October 29, 2018

October 29, 2018- 62 weeks down, 15 to go

Hi mom! How are you?? 

Im so glad that you are doing so well with your scripture study, way to go! Im so proud of you. 

OH wow Dad!!!! Thats horrible... how is he today????

Im glad that you are all doing well.. love the pics... i almost forgot that this week is Halloween!

My week was... crazy again. Probably one of the most frustrating weeks I have had... but it ended on a real good note. 

But maybe don’t send all this info out, just for you guys

So this week was rough... Had a lot of plans, and they all got changed last second. I realized that I have a little issue... that each time something happens that i don’t like or that gives me stress, my stress overcomes me and i cant control my words or reaction. Not that I do anything bad, but I need to react better. And the stress just overpowers me and then afterwards I feel sad., and it’s hard to keep working. So after several events like that passed this week, i decided i wanted to talk to Presidente. Hna Borba and I agreed that I have improved a TON since the beginning of m y mission, but realizing that i have so little time life, it is something i want to master before i return. So Saturday morning after a meeting with the Zone Leaders to prepare for a neat meeting we had on Sunday, Presidente was waiting for me in his office. I wasn’t quite sure how this would go down or what i needed, i just knew that i needed to talk with him.

So We started talking and i starting explaining... and after a few moments he reached out his hand and said Hna Holt, i can hear by the veolocity of your voice that you are not ok.. .give me your hand. I gave him my trembling hand and he put both of his hands around mine and said I cant hug you, but i want you to just take a second, don’t talk, and breath... and cry if you need. So i just started crying and he just let me. After a bit, i explained a little more, and he told me a few things that made me super happy. He said that I was one of his special daughters here in the mission, and that he loves me so much. He said that since i arrived, he has felt a special connection with me, and he thinks its because our personalities are very very similar and he has had this exact problem that i have and is still working on overcoming it. He gave me some tips but mostly gave me love. I asked him why he always says that he loves me, and he says because I have 100 percent trust in you and you are one of the best missionaries i have had here. And I just love you! He had told hna borba a few weeks back that he felt like I needed to be here in Comodoro, so i asked him why he said that to her, cause i haven’t been able to find my purpose yet.. he said that its not for an investigator in specific or for a baptism, although its important, but that he wanted me here in Comodoro because of the person influence and example i am. he needs me here in this area to influence both the hermanas and elders here in a positive way. Made me feel like the most important person in the world, and his love was something close of the Saviors love... I felt like i could hear my heavenly father talking to me through his words. We talked for almost an hour. It gave me a peace and calmness that i haven't felt in a long time.. and until today, i haven't had a single reaction to stress or anything...

i don’t tell you this to boast or to worry you ... but because it was honestly one of the experiences that will mark my mission. I will never forget that conversation. 

Sunday we were invited as Hermanas Capacitadoras and Zone Leaders to a meeting with the stake presidency and the mission leaders of the wards. I felt super official and we had to give a presentation. my voice was trembling a bit, but everyone said we did a fantastic job!

Julio is progressing a TONNN. He came to church again and this week we will get to meet in his house!!! We always meet in the church cause his pareja doesn’t like the missionaries or the church... but he has been talking with her little by little... Tuesday we will meet in his house with his kids.,..and i think Friday we will meet there with his pareja!!! I HOPE! Cause he is ready to be baptized tomorrow, but he’s not married and she doesn’t want to get married....PRAY FOR HIM!! He could be our miracle here before hna borba finishes.

Hna Borba is doing well. 3 weeks left but super calm. She still has lots of back problems and we still go to kinesologia each day, which takes time and patience but its helping a little. I love her so much and don’t know what I’m going to do when she leaves. Presidente is gonna give me special permission to go the airport with her and the other two sisters going home... gonna be interesting.

Other than that, Im doing well. A ton of meeting and preparations for the zone conference with presidente that is this Tuesday. Gonna be amazing, but now me and my comp are in charge of orderning and paying and organizing all the food! ahh! haha!

