Feb 24, 2014 - Illinois

It's almost March?!

Ohlo! (<-- that is going to come in later)

How was everyone's week? My was FANTASTIC :)

Monday, pdays, the best. Went to Chicago that night!

Tuesday we were on exchanges, I went to the city with Hermana Felt,
man that was fun! We almost go in a car accident! Hahahah. There was
like 7 inches of snow, on the FREEWAY, and we slid ALL over the place.
It was fun, thank heavens there wasn't any cars around us. Hermana
Felt thanked me for not screaming ;) then we went a walkin. And
talking to everyone we saw. She went for the ones that looked like
they spoke Spanish, there was a lot of them haha. We even went on a
bus.. Which bus contacting SCARES ME. Aahh. But I talked to some
people, no one was interested, but one lady's son was going to Fall
Out Boy's baby show that weekend, so that's always exciting... Haha.
The people you meet as a missionary ;) we also went to a lesson that
night... In Spanish... I could kind of tell what was going on, and I
participated a little bit in Portuguese haha. It was so cool to
actually be able to use this language! I can't wait to go to Brazil!
Haha someday.

Wednesday, we stopped by Brenda's.... My good ole friend Brenda.. She
decided that she doesn't want to give up smoking and drinking coffee,
she doesn't want to be baptized, she doesn't want to go to any church,
and she doesn't want us to come by anymore. OUCH. What in the? Where
did that come from? So we are going to let her just think about that
and feel the difference in her life... Not in a mean way, I promise. I
cried. That hurt so much! I love Brenda, why is she doing this?!...
She called the next day asking for service.. I wonder if she remembers
what she said. Hmmm hahaa.

We also had a district meeting that day... HA. So we are doing role
plays (practices) on inspired door approaches haha like asking
questions and really putting YOU into it.. So I practiced with Elder
Vaughn! super awesome missionary.. So I knock on the table, and he
turns around and says "OHLO!!" (Like off of Megamind) I DIED! Hahaha I
couldn't do it. Super threw me off! Hahahah it was way funny. Oh also,
when we walked into district meeting, there were tiny chairs. And
tables, I'll send a picture haha, I guess they did to help our
district become more unified... Silly Elders ;P

So we have been teaching active families the "lessons" and it's been
really cool! Some like to pretend to be investigators, or themselves
before they were baptized, while others want us to teach to them. So
it's been really interesting. But I love it! It gives us experience,
and it gets them excited about missionary work, and helps them to feel
confident in going out and teaching with us. :)

Saturday we tried something pretty cool.... Ha. We got a phone book,
said a prayer, opened to a page, and wrote down names and addresses
that stuck out to us. We were going to tract those streets. Man oh
man, I don't know if Heavenly Father was just trying to tell us that
that was a bad idea or.... But we didn't get a single person to let us
even finish the name of our church hahaha. Okay maybe one, but no one
was interested. I thought FOR SURE at least one person! Nope. Probably
won't try that one again;) hahah...

Sunday was good, had a GREAT lesson with Greg! Oh he's great. He was
having the toughest week though. So when we met, I just asked him,
like how are you feeling? How is everything? What were the questions
you had? And he pretty much told us that he just wanted to be with
Heavenly Father, but didn't want to go through life... Broke my little
heart. So we talked about Gods love and how this life is to prepare to
return to Him. He is seriously the best. He is so smart and has the
best questions. He said that he wants to be baptized! H just seriously
makes my day.

Hmm that was my week. Oh! HA, when we had our lesson with Betty, we
were talking about repentance and comparing it to the Catholics
confession. And she goes, "Oh, I've never had to go to "the booth". I
never do anything wrong!" Hahaha right Betty ;) it was the cutest. I
guess I say "Does that make sense?" A lot, and she commented on it,
saying that I don't go on until she's not confused anymore. No I sure
don't! Haha. She's the cutest.

Well we find out about transfers this upcoming weekend, any bets?
Third sister?;) jokes. I'll let ya know next Monday. I love the
emails, even if you don't ink your life is exciting, I LOVE hearing
about it :)

Oh and I saw a Bald Eagle on Saturday. What?! The coolest, it was
flying and we were driving, otherwise I would've taken a picture.

You're the best!
Com MUITO amor ;)
Sister Holden

I love Mondays! <3

Feb 17, 2014 - Illinois

Welp today is Monday, the 17th of February of 2014

 

 Olá!

Como vai?

