Goodbye, English... February 25, 2013

Hey guyssss. Im hereeeee. I had another successful week! yay. haha. The diligence continues to pay off. So, I will continue to be diligent. And if it doesnt pay off, I will continue to be more and more diligent until it does pay off... haha. The Lord blesses!

So anywayyy. Yeah Im officially 20 now. Crazyyy. I had a tranquilo birthday so that was good. But it was enjoyable! haha. uhmmm. Yeah. I cant think of alot.

But basically we have cambios today! And after 3 weeks of being here in my sector... my companion is leaving! haha we were together for 3 weeks :P So we`ll see how well i memorized the sector in the 3 weeks... :O but so yesterday we said bye to elder Larson cuz he finished his mission, and today were saying bye to Elder Vasquez because he`s getting transfered. Which means we lack 2 missionaries in the house.... And that means that 2 more are coming...

AND THEYRE BOTH LATINS. IM NEVER GOING TO SPEAK ENGLISH AGAIN. AHHHHH.

hahaha. Shoot man. My brain is going to be fried at the end of the day. So yes, Im getting my second latin comp. I honestly dont remember his name... but he`s Chilean! And hes got more than a year in the mission. but Elder Layseca is also getting another latin comp. So I will be living in a pure latin house, in a pure latin country, speaking pure spanish. Pray hard for me. hahaha. the moment finally came. 

hahaha but I overdramatize. Im excited for it! But yeah I am a little nervous... Ill be able to communicate fine and such, more than anything the end of the day is going to be the hardest. When Ive spoken spanish allll the day and been walking in the sun all day and im just tired and think less clearly. Its obvious that during this time of the day is when my spanish is lacking most haha. And its always been nice to sneak in a little english with Elder Larson at the end of the day. But that is gone now.  So, thats it. haha. Ill be fine. Just extra tired :P

But Paulina came to church again this Sunday! And is progressing towards baptism well, so I should have a baptism soon! We`ll keep working with her. Also we had a few other people come to church so were gonna be working with them too! Exito es el mejor! haha. So keep them in your prayers too por favor.

The news came out this week that my mission boundaries are getting changed a little bit... That will start in July. So it will be interesting to see what happens there.

andddd.... Theres not really much else to tell :/ haha. Im just-a working hard! And excited for the success to come because I know it will! I looooove being a missionary. Im learning alot and I dont even want to think about all the things id be missing out on if I wasnt a missionary! haha. I very often think "Wow some of my friend would never believe what Im doing". or "Wow some of my friends are really missing out..." haha. EVERYONE needs to hear the gospel. Its true, and its a HUGE blessing in the lives of everyone. The church is true and im doing the right thing! I know it. I miss you all. I hope everything is well! Talk to you next week!

-Elder Heyman

Fotos February 25, 2013

So this is basically what happened on my birthday.

1. Starting my first day as a 20 yr old.

2. Bought myself a bunch of my favorite Chilean candy (Bon Bon) 

3. Thought this dog was chilling in the negocio dead like this... but it was just sleeping. hahah

4. This is our investigator Paulina with her daughter Matilda haha. Her daughter is the cutest little thing. Paulina remembered it was my birthday and bought cake for us. Banana with manjar!!! It was so good. 

5. Got to drop of my dirty clothes so they could get cleaned! Thats always a highlight of the week haha. Were always like "Yes! We get to drop of the clothes today!"

6. Not my birthday, but this was Elder Larson`s last night. We ordered pizza because its his favorite food here. 

Hey Party People! Feb. 18, 2013

aha I dont know why but that subject line just popped in my head. How is everybody??

Wellll we had a good week this past week! It was a good week and I`ve learned alot. like I said, my favorite part about the mission is the learning. I love it.

Being completely honest I dont have much for telling this week haha... So i`ll just update you on la obra del señor aqui en Chile.

When I arrived here in Lautaro we basically had to start from ground 0. We didnt have any investigators or anyone really we were teaching or anyone progressing towards baptism or anything... So, we decided to change that! The first week was rough. And I take the blame for it haha. It was my first cambio and my first week in my new sector and I just felt uncomfortable and awkward and didnt know what to do. So during the first week I saw a lot of things we could do to improve the work... but I didnt do anything about it because I felt "out of place" haha. So at the end of our first week we looked back and said "Shoot that was a really crappy week." BUTTT.... I repented and said okay lets dominate this sector... and thats what we did this week! We had a successful week. And so i felt really happy to see that we had made the changes and that it all paid off. Basically, it was cool to see the blessings that came from our hard work! haha. 

So with that, as of right now our "best" or investigadora thats progressing the most is called Paulina. She`s a single mother witha  daughter of 5 years. She`s cool and we introduced her to a member from the ward this week (another girl) and they became like really good friends really fast haha. So were excited that that worked! So she came to church and seemed to like it and everything! So were excited about that. We`re hoping it keeps up that way!

