I can say I had one of the hardest moments of my life recently, that helped build me, but also dropped me to the floor with little strength. I will never forget the past few weeks of my life. "Code Red" is what I would call it. My companion Elder ___, I can say that I very unhappy with him, because I felt manipulated. I don´t know if he did it on purpose, but I was very sad at times with him. I was forced to turn to the president for help.
I guess Elder ___ is well known, for causing problems to other missionaries, I have done my best with him but we could not get any success because I was unhappy, I could not work right, Despite that I tried everything. I have never prayed so hard for help, I was helped and answered in my prayers, but I could not be in his presence, because I felt betrayed by him.
President has exchanged me with another companion, I am now in a area called "Bowen" I don´t have a bike anymore, but it´s a really great area. My new companion is Elder Armstrong, He is a great Elder from Utah. He competed internationally as a swimmer. A really great Elder, I have already known him before, the first day i came in the mission I met him.
And now I am his companion. We are doing well here, and he only has a transfer left, so I have to take care of the area after this transfer.
Sharing this is hard for me, I rather not say anything about all this, but it´s the truth. I did my best, and I guess I wasn´t prepared for Elder ____. But, now I am.
I had a great christmas, I still need to talk to you mom, it was great talking to you Dad, Stef, Ryan, Erin, and Kyra.
I´ll call you soon mom...
Take care.
Elder Olson
*the moderator removed one of the names for privacy purposes
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Carta de Elder Olson 12 21 09
This has been a really difficult transfer, I wasn´t able to write last week. We have been doing a lot of divisions, I left to other areas with other elders (Elder Vasquez, Elder Giminez, and Elder George), 3 times this week. It has been really tough week for me, I learned a lot despite the pressure.
I learned that trials are the moments of our progression, and this is very difficult for me, and I know the little decisions I make will make the outcome different, so I am being very careful. Me and my companion don´t agree on some things with teaching, I don´t like to count things, if we don´t cover at least the main idea of the doctrine. It´s hard, but we are going to have to deal with it.
A very progressive week, we are going to call tomorrow I guess (home), we are going to have a Christmas party tomorrow. It will be pretty sweet. I´m going to have to cut short here.
Merry Christmas,
Elder Olson
I learned that trials are the moments of our progression, and this is very difficult for me, and I know the little decisions I make will make the outcome different, so I am being very careful. Me and my companion don´t agree on some things with teaching, I don´t like to count things, if we don´t cover at least the main idea of the doctrine. It´s hard, but we are going to have to deal with it.
A very progressive week, we are going to call tomorrow I guess (home), we are going to have a Christmas party tomorrow. It will be pretty sweet. I´m going to have to cut short here.
Merry Christmas,
Elder Olson
Friday, December 11, 2009
Helllo everyone
Yeah, it´s been a great week again. Progress, and full of dificult moments. I learn a ton from each companion, right now, I am learning from someone who grew up entirely different. Elder NIeve (From buenos aires), I had problems with his personality at first, but it´s going really good now. He is like a brother to me, the things we went throught his week strengthened us a ton.
We had a really good conference in our zone, I met a ton of elders, and we ate argentine fried chicken after.(they celelbrated my birthday this conference. I am going to say goodbye to my teenage years, it´s been a good 15-19!!! I have a month left). Then we ate a argentine barbeque later that night with a bunch of elders (We ate Asado, it´s really good). We stayed in a pension with like 8 elders then left to play soccer in the morning. It was super awesome. (part of P day)
The week we had was tough, we reached goals, and we didn´t reach others. We are eager for this following week to turn out well. I am starting to get in the rutine of the mission, now that the language isn´t a big problem. I let spanish get in the way of some things, but now it´s just getting better and better now that I have a base, I can focus myself more in what is really going on (Like the people I talk to, or around me).
Well we rode on our bikes, all over, I popped my tire because I was forced to move off the road, a road far out of the city (A car came fast without much notice) ... and I ran into stickers and nasty stuff. We had to walk far haha.
Niel, thanks for writing me your letter. Right now I´m trying to pick up the porteño accent from my companion haha (The accent you mentioned). I hope everyone in the family is doing great.
Take care everyone, I´ll try to send photos next week.
We had a really good conference in our zone, I met a ton of elders, and we ate argentine fried chicken after.(they celelbrated my birthday this conference. I am going to say goodbye to my teenage years, it´s been a good 15-19!!! I have a month left). Then we ate a argentine barbeque later that night with a bunch of elders (We ate Asado, it´s really good). We stayed in a pension with like 8 elders then left to play soccer in the morning. It was super awesome. (part of P day)
The week we had was tough, we reached goals, and we didn´t reach others. We are eager for this following week to turn out well. I am starting to get in the rutine of the mission, now that the language isn´t a big problem. I let spanish get in the way of some things, but now it´s just getting better and better now that I have a base, I can focus myself more in what is really going on (Like the people I talk to, or around me).
Well we rode on our bikes, all over, I popped my tire because I was forced to move off the road, a road far out of the city (A car came fast without much notice) ... and I ran into stickers and nasty stuff. We had to walk far haha.
Niel, thanks for writing me your letter. Right now I´m trying to pick up the porteño accent from my companion haha (The accent you mentioned). I hope everyone in the family is doing great.
Take care everyone, I´ll try to send photos next week.
Monday, November 30, 2009
This has been a great week!!!
Hey everyone, I would like to start by saying... I get to ride a bike hahah. I am in 1 of the 2 areas that allows bikes. I left Lavalle(it was pretty sad, I got to say bye to everyone), to a place called peligrini. It´s super huge and pretty. I had the oppurtunity to watch 2 people get baptized right when I came, it was great oppurtunity.
So my new companion... His name is Elder Nieve, he is from buenos aires, he is such a stud. I´m learning how to talk like a porteño (I don´t know how to spell it), they are people someone from buenos aires. They have a cool accent, he always says "Chincholin" I don´t know what that means. I think it means intestines. He is really cool, he knows how to cook (i´m learning home made milenesas from him), and he knows how to work really hard. we get a long really well, it´s so much fun here...
I´m learning things from how to set goals, to how to sweep the floors... (Literally I use to sweep in a ineffective way). It´s been a great week here, we have been working with a few people, We taught some great lessons, together, we had great unity in the lessons we taught. I really lucked out with a great new start here in Mendoza.
I have had really great experiences here, I wish to share all of them with you, but I feel like they are better to share later... I love all of you, sorry I cut it short on this letter. Take care.
So my new companion... His name is Elder Nieve, he is from buenos aires, he is such a stud. I´m learning how to talk like a porteño (I don´t know how to spell it), they are people someone from buenos aires. They have a cool accent, he always says "Chincholin" I don´t know what that means. I think it means intestines. He is really cool, he knows how to cook (i´m learning home made milenesas from him), and he knows how to work really hard. we get a long really well, it´s so much fun here...
I´m learning things from how to set goals, to how to sweep the floors... (Literally I use to sweep in a ineffective way). It´s been a great week here, we have been working with a few people, We taught some great lessons, together, we had great unity in the lessons we taught. I really lucked out with a great new start here in Mendoza.
I have had really great experiences here, I wish to share all of them with you, but I feel like they are better to share later... I love all of you, sorry I cut it short on this letter. Take care.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
We had some luck this week...