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM. I read parts of dads sweet talk... love you guys with all my heart. thank you for always writing and for the pictures

Speaking of pics, i cant find my camera today, but i will keep looking....ahhh....

I LOVE YOU

amy

October 22, 2018

October 22, 2018- 61 weeks down, 16 to go

hey hey

yep consejo was absolutely wonderful

Glad Desi responded. Its alright , you are correct, you did the right thing.!

Sweet little Brandon, made me tear up

hahah so funny that you are mothering the hermanas!!!!!! love it!!!!!! Man what a life they have in their mission... having a member that washes their clothes, with a DRYER, who cooks for them and has a beautifulllll home, they have tablets to write their families and don’t have to worry about internet going out in the city or protests blocking their way to the ciber.... but it just makes me happy that YOU are happy and that they don’t have to go through some of the trials that  we have here. Not jealous, I’m grateful for my challenges, but man do i miss the super cushioned protected life style of the States!!!!!!! hahahah sorry for my spoiled little rant

send me a foto of the missionaries!!!!!

tell them thank you for their service and love for my family

my response:

Dad and I talk often about the difference between their mission and yours. I’m sure they’re having some neat experiences and I’m sure it’s exactly what they needed for them. But this mission would never of suited you. You would’ve felt like you were wasting your time -you would’ve felt spoiled and like it was too easy. The challenge the Lord had in store for you was a big one. He saved this special spot in the world for you to come to because he knew how amazing you were and how strong you are and how much you could learn and grow and help people there. Not to speak ill of those that serve in the United States because like I said I’m sure it’s exactly what they need – but it’s not what you needed. You needed a really strong test and trial to make sure your testimony was going to be built up in amazing way. You are such a strong girl Amy- we are so proud of you and  you amaze us so much.

She answered: 

thank you mom, needed to hear that. wow... i hope i can grow and learn from my experiences here! It’s funny, because i  have gotten so used to living here, that I can’t remember sometimes the differences between here and there.

But thank you mom!!!!

October 17, 2018

October 17, 2018- 60 weeks down, 17 to go

hi mom!!!!!!

just read the letter to the fam... love it!!! Short and sweet. any responses?? if not, its ok anyways 

i love you !

Sorry that I’Im not writing until now... Monday all the cibers were closed and yesterday was consejo and today we scrambled to get down here to write! Would you believe that in the entire city of Comodoro there is only one ciber with 10 computers? craziness.. haha

They sure hate us on Mondays hahaha

I’m doing well mom! glad to hear that you are doing great and the family is doing well too. I miss you guys and think about you often! This last week was CRAZYY... probably the most exhausting craziest week i have had as an hermana capacitadora... little did i know, that the opportunity to be an hc here in Comodoro is a hectic mess in semana 1 of transfers. Hermanas arriving at the terminal at midnight of 5 am, leaving and coming and passing through our pension as if it were a hotel , meetings, training of the newbies and helping the office get their crap together, practically living in the terminal and ahhhhh its just ben insane, I’ve never been so tired in my life, and to top it off Sunday night, and the end of this cray week , one of the hermanas is sick and we have to go and help and her comp is an emotional mess and ahhhhh. but its ok. It's now semana 2 and we had a fANTASTIC consejo meeting yesterday with presidente. The last consejo for hna borba and she was so sad. But we learned so much, and talked a lot about the words of the prophet, the correction to the name of the church, the urgencia in his messages, the change to the Sunday schedule.... everything. I put a lot of goals cause i feel like with all my tiredness and other responsibilities, I haven’t been able to achieve what i want to achieve in these last few weeks. but its all good, one step at a time, and i still have 4 months to to keep achieving and changing and becoming better!

i love the mission.. i don’t want it to end, even though its crazy and exhausting. But now that in my mind i can see how fast is going and that like 16 or 17 weeks that i have left are going to just fly by, it really pushs me to give the best that i can and be tranquila.

I love you so much mom. I’m so grateful for your ejemple and love and all that you do for us. You truly are amazing and I am inspired by you.

