Peter 3.26.12

Ps sorry i'll get you the pictures next week
















That was all I got!  and then 3 hours later and time stamped before that PS note came a letter from Peter.  My letter from Emily took 6+ hours to get to me although Milt got it at 9 am.  Something with my email is driving me crazy and note letting my missionary letters through on time - weird.

Elder Mcclatchy came to visit!?! thats soo cool! He is the Best! He is an awesome example to me. yep i generally have my  leatherman with me and just used it this morning to slice bread for french toast. being that we don't have any serrated knives in the apartment. i'll probably buy one today. i am now in kissimmee with Elder Dupaix he has been out for about 8 months and has only been in this area for 1 transfer so we have been learning alot of the area and members together. we live in a 3 bed 2 bath house! Its HUGE! and has alot of empty space in it with only 2 of us living there. and the house in on a lake. i took the picture of the lake standing in our kitchen. it is pretty cool. i'll get a picture with elder dupaix to send next week. i've had to brush up the Spanish i had and learn more. Wednesday about 55% of the people we came in contact with were Spanish. so i have lots of people to practice with. we had a sweet experience on Thursday. we wanted to find a place that would have more people that we could teach (that speak English) in our area so planned to go to an area that was a little higher class and decided to work th and we found St! we had analyzed our area and figured out what part of our area would be best to go to. and since we put in our effort we were blessed. we will be teaching him again this week! when we knocked on his door he came out with his bible he was just reading the Sermon on the mount. we asked him if he new that Christ gave a similar address to the people in America. we then were able to teach him the restoration briefly and scheduled an appointment to bring him his own copy of the Book of Mormon.  God does know were He wants us and will get us there if we do our part and allow him to do so. 

As far as i know the Ig family will be going to the temple as early as June but probably in July. it will be an incredible tender mercy to be able to see them go through the temple. 

Lifes Great! I love You!

Elder Olsen 

Emily 3.26.12

 (I got a call from Hermana Merrell.  she is third from the left and got home last week.  She said so many nice things about Emily. . . amazing, happy, hardworking, speaking Spanish well, talented.  Oh my it was so fun.)

The only thing constant is change and that's true in the mission too. We had transfers this week and hermana Gayol and I thought we were safe because the training program

is twelve weeks - and we only had six together. But well, I guess sheis just super prepared and ready because they called us Wednesday night and told us that we had transfers. Hermana Gayol went to La Pompa to open area and train a new sister, and I stayed here in Equipetrol to train another new sister. Seven new hermanas came this week which is super great because 5 left, but we were a little short on trainers for them. I am super happy for hermana gayol, she is gonna be a super great trainer. She is an amazing missionary. We worked really well together. Everyone always told us we were like sisters. We got along super well, and well, I am gonna miss that girl. In mission language I now officially have "three daughters" and "one
grandaughter" :)

and my new companion? Hermana Ramirez! She is from California, she`s
tall, skinny, and super full of energy. Her mom is from El Salvador
and her Dad is from Guatemala and she grew up speaking Spanish -
everyone thinks she is a native. Its a huge blessing for me, i was a
little nervous i was gonna have to teach her Spanish, but its the
other way around. She helps me a lot. She is 24, never thought about
going on a mission because she always wanted a big family and said
that if she wanted a big one she had to start early! She is the 6th of
8 kids, so we relate really well. She also is thinking about studying
elementary education with a special in PE - so we have a lot in
common. It should be a fun couple of transfers.I am excited.

Before the training meeting i had the opportunity to talk to some of
the sisters that are in my old areas and ask about some of the
investigators. Do you remember Gab from Guaracal? Well she was
baptized! and Ad has a baptismal date again, and passed his
interview - so I think he will be baptized soon too! There was also an
investigator in Braniff that married his "wife" and was baptized. They
showed me pictures and they are super happy. We had done several FHEs
with them because his wife and kids were inactive - but now they are
all members of the church and are happy. I also heard that the Ya
family that was baptized with me in San Pedro are super actives and
happy. It was a tender mercy to hear how things were going, and to
know that these people that i grew to love so much are progressing.

