Wk #72: Happy Week :)

Here Comes Spring!

Hello lovely people!

I don't have a whole lot to report on this week, but It was a pretty good one! We were able to see a tone of Less Actives and all of our Recent Converts, and they are all definitely being blessed. We had some pretty incredible lessons that were no doubt led by the spirit. We have so many reactivations in the work this transfer, and it's a HUGE miracle! We also were able to work with the bishopric to (FINALLY) get a temple trip planned for May 7th! There are converts of a YEAR that haven't even been to the temple yet, and all of our recent converts are SO excited to go. The spirit in their excitement is out of this world. So, needless to say, the spirit of Elijah has been rockin our world this week. Oh, how my testimony of Family History has grown. I could do it all day everyday, and I can't wait until that's possible! 

We got an incredible new investigator this week from INDIA! He is so prepared. He told us that he knows that the Catholic church is NOT true. He is diligently seeking for the truth and is willing to do whatever it takes to find it. It's been awesome. His accent is a little hard to understand, but man. We are so excited! He goes back to India in a month, so we are really hoping to help him feel the spirit! 

Hunter and Willie are getting so excited for their baptism and are doing incredible. I am SO proud of Willie. He has come such a long way and man, the testimony he has gained is very touching. He is also extremely excited to go to the temple! 

The weather here has been crazy! There were lots of tornado warnings at the beginning of the week throughout the entire mission, and school was even cancelled completely on Wednesday all throughout Tallahassee because that's when we were supposed to get hit, but miraculously it jumped right over us! Talk about a tender mercy! Multiple tornadoes touched down in the mission, but we got blessed. We were so grateful. Now it's in the 70's! haha Good ole mother nature!

This week we've had the wonderful blessing of watching the Restoration movie multiple times with those we are teaching. The spirit that has filled my soul has been overwhelming has I ponder the life of Joseph Smith. I will eternally be grateful for his diligence and faith. If he would have backed down just once, we probably wouldn't have the Book of Mormon today. I am grateful for Emma and her loving support to the Prophet, Seer and Revelator. 

Elder Neil L. Andersen said, "A testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith can come differently to each of us. It may come as you kneel in prayer, asking God to confirm that he was a true prophet. It may come as you read the Prophet’s account of the First Vision. A testimony may distill upon your soul as you read the Book of Mormon again and again. It may come as you bear your own testimony of the Prophet or as you stand in the temple and realize that through Joseph Smith the holy sealing power was restored to the earth. With faith and real intent, your testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith will strengthen... 

There are great and wonderful days ahead. President Thomas S. Monson has said: “This great cause … will continue to go forth, changing and blessing lives. … No force in the entire world can stop the work of God. Despite what comes, this great cause will go forward.”

I give you my witness that Jesus is the Christ, our Savior and Redeemer. He chose a holy man, a righteous man, to lead the Restoration of the fulness of His gospel. He chose Joseph Smith.

I testify that Joseph Smith was an honest and virtuous man, a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, did appear to him. He did translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God.

In our society beyond the veil of death, we will clearly understand the sacred calling and divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith. In that not-too-distant day, you and I and “millions [more] shall know ‘Brother Joseph’ again.”

I too know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet in these latter days. 

I love you all! 

Sister Holmes :) 

picture- here comes spring!

Wk #71: It's a BRIGHT SUNSHINY day!

Lexa with Sis Rianne Saunders, a friend of Cade's from home! Welcome to FTM!

Today here in the sunny florida it is 82*! What happened to winter or spring?! I'm worried we have skipped both of those seasons! But, I'm not complaining. It's such a nice day! 

It was transfer week and.... I'M STAYING ON TCC! You guys. this was a moment full of happy happy HAPPY tears! I LOVE THIS PLACE. This will be Sister Evans and I's 4th transfer together! We can't believe it! We are each other's longest companions. I am SO grateful.