This week we had some unexpected visitors. Me and my companion are sorta new (Green) and we really needed help. ELder Puga my companion has almost 9 months... we sometimes don´t know what to do because everyone is pretty hard in our area, tons of dropped apointments, we can´t get into a single house. Luckily this week, our president sent 2 misionaries to our apartment for a week, we learned a ton from them. They have 22 months and they are way experienced. We learned different ways in how to get in someones house, it´s not as hard as we thought it was, we entered in like 10 house, at least this week. and Taught...
The 2 missionaries that came, their names are, Elder Mendoza, and Elder Hawkes. Elder Hawkes changed the course of mission and my life forever. I never have seen someone so wise in the mision field before. He knows whats going on and he knows how to have fun while doing it. He taught me how to treat people like a friend instead of throwing questions at them about religion. From that moment on, I figured out how I could make friends with people on the street, thats how it should be. Talk about them, and treat them like a friend.I was with ELder Hawks for 3 days, and with Elder Mendoza for the other 3 days. every moment I learned a ton, and took advantage of the time I had with them.
Elder Hawkes gave me a quote that I will never forget, he wrote in a journal that I have... "Remember, sometimes those who start out the slowest, end up going the farthest" -Elder wirthlin. Elder Hawkes likes
I wasn´t paying atention, but yesterday I found out 6 months left me, I have been out for 6 months now. It´s going way to fast, and lately, I have been enjoying my mision even more (Now that I can talk in spanish better it´s more enjoyable) so it´s going even faster. Recently we have been just trying to reactivate a family. The family epinosa, they are so great, I planned a family home evening night with them that I am going to prepare.. We have some investigatores, but they haven´´t come to church yet, we are trying to acheive that..
I tried something called batata, it´s a strange sweet tasting thing, with a wierd soft texture. I can´t really describe it, but I remember it from growing up with my Mom, it brought back a lot of memories, it was pretty cool. The way I am eating, in reality, I should be fat. But it´s not catching up as fast as I thought.
I don´t know what else to say. Thanks for reading my letter, take care everyone. Besitos.
The 2 missionaries that came, their names are, Elder Mendoza, and Elder Hawkes. Elder Hawkes changed the course of mission and my life forever. I never have seen someone so wise in the mision field before. He knows whats going on and he knows how to have fun while doing it. He taught me how to treat people like a friend instead of throwing questions at them about religion. From that moment on, I figured out how I could make friends with people on the street, thats how it should be. Talk about them, and treat them like a friend.I was with ELder Hawks for 3 days, and with Elder Mendoza for the other 3 days. every moment I learned a ton, and took advantage of the time I had with them.
Elder Hawkes gave me a quote that I will never forget, he wrote in a journal that I have... "Remember, sometimes those who start out the slowest, end up going the farthest" -Elder wirthlin. Elder Hawkes likes
I wasn´t paying atention, but yesterday I found out 6 months left me, I have been out for 6 months now. It´s going way to fast, and lately, I have been enjoying my mision even more (Now that I can talk in spanish better it´s more enjoyable) so it´s going even faster. Recently we have been just trying to reactivate a family. The family epinosa, they are so great, I planned a family home evening night with them that I am going to prepare.. We have some investigatores, but they haven´´t come to church yet, we are trying to acheive that..
I tried something called batata, it´s a strange sweet tasting thing, with a wierd soft texture. I can´t really describe it, but I remember it from growing up with my Mom, it brought back a lot of memories, it was pretty cool. The way I am eating, in reality, I should be fat. But it´s not catching up as fast as I thought.
I don´t know what else to say. Thanks for reading my letter, take care everyone. Besitos.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
It´s feels like Utah in Lavalle.
Nothing bad can possibly happen here in Lavalle, though I may be far, I am for sure safe. Lavalle is a very pretty area, some parts have a lot of field, but for the most part it´s a small city... with no danger at all
I am learning a lot, I have had a lot of oppurtunities to make choices... My companion and I, entered in a house, and we did not know the lady was alone, until we asked. My companion kept going with the lesson, and I felt really awkward (Because this is a rule, you can´t teach a lady alone). I told him afterwards and I guess I didn´t come off super positive, but I did try. I seeked the advice from others in the district, and it got pretty bad with confusion to the point where I had to call the president... He cleared it up really fast, it says in our white hand book that we can´t, my companion said that you can do stuff if you think the spirit is telling you to do so... like the story when Nephi killed laben. But in the end it´s just common sense, we can come back later with another person like a member.. which is better in many ways and we are being obedient. We now see eye to eye, and our companionship is working pretty good. Sometimes we find ourselves in complete silence as we are walking and opening the mouth on the streets, because of my intense thinking in spanish.. haha.
It´s been a long week, I had 2 divisions and switched areas for those 2 days, and experienced different areas. It´s a pretty awesome experience, except one area had a nasty smell all over from the system they have here. There are canals all over that run water or little ditches in the sides of the roads, it´s pretty cool. But people throw trash in them like crazy, and the water carries such a smell.
the members don´t know how to stop feeding us. Facturas left and right, I´m for sure heading towards obesity. Facturas are the pastries that are made here. WIth dulce de leche and all types of fat. Super good.
Well we are starting to teach more, (People and members) and I am bettering my teaching skills by teaching members at least twice a week... This week I was able to reach that goal.. 2 times.
The lessons are starting to grow on me, personally it´s teaching me in a way. What I am teaching is starting to feel like it´s a part of my life, like the plan of salvation... I think it´s awesome that I am bringing hope to peoples lives. All the success I have been having does not go to me at all. I am very blessed. It´s starting to be more relaxed as my spanish is bettering. At first I wanted to jump in front of a bus because of how hard it was at first, every struggle I had at the beggining is starting to show that my efforts were not in vain. Finally there is more peace instead of stress in my mission.
I hope everyone is doing well, I pray for you always by name. Thanks for everything and all the support. Besitos... Elder Olson
I am learning a lot, I have had a lot of oppurtunities to make choices... My companion and I, entered in a house, and we did not know the lady was alone, until we asked. My companion kept going with the lesson, and I felt really awkward (Because this is a rule, you can´t teach a lady alone). I told him afterwards and I guess I didn´t come off super positive, but I did try. I seeked the advice from others in the district, and it got pretty bad with confusion to the point where I had to call the president... He cleared it up really fast, it says in our white hand book that we can´t, my companion said that you can do stuff if you think the spirit is telling you to do so... like the story when Nephi killed laben. But in the end it´s just common sense, we can come back later with another person like a member.. which is better in many ways and we are being obedient. We now see eye to eye, and our companionship is working pretty good. Sometimes we find ourselves in complete silence as we are walking and opening the mouth on the streets, because of my intense thinking in spanish.. haha.
It´s been a long week, I had 2 divisions and switched areas for those 2 days, and experienced different areas. It´s a pretty awesome experience, except one area had a nasty smell all over from the system they have here. There are canals all over that run water or little ditches in the sides of the roads, it´s pretty cool. But people throw trash in them like crazy, and the water carries such a smell.
the members don´t know how to stop feeding us. Facturas left and right, I´m for sure heading towards obesity. Facturas are the pastries that are made here. WIth dulce de leche and all types of fat. Super good.
Well we are starting to teach more, (People and members) and I am bettering my teaching skills by teaching members at least twice a week... This week I was able to reach that goal.. 2 times.
The lessons are starting to grow on me, personally it´s teaching me in a way. What I am teaching is starting to feel like it´s a part of my life, like the plan of salvation... I think it´s awesome that I am bringing hope to peoples lives. All the success I have been having does not go to me at all. I am very blessed. It´s starting to be more relaxed as my spanish is bettering. At first I wanted to jump in front of a bus because of how hard it was at first, every struggle I had at the beggining is starting to show that my efforts were not in vain. Finally there is more peace instead of stress in my mission.
