This Week ...

Well, first of all ... let me start by saying the best news you've ever heard .... Kim and Jason B. attended church this Sunday.  Kim went to Relief Society, Sunday School and half of Sacrament Meeting (they do that last here, it's so weird) and Jason came to sacrament meeting. It was seriously a miracle guys- I don't think you understand.  The look on everyone's faces when they walked into Sacrament Meeting..... was PRICELESS.  I couldn't stop smiling, the bishop couldn't stop smiling, Brother Cook (ward mission leader) couldn't stop smiling .... It was just awesome. I know I shouldn't take credit- the Lord should...... But I worked hard, guys. Transfers are tomorrow and me and Sister H are both staying in the area.  Kim started crying on the phone when I told her. I'm like, you really need to get it together babe .... But it made me feel good. When I was sick and puking my guts out and having the chills this week, Kim (she's a nurse) bought all of Walgreen’s- I swear- and brought it over.  Popsickles and Gatorade and soup of every flavor you could imagine .... I was honestly afraid I was going to get transferred because of the B's.  Like that they are getting too attached and it's time to move someone else in.... I'm just trying really hard to get them converted for THEM and not for me. That's hard to do! But Kim said, although she hated to admit it- that her emotions were more stable after church Sunday than they usually are. TOLD YOU.   So now we just need to get Jason paying his tithing and going to church for a couple weeks and he'll be OK'd to confirm Delaney at her baptism. YAY! And hopefully he stays active after that.... we'll see.

I had a lesson with Sio yesterday, he's supposed to get baptized this coming Friday but ..... needless to say, he does not understand the law of chastity. I don't blame him- his English is just not very good! But I did exchanges with a Samoan sister in Centerville and brought her (brilliant, I know) and basically let her go into detail with him the Do's and Don'ts.  He's having a hard time because his girlfriend is a member and she's never told him the stuff they're doing isn't okay. So his baptism has been postponed until further notice because he wants to try really hard to live it. Plus he's not worthy to be baptized this week anyways.... so fingers crossed the Samoan sex talk did something for him because my English one did nothing, haha. So there's that.

Last night we had our first monthly "Social with the Sisters" for the youth. We were thinking at first no one would come so we invited the stake.... then we were thinking too many people would come so we changed it and told youth to only come if they had a friend to bring..... anyways, it was stressful and 11 people showed up. It was really good though, we (by that I mean I) shared a quick spiritual thought and opened it up for questions on gospel stuff/ missionary work. The kids really liked it so hopefully they will spread the word and next month we'll have a better turnout!

A full time senior missionary couple just got called to our stake. I'm so excited to use them and be able to split with them for lessons and have them go out of the area to visit all these people we're teaching in Salt Lake- it should be awesome!

Thank you everyone, have an awesome week.

Taking Tina to the Temple Visitor's Center

You'll love this one ...

Hi family,

I did get the Valentine's package, thank you!  That was sweet. For Valentine's day, Elder Clare (creeper) sent me some chocolates and one of his ties... he asked me to sign it and then he gave me some cash so I could send it back to him ... like are you freaking kidding me buddy? Heck no. Does he think we're dating or something?  Blek. BLEK. For Valentine's day- we got to serve food at the stake adult dance. We were there ALL DAY prepping for it and I was exhausted afterwards. I was grateful for the opportunity though- we had absolutely nothing else to do that day.

The work here is slowing down.... we're running out of people to teach and visit! We do like 2 or 3 lessons to nonmembers a week..... that is pathetic. of course the numbers don't matter and every area is different, but still! We do teach a lot of less active lessons though - that's good. Still working with the B's to try and get them to come to church so the dad can be worthy to baptize Delaney. Mom- I totally agree with what you said about getting too comfortable with Kim. I've been trying to avoid that because that's what happened to me with Amanda in Layton. Once you get too comfortable with the people you're teaching- they kind of start to lose respect for you as a missionary and don't take you seriously. We try to limit Kim time now but it's hard because we really don't have much else to do.... Kim came to sacrament meeting this week. Don't get too excited though, she only came because Emmy (daughter, 15) was giving a talk. Then she left right after it was over and I literally got up and CHASED HER out into the parking lot when I saw her leave. I tried to the best of my ability to drag her back in there but....... no success. And Jason (dad) didn't show up. His own daughter gave a talk and he can't find the time to attend, like seriously? We brought the YSA elders to the lesson with them Sunday (we're trying to get the other daughter Chandler, who's my age, to get active in YSA- work in progress but she really likes me and her best friend just left for a mission so it could be good) and they told me to maybe consider dropping the B's. If we are giving them weekly lessons and sharing scriptures/visiting throughout the week then they are going to feel that spirit in their home and not feel the need to go to church. it's definitely a good idea- I just don't know if I'll have the strength to do it! Pray for the B's!