This week was muito bom! First of all. BRENDA is on baptism date!! For
March 2. Ohhh it was the coolest thing ever! So we had an appointment
to teach the Plan of Salvation. We did, and when we got to the
kingdoms! she said she wanted to be in the Celestial one, with God.
"Well perfect! Do you know how to get there?" "Uhhh." So we explained
how while we are on earth, we need to make those covenants, promises,
with Heavenly Father to show our love for Him and desire to follow
Him. And we do that by being baptized by His power, the Priesthood
authority. Then she talked about how she wanted Him to kind of
forcefully tell her to be baptized... So I shared how I knew that
baptism was right for her. That if she showed her faith by committing
to being baptized, God would let her know that it was the right
decision. "If you prayed and said, "Heavenly Father, I'm getting
baptized on March 2nd! How do you feel about that?!" He's going to say
"yay Brenda! I'm so proud of you!" And she kind of stopped, and said
"Why did you pick March 2nd?" I just said I dunno.. Then she explained
that March 2nd is Johnny's birthday! And then committed to being
baptized! Ohh it was the coolest! Then we went over the baptismal
interview questions. She's the best.

We also had a zone conference this week, love those.. I feel like
president always knows what to say. Haha. He opened the meeting by
saying, I just want you to know(talking to everyone) that you are here
for a reason, you are in the area you're in for a reason, and
companions with thatperson for a reason. Heavenly Father out you here
on purpose. Tears. He's talking to me! Haha. Wah.

But it was great, we talked about appropriate music, how to help our
investigators understand prayer, and how to get referrals in a better
way;) schveet stufffff.


Guess what! We also had a lesson with Betty, and it might have been
even better than the one with Brenda.. She is also committed to be
baptized. The spirit in her lesson was soo strong! That's something
I've learned on my mission.... I CANT teach, but the spirit can for
dang. Soo important to have Him with us ;) always start with a prayer,
guys. Haha. Prayer brings miracles. Which we will be praying for, if
March 1st & 2nd come as fast as I think they will:)

Welp, 1 more pday until we find out about transfers, CRAZY. But that's
okay. HA. His transfer went by fast. What did you do in the past 6
weeks? I taught the Plan of Salvation 463728 times, because it's my
favorite! That was a joke, it really is my favorite, but we didn't
teach it that many times;)

I have learned so much on my mission, holy cow. I have learned one
very important thing. Which is: my life before I came on a mission is
gone. I will never be that same person. I know now that I don't want
to waste my life watching the Office all day long. I've learned the
types of relationships I want in the future. I've learned so many
things I want my future family to be/ have. Someone told me before I
left on my mission, "Don't worry, your life will still be here when
you get back!" WRONGO! Haha, I don't want that life! Yes I still love
my family, but I don't ever want to go back to the person I was. Haha.
I have learned such great things, why would I throw those away? Dah,
there is my rant for the week. You are awesome and Heavenly Father
loves you. "That love won't ever change."

Oh and if anyone has tips on how to quit smoking, that'd be great.

Oh and have your friends add me on Facebook ;)

Oh and have a great week :)

Tchau!

Sista Holdy-hold

Line of the week:
Betty: do you know how to cook?
Me: ummmm, why? Haha
Betty: well I saw you walkin into the apartment with a McDonald's
soda, and I felt so bad! Like dang, I need to cook for them! If you
ever goin get married someday...
Me: yes we know, we'll have to learn how to cook...
Betty: yeah! Because the way to mans heart, is through his stomach.

Thanks Betty ;)

(PS I'm pretty sure she's never seen the princess and the frog movie,
so it must be true) (PSS she reminds me of Momma Oh-dee, off of that
movie, except she's not blind and doesn't do voodoo or whatever
hahahah)

Selfie Sunday or missionary Monday? It's all the same ;)

-

Feb 10, 2014 - Illinois

Valentine Shamalentine

Hello All!

Hope everything is going super good. Things are going. Going fast
actually. I can't believe this transfer is half way over! Crazayzyyy.
Can't believe it. Pretty much, I love this area, even though I feel
like all of our investigators dropped off the earth or something. But
we have started teaching active members the lessons, them pretending
to be investigators. That has been so cool, haha and the feedback is
even better. I'm glad i get to be a missionary in English for a while
before Português.. I love it, and being a Facebook missionary is
getting better, and I can literally feel the Holy Ghost throughout our
lessons. (Not that I couldn't before, but it's just so much stronger)

With that, I feel like lately I have been able to recognize spiritual
prompting a lot better. I had this cool experience this week. We were
coming home from a dinner appointment, and I just thought, "You know,
we should visit Alex." (One of our investigators who we hadn't seen in
weeks.) So we stopped by JUST as he was getting home! He answered the
door with a huge smile and told us how he had gone back to work and
was so overwhelmed with bills and things but that he missed us! And
wants to come back to church! It was so awesome to be able to talk
with him and let him know that Heavenly Father is mindful of him. So
cool! Also recently, I have been having feelings of like DONT GO TO
THAT HOUSE. A lot in one night, I have heard stories of missionaries
feeling this and couldn't wait to actually recognize a prompting that
could keep me from danger! Haha who knows what would've happened if we
would've gone to these houses, but I'm glad we didn't.

