Week 92 Office

Happy Feriado~

I've been super great this whole week!!  Manuel and Mariana's baptism was a SUCCESS!!! They got in the water last Saturday!!!  God has been really good!  We are super happy with their true conversion.  They keep on sharing the gospel with their friends.   Manuel invited his friend Carlos to an English class held at the church and now he wants to go to church with his friend!  We are super happy with the things that they have felt and seen with their conversion.  They are faithful members of the church.  The next step with them is getting Manuel to get the priesthood and get them to go to the temple together to do baptisms.
We went to the temple today for our P'day!  That was a fun experience, just so happens to be that it was one of those rare sunny days!  It was awesome!  We then went to the Mall del Sur to go look at stuff to maybe buy but we didn't end up getting anything.  It was awesome nevertheless.

This week has been great as far as the work goes.  We decided to set the goals a bit lower because we have been missing quite a bit with transfers and everything.  Right when we did that it just kind went right up to the goals.  It's kind of like a magnet haha, you just gotta lower until you can achieve it and then raise it up higher.  We are finding some new investigators, I'll talk about them as they start coming to church.   Valeria is still progressing well, we are super happy about that one.  She has been super excited to keep learning and get baptized like her friend in the other ward over.

Me picking something up

Me and Elder Blanco

Baptism pic!!

That's about it for this uneventful week.  I'll leave some pictures to make up for it, thanks for reading this!  LOVE YOU!!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Olsen


Ethan,
Has it been a drama alert in school?  hahaha, I bet!  Usually they think they are boss because they are fresh out of elementary school hahaha.  They think they can be all cool and swear and stuff, as we know though, *In Sonic voice* "that's no good!"  And THAT'S MY LITTLE BROTHER!!  Gets into band and is bored because you already know everything! You sir, are a beast.  Keep learning in your own style at home and perfecting your playing skills!!

-ElDeR oLsEn


PS. Yeah probably a good idea to get my registration going.  I'm still planning on going on the Spring semester.

Week 91 Office

Happy Transfers!!

Surprisingly, everything went super well!  We didn't have any super big problems thank goodness.  The missionaries in Na'ca were super late getting out.  We coordinate with the missionaries in Nazca to make sure all the zones in the South of Lima get on the same bus. In the same bus the missionaries in Nazca, Ica, Pisco, Chincha and Cañete need to arrive in Lima.  So Nazca leaves at X time and everyone needs to be waiting in the station at X time minus their distance.  I called the Elder coming up from Na'ca with a phone going to Lima and he said they left 2 hours late.  So I called the zone leaders and they said they left only 40 minutes late.  And I was like "oh is that so?  I just got news from the Elder traveling in the bus that they were 2 HOURS late" and he was just like "yeah sorry we missed our first bus." Yeah, fun stuff, that was the only hiccup in the plan.  Also I can't remember if I already told you about the last minute transfers with the Elder who was about to go to Ica then the assistants remembered he has family there.

Another funny thing. President talked to me this week.  He expressed the fact the he might change his mind, and I think probably have me die training, for the last transfer having me go back out to the field.  When he asked for my opinion about it I just kinda said, whatever is convenient for you and the Lord it's good with me.  He probably brought it up because the mission is going to lose only 5 missionaries this transfer and balloon up 15 new missionaries this transfer.  I bet he's thinking about having me train.  After so much time behind the scenes you get good at seeing President Richey's little gears going hahaha.

This week in the good news, the baptism for the Hernández couple is still on!!  Their testimony is super strong.  We went over to prepare them a little more yesterday and when we went to visit them they had read a talk from Russel M Nelson, "Come Follow Me!" Normal investigators never do that!!  We taught them about missionary work and I said something along the lines of "We have a great opportunity to share the gospel with our friends and family."  Manuel cut me and said, "We had the OPPORTUNITY of knowing the true gospel of Jesus Christ, it is our DUTY to share the gospel with our family and friends." And I was like "yep that's about it, that lesson just taught itself haha."  They already have their plan about how they are going to share the gospel.  Sister Hernández shared their big "plot" to share the gospel haha, she is having a birthday on Monday, so she invited her work friends over to share some cake and have a family home evening.  They are so awesome!! That's happening tonight at 7:00pm.  We still gotta get the font figured out and stuff.

