Christmas Phone Call 2017

Here are some pictures and highlights from our phone call with Elder Holmstead on Christmas 2017

• The past 5 weeks have flown by
• Enjoys Elder Escalona, speaks good English and has helped Wade improve with the language.
•  Christmas celebration was very different than in America.  He could only be out until 6pm.  It was Pday so he didn't have visits with members.  There was fireworks and trick or treating – mixture of several holidays.
• Probably won’t be allowed out to work on New Years.  There is a  huge celebration and most people will be drinking, including members - haha!
• 3 baptisms planned for this Saturday (Bianca, Jaybe, and Cay-anne).
• Can ride 1 hour on a bike without getting tired.
• Feels healthy and in shape. He is still gaining weight (mom told him it's because the Lord is preparing him to play rugby at BYU when he gets home).
• Best part of the mission – he loves the food!  He enjoys meeting Elders from all around the world, especially from Utah.  Loves the members and those he is teaching.
• He hasn't seen many white people since he got to the Philippines.  The only white people are missionaries or 60 year old that are looking for a wife - creepy!
• Tacloban used to be the highest baptizing mission in the world.  His mission President is very focused on the missionaries being exactly obedient.  Elder Holmstead has seen miracles and blessings from being obedient.
• Wade never drank soda much before his mission but now has it at every meal.  He didn’t like Coke before the mission but now he likes it.
• Showers with a large garbage can full of cold water and a ladle – cold but very refreshing.
• He likes to show pictures of his friends to his companions and other Elders.  They can’t believe he has so many friends serving missions and that they are all around the world.
• Thinks he will stay in Anibong (aneebong) for 6 months so probably won’t get transferred until February.
• There are only 3 areas with bikes so he will probably be walking the rest of his mission.
• Biking has been good exercise for his knee, which feels really good.
• He stays in touch with all his friends through email.  The only problem is that most of them speak Spanish so he, Elder Carroll and Elder Christiansen can’t understand when they start going off in Spanish.
• He asked us to send him a light sweater and light windbreaker.
• His SD card in his camera got a virus and erased all his photos.
• The typhoon was crazy!  It started with light winds but then it was unbelievable when the winds picked up.  He was so glad that the typhoon that was supposed to hit on Christmas skipped by them.  It hit a part of the Philippines with all the terrorists so answer to prayers? haha
• He loves us all and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve 2017

Elder Holmstead's neighbor (Rito Dacome) sent these pictures.

"Christmas Eve after dinner, the boys playing Uno here in my living room."

"Few pics of Elder Holmstead and his companion, Elder Escalona with Elder Hassan and his companion, Elder Aroa on December 23, 2017.  They were just chillin out here in my living room since they can't go to work due to typhoon Vinta that hit in the southern Mindanao area."

Christmas Conference 2017

Post from Sister Argana on FB:

Dear Missionary Families,

We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with your family in spite of one child missing. But I suppose you have had the chance to get to talk to your missionary son or daughter and had a great time exchanging stories.

I am posting more pictures of your missionaries at the Christmas conference held in Tacloban Stake Center for you.

Posts on FB from Rito Dacome

Lunch with Elder Hassan, Elder Holmstead, Elder Aroa and Elder Escalona

Burauen Leyte Philippines

BAGYO!!

So this week was kinda crazy because we had a typhoon come through.  On Tuesday it started to rain and then it kept raining and raining until Sunday.  I think it made landfall Thursday because we got lots of warnings from President to not go outside the apartment and I could see why.  The wind was really strong and when we rode to church Sunday there were trees all over the roads and most of my area flooded which was crazy.  I guess I can check off living through a typhoon from my bucket list.

We spent most of the week in the apartment which was pretty boring until the storm started going crazy which was a pretty good time.  We did play like 90 games of UNO so i'm pretty professional.  These are the some of the things you can only learn on a mission haha.  I am also almost done reading through all of the conference talks and this was truly an amazing general conference.  My favorite is probably Elder Holland's talk.

Anyways the typhoon scared most of our investigators and members away from Church on Sunday which was a bummer but we still had 2 there.  We spent all of Sunday teaching the appointments that we couldn't go to throughout the week so it was pretty busy.  but it was nice to be back to work.

This week we go to Tacloban for our Christmas zone conference and i'm excited because I get my package!  and I will get to see some of the missionaries from my batch that I haven't seen since I got here so that will be fun.  

Also we heard another typhoon was coming around Christmas time so that will be a good way to spend the holiday.  Hopefully it not very strong or misses our islands.  I'll let you know.  I am doing great and am excited to see you on Christmas!!!

Ginhigugma ko kamo,

Elder Holmstead

I also took some videos during the typhoon but the internet is not good enough to send them in Burauen so I will send them next time I go to Tacloban.

Typhoon Urduja

Facebook Posts from Sister Argana

December 17, 2017

Dear Missionary Families,

If you do not receive emails today, it is because power in your missionary’s area is not yet restored.