Everyone looks so big and grown up in the pictures... i cant believe it

i love youuuu

amy

October 8, 2018

October 8, 2018- 59 weeks down, 18 to go

Mom!!

What a wonderful email!

Conference Weekend was absolutely fantastic! Although I still have a headache after watching so much TV haha!

AW WAY TO GO watching all of the sessions. Seriously, I felt like a kid on Christmas Morning waiting for the first session to begin... we were all antsy and clinging on to every word! Especially the words of the Prophet! I am so ready and excited for this new change to the Sunday Schedule, and felt the same confirmations that you did, EXACTLY as you did!! Look at this change as a filter - those who are weak will take advantage of a shorter schedule to have less church and do what they want. The strong will look at this as an opportunity to grow spiritually, take the initiative, and to prepare for the second coming of the Lord. The Lord is filtering out the righteous from the unrighteous. Which side will we be on?

The feelings I felt listening to the Prophets words and counsel and inspiration were feelings that I cant describe, that are just absolutely magnificent. He IS the prophet, and receives very DIRECT revelation from the Lord!

Please let me know how the Family Counsel turns out and what you decide!

Holland’s talk also touched me to the core... cried like a baby right there in front of everyone haha. We were blessed enough to watch the Conference in a separate room in English with all the gringo missionaries. So his words were very very direct to our family. It was like he was talking to THE HOLT FAMILY. A sign posted up there on the wall wouldn't have made it any more obvious that this talk was meant for us.

I thought the same as Aly, prayed that each member of the family would be watching. But you are right. It starts with us. How wise you are dear mom! You are so valiant, so kind and loving... I wish I could be more like you! 

I LOVE YOU.

One of his quotes that I loved - Those wounds need to be healed so that Life can be as rewarding as it can be. You go instantly and go do the thing that you might never have another chance to do.

When they announced the temple in Mendoza Argentina, we all screamed and shouted!!! It’s farther away than the one in Buenos A, but ITS ANOTHER TEMPLE. In the time I have been out here, the temples in Argentina have doubled... we started with Corboda and BA, and now SALTA AND MENDOZA!! These two are SUPER far away, but its a SIGN that we are getting more and more and soon, in my dreams, we will have one in the Patagonia!!!! I can only dream for that day!

The women’s session was wonderful, gave me a lot of answers. And when the prophet gave his talk, we were just giddy haha, he is so cute. With his challenge to read the BOM before the end of the year, i thought - I already have to read 10 pages of Doctrine and Covenants each day, Preach my Gospel, all my notes, practices.. all in an hour of study.. How can I add in the BOM? I just don’t know if i can... but then i thought.. no, this is a direct invitation and promise from the Prophet, i HAVE to do it! Sure enough, Hna Salerno called us and said that ALL the hermanas must put this prophetic invitation as FIRST PRIORITY. So i started Saturday, and am already halfway through First Nephi. Its wonderful and I'm already seeing things I have never seen or understood before! 

THANK YOU for being valiant and doing the same! I’m so proud of you and Aly and the family. You guys are my Joy!

I’m doing well! This week past really fast, I don't remember a lot. I do remember that we got to work and it felt good, and now we are in the middle of transfers.... IM STAYING! WITH HNA BORBA! She will finish her mission with me!!!!!!!!!!!! And a lot of old buddies will be in or passing through Comodoro this week, so it’s going to be a loaded adventure...!!! And welcoming in the new hermanas and organizing the trips and opening the pensions and staying in the terminal... its going to be one heck of a week, but I'm excited. Im so grateful for the hours i get to study each day, and that i have access to the scriptures and words of the prophets, they give me life and motivation to keep going on the hard busy days! 

I missed you too, and miss you! Don’t count the days, make the days count! I’m so proud of your efforts and improvement and motivation to do what is right and lead the family. I love you so much more than i can say!

I’m doing great, not sick anymore at all, happy, enjoying the time, and receiving so much knowledge and revelation I feel like I’m going to explode!!!