I hope everyone is doing well, I pray for you always by name. Thanks for everything and all the support. Besitos... Elder Olson
Monday, November 9, 2009
Time is going really fast
BUEN DIA!! hey everyone, this week went well. We ran into a lot of sweet people, but never we find people by opening the mouth, ussually they give us trucho (fake) adresses. It´s pretty annoying haha. Well, there is a lot I could say...
I am studying the lessons, and practicing it with members... If an appoinment fails or we have time in between. It´s helping me learn how to teach, I am starting to get fluent in teaching, but in the language all around not so much but it´s getting there.
We are working with some investigators right now, it´s pretty amazing, all the hard work is starting to show. We are going to try to do something really crazy, we are going to hand out like crazy, to invite people later in the church the same day, to teach something, it´s what a member recommended to us, I´m still quite not sure exactly what we will do, but it´s more efficent then running into a person individually, I´m at the point where I enjoy rejections... at least I gave the people a chance to listen. Or planted a seed I hopel ha..
We did something really cool with a family... I learned how to make empanadas, with a family, like the hugest load you could imagine... They were home made, and amazing, I know how to make empanadas!!! We taught them how to make brownies haha, which turned out pretty good. I melted 2 bars of chocolate, and a bar of butter and all that nice stuff. It´s a wierd recipee but it turns out pretty good.
I did a division with a zone leader this week, he is a very angry person, but I learned from him... On the bus ride to his area, I lost my agenda, and I regret it a lot. It must have fallen out of my pocket, 3 weeks of my life, lots forever. lots of things happened that I would love to share, but right now i´m short on time, we are going to play some sports later today with the members, I still haven´t had the chance to go through the mountains yet, just preparing for the week with clothes.. members clean our clothes. which is really sweet.
I´m not getting fat just yet, though I bought 3 boxes in total and it´s been only 2 months, 3 boxes of 40 alfajores. Pretty dangerous, we don´t have dinner so I kinda rely on that. Such cool people here in Argentina, I love the people here, they are hilarious. Dale che, VAMOS.
To answer questions to those that I can´t directly talk to...
Niel, that is pretty sweet, you found someone from mendoza. The asados here are amazing, take up that oppurtunity. If he is catholic, maybe you can refer him to the missionaries, thats my suggestion.
Cuidense, amo a todos. I love you.
I am studying the lessons, and practicing it with members... If an appoinment fails or we have time in between. It´s helping me learn how to teach, I am starting to get fluent in teaching, but in the language all around not so much but it´s getting there.
We are working with some investigators right now, it´s pretty amazing, all the hard work is starting to show. We are going to try to do something really crazy, we are going to hand out like crazy, to invite people later in the church the same day, to teach something, it´s what a member recommended to us, I´m still quite not sure exactly what we will do, but it´s more efficent then running into a person individually, I´m at the point where I enjoy rejections... at least I gave the people a chance to listen. Or planted a seed I hopel ha..
We did something really cool with a family... I learned how to make empanadas, with a family, like the hugest load you could imagine... They were home made, and amazing, I know how to make empanadas!!! We taught them how to make brownies haha, which turned out pretty good. I melted 2 bars of chocolate, and a bar of butter and all that nice stuff. It´s a wierd recipee but it turns out pretty good.
I did a division with a zone leader this week, he is a very angry person, but I learned from him... On the bus ride to his area, I lost my agenda, and I regret it a lot. It must have fallen out of my pocket, 3 weeks of my life, lots forever. lots of things happened that I would love to share, but right now i´m short on time, we are going to play some sports later today with the members, I still haven´t had the chance to go through the mountains yet, just preparing for the week with clothes.. members clean our clothes. which is really sweet.
I´m not getting fat just yet, though I bought 3 boxes in total and it´s been only 2 months, 3 boxes of 40 alfajores. Pretty dangerous, we don´t have dinner so I kinda rely on that. Such cool people here in Argentina, I love the people here, they are hilarious. Dale che, VAMOS.
To answer questions to those that I can´t directly talk to...
Niel, that is pretty sweet, you found someone from mendoza. The asados here are amazing, take up that oppurtunity. If he is catholic, maybe you can refer him to the missionaries, thats my suggestion.
Cuidense, amo a todos. I love you.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Alfajores are heaven... I bought a box of 40 for 15 pesos. (Guaymallen alfajores) I am pretty careful with eating them, don´t worry.
Hi everyone, a little update in que PASÓ recíen...
It´s been a blast, we are actually having fun and it´s not so stressful anymore, I am not going to lie, the first while destroyed me, it was really hard for me to keep up with what is going on, and learning the language. Luckily the language is coming, gift of tongues is for reals...
I can´t say we had much success lately, but we are doing are best, we are reactivating a family, the family espinosa. They are super sweet, very friendly. I don´t know why they don´t come, but lately 3 of the daughters have been coming, we are trying really hard to get the family to go. Pretty sweet because it´s been 3 years since anyone at all from that familiy has gone to the church. We are also trying our best on the streets, and knocking doors, a lot of "I am catholic" responses...
Sadly we had to drop jessica because her husband rejected us, and banned us from coming, she was really cool, she liked our teachings.. We had to move on, It was pretty hard on me, because she was the first person I actually taught. We are teaching some lady named laura and her mom also, they are catholic, we can´t tell if they will progress, but we are always praying and trying to figure how we can help them accept our message by answering their needs or questions.
I´m a little short this time... more things... I am learning how to cook by being forced haha, We are eating for our own accounts, me and Elder Puga. (he is teaching me how to cook too, which is great) I learned how to make fideos. Noodles, and a really good recipee for sauce. I am going to learn empanadas this week from the family espinosa, a little actividy we planned, and I am going to try to teach them how to make brownies (if possible).
Take care everyone, please write me, I will try to write back through my parents...
The rules are strict but reasonable, I can´t respond to anyone besides my direct family, only through my parents. BESITOS A TODOS
Hi everyone, a little update in que PASÓ recíen...
It´s been a blast, we are actually having fun and it´s not so stressful anymore, I am not going to lie, the first while destroyed me, it was really hard for me to keep up with what is going on, and learning the language. Luckily the language is coming, gift of tongues is for reals...
I can´t say we had much success lately, but we are doing are best, we are reactivating a family, the family espinosa. They are super sweet, very friendly. I don´t know why they don´t come, but lately 3 of the daughters have been coming, we are trying really hard to get the family to go. Pretty sweet because it´s been 3 years since anyone at all from that familiy has gone to the church. We are also trying our best on the streets, and knocking doors, a lot of "I am catholic" responses...
Sadly we had to drop jessica because her husband rejected us, and banned us from coming, she was really cool, she liked our teachings.. We had to move on, It was pretty hard on me, because she was the first person I actually taught. We are teaching some lady named laura and her mom also, they are catholic, we can´t tell if they will progress, but we are always praying and trying to figure how we can help them accept our message by answering their needs or questions.
I´m a little short this time... more things... I am learning how to cook by being forced haha, We are eating for our own accounts, me and Elder Puga. (he is teaching me how to cook too, which is great) I learned how to make fideos. Noodles, and a really good recipee for sauce. I am going to learn empanadas this week from the family espinosa, a little actividy we planned, and I am going to try to teach them how to make brownies (if possible).
Take care everyone, please write me, I will try to write back through my parents...