We also have an older guy named Carlos... and he`s hard to teach because he has interest in the church... but his wife is SUPERRRR Catholic. hahaha. But so he didnt come to church this past week because he had a commitment but comitted to coming this week. And we feel strongly that he`ll come! We just hope the wife lets us teach... haha.

And lastly on Saturday night we met another woman named Sandrina. She`s really cool and is really interested in the church. She was going to come to church yesterday, and was up and ready to go super early and everything... but her mom showed up early as a surprise to visit her... so she didnt come haha. but, she has lots of interest in what we have to say so were excited to teach her!

And basically those are the 3 focuses we have for now haha. So you all can pray for them and stuff during the week. Thanks :) haha. 

but so yeah. Long story short we had a good succesful week this past week. And were excited to keep it that way! Were gonna keep working diligently and doing everything we can to have success. and the Lord is going to bless us for that :) My biggest challenge now is just making sure I have the sector memorized in the next week in case that my companion leaves next week for cambios... ah! haha.

anddd Happy Birthday to my niece, the Katiebugggggg this week too! She`ll be turning 6! Shoot my nieces and nephews are getting big haha. Thats crazy. I hope you have an AWESOME birthday Katiebuuuug! I imagine it will be filled with lots of princesses and pink :) haha.

andddd... Yeah I turn 20 this week too! Weird. I wont be a teenager anymore... haha. Thats super weird. So... Idk. Im excited? Not really haha. I havent thought about it much. BUT! Funny story. This past friday the mission office called me and the office missionaries all sang me happy birthday and wished me a happy birthday... haha. And I didnt have the heart to tell them it wasnt my birthday :( hahahaha. I dont even know why. so I accepted it, laughed, expressed my gratitude... and then later in the day I had to call Elder Esparza (mi amigo de Chandler Az tambien!! Esta en la oficina ahora) to ask him a question for my companion... and while i was at it told him about it haha. And he laughed and said shoot... okay we`ll call you on your actual birthday then. haha. So that was funny. Oh well. My biggest birthday wish is just that I pass it tranquilo haha. And have a successful day. But thanks for all the emails I got today! :) It made me happy. I appreciate them!!!

But so yeah... Thats all I can really think of? Elder Larson leaves the mission to go home this sunday... So us 3 missionaries will be in an awkward trio for a day or two haha. But so yeah we`ll be saying our goodbyes to him! Weird! haha

But so yeah. I love you and miss you all! Youre all fantastic! Im loving the mission here, im learning alot, working hard, and always looking for ways to improve! Im excited to keep working hard and having success! I love you all and miss you! Que esten bien!!! Chauuu.

-Elder Heyman

Fotos Feb. 18, 2013

We played soccer today as a zone activity. The first picture is all of our zone, the second picture is our house! 

1. Heres my comp Elder Vazques! It rained SUPER hard randomly one day haha.... he had boots on. But the street was DROWNED in water haha. Chile`s bi-polar weather, ladys and gentlemen.

2. I hope this foto turned out good... if we look super short and squat... were not, i swear! haha. The new companionship!

The new computer place here in Curicò is weird :/ Im not 100% sure how to work the camera here.... so ill get more fotos to you next week! This is all i have for now sorry! haha. 

Jokes on youuu!!! February 11, 2013

Well! My first week here in my new sector went well! I like it alot and Im having fun... BUT... Surpriseeee!!!! Im NOT in Lontuè.... hahaha. Let me explain...

So on monday morning last week they called and announced cambios over the phone on speaker phone. So the zone leaders told me I was leaving and going to Lautaro... But we didnt hear it well and didnt understand... And they told us an Elder Turner was going to Lontuè... So we hung up the phone, whipped out our maps to check out who was going where... And Lautaro doesnt show up on the map... But Lontuè does! So I just assumed they said Lontùe and during the day i said "oh im going to Lontue!¨ But Elder Cowden said "No i thought I heard youre going to Lauraro!" So I called the zone leaders again and asked, but they didnt have the list with them, so they just said "Yeah we think youre going to Lontuè? That sounds right!" sooo.... I announced to everyone when I said bye that I was going to Lontuè. And I wrote in my email home that I was going to Lontuè... So then Tuesday morning I showed up at the bus terminal and they said "uhhhh... No. Elder Heyman you´re going to Lautaro." haaaaa..... Soooo. 

HERE I AM IN LAUTARO! hahahaha. Oops.