Lloyd and Derek

We had a pretty crazy week, lots of driving to help with transfers, but it was a good week. We had some crazy awesome lessons with a ton of our less actives! REACTIVATION here we come! SO many of them are progressing so quickly. It's the same excitement as a baptism! I love these people!!! 

A highlight of my week was while we were driving, we stopped at a stop light. Out of the corner of my eye I could see this older man staring at me. So I made sure to not make eye contact. Well, I accidentally did and noticed a little six year old in the back of the car also staring at me! I rolled down my window at their request and the older gentleman said "My little kiddie here thinks you are HOT! He was too shy to say anything to you though!" I just laughed and said hi to the little boy, then the light turned green and the little boy yelled "You are SOOO PRETTY!" haha made my entire day. 

Not too much to report on this week. 

Hunter and Willie are still on schedule to be baptized March 12th, so we are getting pretty excited for that! 

So many good things are happening over here. 

"The future of your faith is not by chance, but by choice."

—Neil L. Andersen

Love you all!

Sister Holmes

picture- this is Sister Saunders from HOME! Cade's really good friend! So happy she is here!

Wk # 70: Then Sings My Soul

Hello from the one and only Tallahassee Florida Mission! 

What an incredible week! I know I always say that, but really. We are being SPOILED over here! I am so grateful!!!

This week started out in the ER. Yep, you read that right. The stinkin Emergency Room! 

Good Night Tally

Sunday morning I wake up and start getting ready for the day. I hopped out of the shower and went to pick out an outfit and was all the sudden on the ground in the most excruciating pain I have ever experienced. I quickly threw on some clothes and went out into the living room to Sister Evans. We immediately called our mission nurse who told me to wait it out for about an hour to see if the pain eased up any. I tried to take some Advil, but the pain was so bad that the nausea didn't allow me to take anything. So I tried sipping some water, and instantly threw it up. Literally feeling like I was going to die, we called the Elders to come give me a blessing. Heavenly Father told me to patiently endure through this trial, which made me a little nervous because I was in such incredible pain. After the hour had finished, we called the mission nurse back and urgently expressed that the pain was getting worse. Poor Sister Evans was a trooper as I was crying and rolling on the ground doubled over! So, we grabbed our stuff and left for the Emergency Room. Of course I had my Grandma D blanket and a mixing  bowl just in case. ;) We got to the hospital and barely made it in. The lady at the front desk was getting my info and trying to crack jokes that were far from humorous to keep me distracted from the pain. They pushed me in a wheel chair right back to a room where I then got my first IV and my first dose of morphine! What a strange morning I had thought. As the morphine kicked in I was finally able to calm down and I dozed in and out of sleep. During the long wait for the Doctor, one of the hospital workers came in and asked if I had a living will or if I would like one, and if I was going to need a feeding tube. What the?! haha Sister Evans and I just laughed. I ended up having some tests done, and all of it came back normal of course, so they sent me home with some pain and nasuea meds and told me good luck. What a trip! I was SO upset because we missed Curel and Derrick's confirmation and didn't make it to church until the last hour. We were in the ER for about 5 hours on Sunday. Luckily, we got to see Derek Terry get the Priesthood so that was so great! It was just such an interesting start to the week. 

On Wednesday the Wilde's took us out to dinnner! We went to Red Robin and it was so good! I love a good burger! It was fun getting to know them. It's still so strange that my biology/drivers ed teacher is serving alongside me, but they are outstanding missionaries and I love them both!

The rest of the week was full of miracles though! We met some more INCREDIBLY prepared people! To make it even better, Curel and Derek T came out contacting with us and were the ones who met some of them! It was awesome! They both felt a huge spark of missionary fire, and Curel even mentioned that he's been thinking about serving a mission :) Oh how I love them so much! 

We have a couple more investigators progressing towards setting baptismal date, and.......

BERKLEY GOT BAPTIZED TODAY!!!