A few things

Can you get in contact with Hermana Micalea Laupaho? She went home last week, and i wrote you all a letter and little gift, that she is going to put in the mail. Try to find her through the mission face book... lives in West Jordan

Can you send me some arm exercises that i can do (without real weights cause i don’t have any) to help my arms out? I've gotten super weak and flabby

I still cant seem to get pics through with the internet here... don’t quite know what to do....

I LOVEEE YOUUUUUU

amy

October 1, 2018

October 1, 2018- 58 weeks down, 19 to go

Hi!!

I’m glad that you guys had so much fun with Aly bear home for her 18th birthday!  I absolutely can’t believe she’s 18.... blows me away. Hope you guys had a fantastic weekend.

Well, my week was pretty interesting... Wednesday night I started having some pain in my chest.. and Thursday morning I had full blown bronchitis to the maximum... no voice , a cough that made my companera want to go running away.. We ran to the doctor and they said it was a minor infeccion and gave me a pill for pain... by Saturday i was even worse and was having lots of problems breathing. Hermana Salerno sent us back , and they took scans and said I had bronchitis and gave me the correct pills. But they didn’t want to give me an inhaler, even though I couldn’t breathe well. So Presidente  figured out a way to get one, and the zone leaders came and gave it to me, and helped me a ton...  Sunday we weren’t allowed to go to church because I was still so bad, but today is the first day that I have my voice back and i feel a lot better!!!! I think I should be able to get back into the swing of things tomorrow or Wednesday. A week in the pension is awful. But yay.. thats my update... super fun.

But the good side is that Tuesday we had divisions  and it went well, we walked until we couldn’t move our legs and talked with everyone that we could. We found an awesome family that is interested, so now the hermanas are going to teach them!!!! And we found them as we were in a colectivo (bus)! Miracles for talking with everyone. 

Wednesday we worked with a lot of members and found a few new people to teach!!!!   We had a bunch of lessons and it was great. 

Sunday night during our planning session, we realized that we had come from having 2 investigatores, to having 7 !! That made us super happy. 

During this week of bronchitis, I had a tonnn of personal study time haha. But i am so grateful,  because i was able to learn soooo much about the gospel and the scriptures. We studied and studied and I felt the Spirit so much and learned so much. As a mission we are reading Doctrine and Covenants, and its absolutely amazing and so full of miracles and things that just absolutely prove that the church is TRUE.

In a blessing an elder gave me Saturday, he said I would gain something from this experience of being sick... and he was right. I gained an even stronger testimony of the church. I have felt the company of the Spirit in every moment of this week , and have felt so calm and so much love, even though I was in so much pain. I never felt sad or anxiety, just love and peace. It was a great blessing. I feel that I have truly become more converted to the gospel and to my mission in this week than in the last 13 months.

i love you guys. I’m doing well. Hermana Borba has been taking great care of me, and I’m recovering. i love you all, think of you and miss you! 

amy

Thank you for telling me all about your Sunday. Makes me so sad, so mad, so useless and frustrated .... i dont even know what to do. But you are doing everything perfectly, i am so proud of you. And thankful for the other Debbie. haha. I wish i could have been with you riding to church that morning to help you! IM SORRY IM NOT THERE: I really am. I wish it could be easier. I love you with all my heart

I’m sorry ash is being so dang hard. It’s easy to see in her emails that she is so wrapped up i her world, it blows me away. Aly’s emails are so uplifting and whole.. and ashy.. i just don’t know why she has to pass through this ugly phase but i hope she can come out of it soon. I love you and the minute i get home I’m going to be with YOU and help you and talk to you. I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU

Thank you for updating me. Thank you for telling me about your Sunday lesson in RS; i love it and needed to hear it. I often feel like i am so weak, and my weaknesses make my sacrifices not enough... ugh. But i understand what you said and will remember it

I’m so excited for conference!!!! ITS GOING TO BE AMAZING: they are preparing us and telling us there are HUGE changes coming to the Missionary Work....oh no! haha

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART

amy