Week in Review - Apr 20, 2015 - Apr 26, 2015

I believe this is the big water tank he got from
his pensions ranch a few weeks ago

Well Hello there to all!  

This last week has been very busy for us here in Satipo!  A baptism, 32 ticks, finished 8 months in the mission, talked in Quechwa, and bought a bunch of pineapple juice.  Yup, 

So for our last P Day we went to Villa Capilli, where we supposedly were going to find some people from the Ashanika Tribe, but we only found one, so we went over to a farm of one of the members and did some exploring… Pretty fun over here!  Once, we finished we bought a bunch of Pineapple juice.  Only like 1 dollar worth in the states, but it was like 3 different drinks, super fresh from the farm, so It was naturally delicious!  Love it!
Also, I am practicing my Ashanika and Quechwa… Look out.. I can tell you to shut up in more than 2 languages now…. This will come in handy someday!

English Class continues to be fun and a new challenge every week to try and keep them entertained.  But somehow it all works out!  New people every week, and we keep a good crowd!  

Ward Mission Leader.  He is like a platypus.  He doesn't do much.  Had plans for a bunch of activities, wanted to spend money like we had it… And I call him the other day to let him know that we have a baptism from our companionship this week, and he replies… Oh Elder… I'm in Lima, I will not be coming back for the baptism… Oh ok, so, when will you be coming back.. Elder… You don’t understand, I am living in Lima. Oh.  Thanks.  There goes our Ward Mission Leader.  But its not like anything is really changing, it just stinks that they leave and don’t say anything!

Oh yea, since you didn't get my email last week, you probably don’t know.  We had a baptism this last Saturday!  Woo hoo!  It is the mom of the family that we recently had the marriage and baptism for.  She decided that she wanted to join the church to because she could see a huge difference the family of her son so she wanted to know why.  We began to teach her, found out she doesn't know how to read, but that isn't important… 

Taught everything.. Found out she has an addiction to Coffee… Coffee is a big thing here in the Jungle, everybody grows it here in their farms!  Anyways… Mom, I shared the story of you with your (addiction) to Coca Cola and how that had side effects when you were actually trying to use it to help your headaches, it was actually the cause of them.  I shared that, and told this sweet old lady that the reason she cannot remember ANYTHING is because of her coffee addiction she has had since she was 11.  Yup, she understood! And…. She is baptized!  We baptized her this last Saturday and she was just as happy as could be!  And so am I!  Just now we need to continue with her family!  Much more work to do here!  

Oh yea, another thing.  I finished 8 months!  Woo hoo!  

Oh. I have a question.  Who is Dr. Richard Lyman Bushman from Columbia University?  I was watching BYU TV with my pensionista and my companion, and we were watching a History of the Church and found him… I yelled out I'm related to him, but nothing more, because I wasn't super sure.  Explain it to me! [I already told Elder Holmes the answer to this, but yes we are related to him. A few years back I contacted him and told him my relation and if I remember correctly, we share the same 2nd great-grandparents through my maternal grandfather. Dr. Bushman has written many books, one that we have that is on Joseph Smith.]

32 ticks and 2 of them were in Elder Holmes bed

Today (Monday P-day) I was cleaning off my bed and found 2 green bugs.  I say bugs because they are huge.  My investigation of cleaning lead me to find 30 more in, around, and below my bed in our room.  Guess what?  They are ticks!  Huge HUGE Ticks.  Like the size of my pinky fingernail.  I was sleeping with them.  But now, nope.  They are about to be killed with a big of 95% alcohol for cleaning…. I am going to burn this place down before I sleep tonight.  Ugh…. President Henderson once said to me that the mission here is like camping.  I can totally relate to that one!  Attached is a photo of them in a little cup I have. 

All in all, things are going really well here in Satipo, I love it here, but I feel that my time here is limited… Only time will tell I suppose.  Hope all is going well at home, and when you go to bed tonight you don’t find 32 ticks the size of your pinky nail.  

Don’t let the bed bugs bite!

