Salut famille,
How was the wedding? I almost forgot the wedding was yesterday, it hit me about noon, I asked E. Mendoza what day it was, and he told me thursday, and I was like "huh, my sister's getting married today, crazy." Thanks for the package! I love getting stuff in the mail, and the chips were amazing. It's been so long...without doritos. If you guys ever find yourselves without anything to do, feel free to send me pictures. Pictures are absolutely MY FAVORITE. Send ALL the pictures you can. Thanks for the donuts, but I haven't eaten any yet, I've been really sick this week. Like, really sick.
There's been this flu like bug going around our district, which is just a frightening thing to watch, because you just sit there all day and literally watch the virus crawl towards you and into your system. You can't go anywhere, you just have to pray for the best. And, of course, knowing my week little immune system, it was only a matter of time. I've been sick since last Saturday, fever cough, congestion the works. I went to the doctor on tuesday and she took a blood test and told me that I have developed an allergy. My first thought was "wow, I am now Actually allergic to the MTC." Turns out the allergy medicine she gave me is kind of completely useless, so I am to head back soon. There is nothing worse than being ill in the MTC, or the field probably. I just don't have time for it.
So I have had a couple brushes with THE GUILT here or there in the past month, but since the devotional on tuesday, it's gotten worse. Why is that, you ask? Because Elder Holland spoke, which was amazing to hear him speak, but also very burdensome. I've got some good quotes for you.
"This is His church and His Gospel--You Signed on! If you want to serve for yourself go on ahead! But Don't do it in our name and leave your plaque at the door!" He was literally shouting and banging the pulpit.
"It was never easy for Christ, why should it be easy for you?"
And my favorite, when talking about the MTC rules.
"We know what we expect is a lot, but we're not sorry---This isn't Burger King, we don't hold the Pickles!"
"Don't you DARE go home. It will RUIN your LIFE."
It was a wonderful talk, he compared missionary work to the medical field and such, he's a whole new speaker when talking to missionaries.
We got a couple new elders in our zone, one by the name of Elder Falconbury. Everyone calls him Captain falcon, he's a hilarious person. During a volleyball game he actually shouted FALCON PUNCH when punching the ball, in the correct stance and everything.
I have grown to see a new insight to Carter and Joey's opinion about Sister Missionaries. We have a few in our district, and it is truly a test of my character to be patient with them. It's come to the point where they won't sit at the table until every elder is standing for them, and they will sit at the table and wait for someone to take their trays for them. Ridiculous.
E. Erickson is the reason why I'm here, he told me to say that. He keeps trying to read Jesus the Christ in class, but always falls asleep. The sisters get mad and ask him why he doesn't try harder to learn the language sometimes, he says "look, we're all gonna get out there, have an awful six months, and then we'll know how to speak." and he puts his head back down and sleeps. He's hilarious.
We teach TRC's on Wednesday, in the afternoon. and this week we were supposed to teach the volunteer how to pray in french and the plan of salvation in english, but our volunteer was confused--and he just jumped into the word of wisdom and the plan of salvation, all in french. It was an awful experience, but we made it through....Mendoza and I sounded like mentally challenged children.
"The word of Wisdom is good for your body. Amen."
"I know what my companion has said is true. Amen."
That's basically how that went down. Hopefully we'll get better at it. Well I'm out of time, But send me some pictures of the wedding ASAP. And any other pictures too, I need a good portrait of Chandler and Noah and Carter and Carlie and Hayden to show everyone. Oh, and of Kyra.
P.S. Who edited that family shot??? OVER EXPOSURE.
Paix du journai-
Elder Holm
August 30, 2010
August 20, 2010
Bonjour ma Famille!
This is P day #4, and let me tell you, it's high time I head to Montreal. The MTC is getting smaller everyday, but I need to stay here as long as possible to learn as much as possible. Next week we are teaching the 1st lesson entirely en francais! We had a 15 minute contact, and luckily we spoke french the entire time; not once was there an awkward pause. So it's coming along. Elder Mendoza and I had a volunteer investigator roleplay with us as we taught the plan of salvation (in english), and it was terrifying. We walk into the room to find that there is an extra man in the room with our original contact. The new guy is a tall, black Haitian man, with a thick accent and a detestation for missionaries. Catholic, gross. We walked in and he started off the conversation asking "So....these are the men from the new church, huh?"
