Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Last preparation day

Well, this is my last preparation day. 

This week was a little slow. Most of the people in Nanuque are leaving to go the the beach, or see their family, or pursue other activities in light of the holiday. So we are having a little bit of trouble hanging on to our investigators, but I'm sure the Lord will give us ways to fill our time during this Christmas week. Last week we spent quite a bit of time visiting less actives and recent converts.

This week one of my recent converts got a new puppy, and he didnt have a name yet. And I told her to call him Nick (common dog name in Brazil) because then she would never forget me haha, and she said "oh I wanted to name it Nick but I thought it might hurt your feelings because I know your brother's name is Nick! But ok ele se chama Nick agora!" hahahaha 

We also had our branch Christmas party! It was actually super fun. They played Christmas music, and had a huge dinner, and everyone seemed really content. I took the opportunity to reflect on the Savior and His divine earthly mission. We would truly be without hope were it not for the Savior. I am grateful for His loving care, and for his protection and guidance, and to be able to have represented Him for these wonderful 2 years.

até dia 29,

Elder Eric Olsen


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OH MY GOOOSSSSSSHHHHHHHHH I cant believe this is my last email. I feel like a huge sum up is fitting here haha so I'll do my best.

This week was pretty great. We had a mission Christmas party with our zone and Uberaba zone, the Presidente and his family came. It was good, we had a Talent show (no I didn't do anything #shy haha) and watched some videos about Christmas. I felt like all the missionaries were really united and there was a true Christmas spirit!

UGH its like impossible to sum up 2 years in an email haha. This has been a pensive week, the closer I get to the end the more I don't want it to end! I have changed and grown so much in the service of Christ, it's a mix of emotions. Overall I want to thank y'all for always being supporting, mom and dad have never missed a week to email me (well, dad missed one time but it was because there was no internet in the middle of Virginia) and that has been a huge support. I love you all. 

I know that the Savior lives. I feel that that's true and I feel his love. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I have learned so much that I can't put into words to describe, much less in an email in these last 5 minutes that I have! But this has been the best decision of my life, and I know that it will shape my eternity.

So excited to see y'all! Next week I'm 95% positive that I won't write, but we'll talk on Christmas!

MUCH love,

Elder Nick Olsen

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

WOW, only 2 more weeks left! I can't even believe it! This week we have the mission Christmas Activity, and the next week is Christmas, so I think it'll go by super fast!

This week we really saw some miracles, some super good investigators coming out of the moldings (is that a saying...? i think it is) We're doing everything we can to give a good present to the Lord for his Bday :) 

It has been a time of a lot of reflection. President Kuceki came this week and talked about how to be sanctified and closer to the Lord, and talked about how we need to do things that we don't like and leave things that we do like, make sacrifices to serve and keep our covenants. He said "all of you are here in the mission, so all of you have left things you love. Your families, friends, and your studies, work, everything. Now you need to do what He asks, even if you don't like it." And I could think about what I have done in these 2 years, and I realized that I did a lot of things that I didn't like! haha but I can feel the blessings and proximity to the Lord that has come through it. 

I'M JUST TRYING TO WORK UP UNTIL THE VERY END!!!!!!

But I love you. I can feel that y'alls prayers really do have an effect in my life and work, thank y'all so much!

Much love,

Elder Nick Olsen




Tuesday, December 8, 2015


The week was marked my fatigue and travel - we ended up only spending 1 full day in Nanuque! We spent some time in Vitória for the leadership meeting, and then ended up travelling to two different cities to conduct baptismal interviews. That being said, I don't have too much to report this week..... I could describe the inside of the bus that transported us, but I don't know if anyone is really interested to hear about it!

We were blessed to see the baptism of one of our investigators, Gení. She was adamant that she didn't need to be baptized in the Church of Jesus Christ to receive all the blessings that the Lord wants her to have; after much teaching and conversation the Spirit touched her heart, and she decided to enter into the waters of baptism. The biggest reward was to hear her describe the joy and purity that she felt after her baptism.

I know that the gospel is true, and that Jesus Christ is the only path by which we may find true happiness! boa semana!

Elder Eric Olsen


                           


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As últimas semanas... It's getting pretty rough! haha

This week we worked really hard, we are still trying to do street contacts with everyone we see--now we can't even knock doors! Not even if we want to! So you never really sit around doing nothing, there are always people around. But unfortunately, there are not very many great investigators that we've found yet.

One cool thing is that this week I saw a picture of my 1st baptism, Saymom, baptizing some kids! I think they were his cousins or something. But I am psyched because he's firme!

Brazil is pretty much ready for Christmas, despite the burning heat there are a ton of fake Christmas trees and decorations.

SO THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL! Don't worry I have already started buying a few presents :)

Much love,

ELder Nick Olsen

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Black Friday/White Friday

Here in Brasil, Black Friday is a thing! And it isn't called Sexta Feira Preta - it's called Black Friday, in English! Everyone pronounces it wrong,.. but in any case, my companion and I didn't celebrate thanksgiving OR Black Friday. We did, however, celebrate WHITE Friday, because we had 3 baptisms! After a long 2 months of teaching, Fábia and her two children, Felipe and Pedro, were baptized. When Pedro left the baptismal font, he asked us - "Am I really clean from all my sins?", and cheered when we told him that he really was. 



We also had the opportunity to give Fábia a blessing of health, because she had been with a stomach bug for 2 days. Before we blessed her, we made it clear to her that the blessing would be able to help her only based on her own faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His healing power. When we took our hands off of her head, she told us that she knew that we were called of God, because she felt 100% better. She later told us that in that moment, she could feel God's love for her. She just felt like smiling. It is such a blessing to be able to bless the lives of others. We all can act as the Savior´s hands, just as President Uchtdorf taught. We simply need to ask Him for opportunities to act in His behalf, and He will allow us to be instruments in blessing others. 

This Thanksgiving, we didn't do anything special. We had zone meeeting, but it was pretty routine... But all the same, I am thankful to be able to serve God each day of my life. In the words of Ammon: And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work.

boa semana pra todos! 

Elder Olsen


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Ayyyyyyyy I'm so psyched about my scholarship!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! swag demais

Unfortunately, this week followed the pattern of last, not too much happened. We are really trying to do all we can to find the elect, including doing over 100 contacts each every week, but its pretty difficult. I just pray that its not because of unworthiness that we aren't being blessed with much success.

That being said, I am losing myself in the Old Testament (LOL who would have thought?), its so awesome! Right now im in the part with King David and Bathsheba and such. And I'm trying to work hard and stay worthy of all the possible blessings that Heavenly Father has for me until the end.

Our zone is going pretty well, I think we won the competition of November against Uberaba but they haven't called yet.

but i love y'all :) 

and missed y'all for thxgiving :(!


Elder Nick Olsen