week 39-40: Prayer Works!

5/28/17

Hey all,

Congrats to all who graduated in this last week, and to those who are receiving mission calls! It's crazy to think that Summer is starting up there when it's so cold down here. We've started using the electric blankets, and the electric heaters are always on full blast. I'm hoping for snow, but I don't think that's gonna happen.

This week our efforts to work with members have started paying off. We have 2 great new investigators who are references from members, 1 of which we're teaching in the house of the member. Until now, I thought that teaching situations like that were only possible in the magical world of the Preach My Gospel training videos. We also have members offering to accompany us in lessons and even to contact.

This week we also wrote a song for our zone. I'll try to send a video (Elder Olson tried but the internet connection was too slow this week).

Yesterday I had a cool little experience with prayer. The other Elders in my district were arguing, and left the house angry with each other.I prayed specifically for them and the sisters in my district before we left. When we got home, the Elders were super excited about all of the new investigators they found that day, including a professional chef who'd given them all kinds of food. I also talked to the sisters, who were thrilled about the 4 baptismal dates they were able to set that day. I love seeing answers to my prayers, even when they're small experiences like this one.

Much Love,
Elder Olson

Cool Old-Fashioned Car

Zone Pday gathering

Came across a car accident

Week 38: The Lord will Protect

5/15/17

Friends and Fam,

Wow, this transfer has been flying past. I'm still enjoying Buin, and Elder Villegas is still awesome. I'm thinking about asking President if he'll leave me here another transfer. ;-)

I loved being able to talk to my family this last weekend. Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms that have been such a big influence in my life.

Last Saturday we had an interesting experience with an investigator. After lunch as we were returning to the house, I felt the impression to pass by a future investigator we had contacted. They weren't home when we got there. As we were leaving, I though to pass by the home of an investigator that lived nearby. We got there, and he invited us onto his porch, and we realized that he was drunk...Like, incredibly very very super drunk. He began to swear at us profusely, and to threaten to beat up my companion, even to kill him. He threatened me a little bit too, but also told me that I'm his friend and I'm beautiful so he wasn't going to do anything to me. We were worried that he had a weapon. My heart was going about a thousand miles an hour, and I thought for sure that the situation would end up in a fight, but I passed my bike to my companion and moved the drunk slowly to the back of the patio, away from the gate. My companion quietly took the bikes out while I talked to the guy, then I followed. The drunk "investigator" tried to follow us out but we took off on the bikes. It was a wild experience and I definitely felt the protection of the Lord, and the guidance of the Spirit in handling that situation.

Speaking of protection from the Lord, I was reading Alma 43 today, and I invite you all to evaluate your spiritual armor so that you will be prepared to face your adversaries.

Love you all,
Elder Olson

The members in Buin often give them treats

The Mother's Day Skype call home. Elder Olson in Blue, Elder Villegas in foreground

Elder Villegas in the front, Elder Olson on the right and the Buin Zone in the background

Elders in his District (and housemates)

It's getting chilly in Chile.

Elder Olson titled this... "I'm not just any missionary. I'm a fat hipster missionary."

Week 37: Nasty Dog Bite but Great Investigators

May 8, 2017

Hey all,

I feel like we've been working on overdrive this last week. I spent the majority of Friday and Saturday this weekend in leadership trainings/meetings. I went down to the mission home in Rancagua friday. It was cool to see some other Elders from my group down there, and it's always great to have trainings with President (Harris). He has a big vision for elevating the mission, and works unlike anybody I've ever met. I have a lot of respect for him.

Another dog bit me this last Thursday. The funny part of that was that I was on my bike and the dog only had 3 good legs. I've just gotten too relaxed with the dogs, and in the middle of the night on a country road, I didn't see it coming. The bummer is that this time it broke skin, so I had to go to the hospital for shots (rabies shots). They sent us to the ER, where we waited for 5 hours. Eventually we made some calls and FINALLY Monday we got in to get treated.

We had a district (like a stake but smaller) conference this last Sunday. President Harris gave a great talk addressing one at a time each age group of members.

We have some investigators with baptismal dates who are progressing well. Jose Lara is a 43 year old shy single man who has a date for June 3rd. We're also teaching an awesome family; Cardina, Jose and their sone Jose Aladres. They have a baptismal date for June 17th and are currently working on church attendance and the Word of Wisdom.

I've recently taken Russell M. Nelson's challenge to read, mark, and study every scripture under Jesus Christ in the topical guide. I've enjoyed learning things about the life and ministry of the Savior. He lives. This is his church.

Love,
Elder Olson

Elder Olson's cousin Derek was down in the mission visiting his maternal grandparents (who live in the mission) and ran into Elder Olson in the attempt to deliver his package to the mission home. Elder Olson was there for a training. God must've had a hand in this crossing of paths because they haven't seen each other for nearly 3 years since Derek returned home from his mission to Chile a half hour after Elder Olson left on the plane for his mission to Chile.

Zone Pday group shot (Elder Olson front left)

The 3 legged dog's bite...not horrible...didn't tear his pants he said...but did break the skin.

Elder Villegas (his new Columbian companion) trying to stay warm studying. The temperatures have begun to drop. Cold Fall weather and wet rains have begun.

Elder Olson drinking Mate to stay warm. He said he's worn his rain boot/galoshes and isn't a fan of the rain because they have to walk about 45 minutes just to get to the start of their sector and can't get the to furthest parts of their sector without their bikes (which they can't ride when the rain is bad)

Week 36: Changes

May 1, 2017

Family and Friends,

It's been a week of pure farewells here in Buin. We had five missionaries finishing the mission last week. We had a farewell, or two, for Elder Strong here in our branch, and we sent him off Friday morning.

On Saturday, we got the transfers. Elder Terrazas will be going down to Santa Cruz, a smaller zone (In terms of active members) out in the country. My new companion is Elder Villegas ("ll" makes a "y" sound) from Columbia. He's coming out of the office where he's been a Mission Secretary for the last few changes.

I've also been assigned to be a District Leader here in Buin. It'll be interesting adjusting to my new responsibilities.

The transfers meant more farewells, and seeing how Elder Terrazas was here for 6 months, there were a lot of people to say goodbye to.

I don't know if I ever mentioned how much Sushi we ate the last change. It was A LOT. At least three times a week, for six weeks. Sadly, without Elder Strong's deep pockets and Elder Terrazas' sushi addiction, I don't think we'll be eating quite as much next change.

Yesterday we went to Buin Zoo, which was open for the first time on a P-Day thanks to Labor Day. It was a bit small, but it was great to go. They had a massive white tiger, but I couldn't get a good picture of it.

When the Sisters in my district gave me their call-in report yesterday, I was really impressed by their work in their sector. I asked what they'd been applying that had been making such a difference in the success of their sector, and they told me it was thanks to their commitment to follow the first impressions of the Spirit. Elder Rasband gave a great talk on that topic in General Conference in April. I've learn a lot about the importance of listening to the Spirit and following its promptings.

Love you guys,
Elder Olson

Elder Strong and Elder Olson

Elder Olson and Elder Thomson (and Elder Haar with a walk through in the background)

On the way to the Buin Zoo...getting chilly and wetter now that Fall is in full force down there

Heading into the Buin Zoo

He found Utah...almost