Friday, July 26, 2013

Week 1 Friends in the CCM

Hello Family!!!

I have been very anxious to write you all week! We found out last week that our P day was Thursday, but they didn't give us a P day, because we had just gotten here... Lame right? We thought so, you know that is funny that you brought up Elder Holt, because I forgot to mention that last week,(Another Elder Holt is going to the same mission and flew out with Connor, Mom) I was talking to Elder Powell and Elder Warburton as I was waiting to pass through the security in Salt Lake and Elder Powell thought I was the other Elder Holt. Elder Holt kinda reminds me of the Mormon version of Adi from the Polo team, so I have a couple memories from polo when I look at my shirt, speedo, and now Elder Holt.

Speaking of Scouts and Scout camp,(I had mentioned our Scouts were leaving this week, Mom) I am very glad you sent me on those as a kid, because I use to get scared I would get home sick there, but I never did because I was always with a good group of guys, and I think that is the reason I still have not gotten home sick here! :)

Speaking of language, it hasn't been to bad, I did have a hard time with it at the beginning. They had us start teaching an investigator in Spanish a week ago tomorrow and we ended that investigator yesterday, but it was way tough last week! Elder Robertson and I had some fun experiences with him though! Last Satuday during the lesson, I didn't feel good about it at all. It was tough, and so all I did was just read my part in Spanish, after the lesson we went back to our class room (which is pretty much our home) and hung out with our district. I kinda just went to the window and stared out it for awhile in frustration of not being able to get the language down, (I am one of the slowest learners in my district) and an Elder named Elder Horsley stopped to ask if I was okay and I said yes, so Elder Robertson told me to pray and so I did, as I was praying, I didn't realize I had a few tears fall to the ground and Elder Horsley, who is going to another mission stopped by and patted me on the back and waited for me to finish my prayer, and after I had finished he just asked "How can I help?" Which at this point I realized I had started to have some frustration tears come out, which then turned into tears of Joy, to know I had a friend there who wanted to help me out and I just couldn't hold back the tears. So he helped me to learn some of the things that everyone was learning that I just didn't understand at all. So then on Sunday in district meeting we all shared why we came on a mission and Elder Horsley was saying when the age changed he didn't know if he should go at the semester or at the end of the school year, so he had a blessing from his uncle and then it took him a couple weeks to figure it out, but he did figure it out and that was that he was suppose to come now, and I counted that as a tender mercy to me, because he noticed that I was struggling and so he stopped to help me. The Lord works in very mysterious ways and I Love it!

Past that, the language is getting easier day by day, the second day I learned how to pray and to say my testimony in spanish, but I don't know how to write it without the one I wrote, so you'll get that later! :)

Funny thing that you mention the ancestor story, because I was going to ask if you could send me some, although if you could write them in Word and then send it to me, that would be Amazing! :) Um, thought this because at the devotional on Tuesday we listened to a talk by Elder Nielson and his wife and his wife said we should have stories so we can pray to have the courage, attributes, and strength from our ancestors, so if you would send that, it would be awesome! :)

Okay, so the reason I titled this weeks letter as Friends in the CCM is because I have made and seen many friends here! The second day, I found Elder Chase, and Elder Moyes, and then later on in the week I found Elder Dehlin, and then just on Tuesday night I forgot Elder Simpson was coming but I heard someone yell my companions name, and then his companion yelled my name and it was dark so I couldn't see who it was and I got a Huge hug from Elder Simpson! It was way sweet to see him! I got pictures with them all to send to you, except Elder Simpson, I was hoping to see him yesterday or today, but I haven't seen him yet, so I'll send a picture back later sometime!
This morning we had the chance to go to the temple, which was Amazing! I Loved it, and I felt the spirit SOOOOOO much! I'll send a couple pictures of that as well!

A lesson I learned from another Elder was, if you are having a hard week, wait till Sunday and it will all be better, and that is true, you feel the spirit so much and there are no lessons!! :) BEST DAY! (besides P day of course)

Uh oh yeah! So I don't remember who told me it was the rainy season in Mexico, but they were right. I have never seen rain like this... Ever. It rains for up to an hour, to a couple hours every night (Except when the greenies come for some reason) but it rains REALLY hard every night! It is kinda cool! It always is a thunder storm as well!

