Hey everyone, sorry if this one`s a bit short, my Sunday Nights and monday mornings have gotten pretty busy lately so I don't have time to prewrite my letters as often.
This week flew by. I can`t believe that this transfer is halfway over.
We had a baptism this week! Well, the ward had a baptism. An 8 year old girl named Valentina who was baptized and confirmed Sunday. The ordinance and ceremony were short and sweet.
We started working with a man named Cristian, who the other Elders met at a funeral. He accepted a baptismal date this week. He's looking for work and really questioning his faith in whether or not God hears his prayers. He is a wonderful example of real intent, and I am excited to continue working with him.
Yesterday Chile was in the Confederation Cup (kind of a pre world cup I think) soccer finals against Germany. It was the first time they'd made it to the final (or even qualified for the cup) so it was a pretty big deal, especially after beating Portugal and Cristiano Ronaldo. Sadly however they lost, and now we get a little bit more hate because everybody thinks my companion and I are Germans.
I was repassing 1 Nefi 13 and DyC 100 and I love to see how inspired the foundation of the United States was. Happy Independence Day to all those who live in the greatest country in the world! Meanwhile I'm enjoying it here in the second greatest country, where my companion and I made about a million American style burgers complete with potato salad and apple pie. God Bless the USA!!!
With love,
Elder Olson
Exchanges in Lontue with Elder Bitar
Making Burgers for Zone Pday Activity - Celebrating American Independence Day
Hello, (I learned out to say hello in dutch this week but I forgot)
It's been a rainy week down here in Curico. It's rained more than half of this week, and it's still going strong today. The not-so-fun part of that is taking the 15 minute walk to get to our sector. I'm definitely grateful for my rain boots.
The canal systems aren't too fantastic down here. A lot of the roads are in such deep water that cars can't use them. I'm grateful to be in a 5th story apartment to avoid flooding. My Filipino friend (former housemate) Elder Belayro wasn't so lucky though. We saw their sector on the news in a member's house. I called them, and it sounds like their house is filled with water and they're looking for a new one. This week we were also in a house teaching when suddenly we heard a band and water began to drip down the walls and fall through the ceiling. We were there another hour helping fix their roof and dry their things.
On top of the rain, we've had trainings to give, interviews with President, exchanges to do and lots of service. We've had almost no time to go out to the sector which is a bit of a bummer.
On Saturday, we did 3 services. We hauled a lot of huge, soaked logs. The wheelbarrow broke under the weight, so we would load them up on our shoulders and carry them the 2 blocks to the less-active member's house. My shoulders are still super bruised.
Luckily we actually have weights here in our apartment so my exercise has leveled up a little bit.
I had a weird experience in the ghetto on exchanges this past Thursday. We ran into a drunk girl and her boyfriend fighting. She ran over to us asking for help. We were worried that he was going to hit her, so we talked them down. I was basically running in circles the whole time trying to get away from the girl who kept trying to hold my arm or hand and was too drunk to understand the word "no." Eventually, we got the two of them in their houses without calling the cops.
It's been a crazy week. I'm a bit stressed but I feel good and I'm sure things will calm down soon.
Hey all, sorry I forgot to write out a group letter by hand, so this one might not be quite so detailed :)
This week has been my first here in the Alameda Ward in Curico. I haven't been able to spend as much time in the sector as I would've liked thanks to our meetings. On Thursday we went up to Rancagua for leadership council with the other mission leaders. It was very long, and while I love trainings with President I've certainly had better. Then on Saturday, we trained our district leaders on everything we'd talked about in leadership council.
My new companion, Elder Heap, is awesome. He "dies" (finishes the mission) this change. He's from the country in Arizona. Really chill.
The sector seems pretty good. I LOVED Buin, so it'll be quite the adjustment. I also feel a lot of pressure to baptize here, especially seeing how I'm a Zone Leader and should be setting the example.. There are a lot of great converts here, and all of our new investigators this week were references from members, so that's cool.
The city is pretty down here. Much larger than Buin.
Also Elder Villegas called me from Buin yesterday, and it looks like one of my investigators, Berny, there in church this week told them "Hey so, I wanna be baptized". He'll be baptized July 9. He wanted me to be there, we'll have to see if we can maybe work out some kind of skype call. But we as missionaries were only able to visit him twice, which goes to show that God does the work, and luckily He loves us missionaries enough to let us participate.
Mucho amor,
Elder Olson
Some photos from Buin and then from my new area, Curico
Goodbye Familia Rodriguez
Jaime (Brother James) second from the left. He liked to feed us missionaries in Buin
Investigator Carolina and her family. She's 10 days smoke free. Pray for her to keep it up. (and those aren't gang signs BTW)
This weekend we received the changes (transfers), and...
I'm leaving Buin!
I'm going down South again, to the STake Center in Curico`. It'll be interesting; I've been assigned to be a Zone Leader there. I was really, really surprised. I'll be the Zone Leader with the least time in the mission, along with 1 other Elder from my group. My new companion's name is Elder Heap, from Arizona. He's another ex-mission secretary, who goes home this change. They say that my ward (the Alameda Ward) is really strong, and their ward mission leader is a machine. This will be my first ward in the mission (up until now I've had only branches), so I'm really excited.
The sad part is that they're closing my sector here in Buin. It'll be part of the sector of the other Elders.The good news is that my companion will be staying here with one of the Elders from the other sector, so they won't be in a "whitewash," where neither Elder knows the sector.
