Service is the Answer!

So it took Bailey less than 6 weeks in the MTC to learn what I have tried to teach my kids all of their lives... we love who we serve (even annoying little brother types)! I'm sure this new found knowledge will be a great asset during his mission and for the rest of his life! Well done MTC, well done!
I'm not going to pretend like I am not just a bit apprehensive about the road from Guatemala to El Salvador... but with a little faith and a lot of mom prayers it should be all good.

He has 2 different addresses, one for letters and one for packages.  Apparently if you send him a package he may never see it, or he may get it with things missing out of it... I've been told that if you put Virgin Mary stickers on it, it will have a better chance of arriving in tact...

letter address:
Elder Bailey Bud Holmes
El Salvador San Salvador East Mission
Apartado Postal 3362
CP, San Salvador
El Salvador

package address:
Elder Bailey Bud Holmes
El Salvador San Salvador East Mission
Edificio La Centro Americana, Nivel 6*
Local 63 Alameda Roosevelt 3107
CP San Salvador, San Salvador
El Salvador

mission home phone # (503) 2525-6900

Also, I had to steal this pic off Madi's blog... because she is so cute and supportive of our baby Elder.

El Salvador OR BuSt! Week 6

Hi!

 

I hope everyone had a good week! This week has been good but I still miss you all like crazy! I have learned so much! Me and my comp are getting along really well. We have become friends and actually enjoy each others company! I will go to El Salvador the 29th and my Mom has my new adress! I am so excited to get out of here! My Spanish is terrible but I am ready to go! The Lord will help me! I hope you guys have fun at FHE! Thanks for all the love! I am not sure when my next P-day is! I love you guys! 

Elder Holmes

 

 

ALSO in an email to Madi he wrote:

Me and my companion are getting along really well! We decided to start serving each other as much as we can and we have grown to be really good friends! Too bad he is staying in Guatemala! I will have a new companion when I get to El Salvador.

Don't worry! I will be safe!  President Nelson promised that the Lord will protect us while we serve.  A teacher here just got back from my mission and he said it isn't bad. He said the news makes it sound 100% worse than it is. 

I started working out with Elder Langi (Utah State football player) and he is kicking my butt! Every time I want to stop he makes me think of you!

 

 

 

What is a Hipster anyway???

Hmmm... I've heard the term hipster before, but what is one?   Google says it's, "a person who follows the latest trends and fashions, especially those regarded as being outside the cultural mainstream."
So now I'm wondering how can you be a hipster in the MTC when you dress exactly the same as everyone else and you all have the same barber?  Maybe it's the handmade Madi Riye ties... 
I feel like falling out of the top bunk in the MTC is one of those things you will NOT live down for the following two years (hope Elder Lee doesn't have any broken parts)...  and I still don't know which one the "little brother" companion is.
In all honesty, Bailey Bud has always been quite tight lipped about things, so although this seems like a small amount of information, it is a lot by comparison (for example: I haven't seen a tenth of the videos he made and I haven't even seen most of the awards he won in high school.  He donated his state and national medals to the high school and Madi told me the other day there is still a big stack of his award certificates at the school... so ya)!
I am grateful he came with the gift of "looking for the silver lining" and that he seems to be adjusting to his new adventure. I have no doubt he will be awesome in El Salvador!

-Bailey's mom 

Imma "Hipster with no Beard!" 1 Month

Hello family!

This week has gone by very fast! thanks for the letters (Mom,Grandma,Madi,Chelsie).

Life is good down here! I cant wait to leave this place though! I do love the people here though! The Latin elders all call me a "hipster with no beard." They are all super funny and pretend to be American actors! My teachers are super funny and great at what they do. I love those guys. 

The rain here is so amazing and it will start to pour harder than I have ever seen in a few seconds! It is very pretty here. I wish we could go outside! The spirit is so strong here and I learn so much! President Cox is such a good guy! He is super funny! Haha Elder Lee fell out of his bed the other night onto the tile! He is on the top bunk and it woke us all up! 

I don't really have much to say this week. I love you guys! Tell me whats going on!

Love, 

Elder Holmes

P.S. Madi is winning in the letter count!

It's in the Water!

Hose water... it's how we roll! I'm sure faith & prayers had NOTHING to do with it (insert sarcasm here).  And if you missed Lehi Heritage Day 2015 there is always next year, although I can't promise that I will be walking in circles in a pioneer skirt holding kids on ponies for three hours next time or that Lec will show up with a holstered pistol on his hip (it really is my fault, I told him he could dress up as an outlaw).

John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

Until next week... Bailey's mom

Hose Water Saves the Day! Week 3

This week went by very fast! The Spanish is coming along and I am doing alright! Everyone here is sick except me! I guess that all that hose water as a kid made me invincible! Don't worry I am still careful about what I eat!
I don't have a ton to say cause all we do is study. The spirit is so strong here and I love all the guys (almost all the guys)! I can speak enough to teach lessons without a script! I did a session in Spanish today, it was super hard but the spirit was so strong! I am still pretty bad though!
I'm glad you all saw Madi so much this week; it makes me happy to see all of you with her! Heritage Days looks super fun! How is it going back home?

Love, Elder Holmes

Ya, that just happened!

So, I was lucky enough to notice I had a new email while Elder Holmes was on the computer so I got to do a bit of back and forth emailing with him.  I asked him if he was happier this week to which he replied, "I'm working on it! It is really hard to be away from Madi!"
YUP! He misses his mom!

I Finally Got A Little Brother! Week 2

Hey everyone,

This week went by fairly quick but each day still feels like a week! We have to stay inside all day except an hour! This country is crazy beautiful from my window! We get to go to the temple every P-day and that is so great! My Spanish is coming along pretty good but it is still terrible! All the guys here are awesome! My district is like a family and my companion is the annoying little brother! Don't worry I "love" him.
Thank you guys for all the emails and the letters coming my way! I really appreciate it but I still miss you all so much! I don't have much to talk about cause all we do is study! The Lord has helped me so much here with comfort and the language! I miss you guys so much but I know I need to be here serving the lord and representing Jesus Christ!

Love,
Elder Holmes

Really?

Worrying about getting fat instead of that the Vice President was arrested and the President fled the country....  alrighty then!