Monday, March 9, 2009
Alligator Time
We were able to go to the Everglades today and ride on an airboat for about an hour. We only saw 3 alligators. One was about 15 feet long and two were about 6 feet long. We got to hold a 2-year old one that was about 4 feet long.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
News from the Sunshine Mission
Sister Holdstock got a new mattress today!!! Yeah! She has been sleeping on a twin bed that had a spring sticking up in the middle at both the head and foot of the bed. She would cling to one side and then when she rolled over, she would have to cling to the other side to avoid the spring. The President had one at the home that they didn't need and so the Elders had it on the pickup to deliver to anyone who needed a new mattress. We happened to be there at the right time and "chose" it! We also got a nicer swivel chair for our living room. Our old one went to the other senior couple and they were excited. It is just a game of "I'll take yours and you take theirs".
We had an area general authority visit the office this week. It was Elder Burns from the Southeast United States area. He was delightful and told us some wonderful stories about the hurricanes here in Florida. We can hardly wait! Pres sent an e-mail to all of the parents telling them that the hurrican season starts in a couple of months BUT that we were prepared and would make sure their missionaries were safe when they occur. I'm sure that sent a lot of panic into the parent's hearts - it does mine. We have a large plastic tub on our deck, as does all of the missionaries, with a little BBQ grill, charcoal, matches and lighter fluid. We have 4 gallons of water inside our apartment so we should be set (or not).
Having a great time and enjoying the e-mails we get. We crave news from home just as any 19-year old missionary would. Our e-mail address is timholdstock@netscape.net incase you have forgotten.
We pray for and love all of you.
P.S. My investigator is still taking the lessons but doesn't seem to be catching on very fast to the beautiful message the sisters have for him. We didn't go last week as we felt there had been too many the time before. The sisters had the Relief Society president show up as well as ourselves (5 of us!!). Can you imagine what Vladimir thought when he opened his door? He probably thought the whole church had come to force him into baptism.
We had an area general authority visit the office this week. It was Elder Burns from the Southeast United States area. He was delightful and told us some wonderful stories about the hurricanes here in Florida. We can hardly wait! Pres sent an e-mail to all of the parents telling them that the hurrican season starts in a couple of months BUT that we were prepared and would make sure their missionaries were safe when they occur. I'm sure that sent a lot of panic into the parent's hearts - it does mine. We have a large plastic tub on our deck, as does all of the missionaries, with a little BBQ grill, charcoal, matches and lighter fluid. We have 4 gallons of water inside our apartment so we should be set (or not).
Having a great time and enjoying the e-mails we get. We crave news from home just as any 19-year old missionary would. Our e-mail address is timholdstock@netscape.net incase you have forgotten.
We pray for and love all of you.
P.S. My investigator is still taking the lessons but doesn't seem to be catching on very fast to the beautiful message the sisters have for him. We didn't go last week as we felt there had been too many the time before. The sisters had the Relief Society president show up as well as ourselves (5 of us!!). Can you imagine what Vladimir thought when he opened his door? He probably thought the whole church had come to force him into baptism.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Just because we love you!!!!
We have a few fun missionary stories to tell you about our missionaries. Two weeks ago one of our fun missionaries met a gentleman on the street. The man read their tags and said “Oh the Church of Jesus Christ. Well that makes a lot of sense since it is all about him. It’s those Mormons that I can’t stand’. The Elder invited him to church that Sunday and he accepted. As they were sitting in sacrament meeting, the Elder took his scriptures out to look something up. When he sat them on the bench, the man looked down and saw “The Book of Mormon” written on it. He looked at the Elder who was just grinning from ear to ear. He has gone to church twice now and loves it. He will probably be baptized.
Another set of elders were getting the oil changed in their car and said they would give their car to the sisters and take theirs to have the oil changed also. While waiting for the car, they decided to walk down the street a little ways and get something to eat. While walking, they ran into a man they had taught a few lessons to several weeks ago and then lost track of him. They didn’t have a phone number or address and thought he was gone for good but there he was, right in front of them. He pretty much told them that he wanted to be baptized.
