Week 19: I'm a trainer

Week 19, 1st week of 3rd transfer

December 16, 2019

This week I had a trip into the city again. Luckily this time it wasn't by bus. We had a member take us in because Elder Rodriguez was transferred into the city. He's a zone leader there now.  And I had to stay with him and pick up my companion the next day so we got there...we left tuesday and we spent the afternoon cleaning the transfer house because it was TRASHED. And then that night, I stayed with Elder Rodriguez and his new companion, and we worked for a couple of hours making contacts and stuff. The next day, in the morning, I went to the bus station to pick up my new companion Elder Bezerra. I'm training him! He's from the north east part of Brazil. So that was kind of a LONG trip. It kind of took away from...I lost a day and a half of work basically. But it was kind of fun because it was different. I got to see a lot of other missionaries. I got to see some of my old friends. 

This week, all of my friends I had been teaching with Elder Rodriguez, well, we basically had to cut all of them so we basically started over here with teaching people and finding people. We've been doing good with making contacts with everybody. We made a goal to see how many "no's" we can get basically. So once we finished our real goal of contacting people, we still want to contact more people to see if they'll say no. Not that we are trying to force (or even want) people to say no but we are trying to motivate ourselves and be happy even when we get rejected.

We had a reference from a member this week and it was WAYYYYYYYYYYY out off our map. Like it wasn't even on our map. It was a 30 minute speed walk, because we only had 1 hour left of the night. And when we got there, All we were able to do was to say Hi, tell them who we were and then leave because we had to get back home before 9. So that was basically running to get home. My legs are still kind of tired from it. Haha.

So yeah, this week has been good but we haven't been doing a lot teaching. Mostly trying to find new people to teach. We had an activity with the members this week. We had a Christmas family home evening, which was good. It's funny because it started at 7 but nobody showed up til 8:00. So that's kind of annoying, haha, but it's all good. Then yesterday we went caroling with the members to some of the older members of the ward. Some of them aren't able to make it to church because of their age or health problems because of old age. So that was kind of a cool spiritual experience.

So on to things that I hate: The transfer house. I had to sleep on this mattress that was basically springs and without a pillow so I basically didn't sleep and I had to get up at 5 (an hour and a half earlier than usual) to go get my new companion. Me and another elder who were going to the bus station to get our companions, we had to ask people on the street to get an uber for us because we didn't have a way to get to the bus station. (and we don't have smart phones with the necessary app). 

Things that I like: In the bus station I got to see a companion from the CTM, Elder Neely. So that was cool to catch up and talk with him. The first thing he said when he saw me was "Oh, you've gotten fatter!" Haha. Which was funny. But which is very true. It was funny because in the CTM they all made fun of me for being really skinny and now I've gained like 20lbs. But yeah, that was good.

This week was a lot of work, a lot trying to find new people and hopefully this next week we'll be able to do more teaching.

Spiritual Thought: I watched the new nativity video the church released, and thought a lot about the example of the shepherds and the wisemen. They dropped everything to search for christ, and when they find him, you can see the pure joy in their eyes. I want to invite you all to watch this video, The Christ Child, then think of what you need to give, or give up, for Christ. Have a great week and a Feliz Natal!

Elder Olson

1st transfer souvenir t-shirts

The 4 ninja turtles

New missionary, new companion Elder Bezerra

week 18: Eating all the animal parts

Week 18, 6th week of 2nd transfer

December 9, 2019

This week started out with interviews with the President so we had to go to city nearby, so we had to ride the bus again...so that's great. But it wasn't super far on the bus but we did have to walk like an hour after we got off the bus to make it to the chapel where the interviews were. That was only one morning so that was pretty fast.

This week we had some really cool experiences. We taught a guy (I think I talked about him last week, his name is Val and his family. I found him with Elder Burt on our splits). We had a really good lesson with them. We read the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi Chapter 11 and it was really cool because the kids were really engaged in reading and stuff and they were really interested in the Book of Mormon. But sadly they didn't come to church this week because they had some problems with other family stuff. 

Then another friend we have that was a reference from a member named Cassia. We still haven't been able to actually teach her. We've only talked to her 2 times in the door because she doesn't live with any male adults so we can't enter their house to teach a lesson (a rule that exists for the safety of the women and for the reputations of the elders) but we talked about the Book of Mormon at the door. She read and prayed about it and told us that she has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, that God showed her that it's true. So that was kind of a surprise because we haven't even been able to teach her. But it just shows that people who actually go and pray can receive answers.

Another cool experience with the Book of Mormon we had was with an investigator/friend named Veronica. We haven't been able to teach her either because their are no male adults in her home. She has a kid but she lives with her mom. But she has been reading the Book of Mormon and we just have been following up over the phone and stuff. We talked to her the other day and asked her how her Book of Mormon experience was. And she said she was half way through the book! And that she is feeling like God has showed that it's true also! So that's two people who've received answers about the Book of Mormon, which is awesome because we haven't been having any luck with getting people to pray about the Book of Mormon and actually read. And so we are pretty excited about that. But we are going to need to figure out how we can teach them, because we can't go into their house.

