Dear Family and Friends,
The 2022 Mission History is due in six days, nevertheless I am writing to all of you. I don’t know what the Church History Department will do if it is late. But this year, I might find out.
We just completed another amazing transfer. We were able to have individual zone conferences in the six zones when usually we need to combine two or three zones. It's a preferable opportunity for the zone leaders and sister training leaders to lead and teach, but we can't always fit in into a six-week transfer schedule. One of my favorite moments was when every member of the Grand Rapids Zone stood to bear individual testimonies of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Their faith and understanding inspire me. The original date for this zone conference got snowed out. But we were able to reschedule it before the end of the transfer. In each zone conference, we focused on teaching short, simple lessons, setting daily goals, mission culture, standards of excellence, and we also received excellent training from Elder Quentin L. Cook. Okay, Elder Cook was with us via a recording of an Missionary Training Center Devotional, and it was outstanding to hear from him. Some of you may know that Elder Cook has a special place in our hearts. He wouldn’t remember us as he meets with so many people, but he interviewed us prior to President Dallin H. Oaks calling us to be mission leaders. During our interview, Elder Cook kept saying, “You look really great.” When I told Elmer that he might be my favorite Apostle, he said, “Why?” “Well, he keeps saying how great we look.” To which Elmer replied, “I don’t think he means what you think he means.” I choose to stick with what I think he meant.
We’ve had the opportunity recently to connect with many of our return missionaries and their families both in person and via a Zoom reunion, which we hold a couple of times each year. It is such a delight to hear how they are still serving the Lord, working hard in jobs and in school, and four of our missionaries have recently gotten engaged to each other (two different couples, of course). We’ve been here long enough that many of our former missionaries are married (only one other to someone she met in the mission, but we weren’t his mission leaders). Several have babies. We’ve gotten their permission to add those mission grandkids to our total count when faced with people who like to make posterity a competition. Our missionaries know how much we like to win. 🤣
Our current competition as a couple is our sleep scores. My desire for a good night’s sleep is greater than Elmer’s, and yet he often gets a better score than I do. Go figure! I just want it too much.
Earlier this month, we had a change in our mission presidency. After serving with us and President and Sister Brennan for over four years, President Stan Brown, First Counselor in the Mission Presidency, was released. Yesterday, President Brown told us he was set apart as an ordinance worker in the Detroit Temple. We feel a little jealous, not only because we love serving with President Brown, but also because whenever we go to a stake conference and President Kaplan and Sister Lesley Jones (Detroit Temple President) are there, we know it's going to be wonderful. Everyone from the Lansing Coordinating Council to leaders in his home ward in North Muskegon is clamoring to serve with President Brown. He has a tremendous love for the Lord. He is a genius with details, numbers, data analysis, community relations, keeping me in check with the mission calendar (I always forget something), planning, teaching, training, letting us know when the General Handbook got updated, and serving the Lord. He lead the mission's social media efforts in the pandemic when no one knew anything about how to share the gospel if we couldn't go outside. We would have been in big trouble without him to say the least! His successor is the wonderful President Allen Smith, former president of the Grand Rapids Stake who was serving as the Holland Ward Mission Leader. Years earlier, he recommended President Brown to serve in the Mission Presidency, so it has now come full circle.
This morning, we had the privilege of joining the Pacific Beach Seminary Class via Zoom. Our son, Andrew, is the teacher. It was a privilege to share our thoughts about gathering Israel and loved the chance to encourage the youth to prepare to serve full-time missions. We testified that Jesus Christ is always in the middle of everything we do. We know His hand is outstretched always to covenant Israel, and He is in the details of leading the greatest challenge, the greatest cause, and the greatest work on earth. We encouraged them to all prepare to serve! In October 2020 General Conference, then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks gave a talk titled, "The Challenge to Become." In his remarks, he told the parable of a wealthy father who wanted to leave his child all that he had, but because the child had not yet developed sufficient wisdom and maturity, the father feared the inheritance would be wasted. The father told his child that all that he had he could easily give, but "that which I am you must obtain for yourself." Likewise, our Father in Heaven wants to give us all that He has. We want to act in ways that will help us to acquire the conversion necessary to be at home in our Father's presence. We know that this is all made possible because of our Savior Jesus Christ. With Him, as we have recently been taught so beautifully by President Nelson, we can overcome the world and find rest.