Elder Holmes
Satipo, Peru

Bonus Picture. On 27 Apr 2015, it was his
parents 25th wedding anniversary. On his sign
it says 'Happy Silver Wedding 25 years' and
the date. That was the best!!

Week in Review - Apr 14, 2015 - Apr 19, 2015

This week we really didn't hear from Elder Andrew Holmes. We did get some pictures and a quick message that the Internet wasn't behaving as it should. So we have nothing to post this week except the pictures. I hope you enjoy them. Jill - Elder Holmes mom

Elder Holmes and Elder Camacho from Boliva

Elder Holmes and Elder Camacho from Boliva

Waterfalls in Satipo, Peru

...more waterfalls....

The Lego Guy in Full Glory

How fun is this? All the missionaries names.

Week in Review - Apr 6, 2015 - Apr 13, 2015

It wouldn't be complete without the Lego Guy

Ok, so a bunch happened this week, but I will try to bullet point by days that they happened...

April 6th, 2015

His new companion is from Bolvia

Well today we went to the waterfall 'Galleto de las Rocas' which translates to the Bid of the Rocks..... I have been there before but my companion hasn't, so we went... Photos are included. the Water was super cold, but bearable, and I brought my water filter so I could drink some of this super clean water... I can tell you.. Its cleaner than the water that comes through the pipe if and when it does come through the pipe......

April 8th, 2015 

Today we had interviews with President Henderson, and everything went really well... Talked a bunch about English Class and how I am to continue my English Classes whenever possible.  Check!  Love teaching English Classes!  Here where I am teaching I usually get around 25 people who show up regularly to my English Class

Also, I got my shoes remodeled and made beautiful with traction and everything.l  I can now take it to the streets and not even fall!  Do you know how many times I have fallen or almost fallen!  It doesn't help that the concrete that they use here for the streets and the sidewalks DON'T Have those particles of traction in them!  NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THOSE PARTICLES OF TRACTION IN THE STREET.  Never. 

Also, President mentioned to me that one day people will ask you how your mission was.. you will think really fast of all that happened.. then you will say, It was good, because nobody will really understand unless they were here as well with us.

April 9th, 2015

Found a bunch of New Investigators today as well as taught English Class.  As usual I assigned homework... Surprisingly, with that they even come back the following week!  I have got a following over here now!

April 10th, 2015

So, we are now teaching 2 investigators that cannot read.  One of them I mentioned earlier is th mom of Arturo, the family I baptized... She is preparing for baptism, we are just taking a different route to teaching her because we cannot assign homework assignments as reading or study... but all is working well with her!  We have that baptism in 2 weeks.

April 11th, 2015

We think this is burning of the beehive

The water tank

Today we set out on an adventure to get ourselves a free water tank of 600 liters from the ranch of our Pensionista... Off we went.. 1 hour to their Farm by a convee, then walking about 10 blocks to their ranch by way of a bamboo bridge that sways and bends in the middle... We finally get to the tank , and then open it up. there are bees.  My penisionistas husband kills them all with fire.... We get the tank back to our house but only after it starts DOWN POURING and then I cross the bridge solo with the 600 liter tank and a bamboo bride like 3 feet across.... crap.. We made it home. but I was super soaked.

Also, when we got home, one of the people living in the same house as us locked their keys in the house (part we don't have keys to) and I broke into the house through one of their windows... All is well!

April 12th, 2015

Today was fast and testimony meeting. As usual in all the world,. there is always those people who love to give their fast and testimony meetings for FOREVER::: but its all good... 

I will send more of what happened on Sunday next week... I am out of internet time, but I hope that the photos and all will make it safely to your home!  Love you all!

Elder Holmes
Satipo, Peru

Week in Review - Mar 30, 2015 - Apr 5, 2015

Happy Easter!

Well, this last week has been busy, rainy, and we even had Easter with all of that,  Oh yea, and Conference! General Conference, [If you aren't a member of the LDS Church, CLICK HERE to see what General Conference is all about.] was a great way to end the week, and to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the impact this has on each and every one of our lives....So, we shall begin...

