Ika-una Semana ha Field

Kumusta akon pamilya,

I will start mixing some Waray-Waray into my letters because of course I was assigned to a Waray-Waray area.  My area is called Anibong which is on Leyte about an hour from Tacloban city to the south.  My apartment is actually in a place called Burauen which is close by to Anibong.  I ride a bike to my area everyday which is about 1 hour from my apartment so any weight I gained in the MTC is gone. The branch that we cover has about 8 barangays, or like little neighborhoods, so our area is pretty big.  Lots of bike riding.

The language is pretty crazy.  It uses almost no cebuano so that was kinda of a waste for the last 6 weeks.  It has been kinda hard because I barely understand what people say so I kinda start to tune out but I am trying my hardest to stay focused.  It was crazy, out of my Batch all of them are speaking Cebuano except for 3 of us are speaking Waray-Waray.  And to make it even better there are 7 languages in the mission:

Waray-Waray H (My language)

Waray-Waray S

Cebuano

Cebuano J

Tagalog

English

Ilicano

And there are like different dialects in every area so I am told it will be like 3 months or so before I will be able to start speaking confidently.  It is humbling and is helping me to be more patient. They actually give awards to any elders who learn all seven languages while they are here, it is called the Tower of Babel award haha.  There is a running joke that it was here that the tower of Babel was built.

The weather here is hot and humid.  It is super hot all the time but the wind is really nice whenever that happens.  It also rains a lot and that feels really good. Mom you were right about sleeping and sweating and rolling over haha.  

My trainer is named Elder Roth.  He is pretty cool.  He is from Layton Utah so he speaks english which is a pretty big blessing.  He is kinda a computer nerd and loved to do online gaming in his free time.  We are definitely pretty different but he is super obedient and is helping me learn the language really well which is super helpful.  He has been out a year so his language is pretty good.

I have been feeling a little more homesick this week just because everything is super different here.  I think it is mostly culture shock so I am just trying to be patient.  It helps when I read all the emails of my friends and their crazy experiences.  I have already had a couple crazy experiences, here are just a few of them.

First I ran over a dog with my bike because I tried to swerve out of the way but the dog tried to beat my swerve and just got destroyed and the guy next to the dog started laughing.  

Second, the first day in Tacloban we got interviewed and then we went out and went proselyting with some elders for 2 hours.  We found 1 new investigator and gave out an Aklat ni Mormon.  The people here are super nice and willing to listen to messages about Jesus Christ. Also President and Sister Argana are super awesome and they definitely love us missionaries. Anyways, that night we stayed in the AP's apartment with all of the new elders and trainers which was like 25 elders in an apartment made for 2 which was crazy packed.  I ended up sleeping on a pad on the floor with my bag as a pillow so it was a pretty rough night.

Next morning we went to McCarthur Park where a group was doing some zumba dancing which was pretty hilarious to watch.  We then got our trainers and headed to our areas.  I am in an apartment with my trainer and with Elder Jaring and Elder Hassan.  Elder Hassan was in my batch and he lives in Kaysville so he knows Dax pretty well so it's a good time there.

I finally got to speak in Sacrament Meeting.  My first Sunday, it was pretty crazy.  My trainer was like they will probably have you speak next week like they do with most elders but then they came up to me and were like will you be the concluding speaker and I was like I guess haha.  It was on forgiveness and I didn't even know the word for forgiveness until right before I had to speak.  It was a pretty good time.

Lastly I extended my first baptismal commitment and our investigator, Hanna Kim accepted.  It was super awesome and the spirit was super strong.  She is an awesome little 10 year old girl and we were really happy so see her accept and are excited to see her get ready for baptism.

The work is definitely what is helping me through the stress and homesickness because I start to focus on others and it makes my day better.  All the little kids here are super adorable and they make me so happy!  I will try to send some pictures of them.

One interesting thing is the standard of excellence for the mission:

1 Baptism a week

5 investigators with a baptismal date a week

5 investigators at sacrament meeting

10 new investigators a week

They are some big goals but they are totally possible and me and Elder Roth are working super hard to achieve these goals.

My address for packages is:

511 Maharlika Hwy
Fatima Village, Tacloban City
6500 Leyte
Philippines

Also if you want to know any Waray-Waray words I can let you know.

I know that this is the Lord's work and that I need to be here in the Philippines teaching and learning from these amazing people.  The Book of Mormon is true.  Every time I am feeling like I can't do it I pray and read and I am always given comfort or motivation for the future.  I know that families are forever and it makes me so happy that I got the best one ever.

Nahigugma ako ha iyo!

