Letter from Sister Debbie Jo Harvey - a member who fed the Elders on Sunday, September 4, 2011
Elder Holmes is a hoot. I guess I shouldn't be surprised given how crazy YOU are! ha ha. Anyhow, he was a delight and we truly enjoyed our dinner with him and Elder Gordon. He will be losing Elder Gordon to us (he's becoming a zone leader) on Wednesday so watch for news of his new companion. We had roast chicken, carrots, a salad, green beans and roast potatoes. I'm pretty sure he enjoyed the 1/4 chicken he took (oh my goodness we had two chickens and my husband literally cut one into quarters and said he had no doubt the elders could each finish at least one each--and they did!) Anyhow, he seems to be doing just fine and is not shy so I think that means he is happy. Elder Gordon is on the right of Elder Holmes. Elder Thomas is one of our elders (and also the zone leader) and he's on his left. Have a fabulous week and thanks for sharing your sweet elder with us.
September 6, 2011 - Email
Hey there! How are things going on the home front? So, some crazy things have happened this past week! Up until Thursday night it was business as usual: finding, teaching, baptizing nations, etc. However, that night we got a call from our then Zone Leaders, Elders Taylor and Thomas, to tell us that Elder Taylor was going home a few days early and that Elder Thomas was going to be with Elder Gordon and I until transfers. The reason Elder Taylor went home was because there was another Elder who was having some medical problems and was getting sent home early. It just so happened that Elder Taylor lives in the same place as that Elder and was leaving in a few days anyway. So, President Merkley asked Elder Taylor to escort the other missionary home. So basically, the last few days I have been an honorary Zone Leader! ZL within my first couple months out. That has to be some sort of record! ha ha. On Saturday we got transfer calls. We found out that Elder Gordon will be moving across town to serve with Elder Thomas as the other Zone Leader and I will be getting a new companion. His name is Elder Butters. I know that President Merkley is inspired in his decisions and I know that I can learn something from every one of my companions. I'm nervous to basically take over the area. Elder Butters has never served here in Fayetteville before so he is going to expect me to be the one to know where to go and things. I know that it will help me learn and grow a lot though. I'm sure that I'm just being prepared to be an assistant to the President someday! (this message has been endorsed and approved by Elder Spencer Thomas) Also on Saturday we had another baptism! Her name is Jeanie and she was about the most golden investigator ever. She had been going to church with her boyfriend for almost two years and so when we went over to teach her, she already knew most everything. ha ha. The baptism was super cool! At the end of the service, she bore her testimony and she got all choked up. It was so powerful and just so sincere. I'm pretty lucky to have had two baptisms in my first transfer! I guess Elder Gordon didn't have any until his sixth. (a transfer is about six weeks.) Elder Thomas says it is because I am a stud. ha ha. He and I get along really well, he's quite humorous. Did Sister Harvey tell you that I went and ate at their house? They are a super awesome family! We had dinner and then had a little spiritual message about the Holy Ghost. Also, a member from Elder Thomas's ward took us shopping at Sam's Club instead of the usual Walmart. Holy bulk! ha ha. There were a couple things that we had to stop by Walmart for afterward because Sam's didn't have small enough packages of it. So, all of the sudden my allergies decided they wanted to act up so I've been sneezing and had a stuffy nose the past couple days. It is quite frustrating! I love you all! I know that the Lord is blessing you all back home because I know that I'm doing the right thing. As of today I only have 22 months left. Practically no time at all! Hope all is well
September 12, 2011 - Email
Hey family!
Thank you so much for the care package! If you guys keep that up, I'll never have to go shopping! haha The Renfoes asked if it was Christmas or something when they saw how big the package was. I just had to remind them that I've only been out for a couple months so it is still exciting for my family to send me stuff. They said that will wear off. haha What do you have to say to that?
