Week 95 - She Gave Me a Hug!

As I read your letter just a few minutes ago, I realized that I have so many blessings in my life. There wasn't anything that's changed dramatically, I have just become more aware of those things that I either over looked, or took for granted. Time has moved by so quick and isn't halting one bit. It's October now and I am faced with the daunting reality that the mission for me is actually ending--this realization has come in painful, hitting waves over the past week: resulting in near whiplash--and it's very sad. It has, though, given me time to reflect and see the change that I've gone through. 

One thing I just want to hit on is that I am SO very grateful for you and your example of charity and love. When I read about your encounter w Art Nielsen tears came to my eyes (yeah, the ability to "not-cry-like-a-ten-year-old-girl" was a blessing that I USED to have in my life, but now that it's totally gone I see that I even took that for granted haha) I thought of how thoughtful it was for you to not just give him a ride home, but to go in to meet his wife and talk with them. That means so much to people and I never really understood the impact of loving actions like that until my mission. Harrison was part of something really beautiful. Can you send me contact info for Art and Coach Evans? If you can't then can you at least tell them that I'm thinking about and praying for them?

The past week has been eventful. We had transfers and got our new boy on Wednesday! E. Paxson from Gresham (near Portland), OR. I don't got a pic yet, sorry. We'll get one soon  :)  He's a funny kid who has a great testimony.

Pres. & Sis. Harding

We had our "Meet the President" meeting on Thursday, where the entire mission got to officially meet Pres. Harding and his family. Sis. Harding and her son Stockton, her daughter Candice and her son (forgot his name) and his wife (forgot hers too) all arrived last Saturday. At the beginning we kinda did the "wedding line" greeting where they stood there and all us missionaries formed a line and walked in front of them, shaking their hands and greeting them. 

After I greeted Pres. Harding, I moved on down the line to his wife. Sis. Harding looked at me and said, "I can do this. This is from your mom," and with a big smile, she gave me a hug! Thanks Mom! Luv ya! She continued to say that she met you and thinks you are such a wonderful woman--of course I agreed :)

This weekend was great! General Conference is my favorite! We were late to the Saturday morning session (due to lack of communication among members) so I missed the official announcement of the mission age change, but when I did hear it it blew me away! That's crazy! Missionaries are already too immature as it is! hahahah I'm kidding, whom the Lord calls, he qualifies, yeah? It'll be a great blessing for those who take that step and heed the call to serve. A testimony of Jesus Christ is all you need. A knowledge that He loves you, and faith that as you do the Lord's work your family will be blessed, the work you do here will go beyond this life and that you will change and become better. These things are so very true!

Kn came to the Sunday afternoon session w her son and her boyfriend. Oh man, it was rough for them. I sat by them and they looked so bored! After it was over I asked her, "Well, how did you like it?" and after a brief pause, she said carefully, "It was...different." hahahaha! I remember feeling that way not too many years ago! hahahaha! Oh well, maybe the spirit touched her some other way! They bounced after that. 

Tell Elders Soliai and Fraughton that I send my love and gratitude!

All is well here and I don't need much. I just need enough time to do what I need to do here. May God be with you during your hectic day.

Love ya lots,
--E. Heimuli

Week 94 - I Will Die in Lithonia

Hey Mom!

Wow, so Reed Johnson is headin to the mission field already?! Time moves quick! He will experience much growth and much learning as he works as a missionary, I can attest to that. But, as one who is coming to the end of his mission I have learned that, no matter how much I learn and understand, some things--like the meaning of the word "tutelage" or why Utah State is all of a sudden good at football--will forever stay out of reach of my understanding. Humbling.

This week has been such a blessing. I don't remember many details but there were a few things that I have clear remembrance of. Thursday was one of my most memorable days.

We started off the day by going to the temple. Pres. Harding called a ZL council but decided that he wants us missonaries to go to the temple more often. I'm ok with that hahaha. Well, blessings don't come w/o a little anxiety. The meeting was scheduled to start at 9 am. ATL traffic is HORRENDOUS but that particular morning we were making good time thanks to some expert driving. At about 840 am we were well on our way: 30 miles away from home and about 5 minutes to arriving at the temple..yes! That's when I decided to take a quick look at my wallet to make sure I was prepared...I wasn't. It dawned on me that my recommend was sitting on my desk in our apartment. All I could do was laugh and turn right back around. We let Pres know that we were gonna be a little late as we fought traffic back to Lithonia and then once again made our way back to the temple. We got to the temple at 915. Oh yeah.

