hello readers (12/28/10)

Dearest Readers,

The Church is true. I love this gospel with all of my heart I am so grateful for the opportunity so serve as a missionary. We have received transfer calls again. I can't believe it's already here. I have been transfered to stay in STOCKTON!! I am so happy and Sister Cook is coming here to be with me. That is so great I trained her once upon a time long long time ago. Now I get to be with her again. We are gonna rock the stockings off of stockton. So thats really the only thing exciting that has happened since Christmas except.... We almost became homeless...... I almost burned the house down. but everyone is alright. No worries, I was just baking some popcorn chicken and the stove caught on fire. I made fun of Sister Badger because she burned her popcorn chicken and burnt her thumb and it started to blister a little. I was laughing so hard. Then I go to put mine in. (we are cooking them on the stove in oil, quick, easy, and CRISPY) as I toss mine into the pot wooooooooooooosh fire fire fire is searing through the pot. then instant CRISP as I think the fire has settled I go to rescue my poor little chickies it was too late and another flame comes flying out from the pan sending oil through the air and onto my arm leaving its mark as a reminder of what not to do as a missionary. But obviously God loves me and put the flame out for me so I didn't cause more damage trying to put it out.

Well that is all that happened really Church was great and we had a fun day yesterday organizing shoes for our members wife....(gettin in on her good side.) it was lots of fun got some free $200 shoes as well. (she works for ecco and gets all the sample shoes for free and gives them away. woot woot) anyway short email but I'm sure more will happen with this new year right around the corner. Church is true and I know that God loves us all.

Love Sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling

Christmas Miracle (12/26/10)

Hello family here are some pictures from this morning.... People were running up to us for food and scarfs and hats. It was so wonderful. People were crying because they had not eaten in so long....

I love you and will talk to you again in just a bit.

Love Sister Holt

Merry Christmas (12/20/10)

Dear Readers,

Yet another week of miracles and wonderful people to tell you about...

The begining of the week went a little slower compared to the end of the week. Wednesday we had a baptism da da da da..... It was such a good baptism. We had the room full, her family was there to support her all the way. Oh it was Nadia that got baptized. Yup that's right she did it and it was so great. Her mom was there to watch and everything. The family was there for the confirmation as well. Nadia is so great I love her to death.

Thursday.... We were supposed to take the elders bikes but they forgot (go figure you think they would remember the one day they get a car....) So we kept the car but we told Ron that we had bikes and it would be great if he could meet us at the church. (our tricky little way to get him to come to a church tour) So he came and it was amazing. He walked in the church and told us if was the first time he had stepped into a mormon church. He said so can you give me a tour of the place? We told him, "well of course" So we walk into the chapel and I start talking about the sacrament table and what happens there and he says "hold on...there is no cross in the front." We told him that we celebrate the resurrection not the crusifiction so we don't use crosses. He loved it then he kept finding other things that were different with the chapel then other churches and we explained to him all of it. He noticed that we don't have stained glass windows and we told him that we like to keep it simple so there is no distractions so we can focus on the spirit. He loved it all. Then we started walking down the hall talked about the classrooms and then we ended up in the baptistry and he walks right up to it and says, "this is the closest I have ever been to a baptismal font." we talked about baptism and how it helps us to be better and improve our lives and everything the church teaches is how to improve not what we are doing wrong. He really felt the spirit. He kept saying over and over, "this is so peaceful, this is so peaceful." He never felt that way before I told him it was the spirit that he was feeling. He was confused, he asked why we don't jump up and down screaming in another language when we feel the spirit. We told him it's personal and its small and quiet its not going to yell at you. He said that's why he never felt right in other places because they yelled and jumped all over when they "felt the spirit" So before we could even invite him to come to church he said he was coming at the begining of the year and we asked if he could say the closing prayer and he said yes. He has never been willing to say the prayer. It was so great and he felt the spirit so strong in his prayer he told Heavenly Father he could feel Him because he had goose bumps. He now knows how to recognize the spirit. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY this man is over 50 years old and is recognizing the spirit for the first time in his life. He was so happy. It is the best feeling I have had in my life.

Friday.... Our Annual Temple day with President and Sister Jardine. They are so great I love them. The temple is so beautiful it was a rainy day but we had a wonderful time inside and I keep understanding more and more but the more I understand the more questions I get going through my head. It's great and I can't wait till I can go to the Temple ever week again.

We have been trying to get in contact with this women who wanted missionaries sent to her house. Every appointment she wasn't there for so we said ok 1 more try and then we are done. She had just 1 question she has been dying to ask us but she wants us there to ask the question. We set up the appt friday night. She is there and her question is "how do i join the mormons?" That is a missionaries dream right there. It is so great. So we told her what she has to do and she is set up to be baptized in January. The Church is true my dear friends. She is awesome and has quite the story of her past. it is pretty sad some of it.

