MERRY CHRISTMAS and H(e)APPY NEW YEAR 2.0 from Beautiful Michigan!
Dearest Family and Friends,
We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and are looking forward to 2022! We didn't have much snow to end the year, but we did have a wonderful visit from Tyler, Lizzy, and their girls. We can't think of a better way to end an amazing year than to spend time with some of our family that we love so much! We played games, got some snow, watched the deer play on the golf course behind the mission home, and were entertained by Eloise, Olivia, and Maeve. We attended two basketball games at MSU. Basketball has been a part of our family holiday activities for many years, and it was so much fun to watch our friends Mady Sissoko and Bella Cravens play for MSU Men's Basketball and Nebraska Women's Basketball. Another Heap Family tradition that we love at Christmas is to have a family devotional on December 23rd to commemorate the birth of the Prophet Joseph Smith. This year, we were able to use technology to share that tradition with our entire mission. Since our mission is on Eastern time, it was pretty early in the morning for all our children to join, but they did it! Elmer had some wonderful things to share with the missionaries about Joseph Smith. Several of our children and their spouses also spoke along with me. I am so grateful we have this technology and were able to record it. There are so many wonderful things that come with our callings to lead this mission that I don't know if we can record them all, but this one we certainly will never want to forget.
We had14 missionaries who live nearby over for breakfast on Christmas morning, which was a lot of fun. They were a little worried about the three presents under our tree, but we assured them that gifts are not our love language and serving with all of them is present enough. We attended some baptism services on the 25th and 26th, which is the best kind of "White Christmas."
We had a very special Christmas here with wonderful zone conferences which even included great music ~ missionary choirs, violins, flutes, presents, good food, and some gift exchanges. I think the favorite white elephants went to Elder Field and Elder Kibbey who ended up with the "I ❤️ Sis Zimmerman & Sis Walker" t-shirts. We also were blessed with a generous Secret Santa who made sure that a few missionaries who could use a little extra love had a nice Christmas.
Earlier in December, we had a big windstorm in Lansing. In the middle of a zoom meeting, our power went out. The wind had caused the power lines that hang over the train tracks to hang down so when the train came through, the engine caught those lines and snapped 30 poles cutting off power to about 4,000 including the mission office and the mission home. We got too cold in the night and headed for a hotel near Allegan where we went to church the next day. The power came back on at the home after about 20 hours. Our Assistants and the senior couple in the office, Elder and Sister Rogers, live behind the mission office and no traffic could go in or out. They didn't have power for over 48 hours. Elder Kibbey and Elder Hunter were able to get to Elder Paul and Elder Reynold's (our other office missionaries) apartment down the road where there was power. But Elder and Sister Rogers couldn't get their car out and decided to hunker down in the cold. No power, no heat, no hot water, no Internet, no way to recharge cell phones, nada. They are a little tougher in England than those of us from Southern California.
We had our first MLM RM Zoom Reunion. We understand President Nelson rarely uses the word hate, but he has said that he hates acronyms, so we are changing that to the Michigan Lansing Mission Returned Missionary Zoom Reunion. It was really great to see about 70 of our former missionaries join with us and talk about what's happening in the mission and in their lives and see their wonderful smiling faces. We love them forever and look forward to when we meet again.
We had another transfer on December 15th. Whenever a new group of missionaries comes in, someone usually gets stuck in either Chicago or Detroit when they miss the connection to Lansing. Lately, the missionaries flying out of Arizona get to spend the night in one of those cities. I don't know what is happening at Sky Harbor that they can't get the missionaries out on time. I have increased my compassion for all the nervous parents, especially for those whose children have not traveled before. Lansing is such a small airport that if you don't make the connection to the last flight in, there is nothing to do but try again the next day.
On Thanksgiving, the Second Annual Michigan Lansing Mission Turkey Trot 5K was held. We heard that some of our former missionaries even ran it back home. I may have started that rumor, but it could be true. Elmer and I bettered our time from last year by more than two minutes, meaning we went from very slow to basically slow runners. Missionaries all over Michigan ran, walked, and trotted their way into the record books with their districts.
One of the sweetest things we get to witness is who these young missionaries are becoming as they focus on Jesus Christ, sharing the gospel, and receive the gifts of charity and increased faith. Conversely, I think it is hard to see their friends and family at home not understand what a mission is about. When family and friends express how they can't wait for the missionary to finish and "become normal" or "get back to who they used to be," what could be sadder or more misled?! A mission is an experience that can be so incredible that every other pursuit will be trivial in comparison. It is such hard work and the suffering is real but the joy is more than equal to it. To serve a mission, to consecrate your life to the Lord, and not have it change you in amazing ways would not only be impossible, if the missionary chooses to let the Lord micromanage his or her life, but it would also be a tragedy. I'm sure there are friends and family who say these things because they feel a little left behind or left out, but let's stop saying such nonsense. When the prophet, Russell M. Nelson, tells us that this work is the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work happening on earth, you can believe it.
We heard that some didn't like 2021, but we have to say we loved it. Personally and throughout our mission, we had many reasons to be thankful and rejoice. Our children, including our sons- and daughters-in-law, and grandchildren are so good to us, and we love to see them as husbands, wives, and parents. Being grandparents is such a joy, even if we mostly do it from afar right now. We can't believe how lucky we are to serve together with these incredible missionaries in beautiful Michigan. Fun fact: If it's in the 30's, I don't have to bring a coat anymore. We've had a really strong finish to the year here in the mission, and there are great things ahead. After 18 months where we only had four missionaries test positive for COVID (three of those before the vaccine was available), this Omicrom variant has struck a few of our missionaries. Fortunately, they have been vaccinated and are weathering it well in quarantine. We are grateful they can still be engaged in the work via technology when face-to-face interactions aren't possible. We also have plenty of cold and flu out here. If I had a dollar for every time I've said wash your hands, take your vitamins, drink lots of water, sanitize, eat fruits and vegetables, etc. 😅
And for old times' sake. Here are a couple of things Overheard in 2021:
Brady (our grandson, age 4): PopPop, you’re a good guy. Grandma, I’m not talking to you. Someone is the favorite.
We love you,
Elmer and Amy
Thanks for all the updates! I love hearing how you all are doing. Great overheards too haha.
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