UNBROKEN (week 57)

HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY YOU GUUUYS!!!!

How was your thanksgiving? Mine was just any other ordinary day so that was fun......I guess!!!! This week wasn't exactly our best buuuuuuuut it wasn't exactly the worst either....lots of things went down.

Soooo you know how I told you guys that I was going to have divisions with Elder Smith....yeah that turned out a little differently than what we thought. So we had our divisions on Tuesday and it went super chevere!!! Elder Smith only has like 5 months in the mission but he has progressed BEYOND quickly....literally in all aspects of the work and it was all fun and good. Then next day we waited for our companions to come back and they did.....I was fine, and I was trying to show Elder Monserrate the bullet that they literally have taped to their outside wall hahahahaha but he was ignoring me and I think that worried Elder Bermejo a little bit. Soooooooo Elder Bermejo decided to continue the divisions....the plan was that we (Elder Smith and I) would leave to my area and work there and our companions would go to all the set appointments in Floresta and then go contact in my area at 5 and we would all meet up at my house.....so we did that, and during that division Elder Smith told me that he talked to his companion and they really struggled during their division and they weren't able to find people to teach or something but Elder Smith and I were able to teach a lot of different people so I don't really know what happened. THEEEEN we came home and they weren't there so they called us and said that they didn't have money to come home (found out later they had double divisions with the LZ for medical appointments) so Elder Bermejo told us that Elder Smith was going to sleep at my house.....CHEVERE!!! So we went back to Floresta the next morning and my companion was still acting weird and once again that worried my district leader so he and Elder Smith left for a minute to buy food for breakfast (they actually went to talk to President) and they agreed that we would have divisions up until Saturday.....so yeah I was in Floresta up until Saturday!

That paragraph was too long and it was bothering me......buuuuuuuut those divisons were good! We had a REALLY good lesson which made us late getting home, which made Elder Corbett worry about us (Floresta is super sketchy) and then he made us call President to tell him about that......buuuut that was actually super funny cause we were like "we got home really late and Elder Corbett wanted us to call you" and he was like "were you in a lesson?" like just the tone of voice that he used was the best hahahahaha.....and then we talked about the divisions and he seemed a little more worried about that hahaha!

Buuuuuuuuuuut yeah after all of that we had a companionship inventory with the LZ and Elder Monserrate and I went back to my area and he literally didn't talk to me......and it seemed like nobody knew we had divisions because usually all of the other investigators say things like "WE MISSED YOU....HOW WAS THE OTHER AREA" buuuuut nope! We also had a bunch of weird calls on our phone log.....and a lot of things were just.....fishy, I don't know!!!! But anyways Sunday wasn't any better cause my companion wanted to talk to a bunch of girls or a member or something so one of us would go one way but the other one wanted to go to another.......and he didn't want to sit anywhere near me and it was just a mess. So we went home, I made lunch, and studied a little bit but I was getting a little anxious because I knew we would have to plan soon which means I would have a hard getting my companion to want to do that....so I went over there and I was like "uhhhm we need to plan" and he just got upset and started to speak suuuuuper fast so I was like "what?" and then he started to SCRRREAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAM! Then I was like "you don't need to scream at me" and he was like "well you never can hear me if I don't sooo it's whatever" and yeah, I just kinda had it and was like "if you keep screaming at me i am gonna lose it and call the LZ" and he was like "I don't wanna fight so do it!" Sooooo yeah I called the LZ......and then I got on with President and explained the situation....and he was like "well, you guys aren't doing very well but i don't like emergency transfers so I am gonna call the LZ and figure it out with them." So I had a nice chat with Elder Corbett while he figured out where to put me.

So Elder Monserrate left to Floresta and I left to Occidente.....I had to stay the night with Elder Corbett first because Occidente didn't have a cellphone so they couldn't get ahold of them. I am currently in a trio with Elder Padilla From Bolivia and Elder Perez From Peru.....they seem cool but I just got here sooo I don't know!!! It was kinda awkward because they just dropped me off on their doorstep and were like "Yeeeeah uhhhhm Elder Olsen is your new companion ciao!" Hahahahah buuuut yeah, it was also kinda weird cause we had a zone activity and we played soccer and EVERYONE was asking us questions which was fun to deal with but its whatever.

It was hard but it was good, there was a lot of things that i didn't write about buuuuuuut long story short lots of things happened and it's good I got out of that environment.

