Our House at 2 pm on Saturday.

Our house at 10 am on Saturday.

(Sorry! This picture should have been first but I didn't know how to switch them. Mom)

Happy Halloween to the goonish Healy/Vance/Kleyn/De Haan clan!

Sunday and today the missionaries are required to be in at 6 pm and stay in. We can't open the door to anyone, even ward members. The 30th is called "mischief night" and sometimes "goosey night" and "cabbage night." It's when everyone goes crazy toilet papering and other goonish things. Today we have p-day until 6 and then we have to be in. And I think we're going to go crazy from boredom, but hopefully not. Saturday was our ward's Fall Festival. We got in our warm winter things, because it started snowing around 2 pm. Then we drove to the Church, which normally takes 30 minutes, but it took us an hour and a half because of detours. The trees still have leaves, and the very heavy wet snow was too much for the poor things. There were limbs EVERYWHERE! And not just branches, but limbs! Appendiges! One street we turned on had every power line along it touching the ground, with trees all over the road. And then we saw smoke coming from one of the lines, so we scooted on out of there. Eventually we got to the church. There was a tree in the way (go figure), so we got out and moved it. And it fell on my head as we moved it. I was getting grumbly. And then no one was there, and we found out it was cancelled. Then the mission called and said all the missionaries should just go home because the storm would get worse. So yeah.

Teaching is going well. We are teaching a boy, Coty, and his crazy extended family. Every time we go there, there's at least 5 new people. It's a different group every time. But his guardian, Babby, started reading the Book of Mormon and said it gave her a great feeling of peace and comfort. She loves the feeling she gets when we visit. Yay!

Well, I hope you guys had a good Halloween! You'll have to send pictures of everyone dressed up! I got a mustache, so that's my costume, for whenever we have our party.

I love you guys! Oh, and Mom, thank you for sending the boots, coat, and gloves when you did, because I'd be frozen if you hadn't! Everyone, give Jan a big hug from this one!

Sincerest day to you all,

Sister Meester

A bizarre Halloween decoration. These guys go crazy for Halloween here. I can't wait until next Monday!

Monday, October 24, 2011 (when this post was actually sent--it has taken mom awhile to transfer it to the blog)

The Healy Clan!

So glad to hear you're all doing well! And trimming down by the sound of a few emails...

This week has been good. The other day all our evening plans fell through, and we didn't have good back up plans, so we drove to a Target parking lot to find anyone who would be out after dark. We talked to an Atheist man who said he'd need solid evidence of God before he'd believe in Him. I said, "So you would need God to appear to you before you believed in Him?" "No, even then I wouldn't believe. I mean, someone could get mirrors set up. It could easily be a hoax. I would need the sun to come as close to earth as possible without people burning up. Then we could do math and some studies and if we couldn't find it out scientifically, then I would believe in God." After that I just bore my testimony, because what on earth do you say to that?!

This morning it was really foggy and smelled like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. It was spooky, but fun.

So, about my last name. No one here can say it. If they're from the west, they can say it. But all east coasters either say "Hyeh-lee" or "Hay-lee." But it's cool, so whatever.

Also, we were teaching a less active member, and she had a referral for us at the end of the lesson. Then when we were leaving, the referral pulled into her driveway. So we talked for about 45 minutes. He's so awesome! He's a minister for another church, but he asked us question after question about missionary work, prophets and apostles, coffee, modesty, the Book of Mormon, whether Mormons are allowed to dance, Joseph Smith...it was all over the place. But every so often he'd say, "Ooh, I like that! I'm gonna use that in my sermon this week!" He's African American, probably in his early thirties. He really likes how we raise our kids and says if everyone raised their kids like Mormons do, we'd all be fine. Yeah, it was great.

Well, I love you guys and I hope you're all safe! Oh, the Michels (the couple we stayed with the first few weeks) just got back from visiting their son in Ogden. They said they went to Maddox and loved it (minus the shrimp steak. Sister Michel was not a fan). So when you kids have a free day, go there and think, "Here's a bite for the ol' gal back in the city!"

I love you!

Sincerest day to you,

Sister Meeso

Me with Marge and Celia. Those 3 (with Sister McSwain) sit on their porch everyday and talk about the clouds. They are a gas. Whenever we drive by we see them out there rocking and talking. Funny gals.

Sister McSwain and Sister Cope

Family! I love you guys!

New Jersey is turning orange, and it's quite lovely. Every morning we run around our neighborhood, and it's so pleasant to listen to the hum of the crickets and smell that distinct "fall" smell ( I'm assuming you all know that smell), and see the moonbeams streaming through the clouds onto the swaying trees. It's swell.

This week we had interviews with President Jeppson, and woof, I love those. He gave me perspective and told me about some of his experiences and asked about mine. He and Sister Jeppson love all of us so much, and I'm so grateful for that. I also did exchanges. I went with Sister Barrett for 24 hours while Sister Cope went with Sister Scoville. So I was in a different area for a day and it was neat. It was interesting to learn from another missionary, especially one as hilarious as Sister Barrett. She's from Alaska, loves ninjas and fantasy, and introduced me to frozen Reeses. And they are sooooo much tastier than room temperature ones. Try them!!! We ate at a Dominican member's house, and it was amazing. And so much, I felt a little sick. She made us try her flan, and woof, I've always thought it looked gross, but not so. Heavenly is a good word for it.

The other day we were driving and thought we'd take a shortcut through the woods on Old Dockerty Hollow (that name alone says, "Get Out of Here!"). As we were driving I thought, I should lock the doors, so I did. To which Sister Cope said, "what, do you think some crazy woodsman is gonna jump out at us?" I looked out the window to the left and replied, "Like that one?" And there out the window was a man jumping, just jumping through the woods with a sword. "Agh! is that a samurai sword?" "No, it's a machete." "Agh! That is worse, that is so much worse!" It was strange. It took us a while of off-roading and probably some damage to the undercarriage of the car before we were able to turn around and take the long way round. On that note, apparently the "most haunted road in America" is in my area. Eeeee.

