Larissa - Woo the Power of Prayer

Dear all you lovely people:)

I hope you all had a wonderful week and saw so many blessings and miracles from the hand of our Heavenly Father. This week I have felt my Heavenly Fathers love more then I have in a long time. He has really been carrying me this week. I know I am nothing without my Heavenly Father and my savior Jesus Christ.

This week was definitely a trial of our faith, diligence and obedience. But we passed. We have been looking for people to teach still and it has been a little discouraging at times. In Houston at least there was people everyone but in a small town like Alvin. Its a little bit more difficult to find people to teach. We don't have very many members in our area. So what do you do when you have no plans, no one to teach and 3 hours on the lords errand. You hit the bikes and get creative. Thankfully I have a wonderful companion who is willing to do whatever we need to do. Sometimes she keeps me sane.  

This week we were able to talk to so many people in Alvin. Mostly English people but it's all Gods work. We all speak missionary so it does not matter what language we speak preach in. We had a couple heart renching moments as we taught two people who wanted to come to church and accept the gospel but was help back by someone in their lives. We actually had a women drive down the street after a lesson and gave us the book of Mormon we had just given her husband and.... basically told us not to come back and she didn't believe in the book of Mormon. We wanted to tell her more about it but she would not hear us out. handed us the book of Mormon and drove away. It hurt to know that we could not share more with him. He loved our message and was so excited for us to come back. I know one day he will have the opportunity to accept the gospel, but it was still hard to see. 

This week we had SO MUCH RAIN!!!! literally Texas is not waterproof!! it floods and floods bad here. One of our investigators houses was flooded up to her knees. It was literally crazy! I could not believe how bad it was! It was pretty hilarious because we ended up having to walk to the investigators home because were were scared it would kill the car. Then we were on our way to an appointment with a member and the water was like a river crossing the road and we didnt know how deep it was cause it was dark. so of course we prayed to see if it was safe to cross and felt good about it and crossed and the car was completely fine. Literally so crazy! and there are these two dogs who I know they don't want to eat us and they just want to play but they love to jump on us with there muddy paws and they are HUGE dogs!! probly about my size so I really don't like them because they push me over and get me all muddy and we are already walking through the amazon swamps so having two dogs as a second obstacle.... not my favorite. Plus they jump up on our car and get it all muddy and scratched. it looks like two little kids came with there hands and rubbed mud all over the car.... let me tell ya my OCD for wanting the car clean really kills me in this area. Its okay, sacrifice!  

I can't believe we are on week 5 of the transfer. time is flying by. crazy how time flys when your on the lords errend. Oh I found my favorite new church video "on the Lords Errend" Its a documentary about President Monson and it is my favorite!! everyone should check it out. He is such an example to me and I love him so much. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful prophet on the earth today! 

Well that is about all. I love my amazing companion Hna. Anderson. We seriously laugh so hard and that is what gets me through some of the days out here. She is so amazing and I am so blessed she came pre-trained! 

Thanks for all your love and support! 

Hermana Heckel

1. 100 Days from Sunday, my comp never lets me forget! 

2. Sharing with anyone we can find

3.Flood!!

4. Demon dogs

5. They attack us everytime we come....even when we aren't in the car.

6. Haha Dont Mess :)

7. Last week on the fairy in Galveston! 

i

Travis - I'm Back!

Oh boy! Well I'm sorry I have missed a week I really shoud do better at it but I will keep caught up! This new year is a fantastic and exciting year, 2015 will be, I feel, a different year compared to the last couple of years. New and different things or events will happen over this next year I feel will change a lot of things. But that's justa a gut feeling! And with this new year we have had new energy and goals to push for. With this renewed diligence we have spent an increased amount of time going tracting. More than I have ever done in the mission yet! we have been visiting many less active families and knocking random streets. And to be honest its quite funny how people react, I never thought of me being special or different in any way from other people aside from the fact that I have a nametag on. But oh golly some people act like we are either demons or Angels. Those who see us as demons treat us hostile or rudely and all we can do is feel bad for them and pray that their hearts may be changed. But there are those who see us highly and will accept our help and teachings. they are golden and always willing to hear but at the same time they are even scared, few and far between....it takes a lot of work to help them to keep going when everyone else is telling them not too. But the best is those we meet of less actives who are just so happy and tell us how they prayed for someone to come and help them. 