Yesterday, we had a linger longer and church, and I brought my
FAVORITE. Fruit salad for a crowd. Yum. I love food, can I just say?
Haha. Oh and that reminds me of this talk I read this week.. Called, "
Sanctity of the Body" SUCH a good talk! Made me never want to eat junk
again, because our bodies truly are gifts! This talk just hit me. In
my gut. That has gotten huge while on this mission. Not really but it
didn't mean a lot to me. Hahaha. Read it!

Line of the week:
(We were in district meeting, talking about how unrealistic our zones
goals were haha)
Elder: we should call the zone leaders, right now. Tell them I just
dropped kicked my iPad so change the goals!

Maybe that isn't as funny to you as it was haahha. You all are so
awesome. Read your scriptures. And really ponder them, and ask for
revelation! I've learned SO so much from he Book of Mormon these past
6 months, so awesome. This week we have a zone conference and
exchanges with some hermanas! So excited.

Até logo!
Sister Holden

42% of the mission is sisters! so cool :)

Feb 3, 2014 - Illinois

Six months this week. What?!

Well hello!

This week has been fun..

Tuesday we went over to Brenda's and talked about the Sons of Mosiah (
AKA my favorite people) and she loved it! We were talkin about
Christ's love and I mentioned this group of teenagers and how bad they
were, but when repented, they were blessed and Christ still loved
them! Haha and we got to meet her son Johnny! So happy. And they came
to church yesterday! Oh it's was the coolest! Brenda got up and bore
her testimony and mentioned how she was going to be baptized! Haha
news to me;) she's great. We'll have to pick a date for her while I'm
still here :)

I guess yesterday was the Super Bowl? Which explains why NO ONE signed
up to feed us missionaries.. Haha so the wars mission leader did, he's
the nicest. We had homemade lasagna yum and homemade razzleberry pie,
yummier! They are so kind to feed 6 missionaries on like 1 hours
notice. Haha.

So I'm the worst. I have no idea what Sister Spackman and I did all
day. So we've been doing less active stop bys! So fun. A couple people
were home.. Not super interested. One lady said she appreciates us
coming over but she's not interested in the church right now.. But we
can stop by anytime. Haha I don't get it.. So we will be stopping by
ALL the time ;)

We have a Sisters Conference this week and I'm SO excited! We are
doing self defense, exercise, healthy eating, and homesickness
classes. Just for me, because I need all of them. Hahahah. It'll be
good.

This letter is really scatter brained, which is exactly how I feel
haha. Ahh I have no idea how people remember things and keep things
straight all the time! Haha. One thing I learned this week: I need to
be more courageous, the Book of Mormon is FULL of courageous people.
Holy cow! What good examples. Like why should the possibility of
someone not wanting to listen to me, keep me from asking?

Line of the week: (at our ward mission leader's home talking about
cows stomachs and Johnny lingo)
Sister C: Will you go dish up the dessert?
Brother C: I sure would, my 32 cow stomach wife!
Sister C: Don't let the door hit you on the way out..

Hahaha then she gave some great advice to the Elders ;)

Have an fantabulous day/week/night!

Com amor,
Sister Holden

Ps: no news on my visa, but a member told me that some brethren went
to the consulate in San Diego to explain why so many people want
visas, so she said they should be coming pretty quick. :)

I liked my outfit yesterday :)

Thanks Laurel for the Birthday poster

Jan 27, 2014 - Illinois

Just pictures this week.

dallon and sofiah- go Brazil!

Sister Hawkins!

game night- giant Jenga!

Jan 20, 2014 - Iliinois

Week 18 In Antioch, Illinois

So this is going to be a real short letter... but everything is good here! Sister Spackman is getting transferred and i will be getting a new companion! (not new, new, thank heavens i won't have to train yet:)) but i am going to miss her so so much and have a new adventure of leading in my area. Yikes. I hope all of you are doing fantastic! The work here is getting really good. hah. We have a couple awesome progressing investigators, it's so cool to help them understand and answer the questions they have. This church is true :) It just makes sense.

Love you all!

Sister Holden

These are 2 of the 4 times I blew out candles

Happy Birthday to me!

Grace and Emi!

Birthday Outfit

Kate

Jan 13, 2014 - Illinois

Well well well, it's been a while! Sorry haha but we've been emailing
on our iPads and they aren't the easiest to type on.. But I will
suffer.

So to catch up, it's been cold here! But today it is a nice 45
degrees, woot woot! That's about it. Haha.