The senior elder who works in the office with us was calling about the repairs on a car just before we entered the mission field. He rang the wrong number so he hung up. In a few minutes a lady called back and said, “Did you just call me?” The elder said, “I’m sorry, it was a wrong number.” She said, “Who are you?” He told her that he was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that he could send some missionaries to teach her about our religion if she would like. She said she would like that. He was able to baptize her about the middle of January.
Our ward is one of the most diversified wards in the mission. Here are a few of the names. I will never be able to learn them. Fiapito Mano Leali’ie’e, Hazer Ornoria Navarro Saballo, Kerven Manutaufonua Tua’one, Elcio Otavio Zanatta, Moussa Khali Abuali, Carlos Jauregui, James Yusasvage, Manfred Jaramillo, Xiomara Acosta, Christoher Asturrizaga, Raquel Carrasco Alegria, Khrishnodutt Ibaran and Ayodeji Adebusuyi.
We are loving rubbing shoulders with the energetic young missionaries. We experienced our first transfer meeting this week. What a wonderful experience! In 3 weeks we will have Elder Zwick from the Seventies visit our stake conference, take a tour of our mission, inspect some of the missionary’s apartments, etc. We are trying to get our office looking nice for him. Pres Hale said that he likes to see how the missionaries are living when they don’t know anyone will be coming. They remodeled our office this last week and it looks like it could be a room in the temple. Pres Hale is into interior decorating and you can tell. I will put pictures on the blog for you to see.
We love all of you and pray for you every day. Thanks for supporting us on our mission. WE LOVE LETTERS and phone calls. We have been told it is okay for family to call whenever they want so don’t hesitate. We have our cell phone with us at the office. May the Lord bless you as you keep his commandments.
Another set of elders were getting the oil changed in their car and said they would give their car to the sisters and take theirs to have the oil changed also. While waiting for the car, they decided to walk down the street a little ways and get something to eat. While walking, they ran into a man they had taught a few lessons to several weeks ago and then lost track of him. They didn’t have a phone number or address and thought he was gone for good but there he was, right in front of them. He pretty much told them that he wanted to be baptized.
The senior elder who works in the office with us was calling about the repairs on a car just before we entered the mission field. He rang the wrong number so he hung up. In a few minutes a lady called back and said, “Did you just call me?” The elder said, “I’m sorry, it was a wrong number.” She said, “Who are you?” He told her that he was a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and that he could send some missionaries to teach her about our religion if she would like. She said she would like that. He was able to baptize her about the middle of January.
Our ward is one of the most diversified wards in the mission. Here are a few of the names. I will never be able to learn them. Fiapito Mano Leali’ie’e, Hazer Ornoria Navarro Saballo, Kerven Manutaufonua Tua’one, Elcio Otavio Zanatta, Moussa Khali Abuali, Carlos Jauregui, James Yusasvage, Manfred Jaramillo, Xiomara Acosta, Christoher Asturrizaga, Raquel Carrasco Alegria, Khrishnodutt Ibaran and Ayodeji Adebusuyi.
We are loving rubbing shoulders with the energetic young missionaries. We experienced our first transfer meeting this week. What a wonderful experience! In 3 weeks we will have Elder Zwick from the Seventies visit our stake conference, take a tour of our mission, inspect some of the missionary’s apartments, etc. We are trying to get our office looking nice for him. Pres Hale said that he likes to see how the missionaries are living when they don’t know anyone will be coming. They remodeled our office this last week and it looks like it could be a room in the temple. Pres Hale is into interior decorating and you can tell. I will put pictures on the blog for you to see.
We love all of you and pray for you every day. Thanks for supporting us on our mission. WE LOVE LETTERS and phone calls. We have been told it is okay for family to call whenever they want so don’t hesitate. We have our cell phone with us at the office. May the Lord bless you as you keep his commandments.
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