I think I told you last week that we had visited a brother in the
hospital - P. We went again this week and he is very humble. It is
a neat experience to teach in the hospital -they can`t hide or escape,
and they are more humbled, looking for God. He accepted a baptismal
date for April! But he needs to recuperate first - your prayers are
welcome and appreciated ;) We had gone two times and he hadn`t prayed,
he refused. The third time we went I felt that he just needed to do
it, to pray with us. I told him that i would say the first prayer, if
he would say the closing prayer. He said no. I asked why and he said
it was because he can`t talk - yep he SAID he couldn`t talk ;) I was a
little stubborn, and tried to encourage him, and he got a little upset.
oops. I just smiled and said I would say the opening prayer. I did, we
shared the lesson - the restoration. And then in the end i asked him
to say the closing prayer. At first he said no, but hermana  Ramirez
encouraged him a little too and - he did it! It is amazing how God
humbles people and prepares them for the gospel.

This week the RS helped a sister whose son died after years of
fighting cancer. They cleaned out his house and they said it was a
huge project. But it was neat to hear her thank all the sisters who
had gone to help her. It made me appreciate the RS and the opportunity
be a member of such a neat society. Hermana A told us that the
wish of her son was to have his body cremated - weird! But the
weirdest part is that the hermana asked the bishop to store his
remains in the church until his brother could come to pick them up.
haha Gross!

Wow, time is up already. I was thinking about school and class and
when its time to register? Maybe you could do a little research?

Enjoy general conference this weekend! I`ll be thinking about you all!

Love you all lots and lots!

Love
Hermana Olsen

Tender Mercies

From the Mom:


On Monday I received a phone call from Sister Slingerland.  she was a senior missionary at the training center in Peru and taught Emily Relief Society.  She was very impressed with Emily and her happy personality.  She shared a thank you note that Emily had written her.  Of course, Emily invited her to come for pageant.  It is so fun to be collecting friends around the world as my missionary shares her love of the gospel and people.


Today a young man came to my door at 10 in the morning asking the kids for their mom.  I was afraid it was going to be a salesman but NO, it was Elder McClatchey. James, as he is now called  just got home yesterday.  He brought his brother down to Snow College today and stopped by to visit.  I got a hug from a Florida Orlando missionary that knew my missionary.  They were companions a year ago for 2 transfers and have kept up with each other well.  He said so many nice things about my son.  Peter is a great missionary.  He is being blessed and protected.  He is right where he is suppose to be and he is serving honorably.  Peter is also using his practical skills to keep everyone safe and offer service.  James talked about how if there were a car on the side of the road they would stop and offer help.  Peter would jump in, take a look, often fix the problem and help them on their way.  When the garage door quit working he starting taking it apart, tinkering, and fixed it himself.  I did find out he still carries a pocket knife and is always prepared to help.  Peter know how to keep their house clean!  Yeah.  It didn't always show in his room but glad he figured it out.  James talked about all the good things he learned from Peter and what a great experience they had together.  I even got to hug this missionary, twice!  He is a fine young man with an amazing testimony.  I believe he is not in any hurry to fit in the world but will continue to valiantly live the gospel he has been teaching and sharing.  He will be a man who honors his priesthood and continues to serve others.  He will continue to find joy and satisfaction.  He sure made my day.

Peter 3.19.12

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED to Kissimmee east it is just south of Orlando and is close to my first area. we will actually meet in the same building as the Pleasant Hill Ward. so i will see the Iglasia family that was baptized almost a year ago at church on Sundays.

 this past week was awesome we had a st Patrick's day ward party. the ward mission put it on so we ended up being very involved we were inviting people all week. the party consisted of a potato bar and a church tour. the idea was to have members invite their non-member friend to enjoy the food and come on the tour to see what we are all about. they did brief presentations of what we do in many of the rooms and some of the different programs the church has. c and d came with their two children as well as sus with her 2 children. the ward was amazing in welcoming the them and making them feel comfortable. the activity was awesome. c and d came ten min. early and with the church being the same all around the world everyone was running late. so they were the first ones their. we were nervous that it would not be well attended by the members but by a half hour after the supposed starting time the members showed up. we were super grateful that they all came. the party was just what sus needed. she has been exposed to the church for a long time but was never really interested. she accepted the invite to church and said she would be there. c and d also said they would be there

