Travis - Happy Year Mark

A note for the times, 

      Hello everybody what a fabulous week this has been, so much has gone on this whole week it's been a blast! We have been out on our bikes most this week visiting people and members out on the edges of our area. The area for this Ward isn't more than a 20 minute bike ride form end to end...if there was no hills, but due to the hills it takes 3x as long to get to places and sometimes leaves us drenched in sweat, but it becomes the greatest blessings because people (mostly less actives and non members) see us and feel sorry and are willing to let us in form the heat. It gives us the greatest excuse to meet with them and learn about them. We have almost done a 180 in our teaching pool in pushing out old and bringing in the new. We are now teaching more less active and part member families. One family the McCalls super awesome, he wife is a in active member and the husbands a non member with the kids. So he was introduced to scouting in which he became a pack leader, and now he enjoys spending time coming and playing sports, hearing spiritual thoughts we share and just being around 'the great Mormon people' we haven't progressed to lesson but no doubt it will happen. We are also teaching another part member family, he survived a serious bike accident and she is a inactive member. They haven't really had any 'wanted' contact with the church until Elder Fa arrived, they opened their doors wife and after several weeks of us working hard they are finally willing to hear the lessons for themselves. What a miracle it is! Another one is a women who has been through quite a few hardships, her life would it an all time high and then plummet. She married a non Keene and stopped coming to church a few years ago and doesn't really accept any visits from members. Well we caught her one day working out with some of her horses she owns. And after a little bit of talking she invited us to sit down and she shared her life story. As she shared these intense experiences she bore strong testimony of the gospel. She shared her love and emotion to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, she reads the scriptures, prays always and keeps the laws of God. A full blooded Mormon still accept she feels throughout her life a real abandonment from the church in her greatest times of need and has no desire right now to go back to Church. But she feels of our spirit and is glad we came and is more than hey to listen to the lessons we have to share again. We are so excites for this progresos since we have not been able to contact her since I arrived 3 months ago......this truly has been an intense time I'm so grateful for the chance I have to spend her with elder Fa in teaching people and learning from him. This truly has been a humbling and fruitful experience so far, these are a few miracles we had this week.  

     Oh I almost forgot, my companion says thank you for sending him a package for reaching his one year! Hahahaha(see picture below) us thank you mother although I cannot it eat it it does stir wonderful memories of home. I'm happy for the gift though! I hope you all are having a great time, I love my chance I have to be here on a mission especially hitting my year mark I notice one thing first. I'm still out!!!! I've hit half way point and couldn't believe it, so I followed many traditions including reading all the old letters I received from home . It is amazing to read all the support I had received and I am so thankful for all the support I have received. I loved every letter I received and it causes my soul to swell with joy not only at how helpful you have all been. But how each of you have frown and changed. I'm truly blessed to have a family that's still close together that's still has a core belief and unity in the gospel. I'm glad I have a mixture of both brothers and sisters who kept me in line but also did crazy stuff with me. You know.........I came to realize two things. One thing is not everyone is going to like you, no matter what someone is just going to dislike you even if they 'should' like you. It's very hard for me to accept that and is a big struggle I had out here, but now realizing that I won't treat them any differently I will still give them the same love that the lord would give me or them. Second thing I realize is to cherish those who do love you who accept you for who you are and not what you have or do. It truly is a blessing especially in trying times like these to have the many angels, heroes, and warriors all around me (and at home) who are fighting the fierce battles of life and lean upon one another for support. Oh my sons remember remember that it is upon the rock of our redeemer who is Christ, the son of God that he must build your foundation. That when the devil shall send for his mighty winds, yea his shafts in the whirl wind, yea when all his hail and mighty storms shall beat upon you. That they will have no power over you to drag you down into the gulf of misery and endless whoa, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall. -Hellman 5:12 so true is this scripture and the next one I memorized. I'm sorry for being a slacker. I will send out individual letters in the coming week. I hope you all had a good time friends and family I bid thee adu. 

