The Baptisms that we had this past week went really great. The young man that was baptized, Anderson, invited his entire family and extended family. There was quite a crowd, and the spirit was great.
We are now working with his family, and I feel that they too have a desire to learn more about the Restored Church.
This Saturday I finished the Book of Mormon again. I am truly convinced that the power of that book is able to keep our testimonies firm and immovable, helping us to know that the Lord still speaks through his chosen prophets.
We have had some great experiences during the week, some in our own area, but more as we have been busy doing splits with the elders from our zone. Faith is such an incredible principle. Something that I learn (and sometimes have to relearn) more about everyday.
I am very glad to know that my Father in Heaven is always watching out for me, and does exactly what is best for me to learn as I do his work. I think that my faith has increased quite a bit over the past months, and years.
The new second counselor of the ward is a great help to us. Thiago, he is the new RM of the ward.
Well, Elder Hardisty and I are happy and are doing great. I´m sure that things will continue to be good.
Thanks for everything gang, you know that I love you all!!!
your brother, son, and friend.
-Elder Olson
P.S.- Don't forget to send those ugly ties!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
tchau:)
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Wed, 14 Apr 2010
Letter from President Beynon, Maceio Brasil Mission
Dear Dan,
I am contacting you about the date for your son´s release. It will be August 11, 2010. He will be leaving early with a few other elders that are going to BYU, too. So I hope this information helps you with your planning. As you know, they leave here on the 11th and arrive home on the 12th. Should you need anything else, please let me know. He is doing just great, really has the fire of missionary work and leading the zone very well. Thank you.
Pres. Beynon
Dear Dan,
I am contacting you about the date for your son´s release. It will be August 11, 2010. He will be leaving early with a few other elders that are going to BYU, too. So I hope this information helps you with your planning. As you know, they leave here on the 11th and arrive home on the 12th. Should you need anything else, please let me know. He is doing just great, really has the fire of missionary work and leading the zone very well. Thank you.
Pres. Beynon
Sou eu, Kaleo!!!!!! Wed 4/14/10
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you know that your the best mom that a boy could ask for.
Things are going well this week. Our hopes are up as we are seeing some incredible changes in the ward. We also have some great activities planned for this week.
For the past 2 transfers I have been teaching an older man called Enildo, he is incredible smart and has grown a strong testimony of the Restored gospel through our teachings and through his constant church frequency. However we could not "close the deal" on the baptism. He is definitely ready for it, but he is afraid, as are many.
So this week, Elder Hardisty and I made it our goal to baptize him. On Monday we spent a good 2 hours talking to him, trying to help him see the importance of this sacred covenant. At the end of our long talk, I felt impressed to mark chapter 5 of Mosiah and told him to read and to ask God if this scripture spoke the truth and if he should be baptized this Saturday. I testified with all of my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and that baptism is the first step we make to gain salvation.
-The next day we received a text message on our phone from an unknown number, that said, "Olson, Hardisty, I want to be baptized this Saturday, the 17th.thanks for everything..."
It took me a while to find out that the number was Enildo´s!!! We are very excited for him. I know that Saturday will be a great day for him as well as for us.
Today I was able to visit Viçosa with Elder Pereira and see some recent converts and old friends. Many are going through difficulties, yet I was happy to know that some are still firm in the church. It was a great day. I really do love that place.
Things are well with me and Elder Hardisty, I feel that we are finally laying down a good foundation to help better the work and the ward here..
There is a returned missionary that is helping us out a lot, his name is Thiago (James). He was called as 2nd counselor this week.
well gotta jet
By the way, mom, my comps full name is Bryan Kekoa Hardisty....
Thanks for everything, I love you guys..
-Elder Olson
Things are going well this week. Our hopes are up as we are seeing some incredible changes in the ward. We also have some great activities planned for this week.
For the past 2 transfers I have been teaching an older man called Enildo, he is incredible smart and has grown a strong testimony of the Restored gospel through our teachings and through his constant church frequency. However we could not "close the deal" on the baptism. He is definitely ready for it, but he is afraid, as are many.
So this week, Elder Hardisty and I made it our goal to baptize him. On Monday we spent a good 2 hours talking to him, trying to help him see the importance of this sacred covenant. At the end of our long talk, I felt impressed to mark chapter 5 of Mosiah and told him to read and to ask God if this scripture spoke the truth and if he should be baptized this Saturday. I testified with all of my heart that the Book of Mormon is true and that baptism is the first step we make to gain salvation.
-The next day we received a text message on our phone from an unknown number, that said, "Olson, Hardisty, I want to be baptized this Saturday, the 17th.thanks for everything..."
It took me a while to find out that the number was Enildo´s!!! We are very excited for him. I know that Saturday will be a great day for him as well as for us.
Today I was able to visit Viçosa with Elder Pereira and see some recent converts and old friends. Many are going through difficulties, yet I was happy to know that some are still firm in the church. It was a great day. I really do love that place.
Things are well with me and Elder Hardisty, I feel that we are finally laying down a good foundation to help better the work and the ward here..
There is a returned missionary that is helping us out a lot, his name is Thiago (James). He was called as 2nd counselor this week.
well gotta jet
By the way, mom, my comps full name is Bryan Kekoa Hardisty....
Thanks for everything, I love you guys..
-Elder Olson
Friday, April 9, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
I´m alive!!!!!!!!!! April 7, 2010
Things have been going good for us. We have been finding some great success in the work. We had a 17 year old kid show up at conference out of nowhere (miracle!) as well as some other great encounters that we made at the beginning of this week.