 Sunday morning came and sacrament meeting started and nobody was there. when we saw c and her family coming we greated them and as we were coming in one side of the chapel with them sus and her kids were coming in on the other side  of the chapel. it was a huge blessing to have them there and they both stayed for the entire 3 hour block. they all liked church and we were able to teach them both after church. we also had a tender mercy of 2 guys that we have never meet randomly come to church. all in all it was an awesome day.

wow! you got alot of snow! i'm jelous! floridas been in the 80's all week.

Grandma and Grandpa look great! how have they been doing? what are thier plans? how is grandmas health?

I love you all!

Elder Olsen

 ps the leprocons are from the party. 


 from Mom: I don't know what these pictures are.  I guess we can make up our own story!

Emily 3.19.12

I`m glad you got the letters - sorry if they were late. There's a few priets here that we are working with to get them out on the mission. Its the best thing that anyone can do with their life. Everyone should go. and the men si o si have to go. Its their blessed responsibility. Thanks for sending Neil's and my sisters letters too. Sounds delicious, your Olsen dinner. They don`t celebrate st patricks day here, but I made sure to wear my green and warned my companion the night before that if she didn`t i`d be pinchin her! haha Today is fathers day here - so happy fathers day dad! I love you! and its almost my half birthday! hehe I`m gettin old. They do celebrate the relief society anniversary - they had a program where they performed the beginnings of relief society in the dispensation - and also from bible times. They said it was neat. We couldn`t go. What do you guys do? Sounds like you all had a blast up there, i would love to see the church history museum. Thanks for the pictues. I really love seeing them. And dane and dad - sounds like fun to.  Did your hand hold up alright dad? have you had your other surgery yet? Have you adjusted? I`m glad the work is going good. Thanks for taking good care of me mom. You are amazing. I just love you all so much and just like you, i love every word i get from you. Hna Thorpe just told me there is an awesome song for the mutual theme? Sounds like an awesome theme. I bet efy will be amazing with that theme. Is dane gonna go to efy? I told hermana thorpe and hermana merrell that they have to go visit you all for pageant. Maybe they will be callin you. They go home Friday - weird. 

This week has been amazing. Paula was baptized. She had to have an interview with president calderòn`s counselor. After he told us she is a saint and its about time she is getting baptized. She really is a very special woman and I love her so much! I called her yesterday morning to make sure she was gonna go to church for her confirmation. She hermana, i`m not gonna be able to go today - and my heart stopped - and then she busted up laughing and said she was heading out the door. Her confirmation was special. said she was gonna be an example to the ward, and to her family, and her work. Her boss came to the baptism and turns out he is a nationally famous man that directs plays. All the members asked "who invited him? he`s famous!" it was awesome

We have been looking for new investgators like crazy. Paula was baptized and then we had... no one more to teach. We prayed, studied, and fasted this week. And yesterday we found 5 new investgators. The power of the fast is incredible. We have also asked referrals from all the members and we are gonna be contacting them this week. The Lord is so good to us. We are so blessed. 

One referral we contacted was Pedro R. He lives close to our house, and i knew him a year ago when i was here. But he also just laughed and never had any kind of desire. We had three people tell us he was in the hospital and we should visit him so we went yesterday with a sister, and two brothers to give him a blessing. He has been humbled and is super prepared now to receive the gospel. He wants to learn. It was neat. 

We also talked to a man named Julio yesterday. We were contacting his grandma, but it was a joke because she couldn`t hear! haha but he came to the rescue and invited us to come in. We told him we`d be right back and went to find a member to come with us. We had a neat lesson with him. He understood everything. and said he would be baptized. We are working with the members so he can keep progressing. 

We really have been so blessed. I love you all! The church is true!

