Well, its here.!.......
”Dia de Ação de Graças” or Thanksgiving to the rest of the world. It has been a good week. We have been so busy trying to fix some problems that only now have I been able to stop and breath!! But it has been good. The missionaries in our Zone are great, I am really excited to work with all of them and help them out. I love my companion, Elder Santos. He is hilarious and is very excited about the work! We are going crazy down here(in a good way)!
I was trying to remember last Thanksgiving. If I remember correctly we were having a baptism that night! What a great thing to be grateful for. To be honest I had completely forgotten that it was Thanksgiving. Sorry, but I have been Brazilianised and almost forgot that this day existed. We had a good game of soccer today, and I think that will be the sum of my thanksgiving since my pockets are dry and have no money. Besides visiting and few people, maybe we will be able to mark a dinner appointment with some member. But if not, I´m just fine with that, a braszilian thanksgiving is better than no thanksgiving:)
There are so many things that I have to be thankful for. I truly cannot understand why the Lord has blest me with so many marvelous things, I think that above anything else that I am grateful for is all of you; my family, friends and everyone else who has been there for me when I most needed it.I don’t think I can thank you all enough for that. I hope you know the difference that you made in my life… I am grateful for all of the little nieces and nephews that I have… I love you all so much and miss being able to play with you guys..
I am grateful for this mission, for the experiences, for all that it has taught me and for all that it will teach me still.
I am grateful that ´God is good´… I am greatful that he lets the sun shine and the rain pour on the just and the unjust. I am greatful that he blesses us even when we don´t deserve it. I feel that a large part of my blessing have come to me because of you mom and dad.
The church is true. I am so happy that my testimony of Jesus Christ is not found in a book or in another person but it is in me. Last night we visited a woman that we had recently taught about the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. It was incredible to see how good the Lord is to us. She asked in prayer and the Lord directed her to the answer that she was searching. I think that that is something that I have truly come to know out here. –That the Lord is there.
I hope Thanksgiving goes well for everyone, eat some extra mash potatoes and gravy for me alright!?Time is flying,
I´ll talk to you all soon…
You´re brother, son, and friend……..-Elder Olson
Friday, November 27, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
OXENTE!!!! November 18, 2009
Well it hás been a great week so far.
The transfers came in on Monday and I have been sent back to Sergipe. I was a little sad to leave Gurguri after only staying a little while. But that’s the breaks.
So my last companion was Elder C. Santos from Rio Grande do Sul. I arrived here in Sergipe to meet my new comp who is Elder Santos from São Paulo (it is kind of a common name). He is from the same group as my “pai” (Elder Gonçalves). They are really great friends. Elder Santos seems like an awesome missionary. We are in an area called “Santos Dumont” which is in the middle of Aracajú. Elder Santos has 2 transfers here already as the Zone leader. I am really excited to be here to learn from him and help out with the Zone, it will definitely be a new experience for me. Today we woke up and went to the bus station to greet the new Elders arriving in Sergipe, then we left to help resolve some new house issue with Elders in our Zone. It looks like we will be busy with more than just baptizing this transfer!!
I saw that Elder Dinwiddie also was transferred to Sergipe, so I will be able to see him once in a while. So mom, when we talked last week, I know that you were coming up with a plan to help out some recent converts here… the next day I already had some doubts. What Joe said is right. Even though I would really like to, I cannot get more involved than nessecary in these peoples lives, at least right now. As for sending contacts and a new camera, don’t worry about either both are fine. I am using glasses a lot.
Thanks for everything I miss you all a bunch,
Well, gotta go-Your bubba,Elder Olson
The transfers came in on Monday and I have been sent back to Sergipe. I was a little sad to leave Gurguri after only staying a little while. But that’s the breaks.
So my last companion was Elder C. Santos from Rio Grande do Sul. I arrived here in Sergipe to meet my new comp who is Elder Santos from São Paulo (it is kind of a common name). He is from the same group as my “pai” (Elder Gonçalves). They are really great friends. Elder Santos seems like an awesome missionary. We are in an area called “Santos Dumont” which is in the middle of Aracajú. Elder Santos has 2 transfers here already as the Zone leader. I am really excited to be here to learn from him and help out with the Zone, it will definitely be a new experience for me. Today we woke up and went to the bus station to greet the new Elders arriving in Sergipe, then we left to help resolve some new house issue with Elders in our Zone. It looks like we will be busy with more than just baptizing this transfer!!