Elder Holmstead

Safe Arrival of Elder Holmstead

Dear Holmstead Family,

We are happy your missionary has arrived safely in the Philippines Tacloban Mission. Attached is a  photograph taken after his arrival and also a map of the Philippines Tacloban Mission.  Your missionary has been prayerfully assigned his first companion and trainer, Elder Roth and together they will be serving in the Anibong area.

We appreciate all of the love and support you have given your missionary to prepare him to be a faithful representative of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He will make an important contribution to the work of the Lord by inviting others to come unto Christ and enabling their eternal conversion. It is a great blessing to have him in our Mission.

Sincerely,

Eduardo M. Argana

Mission President

Philippines Tacloban Mission

                       

Kumusta Gikan sa Philippines

Kumusta!

Sorry if this is really early in the morning there (received at 3:55am).  I don't know the time change so sorry if this wakes you up.  I am leaving the Manila MTC tonight at 12:45 am so I will be in the field tomorrow.  It's crazy!!  All the Tacloban Missionaries got some really fun news these past few days.  So I guess that only 3 of the 15 areas in the mission actually speak Cebuano and that most areas speak Waray-Waray.  We got 1 day to learn the basics of Waray-Waray which was insane. 

Here's an example of Waray-Waray and Cebuano:

Good Morning

Cebuano: Maayong Buntag

Waray: Maupay nga aga

Oh and we also learned that we will also be learning lots of tagalog because Waray-Waray and Tagalog are pretty similar haha.  We will be teaching with tagalog book of mormon's so yeah it's been a pretty eventful week.

Some news about the Philippines MTC.  Me and Elder Laitinen are still mga kauban and we have still been rooming with Elder Christenson and Elder Reese which is pretty awesome.  The food here is super good which is pretty awesome.  Lot's of rice already.  I got to go to the Manila temple which is super pretty and really small.  I will try to send some pictures in my next email because I have already packed my camera for the flight.  

The weather is super hot and humid but I really like it and it rains really crazy for like 5 minutes at a time and then it just stops.

The best part of the week was definitely going proselyting with the Tagalog missionaries.  Me and Elder Laitinen got to go with Elder Espinali who has been out for 23 months and even though we couldn't really understand any of the lessons because they were in tagalog we were actually able to find some people who spoke cebuano.  We ended up giving out an Ang Aklat ni Mormon and taught a full restoration lesson.  We set a goal to get 3 new investigators and we achieved that goal which is pretty good for 3 hours of working.  Anyways it was really cool to see what daily missionary life will be like.

I ate some street food (Fried Calamari) which tasted really good at the time but ever since I ate it I have been spending lots of time on the toilet so hopefully I can adjust to food quickly.

Love you tons and will try to send pictures when I get to the field.

Amping,

Elder Holmstead

Made it to the Philippines!

Kumusta Ginikanan!

I officially made it safe and sound to the Philippines MTC.  Done with traveling for the rest of my life haha.  It is super hot and humid but I love it and we get to go the Manila Temple tomorrow which is super awesome!  Also we are proselyting with the tagalog elders tomorrow so that will be fun. Anyways just wanted to let you know I made it safe and I am doing great.  Also my next time I email will be on Wednesday when I make it to the field!

Love you tons,

Elder Holmstead

Oh I forgot to mention some of the crazy stuff that has happened in the Philippines.  First off, the driving here is crazy!!  We were in a huge tour bus and we were bobbing and weaving through traffic and I am very surprised that none of us died.  I guess Manila is one of the top 3 cities in the world with the worst traffic but we got lucky because today was a holiday so people were off celebrating.  Manila is a pretty cool city, it has a ton of skyscrapers but I also saw a ton of people living like under bridges and stuff so I'm getting ready for all the poverty I will see.  Yeah that is pretty much it love you!

Amping Amerika!

Kumusta Kamo!

It's crazy to think that this will be the last email that I send from America for 2 years. But on the other hand I am super excited to leave the MTC.  It's been super great and I have felt the spirit super powerfully but it just kinda gets the same after a while so I'm excited.  I finally got my flight plans last Friday too which made it really hard to focus during class because I was just thinking about all the Filipino people I will get to teach.  I've been praying that I will be able to learn how to love them and I have just been feeling a huge amount of love towards them even though I have never met them.  It's super awesome and I can't explain it.

Here is what my travel schedule looks like next Wednesday the 30th

Leave MTC at 9:50 am  Pretty awesome that I don't have to leave at 3 am like some others

Leave Salt Lake at 2:54 pm  Only like 4 hours chillin in the airport not too bad

Arrive at Los Angeles at 4:54 pm Not too bad only 2 hours

Leave for Los Angeles at 11:55 pm  7 hours in the Airport :(  I am going to die (but not even the worst part of the trip)

Arrive at Hong Kong at 5:45 am on Friday.  I think we figured that is a 14 hour flight.  Great time for study time and sleep.

