Week 60: Hola Guayanabo! Nice to meet you!

Hola a todos!!

Well, this week I'm pretty sure everything you could think of happened! First of all, we have transfers and.. I'm off to GUAYANABO!! It's near San Juan, so close to the mission home and from what I've heard it's definitely a lot more city. But, we'll see what part we actually live. So no more ocean from what I know, but a new atmosphere so we'll see what happens! Mi hija Hermana Lopez is going to take on Arecibo, and she is going to do absolutely amazing!! She is completely prepared and has a lot of work set out for her; but she definitely won't be doing it alone because she is going to be in a TRIO!! Can you believe that?? The mission has had a lot of changes, apparentely 24 missionaries are going home this transfer and of course more are coming in! 

I think Heavenly Father told me without me realizing it that I was going to Guayanabo haha here is what happened! A contact had given us some pasta de guayava which is from a fruit here and Hna Lopez asked me, What's this called? Pasta de Guayanabo? Hahaha I was like, no Guayanabo is a city here! And the crazy thing is, she's never heard of Guayanabo!! So as soon as she said that I thought, haha that would be funny . . and it happened! So here we go :) 

So talking about this week, like I said, we experienced a bit of everything. A lot of success, a lot of rejection, a lot of small miracles, and a lot of faith trying moments. But I've come to realize that really no matter how many bad and hard moments there are, they just all seem to disappear as we focus on the good we are given! And the Lord blessed us a lot this week.. because.. we have a BAPTISMAL DATE with Kayla!!!!! Yayaya!! I've never seen someone so willing to change and to be baptized! She is working for the 6th of June and we are super excited :) Yes, it's going to be a little hard not to see it, but I am confident that Hna Lopez is going to work miracles here! Also, we found 2 other new investigators this week who are both willing to be baptized as well, how great is that?? One is a college student who is truly looking for the truth, and she told us that with just reading about the Restoration and some of the Book of Mormon, she feels like she's found it. LIKE WHAT?! I am so excited for what Heavenly Father has in store for Arecibo. I know He loves the people here and it has been amazing to feel just a little bit of the love as a missionary! 

I don't have too much time but we also had our Zone Conference this week with Presidente Cornish, who is presidente of the Carribbean Area! It was incredible and he gave us a lot of good ideas and tips to better work with the members and how to help the investigators come to their own conversion. I testify that the Lord speaks through His servants!! How grateful I am for that.

Well, on to a new adventure! How amazing it is to know that no matter where we are or where we go, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is always the same!! So, here I go to teach the people of Guayanabo! Wish me luck!!

Love, 

Hermana Holt

 

 waiting for more than an hour to skype the family

 so happy to see their faces

 Hma Lara and Hma Lopez at zone conf.

 

 pretty in pink

 

 Juan and Isabel

 

 our first time trying sunflower seeds

 youth activity

 ward members cheering

Week 48: Staying and Training

Hola a todos!!

Well, transfers are tomorrow and guess what..?? I'M GOING TO BE TRAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And my cute Hermana Lara is headed for Trujillo Alto!!! We are SUPER shocked but at the same time we felt that there was a change coming.. Hahaha of course I am completely shocked because I was NOT thinking training!! But at the same time, I'm super excited! Wow. Ah!!! Tomorrow we have a meeting for all the trainers and then I should be picking my "daughter" up at like 5 or so. I'm so excited to meet her!!

This past week we had our Zone Conference and it was AMAZING!! I love being a missionary so so much, I just want to be a missionary forever!! There are still so many things I need to learn and so many things I want to accomplish!! I'm praying that in these next 7 months I'll be able to do that! We focused a lot on our purpose as missionaries and the word invite. As we continually invite others to come unto Christ, we are able to help them change and use the Atonement of Jesus Christ! Hermana Boucher also talked to us about Family History and the book called My Family. Get it and fill it out!! In these next months we are going to be trying as missionaries to focus on our Family History (obviously we can't do a lot) - but we each received a copy of My Family and began filling it out!! We felt the Spirit of Elias SO much and I testify that it is real! How loving is our Heavenly Father that we are able to do the work for our ancestors? That we are able to also learn about them and link families together for eternity? I just love it all! And I'm not sure if I told you last week but a contact contacted us and is super interested in doing her Family History and we've already been able to visit with her and has been in contact with members about the Family History Center we have at our ward building. How cool?! It's such a great way to bring others to the Restored Gospel. And really, doing Family History is SO important and really should be big apart of our lives. And I love something that Hermana Boucher said, that as missionaries we are a apart of the Work of Salvation, not just Missionary Work!

