Hello again!
Now that I have time to email, I can give you a hefty update, share some neat experiences, and hopefully share my testimony.
The weather is continuing to slowly cool off. It's been in the 80 degree region so I really can't complain. Being able to bike and feel a cooler breeze helps a lot with the humidity.
We didn't have any baptisms on Fort Sill yesterday but the week before we had Sister Vanmeerbeck, Sister Testerman, and Brother Peck. I was given the opportunity through our Mission President to perform the baptismal interview for Sister Vanmeerbeck and Brother Peck, which was a really spiritual experience as I was able to assert the growth and development of their testimonies. They have amazing testimonies of this gospel, especially since they had only been introduced to it a month prior. The growth that these soldier's make in the gospel is certainly incredible. I don't have a picture yet as it hasn't been sent to me but I'll attach it when I get it.
Speaking of Fort Sill, every Saturday morning we have a meeting to coordinate what we will be doing for that Sunday. All of the missionaries and the branch presidency meet together at Reynold's Army Hospital and we meet in a chapel located in the hospital. Bro. Torres, the second councilor, brought his son-in-law to the meeting and announced that he wanted to start investigating the Church. His name is Chad Bolton. He had just got out of the Army and is moving to a more stable career in telecommunications. His wife is a member, so because of that he has been to church a lot, but he has never had any desire to really find out the truth. However, he came to Bro. Torres and told him of his desires and how he wanted to really know if this church is true. We will continue to teach him this week.
We received a random phone call from a recently moved in member. He had just got out of BASIC training and was stationed at Fort Sill for the time being. He was baptized in BASIC at a different base but unfortunately he was never given a Book of Mormon or any other scriptures. He requested a set and we went out with Nathan Smith to deliver them to him. He's a good guy, and he really wants to start studying the scriptures in depth.
Two weeks ago we received a blessing request from the mission home for a Lonnie Webb. We called his son, Patrick, and found out that Lonnie has stage 4 Leukemia and was expected to pass away soon. Lonnie had been a member for about 40 years, but he had never attended church in the local area before. As we were traveling there, I realized that this was going to be a departing blessing, something that I had never done before. When we arrived, Lonnie requested that I would seal the anointing and pronounce the blessing. I'll be frankly honest, I was dang straight nervous. I don't remember exactly what I said, but I do remember feeling the love of the Savior for him while I was giving the blessing. Afterwards, Patrick asked if he would be able to contact Bishop for funeral arrangements and other logistics that Lonnie had requested before he had passed on. He also expressed a desire to begin meeting with us for discussions after his father passes away and the funeral is finished with. The Lord works in mysterious ways.
Beau and Monica are progressing and have set a date for their wedding and Beau's baptism! It will be on the 25th of October (No, I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift)! They have made it so far and they have been doing so well lately. Seeing them change because of the gospel has given me a better perspective about missionary work and why we really do it.
Elder Burnham and I are doing great with one another! We have been primarily focused on finding more people to teach, and we have dipped into our Former Investigator pool to see if some are now prepared to receive the gospel message.
I feel a burning desire to perform the Lord's work. I am a man of many faults, but I do know that my faults and errors can be corrected through Jesus Christ's atonement. I have a testimony that living the gospel principles and commandments brings true and everlasting happiness. I know that the Savior of my soul lives, that he was resurrected, and he performed the infinite atonement for you, me, and everyone else on earth because of his love for us. The Book of Mormon is a witness of him, it is a true testament of His love. We have modern prophets that are able to receive revelation from him, to direct the true church of Christ. Without a shadow of a doubt in my mind, I know of these things to be true.
With Love,
Elder Holbrook
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