We are looking forward to General Conference on April 1-2. General Conference is like the March Madness of mission life! I know some of you think the proper sports analogy would be the Olympics, World Cup, or Super Bowl. But in the Heap Family, March Madness is it! We hope to have many of our friends join us to watch General Conference with us as well as come to church with us on Easter Sunday. Every ward and branch in the North America Northeast is planning an exceptional Easter Sunday Sacrament Meeting to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and invite many to come and see.
We hope all of you are healthy, happy, and that your March Madness brackets look better than ours do! As much as I dread it, that 2022 Michigan Lansing Mission History awaits me.
With love,
Amy & Elmer
P.S. Congratulations to our Michigan State Spartans and Coach Tom Izzo on 25 consecutive years in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament and a 15th Sweet Sixteen appearance. The Kansas State loss was a heartbreaker, but we liked the fight. Go Green! And how about my San Diego State Aztecs? Elite Eight?! ☄️ We have practically no idea what is going on it the world, but some basketball news makes it our way in a college town.
Our March departing missionaries! It's not getting any easier to see them go. If you've noticed that we've had some large groups with many sister missionaries depart recently, you are right! Our mission is usually about 40% sisters, and with transfer we are at 25% sisters. That is as low as it was during the pandemic in late 2020. 😕
The Sisters of Midland Zone - photo bomb by Elder Bailey
Last zone conference with Elder Garrett Ballard 😢
Elder Ballard, Elder Huntsman, Elder Millward, Elder Marley, and Elder Q. Jones of the Midland Zone
After Midland Zone Conference
Trying out the 0.5. I’ll never be in Hermana Tiatia’s league!
We had Holland’s Zone Conference after a huge storm. The parking lot was literally an ice skating rink. It was so cold! But Sister Anderson and Elder Anderson were there valiantly inspecting all the vehicles to keep the missionaries safe. Elder Lake pitched in to help, of course! Whenever anyone needs help, Elder Lake is on the job.
Holland Zone Conference
Elder Pehrson, Elder Hanson, Sister Mickelsen, Sister Jamieson, Elder Brinton, Hermana Baldwin, and Hermana MacIlroy
Elder Bailey and Elder Ferguson demonstrate how to teach the Restoration in five minutes with the incomparable President Stan Brown (whose 6’10” height is less intimidating when we all sit down) at Holland Zone Conference.
Elder Bohn, Elder Wilde, Elder Fonnesbeck, and Elder Jacob Curtis (Yes, we have more than one Elder J. Curtis. We are blessed with Curtises, Joneses, Andruses, Rasmussens, Lees, Andersons, Nelsons, Petersens, Smiths, Sullivans, Wards, and Wilsons. Coming soon: More Davises, Downses, Howards, and Jensens!)
Elder Jorgensen, Elder Harrick, Elder Matangi, Elder Lundgreen, Sister K. Wilson, Sister Kitzman, Sister Zimmerman, and Sister M. Wilson
Hermana Baldwin, Sister Kitzman, Sister Wilson, Hermana MacIlroy, Elder Jorgensen, Elder Harrick, Elder Curtis, and Elder Wilde - showing off their favorite Facebook profile photo. You definitely had to be there.
With Sister Paige Zimmerman
Elder O. Andrus, Elder Garbett, and Elder McKinley
Elder Bunderson, Elder Reese, Elder Jensen, and Elder Joseph Curtis
Elder Harmer, Elder Squire, Elder Robinson, Elder Bennett, and Elder Bonham
Elder Holladay, Elder Gathercoal, Elder Ferguson, and Elder Buxton
With Elder Bunderson and Elder Reese - who did not mean to get a buzz (not dignified for missionaries) - but things went awry 😅
Kentwood District Council with Elders Brinton, Pehrson, Hanson, Adair, Sisters Mickelsen, Jamieson, Cressall, and Peterson
With the Midland Zone at the Midland Center for the Arts to see Lamb of God
Midland community members from over 40 congregations present Lamb of God directed by Jenny Lowe
Big Rapids District Council in Fremont - Elders Moyes, Cruz, Woodland, Jenson, Lewit (pronounced Leavitt - its Czech), and Yeomans with Sisters Roundy and Bernards
After the Sault Ste. Marie District Council in Cheboygan with Elder Long, Elder & Sister Rollin, and Elder Smith
Jonesville District Council in Coldwater with Elders Walker, Holyoak, Stallings, and Daniels and Hermanas Downs, Nelson, Scott, and Langford
A favorite hymns sing-a-long broke out after Kalamazoo District Council while missionaries waited for interviews. I messed up what would have been the coolest video 🤦🏻♀️ and will have to recapture next time - with Elders Wessman, Meyers, Hermana Tiatia, Elders Willden, Cordova, E. Rasmussen, and Dahl.
