Last letter......

I was thinking this morning about what I was going to share with you all for my last letter....It's really hard to put into words my feelings....because I dont even know how I feel right now. A little bit of EVERYTHING. My head has been spinning a little this last week....

The biggest thing that I have gained in my mission that I hold closest to my heart is my testimony...My testimony isn't the deepest and most complex thing, but its something personal to me. I have gained a rock solid testimony here because of the experiences I have had and I'm beyond grateful for that. I know that when times get hard and life has it's trials I will be able to lean on my testimony and strengthen others. My mission has helped prepare me for what is to come. I know I have a purpose here and I know my Heavenly Father LOVES me. I KNOW its all true... 

I have been starring at my computer for over an hour just to get that much out. Its hard to put my gratitude in words, haha...but I LOVED my mission. It's the best and hardest decision I have ever made in my life. I may not have had the most baptisms in the mission or the most rescues but i have LOVED the people, the language, the culture. I love it all. I feel content finishing my mission because I know that I gave it my all.I worked my very hardest. I will be forever grateful for this special time in my life. I can't believe this is all really happening...but I want to thank you all for your love and support and your prayers. I love you all so much. I love my family more than they will ever know. You guys mean everything to me. 

Well..I guess I will see you all soon?!? 

LOVE, HERMANA HOLT 

Miracles.....

Well...i will just give you a recap of the week because a lot happened...

Last Monday we went to a part of Camana called Pucchun...we hiked a GIANT sand hill to an old Incan Indian grave yard and searched for bones with all of the elders...it was super fun because we got super dirty and there was an amazing view of the fields and the ocean. We found an old skull and tons and tons of bones. 

We have been seeing MIRACLES in our area...God is seriously preparing people for us here and the spirit is guiding us to them...

On Tuesday we woke up at 5:30 and ran to the hospital to wait in line for two hours to get an appointment for Yomayra so she can FINALLY get married:) and worked in our area all day...it was great. 

On Wednesday and Thursday we went to Mollendo for conference and to do divisions with the sisters there...I got to be with hermana Kirk from California and Calderon from Canada. It was fun...the drive there was crazy beautiful because we just rode the coast line the whole way! i loved it. 

On Friday we finally made our way out to Carddo again and were able to find Ricardo again. We have to literally risk our lives to get to his house because of all of the big dogs haha...I feel so good about him every time we teach him! hes super prepared. After the lessons we decided to do a little contacting and not joking every single person we contacted that day accepted us. It was a MIRACLE. We couldnt believe it because that is sooo not how they are here. 

On Saturday we got caught up in our studies and ended up studying for 2 extra hours in the morning. I can't get enough study time. I have never had a thirst like this for studying in my life...I stay up late with my flash light reading haha. its great! We decided to go out to the pampa on saturday to contact a little and decided to take this long dirt road that led us to a house. We knocked on the door of the house and this middle age lady opened the door big and said COME IN! we just looked at eachother like ummm okay? and went in and sat down she started shedding tears and told us she had been praying and waiting for us. It was super cool. She just couldnt stop smiling while we were talking. She had such a special spirit about her and we left feeling so good. It was amazing! 

On Sunday I had my first sunday in the branch FINALLY because of general conference and voting last week (there was no church) I got to speak in sacrament meeting and decided to speak on Charity...it went great! 

It was a super great week! I cant believe how blessed we are...I love it! i love being a missionary! I love learning! its all great:) 

Hermana Holt 

Giant pig... 

Bonessss

A view of the fields and the ocean.

More bones...

Got attacked by a dirty dog....great way to start the day.

A Representative of Jesus Christ......

WELL.....This week was great. Im still loving it here in Camana. There is so so much work to be done here...with the branch and the area! But hermana Rivero and I are working great together:) we get along super great. I love being with latins! I am really learning how to search out my talents and gifts and apply them...we all have so many! 

Last monday we had absolutely nothing to do...just like today haha there is not a lot to do here in this small pueblo...but Tuesday and Wednesday we traveled to Arequipa for leadership council. It was great to be back! i always learn so much of how to be a better misisonary and how to work better in my area. It was great! We also had interviews with president this week, which is always fun! He's awesome. 

I learned alot this week (first, sorry for my spelling) ...I feel like I am learning so so much everyday in my studies and from other people. But I wanted to share something I thought about this week about the life and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. I was thinking about my mission...how I got to this point...why Im here..all that I had to go through (just like every other missionary) to get to this point in the mission. The good the bad and the ugly haha. I thought about when Jesus Christ suffered for each of us..for ME. In those moments on the cross and before that in gethsemane. IN those moments when He was sufferening...if I was there...what would I say to Him? I thought about that for awhile....I would tell Him to keep going...suffer a little more...suffer for my pains, my afflictions, my sadnesses, my sins. Because I KNOW that He is the only way I can get back to my Heavenly Father which is what I want more than anything. 

Now me in the mission here...There are people up above...praying for me and my companion that we will find THEIR loved ones...that we will talk with just one more person..that we will keep going...so that not only THEM but THEIR loved ones can have the chance to accept the Gospel..to be baptized so that they can be baptized and so that they too can return to live with their Heavenly Father. 

