Hello world...
I have successfully completed my first lesson in sign language. It was awesome, I felt really good. Now I teach lesson one in sign this week... and with a different companion, Sister Ramey, she is just like Sandra so I basically love her to death. We have great fun and she is a hard worker. I celebrated my one month day already can you believe it. And I am on the countdown of days that I am here... 27 I think? It is amazing.
Ok so happenings from this past week??? We have blue box every saturday night and Elder Lingam is in my district, He is amazing, he blue boxed the Atonement. Blue box is basically charades you can't use any signs its all body language, facial expressions, and classifiers. It was amazing, he acted as though he was Jesus Christ in the Garden. He went around the room to each person and showed as if he was taking our burdens off of us and placing them on him. He was crying and acting as if the pain was so terrible. The spirit was flourishing throughout the room. I couldn't believe it, when he came to me I didn't want him to take mine for fear it would hurt him more. A great experience for me to learn. The spirit has been out of control this week, Sunday was really amazing many experiences that have really touched me.
One of my new favorite books is Jesus The Christ. I read whatever part is interesting me at the moment and it is so amazing. I've obviously been really interested in the atonement lately so I have been reading that section. It is a great book. A lot of insight into Christ's life. I really do learn so much here it about kills me.
LINDSEY JAMES is at the MTC and I saw her and her family. It is so weird to me to see her. I think she is still a little in shock but she will be great. I'm really excited for her. Two of my old roommates have left for their missions now and I'm really happy for them, they were so excited. Sister Khadgi (from Napal) and Sister Hiashi (From Japan), they are both at Temple Square so if any of you go there look for them. And tell them I say hi. They are so sweet. The day before they left Sister Khadgi gave us a head massage with this delicious oil. It was wonderful, I slept like a baby that night.
Each week at the temple we have some other regulars that come the same time. One couple is probably in their late 70's early 80's. The man can't dress himself and he struggles controlling his hands. He goes every week and He stands there while a temple worker dresses him every time. It is such a testimony to me to see this man who is so devoted to the Lord that He goes every week to the temple even though he can't do it alone. He knows the importance of it and I am so greatful for his example. He is the sweetest man and I can tell that he truley loves the Lord.
I hope all is well with you. I wouldn't know because I'm still not hearing from anyone but MOM and DAD... I dunno but I will pray real hard that this will change and I will get my letters about the Atonement. Just don't email me because I don't have enough time to read it. I love you all and hope you have a great week.
Love Sister Holt,
Be happy and Smile
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Week 5 (Last weeks letter that didn't send) - Letter from Heidi
Another week has come and gone. It has been a great week especially with conference and all my other activities that I have been doing here at the MTC.
A few of the things that have been going on are the TRC was good, it was a wonderful learning experience to teach with a new companion. I am back with Sis Low which I am really happy about. We get to teach the plan of salvation in Sign Language tomorrow. I am really excited, it is beatiful to watch the creation in sign language and also so real to see the atonement in sign language. I am excited to get better at showing both of these events to make it come to life for my investigators. I guess that is what the next 5 weeks are for... My class has changed to only ASL we are not allowed to use our voices in the classroom and we pick days that we can not talk at all.. it is really hard because not everyone in the mtc uses sign but we can get the point across most of the time. Also for the Relief Society conference we weren't able to get an interpreter for our deaf sister or closed captions so we had to interpret it for her. What an adventure, I'm not sure how much she got from the meeting but I learned a lot. It was fun...
Every tuesday we have a devotional and this past tues Sis Low was havign a rough week and she has been singing "Where Can I turn For Peace?" When she woke up she said if the church is true We will sing that song in one of our meetings. For the Devotional we had a hymnal fireside. Missionaries got the opportunity to get up and pick a song they wanted to sing. We sang that song, what a tender mercy for her and a nice reminder to me that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love it... Also another thing is conference, I loved it everyone was so amazing. Sunday session was my favorite. President Monson is truely a prophet of God and he has the ability to speak to each individually. I loved his story about his birthday and the Warm Fuzzies. I am striving to accomplish a warm fuzzy a day. He is amazing. The other is of course Elder Holland, how strong and powerful is he? Everything he said shot straight to my heart. I was touched by everything he said. He has helped me have more confidence in my mission work and my desire to preach the word, to DECLARE the word to the world. I have continued my study of the Atonement and I really have learned so much, I would like to ask all of you that read this is you would write me and tell me what you know about the atonement and bear your testimony of how it has helped you in your life. It will be a great strengthener to me and help me in my teaching.