P.s. Bottom picture is the valley of loomis hahahaha

Elder Heckel

Ty -- Temple Day!

We had the wonderful opportunity of going through the Temple with Ty, making it 4 out of the 6 children! It was such a beautiful day at the Mt. Timpanogos Temple..... It was an incredible experience. We, and Ty, are getting so excited for him to serve as a Missionary in the Philippines in just over a month now!

Its sometimes hard to believe that our children are already at missionary age, and some have already returned from serving. Now we only have 2 more left to go. 

Travis - He's Been There Before (By Elder Whittle)

He's Been There Before by Elder Whittle

The alarm bell rings at 6:30, I stumble to my feet
I grab my companions bedding and pull off his sheets

A groan fills the room, is it already time to arise?
It seems like just a second ago, I was able to shut my eyes
The morning activities follow- study, prayer and such
When it's time to leave the apartment, you feel you haven't accomplished much

"We have a super day planned,"
My comp. says with a grin
I lowly utter a faithless breath,
"Yeah, if anyone lets us in."

With the word of God and my faithful Schwinn, we ride off in the street
prepared to Face another day of humidity and heat
It's 9:30 in the evening, the day is almost through
My companion and I are riding home not accomplishing what we thought to do

We ride up to the mailbox, hoping to receive a lot
Only to look inside and hear my echo reverberate "air Box"
We go up to our apartment, the day is now complete
The only thing to show for our work is a case of blistery feet

It's past 10:30 p.m. My companion is fast asleep,
Silence engulfs me all about and I begin to weep
In the midst of sadness, I kneel down to pray
I need to talk to Father, but I'm not sure what to say

"Oh, Father" I begin, "What happened to us today?
I thought we'd teach somebody, but everyone was away
My hands, my aching hands- worn, hurt and beat;
If our area was any smaller, we'd have knocked every street"

"Why on missions are the days so much alike?
The only difference about today was the flat tire on my bike
Will you send some cooler weather? The heat is killing me
I sweat so bad, it gets in my eyes, it's very hard to see"

"Why do I have to wear a helmet, isn't your protection enough?
People always laugh at me, and call me stupid stuff
Please send us investigators so I may give them what they lack
I want to give them Books of Mormon, the weight of them hurts my back"

"And what about my family: They don't have much to say
I'm sick of not hearing from home day after day after day
Oh Father, Why am I here am I just wasting time?
Sometimes I just want to go home, I'm sorry but that's on my mind"

"My companion, Heavenly Father, what are you giving me?"
The way he rides his bicycle, I don't think he can see
Now you have it, I can't go on, I don't know what to do
That, my Father in Heaven, is the prayer I have for you"

My prayer now finished, I stand up, then jump right into bed
I need my rest for tomorrow, we have another long day ahead
Sleep starts to overtake me, I seem to drift away
Then it seems a vision takes me to another time in another day

I'm standing alone on the hill. The view is very nice
A man walks to wards me and says, "My name is Jesus Christ"
Tears of joy well up inside, I fall down to His feet
"Arise," He states, "Follow me to the shade. You and I need to speak"

My attention's towards my Savior, total and complete
He says, "Your mission is similar of what happened to me
I understand how you feel, I know what you're going through
In fact, it would be fair to say I've felt the same as you"

"I even know how you felt when no one listened to you
At times I felt not quite sure what else I could do
I know you don't like to ride a bicycle, for you a car would be sweet
Just remember the donkey I rode wasn't equipped with 21 speeds"

"I understand you don't like sweating, in fact it's something you hate
I remember when I sweat blood from ev’ry pore, oh the agony was great!
I see you don't like your companion- you'd rather have someone else-
I once had a companion named Judas who sold my life for wealth"

"It's hard to wear a helmet and have people make fun of you
I remember when they put thorns on my head and called me King of the Jews
So you feel burdened down by the weight of your pack
I recall how heavy the cross was when they slammed it on my back"

"Your hands hurt from tracting and knocking on doors all day
I guess when they pounded nails into mine, I ached in a similar way
It's hard not to hear from home when your family's not there to see
I lost communication on the cross and cried, "Father, why hast Thou
forsaken me?"

