H(e)appy Easter! Spring is Here! Sort of.

Dear Family and Friends,

For a missionary, the Easter Season with General Conference is one of the best times to serve and celebrate the triumphant life of Jesus Christ. Here in the North America Northeast (NANE), our Area Presidency asked all the wards and branches to plan exceptional Easter Sunday services for Sacrament Meeting and issue special invitations to friends and members who haven’t been participating to attend. There are 19 missions in the NANE. Our mission has 57 units (wards, branches, and one group). And we’ve been to all of them. Many more than once. I imagine other missions are similar in size. If each unit’s goal was 25 people who normally don’t come to church to join us on Easter Sunday, that’s a whole lot of people! As a mission, we also combined those Easter invitations with invitations to watch some part of General Conference on April 1-2. The first time we kept track of friends who watched General Conference with us was in October 2020, we didn’t set a goal and had 129 people who watched. In April 2021, there were 161. In October 2021, there were170. And in April 2022, 230 friends joined with us to watch at least part of General Conference. October 2022, knowing that goals are a means to join with the Savior to accomplish great things, we set a goal to have 300 friends watch and 377 friends watched some or all of General Conference. Then this last April 2023 General Conference, we set the goal to have 400 people who are not of our faith accept our invitations to watch General Conference. There were at least 428. This momentum spilled over into many of these friends coming to church with us on Easter Sunday to worship and celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We had 343 of our friends who aren’t members come to church, which is about triple the number we usually have. I don’t know how many people came to Easter Sunday who normally don’t attend, but the chapel in Jackson, Michigan where we attended was full. So were many other wards and branches in the mission.

In one congregation, there was a member who hadn’t been in a long time. He accepted the missionaries’ invitation to come to church on Easter. After church, he saw a woman walking towards the back of the chapel where he was sitting and said, “Hey, that’s my cousin!” Turns out he is the first cousin of a woman that the missionaries are teaching. They hugged each other and had a nice Easter family reunion. In another ward, the missionaries saw a young man playing basketball with some of his friends and invited them to church a couple of weeks before, but neither he nor his friends came. When they saw him the day before Easter playing ball at the same park, they shot some hoops, and invited him again. He came and brought his mom, his girlfriend, and his niece. On the way out of the chapel, he told the missionaries, “We’ll be back next week.” He is now meeting with the missionaries and interested in learning how he can come closer to Jesus Christ.

Setting goals can sound like numbers if you don’t remember that every number is a person. And every person is a son or daughter of God. Most people we teach bring an unanswered question about life and/or a desire for change. They are trying to figure out what to do, how to act, how to strengthen themselves and their families, how to overcome difficulties, and how to have greater faith and hope. Their story is, in essence, a restoration story much like young Joseph Smith’s. Joseph Smith had questions regarding the salvation of his soul and trusted that God would direct him. (⬅️ Stole that sentence from the Restoration Proclamation where plagiarizing is encouraged. 😁) Many people who are prepared to hear more about the gospel of Jesus Christ understand the feelings of young Joseph.

On Saturday, we went to the baptism of a young man in Kalkaska named Diondre. I wish everyone could know him and see the happiness he radiates. He is a great example of someone who is experiencing the joy that comes with an increased faith and understanding that because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ we can be free from the burden of sin and develop the faith and strength to face our trials with hope. What peace it brings us to make and keep covenants with the Lord!

Since Saturday is our so-called preparation day (our percentage of actual preparation days taken is pretty low 🫤), we took advantage of the beautiful weather up north (it was 82) and went for a hike in Hartwick Pines State Park. Monday it snowed all day long in the Lansing area. Happy Spring! It’s Michigan, so 40 degrees with no ice is my kind of snow day.

Need to wrap this up (if any of you are even still reading this one). In other news, amazing zone conferences happened and a Mission Leadership Council was held on Good Friday that was both uplifting and full of strong, loving ideas and opinions, which is how good councils go. Our third engagement happened between return missionaries who both served with us. They know I’m going to comment, “Thanks for locking your hearts on the mission,” when they post it on social media. Most of them did, we believe. We expect great things to come from these unions, and they know where to send our percentage of the wedding presents. 😉

With love,

Amy and Elmer

One of my favorite parts of the Eater story from the Gospel of John, Chapter 20 when Mary Magdalene’s sorrow turns to joy when the resurrected Lord speaks her name, “Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.” I often think of this scripture when things are hard and am thankful to know to whom I can turn.

The Midland District: Elder Boe, Elder Z. Andrus, Elder Wilchek, Elder Mowrer, Sister Webber, Sister Hales, Elder Wells, and Elder Monson.

The Kalamazoo, Holland, and Grand Rapids Zones

Our senior missionaries do so much to bless and serve all the missionaries. I wish you could overhear the interest, love, and cheer exchanged in just these simple moments serving up lunch.

Also, if we don’t serve it up, the first ones through the line take way too much that they end up throwing away, while the last through the line are left with a little lettuce. 🙃

Sister Jamieson and Sister Cressall 💛

With Sister Hannah Gibson at her last zone conference. Her testimony about the importance of covenants is inspiring. So many wonderful memories. I will definitely be crying at the airport when she goes.

