40 in 6?

Hello everyone!

I am now writing to you from my new area in Goiânia! I am loving this area. There is a TON of work to do. Since we are whitewashing this area, there are a bunch of uncontacted referrals, so we find all of the people we teach from referrals. The members here are also really awesome. We introduced ourselves to most of them on WhatsApp, and a bunch of them passed referrals of people who may be interested. We found a bunch of new people this week and had some very spiritual lessons. 

Our second morning here, the mission president called us. He challenged us to baptize 40 people by the end of the transfer because they are trying to open a branch here. That's quite a few... But we happily accepted the challenge! Please keep us in your prayers so that we can reach this goal! 

On Saturday night, the bishop here called to ask us both to give talks in church the next morning. I was nervous I wouldn't have enough time to prepare my talk, but it went super well. It was probably one of the best talks I've ever given.

Today, (p-day) we are deep cleaning the apartment because it was absolutely disgusting when we got here. I don't think anyone has ever cleaned it.

Anyways, I hope you are doing well and that you enjoyed this longer than normal update!

Spiritual thought: I've probably shared this scripture before, but I wanted to share it again Alma 29:9 "I know that which the Lord has commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself,  but I glory in that which the Lord has commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy" I would like to testify that there is no greater joy than doing that which God commands and helping others repent.

-Elder Olson

Photos!

1. Our first day here (on the balcony of our apartment 

2. Church after our talks

3. Sushi

Father and Son Reunited

Oi pessoal!

Happy Independence day! Living outside of the country has helped me realize how blessed we are to be Americans. Today, I start my final transfer. Surprisingly, I am not staying here in Rio Verde. I will be finishing my mission in Goiânia, and my companion will be Elder Bezerra, my son (I trained him)! It's always so sad to leave an area, but I'm so excited to be companions with Elder Bezerra again! Its going to be a blast.

The work this week was pretty slow, lots of appointments fell through. But, it was still good. Nothing too crazy. I'd like to thank everyone for your prayers for Onaldo, he is recovering well, and his doctor said it's a miracle that he lived through it! 

Spiritual thought: This week we watched a missionary devotional with Elder and Sister Christopherson. Sister Christopherson talked about the principle of "unpacking our bags". For example, whenever the saints had to reestablish, the Lord commanded them to basically act like they were going to stay for a long time, and that made it so they always prospered wherever they went. They put their all into it and labored diligently every time. When we never stop to labor diligently in the service of the Lord (or in any worthy cause) we will prosper.

Thanks to everyone who supports me and writes me! I love hearing from you.

-Elder Olson

Photos:

1. Happy Independence day! (We didn't have a flag, so I drew one.

2-3. Cereal. You all know I love cereal. My companion does too. During the past 2 transfers, we bought basically all the different types of cereal that exist here and rated them from best to worst

Transfers again...the last 12 weeks

Hello hello!

This week was transfer week. Time is flying by. On Sunday night, we said goodbye to Elder Casteñeda, who lived with us before, and on Tuesday we welcomed Elder Lewis, who's from Logan, Utah. But, it looks like soon enough the other Elders will finally be getting their own house, so in the next couple weeks it will just be Elder Arias and I.

As far as the work goes, this week we found a couple of really cool people. But sadly, we don't get to teach any of them because they live in the area of the other Elders. This Sunday, we held an online activity for the ward, and we had around 18 people there! That's a great turn out, so we were really happy about that.

But yeah, that's all for this week! Thanks for all the support, I appreciate all the people who send me emails!

Spiritual thought: I came across this scripture in my studies this week. Doctrine and Convenants 50:24 "That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day." As we accept God and his teachings, we receive more. Every day we have to strive to help the light we have grow!

Photos:
1. A restaurant  called "Bom churrasco" it was super good
2. The new district (and a recent convert)