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 12: Fleas and no time

This is a picture from Elder Haar (Elder Olson's friend, second in on the left). Elder Olson is 3rd in on the right. Elder Hinton is in the front and is the one he mentions is leaving their casa this transfer. This is a pic at a zone BBQ when transfers were announced. Elder Olson is staying put this transfer.

Friends and Family,

I've messed up on time again this week, but I seriously love you all a ton. I'll be sure to write my big email home first thing next week, and I think I've got quite a few videos and pictures coming your way.

Disculpe y cuidense!

Elder Olson

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More information in the letter to his dad: 

"We found out transfers, and I'll be finishing out my companion's mission here in San Clemente, although Elder Hinton from my casa is being replaced by another brasilian and now I'm not going to have anybody to speak english with me.

The new Book of Mormon goals are high (although much easier than the goal to place 2 Mi Familia pamphlets), but I really support them; They're something I feel like I would do as president. Usually my companion and I just set aside a couple hours for contacting and just leave the house with two Books of Mormon saying that we're not coming back until we've placed them. We actually used all of our BoM's last week and we're waiting for the assistants to restock the zone.

The mission is difficult, but not in the way I expected. It can be a little uncomfortable physically, but honestly it's not too bad. It has a lot more to do with the lifestyle adjustment (or at least I think that's the biggest factor for me personally). Not the adjustment of standards, but the lack of choices that I'm given. I was living my standards before the mission. But out here I can't choose what I do, what I listen to, when I do it, where I spend my time or who I spend it with, etc. That's been by far the hardest part. Obviously I can choose whether I will do what I should or not, but the decision there isn't a difficult one. However, I try to be more diligent than I have to be (DC 58;26-29) and that's really helped me, especially in the last couple of days."

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Note from his mom: I had asked him about a possible flea problem made evident from his last letter to me. Looks like it's not as bad as I had feared but still there somewhat. We look forward to his pictures later this week and more from him next week.

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From Elder Olson's letter to mom:

"As far as the fleas go, I know it's super gross but it's something that's happened to about everybody in the mission. I got them from exchanges with our zone leader. They've been almost exclusively on my arms and legs, though I've gotten two, maybe three on my stomach and back. I spray myself with bug repellent before bed, and I washed my sheets. I don't think I've been bitten for quite some time, but I would like to be able to repel them more easily. I have no idea if I can get cream, complicated situation which could be simple, but I can't for lack of time and resources. Seeing how the bites have stopped it's not an immediate concern.

Sorry this one was basically just "Business." 

-------------------------- From Elder Olson's letter to his baby brother:
"I wish I could have Davy Crockett bars, but we actually made a giant cookie this week that was a lot like them! I'm going to send a picture on wednesday."

Week 11: Earthquakes and Tender Mercies

"Downtown" San Clemente

Elder Olson on the streets of San Clemente

His "healthy diet" as he proudly termed it. He shared this with another Elder. He says most days they eat little and are kind of hungry, but on Pdays they make up for it.

Evangelicals singing in the street

Talca Zone 1 at the last meeting before transfers

Elder Pulla drew this of their zone.

Friends and Fam,

Busy week as always, not a ton has happened since I wrote last, seeing how it's only been 4 days.

I experienced my first earthquake down here this week. The locals called it a tremor, but it was like a 6.4 on the Richter Scale so I'm pretty sure that qualifies as still being an earthquake. It didn't destroy anything in my area, it just totally surprised me. Honestly it was a lot cooler and scarier than I expected.

In my time here I've had a lot of great experiences that have developed my testimony of tender mercies. One of these happened yesterday as we were contacting. After a couple of particularly rude rejections, we were passing a house with an older man on the porch. Old people here are usually the least interested in our message or even conversation, because they're very stuck in their ways. At this point in the day I was tired, hot, and frankly just thinking about how sick I was of my mission work.

When we had almost passed the house we both stopped, and decided to ask for some water. The old man went inside for a moment and afterwords his daughter invited us in for some food and drink, and we were able to share a really awesome message with her. It lifted my spirits more than I can say and I really felt that that visit was a mercy of the Lord.

In other news, I accidentally broke the Word of Wisdom yesterday. Just some coffee in a drink that an investigator made, and very very little at that. We felt bad telling her that we couldn't finish the drink, but we were definitely blessed in the lesson because of our faith.

I love you all, stay righteous

Elder Olson

To his mom: "Everything is going well as can be hoped for, the earthquake surprised me and kind of freaked me out, but I'm totally fine."

To his Dad: "I don't have nearly as much time as I'd like to describe what's going on here. The father of the family still wants to be baptized on the 19th of this month, and I'm praying hard that he can stay on track to meet that goal. The daughter has accepted a date in early december and the son is going to have to as well because he didn't attend this sunday, although I think that wasn't so much his fault, the Dad couldn't come and he didn't want his kids going by themselves. This week has been a little tougher, but I'll happily take the challenge. I'm interested to see what happens with the coming transfer."
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Here's a video someone down there posted to Youtube of their apartment shaking

Here's a copy of an online article about the earthquake

Magnitude 6.4 quake shakes central Chile; no damage, injuries reported

Published November 5, 2016 12:44am
Updated November 5, 2016 8:38am

SANTIAGO - A 6.4-magnitude quake rattled central Chile on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital, but authorities said there were no immediate injuries or damage to infrastructure or mines reported.

Chile's emergency office Onemi called it a "major" seismic event, and said it was evaluating whether any damage had taken place.

The US Geological Survey said the epicenter of the quake was about 45 miles (72 km) northeast of Talca and around 119 miles south of Santiago, at a depth of about 56 miles.

The quake did not meet the requirements to generate a tsunami off the coast, the Chilean navy said.

Most of the copper mines in Chile, the world's biggest copper exporter, are in the north of the country, far from the epicenter.

The main exception is Codelco's El Teniente copper mine, which is located around 50 miles south of Santiago. A Codelco spokeswoman said operations at the mine had not been affected.

Situated on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," Chile runs along a seismic zone where tectonic plates rub up against each other. It is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, and in 1960, was hit by a 9.5-magnitude quake, the strongest in recorded history.

The biggest quake to hit Chile in recent years was an 8.8-magnitude tremor that struck the central-southern region in 2010, triggering a tsunami and killing more than 500 people.

Practice drills are frequent in Chile and builders follow strict construction codes, which help to limit death and destruction when tremors hit. —Reuters

- See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/587593/news/world/magnitude-6-4-quake-shakes-central-chile-no-damage-injuries-reported#sthash.q4xudQRE.dpuf

(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