Lots of Happenings

This week has been long and full of work.

We have been teaching all the same investigators from last week except we found a few new super good investigators.  We got a referral from some members and we went and visited them and they are super good and have been reading everything we have been giving them and said they are coming to church next week so that's great. Their names are Darwin, Lyca, and Rayamay

I went on exchanges this week with Elder Oross who is fresh out of the MTC so he is still figuring out the language.  It was super fun to see kinda what it was like for my trainer back at that time.  I did most of the teaching but he added some good testimony.  It was a super good day and we had a good time.

We also have not got our washing machine or microwave yet.  I think we are the last ones in the whole mission to get it so that kinda stinks but we were told we are getting it this week so keep that in your prayers because I have a lot of dirty clothes haha.

We had 3 investigators come to church.  Brother Lupe, who still  has not been interviewed by president argana because he has been super busy, Sister Jovilyn Capili and a member brought her friend with her to church and we were able to teach her so that was great.  Me and Elder Ababa got to speak in sacrament as well and it was pretty successful.  We had a big boodle fight after church, which we are totally doing when I get home.  

Anyways that all for the week,

Love you tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Battle wounds from last p-day's basketball game

Over the Hump

Kumusta kamo?!

This week has been a really great week for the missionary work.  One of the best of the mission.  We have just been finding and teaching all day every day and it was really what I needed.  We were a little bit disappointed because we had the baptismal interview for Brother Lupe but he has a problem from like 20 years ago so now President Argana has to come interview him so it may be a little while until he is baptized.

We played some basketball this morning with 4 v 4 and my teammate gave me a nice elbow to the face and now I got some mean looking battle scars, I'll sen some pics next week because we can't send any at this computer shop.

We had 3 of our investigators come to church which was super awesome because that has been the biggest struggle in this area.  People promise and promise and then Sunday rolls around and then waray na so we have really been focusing on the importance of the Sabbath day so that has helped a bunch.

Here is a list of our main investigators:

Lupe Potot

Jezel Orias, she is like 19 but she is only around 4 and a half feet tall

Jovilyn Capili, the mother of Joshua

Lazar Family, Melchor Jr. and Aliya Mae

Emma Pinada

Lyca Mangatilao

Marivic Valencia

All of them could definitely use some prayers to help them out.

Thanks for the update on the funeral.  It sounded like a really nice service for Grandpa.  I know he is doing well up in the Spirit World.  That was really cool to hear that me and Uncle Wade were both honorary pallbearers.  So happy that I got to call and see you, it made my week

Love you tons!!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Zone Conference and Baptism

Sorry this week will be a little short 

We had zone conference on Tuesday which was super good from president Argana about really focusing on repentance and helping people understand the Atonement.

All of my companions were there so that was kinda cool.

I also went on exchanges with Elder Rogers who is my junior batch and we basically taught a bunch of investigators who spoke only Tagalog so we struggled through it but it was kinda fun.

Lastly we had the baptism for Joshua.  Not many members showed up but it was really cool to see him be baptized and when he came out of the water he had a huge smile on his face and it was great.  His mom who is not a member came to the baptism and said that we could also start teaching her.  

That's all I got time for sorry

Love you tons!

Elder Holmstead

All my companions that I've served with so far (except Elder Ababa)

Zone Conference

All the Elders from my MTC batch

Me and Elder Gomboc

Elder Ababa

Joshua's Baptism

Joshua's Baptism in the ocean

Do 30

This week was super good.  It was also really kapoy, but it was really good.  We started off the week with interviews with President Argana which was super good and then they announced we have a new schedule for the mission and we are supposed to hit 55 hours of proselyting a week.  It's super tiring but it's good for our mission to improve.  We also got a challenge which is to Do 30 which is wake up at 6:30, plan for 30 minutes a day, teach 30 lessons a week, and talk to 30 new people everyday.  It's pretty difficult but we are working hard to achieve it.

Me and Elder Ababa have been working hard and we are officially having the baptism for Joshua this Saturday.  He got interviewed and he passed so we are excited for him.  His dad who is a recent convert is gonna baptize him so that will be cool, and it is in the ocean.  Also Brother Lupe came to Church so that was cool and he should be getting baptized in 2 weeks.

Elder Ababa is super cool he is really good at playing the guitar and singing.  He worked in a call center in Cagayan De Oro before the mission so he is fluent in English.  He is the oldest of 3 siblings and both of his parents served missions in the philippines Tacloban mission so that is kinda cool.  He is kinda serious but he also jokes around alot.  He is also super good at Chess and our apartment has been having tournaments in Chess.  I am still pretty bad but I can occasionally win some games.