"Nope, from the old church, actually."
He didn't seem to appreciate that comment very much. We spoke a lot about original sin, and the church as a community, and I was surprised at how well things were going. Elder Mendoza and I are a great team. I answer the questions he has while Mendoza looks up the scripture to back me up. Elder Mendoza has become a scriptorian--we call him scrip-Google in our class. It was excellent. As the Haitian began to speak about being baptized as a baby, Elder Mendoza instantly perked up, caught the phrase, and opened to Moroni 8. A bold scripture, and an excellent choice. He would then read the scripture, and explain how this pertains, then I would answer the Haitians questions that arose from the scripture. We still need work though. Elder Mendoza heard a phrase, and instantly picked up his notepad and tried to draw a diagram for the Haitian. I jumped in to help explain it. The Haitian just looked at us like we were idiots and said "none of this makes sense to me anymore, you are saying many different things." Tap out.
We dumped the notepad on the floor and dove into discussion again. The turning point for him was the scripture 2 Nephi, 25. He liked the idea of a joyous church. Win.
A couple of the teachers here served their mission in Montreal, and I asked them how far up north they are sending missionaries. One guy told me that they had to close down the northermost areas, due to lack of missionaries, but since there are about 20 of us just in this group heading up there, they'll probably open up the north. The highest area (in the world) is in my mission--to get there you take a 10 hour flight from montreal, straight north. There are a good number of eskimo colonies up there, all speaking english. I've been told by many missionaries returning from there that that's probably where our group is heading. Awesome.
I'm kind of embarrassed for you guys, if Kyra is killing you at mini-golf. Yikes. Better pick up the slack on the old putting course, eh?
I have a new favorite hymn--it's only in the french hymnbooks, it's used as a lullaby now. here's the english translation
Souviens-toi
(remember)
Do you remember, my child, thy divine parents?
You were in their arms. It wasn't long ago.
Today you are here, marvelously.
Look, you are shining again, like the heavens.
Speak to me, my child, of these blessed places.
Because for you, light is the veil.
Do you remember, my child, the woods, the cities?
Are we able to imagine it here?
And the sky, until the night, is it pink or gray?
The sun waits for the snow and the rain.
Tell me, my child, the color of the meadows, and the song of the birds-
of the Forgotten World.
Do you remember, my child, the dawn of time,
We were friends playing in the wind.
Then one day, in happiness, we chose to accept the Lord,
The great plan of Life.
That nightm, my child, we promised-by faith-to be reunited.
The words are phenomenal, and it sounds incredible in French.
Elder Erickson in my district has an interesting past. His mom was actually on the price is right not long ago--You guys probably don't remember her, but she lost the mustang, won a pool table, and fell on her hindside when she spun the wheel. We probably saw her before I came. Small world.
Thanks mom and Dad for the letters, and let me know how school goes. To Chandler--It's not that bad, Jr. High is just the same as elementary the first year. And Noah, good luck in the friendless class. Just a big group of fresh minds for molding to your will. That's how I like to look at it.
Almost halfway through my time here at the MTC. Thank goodness! all the food here tastes the same, no matter what I eat.
Je t'aime,
Elder Holm
This is P day #4, and let me tell you, it's high time I head to Montreal. The MTC is getting smaller everyday, but I need to stay here as long as possible to learn as much as possible. Next week we are teaching the 1st lesson entirely en francais! We had a 15 minute contact, and luckily we spoke french the entire time; not once was there an awkward pause. So it's coming along. Elder Mendoza and I had a volunteer investigator roleplay with us as we taught the plan of salvation (in english), and it was terrifying. We walk into the room to find that there is an extra man in the room with our original contact. The new guy is a tall, black Haitian man, with a thick accent and a detestation for missionaries. Catholic, gross. We walked in and he started off the conversation asking "So....these are the men from the new church, huh?"
