Dear Family,
Man I gotta tell you the mission is the best. This past week I've just been thinking about every single day of it. I went back and read my journal from the beginning and looked at all of the crazy things I have written in there. That's for sure going to be one of my greatest treasures when I get home. I know that this is gods work. I've seen his hand a lot in these past few weeks and especially in these past few days. I want to tell all of my little brothers to start preparing and saving for your mission now. It's literally the greatest thing you will ever do.
Jesus Christ and his example and Atonement should be the center of our lives always. Yesterday I spoke in sacrament meeting and I didn't know what to share so I shared a story. I'd like to share it with you now. I hope you can read it together for family home evening or if you want to search for the real story I'm sure you'll be able to find it. It's called "The three Christmas Trees." I think. Or you can google search the story about the 3 trees and Jesus Christ. It's a pretty good one.
Love you guys and MERRY Christmas
Con Mucho Amor
Elder Holman
P.s. "MERRY FISHMAS"
Thursday, December 22, 2016
The Book Of Holman December 12, 2016
1 And now it came to pass that on the 12 month of the 2nd year of the
ministry of Elder Holman unto the Spaniardites, he sat in Council with
the Elders and Sisters of the ministry.
2 and it came to pass that he and his companion did preach unto them,
exhorting them in all diligence that they repent of the laziness of
their ways and return to the ministry to which they had been called.
3 And these are the words which he did speak unto them: Elders And
Sisters. Thou hast heard mine exhortations during the long year
before. And now I come unto thee as the most senior Missionary in this
Council. (For he indeed had been in the Council for the entire year
before and was the only missionary that held such time in the
Council.) And now Elders and Sisters I would exhort you with all
energy of heart that he study in the 8th Chapter of Preach my Gospel
and set goals and make plans.
4 And many other things did Elder Holman Preach unto them and his
final testimony amongst them he did share.
5 And it came to pass that in the days following the mission Council
he did serve in exchanges with other Elders who had indeed been
serving in the familiar lands of Cartagena. Yea and they did bring
with them grand Letters from Members in. That land which did love
Elder Holman.
6 And it came to pass that there was nothing to report on their Labors
but to say that he did labor diligently and that he did face much
rejection. But such rejection was sweet unto his taste.
7 For he had indeed took upon himself the high calling to preach the
gospel unto this people and he did love them in spite of their
iniquities. And he stood as a witness of Jesus Christ knowing that at
the last day Christ would stand as a witness for him. (See D&C 45:3-5)
8 And it came to pass that as Elder Holman was serving in the lands of
Malaga, he had the grand privilege to serve with his former companion
Elder Berry on Missionary exchanges and they did rejoice exceedingly
and did speak unto each other late into the night as they did lay on
their pillows, yea, even exceedingly late into the night.
9 And the Parents of Elder Berry had asked him if they could come to
the homecoming Of Elder Holman and did give unto Elder Holman their
phone number to share with his mothers so that invitations could be
extended.
10 And all of these things happened in the 12 month of the 2nd year of
the ministry of Elder Holman unto the Spaniardites. And how great was
his joy. Yea how wonderful his happiness. Such happiness that he had
never felt before in his life. And thus he ceased to write at that
time. But did leave unto his kin one message.
2 John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write
with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to
face, that our joy may be full.
Hope your all having a great week. Study the scriptures! They're the best!
Con Mucho Amor
Elder Holman
ministry of Elder Holman unto the Spaniardites, he sat in Council with
the Elders and Sisters of the ministry.
2 and it came to pass that he and his companion did preach unto them,
exhorting them in all diligence that they repent of the laziness of
their ways and return to the ministry to which they had been called.
3 And these are the words which he did speak unto them: Elders And
Sisters. Thou hast heard mine exhortations during the long year
before. And now I come unto thee as the most senior Missionary in this
Council. (For he indeed had been in the Council for the entire year
before and was the only missionary that held such time in the
Council.) And now Elders and Sisters I would exhort you with all
energy of heart that he study in the 8th Chapter of Preach my Gospel
and set goals and make plans.
4 And many other things did Elder Holman Preach unto them and his
final testimony amongst them he did share.
5 And it came to pass that in the days following the mission Council
he did serve in exchanges with other Elders who had indeed been
serving in the familiar lands of Cartagena. Yea and they did bring
with them grand Letters from Members in. That land which did love
Elder Holman.
6 And it came to pass that there was nothing to report on their Labors
but to say that he did labor diligently and that he did face much
rejection. But such rejection was sweet unto his taste.
