NEW YEARS

Well this week has been pretty good! OF COURSE it was Great! it was Christmas, Even though it did not feel like it. its just not like mesa, no lights no big decorations and it was not cold, until after Christmas. The day of Christmas it was cold, and windy then the next 3 days it was just chilly and our apt was very cold, and we both didn't sleep good one of the nights, and then I finally took the time to get the heater working. it  is ancient but I got the pilot lit and it works now, its just that you have to manually turn it on and off. but its now very warm in the apt. this morning we did a deep clean, it was pretty dirty. but it was good. and now I feel a lot better. I'm Tired of being stuffed. Everywhere we went this week everyone wanted to give us food. and then we went out to eat with some members and el Hermano, just likes to stuff us and ordered more things for me right before the lady left. and then what else. The Familia ***, we skyp'd there and ate both days. They like to give us lots of food.

What else happened this week. So we Found a new family. Well we found part last week and we found the other part this week. *** is an 11 year old and we talked to his mom and she said that he could go to church, she is pregnant and just is not super interested but we have permission to teach and help him. But after we dropped Leo off on Sunday we stepped inside and had a lesson with them. it was good. it was hard to teach sometimes because there were 6 people ranging from just got out of jail, and then to teenagers who know nothing and then the parents who are super interested and leo who is pretty innocent and young.  So we taught them the plan and it was a longer lesson and it was hard, but we got through and it was good to see how it doesn't matter who you are or what you do and what you have been through, the Plan God has for us is perfect and we get to choose our path! its that simple.

Nothing much new other than that. the area is going good, were finding a lot and contacting a lot, but things should settle down for this week, and then be busy for transfers next week and then back to normal. But other than that its all good. New years we will be put into our apartment early to do planning... joy.... and then I think that's it for this week!

 

I love you all and hope you have a great week! Its was awesome to Talk/Skype with you all this week :) I love this time of year. I Hope you all Had a great Christmas and Hope you have a great New Year!

 

Love

Elder Hollingshead

FELIZ NAVIDAD! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

Zerin with Pres. & Sis Weidman

Well this week has been alright. I'm still tired, but overall it was good. we had a cool Christmas devotional. and it was nice and chilly! Mostly the biggest change was dropping off elder Arambula at the mission office on Wednesday night! That was a weird feeling and we came back and it was just quite. Elder Ceron is pretty quiet and just calm. Elder Arambula was just loud and always playing around. hes a football player and he just always liked to turn the lights off at night and tackle us on to our beds. and one time at the end i was in the middle of them both and got pushed on to the floor and folded like a taco....legs right over head.... era bien chistoso. but anyways he's gone. probably with his girlfriend and freezing in Utah.... Lets see what else happened this week! Priscilla and Karina got confirmed, and it was good, Bishop did the confirmation and he said in one of them that if the time was right that they could serve a mission. It was really cool because after church Priscilla said that she would like to go on a mission! I love it when converts Say that! its just a testimony builder to me because this family has changed so much in the last 2 weeks. it went from arguing and fighting everyday to get the baptized to now being happy and wanting to go on a mission. The Gospel does change lives. its changed mine and many others in my areas and in the world. I love Jesus Christ! Its Christmas what better time to have that love! It honestly doesn't feel like Christmas.... even last year I still felt like Christmas, but I wasn't home. this year it just doesn't feel like it at all. yes there are lights and music, but it just doesn't feel like Christmas but what I do know is that Its a great blessing and honor to be here on the mission during this time.  

what else Happened this week?.... umm yeah so I didn't get enough practice time for the song I was going to play so a sister ended up playing it.. I was sad, but relieved. I really miss music, even singing I feel like I don't know how to sing anymore.... but that just part of the sacrifice.  but the devotional was great, got a picture with President! and it was a good lunch. I got to see a lot of elders I haven't seen in a while. But everything is going well. I'm excited to See you all on Thursday. Probably for the timing of the call will be between 12-2 that's what I'm guessing. Like always I will call you and then we will get Skype set up. Remember I only have 40 min. so maybe you could all have some ?s and what not, or we can just talk! I'm excited. 

 

 

Merry Christmas!

Elder Hollingshead

 

 

 

 

 

 Hey All you Family and Friends. I just want to wish you all A Merry Christmas From Los Angeles California! I hope you all know How Awesome You are!  Thanks for All the Support and Prayers that Are made in My Behalf and for all the missionaries in the World!  I Hope you all had the Opportunity to Share the Gospel with Someone this year, and especially the Shore Video Called "He is the Gift". I was going to make a card and send it to a bunch of people, but... i ran out of time.... SO You all just get an Email... Hopefully you all read it before Thursday:)   Well I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and remember all the Good times we had in the Past!  Say Hello to all your Family!

