I have had the weirdest mission ever and... ¡¡¡Voy a entrenar!!! March 11, 2013

This week was full of weirdness. Im leaving in a few hours to go to Concepcion by bus so.... Im gonna try and make this fast. Heeeere goes nothing. 

and p.s. still dont have a way to upload pictures, sorry :( ill work on that!

OKAY. So. On tuesday nights they always have a baby futbol activity at the church! So we always invite our investigators and go play futbol with them at the end of the night. Well, this past tuesday night, LONG story short, Elder Layseca got kicked in the leg. REALLY hard. and so he had alot of pain and everything, and ended up going to the doctor that night to check it out... Turns out he had a fissure? I think its called. Because I think a fracture is more serious than what he had... But anyway he had a fissure/fracture and ended up with a medical Boot on his leg. So the next morning he called President Humphrey and told him what was up. But we were going to have interviews with President on Thursday morning, so President said that on thursday they`d check it out and make a decision what to do... So Elder Layseca couldnt walk at all and had aLOT of pain :/ So they checked it out, and he ended up going to the office in concepcion because he couldnt do much in our sector, and he`ll probably end up just going home for a month or two since hes from Antofogasta (like 2 hours away) to heal and return later :( But so Elder Layseca left on Thursday :( Im really sad. He was a good friend haha. I hope he gets better... 

But so that means that Elder Arèvalo didnt have a companion... So since Thursday we`ve been in a trio. Ohhhh thats been rough... Its a test of patience, I shall say... haha. We`ve had to search out jovenes and members of the church to come leave with one of us so we can still work in our sectors, but then we have to balance working in our sector and their sector, and once again im already the "oldest missionary" here in our sectors, cuz Ive been here for 5 weeks and theyve only been here for 2 weeks. But nobody knows anyone in the ward or where members live for lunches and blah blah blah. It was a stressful couple of days... hahah. And even worse president humphrey had said that obviously he was going to fix the situation, but that perhaps we would have to be a trio for another month while we wait for more missionaries to show up... hahaha. Oh it was stressful. Every prayer in our house we prayed for there to be a happy solution to our situation hahaha. BUT, we survived the few days. It was pretty lame, Ill be honest, pretty tough... BUT, there IS a solution, and this is it!

The Lord REALLY hears our prayers, brothers and sisters. This is a miracle and a HUGE blessing.

So there was a missionary in the MTC in the US that had Visa problems, and due to those problems, will be "coincedentally"  showing up in the concepcion airport by himself tomorrow! Which means he needs a companion, and somebody to train him... ME! 

Wooo hooooooo! Im going to train!!! Im so pumped. Im super super pumped. 

So i am no longer companions with Elder Arancibia. He will now be in the other side of Lautaro with Elder Arèvalo, and I go to Chillan tonight, and then Concepcion in the morning to go pick up mi verdito gringito!!! Im so excited! haha. But seriously, that was a HUGE answer to my prayers... It seriously is a miracle haha. But basically Im really really excited to be training a gringo... Can you tell?

So thats the basic rundown of the craziness that went down this week. Lots of highs and lows. It was a crazy week. But Im really excited to be training. Me and my comp are going to dominate this sector. Success here we come!

But more than that, quick updates on investigators. Paulina cannot/does not want to/doesnt think she can stop drinking and smoking... So we have to move onnn because she wont progress :/ But we have an awesome reference from some members in the ward that will be baptized by the end of the month! Its a mom with 3 kids. But her oldest child (her 16 yr old daughter...) just gave birth this last week and is living with her boyfriend in his parents house... so yeah. She wont be prepared for a baptism with the rest of them :/ (welcome to Chile ladies and gents. Thats a norm here) and the other daughter is 7 yrs old so she also wont get baptized, but the mom and her son, yes! So everythings going really well with them, we`re way excited for them! The members have been a HUGE help with them :)

uhmmm but more than that... I cant think of anything super important haha. But so yeah, that was a quick rundown of my week! Seriously I have had the weirdest experiences here on the mission... Is this normal? Does all this weird random stuff happen to all the missionaries? I know everyone has their own special experiences but I just feel like this all is TOO weird. This will be my 3rd companion in a month and a half haha... Weird. Oh well, im excited!