"We have a lot in common, but there's a difference between us you see
I endured to the end and finished my mission, so follow and do like me"
He embraced me with His arms and His light filled me with His love
With tears in my eyes I watched as He went back to the Father above

I stood with awe and wonder when a beep rang in my head
I listened and heard the alarm, then realized I was in my bed
My companion let out a groan, "6:30 already, no way!"
I sat up and said, "Come on, I'll even carry your scriptures today!"

No matter what we go through,
When we feel we can't take more
Just stop and think about Jesus Christ,
He's been there before

I leave my testimony that God knows each and everyone of us. He knows where we are, where we have been and where we are going. We must have the faith to put our lives into his hands. I love you all and hope your having an awesome time.

Elder Heckel

Travis - Another week!!!

Hi! 

Well this feels odd writing at this time. But hey our preparation day has been switched from mo day to Wednesday this week because a member from the quorum of the seventh came and spoke at area during our normal preparation day time. It was Elder Larry S. Katcher, yes the same one that was in our Ward (midway 2nd) and stake as a high councilor for like 5 years. It was cool how he pointed that out to me, he loves midway and truly misses it, but now he will be off to Russia this year to serve as an area seventy. Anyway as during this time he was going to teach us about increasing our skills in teaching as missionaries. He had originally taught the other two areas the lesson. But he felt a different impression here, both he and his wife. Instead they stood up and he spoke about our purpose as missionaries, why we would even want to be out here and what's stopping us from becoming our best. He then asked for anyone to have the courage to stand up and boldly declare a struggle they may have to be obedient and ,Abe what they can do to be come better. Most the missionaries looked dumb founded at this wondering what missionary would want to get up and share how they are disobedient. After several minutes one girl finally stood up and spoke about how hard she of a time she had arising in the morning and how she could be better than that. And like a flame amongst fire works. Left and right people stood up talking about all different kinds of things, from talking about waking up all the way to wasting time and going to places they shouldn't. It was a mini and VERY spiritual moment for everyone to finally come forward with what's been stopping them. The majority to talked on similar subject, about being with a companion. I stood up and bore straight testimony to how hard it has been for me all my mission to learn to work with different and unique people and not just companions, but also Ward members and investigators. Our 3 zones that where gathered together had a common issue of not having faith in one another. Most have difficulties learning to get along with a companion, to solve issues and talk them out. Learning to work with different ideas and love them. Learning to look for the best in them and not doing your way or my way but or tear doing our way. In essence everyone really was touched to a realization that we can all improve, we all need the atonement in our lives even as missionaries we aren't exempt. The atonement to me represents change and love. Not only for god and Jesus Christ love in Doing this divine work. But carrying it out in a way that requires us to grow, stretch and become better people. To become essentially like Christ! To become the man or women God sees us becoming. For it is this time we prepare not neutral to pass a test here on earth but for how life will be with our Heavenly Father after.  Elder Katcher talked a little more on mindsets then we finished off with a testimony meeting that was killer. Overall a phenomenal day, also the work here is picking up Lara is returning with her son from vacation and we plan already to teach the first half of the lesson again but this time helping her to recognize why she needs it. Her spirit is truly open and ready for the gospel at this time. So exciting! We also have the little Japanese lady fusae returning, she is having so much fun learning of God and Jesus Christ. She exclaims almost every time how she had always heard people say he was effect but didn't really understand it until she saw the way he lived his life.  Well we also picked up another less active who has had quite the interesting background with the church, needless to say she has had her struggles and has been in and out of the church with her brother. And now me and elder Fa we feel can change her life for the better. She truly has ended to us with her concerns and her insecurities that lead to earlier problems. So we shared the story of alma the younger and the video "look not behind thee" we bore testimony to how we all experience a "wild point" in our lives. And yet we can learn like alma from these mistakes, fix them and forget it. She ended up crying before we where even half way done, she talked about how hard it is to give up grudges and to let go. But we promised her through the atonement of Christ she can over come it. But it requires learning how to enact that power and be worthy of it. So she promised to come to church again ;)  this is just a few of the highlights of the week. I hope you are all enjoying your summer, we have such a short amount of time here on the earth and with that we don't want to waste it being sad do we? I know tat the gospel is spreading across this earth as we speak. It is reaching to every corner of the earth. I'm glad to be here at this time, I still have a lot of time to go: "for I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep" 

