November 11, 2013 Lots of stories from the week!

Hola mis amigos y familia. Como estais vosotros? haha. That was only funny if you know spanish. Sorry. Well once again, like always, i just had a crazy week packed with lots of interesting things. There are a million things I could share from the week... But ill just have to share a few. 

Well if you remember, I got changed on an emergency cambio. So this past week we had the REAL cambios on tuesday. So on saturday elder holt and I were in charge of the missionaries and making sure everybody got on their buses on time and off to their new sectors, and that everybody received their new companions and what not. So that was something new haha but it was kind of fun. We were really excited about all the cambios we had in our zone because we have some awesome missionaries coming. idk it was just a good cambio and we had some changes in our zone that were needed and that are going to help us out alot! So were really excited to have our new missionaries and be working with them!

Wednesday was a super funny day as well. Because on wednesday we had another "emergency cambio". After lunch we randomly got a call and said that we were having a surprise cambio, and that (legitimately) one of our favorite Elders from the zone was getting taken out! So we were super sad that he was leaving. It turns out there had been a mistake in the cambios and one of the elders in the mission got sent to a sector he had been in 6 months earlier! oops! haha. So they switched up 2 of the elders, and it turns out Elder Shumway (from our zone) was the one to get switched. So we were super sad and didnt want him to go... But obviously he had to. So we did as much as we could and at least came up with a little recuerdo for him... So we called up a member from the ward who works with photos and some photoshop stuff, and who can make personalized tshirts super cheap! So we made Elder Shumway a tshirt to give him. and it was the funniest thing ever. I will send pictures. But on the front we put a picture of Elder Shumway`s face, and below it it said "Shumway" and then on the back of the shirt it says "...or the highway!" hahahahaha. Ill send pictures. It was so funny. 

On Thursday we had a couple interesting experiences... So first off in the morning on our way to lunch, we turned the corner of a street, and we saw a girl like laying down in the street. And next to her was another lady who was sitting down like helping her out. So Elder Holt and I were like "oh shoot what happened". So we went over and it turns out the girl had been alone and was walking to go take a bus, but randomly passed out. The other woman was the closest one around and so she found her just on the ground and went to help her. So we went to help out a little bit... But werent able to do too much. But its alright because the medics showed up pretty quick to help her out. But so that was just something interesting that happened that doesnt happen everyday haha. 

Then on thursday night we had a lesson to an investigator with a member to finish the night. So after the lesson we were walking back to go to the house, and out of nowhere we just heard two gunshots SUPER loud and sounding pretty close to us... So Elder Holt and I were like "uhhh.... oh shoot. Why did we just hear two gunshots..." and we slowed down walking and were trying to be super careful and figuring out what happened so we didnt put ourselves in danger. But the memeber we were with just like payed no attention to it and just keep walking full steam. Just totally blew it off like it was no big deal hah. So we just obviously stuck wih him and picked up the pace a little. Nothing else happened but... it was just super sketchy. But were all right. The sector were in isnt really too poor or dangerous either... well i guess there are a few poorer parts... But it doesnt seem THAT dangerous! Just a few knife fights and gunshots is all :P

and there are lots of other things that happened this week, but the finishing story is something wayyyy crazy and suuuuper funny that happened Sunday Night! So in church on sunday an hermana came up to me and said "Elders! I have a reference for you of a family of 4!" So we were PUMPEDDDD. she continued "and i invited them to listen to you guys and so can you go visit today?" So we said "offff course!" and then she said "okay perfect well Ill call you later after church to let you know at what time were gonna go!" So we were super excited, and turns out the cita was that night at 8. So we met up with the member and she drove us all over there (because the house is far right on the edge of our sector). So we show up at the house, yell "Alo!" (thats how we "ring the doorbell" you could say) And the investigator opened the door, saw us THREE, and had a really surprised look on her face! So we looked inside the house... and there were the two other elders from the neighboring sector! haha. So we all got really confused and were like "uh what are you two doing here??"