Grand Rapids Zone Conference
With Sister Sarah Richardson
The Grandville District - Elder & Hermana Marchant, Hermana Jackson, Hermana Lau, Elder Avery, and Elder Christiansen
The Big Rapids District (again) - Elder Lewit, Elder Yeomans, Sister Roundy, Sister Bernards, Elder Woodland, Elder Jenson, Elder Cruz, and Elder Moyes
The Grand Rapids District - Sister Gamette, Waddell, Gibson, Richardson, President Heap, Elders Davis, Ward, Watts, and Marsh
Elders Lewit, Yeomans, Ferguson, and Bailey
With Sisters Roundy and Bernards
In-person Holland Stake Missionary Coordination Meeting! Elder Jacob Curtis, Sister Heap, President Heap, Hermana Peterson, Sister Wilson, Sister Cressall, President Brian Bartels (Holland Stake President), President Allen Smith (new Mission Presidency 1st Counselor), and Elder Wilde
Nick's Baptism and Hermana Tiatia with the 🔥 0.5 - Kalamazoo YSA Branch
A special visit from our former missionary, Sister Shayci Echols and her family from Gilbert, AZ. We will probably call her Sister Echols for years to come even if she gets married and decides to change her name.
With Elders Ferguson, Woolsey, and Bailey in the mission home before Elder Ferguson transferred to Battle Creek (home of Kelloggs Cereal)
At transfers, elders hope to find Elder Doman for a free haircut!
Transfer Day in Mt. Pleasant! Every missionary comes with two large suitcases and a carry on. It usually doesn't accommodate bedding and accumulated junk (aka souvenirs) and some need to add a tote to their baggage. I've decided that families should know that they don't need to send care packages unless it is strictly food or essential clothing. I need to get a photo of the transfer trailer before I leave Michigan. So much baggage! 😂
Transfers in East Lansing
Hermana Langford, Hermana Tiatia, Sister Roundy and Sister J. Lee - transfers in Kalamazoo
Detroit-style pizza to send off our departing missionaries
Missionaries who departed March 22: Sister Marianna Ward (actually we are keeping her until mid-April, when we will force her to get on the plane), Sister Ashley Painter, Sister Tayloranne Adams, Hermana Ashley Baldwin, Sister Stevie Church, Elder Ethan Millward, Elder Garrett Ballard, Sister Anna Kitzman, Sister Paige Zimmerman, Sister Sarah Richardson, and Hermana Kassandra Peterson.
At the airport - 4:15AM - just like the good old days. Shout out to Sister Adams who got up early with Sister Church so she had a companion at the airport!
Final goodbyes at Lansing Capital Region Airport
Our new missionaries arrival on March 22 with Elder Bailey and Elder Woolsey: Elder Boe, Elder Thornton, Elder Perry, Elder Mancuso, Elder Taylor, Elder Griffeth (shout out to his hometown of Florence, AZ where President Heap was born), Sister Krzymowski, Sister Cook, and Sister Osborne.
Chick-fil-A for the trainers and new missionaries
Elder Stevens doesn't like to get his photo taken, but I keep trying for his mom with Elder Taylor, Elder Thornton, and Elder Walker
Sister Armstrong - Housing Coordinator, Elder Steed - Financial Secretary, and Sister Steed - Mission Secretary. Sister Armstrong won for least boring training when she brought out the enlarged photos of bedbugs. Elder Steed and Sister Steed each think their training is most boring. 😂
Elder Stevens and Elder Taylor of Allegan
Elder Walker and Elder Thornton of Williamston
Elder Hansen and Elder Perry of Petoskey
Elder Boe and Elder Z. Andrus of Bay City
Elder Harrick brought a draft day jersey (dollar store find) to let Elder Griffeth know he is a #1 draft pick in Spring Lake!
Elder Shaw and Elder Mancuso of North Muskegon
Sister Osborne and Hermana MacIlroy of Holland
Sister Cook and Sister Bernards of Ludington
Sister Waddell and Sister Krzymowski of Greenville
Sisters Osborne, Cook, and Krzymowski all knew that the name of our church is spelled The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints! Such smart missionaries. You all probably know I am a stickler for spelling it right. 🤩
The trainers giving noteworthy counsel - Sister Bernards, Hermana MacIlroy, Sister Waddell, Elder Shaw, Elder Walker, Elder Harrick, Elder Z. Andrus, Elder Hansen, Elder Stevens, and Elder Adair (who will receive his new missionary next week).
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