Week Eighty-two: May 14th, 2012

It was so great to talk to Nick on Mother's Day he was recently transfered to a small town out in the country called Talagante. He is a new zone leader with 2 districts in his zone. There are 18 missionaries total. He was so so happy to find out that his new companion is Elder Smith from Sandy Utah who had been his District leader last fall. The have a lot of work to do in this new area and are ready to get going on it. His new place is a condo and is so much better then the last one and he shares it with 3 other Elders. The other really exciting thing he told us was that he will be leaving Chile to come home on Monday October 22nd, arriving in Utah on October 23rd. He looked great and is just loving his mission!! -Kendra

Dear Family,

Well we have had a very busy week last week. So to start from the top. We had Changes Meeting on Tuesday in the morning. It was a very exciting meeting. And to announce my new companion: Elder Smith. It was so exciting. You should've seen us. We just had smiles so big on our faces that Hermana King couldn't stop laughing at us. Then throughout this entire week for bad luck we've had meetings every day almost. But we are doing really good. The sector is doing great. We have a baptism coming up this next week and we should have a few more coming up in the next couple weeks. But still there is a lot of work to do. I love you all so much and I hope you had a great Mother's Day.

Love,

Elder Holton

 Saying Goodbye to Elder Guevara

 Moving out to the Country! This is Talagante.

 My new home!

Here is a map showing Talagane is about  20 miles South of Santiago!

Week Eighty-one: May 6th, 2012

Dear Family,

We had an excellent week. Where to start haha? Well we had an activity this past week and it was awesome. We had several investigators go and we had a lot of fun. Then that night we had some fun in the street too. Some teenagers were burning brand new couches in the street for no reason. I got it all of video. It is right in front of our apartment. Sorry Mom and Grandma. Next we had District Meeting on Wednesday like normal but this time President sat in on my class so that just made me more nervous. But it all turned out great. Then I went on divisions to another sector and had a great day. We made giant pancakes in the night. Then Saturday night I received a phone call from President to tell me that first I have changes tomorrow and second that he would want me to be Zone Leader. So yesterday we first had an awesome baptism and then we spent the day saying goodbye to everyone. Oh and another thing that was great was that we had 7 investigators to church. The Ward did a special farewell for me in the night. They set up a bunch of Tables and did kind of a toast thing. They had me stand up and everyone said good and bad things about me. It was way cool but a little weird. I really could feel the love of this ward. It is going to be very hard to leave them all tomorrow. So I'm sad but I'm happy.
Well I look forward to talking to you guys next Sunday.

Love,
Elder Holton

 

 

 Saying goodbye to the Bishop!

 

 

 

 Saying goodbye to everyone!

 

 Making GIANT Pancakes!

The burnt out couch!

Week Eighty: April 30th, 2012

Dear Family,
Things are going great. Yesterday in the chapel we had 5 investigators. We finished this week super strong. Two of our investigators had their baptismal interviews yesterday and they both passed. It was awesome. So we will be have 2 baptisms this next sunday. Well the weather is starting to get a little cooler and my companion is dying. He is from Honduras and has never gotten to know the cold. We had our first rainfall the other day. We have be finding various families that look like they have a lot of potential.
The time is going so fast and I've been really worried if I'm doing all that I can do. As Elder Ardern said in his Conference talk in October 2011 time can't be bought and can't be recovered. I'm excited to hear about Issac. He is a great kid. The mission will change his life. Well I love you all very much And hope you have a great week.
Love, Elder Holton

Our Chapel is the largest one here in Chile!

Graffiti is like art here in Chile!

Our first rainfall of the winter!!

Week Seventy-Nine: April 23rd, 2012

Dear Family,
This was another great week but sadly not much to tell. The Weather down here has definetly been cooling off. Last Night my companion was dying. Haha. Well We had 3 investigators in the Sacrament Meeting and 5 with Baptismal Dates. The work is going great. Today as a Zone activity we went to a Indian Exhibit but we could take pictures. The one picture I sent with the white building, well that is like the "White House" of Chile.

Yes I got the package and it was awesome. Thank you so very much. I can't help but ask did you guys give me a cemera card so that I would take more pictures and send you the pictures? Haha Well it was awesome!!
Well I hope you guys all have a fantastic week and I should have a lot more to tell you next week.

Love, Elder Holton

An Indian Museum Exhibit we went to with our zone on P-day.

Week Seventy-Eight: April 16th, 2012

Dear Family,

Things are just going fantastic. The work is going great. My Feet hurt and we are seeing some serious progress in our ward. We had 6 investigators in the chapel this week. It was awesome. Miguel and Juan came. They are both doing very well and we are planning on having their interview this next week. Juan has been talking to the bishop and has even said that when he gets older he would like to serve a mission. Pedro also went to church but we haven't been able to talk to him much. We also have been teaching the Bishop's Sister in-law and niece. The work is going fantastic. This past week we had a super special experience. For Zone Conference we got to go and do a session in the temple as part of the zone conference. Something special that President did that was just amazing is as we were passing into the Celestial Room, He waited for each of us. I was at the very back of the room just waiting patiently and once I entered the Celestial Room President came and gave me a big hug (President is a giant so a big hug is a "Big Hug") and whispered in my ear "Welcome" and then held on for a good 5 -10 seconds. I was completely not expecting that and almost started to cry. I couldn't help but wonder if that was only a taste of what it will be like to enter into the true Celestial Kingdom. God is there just waiting for us to pass through and then gives us a big hug. Well that was the spiritual thought for the week. I hope you all have a fantastic week.

Love,Elder Holton

Week Seventy-Seven: April 9th, 2012

Dear Family,
This was another excellent week. We had 5 investigators come to church yesterday and we are just really excited for all that has been happening. We have a baptismal interview coming up this next week and a few more the week after. We have been also finding a lot of new investigators that really show some promise. So we are really excited and working hard. Things are going great with Elder Guevara. We have been really trying to make a difference in this sector. Easter was just another day for us haha. The chileans celebrate La Semana Santa as established by the catholic church. Today we are going to go get something to eat, do a little shopping and get a hair cut. This week we get to go to the temple as a mission. I'll tell you about it next week.Hope you all have a great week.
Love,
Elder Holton
PS: Check out the new Bible Videos by the church @ biblevideos.org they are so cool.

Week Seventy-Six: April 2nd, 2012

We didn't get a family letter this week but this is the short little letter I got from Nick!

Dear Mom,
General Conference was awesome as always. Yes I have heard
about David Archuleta. I've heard that he is going to the North
Mission. We'll see. Well it sounds like everyone is doing well. The St. George Temple is one of the only temples I haven't done a session in Utah. Well Mom I hope you have a great week.
Love,
Elder Holton