(week 9) Dog Bites and Member Missionaries

Friends and Family,

It's been another full week! A lot of new experiences. For example, I had my first dog bite this week. I was just walking along minding my own business, and I'd kind of adjusted to all of the strays around here. There's a big old dog named Maxi who I may have mentioned before, who likes to follow us around when we're wearing missionary clothes. Whenever any dog tries to harrass us he scares them off pretty quick, but this time we were contacting and as I was walking down the street I just feel a dog's mouth close around my calf. I turned around and scared it off, but every time id turn back around it would come back. We had to chase it off about 15 times. It bit me hard enough to leave marks, but it didn't break skin so I'm not worried about any kind of infection.

We've picked up a neat little toy called a trompo, which my zone leader tought me how to throw. it's basically like a top, but you wrap it with a string and throw it. It takes some serious skill, but me and Elder Hinton from our casa have become slightly addicted. I can now pick it up off the ground while it's spinning and it 'dances' in my hand.

I'm towards the end of my time, but I'd like to share a scripture from DyC 38. Verse 27 says something along the lines of 'Be ye one, and if ye are not one ye are not mine.' At least in spanish that's pretty much what it says. Anyway, this verse stands out to me because of the HUGE role that members play in missionary work. We cannot do it without you. We need unity between missionaries and members. I know it can be difficult to find the opportunity in UT, but put in an effort to aid your missionaries and I PROMISE that you'll be blessed for it.

I love you all, until next week:

Elder Olson

Elder Olson and Elder Palmer

Elder Olson's house he shares with the other missionaries

study area on left

front entry (ironing station and hall "closet")

where he sleeps

leading to kitchen

 

Elder Olson and Palmer again

Elder Santini (Elder Olson's Trainer) and Elder Olson

a picture of an unfinished drawing on a member's wall. he took this pic for his little sister

The Elders making pizza together

Elder Santini eating who knows what

Elder Olson and his friend Elder Haar from the MTC

Elder Olson and Elder Santini

Elder Olson and his Mission President and others serving in his zone

Getting to the work in San Clemente, Chile (week 8)

Dear Everyone,

I hope I don't repeat myself too much, but I know last week my email home was cut a little short so I'm going to try to give a little two week summary.

The first week was loco, I slept in the houses of other missionaries nearly as much as in our own. We had some last minute exchanges, and my trainer went to Talca for a meeting. I ended up in a trio with Elder Haar (from my CCM district) and a Brazilian named Elder Theiss. We ate cumpletos twice that day, and were surprisingly productive seeing how all of us combined we had less than two months in the mission and none of us was fluent in Spanish. We taught a couple who was super into LARPing and vikings. He had a braided belt-length beard and she had bright blue hair. Super nice people, who were receptive to our message.

This week was much more on schedule and productive in our own sector in San Clemente. We challenged a family of our investigators for baptism on Nov 19, and they accepted. The daughter, Nicole, has cancer and has trouble walking. I really want them to have the blessings of the Gospel to be realized in their lives, but the parents smoke and that might prove to be a barrier. We're also trying to reactivate and convert a half member family. Marriage has proven to be a big problem down here. Many families have a parent who is still trying to get their divorce to an ex-spouse legalized, and therefore can't be married. We have multiple families like that, that I really believe would be members otherwise.

I'm working hard and coming along well with the language, but I'm nowhere near perfect and still have a long way to go. This week I read a talk by Jeffery R Holland, Missionary Work and the Atonement. I highly recommend it, and there's a shorter video that uses many parts of it as well. I'd just invite you all to remember that salvation is not a cheap experience. We shouldn't expect it to be easy for us, because it was NEVER easy for Him. Our trials should help us to appreciate His sacrifice, and through the use of His sacrifice and atonement, our trials and burdens can be made light.

I love you all and hope that all is well back home,

Elder Olson

First week in the Mission Field - Talca, Chile

Everyone,

 This week has been absolutely insane. It's been almost two weeks since I was able to read emails, and I got a little caught up in reading and messed up my time. I'll write my big email home first this week so that I can be absolutely sure to get it done. Pictures will be coming later in the week. 

I'm doing pretty well with the language. 

Like I said it's been crazy, I've been moving around a lot for meetings and exchanges, I slept in Talca two nights last week and went on exchanges with a Brazilian, which was pretty cool. 

I've eaten a LOT of completos (basically Chilean hot dogs), and soup called casuelo, which is like the laziest soup in the history of ever. 

There's been a big festival here in San Clemente. Two people have been stabbed to death and two more have died in accidents, but I promise I'm being safe. 

I'll work on a spiritual thought for next week, sorry for the short and sloppy letter.

I Love You All!!!

Elder Olson

Elder Haar (on left) sent this pic of Elder Olson and Companion eating completos in San Clemente area of Talca, Chile

Elder Olson Arrived in Chile

Note from Elder Olson's Mom to blog readers:

I'm sure he would LOVE emails and lots of prayers this first week. Thanks so much for supporting him in on his mission. Your letters and love mean so much!

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Hey Everyone,

I made it to Chile! The plane rides down here were crazy long, but I placed a Book of Mormon with the Parasitoligist I sat next to who spoke not a word of English! The flight change went well, and all of my luggage made it through unharmed. I arrived yesterday at 3 a.m. at the casa of the secretaries. The house was packed, over 30 of us in only 16 twin beds. It was insane. We got up again at 7 to go to the mission office where we had an orientation and received our trainors. My trainor´s name es Elder Santini. Great guy from Hawaii, who won´t speak a word of English. He has a bit of a reputation for it. It´s really helpful having him speak Spanish all the time, and I'm glad he can understand when I cant remember how to say something in Spanish. I´ve been assigned to the San Clamente A area, in the Talca 1 Zone in the very south of the mission. It's been a big change, but so far everything is going as well as I could hope for. I'm stoked to have the opportunity to get out in the field and actually make a difference.

Les amo mucho, hasta next Monday (Pday now that I´m in the field)!

Elder Olson

Elder Olson is in the middle. (another missionary momma got this pic from her child and posted for us all to see...so grateful for social networking!)