Baptism

So the highlight of the week was that we had a baptism!  Sister Glaiza was baptized, James Carlo had a fever so he missed his baptism so we will probably just move it to this Saturday.  We also committed the Monte De Ramos Family to baptism in April and they accepted so we were excited.

I had exchanges this week with a new elder in my zone from Georgia.  We had a super good time and we found lots of people.  After the exchange another companionship was having exchanges but they had to sleep at our apartment to be on time the next day so they worked a little bit and we had a pretty good time.  Aside from that we are basically teaching the same people the work is kinda slowing down but we are still working hard.

Also I was introduced to the doctrine of the Community Ministries and the Pentecostal Church this last week with two different investigators who decided that we needed to hear some pretty crazy interpretations of the bible but it was really funny.

One of the pics with me and Elder Tabelisma with lipstick on our faces was because we had an FHE and we played a game and everytime we lost we got more lipstick on our face.  Needless to say we lost a lot haha.  

Anyways I know that this Gospel leads to true happiness and helps us not have to worry about what is true.  I am grateful especially for additional scriptures that help us not be confused with the Bible. 

Love you tons!!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Screenshot of our video chat with Wade.  We got to say Hi to Elder Tabelisma.

Video Chat

The announcement from the church about Missionaries being able to make weekly calls/video chats home happened this week.  We weren't sure how this would affect Wade's mission, but then we saw this post from Sister Argana on FB:

Dear Missionary Families,

How are you all? Hope each of you is doing great.

With the new announcement on missionaries communicating with families weekly, the mission has decided to make it effective today. 
We hope that as you do so, you will keep in mind the guidelines set by the First Presidency so that your conversations are aligned and would be uplifting and encouraging.

Have a great time talking with our faithful and exactly obedient missionaries. We love and trust them.

Best regards,

Pres. & Sis. Argana

To our excitement we were able to have a video chat with Elder Holmstead.  He could see us but we couldn't see him.  He was very excited about the news and said that talking is so much easier than writing emails. Here are some highlights from our chat:

• His companion has been sick this week so he spent a lot of time in their apartment reading scriptures and talks.
• He really wants to drive in the Philippines.  There are no speed limits and everyone drives crazy.  He said it's a miracle that they haven't been in an accident, especially when they ride the bus.
• He weighs exactly the same as when he got there.
• Elder Ababa is their new AP.  
• His batch is known as the "power batch" because all of them are Zone Leaders and AP's.
• He has seen a lot of missionaries go home because of home sickness so he thinks the weekly phone calls home will really help with those that need it.
• We talked about Come Follow Me and are excited to study together as a family when he gets home.

He didn't have time to write an email this week but he sent us the names of investigators with baptismal dates and 3 new investigators:

Baptismal Dates

Glaiza

James Carlo

William Lin

Felicissimo Sala

Other

Monte de Ramos Kids (CJ, Rel Ann, Wheng)

Maayong Semana

Hope you're having fun on the Cruise and the house is looking good.  

This week was pretty awesome.  One of the main highlights was that we got to meet with President Schmutz, a member of the Seventy.  He spent most of the morning encouraging us to Know, Feel, and Do.  All of these related to our understanding and application of the Gospel in our lives and he challenged our whole mission to spent more time finding.  

The whole afternoon we had a big discussion about the Doctrine of Christ and discussed the roles of the Godhead from 2 Nephi 31:5-21.  Elder Schmutz shared some really cool insights and we learned some really cool things that I had never realized before.  We also got to do a special MLC and talk about all the things we learned and what we need to improve on as the leaders of the Mission.

Also we have had some pretty cool miracles with our investigators.  One of them, a referral named William, accepted a baptismal date which was super awesome and then we taught another referral named Felicissimo, great name btw, but he has been coming to church and we are going to give him a baptismal date this week as well so the work has been going a lot better lately.

Also we have been playing basketball every week with the district which has been fun.  We have a Elder from New Zealand in our district who played rugby, he's big and he always bullies me when we play but it is really fun.  

I know the Doctrine of Christ is central to everything we do and it is the way to get back to our Heavenly Father. Another challenge is to study 2 Nephi 3:5-21 and list the roles of each member of the Godhead.  We made a list as a mission in one of the pics.  Anyways it's really cool.

Love you tons!!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

"Enabling Eternal Conversion"

Frequent Travelers

Another great week here in the sunny Philippines :)

This week we had some fun travels.  We started off in Tacloban for MLC.  It was great to be with all the batch and have some good times.  We also had a fun activity running around the Church trying to find a lost sheep and then a super good FHE with all the mission leadership.  The next day we had a super good MLC about updating the area book and finding people to teach.  Also our mission got a new logo and it's pretty cool.  I'll find a pic of it.

Most of the work this week has been pretty normal.  We did some finding and teaching and are hoping to get some baptizing at the end of February.  We also had some members bring a cousin to church and we got an appointment to start teaching him.  His name is Felicisimo, pretty cool.

