Week #13 Pictures

Week #13 Letter

Feliz Navidad y Feliz Años muchachos!!!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and will have a happy new year. I
will be in my apartment starting at 6 pm my time on New Year's Eve
just like Halloween. These are the only two holidays we do this so
after Thursday, we only do it 2 more time on the mission.

Here are the daily summaries:

12-21-15
"Merry Christmas ya filthy animals...and a happy new year" Today was
preparation day and it was very different. We had to do laundry during
studies so companionship study was like 15 min. Then we went and got
haircuts from Jay for free:) and had song practice for our Christmas
devotional Christmas Eve. Played some ping pong and then went shopping
around. Came back and ate dinner then went to the church to play some
more ping pong and send off the last emails. Went to Roberts home and
had an ok lesson as there were other people there and just a big
distraction in general. But we got one of their contact info and got
them interested in learning more so we didn't go for Robert but for
that other person. They love in Connecticut so we will be sending the
info to the Connecticut missionaries. Then we went contacting by
Dunkin and ended up talking to a guy for 30 min. He is a
basher/researcher. He is like us by inviting to learn more but he only
wants you to study resources, not asking God in prayer or going on
faith. It has to be seen or read for it to be true according to him.
We got no where with him as he talked 99% of the time, not joking. I
got 15 words out basically. Then he left and we went home.
12-22-15
"Why did you say I was a marine biologist? You know I've always wanted
to say I was an architect!" I got my spinning pen today and everyone
that has seen it questions what is it and I say, "it's a spinning pen"
and then they wonder what that is until I show them. That's when they
say, "I want one". Oh, I got tricks to learn now:) anyways, today we
taught Hill. We taught half of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Then we got
Halal for lunch and went to District Meeting. Went contacting by
dunkin and then went to a lesson with Daniel. He wasn't home so we
went to dinner early and went contacting by Dunkin again until we went
to a lesson with Adrian. We taught half of the Plan of Salvation and
invited him to be baptized on Feb 13. He accepted so we now have 4
people with a baptismal date!! Then we went to visit some potentials
and then went to the church to pick up our packages. I got 2 packages
today, one had the spinning pen in it and more Christmas presents, the
other was from some good friends that sent some sort of baked good. I
know it's food but not what it is.
12-23-15
"I feel it in my fingers. I feel it in my toes. Christmas is all
around me, and so the feeling grows... You know I love Christmas, I
always will. My minds made up, the way that I feel." Today was a good
day. We did not teach a lesson, we showed 1 video, and we had a lot of
changed plans, but it was just a good, fun day. We went to Christmas
singing practice for tomorrow's devotional with the mission and then
held weekly planning. Went contacting in the pouring rain, I got
soaked to the bone since I didn't have my umbrella. We tried to go to
the subway and contact, no success, then we took the train up one stop
to the Mets stadium station, in our area still, and tried to show the
video there. Only problem was that there was no people there. Came
back and ate dinner at 4 Choice, 1 Soup restaurant. Tried to go visit
a referral but the buses were messed up so we rescheduled for
tomorrow. Visited the branch president's home and went to the church
and made calls. We were heading to go contacting by Dunkin but we
stopped to help a Spanish man with a flat tire. We first helped him
get the jack in place and start cranking. The emergency brake wasn't
on so the car fell forward a little when we tried to get the tire off.
The funny part was he spoke Spanish so I was asking him if the
emergency brake was on just before elder Reese started to try to take
the tire off but because of the language barrier, I couldn't ask him
in time so the car fell forward a little. We then had to take off the
jack, loosen it again and start over, with the emergency brake on. We
finished up and showed him the video, A Savior is Born. Then went
home.
12-24-15
"And there's only one more sleep till Christmas. After all there's
only one more sleep till Christmas." Today was HOT and HUMID!!!! It
felt like Florida when I first walked out side, which felt like I was
going to Disney World:( then as the day went on, it felt like Hawaii.
I got a second Hawaii Christmas:) haha, all that was missing was a
Polynesian Santa and the beach. It was literally 70+ degrees today. We
went to the Mission Christmas Devotional and by 3 o'clock, every elder
had their suit coat off and rolled up sleeves as the building was so
hot. But it was so much fun!!! We first had breakfast and then went
into the fun zone songs every zone came up with. Then we had some
messages from President Reynolds and others. Went to lunch and after
lunch, we had a speaker that spoke on how to study Isaiah and
Revelations. It was awesome as I learned so much and can't wait to
read it on my own. We then had a video of the year in review with all
