Monday, December 9, 2013

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!!

ALOHAHOLAHOWDY!

It snowed!!! And apparently people in Oklahoma don't know how to use snow plows or salt trucks so now all the roads are frozen solid. Fantastic. On Thursday and Friday we couldn't use our cars because of the roads which is a little difficult because we live about 3 miles from our area. So we walked everywhere we went (which wasn't very many places...) and tried to do some work but it was very challenging. On Friday we still had district meeting so we all walked to the church. We only live like a mile away so that was fine. It was just cold. Then after district meeting we had a massive snowball fight! My compa took some great pictures but because I can only send like 2 an email these are the ones you get:

The Elders creeping in the doorway of the Sister's apartment because they can't go in. They don't usually look so serious, trust me.



And this is me about to peg an unsuspecting Elder IN THE FACE!! In all seriousness, though, I probably missed. My aim is terrible.


And this is me about to peg an unsuspecting Elder IN THE FACE!! In all seriousness, though, I probably missed. My aim is terrible.

'Twas great fun. We finally got to drive again on Saturday and it should warm up again tomorrow so weatherwise we should be fine. I know you were all worried. I'm starting to acclimate to the cold again, which is good. I feel less like a wimp now.

In other news, WE'RE TEACHING A FAMILY!!!!!!!! Woo hoo!!! We went over to see the Ramirez family on Wednesday and we had a Family Home Evening with them. It was fantastic. We gave them all copies of the Book of Mormon and we got Jose a big one because he has trouble seeing. Mom, remember that green ribbon you sent me in my greenie package? Well I used it to tie around the Book of Mormons that we gave out and they all loved it. It was great to show people how the Book of Mormon really is a precious gift. I have high hopes for the Ramirez family. They are SO humble and SO teachable. They've been waiting for the gospel, I can tell. I'm starting to feel they joy described in D&C 18:15-16: "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!" There is so much joy in this work!

I watched this Mormon Message this week and it really hit me (probably because I'm totally in mission mode): 

It makes me think about things that have eternal value. There's a quote from President Hinckley (I saw it in the Relief Society room in Spanish, so bear with me) that says something to the effect of if what we're doing doesn't have eternal significance, then why are we doing it? I think that one of the best ways that Satan tricks us is to get us to waste our time here. We might not be doing anything horrible, but we're not doing what we need to do to progress. Thus, we waste our time on earth. In missionary work, everything we do is centered around our purpose of "inviting others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored Gospel". What if everything that we did was centered around OUR purpose as human beings, which is to keep the commandments of God so that we can be worthy to inherit eternal life? What would we stop doing, and which activities would we start doing? Would some things that seem so important right now cease to be so critical? This life is the time to PREPARE to meet God. 

I hope y'all are enjoying your holiday season and you got a chance to see the 1st Presidency Christmas devotional! If you didn't then watch it: 


It was SO GOOD!

I love you!! I love being a missionary!! The church is TRUE and life is GOOD!!

Love,
Herman A. Holloway


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