It’s been a while since I have written about my mission. I Just wanted to share my experience with coming home and my temporary release. I received my reassignment last week, I’m going to the Baltimore, Maryland mission leaving August 11th! So, I thought it would be a good time to share what happened and what’s going on now. It’s gonna be a long one, so if you don’t read all of it, at least read the spiritual thought at the bottom.
I’m going to start from the beginning. It all started out very slow, and went downhill rapidly.
First it was we couldn’t shake hands, then church meetings were cancelled, then we weren’t allowed to have lunch with members, a week later, we were put into quarantine. We didn’t have a phone or anything so there was nothing to do except study and play uno. But, 2 days later we got the call we never expected. It was a Monday morning, and as we started our studies we got a call that all foreigners would be Going home. It was Devastating. I didn’t know what to think. We were able to call our parents to tell them. As soon I said it out loud to them, it all turned real. I was very upset and disappointed. We packed up that same day and moved to our District leaders house. By Monday night, I felt an overwhelming peace with what was happening and was able to accept it. We spent the next day at his house eating all of our food we had left (I had 4 boxes of mac and cheese left and Elder Buys had a Birthday cake mix) and playing games. It was a pretty boring day, but definitely the best part of our Journey home.
Ok, on to everybody’s favorite part, things that I hate: Our Journey to get home. It went something like this: Tuesday night at midnight we finally started our journey. It was an 8 hour van ride to Goiânia, then we spent Wednesday day and night at an apartment close to the airport. Thursday, we got on a short flight to São Paulo, then sat in the airport lines for about 8 hours with the thousands of other missionaries. By midnight, we got on the flight to LA. We spent all of Friday in the Airport, and I got back late that night.
Things That I like: Everything in the USA is so clean. It’s not a bajillion degrees outside. I can shower without sandals. There aren’t ants in everything. In LA, Elder Peek and I found nutter butters, peanut butter M&M’s, reeses pieces, chips ahoy, and a Shake shack (which was out of shakes, I was pretty upset, but the burgers were great).
Anyways, Since I have been back, I was released and I have been working at home doing customer service, and spending my free time biking and catching up on movies (I highly recommend Jojo Rabbit and Peanut Butter Falcon).
But, on to the good part.
My spiritual thought: Through my time in Brazil and my experience coming home, God has taught me so much. One of the biggest things I have learned is patience and acceptance. There are so many times when things didn't live up to my expectations. I had just accepted the fact that I was gonna be in Brazil for 2 years, when I was suddenly sent home. For just a moment I questioned why God would do this to me. Why would he make me do such hard things for 8 months and not even let me have the opportunity to finish my mission serving the people I love? Well that thought passed quickly as I felt the comfort that this was all part of his plan.
I have learned that we don’t always know why things happen to us, but it is all part of our Heavenly Father’s perfect plan. I know that he loves each one of us. I know that as we seek to submit to his will and accept our trials, we can find true happiness. I have no idea why I have been sent home early, or why the world has to suffer from this pandemic. But if we put our faith and trust in God, I know we can find peace and happiness amidst our trials. I am excited for what the future holds for me and pray that each one of you can find peace in Christ during this trying time. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.
Muito Amor,
Elder Olson
Photos from my last week in the mission in Brazil under quarantine.