We did a session and it was a good experience. E. Smith hasn't been to the temple for 14 months, so he was just ecstatic about his visit. Afterwards we had a meeting and Pres Harding expressed his ideas and shared a bit about his promptings with us. Staying true to "mormon time" (which means never start or end on time) we went over time about an hour and 45 minutes. We were getting anxious towards the end cuz we had a baptism to get to at 6pm. It was 4:45 and we still had to travel through ATL rush hour again.

The meeting ended and we BOLTED out of there. For most of the trip to the chapel in Lithonia we were in stand still traffic. As we were sitting there trying to plan out our plan of attack we kept realizing how unprepared we were for everything. We had no programs for the baptism, I had no clothing, no one was at the chapel and the baptismal font was empty...and it was 5:45 and we were a good 8 miles away. During these times I just laugh. By some miracle the cars parted like the Red Sea and we sped toward the chapel and arrived with 5 minutes to spare. Hindulo wasn't even there. It was just us two and Bishop Young. We made the preparations and quick! When Hindulo finally arrived we pulled together one of the smallest, simplest baptisms I have ever been to in my life. We were a whopping 6 people (and a baby). Despite the few numbers of people, the ones that mattered were there. The Spirit flooded the room as I baptized Hindulo (and nearly broke my back from trying to make sure he was completely submerged. The water level was ridiculously low due to being pressed for time to fill it). Really cool experience.

Elder Heimuli, Brother Smith, Elder Smith

Sunday was great. The other missionaries had two baptisms that morning so in sacrament we had 3 confirmations. That made for a very powerful rest of the day. Hindulo, his wife and his daughter were so cute w there matching african patterned clothing.

Ky came to church again. We still haven't gotten to meet w her. Crazy! Kn is good. I wasn't there for the last lesson we had with her but things are good. We just need to find out how we can help her take the next step.

Oh, we got a new ward mission leader and guess who it is?! BRO SALDANA!!!!! Oh man, I'm so excited! I freaking love him and his family! you have to meet them some day, you'll love 'em too!

I talked to Pres Harding this morning and it was confirmed that I will die (finish my mission) in Lithonia. I will be staying with E. Smith, but we're gonna have to take that posterity picture again cuz we'll be training someone again!!!! E. Smith is pretty excited hahaha.

Alright, I love you guys! Thanks for all you do!

with love,
E. Heimuli

Week 93 - Tall Guy & Pix From A Son

Hey mom!

 

This week has been so great! I want to thank you for all your "thank-yous" and that I am very aware of how blessed I've been to have served under 3 mission presidents. It's cool to see the difference between the leading style of the different mission presidents but to know that, no matter who they are, God has called them to lead and guide the mission and it's a tangible feeling. President Harding arrived on Saturday and he called us and the other ATL zls to meet up with him at the Ponce de Leon chapel at 830 that night. We got there and he greeted us with a hug. Tall guy. Pres was there with the APs only--his wife and kids will come next week. We huddled up under the dim parking lot lights and just talked. He told us how excited he is to finally be in Georgia, how great we are and how we're gonna do some great things here. The only way I can describe him is "fatherly." He brought me support from a whole city haha. B-town!

 

Now...this week has been good. Lots of stuff going on. The transfer ends next wednesday...insane! The whole mission is gearing up for a good start to next transfer under the Hardings' leadership and we're all excited.

 

Um...in other news H is set to be baptized this friday. We're excited but we have quite a bit of prep to do still. His work schedule is crazy so he only gets every other sunday off. People usually get baptized on saturday here so they can be confirmed in sacrament the sunday after but this sunday H can't come, then the next sunday is conference and then the next sunday he can't go to church. That's 3 almost 4 weeks with no Holy Ghost!!! So we're baptizing and confirming him Friday.

 

The past few days have been kinda luke warm. We've had long drawn out days where we won't get in to talk to ANYBODY and some of our appointments will fall through. We are finding some great people, though and are just trying to work as hard as we can.

 

Kn is an investigator who has been progressing and she reads everything we give her. She takes notes in a notebook and everything. Last Thusday we had a lesson at her house. There were a group of 12 year old kids playing football on the front lawn as we walked to her front door and into her house. Kn started off by saying that she read in 2 Ne 31. We asked her what stood out to her and she responded, "Verses 8-14. I really like how it talks about baptism." This was really interesting to me cuz everytime we give her an assignment to read, she always comments on the baptism aspect. I asked Kn exactly what I've observed and she says, "Well, I've always wanted to be baptized but I've just been to scared. I want to feel ready and perfect before I do." Our mouths dropped. We knew exactly what to say. We started into how we don't need to be perfect to be baptized, we just need to have faith in Christ. The Spirit started coming into the room--and then we hear the door open and a little girl's voice squeels, "Kn, the boys are fighting outside." Kn jumped up and bolted out the door. Disappointed I followed her out. I get outside to see one boy on top of the other, pummeling his face with his right hand while his left has him in a headlock. We break up the fight and sort everything out. By the time we finish, it's dark and time to head home. 

