October 21, 2009 - I´m still alive!!!!‏

I just got back from an activity with almost all of the missionaries here in Alagoas. It was great. There is a member that owns a little secluded soccerfield on the outskirts of Maceió and there is usually one day every three months or so that all the missionaries will go there for p-day. It is always so great to see all the missionaries. It had been a while since I had seen elder Neuberger and Whitehead, they are from my MTC group. Wow, I love those two, so hilarious. They are already making plans to come back and visit Brasil after the mission, that somehow included me already. Elder Neuberger passed in Estancia for 6 months right after me, and now he is the district leader of Viçosa, so he will be going there every once-in-a while. It´s great because we get to know alot of the same people.
I honestly love brasil, and hope that I will be able to come back and visit some day. From what I hear Brasil will host the World Cup, the Olympics, and the dedication of two temples in the next few years. All of which would be great excuses to come back.
I spent some time with Elder Silva and Elder Ramos today as well. Só gente fina por aí.!! They wanted me to say hi to you all for them. It is great to have Elder Silva as a secretary, because I am always able to call him if I need any help or advice. But usually when I´m having "one of those days". Somehow he ends up calling. Also my son was there today, Elder Dinwiddie, along with my father, Elder Gonçalves. I realize that alot of the "mission lingo" is probably a bit strange for you all. But that´s just how it is here. There is a large group of missionaries that are returning home in the next few weeks and another big group arriving next transfer. One of them that is returning will be passing right by our house on his way home, Elder Higginson from Nephi (who is going home in 9 days or so)..its kinda-of a crazy thing to think of; since home seems like another dimension or something like it.
The area is going well. This part of Maceió has alot of crime, usually everyday we will hear a crazy story or two.
Being a district leader is alright. It is fun to be able to work with and help some of the other missionaries in my district. The ward here is full of some great members, I know that I will come to love it. Last Saturday, we baptized a man that was 68 or so years old. He is such a great guy, I love him and he is already excited to help out in the ward. Kind of funny, at his house there is always an invasion of little monkeys that try to steal food and stuff. I would take a picture but I think that my camera broke. I´m not sure yet so I´ll have to get back to you on that.
All is well, and the work of the Lord is going forth.
Hope all is well back home.
love ya,-Elder Olson

O Alagoano‏ 10/14/09

It has been a long week--so I guess that I could start from about 2 weeks ago since It has been a while since I have sent anything (sorry about that)
My last week in Viçosa was incredible, and extremely busy as we helped Edy and his family get ready for their baptism. (which was no easy task)
On p-day, we traveled to a nearby city called Chã Preta, where we climbed one of the tallest mountains in the region called “Serra Lisa” or slick mountain. It was an awesome trip, definitely a day that I will never forget.
Our guide was a man that I met in a car-ride returning to Viçosa one night. I asked if we could visit him and teach him a little about our beliefs. He accepted and invited us over for the day to meet his family and hike the mountain. What a day it was! -
Later in the week, we had Edy and Rosa´s marriage which was followed by the baptism of their entire family. It had been quite a fight to help this family get to this point, yet once there I was truly able to feel the worth of all that we had done during that transfer.
On Sunday we had sacrament meeting, and then later that night the branch rented a little bus to take us to Maceió to watch the last session of general conference… I was so happy to see the joyfull faces of our recent converts and investigators as they saw the large beautiful church building here. As well as the opportunity to see the Lords prophet, Thomas S. Monson. They all loved the session that we watched, and said that it was wonderful to see and hear our prophet. I was so happy to be there with them for that.
The next day however, transfers came (last Monday) and I was transferred to a part on the outskirts of Maceió called Benedito Bentes II, to a large ward called Gurguri. There were 4 missionaries for this ward when I arrived, but after the 2nd day the President called to let me know that one of them would be going home early. After that we were put into a trio, which has been a little hard to get used to. But all is well… I am sure that I will love the ward here and find those that are waiting to hear the Gospel.
I am a bit lost here though… I am not too used to the city (even though, it´s still not very large in this region)… also none of us know anything of the area.
But hey, that just makes the adventure that much sweeter! My companion is named Elder C. Santos and he is a Gaucho! From Rio Grande do Sul, almost every day I drink “Mate” with him. Yet here they call it Chimarrão. My other companion is named Elder Youngberg from Salem, Oregon. Yeah, he is a little crazy, but I like him.
It is good to be in the city where we aren’t hours away from the other Elders, like last p-day, I went to the downtown of Maceió with Elder Silva and Elder Ramos They are definitely some of my favorite elders here on the mission. {Of course along with my SON Elder Dinwiddie (I am already missing him as my comp).
Elder Ramos reminded me of a card that he wrote for you along time ago mom that I forgot to send to you (so I guess that I will get on that). It´s all in English, so you wont have to worry about translating it. Elder Ramos speaks very good English. He also told me that he will live in our basement after the mission as we go to BYU together. haha…He jokes about it, as do all of my other companions, yet all of them have a great desire to study in Utah at BYU or least visit one day. So I guess that I should probably tell you now that I have told all of my Companions that if they every come to Utah, they can stay at our house I hope that is okay with you guys, it is not likely that any of them every will have the opportunity, but I leave the invite anyways.
I received a few letters this week from many of you.
thanks for you love and support.
Hope that all continues to go well for you all.
Please pray for the work to go forth here for us.
Love you all,-Elder Olson

October 7, 2009 opa...

Hey well, I just finished typing a huge letter to you all telling about the incredible week that we had last week. But this computer just erased everything. dang.
We´ve gotta go, so I will have to write a letter explaining it all.
love you all a bunch.
thank you so much for your support!Elder Olson

p.s.-- I was transferred to a part of Maceió, in a place called Benedito Bentes in a large ward called Gurguri.
Pray for me since me and my companion arrived together, dont know anything about the area, and have nothing left from the previous missionaries.
love ya.