"Nope, from the old church, actually."
He didn't seem to appreciate that comment very much. We spoke a lot about original sin, and the church as a community, and I was surprised at how well things were going. Elder Mendoza and I are a great team. I answer the questions he has while Mendoza looks up the scripture to back me up. Elder Mendoza has become a scriptorian--we call him scrip-Google in our class. It was excellent. As the Haitian began to speak about being baptized as a baby, Elder Mendoza instantly perked up, caught the phrase, and opened to Moroni 8. A bold scripture, and an excellent choice. He would then read the scripture, and explain how this pertains, then I would answer the Haitians questions that arose from the scripture. We still need work though. Elder Mendoza heard a phrase, and instantly picked up his notepad and tried to draw a diagram for the Haitian. I jumped in to help explain it. The Haitian just looked at us like we were idiots and said "none of this makes sense to me anymore, you are saying many different things." Tap out.
We dumped the notepad on the floor and dove into discussion again. The turning point for him was the scripture 2 Nephi, 25. He liked the idea of a joyous church. Win.
A couple of the teachers here served their mission in Montreal, and I asked them how far up north they are sending missionaries. One guy told me that they had to close down the northermost areas, due to lack of missionaries, but since there are about 20 of us just in this group heading up there, they'll probably open up the north. The highest area (in the world) is in my mission--to get there you take a 10 hour flight from montreal, straight north. There are a good number of eskimo colonies up there, all speaking english. I've been told by many missionaries returning from there that that's probably where our group is heading. Awesome.
I'm kind of embarrassed for you guys, if Kyra is killing you at mini-golf. Yikes. Better pick up the slack on the old putting course, eh?
I have a new favorite hymn--it's only in the french hymnbooks, it's used as a lullaby now. here's the english translation
Souviens-toi
(remember)
Do you remember, my child, thy divine parents?
You were in their arms. It wasn't long ago.
Today you are here, marvelously.
Look, you are shining again, like the heavens.
Speak to me, my child, of these blessed places.
Because for you, light is the veil.
Do you remember, my child, the woods, the cities?
Are we able to imagine it here?
And the sky, until the night, is it pink or gray?
The sun waits for the snow and the rain.
Tell me, my child, the color of the meadows, and the song of the birds-
of the Forgotten World.
Do you remember, my child, the dawn of time,
We were friends playing in the wind.
Then one day, in happiness, we chose to accept the Lord,
The great plan of Life.
That nightm, my child, we promised-by faith-to be reunited.
The words are phenomenal, and it sounds incredible in French.
Elder Erickson in my district has an interesting past. His mom was actually on the price is right not long ago--You guys probably don't remember her, but she lost the mustang, won a pool table, and fell on her hindside when she spun the wheel. We probably saw her before I came. Small world.
Thanks mom and Dad for the letters, and let me know how school goes. To Chandler--It's not that bad, Jr. High is just the same as elementary the first year. And Noah, good luck in the friendless class. Just a big group of fresh minds for molding to your will. That's how I like to look at it.
Almost halfway through my time here at the MTC. Thank goodness! all the food here tastes the same, no matter what I eat.
Je t'aime,
Elder Holm
August 19, 2010
PICTURES!
Here's the first batch of pictures from the MTC that Elder Holm sent home!
Elder Holm and his companion Elder Mendoza.
It wouldn't be Tanner if he didn't send home a couple artistic photography pictures :) 
This would be the wall of the classroom - lined with Canada and French flags.
District boys
Possibly the sight of the old "Missionary Training Center" sign? 
In front of the temple with Elder Chuang and Elder Chung I'm guessing
Laundry day!
August 13, 2010
August 13th Letter
Bonjour Ma Famille!
Sorry this one is going to be short, the computers went down and a lot of people lost half their time for some awful reason. Thanks for the candy and everything, it is much appreciated. This week has gone by really fast, yet every day seems like an eternity. Very much like a twilight zone episode. I'll be glad to get out of here, that's for sure.
