General conference is coming!!
I´m way excited for this week. As a missionary, reading conference talks are so helpful to me. I know that our leaders of the church are truely inspired by the spirit. It really is a privlege to hear the liders of the church speak often. I was reading a talk "Come what may, and love it" It made me laugh, and it made me think about what we should do when we are having a hard time, we should laugh. The circumstances always change when we laugh instead of getting angry.
Yesterday, Sunday. I had to give a lesson for our small church in Bowen. It was a crazy experience. I was so unprepared, it turns out that the brother that comes to give lessons got sick. so we ended up giving the lesson... It turned out well but it was so unexpected. We seriously did everything, prepared the sacrament, direct the music, give the class, put out the chairs. I felt responsable. It was a cool learning experience. I talked about the book of mormon and the role it plays. How the bible doesn´t give us answers to everything... for example baptism and the need of baptism for those who are responsable for sin. Children can´t sin, neither satan has power to tempt them Doctrine and covenats 29:47. It was long because I had a lot to say and share. I know the book of mormon is the word of god.
This is the end of my 7th transfer... I´m going into the 8th. and It seems I am going to leave bowen. But I could still stay, it isn´t sure just yet. If I do leave, I am going to be pretty sad. All the people I met and work I put in that area will still continue, for that reason I am happy. I´m a little nervous about finding out whats going to happen. I got attatched to my area haha.
Well I guess I will have to tell all of you where I am going to be next week, have a good week.
Love, Elder Olson
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Carta de Elder Olson 3-22-2010
Facturas (Pastries), pan casero (home made pan), aceite (Oil). Dream
come true. My new diet.
Bowen gets better and better, I say that because it seems like I feel
fully adjusted in argentina. Comfortable with the language, good food,
and the people are sweet once you can understand them. The people are
very friendly, they share with us (food), we can stop by any house for
water and they are more than willing to give us water. even though we
are strangers.
We had a great week, we found a lady named roxana funes, who already
believes in what we say just because of how she feels when we talk
about the gospel. She came to church, it was so cool. All the members
were super nice to her, and it seems like she liked it a lot. We also
found another lady named naci. We buy home made bread from her, and
she is super interested. She tells us that she notticed a lot of
people from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints once were
catholics, and she wants to know why. Despite that we had to leave
some people, we are still friends, and we believe that we left them
with a good feeling.
I was having a dificult time. I read an article from general
conference of 2008 that the apostle anderson gave about "we know
enough". as we face trials we sometimes start to question ourselves or
feel inadecuada (In my case I was thinking "I don´t know enough, how
can I do this?"). (I don´t know how to spell the word inadequet don´t
make fun of my english, it´s inadecuada in spanish). We don´t need a
perfect knowlede, and besides that each of us knows enough. God loves
us, thats knowing enough. 1 Ne:11 16-17. (16: And he said unto me:
Knowest thou the condescension of God? )(17: And I said unto him: I
know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the
meaning of all things.) Nephi didn´t have a perfect knowledge of
everything, but he knew that god loves his children (all of us). He
knew enough.
Have a great week everyone. I will try to send pictures next week. I
send my love from Argentina...
Love, Elder Olson
come true. My new diet.
Bowen gets better and better, I say that because it seems like I feel
fully adjusted in argentina. Comfortable with the language, good food,
and the people are sweet once you can understand them. The people are
very friendly, they share with us (food), we can stop by any house for
water and they are more than willing to give us water. even though we
are strangers.
We had a great week, we found a lady named roxana funes, who already
believes in what we say just because of how she feels when we talk
about the gospel. She came to church, it was so cool. All the members
were super nice to her, and it seems like she liked it a lot. We also
found another lady named naci. We buy home made bread from her, and
she is super interested. She tells us that she notticed a lot of
people from the church of jesus christ of latter day saints once were
catholics, and she wants to know why. Despite that we had to leave
some people, we are still friends, and we believe that we left them
with a good feeling.
