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| With Gina Brutus at the DC Temple Open House in June 2022. |
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| Our sweet daughter Emily and granddaughters Holly and Anna at the US Capital, June 2022. |
If ever I would leave you. . . .It wouldn't be in summer.
But if I'd ever leave you,
It couldn't be in autumn.
I've seen how you sparkle When fall nips the air.
I know you in autumn. And I must be there.
And could I leave you running merrily through the snow?
Or on a wintry evening when you catch the fire's glow?
If ever I would leave you, How could it be in spring-time?
Knowing how in spring I'm bewitched by you so? Oh, no! not in spring-time!
Summer, winter or fall!
No, never could I leave you at all!
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| Great Seneca Park in October, 2022. |
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| DC Zone Cleaning Project, October, 2022. |
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| Elder Evan Connell, Shazia Aziz, Sister Janette Connell, Holms, Mohammed and Shamir Aziz; Fatima Aziz is taking the photo. February 2023 Pakistani dinner party at the Aziz apartment. |
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| Our neighborhood, early morning. |
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| Elders Riser, Butler, Schrieiner, McKay and Chandler--missionaries eating MISSION BBQ! |
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| Holms with sister missionaries at DC Temple. |
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| Dogwood! |
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| "Our" pond in autumn. |
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Listen to Robert Goulet belt out these lyrics and they will earworm in your head for weeks—like they have in mine for months.
(Lerner and Loewe, If Ever I Would Leave You – from the musical Camelot)
We’ve loved Maryland and DC in every season, beyond what we imagined. Our daily walks and weekend excursions have shown us their wonders; lately we’ve seen foxes in the trees where “semi-wild” wildlife roam, and we’ve loved learning how God has nurtured and protected our nation ’s capital for His purposes.
Most important, we love some Marylanders—precious friends Gina Brutus and the Aziz family-- given to us by God. Sadly, phone calls and texts will not fully take the place of their smiles and hugs.
We hold dear 163 young missionaries. When I answer their phone calls and ask how they are, it’s always, “We are so, so good! And how can we help YOU, Sister Holm?” They love Jesus Christ and testify of him despite discouragement and homesickness, and they support each other and friends they make in their communities. We’ve watched them grow from nervous “greenies” to mature, accomplished, powerful adults, who proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ fearlessly and then go home to face life.
We’ve made eternal friendships with 43 senior missionaries, including our fellow workers in the office: Evan and Janette Connell from St. Louis, MO; Rodney and Susan Workman from Sheridan, WY; Ed and Cindy Cole from Grantsville, UT, and Gary and Camille Simmons from Farmington, UT. Our replacements, Nyall and Candy London from Riverton, UT, just arrived, and we love them, too. We will always have tender spots in our hearts for President Todd Clarke and his wife Heather, and for our former mission leaders, Reid and Shelly Neilson. We've loved our friends in the Strathmore Single Adult Ward.
We’re supposed to leave March 7, but cherry blossoms are bursting and we finally know all the missionaries’ names. Listening to Goulet, we think “never can we leave Maryland—at all!”
Serving this mission in Maryland has changed us for the better. We're deeply thankful for the blessings it has brought to our marriage and our testimonies of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Through our tears, we love all these people and places, yet we yearn for our wonderful children and their spouses, for 16 fantastic grandchildren, and for family and friends. (Tune in next week to see the next phase of our Wonderful Washington DC North Mission Adventure!)
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| Nurse Sister Susan Workman and Housing Coordinator Elder Rodney Workman at the party |
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With Sister Young Irvine at the party. |
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