Hey Holman family!
How’s the team doing this week! It sounds like your doing super well! Thanks for sending me emails! Its super fun on Monday morning to see a couple emails in the inbox :) It sounds like you guys all had an awesome week, between trek, work, and doing what you all do! And Brock really quick before i forget happy birthday on Wednesday! Hope you have a good one! How old will you be 17? That’s pretty crazzzy almost old enough to be out on the mish and preaching the Gospel! crazy!
And wish holly good luck for the big day coming up! I’m super excited for her. I hope that she’ll get to have that special day in house of the lord, otherwise she´s married with an expiration date, I hope that all of us will strive and make the goal to go to the lords house to be sealed for time and all eternity....
I’m so glad that you all had the opportunity to go to trek this week. Surely the spirit of pioneers was lit and felt in your souls as you experienced what our ancestors did. I hope that it built a greater appreciation in each one of you for the gospel, and the sacrifice that our ancestors made for it... Believe it or not, but the spirit and stories of pioneers has even made its way down here to little old Chascomus. You all have probably been celebrating the 24th this week, and had the stories of pioneers on your minds....So as a tribute to the pioneers, i got a pioneer message for each of you :)
Me, my companion, and my new good buddy Lucas (a 22 year old returning member to the church) decided for the ward activity this week, we would plan a branch movie night. We made invitations, and invited EVERYONE! Investigators, friends, family and the whole branch. We also made an emphases with inviting lots of less active people. As Elders quorum president me and president are making it a big priority. The plan was to completely change the sacrament room into a theatre, shut out all the light set up sofas and the works!! It was awesome! When the activity started we had more then 40 people show up! Members, investigators, friends and family. I loved the activity!
The movie that we had decided to share was 17 Miracles! (I’m pretty sure it’s a TC Christensen film)
I was so deeply touched as i watched as our ancestors placed one step in front of the other, leaving behind footprints of blood in the snow. I held back the tears as it put it all in reality for me, all that they went through, all that they sacrificed, and the faith that each one of them had to go to Zion. I and everyone else was so deeply touched as we watched their struggles, and also as heaven came to there aid sending angles and help, literally saving lives...After the video i had the opportunity to speak to the group and explain a little bit of what we had just witnessed and seen.
I was very moved to talk about the faith that each saint had, to give up everything for their God and their religion. Some pioneers even left there little dead children on the trail, giving literally everything they had to go to Zion. I asked each one of them something that i felt that the spirit had placed in my mind. I asked them Where is Zion today? I explained that it is in the church each week, that it is in the walls of our own home, that its the moments where we can feel the love of God.
Our Prophet Recently Expressed,
"Pioneers remembered the words of the Lord: "My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion."
The passage of time dims our memories and diminishes our appreciation for those who walked the path of pain, leaving behind a tear-marked trail of nameless graves. But what of today’s challenges? Are there no rocky roads to travel, no rugged mountains to climb, no chasms to cross, no trails to blaze, no rivers to ford? Or is there a very present need for that pioneer spirit to guide us away from the dangers that threaten to engulf us and to lead us to a Zion of safety?"
- President Tom Monson
The defonition of a pioneer is “one who goes before to prepare or open up the way for others to follow.” I believe that we are all pioneers at some point in our life.
We live in a world and in a day and age where wickedness and darkness is all around us, Satan is working to temp and destroy the children of God, and he is succeding in many ways, But we do not have to follow him. We, like our ancestors can be pioneers and show others the path to discipleship. We can show others that even though following Christ may be hard, it is worth it, and that there are countless miracles on the way, just as it was for the pioneers. The world needs more pioneers, people that will stand up for truth and light even though it may be tough, the world needs pioneers who are willing to serve our master and king in all times and in all places.
The Spirit of the pioneers touched the hearts of each one of us here in Chascomus, and after the activity we made goals to be pioneers, to go and rescue others that are in the dark, and walk with them on the path to follow Christ. Yesterday in church we had over 50 people...The spirit and the stories of the pioneers are moving throughout the world, strengthening faith and helping others to follow their savior.
I’m so grateful to be a pioneer each day, and i invite each one of you to not let the pioneers journey be in vain, we to must keep journeying on that same path that they did, until one day we finish our journey at our saviors feet....
Well in other news, We found a bunch of new investigators through our activity that we did this week...I taught a girl in English this week as well! it was super weird. A couple of members new that she was learning English so they invited her to come and talk with me and my comp...and we talked alright...The conversation was going great, and then she received a phone call from her sister that changed it all....she later explained to me that her sister was crying on the other side of the phone, and couldn’t even get the words out, her sister passed the phone over to her mother who explained to Sofia (our investigator) that they were in the hospital and that her sisters baby had just died, after a moment of shock, she came back to us and explained the situation. She was in shock. She then made a comment that her nephew was just 2 months old and had not been baptized yet...she thought that he was damned (a very common belief here with all the Catholics). I knew that in this moment that God didn’t put Sofia in our path just to speak in English, but to teach her of Gods glorious plan. She was comforted and touched as we explained to her that death is part of gods plan, and that surely it was not the end. She could feel the spirit as we testified to her in that moment that little babies are saved in and through the atoning blood of Christ, and that her little nephew was not damned, but was with Christ. I knew that she was comforted in this moment and that she could feel that our message was true. Its moments like that, that i thank god for the opportunity to be a missionary. To teach others that our savior lives and loves each one of us, and that if we follow his son, we will return and be with our father in heaven for eternity.
Well that was a little bit of my week, i don’t really have time to tell you the other incredible things that went down. God truly is blessing our little branch of Chascomus. Miracles are happening daily. I’m so blessed and grateful that i can be a part of them. I want you all to know that i love my savior. That i love this gospel and that i would do anything for it. I would walk across countries if i was commanded to do so, i would leave my own bloody footprints in the snow to walk to Zion if god asked me to do so, But god hasn´t asked me to do that. He Has asked me and you to keep his commandments, to love our neighbor, and to follow his son, Jesus Christ. It’s my prayer that we will all follow our savior and sacrifice whatever it may be to come unto him.
Well sorry for the super long letter! If your all there reading still i want you all to know that i love you. Your all in my prayers :) mom to answer your question, my stomach feels the same... weak, that’s what a year in Argentina will do to ya :) haha but I’m fine, ill be sure to eat my vegetables for ya ;) actually I’m learning to cook really well, and i always use an onion and peppers when i cook, you´d be proud of me....i just like to deep fry my onions first... cough...cough!
Well until next week, i want you all to know that i love you! Thanks for all the prayers your sending my way, ill try and match them and send some back your way :)
Con mucho amor
Elder Holman
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