Also after I get done emailing today we are getting on another van to Tacloban because we have a meeting with the Philippines Area President.  It'll be fun as well because we will be having a zone conference with all of Tacloban, Carigara, Tolosa, and Biliran Zones so I will get to see a lot of missionaries I haven't seen in a while.

One last highlight is President Argana has challenged us missionaries to become masters of Come, Follow Me.  As I have been studying I have seen my testimony of the Savior and all the events surrounding his life strengthened.  I know it was from God and I would challenge everyone to master it as well.

Anyways Love you tons!!!

I promise i'll send pics next week sorry.

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Stayin Sogod Strong

So the transfer announcements came this week and I am officially staying for another cycle.  I am the longest one in Sogod Zone, but It's all good because I'm loving it here.

We had a bunch of missionaries transfer and some new ones training so we basically spent 2 days just helping people at the terminal so they wouldn't get lost or anything.  Transferring is kinda crazy here but it's all good.  Anyways me and Elder Tabelisma are still companions and we are still working hard.  Right now we are here in Tacloban for MLC which should be a good time and next week we have a special conference and we get to meet with President Schmutz, the Philippines Area President, so that should be really cool.

One little adventure we had this week was we were going to this kinda far away area and on the way there were a bunch of statues of Jesus Christ and we starting following the statues and eventually ended up on the top of this hill with a really cool view of the whole Sogod Bay.  I sadly didn't have my camera but next time we go I will for sure take some pics.

Our main progressing people are Sister Glaiza and Brother James Carlo who are both set for baptism on February 23.  They are both doing really well and the only thing holding them back from baptism is that we need to finish teaching them.

Anyways cool to hear I have a room for college thats kinda crazy don't know if i'm ready for that haha.  Also I think I will buy a ukulele today :)

Anyways love you tons, the Church is true.  God is in control and we can trust in him.

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

We asked how his toes are doing:  I will take a pic for next week.  They are growing back good, just about half way.

Pics us with some members after Church

I got nothing

I couldn't think of anything good for the title for this so sorry but it was a really great week.  We have been working hard and have had some good experiences this past week.  We hiked up a mountain to the house of one of our investigators and while we were there another part member came and listened to the lesson so that was cool we got another good investigator named Jovani.

We also had some FHE's this week with the branch which have been super fun.  We usually give the lesson and then we play some games which are pretty fun.  We have a really good relationship with the branch and I can see that they are starting to really want to help us with the work as well here in Sogod.

We have been in trio for the past few days as well because an Elder in our zone finished his mission and the one with us, Elder McGowan is like 6 foot 5 so it's kinda weird having someone super tall here.  It's kinda nice because he gets all the yelling from the kids and stuff and I just laugh haha.  

Anyways not a lot happened aside from that but it's transfers for the next few days so as always it should be exciting.  I love the work and this Gospel.  I have seen the Spirit guide us and I know that when we are on the Lord's errand he will help us.

Question from mom and dad:  Do you think you will stay in SoGod for your next transfer?  We don't know until tomorrow but I have the feeling that I am transferring but we will see.  I love Sogod but I have been here for a little while.

Love you tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Pictures from Sister Candidato

Tapsilog and Beef Bulalo

So this week flew by.

Me and Elder Tabelisma had a lot of teaching this week and we were really busy so that was a blessing.  We got a new investigator that is a part member named Glaiza who came to church so that was pretty great.  We have been teaching mostly the same people and James Carlo also came to church so we are excited for them.

One of the biggest highlights of my week was that yesterday we had a special Philippines wide broadcast and Elder Holland and the Philippines Area Presidency spoke.  The talks from the area presidency had some really cool talks but Elder Holland's was of course my favorite.  He shared about the changes in the Church and how most of the changes have been talked about for over 50 years.  He also said that when the History of the Church is written the part about the Church in the Philippines will be one of the most amazing and remarkable parts.  He also spoke of the importance of obedience and following God's commandments and if we will be obedient we can start the Millennium personally and in our own home.  Pretty cool.

One cool story for the week was from exchanges.  Me and Elder Smith, one of the new americans in our zone, hiked for about 1 hour up a mountain to find a less active.  When we got to the spot we didn't know where their house was.  The first house we went to happened to be their house and we shared a really powerful lesson with them about coming to Christ.  

We also had our interviews with President Argana.  The Assistants gave us a training about becoming Gospel Scholars.  They focused on the importance of scripture study daily and learning by the Spirit.  I know that studying on my mission has definitely helped me learn and develop a stronger testimony and I would invite you as well to daily study.  Especially with the new Come, Follow Me book.

I know this Church is true and all the changes are just a way to hasten the work of the Lord.  

Love you tons!!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Oh I will respond to your questions as well.  My toenails are doing really good, I can actually wear shoes now.  No complications.  Also I gave your email to a Sister in our branch who went to the temple and she said she will send you pics so not sure when she will send them.

Pics with the Assistants, Elder Jaring goes home next week so it was the last time I will see him.

