9.29.25

Can you come back later? I don't have clothes on.

Back at you with another essay 

Diving in, get excited 

Ok to start off lets cover what went down last p day. It was a silly day, we went thrifting and had some crazy finds ( look at my vlogs for reference). Anyway, that night me and my compy had our evening after p-day to do some work. So we headed over to Tractor Supply and see if we could talk to anyone or find any Spanish speakers. And unfortunately, the parking lot was dead. Soooo we went and took cart that was in the middle of the street and brought it into the tractor supply. And the cashier took one look at us and was like “Wait who are you?” Obviously, we told him we were missionaries for our church. And then he just yapped to us about a crazy experience he had with trusting God. It was sick and then after a random man walked up and said he used to be Mormon, and then shared some ghetto stories with us, but it was actually so sweet. And then we decided to give them a little lesson about feeling the spirit (which, in case you're wondering we aren't exactly allowed to do…. But live laugh love) anyway by the end if it. The guy was like, “I think God wanted us all to meet.” It was so cute. And super fun to see how when you wear a tag and act different, people notice, and then God shows up. 

The next day a cutie old man in our ward invited us over to help make grape juice #✨️service✨️ to say the least, it was so silly fun. And we just spent our Tuesday morning picking and making grape juice. And then of course he walked us around his garden and made us take any produce so sweet, but I fear we aren't gonna get through all of it. 

The middle of the week went by, and I don't recall what happened, trust it was good. 

Saturday, I made my comp cry…. I said something out of pocket so she started dying laughing and we were trying to merge on the freeway. And then I called her a freak and she was laughing so hard tears were rolling and I was we might as well. So not fret we made it home in one piece. Anyway to say the least we've been having a silly fun time.

Alsoooooo, this happened twice this week that we knock on a door and the guy answers by sticking his head out the door and before even saying hello, telling us “I don't have any clothes on can you come back a different day?” So that happened not once but twice.

 And then again last night we knocked on this door and through this very dirty glass we can't tell if this man is wearing clothes. Unfortunately he wasn't and we said we would come back a different day. Oh, and an old man kissed me on the cheek this week as well…. Call me apostate. 

Sunday I hit 2 MONTHS being a missionaryyyyy 🙌🙌🙌 kinda crazy but no biggie 

Woke up and saw that our prophet had passed away. We were heartbroken because holy we loved him. Decided to listen to his last talk he gave us in April. It was so good and so neat to listen to our prophet telling us to prepare to have confidence in approaching God. Who says that! Literally a prophet of God, that's who. Seriously the craziest idea.

We went to church and our friend Juan let us know he wasn't gonna make it. So we went in and the other sisters in our ward had a bunch of friends there, which was adorable. And as we were starting church I looked over and saw the mother and daughter who I gave my first Book of Mormon to just walking into church behind the other sister missionaries! I was baffled. I really didn't know if we would see them again, and at church of all places! I was so surprised and she's was so cute and brought her Book of Mormon with the photo of Jesus we used to mark where we wanted her to read still tucked in. I'm really hoping she progresses. It was a perfect sacrament meeting filled with beautiful testimonies and people just praising God and testify of the divinity of the restored gospel. After church, I ran over and said hi and asked how she liked it. She said she did, but they had to be somewhere after church, so they would miss the second hour, but said they would come again. My heart is so full. God truly works in many ways for the salvation of his kids. Truly a miracle 

This week I've been thinking a lot about the love of God. He gives us so many opportunities to feel his love and know him better, the scriptures, PROPHETS, prayer, and the testimony and conversion of others. Seriously, so special. I was reading in Mosiah 23:12, this verse talks about the people did not just lift up their voices to God but they poured out their hearts “and he did know the thoughts of their heart”. Sometimes the biggest part of our conversion is letting God know how we are feeling, letting him know what is truly in our hearts. That is enough to feel his comfort. We will always be able to fully understand God's love or how it works. But oh how we can feel it. God promised his kindness shall not depart from you. Not now, not when you mess up, not when crazy things happen. We can always trust that God will in fact help us.

Anyway, please know God is so aware of you. Christ knows you perfectly. And he suffered for all of us, so he might know to help each and every one of us. 