This week we had a miracle! Haha well after the Zone Conference we felt like we were just on a spiritual high! We were invincible haha! Right after we had a lesson with an investigator that we weren't sure if she was progressing or if she really had a lot of interest.. but we taughet her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it went SO well! She was super receptive and paid a lot of attention and everthing!! So at the end of the lesson I had the impression to invite her... Invite her to what?? So, I just looked at her and said, Theresa, when you pray and come to know that these things are true, will you follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone who holds the authority of God? ....silence..... then she says, YES!! Uhhh huh?! Haha it was SO cool!! We haven't set up a date but we have a lesson with her this week so we're praying it goes well!!  

We continue to see little blessings and miracles every day. How grateful I feel to wear the missionary plaque that says his name, Jesus Christ. Wish me luck this week with the transfers!! I'm a little more than sad that Hermana Lara is leaving - she has taught me so many things and I am forever grateful for her example! But I know she is going to work miracles throughout her mission! The mission continues and I hope and pray that now I'll be able to help my new daughter see how much I love and the Lord loves Arecibo!! Have a great week everyone!!

Love, 

Hermana Holt

Week 47: Happy Valentine's Day

Hola a todos!!

 

Well, I really don't have any time today but this week was a good week! It was definitely a week full of service - it seems like almost every day we found opportunites to help our investigators or members!! Service really is a way we can share the pure love of Christ <3 Speaking of love, I hope everyone had a good Valentines Day!! Ours was super sweet because we went with one of our investigators to the cemetary to help her bring some things to her sons grave who passed away some years ago, but he was only 33. It was super cool that she allowed us to spend that time with her when she really needed it!

 

Also, Jennifer came to church again!! WOO! And this time she was able to make it to Gospel Principles AND Sacrament Meeting! Hahaha so we are hoping in these next weeks she'll be able to make it to all 3 hours, we are praying for that!! 

 

Really fast I just wanted to share what Hna Lara and I were studying today in our studies - it was super funny because both of our studies brought us to studying about the Atonement, and after Hna Lara shared what she learned, I was like, I studied about the Atonement too!! Haha it was super funny and I guess it's what we needed to hear. But there was something that really stuck out to me in Preach My Gospel about the Atonement. It used the word "confiar" or "to trust" in the Atonement of Jesus Christ. How cool is that? I feel like as we come to understand what the Atonement is and what it does for us personally, we should trust in it! Trust in our Savior Jesus Christ! Trust that he really did pay for our sins and that we can be forgiven! Trust that we really can become more like him as we humble ourselves and ask for his help! Trust! I just love the word and it's helped me to start looking at and using the Atonement in a new perspective. I hope and pray that we can all take a little time to stop and think and even study a little bit more about the Atonement and what it means for each and every one of us and then to trust in it!

 

Have a great week!!

 

Love, 

Hermana Holt

Week 46: Fasting is REAL

Hola a todos!!

Fasting is REAL and I know it works!! Hermana Lara and I experienced a miracle this week and we are super excited for the weeks to come!

So, a little background. Remember how two weeks ago we had an investigator, Jennifer, come to church with her two little kids? Well, we weren't sure what happened but after that Sunday, we lost contact with her. We passed by her house and she wasn't there or she was leaving, we called her and she either didn't answer or said she didn't know. My heart was broken because we had no idea what happened! But we did what we could and tried to pass when we could. So this past Saturday we started our wonderful fast and then that night, we were at Margaritas house and she was actually pumped up to go to church the next day. I'm talking that she bought a dress and everything! This was a HUGE step because we feel like she keeps going backwards and backwards and hasn't made a lot of effort to keep her commitments, which has been super sad to see. Well, yesterday morning she told us that she wasn't feeling good to go. NOO!! Hna Lara and I were so sad, and I seriously thought, what more can we do for our investigators? So we continued our day and actually received a lot of comfort at church. The spirit was super strong especially in Sacrament Meeting when the members shared their testimonies! I could really feel the fast working and the Lords love for me even with everything that has been happening with our investigators and less actives. Here's when the miracle happened. When the closing prayer finished, one of the Elders quickly came to us and said, Sisters, I think one of your investigators is in the back..