7 For he had indeed took upon himself the high calling to preach the
gospel unto this people and he did love them in spite of their
iniquities. And he stood as a witness of Jesus Christ knowing that at
the last day Christ would stand as a witness for him. (See D&C 45:3-5)
8 And it came to pass that as Elder Holman was serving in the lands of
Malaga, he had the grand privilege to serve with his former companion
Elder Berry on Missionary exchanges and they did rejoice exceedingly
and did speak unto each other late into the night as they did lay on
their pillows, yea, even exceedingly late into the night.
9 And the Parents of Elder Berry had asked him if they could come to
the homecoming Of Elder Holman and did give unto Elder Holman their
phone number to share with his mothers so that invitations could be
extended.
10 And all of these things happened in the 12 month of the 2nd year of
the ministry of Elder Holman unto the Spaniardites. And how great was
his joy. Yea how wonderful his happiness. Such happiness that he had
never felt before in his life. And thus he ceased to write at that
time. But did leave unto his kin one message.
2 John 1:12 Having many things to write unto you, I would not write
with paper and ink: but I trust to come unto you, and speak face to
face, that our joy may be full.
Hope your all having a great week. Study the scriptures! They're the best!
Con Mucho Amor
Elder Holman
Woah I'm half way there.. woah living on a prayer December 5th 2016
Hola Familia!
Hoy es el mejor día. We had a great week! There were some interesting things that happened. Our area is booming! We've been going hard trying to spread some Christmas spirit and have found a lot of new people to teach, AND SOME OF THEM ARE SPANISH! So it's a good time of year to be in the mission. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
So we had to exchanges this past week. One with missionaries from Murcia and another with missionaries from San Fernando. (That probably means nothing to you.) but those are two zones that I served in. Something interesting that happened on intercambios is that we found some guy from New Jersey that needed our help to translate so that he could catch s bus. A pretty weird dude but after he told us to send missionaries to his house in a Portugal to talk to him and his mother and gave us his info.
Apart from that we met new people, we taught a lot and we have a friend that wants to get baptized soon! We'll see if we can do it before Christmas.
Today is our mission Council meeting. Pray for me because I have to speak. I know that the church is true and I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that Joseph smith was his prophet. Yesterday was my last Fast and Testimony meeting in Spain. I remember when I got to my first area and it was a fast and Testimony meeting and I realized that I only had to make it through and try to understand 21 of them and I have enjoyed every single one. There is nothing better than the mission. Nothing better I could have done with the past 2 years of my life. I'll never be able to count all the blessing I've received and lessons I've learned out here.
I leave you today with just some lines from my favorite hymn of this holiday season.
Hymn 208 little town of Bethlehem
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
I hope that he enters into your heart this week and stays with you
(John 8:12) (Revelations 3:19-21)
Con Mucho amor
Elder Holman
Hoy es el mejor día. We had a great week! There were some interesting things that happened. Our area is booming! We've been going hard trying to spread some Christmas spirit and have found a lot of new people to teach, AND SOME OF THEM ARE SPANISH! So it's a good time of year to be in the mission. MERRY CHRISTMAS.
So we had to exchanges this past week. One with missionaries from Murcia and another with missionaries from San Fernando. (That probably means nothing to you.) but those are two zones that I served in. Something interesting that happened on intercambios is that we found some guy from New Jersey that needed our help to translate so that he could catch s bus. A pretty weird dude but after he told us to send missionaries to his house in a Portugal to talk to him and his mother and gave us his info.
Apart from that we met new people, we taught a lot and we have a friend that wants to get baptized soon! We'll see if we can do it before Christmas.
Today is our mission Council meeting. Pray for me because I have to speak. I know that the church is true and I know that Jesus Christ lives. I know that Joseph smith was his prophet. Yesterday was my last Fast and Testimony meeting in Spain. I remember when I got to my first area and it was a fast and Testimony meeting and I realized that I only had to make it through and try to understand 21 of them and I have enjoyed every single one. There is nothing better than the mission. Nothing better I could have done with the past 2 years of my life. I'll never be able to count all the blessing I've received and lessons I've learned out here.
I leave you today with just some lines from my favorite hymn of this holiday season.