Love you all!

Elder Heckel 

Travis - Home sweet home.....staying

Well I have done my best in this area. And I'm staying hahaha! Yes I'm excited for one more transfer, this truly has been a blessing to be in the Loomis 1st Ward and serving with Elder Fa. But our other set of elders are both being moved and two new ones are coming in (shot-gunning the area). So it's sad to see this transfer change but it's also good to be able to see new faces. I'm still District leader and I'm over a small group of missionaries, it's been quite the challenge but also quite the fun experience to try teaching them and sharing some thing new that they had never heard of. Im hoping to leave the missionaries more excited to come then they are now. Meetings out in the mission can sometimes be a damper and take forever. But I'm going to make he most of it! Anyhow our area is building up slowly, although this is vacation season for a lot of people we where able to catch a lady who is a less active member of the church and her husband is a non member. She owns a large horse arena and trains horses and people to ride horses. Very cool set up and quite the busy job. She has been kinda bailing on us every time we stopped by, but when we finally caught her this time she admitted she was a little uncomfortable at the idea of talking with missionaries again. But now that she has had the chance she is willing to have us back! It just goes to show that it's better to not judge the book by its cover and give them a chance. 

  We also where able to visit with a guy named Ron, now Ron is a non member and his wife is inactive. They are a very nice older couple who was always willing to hear our message at the door but that's as far as it gets. But recently with elder Fa he's been very interested. They had us in sitting on the couch, we come to find out he survived a motor cycle accident that gave him serious head trauma and she is a care taker and just took care of both her parents and his before they past away. Then serious testimony was thrown down about family and especially parents! Elder Fa bore a touching testimony I will never forget about, this was someone who appreciated their parents and did everything he could to help. He looked his mother and never complained or fought with her. Yes he joked around and argued but he respect her and his father. Who worked their hearts out to provide for the family. He will always love them and respect them enough that he would be honored to take care of them in their old age. I want to express my gratitude for their parents, out of all of us kids I was one of the most naive and clueless as to what mom and dad did for us. How they cared for us and loved us, dad stands at the foot of the household, holding the priesthood he honorable fulfilled his duty to the letter in the church, as a father and a husband he always cared for each and everyone of us, always willing to give more energy and attention then he had to us and mom. He gave a great example of giving up his wands to help others and he showed us how we can truly love and cherish our wives. I love dad he could always bring smiles to anyone's face and have the crowd laughing. But he could also convey a strong spirit touching everyone and never leaving a dry tear in the room. He was willing to take courage and defend himself and others but he also wasn't afraid to shed a tear and "be the bigger man" and backdown. I love dad so much and truly I look up to him in all he does for us. And we'll.....the list goes on and on with mom, like Mother's Day I said she is amazing the amount of work she can get done in so little time, is matched by ten men. She is the best multitasker ever ! She is always finding time to do the little things while tending to our needs in the family, she has a battery power that goes on forever and patience like no other for us. She always could see the best in each of us and did a great job (with dad) in bringing it out with us. She gave up everything for us to be happy to be here in this life. Mom has shown a great love and care through her example I've seen how we can truly give of everything, not just to us but to outside the family, caring for other and always thinking of them. She exemplifies putting their needs before hers! She also shows how to love and follow a husband, how to work together and workout problems that come up. Jut like dad they both truly show us that your sad days, your days were you feel down are only their if you let me in. I believe one of the greatest things I've heard is that as a person we all feel pain in different ways and its unique to you. So we shouldn't be out sharing it with others, but instead growing from it and using it to build our character by overcoming it. And this is what mom and dad have and so much more. There is no parental book for me to search on raising us, their was no book to tell them how to deal with Phillip annoying Nathan (switch that around)  or Ty and me fight. Or what to do when a daughter crashes a car into a man hole. But they do their best, they put their faith in God and allow him to help. They work as a tea and I cannot wish for any better parents than that....gosh this letter got way off hand. I'm going to end now but you guys remember these times, although they aren't perfect now (alreast dad isn't ;) ) look how good of a job they did! Love them and thank them. Time does fly and you don't know what you got till its gone, hope everyone had a good week, me and Elder Fa are killing it and now Ron and his wife love us and want us to come back again to teach (first set of missionaries in over like 5 years.) we will see success in this area, I have faith we will see miracles. Love you all and will see you later ---actually Christmas I'll see ya----- so till next week. 

