bautizmo!!!!!

This is a letter, from some members from my last area. In San Juan. I
almost couldn´t control the emotion I had when I read this letter. I´m
sorry it is in Spanish. It says:

Hello Elder Olson, how are you? we are doing well, even though we are
missing you a lot. We wrote you to tell you that yesica, ailen, and
axel peralta got baptized on friday, they are very happy, and remember
you a lot, they always talk about an angel came to their house and
changed their lives. That angel is you, isn´t that wonderful? we
wented you to know this because you planted a seed in boulevard (My
last area), and already gave your fruits. What a blessing that their
is missioneries like you, we thank you a lot for all that you did in
this branch, we love you alot, don´t forget that the lord will bless
you always, it´s our plea and affection, family  jara. it got done the
baptizm, in the ward of centro because our heater was broken.

Lovin´lil bolivia.

  
        I am starting to love my area more and more. There is always a lot of
funny stuff that happens. We mess around with all the dogs, throw
snowballs at them, scare them and they  jump in the asequias
(Ditches). Argentina Mendoza has this wierd system that controls
flooding, they have cemented ditches that cover the sides of the
roads. I guess it´s a good idea, until people used it for a trash can.
        Our zone isn´t doing so hot, this week was tough for us. A lot of
Elders got sick, and the snow was pretty bad. Everything was super
muddy, and so it was a little hard to move around. I´m getting pretty
good at cooking pastas, because we cook almost every day (5 times a
week). We are going to really focus on inactive members, and
references, but keep doing opening the mouth (141 times a week).
Knocking doors isn´t super effective here in Ugarteche.
        I had some pretty close calls in my mission, I somehow avoid danger
when we are really near. In San Juan, we had no problems, even though
we walked near dangerous places where people throwing rocks after a
soccer game, people were suprised that we were O.k. We had to walk in
dangerous areas at night to get home, without any problems. I know the
Lord protects us, and will continue to protect us. We also had a
problem with drunks who tried to contradict us and they kind of
surrounded us, it was an intense situation, but I know that the Lord
helped us know what to say to calm them down. We walked away without
any problems.

Take care everyone

Elder Olson

Argentina lost!!

  Argentina made it pretty far in the world cup, alemania did really
well. We can watch the Argentina games if we are being obedient as
missionaries. I saw it, I don´t know why but I felt pretty sad myself,
I then realized that my argentine side was coming out.
        We had a great week, I can actually crack jokes and have a fun time
with my new companion (Elder Boyle, he is from Bountiful Utah, but
raised in TEXAS). We are having success in finding people, we keep
running into drunks here in Urgarteche. One time we Ran into one that
my companion knew and he repeats his story of how his wife left him,
he was super drunk.
        I talked to my previous companion through phone, Elder Carr, and he
informed me that of a family that I met with him right before I had
left. I know me and my companion had been guided to find this family,
we found out that the mother is a member, but hasn´t gone to church
since she was 15. The family was looking for a church to go to, and
then we show up. My companion told me that they have gone to church,
and stake conference, and are participating in church activities (We
met them 2 weeks ago). It really made me feel very happy knowing that
this family was prepared by the lord to recieve the gospel.
        We are having a great time, take care!

        Elder Olson

This week was FABULOSO (fabulos)

    The bad news is, I am leaving. I won´t be able to see all the baptisms from all the work we did here, me and Elder Carr. It was a great blessing to be here, I know the Lord has called me to go somewhere where he needs me. I am going to Mendoza OTRA VEZ (Again). The new area, I have no Idea what it´s like. My companion is going to be another greenie (newbie). It is cool, but I really want to keep bettering my spanish with latin companions. I have had some of my greatest moments here in San Juan, I hope I get another chance to be here further in my mission.
       I am about to finish the book of mormon readings (60 days, more or less). My testimony of this book has never been as strong as it now. I know it is true, it has increased my faith in our savior, it has
changed my perspective on things, and my behavior. The counsel we receive from it is a great benefit for our lives. I would love for all of you to think about reading it. It will bless your lives forever.
       The members love me here, and it hurts to see them sad that I am leaving. I feel loved, and it almost makes me cry. I have to fight it haha. I really learned the most valuable things of my life, here in Argentina. It´s really starting to be a special place in my heart. I´m so glad I still have a lot more time to be a missionary. But I miss all of you very much still!!!