So, as you all might know, the internet stinks here and I was unable to do and write what I wanted to last week so I will fill you in on a bit...

Elder Camacho, he is from Bolivia 

I have a new companion, and his name is Elder Camacho, and he is from Bolivia.  So, as of yet I have had companions from Peru, Chile, United States, and now Bolivia.  Woo!  He is pretty cool, and I totally understand him and he understands me.... we kinda are aware that this transfer is probably only for the rest of these 6 weeks, because I am probably out of here after that... But all is going well, we get along great, and we have a good time sharing stories and stuff from home....


Another worthy mention of this week is:
I ate Shrimp.  

That is so unheard of, so I had to tell her thank you SO MUCH, and especially since I haven't eaten it in so many years before that, it really was a treat!

 I'm also taking to teaching my pensionista how to cook other foods in different formats, which is part of the reason I am asking for recipes from Home, so I can translate them for them to cook for us... They love cooking food from different places, so If you get your hands on any recipes Mexican, I would love that too!

Conference was great!  Yes, I watched it all in Spanish, and Understood just about all of it, it is funny to listen to the translators when they get up to President Uchtdorf and he spoke in a moment in German, I don't think they knew.... it was hilarious.. Oh yea, and when they were all singing, the music when we hear it is also in English... Yup.  I sung in English as well as the other two sisters here in Satipo.  English Represent!

Please tell everyone that if I don't respond it isn't because I don't love them, it is because it is EXTREMELY Difficult to send all the stuff I want in the short amount of super crap internet time that I have (Craig is one of them)

Oh, I did get the Easter package from Grandma and Grandpa... Thanks!  It was delicious! And I got yours [from mom] with the Peanut Butter... I ate that for Conference with the other missionaries...

I have more to say, but of course no time to say it... I have a plan to send more info next week, but it will have to wait..


Love you all!  Hope you enjoyed conference!

Elder Holmes

Satipo, Peru

Week in Review - Mar 23, 2015 - Mar 29, 2015

Elder Holmes and Elder Inkley both
from California

Finally on!

I have been trying for over 1 hour to login to the churches updated browser... It stinks!  But I'm on, and I don't know for how long....  I'm all good and safe... in Satipo... all is good. [About one hour after that quick email from Elder Holmes, we get a bit more from him and three pictures.]

Well, over 1 hour later, I was able to login to my Internet... Not only is the internet here super crap, but the church just came out with a 2.0 of the Myldsmail.net and it is super crap.  So... If there are other parents that are freaking out because they didn't get emails, its probably thanks to this new interface.  Needless to say, I left a very kind email for the feedback team, signed from the 88,000 missionaries in the field....  :)

So, my email will be reduced this week, but it sufficieth me to say that we had Transfers.... I am still here in Satipo.  I am totally fine with that, I love it here!  And yes, our Transfers were delayed a few days because they are dependent on the missionaries coming in from Lima CCM.  Which as you know was unable to happen because of the landslides and flooding between Huancayo (Mission Office) and Lima.  So they flew them instead, and then we did Transfers a few days later.  I am now with Elder Camacho, who is from Bolivia!  So, now I have had companions from Peru, Chile, California, and Bolivia!  Awesome!

Oh yea, and I really have to practice my Spanish more now, because there are only the sisters in my district that understand English... So yea, no breaks for the weary.

I wish I could email more but I still have to write president if this freaking computer will let me... (Don't cut that out of the blog... I want people to know how dumb the internet is down here!!!) [That makes me laugh. So there, I kept it in. lol]

Eating...eating...eating...

Love You all, and I am doing totally fine down here.

