Marriage, Divorce, and Two Million Stray Dogs!

(Elder Markham & I)

 

 This week has gone by so slow but so fast! The work here is going alright. We had to drop a family this week cause they dont keep commitments and it was super sad. I wish these people knew what they were denying! We need to get a few divorces and then a few marrigaes and we will have some baptisms. It is really hard and expensive to get divorced here but the Lord will help us.

   This country is so crazy! There are about two million stray dogs in the streets and they love to chase us! The people are so kind but they dont want to live the commandments. They all say they have a church then when we ask which one they just say a random church that they don't actually attend.

   I hope you are all doing good back home! I love you all so much and miss you! It is really hard to be here but I know it will get better. The church is true!

- Elder Holmes

 

(Service)

 

That's My Boy!

I was VERY glad to hear from my boy today! You can't imagine how happy it made me that he sent pictures (finally got his camera back)! With only 4 pictures, you can imagine how many times I looked at every detail; for example his new bed room... What the heck is up with his pillow?  At first I thought, oh my I hope that is his companion's pillow it looks like a small animal was slaughtered on that thing. Then after some reflection I remembered that we all wrote notes all over his pillow case with permanent marker that was obviously NOT permanent (Note to self... send Bailey a new pillow case)!  Then I notice the mosquito net over Elder Markham's bed and I think, 'didn't we get him a net?' and then I remember he couldn't find the one he wanted (so next note to self... put a net in the pillow case when I send it)! And then there is the mold on the bottom of the wall by the door (do they have Clorox there? Can you send Clorox in the mail?)  Of course the BEST part of the pic is my little big Elder with a real smile, taking a new room selfie looking healthy and happy and that makes my heart beyond glad!

Since he is a man of few words, I am trying to imagine his interview with President Vasquez. Two different languages and Bailey who isn't a big fan of being interrogated, luckily he is awesome and has his dad's charisma so I'm sure the President loves him (but not as much as we do), and I bet he is just as witty in Spanish as he is in English (oh that kid)!

And then, 'my first companion is white.'  WHAT? LOL! I have chosen to believe that what he meant was that he was glad his first companion speaks English... ha! I sure would like to know where in Northern America Elder Markham is from.  When I first looked at Elder Markham's pic I thought 'is he on a cell phone?'  Yup, he is!

I LOVE that a member cooks for them, that fact is good for a mom's heart.  Hopefully Bailey will share his culinary skills with them sometime as well.

I am glad he has a good trainer, that he loves to teach, and that Madi helped him get ready for his two year hike-a-thon!

By the way...  683 days and we'll have that kid back home so we can hug him and pester him with a thousand questions that he will not want to answer... but I hope he will.  Love that kid (yes, he will always be a kid to me)!

-Bailey's mom

El Salvador, Week 1... My New Companion is White!

 

Hi Family!

This week has been crazy! I just slept the whole bus ride from the MTC so nothing cool there. President Vasquez is so funny! He cant really speak English so our interview was interesting.
I am glad you are all spending time together. I miss you guys and I wish I could spend time with you all.
My first companion is Elder Markham and he is white. It was such a relief when I got a North American trainer. My first area is Santo Thomas, it is super safe and we have a member that cooks every meal for us. This place is very different but I like it. The people here are super humble and love missionaries. I taught my first lesson Wednesday and I realized I don't really know Spanish as well as I thought I did. We taught the Familia Ortiz and it was super hard cause only their son could read. I don't even know how many lessons I have taught now but I am getting better. We teach and hike all day. Thank you Madi for conditioning me to hike so much! There is lots of work here to be done.
I love you all. Have a good week.

Love,
Elder Holmes

And because Madi is awesome like that... she sent a excerpt from her Elder Holmes email:


This week has been really hard but really fun! It is super fun to teach! I love to teach but it is hard when you dont know much Spanish. The people here are amazing and so humble. My companion is really great at teaching and we are always on the move! I promise I am being safe and that you don't have anything to worry about. My house is alright but it is pretty dirty. The shower is luke warm if that counts for anything. We teach lots of families that really do want to be together forever.

 

 

 

 

The pictures came with no captions... I am hoping this is NOT his front porch. I wondered if it was a window, but there is no window frame... also wondering if the cistern on the roof with the hose coming down is his shower..  things that make you go hmmm

 

At first I thought this might be his new companion, but no, it's just a tiny lizard.... in the house!

 



So this must be the new companion... Elder Markham.

Mom's Need to Know!

I was so glad to get this letter and pics of my boy!  I was hoping they would let him call me to tell me he made it on Tuesday... it's Thursday!  Thank goodness for faith (how would we survive without it?)! 
I am laughing about his "smile", it reminds me of the pictures I took of him pre-Madi.  I am glad she is a photographer and a blogger, without her I wouldn't have any real smile pictures of him this past year.
Still not sure if his P Day will be on Monday, but I am looking forward to hearing his adventures over the past week.

-Bailey's mom

Looks Like He Made It (yes, I'm singing it)...

A letter from the new family...

Dear Family Holmes

It is a privilege and a great blessing to have your child in our mission,
thanks for the sacrifices they make to give the best of his life to the Lord and
his beautiful Missionary Work which will prepare the Second Coming of Our
Salvador, we know that they will find and we are the elect

eager to help them develop their potential.

We want to support them with their prayers and advice in this beautiful stage
their lives and know that they are the Lord at this time.

We are Missionaries of Jesus Christ and in Preach My Gospel and its
Authority convert, baptize and retain.

With President and Sister Love Vasquez

 

 

 

Yay for translator!

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!