 

Feliz Navidad!

 Elder Hollingshead

 

P.S. Enjoy the Pictures! (don't make fun of my horrible art skills;)

I'm tired of being Tired.....

*** Girls Baptism

Well,

 


So this week has been so tiring. I don't think I've been this tired in a long time. we have just been on the run for long time. everything we do seems to be in a rush. I haven't had any time to write in my journal. I come home plan and its already 10:15 so I go straight to bed. and then on top of that there was a lot of stress just so that people could get baptized sunday.so where to begin. ..... so Tuesday the day after we switched comps. I got kicked out already and went on a trio exchange with other elders in the zone. I was the first time I have actually served in an English area my whole mission. it was weird. South central English people are weird. That or I have just got extremely used to Latin culture. its just crazy....yeah so then Wednesday. elder ceron had to get an ingrown toenail removed so that took like 2 hours then we came back and had to get a little better plan. then we contacted a few people then we had to go back out to Santa Monica and have a special MLC (missionary leadership council) with president and elder Baxter (quorum of the 70). that was good, we mostly talked about leadership and how it affects others and how we can become better leaders. it was good. quick but very powerful. then after we met with one of our investigators at the VC, he needed to get an interview with one of the mission presidency. so that happened and it took way to long but Darwin was all good to go and get baptized on Sunday. so that was all of Wednesday and we got back super late. Thursday we had a good day, but we had to take some time and go to the church building to set up some tables and chairs for the mission conference at our building on Friday. so we set it up and then had some good visits with people. I honestly cant remember the names.... its just been super stressful. but we did meet with the *** family. The 2 daughters had the baptismal date for this last Sunday. the mom is a less active and lets just say it was a pain in the neck and very frustrating to get them all excited for the baptism. the visit was very long and we finally got them ready for their baptism on Sunday. we set up the interview for then next day during the Christmas party. They came got the interview and everything was good they both passed. So on Friday we had 3 baptism ready to go! it was awesome.
Friday was also our zone conference. we had to get up early again to finish setting everything up with the assistants. long story short all the tables and chairs had to be taken down the night before because the building was being used without us knowing. but the conference went well. it was very long for us. we were at the church building almost all day. except for like an hour. Elder Baxter was really nice and very powerful. Honestly it wasn't much of a change meeting, but what was said was profound and very deep and it just strengthened my testimony and it just gave me a spiritual boost. I liked it. but yeah.so Saturday, when we met with **, he told us that he couldn't get baptized. he told his mom and she said that is was too soon and he couldn't do that. we tried to get him over it, but he wouldn't change, and wouldn't ask his mom. so yeah, that was a bummer. but after the lesson we both though well even if he doesn't get baptized, we still have the ** girls that will get baptized. then we show up a little later and then they just went on and on and on.... they were all arguing and sad and mad at each other. basically every little thing that the hna was mad about made her think that the kids were not ready. so....that was a little lame... but we got them ready and they agreed to be baptized. so yeah they got baptized on Sunday. now that did involve coming over at 8 in the morning and getting them ready and not mad and telling them that they were ready over and over again. and they did get baptized. on top of that, the hot water was out on Sunday because of something that happened in the ward party, so it was cold water, so baptizing them was very cold and one of the girls had to get dunked 2 times.

 but yeah there are lots of other things that happened this week, but that's the important things. oh and we did get to go to the Visitor center yesterday and we watched a musical program and then walked around the gardens and I may be biased but mesa lights are so much better. but something super cool, I saw **! from last December that me and elder Marin baptized. He is still super strong and super solid. so I got his address and will hopefully write him soon. also I saw a bunch of other people from Inglewood 2nd ward. it was super fun! Its fun to see all these people from back then. so yeah I think that's it.

I love you all! Hope you are having a very Merry Christmas!

 

Elder Hollingshead



Our Trio

 

 

 

LA Temple Visitors Center Lights

Zone Leader ?????

Well

This weekend has been fast and a rapid change. First things first, I'm a zone leader now..... as inexperienced and unqualified I am, I guess that's what the lord wants. I Switched to LA stake in LA6th ward. Its still Spanish! and I'm with another comp that's about to go home. he goes home in 10 days. and so ill be with Elder Ceron my other comp. I didn't move very far. just across the 110, and so its still very close to everything I know. but everything is going good. I got the call yesterday at 3 in the afternoon. President called and when he calls unexpected you know its business. so we did the switch today at 1 and then I will also be playing a song in the Christmas devotional, and so I went by and picked up the music. I guess the assistants just found out that I play piano, and so they have called me almost all of the last mission meetings to play hymns and so they also asked if I could play a song too. so yeah. then I've just been

 