You guys. It was such a beautiful day! The spirit was so so strong. Her boyfriend, Scott and her parents were there (all from Texas) and a few of her friends came to support her! She bore her testimony at the end, and I can't even express how strong the spirit was. She is such a choice daughter of Heavenly Father. Scott was able to baptize and confirm her today, so that made it even better!

I am so so grateful to be serving a mission. I wouldn't trade the world for this experience. I'm grateful that Heavenly Father called me to serve a mission, and I'm grateful that he gave the courage to to heed to that call. In my setting apart blessing I was told that my family at home would love me and support me, but that I would gain new family in the mission. Oh, the truth of that statement! These people are my heart, and this work is my life. No joy can be compared to what I feel right now. 

To my Heavenly Father, "how great Thou art, how great Thou art."

All my love, 

Sister Holmes

A windy day in Tally

Curel out doing missionary work

 

 

 

Wk #69: BAPTISM DAY!

WHAT. A. DAY.

Today I experienced one of the most joyous baptisms of my LIFE. Curel and Derrick were the happiest people in the universe! The program was beautiful, the spirit was so strong, and their mom was able to make it! They asked me to give the talk on the Holy Ghost, so I was super happy to do that. Poor Curel had to be baptized 5 times because the water had drained a little bit and his pant leg kept floating up, be he finally got in there! Derrick was really grateful that he went second because he only had to do it once. :) They bore their testimonies, and their mom (who is a non member) even got up and said "maybe I'll be baptized next!" WHAT! She's so sweet. It was seriously one of the most powerful spirits I have felt on my entire mission. Curel was sobbing tears of joy in his testimony. The power of conversion and the Atonement is so real. Sometimes we experience so much joy that only tears can express that. Me included. :) not to mention we had SO much support from our ward there! So good. 

This week was phenomenal. We set TWO more baptismal dates!! Berkley is still on for next Saturday, and she is growing SO much! She is absolutely perfect. Then we have Hunter, Willie and Christopher scheduled for March 12th!!! I am extremely grateful. We are being incredibly blessed right now, and I truly know with all that I am that "the field is white already to harvest..." Sister Evans and I are continually doubling our efforts, and seeing the blessings. I finally feel like I know what I'm doing, and I know that Heavenly Father is helping us along the way! I am inexpressibly

 happy!

To make the week even better, Derek Terry is getting the Priesthood tomorrow!!!! AH! Tons of excitement happening! He is incredible. He is the most stunning member missionary I have ever met. OH! And his mormon.org profile is up!!! check it out!!! https://www.mormon.org/me/J6MC/DerekTerry

We also had MLC this week which was out of this world. I was so overwhelmed with the spirit and a new fire to work! It was inspiring and life changing. How grateful I am to have the privilege of attending MLC! The weather was pretty nasty as I was driving, but we made it safe and had lots of fun adventures! 

I love it here so much. I have never felt so much love in my entire life, and it's the happiest feeling in the world. 

I am so grateful for this gospel. Nothing has brought me more peace and purpose. I know who I am, and I know why I was sent here. These people I have met on my mission have changed my life exponentially more than I could ever change theirs. I'm grateful for the call to Teach Repentance, Baptize Converts, and Connect Generations. It's the greatest mission for this life, and it's the most joyful learning experience ever to be had. 

I love you all so MUCH!

xoxo,

Sister Holmes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wk #68: LOVE one ANOTHER

Crepevine birthday dinner

Hello everybody!

Thank you so much for all the birthday wishes! It truly was the best birthday I have ever had. Heavenly Father spoiled me SO much! I literally got teary eyed multiple times because I was so happy... just like always, it was the BEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

This week was another one full of incredible miracles. The spirit is so strong on TCC and we have been blessed with so many incredibly prepared people!

