12.28.10

hello family

sorry i didn't write yesterday the library was closed for the holidays

it was great being able to talk to you it was fun to hear everyones voices again. Emily your talk sounded like it went great! i would really like a copy of it if its written down.

on sunday there was a brother that spoke in sacrament meeting that just moved in and said that he has traveled all over the united states for work and he said that thier are two things everywhere that are the same where ever he goes  and that is the church and walmart, i tend to agree with him the church is such a great thing and no matter where you go you can find a meeting to attend and there are good people who will welcome you. you will learn the same doctrine and feel the same spirit. this church truely is the church of Jesus Christ on the earth today. and believe it or not walmart is here to and its where everybody shops so i gues some things really don't change.

our house is quite small i will send pictures but it is great for the four missionaries that live in it. it has two bedrooms one that has four beds in it, and theydo take up a good portion of the room and then in the other bed room is me and my companions study room we each have a desk and a dreser in our study room and we share the closet. then each companionship here has a bathroom that we share so its almost like home. my companion made photocopies of some of the hymns and laminated them and put them on the walls of the shower, and so we sing in the shower alot of the time and learn the hymns even better. i thought this was ingenious idea i'm going to have to copy some hymns for when he leaves so that i can continue to learn the hymns or at least have the excuss to sing in the shower.

we have an orange tree in our backyard. its so cool! but i don't know very much about orange trees and how to tell when they are ripe. when i first saw it i picked an orange that looked good to me and pealed it and poped a great looking orange slice in my mouth and to my suprise it tasted more like a lemon than an orange. i proptly took the orange out of my mouth and placed it in the garbage where it belonged. one of the spanish elders later told be that he had tried them to and said that they are good in smothies so i think ill try it sometime.

i'm loving it hear and love to se people learn about commandments and be willing to change thier lives to obey it with almost no question at all. this truely is the work of God

Elder Olsen

We also sent pictures of the snow.  He was amazed at the amount.  He always sang in the shower at home too.  Now he is accomplishing two things.

Christmas call

Peter made no mention of a call in his last email so we did not know what to expect.  Christmas morning around 10 am we finally got a text asking if this was a good time to call.  We asked him to wait until 3 when Elise and John would be back.  Luckily that worked out.  He called just as Gr. and Gr Olsen came to visit.  We all sat in the library and passed a phone around on speaker phone so we could all listen.  It was so good to hear each question answered, to hear his enthusiasm and to hear how much he had already grown.  


He is doing well, very well.  They stay busy.  They have a mother and her two sons lined up for baptism.  They like finding Puerto Ricans because they are more polite.  The white people are rude and won't talk at all but the Puerto Ricans invite them in and are kind.  He says there is water everywhere.  Everyone has a pond in their back yard.  William warned him that there will be alligators in nearly every pond.  My little boys thought it all sounded great.


His companion is Elder Ellis.  They had several eating appointments that day.  They had received permission to attend a Catholic Mass on Christmas Eve and enjoyed that experience.  His Christmas package had arrived before Christmas but he saved it for Christmas.  He did say email time is limited and it is hard to get everything in.  He reads his letter from the mission president, writes him back, reads his letter from me, writes back and is out of time.  He would encourage others to write and mail letters.  He loves getting letters although he is not very good about acknowledging those letters.  He said he is getting other peoples letters but it is hard to write to everyone.


I sent a few simple recipes and he was very grateful.  He said he is learning a few mission foods but would love to be able to cook something good.  I will keep looking for easy good recipes to send to him.  It was great just to hear his voice and his love for the work. I know God is blessing him.

phone call

We received a phone call last night from Brother Allen of Kissimee, FL.  He had just had the missionaries over for dinner and enjoyed getting to know Elder Olsen.  Brother Allen reports that Elder Olsen has an enthusiasm for the work and thanked us for allowing our son to serve a mission.  Peter is assigned to the same ward as Janice Heller's daughter's family, the Marcotts.  They have been in our ward here many times and their children have spent some of their teenage years in Manti.  Small world.
What a very nice thought to call a missionary's family.  We sure enjoyed hearing about Peter.

