Week 19: Feliz ano nuevo! Happy New Year!

A picture note telling us he wouldn't be able to email until later in the week because of the New Year's holiday. We love that he thinks of us and doesn't want us to worry. His buddy Elder Haar is in the background.

January 3, 2017

Hey everyone,

Feliz ano nuevo! It's crazy that we're starting into a new year. I feel like the time is flying here, but I can't believe I've only been a missionary for a few months. I'm excited about this year as it may be the only full calendar year in my life dedicated to the Lord.

We spent new year's eve in the house. We had to be in the house by 7, so we just made a ton of food, including Choripan, which is basically just hot dogs with shorter sausages and pico de gallo. After eating too much, we went to bed at the normal time. Definitely my most relaxed New Year's in a while.

So hey, I got my new companion this week! He's an Argentinian names Elder Ramirez. So far he's awesome and we get along super well. he's a bit more relaxed and less formal than Elder Santini, which has been a nice change of pace. However, I do have to put in a bit of an extra effort to be diligent with him.

Our other new housemate and comp of Elder Borges is a 6'6" gringo with one change more than me in the mission. He struggles a bit with his Spanish, but is super chill and awesome to have around. A good missionary.

Seeing how my companion is new to the sector, a lot of responsibility falls on me as far as planning and leading the area. It's been good practice for me to have to take the steering wheel for a little bit more. We've been putting in a lot of effort, and we might even be able to get some solid baptismal dates set this week.

As for this week's spiritual thought, we recently shared the Mormon Message entitled "Priveleges" (I think that's what it's called, obviously we share it in Spanish), which portrays a man who goes on a cruise and spends the voyage eating nothing but beans. (Watch the rest to see what he was missing). I also recently watched a devotional from Elder Bednar about the enabling power of the atonement. Often we focus only on how the atonement gives us a remission of sins, and we forget that it can also give us great strength. No matter your trial, pray for strength to overcome it, and it will be given to you. Don't forget about the enabling and strengthening power of the atonement.

Con amor,
Elder O

About to Leave the CCM - week 5

Dear Friends and Fam,

    Last time I'll be emailing from the CCM! I am incredibly excited to get out of here (92 hours left just by the way). It's been a wonderful experience but I'm dying for a change from the routine. Although, I'll be a little sad to say goodbye to the friends ive made here. Luckily all of my district not going to Rancagua (just the Hermanas and Elder Tilley) will be returning to UT post mission so there's a good chance I'll see them again.

    I leave for Chile at 6 am on monday morning. The sixteen of us headed for Rancagua will all be flying together connecting through Panama City, arriving in Santiago at 12:19 a.m. I'm all packed, and I was a little worried due to a new 22 lbs weight limit on carry-on bags. Luckily I had some extra room in my checked bags.

    This week my Comp and I taught a lesson in district meeting because our district leader had another appointment and he basically uses our companionship as vice presidents. It was actually a really great lesson about overcoming trials through the atonement. My favorite scripture is on that topic (Job 23:10), and I also HIGHLY recommend going and reading DyC 121 & 122 (although if you want a shorter version just read 122: 5-9).

    This week has been especially exciting due to our discovery of a soda machine that dispenses random sodas. Our whole district meets up there after lunch, and we enjoy a fun little game we call Mexican Roulette. The machine once gave us a Coke, and we all are sincerely praying that one day we can get one too. It doesn't sound all that fun, but to be honest we're all pretty hungry for any form of entertainment here.

    We will have the opportunity to watch general conference this week, which I am super excited for. Luckily it's in English. Some of the apostles speak spanish though, and I really enjoy listening to  them because they speak really slowly and it´s really easy to understand. Keeping up with the translators takes a lot more focus though and I think going for that long would seriously melt my brain.

    The spanish is going really well for me though, we took an assessment with another district and I got significantly above the average (actually the second highest out of both districts, so basically I'm a prodigy). However, I know that it'll be WAY harder in the field. Chilean spanish is crazy fast and full of slang, but I think I'll get it.

    The church is true, I Love you all, and I hope everything is going well back home.

Hasta Luego,

Elder Olson

P.S. 91 hours left now..

Our morning Maestra (teacher), Hermana Nuñez

Packing up