Who in the world came? Margarita? Who could it be?

...

...

It was JENNIFER with her two kids!!!! I almost started jumping up and down and almost couldn't hold in my tears!! Heavenly Father answers prayers!! He is SO in charge of this work it's ridiculous!! Now get this, she, by herself with her two kids, had walked (in HIGH heels I might add) to Sacrament Meeting from her house. WALKED. Now that's desire, right? I just can't believe that even with two weeks without seeing her she made the effort to come to church!! So we took the opportunity right after to have a lesson with her in the church with one of the recent converts that we are teaching, Brenda! Her and her son who were just baptized in October shared their conversion and it was super spiritual!! And don't worry, the members gave her a ride home! But wow. I wish you could have heard it when Jennifer said the closing prayer, she gave thanks to our Heavenly Father because even though she wasn't sure if they were going to make it that morning, they were able to because she knew God was helping them. WOW! So not only does God answer our prayers as missionaries, but He answers every single one of our investigators prayers too. I just know it!!

Now it doesn't stop there. Later in the day it happened to start raining and we forgot our umbrellas.. haha.. and we happened to walk down Jennifers street when she saw us and says, do you want to come in?? Uhhh claro que si!! So we taught her and her mom :) WOW! I just hope that we can continue seeing miracles with her. She is SO ready to hear the Gospel and I know it's going to bless her and her kids SO much!!

We also had another miracle because POR FIN we were able to teach Elsa and her three kids. They are the family that came to church my first Sunday. And it is super duper hard to teach them because they have work and school and homework and everything it seems like haha but we were able to catch them and share with them the Book of Mormon. Powerful!! Elsa gave such a beautiful testimony and shared how she knew the BofM was true! Wow!! Anddd yet they still aren't sure about getting up early to go to church if their mom can't go... but we are hoping and praying that little by little they'll be able to each make that decision for themselves. They are such an amazing family!! 

Well, that's all I have time for this week! I love being a missionary so so much. I can truly see the hand of the Lord in every part of the missionary work here in Arecibo! It's the best! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!!

Love, 

Hermana Holt 

 

My beautiful investigator Jennifer

 

Jennifer and her kids, Kimberly and Victor

Week 45: Area Conference

Hola a todos!! 

Yesterday we had our Area Conference!! So all of the Caribbean Islands got to watch a broadcast all the way from Salt Lake, it was AMAZING!! Elder Anderson (not the Apostle, he is the President of the Area), Sister Bonnie Oscarson, Elder Holland, and Elder Packer spoke to us. The leaders of the Church are SO inspired by our Heavenly Father and Hermana Lara and I received a lot of spiritual confirmations on how to help the people of Puerto Rico really progress! Elder Anderson talked about faith and how faith is not just to have a goal or vision in mind and to think, Wow, that would be really great if I could reach that; but faith is to ACT on the visions and goals that we have and to really have the hope that we can accomplish them! We CAN have a temple here in Puerto Rico!! We just need to act. But the most important thing about faith is to have faith in our Savior Jesus Christ. HE makes all things possible if we trust in him!! Sister Oscarson talked to the youth and how they can prepare themselves for their future families. She mentioned a lot the principle of virtue in DC 121:45. It is so important to continually be pure, virtuous and clean! Then we are able to have the Spirit with us always, and that's the most important! Elder Holland, so powerful! And oh my goodness, he gave his testimony in Spanish and it was one of the most powerful testimonies I have ever heard! It really doesn't matter how well you speak a language, but if you can speak with the language of the Spirit, WOW. There are no words! His talk was focused on a scripture that is now one of my favorites!! I forgot where it is but it's Stand ye in Holy Places and be not moved.. he then applied the scripture to our homes, the church, and then the temple. Loved it! Elder Packer finished with his testimony - I love his testimony! He also talked about the importance of worthiness and that we should always be worthy of a temple recommend. Temples and families!! What better themes can we talk about?? 

