Just another week

Hi Everyone,

Wish I could tell you a lot happened this week, but it didn't. We had 1 lesson with a new person this week, and 2 lessons with members, and that's it. For some reason, almost nobody answered the phone or texts this week. But, that's just how it goes sometimes being a quarantine missionary.

The new person we found was through posting an ad for free Bibles on Facebook. She lives close so we were able to drop off a Bible and Book of Mormon for her! Apparently she just got out of jail and doesn't have anything, so the ward is gonna get her some clothes and stuff. That's about all that happened this week.

Spirtual thought: Alma 5:19 "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?"

I read this in my personal study, and it stuck out to me. We must always be asking ourselves these questions and try to always be prepared to meet God.

Things I like: We went hiking last p-day. It was pretty cold and lame, but just nice to get out. One Elder asked where the appalachians were, and I told him we were hiking in them. He was pretty underwhelmed haha.

Things I hate: The Giacomos Cheese Steak. Biggest rip off ever.

Photos

1. Hiking with the Spanish Elders

2. A meme. We aren't allowed to approach people in the street, but if they approach us we are allowed to talk to them haha.

Back to church!

E aí bão??

This week was super awesome for us! We were able to find 2 new people, and we got to go back to Church. The first person we found is named Brenda. We were just calling through our area book for the bajillionth time, and this time she answered! When we told her who we were she started balling and telling us all sorts of stuff about her life. It was kinda uncomfortable, but we could tell she needed help. She is going through a really rough time. We were able to share a couple messages, and invite her to church, but she didn't come. Please keep her in your prayers

The other person we found is actually a member referral. Her name is Kaci, she was the foster daughter of this member at one point. She has been going through some hard stuff as well, but she is ready to hear the gospel. We didn't even have to invite her to church, she has already made plans with the members to come next week! It was so awesome because we actually got to go to the members home to teach. It has been months since I have had an in person lesson.

Spiritual thought: Mosiah 5:13 "For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?" To really know God, we must serve him.

Things I like: We played golf in the freezing cold last week. Also, we have been reviewing all the cheese steaks in Chambersburg. It has been pretty fun, but after having 2-3 cheese steaks a week, I'm pretty sick of them haha.

Things I hate: zoom meetings. Going back to Sacrament meeting in person has made me realize how much I hate doing it over zoom.

Photos!

1. Golfing in the cold with the spanish Elders.

2. Tiny ponies we found while doing billion graves (Also pictured, the new Elder in our district, Elder Faimalo)

3. We made ribs for Sunday dinner (yes I realize this is the 3rd time) but this time, we had fried ribs with homemade spicy bbq sauce. It was amazing, but I think my heart may be covered in a thick layer of fat now 😄.

The District is staying!!

 Hi Everybody!

We got transfer news Saturday night, and the whole district is staying! We will also be gaining another Elder so we will have 5 people in my apartment. It might be a bit crazy, but it will be fun! Elder Woffinden leaves for Africa in 2 weeks, so it's just a temporary thing.

Not much to report as far as people we are teaching. We had one lesson in Portuguese with my friend Dym from Angola, but that was it. We are trying to find people to teach, and the members here are a great help. But, we did get to do service pulling cabinets out for a museum place

Spiritual thought: Doctrine and Covenants 11:7 "Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich."

Seek what really matters in life and you will have true joy.

Things I like: Elder Harrast has been teaching me guitar, and it has been really fun.

Things I hate: The wind out here is pretty brutal. It wouldn't be so cold if it wasn't always windy

Photos:

I realized I only took 1 photo this week, and it's just of the ribs we made last night 😂

So just so that isn't the only picture, I'm going to throw in a random picture quote I made.

Happy New Year!

Opa, tudo de boa?

I hope you all had a great New Years this week. The holidays have definitely slowed down any progress we were making, but it was a fun week. New years day we got to have a district activity, and we did a zone zoom talent show. This Saturday, we also did virtual exchanges with the zone leaders for a couple of hours. I had never done a virtual exchange before, but it was a lot better than I expected. Also, one of the members of my district, Elder Woffinden, was supposed to leave this Friday to Zimbabwe. But, he got delayed, so the district will stay intact a little longer.

We only had a couple of member lessons this week. Other than that, we didn't have anything too exciting. We were able to setup appointments with a couple of new people for this week though.

Spiritual thought: Doctrine and Covenants 3:1 "The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught" This verse stuck out to me during my studies this week. I've seen this to be true, nothing can stop the work of God.

Things that I like: For new years we got to have a district activity and we played some skyjo. Elder Woffinden and I tied, so we had to settle it somehow.

Things that I hate: Sadly, it was decided it would be settled in a free throw shoot out. I suck at basketball so I lost haha.

Photos

1. Exchanges with Elder Hathaway 

2. District Activity

Note from mom Olson: Elder Olson has been learning to play the acoustic guitar since one of the Elders in the apartment has one and can teach him. He's favored us with a few songs over our VideoCalls. He also participated in their Zone Talent Show.