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!