Baptism at Ft. Sill 9/15/14

Hey y'all!

The weather has got a lot cooler in the past week or so, which is a really nice break from the hot temperature and high humidity that Oklahoma likes to bring every summer. It feels great outside but many Okies are skeptical that it will last for too long. To be honest, Oklahoma weather reminds me of North Dakota's, just a bit toned down as far as extremes go.

We had a Baptism at Ft. Sill this Sunday! Bro. Pierce was invited to come to the serviceman's branch by Copeland, his platoon leader. I wasn't there for much of his teaching but I do know that the spirit has been testifying of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and this church. He's an amazing guy and he'll make a great Soldier. In the evening we watched the CES Devotional with D. Todd Christofferson. It was a great devotional and I would recommend that y'all would watch it!

On the 9th (Tuesday) we went up to the stake center in Norman and met with President Walkenhorst and Elder Foster. It was a great meeting! We talked a lot about our mission vision and how we can achieve 100 baptisms every month. He spoke about how we need the member's help and support to be able to accomplish anything close to what we would like to be getting. He then made a statement that I thought was pretty incredible: "It shouldn't be the members helping the missionaries, it should be the missionaries helping the members." He continued to stress about member missionary work and how much of a change has happened because of the willingness of the members to spread the gospel message to their friends and family. It made me wish that I would have been a better member missionary before my mission, but now I know that I can do a better job at inviting others to come unto Christ, even out here.

Elder Burnham and I are doing awesome! He's a fun loving guy who works hard! I'm excited for what this week holds, we have set up a lot of teaching appointments and opportunities. Changes are awesome.

We saw Beau and Monica this week. They're visiting with Bishop twice a week now for marriage counseling so that they can get it done faster. They're looking at about mid-October to get married and baptized. It will be a joyous day when it happens!
Gitta hasn't been able to get with us this week but we are looking to visit with her tomorrow! We are going to give her a German Book of Mormon so that it will be easier for her to understand exactly what is going on.

I'm loving it out here! I have been able to learn so much from my companion and from this area. I am excited to continue my service here to Oklahoma. I am strengthening my testimony that Christ lives, he directs the head of this church through Thomas S. Monson, and that the Book of Mormon is true. And really, that's all that matters in this world.

Thank you all,

Elder Holbrook