Hey everyone.
Well, I survived Carneval! Haha, it was a pretty fun experience. For a few days during the week the city was entirely deserted , and everyone went to the beach (about half an hour away)- I hear that it is really crazy there. Other than that, just a bunch of drunks and people running around in masks causing mischief.
So for the past week it has rained everyday, almost all day! Which has been awesome. I would rather work in the rain than this sun anyday. It was really getting dry here, but now that we have entered into the rainy season everything has gotten really green again. I´m loving it. However, I have never seen so many frogs at once in my life!! Working in the rain seems to bring funny experiences too.. I am really glad to be with Elder Silva, we get along very well; ele é o cara!
The work here is going well. It has been hard since the branch has stopped helping; however, I know that this work will continue no matter what. I am grateful to be a part of it.
During the week we went to visit an investigator family that lives on a farm out beyond the edge of town (Senhor Ruí and Donna Nair)- Wow I love to go there, such an awesome place. They have a large family, 15 or so kids I think. All are married and live elsewhere. So we only meet them when they are helping on the farm. This time when we arrived, we noticed one of them grinding matta to feed the cattle, and dumping it in the troughs for them. We went over and helped him feed them for a while. It was cool, the cows here are really different looking. Occasionally two of them would get into a fight and start butting heads- (it made me think of watching deer and elk doing the same back home). It was cool though, as we worked we talked to the son, named Maurício, and got to know him pretty well. Then made an appointment to pass by his house and meet his family later in the week.
What a great family. We have been praying to find a good family to teach. I am very excited. I have come to recognize that the Lord truly puts people in our path to teach. Our job is to keep our eyes and mouths open (in the sense of talking) and certainly we will find them. The other day, we also ran into an ex-hobo. His name is Sen. João and he was a vagabond living in the park. However, he won a little house from the mayor or something (i wasn´t really getting what he was saying) He is turning his life around. We found him in his house and gave him an invite for church. Usually we have to go looking for all of our investigators on sunday morning and help remind them. However Senior João made it there on his own, Bermuda shorts, unbuttoned shirt and hat made of garbage. He is a funny guy, and I am excited to teach him.
It is exciting to hear all of the missionary news from back home, many missionaries leaving and coming home. I hate to imagine what I would have been missing had I stayed home. This truly is such an incredible experience. I have never felt so close to the Lord, and never been so content. I always wondered why everyone would always "bug" me about going on a mission. But it is clear to me now that they knew of the blessing and joy that come when involved in the Lord's work and didn´t want me to miss out. I would do the same to any young man or woman reading this.
A mission is not easy, and it is not all joy and happiness. It is work- yet it is the closest to true happiness and joy that I have ever felt. No matter your situation, each day is a proof of your faith. Only I feel that on a mission, you receive a greater witness according to your faith. God wants you to realize that these things are true, just as much as he wants those that you are teaching to realize it.
I want to challenge everyone at home to do a little missionary work this week.. whether it be sharing your testimony with another, talking to a non-member, or just doing some missionary work on yourself. Look for that testimony inside of you, and write it down. I know that the Lord will always, always help us in the pursuit of that which is just, and I know that he wants us to know the truth. I know that God lives, and that this is His church. Each day we are just trying to live better, to be better, and to do that which is better. I cant think of any better way to accomplish this than living this gospel the way that it was intended.
Thank you for all of your support, I love and miss you all.
Falou,-Elder Olson