Also this week we were able to go with an investigator (working on rebaptism) to Temple Square for a lesson. Afterwards she took us to the Lion House- that was fun. We had temple day today and Annie Schmidt (Jon's daughter) drove us. She leaves on her mission soon so it was fun to be able to spend some time talking with her. Afterwards we did some shopping- I love that girl!

Sio's still on date for March 1st but the other day his girlfriend's aunt (we teach at her hosue) texted us and said she thinks we need to reteach the law of chastity.... oh lovely. Keep in mind, he doesn't understand much English and I've taught this lesson to him twice so far. I might have to use some slang words or pictures that he'll understand.... HAHA jk. But really.

Dad - do you teach Sunday School now? I didn't know that. I don't know what the Abrahamic Covenant really is to be honest...... I walked in halfway through a Sunday School lesson about it last week but didn't catch very much of it..... sounds neat though.  I don't think your emails are boring or too long- I like it. You should run that marathon, it sounds cool! I've started running every morning while my companion walks slower than a snail and glares at me for making her get out of bed........ she asked if we have to exercise on Christmas and I said if I had it my way- we would exercise all day on Christmas. She needs to get a better attitude about that, haha.  Hey how is Ruth doing?  And Shauna? I just wrote Shauna a really long letter, I hope she doesn't get weirded out.......

Thanks for your emails, wish I had more time to reply to them individually! Have a good week; pray we find meaningful stuff to fill our time!

xoxoxo
Heidi

Creeper!

Helping decorate at the Stake Valentine's Day Dance

Hello

Family -

Hello, how's everyone doing? Want to hear about my week? Okay, if you insist.

Last P-day Kim (Mama Bleak) took us out shopping and bought us lunch because she loves us. It was very fun and I know how much it meant to her because she's really struggling right now and doesn't have too many friends. It's kinda weird because she's old enough to be my mother- she even has 4 girls all my sister's ages.... but we're working really hard to help get her back to church again. I can't remember if I told you, but we're teaching her daughter Delaney, who's 14 and not baptized yet. She was supposed to get baptized a couple months ago but it keeps getting pushed back.. Now, the deal is, her dad wants to baptize and confirm her but the bishop said he's not worthy until he goes back to church. The problem is, if we wait for the day he's worthy- and going to church regularly- it might be 5 years from now and Delaney might not even want to be baptized by then! They're a wonderful family and the parents both have really strong testimonies - there's just something keeping them back from going to church- even though their girls go every week! So we took Delaney out to lunch the other day, just us and her, and talked about how her parents really need her support to get back to church. I really just love the Bleaks and Kim is SO blunt- I know I just need to be straight up with her and say something that will get her back on the right track. Anyways, this week at our lesson with them - I knew I needed to be bold with Kim and Jason (her husband). I prayed so hard all day that I could have the courage to be blunt with them! And sure enough, it worked out. Somehow all the kids weren't there when we came over and the situation was perfect to confront them. So I was really bold with them and just said, I love you guys, I love your family, you have 2 older daughters who are not living good lives and I know you're upset about that, but you still have 2 left and it's not too late to be a good example for them. So go back to church, save your family and I PROMISE you will be happier! Kim started crying and Jason was really respectful about it... it went really well and I hope they took it to heart! Fingers crossed they'll be at church next week.

