Oooookay

okay I'm finally getting to this email. I got other emails today that I wanted to respond to. Let's just start this letter off with a warning -- I am literally in tears of joy. -- So I have no idea how this letter will come out. It could be super sappy, or super somber, or super funny! I don't know. I don't normally cry so I don't know how to act right now.... 

Here's why.

I just heard from one of my dearest friends Mom in California that my old Roommate from College is serving a mission and is in their ward! 

I just heard from one of my best friends from High School who has been in the MTC for almost 3 weeks. She's got the best Spanglish I've ever seen and I'm SO happy to have another sister in the field! 

I just got some photos from my Mami Meza! Her two kids are SO FINE beautiful gorgeous teenagers and they went on Trek!! Sozo wore my old Pioneer clothes and Erick wore Pink. Haha, punk. Two of their cousins got their mission call on the same day and looking at that photo set off the waterworks again! 

TEARS OF JOY!

I heard from MY mama and got a video of my sister and nieces and nephews wishing me a happy 4th of july. And now we're email-chatting :p

I heard from one of my best friends and he answered questions that I've been trying to figure out on my own for weeks. He told me updates about the NBA finals (for real, Miami? Again? If you weren't so cocky I'd definitely support you. This two-year streak really isn't helping your case.) and of an old friend that I grew up with that just got into the NFL! Atta boy!!!

So much is happening! Did this much stuff happen before my mission? It's weird when you only hear random updates here and there. It seems that life just keeps happening when you're away. That's weird. I thought it just paused for a little while. 

BUT I'm not sad to be missing out. I'm so so happy! Everyone sounds so good. (Except some people in Brazil rippin' off arms at Soccer games and a few people in California from a Plane Crash. Sometimes I don't miss the News at all) 

Ok. I think I've stabilized my emotions. We may now commence with the weekly update:

HELLO EVERYONE

I really have no idea who "everyone" is. Who are you? How did you happen upon this page? Well whoever you are and wherever you are I am so happy to have you reading this blog! It has been another incredible week on the Vineyard. For those of you that don't know, Martha's Vineyard is in America. I'm still in Massachusetts. And for the rest of you that knew that, Massachusetts is actually a Commonwealth, not a State. And for the rest of you that knew all of that already -- well these are all new things to me! So thanks for never telling me! 

4th of JULY

is probably the biggest event from the last week. Not as far as fireworks go, though. You couldn't see anything with all the Fog. Occasionally the whole sky would light up in red or green or blue. Once we saw the firework taking off and everyone went "OOoooh!" Our voices hung in the air in anticipation and came depressingly back down to a "awhhhhhhmaaaan!" when nothing appeared in the sky. Before the fog rolled in we met up with our friend Keila,her husband, and their little baby. We had so much fun going to the Edgartown Parade! We missed the first part but thanks to living on a tiny island, eventually the parade reached a dead-end and had to turn around and come back around the same way! We bumped into one of the members and his mom who we do service for. Rosalie is the nicest lady. She's the one that asked us if she could hug us after we helped her clean. She apparently is related to a woman that we met at the hospital volunteering, who is married to one of the bus drivers, who we invited to our 4th of July Pancake breakfast! He didn't come... but the connections there are hilarious.

CONNECTIONS

let's take a second here. This island is full of connections. The other day we were at a home teaching English to a Brazilian family that moved here a month ago. We don't know what their last name is so we call them the High 5 Family because there's 5 of them. As we finished the lesson their friend came by to pick up someone. They offered to drive us home and we found out that he knows members! He works for them! And he is friends with a Return Missionary here on Martha's Vineyard. 

We find connections everywhere we look. Everyone knows everyone. It's perfect for missionary work because you always have a reason to be talking to someone! "Oh, you're JRs cousin? Cool. Can we talk?" "Ohhhh no way you know Ty? Great! Do you want to come to church?". We have more member-referrals than members. So assuming we do our job right, this little branch on the isles of the sea will be a big ward in no time!

IRON MAN WATERMAN

I saw a man floating above the water yesterday. He had big fans on his feet that we pushing down and keeping him hovering. There was water splashing everywhere. It was awesome.

YACHT WITH A 'COPTER

yeah that's right. I saw a yacht bigger than a house. If that's not good enough, this yacht had a helicopter pad on the back deck with a big red 'copter resting on it. Who needs public transportation, anyway? We could all be flying our own helicopter! 

PAD WRAPPER

Um. I kneeled down at someones house the other day and when I stood up there was an old pad-wrapper stuck to my shin. Not mine. Definitely theirs. 

I HAVE TO GO

but I have so much more to say. Luckily I took a lot of pictures this week so I'll just attach a bunch of those. But hey, here's something to think about. Have you ever got caught up in your own words? Have you ever stuttered, or had the perfect thought in  your head but you open your mouth and just completely botch it? Well the Savior never did. He was perfect. Every time he opened his mouth the right thing came out! How cool is that? When he saw someone struggling he knew exactly the advise to give them. When he saw someone happy he rejoiced with them! When someone needed courage he had all the right words to say. He was always honest, loving, and kind. He was thoughtful of those around him regardless of their own weaknesses or pride. Man, I sure do mess up a lot. I get all sorts of jumbled and tongue twisted. Even when I write up these weekly emails I wonder "did that even make sense...?" I am so grateful to have a big brother that set the example for me. Jesus Christ was the ultimate at everything he did. If we could just be like him, we could do everything we need to! Anything good is of God, right? So if we want to be Christlike we just have to DO GOOD. So, friends, keep on keepin' on. You've set an example for me, already. You all have so many talents and qualities that draw people to you. You are impressive, and successful, and courageous because every day you wake up and you open your eyes and you try to do good. Without even realizing it, you're becoming like Christ. Needless to say I'm stoked to know all of you. I'm blessed to have you in my life. I think about you, often. I say that I don't know who reads this blog but it really doesn't matter because you are in my prayers. What would you do if you knew that every single day someone prayed for you? Just for you? What if I promise you that they do? Well I do. So go and pray for someone else, and do good in the world today! 

LIFE IS SO GOOD 

so be happy

LIFE IS A MISSION

Hileman

PS: It has been hot and humid here... so these pictures aren't... well. We're not clean, or dry, and we don't smell good.

1) setting up flags at the cemetery for the 4th of July

2) Have you ever seen Remi on Youtube? Look up Remi snail. Maybe this picture will make more sense....

3) 4th of July with Keila!

4) Watering someones garden, Better Homes & Garden style. Someone passed and said, "You're like... the nicest looking landscaper I've ever seen." I told him thanks, but I'm actually a missionary.