Elder Connor Hollingsworth's African Adventure: Fancy Hotel Dinner, Into the Jungle, Soccer Game, and toilets...

Singing the Sound of Music... "Climb every Mountain"

Can you find Connor...

Fancy Hotel, nice dinner, good times...

Sophisticated Elder Hollingsworth

Feeling Fancy...

This week we went to a big hotel and had a fancy dinner together. It was wonderful. We also had transfers. Elder Alexander is leaving for Lusaka!!! This means Elder Tshabalala will get a new companion. It will be interesting to see how things go.

What broke my heart this week was talking to a member, kind of less active named Janet. I talked to her and asked her many questions. She confided in me that she has been lost, does not feel happy, feels at times that God has no love for her, and feels like she is now just a person, not a member. It is heart breaking to discover a loss of testimony such as this. I know many of us at times think this will never happen, but it can. If we are not diligent in our efforts towards the Lord we can slip away like melted butter on a knife. We will not be firm but week. After she told me I talked about how she can strengthen her testimony by the small things. Things such as scripture study, church attendance, and sincere prayer. I pray and hope that she will find the strength to continue forward.

Connor and his friend John

Into The Jungle...

Made some new friends...

This week has been quite interesting. I have been listening to lots of talks and they all say the number one goal you should have after your mission is Eternal Marriage. So I guess I will have to get married in the airport.

I feel wonderful!!! Just went on a hike in fact! Elder Mabe and I are doing very well. Just act like an old couple who goes to bed early. Interviews are very soon!!! But I did get my package!!! Thank you so much!! I am so happy!!! It was all delicious and I loved the pictures!!!

Temple Sealings sound powerful. A wonderful reminder about the temple and marriage. One thing I read said this, that the Altar is truly an altar in resemblance of the couples commitment for each other. That you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the other. That you are willing to put them first just like Jesus Christ. There is true power in the temple!

So this week. We met a man named Simeon. We taught him, but then he began to ask for school fees. He personally begged for them. It broke my heart, but I know the restored gospel can help him more than I ever could. Later, we also had dinner from a new investigator named Modesta. She was acting sort of strange, she put on tons of make up. She kept tapping my foot with hers and I really did not know what was happening. She even called her Sister to come and see me. It was funny. But, we met her whole family. She then told them all saying"When Elder goes home (she thinks my first name is Elder) he is going to take me to America!" This caught me hopelessly off guard so I just mumbled "Uhh...yeah...uhhh...I will take you ALL to America....uhhh...yeah..ha..ha.." It was very awkward.

This week I went to the barber, told him to trim the sides, so...he shaved my whole head. Does not understand english I soon found.

Today, we went on a nature hike!!! It was very fun!! We hiked forever, I sent Dad pics. At the end we were discouraged because we had not seen any animals. But, as we drove away down the road we saw baboons!!! It was so cool!!!I loved it so much!!!

(Dad got the whole story about getting chased by the Baboons. Connor doesn't always share these things with his Mom. See Below for full story.)

I did not tell mom the whole story about the baboons just in case she would get mad. I do not know. Anyways. The whole story is that we finished this nature hike and were sad because we had not seen any animals. Then, down a road we spotted baboons!! We jumped out of the car and followed them. They went off the road into the jungle. So, Elder Lewis and I being the idiots we are along with Elder Mabe and Elder Kobyana followed them. Elder Lewis and I went the farthest though. We found a troop of 20!!! It was so cool!! They were all around. Climbing above us. It was wonderful. But, I think we trespassed their territory because they began to surround us, then, just like in the Tarzan movie they began to howl, shake the trees and began to just scream!!! They surrounded us then Elder Lewis and I had to run because they began to chase us. We literally ran out of the jungle. It was crazy!!! We were later told not to go back in by a local because of all the pythons in the area. But, now I can say I had a real African experience!!! I loved it!! But it was stupid.

One friendly baboon... wait until his friends come!!!

Elder Tshabalala and I were MTC companions, have been together since the beginning, but now he is being moved to another flat. Same area, just different residence. So now, Elder Mabe and I stay in what is known as, the "Worst flat in the Zambia Lusaka Mission" By ourselves. I wish Tshaba could stay. But they want missionaries to stay in 2 by 2s now. Not in 4s. Luckily I have not had to moves since I have been here and still do not. But I am grateful for all the fun we have had together. It is funny since we still shop together, but just buy separate food. It is too hard to separate.