The rules are strict but reasonable, I can´t respond to anyone besides my direct family, only through my parents. BESITOS A TODOS
Monday, October 26, 2009
I´m pretty exhausted. It´s been a fast but hard week, we have been working really hard. Elder Puga really knows what he is doing and I am learning a ton. Lots of experiences that I want to share... It´s been sorta stressful at times, I actually taught my first lesson with a different elder we did a division and we came to a open the mouth house and she let us in. Her name is jessica, We are going to see what will happen. We have been reactivating families slowly, it´s so amazing how much you can rejoice when you see your efforts start to show. Not than I am boasting in myself.. Just excited to be a tool in the lords hands. We are going to try to work with members, because it is an effective approach.
My companion is from Peru, 2 peruvians in a row haha. He is a good companion, makes me laugh. Sometimes I don´t understand his crazy fast accent. We get a long almost always, but I get frustrated that I am not flexible enough to fully express myself. I will hit that point hopefully.
Today we played basketball this morning, we were suppose to play with our ward but they all bummed out. So we were left to play one on one. But now we are going to play chess and monopoly lol. With a stud named jose quiroga. He is 18 and he is preparing for a mission. He is someone I would be good friends with.
We don´t have an investigator yet. our works are just beginning to show. If we get to come back in one of the 3 houses we taught a lesson this week, we will have an investigator(s). I was having problems with how I could teach effectively. I recently learned how I could apply goals in my life. I thought they were ineffective, but lately I have been puting them in use by studying Preach my gospel over and over again until I could see how I could make goals realistic and effective. And now it´s starting to show... I will have to show you how I set it up someday. I really put a effort in my goals and study plan. For spanish and in learning the lessons. I also came across a schedule that really answered my question. I started to memorize phrases from PME which was dumb. In D&C 85:83 it says we should treasure the words of life, and I wasn´t really doing that until I found out I was doing it wrong. And just puting what I have learned in my own words, and treasuring it, I could teach with more power. More sincerity, and I realized that we don´t have to teach everything we know. Just teach according to what we feel from the spirit. Pretty cool experience to see the difference it made by applying it. Man I love that I get to have the oppurtunity to learn a lot from the scriptures and the gospel.
Well thanks for reading. Cuidense. BESITOSSSSSSS
My companion is from Peru, 2 peruvians in a row haha. He is a good companion, makes me laugh. Sometimes I don´t understand his crazy fast accent. We get a long almost always, but I get frustrated that I am not flexible enough to fully express myself. I will hit that point hopefully.
Today we played basketball this morning, we were suppose to play with our ward but they all bummed out. So we were left to play one on one. But now we are going to play chess and monopoly lol. With a stud named jose quiroga. He is 18 and he is preparing for a mission. He is someone I would be good friends with.
We don´t have an investigator yet. our works are just beginning to show. If we get to come back in one of the 3 houses we taught a lesson this week, we will have an investigator(s). I was having problems with how I could teach effectively. I recently learned how I could apply goals in my life. I thought they were ineffective, but lately I have been puting them in use by studying Preach my gospel over and over again until I could see how I could make goals realistic and effective. And now it´s starting to show... I will have to show you how I set it up someday. I really put a effort in my goals and study plan. For spanish and in learning the lessons. I also came across a schedule that really answered my question. I started to memorize phrases from PME which was dumb. In D&C 85:83 it says we should treasure the words of life, and I wasn´t really doing that until I found out I was doing it wrong. And just puting what I have learned in my own words, and treasuring it, I could teach with more power. More sincerity, and I realized that we don´t have to teach everything we know. Just teach according to what we feel from the spirit. Pretty cool experience to see the difference it made by applying it. Man I love that I get to have the oppurtunity to learn a lot from the scriptures and the gospel.
Well thanks for reading. Cuidense. BESITOSSSSSSS
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
LAvalle is great, the members treat us like kings, they are so nice. Even though yesterday was mothers day here, the family quiroga allowed us to come and eat a delicious asado... Asado is the famous barbeque´s they do. I have a picture that hopefully came through in this letter.
I´m really pushing myself, elder holland said that as a missionary, we should need help getting down from the plane when we return... Because of working so hard. That is what I want. I could never push myself this hard, it feels like I am receiving help before I fall on my face to hard. BUt of course it is extremely dificult at times. I never been so pacient in my life. Getting mad is not a option, emotions can really take control if you aren´t carefull.
Unluckily we don´t have anyone to teach at this moment either... we are getting rejected like crazy, but we still have hopes. lately we found really friendly people, one lady named marcela that use to go to church and got baptised, fell away when she moved, and we are trying to help her get back on her feet. We think we can teach a lady named jessica, she gave her direction, not some fake address, we just passed by when she wasn´t home.. We know because the neighbors told us she lives there.
Well I love all of you, take care.
-Erik
PS:
The photos... The family Quiroga, A ward activity, We were on a roof a tourist roof tarraza... and other random events. We went to the zoo too. It was really sweet.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Well My companion is gone, and now I am in a trio. For the next two days. We had a good time together, we are going to be good friends I hope, he wants to keep in touch. He has taught me a lot and now I found myself as a different person. So many times I almost yielded to the natural man because of a small thing he did that I didn´t like... but I chose not too. It was a blast here in Lavalle with him. He is going to visit with all his conversos, and the country. I hope I didn´t annoy him too much with all the questions I would ask him. I sure took advantage of learning by asking him a lot because he knows english, and spanish really well. I have a great desire to learn this language, yo tengo deseos de aprender este idioama al maximo. And man I can see the difference. in the little time it has been.
Right now I am with a chilean, Elder naranjo, who has 3 months in the mission like me, he is a stud. A really good chef. The other companion I have is Elder Roy, a really efficient wise elder. Very friendly too. I found out who will be my companion, it´s another peruvian hahah. I am excited because he knows how to play the piano... And maybe during the ciestas he can teach me a little. His name is elder puga.. I heard a lot of good things about him. I´m really excited, I get to stay in lavalle also. It´s a great place, not dangerous at all... We run into great people and sometimes rude people just like everywhere else I guess haha. Lavalle has amazing members, there is like 4 priests getting ready to go on missions, they are such studs.
I found a sweet huge distrubutor center, where you can buy food in bulk, and I am going to costco shop each month to save money, it´s cool how we have the responsible to maintain a budget, I don´t have problems with it, but it makes me not want to waste money at all. Seems like the mission is getting better and better as it goes. I am for sure going to struggle a little bit with my companion because he does not speak english at all, but I think I am ready to use a ton of what I learned with elder berrocal.
I´m reading the scriptures side by side (out loud) en voz alta in english and spanish and it is helping my spanish and understanding of the scriptures a lot. If I don´t understand the scripture in english, then I will probably understand it in spanish better... I found a scripture that meant a lot to me, 2 Nephi 11:1... Like nephi we need moments to ponder and have a desire to know... like Nephi had a desire to know what his father saw. He acted upon it. we should take moments away from the world, where it´s quiet and where the spirit can be.
I haven´t had much oppurtunities to teach, but I am working hard, I know that there are people out there searching for the truth. Asking for references, opening the mouth with everyone... even groups of people. It´s really hard to not loose hope but I know things can turn around. It has happened so many times before. vez tras vez. Anyways, I hope all of you are doing good. Take care of yourself, cuidense.
