Week 30

Hello Family!!  Happy New Year!! I think this was the first New Year’s Eve I didn't stay up till midnight :(  But it’s okay because since I've been a missionary early to bed has never been a problem for me!  I don’t think I'll be able to live the college lifestyle again haha!  This week has been great!! I'll start off the email with some weekly funnies to change it up a bit (:

We knocked on a door and this man opened it half way and he was like, "Oh hey sisters, I just got out of the shower to answer the door, thought you were someone else." HAHA. Needless to say a naked man answered the door!  You NEVER know who is going to be behind the door you knock on that’s for sure!! I've definitely learned to EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED!! The other morning we woke up and there was a huge cockroach in the apartment!  I didn’t even flinch.  I just got the shoe and killed it just like that!  I've definitely changed over the past few months in the killing bugs department!  Everyone would be so proud!! (:

We had an awesome lesson with a less active family this week.  During our spiritual message the mother was crying and getting really emotional and then expressed to us how badly she wants to return to the fold.  I LOVE working with less active members who desire to return!  Helping them along their journey back is one of my favorite parts of being a missionary!!  I have seen that a lot with the Copeland’s daughter, Ashley’s friend.  It’s been amazing to see her little by little feel the spirit again.  She still has a ways to go but like for example, yesterday we were talking about patriarchal blessings and she got hers out and read it to herself and I saw her getting emotional.  It’s been real!!!!  Ashley’s whole story has been amazing! I'm so grateful to be a part of it!  She is all set for this Saturday, 5pm!! The program is coming together nicely and we are hoping to get a very big crowd!!  It will be a moment never to forget!! <3

Carolyne took a lot of steps back this week.  Everything that could have gone wrong, went wrong! :(  Trials are just coming from all directions and she says that smoking is the only way to cope with them.  We try to explain to her that it is Satan trying to prevent her from doing something amazing with her life but she just hasn’t gotten that quite yet!  We'll have to be prayerful about how to best continue working with her! We did have some great lessons with her though.  Funny story.  One of her prayers she said was like this, "Please bless Sista Holmoe and Sister Samuelian.........Lauren and Nicole......Father forgive me for I know I am not to use their first names.....even though they drive me crazy sometimes, I really do love them." HAHA!  We were trying so hard not to laugh our heads off!! I really wish y’all could be a fly on the wall during some lessons!!! CLASSIC moments I love so dearly! (:  Keep praying for Ms Carolyne for one day she will defeat the enemy!!!!

We were finally able to teach Cora, who is Beth’s step mom!  It went pretty well!  She is very devout catholic so it was interesting.  Every time I talk to people of other faiths it just confirms my testimony of the restored gospel!!! Everyone else is so lost and so confused but our doctrine is pure and simple!  She wants to be sealed to her husband because she said in the Catholic weddings they say, "til death do you part" but yet she struggles with accepting other things!  Forever Families is definitely the key to this family!! And many many more families! It’s the greatest gift!!

We also got to teach Stella this week!!! We had our lesson at the Stewart’s house up in Southport.  Y’all need to try her carrot cake one day, IT IS AMAZING!!!!! Anyways, Stella wants to learn and be baptized asap but she has to finalize her divorce first which could take up to a year........!  She’s awesome though. Hilarious too!

Today and tomorrow are supposed to be SO COLD!!!! The schools have even offered to excuse the students if it is too cold to wait for the bus......it’s only like 35 degrees people.  ONLY IN FLORIDA!! They say there is even a chance for SNOW tomorrow if enough precipitation is in the air! HOW COOL WOULD THAT BE!?!  It hasn’t snowed in like 20 years!

Early last week my mailbox was FILLED with so many wonderful Christmas cards from people!!!! Thank you especially to the Rich Family, Uncle Doug and Aunt Ginny, The Van Buren fam, and the Grandview 6th ward!!!! The package they sent with all the notes the ward members wrote was the best thing ever!!! I loved loved loved it! They also sent pictures of all the ward missionaries out right now! Except they had my dates wrong.....but that’s okay! There were also two sisters I had no clue who they were!?  But it was so fun to receive!!!  All the primary kids drew pictures and it just made my day!!  So thank you!!! Also Bishop Salmon put a wonderful note inside as well!!! 