This past week was cool, we had a zone conference, I love those. We
get so pumped! We talked a lot about what "the gospel" is. I guess
some missionaries just said "uhh well it's our church" um no! The
gospel of Jesus Christ is fait, repentance, baptism, Holy Ghost, faith
repentance, etc. = enduring to the end. So we talked about scripture
stores that went along with that, some are: 3 Nephi 27: 13- 20, Ether:
2 & 3. So cool! We also talked about companions haha and how everyone
is different.. There are introverted and extroverted people. Guess
which one I am! Haha definitely introverted, and guess what my
companion is! Yep, extroverted haha. So fun. And that's all I'm going
to say about that;) I love my companion and we get along great, most
definitely going to be a real good friend for forever.

Oh also, I have started working on my application for an FBI
clearance! Yay! Haha maybe ill make it to Brazil for a few months ;)
but I love it here, I'm not in a rush, I survived the arctic blast, I
can do anything! By the way, don't ever move to Illinois, I don't know
how people live in such cold weather, ugh. Jk move here, it's
beautiful.

The members here are so awesome! A family got some books and a cd to
help me with my Português! So nice of them. The best. We also got to
shovel some ice off of Brenda's driveway, so much fun, and the best
workout I've gotten since I've been here. Fo real, I'm still sore.
Haha.

Saturday we had an awesome lesson with Betty! Our neighbor, the one
who never shows up for appointments, yeah that one. Haha love her.
She's the cutest. Well we started talking to her, and she kind of, not
bashing, but not really listening? To us, but we kept going haha, when
we got to the Joseph Smith story, her whole attitude changed! She was
just thinking and you could tell the spirit was getting to her!
Afterward she asked if we were saying that our church is the only true
church, yep! Haha. We testified and said a prayer, asked her to prayer
to know if it really was the only true church, and then she kept
saying how much she loved us and our religion. And she told us to come
back anytime. The spirit is awesome! Haha. So that was my week ;)

Oh by the way, if you want a good faith visual, buy some bigelow green
tea, empty the tea out of the bag, make the bag into a cylinder, and
light it on fire! If you don't have enough faith, look it up on
YouTube. So good haha. And it goes along with the scripture Mosiah
2:41. The best.

Well have a good week, read your scriptures, you're awesome, and I love you.

Até aproxima semana!
Love, Sister Holden

we "shoveled" ice off of our investigators driveway.. whata workout!

( PS don't judge my face)

these are the searle's!

By the way, twister is fun in a skirt ;)

Jan 6, 2014 - Illinois

Sister Holden and her companion making a little music. This is all we got from her this week.

Dec 30, 2013 - Illinois

Monster socks

Rylee's Baptism

Twins

By the way I cut my hair

Dec 25, 2013 - Illinois

Webcam with Sister Holden on Christmas Morning.
             It was so good to see and talk with her. Everyone was in tears before one word was spoken. She is just glowing with the Spirit and you can tell how much she has grown. We asked her what one of her favorite things about serving a mission, or something that she didn't expect. She said that its amazing how the Lord can open your heart and how much you can grow to love those around you. And when you love them of course you want them to know and accept the gospel into their lives.
           She bore her testimony in Portuguese and it was so sweet. Even though it was in another language the Spirit was there and you could feel the love of Christ radiating from her. She truly is serving the Lord and understands the important work that she is doing.
            She loves and misses everyone.

Dec 23, 2013 - Illinois

P-Day in the city. Can't wait to see you guys Wednesday!

Dec 16, 2013 - Illinois

Happy Monday!

Things were good this week.

We walked to the library and knocked on some doors on the way back. We met this way nice lady named Jennifer, she has 5 kids all under age of 8, she should just be baptized right now ;) but she let us in! So we talked to her a little bit and got her phone number and we will hopefully be going over this week! :)

We got to teach the Sunday School lesson in church yesterday about Eternal Families. MY FAVORITE THING :) i love my family.

Friday we went to Libertyville with Kate for dinner and there was this ginormous Christmas tree! I'll send a picture.There was also a nativity scene and i was so excited to see it.. and i walk over to it... SOMEONE STOLE BABY JESUS! hahaha sad:( Kate's husband was saying maybe he'll be there after Christmas because he isn't born yet. Makes sense.

On Christmas Eve.. we get to be in a talent show:) hahaha. and a nativity.. but for the talent show we are going toplay a Christmas song on the ukulele and sing! hahah should be fun... i just have to learn how to play the uke now. It's not that hard. But I'm excited.

I'm excited for Christmas! :) Have a great week :)

Love Sister Holden

Can't wait for Christmas

Snow

Where is baby Jesus?