Elder Holmes

Satipo, Peru

Week in Review - Mar 16, 2015 - Mar 22, 2015

1 Week, 5 Baptisms, Weddings, a Cow Tail, and More

Before I even start this email I need to say this was by far the longest, busiest, stressful, most productive week I have had in the mission.  But the fruits of our labor can testify to that in a bit.  From Hiking to the antanae, making wedding invitations, resolving last minute baptismal issues, super Panchamanka Lunch (farewell #1 for Elder Hamblin), a special baptism interview miracle, divisions, another super lunch with all the Pensionistas, another farewell with Elder Hamblin and Relief Society, wedding cake pickup, wedding preparations, Wedding, baptism of a family, more food, cake, said goodbye to Elder Hamblin, Natural Disaster in Coverialli, service time, bridge collapsed, member re-baptism, baptism for yesterdays marriage (sisters investigators), drunk guy with a cows tail (recently cut) ward council and more.  I hope I can explain all of this in todays email!

16 March 2015 

Lego Guy enjoying the view!

View of Satipo, Peru and Elder Holmes

What fun!

Today, we hiked up to on of the local [peaks] more like a hill, but whatever... took some awesome shots of the view of Satipo from above, and was able to spot out our house.  After our lovely little stroll, came back and got our hair cut and went to internet and then called it a day. Oh yea, and I bought some chocolate milk.

17 March 2015

District Meeting today.  Because Elder Hamblin finishes his mission this week, he was assigned to do all the prayers, spiritual thoughts, everything... hahahaha... Other then that though, our day was pretty normal.  

18 March 2015

Another Item I can make for one sol (Approx 33 Cents) is Wedding Invitations for an entire wedding!  All I can say now is that Frank from {Father of the Bride} [Elder Holmes is talking about Frank, the wedding planner, in the Steve Martin movie, Father of the Bride. A family favorite] would be proud.  We did begin passing out all the wedding and baptism invitations today which also because to make everyone excited.  Why?  Because there will be food.  

We did also have to resolve some last minute issues regarding baptisms for this weekend...I will just leave it at the fact that Satan is not to thrilled on this wedding and this families baptism.  it is going to take some extra effort to pull this one through.,

19 March 2015

And off we go to prepare some more the Family Suero for their interview that they have today!  But it wouldn't be a complete day if all the Pensionistas didn't band together and make a super panchamanka for all the missionaries, bishop, familia fuerro, and a few others that we are working on as missionaries.  All of this organized to have a goodbye party for Elder Hamblin.  FYI Elder Hamblin is My Great Grandpa (He trained my trainers trainer)... Oh yea, and I am super duper full!I know this is the start of the food for this week too!  Oh no!

But remember how I said that we needed interviews for today? Well 2 of them were all good, but the 2 others we were waiting on a representative from the Mission to conduct this interview but wouldn't be able to come until after the wedding and scheduled baptism which would have screwed everything up, because the following week we have transfers... and yup.. huge future problem. Thanks Satan.  But, guess who just happened to be at the Church building (Taking measurements to extend the building in the coming year)  The Stake President from one of the Huancayo Stakes, which is over 5 hours away... SUPER Far in Peruvian Driving Distance... We got permission from the Mission President to have him conduct the interview, and walah!  Back on track for the wedding and baptism!  Woo hoo!!!!

Then, later in the day, we had another party goodbye fiesta from Relief Society for Elder Hamblin.  Which means more food, and more fat.  Great.  I'm done for.... 

20 March 2015

Wedding Day!  [Its a Mosquito Bite] [Elder Holmes is quoting from another family favorite movie, Big Fat Greek Wedding. The scene where the bride wakes up on her wedding day and has a big zit on her face..... and one of her cousins said 'It's a Mosquito Bite'. We were laughing out loud.]
  

Elder Holmes picked this wedding cake. He did a great job!

So today we had another food party with the Pensionistas... I'm getting so fat... Stop!!!  More Food, more cake... Ugh.... After this guess what we did?  Yup, picked up the cake. 3 Kilograms of Cake.  2 Levels.  Yum. So for the rest of the day we cleaned the chapel, and did wedding prep and baptism prep and what not. Just another miracle happened this week which was with the Members. This family that we had the marriage and baptism figured out for does not have the resources at this moment to have their wedding... But the ward pitched in and did all the decorations, food, and everything so we could have this party for them . The Bride told us later that she never had imagined her wedding would be like this, with the cake, games, baptism, food, decorations, and everything... She was so happy, I

have never seen here that way before and she remarked after her baptism that before everything she hadn't wanted to even talk to us, she would hide out in the corner and not talk to us... But now, she loves us, loves the lessons, and is so happy to be a member and learning so much more then she was before.... But... I digress....