I loved the cute card from Balboa!! And I would LOVE to get the family Christmas cards on the fridge!!  That would be great!!!

This week we are really going to work on FINDING.  Our teaching pool has dwindled a lot lately and we need some new investigators!!! Bring on the patience, prayers, and positivity!!  <3

I LOVE Y’ALL SO MUCH! Thanks for everything! Spiritual message of the day......I was reading "Claim the Blessings of Your Covenants" by Linda S. Reeves and she told the story of the Provo Tabernacle burning down and how people asked, "why would God let that happen?" I think lots of people ask that question about their personal trials, "why would God let that happen to me??"" But I LOVE how Sister Reeves explained how God saw the tabernacle as a beautiful temple.  He sees us as eternal beings and he must build us up to get there!  He will NEVER just leave us in the ashes.  The best Mormon message EVER in my eyes is "Mountains to Climb".  It talks about having the faith to get through trials...EVERYONE WATCH IT! (:  So good!!!  It’s hard to teach so many people who are struggling but because of the Atonement and Gods infinite love MIRACLES HAPPEN and we have eternity awaiting us!!! 

Have a wonderful week!!!! I'll send lots of pictures from Ashley’s baptism next week!! YAYA! (: Grateful to be a missionary in 2014!!  Love you!!!! <3/ Sister LA GIRL!

 

Me and Sister Crandall! Love this girl! <3

 Me on New Year's Eve!  Happy 2014!!

Having a fiesta at "Peppers," the only good Mexican restaurant in Panama City!!

I approve of this local sandwich shop!  

 

"Thomas" Love you Dad!!!

Week 29

December 30, 2013 (last time I'll ever type 2013!) ah!

What a wonderful Christmas Eve and Christmas I had!! Of course the ultimate present was SKYPING!! Seriously that was one of the funnest things I've ever done!  I love my family! (:  If only I got to Skype Kait, Ka, and Ser too! At first I thought it would be hard to Skype but boy was I wrong, it was simply the greatest thing!!! Y’all looked SO good!!  #familiesareforever (:

Not too much to say since we talked a lot on Wednesday but we did have some cool experiences since then!  Of course we had some awesome lessons with Ashley.  She is still progressing and getting more and more excited for the 11th!  She tried on the dress she’s going to wear in the font and it’s really really pretty!!  CAN’T WAIT!  At one of our lessons Brianna, the less active friend, PRAYED OUTLOUD.  Everyone about cried.  Such a cool moment.  We actually shared the story of the prodigal son, so it’s funny you brought that up in your email Dad!! Daddy daughter telepathy right there!!

I think I jinxed myself on Skype when I said we haven't come across TOO many bible bashers because the very next day, BAM...the bible bashers were out to get us!  But like I said, I rather enjoy those conversations!  We did meet some cool new people that day as well.  For example, a member was going teaching with us and we passed a boiled peanuts stand and I told her that my brother told me I had to try boiled peanuts from a stand one day and she was like, "WHAT? You never have???"  She immediately pulled over and long story short, the guy working there, Devante, is super interested.  We gave him a Book of Mormon and when we drove past again like 20 min later we saw him reading it!! Looks like I'll be eating some more boiled peanuts over the next few weeks, which by the way....ARE GROSS hahaha!  The texture is just ratchet!  ;)

We also have a sweet neighbor named Pat, an older catholic lady.  We have always felt like we've wanted to teach her so the other day when we brought her over some goodies, we introduced the BOM and she said she would be open to learning what we believe and invited us over on Tuesday.  We are STOKED to at least get in her apartment and start teaching her a little! She is the best!!

Speaking of apartment complexes, funny story!  On Friday night, there was a HUGE concert/party behind our apartments and I'm talking WILD!  It was so loud and all the popular songs were playing haha.  Let’s just say, "Flo-rida" and Ludacris were singing us to sleep ha.  Sister Sam and I were dying of laughter!!

We also ran into a former investigator of mine and Sister Stanfields named Kimberly.  She looked so different, I hardly recognized her but it was awesome to talk with her and remind her of us and the spirit we carry.  We had a long discussion.  She’s still not ready at this time in her life, but it was still great to talk with her!! Crazy how we randomly ran into her as well! 