I love you all big. Know that God is on our side, everything will work together for good for those who love Christ.

You're truly 

♡/Hermana Olsen 

9.22.25

 Mom I'm SO SOORRRY

I am realizing at this moment that I lost my glasses. I think I left them in mexico. I had then all day ky last day and then something happened that night and i.guess I didn't see them when I was trying to.wake up at 2 am that morning........... I suppose that's what happens when you don't turn on the light.... I was hoping I would.find them.in one of my bags. But to no avail. I fear mexico has claimed another one if my personal items. . I am so sorry you have such a careless daughter. So ungrateful and irresponsible..... 

This email is cued to send to you next Monday. I'm again apologize I am very sad I loved my glasses. 

I also love and appreciate you.

Your forgetful little girl

Hermana Olsen 

Last photo with them.....

9..22.25

Week dos in the MISSION✅️

It was a success to say the least

Getting into it

This week was fabulous, lots of talking to random people, SOOO many prayers, and quite a few giggles 

Buttt I'm running out of time so here's a little highlight from the week. Look to my goodbye photos to see what else I've been up too ⬇️

Friday night we started my first EXCHANGE with Sister Glade, she's adorable and we had a lot of fun. I went in with a goal to give aware my first BOOK OF MORMON and Sister Glade had the goal to talk to everyone. So we jumped in and decided to go to the only grocery store in our area. Turns out when you make the goal to talk to everyone, you will run into some yapppppers. We got stopped by this guy's who wanted to tell us all about the Bible but was very disinterested in our religion no biggie. It was still a positive convo. We then talked to this lovely guy named Jesús and he was so nice to us! It was wild. His boss had given him a BOM and he had read some of it and he was randomly trying to fast more and was seeing the blessing of it, which is so crazy! Anyway he was a sweetheart and spoke perfect english so i asked if i could share my testimony in español with him and he like helped me with my pronunciation and was super nice. He let us know he's not interested in meeting right now, but if he is he'll talk to his boss. So I'd call that a good seed planted. 

By the time the evening rolled I still hadn't had an opportunity to give my Book of Mormon away. So we decided to just knock on this neighbor's and let me tell you NO ONE WAS INTERESTED OR WOULD EVEN TALK TO US. It's chill but I was getting worried because I really wanted to give this BOM to someone who actually wanted it. We decided to go up to this house and there was a cute mom and her teenage daughter sitting outside on their lawn, so we approached them and told them we were just going around sharing scriptures with people and if we could share with them. They said yes and we had a great conversation with them and got to tell them about the book of Mormon and the daughter said would take mine. And that we could come back! It was truly a little miracle. 

The moral of the story is don't be afraid to bring up something that changes lives like the book of Mormon. I've realized I've been afraid to talk about Joseph Smith or the BOM because people can be quick to tell us we are horrible people for believing in it. But when we decide to put ourselves out there, God shows up. And he WILL give us opportunities to share what we've been so blessed to know. 

Anyway, Sunday was great. I was feeling weird about my life ( unfortunately, is a common experience when you do something random like being a missionary) so when I go to check, I was out of it. It was the primary program and thus little primary did there best and sang so big. I fear I was close to tears the whole time. And for some weird reason I complete cried during the song “this little like of mine” which if you have ever heard it is a bop l. But I realized all this cutie kids have such a light and God blesses all of his kids with that light. And GOODNIGHT its our responsibility to share that it with others. And it's hard, missionary work is so brutal but his the Lords work so why wouldn't we do it.

 So I don't know but I really am so grateful to be a missionary it's the best I'm loving it a lot and let me tell ya Yakima is a crazy place to be but I think God knew I needed to be here

Anyway God is good, and all the time God is good. 

Love and miss you all 

♡/ Hermana Olsen  

9.16.25

 

And I'm proud to be an American ✊️

HELLLOOO TODOS

You're not gonna believe.

I am back in the motherland 🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲🦅🇺🇲

I love it here, t'was a little sad to leave Mexico y la CCM because it truly was so pretty there and a lot of fun. But I made it to the great state of Washington 🍎🍏🍎

Anyway, I was not able to get an email out last week because of my travel day, but here's a quick recap of my last few days in the maze.

