Weeks 36 - 37

Hey everyone! Well things have been going great out here - that's for sure! Hope everyone is doing good as well. Well let’s see, we have four baptism dates set for the end of august and beginning of September! First is Jim, we meet Jim by going to the hospital and giving his fiance a blessing, and we started going over to their house every now and then to see how things were going. Well we started to teach Jim and he said he would be baptized. He knows it’s something he needs to do. We’re just working with him to overcome some hurdles and trying to get him to read more, but he’s a great guy. Then there's Laura. We've been teaching Laura off and on for a while now, since I've been in Waycross, but she's been having missionaries over since Jan. Laura and her husband Michael are pretty cool, we haven't been able to teach him as much cuz he's a truck driver so he's gone during the week a lot.

Then we started visiting a member of the ward, Sis. Duke. One night while we were talking to her and her son, she told us she was going to try and get her grand kids all over one night so that we could meet them and try and get them to come to church, they've been somewhat less active lately and she wanted us to get them there again. Well one of her granddaughters is married, and her husband Daniel isn't a member. So after the first night he said he would be interested in learning more. So we started to teach him and he's liked everything this far. He hasn't read too much from the Book of Mormon but already told us that he believes it to be the word of God. It’s so great to see the Spirit work on those that truly desire to know!

And lastly there's Scott - Scott is one of Sis. Dukes granddaughters boyfriend that we've been teaching for a bit now. He's already living basically every commandment that there is, which is really sweet. He loves to joke around so we get along pretty well.

That’s about it for who were teaching at the moment, and they all have baptism dates set! Transfers are next Wednesday and we get the call this Saturday, I'm hoping and praying that I get to stay here for all of that. Nothing much else really, Elder Holland isn't coming to the mission anymore, he has to do something else which kinda stinks, but it’s alright.

Hope everyone is doing good.

Love,

Elder Holcombe

Week 35

Hey everyone - how are you all doing? Things are going great out here. Yesterday we had a baptism! His name is Travis. I haven’t said much about him because we really only met him like 2 weeks ago now, his mom was baptized last September and one day he decided he wanted to go to church with her - and loved it. he's really cool and funny, he loves movies and games so he might possibly update me on things when we see him...He read the whole gospel principles book in 2 days, and read all the way through Alma 40~ish in the two weeks and loves the whole thing! We have been teaching a lot of lessons lately as well, and spending a lot of time planning new ways to find more people to teach, things are going really good, and time is going by way to fast. Things are going pretty good. Nat's are just crazy, they are hell spawns sent by Lucifer himself to make missionary’s mad. That is for sure. But thankfully the southern people let us in on one secret (other than bug spray) … dryer sheets, just keep one in the collar or rub it on your skin... and it actually works… who would have thought? Anyways, hope things are going good and ya'll are surviving the summer better than me!

Love ya'll
Elder Holcombe

Weeks 32 - 34

Well sorry for not writing the last few weeks, with the holiday and all and just not having much time here at the library because of all the other things we had to do, I forgot until after we were already gone. Well let’s see, Hunter hasn’t been baptized yet, he's been having a lot of struggles, but he's slowly over coming all of them. So hopefully one day soon he will be able to get baptized. We have been teaching a lot of lessons, like the most I have my whole mission the last few weeks. It’s crazy! We do have a baptism coming up either this Sunday the 24th or the following Saturday the 30th, he's not sure what day he wants to have it yet, but we'll know by Thursday. His name is Travis, his mom was baptized last September, and when we were meeting with her (two Saturdays ago), he walked outside and talked with us for a bit, then said that he would possibly see us at church tomorrow (two Sundays ago). And he was there! We went and started teaching him and he likes it all, he's read a lot and feels that it’s true and is excited to get baptized. It’s way sweet. Elder Marquez and I are still trying to figure out new ways to work with members more, and feel that things are starting to move along now also, which is really good. Also just found out that August 13th Elder Holland is going to be here and having a Mission Conference with him! So sweet, and he's talking in the Kingsland stake which is the one that I’m in, so it’s going to be a good weekend – haha. Not too much else, going on, although I have probably seen more rain in the last few weeks than I have in a few years back home in Vegas, so im having fun!

Love you all, and hope all is going well. (Mosiah 2:41)

Love,

Elder Holcombe