-3 is NOT ok

Dec 9, 2013 - Illinois

OKAY. So this week, was an adventure with not having a car. SO much fun. We had probably 5-7 appointments set up for this week and we had members that were able to take us and be there, guess what happened:) my favorite thing! EVERY single one of them fell through! wah. :/ But on a good note, we had to walk ever where (i lost 4 pounds) so we found lots of new people! For the most party they seem pretty legit.

We also had a zone meeting.. ahaha i love those. SO they split us up between elders and sisters.. so you know what we're going to be talking about.. YUP modesty and appropriate relationships with elders. Joy. We also talked about safety so that was cool. :) I LOVE when President Woodbury talks to us. I feel like everything he says is just for me. (last week i wrote a very honest letter to him about some things i really don't like, things i've learned, and things i want to do..) and everything he said to us just comforted me, and helped me find a way to work through the hard things i'm going through... So that was really nice:)

So the whole time we've been in this area, we've been teaching a less active. She hasn't been to church in probably over a year.. She drove us to go pick up her car and then we went out to eat with her family. SO nice. Anyways, guess who came to church yesterday! It was her birthday and all she wanted was for it to snow and for her to be able to go to church. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Aahhhhh i was so happy to see her there! So was the rest of the ward :)

So the Christmas party was interesting... The food was yummy. We had Larry, Brenda, Kate, and Scott there! Scott is Kate's husband. It was a lot of fun. Brenda did some line dancing and Scott and Larry made some friends! :) It was really happy :)

The Christmas Devotional last night was awesome, i guess in the past it's only been the First Presidency? But they changed it so they had the Primary President and someone from the Presidency of the 70 right? and Russell M Nelson:) WAY good. My favorite was probably the Primary President, What happened next? So good. :) Definitely watch it:)

Oh and TRANSFERS: Sister Spackman and I are both staying in this area! Crazy! This will be our 3rd transfer together, good thing we're super good friends. haha ;)

Well it's getting closer to Christmas... Let's all drop the last syllable as President Monson suggest and catch the real meaning of the spirit of Christ. :) Have a fantabulous week! :)

LOVE, Sister Holden

 

I forgot one tiny thing we did, for Thanksgiving, we made cookies and wrote little notes to our investigators telling them how grateful we are for them. I think it went pretty good:) They were all really surprised and happy. One of our investigators gave us this indian delicacy, it's like mashed up carrots cooked in condensed milk or something.. Tastes kinda like sweet potatoes. Not sure how i feel about it. ha but it's a healthy dessert ;)

I feel like there is something else that i'm missing to tell you about...

A less active told us that they wouldn't be home when we wanted to drop off their christmas party invitation so we were just going to leave it on their door... well as we were walking away, they opened the door! Awkward. But i don't think they saw us...

This week is going to be fun. Can't wait to tell you if i'm being transferred or not:) I think Sister Spackman is going to be..

Antioch's library is the cutest :)

Brenda at the Christmas party:)

This is Sister Nikula(the one who came to church)

Dec 2, 2013 -Illinois

(My weeks and Sister Holden weeks aren't matching up... so this is just her next email. Sorry.)

HI! Sorry i didn't email last week.. Things were crazy ha but to catch you up..:

Last week we had a member with us as we taught Alex, he is in his 40s, mexican, has 1 daughter that he's been raising since he was 18. He was a Jehovah's Witness until he was about 16. We wanted to teach him the Restoration, but he had broken his ankle and was on pain killers so he was kind of loopy and going off on things haha it was funny. But the member we brought with us was PERFECT, she had fallen away from the church at some point in her life and was able to tell him how she had to choose the gospel and how it's blessed her life. It was awesome.

Then we went to go meet a less active member and ended up teaching her mom about the Restoration! It was awesome. We are trying to get  a hold of her so we can go back.

Last Thursday (not Thanksgiving) we went to our investigator Larry's house for his birthday, we played pictionary, guess who won... I did;) and his friends wanted to know what we did as missionaries.. So being a sneaky missionary, I taught them the Restoration haha. And said that's what we do as missionaries. So it was a really good conversation. No one was interested but i thought it was cool.

My Thanksgiving was good.:) We ate with a less active and his family. He wants us to teach his girls. He really just needs to come back to church ;) we ended up just having the one dinner (thank goodness) We had to be in our apartments at 7 and one of our dinners canceled:/ she sounded really sad. Um our turkey's name was Tom, ha. Sister Spackman made some yummmmyyyy jello with pretzels. Look up the recipe;)

So every 3rd day we do a Sister Holden day.. I'm the "trainer" and have to decide what we do.. get lessons started on time.. yada yada. I hate it. Saturday was the last day of the month (AKA we have ZERO miles.. okay like 6) and we had 4 hours of no appointments. We did have a baptism that morning.. they fed us lunch which was super nice:) and i spilled a root beer float. AWESOME. My favorite. :( Anyways... then i didn't know what to do, so we tracted for like 3 hours... We met Stephanie, Carl, Brandon, and William. All of them seemed excited to talk to us and actually wanted us to come back ha. (except for Carl, he and his wife are looking for a new church so we told him when our was and that was kinda it:/) But that was cool.