Peter, 12.20.10

hey

IM IN FLORIDA! and its amazing i love it here! it is crazy Christmas is this saturday. i live in a house here right close to orlando. are area is about 20 miles from end to end, we are about a 30 minute drive from our chapel and its kinda hard to get investigators to church cuz its so far and it is different from any church most of them have ever experienced. i went to my area tuesday afternoon after we had some training at the mission home and the mission office about mission specific rules and about cars. most areas here share cars. my comp and i have a car every other day so thats nice so that we can go to farther meetings and not spend so much time biking. but it is hard to stay under our milage limitations. my companion is our district leader and as such has to go on exchanges every week. and it just so happend that on wednesday he had to go to another area on an exchange leaving me to take over my area for a day, with an elder that had never been in my area and i was made senior comp for the duration of the exchange. i felt completly inadequate i didn't really know any of the people we were supposed to meet with and where everything is. i get turned around so much here, its so hard to tell directions or even know where north south east and west are its so different because i have felt like i have always had a good sense of direction but i now know i don't at least not in florida. its almost completly flat and there really aren't any landmarks so i end up just following my companion most of the time, and that was humbling in its self. last night i meet with an investigator at a members house. we ate dinner with them and then taught a lesson. we were about to start teaching the third lesson which is The Gospel of Jesus Christ, when my comp realized that was not what we were supposed to teach and began teaching about the Atonement. i want you to Know MIRACLES HAPPEN! don't ever think that they don't big or small. we have prayed for miracles and i really didn't think to much about it. but   the spirit was so strong we read in alma 7 and i think it was verses 16-18 or 19 but anyways their is a part there that says Fear not and be baptized and that is the part we emphesised and it really was what she was concerned about and we were through the spirit able to resolve her concerns and helped her feel the love of the savior and the redeming power of the attonement. we were all tearing up towards the end of the lesson it was great and we were able to set a baptismal date with her for the 15th of january it was awsome!

the church is true! I know it and it is wonderfull to be able to share it with the world

love elder olsen

The temperature in Orlando is the same as it is here this morning, 42.  Colder than he expected there and warmer than we expected here but though I asked him if he is cold there are no complaints. I believe the fire of faith and missionary work are keeping him warm.

He made it!

He sent us some pictures! Looks like he made it and he couldn't be happier :) 

Peter calls from airport

We had a pleasant surprise this morning at 7:15.  Peter was on the phone.  His flight was to leave at 8:30.  He sounded so good, happy, confident, and ready to get to work.  He loved the MTC.  He said it was almost like leaving home again.  He had gotten to know a lot of the missionaries as Zone leader and a lot of them he would most likely never see again.  He has seen a lot of missionaries from Manti including Shandi and Marcus.  He also talked with Fale and Whitney.  He met our Elder Drew's little brother in the MTC who is going to Boise, ID.  He also met Elder Savage whose bishop is Heber Henke (I think they share their room with him).  Small world with instant connections.  At the MTC they have to wear a suit every day.  He only took one suit so he has worn the same suit every day for nearly 4 weeks.  It will be good to get to Florida and break out the slacks.  The time of training has gone so fast, has been so fun and he feels like they "have been going hard all the time".  His companion has been Elder Willey who has been amazing.  They are traveling together. He is traveling with 6 elders, going through Atlanta and will be met by their mission president when they arrive.  He should be in his new area teaching by tomorrow.  I'm hoping for some pictures of the MTC.  He said they took a lot of them as they said good-bye.  He ran out of phone time so we had an abrupt end to our call but will look forward to our call at Christmas.

I feel incredibly grateful and blessed to have been given a son who so valiantly desires to do his duty, fulfill his mission, and serve the Lord.  This poem was shared on missionary moms.  I feel like Peter has been an incredible gift to me and keeps bringing me such joy.

A Missionary Mom Christmas (author unknown)

I skipped the sales after Thanksgiving. The thrill just wasn't there.
No pictures taken with Santa Claus, My decorating has no flair.
His presents are shoes, shirts, and ties, two suits and socks...no fun.
I've bought him all white clothes because...

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I've spent more time in the temple, my testimony stirred.
I've reread November's Ensign, Felt strength come from His words.
Our family prays more frequently. My tears are quick to run.
Abraham seems closer because,

This year I'm giving Christ my son.

I wonder how those Lamanite mothers, gave their sons to war?
Or how the pioneers chose Zion , their sacrifice was so much more.
My loss will be his presence, I'll miss his smile a ton
For two years we will pray for him,

I'm giving Christ my son.

