Maupay nga Semana

Good week as usual on the mission.  We stayed pretty busy all week which was good.  Lots of lessons and teaching.  I was pretty tired by the end of most days.  Luckily the bikes are back so we are putting in the work in Anibong.

Main update on investigators.  We taught Solomon this week and shared with us that he is unsure about baptism because his family in Catholic and he will have to change from the rest of his family.  We just bore our testimonies of the power of the Book of Mormon and the importance of finding the truth for ourselves.  We challenged him to pray and see.  I was also able to give him a blessing of counsel so I am excited for the next time we visit to see how he is doing.

We had a super good lesson with the Cobacha family, sadly they didn't come to church this week but we are praying that next week will be the week.  They actually kept their commitments to read and pray and stuff which is kinda rare so that was super awesome.

Other good investigators Sister Mekaela Canete is progressing super well and will be baptized February 17 along with Rochelle-Anne.  I am excited for them and also Geraldine Guasin who is one of their friends is scheduled for Mar. 3.  It's kinda funny that all of our good investigators are teenage girls but we are really trying to get families baptized but we take what we can get haha.

Ernesto and Rolando have kinda lost interest and we haven't been able to visit them in a while so that's kinda a bummer.  We did get to contact the Apejas family and teach them so hopefully they can continue to progress.

This week should be very busy because we have zone conference tomorrow, zone interviews on thursday and exchanges with the Zone Leaders on wednesday so it will be a pretty crazy week.  Next transfers are Feb. 21 so hopefully we can get some baptisms on Feb.17.

Thanks for the love and support. I can feel it everyday!

Love you tons

Elder Holmstead

Philippines Tacloban Mission

This picture is this special needs guy we met and he was super funny.  

Kinda reminds me of my friend Brett Berry.  

Next time you see him will you give him a hug for me, thanks.

Walking by Faith and 6 Months!

So the theme of this week was 2 Corinthians 5:7 because we did a lot of walking by faith this week.  

The bike was sadly in the shop in Tacloban all week so we were walking all day.  We stayed pretty close to the main roads because they have the public transportation like trikes and what not and we weren't able to get out to Anibong until Sunday.  We basically did finding all day everyday which was pretty exhausting but now that I look back on it, it was a really good week and I learned a lot.

One bonus of working near the main roads was that not very many missionaries have really done work there so we got to talk to lots of people who had never heard about the gospel before.  We taught so many lesson 1's it was crazy.  One family we found was the Cobacha Family they were a referral from another family we talked to.  They were super awesome and asked good questions and stuff.  We got a return appointment and when we came back they fed us a big meal which was super awesome.  They live far from the church they could use some prayers for the faith to sacrifice and go to church. That would be greatly appreciated.

It's crazy that I hit the 6 month mark last week. Wow it goes by fast in the field.  I didn't burn any ties but we did have a little celebration in our apartment with our kabalay because another elder hit his year mark too so we ate a little feast and had some ice cream so that was pretty fun.

Thats about it for this week.  I got the package with the sweater from amazon haven't got any of the others yet but I will let you know

Love you tons,

Elder Holmstead

this bridge that we found way out in the bukid

our 6 month/year celebration 

another bridge in our area

the beauty of anibong area

some random dude we found on the street listening to some crazy music

what a trike looks like

getting bored on the long walk

some birds going crazy in a rice field

an authentic filipino game​

Rain All Day

Well it has been raining non stop since Saturday and it is still raining now.  When we were coming to Tacloban the roads were flooded and some houses were filled with water so it has been a pretty wet couple of days.

It was transfers this week and......still in Anibong.  Me and Elder Escalona are still companions which is good because we are putting in the work.  Elder Hassan transferred to Borongan which is kinda sad because we have been living in the same house for the whole mission so we got pretty close but it's all good.  Now I am the only american in a house of filipinos.  I have never heard so much tagalog in my entire life.  My language is getting better because I basically have to speak Waray-Waray the whole time.