I haven't gone out to get any allergy meds yet, but I'm going to when I go shopping today. Allergies are no fun at all! I'm tired of my stuffy, sniffly nose. Elder Buttars and I are getting along swimmingly. He is a great missionary and he's very dilligent. I think that he is just what this area needs because finding investigators isn't something at which I've become very experienced. Elder Gordon and I only went tracting once, not because we were lazy, we just had a lot of other things we were doing. I can't wait to get a ton of new
investigators! (because, you know, we just baptize so much that we're running out of people) Okay, now it is time for an amusing tracting anecdote. We were tracting on a street called Trinity Rd last night (Sunday). (because we thought it ironic) and we knocked on this lady's door. After doing so, we heard her yell, "come on in!" To which we responded, "...It's the missionaries." haha She
came to the door and explained that she thought that we were her sister or one of her sister's children because they live a few houses from each other. It was really cool though because it broke down the barrier between she and us so we were able to give her a Restoration pamphlet and our phone number. It also provided a nice ice breaker for her sister down the way, to whom we were able to give a copy of the Book of Mormon. This paragraph is probably mostly for Dad. On Monday, I spent some time with Pres. Renfroe in his shop and helped him work on the restoration of an old Buick. Right now he's working on getting off all of the rust. I'll have to take a picture of it and send it to you. What year is grandpa's truck? Speaking of them, tell them I apologize for not writing them back. I swear that I did! I have a pile of letters to which I have not yet responded and theirs must have been moved on accident. Also, how is my cousin Josh? You should get me his MTC address or Dear Elder my address to him. He is still in the MTC, right? Have you ever made Cafe Rio pork? We had it twice this week and I have to say, it is pretty dang good. We even have leftovers that the bishop's family gave us after we had dinner with them. Have you had the missionaries over to eat since I've been gone? Do they share a spiritual message and stuff? Lately something we've been doing is setting dates with members. A lot of times missionaries will talk to ward members, ask the ward members if they know anyone who wants to hear the gospel, and be done. However, what we are doing is asking the ward members to set a date without someone in particular in mind. As they work toward that goal (pray, fast, make a more conscious effort) we tell them that the Lord will lead them to someone to have in their home that they may have never even met or considered to hear the gospel. It definitely takes a lot of faith on the member's part, but the miracle that they can witness of seeing
someone receive the gospel in their home is well worth it. You guys should totally try that! You all could be missionaries like me!
So, I know that you are probably wondering about Elder Buttars, the lucky recipient of the greatest companion in the entire OTM. Actually, knowing Mom, you probably already know more about him than I do. haha He came out the same time as Elder Gordon, so he will be going home in January. He is from Mariott-Slaterville city, so it's no wonder that we have common acquaintances.
His mom emailed him about those too. I guess Aunt Annette cleaned his teeth back home. It's
a small world after all, It's a small world after all, It's a small world after
all! It's a small, small world! Anyway... I don't know much about his family. He has a brother who is a few years younger than he is. Before he came out, he did a semester at USU for electrical engineering and in high school he played trumpet in the band, and ran track. Speaking (kinda) of running track, biking is just super fun! (sarcasm) haha No, actually it's not too terrible when I think of how hot I'll look after all of this exercise. It's getting a lot easier, both because I'm getting used to it and because the weather is ignificantly cooler and drier (or, I'm just used to the humidity). I swear that sometimes the spirit is pedalling my bike for me. It's like that poem called like Footsteps in the Sand or something, except it is with bikes. haha One thing that I've really enjoyed is the time that I get to study the scriptures every day. Have you guys been studying scriptures as a family and doing fhe? I'll tell you what, my mission has really helped me to appreciate the importance of those two things in the home. (side note for Mommy so that she isn't jealous that Dad got one) Speaking of scripture study, today I got on a chain of scriptures that led me to something that made me think of you. In ST JOHN 19:25-27, Jesus is up on the cross. I think that one of the times that I spoke in sacrament on Mother's Day I used this scripture. "When Jesus
therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith
unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold
thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
It is just so powerful to me that Jesus was up on the cross, worrying about the sins of the world, and He made sure to take time specifically to care for His mother. I know that Jesus Christ is a perfect example for us all to follow and I know that he had incredible love for his mother. I just hope that you know that I love you as well. (are you crying yet? haha) I hope you know that you all are always in my prayers. I do love you all and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss you at least sometimes. I hope you are all doing well. Sorry if I missed any info. I'll make sure to send some pics your way soon! Love, Elder Holmes (the best mother-hugger around!)
Thank you so much for the care package! If you guys keep that up, I'll never have to go shopping! haha The Renfoes asked if it was Christmas or something when they saw how big the package was. I just had to remind them that I've only been out for a couple months so it is still exciting for my family to send me stuff. They said that will wear off. haha What do you have to say to that?