The French is coming along well - we begin teaching the lessons in French week after next. So ready or not! My companion and I finally realized that we're not made for each other, but after these points of friction we have risen above it. The food is getting old really fast, but that was to be expected. This place gets smaller and smaller every day. I have started reading the Book of Mormon in French, and it's very difficult. Took me the better part of an hour to read the first chapter of first Nephi, but I got through it. It's the fastest way to the gift of tongues, I've been told. So I'm going to plow through it. I'm glad to hear that Kyra is spending a lot of time over at the house, sounds like she might just stick around. Yes.
Sleep is beginning to allude me again - just can't seem to turn my brain off at night, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I believe you misunderstood me about the flute. I already know how to play it, I've been checking one out here and I've got a couple hymns down already. But it's alright; I don't necessarily need you to send me one. I'll keep using this one somehow. I didn't know there was a d-center in the temple, I'll be sure to hit that up.
There are two Taiwanese elders here, Elder Chuang and Elder Chung. Elder Chuang speaks 5 different languages, studying them in college, and is 25 years old. Elder Chung graduated from school with a bachelors in nutrition before he got out here, but only took a couple years of high school English. They are both trying to learn French, through English. Elder Chung couldn't handle it; he had to go home, which is completely understandable. That's like trying to learn Russian through Mandarin. Awful. He's a braver soul than I.
I've evolved from cranes to swapping nametags. On Sunday I was able to swap nametags of two elders without them even noticing! Pretty impressive stuff.
The work in France is exploding right now, baptisms are up 40%! Hopefully Montreal will catch up soon. Elder Bagnall, he's in my room with me, told me that he's probably going up north with me. He read a part of his patriarchal blessing that said he would "Preach on the very fringes of humanity" ALDBKJADLKFHANDLFKHNDLFKGNSLDKFAMLSRJLSKAGJ crazy insane stuff! So we're pumped. It's getting kind of chilly, walking from the shower to our room nowadays, which only makes me grimace when I think of Montreal. We had a missionary here that is from Montreal, show us the Quebecois accent. It is amazing. Couldn't understand a thing he said though. But since it's so close to America, they substitute a lot of English verbs, and say stuff like "Stop-ey! or Bust-ey!" Hopefully it won't be too bad. He says the people are not religious at all though. Soon to change. Hopefullly.
Devotionals have been good. Teaching is a breeze with elder Mendoza.
One minute left, gotta go.
Je t'aime.
Elder Holm
Sorry this one is going to be short, the computers went down and a lot of people lost half their time for some awful reason. Thanks for the candy and everything, it is much appreciated. This week has gone by really fast, yet every day seems like an eternity. Very much like a twilight zone episode. I'll be glad to get out of here, that's for sure.
The French is coming along well - we begin teaching the lessons in French week after next. So ready or not! My companion and I finally realized that we're not made for each other, but after these points of friction we have risen above it. The food is getting old really fast, but that was to be expected. This place gets smaller and smaller every day. I have started reading the Book of Mormon in French, and it's very difficult. Took me the better part of an hour to read the first chapter of first Nephi, but I got through it. It's the fastest way to the gift of tongues, I've been told. So I'm going to plow through it. I'm glad to hear that Kyra is spending a lot of time over at the house, sounds like she might just stick around. Yes.
Sleep is beginning to allude me again - just can't seem to turn my brain off at night, but I'm sure I'll get used to it. I believe you misunderstood me about the flute. I already know how to play it, I've been checking one out here and I've got a couple hymns down already. But it's alright; I don't necessarily need you to send me one. I'll keep using this one somehow. I didn't know there was a d-center in the temple, I'll be sure to hit that up.
There are two Taiwanese elders here, Elder Chuang and Elder Chung. Elder Chuang speaks 5 different languages, studying them in college, and is 25 years old. Elder Chung graduated from school with a bachelors in nutrition before he got out here, but only took a couple years of high school English. They are both trying to learn French, through English. Elder Chung couldn't handle it; he had to go home, which is completely understandable. That's like trying to learn Russian through Mandarin. Awful. He's a braver soul than I.
