Hey everyone....
Well it has been a good week for us. The new transfer just began yesterday.
My companion, Elder Castro was called to be Assistant to the President, which I had foreseen. He is an awesome missionary.
I stayed in Alvorada and my new companion arrived yesterday as well. His name is Elder Hardisty, he is an American from Hawaii. He arrived on the mission a few months after me so we know each other pretty well already.
He is a great guy and we are super excited to work together this transfer..!!!
Things are going well with the teaching. We are teaching some people that are incredible, but we are having a hard time getting them to accept a baptismal date.
A new American arrived in our zone yesterday. We met up with him and some other missionaries to play basketball today. --WOW, I am so surprised at how white and young looking the new missionaries arrive. They are always so excited and full of fire, but stick out like a sore thumb!
To explain where I live a little better: if you look at the giant lake on the south side of Maceio (lake Mundaú) you will see a little part above the peninsula that looks like a bulb, that is all my area.
Most of it is 2 barrios called Vergel, and Joaquim Leao and most of the streets are numbers and letters or have 3 different names (none of which are official). I am excited for General Conference. It is always such a boost and a spiritual experience for members and non-members. I hope that it helps out our the family that we are teaching.
The other missionaries from my group and I are wanting to get together in October and watch conference live and visit the Salt Lake Temple, since it will have been a while for us...
-thanks for you support and love.
Um abraço forte para todos.
Elder Matthew Olson
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 17, 2010 HEY!
I can't believe that this transfer is already over, it has passed by so fast!!! But it has been really great here with Elder Castro, though I´m not too sure if we will stay together for the next one.
The family that we are teaching is doing great. At church they had heard someone mention something about the temple sealing and this week they had asked us to explain a little about it. They were so excited to hear that there was a marriage that is more than "until death do you part".
It has been really cool to teach this family, and I am hoping that here in a week or so they will be baptized!
There is a part of our area that sits on the beach of the lake called Mundaú (which is saltwater). The entire beachfront is full of little houses made of garbage, in most of which, live people who make their living fishing and selling other sea foods. Almost everyone on every corner sells a little oyster type creature called "sururú" that stinks pretty bad and there is this weird looking crab that looks like it is from the dinosaur age called "sirí"... We are teaching a few people that live there, and were given a bag of these ocean creatures, so we will see it we can cook them tonight!
Today, we ate hamburgers and fries that we made at home. Wow it has been along time since I´ve eaten that.
I am so grateful to be a part of this work, and have seen that confidence in the Spirit helps us find and teach those that the Lord is preparing..
I can truly say that miracles happen. If we have faith and look for them.
I think that when I was younger, I always doubted that the Lord could do miracles in our lives or that the Lord really has power to do His will. But it's true, and I am grateful to know it!
I just want you all to know that I am happy. The past 6 weeks have been great.
As Neil Young would say--"keep on rockin in the free world" everybody!!!
Até o Próximo!
Elder Olson
The family that we are teaching is doing great. At church they had heard someone mention something about the temple sealing and this week they had asked us to explain a little about it. They were so excited to hear that there was a marriage that is more than "until death do you part".
It has been really cool to teach this family, and I am hoping that here in a week or so they will be baptized!
There is a part of our area that sits on the beach of the lake called Mundaú (which is saltwater). The entire beachfront is full of little houses made of garbage, in most of which, live people who make their living fishing and selling other sea foods. Almost everyone on every corner sells a little oyster type creature called "sururú" that stinks pretty bad and there is this weird looking crab that looks like it is from the dinosaur age called "sirí"... We are teaching a few people that live there, and were given a bag of these ocean creatures, so we will see it we can cook them tonight!
Today, we ate hamburgers and fries that we made at home. Wow it has been along time since I´ve eaten that.
I am so grateful to be a part of this work, and have seen that confidence in the Spirit helps us find and teach those that the Lord is preparing..
I can truly say that miracles happen. If we have faith and look for them.
I think that when I was younger, I always doubted that the Lord could do miracles in our lives or that the Lord really has power to do His will. But it's true, and I am grateful to know it!
I just want you all to know that I am happy. The past 6 weeks have been great.
As Neil Young would say--"keep on rockin in the free world" everybody!!!
Até o Próximo!
Elder Olson
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Alo March 10 ,2010
Things are great here. We just got done playing soccer with the youth of the ward, as well as some of our investigators. It is such a great way to get people to visit the church.
Some days I can see that my soccer skills have improved since I have gotten here. Yet to any Brazilian, I still play in the little-league!
Our chapel is huge and beautiful!!! Probably the 2nd largest and best looking on the mission, which makes me pretty happy.
I am getting used to the ward, as one usually does close to the end of the first transfer. There are some great people here.
The work is progressing. However, it seems that there is always something that makes things a bit complicated. But what are ya gonna do, eh?