I am a little torn but what is important is that I am UNBROKEN. My gospel glue stick will fix all of those tears, I am not happy about what went down but I know that our Heavenly Father works in all kinds of mysterious ways. It's just a new opportunity to meet, serve and love other people and I am grateful for the opportunity that my Heavenly Father has given me........so we will see how it all goes down :)

Your fav,

Elder Olsen

P.S Mom you need to contact Elder Smith and Elder Marks moms.....we all kinda decided that you guys are gonna be friends!! They should all be on Colombian mission moms so I think you guys would be really good friends......that is all!!!!

 The view from Floresta

The Floresta house literally got shot a few months ago......here is the bullet!

Zona Popayan at Frutijugos 

For My Benefit (week 56)

Heeeeeeeeeeeeey you guys!!! What's crackin?

This week really wasn't the best....we had some problems that effected a lot of different things. My companion and I aren't getting along the best.....but that's okay, it will work out eventually. But it didn't really work for us last week and we weren't able to work as hard as we could've which blows but what can you do!!

I am also having problems with my hearing aid again......I hate this model of hearing aids because the screw things that I use to take out my wax guards literally strip my wax guards....and the rims of the wax guards break and then they fall right into the hearing aid :/ soooooo yeah I called Hermana Whitesides and she told me she would call my doctor and then let me know.......buuuut I still haven't heard anything back soooo pailas with hearing right now I guess.

This week we didn't have church we had district conference it was pretty chill. As always my favorite talks were from President and Hermana Whitesides, they are just tooooo goood at what they do hahaha! But Hermana Whitesides talked about how when she was a little girl her mom would wake her up and they would read the bible together EVERY SINGLE DAY.....that's pretty rad! She talked about how that was the start of her testimony and how its important that we continually nourish and strengthen our testimonies. President talked about a lot of different things.....the whole conference was based around the temple and family history work and he talked about the blessings Colombia will receive from the Barranquilla Temple....I guess it just got its Moroni.....Que Chevere!!!! He also did the math in front of everybody and I guess that 1 in every 500 people in the world are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints......RAD!

The missionaries were also given permission to go to the face to face conference with Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard.....I am sure it would have been rad buuuuut the people in charge of the audio made it too loud so it was really squeaky....and they didn't block out all of the English and my brain and ears could not take it soooo I was able to get a few things out of that conference but not a lot......it was a good break to be with all the YSA though.

I guess we could say this week has been a little problematic but that's okay, these are growing and learning experiences!! I would rather learn these things right now rather than later.....like when I am married and have kids and like REALLY hard situations ya know? The mission is hard buuuut it's soo good because it's like the "pre -school" of real life, you learn things ahead of time so when really bad things happen it's just kinda whatever.....you know? Like I can't imagine getting married without having the two years with companions.....so I have problems now but it will be for my benefit later!!!

But I hope all is well in the 801!!! I am always loving and praying for all of you, hope everything is going swell and that you are all happy!!

Your favorite rad missionary,

Elder Olsen

Elder Monserrate y yo

Helping one of our investigators make a mini bible 

"Voy a Aprender Muchas Cosas" (week 55)

Heeeeeeeeeeeeey fam!!! It's been a good minute!!! How are all of you?

I am doing suuuuuper well actually, my companion and I are getting along....our area is getting along too, we are making progress slowly but surely its hard but the lord is always helping us....ALWAYS!! We were able to find a few new investigators but it's too early to see if they will progress....but you never know :)

This week we have had lots of opportunities to do fun things with members, Fernanda Benitez turned 30 this week so we went and visited her for a family night, we had this BOMB message all about wisdom....buuuuut it was full on party so we didn't end up giving it!! That party made miss my Carter family Just a little bit cause we all went around telling Fernanda how much we love her on camera........it was awesome!!! I love love love love love the Benitez family 

We also went to OLGAS 15th birthday party....I am sure I have talked about her she is a recent convert. I didn't like her party as much because 15 is the year that "your all grown up" and it's a super big deal here in Latin America but it was weird cause all the men took turns dancing with her.....and I just about died when her mom told us to take our turn "uhhhhhm we cant but thanks anyway" hahahahah they also passed wine around and that was super awkward for me too but it was good!

We also played soccer as a zone today....it was weird, there's so many missionaries that i don't know!!! Buuuuut I still have my Gringo Crew sooo I ain't complaining!!