Wednesday we had interviews with President Smith. Sister Evans and I agreed that interviews are like a holiday that happens multiple times a year! Those few minutes are so precious to me! I am eternally grateful for President Smith. He has had a profound influence on my life, and boy can I testify that I was called here partly for him! He is one of my greatest role models in this life. 

We had more amazing lessons this week with so many of our investigators! We saw Kaleel, Johnnie, Juliette, Alec, Christopher, Kimberly, Daniel, Willie, Berkley, Hunter and Curel and Derrick! All of those lessons were out of this world. How grateful I am to have the spirit as the teacher, because that produces MIRACLES! 

Curel and Derrick are getting SO excited for their baptism! They just glow every time they talk about it. They truly are some of the most incredible young men I have ever met. SUCH gentleman. One week from today they will be baptized members!!! HOW EXCITING! I just want it to be here already!

Berkley is also doing beyond great. She is so prepared, it blows my mind. She is getting super stoked for her baptism as well, and we are so excited to get to meet her boyfriend and family! Two weeks from today for her baptism!!!

We set another baptismal date with our investigator Hunter for the beginning of March! So, that was really exciting :) and he was extremely pumped about it! 

We got a few new AWESOME investigators this week as well! Seriously. Best week ever.

My birthday was so much fun! We had lessons EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY... AND THEY ALL CAME THROUGH!!!!!!!! That never happens!!! I saw all of my favorite people (not that I have favorites.....) and Sister Evans took me out to dinner at the Crepevine! I love that place. I recieved lots of letters and a few packages and it made my entire world. It was SUCH a happy day. Derek (our recent convert) drew me a picture of the Ogden Temple and gave it to me oun my birthday. It is phenomenal. One of the best gifts I have ever received! Plus, A ton of the people we work with somehow knew it was my birthday, so I got the sweetest phone calls too! I AM SO BLESSED!

We went on some more exchanges this week and laughed our little hearts out, and this morning we were able to help at a Mini MTC for the priests and laurels in the Tallahassee Stake! It was SO MUCH FUN. The MTC spirit was definitely there. It was such great experience! 

I know I say this so much, but I really am the happiest I have ever been. I finally feel like I know what I'm doing, my testimony is the strongest it has ever been, my desire and willingness to be obedient and diligent has reached a capacity I didn't know possible, and my love for this work has never been stronger. I'm so grateful I got to spend another birthday on the mission! God sent me hear to Earth 22 years ago this week to follow Him, and i'm so grateful I've been able to do that here in Florida.

To leave, I saw this on lds.org and LOVED it! 

https://www.lds.org/blog/love-one-another-14-day-challenge?cid=HP_FR_1-29-2016_dOCS_fBLOG_xLIDyL2-2_&lang=eng

A Primary kid shared with us this morning that "We can't do missionary work without being friends first." How true that statement is. The greatest commandment is to love one another as Jesus loves you! Try to show kindess in all that you do, be gentle and loving and deed and in thought. These are the things Jesus taught!

I challenge you to take the 14 day challenge to love one another! I am doing it right alongside you.

President Monson said, "We cannot truly love God if we do not love our fellow travelers on this mortal journey. Likewise, we cannot fully love our fellowmen if we do not love God, the Father of us all. The Apostle John tells us, “This commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” We are all spirit children of our Heavenly Father and, as such, are brothers and sisters. As we keep this truth in mind, loving all of God’s children will become easier. Actually, love is the very essence of the gospel, and Jesus Christ is our Exemplar. His life was a legacy of love...May we begin now, this very day, to express love to all of God’s children, whether they be our family members, our friends, mere acquaintances, or total strangers. As we arise each morning, let us determine to respond with love and kindness to whatever might come our way.

Beyond comprehension, my brothers and sisters, is the love of God for us. Because of this love, He sent His Son, who loved us enough to give His life for us, that we might have eternal life. As we come to understand this incomparable gift, our hearts will be filled with love for our Eternal Father, for our Savior, and for all mankind. That such may be so is my earnest prayer in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen."