Guess what?? Tatiana (our investigator that is 16) accepted a baptismal date for the end of February!! YAY! We are super excited! She knows that the Church is true and everything, she's just a little bit scared to really admit it, but she is totally willing to do all she can to prepare herself for the end of February. I cannot testify enough of Alma 37:6-7 that really the small things we do can bring about great things!! Saying our prayers and studying the scriptures every day will bring about a firm testimony! 

Also, we are teaching another family! WOO! We were super worried because the wife did not seem interested but as soon as we talked about families and the plan that Heavenly Father has for them, she was like, you guys can come back next week! It was great :) Wish us luck! We also met a lady that was talking the missionary lessons about 2 years ago but something crazy happened and she lost contact but we found her and she is totally willing to continue listening! Miracles!! 

Anyway, wow I'm out of time!! The work is going well here, just trying to work more with the members! We have a lot of lessons planned with them this week so we are praying for references!! I love this work and I am so grateful that I'm sharing it here in Puerto Rico!! Have a great week!!

Love, 

 

Hermana Holt  

 

 All my fingers in the air representing 10 months

 Gorgeous beach

 Sand and Surf

 Wind and waves

 

I love Puerto Rico

Week 44: 10 months!

Hola a todos!!

Well, it feels like just yesterday that I wrote home but we had a good week that went by super duper fast! Well, let´s start off with a funny story. So Hna Lara called a contact to see if we could stop by later in the week. As they were talking this lady says, What´s your names again? Hermana Lala and Hna Babilonia?

WHAT?? Who is Hermana Babilonia!!?? Hahahaha we could not stop laughing and I have NO idea where that name came from!! Haha I love Puerto Rican people. 

Also, today marks my 10 MONTH MARK. I´m dying!! Time is going by WAY to fast I can hardly keep up with everything! Not sure what we are going to do today to celebrate or what I´m going to do for my picture, but I´ll let you know next week!

So I´m not sure if I told you about an investigator last week.. the one with the two kids? Well her name is Jennifer and she came to church yesterday!! WOO!! It was super great. It was kinda crazy though haha cause she woke up a little late and had to get her kids ready so we had to pick her up before Sacrament Meeting, but that´s ok!! Even though she was late, she was still so willing to come. She is such a sweetheart and we are hoping and PRAYING the lessons continue to go well with her because she is amazing and we know the Gospel is going to bless her life immensely! Also, next week will be super exciting because we are going to have a Regional Conference of the Caribbean Area so we are going to have a broadcast all the way from Salt Lake! Yay!! 

Also, we had exchanges this week so I got to spend the day with Hermana Despain (from Gilbert, Arizona!!) in Vega Baja! Hahaha did we have an interesting day or what.. Let´s just say some of the craziest lessons I´ve had in the mission.. The first lesson we had we were basically attacked by two women of another faith about the Book of Mormon. It was just super sad to me. How I wish for them to understand the importance of the Book of Mormon!! Isn´t it amazing that Heavenly Father loves all His children and made it possible for the people in the Americas to know of His plan and of His son Jesus Christ? And know we can know of it too?? Well, I think it´s amazing and my testimony of the Book of Mormon increased a ton this week! I also want to testify of the power of the hymns! We ran into a new investigator of the sisters and she was having the hardest time ever with everything. So we sang to her, Abide With Me Tis Even Tide - Conmigo Quedate Senor. I can´t even begin to describe the Spirit that we felt in that room! And the investigator loved it so much that she took us over to her friends house so we could sing to her and share with her what we shared with the investigator. It was a cool experience!! 

This church is so true. The Gospel of Jesus Christ means everything to me. I testify of the happiness that we feel as we share it with others!! The Gospel changes lives!! If you feel like it hasn´t changed yours, try living it. I know that the small and simple things that we do daily to try and become closer to our Savior will really bring great things, and even miracles. 