One day we were knocking doors down on of the main street in a small town. We had not received much success in meeting anyone who will talk more then two seconds. But we came upon this large log cabin styled home. We went and knocked and sat their waiting......and waiting.....and knocked again and waited...and waited....and waited. We for some reason  took an unusually long time waiting. finally as we turned to leave the door actually opened, and an older woman asked us immediately "what church you from?"....we paused and replied "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints." She stood as though processing what we were saying then asked if we could stay for a minute and talk. We gladly accepted and enter in speaking with us and asking all the usual questions. We finally sat down in the front room and asked to teach a lesson in which she happily accepted and listened as we taught the restoration. Once we finished that we extended a soft invitation to baptism and she kinda smiles and with a grin said "I would gladly do it, but I'm already a member." oh boy were we surprised! And with shock and stunning reflexes my companion extended another invitation to come to church!(I was stuck confused and feeling baffled hahahahahaha) She told us she had been through a divorce and had not been to church in 8 years because of it. Now she had been really thinking of going back to church and getting into it again....but she is scared and really is afraid of everything that has happened since then. So she talk about praying that some would help her and somehow God would give her courage. She told us we are her answer, so now we are going over every week to teach and help build her confidence until she finally can come to church. And the members have been phenomenal in befriending and visiting her. The Stake presidnet even visited her for us. (and and his wife are also in our ward and absolutely some of the best member missionaries yet) but with her she is progressing very well and moving at a moderate pace to full re-activation. 

Well one other miracle of this week is we had the chance to visit with a part member family, The Fui's! This family is a mix up from a earlier marriage where she divorced and had half custody of the children, their is an older son and 2 daughters that have been baptized and a younger son who isn't. Then she married a very large Simoan (i spelled that wrong?) who had one child with her. The mother is also baptized and we had been helping her and her daughter to get ready for the temple. But when we stopped in for her lesson her son and his two friends were staying for the day. we really have not spoken with him at all, but took advantage of this moment to speak to both of them. (Mother was scare of what would happen when we talk to him) we talk about his family what they did for baptism and asked what he thought about it. He told us he thought it was good and always went to church with them before they stopped, we then put out the question asking if he wanted to hear more. He was instantly sparked and immediately asked us to teach him a lesson. We taught the restoration of the gospel, spending a lot of time helping him to feel a connection with each part as we taught. When we committed him that if he found these thing to be true that he too could be baptized (11 years old). We share Moroni 10:3-5 with him and invited him to read with the family. And the friends who joined him were involved in the lesson and were very curious, they even promised to listen when we come over anytime. Which we hope will open more doors in to the future. I also leave the challenge for anyone who has not had the chance to read it or hasn't read it in a long time should read again and accept that challenge Moroni gives.

Otherwise this has been a very slow week. We are going and teaching our usual people our lessons and members who request an occasional lesson. We also went and did service for a couple people this week. There is a program called 'JustServe' in which members and community business can post for help and U.S missionaries go out and do work for them. We went out and picked up trash though a huge neighborhood. We also went and helped several members to clean out homes that will be sold soon. Many hobos had been using it as hide aways while it was not in use....so ya super nasty but way fun at the same time, I dont think I laughed harder watching members who have never seen this before freak out!(in funny ways of course) but overall its been a fun week. Oh ya we also got to go to another war Sandholes the. Tract for a day with their members....us and 7 other companionship a with a blitz which was really fun and crazy to see how different the area is even though their only 30 minutes away. I am so very thankful for the chance i have to serve here in California, this truly was the place I needed to go! And I am so thankful for my parents and two sisters who set the example for me to go out. It really has helped to build my testimony and understanding of life in general. I read a scripture today in Helaman 5:12 "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are guilt, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." If I am even allowed to give any advise at all about a mission to anyone, for I feel I have so much to still learn, I would say read your scriptures, pray and build a testimony. For when you have that knowledge and truth of it, you can and will be able to fearlessly teach others. You will be able to peach and testify to those you meet with stunning conviction, not having any doubt or worry to what you are delivering. I love you all so much and will talk to you all next week. 

- Elder Heckel 

Larissa - Changes, meetings, goodbyes, and SUN!!!! :-)

Dear family and friends.

This week was an especially strange week. it is weird to lose the members in your ward without getting transferred. and your investigators for that matter. But it has been good and we are excited to have the opportunity to work in this area and try and build up our ward again. I mean Why not white wash the area twice:) God is all about second chances??:P We are excited cause now we are able to ride our bikes more and talk to a lot more people. The weather has also been AMAZING!!! so we have been out quite a bit! 

Oh I was able to accomplish my goal of turning our area into a mostly bike area:) it is wonderful!! I love it so much! I forgot how much i missed being on a bike and being able to talk to people randomly. It has been so fun and we have received so many blessings. 