the pictures from different missionaries to see all the good times
we've had. Then Sister Reynolds gave a talk about a Christmas story,
which she read to us like we usually do back home on Christmas Eve.
Then we closed out with the new goals for 2016 and the new Mission
Vision. We tried to go visit the referral from yesterday but she
wasn't home so we went to a members home for dinner and fun. We
socialized but the funny part was that regular Christmas songs not
from MoTab or mission songs were playing like Feliz Navidad and
others. Also, they were watching Home Alone, but the songs were going
so no sound for the movie. Really funny. There is actually normal life
outside of a mission!!! Haha, Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad!
12-25-15- Christmas Day!!
"When the lights go down in the city, and the sun shines on the bay.
Oh, I want to be there in my city, in the city by the bay!" Merry
Christmas! We did studies before we opened presents and I got a lot
more presents than I thought I would get. Thanks to the Parkins,
Ashley, Grandma Marcy, and mom and dad for all the packages. I know
there is more coming but hasn't got here yet so I will for sure give
them thanks as well. Thanks to grandma and grandpa Leary, Megan and
Mike, the Muirs, Grandma Marcy, and Kent Leary for the letters too.
You're all the best!! So after we opened presents, we went to Hermana
Valdez's home to FaceTime home but she wasn't there and there was no
male present in the home so we called home in the stair well:) we love
that stair well as we have spent like a total of 5 hours in it. But
even before I started the FaceTime, I knew saying goodbye was going to
be rough. I got really homesick real fast, even before the FaceTime
was over. Good thing I only have 3 more to go. But what helped was
that we got a call just as dad was ending the call and is was sister
Asai inviting us over to their home for food. We accepted their
invitation and went there. It was nice and we talked to brother Asai
who just got back from Utah after being there for 3 months to help
their daughter with their baby. Sister Asai even made homemade sushi
as they are Japanese. It was so good and we shared a quick message
with them and went to the apartment for a bit before we went to sister
Duncan's home. We got there and ate dinner and met her family as well.
Had dessert and then they pulled out the karaoke. Oh yeah. It is even
the exact same one as the karaoke machine we had back home before we
got our new one(the wired microphone one). They love to sing and
wondered if we did karaoke back home. I told them we did it a lot and
then they made us sing. They loved it as I sung Livin on a Prayer and
got the high score so far. After a few more, they wanted me to do
another as I was very entertaining to them. So I sung September. Then
finished off my singing with Piano Man. That was the high score of the
night with 88. Haha, oh, I felt right at home again. That karaoke was
the second best part of the day(first one being able to FaceTime
home). I love the holidays here in the mission field. Merry
Christmas!!
12-26-15
"This is not a drill. This is not a false alarm" well we have started
getting back into the mood of things again. We went and opened the
church at 9 for piano lessons and had companion study and 12 week
there. Then we had lunch and went knocking for 2 hours until we went
to Mila's home, which she wasn't there. I still haven't met her and
when I got here, she was our only progressing investigator. So she
wasn't home so we went knocking around her until dinner. There are a
lot of good fast food places around her but she is so far away in our
area we never go there so we went to Qdoba today for dinner. Then we
traveled back home and went to the church to teach Adrian. It was a
very good lessons as we finished the Plan of Salvation and answered
his questions about baptism. Then we went to Anthony's home to check
on him and maybe teach him but he wasn't home so we went contacting by
Dunkin. We went into Dunkin when we were done to try out this card we
got from someone in our apartment building. The card is good for 10
large coffees but as you all know, we don't drink coffee. So we wanted
to see if we could switch it out for hot chocolate but the worker said
he could only do it once and if someone found out, he could get in
trouble so we had to tell him we wouldn't tell anyone.... So don't
tell anyone. Haha:) then we went back to the apartment. Fun day of
going about regular business.
12-27-15
"We're bringin it, bringin it, bringin it back. We're bringin it,
bringin it, bringin it back...Fireball!" Today was church day and we
went to church, obviously. It was nice as so many people asked about
our families and how they are doing. We found out that brother
Estava's niece got her mission call to Logan Utah:) he showed us her
mission call opening and I showed them mine. They loved it. Then we
had dinner and went contacting by Dunkin for 3 hours in the rain. That
was greeeeeaaaaatttttt... Ugh. What made it awesome was Youseph gave
us free Halal once again:) but he is going on vacation this week for
like 1.5-2 months I think. He is like going to Morocco for a month and
then touring Europe. So probably no free Halal for a while:( but it
rained hard today so I'm done. I'm out. Peace.