Hymn 208 little town of Bethlehem
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv’n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heav’n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
I hope that he enters into your heart this week and stays with you
(John 8:12) (Revelations 3:19-21)
Con Mucho amor
Elder Holman
November 28th 2016
Querido Familia,
Hey y'all happy turkey day. Hope you guys put down a couple plates more for me! My week was absolutely spectacular. Monday I was kind of sick so I just took a nap for like 2 hours. I'm trying to take advantage of the time I have left in Spanish culture. It's a good place. On Tuesday we did our own kind of thanksgiving celebration early. I made mashed Potatoes! I'd like to thank Grandpa Lee for passing down the potato mashing genes to me. The missionaries said they were the best that they had had. I'm sure it would've been even better if I used Manti Potatoes. Haha. I'll send fotos of the lunch we did. Everyone brought something and we had fun. I also went on companionship exchanges this past week as well with some missionaries from Sevilla. I think that's one of the best parts about being here is being able to do the exchanges with other missionaries. We always work hard with them and the harder we work the faster the time passes. That's part of the problem I'm having right now. The time is passing too fast.
Thursday we had planned to go to the house of a member to have thanksgiving with them but she had to go to Switzerland so we just kicked it in the city and worked like horses 🐴. It was nice. Really nothing too special has happened. I like my companion. He's really focused and works hard so all is quite well. Saturday we had a meeting with president to plan some of the training's that we're going to be doing over the next few weeks.
Well, that's basically my life. I love you guys. Be excited for this Christmas season guys there is a new video this year. Starting on December 1 there are things that you can do every day to remember Jesus Christ this Christmas season. And if we always remember him we will always have his spirit to be with us.
You can check out the video at Mormon.org and print out the calendar there. I promise you you'll feel the spirit every day that you do it. Try and do as many of the points you can every day. Love you all. Jesus is the Christ. This is his church. I know he lives and loves us. He was and is the first gift that God gave the world!
(John 3:16).
Con mucho Amor
Elder Holman
Hey y'all happy turkey day. Hope you guys put down a couple plates more for me! My week was absolutely spectacular. Monday I was kind of sick so I just took a nap for like 2 hours. I'm trying to take advantage of the time I have left in Spanish culture. It's a good place. On Tuesday we did our own kind of thanksgiving celebration early. I made mashed Potatoes! I'd like to thank Grandpa Lee for passing down the potato mashing genes to me. The missionaries said they were the best that they had had. I'm sure it would've been even better if I used Manti Potatoes. Haha. I'll send fotos of the lunch we did. Everyone brought something and we had fun. I also went on companionship exchanges this past week as well with some missionaries from Sevilla. I think that's one of the best parts about being here is being able to do the exchanges with other missionaries. We always work hard with them and the harder we work the faster the time passes. That's part of the problem I'm having right now. The time is passing too fast.
Thursday we had planned to go to the house of a member to have thanksgiving with them but she had to go to Switzerland so we just kicked it in the city and worked like horses 🐴. It was nice. Really nothing too special has happened. I like my companion. He's really focused and works hard so all is quite well. Saturday we had a meeting with president to plan some of the training's that we're going to be doing over the next few weeks.
Well, that's basically my life. I love you guys. Be excited for this Christmas season guys there is a new video this year. Starting on December 1 there are things that you can do every day to remember Jesus Christ this Christmas season. And if we always remember him we will always have his spirit to be with us.
You can check out the video at Mormon.org and print out the calendar there. I promise you you'll feel the spirit every day that you do it. Try and do as many of the points you can every day. Love you all. Jesus is the Christ. This is his church. I know he lives and loves us. He was and is the first gift that God gave the world!
(John 3:16).
Con mucho Amor
Elder Holman
Just Another Crazy Week November 21st 2016
Querido Familia,
This past week has been crazy! Crazy Awesome, Crazy Weird, and every other crazy in between. Last Monday I think I told you that we had a staff meeting with President to go over our week of Transfers. We got everything together to do and orientation for the new missionaries that came in and put together everything to prepare the new trainers that there will be. Everything seemed to go just swimmingly. I got to see a lot of missionaries that are really good friends this past week. I was there to see Elder Bussel and Elder Ylimaula leave from the train station and man that was tough! I only have 3 companions that are still in the mission now.
So this past week there have been some pretty funny things that have happened. Last Friday my companion and I passed a drunk homeless man on the street who just started yelling at us. We got away from him and then we met some guy to teach him on a park bench and the homeless guys shows up out of no where and starts telling us that he owns the bench and that we're trespassing and we needed to leave or else he was going to call the cops! Haha. So we left and the person we were meeting with laughed with us about it.
Something else super funny is that last Sunday we had the primary program (no that's not the joke.) Well during the program this one guys on a giant electric wheelchair came into the sacramental and crashed his wheelchair into Some chairs and then when he was backing up his wheelchair started backing that beeping sound that big trucks make when they're backing up. It was quite fun.