Conference was good, except that I had gotten sick last week and wasn't really able to watch any of the sessions on Saturday. I did like the Sunday sessions though. It´s better watching it in English but a lot of times we really don't have much of an option.
Easter passed by somewhat quietly this year, the only traditions that go on around here is giant chocolate eggs that are made and the catholic traditions (which happens the week before Easter, where everybody only eats fish).
Few remembered the true meaning. Yet I am grateful for the Lord's resurrection, and felt His love as we heard his prophet and apostles speak on Sunday.
We had our zone conference yesterday, which was good and very spiritual.
Today me and E. Hardisty borrowed some bikes and made a scenic tour to the mission office, we are here with Elders Silva and Bevan.
Hope all is well back home. The work is going forward here!
love you all.
Elder Matt Olson
P.S. IMPORTANT! because of a lack of ties for some of the young men here and me, I am starting a contest which I call the "THE UGLIEST TIE"! Over the next month or so everybody needs to be in search of the ugliest tie, get it and send it to mom and she will send me the box... (there is no limit to how many you can send)!
I will keep the 2 ugliest ties and send you a picture of me wearing them in the ugliest place that I find.. (since I usually like ugly ties)
love you all .... here's some pics of me, our church, and some p-days....
Conference was good, except that I had gotten sick last week and wasn't really able to watch any of the sessions on Saturday. I did like the Sunday sessions though. It´s better watching it in English but a lot of times we really don't have much of an option.
Easter passed by somewhat quietly this year, the only traditions that go on around here is giant chocolate eggs that are made and the catholic traditions (which happens the week before Easter, where everybody only eats fish).
Few remembered the true meaning. Yet I am grateful for the Lord's resurrection, and felt His love as we heard his prophet and apostles speak on Sunday.
We had our zone conference yesterday, which was good and very spiritual.
Today me and E. Hardisty borrowed some bikes and made a scenic tour to the mission office, we are here with Elders Silva and Bevan.
Hope all is well back home. The work is going forward here!
love you all.
Elder Matt Olson
P.S. IMPORTANT! because of a lack of ties for some of the young men here and me, I am starting a contest which I call the "THE UGLIEST TIE"! Over the next month or so everybody needs to be in search of the ugliest tie, get it and send it to mom and she will send me the box... (there is no limit to how many you can send)!
I will keep the 2 ugliest ties and send you a picture of me wearing them in the ugliest place that I find.. (since I usually like ugly ties)
love you all .... here's some pics of me, our church, and some p-days....
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Heres your boy! 3-31-2010
Well it's been a week!!!
It seems like we have been running all over the place.
Elder Hardisty and I have been having some great ideas to help out our ward and stake.
I´m hoping that we can get things up and running again!!
Last week a returned missionary got back from his mission from Riberão Preto in São Paulo. He is an awesome guy and has been helping us out a ton lately.
Last week we had the baptism of Mikael (the son of Ronaldo and Ana Paula).
He was so excited! I am hoping that his family will follow this step that he has taken. I´m sure that they will.
Just don't know when.
My companion is great, I really love the guy and I know that we will do great together this transfer.
General conference should be quite good. It seems like everyone is excited.
The other day we were talking and praying about some ideas to increase the number of people that we were teaching..
-(well actually we could teach all day long, the problem is finding the right people that are ready for a change in their lives.)
As we walked to lunch, a man stopped us in the street and took us to his little house, where he introduced us to his wife and kid.
He was baptized in 1982 and stayed in the church for 10 or so years. After that he was forced to move to an inner city that does not have the church, so that he could find work. He tried to bring the church to the city, but was impossible at the time, and ended up far from the church that he loved and knew to be true.
He is anxiously awaiting the baptism of his wife and then they can make the preparations for the temple in Recife.
Isn´t the Lord great...!!!!
I am very grateful to be here, to wear the name of Jesus Christ over my chest and represent His church.
Like all have said many time,"It´s not easy, but it´s worth it."
I love you guys,
take care..
Elder Matthew Olson
It seems like we have been running all over the place.
Elder Hardisty and I have been having some great ideas to help out our ward and stake.
I´m hoping that we can get things up and running again!!
Last week a returned missionary got back from his mission from Riberão Preto in São Paulo. He is an awesome guy and has been helping us out a ton lately.
Last week we had the baptism of Mikael (the son of Ronaldo and Ana Paula).
He was so excited! I am hoping that his family will follow this step that he has taken. I´m sure that they will.
Just don't know when.
My companion is great, I really love the guy and I know that we will do great together this transfer.
General conference should be quite good. It seems like everyone is excited.
The other day we were talking and praying about some ideas to increase the number of people that we were teaching..
-(well actually we could teach all day long, the problem is finding the right people that are ready for a change in their lives.)
As we walked to lunch, a man stopped us in the street and took us to his little house, where he introduced us to his wife and kid.
He was baptized in 1982 and stayed in the church for 10 or so years. After that he was forced to move to an inner city that does not have the church, so that he could find work. He tried to bring the church to the city, but was impossible at the time, and ended up far from the church that he loved and knew to be true.
He is anxiously awaiting the baptism of his wife and then they can make the preparations for the temple in Recife.
Isn´t the Lord great...!!!!
I am very grateful to be here, to wear the name of Jesus Christ over my chest and represent His church.
Like all have said many time,"It´s not easy, but it´s worth it."
I love you guys,
take care..
Elder Matthew Olson
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