March.28.2016 photos

1. Sister Bischoff and myself at the Gilbert Temple

2. Three of my companions and myself at the Gilbert Temple!

3. I'm crazy and put a box on my head. Notice the box says Sister Bischoff, not Sister Holbrook. *Wink wink, nod nod*

March 28.2016

Hey all! Sister Bischoff and I have been sick ALL week. We are different types of sick too, so that's more annoying that just one type of sick. Not sure how/why, but it is. ANYWAY, when we weren't stuck inside this week we were able to get a little bit of work done. 

Monday night we went to the Gilbert Temple Welcome Center, which is basically the stake center near the temple, but we have it set up so that we can give tours and do all sorts of cool things. 

Thursday morning I went to a service project where we pulled weeds. It was so fun. It reminded me of working at the Alaska State Fair, so that was great!

Friday morning we got to go to the temple as a zone and we had Kneaders afterward. THEN Brandy, a lady that we've been working with went through the temple in the evening for the first time ever, so it was awesome to be able to go. Sister Ledua and Schmauch got to come because Sister ledua worked with her a lot. It's so fun having my last companion and my MTC companion be companions. LOVE IT. 

Saturday morning we went to a ward breakfast/Easter egg hunt. The bishopric played egg roulette and it was hilarious! Then later in the afternoon we went to the stake center to help set up the mingle activity before the General Womens Broadcast. It was so great! I took so many good notes. Mostly I learned that we need to serve and love those around us. What a wonderful message.

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter! I am so grateful to know that Christ lives, and that because He was resurrected, we will also be resurrected. #hallelujah 

Love, Sister Holbrook

March.21.2016 photos

1. Sister Bischoff and myself at Discovery Park

2. Photo with a Centurion

3. Easter Pageant companion selfie

March 21.2016

Every week as a missionary is amazing. 

Wednesday we had the opportunity to go to the Mesa Easter Pageant with some investigators. IT WAS AMAZING! We took a photo with a centurion. So that was fun. We wanted to get a photo with the actor that plays Jesus, but we couldn't find him. 

Friday we got to go AGAIN. It was even more amazing the second time! If you don't know what it is, please look it up. SO amazing. Here's a video. 

Easter Pageant

Sunday we got to attend stake conference which was amazing. The stake presidency here has so much love for the people in this area. A couple of them got emotional when talking about being able to serve in this area. I definitely felt the spirit and it made me emotional as well because I LOVE this area and these people and this is my one chance to serve them. I want to make it the best I can. 

Sunday evening we had our Missionary Choir Concert. It was amazing. The building was packed and the spirit was so strong. I got to see several people from my last area, which was so fun! It was just a wonderful evening. 

Interesting food update, I've been sick for the pas week so I am no longer allowed to have gluten or dairy, as per my mission nurse. So basically all the fun stuff is out of my diet. All well, I'm hoping that it improves my health. We shall see :)

I love being a missionary. I hope that you can feel that through my emails and photos. This is the hardest, but greatest thing that I have ever done. I think about where my life would be without my decision to serve a mission and it kind of makes me sad. The Gospel of Jesus Christ has EVERYTHING to offer and how can I not sacrifice 18 months of my life to offer it to others? I know that Christ lives and that he was resurrected so that we can also be resurrected. I am so grateful for my knowledge of the Savior. 

Love, Sister Holbrook

1001 N. Burk St. 

Gilbert, AZ 85234

March 14.2016

1. Cheesy photo of us filling the font

2. Abel and myself

3. Sister Macie and myself on exchanges

March 7 photos

1. Happy Easter!

2. Sister Bischoff ate it on her bike, hard!

3. Selfie with my new companion!

March 7.2016 photos

1. Saying goodbye to Sister Ledua

2. Paint on my face from a service project

3. Me wearing the cool helmet that weighed a million pounds

March.7.2016

So I am extremely happy and I just can't contain it! This week has been just so amazing! 

We had our last lesson with Alonso and Abel on Monday before they moved to Texas on Tuesday. I was really sad to see them go because we have become such amazing friends, and we've only known each other a very short time. HOWEVER, we have been in contact with the missionaries in San Antonio and they are doing an amazing job teaching them and getting Abel ready for his baptism this Sunday! Him and Alonso are flying back on Saturday, Abels getting baptized on Sunday and then they fly back to work on Monday. So amazing! They also both got up in their Texas YSA ward and bore their testimonies. It's so amazing to see how the gospel can change people!

On Wednesday I got a new companion! Her name is Sister Bischoff and she's from Blackfoot Idaho! (Potato Museum anyone?) We get along SO well! It's been sad to not have Sister Ledua, but it's been fun to have a fresh start and the opportunity to learn from a new companion. We just laugh ALL THE TIME, so that's awesome! 

Sister Ledua and Sister Bischoff actually switched places! Sister Ledua is now in a trio with Sister Taylor, (missionary choir conductor) and Sister Schmauch, (my MTC companion.) I am super jealous, but also so happy in my companionship. We get along and have SO much in common, it's crazy :) 

Friday at Weekly Planning our zone leaders brought a helmet and sword just to be silly and give zone callings. I tried on the helmet and it was so heavy and loud. I have no idea how people used to wear armor. I feel like it would decrease your effectiveness. All well, I never have to do that, so no worries here :)

Saturday was an insane day. We have decided that when we run into members, (which is all the time because, hello, Arizona,) We're going to share a scripture with them and have a lesson. Saturday we had 5 lessons on the street, 6 member lessons on the street and 2 recent convert lessons. We also talked to 45 people, so it was an amazing day! I've decided that as a missionary, there is just no time for anything other than missionary work. I know that that's how the program/schedule is designed, but we barely have time for sleep, yet we love it!

I am so grateful to have Sister Bischoff as my companion at this time and for the opportunity I have to share the gospel. I know that Christ lives and that he loves all of us. If you don't feel his love, I invite you to pray to recognize it. He DOES love you. 

Anyway, have a wonderful week and I'll have more fun stuff to share next week!

Love, Sister Holbrook

Feb.29.2016 photos

2. Being helpful by making birthday cupcakes

2. The glasses search party!

3. Holbrook, Schmauch, Young Ledua. Sorry it's upside down!

1. Me staring longingly at oreo cupcakes 

1. Recording at the Allens mansion

3. Elder Dayley is officially the zone selfie master!

Feb.29.2016

Hey everyone! What a wonderful week it has been!

Tuesday was insane. We recorded music for a mission CD. We started at 12 noon and didn't finish until about 830pm. There were struggles and we had to move buildings and ended up at the Allens home. They're a senior couple in our mission and their home is basically a mansion. While at the Allens, I decided to do a flip on their ground level trampoline, during which, my glasses flew off my face and we had to have a search party to help me find them, because of course, I was super blind. It was an amazing day all in all because I got to spend time with amazing people like Sister Schmauch and we got to sing a lot!

We met with Abel many times this week. Him and Alonso are moving to Texas TOMORROW. So sad, but Abel is getting baptized here so that his parents can attend, so that's awesome! We're sending him off, but we get him back, even if it's just a short amount of time!

So the news is in and Sister Ledua is being transferred. She's been in this area for over 8 months so everyone loves her, which is going to be hard, but I'm excited to have a new companion to learn and grow from!

Okay, We're super busy today so that's all I've got. I hope you have a wonderful week, and any time you're worried or stressed about things of this world, just read 3 Nephi 13:32-33.

Love Sister Holbrook