! Funny joke, yeah?

So yeah, Romero is gonners and that was sad! We lost our baby boy  :(

Being in a trio was really weird at first, but now this happens and just being in a normal companionship is weird! Things seem a lot quieter hahaha and I feel like we should have someone tagging along but I look back and it's just us two. When we get team ups it feels a little bit better. It's not too sad though cuz Romero is just in the other companionship in the ward so we do get to see him occasionally.

L was baptized Sunday morning at 9 am! We had one heck of a time juggling her date back and forth this week between saturday and sunday, but it turned out that sunday morning would be best so she could have the most support and as well get confirmed the same day like she wanted. Because it was before church and there were a few delays the service was VERY short but VERY sweet. There was so much support for her from the ward and from other missionaries who traveled to get there. The program was opening prayer, baptism, words from bishop, closing prayer. It was awsome. L was confirmed in sacrament meeting and that just set the tone for the rest of the day. Church on Sunday was really good.

Saturday was the baptism of K, a little 8 year old boy. His Mom is a convert and even though he's 8 she wanted the missionaries to teach K all the lessons before he was baptized because that's how she was baptized. Anyways, he asked his teacher to baptized him and asked me to confirm him. I felt pretty privileged. Actually, this is how I was asked:  K's mom, called us up and said, "When I asked K who he wants to confirm him he told me, 'The mexican elder. Elder Mexican!'" Elder Hansen thought it was pretty funny. I wasn't laughing.

So I did my first confirmation ever and it was cool! Nothing too hard.

H is progressing and we're still not sure if he'll be ready by the 18th. We'll definately try to get him ready so we'll see. He's been looking for work tirelessly since moving here so we don't get in to see him all that often. Bro. Lisonbee, our super legit ward mission leader, came out with us last night and we taught H. Our next appointment isn't until Thursday so we're trying to figure out a way to help him gain a testimony of the BoM by then.

With all of the new changes happening in the mission there are a lot of things going on between the wards and the missionaries. In some cases, there is quite a bit of friction and we're trying to work things out like that. There have been a few emergency transfers in the zone as well and we're just trying to figure out what the problems were and how to prevent them. We have so many awsome missionaries in our zone so that shouldn't be hard.

This past Tuesday I went on exchanges to Dunwoody w/ my grandbaby Elder Barrett. It was SO GOOD to get back into spanish! The day kinda fell through so we visited a lot of people that I knew from when I was in Chamblee and we got fed at every house we went to hahaha. Good to be back.

One thing I noticed is that they all said that I am different, spiritually. That's good. I have grown a lot since I've been away from Chamblee. The challenges and things I've gone through have made me better. It was lots of hard work to get to this point, and I really didn't even notice all the changes I've made until Zoraida said that. It's good to know that I'm moving forward in SOME aspect :)

So, other than that, I don't get to speak spanish. But that's all gonna change next week! One of the families is moving into english this coming Sunday. One of my favorite families EVER--the Saldanas!!!! They told me Tuesday when we ate dinner there. I was so excited. I'm gonna speak spanish the whole time with them. That made me super happy!

I did get the package! Thanks a lot! I'm sharing the goods so no worries, everyone here is getting some Hawaiian love! Once again, the letters were the best part! I love hearing from everyone--sorry I don't reply back to everyone personally.

All in all, it was a good week.

I love everyone in my family! You guys are all the greatest and I am so grateful for the sacrifices that you make on my behalf that I can't see--I know that there are a lot of them. Sacrifice brings blessings!

Love ya'll!

--E. Heimuli

Week 86 - The Spirit is the ONLY Way

Hey Mom!!!

I am coming off of a very crazy week and I'm just grateful that everything turned out well.

So, L's baptism WAS set for this Saturday but, like it always does, things hit her HARD. Things were looking good until we called her friday to make sure all the arrangements for her baptismal interview (later that day) were set. She sounded very apprehensive on the phone and she just kept saying, "I just need to talk to you guys, I just need to talk to you guys..." when we asked her about the baptism. Not a good sign.

To make a long story short: we met with her at a members house later that day for the interview but she had a LOT of concerns to address before the interview even started. L has been facing a TON of opposition from everyone about her joining the church--friends, family, even strangers. She was given a bunch of anti-mormon lit. and she was confused. (One thing you gotta know about L is that she STUDIES and it's a really good quality...unless, like in this case, people give her crap to study.) Luckily one of the members there is a pro at fighting anti and he helped a lot. L LOVES the church and the members in it. She loves how all the members are so loving and kind and have a special spirit about them -- but the anti made her doubt the feelings and convinced her that she needed hard evidence to know that it's true.

We talked for almost 3 hours (missing some of our appointments in the process...but it had to be done) and one of the biggest things we felt we needed to share is "L, remember how you felt when you went to the temple." It was cool to see how the Spirit is the ONLY way we can know truth. She thought back on her trip to the temple and things ran a little smoother. She had the interview but it turned out that she needed another interview with Pres. Snow--so we scheduled that for Sunday and we postponed her baptism. She was sad that she had to wait but knew that's how it had to be done.

That was actually one of the 3 very long, knock-down-drag-out lessons that we had with L. She called us that following morning telling us that she received a witness. L said, "God spoke to me and said that the love felt in the church is the only evidence that I need to know that it's true."

Her final witness came on Sunday when she met with Pres. Snow. They went in and did the interview and when they came out L was just beaming. I don't know exactly what happened in there but she came out almost in tears and asked us to baptize her this next saturday. So, all 3 of us are SO relieved that things worked out.

H is set for the 18th but I think we're gonna have to push it back. The language barrier is pretty tough to deal with haha.

I've been getting random updates from members here and there throughout the week on the Olympics and it has been making me trunky! I just LOVE the olympics! Oh, and I heard about that stud with no legs (Oscar Pristoria)! Not gonna lie...I started running again in the mornings because of him. I figured, "man if I don't start using my legs again God might take 'em away and give 'em to someone who'll actually use 'em!"

You know what else makes me trunky? You telling me that I'm almost out of time! hahaha. I'm very aware of that fact, espeacially now that Pres. Snow told me yesterday that my official release date has been moved to November ____. Man, that scared me! Too quick.

Me and Gautavai talked last week about Momi. Romero freaked out when he found out we were "related" haha. Tell Aunty and Uncle that I love them both!! Gautavai was transfered out of Atlanta and into some random place I don't know...but he is surely missed around here.

Elder Heimuli & Elder Gautavai

Sorry that I've been a total fail with picture taking...I'll try harder haha. I'm not holdin out on ya I just don't have any pics to give ya.

This is what Mom gets when she bugs Elder H for pictures...his email:
"Mom! I finally found a pic Elder Hansen took when I was taking a nap and fell out of bed!"
Looks like Elder H needs a shave or a haircut or something...ewww.

I love you and the fam! Thanks for everything and thanks in advance for the package! Tell Houston to keep being a stud! Tell Hevynn to stay away from the fobs and the laie boyz! Tell Harrison to grow his hair out! And tell dad that 7 people asked me if I was related to the "football playing Heimuli" this week and of course I said, "If he's handsome then yes but if not..." haha jk jk! 

Luvs, Elder Heimuli