Dang Concussions

I left my planner at home, and because of my awful memory, (probably from concussions) I can't remember much of anything from my week. I'm sorry, but this week was a lot better than last.

Tuesday, we raked some leaves at the 92 year olds, and that's honestly all i can remember.

Wednesday, was P-day, because of transfers, but we ended up playing board games because the gym was full of random stuff. (i actually didnt play any, i learned how to juggle.) Oh ya, i learned how to juggle, and it's really cool! I'm getting pretty good at it too... which is good! cause it's a random thing that i've kind of always wanted to do.

Thursday, the other wards sisters gave us a referral for some guy they met in the library, and scheduled a lesson in the morning at the institute. he didn't show up, so we went looking for him. We found him at the library and he was still willing to talk to us. He's way sweet! we talked about our relationship with Christ, and really just got to know each other. it was snowing and we went around looking for people who are still on the records but no one has ever seen or heard of. No miracles with that, but that's ok! the new elders came and when they arrived a member of our ward was at the church and he was like, "lets go get pizza!" so he took us to a pizza buffet, and it was really good. I didn't eat much, but it was really good. haha. what a sweet dude, taking 8 missionaries to dinner like that.

Friday we had district meeting, and i dont remember anything. It was freezing cold. I remember that.

Saturday we had Iowa games again!! We got to score 6th grade GIRLS basketball for 9 hours! how awesome is that?! it was sooo incredibly fun, and active, and my rump is still sore from sitting so long. Sheesh. haha

Sunday was awesome!! the dude we taught in the library came to church, and two members brought investigators too! It was crazy. I felt like i was running around going crazy, but the ward did an awesome job, and the experience was good. but very stressful one member, im gonna call him will, has been bringing his girlfriend for a few weeks, and then that night his family had us over for dinner. We taught the Restoration, and it was awesome. It was all going very smoothly, and wills sister was there too. We talked about the healing of the Atonement and how Jesus Christ is there for us at all times, in all circumstances. His sister bore SWEET testimony of it, and was crying. Then wills GF was crying, then we continued to teach and bore testimony on the Book of Mormon, And Will cried, his GF cried, his sister cried, Elder Keller Cried, I almost cried, and it was SUPER strong spirit. It was amazing. And Hopefully something comes from it all.

That's pretty much all i remember from this last week off the top of my head. The Lord is leading me along, even through low valleys and high peaks, I just have to be patient and submissive. Easier said than done.

Thank you for all of your prayers and love and support and letters.

In this week of Thanksgiving, remember all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do for YOU.

Thank you all, Love you!

-Elder Hollan

Alma 26:27

This week was just crazy and feels like it was a month long. I'm not getting transferred, so i'll be here with Elder Keller (the new district leader) until january!

Monday we went and helped the old couple we gave a blessing to move from one house to another. It was way sweet because they are super nice and love us.

Tuesday we had interviews with President Jensen most of the day. He's a sweet guy, and his wife is a sweet heart. After that we went to John and Allie's to meet with them. They had read the Book of Mormon, but were picking it apart word by word, and asking a million questions about it. So we just tried to answer their questions and move onto the lesson but there were so many questions there was no time. It was really dumb. The spirit WAS NOT there, and at the end he told us that they "just aren't buying it. If we have any more questions we'll give you a call." So that's extremely lame, and it really bothered me a lot. I was really really sad, and felt like it was my fault, (because partly it was).

Wednesday i was still feeling AWFUL because of John and Allie from the moment I woke up. But after studies and some prayer it got better. We went and contacted and no one would answer and nothing really happened until we found this sweet girl that was interested, but she's single so we gave her to the sisters. We went out to a members house and helped them with their yard because it had been dug up from replacing pipes, and we moved a ton of their stuff into their barn. When we were finished, they had prepared a full fledged Seder. (meal of the Passover for Jews), and it was crazy weird and cool. They had silver platters and little silver shot glasses for grape juice, and a real script just like when the Savior had it. It was pretty legit. Really quite interesting and cool to see how the Savior fulfilled every "jot and tittle" of the Law of Moses. I had lamb, and it was a little funky but I liked it. She gave us souvenirs and stuff to keep and remember, and it was neat!