Well for this weeks thought here's a quote that I don't know if I've shared before. But Gordon B. Hinckley's wife once said something along the lines of this.
"Whenever something goes wrong in life we can either Laugh or cry about it and I prefer to laugh because crying gives me a headache."
It always helps to find something funny about the circumstances we're in. We can always be grateful for things we do have in life because when you get right down to it there's always someone that's had it worse. We can find strength in Christ cause with his power we can do all things.
Love you guys hope you have an awesome week.
Con Mucho Amor
Elder Holman
November 14th 2016
Dearest Family!
Today is a special day. Today is the beginning of the Last transfer of my mission. You remember when I left a long time ago. I bet you never even thought that this day would come so fast. My companion goes home on Wednesday of this week. My new companion is a Peruvian! When I come home I'll be speaking really good Spanish! I love Natives! Thanks for the letters you have sent me today.
Well this past week was a blast and a half because we had our mission leadership council and it was fantastic!! He spirit was very strong there and we didn't want to leave. Afterward though my companion was legitimately sick! He may even finish his mission on a stretcher or in a wheelchair. Even though he's sick we've gone out and worked as much as we could! But en verdad we didn't get a lot done.
It's been a fantastic week for the work though. Over the weekend two friends that I have from my last areas got baptized. I attached fotos to my blog.
Right now I'm writing you from a baptism and I have to go and play the piano but I'll write more later if I have the chance. Just know that I love you.
For a quick thought here is D&C 98:1-3
1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be
comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and
testament--the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable
covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you
have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my
name’s glory, saith the Lord.
Hope this helps you out!
Today is a special day. Today is the beginning of the Last transfer of my mission. You remember when I left a long time ago. I bet you never even thought that this day would come so fast. My companion goes home on Wednesday of this week. My new companion is a Peruvian! When I come home I'll be speaking really good Spanish! I love Natives! Thanks for the letters you have sent me today.
Well this past week was a blast and a half because we had our mission leadership council and it was fantastic!! He spirit was very strong there and we didn't want to leave. Afterward though my companion was legitimately sick! He may even finish his mission on a stretcher or in a wheelchair. Even though he's sick we've gone out and worked as much as we could! But en verdad we didn't get a lot done.
It's been a fantastic week for the work though. Over the weekend two friends that I have from my last areas got baptized. I attached fotos to my blog.
Right now I'm writing you from a baptism and I have to go and play the piano but I'll write more later if I have the chance. Just know that I love you.
For a quick thought here is D&C 98:1-3
1 Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not, let your hearts be
comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks;
2 Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your prayers have entered into
the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are recorded with this seal and
testament--the Lord hath sworn and decreed that they shall be granted.
3 Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you, with an immutable
covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all things wherewith you
have been afflicted shall work together for your good, and to my
name’s glory, saith the Lord.
Hope this helps you out!
November 7th 2016
Hey Family,
It's been a long week! We had lot of fun. If I have fotos I'll send you some but today is the mission Council day and I'm going to be running around a lot and I don't think I'll have much time to write you. Everything is going well here. My companion is great 
! This past week we've had a couple meetings with president. Actually we were lucky for Halloween. We went and ate with President and had transfer meeting! I'm enjoying my time here really.
We had a stake Conference yesterday and when I walked in they recruited me last minute for the choir! (They needed another Bass) They got a new director this year. It sounded great and it was so powerful! They made my companion and I sit on the stand and we learned lot from our leaders there. There was a lot of talk about the Area Plan for Europe. I don't know if they have one in the U.S. Too but it has three goals that we can use to get closer to Christ! You might be able to look it up on LDS.ORG. Please do it! I'm sure it can help you. We've seen miracles in helping people in the mission with it.
Jesus Christ is the High Priest of Good things to come! I know he lives! I testify his atonement is real! I know that this is his only true church. One of the most powerful things I did was sing Hymn 134 "I believe in Christ" with the choir on Sunday. I'll attach the words below so you can read them. I hope you feel the spirit as much as I did as you read them.
I hope your all doing well! Thanks for writing me when you have a moment! I enjoy reading your emails. Have a fantastic week!
Con Mucho Amor
Elder Holman
1. I believe in Christ; he is my King!
With all my heart to him I’ll sing;
I’ll raise my voice in praise and joy,
In grand amens my tongue employ.
I believe in Christ; he is God’s Son.
On earth to dwell his soul did come.
He healed the sick; the dead he raised.
Good works were his; his name be praised.