Leave Hong Kong at 7:20 am

Arrive in Manila at 9:45 am.

Only like 2 days worth of traveling haha. I hope I make it.  I don't get a P-Day next week because I am only going to have a Thursday for like 5 hours because of all the time changes.  

Aside from travel plans and all the excitement the MTC has been pretty much the same.  We finally got to host some new missionaries which was pretty fun.  They all seemed really nervous and not sure where to go and I got to give some advice and that was super cool.  It seems like just yesterday that was me getting picked up.

Also funny story my host that picked me up got here 2 weeks before me and I leave a week before him.  Stinks to be going to Japan haha.

Got to see the Solar Eclipse which was pretty sweet.  Some elders had some glasses so I got to see it which was pretty awesome.

The Devotionals this week were pretty sweet.  We had Kenneth Cope come and sing which was a little weird.  He was a really good singer but in between songs he would just stare at us and say "You are all so beautiful" probably like 5 times so everyone was a little creeped out, then he told us that the way he shows love to other people is by kissing people, men and women.  Yeah it was kinda strange.  But the 2nd Devotional was from Elder Weatherford T. Clayton of the Seventy.  He gave a super awesome message about the power of the Book of Mormon and the importance of missionary work and it got me super pumped to get out to the field.  We also all sang the Army of Helaman which was super cool because we are all the missionaries in God's Army.

Anyways, I love you all and I love Amerika.  Can't wait to be out in the Philippines doing the Lord's work to his people.  I know that this is the true gospel on the Earth.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and that by applying the teaching that are in it I can feel the power that comes from it.  I know that the Lord really helps us in our trials and that as we rely on him he will make us more than we ever thought we could be.  I know that I am going where I need to go speaking the language that he needs me to speak.

Can't wait to hear from everyone in 2 weeks!

Amping, Ayo Ayo, Kitakits

(Take Care), (Goodbye), (See you soon)

Elder Holmstead

 Elder Rodgers and Elder Holmstead

Week 4

Kumusta Kamo!?

Another week down, can't believe that I have already been out on the mission for a month.  Only 23 to left.  The MTC is definitely getting old but it is still all good time.  Got to see Elder Anderson this week which was pretty awesome.  He seems to be doing great.   The days here are pretty much all the same, pero I have had a couple cool experiences this week.

Friday: I interviewed all of the new District Leaders and give some wisdom that I learned as a district leader.  It was cool seeing how I was just in their shoes and could give them some advice.

Saturday:Some of the new elders opened up their vents and found some pretty cool stuff like yoyo's and a 10 year old cookie.  The best part was that they found a love note with a drawing of a dragon which was pretty hilarious.

Sunday:Got to teach a Priesthood class this week about Christlike attributes.  Also we were told that we were going to have a special guest at the devotional on today.  As me and my companion went to the front desk to grab something we noticed a limo pull up an suddenly Elder M. Russell Ballard go out of the limo.  Sadly we did not get to shake his hand but we were within like 5 feet of him.  He gave a talk that was broadcasted to all the MTC's around the world.  

Monday: One of my teachers left today to go to Canada which is sad because she was one of my favorite teachers.  Also watched the Mountains to Climb, Mormon Message which is super powerful and awesome, I totally recommend it.

Tuesday:We got another Broadcast to all the other MTC's which has never happened before.  Elder Neil L. Andersen came this time so now I have seen 4 of the 15 apostles.  Every time they come they give amazing talks and I realize how much I need to improve on.

Wednesday: After the first week of the MTC my district came together and did a little testimony meeting about what we had learned.  This week we had another one of those and I felt the spirit super strong as everyone bore their testimonies.  I have definitely learned that this work is impossible without the Lord and the Spirit and that I need to rely on him through my trials.

Anyways that is all for this week hopefully I get my flight plans this week so I can see when I am heading out.  Only 1 more P-day left in the MTC!  Crazy! Also I want to bear my testimony in Cebuano so here it goes:

Nasayud ko nga ang tinuod kining simbahan.

Nasayud ko nga ang sagrado sa Basahon ni Mormon.

Nasayud ko nga pinaagi sa pagula ni JesuKristo kita malimpyohan sa atong mga sala.

Nasayud ko nga ang mga misyonero nagtawag sa Dios.

Nasayud ko nga sa Dios naghiuli sa ebanghelyo pinaagi ni Joseph Smith.

Nasayud ko nga kon magampo kita sa Dios, niya magtubag sa atong mga pagampo.

Sa ngalan ni JesuKristo, amen.

Love you all and I would love to get some emails!

Amping,

Elder Holmstead

Picture of District with our teacher that left to go to Canada

Sister Gunn and Sister Holmstead (Wade had to correct Taylor that it's actually Elder Holmstead)

Long Live the Mormon Mamba

Kamusta Kamo!?