As for investigators we have been teaching Rochelle-Anne and she is progressing really good towards baptism. Sadly Solomon didn't come to church this week so we were a little bummed. Sorry it's hard to remember all the investigators because we have 25 investigators with baptismal dates so I kinda lose track of where they are all at.  Two return missionaries came back from their missions this week to our branch so they have been helping work a ton.  We found 11 new investigators this week.

Oh one crazy story so the only way to our area is through some pretty rough dirt roads so you basically have to bike or there is no way to get there.  So something happened to my bike so we couldn't ride to church so we basically had to convince a trike driver to take us to Anibong which they usually never do.  We knew we had basically no way home but walking but we trusted somehow we would make it home.  Anyways we started walking back after some work on Sunday in the pouring rain and then a trike came driving through.  It was a huge miracle because trikes are never just driving through anibong so we got a ride home and didn't have to walk for like 3 hours in the rain.  

Other random stuff, I ate cheese flavored ice cream that actually had chunks of cheese in it. really gross.  We had a funeral in our branch and when we went to the cementary a skull was just chilling out next to the hole they dug for the coffin.

Anyways thanks for all the love and support. I have not yet received any of the packages but zone interviews will be in the next week or 2 so hopefully I will get them then.  

Also will you send me some pics of just around St. George because I want to show Elder Escalona what it looks like there.

Love you 

Elder Holmstead

Sorry no new pics, I'll do better next week.

Maupay nga New Year!

Sadly there's not a cool Waray-Waray way to say happy new year so that's all you get:(

Anyways this was a super good week.  Thanks for all the prayers for investigators this week because we had some major miracles happen.  The biggest one was for Brother Solomon.  We have been teaching him since the start of this cycle at the end of November and he is super interested he has just never come to Church.  We have been inviting him every week and he is like oh yeah i'll be there this week but then never comes.  We have been praying tons for him and we felt that we needed to help get him a fellowshipper so we asked our branch president's son to bring him to Church and he finally came.  I was super excited that we could finally see him come.

We had some more rain storms this week, basically every week.  I am actually surprised on the days it doesn't rain here.  

Oh I finally memorized the Waray-Waray first vision this week. Usually we use the Tagalog one to share because it is in the pamphlet we share with people so if you forget a part you can just read it.  I finally decided to learn the Waray-Waray one and I have shared it in 2 lessons now and the Spirit comes very powerfully to be able to share that sacred experience to people in their own language.  

Here it is just for fun to read: 

Nakakita ako hin raya hin lamrag eksakto ha igbaw han akon ulo, labaw pa han kapawa han adlaw, nga naghinay-hinay pagtipaubos hasta nga nagtipahulog ngadi ha akon...Pag-ukoy han lamrag dida ha akon nakakita ko an duha nga mga personahe, nga an kapawa diri akos han ngatanan nga pagpahayag, nga natindog ha hangin igbaw ha akon.  Usa ha ira nagyakan ha akon, nagtawag ha akon ngaran ngan nagsiring, "Amo Ini an akon Higugmaon nga Anak. Pamati ha Iya!"

Transfers are this Wednesday and I have no clue what will happen.  My guess is I will still be in Anibong for another cycle.  

Oh I have given two priesthood blessings, 1 to a girl in Dagami just for comfort about an upcoming test.  2 to a lady in our branch who was really sick.  After that blessing for the sick sister she was able to come to church with her family the next day so that was a really cool experience.

Some background about investigators: 

Solomon Bansale: Age 18

None of his family are members but we are also teaching his mom.  He is super nice and loves to learn.

Rochelle-Anne Morabe: Age 10

Lives literally right next to the church.  None of her family are members but she wants to join the church and her family supports her.

Rolando Abrahan Jr: Age 25-30

His wife is a member and he has 2 kids I think that are super awesome and I love them tons.  He needs to be married in order to be baptized and they are trying hard to get the paperwork needed for marriage so we have been praying for that to all work out.

We have a bunch more i'll send some more next week.  Thanks for all the prayers for investigators I know it helps a bunch.  Thanks for all the love and support.  Love you tons!!