Update on Carolyne.  She still wants to be baptized on Saturday and she went 3 days without smoking, but broke it yesterday.  She doesn't think she'll be able to quit by Saturday so it will probably be pushed back again.  Stinking smoking haha!! A miracle will have to happen for her to quit, so it’s a good thing that MIRACLES HAPPEN! 

Grandma Johnnie sent me the nicest note and check!  I'll be mailing that home today along with Papa’s.  I've always loved that woman! 

Thank you again for all my Christmas presents! I LOVE MY CLOTHES haha!!  All of them! Even the Express blouse ;)  The head massager has definitely come in great use during nightly planning! The pillow mist is amazing!  Excited to use my new calendars! 

As 2013 wraps up I am just so grateful for what an amazing year it has been!  From winter semester at BYU, to all the fun trips after, and then the first 6 months of my mission...it’s been a year to remember!!! I'm so excited for 2014, to continue pressing forward in the work leaving with no regrets and then beginning the transition back to education!  So many things to look forward to and so many surprises awaiting me!  BRING IT ON BABY!!  Have a wonderful New Years Eve y’all!! LOVE EVERYONE! <3/ Sister LA girl!!

free subway breakfast on Christmas Eve with Sis Greninger!

 Acting out the nativity with the Vinings!  Cute family!

 Sheena took us to the walking part in downtown PC! It's a pretty park right by the bay!

 Lights on Christmas Eve

 Bishop's daughters at a Christmas Eve Campfire

 Christmas Eve PJs

 Christmas Morning

 Love the pillow!

Aunt Rhonda's wayyy cute outfit!!

 me and Sophie :)

 backing out with these sweet light saver things a member gave us!!

Week 28

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! woot woot! What a FUNNN time this is seriously!! I lovvvved all the pics and videos y’all sent me! SO FUNNY! The fashion show...classic!! Y’alls PJ's were BOSS this year!! Looked like so much fun!!! Now in Cali already! #GOCOUGS!

Where to begin, where to begin.......The half mission conference was AMAZING!  It was a blast!  It honestly felt like a huge family reunion! (pictures coming your way)!  We had a musical program and guess who in the world SANG!? MEEE...hahaha I know what a joke right!? But seriously I did!  I sang an arrangement to "I Know my Redeemer Lives" with 4 other sister missionaries!  It sounded pretty good! I basically just stood and looked cute ha (: It’s all about the lip sinking haha!  Then we had a stocking exchange which was sweet!  Cute Sister Dawe had me (: love her!  I had one of the senior missionaries!  I made a good stocking for her!! It was just so good to see old friends and have the Christmas spirit!  Our Relief Society had ham, potatoes, and pies for us. Delish!  It was also good to be around President and Sister Smith!  I had to say the closing prayer...I felt like I was saying the General Conference prayer there was so many people there!  Mom, I had to time it perfectly when to walk up at the end of the song.  Do you remember when we used to decide when people should go up!? I finally had to do it!

Ashley is getting baptized Jan 11, 2014 (: WHOOO. SO so excited for her!  We had some amazing lessons this week and she knows it is right for her.  We took her to a baptism on Saturday and it confirmed to her it’s what she wants!  Then the Copelands brought her home her very own quad with her name engraved on it from Orlando!  She was SO happy! Then she asked Austin (17) to baptize her and he just cried and cried.  BEST MOMENT!  Sister Sam and I won some money from the mission office for turning in receipts on time and so we all went out to get some Japanese food on Friday (:  It was fun!  Ashley’s bomb!

We had some SWEET church tours this week!  One was with a part member family who really has not been to church for 10 plus years.  The lady who is a member hasn't prayed for us since we met her but at the end of our church tour we asked her AGAIN, and this time...SHE DID IT.  It was a beautiful prayer and she cried at the end.  We all sang "I am A child of God" in the chapel and the spirit was so strong it was unreal!  Then they came to church on Sunday for the first time.  Did I mention we had 8 investigators at church on Sunday????  8 investigators!!! That's not even counting all the many less actives that showed up as well!  Christmas brings out the best in people I'm telling ya!!! What a sweet program we had and a very very full chapel! But anyways, you had some questions about the church tours...it’s a worldwide thing I believe but our stake is really involved with them.  We designed flyers on the computer and pass them out with time and dates on them to everyone.  We've given tours to members, nonmembers, less actives, whoever.  We try to encourage the members to invite friends and neighbors.  It’s pretty fun to do!!  Every church tour has been a good experience so far!