Starting off we finished up our classes. RIP. But low key so good. We took our español test, and your girl let's just say killed it. Jk i did horrible but no biggie I'll get em next time. 

Anyway had our last Sunday and it was so good. It was in fact fast Sunday, and to say the least, I was fighting for my life because let me tell you here at the CCM they make you well aware your fasting (meaning they don't feed us for 24 hours). I did break my fast with a chicken bake and an ice cream bar. So incredibly yummo. I will not lie, though it was not the ideal thing to eat at 24 hours. After our last Sunday devo we had a district review. And we went around the circle and had everyone give a compliment to each person. It was so fun to reflect on the kind of people I got to be surrounded by, truly all incredible disciples of Christ. I was reflecting on how alone I felt at the CCM in the beginning, and it felt like NOBODY knew me. Which was true. Lol. But it was hard. But as each person said something, I realized how loved you can be even by a random group of people. Once you spend time with someone, it becomes so much easier to notice who they are and what kind of person they are. When we choose to recognize the gifts we've each been given, Goodnight love comes so easy. 

Anyway the rest of the week was prep, Monday I rolled my ankle and it did swell the size to be double it's normal, but hey not biggie shoved it in a bucket of ice, called it good. Low key still not right but of well. 

Anyway packed a lot and said goodbye to my distinct Tuesday night. I asked for a blessing from one of the elders just as a go get em and a comfort as I left to the field. And the elder who gave me this blessing I believe was his first time or one of his first. He seemed pretty nervous, but then he began, and the spirit was there instantly. Some of the words work spoken through nerves but here's the thing, this was one of the times I have truly felt God's love for me and the incredible gift it is to have the priesthood back on the earth. Because God knows us and he wants nothing more than for us to know and completely understand the magnitude of that love. So here's your friendly reminder to ask for a priesthood blessing from some one with proper authority if you ever have the thought, don't be afraid to ask because it is such an easy way to find comfort.  

Wednesday, I got up at 2:00 AM to get on the bus to start my travel day to WASHINGTONNN. It took about 16 hours of travel, but here's the thing. I couldn't care less because I finally made it. Got to meet the mission pres and his wife had the most incredible meal after cafeteria food for over a month. And then crashed harder than ever at our hotel room for the night. 

Next morning got up and went to the transfer site to meet my trainerrrrrr

New comp alert. My trainer is Hermana Gallion she's a sweetheart and is so patient with me. I am truly so blessed. 

My first few days were a blur but truly so good. We talked to a few people, met a few new ones and had some lessons. This also included getting to pick flowers from a member's garden and take them to some of our inactive members. We also got to make a bouquet ourselves, and then we were also given dinner for the road. SO KIND. 

I am in an English area fighting for my life to find Spanish people. So I fear my Spanish isn't getting much practice…. But it's OK I'm trusting I'm still learning something 

I've loved it so far and am feeling so grateful for my opportunity to be out here. 

My first Sunday on the mish was great. After church we went about our normal daily contacting and went knocking. We found two good houses that looked like potential Spanish-speaking homes. And let me tell you they…. We're not, some very white males who had a lot to say about religion. To say the least, it was a crazy bash we tried to get out of it and leave and leave it on a good note but I fear… I was afraid and my companion carried. 

Anyway low key crazy for the Sabbath day but no problema. 

OK that's about all I have time for, but as little thought, I am learning that God will deliver us according to our faith. In the Bible, countless times, people are healed or made clean according to their faith. And that God will never leave us comfortless, that is why he sent his son and the Holy Ghost. D&C 8:3 says how “ Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground” i am so baffled by the idea that the spirit that led the children of Israel through the red sea and the entire desert and from Egypt, GUIDES US IN OUR LIVES. I am learning how I hear the spirit and how to better follow it. It's hard, but the gospel was never meant to be easy. 