Yesterday was testimony meeting, my favorite:) except.. ha having investigators there makes me nervous.. For LOTS of reasons.. I don't want them to get offended or confused by what someone might say, and if they want to go up, what are they going to say?.. Well Brenda wanted to go up.. And she made me go up with her haha. But as we were walking... i saw Sister Spackman's face, she was worried, and i looked at the bishopric, they were worried haha "What is Brenda going to say?" She opened with this: "Hi, my name is Brenda.. And i'm trying to decide if i want to become a member of your church.." Hahaha i died. Love her;) She talked about she's always wanted to be a role model but never felt like she could but that when she comes to church, she feels like she can. It was so sweet. then i went up and stuttered something about Christmas i think. But Brenda was awesome, and Kate was also there (she thinks i don't talk so she gave me a huge hug and said "you did it!" haha thanks kate. She did the same thing when i said the opening prayer in Sunday School hahaha.)

Today we took our car to the shop.. Yay for walking for the next 4 days! Maybe i'll lose some weight... :) (nothing is super wrong with the car.. they are just fixing the headlight and front bumper)

VISA NEWS!: I was talking with the less active that we had Thanksgiving with because he has had a bunch of exchange students live with him.. So i told him they asked for a new birth certificate and he just laughed. So i'm like what the heck.. why is he laughing.. He said they don't think i'm who i say i am! ha. I'm in the "suspicious" pile.. So i'll be here in Illinois for a while.. Yay. hahaha.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is doing fantastic:) tell me about your adventures!

Love Sister Holden

Crazy hats

Snow

Week 9 Nov 18, 2013 -Illinois

Ola!

This week was full of adventure..

At the beginning of the week, we talked with one of our investigators. She had SOOO many questions.. Mostly about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Questions like, why does Joseph Smith think he's so great? Why wasn't the Book of Mormon put in with the Bible if it's the word of God? These types of questions. The best ;) haha. We went over the Restoration with her and tried to explain some things but she kept asking. So we kind of just told her she needs to read and pray about the Book of Mormon to know for herself. She said she will do anything that God wants her to do.. So baptism? just kiddin ;) but i really hope she does read and pray.... The only way we can know of spiritual truths, is through prayer.

Brenda, one of our investigators, is so funny. I have lots of stories about her this week:) One thing she told us.. : "If i could walk in a parade with anyone, it would be you two.' Love her! She also got a Priesthood blessing this week! I hope she really thought about what it said. It was a beautiful blessing. A lot about the commandments. After the elders left from giving her the blessing, she turned to us and said, "Which one of them do you like?! Which one?!!" Ahhhh awkward.. We are just friends Brenda.. "Well one of them gave me the look, to tell one of you, that he likes you!" Uhhhh well maybe after the mission we might like one of them.. "I knew it! I'm planning your wedding." Hahahahaha. Thanks Brenda.

This week we found a creepppyyy house. So naturally, we knock on it:) I'll add a picture. We tracted into a man named Larry. He is quite the character... He built this house and it is like an exact replica of a salt box? house in the 1800s. cool! He has tons of antiques and way interesting things. We taught him about the Restoration, and he invited us to his birthday party :) hahah. Awesome!

Yesterday at church we had 3 investigators with us! It was so cool! Kate, Alex, and Brenda came:) (And they all happen to be neighbors) Brenda participated so much in Sunday School, everyone loved her questions. :) Brenda and Alex left after Sunday School but Kate stayed for Relief Society and i think she really liked it. She also participated a lot:) a lot of the lessons and talks yesterday were about charity and i think she got a lot from them:) She's been going through a way hard time but i think yesterday helped.

Okay and tornadoes in Illinois? what? Crazyyy... I didn't see any, thank goodness. But the storm was scary enough. Sooooo windy. Scary.

Well i love you all! Hope my letters aren't too boring;) I love being a missionary, i learn so much everyday and i'm developing talents and attributes that are bound to help me for the rest of my life:) Can't believe November is half over... I left in the summer and it's definitely winter now. Where does the time go?

I love you!!-Sister Holden

Pictures:

CREEEEEEPY house. Actually really cool ha.