I've evolved from cranes to swapping nametags. On Sunday I was able to swap nametags of two elders without them even noticing! Pretty impressive stuff.
The work in France is exploding right now, baptisms are up 40%! Hopefully Montreal will catch up soon. Elder Bagnall, he's in my room with me, told me that he's probably going up north with me. He read a part of his patriarchal blessing that said he would "Preach on the very fringes of humanity" ALDBKJADLKFHANDLFKHNDLFKGNSLDKFAMLSRJLSKAGJ crazy insane stuff! So we're pumped. It's getting kind of chilly, walking from the shower to our room nowadays, which only makes me grimace when I think of Montreal. We had a missionary here that is from Montreal, show us the Quebecois accent. It is amazing. Couldn't understand a thing he said though. But since it's so close to America, they substitute a lot of English verbs, and say stuff like "Stop-ey! or Bust-ey!" Hopefully it won't be too bad. He says the people are not religious at all though. Soon to change. Hopefullly.
Devotionals have been good. Teaching is a breeze with elder Mendoza.
One minute left, gotta go.
Je t'aime.
Elder Holm
August 7, 2010
August 6th Letter
Quo de nouf fils! (qwa de nouf feece)
It means 'What up Son?!' That's the phrase floating around here nowadays. It's great to have the first week under my belt. Time begins to fly once you start doing the exact same thing...every day...every week... No, it's good. Thanks to Carter and Noah for the cranes, they were most inspiring. Speaking of cranes, I've evolved into slipping cranes into people's pockets as they WALK. I've gotten a total of 13 cranes planted, them all bearing the message LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS. I figured it was appropriate.
I have some good quotes from one of the devotionals here -- Elder Kendrick, emeritus of the seventy, said that "selective obedience is a mockery of the law of obedience. Selective obedience is to pretend to be obedient when it's convenient." It's true, and let me tell you folks, obedience pays off. I have been having the hardest time sleeping here, until we had that devotional, and our room decided to get to bed on time that night. By simply obeying the curfew I have slept through the entire night and continue to do so, but only when I am in bed on time. Romans 5:19 better describes our need for obedience.
In one of our meetings a man spoke to us about planning, and he looked, walked, even sounded EXACTLY like Bill Murray. Imagine Bill Murray talking about baptism and people answering his questions "Well THERE you GO! NOW we're TALKING!" It was outstanding.
Another great quote, "Fear can make mountains out of molehills, faith can make molehills out of mountains." Don't let our home become a new Wasatch front, keep the molehills small everyone.
I have a humorous story to tell you. We were practicing teaching and Elder Stanley and Elder Bagnell went in for a ten minute session but came out two minutes early. "We panicked and cut the lesson short before we went in... then we ended too early" they said, so they just sat there, in silence. Then elder Bagnell said "what do you think about families, elder Stanley?" and Elder Stanley said, "I like families very much," and the silence continued. The volunteer broke the silence by asking them if they wanted watermelon, then she pretended to cut watermelon and offered some to them and they sat on the couch and pretended to eat it. Now the phrase has caught on. Whenever you bomb a testimony or lesson, it's called "eating watermelon."
I have discovered that Elder Erickson, from my district, looks just like the hedgehog from Toy Story 3. Incredibly so. I'm sending some pictures soon. There is another elder here who is Finnish, learning french, and he has a rockin accent. He sounds just like the Pinky, from Pinky and the Brain, and he's super short, it's hilarious. It doesn't help that his companion is English. People love to be contacted by them, they are fun to just hear.
Contacting in french has been rough. I have note cards so I can ask questions, but if they don't give me the exact response I'm planning on -- well, they get my testimony anyways. I'm getting better though.
I talked to my branch president, and we discussed my musical talent. He, as well as myself, have found the impression that I need to improve my musical talent through the learning of instruments. So I was wondering if Brooke Watson still has her flute? Is she still using it? Could someone mail it to me, if she does? I've been checking out the flutes here, and have made some progress, but they changed the office schedule and now I won't be able to check them out anymore.
How is the wedding coming along? I hear everything is falling into place, which is good. I know everyone is super busy, but I really could use some short sleeve shirts, and maybe a collapsible hamper, if that's at all possible.