Elder Heckel 

Travis -- Hola

So this week has been a phenomenal week! To start off first I want to say how much I love you all. I really appreciate all the prayers that have come out, I feel it everyday and I pray for you all too! And I want to start of with our week. So we have been in such a crazy finding mode, for the past 4-5 weeks that we have taught VERY few lessons as a companionship. And we finally have a found a lady who is willing to hear our message and she is willing to go to a friends (ward member) home for it. Excited we go over and we teach the restoration. And it was a disaster haha, we where all over the place! we taught super dis functionally. But at the end she still felt the spirit throughout and said she would like to learn just a little more of what this church is about! The members were a little shocked and so where we, but it goes to show first off that it truly is the spirit who teaches and second that it ALWAYS is good to practice teach lessons even when you probably wont teach it for weeks and weeks on end. another lady we made progress with is a less active, who i think I mentioned before, works at the Temple during the week but RARELY attends church. we have been over several times over the last several weeks teaching her the importance of the atonement and sacrament. We taught of the divine role god gave Jesus Christ in not only coming here to Suffer and die for our sins. But in establishing his church. He wanted to provide a safe haven for the sinners where they can be healed and lean upon one another for help. She finally has made it out to church the last 2 times in a row and has started to go to relief society more and more often. She even bore testimony to us of how important the work of the lord is and expressed that sometimes she feels overwhelmed likes its to much! And boy don't we all feel that way sometimes, And even more exciting is that she answered her own problem. She goes on to tell us that when those feelings do come around she is not doing something right, Either pride or laziness has creeped in and slowly is hacking away. And she must renew herself in this quest we face in life.

  Overall it has been an interesting week. We have worked hard to try boosting up this area and I have especially learned how to work with different companions. Ive always been a very submissive person, believing I can get along with anyone and let me tell you now some people don't like that and may not exactly like you at first. But given time, pray and the lords mighty hand all changes are possible. and I also want to express my deepest gratitude in Larissa.(i feel weird not saying sister Heckel) coming to visit me on the side of visiting the boy. I was left so bewildered and joyful i couldn't express words nor get them out of my mouth fast enough. she has changed so much it makes me almost teary eyed. Yet it was a motivational visit in helping me at this time, Do i miss home? yes of course! Do I want to go home now? no!!!!!!! (sorry to get your hopes up) because if the gospel did that for Larissa in 18 months then what will it do for me in two years. Ive still got a lot to learn and grow on But i am glad for the sibling and parents I have that stand as shiny examples in my life. And my cousins to!!!!! Well I hope all is going well at home, Yes its sad That Elder L. Tom Perry passed away! We had our moment of silence and a prayer for his family! He has done the work that he has been called to do. He has lived a life loving God and others like no one else I know. He will truly be missed! Anyhow Hope to hear from you all next week. Mom and Dad had stuff to tell me? but it never got here I guess!!! LOVE YOU ALL

- Elder Heckel