So Christmas was awesome like I said. So much went on and the call was
super hard to hang up but the Lord knew it would be hard and provided
us with a members home to go to and celebrate Christmas with them. And
the karaoke made me feel right at home. He knows us personally and
what we need to best help Him and His cause for us. All you have to do
is trust and follow Him and He will provide the path. Thanks so much
again to those who gave me Christmas presents to open Christmas
morning!!! It made it a fun experience here on the mission.

Love you all so much and am grateful for everything you do in my life
and how much support every single one of you give to me. It really
makes going on a mission easier to handle. And I will see you in the
next email! Bu-Bye!!!

-Elder Heaton

Week #12 Pictures

Week #12 Letter

Merry Christmas!!!!

Here's the summaries:

12-14-15
"Ow! Son of a nutcracker!" Today was preparation day and I got 2 tie
clips for $4 and I was happy:) I have wanted tie clips since the MTC
and now I got 2. We also had a song practice for a Christmas Eve
devotional where all the zones will perform a fun song. We are making
our own version of "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" then
after preparation day, we went contacting by Dunkin and then went to
Hermana valdez's home to teach Albert. No one was home and Albert
actually had an emergency to help his grandmother with a financial
problem. It's ok now. So we sat in the stair well and made calls till
Hermana Valdez got home as we were teaching family home evening
tonight. She got home at 7:30 but no male present so we had to wait a
half an hour for Anthony to get home. We have had some good times in
that stair well, let me say:) haha. Not the first time we have sat
there for an hour waiting on someone to get home. We taught FHE and we
had leave then as it was 9:15 and had to be back at 9:30 so we took
dinner to go. We actually skipped dinner because we knew we would be
having this. So today, I ate a toaster strode for breakfast, nothing
for lunch due to the song practice, and 2 pop tarts and 2 gronola bars
all day and we ate dinner at 10 after daily planning. So I was hungry
all day but actually not too hungry surprisingly. Haha
12-15-15
"It's so fluffy I'm gonna die!" Not much happened today. We had a
lesson with Jay which went well, then we ate at Hunan Kitchen and then
had district meeting. Went to Robert's home but he cancelled on
us/forgot what time we were meeting at today. Then we knocked and had
homemade tacos for dinner. Aren't you so proud mom? We made a real
dinner:) JK. Then we went to knock around one of our investigators
named George. We went by George's home but he wasn't there so we went
contacting by Dunkin until we came back for the night. Also, we
stopped by the library to print off a family history thing and got a
minion version of the plan of salvation too:) now I want to color it
and hang it up on my wall:)
12-16-15
"There's a stable on the label and a stork on the cork." Guess what
show that is from:) my family should get it. Hint, we were dressed up
like this show one year for Halloween. Anyways, today, we went
contacting/look ups in college point. Not too much success but a few
giveaways. Then went contacting by Dunkin. Dinner, we made tacos again
with chicken this time. Then went to Robert's and taught him. His
cousin James was there for the entire lesson this time. Then went by a
referrals home and gave her a Book of Mormon and a Bible. Went
contacting again by Dunkin and came home. Started to rain today but it
was like a snow storm how it was coming down. Very soft and in very
tiny little drops. It was very interesting but it came down enough to
make my hair wet.
12-17-15
"Chewy, we're home." Someone had the bright idea to email me that they
were going to see Star Wars VII tonight. You know who you are. So I
haven't seen Star Wars VII nor will I see it for 21 months ish, but it
is a great line from the trailer. Anyways, today, we went to have our
weekly planning session when the Chinese sisters called and said that
a man was interested in the church that is English speaking. They came
to the church and we gave him a tour and taught the first lesson to
him, The Restoration. He seemed really into it and set up another
appointment with us next Tuesday. Then we did our weekly planning and
dropped off some packages and supplies at the apartment and went to
have dinner with the Spanish missionaries and an investigator. We were
going to hand her off to them by introducing her to them as she
prefers Spanish but because there was no male present, we couldn't go
inside. So she actually gave us the meal to go and we ate it at our
apartment, the 4 of us. We felt so bad but rules are rules. Don't