I saw that Elder Dinwiddie also was transferred to Sergipe, so I will be able to see him once in a while. So mom, when we talked last week, I know that you were coming up with a plan to help out some recent converts here… the next day I already had some doubts. What Joe said is right. Even though I would really like to, I cannot get more involved than nessecary in these peoples lives, at least right now. As for sending contacts and a new camera, don’t worry about either both are fine. I am using glasses a lot.
Thanks for everything I miss you all a bunch,
Well, gotta go-Your bubba,Elder Olson
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Bom Dia! November 11,2009
Well the transfer is just about over. I can´t believe how fast it went by!-I am excited to see what will happen next.
I am really liking it here, the members here are awesome; yet I´m not sure if I will stay, just because of how strange this transfer was…--last week we had interviews with the President, it was great. President Beynon is such a great help, and I am glad to have him as my mission president. He told me that this next transfer will have a lot of big changes, because many missionaries will be leaving and there is a large group of new missionaries arriving.So lets just see what happens, eh?
This week I have been able to get to know my companion a lot better. Ha, Elder C. Santos is hilarious. He is a lot different from the other brazilian companions that I have had (generally, I hear that most brazis from the south are a bit different)—but he is a great companion. We have gotten along very well together.
As I said, I am liking the area, the members are great and I am eating very well (which is quite a change from how things were in Viçosa). Two weeks ago, the ward here had a missionary complete his mission.. his name is “Thiago” (which means James in portugese). He returned from his mission in Rio De Janeiro, and has been helping us out a ton.
I have really been able to see the Lords hand in our work. It has been hard to find people here in this area with our own efforts, yet it seems that the Lord has been leading them to us.
This week we went to eat lunch at a members house that lives in a little sítio with tons of fruit trees, what a great place. They also had a little pet monkey called a “Sagüí” that we played with for a while.. it was a lot of fun.
Well, by next week, I should have some new exciting news for you all, but as for now i´m just trekkin` on.
I have been amazed over the past week as I have read many stories of integrity, in the scriptures. So many men that, in the face of total opposition, never abandoned God. Your faith must be great to choose a den on lions over a cease of prayer, or enter a battlefield alone against a giant. God lives! ..and His power is real. It just depends on our faithfulness.
Thanks for everything gang… I love you all a bunch.--and i´ll be talking to you before you know it.. Christmas is right around the corner!Love you all,-Elder Olson
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Estou Vivo! November 4, 2009
The past few weeks have been a bit strange here.
So when I first arrived here in Benedito Bentes to serve in the Gurguri Ward, there were two companionships working, but one was sent home which put me and my companion, Elder C. Santos in a trio with Elder Youngberg. After a few weeks Elder Youngberg was emergency transferred and Elder C Santos and I recieved another companion named ELder Rabelo. He and I entered into the MTC together, so I already knew him a little. He is a great guy, from Forteleza (that´s where they are building the new temple here). Then a few days ago we received one more elder to help out here, named Elder G. Rocha from São Paulo. The work here is going well. We are working alot with the members and having alot of success with the references that they are giving. WOW, it is a whole lot better to get references than to spend an entire day knocking doors, in the sun, until you find someone to teach. Trust me I know.
The members really are great here and are feeding us very well:) Last night we taught a lesson to a lady Who visited the church this Sunday with her recent convert friend, Leila, and her family. Leila and her husband Marcos, have a little 6 yr old boy that is down syndrome, named Marcelo. He is hilarious, and gets along great with the missionaries. As we were in the middle of teaching the lesson, little Marcelo pointed out a huge cockroach (which is pretty common here) near Elder Rabelo. Little did we know that Elder Rabelo is terrified of cockroaches!! I don’t know how.. but the next thing I knew, Elder Rabelo had jumped over 3 or more chairs and was running out the front door! Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
One of the men that we baptized a few weeks ago, named Sr. Elias, who is a hilarious 69 yr old, has been prodding his neighbors and wife to go to church. He always jokes with his wife about the “trip” that they will make to Recife (which is where the nearest temple is). Through Elias we were able to meet and baptize a few of his neighbors and help them become new members of this marvelous church. Still his wife has been a bit of a challenge, however she is a great friend to us, which helps. Its only a matter of time. Sadly, the church is criticized and mocked by almost everyone that does not belong to it here. A lot of the time I think that it is hard for people to visit the church or to really hear our message and accept our challenge because of all the mockery and horrible gossip that everyone spreads about the church.
