Dear Everyone!

 

Well this week has been pretty good. I've been a little super tired some days. Tuesday was transfers and it was just a little stressful, but all is well and we got back and I relaxed a little while my comp unpacked. Elder Tramel is Awesome! He really has great work ethic and I was glad for that, because I love elder Schwalger, but sometimes I felt like we were a little lazy. But I do miss him, it was a quick companionship but it was fun. Elder Tramel, has an extremely strong testimony and it really strengthened mine. He has worked the last 3 transfers in a place called the Jungle. and it really is a jungle. Just look it up and you'll figure it out. It’s basically just a place where as he says people just failed in life. The problem for Spanish is that its only blacks up there very few Hispanics.

 

Anyways so sorry, this email is so late we had to go to the mission office to finish because my comp has an interview with president. So it took most of our early afternoon driving. anyways so this week we have been somewhat busy, our area is still slow but we did find and teach Marvin (roman) he’s cool, he has already seen the restoration video and he seems pretty interested, Our first lesson was good but it got cut off because it was a little late. So yeah that was good. So we found also a street contact that was interested. When we stopped by a couple days later she said to wait because she wanted to bring her Friends over to listen too. But I think she just thinks it’s a bible study and it’s an excuse not to go to church. 

 

Other than that this week has been pretty good. We have done a lot of LA English advertising. It’s pretty good, better than tracting. Then this week.  We had the opportunity to go to the temple and do service while it is closed. Mostly we just pulled weeks but it was a nice relaxing sort of day. Then we had district meeting and Elder Craven is our DL now and he is awesome. He’s got like 2 transfers left but super strong and loves the mission. He’s one of my new favorite elders. I have a lot. This week we also ate at the *** for dinner Tuesday night and they had friends from AZ come over and visit with them. We shared a message with one of the couples, but they turned us down hard and wouldn't accept anything we tried to offer. but The Grandparent of them all came to church on Sunday with them so it was cool to see the *** do missionary work. We stopped by the *** a couple of times and they are doing alright. Still don't come to church. and the * didn't come either.... I just want them to come to church. They only came once in the last transfer. But on a good note, the *** came to church for all 3 hours! Yay so overall I’m excited for this next transfer!

 

I love you all, and hope all is going well. Send me some pictures I want to see people. I hope Brayden’s open house was good. Oh and what’s the deal with the war in Russia and Ukraine? I’m trying to email Sam to see if he’s affected by this and if he will actually go to Russia. Anyways. I love you all and always pray for you. 

 

Love 

Elder Hollingshead

Well Hello Everyone,

 

First off Transfer Info.... IM STAYING Yay! but my comp is going to 6th ward, in an area called the jungle. It’s called that because it is crazy, it’s literally pure blacks and it’s always dead. But were kind of doing a swap, he's going there and the elder that is there is coming here. Elder Tramel, he's cool I've talked to him before and he sounds like a fun elder.  But, yeah so there is a lot of change with our ward. Usually only a couple of companionships have been changed, but this time every companionship in the zone is being changed. but it will all be good. My companion is a little frustrated, but I think he will survive. We did not go to the Hollywood sign, no one else wanted to go... and it would take forever on bus. and since people are leaving a bunch of us are going to hang out at our apartment. But something fun happened this morning. So we have 3 alarms to get us up in the morning.  (don't make fun of us) and the first one goes off like 7 min before 6:30. Usually I just ignore it and leave it on, but this morning I was awake enough to reach over and turn it off. after I was just lying there and then I felt a little rumble, but didn't think about it because we are on the 2nd floor with parking under us so it’s pretty normal to feel a shake once and a while, but no right after that it just started rumbling even more. So yeah there must have been some sort of earthquake this morning. So fun stuff, but it only shook for about 10 sec. and nothing after that. So nothing big. People are used to this around here. Especially this time of year. Because it was super cold 2 weeks ago and then it warmed up super quick to mid-80s because of the dramatic change the earth likes to move. So probably won’t be the first one I’ll feel here.

