Week 10 - A Bit of Perspective

It's been crazy dry down here. We are having a state wide fast on Fast Sunday for rain.  It hasn't rained here once since I have been here and apparently It hasn't rained for almost 4 weeks before that.  We haven't had rain in almost 3 months or something!  And on the opposite end of the the country, they've getting dumps of the white stuff.  I really don't know what to tell you concerning my visa.  I know as much as you.  It hasn't arrived yet and it is coming.  I haven't been told anything else and am sitting in the dark with ya but I'm here for reasons and I will be gone when I am done. Do what I do and don't worry about it : )

The perspective that kids and investigators have are the best. Their ways are simple but yet complex.  They bring up views, questions or concerns that I haven't thought of. Things that I don't think about because I thought I had the answer and that was good enough.  I didn't realize that there was more to the picture.  I like to think of the doctrines of Christ and the teachings we recieve in the gospel as a "square".  We see one side of this "square".  As I speak with others about the gospel and they share their insights this square starts having more faces than the one I can see. Being able to study and ponder on these things in more detail shows me more sides to this square revealing parts that we can't see if we don't explore. This "square" slowly becomes a cube.  I've come to realize that there is so much to learn.....like way more than I could have ever imagined.  I think that the only way we are going to see the other sides of some of these "squares" is if we start seeing these things from the perspectives of others.  I have found that studying for others really creates this more detailed and more indepth persepctive.  Whether it be for an investigator, my companion or for you guys.  Learning is way better when I am not studying from "Jesse's Point of View".   

This past week has been pretty good.  We had an amazing lesson with our investigator who will be getting baptized here soon.  It's a blessing to have the families we have in our ward.  The members love missionary work so much here and are so good at fellow-shipping that it makes it really easy for us to teach lessons and help our investigators feel the love we should all feel as we come to Church.  We had an amazing experience with a new investigator.  After we discussed the restoration and taught about all that pertains to it, we all said a prayer together.  She has prayed to God before and has received answers so I figured that she prayed how we did.  I didn't expect her to cry when the prayer was done and tell us that she "felt that prayer".  The Holy Ghost is so essential.  We can say everything pretty darn well but it doesn't mean a thing without the confirmation and witness of the Holy Ghost.  I really wish I could explain to you how everything went down but I just can't describe it.  It is truly a joyous feeling when helping someone "experience" the feelings we sometimes take for granted.  I personally have taken this gift of the Holy Ghost for granted many times.  Being able to help others experience that really helps remind me of the worth He is and how important He is to God's plan.  I can tell that you things are going well here.  It ain't easy but I wouldn't have it any other way. 

We've all been given talents and gifts to help others experience this gift from our Heavenly Father.  It would really suck to be that servent that hid their talent and when our master returned, tell him that we didn't use what he gave us.  We want to be that servant that used what we were given to gain more or progress.  I don't remember if I have invited you to do this already but make a list of gifts that you know you have been given.  Ask your friends or family what gifts you have.  Now magnify that gift and use it to bless the lives of others.  Figure out how you can use that talent or gift to help others experience the truthfulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

To those of you who have not taken the time to understand the teachings of Christ....do it!  haha Give it a shot....seriously...whats the worst thing that will happen? Its either true or it's not.  Have some fun and explore beyond our time here on earth.  I can tell you that this time on this earth is short and but a small portion to a bigger perspective. You were chosen to come to earth at this time becuase of the Gifts and Talents you have.  Find em and Share em

Elder holt

Week 9: Accountability

 We had our first exchange Sunday night to Monday evening.  It was cool to get to see how other missionaries get their work done and how they go about planning the day.  The Elder I exchanged with and I had a super good day.  It was one of those days where things just went well and you couldn't help but get excited to do more.  We contacted a less active and set up an appointment with him and his family, we contacted a dropped investigator and will be back to see her and we got to add two new investigators! The first day out in the field when I got to add someone to that list!  Our contacting was on fire that day! It was so good. I know not all days are like that but it was good have a day where it is like how you imagined it could be.

 

