Week 54 - Worth It

Brad, what a stud. I remember we use to make trouble to each other in school. And I would ditch out on classes to buy him and Houst burgers at McD`s or Wendy`s. Brad`s a good, solid young man. I`m so grateful he and Houst are such good friends after all this time! I love those two boys.

Another week has come and gone. To answer your questions....YES we had 2 less actives at church and 2 investigators. The 2 less actives were two sisters that we visited, weren`t home, so we stuck hearts all over their doors that said `We love you` and I was shocked to see them walk up to me at church yesterday just ecstatic because of those paper hearts! One of them hadn`t been to church in over 5 years, and the other is a Less Active YSA who usually doesn`t go out on the weekends because she`d rather hang out with friends or do homework, but she came!

Since church was canceled last week, it was the first time I`d taken sacrament in a long time. I just sat there in our full congregation (it`s been pretty sparse lately), our 2 less actives sitting with their active families, our 2 investigators right next to us, and all their beautiful japanese voices singing about our Redeemer, and Savior Jesus Christ. I couldn`t bring myself to sing. I just sat there and soaked everything in.

Sister Scheffler and I are doing GREAT! We are healthy, happy, and we might gain 30 pounds this week because of the amazing package Aunty Nei sent us! There`s candy and goodies to last for a couple years in there! I usually don`t eat after planning at night (usually because we just don`t have food) but last night we stuffed our faces with girl scout cookies and swedish fish! It was awesome!

My favorite part of the week:  Finding a less active who lives down the street. While we were looking up addresses we noticed a Less active that lived right by us! We were kind of surprised that we hadn`t noticed it before. We walked to the apartment complexes and started knocking doors. This really kind grandma answers, looks at us, looks at our name tags and says, `Hey, you`re the two that are always wearing helmets and riding bikes, right? You always say hello and smile at me. Here, let me help you.` She took our paper with the Less active`s info on it and started walking around, knocking doors for us.

Everyone was really kind to her, because A) She`s a grandma, B) She speaks perfect Japanese and C) If that would`ve been us, people would`ve been slamming doors right and left! Every time someone opened the door it gave them an opportunity to see this Japanese, non-Christian lady helping 2 foreign-Christians. It also gave them opportunities to see our badges and to know that we are out trying to find people that used to come to our church that we haven`t seen in a while `...that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.` (3Nephi 12:16)

One thing that makes my day is when I notice people looking at my badge and as they read it, I see them mouth, `Iesu Kirisuto` -- I LOVE IT! Because that`s one more person who knows Christ`s name. It also reminds me that I maybe their only example of who Christ is, for the rest of their mortal lives, so I always keep that in mind and try to be the kind of person He would want me to be! I run into people everyday who have never heard of Jesus Christ. Because we are always smiling and greeting people even as we ride past them on our bikes, a kind grandma took time out of her night to help us and we were able to meet more people in our neighborhood. Not only that, but when they asked `Why do they need to find this woman?` it gave us a perfect opportunity to tell people why we`re here and what we do.

I`d like to add my witness to that of President Holland`s...it`s worth it. Being a member of this church IS worth it. Smiling even when it might hurt IS worth it. Living up to the standards of this church and following the commandments IS worth it. Serving a mission and putting aside other affairs IS worth it. You can`t see the blessings now, but if you could....

I know this church is true.

It`s the simplest, most repeated line in the church. Yet it`s a line that`s changed my life.

I love this gospel. I love the atonement. I love you!

Make it a good week. Don`t wait for someone to tell you to have a good day. Just go ahead and make it a good one!

Love lots,

Sister Heimuli


P.S.  Just a few pics:

Sister Welch sent this photo to Sister Heimuli's parents.

Hard to say goodbye to another American:  Sister Stevens.

Siser Heimuli teaching eikaiwa (English class).

Week 53 - Took Him to His Own House

No intruders in our house this week. However, I did wake up in the middle of the night because I had been sick for a couple days, and I thought my stomach was going crazy. But then I realized it wasn`t just me that was moving, things outside were moving. So I put my hand on the ground and sure enough it was an earthquake. A million things rushed through my head like `I should probably wake up my companion and get under something` and `If we jumped out the balcony is it too far up to survive?` but then I thought, `Or you could just keep sleeping...` and that thought won. I rolled over and went to sleep. No worries! The shaking stopped after a few minutes and I got a good night`s sleep!

