Lots of Newbies

Well we had transfer and our zone had a lot of changes.

So first off President decided to white wash 3 areas in our zone and in 2 of them they are training so we had a crazy couple of days trying to figure out how to get them in their areas and how to show where their apartment was stuff but luckily we got it all figured out.  

It is pretty fun to see all the new missionaries.  They were all freaking out and it reminded back to my first few days.  It's been fun to talk with them and see what stuff is weird for them and I have realized how much I have adjusted.  

While this has all been happening we have also been traveling around the zone to help out with baptismal interviews.  We had to go to Libagon and St. Bernard and they are both having baptisms so I am happy to see that areas are progressing.  

Rainy season has officially hit so we are getting rained on almost every day.  As for the work in our area we are still working with the same investigators and they are still progressing we are hoping they will all be baptized in October.  We have also planned a missionary fireside to train members about how to help us and give us referrals.  

One of the best parts of the week was celebrating Family Day.  It's a big celebration here in the Philippines and our branch threw a big party.  We played games and had a talent show with lots of members singing and performing dances.  We were in charge of the games and we did this relay race thing that was really fun and everyone was laughing so we had a great time.

Anyways pretty crazy week but also really great:)

Love you tons!!

Oh and I did the package with shirts and socks Daghang Salamat!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Baptisms and Super Typhoons

So the big news for this week was we had a baptism!!!

Bro Juhann got baptized and it was a big success.  He was super scared to share his testimony with the branch after he was baptized but he did super well and everyone was way impressed.  

We also had Super Typhoon Ompong come through.  We heard that it was going to come to our mission but then it headed up to Luzon so it missed us.  We just got a little bit of rain and dark skies for a few days but our work was not affected so that was good. We saw some updates that people were getting evacuated in Northern Luzon so we have been keeping them in our prayers and are grateful that it didn't affect us.

Another great part of the week was that we had exchanges with the AP's.  I was with Elder Jaring who was in my 1st apartment and we have already gone on exchanges before.  We actually did exchanges my 1st day in Tacloban so it was kinda like deja vue that we are now getting older in the mission.  We had a super good day and taught some really powerful lessons.  We taught a guy who wants to go on a misson and the spirit was super strong.  I struggled a little bit because Tacloban is Waray Waray H and now i'm like fully adjusted to Cebuano so it was a struggle but we still brought the spirit so it was a success.

We have continued to work with Bro. Marlon who wants to get baptized at the end of October and Sister Kristine who is progressing really well.  We have really needed some help with our finding and we had MCM yesterday and recieved some revelation that we need to involve the members more in our work.  I have realized that every member of the church has the chance to be a missionary and to help bring people to Christ.  It is almost impossible for the missionaries to do the work alone but as President M. Russell Ballard said " if we are united, we are unstoppable" so we are going to see if we can get some more success working with the members.

Love you tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

I'll send some pics next week because these computers aren't working.  Gotta love the Philippines ;)

Zone Conference August 2018

SoGod Zone Conference

August 16, 2018

Ormoc Stake Center, Ormoc City

Sogod Zone
Seated, l-r Sisters Vinculado(trainee), Amundsen (training), P/S Argana,Sisters Razo, STL, Escritor, STL 

Standing, l-r Elders Arienda, ZL, Reese, Holmstead, ZL, Allphin, Urdiales, McMullin (trainee), Darasin, DL, Labis,
Back row, l-r Elders Flores, Fortun, Momberger, DL, Esling, Cardenio, Deponio, DL

Elder Holmstead & Elder Arienda

Chilling with the Zone trying not to be Trunky

So this week was really busy, which is basically just the normal for us so it was good.  

We had exchanges with the elders from Bontoc and they are both going home next week so they were super trunky and talking about plans after the mission so we were having a good time. We had and really good exchange and I worked my companion Elder Fortun really hard for his last exchange.

They also had 5 baptismal interviews so we were super busy interviewing and helping get everything prepared for their baptisms.  I only had to interview one because the rest spoke only Tagalog so I was out.  They all passed so it was good.  We also got one of our investigators interviewed this week so we will have a baptism on Saturday.  

Sadly Brother Marlon backed out and wants to wait until October for his baptism so we had to extend him but Brother Juhann is getting baptized this next week :)

Aside from that we got another investigator named Angelica committed to an IBD which was way cool.  She is a part member and after our first visit she said that she went to her bed and prayed and felt a great feeling so she knows that this church is true.  She is progressing really well but is not married so we are trying to work that out.  That is one of the biggest problems in the Philippines because it is almost impossible to get divorced so most people just live together so we are trying to help her get married.

Also this year I hit my 1 year mark in the Philippines Tacloban Mission.  It is crazy to look back and realize how much I have learned and grown over the past year.  I have developed a big love for the Filipino people and how happy and humble they are.  I am so grateful that I am assigned here and I know that this is where I need to be.  I know that missions are not easy but they are an amazing experience full of blessings.  I know this Church is true with all my heart.

Love you tons!!!!

Oh and I have an exchange tomorrow with the AP's in Tacloban so I should be able to pick up the package.

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

We asked Elder Holmstead to tell us about his apartment and sends us some pics.  Here is his response and pictures:

It is just me and Elder Arienda but the apartment is super nice and clean.  We have a working shower(cold of course) but it's better than nothing.  It's a super good apartment though.

Let Christmas Begin

Well it's officially September so Christmas has started in the Philippines.  We have already heard Christmas music on the radio in the vans so it's fun haha.

I feel like I write that I am tired every week but it's pretty true.  Our zone is starting to progress so we have been traveling all around for District Meetings and baptismal interviews so it's all good.  I am loving all the travels and getting to see a bunch of different parts of the mission.  

We had a district meeting in Maasin and we did a bunch of practice teaching just role playing a bunch of different scenarios and we were trying to keep it realistic by having interruptions and distractions and stuff and it was super hilarious.  

I also had exchanges this week with Elder Labis.  I also went on exchanges with him last cycle in Dulag so that was kinda interesting.  We have gotten pretty close now in the mission and we had a really good time.  I also got to see Elder Allphin from my batch.

We also traveled to St. Bernard because they had an interview for baptism.  The candidate chose me to interview him and he spoke so fast and slang in cebuano so I was like I don't know what he's saying.  Eventually we learned he acctually drank yesterday so I think he was still a little drunk so sadly he didn't pass.  Pretty interesting experience.

Aside from all of our travels we did get to work here in Sogod.  We are preparing Marlon and Johan for their interviews this week and we also committed a new investigator named Kristine to baptism in October and she also came to church so that was exciting.  The work in still kinda slow here but it is slowly starting to pick up.

Anyways Love you Tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Pictures!!!

We hiked up this huge hill this morning and took some cool pics.  I look a little bit tired because we woke up at like 4 but it was super awesome views.