Oi Tudo Bom? I love Brasil!! It is going amazing! There hasn´t been anything exciting going on this week, just allot of studying of the gospel and the language. Portuguese is coming along great! I am really starting to kind of get the hang out it.. Ha, it is a kind of situation..
I went to Sao Paulo temple for the last time in my mission today; it is such a beautiful temple. It is gorgeous. It is so strange to think that I will only have 12 days left after today, weird! But, I am ready to get out there! I am starting to get in a real groundhog´s day routine, it is the same thing every day here, which isn´t a bad thing.. It is just very very similar... All the days blend in really well, and it is hard to remember exactly what happens each day, just that it happened within the last week.
So missionary work took a big change just yesterday, that will affect the way missionary work is done everywhere in the world, the Prophet announced yesterday that they are going to stop using pass a long cards.. No more for missionaries. It will only be a missionary tool for members now, so I am not sure the impact that will have, since I haven´t ever used pass a long cards expect during proselyting. So Steve or Mikey could tell you the bigger effects this will have; but all my teachers were making it sound like it is a big deal. I am excited for it, because now it will force missionaries to be more talkative , they can’t just say call this number, they have to say, can we come to your house, and teach more? So it will force missionaries to be more outgoing,
I am extremely excited to get into the field, I really can´t wait. It is starting to get really exciting in my district, we are all working really hard, and trying our best to be our bestly prepared for the field in the language and the gospel. Well, I don´t have allot of time, but I love you all, thank you for all the advice I get. I love this work, it is truly inspired. I love you all. Hurrah For Israel!!!
Scripture for the week: D&C 84: 80 and 88.
Love Elder Olsen
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Elder Olsen 17 March 2009
Oi Minha Familia,Tudo Bom? Ha, how is everything going at home? Sounds like everyone is doing really well Mom, Thanks so much for the updates on all the kids; Tell Sammy I miss him like crazy! I am so dying to see his drawings he drew for me. I love that kid to death. Tell him I miss him like crazy! Dad, thank you so much for the photos that is awesome! I am so jealous of that snow in the picture.. I can´t even remember what winter feels like. I am hot all the
Time! haha, it is pretty bad, but I love it, it was raining just a little bit ago as I was walking around, and it hot rain.. Weird Well I am adjusting to the life of a missionary quite well... 1030 sleep 630 wake up.. It is all good.. I am still gaining allot of weight. I am getting nervous.. Last night at gym I decided I might have to start working out for the first time to maintain my figure.. I am at like 155 pounds now.. All my clothes are getting a little tighter So.. ha hopefully I can still fit in them in a couple of months. Well today we went to Sao Paulo temple again and it is beautiful.. so we went to the Sao Paulo temple again and it is beautiful. There were some missionaries there from the Sao Paulo mission, and I got to talk to this Elder from Arizona, and he gave me some really good advice about the language.. He only has 2 months left.. But it was great to talk to him. Well I am getting really good at typing on the computer.. We have this computer program called TALL.. it is where we work on our typing for the language, and it really helps me in computer typing skills that I have for when I type the family.
So I have some things to ask for mother haha sorry.. But could you send me some photos..Maybe to my mission home? Because I leave in 3 weeks... so if you sent it now in a package it might not make it.. Also the pictures of just me and Sammy, ha I love those photos..Justin congrats of the State tournament.. That is way awesome.. That is tight that you are training already. I am getting fat so you will be able to beat me up. Have you received any letters from me? I have sent about 15 letters from here.. I read that Mikey received mine that is awesome..What about my other letters.. What is the news of those? Could I get a copy of my farewell talk? And also the talk by Elder Bednar about prayer.. and the story about Elder Hait I think, I must stand or knell never sit.. that one.. Mom I am going through pens like crazy.. Anyway you could send me some zebra pens?
So I got to proselyting this week and it was way awesome! I love it! I am getting allot better at Portuguese every single day, it is crazy how much like 2 weeks in between proselyting days make a difference. I was able to talk allot more. Anyways, I met a man by the name of Andre.. He was extremely interested in the gospel. It was crazy! Like
He was asking allot of questions.. And my vocabulary at this point is anything in lesson 1 or 2 haha so I wasn´t quite able to answer all his questions but he said "don´t worry the spirit will fill in the blanks of what you are notable to speak." like when someone makes a comment like that, I donno that is a pretty good sign I think. He said that he is going to pray alot about our church, and get the missionaries to teach him more, I was able to talk to him for 30 minutes, and give him both a medium 1st and 2nd lesson.. Kind of. ha. My vocab is coming along.. It is slowly getting better, I understand really well, which is a relief.. but my talking is coming along, I still have a ton of work! David, Mandy, Andrew, any advice on how to quickly learn the language? Conference is coming up and I am extremely excited! I cannot wait! is anyone going? I am so jealous, that is something that I wish I would´ve done
more. Brazilians here are so jealous of all our temples and our apostles so close to us. I am embarrassed when they ask how times I have been, and I only say twice..