Thursday, I gave a training in District meeting, then went on exchanges with Elder Barger. We taught the Restoration to one of our potentials and it was really sweet, but at the end of the lesson, after accepting a baptismal invite, they still said that they "will call us when they find out". So that's really lame. After that we ate some pizza with a Recent Convert so that was fun.

Friday, we were running a little late to an appointment and when we got there he wasn't available anymore so we had to reschedule. But in that free time, in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY, (awful time to knock doors), we had no other choice but to knock doors. So that's what we did! Said a prayer, and started going. NO ONE answered their doors. We knocked and knocked and NO ONE would answer. Then this guy came out of a building and was like, "Hey! are you Mormons?" ...ya "well i'm a dwindling catholic and i would love to meet with you guys. Do you meet with people and like teach and stuff?" yes.. that's pretty much exactly what we do (i said in my mind.) So the Lord gave us that guy. That was neat. He can't meet until after Thanksgiving, but still a blessing. The VERY NEXT DOOR we knocked on, was this man from Spain, he wanted us to come in and teach him right then, but our next appointment was in 10 mins, so we asked if we could come back later. He said he didn't know if he would have time, but we still had to go to the other appointment so we got his info and rushed to the appointment. It fell through, so we ran back to the Spanish man's apartment and he let us in. Very long story short, He is going through the hardest time in his life, and he told us so. He's having problems with his wife, financial, and emotional problems. He is extremely humble, and AMAZINGLY prepared. He's super awesome, and i feel so bad for him. After the opening prayer, he was crying, and We started teaching the Resto, (because he expressed how he thought some truths taught in churches have been changed.) and it was not going well. So we started to teach about the Atonement, and the Book of Mormon. It was extremely spiritual, tears all around. He thanked us and promised us he would read, and asked if we would hug him. When i hugged him, he said it felt like hugging a brother.

I am extremely humbled and grateful to be help him in his greatest time of need. Even if it was just to love him and help him not make irrational and permanent decisions. I know that the magnitude and effect is still not in perspective for me, and what we did to help him, but from what i do know, I am very grateful the Lord trusted us with loving him that day.

That night we tracted again, and on one door, the door across the hall thought we had knocked on theirs, so we split up, (me teaching one door, elder keller turned around and teaching the other). it was sooo funny and sooo sweet. I didn't really think about it until after and realized how sick that was. haha

Saturday we helped the sisters get everything ready for their baptism. He's a tall guy, and so it took 4 times (finally with them kneeling in the font) to get him completely submersed. He said he felt like the Lord was saying, "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you sure you want to do this?" and he was just like "YES! I WANT TO DO THIS!" haha so awesome. That night was stake conference, which was centered on missionary work, and it was really awesome.

Sunday we had stake conference again, and we went and visited some Less Actives, and had dinner at a members.

I know that the Lord is testing me, building me, and putting me through a refiners fire. This week was really tough, and i'm still trying to work through it all with the Lord. But I know that if we keep working, praying, and being obedient, then we will finally get some success.

-Elder Hollan

In The Hands Of The Potter

 

 

 

Hello! This week was good, but looking back it felt like last monday was a month ago.

On Tuesday, we woke up and it was raining super hard. But by the time we had to leave for a lesson, it was just this mist rain that happens in Iowa, so we just wore rain jackets. While walking to the appointment, the rain started to pick up, and by the time we had arrived, it was POURING rain. We were completely soaked. We were teaching John and Allie, and we taught them the Plan of Salvation. It was really good, and they totally understand and are willing to read and pray and everything in order to reach the date of Dec 14. Very exciting! Elder Keller felt sick still, and when we had walked in the rain, it made him feel very sick. So Tuesday night he couldn't even talk at dinner. We went home early.

Wednesday, Elder Keller was very sick so we stayed inside all day. When we went to the Dr. to see if he had Strep, the Dr. was super interested in the gospel and missionaries because she had seen The Book Of Mormon play! It was sweet! We are going to schedule a time to meet with her! SO SWEET! We sat around, watched a ton of church movies, listened to talks, and studied.