After the wedding with the Alcalde and everything, we headed over to the Baptismal font where the Bishop Baptized the parents, I the Son, Julio, and my companion the Daughter.... From there they were just all so happy... A complete family baptized and ready to go!  They already have plans as a family to go to the Temple in Lima in one year from that day to be sealed for time and eternity.  How awesome!  I love this family, and Love Satipo!   Ahhhhh.....

Oh yea, and there was a bunch of food.... And the cake was beyond delicious... I'm never going to stop eating...

21 Saturday 2015

Today we said Goodbye to Elder Hamblin, and left him in the dust... SO sad... My Great Grandpa has died( a term in Spanish we use for finishing his mission) and now he is no more... But off we went to Coviriali for some service.  Oh yea.  Coviriali is an outlying province in our area with only 1 bridge to get to it..  Yup, it flooded super bad the night before and the bridge collapsed, and flooded a few houses nearby the river.  So, we went over and did mud cleanup.  I wish we had photos, but the bishop has them right now, and there might have been a news crew there... hahaha.... the water rose to 2 stories of the house, and there was over 1 foot of PURE MUD... I was barefoot and removing mud with a broom as a pushing stick to make a canal all the way to the river nearby.  I was so MUDDY.... but it was great, and everyone just loved watching the Gringos cleanup like we have never seen mud before.  We totally saved them many hours of work right there....

After that, we had a member re-baptism (their records don't exist for some reason in the MLS, so that was a re-baptism in the river, and my companion did that baptism.. so cool!)
Then, we went for Ice Cream, and I took my Ice Cream, bought some Coca-Cola and made a Coke Float.  Awesome!

Later in the evening we went to another wedding which was a investigator and Part Member Family work from the Sister Missionaries here in Satipo... The wedding was fun and great, but the highlight of the night was the drunk man who entered with a recently cut cows tail.... Yea, he was asked to leave... and it was actually a full and somewhat bloody tail... I wonder what that story was....

22 Sunday 2015

4 Confirmations (The Family we baptized and married on Friday) as well as another baptism from the sisters marriage that happened yesterday.  Also went to Mazamari, and attended ward council.  Yup.  That it what sums up the week...

Woah.  I hope you were able to get though my summary as well I was able to try and write it in my short little time here....If you cannot tell, things are great here, busy week, but a good week.  I'm ready to just take chill and relax day here with the district as we have all had a week like this.  

This is a very tired, but excited Elder Holmes, from Satipo, Peru.

Love you all!

Elder Holmes
Satipo, Peru

[PS: Elder Holmes gave us some additional pictures for last weeks post. So check it out!! Large spider shadow puppets, waterfalls and of course, The Lego Guy makes another appearance. CLICK HERE to view them from last weeks blog.]

Week in Review - Mar 9, 2015 - Mar 15, 2015

Truthfully, I have absolutely no clue what to write this week.  I don't know what I am just so brain dead right now, nothing bad has happened I am just so blank!

If you want, you can spice up the answers I sent to you for my email, but the following below will just be bullet points, I'm seriously not quite sure on what to write this week, I didn't get a chance to pre-write.... [We asked him some questions in a separate email and I will add them at the end. He has some great answers.]

Love the Lego Guy

The search for the perfect wedding cake ends this week as we are finishing wedding planning and also planning for the subsequent baptism.  We are all just giggles down here....

Just like the monkey in the 1st Indiana Jones movie

Today for the P-day we went to the local hill and climbed it... Pretty fun, we packed a lunch and took it there.

My bug bites are going down... I only have like 30 now... only the ones on my feet itch me right now.....