This week we went on exchanges... so I went to Centerville with sister T (from Samoa) and her comp came here for 24 hours. It was so fun and I learned a lot! First of all, during language study trying to help her get better at English, I learned I can't even speak English myself..... like.... hahah, awk. I also learned I need to have more faith about knocking on people's doors. We had a list of less active YSA kids that we were suppose top go see and before every house I'd freak out a little and be like, "what are we going to say?! This is going to be so awkward!" and then I figured out that all you can do is pray and trust that the right words will come out. and you know what? That's exactly what happened.

Sio- the Samoan we're teaching- accepted March 1st as a baptism date! He was concerned last week about that Bible verse- one baptism etc., but we focused the whole lesson last week on addressing that and it worked. This week he said he feels good about it! Awk though- his girlfriend's aunt (she lives in our stake-we do lessons at her house) texted us and said they need a law of chastity lesson... okay lovely, let me sit down with my trainee (who's never been on a date before and barely talks in lessons) and teach Sio (who barely understands English), his girlfriend (who's a member) and their CHILD the law of chastity- no prob. After I taught he asks... "so am I a sinner because we had a baby before we were married?" Uhhhh....... hahaha but it turned out okay- it always does. It was a little rocky beforehand but turned out alright!

This coming week we are going down to temple square to teach a lesson to a lady who's working on her rebaptism and then she's taking us to the Lion House so that should be fun! Holly (daughter of who we live with) may or may not have put blonde chunky peek a boo's in my hair randomly............. oops. We trade hair services and you know me- I was just getting sick of my hair so thought I'd mix it up a little bit. She has a job interview today at our bishop's dermatologist office- please pray for her!

Love you all, have a great week

xoxoxoxo

PS tell Bunny and Didn I met Byron Stubbs- they're in my stake. Apparently they went to law school together? They said to tell them hi! Also, are we related to a Roger Shields who served a mission in France in the 60's?

A Quick Update ...

Hello family and friends!

Sorry I don't the chance to really reply to all these personal emails ... but I do read them and appreciate the updates!

So this week, I chose to focus on Kim B.  Who is Kim?  Well okay, so Delaney is our 13-year-old we have on date for baptism ... her parents (Kim) are inactive.  Because of this, her dad didn't get approval to baptize her, which means her date has been pushed back again until he is worthy to do so.  I'm working on Kim though.  She is a hot mess, to say the least.  She's depressed beyond belief, taking 50 different medications and can't even get out of bed most days.  She's super blunt and crazy and fun, I really like her.  She has 4 girls and has a really strong testimony but for some reason just won't go to church.  Kim loves us.  This week we spent a lot of time with her.  I did her hair, we helped her paint her basement, listened to her talk for hours on end ... she just needs a friend.  She always texts me after we leave and says stuff like, "You are an answer to my prayers.  You bring a great spirit into my home and after you leave, I fall to my knees crying to my Heavenly Father because I know you were sent here for me.  I never understood what missionaries really do until now."  "You have no idea how much you will be missed when you leave the area.  You have changed my life and my family's life.  You are welcome in my home anytime; I consider you another one of my daughters." "I want more than anything else for my girls to look to you as an example and not to myself.  Thank you for putting up with me and the wreck that I am."  (That's an understatement, this poor lady ... you have no idea.)  Anyways, she's my project!  She hasn't been to church in at least 5 years and hasn't attended regularly for the past 10.  Her daughters, Emmy and Delaney, are 15 and 13 and they go to church every week without fail.  I've just tried to figure out what the heck Kim's problem is!  She is one of the reasons I love Bountiful so much and I WILL get her back to church if it's the last thing I do!  The ward mission leader laughs when I say that because the ward considers Kim and her husband a lost cause, but I'm going to do it!  And because she loves me so much, I cn be blunt with her without offending her.

Another one of my favorite people ... Lacey P., South Davis Hospital.  Her brain injury makes it hard for her to remember things, but she has gotten to the point where she remembers my name.  We're preparing Lacey to go to the temple and do confirmations (she can't do baptisms in a wheelchair) and she is so excited.