We had a leadership meeting this week with the District, Zone, and sister training Leaders. It was awesome I love president Ashton. We learned a lot of things that we are going to try and implement this week with the zone and the Districts to help us progress. We are focusing a lot on the missionaries as individuals and trying to build us so we can do the work and I love it. I have already changed so much. I love this work:)

Saying goodbye to our old members was really hard but at the same time a real testimony builder. we were able to see some who just accepted it and others that didn't. It made me really think about the real reason we got to church. Not to socialize but to worship God and Jesus Christ. To remember our savior and partake of the sacrament. To be Edified. When we have that knowledge these type of things do not phase us. yes it is sad. but it is what God wants and we need to follow his guidence and dirreccion.  

Today we went to Galveston Island with the District. So much fun. A little foggy at first but we had a great time and the weather was great after that. We went out to eat and there were members that paid for us basically at every restaurant. They are all over down there. It was very cool. 

Well not to terribly much to share but we are doing wonderfully. I love being here. Everyone is going home now and it is so weird. I don't like to think about it. But the plane joke keeps coming up with my entire district because I am "the oldest" So strange. but its okay. This area has alot of work to do so i rarely have time to freak out over time;) 

I want yall to know I love you so much and I pray you all have a wonderful week and share the gospel at every opportunity and live it up and speak spanish:P

:) les quiero mucho mucho mucho!! 

con amor,

la Hermana Heckel! 

Pictures: Fun in Galveston

Travis - Cool Thought

This was a chosen time, a span of existence in where the spark of life bloomed......changed and grew. Since the beginning the universe has watched with a wondering eye, as we took our first steps forward into this race. With a curiosity unhindered by our lack of knowledge, we pushed forward crawling, walking then running. Growing with speed we tackled the challenges put forth, constantly overcoming increasing and evolving. With each generation we became stronger, better, more intelligent! As the journey went we sought for the next adventure always defying our destinies, while searching for our fates. As we spread like wild fire, everything we touched glowed, it changed and morphed with a creativity that was divinely given. We shot for the stars, creating, inventing and building wonders beyond our wildest imaginations.  We caries Oma good and kind people, always Seeking a world of peace and prosperity, but even so we sometimes made the choice to leave our families and carry out the wars of those who claim to be above us. Yet we where quick to drop the gun for the shovel! We loved to build in peace and harmony where we prosper our greatest. And now we are here a time where words can never describe this point! The knowledge of man has grown exponentially, and we are doing what we only dreamed of, becoming stronger and better than we ever where. Yet during this time a change occurred, not the same as once before. This changed started in the beginning and slowly crept in, like a deadly poison it moved without notice in time. This leech slowly draining us with the great horrors and wickedness of man. And their was also a great light we carried, a mantle of responsibility ......now long forgotten. This we held onto, to fight the disease, the poison, from spreading. Especially now at this time we have fallen into a slumber.....Our souls and belief shrinking with the growth of our bodies! How have we became so lost?! We believed in a truth that gave us hope and joy, a purpose to our lives! And yet we prefer to turn our heads with tears and fake laughter. But now we have been given a second chance....a do-over! It nursed forth like a single  flower, blooming into a beacon of hope! And slowly with time we have seen others  pop up, all different kinds both old and young. Many bright and colorful and made in all shapes and sizes. But with good, evil surely shall follow and likes weeds they multiply and spreading, hiding themselves from the light. They deny who they are calling out to all, oh how foolish are you, believing you can become something better than a weed or simple grass......they cast and bellow and always leave me wondering! But with a question, I ask you this....is it crazy of me? To believe in a god? who loves and wants to bless me? 

-EH 

#Believe

Elder H! 

Larissa - Starting new....again!!

Dear Friends and Family,

So this week was crazy and so busy! and the next week is just going to be even more crazy. We have had a lot going on with investigators in a little city  called Rosharon. We were over there basically every day because that is where our progressing investigators are. We have been so blessed to find so many great people and get to know so many wonderful people out there.