Tomorrow, Dec 19, we will be in Ormoc for the Biliran/Carigara/Ormoc/Sogod Zone Christmas Conference and on the 21st in Tacloban for the Borongan/Catbalogan/Catarman/Tacloban/Tolosa Zones Christmas Conference. It is in this meeting where we will hand them their Christmas packages and gifts from generous members (thank you so much!) sent through Sis. Julie Hess(the one person we cannot do without and who we owe so much from).
I will be posting the activity and pictures of your missionary here as soon as we are done with the conference.

Please continue praying for us as there is another typhoon approaching and it might hit the mission on the 24th ☹️. I know, Christmas might be bleak but the Spirit is mighty felt when in humble circumstances as was the Savior’s condition when He was born. Do not feel too bad for us. Our missionaries are resilient and look on the positive side of this calamity. We went around and were with them. They were unfazed and were still upbeat. What would really help to make them fully happy are your emails, letters, and of course, packages.

December 16, 2017

Storm update #2 and missionary safety report

Typhoon Urduja (Urduha) had landed, (after 4 days of whistling winds and battering rains), this afternoon, (Dec 16 Manila time) north of Borongan City . It intensified and raged over the province including neighboring Catarman. It is projected to leave Eastern Visayas tonight and the country Wednesday, the 20th. (See photo)
Reports on the missionaries
in the 9 zones:
Biliran Zone - all missionaries in respective apartment except for the STLs who evacuated to the chapel. Biliran town submerged in water and sister’s apartment flooded. All missionaries contacted and declared themselves safe. Zone’s power is out.

Borongan Zone - all missionaries safe in respective apartment. No mention of power outage in the report but I think that is a given.

Carigara Zone - zone leaders in the apartment with Capoocan elders. Electricity restored @ 6pm in Carigara and Capoocan. Jaro elders in the apartment with San Miguel elders (apartment flooded) San Isidro, Leyte and Calubian elders in their respective apartments. No electricity yet. All missionaries safe.

Catbalogan Zone - Calbayog elders and the rest of the missionaries in respective apartments. Calbayog town is okay; Catbalogan flooded including missionaries apartment but not enough to evacuate. All safe and accounted for. No electricity

Catarman Zone - Bobon ZL’s in the apartment with Mondragon elders. Catarman 1, San Isidro, Lavasares/Allen 1&2 elders in respective apartments. Catarman 2 STLs in the apartment with UEP sisters. Catarman 1 sisters in their apartment. Experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall from 2-7pm. All is safe. No electricity

Ormoc Zone - ZLs in the apartment with Albuera elders. Ormoc 1 STLs in the apartment with Kananga sisters( apartment near river, water rising up) Ormoc/Ipil, Merida, Isabel, Palompon, Baybay/Kilim, Inopacan, and Mahaplag elders in their respective apartment. All safe and accounted for. Zone no electricity

Sogod Zone - ZLs in the apartment with Hinunangan and St Bernard elders. Libagon, Bontoc, Hilongos, and Macrohon elders in respective apartment. Bato/Matalom and Maasin STLs also in respective apartments. All safe and accounted for. Sogod, Libagon and Bontoc areas no electricity

Tacloban Zone - ZLs, San Jose B and Alang alang in their respective apartment. Tacloban A1, Tacloban 2 AP and San Jose A elders in the office, Tacloban 1 B sisters in their apartment with Tanuan 2 sisters, while San Juanico A and B and Basey STLs in their respective apartment. All safe and accounted for. Area flooded and no electricity. Heavy rain and gusty winds. All stores/malls closed,living on their 72 hr kit

Tolosa Zone - Mayorga ZLs, Dulag, Anibong, Burauen, Abuyog, Tolosa/Canmugsay, and San Roque elders in their respective apartment. Dagami A, Dagami B sisters in their respective apartments also. Flooding was reported but up to the streets only. No electricity.
#typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

December 15, 2017
Update on Storm Urduja

At this moment, most of the areas in Phils Tacloban Mission are under a state of calamity due to flooding. It had been raining nonstop for three days and the storm is yet to make a land fall. It is still 200 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. This has a sustained winds of 75km/hr near the center and with gusty winds up to 90km/hr. The problem is that it travels at 5km/hr and it’s not getting off the whole region. Storm landfall is expected tomorrow morning or afternoon. We are bracing ourselves as it intensifies. All missionaries are accounted for and were strictly advised to stay indoors. Missionaries assigned in low lying areas were transferred to safe apartments of other missionaries within their zone. 

We have no power right now but all missionaries were supplied with DC/Solar powered lamps since July. Their 72 hr kit is also on stand by. 