I am excited for the Fosters and their new home. that is great news I hope all goes well with the house. I haven't really heard from anyone else so please write me I only get letters from mom and pops which is so very lonely. But it's ok because I am really busy, but letters would be nice.
We have been focusing on pre-earth life and the creation in our teaching this week and I would like to tell you about that for a minute. After we practice teach other companions we always challenge them to go outside and walk around and look at the beautiful world God created for us, for you!! It reminds me of a special experience that I had in Bear Lake, on our hike back from Bloomington Lake. Ashlie was in the lead and she was walking fast and I was a bit behind her, walking alone. I decided to pray and I asked the Lord to remind me that this is His work and that He is real. As I was praying and looking at the beauty around Mom called from behind and said, "Heidi here they come..." I turned around and my nieces Mae and Kari were running towards me. I kneeled down and opened my arms as wide as I could. They started to slow down and I said, " Come on you can do it, run faster." They ran so fast and both of them gave me the biggest hugs I have ever had. Then my mom not too far behind ran up and gave me a hug. It was a beautiful reminder that my family is a family given to me from God. That I was able to have that experience in nature where it was just my family and me. There has never been a moment in my life more precious than that. I want all of you to try it. Try going out and praying asking God for that comfort that this world was created for you. I promise He will answer you with more than you ever expected. I know because He did for me.
I am so thankful for this Gospel and the life I have because of it. I pray you all have a great week and enjoy all you do. Lindsey James I will see you on Wednesday...can't wait... Mom good luck on your lesson sounds like it will be amazing, but that's because you are. I love you all
Love Sister Holt
Be Happy and Keep Smiling...
A few of the things that have been going on are the TRC was good, it was a wonderful learning experience to teach with a new companion. I am back with Sis Low which I am really happy about. We get to teach the plan of salvation in Sign Language tomorrow. I am really excited, it is beatiful to watch the creation in sign language and also so real to see the atonement in sign language. I am excited to get better at showing both of these events to make it come to life for my investigators. I guess that is what the next 5 weeks are for... My class has changed to only ASL we are not allowed to use our voices in the classroom and we pick days that we can not talk at all.. it is really hard because not everyone in the mtc uses sign but we can get the point across most of the time. Also for the Relief Society conference we weren't able to get an interpreter for our deaf sister or closed captions so we had to interpret it for her. What an adventure, I'm not sure how much she got from the meeting but I learned a lot. It was fun...
Every tuesday we have a devotional and this past tues Sis Low was havign a rough week and she has been singing "Where Can I turn For Peace?" When she woke up she said if the church is true We will sing that song in one of our meetings. For the Devotional we had a hymnal fireside. Missionaries got the opportunity to get up and pick a song they wanted to sing. We sang that song, what a tender mercy for her and a nice reminder to me that this is the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love it... Also another thing is conference, I loved it everyone was so amazing. Sunday session was my favorite. President Monson is truely a prophet of God and he has the ability to speak to each individually. I loved his story about his birthday and the Warm Fuzzies. I am striving to accomplish a warm fuzzy a day. He is amazing. The other is of course Elder Holland, how strong and powerful is he? Everything he said shot straight to my heart. I was touched by everything he said. He has helped me have more confidence in my mission work and my desire to preach the word, to DECLARE the word to the world. I have continued my study of the Atonement and I really have learned so much, I would like to ask all of you that read this is you would write me and tell me what you know about the atonement and bear your testimony of how it has helped you in your life. It will be a great strengthener to me and help me in my teaching.
I am excited for the Fosters and their new home. that is great news I hope all goes well with the house. I haven't really heard from anyone else so please write me I only get letters from mom and pops which is so very lonely. But it's ok because I am really busy, but letters would be nice.
We have been focusing on pre-earth life and the creation in our teaching this week and I would like to tell you about that for a minute. After we practice teach other companions we always challenge them to go outside and walk around and look at the beautiful world God created for us, for you!! It reminds me of a special experience that I had in Bear Lake, on our hike back from Bloomington Lake. Ashlie was in the lead and she was walking fast and I was a bit behind her, walking alone. I decided to pray and I asked the Lord to remind me that this is His work and that He is real. As I was praying and looking at the beauty around Mom called from behind and said, "Heidi here they come..." I turned around and my nieces Mae and Kari were running towards me. I kneeled down and opened my arms as wide as I could. They started to slow down and I said, " Come on you can do it, run faster." They ran so fast and both of them gave me the biggest hugs I have ever had. Then my mom not too far behind ran up and gave me a hug. It was a beautiful reminder that my family is a family given to me from God. That I was able to have that experience in nature where it was just my family and me. There has never been a moment in my life more precious than that. I want all of you to try it. Try going out and praying asking God for that comfort that this world was created for you. I promise He will answer you with more than you ever expected. I know because He did for me.
