Muscatine

Hey family!

What’s going on? Well, as of right now I am just chillin' in the local Muscatine community college, writing you folks with my new companion Elder Mackey. So ya, transfers ended up going just as we thought they would.

So, the town i'm in is like right next to the Mississippi river! I didn't realize that it was so close! So that’s kinda cool! We live with a member right now in her basement. Her name is Sister Chapman, and it’s awesome because she completely reminds me of grandma Marlene :) So I feel very at home when I am around her and we get along very well. We have free washer and drier access which rocks! I hate paying for wash. It is of the devil and I feel as though i'm getting robbed blind. Not fun! So this is kind of a relief. But it probably won't last for long as we are moving out really soon.

Okay, So, Elder Mackey, He's from Atlanta, Georgia, and very proud of it… He's a pretty nice guy. I am really getting along with him great.

The ward here is pretty nice! I met a lot of people yesterday! They gave some amazing talks on Christ yesterday, oh and I sang in the choir, it was a lot of fun. They have a nice chapel, it’s big, and they have the most active going members out of all my areas I've seen. So pretty cool :)

Oh while I'm thinking about this.. In my last area there was this Guy I met in our ward by the name of Overbye I think it was, he told me he thought we may be related because he has his mother’s maiden name was holman or something.. anyway. He told me that one of my great great Relatives accidently shot Brigham Youngs favorite horse! And made Brigham pretty mad! I thought that was kinda funny. He said the Holmans have a great history and he loves talking about it... I didn't get a ton of time to talk to him, but I have his info if you guys wanted to contact him sometime to learn more about it all. He said to see if our name Holman has any ties to the name BARNS? But I dunno, you guys can check it out.

So ya, but anyway, Muscatine, there are a lot of great people here, and I'm really excited to do some work here. We already have several really good investigators.. and a family. Pray for them, they are a great family, who are really trying to understand the gospel but are really hesitant about change. They are amazing people though. They are way too much fun to hang out with, and they are a younger couple so we all really connect well.

We have a couple Spanish investigators, but I haven't met them yet. Our ward missionary leader is Hispanic, and there are several others too, but they all understand English really well, so I don't have to translate! Yay! haha... I think most of my problem I have right now is that... I can understand almost all of Spanish, especially when I am just overhearing a conversation.. but when they talk to me it’s tough to understand.. and I really need to improve my personal speaking ability.. but I understand almost everything they say... Yesterday I went to the Spanish gospel class and understood almost every single word... speaking Spanish... unfortunately, is just a whole notha’ world.. but it’s all good.. I still have what, 15 months to improve it?

Well ya, that’s mostly the news for this week. I'm getting along with Mackey really well for the most part :) The area is great. Surprisingly it has been a very smooth transition. So don't worry about me, but your prayers are always appreciated :) I love you all and pray and think about you every day! Keep me updated on all that’s going on! And just write to the mission address for now, cuz I don't know my address. Hope to hear from ya'all soon!

Much love,

~Elder Holman