Right now I am with a chilean, Elder naranjo, who has 3 months in the mission like me, he is a stud. A really good chef. The other companion I have is Elder Roy, a really efficient wise elder. Very friendly too. I found out who will be my companion, it´s another peruvian hahah. I am excited because he knows how to play the piano... And maybe during the ciestas he can teach me a little. His name is elder puga.. I heard a lot of good things about him. I´m really excited, I get to stay in lavalle also. It´s a great place, not dangerous at all... We run into great people and sometimes rude people just like everywhere else I guess haha. Lavalle has amazing members, there is like 4 priests getting ready to go on missions, they are such studs.
I found a sweet huge distrubutor center, where you can buy food in bulk, and I am going to costco shop each month to save money, it´s cool how we have the responsible to maintain a budget, I don´t have problems with it, but it makes me not want to waste money at all. Seems like the mission is getting better and better as it goes. I am for sure going to struggle a little bit with my companion because he does not speak english at all, but I think I am ready to use a ton of what I learned with elder berrocal.
I´m reading the scriptures side by side (out loud) en voz alta in english and spanish and it is helping my spanish and understanding of the scriptures a lot. If I don´t understand the scripture in english, then I will probably understand it in spanish better... I found a scripture that meant a lot to me, 2 Nephi 11:1... Like nephi we need moments to ponder and have a desire to know... like Nephi had a desire to know what his father saw. He acted upon it. we should take moments away from the world, where it´s quiet and where the spirit can be.
I haven´t had much oppurtunities to teach, but I am working hard, I know that there are people out there searching for the truth. Asking for references, opening the mouth with everyone... even groups of people. It´s really hard to not loose hope but I know things can turn around. It has happened so many times before. vez tras vez. Anyways, I hope all of you are doing good. Take care of yourself, cuidense.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Carta Obesa 10 5 09
Tengo sueño siempre...(I am always tired) This has been a super sweet week with the conference that we just had, I never appreciated it so much before. The mission has changed my perspective on a lot of things. I´m greatful for this oppurtunity every day. I am not going to lie there has been many times were I was humbled.. here in the mision. It´s tough at times, but I know it´s something I can handle. We aren´t given tasks that we can´t handle.
In the conference, I hope all of you had the oppurtunity to listen, we had to take a huge van with a ton of other members to la estaca (the stake building), and we had to watch it upstairs in english (the conference), while a ton of people watched it downstairs (the members). The other elders that were with us (gringos) were sharing so much junk food. I can´t resist the fatty food they have here. I bought a box of 40 alfahores from a distrubuting building near our pench (The place we live) for 15 pesos, which is like 5 dollars in america. I am excercising everyday to prevent gaining weight. it´s seems to be working so far. I hope it doesn´t catch up lol.
In the conference I really enjoyed the talk given by the prophet about anger. "Änger doesn´t build anything, but it can destroy everything". I also loved when uchdworf said "We have every reason to love him, because he loved us first". and Eyrings talk when he mentioned that the blessings that we give, the priesthood holders, depend on the individual choices we make. It makes me realize how much more important it is that we stay worthly as priesthood holders always. It was a really good conference...
Well we didn´t get a chance to open the mouth much lately, sometimes I struggle with approaching people, but I am fighting it off... especially in the buses, I talk to the people sometimes, one of my goals is to announce something from the church to everyone in the bus and pass out cards, and talk to each one for a little bit. something like that.
Well I hope you all had a good week, I surely did, we are lacking investigadores but we are looking all over. From what we heard our area in lavalle is really hard, no one has baptised for a long time... here, Or found someone interested. There was disobediente elders in the our area too which doesn´t help.
Recently I took on a new goal that I am really trying to accomplish, never in my life had I felt the spirit of understanding so strong, when I was reading I felt really focused (The book of mormon during the ciestas), I didn´t know that 1 nephi 12 or 13 talked about christopher columbus (It says he is a gentile, someone that doesn´t know about the gospel). All of you should read it sometime (chapter 12 and 13 in 1 nephi)... By reading the book of mormon in Spanish and English side by side. I am only in like 1 Nephi chapter 12, but I am using all of my ciesta to read the book of mormon side by side. Spanish is starting to come, I told my president that I am ready for a native companion, that only speaks spanish. It´s what I want, I speak almost always in spanish to my companion, but sometimes I go back to english for a moment in our apartment. I want to speak it always with out temptataion. Take care everyone, I love you.
In the conference, I hope all of you had the oppurtunity to listen, we had to take a huge van with a ton of other members to la estaca (the stake building), and we had to watch it upstairs in english (the conference), while a ton of people watched it downstairs (the members). The other elders that were with us (gringos) were sharing so much junk food. I can´t resist the fatty food they have here. I bought a box of 40 alfahores from a distrubuting building near our pench (The place we live) for 15 pesos, which is like 5 dollars in america. I am excercising everyday to prevent gaining weight. it´s seems to be working so far. I hope it doesn´t catch up lol.
In the conference I really enjoyed the talk given by the prophet about anger. "Änger doesn´t build anything, but it can destroy everything". I also loved when uchdworf said "We have every reason to love him, because he loved us first". and Eyrings talk when he mentioned that the blessings that we give, the priesthood holders, depend on the individual choices we make. It makes me realize how much more important it is that we stay worthly as priesthood holders always. It was a really good conference...
Well we didn´t get a chance to open the mouth much lately, sometimes I struggle with approaching people, but I am fighting it off... especially in the buses, I talk to the people sometimes, one of my goals is to announce something from the church to everyone in the bus and pass out cards, and talk to each one for a little bit. something like that.
Well I hope you all had a good week, I surely did, we are lacking investigadores but we are looking all over. From what we heard our area in lavalle is really hard, no one has baptised for a long time... here, Or found someone interested. There was disobediente elders in the our area too which doesn´t help.
Recently I took on a new goal that I am really trying to accomplish, never in my life had I felt the spirit of understanding so strong, when I was reading I felt really focused (The book of mormon during the ciestas), I didn´t know that 1 nephi 12 or 13 talked about christopher columbus (It says he is a gentile, someone that doesn´t know about the gospel). All of you should read it sometime (chapter 12 and 13 in 1 nephi)... By reading the book of mormon in Spanish and English side by side. I am only in like 1 Nephi chapter 12, but I am using all of my ciesta to read the book of mormon side by side. Spanish is starting to come, I told my president that I am ready for a native companion, that only speaks spanish. It´s what I want, I speak almost always in spanish to my companion, but sometimes I go back to english for a moment in our apartment. I want to speak it always with out temptataion. Take care everyone, I love you.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
I love panchos. Hey everyone it´s been a great week, I always wonder what everyone is up to. Right this moment as I am writing this letter, I am in central. It´s like a small version of newyork where I am at. A huge city full of people. My companion wants to do some shopping before I kill him. I just bought 2 bottles of grape juice, for 12 pesos, and they are straight from the vineyards, they are really delicious.
Man what happened this week, it was pretty fast. We haven´t found anyone, we handed out invitations for the general conference that is coming up. Opened the mouth like crazy, but they are stiff on the subject. It´s been so cold this past week, freezing winds, probably like 20 degrees outside. On saturday I wore a short sleeve shirt, pretty stupid of me, and we were walking for like 15 minutes. I had piel de gallina (Goose bumps). After today it should be good. There something called sonda here, it´s the hot wind that carries a lot of dust. It´s pretty powerful.
My companion had a birthday celebration from the ward. We ate in the church, and we had an enormous cake. How is it possible that I am not obese yet, I don´t know the answer. I guess we walk a lot. Pretty interesting what they have here to sale here. A lot of dirty stuff on the streets too.