Yesterday was pretty crazy though. We got emails and calls from our Bishop telling us alarms had gone off to warn everyone about the typhoon and so church was canceled.

Scheffler shimai watching the typhoon from our balcony. I was afraid she was gonna blow away!

Our zone leaders told us to fill up our bathtub just in case. I was kinda excited to use it but the storm blew over quickly.

You know you`re a missionary when the first thing you think as you hear such news is, `Dang! We had investigators coming today!` and `Darn, I really wanted to take the sacrament today.` Before my mission I would`ve been outrageously happy if I found out there was no church...funny how things change. So no investigators or less actives came to church. But real quick while on the subject of Bishop. He told me about Nick`s (Boettcher) mission call! I'm so MAD I will be home before he gets out here. Maybe I will ask for an extension.....

Anyways after study time we were so sick of being inside so even though it was raining we rode around the neighborhoods to see if we could give any service.

YESSS! Opportunities for service!

We tried to help people sand bag an overflowing river but they weren`t too happy to see two foreigners with Christ`s name on them. So we rode around and picked up fallen bicycles and things in people`s yards. We stopped by some investigators and less actives houses just to make sure they were okay. That was my first typhoon here in Japan, definitely one I won`t forget.

The best part of my week was a lesson we had with a less active sister. We have had the last 3 lessons more focused around her, for example we talk about her work, her family, and about why she liked certain principles of the gospel while she was first learning with the missionaries years ago. We started putting more effort into listening instead of talking. As we have been doing this, she`s changed a little. She`s more happy when we meet, she`s more open. This past week when we met and talked about the sacrament she committed to becoming fully active again by the end of October. Like the scriptures say, we were `truly astonished` by what she committed to. When we first met with her she told us she wouldn`t ever go back to church because she thought it was boring and long. However, only 2 months later she`s now totally committed to being a fully active member in the church. You can`t imagine how happy we were to hear this.

It`s kind of like Amulek and Alma in Alma 15. Amulek was a less active himself when he met Alma, then became active again and started preaching alongside Alma. Now Amulek was a really wealthy guy, he had lots of money, lots of land, a big family, yet he chose to put all those things on hold to preach the gospel with Alma. He went through a lot of affliction, being cast into prison, etc. As they were converting the Lamanites and establishing a church in Sidom verse 16 says, `...Amulek having forsaken all his gold, and silver, and his precious things, which were in the land of Ammonihah, for the word of God, he being rejected by those who were once his friends and also by his father and his kindred;` What happened next?

Alma checked on the church, saw that it was doing alright and the people of the church were okay, then verse 18 `...Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.`

`...took him to his own house...` what exactly does that mean? It means Alma loved Amulek, just as I love my companion.

Love her. Just love her.

Although what Alma and Amulek were doing was -- and is -- the most important work on earth, Alma still saw that Amulek also needed a friend. He needed to be retained and rescued. Alma saw his companion every day, knew his struggles, and Alma took Amulek back to Alma`s home to help him out and to strengthen him again. As missionaries sometimes we forget that we are not teaching lessons...we are teaching people. I`ve seen over and over again that helping people feel our love for them will help them out more in the long run, than just trying to spit out a quick 20 minute presentation about things we think are important. Only after we show love and genuine interest in the things our investigators care about, can we truly help them.

So earthquakes, typhoons, and love...it`s been quite the week in Ootsu!

Love always,
Sister Heimuli

Speaking of love, here are some pics from this week:

Me and Yamaoka-san. She is like our grandma here. She said she is already planning her first trip to America for my wedding. Wedding? Whoa.

I love Japan.....'s food. Yamaoka-san made this for us. Almost too beautiful to eat, right? Almost.

No place does fireworks like Japan!

Aunty Nei sent a ton of stuff for my one-year mark. She loves me. I love her. Thanks, Aunty!

If you're reading this family and friends, I hope you know I love you. All the way from Japan.

Best Sis a Bro Could Have (a 1-year letter from Harry)

Heimuli shimai turns a year old (in the mission) today -- time flies!

[Note from Mom:  Instead of a silly poem or cartoonish picture, I thought I'd mark Hevynn's one-year milestone with a letter her baby brother sent on Sunday.  Don't mind the typos...he's only nine.]

Week 52 - Thanks for Your Prayers

It`s good to hear that everyone at home is busy too! I know you are all praying for me and Scheffler shimai and I wanted to say thank you. We`ve been running around like crazy, I don`t even know where to start. I guess I could start at the beginning of this new transfer.