New President comes soon. But President Erickson is still here. Transfers are at the end of the month, I will most likely be here. But, we expect Elder Alexander to go since he has been here for more than 8 months now. I will receive the package when President Erickson comes for interviews soon. They have to personally deliver it.

This week has been very wonderful. We are working hard. Learning a lot also. We had Zone Meeting. Different from Zone Conference. They shared from Matthew 14. They talked about Peter walking upon the sea and asked us our thoughts. I pondered a lot and shared. I thought about Peter. How he was in the safety of the ship, but had the Faith and the determination to follow the savior by walking upon water. How that is the same in our lives. That for missionaries, school goers, parents, they must all leave home, leave safety, leave the comfort zone, and walk upon water. If we keep our eye on the Savior, we are safe. But when we look at the winds and fear, because we will, we begin to sink. But, just like Peter we must call out Lord, save me. Plead for his help. He will catch us. But I love how Peter did not try to swim by himself, he was not too prideful to ask for help. I feel that is the same with us. If we need help, call out. If we try to save ourselves, we will surely drown. I love these scriptures though.

Local Soccer Game...

Got to watch a soccer game

Serious Soccer Fans!!!

We got to talk to Connor on Mothers Day... so great!!!

It was so wonderful to hear your voice and see your face. I agree, it really felt like we were in the same room. I am so grateful for technology today so that we could do that. You got to meet many missionaries yesterday, unfortunately not all of them were able to meet you since they were calling or elsewhere. But I was very happy you got to meet Elder Mabe. We get along very well and have had many good laughs together. So you did not see Elder Mpofu sadly, but you did see Elders Kobyana, Tshabalala, Brewerton, Alexander, Lewis, and Mabe. I wanted you to meet Elder Majekodunmi from the UK. We all have so much fun together though, it is wonderful.

The Elders all thought You and Dad were super young. They joke that you look more like my siblings than parents. But, they also said that my family is wonderful, they all really enjoyed being able to meet all of you. I hope one day they can meet all of you in person. After Skyping I talked to an Elder before, I was of course thinking about home, the little things I could worry about. But he told me about his family. How back home his Brother just got out of prison and moved in with his other brother and sister. They live in someones backyard. They no longer have electricity, the bishop does not talk to them, his friends don't, people stole their fridge, tv, computer, and others. The people they live in the backyard of do not like them and treat them poorly. Then, a diferent Elder told me his family sold his car, his cousin got in an accident and killed the two people he was with.

This made me think how easy I have it. But, I also though about the need for Faith for these Elders. In 1 Nephi 18:1-5 we see the Faith Nephi had in building the Ship. How he learned from time to time, built something completely different from the norm, so different but good because of God it humbled his brethren, and how the fruits of his labor brought his family to the promised land. The fruit of his faith saved his family.

I feel like we too need to build ships of faith to carry us across the sea of trials we always encounter. I hope that even as I am on mission you will continue to have faith in the lord that I am ok. I want you to know that I am truly ok. That I am healthy, happy, and I will truly see you in less than 20 months now. I will be home soon.

So precious

Tender Moments

So this week has been very good. We have more investigators, people are coming to church. It is wonderful. It kind of kills when you care so much about people though, and they do not come, they do not enjoy the blessings I know they could have. That is why agency always kills me. But God gave us agency and to take it away is an idea from the devil. In 4 Nephi 1:38 it talks about how the people did NOT dwindle. But, they actually willfully turned from God. It is so sad for me to see people who do the same as this. Who you know they could be so strong, but they turn away on purpose. They are sometimes just bitter, and unwilling to listen to the gospel. But, I still love them. In 3 Nephi 28:9 we learn about the 3 Nephites. How they will only be pained by the Sins of the world. Sometimes I feel like this. As a Missionary you have the gospel, you have the knowledge, therefore you have this happiness because the Spirit and the Love of God is with you and you can feel it. But, what always is painful is seeing those who do not live up to their full potential. It is just really sad.

I was also thinking about the Love of God. Like in 4 Nephi 1:15. It says that there were no contentions in the land because they all had the love of God with them. I was thinking about how this applies to everyday. If we have the Love of God with us, then we love others. If we love others we will have no desire to raise up contention with them. We will always be happy and loving and even accepting. I hope to develop this kind of Love for others in myself.