Questions.  I'm making an effort on the Spanish here in the office.  It ain't easy with everyone being from Gringolandia but I'm still with the goal to keep improving.  We don't have many keeping commitments, we need to get another fresh batch in our teaching pool. We have some plans to find like crazy.  We found an investigator that had been attending the Campiña 1st ward.  Now she says she is going to start attending the Campiña 2nd ward and start to prepare to baptized.  We are excited about her progress.  She is doing everything she needs to, reading praying and attending church.

Well that's about all I got.  Thanks for reading.  I LOVE YOU! Keep being awesome!  I'll get pictures this week of the baptism and our Pday in the Mall hoping to get some 2 sol ties! Haha

Con mucho amor,
Elder Olsen

Week 90 Office

Happy Saturday!

We have the transfer madness going on this week!  That's super fun!  This time isn't nearly as bad and stressful.  It's only taken me three transfers to get the hang of it all but it's getting a whole lot easier now haha.  This transfer we got an old document from about two years ago that they used to use for travel plans and I revived it.  We are gonna use it to inform the zone leaders about the travel plans and make it a whole lot easier.  Now I won't have to call or text everyone.  That'll be pretty fun.  This transfer is going to be super easy as well because we are losing only 5 missionaries and gaining 3.   They are small groups for sure. The mission will have to close two programs, it's getting super small.  Next group we will have a net gain of five missionaries.  They will have to open some programs for sure to fit all of the missionaries in.

Questions, transfers are going to be happening all this week.  The main transfers are going on on Monday, that's the day I get little sleep with going to the airport and taking early morning phone calls and getting my health presentations ready for the new arrivals.  We are seeking to find at least one prepared person ready to accept the gospel every day.  We have a pretty rich area but we also have some outskirts that are a little more humble.  At least our current area isn't a tourist area like our last one was in.  That was something super funny about Bolognesi that most of the people we contacted in the street weren't in our area and sometimes not in our country haha.  And dad, me as a pretty old youth, I would be interested in hearing from missionaries.  And to get in you have to bring two nonmember or less active friends.  Nah, but you know those face to face question things?  You could do like a local one and it can be based on the Atonement.  The youth can ask their biggest questions and the Bishopric could answer with the Atonement.  You can end with like a refrigerio or some juegos.  Maybe even a películita.

We have had a super successful week in the proselyting area as well!  Manuel and Mariana are still firm in their decision to be baptized!  They have been receiving so many blessings from investigating the Church!  Manuel has lost his job but decided to continue firm in his beliefs and in keeping the commandments.  He has seen miracles because of it.  They truly have had a mighty change of heart!  They are miracles!  They are going to have their baptismal interview today and next week at 7 they are going to get baptized (best P-day ever!)  We are putting our focus into finding new investigators this week.  We need to increase the pool to keep baptizing even though we are office Elders.  It is not easy but we can do it!

Before I forget...again, you all remember the Venezuelan couple Elder Arreaga and I were teaching forever in Las Villas and trying to get them to get married right?  Beatriz and Jandri?  It turns out they got married about a month ago and they got baptized!  That was some good news for sure!  She is still an active member!  She takes her kids to all of the primary activities over there.

That's about it for today!   It's gonna be a fun week for sure! haha.  I'll tell ya all about it next week for sure.  It's gonna ba a party.  Thanks for all the support!  I love you all!!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Olsen

Transfer trabajo

my compa takin a selfie on my camera

Me and a mission buddy Elder Streber,
he stamped me and wanted a pic.
He looks kinda like Trent without a beard haha.
He's from Argentina surprisingly.

PS I'll get an excuse for one of my companions to take a closeup pretty soon. Thanks!  And, The Hammer Museum looks like a place Thor would like to hang around haha.

Travel Plans!!

Dear Brother and Sister Olsen

My name is Elder Olsen, and I am a secretary of the Peru Lima South Mission. I am contacting you to inform you of the details regarding your son’s return home.