Scheffler shimai made mousies. Not sure what is in them but they are super yummy!

We had a weekly planning session last Thursday in which we set some awesome goals for this new transfer. Later that night we said companionship prayer right before going to bed. We turned the lights off, hopped in our futons and were in the middle of personal prayer when all of a sudden the doorbell rang.

First of all, we have no friends in our apartment, except for one woman that lives at the bottom of the apartment and she wouldn`t be out this late. Second, 10 pm in japan is like 3 in the morning in America. No one leaves their houses after 8 pm. So we thought it was odd that our door bell was ringing. We looked up at each other during our prayers, looked at the phone which said 10:23 and I got up to check who it was. We have to be sleeping by 10:30 so we didn`t have much time to talk to whoever it was.

I think I may have mentioned to you before that there`s a cool little phone thing that you use when someone rings the bell it`s like a speaker. So they can speak to you and you can speak to them without going all the way to your door. But for some reason I felt like I should just go straight to the door. Instead of opening the door I looked through the peep hole just to be sure it was our neighbor from downstairs, but instead it was a bigger man wearing all black.

I thought, `Hmmm that`s weird. I don`t know him.` So I just watched him through the peep hole. This whole time I didn`t know where Scheffler shimai was. But I watched the man pace back and forth, then he tried to climb over our ledge to get into our window!

This whole time I was thinking `What is going on?? Who is this guy?!` I was thinking maybe it`s someone from the ward...nope. He hopped off the ledge and looked around, and then he went for the door.

We USUALLY lock the door right when we get home, but this night we forgot to. I was on the other side watching him through the peep hole. As he reached for the door handle and opened the door, I forcefully yanked it back from him and then slammed it shut super fast, made a huge banging sound! I locked it up really fast and just held the doorknob with all my strength and leaned my body up against the door so that he couldn`t get in.

All of a sudden I heard Scheffler shimai whisper, `Are you okay?`

Me (whispering, trying not to yell), `There`s a man.`

`What?`

`There`s a man...trying to get into our house.`

`What?!`

`There`s a man trying to get into our house! He just tried to open our door!`

`What?!!! Where are you?` (Every time she said What? her voice went up an octave higher.)

It was pitch black in our house but I grabbed her to look through the peep hole. The man was gone. We ran through the house, shut and locked all our windows and doors (which is torture because it`s way hot right now so we had no breeze making it really hard to sleep/breathe at night). But here is the best part. After all of this, Scheffler shimai asked me to describe the man and then she was like, `We can take him! We can take him!`

It was SO funny. We were SO scared but we were dying of laughter. After we called the Zone Leaders and let them know the situation, Scheffler shimai grabbed scissors and slept with them...we still sleep with a pair of scissors by our futon just in case...

A page from my journal where we made an action plan in case this ever happens again

I know prayers are heard. I`m not sure who rang our door bell that night but I am pretty sure it wasn`t that guy if he was trying to break in. I don`t know why I got up to walk to the other end of our house when we were already in bed instead of using the phone to answer. I just know I did what I felt prompted to do and that is the real lesson learned here. The next few days were spent with us watching out wherever we went to make sure no one was watching us too closely. We always lock the door whenever we come home now, even if it`s just to grab something we forgot.

Other than that, the most adrenaline rushing thing that happened this week was heart attacking some members and the bishop. It was so nice to see them all super happy yesterday. It`s amazing what a few paper hearts and some words like `Thank you!` `We Love You!` can do for a ward.  Like D&C says `...be one: If ye are not one, ye are not mine.`

Misato did our nails

Small acts like this really bring a ward together. Usually bishop is falling asleep at the podium, but yesterday even though it was fast sunday he looked awake and refreshed! As a missionary that`s all I can ask for. We pray so much for our beloved bishop.

Did you know bishopric meetings here in Japan start around 9 or 10 pm and finish around 1 am? And this is only church calling. They still have their work lives, family lives, and social lives to keep up with. The japanese people really work hard. I`ve never met a people that are so willing to work just because they are supposed to. Usually we need a reason to do things, but these members just know it`s the right thing to do so they do it. I love the japanese people, I love being able to serve here in Ootsu for one more transfer.

Our newest investigator. She is so cute and so sweet.