Dulag is super good.  We actually live in Mayorga with the Zone leaders and then we take a van everyday to the area.  It is just Waray-Waray H which is the best so I am super happy.  I can basically understand everything and speak to people.

Thats all I got for this week. Zone Conference is tomorrow so that should be fun.

Question: What is the biggest change you have seen in yourself? Answer from Wade: Besides that I am like trilingual now, probably just being a lot more open to talk to anyone, even if it is just on a quick van ride or walking down the street just asking questions and learning about people.  Not really shy now to just talk to people, that's just one change I have noticed.

Love you Tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Dulag District

Elder Ababa and Elder Holmstead

PTM’s Little Mission Presidents with the assistants, Elder Jackman and Elder Jaring, seated at the center. Seated, l-r: Elders Doricarion, Francisquete, Darasin, APs, Arreola, Sampang, Bugasto
Standing l-r: Elders Clapano, Anderson, Jeffries, Holmstead, Hassan, Bassett, Lewis, Gomboc, Bao-as

With President and Sister Argana

Lunchtime enjoying sinigang

Lunchtime

District Leader Letter

PHILIPPINES TACLOBAN MISSION                                                                                  July 4, 2018

511 Maharlika Highway

Fatima Village

Tacloban City

6500 Leyte

Dear Brother and Sister Holmstead,

It is our pleasure to inform you that Elder Holmstead has been called to serve as a District Leader in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. We greatly appreciate his dedication in the mission in enabling eternal conversion through faith in Christ and his good works.

There are many important functions that a district leader is entrusted with:  

• Be an example for the missionaries in his district as he leads, teaches, trains and inspires missionaries through district meetings and companionship exchanges in a loving and humble way. 

• Look after the well-being of missionaries in the district and carry out the instructions given at the mission conferences and training meetings. 

• Responsibility for regular communication and reporting the progress and needs of the district to the mission zone leaders. 

• Facilitate good working relationships within his district and problem solve any needs that arise.   

He has been called by God through inspiration to fulfill these responsibilities and assist fellow missionaries in their efforts to invite others to come unto Christ. This important role in the mission will be accomplished as he strives to lead as the Savior did and goes forward in faith with dedicated service. We appreciate the love and encouragement you give him. It is our opportunity and blessing to be able to work with him. Thank you for sending us such a dedicated servant of our Father in Heaven.

Sincerely your brother,

Eduardo M. Argana

Philippines Tacloban Mission President

Back to Tolosa

So this week has been one of the craziest of the misson.  First off on Tuesday I got a call from the AP's and I have officially become a district leader and they also told me that I was transferring from Calubian.  I spent the rest of Tuesday saying goodbye to all the members and our investigators.  I was a little sad that I won't get to see them get baptized but I am pumped to transfer.  I headed to.......DULAG.  

It is the area that is literally right next to Anibong so I am back in my first zone again.  Elder Laitinen just trained his companion here so I am following up his trainee.  Elder Ababa is my new companion, he is from Cagayen de Oro and it super awesome.  It has only been a few days but he is already one of my favorite companions.  He is fluent in english and Waray-Waray so its legit.  

Dulag is a super good area.  The people here are super nice and finding here is super easy.  We had only 3 days to do finding and we found 8 new investigators, the challenge is just getting return appointments.  The branch just announced that they are becoming a ward and at the end of July a general authority is coming to create the new Tolosa Stake.

The investigators that we have here that I have actually met are Lupe Potot who is a tatay that was super against mormons but then got really sick and it humbled him and now he wants to be baptized.  Then we got Joshua Capili who is the son of a recent convert and his baptism is coming up on the 14th of July.  Grateful to Elder Laitinen for putting in the work and now I just get to have some baptisms haha.

Oh we also had a District Leaders Council this week so I got to go to Tacloban and meet with a bunch of other elders who were called as district leaders.  Including Elder Hassan and Elder Jefferies from my batch. It was basically just a big training on how to be district leaders and we got fed a bunch of new food so it was dope.  

My district that I am over is a companionship that is training right now and another companionship with an elder who has never spoken waray in his mission so we are all really focusing on mastering the language.

So yeah this week had a lot of changes and I am really loving being super busy and in a new area.  Thanks for all the prayers. Love you tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Pics from the baptism last last week

Goodbyes to the members in Calubian

Me with Elder Ababa