I haven't gone out to get any allergy meds yet, but I'm going to when I go shopping today. Allergies are no fun at all! I'm tired of my stuffy, sniffly nose. Elder Buttars and I are getting along swimmingly. He is a great missionary and he's very dilligent. I think that he is just what this area needs because finding investigators isn't something at which I've become very experienced. Elder Gordon and I only went tracting once, not because we were lazy, we just had a lot of other things we were doing. I can't wait to get a ton of new
investigators! (because, you know, we just baptize so much that we're running out of people) Okay, now it is time for an amusing tracting anecdote. We were tracting on a street called Trinity Rd last night (Sunday). (because we thought it ironic) and we knocked on this lady's door. After doing so, we heard her yell, "come on in!" To which we responded, "...It's the missionaries." haha She
came to the door and explained that she thought that we were her sister or one of her sister's children because they live a few houses from each other. It was really cool though because it broke down the barrier between she and us so we were able to give her a Restoration pamphlet and our phone number. It also provided a nice ice breaker for her sister down the way, to whom we were able to give a copy of the Book of Mormon. This paragraph is probably mostly for Dad. On Monday, I spent some time with Pres. Renfroe in his shop and helped him work on the restoration of an old Buick. Right now he's working on getting off all of the rust. I'll have to take a picture of it and send it to you. What year is grandpa's truck? Speaking of them, tell them I apologize for not writing them back. I swear that I did! I have a pile of letters to which I have not yet responded and theirs must have been moved on accident. Also, how is my cousin Josh? You should get me his MTC address or Dear Elder my address to him. He is still in the MTC, right? Have you ever made Cafe Rio pork? We had it twice this week and I have to say, it is pretty dang good. We even have leftovers that the bishop's family gave us after we had dinner with them. Have you had the missionaries over to eat since I've been gone? Do they share a spiritual message and stuff? Lately something we've been doing is setting dates with members. A lot of times missionaries will talk to ward members, ask the ward members if they know anyone who wants to hear the gospel, and be done. However, what we are doing is asking the ward members to set a date without someone in particular in mind. As they work toward that goal (pray, fast, make a more conscious effort) we tell them that the Lord will lead them to someone to have in their home that they may have never even met or considered to hear the gospel. It definitely takes a lot of faith on the member's part, but the miracle that they can witness of seeing
someone receive the gospel in their home is well worth it. You guys should totally try that! You all could be missionaries like me!
So, I know that you are probably wondering about Elder Buttars, the lucky recipient of the greatest companion in the entire OTM. Actually, knowing Mom, you probably already know more about him than I do. haha He came out the same time as Elder Gordon, so he will be going home in January. He is from Mariott-Slaterville city, so it's no wonder that we have common acquaintances.
His mom emailed him about those too. I guess Aunt Annette cleaned his teeth back home. It's
a small world after all, It's a small world after all, It's a small world after
all! It's a small, small world! Anyway... I don't know much about his family. He has a brother who is a few years younger than he is. Before he came out, he did a semester at USU for electrical engineering and in high school he played trumpet in the band, and ran track. Speaking (kinda) of running track, biking is just super fun! (sarcasm) haha No, actually it's not too terrible when I think of how hot I'll look after all of this exercise. It's getting a lot easier, both because I'm getting used to it and because the weather is ignificantly cooler and drier (or, I'm just used to the humidity). I swear that sometimes the spirit is pedalling my bike for me. It's like that poem called like Footsteps in the Sand or something, except it is with bikes. haha One thing that I've really enjoyed is the time that I get to study the scriptures every day. Have you guys been studying scriptures as a family and doing fhe? I'll tell you what, my mission has really helped me to appreciate the importance of those two things in the home. (side note for Mommy so that she isn't jealous that Dad got one) Speaking of scripture study, today I got on a chain of scriptures that led me to something that made me think of you. In ST JOHN 19:25-27, Jesus is up on the cross. I think that one of the times that I spoke in sacrament on Mother's Day I used this scripture. "When Jesus
therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith
unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold
thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home."
It is just so powerful to me that Jesus was up on the cross, worrying about the sins of the world, and He made sure to take time specifically to care for His mother. I know that Jesus Christ is a perfect example for us all to follow and I know that he had incredible love for his mother. I just hope that you know that I love you as well. (are you crying yet? haha) I hope you know that you all are always in my prayers. I do love you all and I'd be lying if I said that I didn't miss you at least sometimes. I hope you are all doing well. Sorry if I missed any info. I'll make sure to send some pics your way soon! Love, Elder Holmes (the best mother-hugger around!)
