Travis -- FAMILY!!!!

Dear family,

  All I figure writing my family is important right? Ya so this week has been phe *NOM*NOM*NOM*NOM*enal.

I say that because these dinners have been fabulous, some of great building of member trust occurred this week as we encouraged members to start sharing their testimonies and be a example of their religion. We encouraged them to share on Facebook, by a pass along card and many other ways to a stranger or non member friend they have. And we are getting some pretty cool results. It's not really getting U.S. investigators but people are certainly learning more about us around the world. Recently one of the ladies who did it had a boy comment how much he liked the meet the Mormons video and how her message reminded him of that. They got a talkin and befell you know it he was throwing questions left and right at her, eventually she told him the way he can truly receive those answers he divides and grow is by talking with missionaries. So he agreed and is now meeting with some Sacramento missionaries!! Another one was this older man had read online about Joseph smith and his 'ridiculous'  claim of a vision. He got curious and checked it out some more to find some weird stuff, about temples, and about Angels and priesthood and all these things. Well he asked a friend to explain it, who invited him to a barbecue. Their he had him and a friend( return missionary) with him who helped to explain questions around the camp fire. To the point that the guy wanted to know how he could bless his family with all that the gospel had to offer! It's incredible how our small words can change lives. 

  Anyhow we did meet with a few cool people this week, as we are clearing out potential investigator list, we are finding that makes have moved about 5 years ago. But we are picking up some encouraging referrals and potentials to become Better. We met a man who is older, he let his wife and is kinda living out his last years trying to fill his time the best. He was a big Lutheran but just has not had the desire to go back. He doesn't favor religion to well yet he keeps inviting us over because  he likes he spirit we bring. We read the bible won him and talked about baptism and what example Jesus Christ set for us. ....no we did not ask him to baptism, but he does now realize he need for a baptism by proper authority and immersion. He is more curious now to find the correct one. 

   Also the Japanese lady I told you about earlier, fusae! We had a lesson about Jesus Christ and his birth, we talked about him growing up and the experiences he faced with teaching at the temple, and almost being killed as an infant by the king. After all this she took her time to bear testimony (without meaning too or realizing it) of Jesus Christ, how she feels closer to him and understanding him. What a phenomenal change has overcome her as she has found not only God but now Jesus Christ. She is progressing at a great pace and I can see her being a fabulous member in the future. Teaching her has really taught me patience. 

  Anyhow I'll get on with the rest, so I am currently reading in Mosiah about Abinadi who was prophesying to king Noah and his people of their wickedness and sin. He preach of truth and repentance to these people pleading with them to understand and see their abominations and humble themselves. Even to the point of death. I truly admired him as a prophet because I'm sure he knew his chance to survive where not great, yet he gave everything up to do what he was told. And he was bold in it, something I never really have been on my mission until now. I realize sometimes it takes a push to get someone to finally cross over and learn and it's been amazing experience.  I have to get going but my last thing I wanted to share is a sweet quote I learned while I was out here. 

“Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic.” -unknown 

Scripture to memorize this week!! 1 nephi 1:20 

-Elder Heckel 

Travis - MOTHERS DAY!

I know that this is a late letter, but always better than never. So this weekend with Mother's Day! We did a lot of sharing appreciation for our mothers and taught a lesson that day on mothers. We talked about their love and care for us, they took upon themselves as partnership with God to create life, love it and raise it to be the best they can be. But its more than that, it's their personality and being. Every mother is different i ntheir own special way, they each care, laugh, and cry in unique ways that effect their amilies. As they work to raise the families they will build the confidence of their kids and the love of their husbands especially when involving the Lord in their lives. I love you all and hope you take advantage of that day! Got to go!

Family note:
We love Elder Heckel. It was so wonderful talking to him and it made momma so happy! 

Ty's Mission Call!!

Ty received his mission call today! He will be serving in The Manila Philippines Mission speaking Tagalog. He will enter the Manila MTC on July 31st! We are so excited to have another Heckel serving the Lord.

Larissa returned home, Ty got his mission call, and we get to talk to Elder Travis Heckel on Sunday.....its been a busy week for the Heckel family. We love all our missionaries.....returned, serving, and going! :-)

Larissa is HOME!!! :-)

What a  wonderful day to have Hermana Larissa Heckel return home to us! :-) And just in time for Mothers day....makes for a Happy Momma! 

Sisters united....tears were shed! 

COUSINS!

Mothers Day Love :-) 

Travis - Live, Laugh and Love

Dear home, 

How's everything going?? I hope everyone has had a fantastic week, I sure did! I love this gospel so much, so funny thing. We just gained another investigator but they to live outside our mission. It's amazing how often these people we teach aren't a part of our mission, yet we get to know and prepare them the same w eWorld any other person. In fact if all goes well both the "sweethearts" will be married and maybe baptized. But I shouldn't get ahead of myself. This week is just such a weird week, I haven't had this chaos follow in trying to call people(phone tag) and meet with them. We where able to go and teach a women who is budist, I mentioned her earlier and I am excited to update you. So we played phone tag with her a lot until we finally jut decided to stop by and talk with her. So we stopped by and shared our message of Jesus Christ and his life some more (shoe doesn't really know Jesus Christ) and it was so funny when at the end she told us she now believes in a god strongly and in the need of a savior....but why Jesus? And at the end she gave the closing prayer. She never ever prays on her own! The progress how ever slow brings me great joy. 

          We are seeking to really push forward in finding, in such a small area it's quite hard to find new people or knock doors that already haven't been knocked. But we are trying to go and inspire members to get to know neighbors, hold barbecues where they invite everyone on the block, or do a movie night with meet the Mormons on a big projector. We are also doing basketball and getting the youth to come out and participate and hopefully give us a chance to find people to teach and brig to the gospel. But do any of you have ideas of what we can do?? I love to hear what you learn, see and your ideas of what you would do. I truly love this gospel! These truths and principles, I can guarantee!, will bring a greater, longer and more joyful peace than anything else. I try taking day by day slowly, I don't want to miss a moment of it, even when things get hard or discouraging I know this is only a matter of time. And with such a short time we have, why should we waste it, sad, angry or alone? It truly pains me to see people suffer especially in ignorance. I so desperately wish to help anyone I can in any way I can!  I'm glad to serve here in California, with so many different variety show of people....and tons of fresh fruit!! I am happy to be here! Sorry for the short message not much going on this week!) 

Elder Heckel