Elder Holmstead

Baptisms of Bianca, Jaybe and Cay-anne

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's

Maupay nga Pasko and Happy New Year's. Can't believe it's 2018

So Christmas in the mission field was a pretty good time.  It was P-Day so we kinda just chilled all day and then we had a curfew at 6:00 pm so we couldn't work so just hanging out in the apartment all day.  But still a good time and members fed us with tons of food so that was great.

New Year's was pretty crazy.  On New Year's everyone in the Philippines basically just get drunk and they have tons of fireworks and karoake machines so we got no sleep.  We had to stay in the apartment after 6 as well because their are tons of people out on the streets going crazy.

We had a baptism for Bianca, Jaybe, and Cay-anne.  It went super well and I got the opportunity to baptize all 3 of them.  They are super awesome and they really want to follow Christ so I was super happy for them.  I have some pictures but the computer won't let me put them into the email so next week I will try sorry.

It was awesome to talk to you last week.  Best Christmas gift for sure.  As far as family goals I'm not sure I'm good with reading the Book of Mormon or praying for something.  Whatever works.  

Oh so for Christmas conference every zone at the conference had to perform a musical number so we sang Silent Night and then had a little nativity scene set up while we sang.

And if you are wondering a good birthday gift a new watch would be great.  Don't really have any preference what kind but if it is waterproof that would be great.  

Some names for investigators that could use some prayers: Solomon Bansale, Ernesto Bejino, Rolando Abrahan Jr., Apejas Family

 

Thanks for all the emails, Love you tons!

Elder Holmstead

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!

Christmas Eve 2017

Elder Holmstead's neighbor (Rito Dacome) sent these pictures.

"Christmas Eve after dinner, the boys playing Uno here in my living room."

"Few pics of Elder Holmstead and his companion, Elder Escalona with Elder Hassan and his companion, Elder Aroa on December 23, 2017.  They were just chillin out here in my living room since they can't go to work due to typhoon Vinta that hit in the southern Mindanao area."

Christmas Conference 2017

Post from Sister Argana on FB:

Dear Missionary Families,

We hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas celebration with your family in spite of one child missing. But I suppose you have had the chance to get to talk to your missionary son or daughter and had a great time exchanging stories.

I am posting more pictures of your missionaries at the Christmas conference held in Tacloban Stake Center for you.

Posts on FB from Rito Dacome

Lunch with Elder Hassan, Elder Holmstead, Elder Aroa and Elder Escalona

Burauen Leyte Philippines

BAGYO!!

So this week was kinda crazy because we had a typhoon come through.  On Tuesday it started to rain and then it kept raining and raining until Sunday.  I think it made landfall Thursday because we got lots of warnings from President to not go outside the apartment and I could see why.  The wind was really strong and when we rode to church Sunday there were trees all over the roads and most of my area flooded which was crazy.  I guess I can check off living through a typhoon from my bucket list.

We spent most of the week in the apartment which was pretty boring until the storm started going crazy which was a pretty good time.  We did play like 90 games of UNO so i'm pretty professional.  These are the some of the things you can only learn on a mission haha.  I am also almost done reading through all of the conference talks and this was truly an amazing general conference.  My favorite is probably Elder Holland's talk.

Anyways the typhoon scared most of our investigators and members away from Church on Sunday which was a bummer but we still had 2 there.  We spent all of Sunday teaching the appointments that we couldn't go to throughout the week so it was pretty busy.  but it was nice to be back to work.

This week we go to Tacloban for our Christmas zone conference and i'm excited because I get my package!  and I will get to see some of the missionaries from my batch that I haven't seen since I got here so that will be fun.  

Also we heard another typhoon was coming around Christmas time so that will be a good way to spend the holiday.  Hopefully it not very strong or misses our islands.  I'll let you know.  I am doing great and am excited to see you on Christmas!!!

Ginhigugma ko kamo,

Elder Holmstead

I also took some videos during the typhoon but the internet is not good enough to send them in Burauen so I will send them next time I go to Tacloban.