Some fun memories this week:

-a lady in our ward making ME sing a solo...so embarrassing haha.
-Caroling with the YSA's last night!
-A less active member crying to us as she says "I know God specifically sent you two to me."   I mean, it’s moments like that that are just SOO indescribable!!

-We were out proselyting and this man was talking to us and he said he thinks it is so amazing how some athletes leave their scholarships to go do what we do.  He said one time when he heard that on ESPN or something he went and looked up the Mormons.  He told us he would be interested in us teaching him what we believe in so he could understand better why athletes choose to take a 2 year break!  It was great!! We are going back soon!  He said he liked the cougs ;)

The members continue to just give us gifts upon gifts!  We got handmade slippers, handmade scarves, necklaces, and more! It’s amazing.  So grateful to be here.

So for Skyping on Christmas, WHICH I AM SO EXCITED FOR!!!!!!, the Morses are planning on picking us up around 1 o clock my time and then skyping anywhere from 1:30-3:30 my time.  Not sure who is going first between me and Sister Sam or anything but plan on any time from there! What is y’alls Skype accounts?? So as far as I know that is the plan.  If it changes, someone from the ward is bound to call y’all and let you know!!  Hopefully it all works!! 

THANK YOU to everyone who has sent me Christmas cards! Shout out to BYU athletics, Gunn Family, Shelly Reynolds family, and Papa Joe!  Made me so happy to receive them in the mail!! I love y’all!!!! Well I'll close for now because we can just talk on Wednesday!!!! Text or call Sister Morse if you have any questions (:

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!!!!! <3/ Sister Lauren Holmoe!

 Sister McCan spoiled us!  How rad are these?!?!

 So good to see Sister Wells!

 Love these girls!

 MTC Friends

 4 Generation Pic; grandma, mom, me, daughter

 MTC Elders

 Sister Dawes

 Me and Sister Brigham, one of my all time favorite sisters!

 Me and Elder P Davis!

 Japanese Food with Ashley

 The scarf and headband someone gave me!

 Carolyne's Family

 Caroling with the YSA's

Week 27

Hey Y’all!!

Words cannot even begin to describe the happiness that this week has brought!!  I always thought Christmas away from home would be one of the harder times but I must admit this is the best time on my mission thus far!!!! Each and every day this week brought more and more happiness.  It’s really just unreal!  Hard to describe in an email!

I'll start off with our investigator Ashley.  This girl is one of those Golden Investigators that every missionary dreams of having.  She is the 18 year old girl who is friends with members of our ward.  Anyways we had two of the most amazing lessons with her this week, probably two of my favorite of my entire mission.  Even thinking back to them makes me get emotional because they were such spiritual moments!!!  This girl is AMAZING.  She is so easy to teach because she soaks it all in, asks awesome questions, has goals, keeps her commitments, and loves learning.  We have the lessons at the Copeland’s and hearing them testify in places is just AHH...so cool!!  Heavenly Father has been preparing this girl her entire life for her to find the church.  She has a strong testimony that everything happens for a reason and it’s so cool.  She came to our RS night on Thursday, the ward Christmas party on Saturday, church on Sunday (and choir practice after) and the YSA fireside on Sunday night.  She also cancelled our lesson for tomorrow night so she could go to FHE with the other YSAs???? I MEAN COULD IT BE ANY BETTER??  Sister Sam and I are nervous that something bad is going to happen because we are not used to investigators acting like this! It’s pretty cool because for the past year she has been following this blog of a Mormon family.  She didn’t know they were Mormon originally.  Anyways she reads the blog daily because she loves how happy they are....so after the two lessons we had with her she told us how she typed an email of how much their blog has changed her life and given her a direction.  She doesn’t even have their email but she just felt the need to type it.  Ashley’s prayers are DYNAMITE.  She was SO nervous at first, but she did it and WOW....coolest moment!  It’s also SOOO good for these lessons to be given in the Copeland home! We are hoping to get a BCD (baptismal commitment date) this week....DUN DUN DUN..........pray pray pray for us.