The hard thing is nobody comes to church. Those two didn't come to church also. So we've been having difficulty with that. Church is at 9 in the morning here and that's hard for people here. Everybody likes to sleep in or has work or things like that, so it's been hard to get people to go to church.

Today is the start of my 3rd transfer. I don't know right now where I'm going but I think I'm going to stay in Hidrolandia. I'll probably know and type it in another email. Elder Rodriguez has been transferred to the Goiania North Zone. He's the new Zone Leader there. So I will have a new companion, I know that. 

Some things that I hate: The BUS...still. And also we have this funeral home next to our house that always plays announcements for funerals and it is really annoying. They are really loud and it's always during our study time.

Things that I like: This week I tried some interesting foods. I tried this soup called Mocotó. It's basically cow foot soup. And this other one I don't remember the name of but it's cow stomach soup (maybe Dobradinha). And I actually liked them both. They kind of taste the same. It's actually pretty good surprisingly. The other thing I tried is cuscuz, which is basically cornbread but kind of more in a more mushy form, not really a bread form. Kind of like mushed up cornbread basically. That was good too with, cebada, which is this barley drink that's like a substitute coffee basically. But it's not coffee. It doesn't have caffeine or anything. But that was pretty good surprisingly, the cow foot and cow stomach soup. Kind of an interesting experience. Also I had feijoada yesterday which is black beans with a bunch of meat thrown in it and I was eating this one thing and they were like, "Oh do you like that part?" And I was like, "yeah." And they said, "That's pig ears." So apparently I've eaten pig ears also. Haha. So I'm just eating all sorts of animal parts that I've never thought I'd eat. 

But yeah, it was a good week. This week will be interesting with transfers seeing who my new companion is. 

Spiritual thought:
Mosiah 13:  28 And moreover, I say unto you, that ^asalvation doth not come by the ^blaw alone; and were it not for the ^catonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people, that they must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law of Moses.  

Remember the importance of Christ this Christmas season. Make him your focus. Without Christ we could not be saved. Try to follow his example better this christmas and #lighttheworld! Love you all and have a great week!

Elder Olson

UPDATE: I received more information about the transfer. I will be training a new missionary, Elder Bezerra, here in Hidrolandia. I'm pretty nervous because I am just leaving my own training now and I'm not completely fluent, but I trust the mission president and the revelation he receives.

Elder Rodriguez's mom shared these two photos of the missionaries

Dobradinha, cow stomach soup

Mocotó, cow hoof soup

typical feijoada

Week 17: Happy Thanksgiving

week 5 of transfer 2

Hey everyone, I forgot to do an audio recording so, sorry! I'm just gonna write this one.

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a great dinner. My companion and I had pizza for Thanksgiving dinner! I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve a mission and for all of you that support me in my service.

Anyways, This week started out with splits. I was with Elder Burt, the other American. He's more green than me, so I was the senior companion for a day. That was interesting. I realized how much I rely on my fluent native Brazilian companion to help people understand what I am saying. Most people here have never talked with an American so my accent is hard for them to understand, even when what I am saying is technically correct. Sadly, all of our appointments fell through, and we spent an hour or so looking for a house that turned out to be an empty lot. We were pretty discouraged, and I didn't really know what to do. So, I pulled out the map and said a prayer. We started knocking doors, and ended up finding the house of a contact that Elder Rodrigues and I had been looking for. 

Later this week, Elder Rodrigues taught the person Elder Burt and I found. His name is Dail, he lives with his wife and 16 year old daughter. We invited them to church, and felt really good about it, but they didn't come. To add to that, our friends that seemed to be progressing have suddenly stopped. But, I still have hope for them. Sometimes we just have to be more patient. People will find the truth in their own time. This Sunday, we also taught another Family Elder Burt and I found. We shared the Restoration and It was a very spiritual lesson. It was a blessing for me, because I was feeling a bit down due to the lack of success we have had this week.   

Things I hate: It has started raining in our house too. We have to turn the lights off when It rains because the lightbulbs drip water. Also, there is only one Atm in this city that will read my card, and the line was a 40 minute wait this morning so that was fun

Things I Like: I received a package from my parents with peanut butter and maple extract, so I made pancakes with peanut butter and syrup for breakfast. My Brazilian companion loved it. I'm going to have to hide my peanut butter haha.

Spiritual Thought: This week, we had a devotional with the parents of President Piros. His dad was also a mission president, and they shared some really cool thoughts that helped me a lot this week. They talked a lot about being patient in your trials, humbling yourself before God, and having faith. I really needed that this week, there were many times this week when I felt like giving up. But, when I humbled myself and prayed, and searched for guidance, The Lord provided a way for me to complete my goals. When you have difficulties, stay patient and keep your faith in the Lord. He will help you.

Amo vocês!

-- 

Elder Olson

Elder Rodrigues and Elder Olson celebrating America's Thanksgiving with a pizza

chatting with Elder Olson today