Sister Hevynn Heimuli: Letter 6

Hey hey hey!

With Crofts shimai going home, this week was full of goodbyes and see-ya-laters...I am so tired of saying those words! However, it is really comforting to me to know that with our gospel there aren`t really ever any goodbyes. I`m not just talking about eternal families, but there`s no ending to our progression if we choose to live the gospel.

A few days ago I read Jacob 7:26 which said, `...by saying that the time passed away with us, and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream...` I asked Sister Crofts, as we walked towards the station to head towards Okayama on her last day, if she felt like her mission had come to a close. We talked about how missions are funny because sometimes they feel like a dream.

Saying goodbye at the train station

I asked her if she felt like all was done and if she was ready to go home. Her answer surprised me, `No, not at all! I feel like I`m just getting started. I feel like I`ve built up momentum and it`s all coming to a sudden stop.` For some reason, I feel like that`s a good way to feel at the end of our missions. I think it`s good to feel like we can continue to improve and get better except we just won`t be improving here in the field, we`ll be improving in our home wards, improving in our own families and homes, improving with our friends and loved ones. How grateful I am for having had an amazing companion, Sister Crofts. I am so grateful for all the things we learned together, but especially for the things she taught me.

An investigator gave us these kimonos. Here is a sneak peek of what they look like.

I know that I look back at the beginning of my mission and feel like it passed quickly as if it was a dream because somehow the Lord strengthened me enough to get through it. The reality is that even though our environment may change, or our surroundings change, our personal progression does not. We can keep progressing and we can continue to become better!

Something I love that Japanese people say here is `level up`. These wonderful people understand perfectly that aspect of our gospel. I ask them, `Why do you want to level up?` and they say `Because I want to be the best me that I can be.` Isn`t that what we strive for? We strive to be the best, like our Savior Jesus Christ. We strive to become bright as we strive for our personal best, like it reads in D&C 50:24 `... light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.`.

I feel like I`ll definitely be stretched a little more this last transfer! My awesome new companion, Sister Ichikawa, is so young.

Ichikawa Haruna shimai! She`s adorable! I love her!
zhe doesn`t speak very much english, which is
great! It gives me a chance to use my japanese more ;)

She is a 4th transfer missionary from Tokyo. She told me she has so much to learn. However, she`s got an amazingly pure, fresh view on the work which is something an old missionary like me needs! I love her!! I am so humbled to work with her and so excited to see how much our lights can grow brighter and brighter throughout these next 6 weeks.

As this beautiful Christmas season starts up, always remember how grateful we are for our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of Him we are able to repent and be better. Only through Him are we able to grow brighter and brighter! Love you all, make it a great Christmas season!