2. I believe in Christ; oh blessed name!
As Mary’s Son he came to reign
’Mid mortal men, his earthly kin,
To save them from the woes of sin.
I believe in Christ, who marked the path,
Who did gain all his Father hath,
Who said to men: “Come, follow me,
That ye, my friends, with God may be.”
3. I believe in Christ—my Lord, my God!
My feet he plants on gospel sod.
I’ll worship him with all my might;
He is the source of truth and light.
I believe in Christ; he ransoms me.
From Satan’s grasp he sets me free,
And I shall live with joy and love
In his eternal courts above.
4. I believe in Christ; he stands supreme!
From him I’ll gain my fondest dream;
And while I strive through grief and pain,
His voice is heard: “Ye shall obtain.”
I believe in Christ; so come what may,
With him I’ll stand in that great day
When on this earth he comes again
To rule among the sons of men.
October 31st, 2016
Hey Family!
It seems as though it was just yesterday that I was writing you guys! The mission goes by so fast! It helps that I have such an awesome Companion! We're both really experienced missionaries (or so we think) and so it makes doing the work so much easier cause we can lean on one another!
We saw some really big miracles this past week! It was also one of the saddest weeks I've had! We'll start out with the good stuff though. Monday I think I already wrote you guys a little bit about the "Man Talk" before. It's that thing hat the really cool uncle gives to the nephew in 2nd hand lions 🦁. We get it from a super cool Senior Elder. Well my companion wanted to get it and so we went and listened to it. It's really good advice about how to keep the mission in you when you get home! It's kind of trunky dough. I'll show it to you guys sometime. I have it in a PowerPoint.
Tuesday was awesome because we had intercambios with the missionaries in Cartagena! So I got to see my Companion Elder Ylimaula again! It was sweet because we got to talk about all of the good old days in Cartagena while we were working! There's going to be a new chapel there where I served! The work of the Lord is going forth here in Spain and it's fantastic. Also my bishop there is now the stake president! There was a change just yesterday. Wednesday was a pretty normal day except for that We had our first Transfer meeting to talk about changes in the mission! It was really cool! There was a lot to do and tonight we're meeting again. It's so cool being able to work along side him.
So the greatest moment of this past week is that our two friends from Bolivia Rodrigo and Sincy got Baptized! It was so amazing! Honestly it was one of the most powerful baptismal services I've ever been to. There's a big story that lead up to it though! On Thursday night we got a call from Rodrigo and he told us that he needed to talk with us. So we said "ok, talk." He then responded. "But I'd like to talk to you guys in person." So we set an hour to meet together and we were kind of freaking out. When a person says they need to talk in person it usually means they want to: 1. Break up 2. They're throwing a Surprise Party or 3. Someone died. And I was pretty sure Rodrigo wasn't going to throw us a surprise party! So we met and sat down and he told us that his Mom was kicking him, his wife, and their son out of his house (she's kind of crazy) and they were moving to Zaragoza. But before they left they wanted to get Baptized and so they came begging if they could still be baptized even though they were leaving. Of course they could!
Rodrigos testimony was awesome. All his life people had taught him and his wife that god was unjust and cruel and he never believed it and so when he met the missionaries and started reading in the Book of Mormon he knew it was true and gained his testimony. He knows the Book of Mormon is true!
But that's why it was also so sad! Cause it was a baptism and also a farewell at the same time! Sunday morning we woke up early and helped them get their suit cases together and took them to the train station. 😫😭😭
Well I heard a scripture and a story the other day. The scripture tells us that 1,000 years for our time is about 1 day for god. So there was a guy that prayed to god and asked god, "Lord, is a 1,000 years for me just a day for you?" And god responded and said "yes." And so the man asked another question. "Lord, does this mean that a million dollars for me is just a penny for you?" And the lord responded again, "Yes, my son." And so the man asked God, "God will you please give me a penny?" And so the lord responded, "Yeah but give me a couple minutes." (I hope you understand that joke.)
But with that same scripture that says a thousand years for us is a day for god. it's 2016 which means For Christ the atonement just took place about 2 days ago. So if you ever ask yourself if Christ understands your pain and suffering, just remember that it is still probably pretty fresh on his mind. He's knows our trials and he's here to help us! We just need to ask him for that help. And he will stretch forth his hand immediately to help us.
Love you guys! Have a great week
Elder Holman
It seems as though it was just yesterday that I was writing you guys! The mission goes by so fast! It helps that I have such an awesome Companion! We're both really experienced missionaries (or so we think) and so it makes doing the work so much easier cause we can lean on one another!