break em. Then we went to have a lesson with Katalin and Eric and
invited her to be baptized again, if she is ready, on Jan 30. She
agreed to that if she is ready by that time. Then we went and made
calls at the church as we've had 15 referrals this week from the
Korean sisters. We need to figure out what they are doing right and
what we are doing wrong as to get so many potential investigators.
12-18-15 Star Wars: The Force Awakens
"These are not the droids you're looking for." I just wanted to say,
based off a review I read in the newspaper, that I called it. You can
email me and tell me I'm wrong but based off the review, Star Wars VII
is just like StarWars IV. Looking for droids, battles, action, etc. I
knew it would be just like that. Which leads me into the next thing, I
hate knowing the dates of movies and when they come out. That's like
all I thought about today which almost costed me a couple lessons. I
would think about it and what I'm missing during a lesson and get sad
but then I would focus again and it would be fine. We had a lesson
with Hill today finishing the plan of salvation and we pushed her
baptismal date back to Jan 30. The same day as Katalin's so we don't
know what we are going to do with that just yet but we'll keep it for
now. But I kept thinking about Star Wars. Ugh. I need it to go away.
Then we went and updated a member list we have to give to our branch
clerk to update the files for us and the records. Then went contacting
by the library until we went to do some look ups. The first home we
went to was a less actives home and her name is Daniela and she is 12
years old. Her brother, not a member, joined in on the lesson and he
is 14. We taught the restoration and invited him to be baptized on Feb
6 and he accepted! We now have 3 investigators with baptismal dates. I
hope I don't get transferred now. Elder Reese is starting to consider
not wanting to go now that we have these dates. But it is up to the
Lord where we go. So that took a while and so we didn't go do more
look ups but went to McDonalds and brother Estava was there and sat by
us. We had a nice conversation and then he gave us a ride to the
church for a lesson with the Korean sisters to hand off a person to
us. He never showed up so we went to correlation and then went to
sister Roxas where she gave us food. We thanked her and then went
home. Nice day in the end but just hard through each lesson with
knowing that Star Wars came out today. Honestly, I wish I didn't know
the date of anything cause there are no billboards or any
advertisements here so if it wasn't for the trailers back home that I
saw before my mission, I probably wouldn't even know the date it came
out. This is defiantly a trial of faith on my part as I have had the
urge or thought to break the rules this once and go see it but I
remain faithful and obedient.
12-19-15
"Grave robbers will be shot!"
"Good thing we're not grave robbers."
What's that movie? Good luck:) well today was hace frio. (Cold) it was
a high of 42 degrees with a wind chill to 32 degrees. Yeah it was
cold. But we went and did service for a less active and taught him a
short lesson at the end. Then we went and di those look ups we didn't
do yesterday. Then went to the Christmas party!! It was so much fun
and I had a blast. They had a nativity short skit with the youth and
elders Householder and Wixom. Then we ate and talked with each other.
Then elder Reese and I hung out with the youth for a bit and had some
fun pictures:) while that happened, the mariachi band prepared and
then we went into the room to see them. It consisted of our branch
president, elders quorum president, the second counselor, a stake
presidency member, and Jay! They did awesome but we had to leave early
as it was 9:30 and they were still going. We missed their finale,
Feliz Navidad. Bummer but oh well. Got to follow the rules! #GtFtR
12-19-15
"I didn't kill my wife."
"I don't care!"
So today we had church. That was fun but we keep going to church early
for branch council but the past couple weeks hasn't happened and
didn't happen today either. We haven't reported 1 baptismal date let
alone all 3 of ours. So the branch knows noting of what is going on
really as they never ask either. But what ever. Then we mingled and
then went to dinner. But at the church, the members gave us some gifts
and cards which was so nice. Even sister Hawkins gave us a bag of
cookies each. They were good. Then we went contacting and the Halal
guy, Youseph, gave us free food this time. He gave us a sandwich which
costs $4 usually but gave it to us for free. I love this guy!! Then we
went to Anthony's home as he wasn't at church today and talked about
the importance of attending church. Then came home.

