Wk #56: I'm on a SPIRITUAL HIGH!

Andrew

I swear. Every week is the best week of my mission. And that is more than true for this week as well!

I am SO HAPPY. I wish I could express how happy my heart is, but there just aren't words to even start! I have been SO blessed this week with miracle after miracle, and tender mercy after tender mercy, and my life has been changed. Again. ;)

SUNDAY

We had a BAPTISM! Andrew was SO excited, and the spirit was so strong. It was right after church, so the entire ward was there and it was awesome. Elder Dalley and a kid named Birkley spoke at the baptism and Sister Evans and I gave the prayers. We watched short little videos while Andrew was getting changed. He came out of the water SO happy. My heart was filled with joy to see one of Heavenly Father's children take that step into the Kingdom. He gets confirmed tomorrow (PRAY FOR HIM. He went to Atlanta and is stuck there, so we are praying that he makes it back for church tomorrow!!!) We are so proud of him. :)

Mission Leadership Conference... Reunited with Sister Rindlisbacher and Sister Brown. Happy!

MONDAY

We got a new investigator, Kahlil, and boy. Is he prepared! We had an INCREDIBLE lesson on the Restoration, and the spirit was definitely there. We are so excited about him, and can't wait to see what Heavenly Father has in store for him. 

The smiles say it all....

Later that day, we were sitting in the library on TCC waiting for our appointment, and I had the strongest feeling that we needed to go to the food court if our appointment didn't show up. I didn't say anything to Sister Evans, but time went on and he never showed up. Again, I was super prompted. I turned to Sister Evans and told her that we needed to go to the food court because someone was in there that we needed to see. So we grabbed our stuff and speed walked over there. We walked in and there was no one... right as I was about to doubt the prompting (never do that..) I look up, and there he was. WILLIE. You guys. I LOVE WILLIE! We hadn't been able to get a hold of him (he doesn't have a phone...) and we hadn't seen him for a while and we weren't sure how we were going to get a hold of him, and there he was! We asked him if he could meet with us right then, he said yes, and then we had the most powerful lesson on the Plan of Salvation. The spirit was so powerful, and.... We committed him to be baptized.. and HE ACCEPTED! November 28th people!!! HUGE miracle!

TUESDAY

Tuesday we had District Meeting which is ALWAYS awesome, a few appointments and then we got to go to Costco! I had to pick up my meds and it just HAPPENED to be SAMPLE DAY. hahaha Yep. We may or may not have walked around and eaten samples. It was awesome. We also found ginormous teddy bears that were like 10 feet tall! It's always a good place to be!

We also had our MLC this week, but it was a retreat! Twice a year they have a retreat where all the leadership in the mission go and have a bonfire and play volleyball and hang out at the mission home. It was SO fun. I LOVE the missionaries here. I'm surrounded by incredible people. We had a way good time. All of the STL's got to spend the night in the mission home, which was AWESOME. Even cooler than that, Exactly a year ago I was at the MTC on my first day in FL. Pretty fun!

WEDNESDAY

A pig neck in the green beans for flavoring they say... a good reason to avoid green beans I say!!! GAG!!!

Wednesday we had MLC (the actual leadership training) and boy was I spiritually uplifted. I am eternally grateful for President and Sister Smith. They have changed my life. I swear they are perfect. But Sister Evans and I had the opportunity to teach at MLC. We created a new exchange report that President loved so much he wanted it implemented mission wide. So we got to train on that! It was a super awesome day. 

THURSDAY

We got to meet with Melissa super last minute, and yet again, another miracle lesson! We taught her about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and it finally clicked for her! It was a really great lesson, and... We committed her to be baptized too!! YUP! She accepted... Her date is also for November 28th! We are SO excited! She is such a sweetheart and definitely deserves the blessings of baptism!

We also got to meet with a less active named I-Jah. I LOVE I-JAH. We had an amazing lesson with him, and HE'S COMIN BACK!!!! I'm SO excited!!!

FRIDAY

I was on exchanges and had a sister from Perry at TCC with me! It was super fun.

We got a new investigator named Malia... it's not spelled that way.. but I can't remember how to spell it. Anyway, she is way interested and is so excited to learn more. 

But, let's back up. Remember Derek? The one who is like WAY prepared? yeah. So, he didn't want to meet with us this week (which made us SUPER nervous) and hadn't heard from him. We had texted him on Thursday night and had just let him know that we were thinking about him. Well, friday I wake up and see the phone lit up, so I go and look, and you'll never believe what it said... it said "I believe. I want to be baptized!" WHAT!! Talk about a good morning! So, we moved our schedule around so that we could see derek. We did Family History with him which ended up being way sweet, and then we took him on a church tour. I have never been so overcome with the spirit in my life. As we reached the baptismal font, I was fighting back tears, and so was everyone else. We had a really powerful conversation, and then.,... we committed him to be baptized. He has had one crazy experience after another telling him this is true. So guess what... that's THREE baptisms on NOVEMBER 28th!!!! 