Well I am all but out of time, and my pizza should be getting here, I am getting so excited! (wow I must really sound fat right now, looks like I have allot of dad in me after all) I love Brasil! I love this missionary work so much! It is incredible how much the Lord blesses us when we are obedient. You are definitely in my prayers, my whole family is. Mom you are the greatest ever. I love you mom, I tell a story about you everyday.. I showed my teacher a picture of our family and his jaw dropped to the floor! He couldn´t believe how big our family was, and how young you and dad were. I love our family so much. I miss you all soo much!! Andrew happy birthday!! I have a present coming for you! It should be there soon! Janessa, GO TO SCHOOL!!! Justin, you are the bomb! Amanda and Adam, thank you for your letters! Send me more! I wrote you! you should get them soon!! Sammy, you are my best friend I love you buddy! Draw me lots and lots of pictures! Thank you for your teddy bear in Provo! I sleep with it every night! Enjoy the temple dedication!!! I am so jealous, wish I could bet there! I love you all so much! Dad, I have a huge letter coming your way, It was sent last week, so expect it soon! I love you dad thanks for the example you are! I pray for the deer crest house every day, I love you! I almost forgot my scripture for the day, there are two of them. Alma 37:36-37AND Alma 29:14-17 love ya.
Time! haha, it is pretty bad, but I love it, it was raining just a little bit ago as I was walking around, and it hot rain.. Weird Well I am adjusting to the life of a missionary quite well... 1030 sleep 630 wake up.. It is all good.. I am still gaining allot of weight. I am getting nervous.. Last night at gym I decided I might have to start working out for the first time to maintain my figure.. I am at like 155 pounds now.. All my clothes are getting a little tighter So.. ha hopefully I can still fit in them in a couple of months. Well today we went to Sao Paulo temple again and it is beautiful.. so we went to the Sao Paulo temple again and it is beautiful. There were some missionaries there from the Sao Paulo mission, and I got to talk to this Elder from Arizona, and he gave me some really good advice about the language.. He only has 2 months left.. But it was great to talk to him. Well I am getting really good at typing on the computer.. We have this computer program called TALL.. it is where we work on our typing for the language, and it really helps me in computer typing skills that I have for when I type the family.
So I have some things to ask for mother haha sorry.. But could you send me some photos..Maybe to my mission home? Because I leave in 3 weeks... so if you sent it now in a package it might not make it.. Also the pictures of just me and Sammy, ha I love those photos..Justin congrats of the State tournament.. That is way awesome.. That is tight that you are training already. I am getting fat so you will be able to beat me up. Have you received any letters from me? I have sent about 15 letters from here.. I read that Mikey received mine that is awesome..What about my other letters.. What is the news of those? Could I get a copy of my farewell talk? And also the talk by Elder Bednar about prayer.. and the story about Elder Hait I think, I must stand or knell never sit.. that one.. Mom I am going through pens like crazy.. Anyway you could send me some zebra pens?
So I got to proselyting this week and it was way awesome! I love it! I am getting allot better at Portuguese every single day, it is crazy how much like 2 weeks in between proselyting days make a difference. I was able to talk allot more. Anyways, I met a man by the name of Andre.. He was extremely interested in the gospel. It was crazy! Like
He was asking allot of questions.. And my vocabulary at this point is anything in lesson 1 or 2 haha so I wasn´t quite able to answer all his questions but he said "don´t worry the spirit will fill in the blanks of what you are notable to speak." like when someone makes a comment like that, I donno that is a pretty good sign I think. He said that he is going to pray alot about our church, and get the missionaries to teach him more, I was able to talk to him for 30 minutes, and give him both a medium 1st and 2nd lesson.. Kind of. ha. My vocab is coming along.. It is slowly getting better, I understand really well, which is a relief.. but my talking is coming along, I still have a ton of work! David, Mandy, Andrew, any advice on how to quickly learn the language? Conference is coming up and I am extremely excited! I cannot wait! is anyone going? I am so jealous, that is something that I wish I would´ve done
more. Brazilians here are so jealous of all our temples and our apostles so close to us. I am embarrassed when they ask how times I have been, and I only say twice..
