Week #14: I Shook The Hand of an APOSTLE.‏



The MTC girls together again (L-R; Sister Holmes, Sister Brown, Sister Beal, Sister Christiansen)

The Plain City Crew (L-R; Elder Parkinson, Sister Holmes, Elder Bradford)

Well hello there! WHAT A WEEK! We had the absolutely incredible opportunity to have a mission conference with Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve! President and Sister Smith were able to make it work so that the ENTIRE mission could meet together for this. Such a huge deal! We had the opportunity to meet Elder Anderson and shake his hand. Whoa. Let me tell ya. The spirit when he walked into the room sky rocketed. Instant tears on my end. Then when I got to meet him, I just wanted to hug him so bad! He truly is a man called of God. What an awesome experience! We got to sing our mission song to him (which holy emotions all over again because there were 200+ missionaries singing it for an apostle!) and then we got to hear from President and Sister Smith, then Elder Anderson and his adorable wife. Also, Mark Goldsteen (springsteen? crap. I forgot his name already) anyway, an AMAZING pianist played all the prelude, hymns and mission song for us! SO. COOL.

A fellow class of 2012 Silverwolf, Elder Smith

 

It was fun to have the whole mission together! I got to see all my MTC family and catch up with them, then I also saw Elder Bradford and Elder Parkinson(?) (crap.. I've already forgotten his name too!)  We of course had to take a Plain City picture. So crazy. haha I also ran into Elder Smith (Collin Smith) who I graduated with! What the! It was so fun. I especially loved seeing my girls!

So to make this even better, Elder Anderson came to the Panama City Stake and did a devotional. So I got to hear from him and be in his presence TWICE! He's amazing and I learned SO much. I was on a spiritual high for ddaayyss.

 

We had two investigators come to church, so that was ssaawweeet! We are still working with Valerie, and hoping to set a baptism date with her tomorrow! Peter is doing so well! He definitely feels the adversary working on him, but we have faith that things will work out! He is from Egypt, so Sister Rohwer and I surprised him with an Arabic Book of Mormon. He LOVED it!!! He was so so grateful. So that was a cool experience!

 

It was quite the week! I may or may not have had some mini meltdowns, BUT my sweet Savior pulled me through every time.

Just like I knew He would. :)

 

I'll leave you with one thing that really stood out to me as I listened to Elder Anderson. "Lift your face, and lift your faith."  Always look up to the Savior for comfort, for guidance, for happy times and bad times. Lift your faith and rise up to the

potential you are divinely destined with!

I love you all, and I feel your prayers every minute of the day. Thank you for ALL the support!!!

LOVE: Sister Holmes :)



Nobody's home... Was told an investigator lived here. Good new is no one lives here.

Frozen Yogurt for dinner!

Amazing friends and companions. An instant connection.

Week #2: Um, I Only Have 3 Days Left?‏

You guys. I can't believe this is my last email from the MTC! WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?! This week has been incredible in every way. Incredibly tiring, incredibly eye opening, incredibly amazing, incredibly hard, but so so incredible. I have learned SO much about the gospel and about myself and I LOVE IT!

HUGE thank you to all of the letters from dearelder.com! I LOVE THEM! They are the highlight of my day, and I have LOVED hearing from you all! Just remember that after monday I won't receive those... so you'll have to write me actual letters!

We've taught many lessons, but there is one lady I have to tell you about. Her name is Lisa, (and no this isn't one of those pretend investigators.) She is the SWEETEST lady I have ever met. She's in her early 60's, single and so golden. Our lessons with her have been the most spiritual experiences I have ever been through. She is SO CLOSE to accepting the gospel, and I wish I could express in words how amazing it has been to see her change and grow! PRAY FOR HER! If I could stay at the MTC longer just for her... I would. 

The chocolate milk... UM I'M GETTING FAT. Just kidding. But really, it's a serious problem. I've had to try really hard not to get it at every meal. hahaha But good news! I've actually gotten to the point where I drink water constantly! WWHHAATT! My life is changing. haha

Classes are amazing, and I have never loved studying scriptures as much as I do now. There are so many wonderful blessings that come from it, and I wish I would have been more diligent about it before I came out here. But, I've learned and created amazing habits that have opened my heart and my mind so much. 

This week has seriously been a blur... so I'm sorry that this email is all over the place! I can't remember what has happened! Just lot's of learning. We got to listen to Sister Rosemary M. Wixom at a devotional, Sister Brown and I were made Sister Training Leaders, and I am senior companion! The Elders in my district... I love them so much. We've all already planned our reunion trip. haha But I wish I could explain the friendship we all have, they truly have become my family and I love it. 

I'm short on time, but know I love you all and that I KNOW that this is the true church. I'm so excited to head out to Florida and teach!!! 

LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!! 

Sister Holmes