I stare at his face when he's not looking. I memorize his eyes, their
shine. He's always hungered for the part of him, that makes his soul divine.
The stories and lessons he always heard, His choice and mine are one.
I'll put my faith in God's hand, This year,

I'm giving Him my son.

Past gifts have lost their glitter; I think I finally understand
Christ's birth should be celebrated by giving Him a hand.
It's because I know Christ lives and reigns;  that all his packing's done.
My gift has taken years to make, This year...

I'm giving Christ my son.

I know there's One who understands, the sacrifice I'm making.
Who knows the gift I willingly give, The toll it will be taking.
For He has done it all before... Greater love - there could be none.
For years ago God gave to me,

His only begotten son.

The hands I washed, the hands I held, The hands I taught to pray;
Now knock on doors to find the ones Who will listen to what he'll say.
Because I know Christ needs him, Until all the gathering's done,
My gift has taken years to make.

This year...I'm giving Christ my son.

Peter, 12.10.10

Hey family,

Dane i did get your letters and i'll be writting back soon.

 

on wednesday twelve more elders arrived in our zone. its so exciting to have more elders come and see how shell shocked they are when they arrive.  because elder willey and i are zone leaders we are responsible for making them feel good and realize this really is a fun place to be. we meet with them twice once on wednesday night and another time on thursday. wednesday we just meet with them and try to make them feel good and let them know what they need to and answer their general questions. we then take them to the residence hall and show them around explain the rules and what they can and can't do and whats expected of them. then on thursday they meet with the branch presidency they get to know the new missionaries and then begin interviewing all the elders one by one. and elder willey and i teach the missionaries that arn't bein interviewed we teach them about planing and the importance of having specifec plans, companionship inventory where you discus with your compan how you can better get along with each other and how you can both improve as a companionship. we do role plays to demonstrate a good inventory and a bad one. the bad one is really fun to do and we can usually get all the new misionaries laughing some. we then take the new district on a tour of the mtc, this tour is really useful for the new missionaries it was for me! before i went on the tour i only knew were to eat, sleep, and where my classroom was.

i love it here! the church is true!

 

elder olsen

 

ps my flight leaves around 8:30 monday morning (the 13)so if i can call it will be around then but i haven't heard if we are able to call or not

 

the scripture i want on my plaque is D & C 88:77 and 81. just these two verses

 

i love you all and i did get the pictures

Peter's Orlando address is on the sidebar if you would like to send a Christmas card.  

Peter, 12.3.10

hey family

 

hey mom i got your letter thanks for letting me know how everyones doing its fun to here.

the time is really flying now i can't believe its been a week since i wrote last. i got my travel itenerary yesterday my flight leaves monday morning and i should be to Orlando by that evening the president sent me a letter and said he would be their to great us. there are six of us in my district that are going to orlando and we all are traveling together which i am very happy to know. i love this here but i am very excited to get out into the field. i have been obtaining the word and now i want to go and declare it. its crazy how fast the learning process is here. i have been here two weeks and last night my compainon and i had our orientation that we taught and guided a tour of the mtc for about a half hour. and it was crazy seeing the new elders. it was almost like high school and seeing the freshmen come in. the new missionaries were just taking everything in and had looked kind of shell shocked. thanks giving and everything sounded like so much fun. i have seen so many people i know here i've seen falecia, amanda leathem, shandi, sister haymond, marcus tiatia, Ben Lund, and whitney plummer. (whitney says hi) i still haven't seen Fale but i have been keeping an eye out for him. normally i see more people on sunday because we don't really have assingned times to eat, so hopfully then if not before. is there anybody else i should be looking for or coming in next week

 

my watches second hand fell of and is now rattling around inside of my watch i think there is some kind of warantee but the paperwork might have gotten thrown away but i think it was on my nightstand when i left. if thats any help to you. if you can't find it i can deal with this one till it stops working completly the hour and minute hand still works but if they stop then i'll just buy a new cheeper watch here. or when i get to florida.

 

the church is true and i continue to strengthen my testimony of it! i really am so excited to get out into the field

i love you all!

 

 elder olsen

Peter, 11.26.10

hey family

glad to hear everythings good! simeon staying in  bed? Dane, how did the play go? did you Love it?

I love the work! the time is going so fast here. there's a saying that i've heard since being here "The Days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days" its so true it feels like i haven't been here very long but at the same time its been a while. really want to get into the field. its so great here i have two teachers they are both return missionaries, sis maxfield and brother shumway they take turns and usually at least one of them are here each day sometimes we get both of them. sister maxfield is an amazing teacher and really helps us to learn how to rely on the spirit. she has also taught us the importance of bearing tesimony of Christ. and that if the're not brought closer to Christ after our lesson we have not fullfilled our purpose.