Me and Lacey, South Davis Hospital

We put the Tongan boy we've been teaching on date for baptism yesterday!  March 1st.  He's still hesitant, even though he KNOWS it's true; he's getting caught up on the "one baptism" scripture because he was raised strong Catholic ... we're working on that though.  We brought this girl to a lesson with him yesterday and I spent the whole lesson addressing his needs, then to find out afterwards that the girl we brought is a teacher at the MTC ... oh LOVELY.  Awesome.

We started teaching a lesbian lady who has been excommunicated and wants to come back.  I really love teaching her, she's wonderful.  She knows more about the scriptures than we do (not hard to do with me, HAHA) so during lessons we just have discussions.  The mission has taught me to truly love everyone and see people as Heavenly Father sees them.

I had this brilliant idea to organize a Sunday night youth fireside once a month at one of the member's houses ... just keep it really casual and low key so kids can bring their nonmember friends and friends struggling with their testimonies, or kids who are preparing to serve missions.  Brilliant, I know.  The stake loves me, I'm seriously famous.  So we're starting that in a couple weeks and it should be good!

Me and my trainee started "running" in the mornings ... aka, I slow jog in zig zags across the street while she walks.  After the first day she was SO SORE and complaining about it ... it was funny.  I'm working on improving her self esteem, hopefully I can find an elder to write her because I think it makes her sad to see me get 5 letters a week from creepy elders ... Bro B. (the family we live with) always knocks on our basement door and goes, "Seester Shieldsss, you have a letter from your lover boyyyy!" (you have to know him; he's hilarious.  This week he told us to stay away from boys with "Roman hands and Russian fingers" when we get home or else he will hunt them down for us, hahah).  I used to get all excited but then I realized they're never from Jamison; they're always from creepy elders from the MTC.  It's kinda funny.

Hope everyone's doing well, have a good week!

Heidi

PS  Picture is of me and Holly B.s son, isn't he cute?!  I kidnap him sometimes.  The B.'s would probably really appreciate a thank you card for letting me live with them and feeding me and whatnot.

Family and Friends,

What a wonderful time I am having in Bountiful.  I get voted best dressed at every missionary meeting, don't worry.  Kidding - everyone hates me.  But seriously, Bountiful is wonderful and I love it ever so much.

Want to hear something funny?  We had our interviews with president this week (they do that every 2 transfers) and while one comp is in the interview, the other comp sits and visits with Sister Hansen.  So I walk out of my interview with president and overhear the conversation with my trainee and Sister Hansen ... "I just hope you feel comfortable enough to talk to me, President or the AP's if elders are flirting with your companion, because that is a serious problem we worry about ..."  "Well, Sister Shields does get like 8 letters a week from all these different elders ..."  OKAY NOW, HOLD UP.  Sister Shields doesn't flirt with elders, that's disgusting.  1) all of these elders are weird, 2) that's weird, 3) I'm on a mission, 4) I have a boyfriend who's 50 times better than any of these elders, so ... anyways, I talked to my trainee later and she asked if I'd teach her how to flirt (she's never been on a date or anything before).  Uhh?  If I knew how, I would, Sista.  Hahahahh anyways, that was the excitement/drama of the week.

Let me tell you a secret about the mission.  1) you know everything about everyone but have to have thtis constant filter up and be sure you don't slip any info ... but seriously, missionaries basically know everything about you except your social security number, 2) you have to learn to pretend to be interested in stuff you don't care about.  I practiced this this past week; we're trying to teach this lady who's a professional quilter ... so we went over to her house and she showed us quilts for TWO HOURS.  Now I like sewing, don't get me wrong ... but 2 hours is a long time to look at quilts.  My trainee was throwing a fit ... like, shut up, we're going to humor this lady because we need investigators.  Then the next day we went to the Relief Society's weekly quilting day because our next "victim" was going ... I thought it was fun, but my trainee literally fell asleep over a quilt.  I told her she can either find another prospect on her own, or we're going to keep pursuing this one by taking up quilting!  This lady's a work in progress, but I think we'll get her eventually!