Love

Hermana Olsen

Peter 3.12.12

Hello!

sounds like isaac is jumping right into scouts head first! i bet that was a fun day for him! its been warm here as well i have already started putting sunscreen on almost daily. i wish you could come with and deliver that hug as well!

this week we found J li she is chinese and has only been stateside for about 1 year now. she is christian. when we started teaching she had the belief that all christian churches were right. as we taught simply the message of the restoration she began to realize that every church could not be true. she then said that she wanted to come to church. we have 4 people in the ward that speak mandrin so we are going to get them involved.

C and D have been noticing the miracles in thier lives that God is giving them. they really are in need of a big miracle in order for them to get married. they are working out a  divorce with one of the spouses that they are out of contact with that lives in Hati. both them and us know they need a miracle and we both have been praying for it.

I love you

Elder Olsen

Emily 3.12.12

Hermanas on Pday

Elder Olsen and Sister Olsen

Wow, another week has already gone by. It goes by so fast I can`t
believe it! One more week and the transfer ends. Hermanas Thorpe,
Merrell, Broome, Hernandez, and Randal are all going home this
transfer - bummer. I`m gonna miss them! We have been enjoying every
P-day al maximo before they leave. This week we`re gonna go out for
ice cream at the Vaca Fria - the best ice cream en Santa Cruz! Should
be great. Thats fun that Kariann is home already. I can`t believe it!
Everyone just keeps getting home. I was talkig to a pregnant lady and
she said she was due in July and I said o 5 or 6 months and she said
no four - and it scared me! There are only 4 months more until July???
I think its better not to think about it. I feel very white still here
in Bolivia - everyone tells me too- Choquita me dicen. Its funny.

Sounds like a party there. I`m glad you are all enjoying time
together. I was never any good at bowling - even after taken the class
at Snow. Maybe its just not in our blood ;)

Well this week has been good. P. keeps progressing and she is gonna
be baptized this week! Hooray! Its gonna be on Thursday because
Saturday is the Relief Society birthday and there is a fireside, and
Friday there is a father´s day celebration. Father´s day here is March
19 - weird. I thought it was a worldwide holiday. But should be super
neat. She is definitely one of the elect and she is excited. I called
her yesterday to remind her of the stake conference and i asked how
she feels about her baptism ad she just laughed and said happy! me too
i told her. It is gonna be so neat.


Yesterday we had a stake conference via satelite for all of Bolivia.
It was AWESOME! Elder HOlland spoke and he doe`t really speak Spanish.
But he tried and then had an interpreter. He speaks but I think his
accent is worse then mine :) But it was so neat because at the end he
bore his testimony in Spanish and the spirit was SO strong! I loved
it. They talked about the small and simple things - celestial
traditions in the home. He talked about the sacred places that we
should have. Home, Church, and temple. and how important it is to have
these sacred places, these refuges to escape from the world.

They also talked about how special Bolivia is and that they are the
descendents of Lehi and so the Book of Mormon was written especially
for them. They said that the parents should tell their kids bedtime
stores from the book of mormon, and to be able to do that we need to
be really familiar with the Book of Mormon. I loved that idea.

I was also reading daughters in my kindgdom - hna arminda gave me a
book in spanish and i am loving it. But I wanted to ask my
grandparents if they could write me a letter or history of how our
family got to know the church. Who taught them, where were they, and
what happened. I only remember that Heber C Kimball is one of my
grandpas - and everyone knows his stories! But I have other
grandparents, and how did they know the church and become members?

Wow, time is up already. I love you all the church is true! Thank you
so much fo ryour prayers and support.

THanks!

Hermana Olsen

Peter 3.5.12

The baptism/birthday parties sound like lots of fun! thats so neat that Natalie and Elise were able to come down for the weekend.

i'm glad you got the package. i'm looking forward to hearing from the boys!

here s some pictures

1st George albert Smith is directing the Relief Society sisters to Feed the Missionaries courtesy of Elder Mangelson. the RS heeded his counsel and we ate very well the following week.

2nd the day a few weeks ago raking leaves for an elderly man we came in contact with

3rd Ds baptism (he is the young boy in the front of the group next to him is his cousin (squating) that baptized him.