We saw some really big miracles this past week! It was also one of the saddest weeks I've had! We'll start out with the good stuff though. Monday I think I already wrote you guys a little bit about the "Man Talk" before. It's that thing hat the really cool uncle gives to the nephew in 2nd hand lions 🦁. We get it from a super cool Senior Elder. Well my companion wanted to get it and so we went and listened to it. It's really good advice about how to keep the mission in you when you get home! It's kind of trunky dough. I'll show it to you guys sometime. I have it in a PowerPoint.
Tuesday was awesome because we had intercambios with the missionaries in Cartagena! So I got to see my Companion Elder Ylimaula again! It was sweet because we got to talk about all of the good old days in Cartagena while we were working! There's going to be a new chapel there where I served! The work of the Lord is going forth here in Spain and it's fantastic. Also my bishop there is now the stake president! There was a change just yesterday. Wednesday was a pretty normal day except for that We had our first Transfer meeting to talk about changes in the mission! It was really cool! There was a lot to do and tonight we're meeting again. It's so cool being able to work along side him.
So the greatest moment of this past week is that our two friends from Bolivia Rodrigo and Sincy got Baptized! It was so amazing! Honestly it was one of the most powerful baptismal services I've ever been to. There's a big story that lead up to it though! On Thursday night we got a call from Rodrigo and he told us that he needed to talk with us. So we said "ok, talk." He then responded. "But I'd like to talk to you guys in person." So we set an hour to meet together and we were kind of freaking out. When a person says they need to talk in person it usually means they want to: 1. Break up 2. They're throwing a Surprise Party or 3. Someone died. And I was pretty sure Rodrigo wasn't going to throw us a surprise party! So we met and sat down and he told us that his Mom was kicking him, his wife, and their son out of his house (she's kind of crazy) and they were moving to Zaragoza. But before they left they wanted to get Baptized and so they came begging if they could still be baptized even though they were leaving. Of course they could!
Rodrigos testimony was awesome. All his life people had taught him and his wife that god was unjust and cruel and he never believed it and so when he met the missionaries and started reading in the Book of Mormon he knew it was true and gained his testimony. He knows the Book of Mormon is true!
But that's why it was also so sad! Cause it was a baptism and also a farewell at the same time! Sunday morning we woke up early and helped them get their suit cases together and took them to the train station. 😫😭😭
Well I heard a scripture and a story the other day. The scripture tells us that 1,000 years for our time is about 1 day for god. So there was a guy that prayed to god and asked god, "Lord, is a 1,000 years for me just a day for you?" And god responded and said "yes." And so the man asked another question. "Lord, does this mean that a million dollars for me is just a penny for you?" And the lord responded again, "Yes, my son." And so the man asked God, "God will you please give me a penny?" And so the lord responded, "Yeah but give me a couple minutes." (I hope you understand that joke.)
But with that same scripture that says a thousand years for us is a day for god. it's 2016 which means For Christ the atonement just took place about 2 days ago. So if you ever ask yourself if Christ understands your pain and suffering, just remember that it is still probably pretty fresh on his mind. He's knows our trials and he's here to help us! We just need to ask him for that help. And he will stretch forth his hand immediately to help us.
Love you guys! Have a great week
Elder Holman
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Hey Y'all October 24th, 2016
Hey Family!
Thanks so. I hope for the letters. I enjoy getting them! This week has past faster than any other I've had in the mission. Now I have to do 9 companionship exchanges every transfer so we've split them up into doing two a week. I get to work with some awesome missionaries and others that aren't as awesome. I'm enjoying my time here.
So my area is a little different here than in other missions. We teach by example and so I do not have an assignment in the office. In fact I still live an hour away from the office and mission home and we have a regular proselyting area. We still have meetings from time to time with president though to plan for upcoming events in the mission.
This past week we've been super blessed! We have two friends that are planning on getting baptized this Saturday, we've met some people that are extremely interested in the gospel and came to church with us on Sunday and when we got to church this past Sunday we saw a friend of ours named Arturo. He left last Monday and was going in a bike trip from Malaga to Barcelona but he told us that on Thursday he set up camp and he fell asleep and he had a dream where me and my companion appeared to him and told him to come back to Malaga and so he got up the next morning and took a bus back to Malaga to come to church on Sunday.
We also got to pass some time this week with a new missionary from Germany. His name is Elder Köhler and he's going to be companions with my trainee Elder Berry! Everything is going well here. I'm more focused than I've ever been.