Carolina Soto and her family are progressing! Carolina is now 10 days smoke free, and her whole family came to church yesterday. We set a baptismal date with her husband Jose`, who opened up to us and told us about his drug addiction. I'm bummed that I'll have to leave them.
In my study, I recently came across Helaman 11. It amazes me how quick God is to forgive, and how quick we often are to forget. He wants to bless us. I hope we can all take advantage of repentance and God's quick and joyful forgiveness. I also hope that we can all be slow to forget all that He's done for us.
Love,
Elder Olson
Elder Olson's District in Buin
Monday June 5, 2017 , Barbeque the Elders (Mom note: Not sure what this really means or what it is a picture of)
A Member (in the blue sweater) likes to feed the missionaries. Final time together.
Wow, this transfer has really flown by. It's been easy to enjoy; I have a great companion, a great district, and a great branch. I've been here 3 transfers now, and this Saturday we'll find out if I stay or if I go. I love Buin, but I wouldn't mind a change either.
The last 2 weeks an old investigator I'd set a baptismal date with in my 2nd week in Buin started coming to church again. His name is Berny, a 23 year old with a mormon ex-girlfriend and Dragonball Z tatoos. He's almost golden, but he works a LOT and it's tough for him to find time to receive the discussions.
We had to move the baptismal date for a family (Carolina and her son Jose Andres) out to the 8th of July. She's progressing, but has a hard time getting work off to come to church.They're reading (they're at about 1 Nephi 7), praying, and Carolina has gone from a pack of cigarettes a day to 2 days without smoking. Keep them in your prayers. :-)
We had Zone Conference this week, where we talked about how we study the scriptures. President Harris's knowledge of the scriptures is incredible. I enjoy comparing my english scriptures with my mission scriptures. The difference in my study before vs. during the mission is very clear.
I like this analogy to illustrate the importance of planning an scriptures study: A war isn't won on the battlefield, a war is won in the general's tent. Success in life relies on our personal planning and preparation.
I also gave my class this week on planning and goal setting. I have my district doing a daily review/goal setting session every night in addition to their daily planning session each morning. My companion and I at least are feeling a difference, and another Elder also thanked me and told me he likes the 2nd planning session. M. Russell Ballard gave a talk, "Do things that make a difference," on worthy goals which I really like.
Love you guys, the Church is true,
Elder Olson Extra note of interest from Mom Olson: In emailing Sister Harris and the Mission Medical about a prescription Jacob needed, Sister Harris said, "We love Elder Olson! Just this past week when President Harris was ready letters from the missionaries, he said to me "Elder Olson is a great missionary! I'd take 20 more just like him!"
We are so proud of him working hard to do his best.
As an extra treat, while he was in the city (Rancagua) getting blood work done to get his prescription updated and refilled, he and his comp got to get pizza at Papa Johns. He was super excited about that.
Elder Olson has fully immersed himself in the work and the mission. He's been out 9 1/2 months and is truly happy serving the Lord and mentioned that he just hopes to meet the Lord's expectations of him.
Elder Olson also noted that it's getting quite cold there now. He's making use of his long underwear and their little space heaters are always on full blast. The mission provides them with electric blankets too as there is no central heating or air where the missionaries live. Notes on the pictures and video are below:
This week the video Elder Olson mentioned last week came through. It is a video of him and his housemates playing a song he wrote for the Buin Zone.
Goodbye Elder Richards
"Strange People Prohibited"
Reunited with some of my MTC Elders: Elder Haar, Elder ?, Elder Mussleman (MTC Comp), Elder Olson
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.
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."
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)
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
We're getting down to the end of the transfer down here. We just found out that one of my Zone Leaders is being called as Assistant to the President, so it'll be nice to have a little inside hook up.
We've been having a ton of tremors this last week. The biggest one was a 6.7 earthquake on Monday. We're all ok, it can just be kind of hard to sleep when we wake up in the middle of the night with the floor shaking.
This week we taught an interesting family. The mom was an author, and the Dad is a CrossFit nut. They had a stripper pole, and a 3 foot tall bong/hookah thing in their house , and they spoke English, and the mom's a Buddhist. They're smart and say they'll read, but they lack real intent and desire to learn.
Our super promising investigator with a baptismal date moved north for work for two months without saying anything to us. So that's nice.
We had a training with President last week in Rancagua. He's putting a big emphasis on asking for references from members. The members here in Buin are great about accompanying us, but I'm yet to receive a reference from a member from my own sector. I've gotten a few from investigators though, one of his has a baptismal date now!
President's been changing a lot of the rules. We won't be having Zone meetings anymore, which is a bummer. We'll just be meeting as a District. Also, we can't play soccer in Ward activities with investigators any more, or give English classes without also teaching a PMG (Preach My Gospel) lesson. I get it, but it's still kind of lame.
Love you guys,
Elder Olson
Quote from a personal email: "One of the big lessons I've learned this week is the blessing of sacrifice. As endowed members we covenant to sacrifice whatever God asks us too. The more completely that we keep this law and consecrate ourselves, the more fully that God can bless us."
Note from Mom: Elder Olson also told his little brother the Chileans don't really celebrate Easter down there the way we do up here. They eat a lot of fish as per the Catholic tradition but that's about it. But they were able to share a lot of the #princeofPeace videos from the church and that was really nice. He told his other brother that right now, Elder Strong, who lives in the same house, buys and shares a lot of sushi with them. He's feeling pretty lucky on that count. He loves sushi. He's fortunate to have such a generous Elder in the house too. :-)
