Staying in Bozeman!...... Only in Montana

Hey Fam!

This week was amazing. We had so many incredible experiences and my testimony of missionary work has greatly increased.

First off, I get to stay in Bozeman!! I was actually kinda worried because Saturday I got a call and had an interview to be a Zone leader and so I thought I was going to be transferred... I received a call yesterday during church informing me that the current zone leaders, who cover the university ward, were being transferred and now the zone leaders will get to serve in 2nd ward! Wow. What a blessing. It is going to be a new but exciting experience to be able to help this Zone as we all continue in our efforts to bring people unto Christ.

My new companion is Elder Ruzicka and I know absolutely nothing about him currently but I will get to meet him in a few days. I hope he speaks spanish...

We found a new investigator this week that is progressing very well! I was on exchanges with Elder Brown and we were riding our bikes down a busy road and we came up to this guy across the street on a motorcycle. I had this strange feeling to stop and talk with him and then he waved to me to stop. I stopped on the side of the road and he rode over and had a great discussion with him about the Gospel. The next morning we taught him the Restoration lesson and 2 days later we taught him the Plan of Salvation. He came to church yesterday and stayed all 3 hours. I have such a strong testimony of what Alma says in Alma 13:24, "..Angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land..." Soooo true. Mike is proof of that because he is beyond prepared and ready to hear the Gospel.

Things are amazing here and I am pretty much on cloud 9 every single day. There are lots of things that are sad and sorta discouraging but the lesson I have learned so far is that if I keep myself qualified for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost at all time then the bad things don't even phase me because my life is full of joy. I love this Gospel and know with all my heart that Jesus Christ is our Savior and the Redeemer of the world.

Thanks for all your love and support,

Love, Elder Holland

P.s. I met someone who had a pet deer and got to feed it an apple.... Only in Montana.

The Seasons are changing

Wow it is sooo beautiful here in Montana!  It is starting to get kinda cold at night and I feel in just a few weeks it is gonna be snowing.  It is crazy how fast the seasons change... I feel like the winter is gonna be pretty long though...  But I do enjoy seeing seasons.

This week went by extremely fast!  We just went from appointment to appointment and at some point they all seem to kinda blend together.  I really was not that great at time management before my mission.  I am amazed at how much we can fit into one day in the mission.   I never thought what we do could be possible but I am grateful for this skill and hope to be able to take it with me when I finish the mission.  

Time is a funny thing to me.  Since coming home from Zambia I have tried very hard to do as Kathy always says and, "Be present".  This is not an easy thing to do but I have learned that as I do I enjoy life much, much more.  I notice the little things.  I find joy in these things and most importantly, for me as a missionary, I see the signs and people the Lord has put in my path.  

I often reflect on what President Monson said regarding time, We cannot call back time that is past, we cannot stop time that now is, and we cannot experience the future in our present state. Time is a gift, a treasure not to be put aside for the future but to be used wisely in the present.”  I love this.  And it is so very true.

I am so blessed to be able to serve these wonderful people here in Montana.  I feel they have taught me way more than I will ever be able to teach them and I truly do feel that every day I have is a gift.  

Thanks for all your love and support!

Love,

Elder Holland

Service

Hey Fam!

Holy smokes this week was a very tiring one.  I definitely got my fair share of exercise in this week!  We

moved 5 people and moved a guy out of this huge office AND I got to run around in a hay field and load up a big trailer full of hay bails.  Let me tell ya that is not as easy as I imagined it would be but thankfully Pa gave me some awesome gloves that helped a lot :)  There have been tons of fires here and it is super smokey all around.  On monday Elder Salazar and I hiked up this mountain and apparently we went up to about 10,000 ft but it was a place called Sypes Canyon.  It was an incredible view up there and I am glad we did it because we brought our scriptures and did our studies at the top :).  I forgot my camera but I will send pictures next week.

John's family is progressing very well but the date for their baptism's needed to be pushed back but they will all be baptized.  We are going to set the date tomorrow.  It truly is a blessing to see an entire family progress like they are and I am so grateful for the time I get to spend with them.

We have met with lots of people and some of the experiences are very difficult.  To see the adversary work first hand on people who are trying to find truth is very hard to watch.  I was inspired by a missionary in my district this week.  Something big happened and he knew it was going to be hard to deal with this particular problem.  As the problem was presented to him he looked down, took a deep breath, then looked up and with eyes filled with hope said," It's ok, I can do hard things."  As I study and learn about the Atonement of Jesus Christ I am constantly reminded that because of him I too can do very hard things.  It is a perspective I hope to never lose because I really am learning of the power of the enabling side of the Atonement.  I love this quote from Thomas S. Monson, "Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.  Then the doing of your work will be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle."

I learn more and more every single day I am here and am so grateful for all of the trials and blessings that help me to grow.  Thanks for all your love and support.

I love you all,

Elder Holland

Moose Enchiladas!

Hey Fam! 

This week was full of amazing experiences!  First off, I got to eat Caribou and Moose steak, Duck,and Moose enchiladas!  They were delicious! 