Last p-day I met up with Elders Ramos/Silva/Neuberger/Whithead and a few others and we took a train to an inner city called Rio Largo. We spent the day and visited a waterfall that is near the city. Elder Neuberger and Whitehead are some of my favorite elders here. we got to be close friends in the MTC. I love all of the Elders from my MTC group, they are people that I know I will continue to see after the mission (we are always planning camping trips and such for after the mission everytime we are together, but I guess we´ll see when we get home, eh?)
Here in a bit we will go to the chapel to teach a reference from a returned missionary named Tiago that served in Rio De Janeiro, wow, that would be a crazy mission! Then we will play some volleyball and soccer… so I better go.
Thanks for everything, I hope you know how much I miss you all.
I am so greatful to be here, and to be able to help these brazilian people truly come to know Jesus Christ. I know that he truly is our Savior. The Book of Mormon is a Light for those that are lost in the darkness and confusion of the world, I know that it truly is the word of God. I am proud to say that God has once again called a prophet on the earth, but not just to say it, to know it, and to feel it.
God loves me, as well as all of you. Sometimes I think that He is way too good to us.
Take care, and carry on!
Valeu,-Elder Olson
So when I first arrived here in Benedito Bentes to serve in the Gurguri Ward, there were two companionships working, but one was sent home which put me and my companion, Elder C. Santos in a trio with Elder Youngberg. After a few weeks Elder Youngberg was emergency transferred and Elder C Santos and I recieved another companion named ELder Rabelo. He and I entered into the MTC together, so I already knew him a little. He is a great guy, from Forteleza (that´s where they are building the new temple here). Then a few days ago we received one more elder to help out here, named Elder G. Rocha from São Paulo. The work here is going well. We are working alot with the members and having alot of success with the references that they are giving. WOW, it is a whole lot better to get references than to spend an entire day knocking doors, in the sun, until you find someone to teach. Trust me I know.
The members really are great here and are feeding us very well:) Last night we taught a lesson to a lady Who visited the church this Sunday with her recent convert friend, Leila, and her family. Leila and her husband Marcos, have a little 6 yr old boy that is down syndrome, named Marcelo. He is hilarious, and gets along great with the missionaries. As we were in the middle of teaching the lesson, little Marcelo pointed out a huge cockroach (which is pretty common here) near Elder Rabelo. Little did we know that Elder Rabelo is terrified of cockroaches!! I don’t know how.. but the next thing I knew, Elder Rabelo had jumped over 3 or more chairs and was running out the front door! Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
One of the men that we baptized a few weeks ago, named Sr. Elias, who is a hilarious 69 yr old, has been prodding his neighbors and wife to go to church. He always jokes with his wife about the “trip” that they will make to Recife (which is where the nearest temple is). Through Elias we were able to meet and baptize a few of his neighbors and help them become new members of this marvelous church. Still his wife has been a bit of a challenge, however she is a great friend to us, which helps. Its only a matter of time. Sadly, the church is criticized and mocked by almost everyone that does not belong to it here. A lot of the time I think that it is hard for people to visit the church or to really hear our message and accept our challenge because of all the mockery and horrible gossip that everyone spreads about the church.
Last p-day I met up with Elders Ramos/Silva/Neuberger/Whithead and a few others and we took a train to an inner city called Rio Largo. We spent the day and visited a waterfall that is near the city. Elder Neuberger and Whitehead are some of my favorite elders here. we got to be close friends in the MTC. I love all of the Elders from my MTC group, they are people that I know I will continue to see after the mission (we are always planning camping trips and such for after the mission everytime we are together, but I guess we´ll see when we get home, eh?)
Here in a bit we will go to the chapel to teach a reference from a returned missionary named Tiago that served in Rio De Janeiro, wow, that would be a crazy mission! Then we will play some volleyball and soccer… so I better go.
Thanks for everything, I hope you know how much I miss you all.
I am so greatful to be here, and to be able to help these brazilian people truly come to know Jesus Christ. I know that he truly is our Savior. The Book of Mormon is a Light for those that are lost in the darkness and confusion of the world, I know that it truly is the word of God. I am proud to say that God has once again called a prophet on the earth, but not just to say it, to know it, and to feel it.
God loves me, as well as all of you. Sometimes I think that He is way too good to us.
Take care, and carry on!
Valeu,-Elder Olson
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