Mon francais est tres bien! Je pleasant, c'est mal. Je suis que le Dieu est en Dieu du paix, et Joseph Smith est un prophete, aussi Thomas S. Monson, prophete moderne.
I'm preparing a talk for Sunday, all in French! It's crazy how hard they push you.
Good luck with everything.
Je t'aime,
Elder Holm
It means 'What up Son?!' That's the phrase floating around here nowadays. It's great to have the first week under my belt. Time begins to fly once you start doing the exact same thing...every day...every week... No, it's good. Thanks to Carter and Noah for the cranes, they were most inspiring. Speaking of cranes, I've evolved into slipping cranes into people's pockets as they WALK. I've gotten a total of 13 cranes planted, them all bearing the message LIGHT UP THE DARKNESS. I figured it was appropriate.
I have some good quotes from one of the devotionals here -- Elder Kendrick, emeritus of the seventy, said that "selective obedience is a mockery of the law of obedience. Selective obedience is to pretend to be obedient when it's convenient." It's true, and let me tell you folks, obedience pays off. I have been having the hardest time sleeping here, until we had that devotional, and our room decided to get to bed on time that night. By simply obeying the curfew I have slept through the entire night and continue to do so, but only when I am in bed on time. Romans 5:19 better describes our need for obedience.
In one of our meetings a man spoke to us about planning, and he looked, walked, even sounded EXACTLY like Bill Murray. Imagine Bill Murray talking about baptism and people answering his questions "Well THERE you GO! NOW we're TALKING!" It was outstanding.
Another great quote, "Fear can make mountains out of molehills, faith can make molehills out of mountains." Don't let our home become a new Wasatch front, keep the molehills small everyone.
I have a humorous story to tell you. We were practicing teaching and Elder Stanley and Elder Bagnell went in for a ten minute session but came out two minutes early. "We panicked and cut the lesson short before we went in... then we ended too early" they said, so they just sat there, in silence. Then elder Bagnell said "what do you think about families, elder Stanley?" and Elder Stanley said, "I like families very much," and the silence continued. The volunteer broke the silence by asking them if they wanted watermelon, then she pretended to cut watermelon and offered some to them and they sat on the couch and pretended to eat it. Now the phrase has caught on. Whenever you bomb a testimony or lesson, it's called "eating watermelon."
I have discovered that Elder Erickson, from my district, looks just like the hedgehog from Toy Story 3. Incredibly so. I'm sending some pictures soon. There is another elder here who is Finnish, learning french, and he has a rockin accent. He sounds just like the Pinky, from Pinky and the Brain, and he's super short, it's hilarious. It doesn't help that his companion is English. People love to be contacted by them, they are fun to just hear.
Contacting in french has been rough. I have note cards so I can ask questions, but if they don't give me the exact response I'm planning on -- well, they get my testimony anyways. I'm getting better though.
I talked to my branch president, and we discussed my musical talent. He, as well as myself, have found the impression that I need to improve my musical talent through the learning of instruments. So I was wondering if Brooke Watson still has her flute? Is she still using it? Could someone mail it to me, if she does? I've been checking out the flutes here, and have made some progress, but they changed the office schedule and now I won't be able to check them out anymore.
How is the wedding coming along? I hear everything is falling into place, which is good. I know everyone is super busy, but I really could use some short sleeve shirts, and maybe a collapsible hamper, if that's at all possible.
Mon francais est tres bien! Je pleasant, c'est mal. Je suis que le Dieu est en Dieu du paix, et Joseph Smith est un prophete, aussi Thomas S. Monson, prophete moderne.
I'm preparing a talk for Sunday, all in French! It's crazy how hard they push you.
Good luck with everything.
Je t'aime,
Elder Holm
August 1, 2010
First Letter
Bonjour Famille,
I didn't have an email to send this too and forgot everyone else's. So I decided to send this one out to multiple people just in case. Email me the fam address, so next time I don't waste 23 seconds. This counter in the top right corner is freakin me out.