Saturday.... I got to go to a baptism in Sacramento one of my little marshallese peeps. Kestiney she is one that has been taught for over 20 years. Lots of missionaries were there to support her. I love those people. And I got to see Richard and Sally my two marshallese that I miss so sosososososo much. it was so fun to see them again. They ran up to me after the baptism and gave me a huge hug. It was so nice.

Sunday... We went caroling with the whole zone again it was fun. I love Christmas time it is the best time of year.

Well I am out of time but I will talk to most of you on Saturday between 3-5 mountain time. Love you from my heart

Love Sister Holt

Christmas time is coming soon (12/13/10)

Dear Readers,

It is I again Sister Holt. I love being a missionary and I love Christmas time. I love california and I love Stockton most especially. Basically my life is the best life ever. I get to meet crazy people that believe Jesus is an alien but then I also get to meet amazing people who have been searching for the truth all their life. There is nothing like being a missionary.

Ok so funny stories didn't really occur this week but we have had some interesting run ins. The Bishop told us of a member he would like us to visit. Solomon is his name, when we arrive at the apt someone answers the door we ask for solomon then another person comes to the door. "He stepped out to do some shopping." because he just moved so I ask, "who are you two? Solomons friends?" The one that answers the door says in a DEEP voice "I'm Lisa, his wife." The other is Gina a friend. Then I notice that this person looks as though she is a man but has a bun on her head and is a wife.?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?We report our visit to the Bishop so he is aware and then he tells us that his wife just had a sex change and recently got married. So we have to figure out some how what to do because Solomon wants to become active again and go to the Temple. I will keep you updated.

Miracles Miracles... all of the Anslinger family is getting baptized. We are so happy. Lillian is really starting to open up and is telling us about her concerns but now she is incouraging her children and niece to be baptized. We think real soon she will be coming along as well. We know that it is her husband that is holding her back. He was baptized long ago and never really gained a testimony and doesn't obey the word of wisdom so we just need to get them strong to be a good influence on him. The Church is true.

For the first time of my life I realized how blessed I am and how much suffering goes on in this world that I never experienced... We went to go see someone and we always see homeless people walking down a sidewalk so we decided to go see what it's all about. We walked down and there is this little alley way with a fence on both sides and a little pond. between the fence and the river there are tents (if you are lucky enough to have a tent) and matresses put up as walls and tarps as roofs and many other contraptions that they come up with to shelter them at night. It is so hard to look at that while I walk down the sidewalk with my scarf, boots, gloves, and coat. I still can't convince myself to realize people live that way for real. That is when the Gospel becomes more real to me. If everyone believed the gospel with all their heart, might, mind, and strength there would be no homeless. There would be no hungry or cold. This is the one true church on the earth and I know that with all of my heart. I am so grateful for that. I pray I can someday help someone in need and show them the blessings of the gospel.

The other day we went to go see a deaf women named Ella. We would go visit her once a week and just see if there is anything we could do. She is not really interested in the Gospel but needs a friend so we go over. This last time she texted us and said she has no money for rent or food so we gathered up a bunch of food from members and brought it to her and told her that there is more waiting for her. She denied us. She refused to come to church because she has tried church before and knows it won't help her. She said why should she go to church for God when he is not blessing her when she needs him. It broke my heart she didn't understand and it didn't matter how many times we promised her she would be blessed for coming and showing God first she refused. So we left empty handed and she went back into her home with no electricity and no food and no furtiture because she denied the one thing that could really help her in her life. I will forever keep her in my heart and know that when I find something to help her with I will do whatever in my power to find her a home and give her food. She has a place in my heart that burns deep for her. I think about her often and what I can do to help her realize what she needs.

Well the Christmas season burns bright and i love the Gospel of Jesus Christ and I love being a missionary and I am starting to come to grips that one day it will end but until then this is the best thing in my life. I love it. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good week.

I love you all

Love Sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling

Tis the Season (12/6/10)

Merry CHRISTmas readers,

what a great time of year. I love the Christmas season it is so wonderful. So many miracles are happening this year. I love being a missionary and serving. This past week has been so awesome. We have been working so hard trying to find people to teach and get them to church. I love the faith of young children.

I went on exchanges to the deaf branch and tongan ward. I forget how much I love both of those areas. Deaf people are so funny and gossip like crazy. I went to go see one of the recent converts while we were up there and right when we leave her house we get text after text..... saying where is holt i want to see holt... it's really funny and great to see that they love and miss me.

While i was gone my deaf companion went out faithfully with Loni our deaf member to find some deaf people. She was walking on a really ghetto street and saw a lady went up to her and talked about the gospel. The women was no interested so Sis Badger asked if she knew anyone that was deaf. the women replied sweetly, "yes I do!!" sis badger said "Great who is it?" the women said...."YOU, once i shove a pencil in between your ears." sis badger couldn't do anything but just laugh at the women as she walked away. Poor Badger, but luckily she still has her hearing.