I was having a dificult time. I read an article from general
conference of 2008 that the apostle anderson gave about "we know
enough". as we face trials we sometimes start to question ourselves or
feel inadecuada (In my case I was thinking "I don´t know enough, how
can I do this?"). (I don´t know how to spell the word inadequet don´t
make fun of my english, it´s inadecuada in spanish). We don´t need a
perfect knowlede, and besides that each of us knows enough. God loves
us, thats knowing enough. 1 Ne:11 16-17. (16: And he said unto me:
Knowest thou the condescension of God? )(17: And I said unto him: I
know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the
meaning of all things.) Nephi didn´t have a perfect knowledge of
everything, but he knew that god loves his children (all of us). He
knew enough.
Have a great week everyone. I will try to send pictures next week. I
send my love from Argentina...
Love, Elder Olson
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Carta de Elder Olson 3-15-2010
Enfermedades!!!!!!!
My companion got sick and I had to stay inside for 2 days, it was really hard for me to sit and study for so long. I studied a lot of spanish at least!! This was a good week, we went to the tourist area valle grande again with our zone, with lots of elders. It was cool to see the scenery there again. We didn´t have too much time to work this week because of zone conference and my companion´s sickness that he got.
We had to leave a few of our investigators, It seems that it wasn´t the right time for everyone, I always hope for that but sometimes we have to let people go. We have found a few others, specificly one lady who became good friends with a member of the church. Her name is roxana funes, and she has told us some interesting things and it seems like she is ready to hear us. She told us something, and I realized as members of the church we can make a huge difference. In the case of roxana funes, she has been told that missionaries are bad people. Roxana saw someone talking to missionaries, and asked the person why she was talking to them. The person was a member, and explained that we are good people. Thanks to that member, she didn´t say no when we found her on the street.
I have been focusing on chapter 2 in preach my gospel, and trying really hard to improve my study skills. I was able to learn with experience that the spirit is really important as we study, in this case, the gospel. As we pray for the help from the spirit, to help us to understand, our understanding and comprehension grows to a great level. In Jacob he tells us, 4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of all his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. .
The spirit is key... I know it´s true. Some things were so hard for me to understand, but as I strived to learn with the help of the spirit, I am able to comprehend things I though I never could before
My companion got sick and I had to stay inside for 2 days, it was really hard for me to sit and study for so long. I studied a lot of spanish at least!! This was a good week, we went to the tourist area valle grande again with our zone, with lots of elders. It was cool to see the scenery there again. We didn´t have too much time to work this week because of zone conference and my companion´s sickness that he got.
We had to leave a few of our investigators, It seems that it wasn´t the right time for everyone, I always hope for that but sometimes we have to let people go. We have found a few others, specificly one lady who became good friends with a member of the church. Her name is roxana funes, and she has told us some interesting things and it seems like she is ready to hear us. She told us something, and I realized as members of the church we can make a huge difference. In the case of roxana funes, she has been told that missionaries are bad people. Roxana saw someone talking to missionaries, and asked the person why she was talking to them. The person was a member, and explained that we are good people. Thanks to that member, she didn´t say no when we found her on the street.
I have been focusing on chapter 2 in preach my gospel, and trying really hard to improve my study skills. I was able to learn with experience that the spirit is really important as we study, in this case, the gospel. As we pray for the help from the spirit, to help us to understand, our understanding and comprehension grows to a great level. In Jacob he tells us, 4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of all his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. .
The spirit is key... I know it´s true. Some things were so hard for me to understand, but as I strived to learn with the help of the spirit, I am able to comprehend things I though I never could before
Monday, March 15, 2010
Carta de Elder Olson 3-15-2010
Enfermedades!!!!!!!
My companion got sick and I had to stay inside for 2 days, it was really hard for me to sit and study for so long. I studied a lot of spanish at least!! This was a good week, we went to the tourist area valle grande again with our zone, with lots of elders. It was cool to see the scenery there again. We didn´t have too much time to work this week because of zone conference and my companion´s sickness that he got.