       Take care everyone
       Elder Olson

Hace muy mucho frio (Mejor dicho: Hace mucho frio)

       Even in san Juan the weather is getting pretty bad. Sadly this
week I got sick. I was in bed for so many hours, Flemmy throat, fever,
stomach ache. It was tough. We could work a little bit, I got better in
the middle of the week, then I got super sick again.
       We had a really great experience with a family, that we found this week, and besides that the members are now giving us a lot more references. I believe we are going to see some great success. Members are starting to open the mouth also!!
       I would like to share a short story, I had opened the mouth
with a lady named oliviana, and I had told her that God is extending
his love for her through us, and I cannot remember the rest of what I
said (she got teary eyed)... I remember the part where she said "I will
be waiting for your visit". Experiences like that make me keep doing my best, This week had some really great moments, the one I shared was just one of the many. Even though I was sick, we did a lot this week.
       We had invented a great noche de hogar (Family home evening), and we are sharing it with all the inactive families, and trying to get them to invite their friends and families to come. We have like 3
family home evenings this week! I hope I get better, I feel a little sick still.

       Take care

       Elder Olson

This week we had a an area president come visit us. And he gave us alot of advice, and new ideas. He came to our zone conference, and it was a really great experience. The are a presidents are super smart, I believe they are under the apostles. Something great he taught us, was to be a loving missionary. For example stand by the door before church starts, and greet everyone and say something "It´s a pleasure to have you again!" And many other examples, then the members will be talking about you, and later the references will come.. A story that he shared that I liked a lot: Missionaries were teaching a investigator that couldn´t stop drinking cofee. The investigator decided to stop listening the missionaries... The missionaries at the last moment when they were with him asked him "Can you stop drinking for one day?" With a tone that made it sound as if he was challenging him. The investigator said "Yes, I can." That very moment, the missionaries started a fast, and when they came back to verify, the person didn´t drink coffee the whole day. Then they challenged him to do it 2 days in a row. The investigator was able to do it, and quit drinking coffee and now this very person (investigator) was baptized, and then became a mission president, and had several other great callings.
2 Ne 27:23 "For behold, I am God; and I am a God of miracles; and I will show unto the world that I am the same yesterday, today, and forever; and I work not among the children of men save it be according to their faith". Many miracles happen in the missionary work. We are experiencing one. We found a family that was so prepared to hear us, they want to be baptized now. There are waiting for a divorce, and the ex husband has authorize it... they must be married, We are leaving it in the Lord´s hands, this is his work, and I know though our faith we will be able to see a miracle.
This was a great week. I love all of you, take care.

Elder Olson

Hello everyone--

How can it be, I have already passed a year. It made me look back on my memories that i have up to this moment. I must keep going strong, NO REGRETS!!!! We bought ice cream to celebrate.

This was a great week, we have seen great results from our efforts. We will see even more fruits for our labors as we keep it up. We are trying hard to reactivate a family, and we are striving so that their son can get baptized. So far so good, they are coming back to church. The family Renoso. We are also going to try really hard to get references and work with the members more also, we have came up with a plan to ask references. We left a paper inviting them to think about someone who would like to recieve us, and pray for them that they might accept the gospel.
I have a lot of weight on my shoulders, but I can do this, I just have to keep it up... I know the Lord will help me develop all I need to fufill my calling. I always was co companion until now, so I really have to take care of the area. But I let my companion have his say so that he can grow. I´m liking the experience though, From this experience I know and have a testimony that the lord always prepares a way for us that we can accomplish what he commands us... 1 NE 3:7 "And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them"
This week, I have realized something very significant to me. If we are diligent, I know that the Lord will bless us, beyond measure. I can tell each one of you that I have witnessed so many blessing by being diligent. Lately I can recognize the power of my calling growing. I don´t find myself confounded, looking for words in spanish, rather I can speak from the feelings of my heart. It brings me so much joy, to be an instrument in the lords hands.

I love all of you, I hope you have a great week. I´ll try to send some pictures next week.

Elder Diego, my trainer, thanks for writing me again, it was good to hear from you. I´m glad that you are doing well, I will try to send you a letter to respond better. I love you man, take care.

Elder Erik Olson