First P Day and What a Journey So Far

Elder Heilmann is now on the loose in Wiesbaden-Sonnenberg, Germany with his companion and Trainer, Elder Tillett.  Since they are in Bavaria, they wear blue shirts as white shirts are more commonly associated with manual labor or "Blue Collar Jobs."  Since the missionaries are technically considered Volunteers, they are to wear blue. 

He called me (yay) on Facebook Messenger video for his Pday....Preparation Day.  This is the day the Sisters and Elders on Missions do their shopping for the week, laundry, letters and calls home, etc.  A literal day of preparing for the week ahead.  Theirs just happens to be on Thursday.  It was so fun to receive his call and see his face.  I happened to be in the lobby of the Doctors office and just had to apologize and say, "I have to take this call.  My son is calling me from Germany!"  The receptionist just smiled and told me to carry on. :D

Elder Heilmann will be riding the bus around Wiesbaden as cars or bikes are not necessary in this area.  He is kind of excited about that prospect.  Something totally new!  He is loving how cute and quaint everything is, too.  Definitely a departure from American soil.  He said that the building behind him was the inspiration for the Salt Lake Temple design in Salt Lake City, Utah.  

So, lets go back to his flight and the days preceding....

We took Elder Heilmann's pants to be hemmed before leaving the country and they were guaranteed to be finished on Friday (Monday fly out).  Unfortunately, the seamstress had a part break on her machine and so she had a back-up of repairs and tailoring.  We told the owner that we needed them by Sunday as he was to fly out early Monday morning.  It was affirmed that they would be ready on Sunday morning and that the shop would be open for pick up between 9am-1pm.   

Sunday came and by the middle of the day we realized we forgot to pick up the pants!!  We made a hasty call but it was already after 1pm.  We just decided it was going to be ok and we tried to forget about it for the rest of the day.  We knew we could always ship them later and it would work out.  We also knew that he could buy some once he arrived in Germany...which he did.  He found an H&M and got two pairs of slacks for about $30 US!

Sunday, we had an Open House for friends and family to come and say goodbye.  His Aunties, Amanda and Sarah came and helped pack.  It was masterful!  So his bags and carry-on's went down to the front door, ready for departure.  After the Open House, Elder Heilmann got a Father's Blessing and we had a family prayer.  Later that evening Elder Heilmann and I (mommy) watched the final episode of The Chosen: Season Two on livestream....our favorite show.  It was nice to snuggle my baby one last time for the next two years.  

After our show, we all went to bed and I prayed with Elder Heilmann and his brother, Tristan.  I tried REALLY HARD to not cry.  I was quite choked up though and the prayer was soothing.  

4:30am came and we all rolled out...all 6 of us.  I think we were all surprised that their were only smiles and hugs and no tears!  We all knew how hard Elder Heilmann worked to get to this point, and we were too thrilled for him to be sad.  It also helped knowing that he would be close to an Army Post and we would talk to him on Thursday. ;)  The Lord truly helped us separate smoothly. 

Elder Heilmann was armed with his carry-on, plane tickets, and a spring in his step...but no phone.  So we had to wait until he arrived in Germany to hear the rest of the tale. ;)

Elder Heilmann's flight to Dallas, Texas was just fine.  He was supposed to have a 6 hour layover there.  We had pre-planned for him to hang out at the USO, but unfortunately it was closed.  So, he had to just bum out in the airport, Tom Hanks style, while he waited for his companion to arrive in Dallas and for the flight to be ready.  Unfortunately, they had MULTIPLE delays! 

The flight from Dulles, VA to Dallas, TX was smooth and quick.  He was prepped for the 6 hour delay before his flight to Frankfurt, Germany, but unfortunately, Mother Nature had other ideas.  The plane they were supposed to fly on had some 'technical problems' which they finally admitted to as 'this plane was struck by lightening and it turns out the whole system is fried so we have to find another plane' problem.  Elder Heilmann was delighted every time the gate attendant came on the PA because he said she sounded just like Sister Nancy Jensen.  It made him smile through the 10 hour wait in between flights!

He finally arrived in Frankfurt VERY tired for his seat wouldn't recline and he was up since 4:30am, but he MADE IT!  We received his two pictures from the Mission Home and it was great to see.  

Fast forward back to his first P Day.

Elder Heilmann called me several times on my Facebook Messenger but I was in an exam room with my friend for her Dr. appt. and I didn't get the calls.  When their was a lull in the appt in between procedures, I was able to pop out in the waiting room and check my phone.  I saw his missed calls and immediately called him back! It was so fun to see him and meet his companion.  

His companion, Elder Tillett, is from....yes...as he put it.  I giggled and asked, "Are your folks in the Military?"  He confirmed they were and were able to have a fun chat about that. Elder Tillett actually went to high school there in Wiesbaden so being there as a missionary is a little strange.  When Elder Heilmann and Tristan are asked where they are from, they usually say the same thing...Yes...  We lived in one place in Colorado for 4 years and up to that point, that was the longest my boys had ever been in one place.  We are up to 4 years here in our Virginia home and pushing towards 6 years, so the two little ones may be able to claim Virginia as their 'home'.  For now, Elder Heilmann says Savannah, Georgia because that was his favorite place that we lived even though it was only for about 1 1/2 years.  Such is the fun of being a Military Kid. 

Elder Heilmann and I talked of many things but he was really excited about what he has seen so far.  He said he found an H&M for pants, a store called Rewe that reminds him of Aldi, and Brula that reminds him of Target.  What's so funny about Brula is that it is filled with mirrors.  He said he kept thinking he was about to run into someone and realized it was his reflection.  😄  

He can't wait to see more and get to know the wonderful people of Germany.  That's all we have for now so we will leave you with a quote from Elder Heilmann's farewell talk... 

"I know I will love the people of Germany because I love the God that is sending me there"

_________

For more updates from Elder Heilmann, send me an email at: oeheilmann@gmail.com to be added to the weekly mission email. 

Lastly, for some fun German practice, check out findechristus.org  It's the mission website currently being run by Elder Heilmann's former Seminary cohort and now full time missionary in the same mission, Sister Webb.