Wk #13: LAST DAY OF 2015.

HEY USA! How is everybody? As always, I hope that you are all doing SO well and enjoying the Holidays and your families and friends. Really, your families are SO important. Take it from someone who is more than 4,000 miles away from his, they are the most important thing in this world. Mountains can crumble, buildings will fall, and the oceans could dry up, but your family will ALWAYS be your family. That's a promise. Cherish them. Appreciate them and NEVER take them for granted. I did and I regret it more than anything.

     This week was transfer week and it was nuts. But let me tell you that my new companion Elder Fallentine is fetching great. He's from San Diego! We get along so well and honestly I feel like I'm with one of the guys back home. The first thing we talked about was our favorite music and guess what he gave me? A Jack Johnson album he bought here. I knew we were going to be best friends. And the best part is that we are working so hard and actually finding potential investigators everywhere we go. How amazing is it that when we commit ourselves to the Lord, He blesses us beyond imagination? I have been SO happy these past few days and it's all because of our self-consecration to the work and to The Lord. People also tell us that we look like brothers ALL THE TIME. Oh and a lady let us into her house and told us it was just so she could look at us longer. hahaha awkward. 

     We were knocking on doors looking for investigators and we came across a man who is an Adventist and started to talk with his about our gospel. It turned out that he shared SO MANY of our beliefs. Eventually he let us in and we taught him the Restoration. He was VERY open to it and he accepted a Book of Mormon with my testimony of it inside the front cover. Unfortunately he's taking a vacation for a few months and won't be able to be taught by us anymore. But I ask that you all PLEASE pray for him that he'll read the book and find a testimony through it. His name is Yamille (pronounced Shameel)! Thank you all so much. 

     After the trial of our faith we receive the blessings. This profound statement is SO TRUE. If any of you are struggling with things in your life, Hold on. Press forward in Faith. I promise you that the Lord will help you out after you have experienced what He needs you to experience. And just imagine how much stronger you'll be afterwards. I pray for you. I know what it feels like to feel hopelessness. And from that experience, I now know just how much Hope can be found through this gospel and how much sweeter the happiness is. PRESS ON. And I'll do the same.

     I love you all so much. And I'm so thankful for your prayers. They have been the wind at my back and the strength that I need to press on so that I can further build His kingdom on this earth. Thank you. I pray for you always and hope that you all have a great night tonight and an even better year this year. 

     Don't party too hard.. because I'll be in bed at 10:30. Can you feel my jealousy coming through the screen? (; PARTY FOR ME! Remember that if you want to see pictures from my mission you can look at my mission blog! The address is www.eldercadeholmes.blogspot.com!

I love you all!

Elder Cade Holmes.

Elder Fallentine

"This small dog of a spider was the size of my hand. I killed it by hitting it with my shoe... 3 times!"

 

Wk #12: Pictures & a ps.....

"Quiere aprender sobre la Restauracion?"

Hey everyone! Just so you know, My P-day is being changed to Thurdays! So When you dont hear from me on Monday, fret not. I'm still alive, just waiting for P-day. (:

Thanks!

Elder Holmes.

"My favorite pic I've taken in ARG!"

Argentine Sunset

Wk #12: ¡Feliz Navidad!"

"..A prophet would the Lord God raise up among the Jews- even a Messiah, or, in other words, a Savior of the world... Wherefore all mankind were in a lost and fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer."  (1 Nephi 10:4 and 6) 

"And I looked and beheld the virgin again, bearing a child in her arms.. And the angel said unto me: Behold the Lamb of God, yea, even the Son of the Eternal Father." (1 Nephi 11: 20-21)

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." (2 Nephi 19:6)

"...I Beheld the Son of God going forth among the children of men; and I saw many fall down at his feet and worship him... He went forth ministering unto the people, in power and great glory; and the multitudes were gathered together to hear him; and I beheld that they cast him out from among them." (1 Nephi 11:24 and 28)

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind... He will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of His people." (Alma 7:11)

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief... Surely he has borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows... and with his stripes we are healed." (Mosiah 14:3-5)

"And behold, I am the Light and the Life of the world; and I have drunk out of that bitter cup which the Father hath given me, and have glorified the Father in taking upon me the sins of the world, in the which I have suffered the will of the Father in all things from the beginning... Arise forth, and come unto me... That ye may know I am the God of Israel." (3 Nephi:11 and 14)

"And I will be your Light in the wilderness and I will prepare the way before you... And ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led." (1 Nephi 17:13)

     In the spirit of Christmas, it is my hope and constant prayer that we can remember now, and forever, not only the birth of our Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, but all that He is. Our Counselor, our Teacher, our Light, and our Savior. May we be found in constant service to Him. May we always show our love for Him.  May we forever strive to live as He did. May we desire to return to his side, under His arm, and in His loving embrace. It is my solemn and sure testimony that He is the Light of the World, and He will forever guide us to eternal happiness. We need only to walk as he walked and follow Him.

