Hello people!
This week was a really good one, but at the beginning of the week my companion got sick so we didn't do much besides study all day and watch the rain in a hammock. However, at the end of the week we did end up getting to baptize Diego, the cousin of a member that lives in a different city. It was great to be able to baptize him because he had such a strong desire to for a long time, but his mom wouldn't let him because she wanted him to be baptized in the Catholic church. However when we went to talk with her she was super nice and gave us avocado ice cream, and turns out the only thing we really needed to do was teach her. All the other missionaries had just taught him, but when we had offered to teach her she accepted, and after hearing our message she understood and let him be baptized in the church. I think it's interesting how much understanding can change things. Just like in "Our Search for Happiness" written by M Russell Ballard. The whole reason he wrote the book was just for understanding, not trying to convert anyone, and the reason we taught his mom was just for understanding, and that made her realize how important it was for her son and let him be baptized. I will send pics of the baptism and the rain too. Have a good week!
Love,
Elder Holcomb
In our letters we were discussing the portion of last week's Come Follow Me lesson that teaches about the people who witnessed Jesus Christ as a baby (shepherds, wise men, Simeon, and Anna). Isaac wrote:
Yeah, that's what I liked too. The only people that recognized Jesus only knew because of the Spirit. In this part and His whole life we can have as much proof and evidence as we want, but we will only recognize Christ and the truths of the gospel if we are listening to the Spirit.
Isaac sent photos, but forgot to give me permission to access them, so next week I'll share them.
*
Monday, January 21, 2019
Monday, January 14, 2019
Pérola 10
Hey people!
This week was pretty fun. It rained a whole lots so it was a bit difficult to enter into people's houses to teach them because we were all wet and muddy. However, we had lots of contacts in the street so that was fun. The kid from last week that went to sacrament meeting is super awesome and wants to get baptized. He talked to missionaries like a couple years ago in Manaus, which is a different city here in Brazil, and really wants to get baptized so we will be able to baptize him this Saturday after we reteach him everything [in the missionary lessons]. I taught him how to solve a Rubik's Cube so that was pretty fun and I was surprised I still remembered how to do it [not part of the missionary lessons]. We found some cool people to teach this week but no one was able to make a visit in the church except for the people we already have been teaching for a while that already have a date to be baptized. That's pretty much what happened this week.
This morning Elder Bell and I decided to run to the bank, but when we got there the money hadn't gotten on our cards yet.* We were counting on the money we got from the bank to buy the bus ride back home so we had to end up running home too which was funny hahaha. However life here is good. I will try to do more interesting things that I can share in the emails and will try to send some photos from the week too.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[*All missionaries pay the same amount to serve a mission to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That money then gets redistributed to the missionaries, based on costs of living, to cover the costs of their food, rent, bus passes, etc. Each missionary gets a bank card with the allotted amount for a certain amount of time- I think a month, but I'm not sure.--MH]
[Isaac and his companion made covers for their planners]
This week was pretty fun. It rained a whole lots so it was a bit difficult to enter into people's houses to teach them because we were all wet and muddy. However, we had lots of contacts in the street so that was fun. The kid from last week that went to sacrament meeting is super awesome and wants to get baptized. He talked to missionaries like a couple years ago in Manaus, which is a different city here in Brazil, and really wants to get baptized so we will be able to baptize him this Saturday after we reteach him everything [in the missionary lessons]. I taught him how to solve a Rubik's Cube so that was pretty fun and I was surprised I still remembered how to do it [not part of the missionary lessons]. We found some cool people to teach this week but no one was able to make a visit in the church except for the people we already have been teaching for a while that already have a date to be baptized. That's pretty much what happened this week.
This morning Elder Bell and I decided to run to the bank, but when we got there the money hadn't gotten on our cards yet.* We were counting on the money we got from the bank to buy the bus ride back home so we had to end up running home too which was funny hahaha. However life here is good. I will try to do more interesting things that I can share in the emails and will try to send some photos from the week too.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[*All missionaries pay the same amount to serve a mission to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. That money then gets redistributed to the missionaries, based on costs of living, to cover the costs of their food, rent, bus passes, etc. Each missionary gets a bank card with the allotted amount for a certain amount of time- I think a month, but I'm not sure.--MH]
[Isaac and his companion made covers for their planners]
Monday, January 7, 2019
Pérola 9
Hello People!