Elder Joshua Taylor’s (we have two Elder Taylors) first zone conference!

With Elder Clouse - one of the hardest working, cheerful, and most appreciative people we know!

Introducing Sister and Elder Wierschke who live in the Sturgis Ward of the Kalamazoo Stake. They are our newest Church Service Missionaries. They drove all over Michigan to help us with zone conferences. They are beloved by every missionary who ever served in Sturgis (our one ward that includes part of Indiana), and we are grateful for their desire to serve.

Elder Yeomans (center) with Elder Gathercoal, whom he trained, and Elder Lewit (pronounced like Leavitt), whom he is currently training. Three amazing missionaries!

With our Assistants, Elder Bailey and Elder Gathercoal

With the Owosso District (District Leader Elder Reese in the cowboy hat - which he found in President’s office - missionaries don’t wear cowboy hats). Back row: Elder & Sister Armstrong, Elders Bunderson, Garbett, President Heap, Thornton, Curtis, Sister Anderson, Elder Walker, Elder Anderson, and Sister Lee. Front row: Sister Heap, Elders McKinley, Reese, Fonnesback, and Sister Boren. Don’t ask me why Sister Armstrong and Sister Anderson are hidden in the back row and I’m right up front. Almost three years in and I still haven’t mastered the group photo. 🤦🏻‍♀️

With the Lansing District - Elders Anderson, Bonham, Schreiner, Gathercoal, Bailey, Stoker, Cruz, and Jeppson.

Hermana Nelson, Hermana Downs, Hermana Scott, Hermana Tiatia, Hermana Lau, Hermana MacIlroy, Hermana Mickelsen, Hermana Jackson, and Hermana Langford at Zone Conference

Lansing, Traverse City, and Midland Zones

With Sister K. Wilson, Sister Eubank, and Sister Ward

Elder Jeppson, Elder Bailey, Elder Schreiner, and Elder Jensen

Elder Smith, Elder Bunderson, Elder Joseph Curtis, and Elder Fonnesback

Elder Z. Jones and Elder Doman (if you’ve ever served in Sault Ste Marie, you know)

Elder Buxton, Elder Holladay, and Elder McAllister

When you try to get a cute photo with the sisters, and Elder Reese comes in with the Squidward face.

From left to right: Sister Abegglen is being trained by Sister Sullivan, who was trained by Sister Arrington, who was trained by Sister Cressall, who was trained by Sister Ward (the only one here who didn’t serve in Cheboygan - um, Chegirlgan)

With Sister Haylee Sullivan

Last zone conference with Sister Cambree Webber who has been an amazing missionary and leader wherever she has served. One of those missionaries who leaves every area stronger than she found it.

Last zone conference with Sister Madison Timm. Oh how we love all these missionaries! Sister Timm is a powerful teacher. If you’d like to know the difference between belief and faith, she’d love to teach you!

April’s Mission Leadership Council

One of our return missionaries, Indee Rigby, when she saw Elder Randall K. Bennett speaking in General Conference. Elder Bennett used to be our Area President and came to the mission either in person or virtually four times. How much do I love her and her sweatshirt?!

With Sister Marianna Ward in Jackson on Easter Sunday before she finished her mission. If you’ve noticed that a lot of our sisters have left the mission in the last four transfers, you are right. We’ve gone from 40% sisters to 25% sisters. What is happening?

One of our return missionaries, Hunter Blackburn, came back for a visit with his mom, Susie. We love to see these dear missionaries going forward doing such good things.

With the Kalkaska District - In the back: Elder Jorgensen, Elder McAllister, Elder Gray, Elder Yates, Elder Woolsey, and Elder Driggs. In the front: Sister Ward and Sister M. Wilson

With the Jonesville District - Hermana Langford, Elder Marsh, Elder Henry, Elder Stallings Sister J. Lee, Elder Holyoak, Hermana Downs, and Hermana Nelson

With the Houghton Lake District (can you see the cute red doors of the church in Houghton Lake?) - In the back: Elder Grant Nelson, Elder Douglas, Elder Hanson, Elder Long, Elder Hunter, and Elder Barlow. In the front: Sister Arrington and Sister Lott

With most of the Battle Creek District - Elders Laudi, Brinton, Moore, Ferguson, and Elders Meyers and N. Rasmussen (visiting zone leaders), who are filling in for the incomparable Elders T. Taylor and Allen, who had to take off for an appointment before the photo. Confession: I got teary in the little part of District Council that Elder Ferguson asked me to give. I told these poor elders, “Be warned. Between now and when they make us leave aka we get released, I may unexpectedly burst into tears at any moment.”

Had to take a photo at Arlene’s Truck Stop in Battle Creek in honor of my mom, the original Arlene!

When one of your senior missionaries is a thoughtful, retired second grade teacher, you get the cutest goodie bags at Easter. Thanks Sister Anderson!

Really! So cute!

And now for a little update on the Heap clan:

Andrew and Stacy and kids on a recent visit with Ammon and Lindsey and kids. We still can’t believe our kids are old enough to get together without us and have fun without us! After this visit, the Heap kids are saying they want to move to Arizona.