I hope everyone is excited for general conference this week, it´s going to be so sweet. Watch it everyone, and gain all the counsel you can get from it. We are going to go watch it in some church building.
SO I guess that all I have to say for now, I would like to hear from all of you, and I will try to reply the best I can. You can write me but I can´t right you back individually. Sola la familia directa, lo siento.
Man what happened this week, it was pretty fast. We haven´t found anyone, we handed out invitations for the general conference that is coming up. Opened the mouth like crazy, but they are stiff on the subject. It´s been so cold this past week, freezing winds, probably like 20 degrees outside. On saturday I wore a short sleeve shirt, pretty stupid of me, and we were walking for like 15 minutes. I had piel de gallina (Goose bumps). After today it should be good. There something called sonda here, it´s the hot wind that carries a lot of dust. It´s pretty powerful.
My companion had a birthday celebration from the ward. We ate in the church, and we had an enormous cake. How is it possible that I am not obese yet, I don´t know the answer. I guess we walk a lot. Pretty interesting what they have here to sale here. A lot of dirty stuff on the streets too.
I hope everyone is excited for general conference this week, it´s going to be so sweet. Watch it everyone, and gain all the counsel you can get from it. We are going to go watch it in some church building.
SO I guess that all I have to say for now, I would like to hear from all of you, and I will try to reply the best I can. You can write me but I can´t right you back individually. Sola la familia directa, lo siento.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Hello everyone, I don´t know where I should start. It´s been a long week here, it´s getting a lot hotter...
My companion is finishing his last transfer with me, we have 3 weeks left. It´s going by super fast.. I have to make a cake for his birthday. Which is coming up, the 29th.
So I guess there isn´t much to say this week, we have been visiting a lot of inactives, and I guess the highlight is, I did my first baptism, and I had to baptise. Her name is Melina Oliva, and she is 9. Her family is pretty cool but they are pretty lazy to go to church, we visit them a lot, and taught her, and her family a lot of lessons. It was a pretty cool experience. It was on Thursday.
Today, we went to the zoo of mendoza, it was really sweet. It was 10 pesos to enter, and man it had a ton of animals. Some monkeys escaped haha, and they didn´t know what to do so they just sat near the cages. The tigres were growling at us, pretty sweet. Tons of monkeys, I don´t have a way to send any photos right now... Sorry. I will have to send a disk home in a few months and just send a few photos at a time.
The past weeks were intense, as usual I have been studying really hard, and trying to learn the language. It´s seems to inch it´s way, but man sometimes I don´t understand much. But for the most part I can survive and start conversations. We haven´t met anyone from opening the mouth, we have been talking to everyone that we could. Man has it pushed me out of my bubble, my fear of talking to random people is less then it use to be.
I had my first asado. It was so amazing, the family Quiroga made it for us, it´s the best barbecue in the world for realizes. I don´t know what it is about overfeeding during lunch, man my system is messed up. I use to have a good metabolism.. I don´t know how to spell it.
I had my first zone conference, which is a big meeting, the president and his wife comes and we get more united as a zone I guess. It´s pretty cool, the president is a really cool guy. I don´t know too much about him, he is the owner of a few hospitals and he proposed to his wife in an airport in front of everyone so she couldn´t say no. I met a ton of cool elders in the conference. Well I don´t know what else to say, Que tengan una buena semana, les quiero mucho.
My companion is finishing his last transfer with me, we have 3 weeks left. It´s going by super fast.. I have to make a cake for his birthday. Which is coming up, the 29th.
So I guess there isn´t much to say this week, we have been visiting a lot of inactives, and I guess the highlight is, I did my first baptism, and I had to baptise. Her name is Melina Oliva, and she is 9. Her family is pretty cool but they are pretty lazy to go to church, we visit them a lot, and taught her, and her family a lot of lessons. It was a pretty cool experience. It was on Thursday.
Today, we went to the zoo of mendoza, it was really sweet. It was 10 pesos to enter, and man it had a ton of animals. Some monkeys escaped haha, and they didn´t know what to do so they just sat near the cages. The tigres were growling at us, pretty sweet. Tons of monkeys, I don´t have a way to send any photos right now... Sorry. I will have to send a disk home in a few months and just send a few photos at a time.
The past weeks were intense, as usual I have been studying really hard, and trying to learn the language. It´s seems to inch it´s way, but man sometimes I don´t understand much. But for the most part I can survive and start conversations. We haven´t met anyone from opening the mouth, we have been talking to everyone that we could. Man has it pushed me out of my bubble, my fear of talking to random people is less then it use to be.
I had my first asado. It was so amazing, the family Quiroga made it for us, it´s the best barbecue in the world for realizes. I don´t know what it is about overfeeding during lunch, man my system is messed up. I use to have a good metabolism.. I don´t know how to spell it.
I had my first zone conference, which is a big meeting, the president and his wife comes and we get more united as a zone I guess. It´s pretty cool, the president is a really cool guy. I don´t know too much about him, he is the owner of a few hospitals and he proposed to his wife in an airport in front of everyone so she couldn´t say no. I met a ton of cool elders in the conference. Well I don´t know what else to say, Que tengan una buena semana, les quiero mucho.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Hello everyone, it´s been a good week, Nothing really strange happened. We were able to get the 2 families that have 2 kids to go to church, they are inactive right now. They will get baptized this upcoming friday.
Spanish is really harder than I thought, the more I learn the harder it gets it seems. I was saying a lot wrong before, luckily my companion helps me by telling me how to say things the right way, Por vs para kills me to this day, I almost got it down completely I think. I am studying every morning in PME, the sweet mini PME I got from candy, I am really thankful that she gave me it. It´s so handy.
Well we haven´t really found anyone, we have a few potentcial people we might start teaching but we really haven´t had a chance to meet with them. We are still looking, and doing a ton of contacts everyday, I am getting comfortable with walking up to someone and start a conversation. I am loving it.
There is a family, named paurocadi, and they are super sweet. One of there kids took my camera and deleted all my pictures. It was pretty depressing... I got some back from my companion that he had of me. It still stinks, because I lost a lot of sweet mtc pictures. It´s fine though, I learned that I could lock pictures, better I learn that now then much later, I am going to send some pictures to everyone, I hope you enjoy them.
We did a huge activity with the ward, it was pretty sweet. Some big act, I couldn´t follow everything because I still lack the language, but we participated and it was pretty sweet. I´m scared of leaving this area, because I love the people. The families are amazing, very nice people... My companion is going to finish his mission in this transfer, 4 more weeks, it´s crazy.
I´m in the place called lavalle, if I haven´t mentioned before, it´s a really sweet area to start in. Pretty simple yet sophisticated. It´s not dangerous at all so I can ussually wear my watch... but in the past 2 weeks 5 people in the mission got robbed so they told us to put our watches in our pockets.
I´m pretty stoaked for general conference, you better watch it, all of you. I learned to appreciate things I didn´t normally like. Such as church music, and movies.
I don´t know if I mentioned this before but from like 1 to 4 p.m. everyday the argentines have a huge nap. Called the ciestas, son panchos haha. So we have to study between then or do something productive, like learn a new skill, so far I have been just using that time to study spanish, and practicing soccer, I bought new shoes and a ball to last the mission. We can learn the piano if we have a companion that knows and would teach us. Or any kind of useful skills. My companion is wise, he knows both languages perfect, he is from peru and he dominates at soccer. So the ciesta is a waste of time if we go out to work so they told us to leave the people because if we knock doors then they get really mad, and there is almost no one outside.