We are working with some great families. Each one has there own little problem, but I know that the Lord will be able to help them overcome it. It´s all up to them.
The Lord's work always goes forth, with or without my help.
It is a privilege to be a representative of Jesus Christ and help others come to know Him better through faith, repentance and baptism.
I can't believe how fast time is flying by!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your letters and your support, i love you all!!!
--Elder Olson
Some days I can see that my soccer skills have improved since I have gotten here. Yet to any Brazilian, I still play in the little-league!
Our chapel is huge and beautiful!!! Probably the 2nd largest and best looking on the mission, which makes me pretty happy.
I am getting used to the ward, as one usually does close to the end of the first transfer. There are some great people here.
The work is progressing. However, it seems that there is always something that makes things a bit complicated. But what are ya gonna do, eh?
We are working with some great families. Each one has there own little problem, but I know that the Lord will be able to help them overcome it. It´s all up to them.
The Lord's work always goes forth, with or without my help.
It is a privilege to be a representative of Jesus Christ and help others come to know Him better through faith, repentance and baptism.
I can't believe how fast time is flying by!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for your letters and your support, i love you all!!!
--Elder Olson
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
oxente! March 3, 2010
I can't believe how fast this week has flown by... or even better this past month!!
I can see that these next few months will pass by faster and faster, which in a way worries me a little.
This week was good. We had a few baptisms! One of which was Junior (a 21 yr. old that i had already told you about). He is really an incredible person and gained a testimony of this great gospel very quickly.
Truly the Lord has been putting His elect in our path each day. It´s just our job to talk to EVERYONE, so that we can find out who it is exactly.
Elder Castro and I have been working hard and are doing great together. He is a great motivation for me, and a great friend.
We have been teaching an incredible family for the past weeks.
The man's name is Ronaldo and his wife, Ana Paula. The are an awesome young couple with 3 sons,Mikael, Rafael, and Ruan.
As we have taught their family the Spirit has been able to testify of the truthfulness of our words. They have a desire to be baptized in the church, but they are a little afraid to make a choice that they will regret later on.
This past Sunday was ward conference, and the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency spoke on the motive to become and remain a member of the church. He spoke a lot about our personal testimony, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. It was such a powerful talk!
Afterward, I talked to Ronaldo, and asked him how he liked the meeting. I could tell that he was overwhelmed. He turned to me and said with a smile, "I loved it. I think that this church is exactly what my family needs."
They are getting to know the members and I can see a bright future for them, yet I know that there will still be many obstacles before us.
I know that the Lord lives and that this is His divine work,"to bring to pass the immortality... eternal life [and happiness] of man [and his family]."
What a marvelous work this is. I am so happy to be a part of it, and to help make known this gospel to the world..
Please pray for this marvelous family, and that we may have success in helping them become members of this, the only and true church of Jesus Christ.
thank you for your love and support,
-Elder Olson
p.s.-mom and dad. I received the contacts, and dad´s letter.
thanks a bunch, I love you guys.
I can see that these next few months will pass by faster and faster, which in a way worries me a little.
This week was good. We had a few baptisms! One of which was Junior (a 21 yr. old that i had already told you about). He is really an incredible person and gained a testimony of this great gospel very quickly.
Truly the Lord has been putting His elect in our path each day. It´s just our job to talk to EVERYONE, so that we can find out who it is exactly.
Elder Castro and I have been working hard and are doing great together. He is a great motivation for me, and a great friend.
We have been teaching an incredible family for the past weeks.
The man's name is Ronaldo and his wife, Ana Paula. The are an awesome young couple with 3 sons,Mikael, Rafael, and Ruan.
As we have taught their family the Spirit has been able to testify of the truthfulness of our words. They have a desire to be baptized in the church, but they are a little afraid to make a choice that they will regret later on.
This past Sunday was ward conference, and the 2nd counselor in the Stake Presidency spoke on the motive to become and remain a member of the church. He spoke a lot about our personal testimony, Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. It was such a powerful talk!
Afterward, I talked to Ronaldo, and asked him how he liked the meeting. I could tell that he was overwhelmed. He turned to me and said with a smile, "I loved it. I think that this church is exactly what my family needs."
They are getting to know the members and I can see a bright future for them, yet I know that there will still be many obstacles before us.
I know that the Lord lives and that this is His divine work,"to bring to pass the immortality... eternal life [and happiness] of man [and his family]."
What a marvelous work this is. I am so happy to be a part of it, and to help make known this gospel to the world..
Please pray for this marvelous family, and that we may have success in helping them become members of this, the only and true church of Jesus Christ.
thank you for your love and support,
-Elder Olson
p.s.-mom and dad. I received the contacts, and dad´s letter.
thanks a bunch, I love you guys.
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