I love you all and have a good week! 

Love, 

Hermana Holt 

Hermana Despain from Gilbert Arizona!

Week 43: Go to the temple!

Hola a todos!!

Well, yesterday was MLK Day and the library was closed so here we are writing today! This week went by super duper fast and Heavenly Father continues to bless us with small miracles every day. 

This past weekend we had Stake Conference and it was super good! Saturday was the normal meeting with the adults, and then on Sunday Presidente y Hermana Boucher came and also the Temple President and his wife (the Dominican Republic Temple) came and spoke to us. It was super spritual as he invited every single one of us to make it a goal to make it to the temple this year - to prepare ourselves daily for the blessings and experiences we will have as we worthily enter the House of the Lord. Now, let me just say that it is one of the hardest things EVER not to have a temple here!! Going from living almost my whole life 5 minutes from a temple, to living an island away makes me REALLY appreciate the temple more. Meeting members here who sacrifice time and money to make maybe one trip every couple years or so to the temple, opens my eyes a lot. One of the members we met with this week has a husband, who is a member also, but has been in a hospital bed for more that 20 years in their house. Because of the condition he has, he can't walk, and only sometimes can sit in an electric wheelchair, but not for a long time (only to eat). Last year he told everyone that he was going to take a trip to the DR temple. As we talked with him he told us how so many people literally told him that it was a nice goal to have, but that it physically wasn't really something he would be able to do. That didn't stop him! He cried as he bore his testimony of the miracle that happened. Him and his family prayed hard for weeks and miraculously his body was able to sustain the plane ride and 8 HOURS inside the temple sitting. My companion and I couldn't help but shed tears of gratitude as we pondered on our experiences we have had in the temple. Please, take time this week and go to the temple.  How blessed we are to live in these last days with the restored gospel and priesthood! That we can take part in these sacred ordinances and feel our Heavenly Fathers presence!! And for some of us, the temple is SO close. We must take advantage of the spiritual help and guidance He is so willing to give us. All week I had the quote form President Monson in my head..

"Those who understand the eternal blessings which come from the temple know that no sacrifice is too great, no price too heavy, no struggle too difficult in order to receive those blessings. "

It is so worth it to go to the temple and I can't WAIT to go once I get home!

Well, everything is going well with the investigators! We taught the Restoration to Elsa's family and it went SUPER duper well! They weren't able to make it to church because it was in Toa Baja but we are praying for this weekend! Also, Julio and his family should be coming to church this sunday to!! 

Also, we met the daughter of one of the old investigators that the Sisters used to have. When we stopped by to see if the mom was home, her daughter came out and let us in. We watched the DVD Finding Faith in Jesus Christ and it went super well! She is super sweet and speaks English perfectly!! So we talk in English :) She has 2 precious kids that are learning English as well! After the lesson Hermana Lara told me that it was a miracle lesson because the daughter has never been open when they were there before with her mom! I hope and pray that she progresses in the Restored Gospel!!! 

Anyway, it's time to go!! I hope everything is going well!! Have a great week!!

Love,
Hermana Holt

The danger zone

Hopefully we won't have to run from tsunami's

 Sancocho soup

 Potato salad with fish

 My companion is teaching me to make Dominican food

 I am slowly learning

Margarita

 Welcome to Arecibo

 The beautiful beach

sticking my camera out the window

Week 42: Staying in Aricebo

Hola a todos!!

 