BUT anyways. Im in Lautaro! Also in Curico, but like 30 minutes away from Lontuè haha. So. It is NOT a little branch. Its a ward! But a smaller ward, with like 100 or so people. Nor is it a poorer, tiny little town, but a much bigger sector haha. Sooo... Surprise to me too :P The bishop is super young (like 28) but with 2 older counselors. and there isnt anyone that plays piano! (and they say there hasnt even been a missionary for a longgg time thats showed up that can play) So im super excited to be able to help the branch out and play the piano for them! I mentioned the possibility of doing a music class again... and they seem to really like it! So hopefully this time it goes through :P I think it wil! 

But SÎ my companion is Elder Vazques and he IS latino! He is from Guatamala and I have a hard time understanding him sometimes haha. I dont know if its his accent or just him or what hahaha. But sometimes I have to ask like 2 or 3 times what he said haha. But hes cool! He`s kind of shy and not a huge fan of putting himself out in the open, so sometimes he`ll get a little nervous when we do contacts or lessons or something. But hes cool! He`s been in the mission for 9 months! Luckily my spanish is at a level good enough that we communicate just fine without problems (unless i dont understand something haha) and so theres not really any barrier! 

We live in a small 2 story house thats pretty dirty haha. I dont know why. It just is haha. But so we sleep upstairs and it gets reaalllyyy hot at night haha. And the shower is super funny. The gas doesnt work all the way, so if you keep the shower on for too long (like more than 2 minutes straight) the gas just dies out and then you have to turn off the shower and wait for 2 minutes before you can turn it on again to get hot water haha. So as im showering im just constantly turning on and off the water. Like Ill get wet, then turn off the water and soap up, then turn it on and rinse off really fast and get my hair wet, then turn it off and soap up and etc etc... haha idk its just super funny to me. Its like a game. haha.

And there are 4 of us that live in the house. 2 gringos, 1 guatamateco, and 1 chileno! And theyre all SUPER cool! The gringo, Elder Larson, once again is from Arizona! He`s from gilbert! haha such a small world. And went to Mesa High. He`s really cool and he`s our district leader. But he goes home in 2 weeks at the end of this cambio! Then there`s Elder Vazques, and then the Chileno, Elder Layseca. I actually get along best with Elder Layseca haha. He`s really cool! Hes a SUPER good singer! and even knows alot of english and sings alot of songs in English haha. AND he has a ukulele here! hahaha. So he has a ukulele and I actually brought the guitar that Elder Sutterfield left behind with me... haha. So he`s teaching me my first song in spanish (se llama yo tengo tu amor. Its really cool!) and im teaching him Billionaire. hahaha. We just recite the words really slow to eachother and try to memorize it hahah. and he`s been helping me alot with improving my spanish haha. So he`s cool. 

So yeah! Im loving it here in Lautaro so far! Ive just been really focused on memorizing everything the past week. The sector, the names of people, the members/menos activos/recent converts... I have a map of the sector that I carry around with me in my back pocket and whip out all the time to figure out where we are and such haha. Its been helpful. But so this past week was just a lot of figuring things out. Where I was, what we can do to mejorar the sector and have more success and whatnot... So im excited for this week to really get going so we can have some awesome success! :) I think the biggest challenge will just be working with the members... So ill be doing lots of studying, thinking, and praying to figure out how we can do that in the best way possible... 

But thats basically all for now... Im just really excited to be here and start working hard here! Ive been speaking more spanish than ever this past week haha. I feel like now sometimes im really actually starting to THINK in spanish... which is super weird haha. And yes I have had dreams in spanish!! Thats weird to wake up in the morning after that haha. Well shooooot man. Thats all for now. I love and miss you all! Im working hard and always trying to find ways that I can improve! Im not perfect, but the Lord forgives me and always gives me a chance to change and improve, and THATS my favorite part about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ive really learned to learn from my mistakes during thetime ive been out here! And sometimes its frustrating... but I always try to keep a positive head because I just think "well... not going to make THAT mistake again! So now I dont have to worry about feeling bad about that cuz now I know what to do in this situation! :)" haha. So yeah. I dont know. I just really love my time out here! Im learning lots and working hard! I love you and miss you all and hope all is going well. The Lord loves us, watches out for us, and blesses us ALOT. Keep an eye out for those blessings! haha. Cuz they are there. Si o si. Anyway.

Les amo y les echo de menos! Que este bien!

-Elder Heyman

02/04/2013 Chau Longaví, ¡¡¡Hola Lontué!!!

Hey hey heyyyy!!! 

Well.... Im OUT of here!!!!!! Transfers are today! And after my wonderful 5 or 6ish months in Longaví (I honestly dont even know haha) Im being transferred!!!