Satan and his contention prevail hahaha. We go back in a few days. Pray for us!

 

IDK if Houston is a "mini" Helam. He looks pretty big to me hahaha! Tell him to keep being a stud on the field, in the classroom and at church. His example is gonna affect a lot of people around him. Congrats on the dance, buddy:) Have fun with Caroline!

 

Thanks for all your love and support! It really does mean a lot to me! Have a great week:)

 

Love, E. Heimuli

PIX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(One of Elder Heimuli's sons -- Elder Bakes -- sent these to Mom today...what a good kid)

Elder Heimuli's "Posterity" (L to R) Grandson Freeman, Grandson Barrett, Son Bakes, Dad/Grandpa Heimuli, Son Newman, Son Romero and Son Nay...that's a lot of kids!

 (L to R) Grandson Barrett, Son Bakes, Proud Dad/Grandpa

Week 92 - I Hope I Don't Lose Charity

Dear Mother,

I did get the package w the hawaiian candy and stuff in it. Thank you so much! The pake cake and almond cookies are almost gone haha E. Smith loves them just as much as I do! The package was kind of a call back down to earth for me in a way. My mission has kinda been this dream where my only cares are the cares of other people.

When Dad asked me about school in the letter it hit me HARD that I'm almost done. This dream will be over and I'll have to get back into the grind and worry about myself...I hope I don't lose charity for other people, though. I've been thinking a lot about school and what I want to do. I feel good about staying at Weber and working hard there.

This past week has been yet again a blur. E. Smith and I were freaking out Saturday night cuz we could have SWORN that Sunday was the just the day before.

At church with Bro. Lisonbee (Incredible Ward Mission Leader), Elder Smith, Elder Shelly

The exchanges really make time fly. We went w two other companionships this past week.

On Tuesday I was with E. Bakes!!!! I was so happy hahaha! We tore it up! That night we saw two of his solid investigators and a less active family I worked with when I was there over a year ago...weird to say. Things are looking up over there. I remember when opened that area w E. Shumway and the work was TERRIBLE!!! Bakes and I took a stroll down memory lane and recounted all of our shenanigans that we pulled when we were in C. He said that whole day he felt like things were backwards cuz he thought I was supposed to be the one driving and making decisions of where to go. That boy is about to hit his year mark. Kids just grow up too darn fast! (he loved his cake btw)

Three Generations Picture

Happy to be with "grandbaby" Elder Barrett & "son" Elder Bakes

We are still in the process of teaching H, and he is almost there. The schedule is still making it hard for us to see him but we go by atleast once a week. We finished with the main lessons and are going into the little ones like chastity and the word of wisdom and so forth. He wants to be baptized THIS week but we'll see if we can get everything taught. We're going by tonight so hopefully it all goes well. He can only come every other sunday to church cuz of work, so he wasn't there yesterday. Next week, though! A little about him: he is from SL, A. His wife is a member and they have been married for 3 years. They have the CUTEST 1 year old girl that destroys everything--but you can't get mad at her cuz she just looks at you and gives a little laugh that melts your heart! They moved here from C about 4 months ago and fit everything they owned in a white jeep grand cherokee. The other day they finally acquired their first piece of furniture--a wooden chair. We teach them sitting on the floor in their pretty vacant house.

Ky came yesterday too! It was a small miracle cuz we haven't even talked to her for about 2 weeks and she just showed up with her two kids. I was able to say hey right before sacrament but she bounced before I had another chance to talk to her. (obviously the Heimuli's aren't so great at rock-paper-scissors cuz I had to pass the sacrament and couldn't sit next to her during the meeting) IDK what's going on w Ky but she came. She knows something is true.

I feel like I had a lot more funny stories to tell you but I can't remember them now. The weather here is cooling down and it's fantastic! The fall here is beautiful! I'm excited for the arrival of Pres. Harding and very sad that the Snows are leaving. Why can't they just have two presidents, just until I leave! That'd be great!

Georgia Atlanta Mission Zone Leaders with Pres. Lowell M. Snow & Sis. Tamara Snow

Football is here and we heard all the drama at church today. There are still VERY die hard cougar fans here in Georgia. Freak.

Love you all so much and I hope ya'll have a great week!

--Love, E. Heimuli

"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