February 24, 2014

All 

Thanks so much for your love and support of Jon.  He continues to do well and is enjoying his mission.  A couple of things:

"How's it" is the phrase they use in SA.

"I love mission" is how they talk.  They don't say "my" in that case.

The word "shame" is commonly used for "feel bad for" or "it's too bad."

We told him to send some pictures and you can see that photography wasn't his best subject in school.  Suzi thinks the best part of his letter is that he is happy.  I think the best part of his letter is that he is learning (or being forced to learn) to budget money.  

There are four different emails here.  Three from this week. (He sends us different emails.)

I also re-copied last week's email because I understand it didn't make it to most of you.  I'm not sure what happened with the email.  Thanks again for all your support.  He is so happy.

Hey family, another week another dollar!! Things are hard here, but it is very rewarding, I can't even imagine going to a place less receptive the the gospel... only the africans will listen to the message we have to share. Which is great but sad that the afrikaans won't even talk to us.  We always tract in white neighborhoods because town is too dangerous and we have yet to make it inside a house.  However I know that we are planting seeds.  Maybe we aren't baptizing, but we are increasing the faith of others slowly.  Some nights I lay in bed and think shame if only people could see the happiness that the gospel could bring to them.  I sent you guys a letter about 6 days ago, hopefully it will get there soon.  I love mission but me and my companion had an argument.  He grew up in South Africa and sometimes we view things differently. I finally had enough and got mad.  It didn't change his view but he has stopped the comments.  That is the only time we have fought. Other than that we are best friends! He is so good to me and loves to help me out.  I miss you guys and I will send some pics now!! love ya

Mom I heard you cried in my bed.... haha I am not dead just close to it!! Just kidding, but I have felt what Divver has felt also.  We go to the hood here and my companion and I are the only white ones walking around.  We aren't allowed to tract here because it is so dangerous.  A missionary car was even burnt here... haha but we have to come here for appointments.  When I am walking I feel as if I have a body guard with me.  As if people are actually scared of us.  It is crazy to see.  But you guys need to come pick me up after two years.... there is soooo much I want to show you guys just in this area alone.  It would be really expensive to get here but everything else is cheap.  I understand if dad cant come but you could bring someone with you!!! haha  But I miss you and don't cry just smile.


This is a view from one of the members flats. Its gorgeous! I miss fast food and Taco Bell so much.... all they have here is KFC and Mcdonalds but we never go to it because we don't have the money for it.  It is so hard not to cave in and just use my home card.  I did once to buy a cheese burger and it wasn't even that good.  And no one has ketchup here... I am going to the store to see if they have it.  If you are sending the pills send me some more pictures and just pack it full of other stuff like flash drives and what not!!  I am all out of money for the month so I am eating sparingly.. but for some reason I am gaining weight... shame my butt is getting big! hahah

February 17, 2014 "No one wants to listen"

All,

Thanks for your love and support of Jon.  He continues to do well.  He sent a series of four emails today.  I think he rushes through them and then thinks of something more to say.  Typical Jon.

Hows it guys?? I miss you guys a lot but I have great people here that take me in like family!!   I had a really good week out in the field!!  We tract probably about 2 to 3 hours a day, knocking on doors and all that! No one wants to listen to us. I had a guy just have his dogs bark at us and yell no and walk away. It is really hard to stay happy but I need to realize that I can't control how others think and it is ok.  After we tract we have appointments for the rest of the day and this is where it gets fun!!  We have about 6 people with a baptismal date and about 3 are very serious about it.  The hard part is they all live in the town and they don't have cars because they dont have a lot of money and it is a very long walk to church.  I wish that I could help them more but all we can do is encourage them to make the walk and tell them they will be blessed for it.  So we have this investigator named Themwa and she is amazing.  Her husband passed away about 2 years ago and left behind 2 young boys.  One of the boys is Raymond.  He always yells to me when I get there "my best friend!!!" and runs up to me and hugs me.  The whole lesson he is just playing with my hair because he thinks that white people's hair is so interesting.  Haha, it is hilarious.  We call apartments flats and so my flat is way nice.  It is in a gated community and we have two bedrooms and a full kitchen.  Me and my companion keep the room really clean.  I always make my bed in the morning (mom would be proud) haha.  The days are going so quick.  We had a thing that is called a blitz where all the missionaries go to one area and tract.  It was my area that we did this and in 2 hours we had 14 people that wanted to here more.  This was truely a miracle because normally we dont get anyone in 5 hours or so!! I am learning how to budget my money haha.  I only have 200 rand left for the month which is 20 dollars but they only give us 1,200 rand a month which is nothing for what we need, but i am trying not to use my home card and money as much as possible.  Did you get that song for lily?? It is my favorite song.  Miss you guys and love you!! Elder Olson

Mom i miss you!!  Sounds like you are doing great with me gone. haha Guess I will never come home!! Just kidding, but I dont need any recipes because I can only afford cheap food. haha What I send to dad is for you too so just have him send that to you! love you!

So go and look at mosiah 14.  That is the most powerful chapter in all of the BoM.  It is all about what Christ went through for us.  How he didnt just die for us but he lived for us also.

Oh, also there is this guy in my ward. He is the first councillor and an amazing guy.  He is a inspirational speaker and is looking to do something in the states.  He fed me last night and we talked for hours about what he has gone through. He was an addict for 23 years and then the gospel changed his life. He would love you to email him.  He said he isn't looking for you to give him business but maybe you could refer him to some people.  He would love it if you emailed him. His email is allan@allanharvey.me and his name is Allan Harvey.  Great guy 

February 10, 2014 "Howzit"

Howz it! as we say here but i love mission. yes I am already talking different because even if you say I love MY mission they wont understand!  My companion is amazing and so loving! His is from Zimbabwe and a big rugby player! He even played for his country! But i have learned a lot from him and how to always have to spirit with you and never do anything that will take the spirit away.  So the other day we were watching a church DVD and the story of john tanner came on.  Dad, that guy reminded me off you.  Go watch it! It made me cry.  But Krugersdorp is amazing.  It is a really rich place but we have one town where it is poor and has lots of drugs and prostitution.  We can't track in town because of the danger.  So we track in the rich areas and we haven't gotten into one house there yet! Everyone is so stubborn and says they dont have time.  I just want to scream at them and say oh you better make time! But then I smile and say bye.  We are teaching this girl named Themwa in town and she has two young boys.  Her husband passed away last year and she lives in the smallest apartment.  She is starting to understand the gospel but we just need to get her to church but it is hard cause she has no car.  We just started teaching this guy named Peter.  He wants to know more and he came to church on Sunday!! The last investigators are Sethu and Pauline.  They both have baptismal dates but Pauline has a boyfriend and can't get baptized till she gives that up or gets married.  The ward is really strong and the bishopric is amazing.  I almost get a meal every day which is awesome! I’m learning to eat proper because they all make fun of how Americans eat hahaha  

Sincerely Elda Olson as they say here haha

So here are some lingo words for ya.  bakkie (bucky)=  TRUCK  rubbish = bad   howz it= how are you  oh and there is a really fun hand shake it is fun hahaha