Well I am all but out of time, and my pizza should be getting here, I am getting so excited! (wow I must really sound fat right now, looks like I have allot of dad in me after all) I love Brasil! I love this missionary work so much! It is incredible how much the Lord blesses us when we are obedient. You are definitely in my prayers, my whole family is. Mom you are the greatest ever. I love you mom, I tell a story about you everyday.. I showed my teacher a picture of our family and his jaw dropped to the floor! He couldn´t believe how big our family was, and how young you and dad were. I love our family so much. I miss you all soo much!! Andrew happy birthday!! I have a present coming for you! It should be there soon! Janessa, GO TO SCHOOL!!! Justin, you are the bomb! Amanda and Adam, thank you for your letters! Send me more! I wrote you! you should get them soon!! Sammy, you are my best friend I love you buddy! Draw me lots and lots of pictures! Thank you for your teddy bear in Provo! I sleep with it every night! Enjoy the temple dedication!!! I am so jealous, wish I could bet there! I love you all so much! Dad, I have a huge letter coming your way, It was sent last week, so expect it soon! I love you dad thanks for the example you are! I pray for the deer crest house every day, I love you! I almost forgot my scripture for the day, there are two of them. Alma 37:36-37AND Alma 29:14-17 love ya.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Elder Olsen letter 10 March 2009
This week has been great! I love this gospel so much, The Lord blesses me so much in my life as a missionary I am not sure I deserve all the blessings I have received. First off, let me comment on the e-mails I have gotten. Mom, sounds like everyone is doing great, all the kids sound happy. The economy hasn’t really hit down here, Brazil is actually on a upraise right now.. They are doing the best they have ever done. Mom, missionaryties.com is legit... I donno how to sign up. But all the Elder´s here get there letters in two days. I get to send them for free. So I donno.. As far as sending money don´t do that, the CTM presidency steals all my money, because they don’t want Americans out walking the town with a bunch of money, and not speaking any language, apparently this is a rough part of town... so we aren´t even allowed to take our camera´s outside.. Has anyone received my letters? I sent out about 8 three weeks ago? What is the news on that? I have officially gotten two letters. It is no big deal at all that I don´t get mail Mom don’t feel bad, it is better because I get to concentrate on the language. As far as the language is concerned, it is coming along great!! I love the porugues language. It is extremely beautiful once you get used to making new sounds, allot of their letters are just liars, when it´s an I. You make a e sounds.. di, ti, de, ch, so many letters don’t really make the sound that you think they would, but once you get used to it, and learn how to accent right, it sounds so beautiful. I am loving it, I am trying to speak portuges this whole week, so English, it is pretty hard I won´t lie.. Just because it can be extremely frustrating; But I now have Brasilian roommates, that are going to Manus, which really helps.. Because I talk to them all night in portugues, and they talk to me in English, because they are trying to learn.. On Saturday my companion and I gave the entire 1st lesson in portugues, with no notes or nothing to some natives, which was awesome. I stumbled a little, in the gospel blesses families, because it is hard when you get the idea to talk about something that you haven´t practiced, but you’re not exactly sure how to say it in portugues. So I kinda made up some words I think, I was trying to tell them all about my family but it was difficult. There is this lady here at the Internet store, that last week I talked to her and her husband about the church, and she has read the Book of Mormon, both of them, and they know it is true, but they can’t give up drinking and smoking, so they missionaries in the area gave up on them I guess.. So I committed them both to go this past week without drinking and smoking, and I promised some hefty blessings, ha, but I know the Lord will back me up, but I haven´t seen her yet today, or her husband, so after this I am going to walk around town and find her.. Some of the missionaries are intimated to talk to locals on P-days, because we can’t speak well, or understand, but like I said last week, I have this ability to understand the language really well at this stage, so I just ask people questions and listen to them talk out their own problems, I have noticed that when I do they talking people really aren´t interested, but everyone loves talking about themselves, so if you just ask them about their beliefs, or how they feel about something... they can talk all day.. I think Steve told me that advice, so thanks Steve. My goal is commit three person to baptism before I leave the CTM.. haha everyone here laughs at me.. But I am going to try and commit someone today; also on Friday I get to go proselyting again so I will try then too!
