I'm Calling It - Winter's Over

Dear Family and Friends,

Yes, I know it seems premature to declare that winter is over when I have no authority, even less influence, and everyone in Michigan and all meteorologists say it probably won't be over until mid-April. We've had lots of snow and even freezing rain (if you don't know what this is, lucky you). We've had plenty freezing days, some below 0. Then temperatures were the 50s and 60s this weekend, so if I kind of lost my head in the excitement of the moment, so be it.  I say, if you don't need your big coat, then winter is over, right? (And if temps are in the 30s, you don't need the big coat.) So enough is enough. We're done.

A few winter favorites from our favorite Michigan photographer @_sovereign_photography_

We finished up the zone conferences for each individual zone earlier in February. We focused on the doctrine of repentance, the doctrine of baptism, and working effectively with members so that members may have their own opportunities to share the gospel with people they love. It usually takes two full days to interview one zone of missionaries, and we have six zones. Sometimes it takes us three days if a zone has more missionaries. Two weeks ago, we had interviews with the Midland and Holland zones, then we drove to Mattawan for a high school basketball game before going to Battle Creek for a baptism.  The next day, we went to Saginaw and Bay City (twice because we got the times mixed up) for baptisms and then had lunch with most of the senior couples in our mission in Frankenmuth. This past week, we finish interviews with all the missionaries in Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids before driving home to Lansing to attend our friend Corey's baptism. Then back to Grand Rapids on Saturday for more interviews, and then back home to speak in Lansing Stake Conference Saturday night and at the New Members and Friends Meeting on Sunday morning. The New Members and Friends Meeting is one of our favorite things that the Stakes and District do here. It is usually before the Sunday session of stake conference, and the first several rows of the chapel are reserved for these members and friends so they get a good seat at the conference.

In the Michigan Lansing Mission, there are no "dead areas" (a term some missionaries have used to indicate that perhaps the Lord hasn't prepared anyone to learn more about His gospel there). As if. Don't even say it. We have faith that there are only possibilities and opportunities! I wish I could tell you all about the wonderful people and missionaries in  Hastings, West Branch, Michigan State, Charlotte, and Caro this transfer alone. We are on our way to one of these areas in a few minutes to be at the baptism for a friend that our missionaries have taught there. One sister serving there has had several tragedies at home, a medical crisis of her own here in Michigan, and plenty of reasons she could have called it quits. But she came into the mission filled with faith and is finishing her mission this week having invited and helped many, many people come unto Christ. 🔥 

Last Sunday, we went to church at the Kalamazoo University Branch which holds its meetings in a beautiful old church that was once a Baptist Church. It has the choir loft in the back and big windows where the sun streams in. I look forward to the time after the Savior comes again when there will just be one Church and all the incredible church buildings throughout the world (so many of them in Michigan) will be power washed, restored, painted, and full of worshippers. I would like to be the head of whatever committee will be formed in the Millennium to decide which buildings will remain churches (beautiful enough to put the Lord’s name on the building), which ones are just too ugly or boring and will be repurposed or torn down. 

The KUB church is a keeper!

While we've been out in Michigan, our home stake lost its name and took on part of another stake to become the San Diego Stake or the Stake Formerly Known as the San Diego North Stake, but the San Diego Stake is easier to say. And about a week ago, our old San Diego 7th Ward became the Pacific Beach Ward with boundary changes in the stake. I have long said that our ward should either be called the Pacific Beach Ward or the La Jolla Ward, although I couldn't get my husband to believe me when he was the stake president. Glad someone felt the inspiration! However, it does feel like since we left town, lots of things have changed. Calm down, people! 

It was a privilege last Sunday to hear the prophet, President Russell M. Nelson and others speak to all the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California. I love that President Nelson reminded us that we are here to make life better for ourselves and for others and offered three ways we can do that: 1) seek truth, 2) make covenants with God and keep them, and 3) help gather Israel.

And now for a word about how delicious (if sometimes fattening) the food in Michigan is. If you want to have the best chicken tenders, you need to go to Holland, Michigan to Deboer Bakkerij South. We recommend the campfire sauce. 

Sister Ross and Sister Mamata at Deboer’s Bakkerij

Two words: campfire sauce

And finally, the happy news in the Heap family is that Lindsey and Hillary are (once again) expecting babies together! Lindsey is due August 11th, and Hillary is due September 4th. They surprised us with the news when they came out to visit in January. 

We love you all,

Amy & Elmer

Happy, happy, happy, happy!

The missionaries of the Holland Zone + Assistants, President Heap, and Office Elders at zone conference

With Sister Adams and Sister Srianan of Hastings

Elder Miner, Elder Anderson, and Elder Mitchell pretending to clean up after zone conference - okay, they actually did a great job of cleaning up.