This week has been long that's for sure but we did find 2 new investigators but one is moving this week so we are bummed. Anyways. The other is a former who seems super nice and likes to talk to missionaries. Also we got 2 awesome referrals this last weekend so we should get some investigators out of that. But yesterday was alright, we have taken a bunch of pictures with people this whole week and a bunch Sunday. Then after church we went to a baptism, it was good, short, and not many people there but it was good. The hot water heater didn't work or something so it was very cold. The lady being baptized was freezing then after we went to the departing missionary fireside, because my comp wanted to go. Mostly just to see other missionaries but anyways it was good. Elder Haro (my zone leader) was leaving and elder Baich and the previous AP so a bunch of people and it was great. Lots of good testimonies and a great time and place to feel the spirit.

 

This week during my personal studies I have been reading in Alma. and it just so happened that our District meeting was focused on the book of Mormon and how we need to study it everyday. Even if we have read it multiple times. And I can truly say yes to that. I think this time reading through I have gotten so much more out of it. It might be because I’m looking for more things that just apply to me. I have read the book of Mormon all the way through I think 4 times now. and I’m on my 5th time. and I think my love for the book of Mormon has really grown. I just finished the New testament, and it was a great read, (up until revelations) but I learned a lot more about the life of Jesus Christ, but still the book of Mormon tops it all. It truly is the Keystone of our religion; it teaches so plainly and sets us apart from the rest of the world. also a couple of weeks ago we were discussing that in our street contacting, we really need to focus on our "special Message" because it really is a special message no one else in the world has anything like this. I love this gospel and love this opportunity I have to be here in LA serving a mission. I love you all I hope everything is going well with you. I pray for each of you. Life is hard here sometimes, but I know that I have all of you supporting me and praying for me. I love you all and it gives me strength to really push forward some days when I just don't really want to.  Keep up the good work, and Stay Strong

 Love

Elder Hollingshead

 ***(NOTE FROM MOM:  The earthquake was centered in Westwood about 10 miles from him, and was a 4.4)*** 

Ps. these pics are of me and my comp right now. and then the zone (basically) and last week the pictures at the park was with some ward members and missionaries to celebrate Hna Eastman’s birthday. So yeah. Enjoy.

 

 

Well Hello Everyone!

This week has been alright. Long, tiring and just frustrating. Multiple days was just basically tracting, but with formers and potentials. A lot of them are no good, or not interested. We have found about 5 or so people to follow up on this week and meet with them and start teaching them again. But other than that, we only have one investigator.  It’s hard sometimes. And he didn't come to church again. We basically told him if he still had not come to the church by the 16th we would have to drop him. So hopefully by next week he can come, and also have some new investigators. We finally met with ***. He’s super nice, he’s a member, but hasn't been to church in close to 15 years. He’s married and has a 5 year old daughter, we had not been able to find him for 3 weeks and when we did find him he said he was on vacation to Colombia. His wife is not a member but they send their daughter to church with other family so they can have their own personal day (Sunday) I think there is a lot of potential with her, it just trying to get him to come back. Anyways. Friday we had dinner with the *** and they are doing alright. They didn't come to church again, and I think a lot of it is that *** does not have many people to talk to. Most of the ward thinks he doesn't speak any Spanish, but he does, actually really well for not taking any classes, but he's shy about it. Kind of like me.... oh and the ***, are awesome,*** came to church! and she was really happy to be there. and she is always willing to give referrals. yay! At least someone does.

So Saturday night we got a text and realized that the daylight savings time was changing! Yeah so 1 hour less of sleep. Joy on top of that this whole week I’ve been super tired. So yesterday was super long and I almost fell asleep a couple of times. and now the sun doesn't come up till almost 7 instead of 6 and then it’s really light at 6 at night now instead of dark. I do not enjoy this whole daylight savings thing. Other than that nothing much is new. Today is going to be a chill day. We are just hanging in our apartment and sleeping and writing letters, which I haven't done in a while. Oh so yesterday on the way home from church. The*** gave us a ride and he took the freeway randomly. Usually he takes the side streets. but when we went on one of the overpasses, I think I finally realized how small our mission is. From the overpass we could see the airport, Santa Monica, Hollywood sign, downtown, and Palos Verdes (southern mountain that is the border). And that’s it that is our mission and all is with in sight if you get really high up! It also helped that it was a super clear day! Usually it’s so smoggy that you can’t see downtown. In fact yesterday was the first time I saw it! Next week me and my comp and possible someone else might try to go to the Hollywood sign and hike it. So if you don’t get an email from me early in the day that might be why. He also wants to take me to go see downtown, his last area. Fun stuff here in LA.

