with love, sister hileman: Someone Had it Rougher than You

Mom - do you wonder where I am?

Do you worry at night about what I'm doing? How I'm doing?

I hope you know that right now I'm sitting at a desk in a room full of angels. There's my companion next to me, and an elderly couple at the table nearby. A Red Sox fan is sitting to our right clicking away on his computer. But there are lots of seats full of people I cannot see.

Please feel at peace knowing that I constantly have angels protecting me!

We walk the streets of Dorchester, picking up pennies. We walk the streets of Arlington talking to strangers. We knock on doors not knowing who will be on the other side but not fearing. Not fearing, because I know that if anyone tries to harm me they will be able to see the angels standing behind me.

Most of the time I honestly don't think much about these angels, but I think it is the peace that they bring that helps me walk with such faith.

Police sirens are constantly going around, and helicopters are flying overhead. But Mom! I am OK! I don't fear.

Don't worry about the storms here; we are safe. President Packard makes sure we get inside when we need to. Dont' worry about me not having enough food... I do. Don't worry about me being sick; the doctor here is great! Don't worry about the danger in the World; we are kept safe.

Don't worry that I have hard times. Cause I do. But there is no need to worry because I am being given strength beyond my own.

Pray for me, I need it. But don't worry about me. I am being taken care of. I am being taught. The Spirit is guiding me.

My companion wrote this and with some tweaking after the events of the last week it turned into something that I hold very dear to my heart.

It's been quite the week.

TRAINER

First and foremost I have a new companion! Hermana Van Wagenen is from Salt Lake City, Utah and was called to serve in Argentina. She's waiting for her Visa and will be here in Boston in the mean time. I guess I got too fat because there's no room at our house now so we got bumped further north. Now we live in Arlington and commute about 1 1/2 hours to and from our area every day.

ARLINGTON

just so happens to be 5 minutes north of Waterton. Bet that sounds familiar to you now. We spent all of Friday in lock down along with all of Boston. The subway and bus system shut down state-wide and all day long you wouldn't have seen anything but cop cars and helicopters if you left the house, which nobody did. Saturday was gladly welcomed to us missionaries as we FINALLY broke out and returned to our every day lives. The rest of the town felt otherwise. Many people remained in their homes with the doors locked and TVs on. They would have been surprised to see that the sun was shining very brightly and the trees were blossoming with big white buds. They would be even more surprised to hear the chatter and laughter of strangers conversing on the bus. I have never seen these people light up so much! Everyone is happy to be here. It is a happy town.

YUCK

is the word of the week. My poor companion spent her first day in the field stuck at home with a lame, tired, pathetic trainer wreathing and rolling around in bed. Doc put me on a clear-liquid diet (What the heeeeeck is that) and for 48 hours a didn't chew anything except for the inside of my lip. I was sick Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday..... all is well now! That's what is important.

JOVENES

on the subway. Met two 17 year old boys on the Subway the other day. Johnny and Joshua were there names. They illegally hopped the ticket-booth to get on the subway and I have never been so grateful for law-breaking. We had an incredible conversation. Johnny was FULL of questions about what we do as missionaries. Joshua seemed to lose some interest when he learned that we don't in fact have multiple wives. But the two of them together were very interested in learning more. We are excited to see them again at the end of this week and keep teaching them! You know what makes me so happy? When someone asks a question and after hearing the answer they say "I KNEW it!!!!". For example: "You know how there's Heaven and Hell? Well, there's gotta be like a middle ground, right? Somewhere in between?" We explained the 3 degrees of glory and how even the lesser of the 3 is still Heaven and still beautiful, and how very few people will truly go to "Hell". He yelled, "I KNEW it!!!!" Haha, it makes me so happy to help people find answers that comfort them. I love helping people see just how loving and merciful God is. Especially kids. Certain terms like "Sin" and "Repentance" and "Hell" weigh heavy on everyone, especially kids. Explaining it in a way they helps them see how fair God is and how no matter what He will love them.... oh man, there is nothing better than the smile they get on their faces!

PURPOSE

This church is true! I know it with all my heart. We are all here, when and... ok let me change how I'm saying this. You. Right there, wherever you're sitting/standing/laying/jumping/running/hanging upside down. You. Friend/family/stranger. You. Are a child of God. And You are sitting/standing/laying/jumping/running/hanging upside down right this very second reading this very email for a reason. You are living and working particularly where you are with full purpose and with so much to do! You have talents, and strengths, and weaknesses, and joys, and trials, and a face that takes a whole lot less effort to curl up than to curl down. So might as well smile!

You're walking and talking every day, right? And when you're vertical and breathing, life's good! So what is your purpose, you ask? To Smile! (And you better have just said, "I KNEW it!")

No joke - this week was rough. Not just for me and not just for Boston; for everyone. There's someone who had it rougher than you, I promise. So go share your smile!

I'm gonna go share mine

LIFE IS A MISSION

Hermana Hileman

The house during the "lockdown". Haha, it was like a war barrack. We didn't want to open the windows all day.