This makes it my 6th transfer in Ootsu, my 8th as a missionary, and my 1 year being a missionary is coming up this week. There are too many lessons I`ve learned. I will never be able to count them all, and far too many blessings that I`ve received than I deserve, but I can tell you that this work is the Lord`s work.

It`s the work that we get to be apart of even long after our tags come off.

It`s a work that never fades with time or changes with the seasons.

It`s a work that will bring all those who will accept it Eternal Life. What better work is there than this?

Love you all, thanks for your prayers!

Sister Heimuli

One more pic. FINALLY met another brown girl out here...

 

Week 51 - The Gospel Net Catches Strange Fish

Hear the news?? Sister Scheffler and I get to be together one more transfer! This makes it my 6th transfer in Ootsu...WOOOAAAHHHHH! It`s super rare to be in an area any longer than 3 transfers, and it`s even more rare to be companions (with someone that`s known you your whole life) not only for one transfer but TWO! We are SOOOO stoked. Big things are going to happen.

Can you tell how excited I am to still be companions with Sister Scheff?

The buzz from last week`s luau is still in the air!

Not only is the good luau feeling still left over, but lucky me, so is some of the teriyaki chicken!

People at church kept coming up to me and saying `Aloha!` Even the primary kids. All these families in the ward are like my family. I`ve spent more than 6 months with these beautiful people and look forward to continuing to work with them for another transfer! Last night as we were plugging numbers we found that we visited 105 less actives, and 3 of which have been reactivated and we have a couple more making their way back to being totally active. It`s nice to look back and see how the Lord`s blessed us in our efforts, but there`s so much more to do. 

Playing around with children of one of my investigators

A big focus for our mission has now been the 5 elements of missionary work (Find, Teach, Baptize, Retain, Rescue) and applying that to not only investigators but members as well. In interviews this week President Welch asked us how many of us know someone who needs to be Retained or Rescued who are already members and every single missionary raised their hand. People all around us need to be rescued.

Bye bye for Jackson choro

President Welch is an amazing man. He said, `The gospel net catches strange fish. There is no, `well, in japan`... `well, in America`...we are all part of the same culture, the culture of the Gospel.` 

Matsuri! People everywhere.

He also said that in his opinion polynesian people are the closest to the ideal gospel culture because we hug and kiss a lot! When here in Japan you stand feet apart and bow a little. He wants to see more japanese people hug and even more japanese people smiling. 

 

 

Pics with some of our favorite investigators. Been forever since Sister Scheff and I had a corn dog!

He`s a really funny but real man. He makes us laugh but makes us cry all within the same 5 minutes. The spirit was so strong as he and Sister Welch testified to us of why we are here. Not only to help those that still don`t know about the gospel, but to help those that are already fully on the path of Enduring to the End -- to help them endure well. 

President also made it a point to tell me he`s a big fan of dad in front of all the missionaries. Everyone was super confused, I think they think dad`s in the Quorum of the Seventy or something like that because no one`s thinking along the lines of sports right now, haha. It was such a great experience being able to receive counsel from our president and then be individually interviewed by him. He asked if he could help me with anything and I said, `Well, you could leave me in my area with my companion!` and I guess Scheffler shimai said something along those lines too. So you can imagine how surprised we were when we opened transfer calls! I love this work, this gospel is true, we can all be apart of the greatest culture on earth...the culture of the gospel.

Work hard, smile, and have a great week!

Love,

Sister Heimuli

Week 50 - Aroha!

ALOHA!!!!!!!!!!!

Of the 60 or so people that showed up for the Luau, 22 were nonmembers and less actives! Speaking of less actives, this week we were able to contact 34 less actives. There`s nothing more rewarding than finding and helping less actives. Even with how fun the Luau was, nothing tops working with our less active brothers and sisters.

I know you`re dying to hear all the details...here`s a little run down of the craziness we`ve had the past couple of weeks:

-We were in charge of the main course (Teriyaki chicken), entertainment (hula, singing, teaching hula), and spreading the word (PR)

Sister Scheffler became a teriyaki chicken preparing pro. She can do it all, I tell you!

-Sister Scheffler had to learn how to play the uke, hula, and learn all the words to the songs we sang in just 2 weeks

Teaching the Hukilau, along with some basic hula terms

-I had to teach a bunch of ladies how to hula in Japanese

Hula practice...thank you, PCC!

