Dear Friends and Family,
We welcomed 19 reassigned missionaries this week. What was supposed to be three smooth trips to the airport turned into seven trips to the airport, eight lost and then recovered pieces of luggage, five Chick-fil-A runs, seeing five elders get off the plane when we thought there would be two, delayed flights, missed connections, and all of it done in face masks, of course. We can't wait for our first transfer next week, which is where we receive 12 brand new missionaries and two more reassigned missionaries and lots of other missionaries will move areas and receive new assignments.
In important news, during interviews with missionaries in our Spanish Zone last week, we found out where some good Mexican food was in Grand Rapids (and it wasn't Taco Bell as I had originally feared). We had dinner at Tacos El Cuñado (meaning we ate in our car COVID-style). I believe Tacos El Cuñado means something like Brother-in-law Tacos. It was not bad. We'll definitely go back when we are in Grand Rapids again. We were also told to try a place called San Francisco's in Battle Creek, home to Kellogg's headquarters known as The Cereal Capital of the World, where the smell of Fruity Pebbles is often in the air.
We have now interviewed all of our 157 missionaries except 16 of the reassigned who came last week. But we did get to meet them in person. Let me just say a few things about interviews with President Heap. These interviews were scheduled every 15 minutes with only one companionship allowed in the building at a time. Have any of you ever known Elmer to ever speak to anyone for only 15 minutes? Well, it has happened! A couple of times. Mainly we go two hours over, and there is no food and no potty breaks for me. Shout out to Hermanas Prock y Garcia who brought us food (and by "us" I mean I ate most of it), Elders Clark and Power who brought President an actual coconut, and Sisters Udall and Henneberry who offered to share what they had, and others I cannot remember because I was so hungry. For my Nevada family - Sister Udall is from Moapa and Sister Henneberry is from Elko.
Here is a little break down on our numbers:
- Times that Amy has forgotten her "Sister Heap" black name badge: 5 including today
- Times Elmer started eating in front of some zone leaders without blessing the food: 1
- Times Elmer asked the same zone leaders if they swam in Lake Michigan when they visited the sand dunes: 1 (As if they are here on vacation instead of busy doing important missionary work! He then tried to act like it was a test, and they passed it.)
- Average hours of sleep each night: Not 8, but we are working on it.
- Times that Elmer and I have forgotten to call each other our missionary titles in front of our Assistants: Too many to count, but they've heard a lot of "Honey" and "My Love." On a good day, they only have to listen to us use our first names.
This week's weird thing about driving in Michigan: At most busy intersections every single lane gets its own traffic light directly overhead in the center of each lane. You do not need to look even slightly to the left or right to know what your lane is allowed to do because each lane has its own signal. Even if all five lanes can only go straight and no turns are allowed, there are still five traffic lights hanging across the intersection. No one needs to wonder or be confused -- unless you want to make a left-hand turn, of course. As I mentioned last week, those are often frowned upon.
This evening, we received some very happy news from our Area Presidency that our mission can now move to Phase 1 in the quarantine restrictions. The missionaries will still be practicing social distancing and wearing face masks when required, but there can now be some in-person meetings and teaching opportunities and small mission meetings of 25 people or less. We are going to share this news with our mission tomorrow morning. When we asked Elder Griffin and Elder Schmanski if they thought the missionaries would be excited, they said, "They are going to lose their minds!" Regardless of how things move forward in these unprecedented times, we will not be going backward. These missionaries have learned and continue to learn how to do the work using technology and social media because of the pandemic, which for missionary work in most of North America has been called a divine reset. Elder Dieter Uchtdorf told the new mission leaders in June that when the pandemic is over, we will not go back but instead we will go back to the future.
One thing we are loving is our mission-wide Sunday evening Zoom firesides. After the Wallaces helped us with our first one, we asked Emi Doncheva and Bentley Ruff to share their conversion stories with our mission. Bentley had to work at the same time as the fireside, so he was kind enough to record a video of his story and testimony, and we played it for all the missionaries. Emi answered questions at the end, and the MLM loved them both. It was a powerful reminder to our missionaries that there are people the Lord has prepared to hear the Gospel. We need them, they need the Lord, and they recognize the truth when they get the opportunity to hear it. Emi and Bentley's words allowed the Spirit to fill our missionaries with hope. We are incredibly grateful for these dear friends. Two nights ago, we asked our own Lieutenant Colonel
Jason Torbensen to speak at the fireside. It was very special. As Jason shared sacred experiences from his own mission, his devotion to the Lord and his family, and his service in the US Marine Corps, the Holy Ghost filled our mission with determination and resolve. Earlier that day, I had the chance to be in the 7th Ward's Gospel Doctrine Sunday School Zoom lesson with Terrie Petree and friends. Terrie and her husband, Andrew Hollands, had prepared exactly what I needed to share in today's Mission Leadership Council. What would we do without you all?! We may be apart geographically, but you are in our hearts always. Please don't block our numbers.
We love you!
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