Note from the editor

It appears that months ago I failed to inform the readers of an important and fun fact! The Branch President here in Martha's Vineyard is an old family friend! Brent Brown and his wife Lisa have been living here for about 5 years but growing up Brent lived in Lone Tree, CO and our families went to church together, had sleep overs, went to Lake Powell, and camped in Grand Lake often. It was a huge blessing having them here and I have loved serving with them! They are a great example of diligence, love, respect and service. I've learned so much from them and cannot wait to come back and visit! 

MOVING

-->I'm getting transferred! My new area is Revere, MA which is just above Boston on the coast. It's a spanish area and I am nervous and excited and anxious and nervous and happy and nervous to be back in the spanish program. I haven't used spanish for 3 months so this will be interesting.  We are having dinner with one of my favorite families, the Bilodeaus, and then taking the 7:15 ferry off the island. I'll be getting to Revere tomorrow afternoon with my new companion who I don't know yet! My companion keeps joking that since I don't cry the island is mourning for me. It's been pretty rainy. I am sad to leave, but excited to get to Revere! The hardest people to say goodbye to were the old folks at Windemere where we do service. I know that I won't be seeing them again. I took as many photos as I could as we left the hospital today. These ladies melt my heart and I have loved every minute of being with them. Everyone else is just as wonderful, but a lot younger! I know that I will be visiting Martha's Vineyard and I will see them again. 

PUPU somethin' or other.

Remember that Ukulele group that we found? The Pupulele Ladies. Well every once in awhile we would go practice with them and then this last Monday we performed with them at Windemere! When I'm old I hope that I still cart around my Ukulele and a sure-fire attitude. There is something absolutely wonderful that happenes when you listen to music. People that don't make any sense when they talk or just never talk at all become completely different people when you start some music from their era. We had almost all of them singing and clapping! Just goes to show how powerful music is. 

WRAP-UP

We didn't get to teach that much here. If I were to stay till Christmas I know that I would see the Branch grow, though. It was a really challenging place for missionary work. All of the investigators that we had were dropped after relentless attempts to get them excited about the gospel. But slowly something wonderful started to happen. The members took a big interest in doing missionary work. We came to meet and know a lot of locals and their families. We made connections everywhere we went (it's a small island). And slowly things piled up for us to do! Last week Sister Ford and I made a list of 100 things that the Lord wants done here on Martha's Vineyard. Just for the month of September! We ended up with well over 100 things. I'm so excited for all that will happen here after I leave. Even though I won't get to see it my prayers are here with these wonderful people. I promised them that they would grow, and I will be the last person to let them down! I know the lord will help me keep my promise! I'll do all I can until the moment I leave. 

ZION

one last thought.

Last night we were getting off the bus and I said "Do you have the phone?" "No, you do." (This conversation  happens 10 times everyday.) Well indeed I DID have the phone but I had left it on the bus. When we got to our friend's house we used their phones to call the transportation authority and a few other appointments that we had. It was getting late, though, so we had to head home. When we got back on the bus we asked the driver if he had heard of a phone being found. Immediately this became a group effort.

A hippie boston couple was quick to get our number and start calling it. The bus driver turned the lights on so that we could search around the bus. A guy sitting in the back started looking around. An elderly couple started to suggest different ideas. Miraculously the hippie lady got someone to pick up the phone!! She talked to them and found out where they were and arranged for us to meet up with that bus in 45 minutes. WHEW! We found the phone!! But it was already after 9PM and we had a member that was supposed to meet us at our apartment soon. The next stop we got to we saw a bus ahead of us. Right when I asked, "is that the same bus?" a passenger who had been sitting as we searched for the phone said "SISTERS! That's the bus!" We ran over and grabbed the phone. As we crossed the street I yelled to a group getting off "if any of you just found a phone, thank you so much!" the whole group turned around and hollered back, "that was us!" We sat back on our bus, on the way home, phone in hand, and smiles on our faces. 

That is Zion. Everyone was together. I can't believe how perfect life is when we follow Christ's example and love and serve one another. Can you imagine if everyone was on your side? If you have no enemies, and if your friends were always willing and ready to be there for you? It can happen. And I witnessed a tiny piece of that last night. 

LIFE IS SO GOOD!

I LOVE you all so very much and you will be hearing from me very soon. From Revere!

Hermana Hileman