I KNOW I am supposed to be on TCC for Derek. The spirit has testified that to me time and time again. My heart is so full of gratitude that the spirit led us to him a few weeks ago. Heavenly Father has definitely been blessing us this week, and I don't feel like I deserve it, but I'm very humbled and grateful. 

You guys, this gospel is so true. I can't express how much love I have for the blessings of the scriptures and prayer. Never in my life have I been more converted to the gospel then I have this week. I know with every thing that I am that Heavenly Father loves His children. He knows them, He blesses them, and He wants them to return Home. I know that my Savior lives, that he has suffered for me specifically and that I can use that to be strengthened. I know that this church is true, and I will never deny that or fall away. I love this gospel, and I will defend my God at all times and in all things and in all places. 

I love you all with everything that I have! I hope you have a week full of blessings. ya'll are great.

All my love,

Sister Holmes :)

 

Week #44: FAMILY HISTORY

HELLLOOOOO EVERYBODY!

Once again, what a WEEK! :)

Have I ever mentioned how much I LLOOVVVEEE being a missionary?! 

Because I DO!

This week was awesome. We spent the beginning of the week mostly prepping for a Family History training that we had to give at MLC (Missionary Leadership Conference) on Wednesday. It was a lliitttlleee stressful, but it ended up going SO well. The spirit of Elijah definitely filled my heart. I wish I would have gotten into Family History more before my mission! 

MLC was so much fun!! I got to see Sister Brown and Sister Christiansen (from my MTC group) there because they are SLT's too! It was so much fun! We went to lunch during the conference which was super fun. It was a fun 2 hour road trip there and back :)

Speaking of road trips, I have had a few questions about traveling with my new assignment! The answer is yes! We travel a little bit! We do have a car (BLESSINGS), so we go on 24 hour exchanges with 7 sets of sisters every transfer. So we go to Perry, FL (about an hour away), Crawfordville, FL (about 40 minutes away) 4 sets are in Tallahassee, and then one of the sets of STL's (the furthest is 4 hours away). It's super fun, it's awesome being able to serve in different areas and seeing different parts of the mission! 

Also, yes... the weather is still absolutely miserable! But, I'm still alive so I guess it's not THAT bad. ;) ONE MORE MONTH OF THE HEAT!

Campus is still really slow, but school starts back up a week from Monday, so we just have to get through one more week, and then it's going to explode! We are SO READY for it. 

Our investigators are struggling a little bit right now! We only have a few that are really progressing. We are working with a girl name Melissa who is SUCH a sweet heart. She just graduated from High School this year and is going to TCC this fall. We have taught her a few times, and we are so excited with her testimony that's growing! We are praying really hard that she will continue to recognize the truth of the gospel!

Another investigator, Ivy, is doing okay. She has come to church the past couple weeks and has really enjoyed it, but we haven't been able to get a hold of her this week. :( We're hoping she's just away before school starts.

Sister Wood and I get along super great. I love her :) I have definitely been blessed with awesome companions! We laugh ALL THE TIME. It's the greatest thing ever. 

And, as always, here are the random things that happened this week. :)

-I watched two lizards fight (which who knew that lizards were fighting creatures?!) it was bizarre.

-We got called "Mama Wood" and "Auntie Holmes" by the elders this week because we were driving the mission mini van to MLC and we drive it on our P-day so all of us sisters can go places together. We got a kick out of that!

-We ACCIDENTALLY left a set of sisters in Crestview at lunch during MLC. haha we felt SO bad. But don't worry, we went and got them :)

-There was a CRAZY thunderstorm yesterday. It was the worst one I have experienced out here! It was a little nerve wracking, but so awesome! I LOVE THE THUNDER HER. It's intense!

-On an exchange, we got interviewed by this random guy on camera. haha it was the weirdest experience in the world. 

-I burnt my elbow on the hood of a car. haha that's all that need to be said. 

All in all, it has been a wonderful week! 

I want to leave you with a video that we shared at MLC. It's a cartoon, but we loved it. 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/discover-your-family-history-discover-your-story?lang=eng

Family History is SUCH a gift we have been given! I encourage you to get on familysearch.org and seek out your kindred dead. There is so much work to be done! Take them to the temple, help them receive the gift of baptism! There is nothing more sacred than serving those that you knew long before. 

I love you all, and I am so grateful for each one of you!!!

HAPPY SATURDAY!

All my love,

Sister Holmes :) 

 

 

Wk #25: The Happiest of Easters!

What a WEEKEND!

Callaway, Florida, being a Sister Missionary, Having the best companion, General Conference AND Easter all combined = An extremely memorable weekend. :)

This last week was so great! We have a new finding tool that President Smith has been strongly encouraging us to use, which is a survey about Family History and Religion. Sister Rohwer and I decided to dedicate an hour to it everyday, and boy has our dedication paid off! We were able to have extremely strong testimony building experiences, learning opportunities, and NEW INVESTIGATORS! You combine all that with singing opera primary songs at the top of your lungs while riding bikes, and I'd call that a successful week!

