I spent a lot of time this week in the apartment again.

 I struggled being inside the apartment, we lost many hours in the apartment
because my companion´s health problems. It was super hard for me
because I never felt so bored, and I suddenly had thoughts that
wouldn´t get out of my head. Thoughts that were making me question
myself. Thought that tried to weaken me. I know that if we pray, in
this types of situations, we can always recieve strength. I felt this
strength and acknowledged that God wants me to grow from this.
        We will always find ourselves in situations, wether it be that we
feel alone, or question our worth. But it is our choice to speak with
our heavenly father, and let him know of our problems, and ask for
strength to face them. We always have to recognize that our capacity
is great, Because we are children of our heavenly father. We can´t
ever question our worth.
        Take care everyone,

        Elder Olson

I can´t wait until the cold leaves

       The conditions are a little rough in Ugarteche. We have electric
estufas (heaters) that don´t warm us up very well. So we just wear a
lot of heavy clothes. They say they never seen weather like this. It
has snowed four times, walking in mud all day!!
       But we had a great week, we are really progressing with the inactive
families, and at the same time we are having success. We are starting
a new program in the mission field. To focus on our purpose even more.
We are here to baptize, and call to repentance. The presidency gave us
a new training program, so that we can do so in a effective way. And
it is working very well. We are seeing more success.
       I can promise each and any one of you that through the gospel, we can
become better people and leave our bad traits that we develop. For
example, I had many problems that are now my strengths. I know that as
we give up our ways and focus on our savior and try to be like he is
we can conquer our weaknesses. "Y si los hombres vienen a mi, les
mostraré su debilidad. Doy a los hombres debilidad para que sean
humildes; Y basta mi gracia a todos los hombres que se humillan ante
mi, y tiene fe en mi, entoces haré que las cosas debiles sean fuertes
para ellos". It requires a humility, we need a lot of it to change.

We got gas, we can eat again!!! (We were eating anyways, with the
microwave haha). Transfers ended, and I have a new companion again
haha. I keep on getting new companions. My companions name is Elder
Coronel (Colonel). He is from missions, Argentina. And he is possibly
the coolest Elder I have ever met (I´m not joking). He learned English
by watching seinfeld. He speaks fluently. As for me, this is a great
opportunity to learn more spanish. And he is willing to correct me so,
I can learn, which is helping a lot.
       We are doing good in Ugarteche, we are finding a lot of people. The
week was a little slow from transfers but we were able to get a lot
done in the little time. I´m ready for spring to come, it is still way
cold. Maybe it will snow the 3rd time :(.
       I started recently the 60 day read of the book of mormon but in
spanish. I can´t understand it reading at a good pace, and so far I am
caught up. I always feel the spirit strong when I am reading the book
of mormon. It is revelation, and we can receive added revelation from
it. I know that is true, it has given me direction and guidance in my
life. Take care :)

Elder Olson

Without gas for a week

  We got pretty filthy this week, we had no gas which means no showers,
no cooking, no washing clothes. This entire past week was a challenge,
not having gas. But we lived, at first I was bummed but then a thought
came to mind "Don´t even think about what you are going to eat or do,
the Lord will provide the means" It turned out as a good learning
experience, I believe these experiences are necessary. Today is the
end of transfers, we get to find out the transfers in a few hours.
       We have a few possible baptisms, and also we are really trying to get
Ugarteche on it´s feet. There is a lot of inactives, but we are
helping the inactives by doing noches de hogares (family home
evenings). We came up with very effective lessons/games, that are
pretty simple. We give them the idea and help them start doing it by
themselves. So far it´s working. Some inactives are making it back to
church!
       Elder Boyle is a great elder, we get a long great. He makes
everything funny, even though are day might not being going super
great he never gets down. We both like Ugarteche a lot. We walk a lot
in Ugarteche, but that doesn´t matter because the people are at least
more humble. It makes up for the city, there is a lot of people in the
city but they aren´t as accepting.

Some photos:

1 - This is an idea we did to invite members back to church.

2 - It snowed like 2 weeks ago, it was pretty deep snow. They say it

never snows that much (For 30 years)

bautizmo!!!!!

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

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

Lovin´lil bolivia.

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

Take care everyone

Elder Olson

Argentina lost!!

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

        Elder Olson