This week we had to make our own food like 3 times. The members are getting sick of feeding us. We just go to a near polleria, or something like that and buy milonesas. We made our own version of tacos once too, empada discs, with meat and sour creme. Super fatty but really good. I lost the pictures of that meal I took picture of sadly haha.
Well thats all I have to say for this week, DISFRUTE ESTA SEMANA PORFAVOR. Que tengan exito a todos. les quiero mucho.
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Spanish is really harder than I thought, the more I learn the harder it gets it seems. I was saying a lot wrong before, luckily my companion helps me by telling me how to say things the right way, Por vs para kills me to this day, I almost got it down completely I think. I am studying every morning in PME, the sweet mini PME I got from candy, I am really thankful that she gave me it. It´s so handy.
Well we haven´t really found anyone, we have a few potentcial people we might start teaching but we really haven´t had a chance to meet with them. We are still looking, and doing a ton of contacts everyday, I am getting comfortable with walking up to someone and start a conversation. I am loving it.
There is a family, named paurocadi, and they are super sweet. One of there kids took my camera and deleted all my pictures. It was pretty depressing... I got some back from my companion that he had of me. It still stinks, because I lost a lot of sweet mtc pictures. It´s fine though, I learned that I could lock pictures, better I learn that now then much later, I am going to send some pictures to everyone, I hope you enjoy them.
We did a huge activity with the ward, it was pretty sweet. Some big act, I couldn´t follow everything because I still lack the language, but we participated and it was pretty sweet. I´m scared of leaving this area, because I love the people. The families are amazing, very nice people... My companion is going to finish his mission in this transfer, 4 more weeks, it´s crazy.
I´m in the place called lavalle, if I haven´t mentioned before, it´s a really sweet area to start in. Pretty simple yet sophisticated. It´s not dangerous at all so I can ussually wear my watch... but in the past 2 weeks 5 people in the mission got robbed so they told us to put our watches in our pockets.
I´m pretty stoaked for general conference, you better watch it, all of you. I learned to appreciate things I didn´t normally like. Such as church music, and movies.
I don´t know if I mentioned this before but from like 1 to 4 p.m. everyday the argentines have a huge nap. Called the ciestas, son panchos haha. So we have to study between then or do something productive, like learn a new skill, so far I have been just using that time to study spanish, and practicing soccer, I bought new shoes and a ball to last the mission. We can learn the piano if we have a companion that knows and would teach us. Or any kind of useful skills. My companion is wise, he knows both languages perfect, he is from peru and he dominates at soccer. So the ciesta is a waste of time if we go out to work so they told us to leave the people because if we knock doors then they get really mad, and there is almost no one outside.
This week we had to make our own food like 3 times. The members are getting sick of feeding us. We just go to a near polleria, or something like that and buy milonesas. We made our own version of tacos once too, empada discs, with meat and sour creme. Super fatty but really good. I lost the pictures of that meal I took picture of sadly haha.
Well thats all I have to say for this week, DISFRUTE ESTA SEMANA PORFAVOR. Que tengan exito a todos. les quiero mucho.
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Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Such a crazy week here in argentina. Sometimes I can´t believe I am here, but it´s obvious that I am here. Well so much has happened. We are visiting a lot of inactives, and I am always sharing scriptures and my testimony. at times it gets hard to communicate, because man, learning a language is not easy. I love learning it though, but it´s going to be a few months before I can understand the mayority of what they are saying.
An inactive family that we are visiting, are called the oro family. Oro means gold. They are really amazing people, they have like 7 kids that are absolutely insane, that won´t stop interupting what we are trying to teach. For some reason we can´t reactivate this family, but we aren´t going to give up on them. It´s really sad, some of the things that happen here, Last week we went into a house that was made of mud, and on their stove there was a bunch of rats running around, and I saw a few on the floor. And a guy that just sits in front of the supermarket without a leg, and just sits there day and night begging. Just like any other place there is such sad things, but for the most part my area is really nice. The dogs that are everywhere are insane, every corner there is a dog, in summer the disseased dogs start to come out of nowhere, a group might try to attack us, and we just pretend to pick up a rock and they peace out.
Me and my companion are getting a long really good, he is really chill but obedient. I got really lucky to have a smart trainer
Yo dejé de hablar en english todos los dias, en nuestra pension tambien. I stopped talking in english except in writing mail in english and my Journal. I figured this is the fastest way. And I can see a difference in each week.
Right now for P day we are going to head to the central of the city and check it out, there is a really sweet area I will take pìctures of and try to send you next week, My companion wants to buy a boca jersey the soccer team... I am going to try to buy a soccer ball and some indoor shoes para practica soccer. in the mornings.
I drink dulce de leche like water, it´s their famous type of spread. I am sure everyone knows what it is, and I eat like a huge jar each week. DOn´t worry, I am not fat just yet, but at this rate I might come back obese, we will see. And man the alfajores are just amazing, it´s a famous snack they eat here. It´s like a chocolate
cake thing with dulce de leche, that you can buy anywhere. Super good and famous here. We have eaten lots of meat, pasta, I had my first asado, which is a barbeque not too long ago.
It´s been a bunch of fun this far, I hope everyones doing well, we might baptise 2 kids, the family oro, and the family oliva. They are inactives and we are trying to activate them and baptise their kids. I had some pretty cool experiences with opening my mouth on the street, making contacts. We are still searching, and we haven´t found anyone super interested. We are teaching 2 new people we met, we will see, not investigators yet... A big guy named oscar who plays the guitar, and some catholic lady.
The families here that are members are so sweet, it´s true, this scripture in Moroni chapter 2 verse 41. They are amazing people, the kids of the family Quiroga, I will have to send a photo of them, they are so cool, we are going to go carting ( go carting ) with them maybe next week for p day haha. They are people I would hang out with, they always laugh at me because I am such a gringo sometimes. Every member is amazing, I´ll send more pictures next week. I can´t this week because this internet cafe I am using is lame.
An inactive family that we are visiting, are called the oro family. Oro means gold. They are really amazing people, they have like 7 kids that are absolutely insane, that won´t stop interupting what we are trying to teach. For some reason we can´t reactivate this family, but we aren´t going to give up on them. It´s really sad, some of the things that happen here, Last week we went into a house that was made of mud, and on their stove there was a bunch of rats running around, and I saw a few on the floor. And a guy that just sits in front of the supermarket without a leg, and just sits there day and night begging. Just like any other place there is such sad things, but for the most part my area is really nice. The dogs that are everywhere are insane, every corner there is a dog, in summer the disseased dogs start to come out of nowhere, a group might try to attack us, and we just pretend to pick up a rock and they peace out.
Me and my companion are getting a long really good, he is really chill but obedient. I got really lucky to have a smart trainer
Yo dejé de hablar en english todos los dias, en nuestra pension tambien. I stopped talking in english except in writing mail in english and my Journal. I figured this is the fastest way. And I can see a difference in each week.
Right now for P day we are going to head to the central of the city and check it out, there is a really sweet area I will take pìctures of and try to send you next week, My companion wants to buy a boca jersey the soccer team... I am going to try to buy a soccer ball and some indoor shoes para practica soccer. in the mornings.
I drink dulce de leche like water, it´s their famous type of spread. I am sure everyone knows what it is, and I eat like a huge jar each week. DOn´t worry, I am not fat just yet, but at this rate I might come back obese, we will see. And man the alfajores are just amazing, it´s a famous snack they eat here. It´s like a chocolate
cake thing with dulce de leche, that you can buy anywhere. Super good and famous here. We have eaten lots of meat, pasta, I had my first asado, which is a barbeque not too long ago.