     I hope that your Christmas is full of love and joy! I pray for your health, happiness, and safety in my every prayer. And I have no doubt that He has heard me. I send my love and prayers always. 

     May we be blessed 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,

Elder Holmes

"I wasn't aware that a picture was being taken..."

Wk # 11: Blue Skies in ARG.

Hey everyone! As always, I hope that everyone is well and I hope that you all are enjoying that cold winter Utah life (; It's about 95 degrees right now and it's only 11:00am! Sometimes I wish that I was in the cold winter weather (; This week seriously FLEW by. It really just depends on the week! We still don't have investigators, references, or people letting us share our message with them so that's frustrating! But I never lose hope! And I'm constantly praying for someone to at least listen to our message. Update on the dogbite: It is healing beautifully! In fact it hasn't bothered me since it happened! Right now there's a little bit of bruising but that's all!  

     I'll be honest, it's hard out here right now. I haven't felt like a missionary yet solely because we just aren't teaching right now. One of the zone leaders said this to me last week, "You have to have a lot of faith to be in Millamapu." And he was right. I've been trying to figure out what my purpose is in this area. Because if one thing is true, it's this: Wherever you are and whatever you're doing, there's a purpose. The Lord wouldn't put us out in this world without a purpose in all things. I'm in Millamapu right now for a reason. I just need to find it. Whether it's in our schooling, our jobs, our everyday life, or in our missions there's is always, always, always a purpose. Each and every one of us is an essential part of the Lord's plan. He needs every one of us. So never feel like you don't have some kind of purpose. Especially when things get tough. There's always a purpose. You just have to find it. 

I'm sorry that I didn't have a lot to report on this week. I'm struggling to figure out who I am, who I need to be, and who the Lord wants me to be. It's been one of those weeks that I dragged my feet, but never stopped putting one foot in front of the other! I hope you all have a really great week. I constantly pray for your happiness. It's my constant hope and prayer that you are all safe, healthy and happy. Keep on keepin' on, my friends!

May we be blessed 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, 

Elder Holmes

He was unable to upload any pictures so I told him I'd add the picture of his Christmas package being delivered to the mission home! He's excited for this since we didn't think there was any way to get packages to him! It should be delivered to him personally tomorrow!!!   http://mymissionarypackagesarg.com/

 

Wk #10: Hello from ARG.

Hey everyone! So I don't really have a lot to report on this week because, well, nothing is happening. It's honestly getting hard not having anyone pay any mind to us. I'm thinking that this is one of those areas that needs some seeds planted instead of an area ready for the harvest. It's definitely frustrating, but I keep on going! I'm constantly re-energized by the Spirit and I never regret waking up in the morning.

Some interesting things that happened this week: I got bit by a dog pretty bad. And normally that doesn't matter, but that's because the missionaries who get bit are usually bit by dogs in houses. But mine was different because I got bit by a nasty street dog. It looks pretty bad and they're watching it to see if I need to have anything done with it. I would send a pic but its all wrapped up! They told me to be sure to chain myself up during the full moon too. I'm not sure why (; And this week while talking with the branch president, he said, "Usted tiene el don de lenguas, enserio." Which means, "You have the gift of language and tongues, I'm serious." So that was very comforting to hear. The language is tough, but with a lot of work and the courage to just open my mouth, I improve every day.

I FOUND A GUITAR. After 2 months of not playing, let me tell you, it was SO good to play. I heard it in the distance and grabbed my comp by the arm and said, "Elder, We're following the sound of that guitar. And I'm gonna play it." haha. So anyways, I put on a mini concert in the street of Argentina complete with John Mayer songs and some good old Kodaline. And now the two guys are potential investigators. It was so nice.

In 3 Nephi 11:14 I found a simple and beautiful truth. In the first line of this beautiful scripture Christ says this: "Arise, and come forth unto me." This stuck with me. May we arise from our trials, our sadness, self-doubt, insecurities, and our sins and go forth unto Him. In and through Christ, we are made whole. Through Christ, we find eternal and celestial happiness.

I love you all and pray for you always. Have a great week and I'll talk to you on monday (:

May we be blessed with the wind at our backs and the strength to press on so that we may further build His kingdom upon this earth.

Elder Holmes.

Pure joy!