But so Im really happy because things had been on kind of a downhill lately with a lack of animo and lots of stress... haha. But im excited to get going again with my new comp! Its gonna be awesome. We`re gonna be the best companionship ever. haha. 

But so anyway... I love you and miss you all. I hope all is well. Youre all always in my prayers! I love praying haha. I have really long prayers sometimes :/ haha. Buts thats okay. its not bad. and also i love the scriptures. Ive learned to love the scrtiptures alot during this time! haha. The church is true and the Lord knows us, listens to us, and answers us! Que este bien. Tengan una buena semana. Hasta la proxima vez! Chauuu

-Elder Heyman

¡Hola! March 4, 2013

Hola familia y amigos! Como estan? Con una semana con puro latinos, ya he olvidado hablar ingles! :/ espero que yo pueda re aprenderlo despues de la mision :(

haha just kiddingggg. Obviously I still know english. But I HAVE been spaking ALOT of spanish this week. So my brain is a LITTLE fried. But its not that bad! Im doing good :) haha. 

Also I would like do give a forewarning that the E on this kyboard is REALLY bad... So if I lack alot of E´s in this letter..... Sorry :/

Anyway, so my Chilean companion, Elder Arancibia showed up this tuesday! Along with the Peruvian companion of Elder Layseca, Elder Arèvalo! So yes, I am th minority now! haha. its fun. But diffrnt haha. So i live with two chilenos and a peruvian. Crazyyy. Uhhh. So basically  yah. My nw companion is chileno. He speaks really fast. And he`s pretty flaite (which would be like... gangster, thug, something lik that in ingles) So he speaks even worse hahaha. But I can understand him fine. Sometimes he`ll use words or frases or somthing like that that are super... Chilean. Like even the other latinos dont understand it. So i have to tell him to explain it to me or slow down so i can figure it out haha. But he has QUITE the sense of humour... and likes to joke around and stuff haha. Sometimes too much haha... But he really is a hard worker when were out proseliting and teaching and stuff. He gets us into like every house here haha. He`s a really good people person and connects really wll with all the people here! haha. I kind of lost the cord to connct the camera to th computr... haha. So I wont be sending pictures this week... But soon! So yeah! thats  a little bit bout my new comp :P

Uhmmm..... I dont have much else to share.. This past week we taught paulina about the word of wisdom and how she needs to stop drinking and smoking and stuff.... and its gonna be pretty hard for her to stop :/ Shes pretty addicted... Eh bad word choice. Because shes not addicted, but lik.... just NOT really willing to giv it up. So were worried for her :( Gahh. 

Another cool thing that happened this week is that yesterday we had stake conference. But it was a broadcast to all the stakes in chile. So i got to listen to President Monson speak! (Well... I WATCHED him speak and listened to his translator speak :P haha) But the other really cool thing is that I also got to listen to Elder Andersen give a talk... and it was SUPER cool because he actually gave his talk in spanish. No translator or anything! He had a very heavy gringo accent, and sometimes stumbled upon the words and such... But the whole time I was thinking, how cool that I get to listen to an Apostle of the Lord speak to the people in Chile right now... IN spanish! As in... Elder Andersen was actually speaking spanish! haha. It was awsome and it was also awesom to see how humble of a man he is, and how loving and willing he was to give his talk in spanish. Because Im 100% sure that if he wanted, he very easily could have just given th talk in english with a translator, and it would have been alot easier... But still he chose to speak IN spanish to the people, in their native language, to show his love and to connect more with th people. It was just a cool experience and a good testimony strengthen-er haha. 

 Uhhh but yeah. but more than that theres really not much to share... haha. Im just... being a missionary haha. I dont want to bore you to death with the same stuff each week haha. Im tired. I want to sleep really bad. and we still havent eaten lunch haha. So im hungry too hahah. But yeah. Okay.

I love you all and hope all is well. The church is true and seriously, if you want the best, happiest life possible, just live the gospel of Jesus Christ. Its amazing how real these things are. Ive seen the blessings in my life, and ive seen it bless others in their lives during my time here! Never stray away! I love you and all miss you. Que esten bien!

-Elder Heyman

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