Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Training and working hard

The weeks are kind of dragging on as I train Elder McDown. It's like being condemned to death - you know that it's coming, but for now you are just waiting. Not that I don't want to leave, but it gets a little dull - Elder McDown learns really quickly, and so I teach him what to do and then sit back and watch! It is not the most exciting time of my mission, I can tell you that. But it's been a blessing - I have been able to slow down, think, ponder, pray, and count my blessings. Sometimes it is good to just stop, think, and thank.

We took 8 people to the federal police this week - IT WAS A MESS. But nobody got deported, and everybody is legal now! And afterwards we had a churrasco for everyone at our house. It was a ton of work, but all the Elders were happy to have a change of pace.

I also did quite a few splits with the assistants this week - actually, I went each time with Elder Gingrich. He taught me a bunch, and really made me excited to go out and teach. We had a few lessons that the Spirit was really strong, and found quite a few people that accepted us really well. It was nice to get out and inspire people! We also taught a woman from Chile that spoke straight Spanish, and we understood her. It was a miracle haha!

That's about all I got. Like I said, it was a slow week. The Lord has blessed us with quite a few people to teach, and McDown has a lot of fire to find more! It's a real blessing to have him here. I know the Church is true, and that Jesus wants us to follow Him. He invites us all, with arms wide open to receive us. He is our Savior and King.



Here's a shirt you don't see every day on a Mormon missionary ha ha.


Elder Eric Olsen

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Well I'll have to be quick today! Unfortunately, the Presidente changed our time for doing email from 90 minutes to just 60 so that's not a lot of time and a lot to do.

BUT good news! Yesterday when we went to church we sat in sacrament meeting behind our investigator Karol and she turned to us and said "Good news for you two... I decided that I will get baptized on the 20th!" WOOH we were so happy. And also a couple of investigators Valtair and Marlene, who have been to church almost a month now, decided to get married! WOOH! so E. Sales and I are pretty excited. 

Other than that there is not too much to tell. We're just working hard! Don't worry about me, every prayer that y'all say on my behalf or kind word to somebody I think is paid back to me, because I am happy and the ward is great here.



Love you all, 

Elder Nick Olsen


Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Tiago McDown: THE NEW EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. That's right - in just 5 short weeks I will be back in the street, never more to be pale, chubby, and spending time in the air conditioning! I am super excited - the more I think about it, the more I want to go somewhere that's really out there in the country. ...I'll probably regret thinking that later..! Elder McDown is a great guy though - he is from Texas, and his mom is Brazilian. Even though he has only been here for 4 months, and didn't speak fluent Portuguese before coming to the mission, he speaks really really well. We will have a lot of fun together.

The transfer was super stressful, but nobody got lost, left behind, or switched out incorrectly, so I count it as a success. I was pretty sad to see some great friends and examples go home, but it just gave me a greater desire to make the last 6 months count. There is a new assistant, Elder Perez, and Elder Johnson finally went home :( But now there are four Americans in our house, and probably too much English being spoken...! Poor Elder Carvalho. But he will learn English with us, so we are actually helping him out!

I studied a lot about the Holy Ghost this week. I studied what His role is, why He is important, how to invite Him into our lives, etc. And I saw His influence much more frequently as I learned about Him - I felt more connected and more sensitive to his whisperings. I'll just give a quick example - although the week has been full of them! - as we were working the other night, I felt as if we should go visit a member of the church that lives close to where we were working. When she came to the door, we saw that she was limping - it turns out that she had had an accident, and was needing a priesthood blessing. It was amazing to be able to serve.

Other than that, the week has been pretty normal. We are getting out to work a lot more, so that has been a great blessing. I dont realize how much I love teaching and testifying until I get out to do it - we are truly most happy when we serve others! 

SO THAT'S IT. much love from Vitória!

Elder E Olsen




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Well it has been quite a week people..!

It's always a trip when you move areas, I'm having to get to know everything again, all the members and the map, it's a good thing that I'm with Elder Sales, at least I already know him! We wanted to add a little spice to our missionary life, so we decided to REALLY work out in the morning work out time and start doing a diet. A lot of boiled sweet potatos... haha but its fun! 