I love this gospel; it has brought so many blessings into my life, especially since I have been a missionary. I have learned so much in such a short time.
I love being a missionary, there is so many blessings that I receive every single day from the Lord, there are so many miracles that I only see God´s hand in. Today I got to go to the Sao Paulo temple and it was so beautiful, Dad you would love that temple, there are so many beautiful woodworks and stained glass in the temple it is amazing. My branch president took a picture of our district and he is emailing you it, so look out for it.
Could I get a copy of my Farwell talk, by any chance? I would love to have a copy. Dad could you look up how much the Church donates a year? People in Brasil know all about the Church because of their donations.. So you should let me know money wise how much they donate. The people of the Church are incredible; they set such good examples to those people that aren´t members. I have another batch of letters that I am sending today, 6 letters total.. so look out for them.. I leave April 7th.. 28 days from now.. I don´t know if I am ready languagely.. as for gospel.. I love teaching.. I love the spirit that I feel as I teach.. I wanna teach every day, I can’t wait. Tell Elder Olsen I love his email they are amazing, and that I sent him a letter he should have it any day.
I love this work, I love being a missionary, I love the things that I receive from serving the Lord. Helamen 14:15-19. AMAZING SCRIPTURE! It is crazy how much Christ has done for us. Every day I see how much the Savior did for each and every single one of us. Through his atonement we CAN be perfect! How awesome of a thought is that!! We all need to remember to repent every day, having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is vital to our success as human beings, and putting of the natural man and becoming more Christ-like. I love you all. Keep praying for me, I feel the prayers, I think I am the most blessed missionary here, because I have the most prayers coming for me. I pray you every single one of you, I love you all. Helaman 14:15-19~
Amor,
Elder Olsen
I love this gospel; it has brought so many blessings into my life, especially since I have been a missionary. I have learned so much in such a short time.
I love being a missionary, there is so many blessings that I receive every single day from the Lord, there are so many miracles that I only see God´s hand in. Today I got to go to the Sao Paulo temple and it was so beautiful, Dad you would love that temple, there are so many beautiful woodworks and stained glass in the temple it is amazing. My branch president took a picture of our district and he is emailing you it, so look out for it.
Could I get a copy of my Farwell talk, by any chance? I would love to have a copy. Dad could you look up how much the Church donates a year? People in Brasil know all about the Church because of their donations.. So you should let me know money wise how much they donate. The people of the Church are incredible; they set such good examples to those people that aren´t members. I have another batch of letters that I am sending today, 6 letters total.. so look out for them.. I leave April 7th.. 28 days from now.. I don´t know if I am ready languagely.. as for gospel.. I love teaching.. I love the spirit that I feel as I teach.. I wanna teach every day, I can’t wait. Tell Elder Olsen I love his email they are amazing, and that I sent him a letter he should have it any day.
I love this work, I love being a missionary, I love the things that I receive from serving the Lord. Helamen 14:15-19. AMAZING SCRIPTURE! It is crazy how much Christ has done for us. Every day I see how much the Savior did for each and every single one of us. Through his atonement we CAN be perfect! How awesome of a thought is that!! We all need to remember to repent every day, having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is vital to our success as human beings, and putting of the natural man and becoming more Christ-like. I love you all. Keep praying for me, I feel the prayers, I think I am the most blessed missionary here, because I have the most prayers coming for me. I pray you every single one of you, I love you all. Helaman 14:15-19~
Amor,
Elder Olsen
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Elder Olsen 3 March 2009
How´s it going familia? How is everything going at home? Well I got your email Mom, thanks for keeping me updated on everything that is going on. Sounds like it is pretty crazy at home. Dad how is the Deer Crest house coming? How is all the other work going? Well hearing about the other Elder Olsen´s snow storm is hard to imagine, I’m sitting in a little shop that is 15x15 feet called Kumõra´s sweating threw two layers dying of heat!! It is so hot here!!!! I can´t even stand it ha-ha, since I have been hear I have never slept with any sort of blanket or sheet, you just lay there and sweat while you sleep... Brasil is a little different in the way when you going to sleep it is just as hot as it was during the day. For some odd reason it stays the same temperature 24 hours a day. As I am typing right now, the sweat is pouring down my face. Ha-ha.