Another week down!  It's crazy that it is already week 3.  This week we said goodbye to all the older missionaries in our zone, it was kinda sad because I have gotten pretty close with a lot of them. Especially Elder Newman who was our old zone leader.  But them leaving has made me super excited to get out in the field and teach the gospel.

Now that we are the older missionaries in our zone its kinda weird.  I got released as district leader which was kinda nice because I didn't have any responsibilities but then President Orme asked me and my kauban to be the new Zone Leaders.  It's crazy because now we are basically the leaders of 51 missionaries.  It's fun though.  We got to welcome all the new missionaries and take them on a tour around the MTC.  They are all super nervous and a little stressed.  It's funny to think that I was in their seats just 3 weeks ago and now I'm showing them around and giving them advice. I love it!

So the reason for the title of the email is that the old missionaries that just left were all super good at basketball and I loved playing with them.  One of them(Elder Newman) would always where a mormon mamba shirt which was pretty funny.  He would always hit game winning 3's right over me too.  It is the worst haha.  But now they are gone so we will have to see if the newbies got any skills.

Language is still coming along super good.  Me and Elder Laitinen have been teaching about a lesson a day.  I am starting to feel more confident teaching with the spirit.  It is super cool to prepare for a lesson and then in the middle of the lesson you get a prompting to go a different direction and then the investigator says that is exactly what they needed.  I know it's not real investigators but it is amazing to see how the spirit knows the people and what they need so we just have to be ready and willing to follow it.

We had Jenny Oaks Baker come speak to us and play violin with her family.  They are amazing.  Also we got Elder Sitati from the Seventy to come speak which is pretty awesome.  All I could think about was how Elder Niumatalolo would say that he was his favorite member of the seventy because he is the only one who is not white.  Also I got to watch the Character of Christ again but at the end they surprised us and Elder Bednar actually came and did a question and answer thing with us.  He is super amazing and just brings an amazing spirit.

Anyways, thanks for all the packages and letters.  I have so much food in my room that we are literally begging other districts to come eat our food.  It's the best.  I love hearing from everyone!  

Love you all!

Amping, 

Elder Holmstead

Look who the Schoonover's ran into during their MTC tour!

Dixie Mills nephew who works at the MTC finally caught up with Elder Holmstead!  

Thanks for the pic Brandon and Dixie!!

Mabuhi!

Kumusta Kamo!

Can't believe I have already been at the MTC for two weeks.  Some days it feels like I just barely got here but some days take forever to go by.  Lots of new missionaries keep coming in and it's weird to think about how I was just there like two weeks ago.

Now I gotta share the highlight of my week.  Me and Elder Laitinen were studying in the new MTC buildings last week and we were about to finish up when we saw a security guard by the elevators that was telling people to leave the building.  She never came over to ask us to leave so we just stayed put.  Suddenly the administrator of all the MTC's around the world came out and told us a special tour was coming through and that we should pay attention to who walks by.  We started freaking out and tried to look like we were studying but then President Eyring came out around the corner.  It was CRAZY!!  He came over to us and shook our hands and asked where we were headed.  After we told him Philippines he said "Mabuhi" which means like Go Philippines.  It was super awesome and he has a crazy powerful spirit.  We were shaking for like 20 minutes after meeting him.  I think us and two other elders were the only ones in the MTC that got to talk with him so it was crazy cool.

Got to see Elder Carroll and Elder Dorius a bunch this week which is pretty awesome.  They really help me feel less homesick.  It's crazy that Elder Carroll leaves on Tuesday and I still have like 4 weeks.

Language this week has been progressing well.  We learned that our "investigator" is actually one of our teachers which we kinda already guessed.  But anyways we got her committed to baptism which was a pretty cool experience.  We also got to teach 2 20 minute lessons that were completely in Cebuano to some return missionaries.  The gift of tongues is real because those lessons went super well despite our very limited Cebuano.  

We had two devotionals this week from President Priday from the District Presidency and then from Sister Bingham who is the Relief Society General President so that was pretty cool.  

Loving the Basketball at the MTC.  Don't worry mom i'm not going to crazy with it.  Some of the kids here though are crazy good and it gets pretty competitive.  Also I joined the choir.  It's super fun and uplifting to sing with a bunch of other missionaries.

Anyways love you all.  Thanks for all the packages and letters.  Love hearing from you guys!

Amping,

Elder Holmstead

 Me and Elder Carroll

Me and Elder Dorius 

Best district in the MTC! 

Elder Carroll, me and Elder Dorius 

Krispy Kreme (thanks Bell's and mom & dad) and cinnamon rolls from Grandma! These are really good study helps.  Thanks everyone!