Yesterday was the best day at church in my life.... there is nothing more satisfying then seeing the people you work with and help them to learn the truth, bear their testimony. 2 of the girls that are getting baptized, oh sorry pause for a moment. Lilian, the mom that won't let her kids get baptized well all of them are getting baptized ahahhahhaaaaahhhhhh I am so excited. Nadia on Dec 15 and Lauren Jan 5hopefully Lydia will be there for that one as well. ok so Nadia and Lauren got up and bore their testimony and Lauren was the first person even before all the members. it was so beautiful both of them talked about how they love church and they are getting baptized and the members that have helped them. Oh it is so wonderful to see these young kids learn about the truth. And some of our recent converts got up to bear their testimony of how the ward is like a family and Jesus can heal hearts that other people don't know are broken. These are all children younger than 15 and they know this truth. The rising generation is bringing the world His truth. I love this gospel and they are all bringing friends to church and coming faithfully. Bre is getting baptized on the 15 as well and man it's just so wonderful. Russell our recent convert we went to go wake him up to come to church, he said he was sick. We said as we have many times before, we promise if you come to church you will feel better. He said I know but... I cut in i'm not taking any excuses I say, "show God your faith and know you will feel better." He said ok see ya in a few. He came and thanked us for helping him to come. Church is true.

ok now for a funny story. We were tracting clipper ln. we see a man putting up his Christmas lights so we go to talk to him. We ask if he is religious, he says he is a little Star Treky. I say 'what do you mean?" he proceeds to tell us, " you know that bright star long ago that you havent' seen since and was never seen before and Jesus appeared on Mary's lap. yea that was a space ship and Jesus was beamed to the earth. He healed the sick and walked on water, performed miracles. Jesus was an Alien. That's why I am a little Star Treky." Neither of us knew how to respond to it. we just looked at each other and said "ok, have a great day you can check outmormon.org if you like." how do you respond to that.? I got nothing but it was so funny. There are some crazy stocktonites that i just love.

Well for our last Christmas miracle of the week. Sis Badger taught a teen a few months back like 7 months ago and she would never come to church. always says she will but then she never really did. So she stopped by one day and invited her to church. SHe said she would so yesterday she came to church and we invited her to be baptized and she said she is ready so now she is set up for dec 22 but we need to teach her more to get her ready for that day. Woot woot. We have so many people that are open and ready to recieve the restored gospel. I love this church it is so true and I know how if you just pray you will receive an answer. I have complete confidence to tell anyone they will receive an answer.

I love being a missionary and talking to people all day everyday. Its so awesome that i am blessed with this privelege. I love you all and merry Christmas and enjoy the season look for ways to serve others.

Love Sister Holt

happy no snow (11/29/10)

Dear Readers,

It's another day here is sunny California. It's a little cold but its still 41 sorry mom i lied guess it feels colder than it really is. 41 is not bad. Not much has happened since Thursday. I ate a lot of food and we went on a temple tour with our little Anslinger Family. Hoping the heart of the mother, Lilian would be softened but it doesn't seem to have happened yet. Nadia is still set up for Dec 15 and the other girls are undecided as to when but it is happening which is good news. So we had this cute newly married couple drive us to the temple tour. They both served missions then dated for 6 years and are now married for about 2 years. they are early 30's with no kids both great jobs. Need I say more, they have lots of mullah.... THey have a new toyota matrix sports edition and that thing is quick. On the way to the temple we are zoomin in and out of cars, I felt like we were in the Italian Job. We head off on our journey to the temple and as we are going i see signs for Los Angeles. Now I take after momma and I"m no good with directions but I know LA is south of Stockton and Sacramento is North of Stockton.... I ask which temple they were driving to, they were headed straight for the Oakland temple. hhahahahaa we almost left the mission and missed the whole tour. so he used his sweet driving skills and got us back on the right way and to the temple in 1 hour. It was super impressive.

Phath our deafie who is the greatest person ever. He is always smiling and sometimes during lessons I just bust up laughing because he is smiling so big and Lani will ask me why I'm laughing then Phath will start laughing and I laugh more it's really bad. He is so funny. I love him so much and he will be baptized. We set up a goal for him to be baptized the 18th of Dec he just needs to quit smoking so we told him no more smoking after the 11th. It's comin up quick we will see. He really just makes me smile to watch him and chat with him.

I am back to 100% health feeling great and happy as can be. I love being a missionary the Lord watches out for you. Well i guess that is all that has happened. The Church is still true and it is almost December I can't believe it. Christmas is coming and I love Christmas. So happy December to you all. Stay warm and remember the Lord Loves each and every one of you.

Love Sister Holt

Happy Thanksgiving (11/25/10)

Dear Readers,

Hello to all... I am delighted to write to you today on this wonderful day of Thanks. I am thankful for so many things.

