My Mission Report And Last Email

I cannot express in one email the amount of love and support I have had from you all. Especially a particular few, my Mom and Dad!! Along with my family, friends, and new acquaintances I've made on the mission. As I sit on the plan ride home I have grown a testimony that God loves and supports all of His children! It's marvelous to think that the 100,000's of thousands of people that I see as I am in the plane are taken care of by our Heavenly Father. I know I've done a great work here but the best is yet to come and God will continue with eternity to take care of all of the people in Vancouver Washington. That place, the WVM, I didn't think could have such an influence on who I am now. I will forever see the great WVM (Washington Vancouver Mission) as a second home for me. Coming out on a mission was hard, mysterious and good. Returning home is a sense of accomplishment, growth and duty to go forward with all I know now in order to make life of my own by creating a family. I look forward to learning from my peers about creating a family!! Now that I've introduced my email a bit for this week, I'll tell you about my week and maybe a few last thoughts along with my testimony. 

I haven't shared much about this throughout all of my mission, for the sake of others but I have struggled with a couple of companions through my mission. This is very typical to hear about from probably every RM (Return Missionary). Anyways the beginning of the week was taken up helping a struggling missionary. I don't look upon any person with unrighteous judgment. In fact on this plan I feel a small but good sensation knowing I am with God's children flying together, haha. Nevertheless I did get to do the work of the Lord for the later end of this week with my new companion Elder Jensen! You will get to see pictures of him in this email. Sorry this is long but I want to make it that way because it's my last one!! :(:(

Tuesday I had the privilege of going to the temple with my group of departing missionaries, the mission president and his wife. It was an amazing time. We got to conjoin afterwards and discuss questions and comments about the temple. I learned so much! Last night we had a devotional that talked about our return home. We discussed in part about "milk" before "meat". The scriptures referr to this milk before meat as learning the principles of the teaching of Jesus Christ. The milk is the basics and the meat is the complex. I would share what I learned at the temple when we conjoined but it is meat and we would want to give that so someone who's hasn't had milk first, kind of like a baby! :) 

Wednesday we served Joshua, who's a recent convert and taught a couple friends. Namely Charles Wegley, and Meg (a chuukese person). I was nearly in tears to leave the Wegley home. 

Thursday we took care of my first companion in Hearthwood by letting him pack. Then we planned for the week and had a lesson with our good friend Jeff! I also got teary eyed leaving that lesson. 

Friday was very fun. I got to attend my last MLC (Mission Leadership Council) and take good notes to give to the next District Leader in my area. That took up the whole day and that night my companions got switched and Elder Jensen came into the area. We saw so many miracles together! It was a great last few days for me. He has desires to serve and it made me so happy to have that as a way to end my mission. 

Saturday I got to see many things happen in between the time we had for watching a baptism, going to a ward activity, doing a service project and studying for my District. We invited tons of friends to the baptism to watch with us and same for the ward party. We saw success and friends came. Sen was one who watched the baptism. She was so nervous because she speaks very little English. But in the end she loved the feeling that was there. On another note, a couple friends came to the ward party and they both brought mass amounts of food for the pot luck picnic. It was lovely and inspiring as our members befriended these investigators along with our friends sharing and teaching our members good things.

Sunday rocked! We had Amy Wegley and Jaime attend church with us. Following that we taught our friend Sen for my last time ever. It was great how it was set up. She made sure it happened so we could say goodbye! During the closing prayer she said afterwards that she smiled when I prayed that she could be baptized because she didn't think she could because she had study other religion and she was so glad to know that she can still be baptized. Then I had an hour long departing interview with President Mann. I needed his council. It is wonderful to council with our priesthood leaders because they have keys to guide you. I'll never forget that departing interview. Later that night a member family fed us a lot of food and we had a Zoom devotional with our mission where I got to bare my testimony to all the missionaries along with those who also went home.

I'll end the composed email soon. Last I'd love to share how Monday was and this morning so I don't forget the grand experience I had. Monday we played baseball then I packed and headed to the mission home for a last supper so to say. We shared a great evening and quickly went to bed so we weren't zombies for traveling. I woke up at 5pm and was showered and ready to go within a few minutes, giving the other missionaries time to do the same. We went on a walk followed with a delightful light breakfast. We traveled to the airport and off I went. I would only add to this that the dessert and at the mission home was the best dessert I think I've ever had, it was soft peanut butter cream with a light milk chocolate cream on top of a sugary, crunchy, crust. Now I am about to land in about 15 or so minutes, may God bless you all. THANK YOU and till next time, 

(I wrote this on the 18th of July and sent it today (the 19th))

- Elder Caleb Holt

WVM

July, 18, 2023

Pictures below