The mission has been really fun....It's crazy how time flies and I can't believe that we are already half way through this transfer!  It's been a good learning experience.  We had the trippiest Stake Conference I have ever been in.  We had a broadcast hearing from Elder Arnolds of the Seventy, Sister Burton of the General Relief Society, Elder Anderson of the 12 and President Henry B. Eyring! They spoke to us about getting missionary work done! Henry B Eyring shared a story about one of his last memories of his Grandpa.  They were sitting on the porch and his grandpa said to President Eyring, who was a kid at the time, "get em.  Go get your cousin."  He told President Eyring to be accountable for those you love.  We know that the path is straight and narrow.  A lot of the ones we love and care about are far from the path.  We need to step up and get them back on the path.  It may take time, but we need to lovingly and respectfully be bold in doing this.  There is a way to every heart and the Lord has blessed us with the ones around us.  One thing I wished I focused more on before I came here was helping the missionaries find people to teach or constantly, but not weirdly, weaving the gospel into discussions I had with friends, neighbours or strangers.  Everyone needs the message of the restored gospel.  Everyone.  We don't know what part that people are ready to hear about the restored gospel but as we talk, listen and let the Spirit teach us what they need to hear we will pin point it. People have and are being prepared.  We, as members of this church and having the knowledge we have, are accountable in sharing this message of truth and happiness.  I have a scripture that has helped motivate me to do this with everyone I come in contact with.  Jacob 1:19.  Jacob, the brother of Nephi, explains the importance of missonary work and talks about why he and his brother Joseph do what they do as far as preaching and teaching goes. It reads, "And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsablity, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence, wherefore blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."  When we were baptized we accepted and became disciples of Christ.  We wanted to share the message and represent Him.  I am not saying to create lessons for those around you haha I am hoping to remind everyone to share the message, share a gift that we all have; that gift being our testimony.  Sincerely share your thoughts and testimony.  It only has to be 10 seconds.  Doesn't matter how long or intellectual it is.....just share it.  Share it as much as you can and help them become prepared.  I know that the more we do this, the stronger our faith and relationship will become.  I can assure you that people are more prepared that we think.  Don't worry about what you are going to say because The Spirit will do that for you as long as you sincerly pray and ponder for the person.

 

I have seen this work because I have allowed myself to magnify what I know and share the gift of my testimony.  People all around us are prepared.  Go out to them, get to know them, become their friends, when you are promted to speak....speak : ) One of the greatest joys is sharing your testimony and knowing that the Spirit touched their hearts.  Become accountable for the ones you love and know.  Reach out to them and when the time is right, weave the Gosepl into the conversation.  Love you all.

 

Elder Holt

Week 8 - Following Promptings

California is very nice.  It's hard to remember that it is January because people are surfing...wearing  t-shirts or shorts.....its like a nice summer day in Edmonton....totally weird but really nice.  The palm trees and different plantations are amazing.  We barely street contact.  We work through the ward and go to the referrals we get from them.  We visit a lot of less actives but do this while everyone is working so rarely got to reach anyone.  My companion is an awesome guy.  He is a good trainer.  He knows his doctrine.  We get fed a lot in our ward.  I am in the ward that is on the "The District 2".  Kind of cool.  Our ward is awesome...they are strong...they love the missionaries and they feed us lots.  We get to speak with them a lot and I love strengthening members.