We had an early stake conference meeting. With all three of the stakes in one part of our mission. Our mission is super unique in that fact we had a Spanish stake. Which means that all the Spanish wards in a certain area were in the Spanish stake (or an overlay stake, which means it overlapped other stakes) . Which had all Spanish speaking Leaders and Conferences were all in Spanish. Super cool. Well the area seventy decided that it was time to dissolve the Spanish stake and make it into 4 bilingual stakes. We had the announcement at this conference. President had talk to us about it and I had known about it for a while but nothing in detail or how it would affect the area I am in now. as they made the announcement I couldn't help but tear up. It was very hard for me to see the stake go away but I had receive countless confirmations that it was right. but it was still difficult. When we saw how it effected our area, we couldn't hold back the tears. We lost all of our investigators and basically all of our members besides 3 families. Hna. Anderson and I were heart broken, it hurt to know that we wouldn't be able to pass by them anymore and visit our investigators. Hna. Anderson afterwards when we were having a little sob fest turn to me and said "is this like getting transferred?" yes I said. just like getting transferred. We are starting our area all over again. We are about to get really creative with our finding with the low number of members in our area, but we know that with the Lords help we can accomplish the thing that he has sent us here to do. We will find and we will teach if we follow what he has asked us to do.

This week we also got to go up to the mission office and do a couple of hours of service because the one time I drop the phone I drop it perfectly so it killed the whole phone...... haha our apartment manager who is also over the phones Elder Nilson really gave me some props for that one.

I have been studying Humility this month..... I am being significantly humbled in all aspects this month. haha  I don't think I will study it for a while after this:)

Well that is the big news for this week.

Besides going to Nasa today:) I LOVED IT SO MUCH!! It was so much fun. We have some intelligent people in this world. It was interesting how many times I felt the spirit while we were in there. I am blown away by the blessings that God gives us, and the faith of others. I love it:)

I hope you all have a wonderful week. We got our hands full this week, like always:)

Love you all

Hermana Heckel

1. I love NASA

2.I touched the Moon:)

3.My cute Comp:)

4. Just take me with you!!!

Travis - Be BETTER, not perfect.

Dear family, 

I am so glad for my chance to be here in Gridley to serve, this new year 2015! It's such an amazing experience to be away from home at this time. I still remember the experiences I had these last few New Years. The time I was able to be with family and the. Late at night be with my brothers and Roy Kohler. We watched movies, laughed and played games. I had some of my greatest times with them. I really had a fun time with the missionaries in our home, we where not to proselyte past 6. So we went home cleaned up, studied a little and just sat around playing a board game and talking. Eventually though a neighbors came by and said that he knew we where alone this new year and wanted us to come out and see this. We came out to find that he had set up a whole bunch of  fireworks! He handed me one lighter and me and him both races to light all of them. It was so much fun and such a great time.(also the guy's name is buddy love) we laughed and shouted and had fun as we listened to people all up and down the block came out and started to cheer, and play music. It was almost a block party. U fortunately we had to return to our home at 9:30, exhausted we sat around and talked about what we where thankful for and why we are excited for the new year. Of all the friends I made....most of them leave in about 8 months! It's crazy!!! We did see many miracles though this week.

We managed to go see another family who has denied both the Spanish companions from visiting her several times, saying she didn't want the Mormon religion anymore. I knew this lady as Veronica Munanui, she is a single mother divorced and has 3 children, 2 young young boys and a little girl. Me and my older companion had visited her when I first got here and bore testimony to her and in return she did also! It was an amazing experience and was hard to believe that she would say that. So I determined went with my companion to visit her that night....also with a plate of cookies. When we got their she open the door with a waterfall of tears coming out and to my surprise her x-husband(awesome member) was there. She let us in saying how thankful she was and how she needed some missionaries to really talk to that she knew! We found out that her grandfather had died, She was being kicked out of her home, and on top of that her sisters where battering her with insults for talking to her x husband and going to church. The stress was overtaking her and she felt like she should give in. So at this time we bore testimony and taught lesson on faith and strength to believe in miracles. We shared ether 12:27, we told her God has challenges to make us grow stronger through him and that authoring and everything is possible with him. She cried for a long time and accepted our message. She accept our help and even allowed for the Spanish missionaries to come help her move a bunch of stuff this night to her mothers home. It was so amazing to see her having such strong faith when everything is turning against you. 

Another one is we met with a man named Lyle Akin, he has been investigating the church for over 30 years and gave up kinda figuring it out a couple years ago. But recently he had an accident at work where he was injured and can no longer work. So he went into retirement, when he entered he had fun at first, but eventually felt lost and didn't know what to do with his life, he doesn't feel the propose. And he does remember most the gospel but he really wants to know the truth of it. We are so lucky to have ran into him. We have been tracting for so long I felt we would never find someone who would even allow us In...or speak English. Haha either way I am glad for this challenge and can't wait to be able to show him the truth. I love this opportunity. 