I really liked this and wanted to share it with you guys...because firstly...we should be using and applying the atonement in our lives everysingle day because not anyone is perfect..and also that we can all be misisonaries...we should be proud to be members of the church something that brings us so much joy and want to share it with everyone so that they too can enjoy the blessings of living the Restored Gospel. 

I love being a representative of Jesus Christ. I love this work. 

I love you all!! have a great week!

HH 

Leadership Council

 

View from the roof...

Cutest little boys ever! 

Seeing Miracles.......

Well, this week was really great. All I do is sweat....haha we wake up and run and sweat...then shower and still sweat...then study and sweat...then walk around all day and sweat and sweat and go to bed and never cool off haha. Its the best! I really dont mind it at all. Hermana Rivero and I work so great together. We are working our bums off and seeing miracles just with this one week together! Our area is HUGE...we have a bunch of little "pueblitos" in our area that we have to travel to (i dont know what that is in english). We set our goals high for this month, and we are going to reach them! 

We are teaching this young mom we contacted in the market named Yomayra...she has a baptism date for the 20th so we need your help in praying for her. Everyone here is not married or they are married and living with someone else and need to get divorced. So its a long process to be able to get baptized. We are waiting for her papers so she can get married. Another person we are teaching is Ricardo...we found him in one of the pueblos...he's 22 and has been wondering his whole life why he is here...what is his purpose here? We were able to teach him the plan of salvation and put a baptism date with him for the 16th. He came to conference yesterday and called us last night to tell us he loved conference. We are so excited for him but need lots of prayers for him....we are going to see miracles this change! 

Conference was amazing...I was so excited that I got one last conference here in the mission. Its such an amazing experience...we prayed and fasted this week that we would be able to recieve revelation and answers to our prayers. Before conference I meditated about 5 questions that I have  had and every single one of them was answered in conference. It was amazing. There were so many talks that I LOVED. Como our dear prophet..talking about decisions in life. That, like Alice in Wonderland, she had two paths before her..not knowing which one to take the cat told here "depends on where you want to go?" The difference in us and her like he explained is that we KNOW where we want to go...but we can choose which path we want to take the harder right or the easier wrong. I loved that.!!

I LOVE my Heavenly Father. I love this work, so much. I love the scriptures and this time that I get to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I feel blessed that I get to wear His name on my chest every single day. 

I love you all, have a great week! 

Hermana Holt 

Our pet...

My comp (THAT I LOVEEEE)

Riding in a moto-taxi.

Our area.

Last change :((((

My life feels like a dream right now! I knew I was going to have changes, I have felt it for a long time, but i didn't want to believe it....saying goodbye to my ward was awful haha I was a MESS! I never thought I would grow to love these people so much. I felt like I was saying goodbye to my family all over again. 

 BUT I am coming to you live from CAMANA!! I am 3 hours out of Arequipa right on the ocean with Hermana Rivero from Argentina, as sister leaders....again! haha its going to be an AMAZING change! Got here and no one knew so I just chilled on the street for a couple of hours and waited for someone to come and get me, haha. We went to our room which is on the third level of a house (perfect ocean view) and a parrot lives right out side our room...I feel like my life is a dream!!! I am SO excited..I know I have A LOT of work to do here....I only have 6 weeks to gain the confidence of the members and to work my very hardest. Its going to be great!

I hope you all had a great Easter! I dont know if you have seen the new videos...I hope you have...if not I am going to attach the link to watch them! I hope you guys have a great week and enjoy conference!!! Its going to be a great week!

Hermana Holt 

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-02-2000-follow-him-an-easter-message-about-jesus-christ?category=topics/easter&lang=spa

https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-04-1010-he-lives-celebrate-easter-because-jesus-christ-lives?category=topics/easter&lang=spa

P-day with Hermana Menlove and Anderson

A family we were working on rescuing in Hunter.

Andi (Andicito), my cutest little Peruvian brother.

"Suegra"-My Peruvain Grandma

Lucy-my Peruvian Mama. Hardest goodbye EVER!!

My Family....these people are near and dear to my heart!

Forever Friends...

Cuyi...

Well....i have nothing too exciting to share with you guys this week....just another week! The weeks are going by incredibly fast its freaking me out! 

This week was kind of full of bad luck....I dropped my agenda in the street somewhere (has my whole life in it) and so we spent like 2 hours one day retracing our steps...we never found it...

We did a service on Saturday morning in Tiyabaya....we woke up at 7 and climbed to the top of a huge mountain where this guy wants to build his house...I have to give it to them. They work HARD for what they have...we spent like 6 hours breaking rocks and digging into the side of a mountain...i forgot a hat and sunscreen and got FRIED. it was super fun though! 

Niemela and I are becoming really great friends! We can talk and laugh for hours! i love it. I am making eternal friends here.....

Well....have a great week! Talk to you all soon...way soon with how fast time is going haha.

HH

pics...playing with cuyi