Typhoon Urduja

Facebook Posts from Sister Argana

December 17, 2017

Dear Missionary Families,

If you do not receive emails today, it is because power in your missionary’s area is not yet restored.

Tomorrow, Dec 19, we will be in Ormoc for the Biliran/Carigara/Ormoc/Sogod Zone Christmas Conference and on the 21st in Tacloban for the Borongan/Catbalogan/Catarman/Tacloban/Tolosa Zones Christmas Conference. It is in this meeting where we will hand them their Christmas packages and gifts from generous members (thank you so much!) sent through Sis. Julie Hess(the one person we cannot do without and who we owe so much from).
I will be posting the activity and pictures of your missionary here as soon as we are done with the conference.

Please continue praying for us as there is another typhoon approaching and it might hit the mission on the 24th ☹️. I know, Christmas might be bleak but the Spirit is mighty felt when in humble circumstances as was the Savior’s condition when He was born. Do not feel too bad for us. Our missionaries are resilient and look on the positive side of this calamity. We went around and were with them. They were unfazed and were still upbeat. What would really help to make them fully happy are your emails, letters, and of course, packages.

December 16, 2017

Storm update #2 and missionary safety report

Typhoon Urduja (Urduha) had landed, (after 4 days of whistling winds and battering rains), this afternoon, (Dec 16 Manila time) north of Borongan City . It intensified and raged over the province including neighboring Catarman. It is projected to leave Eastern Visayas tonight and the country Wednesday, the 20th. (See photo)
Reports on the missionaries
in the 9 zones:
Biliran Zone - all missionaries in respective apartment except for the STLs who evacuated to the chapel. Biliran town submerged in water and sister’s apartment flooded. All missionaries contacted and declared themselves safe. Zone’s power is out.

Borongan Zone - all missionaries safe in respective apartment. No mention of power outage in the report but I think that is a given.

Carigara Zone - zone leaders in the apartment with Capoocan elders. Electricity restored @ 6pm in Carigara and Capoocan. Jaro elders in the apartment with San Miguel elders (apartment flooded) San Isidro, Leyte and Calubian elders in their respective apartments. No electricity yet. All missionaries safe.

Catbalogan Zone - Calbayog elders and the rest of the missionaries in respective apartments. Calbayog town is okay; Catbalogan flooded including missionaries apartment but not enough to evacuate. All safe and accounted for. No electricity

Catarman Zone - Bobon ZL’s in the apartment with Mondragon elders. Catarman 1, San Isidro, Lavasares/Allen 1&2 elders in respective apartments. Catarman 2 STLs in the apartment with UEP sisters. Catarman 1 sisters in their apartment. Experienced strong winds and heavy rainfall from 2-7pm. All is safe. No electricity

Ormoc Zone - ZLs in the apartment with Albuera elders. Ormoc 1 STLs in the apartment with Kananga sisters( apartment near river, water rising up) Ormoc/Ipil, Merida, Isabel, Palompon, Baybay/Kilim, Inopacan, and Mahaplag elders in their respective apartment. All safe and accounted for. Zone no electricity

Sogod Zone - ZLs in the apartment with Hinunangan and St Bernard elders. Libagon, Bontoc, Hilongos, and Macrohon elders in respective apartment. Bato/Matalom and Maasin STLs also in respective apartments. All safe and accounted for. Sogod, Libagon and Bontoc areas no electricity

Tacloban Zone - ZLs, San Jose B and Alang alang in their respective apartment. Tacloban A1, Tacloban 2 AP and San Jose A elders in the office, Tacloban 1 B sisters in their apartment with Tanuan 2 sisters, while San Juanico A and B and Basey STLs in their respective apartment. All safe and accounted for. Area flooded and no electricity. Heavy rain and gusty winds. All stores/malls closed,living on their 72 hr kit

Tolosa Zone - Mayorga ZLs, Dulag, Anibong, Burauen, Abuyog, Tolosa/Canmugsay, and San Roque elders in their respective apartment. Dagami A, Dagami B sisters in their respective apartments also. Flooding was reported but up to the streets only. No electricity.
#typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