The Gospel is awesome, the mission is awesome. I'm so glad I've been able to serve. I'll be making the most of these last months. The other day I was reading in the book of Daniel. What an amazing character from the scriptures! He's a hero of mine. Daniel 1 and 2 really just show how much we can do if we put our trust in God. The world every day seems to be getting worse but god will never cease to be the endless source of Light, truth, knowledge and good. I love to read how God rewards Daniel with knowledge and wisdom because he refuses to defile himself by "swan diving into the pool of Babylon." I feel that the mission has been the same. I've taken a vacation from the world and God has given me in return knowledge and wisdom of what really matters in life. Keep the commandments, follow the council of your leaders. They are inspired and called by the lord. When we follow god he gives us knowledge wisdom and power.
I love the gospel and I know it's way and the only true one in all the earth. Jesus is the Christ, Joseph smith was a prophet. Priesthood keys are on the earth today. Les quiero mucho!
Con mucho Amor
Elder Holman
October 17th, 2016
Hey Family!
So I've had one heck of a week and it flew by like nothing! Time flies I guess when you're having fun! We're working hard and playing hard! Thanks so much for your emails. I love them and I love you!
So my life has changed just a little bit in the past couple of weeks. Mostly I'm a lot more tired. I love it though because I so tired that I can't be trunky! There's no time to be! Also I'm learning a ton by being with my President a bit more. He is such a great guy. In fact we had a meeting with him this morning! Some would think that it's a sacrifice to take some time out of our preparation day to meet with him but I love it!
We've seen some miracles as we've been here! God really just seems to know what everyone needs and I feel like we've been inspired to do things to help a lot of other people this week. Yesterday we had a Baptism of two kids in a Part member family. It's on the blog i set up if you want to see it.
The lords work is amazing. I'm crunched for time right now though and have to run I love you guys.
Con mucho amor
Elder Holman
So I've had one heck of a week and it flew by like nothing! Time flies I guess when you're having fun! We're working hard and playing hard! Thanks so much for your emails. I love them and I love you!
So my life has changed just a little bit in the past couple of weeks. Mostly I'm a lot more tired. I love it though because I so tired that I can't be trunky! There's no time to be! Also I'm learning a ton by being with my President a bit more. He is such a great guy. In fact we had a meeting with him this morning! Some would think that it's a sacrifice to take some time out of our preparation day to meet with him but I love it!
We've seen some miracles as we've been here! God really just seems to know what everyone needs and I feel like we've been inspired to do things to help a lot of other people this week. Yesterday we had a Baptism of two kids in a Part member family. It's on the blog i set up if you want to see it.
The lords work is amazing. I'm crunched for time right now though and have to run I love you guys.
Con mucho amor
Elder Holman
The Great Flood Oct. 10th 2016
Hey all,
My letter won't be that long this week. just know that I'm doing fantastic! I love my new area and my companion is a boss!! We're working hard and seeing some good progress in the area! We're hoping to see some good things.
This week was really hard just cause I had to see a lot of my friends finish the mission and go home, the hardest was having to say goodbye to Elder Quispe! Literally my best friend in the entire world! (Apart from family) it's a bummer he lives so far. I was super sad to see him go! But it's all good! You'll get to meet him too some day. My goal is that he can come to salt lake some day!
Pray that our investigator, Blessing, will be able to get baptized this Sunday!
So if you want some funny stories from the Mission field. We brought some friends with us to church yesterday and sat them down in the perfect spot, introduced them to some members and then something even worse than the flood of Noah happened? There was an downpour of water! In the middle of the meeting a little girl sitting next to them stood up, pull down her pants and peed on the floor in front of them! So we have probably just made the best first impression of the church. It looks really pretty and good on the outside but it's a little chaotic on the inside! Haha!
I love the saying that Christ's church was perfect until he let us inside. It's so true. The good news is that our investigators were really good sports about it!
For s little spiritual thought today I want to just share this quote that I heard yesterday that has basically domed up my mission! I love it and hope you can apply it to yourselves!
If we don't get a thrill out of doing gods work, if it weighs us down rather than makes us buoyant and enthusiastic, then there is something wrong and we should repent. The lords work is Important, and it should be fun, and we ought to be happy while we are doing it. - Sterling W. Sill
I especially liked the call to repentance in there. Haha. But it's so true! I hope that you all have S fantastic week and that you can feel the spirit with you as you go about it. I love you tons. I know the church is true. ELDER BALLARD's talk in General Conference was amazing! There is no other place that we can go apart from Christ and his church. He has the words of eternal life! There is no other church on earth that belongs to and was formed by Jesus Christ himself!