We had to leave a few of our investigators, It seems that it wasn´t the right time for everyone, I always hope for that but sometimes we have to let people go. We have found a few others, specificly one lady who became good friends with a member of the church. Her name is roxana funes, and she has told us some interesting things and it seems like she is ready to hear us. She told us something, and I realized as members of the church we can make a huge difference. In the case of roxana funes, she has been told that missionaries are bad people. Roxana saw someone talking to missionaries, and asked the person why she was talking to them. The person was a member, and explained that we are good people. Thanks to that member, she didn´t say no when we found her on the street.
I have been focusing on chapter 2 in preach my gospel, and trying really hard to improve my study skills. I was able to learn with experience that the spirit is really important as we study, in this case, the gospel. As we pray for the help from the spirit, to help us to understand, our understanding and comprehension grows to a great level. In Jacob he tells us, 4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of all his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. .
The spirit is key... I know it´s true. Some things were so hard for me to understand, but as I strived to learn with the help of the spirit, I am able to comprehend things I though I never could before.
Love,
Erik
My companion got sick and I had to stay inside for 2 days, it was really hard for me to sit and study for so long. I studied a lot of spanish at least!! This was a good week, we went to the tourist area valle grande again with our zone, with lots of elders. It was cool to see the scenery there again. We didn´t have too much time to work this week because of zone conference and my companion´s sickness that he got.
We had to leave a few of our investigators, It seems that it wasn´t the right time for everyone, I always hope for that but sometimes we have to let people go. We have found a few others, specificly one lady who became good friends with a member of the church. Her name is roxana funes, and she has told us some interesting things and it seems like she is ready to hear us. She told us something, and I realized as members of the church we can make a huge difference. In the case of roxana funes, she has been told that missionaries are bad people. Roxana saw someone talking to missionaries, and asked the person why she was talking to them. The person was a member, and explained that we are good people. Thanks to that member, she didn´t say no when we found her on the street.
I have been focusing on chapter 2 in preach my gospel, and trying really hard to improve my study skills. I was able to learn with experience that the spirit is really important as we study, in this case, the gospel. As we pray for the help from the spirit, to help us to understand, our understanding and comprehension grows to a great level. In Jacob he tells us, 4:8 Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of all his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. .
The spirit is key... I know it´s true. Some things were so hard for me to understand, but as I strived to learn with the help of the spirit, I am able to comprehend things I though I never could before.
Love,
Erik
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Carta de Elder Olson 3-8-2010
I´m getting more responsability as the days go by. It´s a little stressful here in bowen because I did not see myself doing all of this. From family home evening with all the members (every monday, I did the activities and the lessons) to deciding every step of the day. I´m trying to work on ideas to work effective and visit people near by incase appointments fall so that we don´t waste time (Some project I´m working on during the ciesta). I´m very busy all the time. As I go I start to realize more and more of my potential. We are all sons and daughters of god, and we all have the same potential. We limit ourselves.
So I guess i´m going to leave bowen. I talked with president in a interview, he said "It´s time for you to take a new oppurtunity", I don´t know what exactly to expect, but they are sending me out of here. I have no idea where. I just got comfortable. I´m really sad because I love the familia medrano (the family from bolivia). They are like family to me. I only have 2 transfers in total if I leave. I know it´s necessary though, I love the investegatores or the people we are teaching too.
So far our investigators are doing great but there is 2 great families (Bustos, and santillan) who can´t make it to church because of their jobs. So it´s hard for them to continue without visiting the church. We can only teach so much. We are trying so hard to figure what to do, such a job I never would have imagined myself doing. Calling the shots...
We had a really great zone conference today, I learned a lot about teaching, such as keeping the kids focused on something while teaching so that they can pay attention, and to get them involved some how. And just every little thing that can better the situation. We have to be attent to everything.