A super cool thing to is that while I have been out here on my mission I have been a chicken. I bear testimony all the time at dinner tables, on couches, in shacks, even in the rain. But I had always avoided bearing my testimony in church. I would kinda hide away or give excuses, but as of the new year I made the commitment to bear my testimony at least once every area I enter. (Ya not the biggest goal ever but it's a start) And it's super funny the fact that when I bore my testimony I sounded like a twelve year old kid. It was the smallest and simples thing and honestly felt like the scariest thing of my life. But after I felt a good peace fall over me....not of being done with it...but of being willing to go bear my testimony, to not just think of saying it but to tell all. I know my testimony sounded dumb and wasn't some grand speech but it helped me today feel the spirit so much stronger and boosted my confidence the whole day. I realize to as  I write this that I had not born my testimony since I was made a deacon. I still remember slot of the attempts my parents made and siblings to get me up their and I would chicken out. But not anymore, I can say with a firm knowledge that I know bearing your testimony is a sure way to strengthen your faith. It sounds crazy but when I doubt bearing what you know reminds you what is true and all the other things we are slowly learning and are gaining a knowledge of.

I love you guys so much and I am so truly glad for my family and friends who support me. I don't know how many of you read and get this, but I want you to know how much I appreciate you all. You drove me to be better and brought me to this point,  I wouldn't be here or who I am without it. I am always learning new stuff and every other week their is some new discovery I made. But the one that has touched me the greatest is that God is our living Heavenly Father. He has given us a chance to come to this earth to grow and learn. but the only way to grow and learn is to step out your bubble, push your boundaries and stretch your comfort zone. The only way to truly find a greater happiness and to be come better is to accept change and fan out. Stretch forth and try to be better in life, NOT PERFECT, but better. I always start of most my days asking how can I improve jut a little bit more today. The mission has given me a fantastic chance to meet people, experience new food(cow tongue) and build myself up. I admit that I am imperfect, I'm not the funny one, the strong one, or even the best looking one(who am I kidding, I totally am ;) yup) but really I do no I'm not all this, but through God I can become better, through his guiding power and the saviors example I can achieve not only heaven but also life the best life I can down here on earth. Just know that I am always here waiting and listening. If anyone ever has questions or comments I can answer any questions about ANYTHING. 

-Elder Heckel 

Larissa - Feliz Ano Nuevo!

Hola:)

The weeks are seriously Souring by. I blink and a week is gone. I can't believe we are starting the year 2015!! what!! so crazy. but it will definitely be a year of miracles:) I love the new years because we set new goals and have new things to learn and look forward too.

We had MLC (missionary Leadership Training) this last week and it was awesome. President had us write down some things we wanted to know about the atonement. This Gospel is literally incredible and we can never stop learning. I think I left there with more questions then what I came with but more to study and look forward too. Being able to have these studies with president has been a real blessing. I admire his spirit and his knowledge of the gospel. haha I hope one day I can be such a scriptorian as he has become. I am getting better but I have a long ways to go.

In MLC we also talked about 12 things we are going to do to achieve our goal of finding 60 People who are searching for the gospel and help them receive the ordinance of baptisms in the month of January (which you are all welcome to help us pray for:). We talked about ways we can implement these 12 goals that we set. One goal that is a big thing for a lot of our mission is "Sacrificing the One thing of the Biggest thing that is holding us back from completely giving our will over to the Lord" so many things we can sacrifice. But it is through sacrifice that we receive the most blessings and that the Lord can truly guide us. It has had a profound impact on a lot of missionaries and on me especially as I have been praying and acting on this goal.

Our area has seen so many miracles this week. We were able to see the atonement working miracles in the lives of our investigators. We had a lot of people at church this week too which was amazing. I have not seen sacrament meeting that full since I have been here. We have been working really hard with the members and I am really starting to love them all so much. We have such a wonderful ward with so many kind people. And wonderful Cooks:) We had Pupusas so much last week which are my favorite so I was so happy:) my goal is to learn how to make them before I go home. well that and more:)

Our new years consisted of having to come in early and watching the D&C videos and eating blue bell and cookie dough:) and going to bed at 10:) Happy new years to US!!! Early bed time sound like the best kind of new years.

We are seeing so many blessing and Miracles and slowly but surely we are building up our area. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve in Manvel and to serve with the greatest companion ever! She is amazing and I love her so much. I am truly blessed.

 I hope you all have a wonderful week!

Con amor,

Hermana Heckel.

1. Happy new year

2. I love my companion:)

3-4 Missionary new years party:P + early bed time;) yaya!