Well it turns out that by some coincedence those two elders thought that the neighborhood they were in, being on the edge of OUR sector, was actually a part of THEIR sector! So they were just knocking doors and de repente knocked on this families door! The investigator opened the door, saw them, and right away said "come on in!" So of course the two other elders were way pumped. They asked "uh are you guys members of our church?" And they said "no! But the missionaries were going to come by today!" So the other elders were WAY excited and thought this family had had a vision or something and were expecting the missionaries or something like that hahaha. So anyway it was just really funny and really confusing, and we didnt know exactly what to do... cuz they had already been there for 15 minutes and had basically shared a whole lesson... so anyway we just did our lesson... with all 4 of us missionaries there. haha. It was really werid. But it all turned out good! And the family is SUPER awesome haha. so we had to break the news afterwards that the family was part of our ward and not theirs haha... That had NEVER happened before in my mission or in the mission of Elder Holt... and im pretty sure that doesnt happen to often ever haha. 

And those are the stories from the week. There were still a million other things that happened too... but that all i have time for really ha.

As for a quick investigator update... were basically working with a few menos activa families that also have children unbaptized! So were in that process. And also this family of 4 that we just found. Sooo... its going good for us! Ill keep you updated on how everything goes! haha.

But. Ill send a few pictures now. I love you all and miss you all! Pray for my health por favor because im still kind of recovering from my sickness. I feel fine and my body is all fine, ive just had a lack of energy the past week. Ive been SUPER tired. So i just need more energy! haha. I love being a missionary, and i love this church and gospel! Tengan una buena semana!

.Elder Heyman

November 4, 2013 Once again.... Just another crazy week. Asì es la mision.

Hey everyone! How was halloween? Its starting to get bigger here in chile... but they still dont do much. Not many people decorate or anything like that. haha it was weird thinking "Oh... today is Halloween!" Definitely didnt feel like it.... Well anywayyy.... what a week. Ill just hop right into it!

So last monday I think i said how I had woken up sick. Well due to the consejo we had last monday, we also had all day pday so we had enough time to finish the stuff we needed. So after internet, we went and did our compras, and then we just went right home and I went straight to bed. At like 8ish. Well. I slept terrible. I was waking up all night and was hot and cold and had to go to the bathroom and just miserable... but finally tuesday morning came around and it was time to get up and start the day... but my body was just not having it. I felt TERRIBLE. I was extremely sick ha. So i just stayed in bed all day and rested because seriously i was bad. so on tuesday we didnt go out to work either because i was way sick. and it was super lame. Im still a little sick to the stomach... but im alot better now. Ive been taking some meds to help me out. So i should be hanging in there haha. 

But speaking of that im starting to get pulgas again like crazy.... GOSH DANG IT. If you dont remember, pulgas are fleas. I was doing so good and had no pulgas. But then the other week when we first got here and we had the mini cambio, the elderthat slept in my bed had fleas so im pretty sure he passed them to me and so im getting bites allll over ago. Sooooo fome. I hate it. I HATE PULGAS. ughhhh i itch. 

Moving onward... Also the other night we experienced another temblor. It was loco. It was at nght a little after we had gone to bed. And all of a sudden our beds started rocking alot haha. They were just swaying pretty heavily side to side and we were like "whoaaaa elder do you feel that?!" haha. I dont think it was bigger than the other one i experienced in curico... but it was still pretty big and worth writing home about haha. 

Well the next story to me is just like.... embarrassing. So on Saturday someone in our zone had a baptism! Yay!! So we went to the baptism and brought an investigator. But... it was just legitimately the worst baptismal service ive ever seen. So first it started an hour late. Just because nobody showed up, AND the font wasnt filled all the way. So finally the service starts... and the ward mission leader was directing. Anyway he said "Welcome to the baptismal service. Im directing today. Im hermano so and so from the ward......" and didnt even know what ward he belonged to. haha... someone said it out loud and he said "oh yeah. From the ward Cerro Verde. and here presiding today from the bishopbric is the 1st?... 2nd?... counselor. El Hermano...." and had no idea what his name was. He turned around, asked him, and then just kept going. Anyways he did lots of little stuff like that that just werent very smooth... he messed up the name of the woman getting baptized as well. So that was just lame... anyway. But so there was this kid there as well that was just KILLING the spirit. The kid was just INSANE. I think he might have had some sort of special need though... Im not sure. But anyway he was just yelling things and kept yelling out comments about whatever the person was giving a talk about, and in between every talk he`d run up and yell something in the microphone that just.. nada que ver. and he had his toy hot wheel cars and was throwing them all over the place and people had to duck one or two times to avoid them... oh man it was mal. BUT. Thats not even the worst of it.