Well this week has been great, we had allot of success in our street contracts. I have the special gift of my district to be able to understand portuguese really well... I cannot speak it very well, but I can understand even the locals when they are talking full speed, which is like usually impossible for missionaries to pick up for awhile, but for some reason I am able to already understand about 90-95 percent of what is being said, so that was a huge help to me on our street contacts, cause I could understand what they were asking then turn to my companion tell him what they asked, and have him answer the question. My companion is half genius it is crazy, he is able to just memorize verb after verb after verb in one day, he memorizes like 50 verbs a day, he is a machine.. It is pretty funny because he has this slight o.c.d. thing where everything is a race to him... so we will be working on a assignment or working on reading a chapter from p.m.e (pregar meu evangelho) and he has to be the first one done. So some days I like to stress him out, by beating him in everything that I possibly can; it is funny. Our companionship is very strong though we get along great.
Well I have set a new goal that every Thursday, Friday and Saturday I will speak nothing but portuguse. I did it for two days this past week, And I saw a huge improvement, it really helped out, but it could be frustrating, because every time I wanted to tell a story I couldn´t tell it because I couldn´t speak English, and we all know how much I love telling stories, so it was a major burden all day, but it really really helped. I talked my district into doing it on Thursday with me, so we will be the mute district for a day.
Well things here are going great, I love it here so much, My teacher´s are amazing, and it is amazing having so many locals here at the CTM, they help allot with the language, and they are all like converts of under 4 years which shows so much dedication I love it...
But anyways, things here are great.
But what is up with the letters? I have yet to receive one since I have been here? Where is the love? By the way I sent a bundle of letters 14 days ago. Have you got them? I have been waiting to hear from someone. But no letters come, show me love family ha-ha.
Well I have to go; I am going to a local burger joint here that makes "American burgers" apparently... So for 2 reals (A buck) I am going to get a burger and fries with a fruit smoothie, what I steal I know. I love you all. I am serving the Lord, I love being a missionary, the lord answers prayers, and answers are deepest desires. I love the gospel. WITH FAITH WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!! If we but have a seed, we can accomplish anything we want; I need to put my trust more in the faith of the lord, and everyone that reads this should put faith in the Lord. I love you family once again.
Até Logo,
Elder Olsen
My scripture this week is D&C84:21-24
Well this week has been great, we had allot of success in our street contracts. I have the special gift of my district to be able to understand portuguese really well... I cannot speak it very well, but I can understand even the locals when they are talking full speed, which is like usually impossible for missionaries to pick up for awhile, but for some reason I am able to already understand about 90-95 percent of what is being said, so that was a huge help to me on our street contacts, cause I could understand what they were asking then turn to my companion tell him what they asked, and have him answer the question. My companion is half genius it is crazy, he is able to just memorize verb after verb after verb in one day, he memorizes like 50 verbs a day, he is a machine.. It is pretty funny because he has this slight o.c.d. thing where everything is a race to him... so we will be working on a assignment or working on reading a chapter from p.m.e (pregar meu evangelho) and he has to be the first one done. So some days I like to stress him out, by beating him in everything that I possibly can; it is funny. Our companionship is very strong though we get along great.
Well I have set a new goal that every Thursday, Friday and Saturday I will speak nothing but portuguse. I did it for two days this past week, And I saw a huge improvement, it really helped out, but it could be frustrating, because every time I wanted to tell a story I couldn´t tell it because I couldn´t speak English, and we all know how much I love telling stories, so it was a major burden all day, but it really really helped. I talked my district into doing it on Thursday with me, so we will be the mute district for a day.
Well things here are going great, I love it here so much, My teacher´s are amazing, and it is amazing having so many locals here at the CTM, they help allot with the language, and they are all like converts of under 4 years which shows so much dedication I love it...
But anyways, things here are great.
But what is up with the letters? I have yet to receive one since I have been here? Where is the love? By the way I sent a bundle of letters 14 days ago. Have you got them? I have been waiting to hear from someone. But no letters come, show me love family ha-ha.
Well I have to go; I am going to a local burger joint here that makes "American burgers" apparently... So for 2 reals (A buck) I am going to get a burger and fries with a fruit smoothie, what I steal I know. I love you all. I am serving the Lord, I love being a missionary, the lord answers prayers, and answers are deepest desires. I love the gospel. WITH FAITH WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS!! If we but have a seed, we can accomplish anything we want; I need to put my trust more in the faith of the lord, and everyone that reads this should put faith in the Lord. I love you family once again.
Até Logo,
Elder Olsen
My scripture this week is D&C84:21-24
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