Thursday, Elder Keller was still sick so we just went out to reschedule lessons and give a Book of Mormon to the sweet Japanese guy. It took 30 minutes just to give it to him, because we COULD NOT communicate with him. It seriously took 10 minutes alone to say goodbye. hahah so funny.

Friday, we went on exchanges and I was with Elder Mckenzie here in Ames. A less active girl from a different ward wanted me to teach her how to throw clay on the wheel, (make pottery) so we went to the ceramic studio she worked at and I taught her! It was way fun! I got to throw again! I missed that, and it was a tender mercy to be able to do that. The owner of the studio saw me helping her, and asked if I would be able to throw her some lids and stuff that she needed. I said I'd try, and honestly, with not much confidence in myself because it has been MONTHS since I've thrown, said a quick prayer to myself that I would not fail. AND THROUGH THE LORD I DID IT. I made everything that I needed to make her, and to the right dimensions and everything. She was very impressed, and I was very surprised. Haha. We're going back to do some service for her, whether that's teaching customers how to throw, or what, I'm not sure, but I'm excited! The Ward Mission Leader found out, and is organizing a ceramic class for our ward, with me as the teacher... great. I'm very nervous. haha. We'll see how it goes and if it actually goes through.

We then went and raked leaves for 3 and half hours. Good grief. No wonder I never did it before my mission. Then we went to dinner, and taught the Recent Convert that's a boss.

Saturday Morning we taught a girls friend who has a bunch of questions about the church. So we met outside his building on a bench and froze our faces off, and taught him! It was sweet! He's now an investigator! Then we went and taught a Hindu family AND GOT THEM TO PRAY! WOO!! Then a lesson with the evangelical guy from Nigeria. Then zone training, then we had the opportunity to give a blessing to an elderly man who was recently diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. It was super spiritual and I LOVED it. They loved each other (him and his wife) so much, it broke my heart how sad she was. We are going to try and teach them, but we'll see how it goes.

Sunday was a day full of meetings, planning, and more meetings. Woohoo.

I've always heard people talk about how Christ is the Master Potter, and how we should be soft and form-able in His hands. This is one thing that I have been striving to do my entire life, to be what the Lord wants me to be, to put myself aside, and make His will mine. It's a life-long journey, but as with every thing, it begins with one step. I hope you guys will try to see what kind of clay you are. If you're being obedient and letting the Lord form you, or if you're trying to make yourself something YOU WANT.

I love my mission, thank you for all the love and support. I hope and pray that I will be able to help people realized the love and plan that our Heavenly Father has for them. I'm not very good at it though. Eh. it'll come.

Love, Elder Hollan

Halloween Town

 

 

Hello! This week was pretty crazy. We literally ran from appointment to appointment, and it feels like last week was a month ago. Doesn't make sense, but we did a lot this week.

Monday night we went tracting (like always) and knocked into this SICK guy from Japan. He's been in America for like 2 weeks, and he has VERY broken english. It was so hard to understand him, and he would stop and try and say things in japenese expecting us to understand. But he was the nicest guy ever! he kept saying how he was so glad he met us, and that we were his friends. He gave us this little toy that is a word (like monkey) in japenese, then transforms into the animal that is the word. I know that's an awful description, but it's sweet.

Tuesday we went back to the spidery cellar, and finished FOR NOW. whew. Then we went and hung out with our RC. He was just getting in bed but we talked to his neighbor (who's also in a chair) for a long time. He's one of the nicest guys i've ever met! sooo sweet. We had a ton of appointments, and most of them fell through, so we ended up knocking a ton. We found this Muslim guy and we started teaching him. (we teach a lot of muslims) and it was going ok. I was trying SO HARD to listen to him and the spirit, and it was working! He started... well... expressing his beliefs about the Savior, and I was seriously about to freak out. In my mind I was just like, I'm gonna lay down the law and bear testimony and tell him what's up, but i KNEW if i did that, the spirit would leave me, and it would get worse. So instead, i just let it go. And SOMEHOW (through the Holy Ghost obvi) we ended up talking about the Book of Mormon and gave him one and left. I was surprised in myself to be honest, but i'm glad I listened to the spirit and swallowed my pride.