English Class is growing, this last week we had over 20, and I ran out of copies... Maybe its time for me to make a how to English Book.... Hahaha....

Spanish is coming better for me.  From the words and conjugations that I know I am able to speak those pretty well and fast... From what I am still learning that takes time....I will admit, I cannot wait to talk with a few of my friends from work and school in Spanish when I get back.... 

Received a package from my Grandparents and I love it.  Pure Easter candy.. And  A letter of course..... Candy candy candy!  Peanut M&M's, I can tell you we were happy missionaries in Ward council on Sunday...... hahahaha!

We are still collecting rain water to shower, poop, and everything.... Its just lovely... You can know that one of us is showering because there will be a sharp scream of OHHHHH  Cold water!!!!   hahhahahaha.... [This whole time I totally forgot that they can't heat the water. Wow!]

All is well here in the Jungle, I do miss my family, my work, and my friends... but for the things I am doing, and Experiencing, I wouldn't trade it for the world!

Love you all!

Elder Holmes
Satipo, Peru

[Questions and Answers. I sent him an email with some of these questions and he answered them. Enjoy!!]

Note: He just got his haircut this morning and was talking about how itchy he was. I asked if he missed getting his haircut from his mom! He answered, Yes, yes I do!

1. What kind of phone do you guys have, smart or dumb phone?
We all have dumb phones. Nokia something.... It's super dumb, but we do have phone credit and a part of our number has a # which means that anyone else who has that in front of their phone number we can call each other for free.... without using our phone credit! Woo!!

The Elders were playing with that large spider and making
spider shadow puppets. This is the large one mentioned.

2. We see a lot of bright colored birds and butterflies when we do searches, have you seen any of the birds or crazy insects? Like jungle bugs, like you called them.
There is a bunch of cool birds, butterflies, and other weird things that fly into my room at night.  Flying Cockroaches are one, spiders that are bigger than the palm of my hand are another.....

3.How often do you have zone and/or district meetings?
District Meetings are every week, Zone are every month after the Zone leaders get their training they train us...

4. How far do you think you walk everyday? He didn't answer this one. We will try again.

5. Do they still call you gringo?
Every once and a while I am called Gringo here... but there are 4 others here in Satipo, so not much anymore...

6. Do you do splits in your ward?
Splits every once and a while... But remember that we are all trying to do that sometimes, and so that makes it difficult for us to find enough for each sets of the companion.  So, no, not really...

7. Do you get harassed by local government or police?
We don't get harassed by government or police, in fact  from what I have seen and talked with, they are fine with us, no big deal...

8. how has your health been so far
Good... I'm not eating a whole bunch, but other then dumb little things I'm totally fine....

9. What is your favorite topic to study in the scriptures?
Favorite topic in the scriptures, I don't have one yet.... I kinda just go all over the place and am studying for the different topics we are teaching...

10. What do they serve for breakfast? What is typical?

Breakfast here in the jungle is usually their version of toast or bread with bologna inside of it. 

I will admit, I am eating SO MUCH LESS than I was before this area... SO MUCH LESS.  I am only having juice for dinner, and my breakfasts are small too!"    Its weird... Maybe my metabolism is slowing down!!!

I guess you are losing the weight that you gained in your first area??

Nope.  I'm the same.. That's the weird part... Did I mention that a few weeks ago, I ate cow stomach as part of the meat for my plate!  Yup... I was visiting another pensionista [cook] here......

How does cow stomach taste? 

I swallowed it whole... I almost gagged.... Well I actually did, but I didn't let the person see it.....  Never again.....  UGHGHGHGHG

Note: Here at home, last week, we had some trouble with our main sewer line (roots growing in the main line) so for 24 hours we had to 'practice' some the techniques the missionaries need to use in Peru. We shared our sympathies with him and this was his reply:

Yuck!   It totally reminds me of the plumbing here!  There is so many times where the plumbing just goes into the street, you pass it and smell.. Then you are 100 percent aware of what that is....