The MTC has been great, but I feel like I've lived a lifetime within every day. So long. Our orientation meeting was 4 1/2 hours long, just sitting there, talking about getting everyone interviewed. They told us to begin preparing talks en francais, to give in sacrament meeting, and in a couple weeks from now, they'll basically pull a name out of a hat and that elder gets to speak. Ah. My companion is Elder Mendoza, he's from Houston, Texas, but was born in Mexico, so he has dual citizenship. He's one of the most humble people I know, with a fiery faith in his eyes. He says he doesn't know much about the scriptures, but don't let him fool you. He's heading to Canada, Montreal, as well, but his call was originally for a spanish speaking mission, which he already speaks fluently. So when he got here they tossed him into french class with us to learn another language. Cool eh? He's struggling with the accent a lot, cause the whole spanish/french thing. He speaks a lot like Pedro, from Napoleon Dynamite, almost exactly so, and looks like the evil blue alien in the new show coming out soon, the one played by Will Ferrell. He's a soccer beast, which makes gym time awkward, but we soon came to an unspoken agreement that he'd play soccer whilst I ran with elder McRoberts.
I thought that it would be hard to be with someone 24/7, but actually it's very similar to my entire childhood with Hayden. So I've been prepared. Speaking of Hayden, I keep finding all these origami cranes in my coat pocket and books, all I can say is PRISON BREAK. Chapeau Hay-Do, I look forward to pwning you with my origami soon.
So I was warned about the orange juice multiple times, and I thought I was clever in quietly avoiding it for the first day, whilst the other elders unwittingly gulped it down. I was determined not to touch the stuff. But the second day, when I got immunizations out of the way, they offered me a bottle of OJ. Thinking they finally outsourced something, I figured I was safe. I cracked it open, and took a couple gulps. Who knew two gulps was all it took? My stomach was a war torn battlefield for the rest of the night. Why would they serve something so harmful to so many of the Lord's workers?
It's only been about two full days here, and we've got our prayers down, along with our testimonies, and most of our speaking is done en francais. The food here is fantastic. My favorite part is eating all the soup and salad I want, and the other elders don't mind, because they have it on their trays too, somewhere in the mountains of food they carry around.
Sleeping has been super rough. I have gotten extremely familiar with the bottom of my elder's mattress, as he's on the top bunk. Still in scout camp mode, and doing comfortably well, with no intention of stopping anytime soon. The way I feel now, I could go the whole two years.
Speaking of Elder McRoberts, his companion is Elder Anniskette, from Alaska. He's a professional beat boxer, and would have gone to national championships for adults this year, but came on a mission instead. I know about every other elder in my zone, at least 12 of us are from davis high, all going to Toulouse, Paris or Montreal.
The MTC has such as strong spirit about it; I wish I could've felt this way all the time growing up. But such is not the case. Hopefully you guys can find some common ground, maybe a white flag here or there, so that Chandler and Noah, (And maybe even Peeper) can feel the strong righteous spirit of the Lord in his work before they come.
My district leader is Elder Heywood, and he looks exactly like Kirby Heyborne, as Elder Calhoun. No joke. I share a room with Elder Stanley and Elder Bagnall. Stanley is from Cottonwood Heights, SLC, and Bagnall is from Arizona. Bagnall does every sport and every sport perfectly, and Stanley is a lot like me in eighth grade, except he's a black belt. Crazy, you never see the black belts coming. I guess they like it that way.
There are some things I forgot that I could use. We're suppose to match as missionaries in dress, and I only brought long sleeved shirts and elder Mendoza only brought short sleeved, save two long sleeved. So I could use a couple short sleevers, until Mendoza can get some more long sleevers. As well as a laundry hamper, and one of those stainless steel water bottles. Everything else, I think I'm good with. Except candy, could use some of that.
I found a scripture I read now every time I get tired, Helaman 10:12 - and then I have no excuse to be tired anymore.
Good luck this week!
Peace be the journey,
Toujours l'amour,
Elder Holm
I didn't have an email to send this too and forgot everyone else's. So I decided to send this one out to multiple people just in case. Email me the fam address, so next time I don't waste 23 seconds. This counter in the top right corner is freakin me out.