It´s been a bunch of fun this far, I hope everyones doing well, we might baptise 2 kids, the family oro, and the family oliva. They are inactives and we are trying to activate them and baptise their kids. I had some pretty cool experiences with opening my mouth on the street, making contacts. We are still searching, and we haven´t found anyone super interested. We are teaching 2 new people we met, we will see, not investigators yet... A big guy named oscar who plays the guitar, and some catholic lady.
The families here that are members are so sweet, it´s true, this scripture in Moroni chapter 2 verse 41. They are amazing people, the kids of the family Quiroga, I will have to send a photo of them, they are so cool, we are going to go carting ( go carting ) with them maybe next week for p day haha. They are people I would hang out with, they always laugh at me because I am such a gringo sometimes. Every member is amazing, I´ll send more pictures next week. I can´t this week because this internet cafe I am using is lame.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
a note from your moderator
Just a reminder, if you have any stories or pictures from Erik or you want me to add you as a moderator so that you can contribute your own posts to this Blog, email me at eatyourhamtina@hotmail.com!
Letter to Stef
A lot has happened this week, if you didn´t know I was sent to the area callled lavalle, and it is really sweet. I sent you some pictures, one of my apartment, and the alley leads to our room, around the corner. Also of our zone when we played soccer, and our first meal we made. It was amazing. The food is super good here especially the pastries and fat food. Alfehores are amazing, and dulce de leche also.
I can´t believe austin is already home thats insane, tell him I said hi. This is crazy being in Argentina, the people are way cool here. It´s very calm here, and there is all kinds of people. Not too different then America, but a lot of different things they do, and the language. I am picking up the language super fast.
I was assigned with the sweetest trainer, he leaves in 2 months, he has taught me a lot. He is completely obedient and he is amazing. A great example. His name is elder berrocal, and he is from peru. My president is amazing too, he assignmed with him. My trainer told me that the president told elder berrocal "Make him a leader", I feel really lucky to be with one of the hard working missionaries.
Well apparently I am a tio now, how crazy, congratulations to Christina and Ivan. What else has happened.
Well I met some really great people, the members here are amazing, I can´t remember names well but I have pictures and I will send you some more later, I hope I can send you a package soon, of a disk and some alforhores, YOu can buy a package of alforhores for 17 pesos, and there is 40 of them. Dirt cheap.
So how is Ryan doing I haven´t heard, and Jordan, what are they up to? I am picking up so quick here in Argentina, I can understand the mayoria of what they say, the natives, and we have finished our 140 open the mouth contacts and our other goals. We visited la familia oro and they have like a ton of kids, and I gave them mint strips and they were freaking it out and taking turns with the fosset, it was so funny. We are doing great here, I will write next week.
Stef! Tell me how my friends are doing, tell Angel to write me sometime. I want to keep in touch with my friends haha. Give them my mailing address if you can. I hope you all are doing well, you better dominate school. Take care ya´ll. Que les vay bien.
I can´t believe austin is already home thats insane, tell him I said hi. This is crazy being in Argentina, the people are way cool here. It´s very calm here, and there is all kinds of people. Not too different then America, but a lot of different things they do, and the language. I am picking up the language super fast.
I was assigned with the sweetest trainer, he leaves in 2 months, he has taught me a lot. He is completely obedient and he is amazing. A great example. His name is elder berrocal, and he is from peru. My president is amazing too, he assignmed with him. My trainer told me that the president told elder berrocal "Make him a leader", I feel really lucky to be with one of the hard working missionaries.
Well apparently I am a tio now, how crazy, congratulations to Christina and Ivan. What else has happened.
Well I met some really great people, the members here are amazing, I can´t remember names well but I have pictures and I will send you some more later, I hope I can send you a package soon, of a disk and some alforhores, YOu can buy a package of alforhores for 17 pesos, and there is 40 of them. Dirt cheap.
So how is Ryan doing I haven´t heard, and Jordan, what are they up to? I am picking up so quick here in Argentina, I can understand the mayoria of what they say, the natives, and we have finished our 140 open the mouth contacts and our other goals. We visited la familia oro and they have like a ton of kids, and I gave them mint strips and they were freaking it out and taking turns with the fosset, it was so funny. We are doing great here, I will write next week.
Stef! Tell me how my friends are doing, tell Angel to write me sometime. I want to keep in touch with my friends haha. Give them my mailing address if you can. I hope you all are doing well, you better dominate school. Take care ya´ll. Que les vay bien.
Stuff
The things that happened here in Argenting are pretty crazy. My area I am is entre pobre y rico. Everyone is really friendly and we get overfed with amazing food. They know how to cook here.
Well I guess the crazy thing I learned was that how powerful the spirit can help in learning something like spanish. I am learning super fast, I am able to make conversations with others. And my contacts, I am not so limited to what I can say. It´s amazing, my trainer is so great. He is completely obedient, and he at a prime state of a missionary. He pushes me to the point where I broke barriers. I don´t have a big barbuja anymore.
Well I can´t say much, but una famila, se llama oro, we might baptise their kid. Who is 8, which will be my first baptism maybe. Who knows what will happen. I´m addicted to the alforhores here, I made some really good friends with the members. I have seen really great sites... Man I am enjoying this I will have to send more pictures. I wish I could tell you all that happened. I can better summarize it when I have more time. Keep going strong, I pray for all of you everyday. Thanks for your support.
Erik
Well I guess the crazy thing I learned was that how powerful the spirit can help in learning something like spanish. I am learning super fast, I am able to make conversations with others. And my contacts, I am not so limited to what I can say. It´s amazing, my trainer is so great. He is completely obedient, and he at a prime state of a missionary. He pushes me to the point where I broke barriers. I don´t have a big barbuja anymore.
Well I can´t say much, but una famila, se llama oro, we might baptise their kid. Who is 8, which will be my first baptism maybe. Who knows what will happen. I´m addicted to the alforhores here, I made some really good friends with the members. I have seen really great sites... Man I am enjoying this I will have to send more pictures. I wish I could tell you all that happened. I can better summarize it when I have more time. Keep going strong, I pray for all of you everyday. Thanks for your support.
Erik
Friday, August 14, 2009
Elder Olson has arrived!
Elder Olson arrived safely!!!
What a delightful young man you have entrusted in our care. His companion is Elder Berrocal who is now training your son. He will compliment your son's talents. We spoke with them today and they are reaching their goals and are very happy. There is nothing that makes a missionary happier than when he or she is being strictly obedient and making their goals a reality. We expect a lot from our missionaries just like we did with our own children, but we also extend love and compassion to each of them. We extend to you our thanks for bringing up such a fine young man. We look forward to getting to know him better as the months go by. If at any time you feel concerned about your son please feel free to call the mission office here in Argentina. We want this mission experience to bless the lives of the entire Olson family. We know the Lord will bless your family during the next 22 months because of all the sacrifices being made. May we also add that we have a personal testimony of the strength of a mother's prayer. We believe that the Lord answers those prayers with impressions. We encourage you to empower him with your enthusiasm and belief in him. We know a mission is hard, but we know that he can accomplish this hard thing and it will allow him to understand in a small way the sacrifices that have been made by those who have come before him and paved the way in the church.
Thank you again for sending us a wonderful missionary with a strong testimony.
With Much Thanks,
President and Hermana Lindahl
Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
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