Yesterday was amazing we had a moring devotional and Elder Holland with his family to speak to us. I have never heard a talk more powerful, and bold. He truly is an apostle of the Lord. He told us that the reason to serve a mission is so christ doesn't have to tread the wine press alone. and that we are to join him in this glorious work. he also said Don't get homesick or lonely Cowboy Up! Pull up you sock! get over yourselves and think about others. I loved how bold he was it helps us to have it so boldly set forth He really did drive home the importance of serving the lord 110%

i know christ lives and did atone for my sins. the fulness of Christs church has been restored to the earth through Joseph smith. the church is True!! I love it!

    Elder Olsen

ps my companion and i were made Zone Leaders last sunday

Simeon went sleep walking to Grandpa's house about 1 week ago.  He has since stayed in bed each night. Dane was in the play Annie as an extra and had a great time.

Peter, 11.20.10

hey

family glad to here you made it home safe. the mtc is amazing! we are so buisy! the work is great! i already felt like i've been here forever. the mtc is the most zionlike place i think i have ever been. today i have a half p-day today but p-day is going to be on fridays after today. i will leave the mtc dec. 13. i've realized that i have a lot to learn to become an effective teacher. Emily, they do ask you if you have been set apart but its a one on one thing. its wonderfull being this busy. its so easy to become lost in the work. i love it!

my compainion is elder willey he is from bountiful. and he is here to work. i'm so glad he is my companion. and we are both serving in orlando. i'm rooming with one other companionship elder fulmer and elder savage. i've got to go class is starting.

 the works great. the church is true! I Love it

                Elder Olsen

a quick note from me.  As a family we finished the Book of Mormon the day before Peter left.  We take turns reading.  Peter read the very last verse.  "And now I bid unto all, farewell.  I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead.  Amen.  (Moroni 10:34)


We got a good laugh as we applied that one to Peter.

MTC drop off

Yesterday Peter reported to the Missionary Training Center at 1:15.  We were prompt and efficient.  We had finished up at Distribution Center, gone to lunch at Panda Express, taken pictures at the temple and then received our last hugs- good ones, to last 2 years.

Red luggage makes it easier to find him in a sea of black.  

Hurrah for Israel!

Why a mission, Em?

Go to her blog to find out in her own words.

Emily goes to the temple!

Emily has been looking forward to this day for a long time.  We sang "I love to see the temple, I'm going inside today" at our morning devotional.  We were on a big session but had few family members able to attend.  Still the spirit was there teaching us and we are so grateful.  Emily can't wait until the temple is open again on Tuesday for another chance to "go inside" to feel the spirit and to enjoy the peace.

Grandma and Grandpa Peterson, Emily, Peter, Mom, Dad

 Pictures were a bit of a challenge but still fun to share as we captured this moment.

I got a glimpse of heaven as I followed my two missionaries, dressed in white, into the creation room.  They have been very close as brother and sister, teasing, loving, sharing, talking.  It is wonderful that they were able to share this experience and will serve missions at the same time.

Grandma Peterson, Emily, Mom

Endowment received Nov.  5, 2010, 6:30 session.  Mom was escort.  Just 2 months exactly until she enters the MTC.

Temple

 Peter received his endowment in the Manti Temple in September 2010.  He has enjoys worshiping in the temple regularly and has visited quite a few temples.

A few righteous priesthood holders sharing his special day.  (Jay not pictured).  Here is a great article on making the most of your temple experiences.

First, THE Calls

Peter receives his call on August 5, 2010, to serve in the Florida Orlando Mission where he will preach the gospel in the English language.  He reports to the Provo Missionary Training Center on November 17, 2010.

Emily receives her call on October 27, 2010, to serve in the Bolivia Santa Cruz mission and will share the gospel in the Spanish language.  She will spend 3 weeks at the Provo MTC and then 6 weeks in the Peru MTC.  She reports to the Missionary Training Center on January 5, 2011.

Now the fun has begun.  We are busy shopping, planning, getting shots and savoring the moments at home.  I'm going to miss these too.  Yesterday we had some missionary pictures taken by Aunt Lauri.  We will share those soon.