Email - April 1, 2013
Had a really good week this week! I'll be honest, I'm not in much of an email typing mood, but I'll give y'all some highlights.
We started teaching two new people this week! Sister Adams is married to a church member who is returning to activity and she is really sincere! We've been able to meet with her a couple times and she is really comprehending what we teach, which makes things a lot easier. We also went over to teach Brenda, a 13 year old who going to be baptized on the 13th, and her grandma had invited over her nephew Monte, and now we're teaching him! He's a really nice guy. I had one of those stereotypical "we were about to go home but we kept working and were blessed" mission stories on Sunday! We had just finished up with what we figured was going to be our last appointment for the day and I was driving home when I was impressed to go stop by a less-active member with whom
we had been trying to meet. I said, "dang it! I was looking forward to going home and relaxing!" Of course, I wasn't really upset at receiving a prompting from the Spirit, I was only joking to Elder Morton. So we stopped by and it looked like nobody was home, but we knocked on the door anyway and he answered! He said something to the effect of, "great timing guys, I just got home." It was
awesome! We had a really great lesson and he should be coming out to a teaching appointment with us this Tuesday. Love you all!
Elder Holmes
We started teaching two new people this week! Sister Adams is married to a church member who is returning to activity and she is really sincere! We've been able to meet with her a couple times and she is really comprehending what we teach, which makes things a lot easier. We also went over to teach Brenda, a 13 year old who going to be baptized on the 13th, and her grandma had invited over her nephew Monte, and now we're teaching him! He's a really nice guy. I had one of those stereotypical "we were about to go home but we kept working and were blessed" mission stories on Sunday! We had just finished up with what we figured was going to be our last appointment for the day and I was driving home when I was impressed to go stop by a less-active member with whom
we had been trying to meet. I said, "dang it! I was looking forward to going home and relaxing!" Of course, I wasn't really upset at receiving a prompting from the Spirit, I was only joking to Elder Morton. So we stopped by and it looked like nobody was home, but we knocked on the door anyway and he answered! He said something to the effect of, "great timing guys, I just got home." It was
awesome! We had a really great lesson and he should be coming out to a teaching appointment with us this Tuesday. Love you all!
Elder Holmes
Email - April 8, 2013
So many things are going on! This last weekend was transfer calls and general conference. Elder Morton and I found out that we will both be leaving Parsons! What's even crazier is that we are both still staying together and going to Tahlequah, Oklahoma! I have to say that I'm pretty bummed about the timing of our departure. This coming Saturday is a baptism for Brenda, my birthday is Tuesday, and in the coming month an investigator couple is getting married and another part member couple is as well, the latter of which will shortly thereafter be getting baptized. To top it all off, it was General Conference this weekend, so
we didn't have church to get the opportunity to say goodbye to people this last Sunday at church. That being said, I know that transfers are done under the direction of the Lord and are not just random. I feel like there must be a really important reason for our transfer, seeing as how the Lord needed it to be done under such seemingly inopportune circumstances. I look forward to finding
out that reason and helping the Lord bless the people of Tahlequah! I'm also really happy to stay with Elder Morton, I really like him and feel like we work well together. He has amazing faith and it is a good example to me. In other news, I hope that everyone enjoyed Conference! A couple things stuck out to me during it. One thing was the emphasis on the fact that the Church has not and will not be changing its stances on moral issues, no matter much the world as a whole falters. Also, I really loved President Monson's talk
on obedience and how important it is to be a disciple of Christ. I truly know that the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve are called of God! Love you!
Elder Holmes
we didn't have church to get the opportunity to say goodbye to people this last Sunday at church. That being said, I know that transfers are done under the direction of the Lord and are not just random. I feel like there must be a really important reason for our transfer, seeing as how the Lord needed it to be done under such seemingly inopportune circumstances. I look forward to finding
out that reason and helping the Lord bless the people of Tahlequah! I'm also really happy to stay with Elder Morton, I really like him and feel like we work well together. He has amazing faith and it is a good example to me. In other news, I hope that everyone enjoyed Conference! A couple things stuck out to me during it. One thing was the emphasis on the fact that the Church has not and will not be changing its stances on moral issues, no matter much the world as a whole falters. Also, I really loved President Monson's talk
on obedience and how important it is to be a disciple of Christ. I truly know that the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve are called of God! Love you!
Elder Holmes
Email- April 15, 2013
Transfers were this last week! Honestly, I felt a bit like a chicken running around with its head chopped off but that's alright :) I'm
really happy to be here in Tahlequah! We live with members in a building that they have off to the side of their house. The Burks (the family with whom we live) are super awesome! Half of the building we live in is actually a gym with different types of workout equipment which is super awesome! Apparently a lot of missionaries come here before they "die" and I'm confident that one of the reasons is to whip us into shape for when we get home. haha There are a lot of really great things going on here, and the ward is
really excited about missionary work. We have a bbq/church open house activity coming up in May and that could potentially be huge! We have a few pretty awesome investigators currently who I could see getting baptized in my time here, and there is a ton of potential as far as finding. Love you! Elder Holmes
really happy to be here in Tahlequah! We live with members in a building that they have off to the side of their house. The Burks (the family with whom we live) are super awesome! Half of the building we live in is actually a gym with different types of workout equipment which is super awesome! Apparently a lot of missionaries come here before they "die" and I'm confident that one of the reasons is to whip us into shape for when we get home. haha There are a lot of really great things going on here, and the ward is
really excited about missionary work. We have a bbq/church open house activity coming up in May and that could potentially be huge! We have a few pretty awesome investigators currently who I could see getting baptized in my time here, and there is a ton of potential as far as finding. Love you! Elder Holmes
Email - April 22, 2013
I'm loving my time here in Tahlequah! I'm gonna be honest, I don't much feel like writing an email this week, so I'll do what I can.
One thing that I'm really noticing here is how missionary-minded the members are! It seems like no matter who we talk to, we get to hear about a friend they are working with. This Sunday Elder Morton and I both gave talks on repentance, and that went
over well! We were all (he, an 18 year old young man, and I) told to give 10 minute talks but when we got there the 1st counselor told us 15 minutes! haha Needless to say, I was the last speaker and I had 20 minutes to fill. Fortunately, I was able to do so! I've honestly really grown to enjoy speaking in Sacrament meeting. I've been able to do so in every one of my 6 areas! We also had the wonderful opportunity on Sunday to go to Tulsa and hear a message from Bishop Davies from the Presiding Bishopric! It was really nice to
see some Elders I hadn't seen for a while. Most importantly, it was great to hear from a General Authority! What really impressed me was how relaxed and personable he was. Love you all! Elder Holmes
One thing that I'm really noticing here is how missionary-minded the members are! It seems like no matter who we talk to, we get to hear about a friend they are working with. This Sunday Elder Morton and I both gave talks on repentance, and that went
over well! We were all (he, an 18 year old young man, and I) told to give 10 minute talks but when we got there the 1st counselor told us 15 minutes! haha Needless to say, I was the last speaker and I had 20 minutes to fill. Fortunately, I was able to do so! I've honestly really grown to enjoy speaking in Sacrament meeting. I've been able to do so in every one of my 6 areas! We also had the wonderful opportunity on Sunday to go to Tulsa and hear a message from Bishop Davies from the Presiding Bishopric! It was really nice to
see some Elders I hadn't seen for a while. Most importantly, it was great to hear from a General Authority! What really impressed me was how relaxed and personable he was. Love you all! Elder Holmes
Email - April 29, 2013
I'm alive, I'm loving the area and working hard! Elder Morton and I continue to get along swimmingly.