At the end of the service, they asked the hermana ana maria (The woman who had just been baptized) to give her testimony. So as shes walking up, i made eye contact with the missionary who was working with her and he just had this scared look on his face. So she gets up... is speaking, and in her testimony says "Well ten years ago the Jehova´s Witnesses passed by my house and shared with me, but i never got baptized. But ten years later, theyve passed by again, and this time they convinced me!" so we just died when she said that... It was just bad. BUT. Then when she ended her testimony, to just put a little extra salt in the wound, she finished by saying "and I share this things in the name of the Lord..." she then paused. and we thought okay good shes just going to end. But THEN she said" ...and my father Jehovah, and the holy ghost..." she then proceeded to CROSS herself (the forehead, chest, shoulder to shoulder thing) and then said amen. 

Oh. Man. It was a terrible service. and seriously just embarrassing. uaughusrhushfd. So. We had to have a little talk with the other elders and then we sent them to go visit her al tiro to make sure she knew she got baptized in the LDS church and not with the Testigos de Jehovah.... It was rough. haha..... 

Dad you would have died if you had been there. hahahaha.

anddd the last story was just something interesting we saw yesterday. Yesterday after lunch we started walking back to the house and were about to go down this one street, but right as we turned the corner there was this one lady with her two little daughters who said to us very sternly, "Dont go down there. Theyre fighting with knives." and we were just like "whaaa?..." So we looked down the road, and sure enough there were a group of like 4ish guys that had knives that were throwing punches and slashing at one another... That was the first time I had ever seen that in my life. And when it WASNT on tv or in a movie or something. Anyway, we didnt see anyone actually get slashed or hit bad. It was more of just threatening eachother than an actual fight. But still. We just saw it and said "ohhhh yeah. Gracias! Were just gonna go another way then." So that was super whack.

andddd.... now im here writing this letter to you. That was basically my week haha. Pretty crazy. but. All is well. Were working good and having fun. We had the real cambios today and of course elder Holt and I are staying together. So that will be good. He only has 2 more cambios left... so he`ll probably just end the mission with me! haha. Bakàn. butttt. Eso. 

Christ suffered in the Garden for us, died on the cross for us, and was resurrected three days later. I know it with all my might and dont doubt it for a second. I love you and msis you all and hope you`ll take advantage of that atonement that He did for us. Have an awesome week!!!

-Elder heyman

Fotos November 4, 2013

1. A1 sauce is so good!!!! haha mom and dad sent me A1 sauce and we took advantage of it al tiro! We made some "burgers" that night and it was SO GOOD. THANK YOU MOM AND DAD.

2. Me with another one of the new ties the parents sent me! Thanks mom and dad! (I wore it to our stake conference!)

 3. And then on sunday after church when we came home, our neighbor was doing an asado! And so we jokingly said "oh que rico! Nos invita? jaja es broma no se preocupe!" but of course they were way nice and said "yeah we`ll pass it to you over the fence!" and then they hooked us up with a bunch of meat.... It was suuuuper good. Buttt.... it might have been what made me EXTREMELY sick the next two days. becuase...

4. This is how we spent alllll of tuesday. Either me sleeping, or us on the couch doing cualquier cosa. I got EXTREMELY sick and had a fat headache and lots of aches and pains in my body and congestion and was in the bathroom like every media hora. It was a terrible day.

5. and one day this week we ate at a menos activos house. and he had this sword on the wall. It was a sweet sword. So we took a picture.... which reminds me and leads me to the next picture......

1. So in Tierra Bella, there is a member who is an artist. And he does paintings in the house casi free for all the missionaries. So theres a bunch of paintings all around the house... Well everyone there in tierra bella called me "Elder He-Man!" because they always mess up a little bit on the name and think it sounds the same as he man. Anyway. So for my painting I asked for a painting of He-Man. With lacrosse sticks. It turned out sweet. here i am with the drawing hahaha.

2. Heres another example of the drawings. Elder Ainge with his Hulk from the Celtics. haha.

3. And Elder Gonzalez with his Iron Man.

4. And this is the guy that does the drawings. El Hermano Mario!

Being a zone leader is crazy. October 28, 2013

Well i had quite the crazy week. I just randomly jumped into a super crazy week for starting to be zone leader. I shall share some thoughts and experiences.

Well my first week here in the sector of Villa Acero was pretty good! But it was definitely a new experience haha.... There were lots of little happenings. I do have plans for sending fotos, so ill let that do some of the story telling, and ill just tell some experiences too.