But yeah an quick update on my old area. All the **** family will be going to the temple this Saturday with the ward. and then also ** will be going too. And then all the most sad part is that we got 0 investigators to church, lets just say it was a rough week. Tuesday it poured all day we were soaked, freezing cold and on top of that this week alone I have gotten 5 flat tires. It was very frustrating, but now I'm in car. and then Tuesday we went on exchanges and I went with a new elder, Elder Delgado (skinny). he's cool, but talks a lot and I couldn't keep the conversation on the gospel so most of our visits didn't get much done. it tried my patience, but we both learned from It. Wednesday it rained all day too, but it wasn't as cold so that was nice, but we were extremely tired of the rain. being on bike was miserable. but I guess that's what we signed up for. rain or shine to preach the gospel. as for our investigators, ** was doing good all week, but she didn't come to church. and also we watched the testaments with the ** family. it was super good. We kind of felt bad, we were about to go in and drop them because they are not progressing. but we were very surprised because they really wanted to come to church, but ** had to work until 6 in the morning and slept in too long. so the movie was good, and then we had to go, so hopefully it left a good spirit there and they want to learn more. As for elder earl, he is very sad. he is now in a trio with elder Dallimore and Delgado. They will be double covering the same area that I did 4 months ago. and it will be a blast.

As for everything else its going good. now its going to be a busy week for me. we have Missionary Leadership council on Wednesday, so that will be lots of training.  we have a general authority touring our mission this week, so we have MLC and then a all day zone conference with our zone and a couple others, with Elder Baxter. So yeah, December is just a busy month! I realized yesterday just how much I'm going to miss these people. we got to stop by for a little bit and visit with the *** family to say goodbye, and I was super sad, and they were too, but I have their address and number so I'll definatly call them and write them letters! I'm so glad I got the opportunity to teach them and help them enter the gospel. They are very strong, since their baptism they have been serving and sharing with many people. I've seen a big change in them.

Well I love you all! I hope you are all have a great Christmas season! I sure miss being at home, but it will be just as fun out here, btw mom can you forward me the Skype info again in the next couple of week so we can set that. up. Anyways I will always be praying over you! And jareds photo looks great! Sounds like its going to get busy here soon! so yeah

 

Love you all!

Elder Hollingshead

December ???

So yeah, this week has been slow.... not the best we had. it was actually a little frustrating. where to begin.

well *** is doing awesome! she is super cool and she got confirmed. Also we watched the hour long restoration video, and she said she only had 30 min, and half way through I told her it was 30min, and she looked at her watch and then just said "why not finish it" so we finished it. she is still super solid. and also the *** family is doing awesome! we had dinner with them on Saturday and they brought some of their friends. and so we shared a quick video and they set a return appointment. now here's the surprise, we did not tell them about church and we show up at church and as I'm playing the opening hymn, they walk in and also their Friends..... so they came to church and stayed for the whole thing. it was great! we hope they start growing potential and also its good that the *** family is doing missionary work! so that was the good things about this week. and the new video is super awesome!  I hope you have seen it. it is basically our street contacting now. we have cards and use it all the time to show to people. sometimes if they have a smartphone we ask them to watch it right there on the street. and it is super powerful.

 

now the rest of the week was slow and very rough. Monday we couldn't leave our apartment. we were stuck inside all day. also the next day we were going to have to stay in after 5, but literally 15 min before 5 they told us we could stay out. which was great right after we canceled all of our appointments and no one was home.... it was a little frustrating. Also so we had no hot water for 2 days, and our heater was still not working. and Monday night elder earls bike got stolen.... we were both very frustrated. so Tuesday we were walking until about 5 but they another missionary in the zone left his bike so they came and brought it up to us and we used that the rest of the day and elder earl is going to keep it, it is a horrible bike but it works and elder earl has no money to buy another. so yeah then we have had day after day of set appointments and slowly they all fall through. so its just been really slow. then also yesterday it rained basically all afternoon. so we were soaked but elder earl did not care so I was really cold and wet, and again all of our appointments canceled. so we were outside for a few hours in the rain. but we did get our heater working and hot water. so its a nice warm apartment. the heater didn't work for one stupid reason. Birds.... they built a nest in the vent and so it would cut ally the oxygen and the flame would just putter out after 10 sec. but its all cleaned out and we have a nice warm living area.

Nothing else to update, things are just hastening. this work is so awesome Its been a blast to work in this area. so many cool things happen all the time. Christmas is coming and it definably is hard but its great! i love this work and love being out serving others. So its not so bad.. I hope all goes well for you this first week of December! I love you all and hope it all goes well this week!. Hope everyone had a great yummy thanksgiving:) i sure did and was stuffed for about 2 days, but it was super good:)

 

I love you all!

Elder Hollingshead