Wk #4: Hey Everybody!

Hello friends and family! It's week 4 here in the MTC and I'm dying to get out! It's great and all, but I'm just ready to start the work in Argentina. The week FLEW by though so that's good. So after I sent my last email I had a few people ask me why I'm so personal and honest about the harder side of the mission. I was told that most missionaries report on only the good parts of the mission and save the hard parts for personal emails to the family. I do it because I want you all to know that this work isn't easy. It's hard and there are times that I want to give up. I want you all to know that IT'S WORTH IT. I feel the same way that Alma does in Alma 29:9. I don't want any of you to think that I'm a perfect missionary without problems. Because that's far from true. It's hard, but worth it.

      With that being said, this story from this week perfectly sums up what I'm trying to say. We teach real investigators as part of our training in Spanish and in teaching. Right now my companion and I are teaching an investigator named Olga. She's super great and a really nice lady, but she says that she's lacking something in her life. We tried to explain the Gospel and the Restoration, but she just didn't understand. She had extremely difficult questions like, "Why is it important to believe in God?" and "What's different about the happiness you get from God and the happiness I feel from my family, work, and school?" and "Why would I change my life so much for your church?" These questions stumped me. I became frustrated because everything that I tried to say to explain it to her didnt work. She just became more and more confused. We were able to answer her first question and help her to understand the Doctrine behind it, but she just was having a REALLY hard time with the second one. Feeling very angry at myself and very humbled, I asked The Lord to help me and give me guidance on how to help Olga understand this. It would have been hard to explain in English, let alone Spanish. So I was searching for my answer in the scriptures and it hit me.. Grandma Dixie. Feeling very inspired and feeling so much love from Heavenly Father, I went into the the next lesson with Olga prepared to help her. So (in Spanish) I said, "Olga, I'm going to try and help you understand this question in the best way that I can. You asked what is the difference between happiness from God and happiness from school, work and family. Let me tell you a story. My grandma Dixie died about a year ago. And a lot of people were very sad and it was definitely hard for a lot of people including me. But at the same time, I felt happiness." She gave me the most confused look I've ever seen. So I continued, "Olga, I felt happiness because I knew that she was with Heavenly Father. I knew that she was happy and in a better place. Because I know that God has a plan for us. And I still feel happiness because I know that my grandma Dixie is with me every step of the way. She's helping me with my mission, Olga." Olga looked at me with tears in her eyes. And that's when I felt it. Grandma Dixie had her arm around my shoulder. I could feel that familiar love and comfort that only she made me feel. (If you knew Dixie, you know exactly what I'm talking about). I knew that she was right there with me. So I said, "Olga, my Grandma is helping me right now." And Olga said, "Yes, I know. I can feel her too." I finished with this, "This is the happiness the Lord can give us. The happiness that you feel is the same as the happiness I feel. It's from our loving Heavenly Father. He wants us to be happy. He wants YOU to be happy, Olga." She understood this concept, asked me what she was feeling (Which I explained to her was the Spirit.), and asked me to teach her more. Unfortunately we were out of time and had to close it up, but it was definitely a powerful experience. When we walked out of the room my companion looked at me and said, "Holmes, what in the world did you say in there? I couldn't understand one word of it." The whole time I was speaking to Olga, I was being racked with chills. And what I didn't realize is that I was speaking fluently. The TRC managers watch our lessons and give us feedback and when they got to me they said that they have never heard such eloquent Spanish from someone who just learned the language. And all I said was, "The Lord's words, not mine." 

     I testify that as soon as we lose ourselves in the service of others, miracles are placed before us. It was by the power of the spirit that I was able to get through to Olga in this way. What a humbling experience. I want to leave you all with a challenge. Do something for someone everyday without them knowing this week. And just watch your happiness grow. I promise you that you will become happier and feel more of the Spirit in your life. I love you all and I'm so thankful for your support. I pray for all of you everyday. "May we ever be found doing the work of the Lord." - Thomas S. Monson

With Love, 

Elder Holmes

Childhood buddies..... Elder Tyler Lusk & Elder Holmes

 

 

Wk #3: I've Seen Miracles

Hello everybody! First off I just want to thank you all for the birthday wishes, letters, and packages. It made the day so great! And it really meant a lot to me!