Well I love you all. Sounds like a great change for Stake presidency! Also that picture of the Gilbert temple is awesome! I hope all is going well, and I hope everyone enjoys spring break! Just don’t get too crazy! Love you all and hope you have a great week.

Elder Hollingshead

 

 

 

 

Hola!

 

Well this week has been alright. It just slow here. Nothing much really happens. No one is ever home! grr... we haven't really taught anything, and what we do teach is in English because *** speaks English and prefers English. Owell. We still only have had 2 investigators and Francisco asked us to not come by anymore yesterday. At least he wasn't drunk! He wasn't swearing at us and also told us he respects us, he loves the book of Mormon, and in a way told us he believed it was true. Just he’s Catholic and doesn't want contention in his house because his family does not like us at all and also Francisco does not want to give up his Santos especially Mary.

*** we told him that he has to come to church. Then his mom told us that he can’t. SO we asked why? She told us some random excuse and told us that he is never alone and one of his parents has to come with him. So we invited her to come but she wants nothing to do with us. She really just wants to have us come over to visit with him. So we straight up told her and ***

that unless he comes to church, we will stop visiting him. I hate to drop him, but I don't want him to get comfortable with just talking with us.

So during this week we have just visited active members and basically begged for referrals. I feel so guilty because that's always what the missionaries did when they came to our house and I just kind of shrugged it off. so owell. We all learn somehow or way.  But the most fun happened during the rain this week. I have no idea how much rain we really got, but we did get a lot. and since Wednesday afternoon I didn't see the sun till Sunday afternoon. It reminded me of Mexico not seeing the sun for days. So for the most part we didn't have to worry about the rain much. We would either wait it out because it never rained for super long usually. Sometimes we would just stay at member’s houses and visit. We got soaked Friday and Saturday. Saturday we came back from correlation mtg. and after it just started pouring at 3:30 and we had a dinner appointment then. So we waited 20 min and then the rain backed off. So we quickly went outside and started to head over there because it wasn't that far. Then like 30 sec. later it just started pouring! We literally went 3 blocks and were soaked head to toe. Jacket and shirt pants shoes and everything. and if you thought Arizona was bad street flooding, think again. LA is worse. Literally some of the streets were 6 in inches of water and then some of the drainage dips in the road were 12 in deep. So we just rode as fast as week could and had to dry off for 5-10 min before we could sit down and eat.  So that was fun. So after that apt, we went back to the apartment and changed ad I dried my jacket over the wall heater. Then we went out again and came in early because it was still raining hard and we were wet. So yeah that was the rain.  The church is soooooo True.

 

Well other than that, the *** family came to church again. It’s been a few weeks. So they finally came. The *** family came and it was great. Church was good and we got a new ward mission leader! He seems awesome and is more than willing to help and he wanted to meet with us to get out numbers and to tell us when he is available to help and work with us and when he works. So it’s a great change. It’s weird to think that transfers are in 2 weeks! My comp thinks I will either leave or be senior comp, or stay and train. It will be fun. I have been reading the Book of Mormon lately and I’m in the beginning of Alma, I can’t remember any of the specific scriptures but there is a lot on The Atonement in Alma 7 and I’ve used it before in lessons but I did not realize how great that scripture is. It really shows the importance of being baptized to receive the blessings of the atonement more fully. And through this last transfer some days are really rough and long and tiring and every time I just pray I always have peace and know that sometimes the work is slow but all is fine. I’ve learned a lot and hope to continue to learn and grow in the gospel. I have really received the blessings of the atonement here and I know that Our Savior Jesus Christ really suffered for each and everyone of us, no matter what our circumstances are He knows.

 

I love you all and hope all is going well.  The dedication sounded great. Wish I could have been there. I can’t wait until I come back and go to the gilbert temple. Well I hope stake conference will be great. A new stake presidency, oh man that is crazy, it will all be different when I come back. That's great. Oh and I don't know if you heard Mom and Dad, but Hallie Glidewell got her mission call to Omaha Nebraska!

Have a great week!

 

Love
Elder Hollingshead