This week was pretty normal. New Year's was a blast of fun. We were able to spend the night at a member's house and we got eat a lot of tasty food before going back home. We thought working was going to be really hard this week because of the holidays, however, we ended up working very hard and finding lots of new people to teach. On Sunday we had two visitors that are both friends of members and they are super cool. We taught both of them about the restoration and agreed to pray and ask if was true and will talk to them again tonight. We have another girl that we are going to baptize. However, her step mom ended up losing her baby in the hospital (that would be great if she could get some prayers), so we had to move her baptism to a later date. We also have one guy we are teaching that is super fun. He is 23 years old and is a waiter at a restaurant and an Uber driver with a baptismal date for the 19th. So the work here is going really well. Two hour church was pretty great. Now that they got rid of the Gospel Principles class we got to participate in the young single adult class and that was super fun. Also there were three Americans visiting from Colorado in our ward because one of them got proposed to from a Brazilian in the neighbor ward so I got to talk in English with them. It was pretty cool to talk to Americans, however, they talked about the snow and then I got missing snow a lot.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[These are pictures from a hike this morning]
This week was pretty normal. New Year's was a blast of fun. We were able to spend the night at a member's house and we got eat a lot of tasty food before going back home. We thought working was going to be really hard this week because of the holidays, however, we ended up working very hard and finding lots of new people to teach. On Sunday we had two visitors that are both friends of members and they are super cool. We taught both of them about the restoration and agreed to pray and ask if was true and will talk to them again tonight. We have another girl that we are going to baptize. However, her step mom ended up losing her baby in the hospital (that would be great if she could get some prayers), so we had to move her baptism to a later date. We also have one guy we are teaching that is super fun. He is 23 years old and is a waiter at a restaurant and an Uber driver with a baptismal date for the 19th. So the work here is going really well. Two hour church was pretty great. Now that they got rid of the Gospel Principles class we got to participate in the young single adult class and that was super fun. Also there were three Americans visiting from Colorado in our ward because one of them got proposed to from a Brazilian in the neighbor ward so I got to talk in English with them. It was pretty cool to talk to Americans, however, they talked about the snow and then I got missing snow a lot.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[These are pictures from a hike this morning]
Thursday, January 3, 2019
Pérola 7 and 8
Hello people,
Sorry I didn't email home last week because of the skype [video chat with family on Christmas day]. However there isn't much to share; the work has been a bit hard because of the holidays, everyone is traveling and visiting family. However we have still been having fun. The Relief Society gave us a present of a bunch of cookies so that was tasty and a bunch of balhina de chuva (which is basically doughnut holes).
However I do actually have some pictures to send now so I hope all of you can finally enjoy pictures after a long long time.
Remember to always smile and be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!! And get pumped for the new year and set good goals! The new Come Follow Me manual looks pretty sweet and we got one for our missionary house and we are planning on doing it as a missionary family :-) I'm excited to study better about the New Testament and get more knowledge on the mission of the apostles because I always understand and know the mission and life of Christ, but what happens with all of the apostles and their missions after I always seem to forget the context of those letters and parts.
I will try to share the photos on google drive.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[Isaac shared a lot of pictures so I'm just going to add a few here in case he doesn't send more next time so I can share some then. Second to last photo Elder Holcomb and another Elder went on a run wearing each other's high school team jerseys; and the last photo is the view of Santarem after their run up the hill.]
Sorry I didn't email home last week because of the skype [video chat with family on Christmas day]. However there isn't much to share; the work has been a bit hard because of the holidays, everyone is traveling and visiting family. However we have still been having fun. The Relief Society gave us a present of a bunch of cookies so that was tasty and a bunch of balhina de chuva (which is basically doughnut holes).
However I do actually have some pictures to send now so I hope all of you can finally enjoy pictures after a long long time.
Remember to always smile and be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!! And get pumped for the new year and set good goals! The new Come Follow Me manual looks pretty sweet and we got one for our missionary house and we are planning on doing it as a missionary family :-) I'm excited to study better about the New Testament and get more knowledge on the mission of the apostles because I always understand and know the mission and life of Christ, but what happens with all of the apostles and their missions after I always seem to forget the context of those letters and parts.
I will try to share the photos on google drive.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[Isaac shared a lot of pictures so I'm just going to add a few here in case he doesn't send more next time so I can share some then. Second to last photo Elder Holcomb and another Elder went on a run wearing each other's high school team jerseys; and the last photo is the view of Santarem after their run up the hill.]
Monday, December 17, 2018
Pérola 6
Dear people,
This week was a blast. It was the last week of the transfer so we were working really hard. Also Pres. came to have another conference with us to do our interviews and for Christmas. It was pretty good. They talked a lot about being a consecrated missionary. Pres. gave us three things that are a recipe for success in the mission and life. Obedience, work, and focus. Then his wife gave us a nice talk too, and then talked about being clean and staying healthy, like any good mother would.
The missionaries from far away were staying with us for the weekend because of the conference so it was fun to talk with them. We would have them work in our areas and find people to teach for us while we were teaching people we already found so it was like we had 4 missionaries in our area so that was fun.