I love you all with everything that I am! 

Sister Holmes :) 

(picture- Crepevine birthday dinner!)

Birthday fun

Spoiled birthday girl!

Tired birthday girl!

Temple picture drawn by Derek, given to Lexa for her birthday

Throwback to a couple weeks ago

another random picture by the coach....

picture taken by one of the FAMU football coaches

One of the FAMU football coaches was feeling photogenic!

 

Wk #67: The Power of the Priesthood

Alexa and Sister Bushnell celebrating their 15 month mark!

You guys. I am being SO blessed right now. Sacrifice and obedience truly bring the blessings of heaven, and that is something I am forever grateful for! 

A few weeks ago President Smith challenged us to double our current efforts. I accepted without delay, and have been working on that ever since. I wasn't sure how I was going to do it, because we work so hard, but man. Miracles have been surrounding us ever since. I am grateful for an inspired mission president and wife!!!

Chick-Fil-A with Derek!

Derrick, Derek, Me, Derek and Darrick.... hahaha Only in the South!

We went to a world wide missionary training. You guys. IT WAS SO INTENSE! I learned SO much. I was on spiritual overload by the end of the two hours! We are definitely being prepared for battle! So many apostles and church leaders trained us. But one of my favorite things that was taught, and taught repeatedly, was that Faith is a principle of POWER and ACTION. 

We got a lot of really prepared investigators, but the high light of my week?

Remember Berkely, the golden referral that we got that had been studying Preach My Gospel? Yep. We set a Baptismal Date with her!!! AND her family and boyfriend will already be in town! She is getting baptized on February 13th, by her boyfriend that introduced her to the gospe! It was the most tender baptismal invitation I have ever experienced. The lesson was extremely powerful, and at the end, when we committed her, she started balling, and smiling, and laughing and gave us HUGE hugs and told us this was the best thing that has ever happened to her! I LOVE HER SO MUCH!!!!! So we have three baptisms coming up here in the next few weeks! SUCH A HAPPY TIME OF LIFE!!

We have been able to teach so many incredible people this week!

Some other fun things of the week were:

We went to Chick-fil-a with our boy Derek! He is doing SO good. I just love him.

We blitzed TCC with two of our sisters. It was SO much fun! We love them so much. 

We went to sushi for lunch with someone from Sister Evans old area! And no, I did not eat the sushi.. terryaki chicken. :)

I hit 15 months! WHAT. 

Man. What a great life to be living. I truly am so happy, and so grateful, and so blessed. Thank you all for always loving me and supporting me! I feel your prayers EVERYDAY. 

To leave, Elder Andersen told each of us to keep the name of our Savior on our lips. Be ready to testify, to teach, to invite, and to thank. This is not just an invitation to missionaries, but an invitation to all members, worldwide. So, I challenge you to do the same. "“Wherever you are—in a bus, on the street, in a teaching situation, or in a home with a member, if you are ever unsure of what to say, speak of the Savior. Testify of Him. Speak of His doctrine, of faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. This is your purpose. This is your charge.” 

I love this gospel. I testify of it's truthfulness. I testify that the Priesthood is real, and is very much so on this earth today. I had the opportunity to receive a Priesthood blessing, and I am truly grateful for worthy Priesthood holders to act as a mouthpiece for God. I testify that my Savior lives, and he loves, and he is with each one of us. 

I'm grateful to be a missionary, and I'm grateful to be a servant of the Lord. 

SO MUCH LOVE TO YOU!

Sister Holmes :)

Wk #66: M I R A C L E week!

Happy Weekend!!!

First cockroach of the mission... in the apartment, that is!

It was bigger then a penny! Gross!

I can't believe this week is already over! Where in the world is the time going?! I swear yesterday was just Saturday, but here I am, typing my little heart out again.