Well it wasnt until wednesday when I had my first day working in my sector haha. I showed up sunday night, short day of work. Monday was pday so we had another short day of work. Right away on tuesday we did a mini cambio because we had a baptismal interview in our sector (we had a baptism this week! haha Surprise!) So i didnt work there. And finally on wednesday I had my first full day of work. 

I like my sector! Its pretty cool. Its windy cuz were soooomewhat close to the beach. Not to close but apparently its close-ish. So itll be sunny, but its also pretty windy which makes it a cool climate. a little somewhat else that made the day a little bit cooler was that at one point we were walking through a pasaje that was a little bit Flayte (that just means its a little poorer and a little more dangerous) anyways there were some flayte kids that were messing around outside of their house. And as we walked by we saw they had a huge bottle of water that they were throwing water and eachtoher and stuff. Just haivng fun. Anyways when we walked by, one of the kids came out of his house and yelled "AGUAAA!!" And threw a bunch of water on us. Twice. haha. So we got a little wet. haha it wasnt anything bad. Just some rowdy kid thinking he was funny haha. But we just laughed and plus it did feel kind of nice since we were in the sun and stuff haha. But so that was the first time thats happened to me in the mission haha...

Well another interesting thing was our day friday. In our ward are 4 missionaries. 2 elders and 2 hermanas. Thats new. Ive never shared a ward with hermanas before haha. Anyway. Like I recently had comp problems... the hermanas are ALSO having huge comp problems. And on friday they got in an argument, and one of the hermanas just took off. And so randomly on friday we got a phone call from one of the hermanas saying "uhhhh.... I dont know where my comp is." 

soooo.... we had to hunt down both hermanas and get them together and try to help them out a moment. But in the end President ended up coming down to interview them.... 

And thats when I got my package! Yayyyy! Thank you mom and dad for the package! :D It was/is THE BEST. I LOVE MOM-MADE FOOD. AND MOM. hahaha thank you so much! 

anyways. So that was a super interesting experience. It was super dramatic haha... yeah.

Which leads me to saturday! We had a baptism! yay! We had the baptism of this kid Luis. He`s 12 and is super cool haha. I just happened to show up for the week of his baptism. So i have pictures ill send. 

Anyway im not a huge fan of baptizing kids like that... But luis really is awesome. it seems like he was super prepared. And his parents (who are not members) have become pretty interested in the church throughout the process of luis learning from the missionaries. The mom now says "Well since my sons getting baptized im gonna have to start accompanying him to support him and what not, and ill probably have to be baptized too." So we of course say "yeah! Exactly! Do it as a family!" haha so we`ll be working with them now.

and the other super crazy thing was that this sunday we had an emergency transfer in our zone... Nobody left, but we received TWO more hermanas... Who are also serving in our ward! So we have 6 missionaries in the ward, 2 elders and 4 hermanas! Que loco. And next week (During the real transfers) We`ll get two more elders that are coming into the zone. So we had to go pick up the hermanas and help them transfer their stuff and the whole thing. 

and anyway... those were just a couple happenings from the week. It was an interesting week with lots of new experiences and stuff. There were just so many things but i cant even put them in a letter haha. Ill just have to share them with you after the mission. 

BUT! All is well. I woke up pretty sick today and so im gonna go home and get some sleep... i need it haha. 

But i love being a missioanry. I love what im doing and love learning new things and love serving the people. The gospel is the answer to everything! haha. No matter hwats happpening in life, just live the gospel. 

And everybody follow the invitation of Elder Ballard and talk to ONE person before christmas and invite them to come to christ. It will make the world a better place haha.

Anyway. Love you and miss you. Have an awesome week.

Elder Heyman

October 28, 2013 Pictures

1. In our house we have a dart board. Longgggg story short, one landed in the tip of my shoe. Close call. No damage was done. haha

2. This guy is from the ward and hes going on his mission next week! Hes going to santiago and so the ward had a special noche de hogar for him.

 3. Luis with his parents at his baptism! Theyre next! ;)

4. The baptism crew. Theres Elder Holt my comp. 

 5. Here's me with one of my news ties i got from mom and dad! Yayyyy!!!! Thank you!!!

Greetings from Talcahuano Sur!!! October 21, 2013

Hello people. Well. What a week. I continue my mission with the firm belief that I have one of the craziest,weirdest missions ever. But maybe everybody thinks that. I dont know. Anyways. Let me explain a little bit...