Some of you wanted to know what my schedule is like so here it is! 

6:30-7:30 Breakfast

8:15-12:35 Spanish Instruction

12:35-1:15 Lunch

1:20-5:30 Doctrine Instruction (In Spanish)

5:35-6:00 Dinner

6:05-9:30 Personal study/Investigator training (In Spanish)

9:30-10:30 Prepare for bed/ go to bed. 

We also have training and teaching real investigators throughout the week. It's brutal. haha. But the days FLY by... at least that's what they tell us. 

This week was the week that I almost came home. The language became seemingly impossible to learn, homesickness was through the roof, and my patience with my companion was running very short. Worst of all, the spirit wasn't with me. I had given up on myself because I thought that the spirit had given up on me. The week dragged on and I seriously contemplated going home. I would constantly think to myself, "If you cant get through your second week here, how will you get through two years?" I became very self critical. One of the days we had personal study time and in a stroke of Divine Intervention I turned to Doctrine and Covenants section 84:88. What I read changed my perspective in a matter of seconds. Guys, the Lord has promised us with angels on our left and on our right to bear us up, and he always keeps his word. After this experience I became more confident, I began to study harder, and started to become more obedient to the MTC rules. I was filled with the Spirit. I realized that the Lord will NEVER give up on us. His hand is always stretched out waiting for us to grab hold. He wants us to fall down so we can have the chance to reach back for his hand, take it, and rely on him for help. I'm doing SO good now. I love it here and I'm learning so much. You wouldn't believe how much Spanish I've learned in 2 weeks. It's incredible. 

My mailing address: 

Elder Caden Holmes

NOV16 ARG-BABL

2007 N 900 E Unit 96

Provo UT 84602

SEND ME LETTERS (;

I hope you all have had an amazing week. Keep your heads up and be happy. We fall so we can learn to rely on the Lord to help us get back up and try again. I pray for all of you all the time. I miss home, but wouldn't leave here for the world. I'm becoming a missionary. I'm becoming the missionary the Lord wants me to be. May the Lord bless us with the wind at our backs and the strength to press on so that we may further build his kingdom on this earth.

With love and a fist bump,

Elder Holmes

 

Wk #2: Week 1.

Hello everyone! I've completed my first week here in the MTC and I've gotta say it's been great! The time has FLOWN by. It feels like its been 2 days since I left, but it has been a week. In one week I have learned to pray, bear testimony, and hold a steady gospel conversation in Spanish. The gift of Language and Tongue is REAL. I'm conversational in a week and that's amazing to me. We've been teaching investigators that only speak spanish and the language just flows right through me.

 The food is good, but we eat so often that I usually skip one or two meals! My dorm building is hilarious. They are all so funny. And they're all constantly singing which is great because I just join right in. I miss my guitar so bad. I'm the district leader in my zone and love being the guy everyone comes to for help. I have found a love for service this week. And praise the Lord Hallelujah no one snores in my room. Also, I've been given the nickname "Papi de Azucar" (Sugar daddy) because of how much candy I have! haha. Also I've been named the crier of my group because whenever I feel the spirit.. I cry. 

You guys, this work is incredible. There's nowhere on earth I'd rather be than in the Lord's front line. I miss home and all of you, but this is where I have been called to be. And I wouldn't change it for the world. Keep sending your prayers my way. I need them. The work is hard and being away is hard. So send those prayers my way please. Also, PLEASE use dearelder.com to send me a letter every day! It's so nice to hear from you all. Thank you all for the Birthday wishes! It was a great day for me here in the MTC. Well, I love you all and can't wait to report to you all every week.

 Oh, and yes there is a tree that smells like orange cream soda and the orange juice will kill you.

With Love, Elder Holmes