The week ended well. We had 5 people come visit church with us and one of them felt the Spirit so much he said he didn't need to pray and ask God if it was true because he already knows it is. So that's pretty awesome, we will have to work with him and his brother to be baptized. The others were all youth that liked it too and found friends quickly, but we have to go back during the week and see what they felt spiritually too.
I know I said I would take more pictures, but I am sorry, I actually didn't take any this week so I don't have any to send. I think I got used to not having a camera, sometimes I just forget.
Oh, and this transfer I am staying here in the same area with the same companion.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
From Isaac's letter to Brian:
Sounds like a good week. We ended up cancelling the big stake baptism because just our area was going to baptize with the area that goes to our same chapel. However, the two siblings we were going to baptize ended up going to their dad's house because their uncle got into an accident and their mom had to go help him so they would be [t]here for the weekend, and we had to move the baptism [to] the 29th.
I am pumped to talk to you guys next week too. I am not sure exactly what time I will call, but I will go to a members house with wifi and talk on one of their cell phones.
I am not really sure how people feel about [the curriculum changes] because as the missionaries it doesn't change too much and we haven't gotten a Come Follow Me manual yet. However I think people are excited for the 2 hour church.
I am glad everyone is enjoying the ski season.
Yeah, we ended up running an 8k to the bank because we ran out of money for the bus which actually ended up ok. I was surprisingly feeling pretty good. But yes, the other runner will be here this transfer too, and it is our goal to run more.
This week was a blast. It was the last week of the transfer so we were working really hard. Also Pres. came to have another conference with us to do our interviews and for Christmas. It was pretty good. They talked a lot about being a consecrated missionary. Pres. gave us three things that are a recipe for success in the mission and life. Obedience, work, and focus. Then his wife gave us a nice talk too, and then talked about being clean and staying healthy, like any good mother would.
The missionaries from far away were staying with us for the weekend because of the conference so it was fun to talk with them. We would have them work in our areas and find people to teach for us while we were teaching people we already found so it was like we had 4 missionaries in our area so that was fun.
The week ended well. We had 5 people come visit church with us and one of them felt the Spirit so much he said he didn't need to pray and ask God if it was true because he already knows it is. So that's pretty awesome, we will have to work with him and his brother to be baptized. The others were all youth that liked it too and found friends quickly, but we have to go back during the week and see what they felt spiritually too.
I know I said I would take more pictures, but I am sorry, I actually didn't take any this week so I don't have any to send. I think I got used to not having a camera, sometimes I just forget.
Oh, and this transfer I am staying here in the same area with the same companion.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
From Isaac's letter to Brian:
Sounds like a good week. We ended up cancelling the big stake baptism because just our area was going to baptize with the area that goes to our same chapel. However, the two siblings we were going to baptize ended up going to their dad's house because their uncle got into an accident and their mom had to go help him so they would be [t]here for the weekend, and we had to move the baptism [to] the 29th.
I am pumped to talk to you guys next week too. I am not sure exactly what time I will call, but I will go to a members house with wifi and talk on one of their cell phones.
I am not really sure how people feel about [the curriculum changes] because as the missionaries it doesn't change too much and we haven't gotten a Come Follow Me manual yet. However I think people are excited for the 2 hour church.
I am glad everyone is enjoying the ski season.
Yeah, we ended up running an 8k to the bank because we ran out of money for the bus which actually ended up ok. I was surprisingly feeling pretty good. But yes, the other runner will be here this transfer too, and it is our goal to run more.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Pérola 5
Hello people!
This week was fun. Our trip to the mall was fun however the missionary that I was going to run with got sick and didn't want to run anymore so we ended up using the bus anyway. However, the mall was fun and we had a secret Santa thing that was fun. The mall is always fun to visit because you can always see things that you don't see in the work; like there is a movie theater you can pass in front of and see all the movies that are coming out and then you get sad and miss home.
Conference with President Aidukaitis and Mission President was fun; we learned a lot. However, it was funny because Aidukaitis responded to every question by just like burning the missionary that asked it. So one time I asked if he had any tips to bringing people to sacrament meeting because we are trying really hard but not that many people are showing up. He responded and asked what my goal was for this week, and I was like "6." He asked how many people I am teaching and I was like, "20." He was like, "so who are the people you don't want to bring?" I was like, "ummm, I want to bring all of them, but I made a realistic goal." Then he flamed me and said, "you will never bring people to church with that attitude. When God told Nephi to build a boat and sail across the sea did he tell God it was unrealistic? No, that's what Laman and Lemuel said. Stop being a Laman and Lemuel." And everyone was like "dang..." so now I get to say I got burned by a general authority and that can go in my journal.
New president is cool, I like him a lot. We didn't get to talk with him because he had another flight to catch but he is coming back this week to have a Christmas lunch with us so that will be when we can talk with him.