We just had a change in our mission for what qualifies as a "lesson" ... if there's not an active member present who doesn't live in the house, it doesn't count as a lesson for our weekly numbers.  Even if we're teaching a less active member, we have to have another member there for fellowship.  This has been kind of difficult ... But it's really showing me how important it is to work with the members.  This past week, we got one of the less actives we've been teaching for 2 months to go to church for the first time.  Sister C and I tried seriously everything to get her to come and she finally did!  We brought a neighbor to one of her lessons and then had the member come pick her and her kids up and give them a ride to church ... but it worked!  I was seriously so happy, finally seeing some results is fantastic.  Saturdays are always really hard days to keep busy with ... I don't know why;, but they are.  So I had this brilliant idea .. let's go over to a member's house, bake a crap ton of cookies (my specialty), and then make visits to all the people we have issues getting in to see.  It worked like a charm, we got into 5 houses that night, then yesterday (Sunday) we got a phone call from a number I didn't recognize.  It turned out tot be one of the people we've been trying to teach who we delivered cookies to, the Perry's.  She said thanks for the cookies and also that her downs syndrome son just enrolled in seminary (they're not members, he just has a lot of friends who invited him so he's taking it for the social aspect) and she wants us to teach him te basics about God and Jesus so he's not totally lost in class.  She also said her daughter wants us to come over and teacher her how to make that cookie recipe!  Seriously, I don't know if you guys understand what a miracle that was ... we give our number to 20+ people a week and NO ONE ever calls us ... then we get this phone call out of the blue and they basically asked us to start teaching them.  It was crazy!  My trainee probably thinks that's going to happen all the time .. but seriously, it was fantastic.

It's fun living with the family we do because we get to hang out with Holly (30-year-old daughter who does hair) all the time.  I feel like she's my Lauren replacement, it's awesome.  I got to help her throw a birthday party for her 2-year-old son on Saturday and it was so fun.  We go shopping on P-days, she takes us out to lunch, she gives me life advice, I give her boy advice ... I just love her.  I got to cut her hair the other night and was able to help her with some of the doubts she's been having about the church.  But we're keeping busy and always working; we're teaching lots of lessons and doing lots of service.  I love training; I hope I get to train in Bountiful for the rest of my mission!

Claire, comic relief sounds like it was awesome, good for you!  Dad, congrats on your marathon!  That's seriously awesome, that's really impressive.  When are you going to Boston?  The temple dedication should be fun, let me know how it goes, and thanks so much for getting Jamison something for his birthday he'll love that - seriously.  Kayla, congrats on getting asked to the dance!

Have a great week, love you all!

Heidi

I LOVE being a trainer!

My trainee, Sister Hyden, me, and my trainer, Sister Hornberger

Reunion with Sister Hornberger!

Good to hear everyone's doing well.  Daddy, good luck with your race.  Mother, sorry you're so busy with the temple celebration, but that's awesome.  Kayla, i met with a family the other day whose daughter danced with Ballet West for a couple years.  I told her how you told me I should baptize some of the dancers while I'm here and she said "GOOD LUCK with that!"  Haha sorry to crush your hopes and dreams.  Tell Garrett and Karli I said congrats!  Tara sent me a picture and she's so cute.

So this was the first week with my trainee and it flew by!  I love being a trainer, I think this was the best week of my whole mission so far.  I was so badly for her to learn to love the mission as much as I have learned to.  It took me 3 months to get to that point ... but now I love it.  I was so worried that work would slow down and I would be struggling to find stuff to do to keep us busy, but Heavenly Father has blessed us with a packed schedule every day so far!  My comp probably hates me because i schedule appointments literally every hour of the day, make her talk in lessons and I force her to get up at 6:20 so I can get in my full exercise time ... she hates morning exercise; she hates most things about missionary life, actually hahahh.  It's kinda hard because I know she doesn't want to be here ... first off, she doesn't want to be in Utah; second off, she doesn't want to be on a mission in general, and she's told me that!  I seriously am trying everything in my power to make her feel important, loved and trusted. I want her to love these people as much as I do.  Lesson learned though ... we can't take young women out with us very often; my comp's maturity suddenly goes down to Beehive level and it's way to hard to deal with ... hahah.  Basically I'm just trying to keep us busy so she doesn't have time to get homesick.  I hope she's doing okay?  She doesn't really tell me ...