Return date: 12^th of November, 2019

Arrival Time: 2:58PM

Arriving to airport located in: St. George, Utah

His flight itinerary is attached.  Please make sure that you will be at the airport to pick-up Elder Olsen. Please coordinate with your Stake President to be available to release him that same day.

Please respond to this email as soon as possible so I know that you are informed about your son’s return travel.

Thank you for your support and love for our mission!

Sincerely,

ELDER OLSEN

Misión Perú Lima Sur

Secretario Personal del Presidente

Oficina: +51-1-222-4445

Celular: +51-998-477-553

Love ya!

Week 89 Office

Happy Saturday!

It has been another good week in the office.  We have had quite a bit of sick missionaries surprisingly this week haha, I've been tying up those loose ends before transfers.  I have to be 100% focused on the travels for next week.  Transfers really did sneak up on me!  I'm gonna be going on my 4th transfer in the oficina after next Saturday! 

We have been going strong over here in the area, we are still teaching Manuel and Mariana. I've never seen investigators progress quite like them.  They actually talked to us in the street.  Manuel passed by and just kinda looked at us, then he left, but like 30 seconds later he came back to talk to us.  He was definitely drawn by the Spirit towards us, super cool.  He and his wife haven't have one problem with keeping ALL of the commandments and commitments.  They are getting ready for their baptismal interview next week!  We are excited!!  Wilfredo didn't come to church this week... He is still going super strong though, he is reading really well in the Book of Mormon.  We are excited about the success we are starting to see here.  The Father has been helping us out a lot during these last few weeks.

We aren't planning anything too fancy this Pday, it is going to be kind of a normal one.  We played sports and we are going to hang around the office probably and watch a movie or play ping pong.

It's good to hear that Ethan's excited for 6th grade!!  I can't believe that!  I was super scared too going into 6th grade not gonna lie.  But at the same time I had kind of a fun time being a big kid haha.  Only council to Ethan is just push through, it's a lot better in middle school and high school.  Is Ethan gonna do band?  What instrument is he gonna play!?  Ethan's a boss.
So sorry I can't write too much longer, I just wrote all of my companions that are at home! Thanks for reading this note even if it's kind of short!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Olsen

Week 88 Office

Happy Saturday, again!

We have had a super great week!  We have been over here in the office just getting caught up on our work, super chill.  So remember my Permethrin adventure!?  As it turns out, the area wants to know every single detail about how I got it and what it is and how to dilute it. They said that they've never really known how to make it and now they do thanks to my awkward little adventure haha.  They are going to be presenting the instructions I made and the pictures I took for a training meeting for multiple missions hahaha.  That's about the most interesting thing that's happened all week.  We just have a bunch of sick missionaries as well lately.   One with a bad knee, another one claims he feels worms in his stomach, another one with an inflamed lung, and another with constant headaches for a month.  Fun!

The area is doing sooo well!!   We have been bringing up the amount of investigators in our pool by a lot!  The members are so awesome in this ward!  They pick up the slack seeing that we never really have time to be out and about!  We have 3 investigators getting ready for baptism.  Our first two are Manuel and Mariana Hernández, they are a Venezuelan couple.  Manuel has a lot of member family.  Mariana's family is not religious, she grew up not being allowed to go to church even if she wanted to.  She turned it all around with her husband (they're married!!!!!) and they are both attended regularly this whole week and are getting ready to be baptized for the 24th of August.  Our other investigator on track to baptism this month is Wilfredo.  He's awesome.  He has a lot of member family but they've all died and now coming to church it gets back his childhood memories of going every once and a while and now he wants to get baptized.  Awesome!!   Jorgenis is doing super good! We are happy that he is starting to get to know some more people and is going to be pushing to find a new job this week!  The fast he is going to do today is going to get him a boost as well!!

We have been putting a lot of focus on achieving our goals and that's what we have been doing, the office district is on the rise!  The assistants are doing an excellent job on their side of things as well.  Thanks for all you do for me! Love you!

Con mucho amor,
Elder Olsen