Week 18: Christmas in the Summer

December 27th, 2016

Hey Everybody,

Feliz Navidad! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas last week. It was awesome for me down here to be able to experience Christmas in a different culture, and even more awesome to be able to talk with my family.

Christmas is actually pretty different down here. For one thing, we eat a lot of barbeque because it's the middle of summer. Also, they open all of their presents at midnight, which I find pretty weired. We spent our time with our investigators and members, but went out to work like normal on Sunday night.

The last week has been crazy. We almost got caught in a street fight between about a dozen people. On Christmas we tried to help a lady who had broken her knee that we passed in the street. After talking to her for a minute, we discovered that her and her drunk husband were trying to get to her cousins house to avoid the cops. Our branch president showed up and told us to leave her and the police pulled up as we walked away and we're not sure whether they arrested her or took her to prison.

Another experience that I had this week was the death of a ward member. We had to take care of the chapel during the viewing of a woman from the ward who died of brain cancer. Her family is in a lot of pain, but they find comfort in the knowledge that now "[she] will rest from all [her] troubles, and from all care, and sorrow." (Alma 40:12) Her widower spouse also share the comfort that he receives from Mosiah 16:8, which teaches us that "the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ."

I testify that this is true. Thanks to Him, all of us will partake in the resurrection, and each one of us has the opportunity to experience eternal life. I am forever grateful for His sacrifice.

Que les vaya bien,
Elder Olson

His Christmas gifts (we sent these with him in his suitcase when he left home)

His favorite of the gifts...cinnamon Life cereal

Elder Olson's companion was leaving for home the day after christmas so they visited with several members and investigators. 

Week 17: Prayer and Faith

December 16, 2016

Friends and Fam,

Hey everyone, another crazy week here in San Clemente. Actually, I spent most of the week outside of my sector. On Wednesday we had the opportunity to participate in a Christmas program in an addiction recovery facility. We sang a lot of Christmas hymns and a version of "Savior, Redeemer of my Soul." The spirit was so strong.

This week Elder Santini went to the temple up in Santiago to finish off his mission, so I took the four hour bus ride to Licanten to do exchanges with an Elder Pollard. That seriously has to be the prettiest sector in the mission. We had some good visits, and the second day I got to go to the beach! We weren't going to go, but we had a baptismal interview with a kid from a nearby beach town. He was going to come to Licanten, but plans changed when we got a call saying that the kid's mom had been stabbed. It was a really crazy situation, but he's going to be baptized and his family's starting to take lessons. Pretty awesome.

Awhile ago we contacted a woman named Mary who had recently lost a daughter. We shared the Book of Mormon and Alma 40:11-12, set an appointment to teach her, and never saw her again. A month went by without any contact, but on Sunday we found her again. She started reading, and she says that our book has changed her life. She's shared it with her boss and nephew, and she reads it to her aunt and every time it makes them both cry. She has a testimony as strong as any member here. Obviously we were thrilled, but she got a call from her boss calling her to work up north for the next 4 months. She leaves this Thursday. We're going to do everything we can to make sure the missionaries up there get her reference, and I'm confident that she'll be baptized at some point, even if I don't get to see it.

During my time in the mission I've seen a lot of little miracles, and a few not so little. This week especially, I've seen answer to prayer after prayer. I also know that these blessings have come to us through faith. I testify of Matthew 17:20 and 21:22, that through faith accompanied by action you can accomplish any righteous goal that you may set.

Much love and Merry Christmas!
Elder Olson

Elder Olson and his comp, Elder Santini, with President and Sister Harris

traveling to Licanten

Church in Licanten (not sure if this is the actual church bldg or just church owned bldg)

spotting the ocean in Licanten

another glimpse of the ocean

beach wedding in the distance

A Half-Meter long (18") Completos. Working on putting back on the 7lbs he's lost so far.

Elder Borges Birthday

Traveling together to a Zone meeting with the Mission President (thanks to Elder Haar for the pic). Elder Olson is on the far left. 

Elder Olson's Zone. (Thanks to Elder Haar for the picture). He is second in from the left on the back row.

A LETTER FROM THE MISSION PRESIDENT TO ELDER OLSON'S FAMILY THIS WEEK:

Dear Parents and family of Elder Olson,

Merry Christmas from the Chile Rancagua Mission. During the month of December our missionaries have been busy sharing the message, “Ilumina el Mundo”, “25 Ways in 25 Days.” The video on mormon.org has been a great way to start conversations about the gospel and following Jesus Christ.

For our December zone conferences the missionaries have come to the mission home and prepared a program of music and scripture messages about Jesus Christ. We then shared our program at care centers and drug rehabilitation centers. The missionaries and the audiences were touched by the message of the Savior.

Thank you for the love and support that you give your missionary. We love Elder Olson and we are thankful that he is serving in our mission.

Merry Christmas!

President and Sister Harris

Week 16: Member Missionary Work is important

December 12, 2016

Hey Everyone!

Sorry I wasn't able to write individually this week. For Pday we went up to a Nature Reserve called Vilches. Luckily to make up for the lack of emails, I'll be sending a lot of photos, and a picture's worth a thousand words, right?

Vilches was absolutely gorgeous. We woke up early to take the hour and a half bus ride up there. When we got there they told us the most beautiful vistas would be a two day hike, about 24 km (nearly 15 miles) to a viewpoint called Enladrillo. On the way, we saw condors, insects, beautiful views and a tarantula they call "The Little Chicken Spider." We ran basically straight up the mountain and did the two day climb in six hours because we're stubborn like that. We also met a French backpacker named Jeremy who was our buddy for a little while. It was cool to hear Spanish spoken with a French accent.

This week we've been teaching the Bolivian friend of a member family. It's really cool to see the difference it makes in the conversion process when the members are so involved.

We also found out this week that one of the only three members that accompanies us hasn't technically been a member for several years. My respect for that member has grown a lot, because they are one of the most active and helpful people in the branch in spite of their membership status. It's a great reminder to us that it doesn't matter where we are on the straight and narrow path, but what does matter is which direction we're moving on that path. The Church is true and I love you all!

Elder Olson

He said this is one of the friendly spiders in their Casa. This kind of spider eats the other spiders so they don't kill it.

Street of San Clemente

Information Center at the Nature Reserve

 

The views at the beginning of the hike

off he goes to run up the mountains

Mountain views

rest shelter

Beginning to climb to the view Enladrillado

up at the top

beautiful skyline

the views over the vista

The group of Elders at the top

Large insect

One of his companions beginning the hike

the Little Chicken Spider (tarantula)