We learned a lot about the 40 days of christ as well (After the resurrection) in the conference, but I won´t get into detail with that because there is a lot to explain. We had a good week me and elder Holinger, we must help bowen grow.
Have a great week everyone
Love,
Elder Olson
So I guess i´m going to leave bowen. I talked with president in a interview, he said "It´s time for you to take a new oppurtunity", I don´t know what exactly to expect, but they are sending me out of here. I have no idea where. I just got comfortable. I´m really sad because I love the familia medrano (the family from bolivia). They are like family to me. I only have 2 transfers in total if I leave. I know it´s necessary though, I love the investegatores or the people we are teaching too.
So far our investigators are doing great but there is 2 great families (Bustos, and santillan) who can´t make it to church because of their jobs. So it´s hard for them to continue without visiting the church. We can only teach so much. We are trying so hard to figure what to do, such a job I never would have imagined myself doing. Calling the shots...
We had a really great zone conference today, I learned a lot about teaching, such as keeping the kids focused on something while teaching so that they can pay attention, and to get them involved some how. And just every little thing that can better the situation. We have to be attent to everything.
We learned a lot about the 40 days of christ as well (After the resurrection) in the conference, but I won´t get into detail with that because there is a lot to explain. We had a good week me and elder Holinger, we must help bowen grow.
Have a great week everyone
Love,
Elder Olson
Monday, March 1, 2010
Earthquake
Earthquake, as you all know
I was really near, I felt the tremble, the floor was shaking at 3 a.m. We woke up, it was a pretty interesting experience. A lot of people are devastated, down here.
Ok well I have to be short this week, we have a few appointments today, later in the night, everything is fine down here. We had a rough week because of the festival, we tried to be effective but there was nothing to do. a 2 day festival (Festival of siruelas, i´m not sure how to spell it, it is dried prunes) where everyone gathers to party. We went for an hour, because we had permission and we had nothing to do. It was awesome because it was a interesting culture event. It made it really hard for us as missionary this week, in church not even half the members came. Our church is so small too. We have to give family home evenings every monday (Today) for the members, it is kinda demanding but we are learning. I will send some pictures of our activities sometime.
Our church has like 25 members. Here in bowen it´s almost like as if we were the leaders of the church, we take care of everything, prepare the sacrament table, prepare the chairs, open the church, the only thing we aren´t suppose to do is give talks on sunday. It´s an awesome learning experience, we are trying so hard to help this church grow. Bowen is very catholic, and most the people don´t like that we are here. We heard some complains about us, that came from the radio (members told us). The catholic church says that we are a sect and that we aren´t christians.
We are hoping for a good week, no more interruptions after the festival. Well thanks for all the support!
Love,
Elder Olson
I was really near, I felt the tremble, the floor was shaking at 3 a.m. We woke up, it was a pretty interesting experience. A lot of people are devastated, down here.
Ok well I have to be short this week, we have a few appointments today, later in the night, everything is fine down here. We had a rough week because of the festival, we tried to be effective but there was nothing to do. a 2 day festival (Festival of siruelas, i´m not sure how to spell it, it is dried prunes) where everyone gathers to party. We went for an hour, because we had permission and we had nothing to do. It was awesome because it was a interesting culture event. It made it really hard for us as missionary this week, in church not even half the members came. Our church is so small too. We have to give family home evenings every monday (Today) for the members, it is kinda demanding but we are learning. I will send some pictures of our activities sometime.
Our church has like 25 members. Here in bowen it´s almost like as if we were the leaders of the church, we take care of everything, prepare the sacrament table, prepare the chairs, open the church, the only thing we aren´t suppose to do is give talks on sunday. It´s an awesome learning experience, we are trying so hard to help this church grow. Bowen is very catholic, and most the people don´t like that we are here. We heard some complains about us, that came from the radio (members told us). The catholic church says that we are a sect and that we aren´t christians.
We are hoping for a good week, no more interruptions after the festival. Well thanks for all the support!
Love,
Elder Olson
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