Wednesday, we taught the elderly lady we gave a blessing to about the Plan of Salvation. She really understood it all, and it went smoothly until Spirit world. Then all of her concerns and questions came about the nature of God and stuff. A member who has helped her A TON was there, and he was being awesome! he was testifying of what we said, and teaching and we'd testify, and applied the lesson to her like we couldn't (because he knows her way better). He completely turned the lesson around, and explained HOW to find out if what we say is true. She said the closing prayer, and she was crying. IT WAS AWESOME. haha. He took us out to lunch after, and it was raining incredibly hard. But when it stopped raining we went and raked up some leaves for the 92 year old. That night was trunk or treat for our ward, so I wore the tie that Mom sent me, and it was nasty cause it was so long. i let Elder Keller borrow one of my gross ties, and we put on fake mustaches that his mom had sent us. We took the mustaches off for the trunk or treat, but had a nice photoshoot first. We had pumpkin flashlights, (flashlights with plastic pumpkins at the end) and directed the traffic into the parking lot. and we were getting WAY too into it. Dancing, flicking the light, doing all types of weird stuff. It was a good time. We got to walk around and talk to a ton of people, and it was a ton of fun. Because it was "beggars night" (kids halloween for Iowa) we had to be with a member after 6pm. We had an appointment at 8, so we had a member drop us off at their house, and scheduled a ride to pick us up right after. Unfortunately, the appointment fell through, so we hid inside their yard until an emergency ride could come get us. Hahaha

Thursday we had district meeting, and was Halloween. Our appointment fell through right before dinner with a member, so we didn't know what to do. We weren't going to go tracting on Halloween... but we just HAPPENED to be walking and find a member and he told us to come draw the Plan of Salvation on his driveway with chalk (for trick or treaters to see).

Friday, we went on exchanges and I went with Elder Dyre (Elder Bargers new companion).  We taught the woman with 7 kids, and she had a lot of questions, which were answered. The lesson was good, not great. But that's ok. We went and knocked doors in their area, and it was pretty successful! Then we drove around contacting less actives and potentials for the rest of the night. It was pretty busy.

Saturday was another Long, long, long day. We had a lesson with a man from Nigeria, and he goes to the Evangelical Free church. We were going to teach the Restoration but we taught Plan of Salvation instead. He was pulling out Bible references left and right, and SO WERE WE. WHATTUP. Just as the scriptures say, with the Book of Mormon AND the Bible, we have the power to confound false doctrines. WHADDDUP. He invited us to his early morning Bible study at his church too. We literally ran from that appointment to another with 2 of our other investigators. I will call them a fake name, Allie and John from now on. We knocked into them, and they have two small kids. One is 3 and one is 1. They are super sweet, and we get a long with them really well. They are both studying at ISU, and have already accepted the invitation to be baptized. John had a TON of questions about the priesthood, and told us he went and asked his Pastor about it too. So we tackled that. And then we were able to refer it back to the Book of Mormon and prayer. By the end, we invited them to be baptized on DECEMBER 14, and they accepted (if they knew it was true)!! They move to South-western Iowa on the 21 of December, so it's kind of pushing it. Haha. IT WAS SO AWESOME. And they said, "looks like we better start reading." HECK YA!! Then we ran to another lesson and her husband wasn't home so we rescheduled. While walking by a tree with a cool leaf, some Less active members called out their window and told us to come in. We showed them Mountains to Climb, and It was awesome, as usual. We ran from that lesson to a Dinner with a African American woman who is from the Bronx. She is old, and SUPER nice. Love her to death. She made A TON OF FOOD, and IT WAS SOOOO GOOD. After that lesson, we went and gave a blessing to someone who was sick.

Sunday, John and Allie came to church! IT WAS SOOO SICK. I WAS SO PUMPED. They had to leave right after sacrament, but the ward welcomed them well and we have a meeting with them Tuesday. :) I'm very excited/grateful/happy about all of that.

This week was awesome, and it's getting pretty cold! The wind sucks real bad. The sisters in our ward have a baptism next Saturday, so that's exciting as well.

Thank you for all your love and support, I love you all and I'm thankful for all of you.

-Elder Hollan