Sister Holm: If I Had 3 Wishes...

Bonjour!

Sister Larsen and I will be staying together this next transfer here in Osoyoos! We are beyond thrilled (ha it sounds like we are having a baby or something)!!! Somewhat bad news... due to the influx of the French in the coming months (they work in the vineyards) Sis L and I will be learning French. So.... wish us luck…Psych! We really are staying together and will continue to speak English! So Wish #1 was granted :)

It was a week of miracles. Heavenly Father drenched us with blessings! On Thursday I hit my 3-month mark, which came way too fast!

While out tracting this week (which is always eventful) we talked to a couple who invited us in, but didn't want to hear our message…but they gave us some pancakes and sent us on our way. We also met a former DJ who gave us the creeps. He was complaining about his wife of 14 years who turned lesbian...but it gets worse. He told us he used to be a DJ on a cruise ship and all the Mormon girls would flock to him. He invited us to come back and have a party with him and listen to sexy music. So we just turned around and left. Ew. Also while tracting, a large Rottweiler jumped on my back multiple times (finally I just ran away from it). At one house I biffed it on some ice and almost hit my head on their cement stairs. That was cute. Oh! We also had an awesome door slam. I say awesome because the guy slammed it SO hard that it literally shook Sis L and I.

Wish #2: One of our ETERNAL (meaning he has been meeting with missionaries for years) Investigators now has a baptismal date for Feb 22!! This truly is a miracle. Sis L and I have been fasting and praying for Jim and he finally committed to a date! We were at his place with some members for nearly 3 hours. After about 85 times of asking him to be baptized and him not giving us a straight answer…I finally just pulled out Sis L's planner and showed him the date and asked one final time. He sat for a moment…then took out a pen and signed the date. The spirit was so strong. I kid you not. Jim didn't actually need to sign anything…but it was darling that he did. He is 74 and has had a very difficult life. He attends church every Sunday with his dog Annie (ironic I know) and says that his only friends in this area are Mormons. So, lo and behold, he will become a member of the church on Feb 22 :)

Another miracle that we heard about this week was with a former investigator and her daughter. Her mom, Sis B, is a very active member of our branch. So, Sis B told us this story. I guess our former investigator was sitting at the table when her four-year-old daughter came and sat on her lap and handed her the Book of Mormon. The girl then opened it and pointed to a verse and said "Here mommy! Read this out of the Book of Norman!" (She gets it wrong every time but it's soo cute). So our former looks at the verse that the girl pointed to and it was 3 Nephi 11:23 which says, "Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them - Behold ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them." It was the exact scripture she needed to hear. It is a huge testimony builder that Heavenly Father works through little children.

And for the final wish...my prayers were answered...the Seahawks swept the Bronco's!! Ahh...I was dying on Sunday. Towards the end of the evening one of our members called us and told me that the Seahawks had won 43-8! The whole branch knew how anxious I was to hear about the game. They are gems to say the least! :) Wish #3 granted!

During my studies this morning I read some of the General Conference talks from this past conference. I loved the one about when to plant a tree and I would encourage you to read it! But the one I just can't stop thinking about is about is about how to endure well. It talks about Finding Nemo and how Dory repeats "Just keep swimming." I love that. It's a perfect parallel to how I feel about my mission and about life in general. During rain or shine...all we need to do is JUST KEEP SWIMMING! He is always there for us. I'm so grateful to be out here doing the Lord’s work. It is a true privilege to be serving His ever-so-entertaining children here in the Canada Vancouver Mission. Thank you for the support and love you give and know that I am sending it right back at ya! Keep anchored to the always-loving Good Shepherd.

xoxo A

P.S. If you are sending mail, please make sure you put it like this:

Sister Annie Holm

C/O P.O. Box 1337

Oliver B.C. V0H 1T0

CANADA

I guess the postal system is getting picky about these things. One time they thought we were catholic nuns...??