Week #11: Where has 2014 gone?!

I hope everyone had such a wonderful Christmas and that they bring in the new year with something fun! I can't believe it's almost 2015! What the heck! Time is just FLYIN'!

 

Christmas on a mission is definitely a different experience. I was able to truly feel the TRUE meaning of the holiday all day long. What an awesome opportunity to share the gospel message on the day we celebrate Christ's birth! I was overwhelmed with gratitude to be a missionary. We ate so much that day... luckily it was all good (normal) stuff! haha

Again, thank you thank you for all the Christmas cheer. I have the most wonderful support system in the world! I'm so lucky to have such amazing family and friends. So, THANKS! But, the best gift I received was SKYPE! That made my heart SO happy!!

 

The rest of the week was great! We set a BCD (Baptism Date) with one of our investigator's, Daphne! We are so so so excited! She is such an amazing person, and I just love her so much. The missionaries have been working with her for just under a year, and we are so proud of her! Her baptism is planned for the end of January. So keep her in your prayers as she prepares for this special day!

 

Sister Rohwer. You guys. I ADORE Sister Rohwer. She is the biggest sweetheart in the world. I've loved her since the first time I talked to her on the phone when we found out she was going to be transferred here! She is from Logan, Utah and is just such an incredible lady. We get along SO well, and have so much in common. I am so so excited for this transfer, and we have already hit the ground running and have so many awesome goals set. She is just so great.

 

We are working with Grandma Nash helping her get to the temple. She is doing so well, and has progressed so much! I love her with all my heart and soul. She adopts all the missionaries she works with, and she truly is my Callaway Grandma! We are praying that this new year brings her the blessings of the temple and that eternal happiness.

 

I am SO grateful to be a missionary! I have learned so much about myself and about the gospel. This is an experience that is so precious, and beautiful, and I have the privilege of being right in the middle of it! My heart is always full of so much happiness and love towards God's children.

 

 

I've been reading in 2 Nephi, and I have just gotten SO much out of it lately. (I LOVE THE SCRIPTURES) As I was reading in 2 Nephi 8 I came upon verse 3 and just loved it. Be Christlike, be obedient, live the gospel joyfully because one day the Lord will come, and he will comfort Zion and we will be filled with joy and gladness, thanksgiving and the voice of melody. Life is hard, but it IS worth it!

 

I love you all so much and appreciate all the prayers on my behalf. I can feel them helping me and bearing me up when things get difficult.

 

The Happiest Missionary in the South,

 

Sister Holmes

ps- my white Christmas was on the beach... and that indeed is a jelly fish. Say what!

Week #1: S U R P R I S E !

P-day is on FRIDAYS! :)

 I currently just got out of the doctor's office. Yep. Talked to the nurse, she didn't know what was wrong with me, so I have a doctor's appointment in a couple of hours. Story of my life! Hello dizziness and other unwanted things, welcome back into my life. NOT. And they pricked my finger :( boo. Two of the elders from the other district were kind enough to give me a blessing though, so heaven bless them.

So... the MTC is crazy! I love it. The food is not as good as everyone says, but the chocolate milk is TO DIE FOR. I crave it all the time. All the Elders are total gentlemen, and classes are awesome. My district is my favorite, and we are all already best friends. OH! and guess who my companion is!!!....  SISTER BROWN! The one I had met via facebook! Talk about a blessing! I LOVE HER! We have so much in common and get along so well. The other two sisters are Sister Christiansen (pretty sure that's NOT how you spell her name... but she'll never know) and she's from Fresno, California, and Sister Beal from Bountiful! The Elders are HILARIOUS. We have the greatest time as a district and always try to meet up because we laugh and get along like crazy. There's Elder Pennington, Elder Hinckley (distantly related to President Hinckley), Elder Curtis (my fave) and Elder Wilts! You guys. I can't even tell you how much I love them.

Sister Brown and I have started prepping our first lesson for our first investigator Kristine! The spirit is amazing. Personal study and companion study is fascinating. We are so excited, and we are always on the same page so it makes it super fun! 

Our teachers are Sister Lyon and Elder Lee and they are AWESOME. We just met our Branch Presidency last night, and they are the sweetest ever. Sister Brown was made Senior companion, which means I'm the junior for a week and then we will switch.

So far, things are crazy, amazing, hard, and every other emotion you could possibly think of. I really do love it. Just not the mornings ;) 6:20 and I are not friends. But lucklily none of the sisters are morning talkers, so it's nice. 

Pray for my anxiety to get the heck out of here. Mornings are brutal with that dumb aspect. 

BUT I'm relying on the Lord and have faith everything will work out! I still ask myself (and the other sisters) if this is real life... It's a surreal thing to be surrounded by hundreds of missionaries. On wednesday when I got here, in the devotional they said that 360 missionaries entered the MTC that day... crazy! And that there are over 4000 people STAFFED here. It's insane! 

This gospel is amazing, and I still can't believe I'm wearing a missionary badge! 

I love you all and appreciate all the support and love! 

Sister Holmes :)