Emily 6.18.12

Well all of the members here in Equipetrol have told me that I just need to buy myself an apartment because I pretty much live here - Yep i stayed in Equipetrol and I am so happy and excited! At the end of my
mission i will have spent 9 months in this ward - crazy!  But its an awesome ward with lots happening. Hna Ramirez and I took some awesome pictures - hopefully they all upload in time. The first one is with Arturo and Sara - and Arturito, their son. The second one is with Paula that was baptized in march. We went to her brothers house and he helped her start her family history. She is gonna go do baptisms in the temple on July 6! She is really excited. It is such a huge blessing to watch her progress. The other pictures - well that was our p-day last week. The Vera family where we tend to spend our p-days have the birthday store- and they have all of these awesome costumes. They let us try some on and take some pictures. It was a blast. We couldn`t find the tigger head so its a tigger body with a winnie the pooh head. Hermana Ramirez left me here in equipetrol and went to San Pedro - my old ward! And.... Hermana Gayol returned, like the prodigal son (my daughter) haha no but crazy. Its way fun to be together again. We are determined to work hard this transfer and we`ve had a good couple days. She has progressed a lot and is an awesome missionary.

Thats so fun that they`re all going on missions. What a huge blessing for them and their family. I`m pretty sure Byron promised me a letter - He better hurry, he`s runnin out of time! Oh pageant chair set up. What are you all doing in pageant? Is everyone participating? Forgiveness is amazing. Yesterday we talked to an inactive that went to spain to work, went to church, no one greeted her or made her feel welcome, she was offended, and never went back. wow! But how amazing it would be if she could just forgive and forget. She talked about how
hard it was, but i just had to tihink, yes it is hard, but through Christ it is possible. And it is so worth it.

HEy, i wrote diana lately - have you gotten any more letters? Sounds like Hna Merrell is enganged - hopefully she waits two months to get married so i can go! How are Neil`s wedding preperations going? Who else is getting married in this marriage season? Oh happy anniversary mom and dad! I thought about you and prayed especially for you on the 14. Thanks for getting married and having a family so i could be a part of it!

Well this week was amazing! Monday night we had a FHE with Arturo and Sara and the Vera family. Hna Ramirez and i were determined to give them a baptismal date and a wedding date while we were at it ;) We
went with an awesome lesson plan of the bag of happiness. We filled it up with mud and confetti and invited arturo to find some happiness. He ended up with a dirty hand. We talked about how we all look for happiness but sometimes we look in the wrong places. Then we shared how baptism helps us to clean our sins (Alma 7:14), and let him wash his hands. He felt... happier ;) We invited them to be baptized on July 7. They committed to talking all about it and they were gonna tell us Tuesday their answer.

Tuesday was an incredibly long day waiting for the appointment with them that night. We finally got to go and hear what they had decided. We started with a prayer and asked htem... Arturo said well we`ve talked about it and we`re gonna do it on July 7! But... we have some doubts. They explained that they were going to be baptized because they felt like it was a good thing to do and it was going to help them return to live with their Heavenly Father - but they weren`t sure if they believed in prophets and everything. Sara said she could do it in whatever church because they all have a way to get to God (one of satans greatest lies that we have to listen to all day long). They wanted to know if it was ok to be baptized not believing in Joseph Smith. It was a tough one. I prayed like crazy and I think hna ramirez did too. We talked about how the requirements for baptism are a broken heart and a contrite spirit. They have to be willing to help others, serve God, and keep the commandments. Which they were willing to do. But i just kept thinking about the baptismal interview questions - Do you believe that Joseph smith was a prophet of God? Do you believe that Thomas S. Monson is the prophet seer and revelator today? So I told them. And we talked about keeping the goal of July 7, trusting that they would receive an answer before then.

Moroni 7:13 & 16 came to my mind. So i shared it with them. Arturo read it and then he said wow. So i believe this book is true (the book of mormon) which means i believe joseph smith was a prophet, because he translated it, which means i believe this is the true church because joseph smith restored it. It just all clicked and the spirit
filled the room and he got it! He received his answer right there with us. It was really special. Sara still didn`t understand it all, but it was late. Arturo said wow, well i think i get it. I believe this is the true church. Sara still doesn`t get it, but i`m gonna help her. We knelt down to pray and arturo said the prayer. In his prayer he
asked for help to be able to help his wife s e and feel that this is the true church. They fed us lasagna (super delicious!), we took some pictures, and headed out running to grab a taxi and make it home on time! It was one of the neatest experiences of my whole mission.

When we went to visit them again with Hna Gayol on Friday they were all smiles. There is a special spirit in their home and they are so happy. They are making the marriage preparations and inviting everyone to their baptism. Arturo said he shared with one of his best friends the experience he had and why he is going to be baptized, and
his friend said wow. Thats great. Maybe it would be good for me too. We`re gonna give teh referral to the hnas today. They asked us three times yesterdy if we had called their friend, and they said he is super excited. They also want to do a plan of salvation activity for all their family that is gonna come for the wedding. Arturo said that
is what helped him. THey said they are so happy because they are gonna be able to live in the celestial kingdom - but they don`t want to be alone, they want all of their family there. So they are sharing the gospel with everyone! Arturo always talks about what they`re doing so they can make it to the celestial kingdom. They said the real party will be when they go to the temple in a year and they are married for all eternity. I am so grateful for the opportunity that i have to teach them. Yesterday they came to church all by themselves - arturo in his suit and tie, and sara in her newly bought skirt (she didn`t have one). When i asked if they were gonna go, they said of course! We are so excited with all of this. I love them so much! And i can`t wait tos ee their wedding and baptism. it is gonna be so special. Sometimes i think in how at Christmas i wanted to come home a  transfer early so i could work - but if i had gone i wouldn`tbe able to see all this. I am so glad i am here!

Well times up,
Love ya`ll
HErmana Olsen

PS i saw the doctor this week for my knees. He says the disease is
called hyper pression patelofimoral