We all expected it... Because Ive been here so long and just... We just knew. So we got the call and Im leaving Longaví and heading up more north!!! And Im going to a sector called Lontué, right on the edge of Curico Sur!!!! Woo hooo!!! I honestly dont even know much about it... I THINK its another branch? And its supposedly really small again (Like Longaví haha) But apparently (from what I heard) Its REALLY pretty and somewhere kind of close (in the zone at least) There is a national park there of some sort. Reportedly "one of the most beautiful parts of Chile!"  soooo Im SUPER excited!!! ANDDDD....... My comp is going to be Elder Vasquez!!!! And with a last name like that... That means he´s gonna be a LATINO!!!! Ahhhhh my first companion A: Not from Utah. haha  B: LATINO COMP!!!! Im actually really nervous but still super excited!!! Im gonna  make sure he helps me with my spanish! haha. So Im super super excited!!! And were going to be "Co-senior Comps". So we´ll see how that works out haha. But heyyyy.... IM SUPER EXCITED!!! Ive had so much fun here in Longaví. Its been QUITE the experience and Ive learned SOOO much. Ive met AMAZING people that I just love love love with all my heart and hope the best for them. I will definitely be remembering Longaví for the rest of my life. And Im telling everyone here that even though im leaving, I will proudly call myself a "Longaniviano" for forever hahaha. (Thats what they call residents of Longaví haha)  But so im so excited to take everything I learned and everything to a different area and start tearing it up there too :) Woo hoo! Im really excited haha. Sad to leave Longaví? Yes. Absolutely. But super excited too haha.

So we (the missionaries) saw that coming, that I was going to leave... But what we DIDNT see coming... Is Elder Cowden is leaving too. hahaha. THAT was quite the shocker for us this morning. Haha. So both missionaries from my sector are leaving... and two new guys are coming in. So that will be quite the change. Its a long explanation but I really think that will be a good thing for Longavi. Or for our sector at least haha. But so Elder Cowden is leaving to the south. Hes going to a sector called Quillon, Chillan. And hes going to be comps with a latin as well haha. So he´s excited! Nervous, because he didnt see it coming at all, but excited! haha. We´ve had a LOT of fun together, and we´ve both learned ALOT. haha. 

So my bags are packed nice and neat already! (Organizing. Priorities. Wow Im a changed man.) and Im excited to go! Time to start learning some more and progressing even more in life/the mission :) Im super excited! Did I mention that yet?

BUT, more than that. Since I have to go say my goodbyes still, Im going to keep the rest of this letter short with just a story or two.

So first off, on Saturday we had an activity in the church and we played.... Baby Futbol!!! Woo hoo!! And we actually had a group of 11 to play this time! That is great progress haha. So anyway we played 4 vs 4 and 5 vs 5... And remember how I said my soccer skills were improving? Welllll I was playing really good! And I was even impressing the Chileans :) haha so like halfway through I did this move-thing and blah blah blah... Basically it was cool and they were all really impressed and so they starting calling me "Messi" for the rest of the night during the game and joking with me and calling me Messi. Thatttt made me happy hahaha. Because if any of you know who Messi is, you know thats a compliment haha. Anyways. I was just proud of that and wanted to share. Yay for futbol!

And secondly. Technically we have no idea whether a person is going to leave on cambio day or not. But like i said, we all just assumed I was leaving... So in church yesterday, just in case it was my last Sunday there, I bore my testimony during the testimony time, AND I had talked with Presidente Cárcamo earlier in the week and arranged to do a musical number! :) So for the closing song I just did a musical number, and I actually just went up front and sang a solo. hahaha. My singing has improved ALOT since I left too! At least I think. I hope. Anyway so I sang "I Need Thee Every Hour". And I sang 2 verses in Spanish, and the final verse in English. And I feel like it came out really well! At least I felt the spirit while I was singing :P So I hope los demás did as well haha. And after the meeting O got a few compliments so I hope it turned out well! 

And so I decided I need to start using my musical abilities more to bless the people here of Chile! I decided Ive been slacking in that department, and that I can really use that blessing to help people even more... So Im gonna be finding ways to do that. And Im excited for it :) I really think it´ll help.

andddd.... Those are the two stories that I wanted to share haha. I loveeee this church! Each day my testimony is strengthed, and I just continue learning about how true this church is. I feel so blessed to have this knowledge in my life, and the ability to apply the things I know and learn in my life to receive these blessings. Because thats another thing. Each day I just realize more and more and more how extremely blessed I am. I love the plan of salvation, I love the gospel, and I love everything about this church haha. Anyway... I gotta go say bye to people :P Lontué here I come! Wish me luck!!!! I miss you and love you all! Que les vaya bien! Chau!!

Con mucho amor y abrazos y todo la cuestion,

Elder Heyman

02/04/2013 Fotos

1. We made the cookies you sent me!!! They turned out GREAT. We just had nothing to shape the dough with... So they ended up a little close :) 

2. Me teaching some of the primary kids!!! :) hahaha.

3. These two kids wanted to sing on their own :P hahaha So we all sang a trio!