I am thankful...

to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ

to be under the direction of such amazing leaders (District, Zone, President Jardine, The 12 Apostles, and Our Prophet Thomas S. Monson)

for Thomas S. Monson who has been the example of true gratitude

for my amazing Parents that support me and pray for me everyday

for my family and friends that pray for me

for health and fresh air

for the fine people of Stockton great and small

for food

to have the House of the Lord in my mission

for a wonderful companion that is just like me, Sister Badger

for members that support and love missionaries

for Conf Ensigns

for love and peace and joy and charity

for gratitude

Ok I wont bore you anymore but I am just really grateful and it seems more real to me today then it ever has been before. I love you my family. I love you friends you have all inspired me in some way or another to be better and I don't think a simple word of thanks is enough. But Thank You

On to the happenings of the week or week and a half. Lots has happened. We (Sister Badger and myself) have a great Christmas Gift for this year and it is gonna be great. We played a prank on the elders, we bought a special ingredient that when ingested turns your pee blue. So we made some brownies for our dear elders because they will eat whatever you feed them. (don't deny it, its true) and they did and then we called the medical coordinator and told her if they call a little freaked out play along with it. She was totally ready for it. But the Zone leader called us and asked us if we put anything in the brownies. We lied for as long as we could then told him yes it was us. All of the elders that ate those brownies were so worried. It was so great so prank complete now we are just thinking of more ways we can get others involved and prank them more. hahaha Mom its ok its just for fun.

I have been humbled greatly this week. When the church is locked we have to go to the far door and use a code to get in the building and the halls are always dark. before I arrived sis Badger would always run into a bench in the hallway and bruise her shins. SO she always warns me "remember the bench" well yesterday we went in to get some chairs for thanksgiving. We walk in and she gently reminds me "remember the bench" I reply mockingly "you know I see it everytime".... WHAM.... instantly I run into the drinking fountain on the other side of the hallway. Instant Humility and I have a bruise to remind me to be humble.

The past 2 days I was deathly ill. Stomach virus being passed thoughout the mission. I caught it. Yup 1 am i wake up and then every hour after that, then Sister Badger's turn, she had a little more mild course of it. I didn't eat anything but a few slices of bread for more than 48 hours and slept for almost 2 days straight. But today I am much better and just in time for piggin out on some delicious food. Although I don't know if I can pig out as much as I was planning on. So that is why I am grateful for health and fresh air. I felt so alone and closed up but all is good in the neighborhood.

Sister Badger loves me so much. the following reasons are why...

I say things to myself not trying to be funny but when it comes out they really are pretty hilarious.

I talk in my sleep, which most of you know, but now i do so happily. She wakes up often to me yelling rediculous things to her, ie. " HHHHHEEEEELLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOO" "HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA THAT'S HILARIUOS" " HEY CYNTHIA NO" most of the time I scare her because it is so loud. She has now decided to try and talk back and see if I respond.

Instant Humility

I catch jokes just a second later than everyone else.

when we live together we will have an animal farm in our house

when we go home we are going to ride the train back to Stockton for a visit

Lani thinks that Sister Badger is more beautiful than me. I am beatutiful but not like S. Badger. (Love deaf bluntness)

JW came to our door yesterday. It was great. But Sister Badger and I were sick and looked like poor little homeless children so we had to listen to the other sisters handle the situation. It is quite interesting being on the other side of the door. I have learned alittle. but it was funny we were being invaded by JW's.

Well I'm sure by tomorrow we will have more stories to share and we can share them with you on Monday because that is our P-day again. Wow time flies but miracles are happening everyday. 1 of which I'm alive and healthy and don't look like a homeless child anymore.

Well to all of you Happy Thanksgiving and I hope you find humor in this email because that's another thing I am grateful for is the ability to laugh and have joy. Because I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY. I laugh everyday and multiple times a day.

The Church is true and God created us to have Joy and I am so grateful for it. And missionary work is what brings me the greatest Joy, and of course my Family.

So while I was sick I read the conf ensign and my favorite quote is in D. Todd Chirstofferson's talk.

Elder B. H. Roberts once expressed the process in these words: “The man who so walks in the light and wisdom and power of God, will at the last, by the very force of association, make the light and wisdom and power of God his own—weaving those bright rays into a chain divine, linking himself forever to God and God to him. This [is] the sum of Messiah’s mystic words, ‘Thou, Father, in me, and I in thee’—beyond this human greatness cannot achieve.”² It is amazing just ponder those words for a moment.

I love you all have a Happy Thanksgiving and a Joyous day.

Love Sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling

New baby (11/8/10)

HEllo people

So today is going to be really short because we dont have a lot of time. We have to drive up to Sacramento for a sisters luncheon. I have a healthy baby girl. She is amazing her name is Sister Whittaker from Provo Utah and she is going to the Brazil mission sometime in the future. Who knows when. But the 3 of us are just great together. SHe just goes out and talks to people with no fear. she even did a car contact like her second day. I am excited. And i hope the three of us are together next transfer as well. I can't believe how quickly the holidays are coming up on me. time just whizzes by. But I love being a missionary no greater way to spend the holidays. And its raining again so I have pulled out my scarfs and i'm prolly the happiest person alive in my scarfs and boots. woot!!!!!!