December 15, 2017
Update on Storm Urduja

At this moment, most of the areas in Phils Tacloban Mission are under a state of calamity due to flooding. It had been raining nonstop for three days and the storm is yet to make a land fall. It is still 200 km east of Borongan City, Eastern Samar. This has a sustained winds of 75km/hr near the center and with gusty winds up to 90km/hr. The problem is that it travels at 5km/hr and it’s not getting off the whole region. Storm landfall is expected tomorrow morning or afternoon. We are bracing ourselves as it intensifies. All missionaries are accounted for and were strictly advised to stay indoors. Missionaries assigned in low lying areas were transferred to safe apartments of other missionaries within their zone. 

We have no power right now but all missionaries were supplied with DC/Solar powered lamps since July. Their 72 hr kit is also on stand by. 

Please know that our lines are open and that we continue to monitor our missionaries every hour. But we need all the prayers and support we can get. Thank you very much. More updates to come. #typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

December 14, 2017

Dear Missionary Families,

A tropical storm, locally called Urduja (Kai-tak, internationally), is currently on the coast of Eastern Visayas. It is located 85km ESE of Guiuan, Eastern Samar and is barely moving @ just 7 km/hr but it has a max winds of 65 km/hr and gustiness up to 90 km/h. It is expected to land @ 5pm Dec. 15, 2017.

Right now, there is moderate to heavy gustiness of winds. Please be assured that we constantly monitor the typhoon and its path and always ready to communicate with our missionaries to know of their condition. Please continue to include us in your prayers. Thank you for all your support to your missionary kids. #typhoonseason #safetyisapriority

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Grabe Hard Work

Maupay nga Udto!

This was a great week of work for me and Elder Escalona.  We have been finding a bunch of new investigators and teaching lots of lessons.  I was surprised because it seems like everyone in Anibong has been talked to at least 10 times about the gospel but we keep finding new people and it makes me happy to share it with them.

One miracle was yesterday at Church.  We usually have around 45-50 people at Church every week but we were praying really hard that investigators would come to Church and we ended up having 80 people come including less active families that haven't come for years.  We didn't even have enough room in the chapel for everyone so we set up chairs in the hallway.  It was amazing.  10 investigators came to Church which was great because in the Philippines people have to come to Church 4 times in 6 weeks to qualify for baptism so that is the biggest challenge.

We had zone interviews and I am still gaining weight.  Not really sure how or why but it's all good.  Elder Escalona and Elder Aroa, had to stay in Tacloban for District Leader training so me and Elder Hassan had exchanges this week.  It's crazy to see how far we have both come because this was our first exchange since week 5 of the mission so it was cool because we could actually talk to people and teach lessons.

I don't actually get my Christmas package or any other packages that have been sent until December 21 at our zone conference so don't worry I won't open them haha.  I am excited to see you both!!  Also I'm a little jealous that we have a golf cart now that's legit haha.  Thanks for the NBA update as well.  Doesn't even feel like Christmas time because it is still 80-90 degrees but it is all good.  

P.s. Let me know how Star Wars is.  They have advertisements everywhere here for it.

Love you tons,

Elder Holmstead

Patron feast with Brother Reto-Patron is basically a big fiesta in Burauen with tons of food

Sunset in Anibong

Teaching the Mga Bata

Carigara/Tolosa Zone missionary interviews with President Argana and health check with Sister Argana, 06DEC17

The Elders of Tolosa Zone with Office Elders Crisologo, travel secretary and Miller, supply manager (on squat)

Tolosa Zone

Front row, l-r: Elders Escalona, Deponio, Basulgan, Sisters Aguiton, Aradani, Osmun, David

Back row, l-r: Elders Valentine, Cañas, Rogers, Arreola, Homestead, Rosete, Hassan, Aroa (not pictured -Elder McKell having an interview with President Argana)06DEC17

Most “coveted” dish missionaries wish for

The mission’s most favorite dish

For variety, a Tagalog dish