I am so thankful for this Gospel and the life I have because of it. I pray you all have a great week and enjoy all you do. Lindsey James I will see you on Wednesday...can't wait... Mom good luck on your lesson sounds like it will be amazing, but that's because you are. I love you all
Love Sister Holt
Be Happy and Keep Smiling...
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Week 4
This week has cruised by me, I really don't know how it is another p-day. In the MTC we say that the days feel like years and the weeks feel like days. It is the truest statement ever. I love the MTC still though it is the greatest place, I learn so much and it amazes me how much more I learn in a week. I am so happy!! The Gospel is true and I get to share that with as many people as I see. How cool is that? I'm very excited.
I have the best teachers in existence I'm sure of it. all of them are so knowledgeable and they love teaching, you can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice, they have such passion for this gospel. It is wonderful to see. We have gospel doctrine questions that we get to ask every once in awhile and those are some of the most powerful times of the MTC. I am in aw after every discussion. This week we talked about the Atonement because we are studying lesson 2 (Plan of Salvation--Amazing) and Brother Cropper explained it in such detail no one could speak, He described to us how Christ is both mortal and immortal so his body can die but he can also overcome death. The pain he felt for each person was MORE than enough to kill a person but Christ had to tell his body to keep going. He could have died during the first 3 minutes but he didn't He kept going because there was one more soul, me, you, your loved ones, he couldn't stop because he loves all of us so much. Then he suffered the same pain on the cross because he had to do it without the help of God and after that he allowed himself to die so we could be with him again. He literally GAVE UP the ghost, he could have chosen not to die. He loves my Parents and my family, friends more than I can even imagine and he did that so I could be with them forever. It's so amazing that one person could be so selfless and full of love. But the best part is after he suffered all that pain, when he was at the lowest of the low, he felt to most joy. He had so much joy because he knew the atonement was complete and that he could have his brothers and sisters with him forever. That is where he gets his joy. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, I LOVE JESUS CHRIST! and my teachers are amazing to share this with us and not be afraid to get emotional even though they are all Men.
Another awesome event this week was I get to go online once a week and talk to people about the gospel. One man got on whose dad had just passed away, we wanted some words of wisdom, he didn't have a religion and was just looking around. I was able to talk to him about Jesus Christ and how he feels his pain and was crying with him when his dad died. It was amazing to listen to this man's life and how a few simple questions helped him just a little. He wants to know more so Tomorrow morning I am getting back online to talk to him and help him with more questions. I am so excited. So please pray for him, pray that he will get back online and his heart with be filled with understanding and that he will listen. I am so excited and it fills me with such joy to tell people about the gospel. Even if they think I'm crazy, I know I might be crazy but not about the Gospel. That I know. This week I have changed companions for the weekly teaching practice so I will be teaching with Sis Ellsworth, her companion is Sis Call (the Deaf sister) they have been struggling with planning, teaching, and staying on topic while teaching. So they asked Sis Low and I to split and help them understand how to plan. (sis low and I are over planners I think, our teachers are always in aw when they see what we have planned they thinks it's awesome and we love planning.) So please pray that the spirit will be with us as we do that, especially Sis Low because she has to do it in Sign language. That will be next week for me.
The Temple is great and wonderful and beautiful I love it. We were able to do a session this morning. I know how much the Lord loves us. How merciful he is and what he does so we can return to him. It is amazing. I can feel so much love around me when I am there. It's a magical place, Try to go there as much as possible you will be blessed, I promise.
All of our english elders have left and we have new ones that will leave before us again. It is very exciting i know. I'm almost to my hump day in the MTC though. WOot WOOT. I've made a lot of great friends here. They are wonderful example to me and have the sweetest testimonies. I will love them forever and remember them always. This is such a great experience. I hope all of you have a wonderful week and enjoy conference this weekend. I am so excited for it, one thing i have done to prepare for it is I have read King Benjamins Address in Mosiah 2 and studied how the people prepared for his speech and I am doing that myself. I also have a list of questions that I have had for a while and I will wait to see if they are answered. It is great to do and I suggest anyone do it that wants to get a little more out of conference and to go to bed early so you stay awake for all of it.