Um, oh and the mosquitoes, yeah when we first got here, everyone's room was FILLED with mosquitoes, so we had a hay day killing them all, and yet we still find new bites in the morning and kill them all the time!

well, that pretty much sums up my week.

Say hello to everyone for me! :)

With much Love,

Elder Holt

Elder Graves and Elder Holt in Dallas Airport

Elder Robertson and Elder Holt in front of the CCM on the first day

Elder Holt and Elder Moyes

Elder Holt and Elder Chase

The "Wall" around the CCM

Elder Holt and Elder Dehlin

Me and Teddy

My roomies Going to Osorno (Robertson. Dower, Me. Holt, Beach, Borup) or and Beach isn't coming with us, he is going to Cali.
 

the friendly Freddie, who isn't so friendly anymore, ha! He is kinda dead.


My district
 
 


proof that I make my bed *left one* and I also wanted to say that I ate fish willingly today.... could of had amazing chicken, but I had fish.


Mexico City Temple

Tuesday, July 16, 2013










Hola Como Estas Familia,
 
I have arrived at the Mexico MTC, It was about an hour ago that our bus finally showed up. I have learned one new word since I have arrived here. It would be the Lovely word of El Gringo. We hadn't even gotten off the bus before we had all been called Gringo over Viente times.
 
I got to travel from Salt Lake to Dallas, with 9 other guys who are going to Osorno with me, and I am staying in the same appartment with the guy who added me back on facebook! Also, we traveled with the elders who were going to Georgia, who hadn't gotten their visas for Argentina yet. The guy who I sat next to on first plane was to what I believe LDS and we had a nice conversation as we saw the sun rise until he fell asleep.
 
Once in Dallas, I didn't think we were going to have 9 elders trudge around, so I didn't try to place any Book of Mormons in the airport... But we did have McDonalds! :)
 
The second plane I sat next to Elder Dower (The guy who added me on facebook) I was hoping that he would be my companion but it didn't happen the way I wanted, I am companion to Elder Robertson, and he has been way fun all day as well, so I am very excited for the next 7 weeks to come to pass!
 
The reason why I say "welcome to Jail" is because there is one way in and one way out of the MTC and it is through an armed gate that is watched 24/7. Guess I am stuck here... Just kidding! :) but there is a big cinderblock wall along the outside, and then on top of that a chainlink fence, and on top of that barbed wire! Wow... Yeah, that's prison for sure!
 
On the upper side, it is Beautiful here, although it is very smoggy! It is the temperature of 70 degrees or so, and it just feels like heaven! It is crazy to see all of these elders and sisters here to serve the Lord! I can't wait to see the struggle of what is going to happen this week, and hope it isn't too hard. Even if it is tough, I'll just have to remember a scripture that Juan told me when I was a teacher, that I almost put on my plaque. Phillipians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me"
 
I Love you all, tell everyone I say Hola and hope you guys have a wonderful week!
 
From the Land where the Elders can't Check out the Sisters and the Sisters somehow already speak spanish...
 
Love Always,
 
Elder Holt
 
P.S. I haven't unpacked yet, so that is why there are no pictures. But I will find and get them up next week, unless I forgot something... Love you!

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Temples of Utah

I Love to see the temple, I'm going there someday... Oh wait, I have already gone! :)

Out of the 17 Temples in Utah, I tried to make it to 9 of them before I left and go through a session on each of them. Instead I only made it to 6, 6 temples with a whole bunch of great people! :)



Bountiful 
Elder Jones, Elder Strange, Elder Holt, and Elder Ruben

Mt. Timpanogos
Elder Holt

Oquirrh Mountain
Elder Ruben and Elder Holt


Draper
Elder Holt and Elder Ruben

Jordan River
The Becerra's (Teachers and Priest quorrum advisor)

Salt Lake
Elder Holt

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Called to Serve









Murray 15th Ward Missionaris




Water Polo Buds



(Mission Calls)


Uganda---Chile---Philipines 

(Endowed)