On Saturday was our ward Christmas Party!   It was so much fun.  Sister Sam and I basically planned the entire thing but it turned out great!! I love this ward.  Like 5 people have given me and Sister Sam wrapped presents for each of us!  Last night this lady gave us presents and we couldn't wait till Christmas so we opened them....THE NICEST GIFTS EVER!  She got Sister Sam these big stud earrings because that’s what Sister Sam just LOVES and then she bought me a fabric headband because I always wear those!! This lady has never even talked to us about earrings or headbands but just from observing what we wear she bought them for us! I mean, how blessed are we to be in such a great area for Christmas??  We also went Christmas Caroling with the Simonds yesterday!  Felt like home!!!  We sang all the songs we sing as we went to neighbors, ward members and a nursing home near St. Andrews.  It was so much fun.  Then we had the YSA fireside we had been planning last night and it was a huge success. Good turnout, great speaker, and just overall awesome night! 

Some more cool stories are....we were working with these less actives who wanted to learn more about family history.  We set up an appointment with the FH consultants and them and they were getting teary eyed as they found some of their ancestors! We started teaching Michael and Kelly again, who want to be baptized the DAY after they get married. We are going to start teaching some of Beth’s family members next week! We made some huge improvements with other people as well. Carolyne didn't come to church so her BCD has to be moved!  But this week we were really focusing on her smoking so we made signs and put them alllllll over her house and printed out pictures of the temple and stuff !  She’s cut down to about 2-3 a day...which is good! She LOVES the BYU shirt!!! I wish you could have seen her face!!! I just gave it to her on Saturday so haven’t seen it on her yet but she absolutely LOVED IT! I told her it might be too big and she was like....Sista Holmoe, if you knew me well, you would know that I LOVE my t's big! haha! She was just dying! I'll get a pic one of these days with her in it!

Another good thing that happened this week was.....WE GOT OUR OWN CAR!!!!!!!!!! It’s amazing!!!!! However, we just found out yesterday that we only have like 100 more miles the rest of the month so therefore we will be biking a lot. We might beg to get a few more cause that’s just ridiculous! But it is super super super nice!  Merry Christmas to us!!  Remember how I used to not drive on the freeway?? How weird was I!?  I'm a pro now fyi ;)

We went to RED ROBIN for our District Activity on Tuesday!!!! Can you say DAY MAKER!?!??  I was dying!!!!!

Remember those teenage boys we wanted to teach but their parents were less active?? Those parents are killin us man!  So hard to teach those boys when the parents aren’t all for it!

So I got your packages this week and opened the big one! THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!!!! <3 The cocoa roasted almonds....(: (: (: delish!!! the decor, nativities, water bottle, stocking, I love it all!!!! I am anxious to open everything!  You have no idea how tempting that opened stocking is to peek inside!!  Also the reindeer poo (or Christmas mix (:) hahah!  I gave one to the Morses who LOVE it!  Going to give another one away and keep the other for myself (:  Y’all are probably so glad I'm not there to eat all the pretzels and chex pieces!  Especially Erik! He used to get so mad! haha!! The socks are darling, the cake bites are delish and the Christmas letter sounded great! I liked how Dad highlighted the "many" dolls of Moms! Also I got your Jubilee stuff Dad! Thanks! Good to keep my info straight!

So I think time zone wise we are only two hours behind Cali time...I'm in central time zone...our mission has two different time zones! Thanks for the info on that!  I will keep you posted but it will be sometime during that time frame!! Can’t believe Utah guy won Survivor!  I laughed out loud when you said you skipped when the 3 finalist walked around the torches! You know that’s my favorite part!!!! Carlee, that squash soup looked DYNAMITE! So jealous!

Well, better go email some more peeps! I love y'all so much!!! ENJOY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!! <3 Know I love y’all and miss y’all so much!!! Thanks for everything!! Who’s going to be Santa this year!?! I'm not there to pass out the presents to everyone’s spots ha!  E...looks like you’re on it! BYE!!! Merry Christmas! Love you!! <3/ Sister LA GIRL!

Christmas

 Caroling

 Santa

 Ward Party

 6 months

 Last District Meeting and District Activity

 Red Robin

 Sister Slocum always gives us things to make our apartment smell good!