Ok down to the serious business. The church is true. TEstimony meeting was so amazing yesterday. Our famous Derbra Sbragia bore her testimony about missionary work and it made me want to be a missionary even though I already am 1 ahahah but really it was phenominal. I love her. So then the rest of the day was really interesting. We had a lesson with Al. He is a potential investigator. The second time we met him he told the 3 of us that mormon girls have the nicest legs and that we should not take offense to it. he is about 60 years old. And every time we see him he tells us that. He wants to learn more about the church because he learns about all religions. So we went over after church and sat down for a lesson, outside of course. It was freezing cuz it just rained. He asked me a question he said, "Sister Holt, if one of your church leaders was to tell you to do something would you follow your leader or follow your conscience?" I paused and said, "I would pray about it then follow my leader." He then proceeded to tell me for the next 45 mins that I doubted my faith because i paused and if i really believed my religion I wouldn't have to pray I would just say yes immediately. It was rough. No one has ever tried to convience me I lack faith or I don't really believe. My poor comps didn't know what to say either. He wouldn't let me talk and I just felt so broken down. But I know what I believe and he can't tell me I doubt my faith because I know what I got. I just bore testimony about how I know what I believe in and it is just his opinion that I doubt but it was a testimony builder for me. I thought for a second but realized he was so wrong. The Lord gave me this opportunity to grow. Sometimes I wonder if I do have strong faith but when it comes to it. I would never deny what I believe. I would never sway the Lord has proven to me in so many ways and has blessed me with such great things in my life. I am a missionary a witness of Jesus Christ, I represent Him and that is my calling. THat is what I do, I stand in His place and say and do what He would. Well I do my best I'm certainly not perfect. I just wanted all of you to know I believe this gospel I know Jesus Christ lives and because of Him I am forgiven and can become better everyday.

I love being a missionary and working in this great cause. and more to come about the work and the people we are teaching next week. Oh and we tried talking to Lilian about her daughters getting baptized. Didnt' go so well, she thinks this is just a stage they are going through and they will change their mind later in life. So please pray for them that Lilian will understand the importance of church and that their life and happiness depends on this. I know it will happen.

I love you all and have a great week

Love sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling.

November (11/1/10)

Well it is the beggining of November which is crazy because on the 3rd that means 1 year from when I arrived in the mission field...which is just rediculous because it feels like just last month we were celebrating Christmas and everything. Wow time really goes pretty fast. I don't know what to do with myself.

This week was full of crazy things. We didn't have a lot of time to go out and teach lessons because of a lot of parties and I had meetings I had to attend but I know the Lord will bless my area and we will still find people that are ready for the covenant of Baptism.

Tuesday I had my meeting all day up in Elk Grove, 45mins north of stockton, I was the only sister there for most of the meeting so President Jardine was my companion. That was weird I felt a little awkward to be in a room of elders. Normally I would be excited for that but nope it was weird, I just sat by myself and if elders came to talk to me I would chat but I just couldn't go around chattin with the Elders. That was a point when I realized how weird I am going to be when I go home. hahaha I will be an awkward Returned missionary. fun fun and then we had dinner with a member who just became active again and his wife and son that are not members. It was so much fun, really funny family. She is Italian, but never lived there but acts like it, and just talks like no one can believe. We taught her a cheesey but sprititual lesson about the Book of Mormon and invited them to church. They accepted and said they will come first week in Nov. Woot

Wednesday we had some great lessons with potential investigators but none of them were really interested, they just had some questions they wanted answered and we did so they were good. But they made us cookies and gave us water and stuff. A very welcoming lesson. Never before have people made cookies for the lesson when they had never met us before. But they are preaching the word as well which is good to help the rest of the world hear A message about Jesus Christ. Maybe not THE message but its better than nothing right?