This is Mr. Uggos. He is ugly. And antisocial and sad. Ahahahaha. You can't see them in this picture, but his teeth hang out. Yum. We see him at Main Stays. We do service there, we get to groom horses and pick up poop! Love it:)

We finished! It took a lot of thinking but we got it done;) 

Isn't our district cute?

 

Week 8 Nov 11, 2013 - Illinois

Hello!

So this week was alright, we did a lot!

We did a bible study with one of our investigators... So that was interesting. Haha i don't know how much i liked it...

 We went on exchanges and i went with Sister McCarrey to the city and we found some potentials! We were just ringing doorbells.. funny thing happened, we heard like super loud rap music, we rang the bell and it was a Christmas song! And this kid answers the door and says i'm muslim and closes the door. Ha we were like, uhh what? So that was really cool. Haha. We also talked with a recent convert and he is the best member missionary! So we helped him think of ways he could share the gospel more often and how to bring it up, it was awesome. (Use Mormon language;))

On Saturday we went to this place called Feed My Starving Children, we did a ward service project there. We put bags of potatoes together to send to kids that don't have food. It was really cool to see how happy it made everyone. We even got to taste the potatoes that we helped pack.. I love living the the US ha. those weren't the best things i've tasted..

Yesterday was invitation Sunday, super cool. One of our investigators, Brenda came, but left half way through. I saw lots of people that had friends with them but they disappeared right after it ended! We taught the Restoration for Sunday school and there was one non member :) So it was good. Then Sister Spackman and i got to go to Sandy's baptism! That was great! That was my first time meeting Sandy and she is such a sweet lady. There is just something different about convert baptisms. i loved it. Sister Spackman gave an awesome talk about baptism and the Holy Ghost and had people crying ha. it was a really awesome baptism. :)

So we have LOTS to do this week. OHHHH by the way, if any of your friends want to know what a mission is all about or want to know more about the gospel, I'm on facebook! Sister-Janelle Holden and on November 20th, we will have Ipads! insane. so we will be able to skype and do all that cool stuff. Haha

I love you all! Keeping reading your scriptures and use Mormon language ;) haha

com muito amor!!

Sister Holden

Pictures:

Exchanges.. they live on the "beach" (Lake Michigan)

Feed My Starving Children, we cute no?

Chicago! (we passed through it on the way to Sandy's baptism)

Week 7 Nov 4, 2013 - Illinois

This week was awesome!

With Elder Martino, Stake Conference and..... Brenda is on baptism date!:)

It was the coolest. She called us and was so excited to invite us over later that day. When we finally got to talk with her she gave Sister Spackman and i invitations to breakfast, well at the bottom of my invitaion, it said "By the way, I read, yeah!" I was so excited. I asked her what she read and she liked about it. It was awesome. The verses she read were leading up to baptism, so we asked if she had thought about when she wants to be baptized. And she showed us the calender on her phone and on November 30th it said Baptism! She is the sweetest. That was a great day.

After that we went to Stake Conference and everything was about missionary work haha.

OKAY. Elder Martino of the 70 came to our Zone Conference! and showed us how to ask for referrals. that was awesome and i wanted to use it... Well, last night we went to a members home for dinner and at the end we told them, as we read these scriptures we would like you to think of someone who just had a baby or has crazy teenagers or just lost a loved one etc.. so we read a few verses and at the end we asked, did anyone come to mind? And it was great! The mom of the family had 2 families! She we asked if she would introduce us and she wants to! she is going to call them today and we will call her tomorrow about when we can meet them:) It was so cool to see the success that we had from following Elder Martino's example.

I hope everyone is doing fantastic! next week maybe i'll have more details;) and sorry if this email doesn't make a ton of sense.. i wrote it to my mission president and then copied it over because i don't have a ton of time. ha.

Love, Sister Holden

Week 6 Oct 28, 2013 -Illinois

Soooo this week was good! Kind of a lil roller coaster but i love roller coasters;)

First things first. I'm not being transferred! Sister Spackman and I both get to stay here! I'm so happy. :)

Thing 2 I don't have Nanny's email but i got her package and LOVED the hats, can someone thank her for me? I'll write her a letter too.

Okay. So last thursday we went to Main Stays to do service and it was awesome. It's this therapeutic horse place.. I don't know how to explain it. So we got to groom the horses and pick up poop. THE BEST! ;) haha it was really cool.

Then on Saturday was the ward halloween party! Brenda(one of our investigators) made alllll this food for us to take but couldn't come to the party.. Everyone LOVED it. She makes the best spinach dip ever. Yum. Everyone was sad she didn't come. BUT she came to church yesterday!! OH man it was awesome. We told her it was a little different kind of Sunday because anyone could go up and share their testimony, or what they believe in. And she asked well can i go up? We said sure! Then she said we would have to go up with her haha. So we did and it was awesome! Her testimony was great and she made me cry. After sacrament meeting she had to leave but everyone was asking us when her baptism date was and we were like uhhhh she doesn't have one yet! It was really cool. And then after church we called her to kind of see how she felt and to tell her how much everyone loved her testimony, she told us it was her birthday! we were like what?! Why didn't you tell us?! So we are going to get her something real special today haha. love her.