Well as of right now im typing on a tablet and its the hardest thing ever haha so i wont be able to say much! This week was full of blessings and miracles. I have been so blessed to have such an amazing companion who has been so pacient with me every step of the way and we are so excited to stick together at the beginning of a new transfer! One of our investigators that is progressing a lot is Margarita. The sisters had already taught her most of the lessons but she is still looking for the answer. So on wednesday we good her to the chapel and we did a little tour. Shes come to church a couple of times already but we were able to explain the rooms and everything. After we gave Her some time alone in the sacrament room to pray and ponder. She has a lot going on in her life and just needed some peace. It was perfect and she came out with the biggest smile on Her face. She is ready!! She couldnt make it to church though cause her brother was in the hospital. Some minor details but we are just praying she can continue going to church cause she will be able to continue progressing! Also we taught the restoration with Julio and his familia and it went SO well!! The only tiny  step back is his wife. She is so awesome and receptive but we think she might be scared to change Her religion. The y couldnt go to ours be cause the mom wanted to go to hers. But we have a fun youth activity today that we know will soften Her heart!! We are also teaching Tatiana who is 16. She is amazing and came to church sunday! We had such a spiritual lesson with her as she cried and asked us to never stop knocking on Her door. It was such a humbling moment as hna Lara and i remembered again why we are here. I love Being a missionary. Heavenly father has taught me a lot of things this week. We need to put out trust in Him. He wants us to reach our full potencial but we have to let Him help us. That is the humbling part, but it is ALL worth it. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Have a great week!!

 

My address is:

 

Edif. M Apto. 1 Condominio Terrazul

Arecibo, PR 00612

 

 

Love,

Hermana Holt

Week 41: Hola De Arecibo-I've moved and I'm training

Hola a todos!!

Well, you're not going to believe what happened this week.. so on Tuesday morning we had just started our companion study when Presidente Boucher called! So I answered it and this is kind of how the conversation went..

Hi President how are you?

I'm great, how are you guys?

We are super great!

Well, Hermana Holt, it looks like I'm going to have to "break up the band"... Some missionaries are going home early in time for school to start and so we are going to need one of you three to come down to Arecibo. Hermana Dawid (who was in Arecibo) is one of the missionaries going home and we need one of you to finish training her new companion. With a lot of prayer and thought, it's you...

...

Can you just imagine what I was feeling in that moment?? So, HOLA DE ARECIBO!! Basically I spent New Years Eve in Juana Diaz, and New Years Day in Arecibo haha. I feel so bad for Presidente because all I did was bawl my eyes out over the phone haha - tears of all different kinds of emotions! Anyway, yup! So here I am with my new companion Hermana Lara from the Dominican Republic! They were able to finish her 12 Weeks Program in 10, but I have been made the senior companion in an area that I know nothing about! But, I've only heard the best things of this area!! And it's so true, I already love it so much even though these past few days have been super long and kind of a blur haha it's funny because I feel like Hna Lara is the one training me! I've had to put a lot of faith in the Lord and a lot of patience in myself these past 4 or 5 days, but I have already been able to see miracles here in the area and as me in a missionary. Heavenly Father is SO loving and SO aware of every single once of us and our circumstances.

So, Tuesday (my last day in Juana Diaz) was mostly spent packing and getting things together. We did have time for some lessons which was good, but we weren't able to see half of the people I wanted to and I feel terrible because I wasn't able to say bye to the members!! Everything went super duper fast haha. But, the Lord answered my prayer the moment I saw my new companion in the mission office. She is an ANGEL and came pre-trained!! She is a missionary in every single aspect and loves the work more than anything! She has so much energy and enthusiasm and love for the people. I absolutely LOVE being with her and she has already taught me a ton!!!

Let me tell you about a miracle we've already had! So our first day working together, we taught a family that Hna Lara and Dawid had just got into contact with the Sunday before. The wife is less active and her husband and three kids (17, 21, 22) aren't members. They had taught them about the family and they were super receptive. So, when we stopped by (the dad was working this time) we watched a video about the family and temples. It went super duper well!! The mom still has a strong testimony and I know her kids can feel it! So we invited them to church this sunday and they ALL came as a family!!! All 5 of them!! And it was fast and testimony meeting which was so perfect!! We think they really liked it so we'll see how the next lesson goes this week :)

Anyway, that's all I have time for right now!! I'm sure I'll have more news for you next week :) Love you all and Happy New Year!!!!

Love, 

Hermana Holt

Glorie-Such a sweetheart and a huge example

Farewell lunch at Jenelley's

Sweet little Paola

I'm going to miss Hermana Luz so much!

I love my trio! It was a fast goodbye

The benefit of Arecibo

Could it be more beautiful?

My new companion Hermana Lara

Our beautiful family of investigators

The Bishop's daughter

Hermana Lara is so cute and fun

She is an angel