I love the gospel and I know it is gods perfect plan for us! Love you all
Con mucho amor
Elder Holman
Monday, October 3, 2016
Happy Conference
Hey Family!
Wasn't conference just the best?! That was one of the best I've seen in my mission. It seems that every year they just get better and better! We had a crazy week that was super rough. Maybe one of the toughest weeks of my mission but its had a happy ending.
Last preparation day we didn't get to do a ton. We went to do the man talk. I think I told you about that last week. So this past week we had a few let downs but yesterday there was a Baptism right after General Conference. Her Name is LUCELIA and she's from Brazil. So I think a missionary in our mission has been crying (we have a joke that for every tear shed in our mission a Brazilian gets baptized!)... (maybe that missionary was me.)
It was a fantastic Baptism. The ward members have been such a great help with her and they gave great talks and Lucelia started to cry and bore a fantastic testimony at the end about how much she needed the church and her savior!
So in Spain we watch priesthood session in the morning on Sunday because it broadcasts so late and it was funny because it started broadcasting in Russian first but we were able to fix it before Elder Holland spoke. As he started to address us I felt my phone vibrating and took it out of my pocket only to find to my great surprise that President Andersen was calling me. And so I thought "wow, president is calling, this must be important. So I went into talk to him and he said to call him back later. So we went back and the priesthood broadcast blacked out for a few minutes and we couldn't watch so I went and called him back and he asked me how I like Malaga and if I'd be willing to stay until the end of my mission to be his assistant... after I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming I told him that I would.
So I'll be finishing my mission in Malaga! That will be cool. It's really pretty here and the ward is supposed to be super good as well! My bishop is really sad that I'm leaving! It I'll still be able to see him because we go to church in the same building!
So all during General Conference I saw an overarching theme of repentance being talked about and I thought of so many scriptures that I could share with you and quotes and such great things but I'd rather just like to invite you to listen to the conference as much as you can this week and to be able to apply it. And also remember this scripture from D&C 50
40 Behold, ye are little children and ye cannot bear all things now; ye must grow in grace and in the knowledge of the truth.
41 Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me;.
I thought it was so cool that Christ would say that to Joseph Smith and his associates. We must remember that in god's eyes we are all just children and to take hold of his greater wisdom.
I love you guys and I hope you have the best week! Don't miss me too much. Also 
I won't be home for Christmas, please don't count on me.... I won't be home for Christmas, not even in my dreams.
I love you.
Con mucho Amor
Elder Holman
90 Day countdown to Christmas September 26, 2016
Hey Family,
Well it hasn't been too long since I talked to you last. I posted some new fotos on an iCloud album and invited you to all look at em. Basically has my whole mission on it so if you want to take a look, go for it. Thanks for for your email Land. I really enjoyed it. I also hope that everyone in the family enjoyed their birthdays. I had really good days on all of your birthdays and I was thinking about you all lots! I'm so grateful for my Family! Y'all son the best.
So in news for last week we had some pretty normal days other that's the wicked awesome preparation day at the Caminito del Rey. There are a lot more fotos now because I just got a ton from my companion and from when we went cave exploring as well.
Spain is such a beautiful exotic place. There's a little bit of everything here. It's just a little slice of heaven. And the people are great too. Super funny too! This past week we also embarked off into the old part of the city trying to visit a member that is moving into our ward boundaries. After stepping off the bus we found ourselves on the outskirts of the original city of Malaga. Talk about going back in time. We walked on cobble stone roads with smells of fresh of baked bread in the crisp breeze. As we stumbled through the labyrinth of street alleys and backward we came to a plaza with one of the biggest Catholic Churches I've ever seen with architecture that out-stood the beauty of every building around... We were in a hurry and so I couldn't take pictures haha. We'll see if we can make our way back there some day.
Today we took a trip down to Fuengirola to hear what is known among missionaries as "The Man Talk." If you've ever seen Second hand lions, it's basically the chat that the old man gives to the boys after he beats them up at the bar. Haha. I now think I have some pretty good life plans for after the mission. I'm not going to think to much about that though.
Also I was wondering if you guys have received some sort of flight itinerary from my mission office? Just wondering cause it looks like all my group has been getting theirs.
Well that's basically my life here. Hope you're all doing good. I haven't heard anything yet so I'll assume you're doing well and busy. Unless the Trump Clinton battle has sparked a 2nd civil war in the U.S. And Texas has delcared war on Mexico. You should be doing alright.
Love you guys hope you have and awesome week.
Con mucho amor Elder Holman
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