After that AWESOME experience, we stopped by a less active family..... Who the dad was the ward mission leader right before we came. Awkward. So we were talking to him.. and It was so sad. He thought we came to get his story, but no one had sent us of course, so he dumped all this information on us. ha. it was so confusing. He wouldn't finish his thoughts because he didn't want to offend us or shake our faith.. good one. I was just so confused! He attacked the church without "attacking the church" and it was so sad. So pretty much i just sat there trying not to cry because i knew whatever i would say he would politely backhand. It was just sad.. He gave up. He didn't want to work for it anymore. I just don't understand how you can have all this knowledge, all these blessings, and just "chuck the fruit across the yard".. Dah.

Don't EVER give up. I love this gospel so much. I love watching Brenda and those we talk to light up as they learn more about this gospel :) I KNOW that this is God's true church. I know that the Book of Mormon is literally a roadmap to eternal life.

Thank you so much for all of your support and love and letters and emails:)

Have a fantastic week!

MUITO AMOR, Sister Holden

Pictures:

My district! a few of the elders are being transferred and one is going to Brazil, so in a couple days, I'll need a new picture:)

Thanks Nanny for the hats!

A lady in the ward made us scarves

Week 5 Oct 21, 2013 -Illinois

Golly. This week...

It was a tough week. ALL of our appointments with investigators fell through, except the service ones, naturally haha. But that's okay. We will work harder this week and talk to everyone.

I think it will be easier to talk to everyone because Wednesday, we found out... we are now a Facebook mission! ha. I didn't like it at all at first but it sounds awesome and it sounds like we will be able to have a lot more lessons with people. So i get to make that today. I am making a new account, but I can't be friends with my active family members. Sorry..... ha. but it's okay.

We have this investigator named Brenda. She's probably my favorite person. She's so funny. Most people think she's crazy.. which may or may not be true. She came to church on Sunday, woop, and brought A PIE. haha an apple pie. A homemade apple pie. i died. it was the best. Anyway, she ended up having to leave early but she said she loved being there. She just took us out to lunch and wants to take a road trip with us... in a lil over a year. And she's coming to my wedding. Haha.

So we find out if we are being transferred this Saturday.. Yikes. I don't want me or Sister Spackman to be transferred. I love it here! But i will go and do whatever wherever. :)

It's been starting to get colder.. it's about mid 40s :/ i don't know how i will survive the winter. ha

Golly. In a week i promise i'll have more interesting stories and better details and i'll know where i'm going for the next 6 weeks! Til then, have a great week! Tchau!

Com muito amor,

Sister Holden

Picture- one of our investigators gave us these scarves she made:)

Week 4 Oct 15, 2013 -Illinois

Heyo! :)

this week. Hmmmm. So 1 we had a New Missionary Training on Tuesday, that was cool. I learned so much!

Then that night we did exchanges. And so that was different. It was weird not being with my companion haha. We are like best friends by the way. :)

So exchanges was interesting, i learned a lot. AND i saw a raccoon. ALIVE. it was the coolest. We also saw a praying mantis :)

Thursday we had a Zone Training, so that was cool. We had a couple lessons and did some role plays (AKA my favorite) we all got an interview with President Woodbury. And that night we finally got to meet one of our referrals! She was awesome. And i guess she has met with the missionaries before? So interesting. but we are going over tomorrow and i'm excited to talk to her a little bit more:)

Friday we did weekly planning. It's not bad anymore haha. We get to plan lessons for our investigators and i love it!

Saturday we had lunch with some members and they invited their neighbor which was awesome! she was so funny and she was excited when we gave her a pamphlet and she said she wanted to meet with us again:)

Church was good on Sunday) Silve came! She's our investigator. It was so good to see her! And she's coming to the Relief Societyactivity on Thursday!

Yesterday wasn't our P-day because it was a holiday and they wanted us out talking to people haha. It was a good day:) We got to talk to our investigator Carl, and his wife. and she wants to teach us how to crochet!! Super excited:)

And today, we get to go shopping and email home! so i'm happy:)

i love hearing about how everyone is doing! And i hope everyone is doing great:)

I LOVE YOU!- Sister Holden

Pictures:

the raccoon! :) he's chunky right?

the praying mantis! 

Exchange with Sister Lewis

Emily and Erin

Actually MY companion is the best!