I always say how much I love working with girls ages 13-30-ish ... well right now, those ar the only peopel we're teaching and I LOVE it (one being Kari, the blonde in that training video).  We found so many new investigators and are really close with a lot of people.  Holly (the one who texted you ) is the daughter of the family we live with; she's 29 and has  2-year-old son; she has her hair license, massage license and her aesthetician license.  She's trying so hard to be a good person and find a good guy to date and marry.  This past week, I've gotten very close to her.  She took us out to lunch the other day (to a buffet, after we'd already eaten ... that day was a train wreck; I wanted to kill myself.), and then on P-day yesterday, we went down to station park (Farmington version of San Tan Mall) and ran errands with her, shopped and then got fro yo.  Holly is so amazing and I just lover her so much!  She's had such a hard life and has given everything up to raise her son.  Boys are so mean to her and don't give her any of the respect she deserves.  i'm going to try to bring her to some lessons with the girls we are teaching; I think it could really benefit both ends of people.  I never want to leave Bountiful because I want to live wiht Holly and the Binghams forever!

Somehow everyone's getting permission to come to my area on P-days and have me cut their hair ...?  I cut Sister Hornberger's (my trainer) and a couple other sisters yesterday.  It was so fun; it made me feel right at home and I was so happy.  We're teaching a 22-year-old Tongan guy who came over to the states a couple years ago.  He's the definition of a golden investigator.  After we recited the first vision I asked how he felt and he said, "absolutely amazing."  After we taught the plan of salvation he kept saying, "this is wonderful, this is amazing, this is too good to be true, this is what I've been looking for my whole life; why don't Catholics teach this?  Where has this been my whole life?"  He's seriously perfect.  My trainee Sister H probably thinks that's how all investigators are because he's the first we've taught together ... hahaa!  If only.  He's praying about a baptism date and hopefully will decide soon!

Thank you for all the love and support hope you are all doing well.

Heidi

PS  Enjoy my video!  I know; I'm a natural on the camera.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=runXIL99Hw0

Day 3 as a trainer

Family,

Hello!  I'm on day 3 with my trainee ... her name is Sister H and she is very sweet.  I'm trying very hard to make her feel welcomed and loved and comfortable.  Her first day was really hard and she almost started crying a couple times, it was so sad!  I wanted so badly to help her but I couldn't get her to open up and tell me what was wrong ... finally she said she didn't even want to serve a mission in the first place.  She's just here because her friends and family pushed her to either go on a mission or go to college.  She's really homesick and just was really struggling.  I've tried really hard to help her see that the mission is fun and if she keeps busy, she won't have time to get homesick.  I love being a trainer.  I love being in charge and working hard.  I love the responsibility and I realized the other day, I love the mission - finally!  The people here are wonderful and I have this new mindset of thinking - what new friends can we make today?  What friends can we see and help and have fun with?  It doesn't feel like a drag anymore ... I'm not anxious about getting home anymore.  I just love it here.  I want to help Sister H feel that too!  I've really been keeping the schedule full so she sees how important it is to work.  We share messages and prayers with every house we go into; we don't waste time and we are prompt to every appointment.  Lessons are well planned and organized.  I love being in charge!

You know what else?  My comp is completely different from me ... we have nothing in common.  she likes Korean anime and eats American cheese (EW).  But I LOVE her!  I'm so excited to get to work.  I'm just hoping the work picks up and we find lots of people to teach and keep our schedules full!

My favorite people in this area are 1) Holly (30-year-old single mom; daughter of the family we live with).  She does hair and she's so cute and sweet and asks me for advice on stuff.  2) Brother Lovato - ward mission leader whose house we skyped from on Christmas.  He is SO funny and awesome and blunt with people.  3)  President Johnson - former mission president; just finished last term being mayor after 12 years.  He's so funny; he cusses sometimes and jokes around with us all the time.  4)  Kim B and her family.  We're teaching Delaney (daughter, 13) and she's going to be baptized this month.  The family's inactive but Kim is always texting me, asking about scriptures, etc.  One day, I WILL get her to church!

Love,
Heidi