Well, I love you guys, keep telling me the goings on there. I'm praying for you and I love you!

Sincerely,

Sister Mel

Eating foods at Zone Conference.

Sisters Word, Cope, Lowry, and Healy hanging out on P-Day.

My new Zone just before eating a plethora of desserts since everyone's birthday is in October.

President and Sister Jeppson singing a missionary type song to the tune of "Don't Worry, Be Happy". Also, he was in Motab.

Me eating the most delicious pizza ever and then being sick because of all the cheese.

Mi Familia!

I love you guys so much!

This week has been a l'il slow, but we're still truckin'. The leaves are achanging, and it's just beautiful! I finally got my hair cut, so now I don't look like the tween boys in my ward, thank goodness. It was getting kinda scraggly there.

At Ellis Island this week I made a solid decision: The bathroom stall is too small. Let me illustrate. You open the door and squeeze past it to get in the stall, sort of tripping over yourself on the way through. You close the door, smushing your face as it passes you. You sit down and realize the bottom of the door is 2 feet high, so that's awkward. Also, the seat is off center, so your right leg is squashed underneath the toilet paper dispenser, which makes getting toilet paper an ordeal. Not cool.

In other news, I had to apply a sentence often used in Preach My Gospel (missionary manual) last night. I forget what the sentence is now, but it's along the lines of speaking with power and authority. We knocked a door, and the man came out and started smoking. We said we were from our church and he proceeded to tell us for a LONG time about how organized religion is just a box full of creeps, and the government is lame, and Heavenly Father made a bunch of freaks, and aliens, and a whole bunch of other things. Sister Cope taught a bit about how God loves us and put us here for a reason but then he'd interject for a while. Meanwhile I would get really frustrated, and knowing the rage was coming made a firm decision to not talk, because if I did, I'd rage. He kept going, and kept saying mean things about Heavenly Father and finally I just opened my mouth. And very firmly I said that God does love us, all of us. He put us here so we can learn and get back to Him and if some people make bad choices that's their decision, but God wants what's best for us and He's given us many tools to get back to Him. And some other things. I had a harsh tone of voice, but when I stopped, he just said, "Oh. Okay." Then we said a prayer and left. Sister Cope was happy I said something, because she was getting frustrated too.

Anyway, I love you folks. Keep me updated as to things there.

I love you!

S. Miss

Sorry, I only took 1 picture this week. This one is our not-happy-that-it's-cold-faces. Also, it smells like fall! I have yet to see the leaves change, but it smells and feels (temperature wise) like fall!

Family!

Yay! I'm so glad you're all back safely! And I'm glad you had a good time at Disneyland. When I read that I said, "Gah! They went to Disneyland? Gah!!!!" and Sister Cope said, "But sister, they've never had real pizza." To which I replied, "but they got (or didn't, I don't know) corndogs this big! "But they've never had real pizza, and you only pay a dollar for it. They paid $80 for that corndog." So now I feel better. I'm glad to hear Nate and Wobin are transplanted safely to good old Utah. Let me know of any job developments.

This week has been good. I forgot to tell you kids that last week we broke up a fight. We had talked to some youths and gave them pass along cards, and as we were walking away, more youths came out of the trees. We knocked on a door, keeping a wary eye on the ever growing mob of youths. I said, "There's gonna be a fight. Look at all those suspicious tweens, they're definitely gearing up for a fight." And sure enough a circle was made and two kids started throwing awkward punches. The door didn't open, so we walked back to the crowd of juveniles. One kid shouted, "The missionaries of Jesus Christ are coming!!" We got there, and just stood and stared. The crowd scooted over a bit, as if to hide. We kept staring, not saying a word. And then they all scattered and ran home. By doing absolutely nothing, we broke up a fight!

General Conference was wonderful. Us, the Elders, and a family named the Grooms were the only ones to show up for the broadcast. Everyone else just watches it on the internet now. But it was nice. They brought a tuna casserole and some salad and cookies, and we had a little feast between sessions. I really enjoyed President Uchdorf's talk on Saturday, about how much we matter to Heavenly Father. And probably my favorite talk was from Sister Elaine S. Dalton, about how fathers show their daughters they love them and how they should be a good example to them.

The other day we taught a lesson to a less-active/part-member family about prayer. We've met with them a few times, all of which have been chaotic because they're a VERY energetic family. But we love their enthusiasm and love for each other. At the end of the lesson we had a prayer circle, and though the kids didn't want to pray, they did anyway. It really brought the Spirit. Brother Farnsworth (our ward mission leader) came with us to the lesson, and bore his testimony too. It was great.

Also, I'm getting a bit of a mullet/Justin Bieber gone crazy hairdo. So today I'm getting it cut. There are about 5 salons on every street, so I hope I choose wisely.

I love you kids! Don't have too much fun there now ya hear? I love you and miss you! And Happy Birthday Moimers, you're the best there is and none of us would be where we are without you!

Note from mom: I sent a second message to Miss this morning and apparently we were emailing each other at the same time. Missy added this comment after reading my second message.

I just sent you a message, and then saw this one! Nate: That is soooo awesome! (From mom: I told her about the Bette Midler thing). Look at you making a scene with your artsiness!

And go Tim (From mom: I told her about Tim's dedication to schoolwork for his MBA). Way to study!

And I so wish I could see that mariachi band community moment (From mom: if you wanna know about this one, ask me)! It sounds amazing!!