 

I thought of you Saturday when we were at the Church for Ds baptism and i knew that you would be doing similar preparations for simeons. the baptism was well attended - D had lots of support from the samoan side of his family and of course being samoan we had lunch with them after the baptism.

this week we have really been struggling to find people to teach. we have been trying many different finding methods from tracting to talking to people in store or following up with people from the area book. we were able to begin teaching F this week we found him the previous week walking on the street. it was really neat he actually told us how he recognized us as servants of the Lord.  
got to go.

i love you

Elder Olsen

Emily 3.5.12

I`ve been thinking about you a lot this weekend.  How neat it was that we all had baptisms this weekend.  Its such an awesome experience to be a part of.  Thanks a million for the pictures. It is so awesome to see. Looks like you had a load of family support which is awesome, and Simeon looks super happy. And sounds like Isaac had an awesome birthday.

This week has been awesome. The other day we were about to knock on a gate when a women walked out the front door of her house. we called her before she could escape ;) and she said "You found me!" she greeted us warmly and asked if we wanted to come in. Hna Gayol and I just looked at each other like - do we know her? Turns out she´s just a friendly person. haha She said that her mom was baptized in the church, when she was little. She said actually that she was baptized to, but when she was five. We explained that we don`t baptize before the age of eight - but she said she was sure. We`re still not exactly sure if she is a member of not, but she is awesome. We shared a short message with her and she told us all of her needs - it was amazing. She has a great desire to go to church, help her kids, love her husband, and live the gospel. We are more than happy to help her. She also introduced us to her sister that was for sure not baptized, and she is also very receptive. We have great hopes for them.

Tuesday we went to talk to Isabel`s mom to get her permission for her baptism. The member family had told us that she was alright with everything so we thought it was gonna be quick and easy. But we got there and said she didn`t want to give permission yet, she wanted to talk with her catholic family, and that did we really need it right now? We bore testimony of the importance of baptism and invited her to pray about it. She asked if it could wait till Thursday. I was a little nervous, but we kept praying that everything would be alright and that she would be able to feel the need her daughter has to be baptized. We went Thursday and she wasn`t there. We called and looked for her and said she wasn`t gonna be able to come. Hermana Gayol and I kept praying and Friday morning we called Isabel the member family, and they said she had signed the paper! What a miracle! 

They were both baptized Saturday and it was so neat. We told them to be there at 6:30 to be able to change and get started at 7pm. Jesus and Isabel both got there early - but everyone else came at MBST (Mormon Bolivian Standard Time), and we were very relieved as the baptism started at 8pm. haha It was very special. Isabel was baptized first and she as super nervous. We said a quick with her in the bathroom and then she was baptized! Her foot came out the first time - but the second time it was gold ;) Then Jesùs entered the water. I don`t know why but it was very special for me. I just felt like wow, he is gonna be such an awesome member of the church. Yesterday he came to church in his white shirt and tie, and dress pants and everything. His confirmation was somethin special too. Right off in the blessing he said that there was much happiness in Heaven because an man of valor had entered the church of Jesus Christ, and that he would shortly have the priesthood and serve in the church. He was also blessed that he would have the right words to be able to share the gospel with his family and friends. I really am so excited to watch him progress and learn in the gospel. He really is something special. 

Isabel´s confirmation was neat too. She was also blessed to be able to share the gospel with her family and friends, and that she would be a good example in her actions and life so that others could come to the church. It was amazing because a brother confirmed them both. He didn`t know them at all, but their blessings were absolutely perfect for each of them. 

Something that I loved to hear was Jesùs and isabel talking after the baptism. Jesùs asked if Isabel was gonna come to church the next day and she said of course, now that i`m baptized I gotta come every Sunday. It was all super neat and I feel so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it,and witness my brother and sister receive the blessings of the restored gospel. I am happy. 

I know that this church is true and that this is the Lord`s work. I love you all so much. Take care of yourselves! Have a great week! 
Love 
Hermana Olsen

ps Neil! Happy birthday last week, I was thinking about you all day! and is that Jaiden in the picture - I think he is bigger! I can`t wait to hear where he is going on his mission! :)