So we werent supposed to have our next cambios until the 4th of octubre. So, this past saturday at about 930/10 in the morning, all four of us missionaries in Tierra Bella were in the car of a member going to their house to do a service project and help out in their big old garden that they have. As we were conversing casually on the ride there, my phone starting ringing. As I reached into my pocket and pulled out the phone, I read the name and saw that President Arrington was calling. Well THAT was a surprise. I said "ooooh man..." and a bajillion thoughts ran through my head. I was sitting next to Elder Scott in the car, and he also saw the name, and put on his "im in shock" face. It became an even bigger face of shock as he saw me just shove the phone back into my pocket. He said "You`re not going to answer it?!" and i said "No way! Were jammed in a car. Id like to seperate myself to take the call." hahahaha. 

So anyway 2 or 3 minutes later we arrived at our destination, I got out of the car, seperated myself a little from the rest of them, and returned President Arrington`s call. When he answered he said "Elder Heyman! How are you? Do you have a moment?" I responded yes, and he said "Good. Elder Heyman... I was calling to see if you would accept a new assignment as Zone Lider in Talcahuano Sur."

......Well THAT was a surprise. hahaha. So obviously I said yes, he gave me words of encouragement and thanked me, I thanked him, and he said "Well I need that the cambio takes place tomorrow after church... So i was calling to let you know so you can get you bags ready and then have some time to say bye to anyone if you need."

and, skipping lots of details... I arrived in Talcahuano yesterday at 430ish... and here i am as zone lider in talcahuano sur! The most southern part of the mission! out of nowhere! 2 weeks before the real cambios! I feel like i have the craziest mission ever! haha.

So that was a big old surprise. It was very exciting... and came very fast. But im extremely excited and pumped for the new assignment, and the new challenges that will be coming my way! its going to be awesome. And i have a feeling ill be learning ALOTTTT more about life haha... 

So thats the biggest news from the week! Surprise emergency cambio! And here i am in talcahuano sur as zone lider. My companion is Elder Holt from Holliday, Utah. Hes awesome. We get along really well. Hes a way good missionary and we have a lot in common! haha. And its crazy because as i was thinking about it all, hes my first companion in 5 cambios that has more than 2 cambios (3 months) in the mission. Ive basically been training the past 5 cambios. Elder Adamson, ElderPanduro, and Elder Gonzalez. So this is all going to be a huge change. But im really excited for it!

But so thats the big news. The rest of the week was pretty tranquilo. But ill continue telling you a little bit about my experience in saturday and sunday because it was a crazy day.

...So we did our service on saturday, went back to the house, got showered and changed, and i starting packing al tiro (I HATE packing for cambios. I hate it i hate it i hate it. haha) We then went to lunch, and we came back to the house and I had to continue packing... BUT i wasnt able to finish it all that day, because I was still district leader and had to complete with those responsibilities! haha. So at 630 I then had to leave to go to the sector of Chiguayante A to do an Interview with one of their investigators. So then I went there and did that. BUT i also have the hermanas in my district, who have alot of health problems and are very often sick... so anyway that morning they had called me as well feeling VERY bad physically, emotionally, and espiritually. So I told them to call the mission nurse and let me know what she says. So after I did the interview, I then had to go to a pharmacy to buy them meds, go to their sector in Hualqui to meet them in a members house, give them their meds, and give them priesthood blessings! haha. It was loco. I then returned to my house to finish packing and went to bed. Saturday was SUCH a crazy day for me! 

Then on sunday, I officially completed my packing, went to church, gave my testimony de despedida in the ward, said bye to everyone (i wasnt able to visit anyone on saturday to say bye! haha :( and then went to lunch, went back to our house, grabbed all my stuff, and went on over to our mission office to meet up with my new companion, and went to Talcahuano. IT ALL HAPPENED SO FAST. haha. It was crazy. 

But I love it all! I love every minute of the mission just because its so easy to see all the things im learning and notice the progress that im making in life. I love it! The lord is blessing me so much, and im so grateful for the trust the Lord has in me. Because I am more than 100% sure im not capable of being zone leader haha... BUT. With the spirit and the help of the Lord i am more than 100% sure Ill do a good job and the Lord`s work will continue on in the way that He wants. entonces tengo que aprovechar de eso y ser guiado por el espiritu! Asì es la idea!

I love you all very much and miss you lots! I know without a doubt the Lord is with us in every footstep, guiding us and helping us! I love the companionship of the Holy Ghost in my life, and I love being a missionary. Have an awesome week! 

-Elder Heyman