On Tuesday Fany and Diana were baptized!  It was the biggest turn out I have ever seen at a baptism

and it went really well.  The only problem was the water heater in the font was broken so we baptized them in polar bear cold water but they were great sports about it.  Because of stake conference they were also confirmed right there as well!  Elder Salazar got to confirm them and he did a fantastic job. 

Wednesday we got to go to the Temple!  Holy smokes that was an amazing experience!  I really missed the Temple and did all I could to prepare myself to have the best experience possible.  We got to have an open discussion for an hour with the Temple President, President Jordan, in the chapel.  WOW.  I loved it and learned so much.  The recent changes made to the Temple were sooo cool!  Such an emotional experience, I loved it. 

We had a great lesson with a man named who married a member and has been investigating the Church for about 10 years.  We read 3 Nephi chapter 11 together and had a very Spirit guided discussion and, I had not planned on doing so originally, but I invited him to be baptized next month on the 28th and he accepted!  His wife was just glowing and soooo happy.  I am very excited for them :)

 
Stake Conference blew my mind.  Elder Jack Ward of the Seventy was incredible.  All of the speakers prepared very well and our Stake President, President Heap, was moving as usual.  President Heap spoke of those in the medical field and brought to my attention a few things.  He related the treatment of his mother who passed away about 2 months ago.  He talked about how most people were there to, "treat" her but a few were there to, "heal" her.  Are we helping others by treating or healing them? I hope it is for the latter.  He related the church building to a hospital and made the connection with the Chapel and the ICU.  He powerfully reminded us that we go to church to be healed and Sacrament is the means by which we become whole every week.  Elder Ward was amazing too.  we had a discussion for 20 minutes on D&C section 4:4.  He talked about how the "Field is white already to harvest" but the way the lord harvests his crop is with a "Sickle".  A sickle is a one man tool and is done one person at a time.  He asked us, "what Sickle do you have to use  to touch others?"  He also said ,"While you are in it only, your sickle is within reach of those within your field."  It is so very true and I agree 100%. 

I believe in revelation.  Jaromy had written down a talk for me to read.  I printed it but had not read it.  It is called,"Moroni's Promise" by Elder Gene R Cook.  I read it Sunday morning.  We had a appointment to meet with an investigator just before Stake conference started.  We had planned to teach the Plan of Salvation but as I read this talk I felt very strongly that I should teach "Moroni's Promise" instead.  We went ahead and taught the principles outlined in the talk by Elder Cook.  The Spirit was present and the lesson went very well.  The main point we focused on was perspective and how we need to have the right perspective when attempting to receive revelation to qualify for that revelation.  I challenged her to have the correct perspective as she went to stake conference and she accepted.  To my surprise for the Sunday session Elder Ward spoke on perspective and how we have a mortal perspective but we need to gain an eternal one. As he spoke it was confirmed to me that the feelings I had to invite her to consider the perspective she had came from our Heavenly Father.  It was the Holy Ghost preparing her, through me. 

I know the work I am engaged in is the work of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  They are one in purpose and their purpose is to bring all of us home to them.  I love this Gospel and thank the Lord every day for the time that I am blessed with to be able to share it as a full-time missionary. 

Thank you to all of you for your love and support, 

Elder Holland

... amazing how the Lord provides people for us to teach

Hey Fam!

This week was awesome! Elder Salazar is really an amazing guy. Even though we are 5 years apart we are connecting really well and his desire to learn in the Gospel is amazing. We have many investigators that are progressing really well. Tomorrow Fany and Diana are going to be baptized! And because of stake conference this weekend they are also going to be confirmed at the same time. I am really excited about it and know it will be an experience. I will never forget.

It really is amazing how the Lord provides people for us to teach. Through kind of a strange meeting and because of an incredible member here we are now teaching a youth pastor of another church. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the knowledge I have from it. As a youth pastor there were still some fundamental things he did not understand. At one point in the lesson I said we are all children of our Heavenly Father and we are created in His image. I was shocked when he said he had never heard that before and asked me where in the scriptures it says that (Genesis 1:26). I love missionary work soooo much because I get to be there to watch the light turn on. To see Christ enter into someone's life and change them. I am so grateful for this opportunity to teach because every single person I have taught has helped strengthen my own testimony. I am super excited for this coming week and all the miracles I can see coming to pass. Thanks for all the love and support :)

I love you all,
Elder Holland

New Companion!!

Hello Family and Friends,

Jaromy came home to San Diego last Friday.  It is wonderful to have him back and we have enjoyed hearing more about both of his missions.  The photo is at the airport with Jaromy and Cutler.  We want to invite anyone that is interested to attend his homecoming talk this Sunday at 9:00 a.m. at the Stake Center on 12835 Black Mountain Road.  Thanks to all of you for your prayers and support of Jaromy and your continued support of Spencer.

Warmly,Teresa

Hey Fam!

This week was a little bit of a roller coaster with Jar leaving and my new companion arriving but the work is still progressing forward :).  He was kinda surprised cuz day 1 we taught multiple lessons and just in his first week he has already taught the Plan of Salvation, Gospel of Jesus Christ, Word of Wisdom, 10 commandments, and Law of Chastity.  We kinda hit the ground running but he is doing well.  His name is Elder Salazar and he is 19 and is from Las Vegas.  He is very excited about the work and we are working well together.  

