Before & After Videos (from March 21 to August 7)

Farewell

...and before we knew it, Sunday, July 28th was upon us. It was a beautiful day. Our dearest family and friends came to support Hevynn at church. Tina Purcell Niumatalolo's Latter-Day Ambassador Choir provided incredible, inspiring music. Hevynn gave a powerful talk. A bunch of folks came over to our home to eat, laugh, hug, and say goodbye. Just one more week left. Here are a few pics of the special day.




Dad, Hevynn and Mom - notice the gorgeous leis handmade by Aunty Maile and shipped all the way from Hawaii!



Another primary teacher, Cindy Bell, made this cake -- Hevynn will miss her CTR4 Primary kids!

Helam & Hevynn



Jessye Johnson & Hevynn




As the crowd dissipated, Hevynn snuggled with cousin Tai & Lauren's beautiful baby Finnley

 


Bo Bolen & Hevynn

 

Hevynn, cousin Melisa Heimuli and Aunty Lani Pili

Hevynn and the lovely Mauigoa/Soliai girls!



Missionaries Come and Missionaries Go

With only 13 days until Hevynn enters the MTC, the past couple of months have been a whirlwind of activity.  She has visited every clothing store in the state -- a few times!  Since then, friends have left on missions...



Hevynn at Tasha Scheffler's farewell.  Sister Scheffler entered the MTC on June 26th headed to -- guess where? -- Japan Kobe Mission!

 ...and friends have come home...

Heimuli kids welcome back Elder TeeJay Johnson on July 10th from the Minnesota Minneapolis Misson!

...and even though past experience says to expect more of the same...

3-year-old Harrison welcomes Elder Hema Heimuli home from Ecuador Guayaquil North Mission in 2008

..and more again...

 

7-year old Harrison welcomes Elder Helam Heimuli home from the Georgia Atlanta Spanish-speaking Mission in 2012

  ...it doesn't make it any easier when it's finally here (with proof in black-and-white)...

 ...she's on her way, and there's nothing more she'd rather do at this time in her life.  We will miss her.

I Love to See the Temple, I'll Go Inside Someday

A busy, beautiful weekend for the Heimulis.  Friday, May 3, 2013, Hevynn entered the House of the Lord in Bountiful.  There was another sister missionary in the same session, Josilyn Harris, going to Cebu, Philippines -- what a cute young lady.

It was an awesome experience for Hevynn to be supported by so many family and dear friends:  Dad & Mom, Hema & Norma, Helam, Grandpa & Grandma Murray, Grandpa & Nate, Aunty Lani, cousin Jojo Pili, cousin Kastle Soliai, Kirk & Cindy Gough, Jason Johnson, Val Faldmo, and Scott & Maile Olson.  I don't know if these incredible people will ever fully realize the impact each of them have made in Hevynn's life, but I will tell you that her parents are very grateful for every single one, and I know Hevynn loves each of them so much.

Hevynn outside the Bountiful Utah Temple

The next day was Harrison's baptism.  He was baptized by Houston and confirmed by his Dad.  Hema & Helam were witnesses, then Hema, Helam, Hevynn, Houston & Harrison sang, "Walk Within His Light."  Add two uplifting sessions of stake conference to the mix, and it was a pretty great weekend for the Heimulis.

Houston and Harrison

Blast from Japan Trips Past

If you think Hevynn's love affair with Japan started recently when she received her mission call in March...nope.  Having performed in Tokyo, Hiroshima and Osaka in 2005 and 2006, she fell in love with all things Japanese when she was only 11-12 years old.  Here are just a few pics of Hevynn's very memorable performance trips...and, yes, she actually sang in Japanese!

12-year old Hevynn sang her heart out in Japan

Rehearsal with multi-talented business CEO Kazunori Seki on drums

At colorful Shinagawa Station with musical genius Masa Fukuda and his gracious mom from Osaka; Hiromi DeYoung and her beautiful daughter Whitney; gorgeous Aliyah Egan, adorable Chase O'Neal, and amazing Lexi Brown

Singing at the annual Star*Rise Convention in Tokyo

Sound check with Minami (now a HUGE star in Japan -- part of the incredible JPop R&B duo CREAM!)

Masa Fukuda and the group of girls from the US were privileged to perform for Star*Rise executives

Aloha 'Oe

As a parent, when you send your daughter off to college in Hawaii for 8 months, there are some things you might expect to happen:

1. She'll go to the beach...a lot...and sport a killer tan

2. She may do a little shopping in Waikiki...even on a college student's budget

3. She will fulfill a lifelong dream to dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center

4. She may even spot famous vacationers (Nicole Scherzinger)

5. She hopefully will go to class, too (but can you believe I have NO pictures of Hevynn actually in class?)

What you may not expect is that during this brief period, her heart will expand with such great love for the gospel -- thank you, Bishop Wolthuis -- that she receives a mission call while in Hawaii...but she does.

Hevynn, with call in hand, waited to open it with her friends at PCC

You don't expect that she could ever love her family and heritage more by being away from us for 8 months...but she does.

Hevynn danced with some of her cousins at PCC
L to R: John Cummings, Kaimana Soliai, Nona Soliai, Aunty Lani, Hevynn & Tama Soliai

And you don't expect her to forge such lasting friendships with some of the very best of God's children...see below.

April 11, 2013

Hevynn had her last Night Show performance of, "Ha, Breath of Life!" and what an emotional experience that was. Mom was there, along with Grandpa Murray and Maile Olson - one of Hevynn's favorite YW leaders from Utah.  Hevynn absolutely glowed on stage as she danced Hawaiian, Maori, Tongan and Tahitian one last time.  Afterward, many of her friends performed a haka and sang farewell in Samoan and Hawaiian.  It was impossible to hold back the tears, knowing it would be a while before she saw any of them again.

Hevynn Heimuli PCC Haka Farewell from Norma Heimuli on Vimeo.

Haka performed for Hevynn's last Night Show at the Polynesian Cultural Center

With best friend Toa Mauigoa after Hevynn's final performance



L to R: Kaimana, Hevynn, Toa, Joe Ramsey and Ani Lawrence waited backstage for her last show to begin

Beautiful Tongan girls who dance HaMaTa (Hawaiian, Maori, Tahitian) with Hevynn
L to R: Mele, Rose, Hevynn, Esther & Kiele

On stage after the show...I promise, these are usually very attractive people!
(Front Row L to R: Liana, Toa, Tripler; Back Row L to R: Lucky, Joe, Hevynn & Jas - called to serve in Australia Sydney Samoan-speaking Mission)

Hevynn with some of the guys after the show
(Clockwise in front: Toa, Lucky, Will & Tripler)

Hevynn's last hours in Hawaii were spent with her wonderful friends and cousins...and really, who could blame her?

The Call

March 21, 2013 

The Call arrived in Hawaii where Hevynn was attending BYU-Hawaii and dancing at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

March 22, 2013 Everyone gathered at PCC in Hawaii (and on the phone back home in Utah)...Japan Kobe Mission!  She reports on August 7, 2013.

Immediately after opening her call, Hevynn is pictured here with former fellow dancer Connor Ah Sue, currently a missionary in the South Africa Johannesburg Mission