Not much else so love you and have a merry Christmas!!!

And I will see you in the next email! Bu-Bye!!!

-Elder Heaton

Week #11 Pictures

Week #11 Letter

Hello everybody!

12-7-15
"Ready, aim, fire! Ready, aim, fire away!" ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Preparation
day!!!!!!!! Yeah! So we went shopping today for like 3 hours. Stopped
by a lot of 99 cents stores around here as there are like 20 of them.
Bought some Christmas presents for the family to send home. Then went
to AT&T and saw an iPad pro. That thing is huge. Went to target and
walked around for a while and ended up in the movies area where we saw
a trailer for Star Wars we never saw before. Yeah, we regretted seeing
that. It looks so good but it is so far away!!!! I quickly pushed that
out of my mind and forgot all about it now. Bought food and on the way
to the church after we dropped off the food, we saw Kio. He is the one
that ended up having a sister missionary midnighted out of flushing
because he wanted his prayer beads back when he proposed to her. Yeah
that Kio. But he was sober. He asked if we were Mormons, we said yes.
He then asked if we believe in multiple wives which we said we used to
but not any more. He then asked if we are missionaries and we said
yes. He then says, "well you're doing a good job, keep it up." And
walks away. What just happened? This is not the same person we met
that night but it is!! Crazy. We go to the church and play ping pong
when Jay brings us Chick-fl-a! Thank you Jay!! Then we eat dinner and
go contacting for 3 hours from 6-9. Showed the video 7 times and gave
out 25 cards.
12-8-15
"Whop, whop. Whop, whop, de Gangnam Style!" So there is this sound we
hear every morning that sounds like a submarine with the sound every
couple of seconds. Bong...bong...bong. It sounds like here and I
finally saw the person that does it every morning. They clap two
wooden rods together and sing. Different. Tat happened on the way to a
lesson with Jay. Pretty good lesson as we talked about different
methods of reading scriptures. Then we had district meeting, then
lunch! Went contacting and then dinner. We bought a pineapple and a
Japanese drink that I've had before at Epcot. It has a marble in it
that holds the carbonation in. Then went to visit a less active family
who is going through some rough times. And then went to visit a less
active we haven't been working with named Albert. He wasn't home so
then we went home. #FTiF which stands for Fun Times in Flushing. :)
12-9-15
"I will not doubt. I will not fear...where faith endures" Favorite
song I've found on my iPod so far by Alex Boyè. Really good. Today, we
had ZTM and it was good. I love meetings now as I learn so much from
them and love to hear what other people say. Before, I hated meetings
as they were so long and boring... That came back to bite me in the
butt. But it is good now:) then we went to visit Tevin but he wasn't
home and then went to dinner. Went to teach Erik and Katalin about the
Plan of Salvation and got through half of it as that hour went by very
fast. We were going to go to Anthony's but he cancelled and so we went
contacting. Good thing too as we hadn't shown the video to anyone
today but we showed it to 5 people today making the number of times
I've see it 46. That's a lot. Then, we bought a new drink tonight,
Mistic flavored as Tropical Haze.
12-10-15
"Don't stop, believing! Hold onto that feeling!" We had weekly
planning today which went well. Then we went contacting and only
showed one video in the hour and a half we were there. Went to dinner
and got shish-kabobs on the way. I love Shish-kabobs all because of
one street vendor. Then taught Robert on service and went to Anthony's
but he wasn't home. We found the Spanish elders waiting for Elpedio,
which is Anthony's great uncle living there, in the stairwell. So we
started talking and ended up talking for 45 min and not even realizing
it and then we went home. Pretty boring day.
12-11-15
"Because I'm happy! Come along if you feel like nothin is stoppin
you!" I'm happy, actually, overjoyed, as Hill accepted a baptismal
invitation for Jan. 2, 2016! So exciting and now we hope she will stay
with it and continue with lessons and progressing. So we went to
Subway for lunch and then helped the Spanish elders clean the
baptismal font for tomorrow's baptism. Then went knocking in
Whitestone but went by a less actives home to see if he was home and
he was home so we taught him. Then on the way back, we taught a lesson
to a guy on the street and he was open to hearing us then but not as
open about us coming by to see him again. So we went home, had dinner,