Thursday was maybe one of the best days of my life. we had district meeting and then we went out with Lani (our deaf member) to find some deafies and we found some one really cool one. Her name is Ella she has a lot of problems going on and she really wants to believe in Jesus Christ and to pray but she just isn't sure how to do anything right now. She is so lost and while I was there I could see her and her life. If and when she accepts the Gospel that her life will just CHANGE and she will just be so happy. That doesnt happen to me too often that I can see how the Gospel will change them but with her I could see it and so could Sis Badger and Lani. It was really neat to see that. The Church is true!!!!!!!!!!! The next exciting thing was Sis Badger and I had the opportunity to go and doBaptisms for the Dead with the youth of the ward. SO COOL!! I wish i was in Young womens again it is so great. I hope thats my calling when i come home. haha But anyway, Our dear recent Convert Russell of just a few days got some names together his grandparents and other family members that have passed so he can go and get baptized for them. His mom who is not a member was very excited about this. So we all meet at the church and we are getting ready to leave. (oh side story i dont' know if you remeber but part of the reason he decided to baptize so fast was our member Debra Sbragia asked him to get baptized for her cousin) So we are about to leave and the Bishop comes over and says he has bad news,. You have to have the Priesthood before you can go to the temple. You can't receive the priesthood until you have been sustained as a new member in Sacrament meeting. Well we hadn't had church yet so he couldn't receive the priesthood. He went home with his mom both crying. We were all so disappointed so we leave for the Temple and get a call that russell is on his way, He got special permission to be ordained so they drove up to the temple and he was ordained at the temple. How cool is that? He was baptized a week ago and ordained and then did baptisms for his family and the sbragia family. ah i love life. and the sbragias went all 4 for the first time and they just couldn't get over it. tons of water works. even steve (the dad) which i kinda look at him personality like Brandon so it was a shock to see him cry. but it was amazing. Then we ate at in n out.

friday we had our deaf halloween party that we are gonna make happen every year. 2 deafies showed up hahahahaahaha but it was sooo fun. we carved pumpkins and stuff so it was fun and the more it gets exposed every year the better it will be. its just starting.

Saturday was trunk or treat and the sbragias trunk won for the scariest. They went all out and they were sooooo happy. They are a great family. I love them soo much.

Sunday was fun yeah for Halloween. I dressed like Sis Badger wore all her clothes and she wore all mine did make up like eachother jewelry everything. it was cool. then we had to be in the church by 6 with the zone and we played monopoly and sis badger and i were yelling and so into it. it was lots of fun. and

today we went to a ropes course for p-day. it was so fun i have some pics and videos. but there is one that you have to jump off a pole and catch a bar and then drop down. it was fun then another one that you have to use team work and climb up these beams and they get further apart each one. I did it all by myself. haha because sis badger wasn't "strong enough" to even get up. that was fun. our ward mission leader owns it so its free any time we want to go. haha its sweet

This week on wednesday I am getting another baby woot woot. Sis badger and I are having a baby. She is going to brazil but has to wait for her visa soj she is with us until it comes. I am so excited. So I will tell you all about her next week. The Church is true and I love being a missionary.

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our heart an attitude of gratitude." Pres. Thomas S. Monson (General Conference, October 2010)

Love Sister Holt

be happy and keep smiling

Stockton (10/18/10)

Hello everyone,

another week on stockton. I can't believe how fast time flies. I really feel that i emailed you all yesterday. Stockton is so great I love it here. The people are amazing and my comp is so much fun. I love serving my mission. There are so many great people that I get to meet that I never would have if i didn't decide to serve a mission.

Alvin and Adnan "D" two of our investigators. They are so funny I love them to death. I feel like they are my best friends because we just get along so well. We are able to share the gospel with them and it's very spiritual and then we laugh our heads off the next minute, then go back to spiritual. They are so great. We have taught D two times and the first time we shared the story of Joseph Smith with him and we had shared it with alvin before. But then the next time we met with them we gave them copies of the Book of Mormon and Alvin was asking all these questions of where it came from, what's it about, etc... D was answering all of them. Then he told him the story of Joseph Smith. It was amazing then we told him how happy we were he knew that and he just looked at us and said, "duh, i'm not like every other man, i listen." They keep us going that is for sure. They are probably two of my favorite people. They are soaking up the gospel and especially D loves church and loves learning about it. I feel that we met Alvin so we could find D.

Kenny is our other miracle. We went to a members house to get them to do missionary work for us. When we got there their neighbors were outside so of course we got out and talked to them. He said he was agnostic and didn't really have a direction he was going. He knew some mormons in his life and thought they were just really great people. We continued talking to him and it was a great discussion. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he has been reading it. He wants to meet with us again so hopefully we can set up a time this week to go over and see him. While we were talking to him the member came home and left again so we didn't even get to meet with them. But we were not sent there to visit those members we were there to meet Kenny and help him find the path to lead his life. It was really cool. So please keep him in your prayers that he will have time and desire to meet with us this week. and come to church on sunday.

Karl is a less active member. He is from the pacific island in micronesia. So it's like i am in the marshallese program again. he is really cool. He went to church and conf. then was baptized. This was about a year ago. hasn't been to church since. He doesn't really know why he quit going because he feels it is true but he just keeps saying he will go but then he never does. He works at a japanese restaurant so we visit him there. SIster Badger has been trying to get him to church for 7 months and he always says he will but never does. So she said it's my turn to try now. I started asking him questions and he doesn't like to talk much so you really have to dig to get him to talk. But we got him to open up just a little. Then I started to ask him about where he was from and his language and how you say different words. He just started talking and teaching us about his island and everything. It was really cool but sadly we had to leave so we are seeing him again this week. I am going to keep trying to talk to him about his culture because if i learned one thing about islanders is they love you if you learn about them. (really any culture). Hopefully we can get him back into church and doing the right things.