Missionaries at Grand Rapids Zone Conference. If you can’t tell, it’s Sister Averett’s birthday!

In the vaults and archives of the State of Michigan - We have several senior missionaries who serve in Records Preservation digitalizing naturalization and probate records for the state. The naturalization records are hosted by the State of Michigan, and the probate records (a genealogist’s gold mine) are hosting by FamilySearch.org. 

These are some of the thousands of boxes of probate records (all over 100 years old) from Wayne County (largest county in Michigan) that are being preserved by our missionaries. It’s a fascinating and important work! Wayne County is just one of the 83 counties in Michigan that this service is being offered to by the state, these fabulous volunteers, and FamilySearch.

Grand Rapids Zone Conference

Sometimes my dress matches his tie, and we need to get a photo!

Midland Zone Conference

So many sister missionaries serving in Midland this transfer 🔥 

The elders of Midland are also awesome, but we don’t know what Elder Ballard is doing here. 😂

Elder Houskeeper, Elder Douglas, and President Heap

With Sister Traughber and Sister Hansen of Mt. Pleasant

With the sisters of Grand Rapids

Last zone conference for Elder Jackson Leavitt 😭

And Hermana Makenna Schmidt 😭

And Hermana Amber Johnson 😭

And Elder David Godoy 😭

Traverse City Zone Conference

Elder Hall, Elder Bawden, Sister Bawden, Sister Hawea - and not to be left out: Elder Ethan Rasmussen and Elder Hamblin

Sister Lott’s first zone conference with one of her young missionary leaders, Sister Hawea

The Alpena District coordinated outfits for zone conference. Now that’s unity!

The Traverse City District

Elder Lake, Elder Bailey, Elder Huntsman, and Elder Field

Some of the sisters of the Traverse City Zone

Sister Shayci Echol’s last zone conference 😭

In between zone conferences, you should shovel snow in your shorts, said no one ever.

Kalamazoo Zone Conference

When a friend wants to come to church but has nothing to wear? No problem: Meet Corey in Elder Hunter’s shirt, Elder Anderson’s belt, Elder Kibbey’s pants, Elder Hunter’s belt, and Elder Schmanski’s suit coat (Elder Schmanski finished his mission over a year ago, but he’s still contributing to the work).

Peace out - thanks to President Brown

Sister Eden Crawford’s last zone conference 😭

The legendary elders of Battle Creek - Elders Fonnesbeck, Larsen, Willden, and Woolsey

A little Chick-fil-A after a meeting always makes us smile!

Elders Pectol and Tillotson of Paw Paw, which just became a ward ⭐️

Some of the fine elders serving in the Kalamazoo Zone

On occasion, I send the missionaries recipes with nutritional value, good taste, and ingredients God made to do their bodies good. Sometimes, they try them and like them!

Who wouldn't want to live on this street near Sister Winkel and Sister Woolley in Cadillac? 

With Sister and Elder Lake, who are doing a great work in Kalkaska and Traverse City

He's my favorite mission president.

Mission Leadership Council - March 2022

With the sisters of the MLC

With Sister Hansen at her last MLC 😭

The elders were trying to get a photo after MLC, but I had to jump in there. (I don't have red hair - not sure what happened, not my camera.)

With Elder Brady Nelson before he went to his original assignment in the Spain Madrid Mission. President Heap is deep in thought. 

Lunch with most of our senior couples in Frankenmuth

Elder and Sister Rand (Records Preservation-Meridian Ward) with Elder and Sister Cryer (Member and Leadership Support-Big Rapids Branch)

Elder and Sister Mitchell (MLS-Allegan) with Elder and Sister Lake (MLS-Kalkaska/Traverse City)

Elder and Sister Rogers (Office) with Elder and Sister Bawden (MLS-Grayling Group)

Frankenmuth, Michigan!

Sister White and Elder Godoy finished their missions while Zuster Vassar (center) went to her original assignment in the Belgium/Netherlands Mission. She was the last of our Dutch-speaking missionaries. 

When Marnie and Gavin run into some of our former missionaries (Hyrum Clare, Kreston Neilson, and Drew Candland) at Nickel City

When our friend Sharlene Cravens sends us a photo of Andrew and Stay and kids in Hawaii - "Surprise Mom and Dad! We went on vacation to paradise. Hope you are enjoying February in Michigan!"

And last but not least, Happy Birthday to Tyler! Thirty-one years ago, I delivered him myself. I know -  TMI 🥴 - but he's been a joy in our lives every day since then. 🎂✨❤️