-Bishop gave us 40 dollars to buy all the things we needed for the party (food, decorations, etc)
-I was preparing a talk for the Sunday, the day after the Luau
-We were in charge of a section of District Meeting the day before the Luau

Shiga District...in a rare serious moment

-Doing all this while finding the Lord`s elect and visiting his less active children

It was a crazy busy week...which is why it was so amazingly fun! So in order to work with the ward, we decided to delegate some of our responsibility, we took a whole day to hand out flyers with the YSA and YM/YW, our neighbors helped us go to the store and buy all the things we needed while staying in budget (we spent 38.97...yes!), and my dear companion and I ate small meals so that we had more time at meal times to practice.

Everyone else at District Meeting ate big meals, but we had sandwiches so we could squeeze in some luau practice time

All the hard work and cramming for time paid off! The Luau was a success! Sister Scheffler and I made over 50 leis to give to everyone at the party, fake paper ones for people that came, and 3 real ones, one for bishop. 

Sister Scheffler made her first leis. She's turning into a real Hawaiian!

 When we handed out the leis everyone was so excited!

Human lei stands haha

The kids loved wearing them and saying `Aroha!` (because they don`t pronounce L`s in japanese). Of the 10 women I taught the hula to, half of them were non members. They did so great! They not only danced well, but they learned all the english words to Hukilau and sang it while I played for them during the performance.

The now-famous Ootsu Ward Hula Troupe

Sister Scheffler and I sang 2 songs and played the uke.

Sister Scheffler killed it! The elders did a haka, everyone loved it. It brought everyone lots of happiness and a good laugh. Some YSA sang and played the piano, there was lots of music and everyone seemed to be having a lot of fun! 

Bishop Hayashi in front, Elders & Bro Yoshizawa (YM Pres, RM, fluent English, awesome guy)

I danced 2 numbers and we took lots of pictures after the performance. We had a big feast afterward and everyone LOVED the teriyaki chicken! (Way to go mom and dad, I used your secret recipe.)

Traditional Japanese style Nagai Somen, you eat it as it slides down this rain gutter thingy...super good!

But while this was all going on, something that really impressed me was how well the members fellowshipped our investigators. 

Cute daughter of one of our investigators

We didn`t have to assign anyone, or tell them who to fellowship. When a person walked in that no one knew, 3 or 4 members walked up to them and introduced themselves. Sister Scheffler and I were running around like crazy trying to cover our missionary duties and our luau duties. It made it so much easier with the ward being so willing to fellowship our investigators. That`s the way it`s supposed to be!

This one is for Dad. I was so happy to see Bro Yoshizawa rockin' this Tongan Pride t-shirt!

Our purpose for doing the Luau was to help our ward have fun and be excited about missionary work. Also, it was to give our less actives and investigators an enviornment that wasn`t too intimidating, and give everyone an opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level.

In addition to sharing island food, song and dance, I taught Bro Izumo important island culture. That is, if an island queen gets uncomfortably warm, things could go really bad, so he needed to start fanning. Ahhhh!

I know we achieved our purpose because the love from that party carried over to church the next day. When we greeted members they just seemed happier. They still had a light in their eyes from the night before. We had a few sisters come up to us and give us referrals, members were asking when the next activity was, and how they could help. People were asking us to spend time with their less active sons and daughters and teach them to hula or play the ukulele. Many members were humming the hukilau as we walked passed them, and a couple of the brethren were still wearing their paper leis around the church building. At church there was such a good environment because everyone was able to find Joy in being a member of this church.

Honestly, none of this would`ve been possible without the support of my awesome companion and the help of our Lord. We practiced hard, we did everything we needed to do, and we prayed just as hard for the Lord`s help. When you`re united with your companion, it`s easier to be united with the Lord, and you get stuff done. 

People asked if Sis Scheffler was Hawaiian, too (must be her beautiful blonde hair and green eyes!)

Also, thanks to you, family, for the packages! The night after the party we were getting ready for bed and our doorbell rang...and there were your packages! They didn`t come in time for the party, but it was a nice little after-party for me and Scheffler shimai! 

Care packages with leis and grass skirts arrived just a few hours too late, but Tasha was happy to get Almond Joy and Heath bars, and Hevynn got her Sour Patch candies and Skittles!

You guys rock. You always pull through, thanks for being so supportive and helping your sisters out here in Japan!