and went contacting. We met a couple from Florida visiting NY and they
were members and wanted to take us to dinner, but we just ate so they
said maybe tomorrow. Showed the video 7 times today and also exchanged
companions with the zone leaders. I am at the zone leaders apartment,
and his name is elder Finch from Cali and he is mandarin speaking.
Gonna be fun!! He also plays tennis by the way.
12-12-15
"This is crazy. But here's my number, so call me maybe!" Last night,
elder Finch and I stayed up till 12:50 talking from 10:30 to 12:50 am.
It was fun and I really got to know him well. The first hour was get
to know you and the second one was answering all of his questions
about movies and spoiling all of them as he didn't care and wanted to
know. But today, we had studies and language studies and went to the
church to drop off my stuff before we went to go get lunch. We ate
lunch at New World Mall on Roosevelt and some Chinese man from BYU
bought us lunch. Then we went back to the church and worked on the
zone Christmas song to practice Monday for the Christmas devotional
and then went to Rite Aid so elder finch could get his flu shot. Went
back to the church and had a lesson Chinese so I didn't know anything
that was going on. Then we went to English class where all the Chinese
missionaries teach English to Chinese people and I actually could help
as I was in the advanced class. Then we had another lesson in Chinese
directly after that and then went contacting for 1/2 an hour and went
back to do the exchange review. Went to Elpedio's after party for his
baptism and said hi. He is an investigator for the Spanish elders.
They fed us and we exchanged companions back and went home. Pretty
eventful day with a whole lot of sitting around for a couple hours at
a time. But fun over all, just glad to be back in my apartment with my
stuff. It just makes me feel at home again.
12-13-15
"Hello, hello. Hola! I'm at a place called vertigo!" Today was weird.
We had church and during second hour, we were teaching gospel
principles class when a member, brother Estava came and got us saying
there was a woman asking for us. We went down and found out she came
for sacrament meeting and we gave her our card 2 months ago and now
she is wanting to come. She went to sacrament meeting and afterwards,
we taught her the restoration with brother Estava as a member present
lesson. Then we walked home with brother Estava as he lives right down
the street from us and he is also the one that gives us free food
sometimes. On the way home, we ran into Kio. Perfect... Not. He wanted
his prayer beads back and so we went back to the church and ran inside
while brother Estava stayed outside with him and our elders quorum
president, brother Novak, came out and talked as well. So I felt a lot
more comfortable with 2 members there. So we gave them back and then
Kio wanted to show us how he can dunk. What? Ok then. And he did in
the parking lot and left. We went inside so we didn't follow him and
told brother Estava the encounters we've had with Kio before. He then
told us the neighborhood he grew up in and how bad that was. And that
was in Brooklyn. But like 20 years ago. Then we went to eat dinner as
it was then 6:30. Ate, and went to Hermana valdez's home to check on
Anthony which he wasn't home. But his cousin, Albert was there and he
is less active in our area so we talked with him and he wants to come
back to church and so we set up a meeting with him tomorrow. Defiantly
meant to talk to Albert this day. He has a bright spirit.

So yeah, Kio is back. Ugh but whatever. He's not too bad when sober
but he is a pain when he is high or drunk. I prefer the legitimate
crazy people that yell at busses or trash cans all day. But whatever,
it's probably my trial to go through and endure well so I try to keep
a positive attitude about it but it is very hard. Every time I see
Kio, I get a pit in my stomach that doesn't go away for an hour.

But on the bright side, we now have an investigator with a baptismal
date! I was over joyed that day and had the best day. She didn't make
it to church yesterday so we have to move the baptismal date now a
week later at least and that is most likely when elder Reese will be
transferred out and maybe me as well but who knows. So that is our
concern as her baptismal date is after a transfer meeting.

Hope all is well and everyone is preparing for a Merry Christmas:)
This will definitely be a different Christmas for me this year but
should be fun as we have plans to go to a members home to FaceTime
home and plans for dinner that night at another members home. Holidays
are awesome in the field:)

Love you all and Merry Christmas!!!

-Elder Heaton