Week 63 - I Hate Transfers

Hi Mom!

Wow, time sure flies by! But it's good to hear how the family is doing. So the Bolens are all in town now!!! I love them. I hope they are doing well. Give my love to them and especially to Faith. I never had a pet (the gerbil was Helam's and the guinea pig was Hevynn's) but I imagine it's hard to lose one.

Helam got cleared to play!!! And it looks like Weber State held off better than they did last time! So that means that they are improving :) Speaking of Weber State, is Cameron playing next year then? He's looking really good in that pic with Hev and Bo! 

Wow, I was just thinking of Dallin today, and I had not even heard about the earthquake. Aunty has nothing to worry about, God will always protect His servants. I think there have been multiple times were I've seen missionaries who should've been hurt or killed but everything came out okay. It's a miracle. And miracles always happen. Especially out here on the mission. 

I didn't know Hema was working at Comic Con? That must be fun, but also pretty tiring. It sounds like you and Dad and Harry just loved having Hendrix there for a couple days. And Kiegan too for just a short time. Hema and Norma, and Helam and Alyssa are doing such a great job with their families. Hevynn and Bo are busy starting their life together too. I bet things get rough, especially when we don't get everything we think we need. But in the end God never forsakes, and sometimes we need to go through trials...loss of a loved one, disaster, physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, etc. 

That brings up a little connection to what's been happening this week. So transfers happened Tuesday, and man, how busy that was! Elder Wimmer and I were flying around trying to get everyone and everything situated for transfers.

Welcoming and picking up our newest missionaries

Farewell dinner at the mission home with departing missionaries

It was just chaotic and stressful (I hate transfers), and things were just going wrong left and right. The day after is the day we call TRANSFER FIRE DAY because we are putting out fires all day and pretty much resolve any concerns or anything that went wrong. First, we found out a set of missionaries left their car here and they live 144 miles away! So on Thursday we drove all the way there to take their car to them. On the way we dealt with a lot of other stuff that went wrong in the mission, and the only ones anyone can turn to is us. We felt pretty down and pretty tired at the end of the day. 

On Transfer Fire Day I always run around too much and get real sweaty. You're welcome mom! haha

Then we remembered we had to run to a dinner appointment with a Poly family who aren't members. They live right next to Fishers. Elder Wimmer and I were pretty exhausted with everything going on and we just thought, "Well, maybe things will get better."

So we arrived at their house and they had dinner all ready for us. Oh my goodness, I thought I was at home. Chop Suey, Chicken Curry, Musubi, Kumala, everything!!! We were soooo happy haha. Weird how food can do that to ya! To me, haha. After dinner we got to know their family a little more. Then one of the kids who is about 20 asked us a bunch of questions about our beliefs. We answered every one of his questions, then proceeded to give our dinner message. Suddenly, this kid decided he'd Facetime his cousin, who was at IU, so he could also hear our message. Apparently they both have been wondering about our beliefs and they both wanted to learn more about our church. We shared a message on miracles and faith out of Hebrew chapter 11. And here's where the trials and tribulation part comes in. I noticed on the next chapter a cool scripture. Hebrews 12:6-13, 

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.

Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."

The greatest miracles are the ones that follow a trial, a tribulation or challenge. As we read this scripture, we could feel the Spirit help these two young adults realize why challenges happened in their lives, and how if they just remained faithful, they would see miracles as well. 

It was a great lesson. We are actually going back next week for dinner again :) :) yes! So that was great.

On the drive home we opened up that scripture again and read it together out loud. We both gained added faith and a stronger testimony in the wisdom of God. We talked about how crappy some things went this week, but how it was swallowed up in the joy of another blessing from God.

And it didn't end there. The next day we were blessed with an open schedule. We decided we'd go proselyte for as long as we could that day. We went and PC'd (personal contacted) for 7-8 hours!!!!!!!!!! It felt good -- and weird -- to get back into the groove of things. It was great. We saw soooooo many miracles. There was one while we were on Campus. We were just walking and saying hi to people when a girl passed by us. She looked timid so we just smiled and said hi. She shyly said hi back and kept walking. We were impressed to turn around and talk to her some more. So we did! And she was the humblest, nicest girl. We taught her about the restoration and committed her to coming to church. She said YES!!! So we are praying she comes to church tomorrow. 

Then as we were PC-ing downtown, Elder Wimmer had a prompting to talk to this dude eating a pizza. This guy was awesome. He expressed to us how he just got out of jail and was committing himself to get closer to God. He said he hasn't been inside a church in a long time and wanted to check ours out. So we invited him as well!!! We are hoping we can see 2 people at church tomorrow :) Throughout that day we saw so many miracles and little graces God gave us. It kept us motivated to keep going. And it made us grateful for our challenges this week. Now I know for myself that after a great trial, the blessing always follows IF we are faithful. 

So let's be faithful. Things will always be rough, and I'm not the most experienced person in life, but I can definitely testify that God always has something in store for the faithful. He is constantly watching over us and is always aware of our circumstances. 

That was one of the greatest things that happened this week. 

Also this week I dropped off Elder McCloud. What a stud. I'm going to miss that guy. 

He helped me a lot up in Niles and he will always be one of my good friends. His talk is not for another couple weeks, so I will make sure to keep you updated when and where so you can hopefully meet him! What an awesome guy. 

Anyways that's kind of just what's been happening with me. I'm truly loving the mission and I am working as hard as I can to get this little bit of work done that the Lord has for me to do. Elder Wimmer is awesome. He is a great missionary and a great person. 

Tell Grandpa and Grandma I miss them! And tell Grandpa that his Buddy Boy is working hard and hopefully making him proud :) And I also know you are coming up on your Anniversary soon right? I hope that you can reflect on those 31 years and know that you and dad have accomplished something that most people don't. A relationship that has lasted throughout many trials and tribulations. A relationship that God has blessed. A relationship that is eternal, and a beacon to all of us kids striving to do the same :) 

Love you mom, Give my love to the family!

Ofa Lahi Atu,

Elder Heimuli