This week I thought a lot about something Elder Chacon said to me.....it was when we found out that he was gonna be a LZ with Elder Florez as his companion and I remember he SCREAMED "voy a aprender muchas cosas" or in English "I am going to learn lots of things!" I don't know why I have thought about that a lot....the last transfer was so hard for me buuuut was so good because I was able to learn and see my weaknesses...and think about how I can turn them into strengths. I think it has worked cause me and my comp are doing well, REALLY WELL!!! We joked with each other all week long and we WORKED SOOOOO HARD!!! I hope Elder Chacon was able to learn something too!! It just goes to show that A.) our Heavenly Father has given us divine potential and B.) we need to continue with faith to be able to fulfill our divine potential. Things are always hard and things are always gonna be hard but if we have Jesus Christ and the gospel on our mind things WORK OUT....it's like magic but its actually real.

CHALLENGE!!! It's been awhile since I have done a challenge so I figured it was time to do one......we are gonna open up to some of my favorite scriptures:

Ether 12:6

Ether 12:12

Read them, ponder them, write in your journal about them, APPLY THEM!!

Sorry this letter was a little chichi.....it took me a minute to get my photos together but I love you all soo much have the bestest week.

Con Mucho Amor

Elder Olsen 

BIRTHDAY CAKE

PARTY

 Daniel telling his mom how much he loves her

 Love love the Benitez family :)

 Vanessa totally birthday egged Fernanda

 Cookin' with your favorite Elders

 Olga's 15th birthday party

Elder Smith and Elder Marks, love these two!!!

My Calling is to Help Other People (week 54)

HEEEEEEEEEEEEY YOOOOOOOOOU GUYS!!!!!! What's new? I hope everything is going good over there in the America of North.

So I wasn't able to write yesterday because it was a holiday and all of the places for internet were cloooooooosed, but do not ask me what were celebrating because the Colombianos don't even know!!! That's how holidays work in this country hahhahaha

Because of a bunch of protests going on blocking the road from Popayan to Cali transfers were delayed for a minute.....but we ended up getting the transfer call! Elder Monserrate and I will be staying here, we are actually the only companionship in the zone that didn't have a transfer!!! It's all good though, I have Elder Corbett and Elder Marks and Elder Smith.......a good zone gringo crew is ESSENTIAL ;)

Buuuut yeah this week was kinda bad hahahahahah we didn't really have anything going for us. Some of our investigators were not able to get baptized......Halloween and all of the Halloween parties and all that stuff screwed it all up for us!! This transfer though.....it will happen!!! Now that Halloween is over everybody is going crazy decorating for Christmas......annoys the crap outta me!!! This country needs thanksgiving!!!

I had the opportunity to go on divisions with Elder Torres this week, it was eeeeeeh because literally everybody in my area decided that they didn't wanna be home that day soooo we walked and we walked and we walked.....it was kinda embarrassing actually hahaha But we ended up visiting one of my investigators who is kinda progressing and had a super powerful lesson with him.....and when we left to go home we got caught in the worlds biggest thunderstorm.....literally I have never had a problem with my shoes but they totally filled with water!!! And we could have totally died there were some lightning strikes super close to us sooooooo yeah....miracles :D

On a more spiritual side I am doing super good with The LDM.......I am currently in Mosiah 26!!! Part of me actually likes reading better in Spanish I mean there is always words that I do not know but the way the grammar and conjugations are make it a little easier to know who is talking. In Mosiah where it talks about like 18 different groups of kings and their people....THAT'S ESSENTIAL hahahaha but I really loved Abindadi he was soooo freaking boss......and he is totally the reason why Alma is so freaking boss!!! I don't know, I have just been diving into my study sessions lately and I have been loving it!!!

Another thing that has been a little more important to me than usual has been the way I have been writing in my journal cause usually it's just "we did this and this and went here and did this." I have been girly lately and trying to write my thoughts and feelings a little more......those are things I think I am gonna wanna remember, I don't know!! Dane and Dad your homework assignment is to read your journals and tell me what you thought was interesting!!!

Soooo yeah I am still here...still working even though its a little hard.....but I am confident that despite all the challenges I have people that need to me to teach and help them......after all I am not here to have a chill easy breezy good time.....my calling is to help other people and that's that!!!

Hope everyone is doing so good, I pray for you all the time!!! Love you all tonzo!

 Elder Olsen