Lunch at the Candidato Family's Restaurant.

They're eating Tapsilog (Marinated Beef with Egg) and Beef Bulalo (it's kinda Beef Soup)

2019 is here!

Happy New Years 

This was a pretty good week once again.  It was a little bit long because we had to go home at 5 on new years eve and on new years because everyone was drinking and singing karaoke into the early hours of the morning and their were lots of firecrackers going off so that was pretty fun. We also got fed a lot by the members so that was great :) The members in Sogod treat the missionaries very well.

We also had the 2 hour church which was kinda different.  We do Sunday School first here because people are always super late but they want everyone to be there for the sacrament so Sunday School was pretty small.  But it was good.  We also got to have a special broadcast from the Area Presidency of the Philippines which introduced the area plan.  It is focused on 3 words.  Obey, Covenant and Establish.  It focused on simple ways to incorporate these things into building the Church in the Philippines and it was really cool.

The work has been a little bit slow because all of our investigators were doing stuff for new years so we didn't have a lot of teaching but we still saw some miracles of being led to people or helping to strengthen less active members.  James Carlo, our good progressing investigator, was staying with his family in Milagroso which is a really far away barangay so he didn't come to church which was kinda sad but we are still excited for him to keep progressing as well. 

Question from mom and dad - What language do you speak in your apartment?  It's kinda mixture in the apartment.  The mission wants all the filipinos to learn english so I help out and my companion is getting pretty good at english but we also speak a lot of Cebuano as well. Also I forgot to say I have not yet bought a ukulele but the next time I got to Tacloban I will.

Love you tons, 

also I forgot my camera so no pics sorry

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Mauswagon nga Bagong Tuig

Happy New Years!!

We are getting prepared for the festivities and we aren't allowed outside after 5 today so that should be fun.  The Filipinos love their new years.

This last week was really great.  We spent the first few days in the Hospital with an Elder who had Dengue but we gave him a blessing and he recovered just in time to get out of the hospital on Christmas day.  We had a pretty good Christmas just visiting members and enjoying some good food.

We also had a typhoon come through but it was not super strong.  We just had a lot of rain but nothing to major.  Everyone was safe and we were excited that nothing bad happened.  

We finally got some time to get back to work and visit some of our investigators.  One of them named James Carlo is doing super good and should get baptized this January.  Another investigator named Sister Lyka also has started getting pretty interested in the Church so we are hoping that she will start progressing.

Also I finished the Book of Mormon just this morning.  I marked any references to Jesus Christ and his attributes/actions and words and I was so amazed at how many there are.  I think it was on every page.  It strengthened my testimony that the Book of Mormon really helps people come to know Jesus Christ and to come closer to him. I know I have through reading it.  And I would invite everyone to keep reading it everyday.  It will truly bless your lives.

Love you tons.....2019 here we come!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Thanks for the Shirt haha Elder Tabelisma liked it as well

Question from mom and dad:  Can you tell us more about the Candidate family?  Mom became friends with Karen on FB.

Yeah it's actually the Candidato family.  Sister Karen and Brother Lito are the parents and they have 4 kids, a girl and 3 boys.  The youngest Miguel has the same birthday as you mom hence the celebration.  Sister Karen has been a member for a while but Brother Lito was baptized 2 weeks before I transferred here so we retaught him and two weeks ago he got the Melchizedek Priesthood.  They are awesome!

Pics of us celebrating Miguel's birthday, Filipino style! 

Maayong Pasko!

Merry Christmas!!!

This was a big week of Christmas celebrations and we still have more to come.

The first big news of the week was my ingrown toenails are officially gone and I survived a medical operation in the Philippines.  It was about as scary as it sounds.  The doctor rolled up in a plaid t shirt and jeans and grabbed the needle with the anesthesia and just proceeded to go to work on my toes. But I survived haha :)

After the operation we couldn't go home so we spent the night helping the AP's get set up for the Christmas zone conference.  Me and Elder Murphy made a killer version of Jeopardy and we all had a super good time.

Other notable events of the week.  MLC was great as always.  We had a big activity where we built nativities but the baby Jesus was missing so we had to search around the Church to find it.  They were hidden in certain places were we had to do service to find them.  It was a cool activity and a great way to get in the true Christmas spirit.

We also had Zone Conference.  We played a bunch of games and also performed a zone song. We sang O Come All Ye Faithful and it actually turned out really good so I was happy.  Also Sogod Zone won the whole conference so Yeah we're the best.

An Elder in our zone got Dengue so we have also been in the hospital helping him get better so we have been literally visiting the sick.  It has been a really fun time and I am excited for another week of celebrating Christmas and helping people get closer to Jesus Christ.  It truly is the greatest to be able to be the ones who spread the Gospel light to all the world at this special time of year.

Merry Christmas, Love you all!!!

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

Elder Holmstead and Elder Tabelisma

I'm doing great! It doesn't even hurt I just have to wrap them up every day. 

Christmas Day with the Candidatos