This week we worked really hard. We are making some progress with 2 moças, daughters of some recent converts. They just have been really pushed away from the church by their dad who doesn't live with them. But were trying really hard to get them to pray and help them feel their responses come from the Spirit. Danielle and Carol, pray for them!

So I have a quick question for mom and dad... Bertha the groundhog is like a groundhog that lives at our house? lol because the first time y'all mentioned her I thought y'all meant the one that sees his shadow, but now I'm confused. haha.

BUT i love y'all, thanks always for your prayers and support! have a good week!

Love, 

Elder Nick Olsen




Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Dear family!

I am pleased to report that I am going to train a new secretary next transfer. WOOOOOOOOOOO! I have loved the office, but I am ready to get out and teach some people. A good friend once told me that he loves his mission, because he can meet new people, make new friends, and help them come closer to his hero, Jesus Christ. I am excited to do that more frequently! We actually haven't left the office to proselyte at all this week - too much business to take care of in the office. Needless to say, I am excited for a change of pace. ........but I can't say who I will train yet. It is still a secret!

In other news, the Sister that was having so many health difficulties went home. But it was for the best. She'll be able to get the help she needs there, and then she can come back out!

It has been a sad week for me, because Elder Johnson is going home on Tuesday. He has been such a good example of humility for me, and he always really shows love in his work. He wants to have a lot of success, but he never let that get in the way of loving people and doing what would be best for them. I've lived with him for 6 months now... I'll miss him!

I have made a concentrated effort to be seeing the Lord's hand in my life. I remember when I got a journal, I think 6 years ago, and y'all had pasted in it a talk from President Eyring. He couselled to always write of miracles and blessings etc., and to never go a day without writing how you saw His divine hand in your life. I ALWAYS remember that talk,.. but I never follow it! This week, I read Bishop Caussé's talk from this last conference, where he advocates the same practice. I resolved to do the same, and have sincerily felt a greater peace of mind and heart each night as I sit down to write. It is good to realize how the Lord cares for us each day.

OH also we found a giant mouse/rat in our house and killed it. Shout out to Elder Carvalho, who hit it so many times with a broom that it didn't have a chance!

uma ótima semana pra todos!

Elder E Christian Olsen
(Man of God, Man of Steel) haha
Elder Eric Olsen, Elder Carvalho and Sister Ulfeldt at church

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Welcome to.......UBERLÂNDIA!!! But yes I actually WAS transferred! to the neighboring area Patrimônio, we even share the same church building haha. But I will be Zone Leader with......... ELDER SALES!!! Pouquíssimas vezes that you get to be comps 2 seperate times with a missionary, but I have done it twice now, with Elder Silva and Elder Sales! I love these dang Paulistas hahah. 

But this week was pretty uneventful and super eventful. Elder Bennion's last week, so we just tried to finish out strong. Unfortunately one of our golden families dumped us off, but I have hope that eventually they will realize they need this gospel. The worst part is that it was for the dumbest thing: their Sundays are really busy! I was like then cancel your activities! haha but we really did work hard. 

Last night I said to him "okay were gonna knock doors for the last time, do you wanna take a pic or something?" jokingly. But he liked the idea, so we went around trying to teach and regardless if they wanted to hear or not, we asked to take a pic haha so we got a last knocking doors pic. But shout out to Elder Bennion, he was one of the most kind and generous missionaries I know, and a great example to me.

Now I will be moving forward, new area, new comp... have yall noticed that for the pst 3 transfers I have only stayed in the area 1 transfer? I'm beginning to think that I'm a problem missionary! haha

I had a super spiritual experience at church though. I spent the whole week studying up on the atonement, there is so much to learn about Christ's sacrifice. And then when I went to take the sacrament, I read in Luke when he instituted it. And I just realizes, idk it just hit me like the Spirit sometimes does, how important the sacrament is. That it represents His blood which was shed for us. Idk, whenever you try to explain the Spirit its impossible haha. But I gained a stronger testimony of the Atonement and the importance of the sacrament.

But I love yall, thank you for your prayers and everything yall do for me.

Much love,

Elder Nick Olsen