This week I got a bit sick too, so working was a bit hard, but through it all we have 3 people to baptize this week so that should be fun and hopefully they all work out.
Everyone here is excited for Christmas but it doesn't really feel right because there still isn't any snow haha.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
This week was fun. Our trip to the mall was fun however the missionary that I was going to run with got sick and didn't want to run anymore so we ended up using the bus anyway. However, the mall was fun and we had a secret Santa thing that was fun. The mall is always fun to visit because you can always see things that you don't see in the work; like there is a movie theater you can pass in front of and see all the movies that are coming out and then you get sad and miss home.
Conference with President Aidukaitis and Mission President was fun; we learned a lot. However, it was funny because Aidukaitis responded to every question by just like burning the missionary that asked it. So one time I asked if he had any tips to bringing people to sacrament meeting because we are trying really hard but not that many people are showing up. He responded and asked what my goal was for this week, and I was like "6." He asked how many people I am teaching and I was like, "20." He was like, "so who are the people you don't want to bring?" I was like, "ummm, I want to bring all of them, but I made a realistic goal." Then he flamed me and said, "you will never bring people to church with that attitude. When God told Nephi to build a boat and sail across the sea did he tell God it was unrealistic? No, that's what Laman and Lemuel said. Stop being a Laman and Lemuel." And everyone was like "dang..." so now I get to say I got burned by a general authority and that can go in my journal.
New president is cool, I like him a lot. We didn't get to talk with him because he had another flight to catch but he is coming back this week to have a Christmas lunch with us so that will be when we can talk with him.
This week I got a bit sick too, so working was a bit hard, but through it all we have 3 people to baptize this week so that should be fun and hopefully they all work out.
Everyone here is excited for Christmas but it doesn't really feel right because there still isn't any snow haha.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
Monday, December 3, 2018
Pérola 4
Hello,
I don't really have a funny story to share this week really. However we worked pretty hard during the week. We had lots of people that said they would go to sacrament meeting so we said we would walk with them, but when we showed up Sunday morning only two kids were awake to walk with us. However when we arrived at the church there were 4 people who said they wouldn't be able to make it, but went anyways, and we got super happy to see them there.
Yesterday a member had his 60th birthday party and we were invited and so that was fun. We ate lots of free food. Then after, it completely poured, so after we got home we switched clothes and ran around in the rain jumping puddles, and that was probably the highlight of the week.
This week we will have the rest of P-day tomorrow. Today we are just using cyber and [tomorrow] me and the other American that ran cross country are going to run from our house to the shopping mall and race everybody taking the bus because you have to take two buses to get there. We think the bus route is slower than the direct route so we are going to race them. I am not really sure how long it is, but I think maybe 10 miles. The only problem is that it has been a year since either of us have run so that will make it a whole lot more fun. P-day is tomorrow because the missionaries from Obidos and Oroximina need to ride a boat [iun ??] and don't get here until tonight, but we wanted to spend P-day with them.
Christmas is coming up and everyone here is preparing too. It's a bit strange to see all of the Christmas decorations in the heat and without snow, but I guess that's just the way things go here.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[check out Light the World this Christmas https://www.mormon.org/christmas for ideas of how to serve this Christmas season and to see what Isaac mentioned he was excited about few letters back]
I don't really have a funny story to share this week really. However we worked pretty hard during the week. We had lots of people that said they would go to sacrament meeting so we said we would walk with them, but when we showed up Sunday morning only two kids were awake to walk with us. However when we arrived at the church there were 4 people who said they wouldn't be able to make it, but went anyways, and we got super happy to see them there.
Yesterday a member had his 60th birthday party and we were invited and so that was fun. We ate lots of free food. Then after, it completely poured, so after we got home we switched clothes and ran around in the rain jumping puddles, and that was probably the highlight of the week.
This week we will have the rest of P-day tomorrow. Today we are just using cyber and [tomorrow] me and the other American that ran cross country are going to run from our house to the shopping mall and race everybody taking the bus because you have to take two buses to get there. We think the bus route is slower than the direct route so we are going to race them. I am not really sure how long it is, but I think maybe 10 miles. The only problem is that it has been a year since either of us have run so that will make it a whole lot more fun. P-day is tomorrow because the missionaries from Obidos and Oroximina need to ride a boat [iun ??] and don't get here until tonight, but we wanted to spend P-day with them.
Christmas is coming up and everyone here is preparing too. It's a bit strange to see all of the Christmas decorations in the heat and without snow, but I guess that's just the way things go here.
Love,
Elder Holcomb
[check out Light the World this Christmas https://www.mormon.org/christmas for ideas of how to serve this Christmas season and to see what Isaac mentioned he was excited about few letters back]
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)