There have been many miracles and wonderful spirituall things happening this week. I love being a missionary there is no greater calling. So I am sure there will be loads more this next week. And we have a baptism on friday. Paula our little 11 year old. She is so excited everytime we see her she is counting down the days. We are hoping Bre and Russell will join in the baptism but we are not sure with them not yet. You will find out next monday what happened there. And this week I start exchanges again. So i will be visiting different sisters again. YEah so fun. I love this work. and I love you all.

Love Sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling

Stockton (10/11/10)

Hi,

The greeting is the hardest part of the email for me. It's a crazy I don't know why but its just so hard. Anyway life is great I LOVE LOVE LOVE stockton. This is where its at. There are so many cool people here. I love preachin the gospel here. I feel like i should have grown up here. There are people like me.

Anyway so highlights of the week....

1. I serve in the Brookside ward with some really great people. The ward is very supportive and I know I am going to love it here. Sister Badger is great we are like two peas in a pod and it may be a bad thing because all we do is laugh ALL THE TIME... But we still get a lot of work done at the same time. We are going to baptize stockton change it from one of the most dangerous cities in the world to the safest city in the world.

2. Brookside Brotha: he is our mascott we made him the other day. We have decided to put on a ward challenge to help the feel motivated to do missionary work. We call it TIDAL WAVE... and you get a certain amount of points for everything that you do, that helps us. So giving someone a BOM or Inviting someone to church, feeding us, + extra point for dessert. etc. The ward is excited for it so it seems to be great. They are split up into groups so RS, EQ, YM, Primary, etc. They are trying to beat the others and its great.

3. We have a few people that are going to be baptized this month YEA. I am so excited because I get to work with kids now. In the deaf program there are not many children we get to teach but here is stockton its full of children. We have about 5 investigators that are 13 and younger. They are so amazing. They get it and learn so quickly. We are working for 3 of them to get baptized the 22 or 23 this month. We also have 2 deaf investigators both of which will be baptized real soon as well. We are hoping forHalloween. Cool yeah? And many others we are working with and hoping they will progress to baptism. We need a few parents to say yes, a few to come to church and after that they are done for they should be baptized. This is a great work.

4. There are people everywhere so we get to talk to lots of people every day and the people i meet and talk to I don't have to say ok the hearing missinaries will come and teach you but I get to come back and teach them. It makes me so excited although Im not used to that. Its a little weird.

5. Last but not least, stockton is home of some of the most blunt people in the universe i'm sure of it. I have been here 5 days and already been proposed to, asked on dates, and some other funny things of that nature. it's great i think its really funny and sis badger loves it to because she says now she gets a break from it. The new girl is in town. hahahaha

Well, the church is true and I love working with hearing people, I didn't think i would but there are some funny people here. Alvin Guy and Adnan (D) Clegg are feeding us squirell on thursday, they are some of our investigators. They are hilarious. always make me laugh so I will let you know how it goes and what it tastes like.

This is the one and only true work in the world. The Lord loves us so much and wants all of us to learn about Him. I have a testimony of the importance of member missionary work. Someone said to me, when we told them about the ward challenge, "oh so you are trying to get us to do your work now." I said "No WE are doing YOUR work already, we are just trying to get you to help us with it." We should all be spreading the gospel and inviting everyone around us to be a part of this glorious message. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is our responsibility to do the work we are all missionaries saving our brothers and sisters. We can't get to heaven alone. I love being a missionary.

Love sIster Holt

Be happy and keep smiling

Transfers (10/5/10)

Hello all transfers have been called and I am So excited and so----------------------------------------o sad...

I'm Leaving carmichael.... I have been here for 2/3 my mission. The chances of me coming back are SLIM. So I have to say goodbye to all of my dear loved investigators and members. Casey is so great and eventually be baptized. We have had a lot of great lessons with her and got her concerns and we are starting to resolve them one by one. She knows this is the true church and it is just time now for her to be baptized. I'm so sad I will not be here for the process but I will be there for her baptism. I love her so much she has so much faith and desire. Molly will be baptized I don't know when. She is out of town for a hmong new year with her family.

I am going to Stockton!! PAH finally I have been told for so long I am going there and I think it is going to happen now. My comp is Sister Badger and i am soooooo excited I can't wait to be with her. SHe is such an amazing missionary we are going to have tons of fun... and work hard too of course.. If it aint fun your not doing it right. I am having fun so I must be doing something right. I love being a missionary and I love the Sacramento mission and deafies and I guess now I will learn to love hearing people too. I am going to an english ward and we are trying to set up a deaf program there. We have a few deaf investigators down there, + many hearing investigators. I am really excited I feel like I belong down there in the ghetto with all the crazy "Stocktonites" WOot Woot.