My time is up but I love you all dearly and there are a few of you I haven't heard from yet but I know you will write me I have the faith. And send pictures and candy and whatever else you want to.... Have a great week and please always remember who you are and what you stand for.
Also dearelder.com is better then emails because reading emails takes my precious emailing time so I can enjoy them better if you dearelder.com it and I can also keep them with me becuase i can't print emails. It as easy to do as an email. Lindsay F did it and it was wonderful. Thank you for everything I love you all and hope you enjoy
Love Sister Holt
Be happy and smile
I have the best teachers in existence I'm sure of it. all of them are so knowledgeable and they love teaching, you can see it in their eyes and hear it in their voice, they have such passion for this gospel. It is wonderful to see. We have gospel doctrine questions that we get to ask every once in awhile and those are some of the most powerful times of the MTC. I am in aw after every discussion. This week we talked about the Atonement because we are studying lesson 2 (Plan of Salvation--Amazing) and Brother Cropper explained it in such detail no one could speak, He described to us how Christ is both mortal and immortal so his body can die but he can also overcome death. The pain he felt for each person was MORE than enough to kill a person but Christ had to tell his body to keep going. He could have died during the first 3 minutes but he didn't He kept going because there was one more soul, me, you, your loved ones, he couldn't stop because he loves all of us so much. Then he suffered the same pain on the cross because he had to do it without the help of God and after that he allowed himself to die so we could be with him again. He literally GAVE UP the ghost, he could have chosen not to die. He loves my Parents and my family, friends more than I can even imagine and he did that so I could be with them forever. It's so amazing that one person could be so selfless and full of love. But the best part is after he suffered all that pain, when he was at the lowest of the low, he felt to most joy. He had so much joy because he knew the atonement was complete and that he could have his brothers and sisters with him forever. That is where he gets his joy. I LOVE THIS GOSPEL, I LOVE JESUS CHRIST! and my teachers are amazing to share this with us and not be afraid to get emotional even though they are all Men.
Another awesome event this week was I get to go online once a week and talk to people about the gospel. One man got on whose dad had just passed away, we wanted some words of wisdom, he didn't have a religion and was just looking around. I was able to talk to him about Jesus Christ and how he feels his pain and was crying with him when his dad died. It was amazing to listen to this man's life and how a few simple questions helped him just a little. He wants to know more so Tomorrow morning I am getting back online to talk to him and help him with more questions. I am so excited. So please pray for him, pray that he will get back online and his heart with be filled with understanding and that he will listen. I am so excited and it fills me with such joy to tell people about the gospel. Even if they think I'm crazy, I know I might be crazy but not about the Gospel. That I know. This week I have changed companions for the weekly teaching practice so I will be teaching with Sis Ellsworth, her companion is Sis Call (the Deaf sister) they have been struggling with planning, teaching, and staying on topic while teaching. So they asked Sis Low and I to split and help them understand how to plan. (sis low and I are over planners I think, our teachers are always in aw when they see what we have planned they thinks it's awesome and we love planning.) So please pray that the spirit will be with us as we do that, especially Sis Low because she has to do it in Sign language. That will be next week for me.
The Temple is great and wonderful and beautiful I love it. We were able to do a session this morning. I know how much the Lord loves us. How merciful he is and what he does so we can return to him. It is amazing. I can feel so much love around me when I am there. It's a magical place, Try to go there as much as possible you will be blessed, I promise.
All of our english elders have left and we have new ones that will leave before us again. It is very exciting i know. I'm almost to my hump day in the MTC though. WOot WOOT. I've made a lot of great friends here. They are wonderful example to me and have the sweetest testimonies. I will love them forever and remember them always. This is such a great experience. I hope all of you have a wonderful week and enjoy conference this weekend. I am so excited for it, one thing i have done to prepare for it is I have read King Benjamins Address in Mosiah 2 and studied how the people prepared for his speech and I am doing that myself. I also have a list of questions that I have had for a while and I will wait to see if they are answered. It is great to do and I suggest anyone do it that wants to get a little more out of conference and to go to bed early so you stay awake for all of it.
My time is up but I love you all dearly and there are a few of you I haven't heard from yet but I know you will write me I have the faith. And send pictures and candy and whatever else you want to.... Have a great week and please always remember who you are and what you stand for.
Also dearelder.com is better then emails because reading emails takes my precious emailing time so I can enjoy them better if you dearelder.com it and I can also keep them with me becuase i can't print emails. It as easy to do as an email. Lindsay F did it and it was wonderful. Thank you for everything I love you all and hope you enjoy
Love Sister Holt
Be happy and smile
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