This week my testimony and understanding of faith and fasting has increased ten fold. This month, I put much more focus and preparation into my fast and have expected miracles everyday. Not only have I expected miracles, I have worked so hard to show that I am truly seeking strength from a fast. If anything, I have come to know that when we put forth every ounce of energy and effort, hard, vigorous effort, with a pure purpose in heart and mind, miracles fill your life. 

Not one hour, yes HOUR, has gone by this week that I have not witnessed a miracle. A beautiful, personal gift from my sweet Heavenly Father. 

First miracle? I received the most tender letter in the world from the one and only Elder Holmes. Thanks buddy! You have NO idea how much that meant to me!

This week we found 8 new investigators, all of which are out of this world prepared for the restored gospel. We more than doubled our lesson goals, and have managed to accomplish every teeny tiny task that has needed to be done. I am utterly exhausted, yet filled with the most indescribable energy I have ever had. What a journey this is!!!

We have the most incredible group of investigators right now, and I think I say that every time, but it's always true! There are a few in particular that I want to share with you though.

Berkely- Berkely was a media referral that we received with not a lot of information. So we quickly contacted her, and set up an appointment. Come to find out, her boyfriend of 7 months is a member and a returned missionary! She was floored by the way he lived and his actions and had a strong desire to learn why he was the way he was. So, he introduced her to the church. Not knowing where to start studying, she went to her boyfriend who gave her a Preach My Gospel... YUP. This girl has been studying PMG and LOVES it. So, we are teaching her (which honestly is just an awesome gospel discussion because she stinkin knows everything!) and it has been such a neat experience! We are hoping to set a baptismal date with her this upcoming week! YAY FOR MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK!

Christopher- He is THE SWEETEST. He has the biggest smile and is such a tender guy. I have such a soft spot in my heart for him. He LOVED the restoration, and I thought his jaw was going to fall off when we told him he could keep the Book of Mormon! 

Hunter- He is so funny. Like SO funny.. in such a strange way! Very smart and has overcome A LOT. He absolutely loves what we share with him. We read 1 Nephi 1 at the end of our lesson and whoa. He got SO much out of it and told us that he was so excited to go and read more. 

an update on the others...

Curel and Derrick- Set a BCD for February 6th!!! We had a couple powerful lessons with them this week, and it has been SO cool to see them grow. Curel reads 2 or more chapters of the book of mormon EVERY NIGHT. He says it's addicting and he can't put it down. How awesome is that!? 

Johnnie- He is growing SO much. He is experiencing so many tender mercies and recognizes them all being from the gospel! 

We got in touch with a bunch of our less actives... finally.. and they are all pretty ready to come back. 

I can't even express how happy all these people make me! I really love that I get to have front row seats to watch the Atonement work in the lives of those around me. Nothing compares to it. 

This week I also cut two inches off of my hair! It was sad, but my hair was real sad looking so it had to happen. The cute sister that cut my hair was like "If you want my honest opinion... you probably need at the most, 5 inches cut off." Yep. That wasn't about to happen! So I settled for 2. First actual cut of the mission! It's about time! 

We had the privilege of watching the CES devotional this week, and whoa. It rocked my world. I felt like it was directed right at me. What a blessing it is to have the priesthood and their faithful wives leading this church under the direction of Jesus Christ! 

To end, I want to leave you with a part of the devotional that sent chills through my soul. 

"Now, as an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bless each one of you, as though I had my hands upon your heads, with the ability to become the True Millennial you were born to be. I bless you to have the desire and ability to learn your true identity and purpose, that you will expect and prepare to do “impossible” things, that you will be undaunted in your efforts to learn how to access the powers of heaven to help you solve your problems and answer your questions. And I bless you to follow the prophets with exactness, to feel peace in your heart as you do so. I bless you to know and feel how much the Lord loves you and how much confidence He has in you." -President Nelson

I am so grateful to be alive at this time of the world. Dark and scary it may be, but full of light our eyes will see. 

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!

Sister Holmes