The luau was great, but you always ask me what was the BEST part of my week. The best part of my week was yesterday when one of the less active brethren finally met all the requirements for reactivation. He`s now a newly reactivated member of our ward!

``And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy in the kingdom of my Father!`` (D&C18:15)

I got a tiny tiny taste of that joy this weekend. And how great it truly is. Even with the crazy planning, the practicing, the laughing, the luau, the people`s smiles -- even with all of that, nothing brought me more joy than seeing this brother become active. I know our joy can be great, not just joy for the things in this life, but true joy -- joy after this life.

Love you and pray you all can experience this kind of joy this week too.

Sister Hawaiian-party, a.k.a Sister Heimuli

Week 49 - She Didn't Call the Cops...Thank Goodness

This past week feels like a blur! All the events that happened just mush into one big....blur! Time just seems to be going faster and faster, and I am afraid there`s nothing I can do about it. Maybe I need a companion that I don`t love so much -- maybe that would make time slow down. I just adore Sister Scheffler!

We had to be home by 9:30pm. It was 9pm when we left an investigator house which was still an hour away from home. We biked fast and furiously to make it on time!

It makes being a missionary easier when you`ve got a sister that`s got your back right beside you! She`s such a trooper, she`s learning Uke and Hula and how to sing while doing both! We are SOOOOO excited for our luau this Saturday. The ward`s getting pretty excited about it too. Yesterday, the relief society presidency pulled me aside and set up a hula class this week for me to teach. Then the bishopric printed out a million flyers and had all the youth and YSA go to the surrounding neighborhoods here at the church and put flyers in all their mailboxes letting them know about the luau! There`s so many things we need to do for the party and so many details that factor into it. Thank goodness the ward is working with us and helping us out. I think it`s kind of like the work of the Lord, without the ward`s help it`s impossible!

But without the Lord`s help, it`s DEFINITELY impossible. As a missionary there are very few things we can do alone. Very basic stuff like wake up, talk to people, walk around. But when we are doing the things we are supposed to do, the Lord is able to place people in our paths to help us get done what needs to be done. Here are a few examples from the week:

-a kind SGI (japanese religion, super stubborn believers who usually want nothing to do with us missionaries) woman gave us the address to a Less Active brother`s house whom she used to live next to. Because of that we were able to contact his family.

-Fukuda shimai (a less active we`d been working with, but who got offended by some members and then wouldn`t talk to us) suddenly called us after a month and half of no contact and wanted to meet up for lunch. At lunch we got to rebuild our friendship again and now she`s going to start coming back to church.

-a nice mom by some apartment complexes, even though her baby was screaming bloody murder, took the time to use her navigator and help us find the address to a less active man`s house. She said she might come to the luau!

-the neighbor of a less active man came out after seeing us. She read our tags and said that even though she doesn`t feel she needs religion, she felt our presence when we got to her neighborhood and she knows what we`re doing is for the good of her neighbor. She didn`t call the cops or anything...thank goodness.

-We found 27 more less actives houses thanks to kind and patient neighbors and people willing to help 

-a less active sister we found is now in a wheelchair and she`s too  old to really talk anymore. But her daughter and her daughter`s family were kind enough to let us teach her and they participated in our lesson. They weren`t against our teaching and they said they`d like to take their mom to church again.

-we taught 2 less actives in one afternoon and that`s really rare here!

We were dripping when we got home, we threw our clothes off and soaked up our sweat with our towels. 

We can be that person the Lord puts in the paths of others too! If it weren`t for these people we couldn`t have found and contacted as many less actives as we did this last week. And as of yesterday we`ve gotten 2 newly reactived members in the ward!!!! I can`t explain how rewarding it is to see your fellow brother or sister return to church.

I hope we all feel that way when we see people we haven`t seen in a while come to church. Do me a favor, try to notice them! When you see them tell them you`re happy to see them. Even just that simple acknowledgment will make a world of difference for the members in our wards. Here in Japan they`re really good at noticing when people haven`t been around and they`re really good at being sure to shake every person`s hand. I believe that if we just take a few minutes after sacrament to walk around and just say hello to people you haven`t seen in a while or don`t usually talk to, it will make all of our journeys of `enduring to the end` just a little easier. I`ve learned that and many other things this past week.

Love you all! I`ll let you know about how fun the Luau is next week :)

Sister Heimuli

These sweaty pics are super gross, mom. Not even kidding. DO NOT put these on the blog. [Note from Mom: Oops.]