Please know that our lines are open and that we continue to monitor our missionaries every hour. But we need all the prayers and support we can get. Thank you very much. More updates to come. #typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

December 14, 2017

Dear Missionary Families,

A tropical storm, locally called Urduja (Kai-tak, internationally), is currently on the coast of Eastern Visayas. It is located 85km ESE of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and is barely moving @ just 7 km/hr but it has a max winds of 65 km/hr and gustiness up to 90 km/h. It is expected to land @ 5pm Dec. 15, 2017.

Right now, there is moderate to heavy gustiness of winds. Please be assured that we constantly monitor the typhoon and its path and always ready to communicate with our missionaries to know of their condition. Please continue to include us in your prayers. Thank you for all your support to your missionary kids. #typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

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Grabe Hard Work

Maupay nga Udto!

This was a great week of work for me and Elder Escalona.  We have been finding a bunch of new investigators and teaching lots of lessons.  I was surprised because it seems like everyone in Anibong has been talked to at least 10 times about the gospel but we keep finding new people and it makes me happy to share it with them.

One miracle was yesterday at Church.  We usually have around 45-50 people at Church every week but we were praying really hard that investigators would come to Church and we ended up having 80 people come including less active families that haven't come for years.  We didn't even have enough room in the chapel for everyone so we set up chairs in the hallway.  It was amazing.  10 investigators came to Church which was great because in the Philippines people have to come to Church 4 times in 6 weeks to qualify for baptism so that is the biggest challenge.

We had zone interviews and I am still gaining weight.  Not really sure how or why but it's all good.  Elder Escalona and Elder Aroa, had to stay in Tacloban for District Leader training so me and Elder Hassan had exchanges this week.  It's crazy to see how far we have both come because this was our first exchange since week 5 of the mission so it was cool because we could actually talk to people and teach lessons.

I don't actually get my Christmas package or any other packages that have been sent until December 21 at our zone conference so don't worry I won't open them haha.  I am excited to see you both!!  Also I'm a little jealous that we have a golf cart now that's legit haha.  Thanks for the NBA update as well.  Doesn't even feel like Christmas time because it is still 80-90 degrees but it is all good.  

P.s. Let me know how Star Wars is.  They have advertisements everywhere here for it.

Love you tons,

Elder Holmstead

Patron feast with Brother Reto-Patron is basically a big fiesta in Burauen with tons of food

Sunset in Anibong

Teaching the Mga Bata

Carigara/Tolosa Zone missionary interviews with President Argana and health check with Sister Argana, 06DEC17

The Elders of Tolosa Zone with Office Elders Crisologo, travel secretary and Miller, supply manager (on squat)

Tolosa Zone

Front row, l-r: Elders Escalona, Deponio, Basulgan, Sisters Aguiton, Aradani, Osmun, David

Back row, l-r: Elders Valentine, Cañas, Rogers, Arreola, Homestead, Rosete, Hassan, Aroa (not pictured -Elder McKell having an interview with President Argana)06DEC17

Most “coveted” dish missionaries wish for

The mission’s most favorite dish

For variety, a Tagalog dish

New Companion and Eating Monkey

Grabe crazy week,

So the biggest news is that I got a new companion.  His name is Elder Escalona and he is from northern Luezon in the Philippines.  He has been in the mission for 1 year.  He is super awesome and exactly obedient.  I knew that we would get along well when one of the first things he said was that he misses watching the NBA. Don't know if he likes Star Wars. His English is pretty good but we speak a lot of Waray-Waray so hopefully my language improves a lot over this next cycle.

We have a really good week of work.  We found 5 new investigators and the number of investigators with baptismal dates went from 1 to 11 in 4 days so we have been working really hard.  All of the kids we teach are still really happy to learn and they come to church every week.  Most of them come from part member families and the parents are less active so hopefully we can get the kids baptized and then re activate the families.  

We had tons of birthday parties this week in our branch which is crazy because I had only gone to 1 in the first 2 cycles but 2 in the past week.  Birthdays in the Philippines are basically when it is your birthday you spend all day cooking tons of food and then you invite the entire town to your house to eat.  I love birthdays here.  While we were their they brought our this weird looking fried food and my companion lovingly told me that it was monkey so I immediately ate some.  After eating for a little he told me that it was actually deep fried Chicken head which was pretty strange but better than I thought it would be.  

It's crazy that it is already December.  It doesn't feel like it at all because the weather is the same everyday but I am excited to experience Christmas in the Philippines.  I love the ornament on the tree that is awesome.  Sounds like the Christmas party was awesome.  Our branch is having a party on December 22 so I am looking forward to that.  

Oh Elder Hassan got a new companion too.  His name is Elder Aroa and he speaks little to no english so now we have 2 americans and 2 filipinos in our balay.  It is a party!

Love you all have a great week!  

Elder Holmstead and Elder Escalona

Elder Hassan (Kaysville, Utah), Elder Holmstead, Elder Aroa, Elder Escalona

Lunch with Roomies!