We still have 2 sister baptisms set for next week,.  They are progressing well and both have work off all week this week so we will have lots of time to make sure they are 100% prepared for their baptism :)

John's family is still going to get baptized on the 7th of september and I am sooo excited for them.  It will be a huge event that I know tons of people are gonna come to see :)

We got to go out to a farm to help a good friend, Brother Judd, move and he has a gigantic mule and a horse we got to play with which was awesome.  It was funny cuz Elder Salazar has not ever really seen cows or livestock so he was freaking out on the drive there at all the cows & horses which made me laugh quite a bit.  

But things are well here in Bozeman.  It is all brown on the hills again and it appears as if fall is almost upon us.  I enjoy seeing seasons tho :)

Thanks for all your love and support! Love,

Elder Holland

I'm staying in Bozeman!!!

Hello Family and Friends,

This is Jaromy's last week in Montana with Spencer so I am also including his email.  Jaromy comes home Aug. 9th.  I will forever be grateful to President Mecham for allowing Jaromy to spend this time with Spencer.

Much love,
Teresa

Hey Fam!

This week was incredible and there were many miracles that took place :)  But first off, I get to stay here in Bozeman for a while longer!!! I was actually really concerned cuz you never know if you are gonna stay or go and we have some amazing things happening here currently so I am happy to report that I will be staying :)  Also, my new companion will be arriving fresh from the MTC so I will get to be a Trainer this transfer!  It is very exciting but also kinda nerve racking at the same time.  I know it will be fine and as I am obedient this new missionary will follow suit but I just understand how important it is to start out doing things right from the get go because it will help shape the entire mission.

We were able to present the new Ward Facebook plan to the ward council yesterday! It went really well and was actually very entertaining.  Like half way through the power point presentation the High Priest group leader goes, "Wait a minute, What is a Facebook"  Haha and Jar and I laughed for like 30 seconds cuz he was totally serious.  But it went really well and I know it is going to help synergize the work with the members and missionaries.  There are soooo many benefits to Facebook and I know it will be a gigantic leap forward with missionary work and we will see the results very quickly :)

We had multiple people moving in the ward this week so we were running around helping out.  The people here in this ward are so amazing and continue to blow my mind every week as I see them show Charity for their fellow men.  They truly are followers of Christ and I love them for it.  This Sunday we had 11 investigators show up at Church! The ward was amazing at welcoming them and making their experience one that allowed the Spirit to touch them in a way that they have a desire to return.  7 of them were members of John's family and they are all currently recieving the missionary lessons!!  It is soo exciting to see their progression and I am evercome with joy for John because he is going to get to baptize his entire family.  We were trying to make arrangements for them all to be baptized in their prospective areas (Most live in montana but not in Bozeman) But President Mecham just said that they actually all can get baptized here and so tomorrow we are going to try and set the date for all 7 of them to be baptized on the same day!!  It  will for sure be a day I will never forget. 

I am soo grateful for the time I have had here with Jaromy and I know that this experience will be something we will both cherish forever.  I have learned loads from him and maybe he learned something from me but I def feel like he has been the teacher here. 

I love this work and look forward to every single day because I truly do get to see miracles happen :) I love you all and am so grateful for all your love and support!

Elder Spencer Holland

-

Hey Family! 

Anyway, this week was a great week and we saw many different blessings in many different forms. Personally and with the investigators. 

First with the investigators, we have been teaching John's family and things are going reallly well.

They are all doing great and they all accept the teachings that we have taught them and are super excited about everything.  They have all accepted the challenge to be baptized but we haven't been able to extend them a specific date because they all live in different cities near bozeman so they should be baptized in their respective wards. Well yesterday I called and talked to President Mecham and I took the opportunity to ask him about John's family and he said that they could all get baptized here in Bozeman 2 at the same time- all together.

But another miracle is that John's ENTIRE family came to church! All of them! And two of his really good friends. Apart from them we had the wife of a member that isn't a member but she has been taking the lessons but not since I have been here because she has been too overwhelmed with finishing nursing school (but she just finished last Friday so it should open up her schedule quite a bit more)  and we also had a Mexican family come to church so in total there were 11 investigators that came to church which was a record for both Spencer and I.  In Chile the most that ever came was 10.
But the teaching is going really well and I am excited for Spencer for the next transfer and his mission. He is really a great missionary and is trying his best. He is learning fast too so he will be the person that all the other missionaries look to for guidance.

Anyway, it has been amazing to be here. There have been some challenges and some great things that I have learned. That is just the mission, there is the best of both worlds. But it is amazing, the transformation that Spencer has made in his life. It is truly a miracle what has happened with him and I am so glad to have been blessed enough to come out and witness it first hand.

Miracles happen all the time, if we just have the eyes to see them.  

Anyway, I will see you all on Friday! Have a great week, its going to fly.

love,
Elder Jaromy Holland
For the last time this time.