I don't have much time to write crazy day packing and everything but i will send pictures and tell you all I love you and that I am going to miss Carmichael and Sister Stoddard and the other sisters in my zone. It has been so much fun I am a missionary and life couldn't be better.

oh and how about

Love you all

Love Sister Holt

Be happy and keep smiling.

Hello (9/27/2010)

Hello family,

Do you believe in MIRACLES?? All around... another week of miracles life is great!! Gramps I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Casey came to church after 6 months of teaching her and she finally came. She has the fire and she is reading like crazy. She has even started reading Doctrine and Covenants. I love her so much and she is so happy now. It's great. This Tuesday she is coming over to Bro Steed's house we are eating dinner and getting a blessing for her and her son. I am so excited for her.

The Relief Society Broadcast was so good. It is wonderful to know we have such a strength in this church and support group for women. One of the members she was baptized a little over a year ago, Thinks it's the most amazing thing in this world and seeing her love and the support she receives from that has made my testimony grow so much. The Church is true and I love that we are all a part of this amazing organization or have the opportunity to be a part of it.

Molly is doing great. She came to the relief society broadcast with us and loved it and still wants to be baptized but it might be a little later because she will be out of town. Darn but it will be great. She is funny, very honest and blunt.

I am finished with exchanges for the transfer I went to stockton and manteca this past week and it was lots of fun. I learned a lot from those two exchanges. Next week is transfer week so I wiill be emailing on Tuesday and i will find out where I am beng transferred to.

BJ do you know a Brian Grob (Elder Grob) He served in the Philippines the same time as you he may have been your companion. It is my comps bro in law. Cool Beans.

Well That is all for now because it is time to go. We are playing football against the other zone and we are pumped!! Well basically the elders are determined not to lose.

Life is great and being a missionary is the most amazing thing in this world. I love it with all my heart. I love being a missionary.

Love Sister holt

Be happy and keep smiling

Hello family and friends (9/20/10)

I'm sick of saying hello family and friends but i have no other greetings so you will have to deal with it.

This week has been great. I love being a missionary and I really feel like one this past week. We had the opportunity to talk to lots of sons and daughters of God and some accepted (a very small number) but a lot were really nice. Life is great here in Sac town the weather is finally cooling off and I don't sweat do death while contacting now.

This week was a little crazy we had lots of fun Sister Stoddard was out on the deck doing her laundry and I had a flash back to bear lake. I jumped up as fast as I could and locked the door. I then made her dance for me with her arms full of laundry before I would open the door. I couldn't resist. It was really funny. On wednesday we took the district leader and his companions bike and they took our car and we went riding!! It was so fun, we went about 23 miles. I wore shoes that i had not worn in oh about 10 months and my feet killed and I have a giant blister on my foot but it was still fun. Mom I wore a helmet the whole time too. You would be so proud. We rode from Carmichael all the way to nor sac for one of our investigators. She was there and we had a quick lesson then we hurried off back to the church for our ASL class that we were teaching. Then we woke up the next day and rode out bikes 6 miles to district meeting but we didn't quite make it because the zone leaders drove by in there car and saw poor sis stoddard struggling to keep up so they turned around and picked us up. Totally not allowed but the AP's ok'd it so I guess its ok but it was so weird I felt like I was breaking the law. AWKWARD!! Thursday was a good day.

Saturday we were trying to take Molly Yang to a Temple tour but no one in the entire universe was available to take her home so we had to say next week. But we taught her the big three. Tithing, word of wisdom, and law of chastity.... She is already following all of them. So she is set up to be baptized Oct 10 woot woot woot. So it all worked out. We are going to set her up theRelief Society meeting this Saturday and church on sunday. She is great she is one of those bold, blunt, deafies that i just love. And her baby is the cutest thing on this planet.

The best part of the week would have to be Casey!! She works on sundays for a deaf client. So she is over there and basically just makes sure everything ok so we went over Sunday morning to see if they would come to church. She let us in her client was asleep so we just talked to her. She was having a really hard time and so she talked to us about everything she is experiencing right now. She had a cochlear implant about 3 months ago. Since then she has kind of lost her desire to read and pray so We talked to her about Satan tempting her a preventing her from doing the things she knows is right. We brought out a pass-a-long card with a picture of Christ and his hand stretched out for her and if she will just reach out he will be there for her. She started to cry and couldn't talk (sign) and then she spilled what has really been bugging her. We were able to help her. She couldn't come to church because her client didn't want to but next week we will get them. We set up a dinner appt with the Steed family for Thurs and she is going to get a blessing and her son and eat dinner. We are excited.

The Church is true and I love being a missionary. I really feel like a missionary because I was able to watch her accept Jesus into her life and try to follow him again. It was wonderful. I love being a missionary!!!!!!!!!

Love Sister Holt

BE happy and keep smiling.

Oh and we went to the zoo today for p-day lots of fun but i forgot my cord to email them so next week haha sorry.