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.

Christmas and lots of food

 Hi everybody!

I hope you all had a great Christmas! This may sound weird, but I love being a missionary on Christmas. This week we didn't have any lessons, like at all. We were supposed to have one on Christmas, but it didn't happen. But, even though we didn't have any lessons, it was a great week. I enjoyed having more time this week of Christmas to reflect on the true gift of Christmas, my Savior Jesus Christ. I felt so much joy knowing I am here sacrificing my time for my Savior on his Birthday.

I don't have much else to write about, nothing too exciting this week.

Spiritual thought: Just because the Christmas season is over, doesn't mean we should stop serving others. I would invite you all to find a way you will light 2021. Also, if you want my longer spiritual thought, go check out my new Facebook video (It should be posted tonight).

Things I like: So many members have been so good to us, we have received so much food and gift cards. With those gift cards, we bought an immense amount of ribs. We made them last night and they were amazing! We still have enough left over for like 3 more meals haha.

Things I hate: We have way too much junk food. Not really something I hate, nobody hates junk food. But, there's just too much.

Photos!

1. My mom sent me Christmas Pjs to continue our tradition

2. I find this image from my Portuguese study time with Elder Page and Elder Russell to be pretty funny

3. My district and 1 of the 2 pans of ribs we made

4. The biggest snickers bar I have ever seen

 

It's Over!

Feliz Natal!!!

It's over! My Corona Virus isolation time is over! We got out on Friday and celebrated Saturday by going to Vinnie's (an awesome local restaurant) to buy cheese steaks. 10/10 would recommend their cheese steak. Also, this week on Thursday we had in person interviews with President Nye. Technically we weren't supposed to leave the house, but President called us and told us to come anyway and we would just do the interview outside. It was nice to get out.

Also this week we got to actually have a lesson with someone! We said a prayer, and then randomly called somebody in our area book and she answered. We had an amazing lesson and the spirit was super strong. We got her a Book of Mormon and she is excited to read it. Hopefully we can help her progress. 

Love you all and have a great Christmas!

Spiritual thought: I would like to invite you all to remember the true meaning of Christmas. Remember Jesus Christ is the real gift of Christmas. I feel so blessed to be serving him on his Birthday.

Things I like: It snowed!! We built a big snowman with the Spanish Elders, and played spike ball in the snow. It was a good time.

Things I hate: not being able to go to the store last P-day was pretty lame, but we're all good now.

Photos

1. Snowman

2. My district with the Snowman

3. Playing spikeball

4. Me in the storm

5. Me and my comp Elder Giles

Rona Confirmed

If anyone is wanting to send Elder Olson a written note/card this Christmas, here is his mailing address...

659 Cumberland Avenue, apartment C, Chambersburg, PA, 17201

Hi everyone,

It has been confirmed. I officially have the rona! We spent all Tuesday sitting in the urgent care parking lot waiting to get a rod shoved up our nose. It really hasn't too bad though, there was a couple of days I felt pretty gross, but for the most part it hasn't been bad. Except I can't smell anything. But it's all good.

Missionary work has been pretty slow. We have only had one 10 minute lesson with a Non-Member since I've been here. But, the Members are so awesome, and are helping to try and find people to teach. 

Spiritual thought: In my Bible study, this verse stood out to me. Mark 1:18 "And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him."

Are we willing to immediately drop everything to follow Christ?

Things I like: Having 4 people in my apartment. It would be real boring with just 2 of us

Things I hate: Being stuck in this apartment 24/7

Sorry this email was so short, but there isn't much to report. 

Here's a picture quote I made

It was only a matter of time...

Hey everybody.

Well, it was only a matter of time. I got the Corona Virus (Most likely, I still have to go get tested tomorrow). I got to my new apartment here in Chambersburg and met my new companion and district. We live in a nice apartment that has plenty of space, and even has a dishwasher! My companion is Elder Giles from Sandy Utah. He's a nice guy. I live here with my district, which is just the 2 other Elders, Elder Harrast and Woffinden, that we live with. The first morning here, Elder Harrast lost his taste, and then soon after I started getting headaches. Elder Harrast tested positive, but I wasn't allowed to test yet. Pretty sure we all have it though. It's not bad for me, I can still taste, I just have headaches and my throat is a bit sore. Just symptoms of a minor cold basically.

So yeah, it's been kind of a crazy week. Sadly, we don't really have a teaching pool, but luckily the members of this ward are awesome. Our ward mission leader and ward missionaries are always setting up appointments with ward members for us. I've never seen such a missionary oriented ward, it's awesome! 

Spiritual thought: I would encourage all of you to go watch the Christmas devotional from last night. It was amazing! They focused a lot on how the true gift of Christmas is our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that to be true.

Things I like: Dishwashers. This ward. Our new Hybrid Rav-4 we get to drive.

Things I hate: My bed is basically a pool floaty, it's one of those tiny air mattresses. But hey, at least I don't have to sleep on the floor.

Photos! (Not many this week)

1. Saying goodbye to the best trio 😪

2. Mine and Elder Giles ad for giving out free Bibles on Facebook