I could yapping forever, but I miss and love you all lots, God does too 

♡/Hermana Olsen 

9.3.25

 Final P-day at the CCM ✊️🙏😢💁‍♀️🤸‍♀️🩷

Truly so crazy, I only have less than a week left here. As my sister put it, the days feel like weeks and the weeks feel like days. On another wild note, I've been a missionary for over a month, and I'm truly loving it. I am starting to forget what real food tastes like and what real life looks like. No grande though 🤷‍♀️ 

Also, I think I could redo the MTC and actually learn what I'm supposed to, but…. whatever, I’ll figure it out in the field 

This week was one for the books, I'd say 

Jumping into it ⤵️ 

Thuradayyy, was my one month from starting my mission so crazy. Pero I fear I felt every minute if that day pass. We started having both our classes In español so picture fighting for my life for 6 hours of Spanish class a day. No Biggie, though Hermana Perez, my past doctrine teacher, now my second Spanish teacher, is my absolute queen and helps me through anything I am confused about.

I don't remember a thing from Friday but live laugh love 

Saturday was good, we started the day by helping others. We were once again supposed to have a native to teach but they didn't have enough, so I needed to call someone to teach. I texted almost all the members in my family who knew Spanish, no one answered to decided to call Simeon. He answered and proceeded to chastise me for calling outside of p-day after I promptly explained I needed to teach him a lesson. He was with some of my good friends (Zach, James, and Brendan) who mostly speak Spanish as well. So we taught them el evangelio de Jesucristo and it went swimmingly, quite frankly. I actually am fighting for my life every 2 seconds, but it's ok, they were gracious and it was fun to see them all. The rest of Saturday was a blur; I did, in fact, have a crash out in the middle of our evening class that night. After our break in the middle of class, I was fighting tears when we walked back into class and me and my comp were a little early  

Sundays are a gift from God, let me tell ya. But to start off, I had a personal study, side note, personal is one of my favorite parts of the day. But on this morning I was reading in Mosiah. And let me tell ya who knew how interesting those stories are. I was reading and literally lost track of time. I even started skipping down the page to see what would happen next. To sum it up i was invested and loved it. 

Next for sunday we headed to church, and of course as I've mentioned it feels like a hunger games reaping when they read off right after the sacrament who will be speaking. Truly the room is silent as we wait, unfortunately I heard the dos palabras I was dreading “Hermana Olsen”. The sad thing is I think speaking in church is fun and exciting most of the time, but this had me shaking and wanting to throw up. I then frantically read over my google translated talk (no i still don't know how to speak spanish) but I got up there and talking about a talk given by Elder Hirst titled “Gods Favorite” I'm just hoping Someone understood something of me fighting for my life up there. Other than that church was great.  

During lunch was one of the craziest times ive seen the cafeteria (see google photos for evidence⤵️) and we wited in line for some suspicious chicken and rice and so I decided to get my semi annual daily salad. And while waiting in line me and my comp started to chat with these cute girls next to us. We proceed to asked the the “get to know you questions” they asked me where I was serving. I said Washington and they intently pushed and quickly asked what mission, I said Yakima and they lost it. That's when I realized I was not the only Hermana headed to Washington Yakima mission. We proceeded to freak out and hug each other I literally had tears brimming in my eyes. They are comps and such cute girls. We leave on the same day but they just had a different schedule then me, already love them so much. It was just a testament that God is aware of me and has realized how alone I felt. Grateful for Him and grateful for long cafeteria lines. 

We then had our devotional that night, it was given by Elder Bednar, obviously a recording from when he was a lot younger but still mega fuego. He talked about the character of Christ, and testimony and conversion. He began with how the natural man is an enemy to God and will always be unless they yield to the enticing of the spirit. He continued with the natural man will turn in and how Christ ALWAYS turned out. No matter what. Some Favorite ideas he brought up was “you can not live off of borrowed light” he then connected conversation to Christ's character, “ the greatest convert on your mission should be you. BUT that won't happen if that's what your worried about.” applies outside of a mission as well. If all we are worried about is me me me God can not work with you. Your conversation has to be directed to other people and God. Christ whole mission was not about given the world an example of what perfect was. He lived a sinless life BECAUSE he wanted to save us. He always turned out word. He us letting us act in his place here. That us out purpose as members it snot our salvation it's others. 

Always no idea if that made any sense but hope you enjoyed my scrambled thoughts. 

The rest of the week was good. My daily activity is climbing out of the trenches but no biggie. I do love it here and thinking about leaving is bittersweet to be frank. 

But on the up side I’ll be on YAKIMA next time you hear from me. 

I love you all, God does more 

♡/Hermana Olsen