We were able to watch conference at some members homes both Saturday and Sunday. Sister Rohwer and I sat there with our jaws dropped as each talk ended. 95% of them described the situations we had been in the last three weeks. Questions and confusions and misunderstandings about Adam and Eve? That has interestingly been our life that past couple weeks. We have come across MANY people who have ended up bashing on Adam and Eve and strongly changing the doctrine clearly stated in the bible. Also, all the talks about families and the Atonement? Once again, many teaching opportunities having to do with exactly that. It's fascinating how truly inspired these leaders of the church are! Not only that, but many, many questions were answered that I had prayerfully considered. OH, HOW I LOVE CONFERENCE!

It was definitely an incredible experience to be watching it from across the country, set apart as a missionary. There was a different spirit about it that I will never be able to deny or forget. I am so grateful I chose and was called to serve!

Oh ALSO, HELLO MY YSA WARD SINGING IN THE CHOIR SATURDAY AFTERNOON!!! I about DIED when I saw familiar Utah faces!

Easter was also great. :) We were able to spend it with member's and their families during Conference, then out teaching and contacting the rest of the night. And yes, the Easter Bunny DEFINITELY found us. haha we got a little spoiled.

I just want to end by quoting our beloved Prophet. “We are engaged in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ,” he concluded. “Let us learn of Him. Let us follow in His footsteps. Let us live by His precepts.” Each talk focused on the BASICS of the gospel. Out in the field we teach people about spiritual CPR. Church, Pray, Read. Follow in the Saviors footsteps diligently. Attend your church meetings, the temple, and activities. Pray ALWAYS. Strengthen that precious relationship with your Father in Heaven. Read your scriptures. Study them. LOVE them. I can promise you that as you do these small and simple things, individually AND as a family, great things will surely come to pass. (Alma 37:6) We are in a great battle. We know who will win, but we have to do everything we can to get there.

I love you all!

Sister Holmes :)

Ps- Happy Easter from Sister Rohwer and I! :)

Too much Easter sugar... (backseat: l-r; Sis Nichols, from momma's lil hometown & Sis Jensen)

Wk #16: 21 and some Callaway fun!

Well hheellloo!!

First of all... T H A N K  Y O U  for all the birthday cards, packages, and emails! I was completely overwhelmed with love and have to say I got a little spoiled out here! So thank you!!! I ended up having a wonderful birthday! Sweet Sister Rohwer made me my favorite brownie sheet cake for my birthday, which I of course ate for breakfast.. ;) we went out to lunch with Sister Jenson and Sister Campbell (the other two sisters in our area) at Applebee's for my birthday lunch, which I ended up being having a birthday solo performed for me. Sister Campbell decided to tell our waitress that it was my birthday, and all the sudden she starts singing a very intimate, eyes closed serious birthday solo, almost at a Josh Groban level. You could say I was QUITE embarrassed. haha But it made for a funny moment. We did some service at a member's home, which means I got to wear SWEATS! Booya! Then went to scripture study, where I was surprised with a four layer cake that one of our YSA's made me! They all sang to me too. It was such a great day, and it felt great spending it out here! :)

Some other big news... We got transfer calls last night.. and.. SISTER ROHWER AND I ARE STAYING TOGETHER HERE IN CALLAWAY!!! We. Are. THRILLED. I just love her!

Miss Valerie's baptism is all set for this coming Saturday, and wow. My heart is just SO full of so many happy emotions! She is the biggest sweetheart ever, and her testimony just radiates. I am so beyond proud of her! Both Sister Rohwer and I are so, so excited that we get to both be here for her baptism. WE'RE SOOOO EXCITED!

Church yesterday was amazing. Our testimony meeting had the sweetest spirit, and it was amazing to hear such strong witnesses of the truth share their feelings. What an amazing opportunity we have to bear our testimonies! Other than that, we had a pretty slow week. We had a lot of cancelled appointments and lots of failed plans, but we're still workin hard!

This week I wanna leave ya with a little message about Family History. It is such a HUGE focus here in this mission, and something we should put as a priority in our everyday lives. I want to challenge and commit ya'll to find 1 name... just one.. this week to take to the temple! Remember your kindred dead. Read D&C 128:15,18-19, then pray for the spirit of Elijah as you search through your family tree. I promise you, that as you sincerely search for those ancestors, you will feel the spirit, and you will find those who are prepared to receive the gospel. You will find those who have been waiting for you, and specifically you, to do their work here on earth. What an amazing opportunity it is to live in a place that is completely surrounded by temples in every direction! Recognize that blessing, and recognize the opportunity and endless miracles that come from taking names to the temple. If you don't know how, or have never done it, ask someone. Go to familysearch.org and see your eternal family unfold :)

I love you all, and I am so grateful to be a missionary! What an amazing experience it is to help the lost sheep come back into the fold. Helping others feel the love that our Savior, Jesus Christ has for them. Seeing the Atonement work and change the lives of those around me. Everyday I am overwhelmed with an appreciation for my Savior. For the call that I accepted to help labor in the Lord's vineyard. My heart is just so happy, and it's so happy all the time. :)

Have such a wonderful week!
Peace and blessins.

Sister Holmes :)

Applebee's birthday lunch (Sister Campbell, Alexa's runnin' buddy, is on her way home!)

Partners in everything...