September 19, 2011 - Email
Hey Family! So this week was just another great week of missionary work. On Tuesday we stopped by to see Cello, the one who was baptized last month, and we shared a spiritual message with him about prayer and how God always wants to hear from us. He seemed to have the idea that he didn't want to "bother" God with all of his problems so we explained that Christ has already done the suffering and that God was omnipotent and couldn't be burdened by any of our concerns. After meeting with him, we were walking around and we saw a potential who Elder Gordon and I had found a while ago. Her name is Brittany and when I yelled hi to her she invited us in to have a lesson with her which was way cool. She was raised Baptist and her husband was raised Methodist, so she is looking for a church they can both attend. Fortunately for her, she found the only true and living church! Later that evening we saw Mary who is the older African American lady. She told us that she had some medical appointments and things coming up so we said that next time we would give her a priesthood blessing. That experience happened on Thursday and it has been the most spiritual experience I've had on my mission. We had a lesson on the fact that our church is the only church with the restored priesthood authority from God and that that was why we can perform blessings of healing and other ordinances such as baptism. At the end of the lesson we performed the blessing. Elder Buttars did the anointing and I sealed the anointing and gave her the blessing. I don't really remember what I said (I usually don't remember) but when it was done and she stood up and turned around, we discovered that she had been crying the whole time. For a moment we just stood there in silence and then she said, "I don't know why I'm crying." Of course, we knew exactly why and we explained to her that she was feeling the spirit, very strongly at that. I was just on a spiritual high the rest of the evening and I just wish that every single appointment could go like that! Wednesday was our first district meeting with Elder Buttars as District Leader and it was about how we could use the scriptures in our lessons more efficiently. It was very helpful and we have been trying to implement it into our teaching. We have three investigators working towards baptism, two of them are a married couple and they are super nice but Rus seems to always get sick on Sundays so they have only been able to come to church a couple times. The past few days it has been raining quite a bit. Fortunately, it has been on a week where we have the car instead of bikes. Yay! On Sunday it was crazy! The sky even started to turn green and there was a tornado warning for a while. Nothing ever actually developed but it was still pretty crazy. We decided it would be in our best interest to go home a bit early that night and study. Sunday night we had a Zone outing where all the elders in our zone came and slept over at the Renfroes. Then, this morning, we had some instruction from President Wagstaff from the stake presidency. We also had instruction from President and Sister Renfroe and the zone leaders about why it is important to utilize the members in missionary work. Sister Renfroe made a good point that when we have a lesson with the investigator in a member's home it is letting them experiene what the gospel can do to help a family first-hand, rather than us as missionaries trying to describe it to them. Then, after that we went to some batting cages that some members own and played a game of whiffle ball. My team lost, but it was close. I can hit just fine but I stink out in the field. ha ha I love you all!!
September 26, 2011 - Email
Hey mom! We are teaching a lady named Mary. She is making alot of progress and the last time we met with her she asked if I would perform her baptismal ordinance! It will be my first time on my mission doing that so I'm pretty excited. It will be happening on October 8th. On Wednesday we were on exchanges with some other Elders in our District (we do that a couple times each transfer because Elder Buttars is the District Leader) and I was in my area with Elder Pickens. Toward the end of the night we were going to bike home, but his knee started to hurt from a previous injury that he had and his knee did not like the motion of pedaling. So we were walking our bikes back to the Renfroe's on a poorly lit road with no sidewalk and very little shoulder. I told him to stop so that we could have a prayer and a little ways down the road after we did that some nice strangers, the Walkers, picked us up and drove us back to the house. It was so cool! They weren't members of the church but they knew some members so they knew who we were. Prayer works! This Friday the Sister Missionaries who cover the University Ward had a baptism for a girl named Ginger. It was way sweet because Elder Gordon and I were the ones who taught her the first lesson before passing her off to the Sisters. She was just about the most golden investigator ever. ha ha I feel like time is flying by already even though most missionaries say that it doesn't really fly until the middle of your mission. I hope that time is moving as quickly for you as well. I love you all very much and I know that your prayers help out a ton. I definitely know that I'm doing the right thing and that even though this mission isn't for me, it is helping me grow a ton. Love, Elder Cody Holmes