The MTC has been great, but I feel like I've lived a lifetime within every day. So long. Our orientation meeting was 4 1/2 hours long, just sitting there, talking about getting everyone interviewed. They told us to begin preparing talks en francais, to give in sacrament meeting, and in a couple weeks from now, they'll basically pull a name out of a hat and that elder gets to speak. Ah. My companion is Elder Mendoza, he's from Houston, Texas, but was born in Mexico, so he has dual citizenship. He's one of the most humble people I know, with a fiery faith in his eyes. He says he doesn't know much about the scriptures, but don't let him fool you. He's heading to Canada, Montreal, as well, but his call was originally for a spanish speaking mission, which he already speaks fluently. So when he got here they tossed him into french class with us to learn another language. Cool eh? He's struggling with the accent a lot, cause the whole spanish/french thing. He speaks a lot like Pedro, from Napoleon Dynamite, almost exactly so, and looks like the evil blue alien in the new show coming out soon, the one played by Will Ferrell. He's a soccer beast, which makes gym time awkward, but we soon came to an unspoken agreement that he'd play soccer whilst I ran with elder McRoberts.
I thought that it would be hard to be with someone 24/7, but actually it's very similar to my entire childhood with Hayden. So I've been prepared. Speaking of Hayden, I keep finding all these origami cranes in my coat pocket and books, all I can say is PRISON BREAK. Chapeau Hay-Do, I look forward to pwning you with my origami soon.
So I was warned about the orange juice multiple times, and I thought I was clever in quietly avoiding it for the first day, whilst the other elders unwittingly gulped it down. I was determined not to touch the stuff. But the second day, when I got immunizations out of the way, they offered me a bottle of OJ. Thinking they finally outsourced something, I figured I was safe. I cracked it open, and took a couple gulps. Who knew two gulps was all it took? My stomach was a war torn battlefield for the rest of the night. Why would they serve something so harmful to so many of the Lord's workers?
It's only been about two full days here, and we've got our prayers down, along with our testimonies, and most of our speaking is done en francais. The food here is fantastic. My favorite part is eating all the soup and salad I want, and the other elders don't mind, because they have it on their trays too, somewhere in the mountains of food they carry around.
Sleeping has been super rough. I have gotten extremely familiar with the bottom of my elder's mattress, as he's on the top bunk. Still in scout camp mode, and doing comfortably well, with no intention of stopping anytime soon. The way I feel now, I could go the whole two years.
Speaking of Elder McRoberts, his companion is Elder Anniskette, from Alaska. He's a professional beat boxer, and would have gone to national championships for adults this year, but came on a mission instead. I know about every other elder in my zone, at least 12 of us are from davis high, all going to Toulouse, Paris or Montreal.
The MTC has such as strong spirit about it; I wish I could've felt this way all the time growing up. But such is not the case. Hopefully you guys can find some common ground, maybe a white flag here or there, so that Chandler and Noah, (And maybe even Peeper) can feel the strong righteous spirit of the Lord in his work before they come.
My district leader is Elder Heywood, and he looks exactly like Kirby Heyborne, as Elder Calhoun. No joke. I share a room with Elder Stanley and Elder Bagnall. Stanley is from Cottonwood Heights, SLC, and Bagnall is from Arizona. Bagnall does every sport and every sport perfectly, and Stanley is a lot like me in eighth grade, except he's a black belt. Crazy, you never see the black belts coming. I guess they like it that way.
There are some things I forgot that I could use. We're suppose to match as missionaries in dress, and I only brought long sleeved shirts and elder Mendoza only brought short sleeved, save two long sleeved. So I could use a couple short sleevers, until Mendoza can get some more long sleevers. As well as a laundry hamper, and one of those stainless steel water bottles. Everything else, I think I'm good with. Except candy, could use some of that.
I found a scripture I read now every time I get tired, Helaman 10:12 - and then I have no excuse to be tired anymore.
Good luck this week!
Peace be the journey,
Toujours l'amour,
Elder Holm
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