The first Sunday one of the speakers became ill and could not come to church to speak.  So, Elder Hinrichson and I got to speak!  It's sweet to do a talk on the fly!  Goes to show how important studying the scriptures is.  We gave awesome talks and everyone in the ward was super impressed and excited about the words we shared.  If I didn't study my scriptures that morning...I would not have shared the words that they needed that morning.  I referred to some of the words that Christ spoke on the mount during His sermon; the parable of the man who built his house on the rock compared to the man who built his house on the sand; related how important it is that our faith be built on a rock.  How we can acquire such a strong foundation?  What we can do to strengthen our foundation?  I Brought up how we need to have an eye single to rightousness....to seek His kingdom first.  God knows what we need and he will provide.  We need to have faith that we will be taken care of and we need to have faith that as we seek His kingdom first....he will do the rest. When we strive to seek for His kingdom first....our foundation will become stronger.  As we strive for His Kingdom first, our faith with be strengthened.  We have been asked to, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."  Matthew 5:48.  As we strive to become like this....our foundation will become like a rock.  To build a foundation as sturdy as a rock....we apply so many aspects of the principles and doctrines of the Gospel.  We need to apply the Atonement...repent daily...recognize what we can do better and do them.  We will hit speed bumps but that is part of learning.  Because of the Atonement we can be forgiven and progress.  We need to study the words of prophecy.  We need to study daily and we need to apply what we learn.  We need to prayerfully study.  We should tell our Heavenly Father exactly how we feel : )  He loves to hear us.  He loves to hear and see the progress.  That brings us to the importance of prayer.  We need to pray daily.  Pray and allow time for the Spirit to help you find your answers.  When I get home I have started to say my prayers to close the night about an hour before I go to bed.  This way I can express my concerns and ask my questions and as I study my scriptures and think about things, the Spirit can help guide me to the answers and guidance I am looking for.  We need to allow time for the Spirit to work within us.  The more prayers I say a day the more I learn.  It's so cool!  We need to act on our promptings.  I think a common problem with following promptings is that we have a specific outcome in mind.  So when that outcome doesn't happen we get discouraged or don't recognize that it was a prompting.  I still think like this sometimes but my eyes have been opened more to recognize the Spirit.  My companion and I had some dead time before we had our dinner appointment.  We didn't have any more people to see but had time to find some one.  We asked for direction....concluded on a destination and off we went.  It reminded me of Nephi going to get the brass plates from Laban.  He didn't know how he was going to do it, especially after the first and second time failed.  The third time he stated, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." But he went.  He had the strong feeling that that is what he was to do.  So my companion and I, not knowing what we were to do, went.  We got to the area and it's filled with big houses...some of the driveways had giant boats...it was a well-off neighbourhood.  I was discouraged.  In previous experiences people with nice houses, nice toys and fancy cars can't see the need for Christ in their life.  These temporal things blind them.  But we pressed on.  We walked.  We were brought here for some reason.  We walked and as we walked we talked about the Spirit and how God tests us.  We discussed how sometimes we are prompted to do so something, get a result we didn't imagine or don't see the result to test our faith.  Maybe He is testing us to see what we will do the next time we are prompted.  Are we going to follow the guidance or are we going to push the promptings aside because the previous time was a "failure".  We walked this area until we came upon a man taking his Christmas lights down.  He was a super nice guy.  We talked for a bit and got along great.  Eventually the Gospel and Christ were brought up.  He held back some words or experiences but said that he didn't want to talk about it.  He didn't even know if he believed any more.  When people say that you know that they really need your help but when they say, "have a nice night" and walk away, you have to respect their agency. We headed back to the car....we continued to talk about what we concluded....how following the Spirit doesn't always bring you to the outcome you imagined.  But we knew that we were in the right place and that the Lord will have us go wherever we need to go whether it be to teach someone else or teach us.  We realized that this time...it was a lesson for us.  It was a lesson and a test to see if we would follow His guidance we receive from the Spirit the next time.  It was sad but it was happy.  I was happy to learn that.  I accepted it.  I loved it.  As we were getting to the street where we parked we came across a man walking his dog.  He wasn't Latino but he didn't talk with an American accent.  He was French.  I called him out, very lovingly of course, and asked where he lived prior to California.  He lived near Brussels in Belgium...I know.  Out of all of California....we came across a man who spoke a little bit of Dutch...California is either Latino or American....nothing else.  We got to speak a bit to one another.  He knew what I was saying but couldn't reply back in Dutch so he would reply in English.  Even though he was way busy with work he said he hoped that we would come across him again when he wasn't so busy.  Again...the little lesson I shared before about how we are prompted to do something but don't always get the result we imagined and the lesson that we don't know why we are prompted to do something or go somewhere.  A lesson that we will receive after our faith is tested.  That was my answer that it truly was a prompting to go where we did.  We were blessed to see that without a doubt by meeting probably 1 out of the handful of people who speak Dutch down here.  The Spirit is real, and he is hard to discern but the first step to understand and recognize him is to act on his promptings.  We need to act and we need to strive to be perfect to welcome his companionship.  We don't always get what we plan for...but we can always have the companionship of the Holy Ghost.  Start transforming your foundation to that on a rock. Work to turn that rock into a boulder.  It doesn't matter how cool or big a sand castle is at the beach.  It can be 10 feet high and the same width but once a wave hits it....it's gone.  Be that rock on the beach.  Be that rock that gets hit wave, after wave, after wave, but doesn't move.  Start by building your faith.  Study faith.  Faith is everything.  I love you all and tot volgend weeken,

-Elder Holt 

Week 7 - San Diego!

Jan 2
Hello : )  My visa hasn't arrived yet so I am going to California!  All I know is that I will be serving there until my visa arrives so I can't really give you anything more than that.  I will be leaving early in the week.  I will probably get to email you before I leave the MTC so I will talk to you later.

Elder Holt

Jan 6

 I was really bummed out when I got my reassignment.  I am pretty sure I said, ".....crap......I'm going to California....."  As I was writing in my journal later that night I had time to think about the situation.  The fact that I said those words made me realize that I was more excited about going to Netherlands than starting missionary work.  The more I thought and had the chance to read my call and dissect it, I was able to make sense that I was called to serve and was ASSIGNED to labor in Netherlands.  The important part was that I was called to serve...not where I was going.  Going to California I get the opportunity to learn and get into the groove of being an awesome missionary in my native language.  I have been given this chance to remind myself of my purpose and be able to bring this knowledge with me to Netherlands.  It's an awesome thing.  I am going to have to learn how to diligently study my language and if I do this right, it will greatly help me in the years to come.  The temple opened up today so I was able to go to it as well.....I honestly don't care where I am going now.....I am just happy to begin applying what I have learned.  So....if I was to have gone to Netherlands right away....I don't think I would have been as prepared as Heavenly Father knows what will help me the best and the others the best.  Who knows why I am going to Cali......but I will find out. 

Elder Holt

Jan 7

Dear Brother and Sister Holt,

We're excited to send you these photos of Elder Holt and to let you know he arrived in great shape today.  We love him already!  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns.

Sincerely,

President Clayton

California San Diego Mission