May 28, 2014 "Threw a pamphlet at the car..."

All

Thanks for your love and support for Jon.  He is getting better at sending pictures.  New ones are attached.  

I miss the Provo river so much... that was the place I would go to receive answers...  It was the place where I realized that I needed to go on a mission.  It is a very special place to me.  But catching a fish off of all three techniques is amazing! I think you probably had a little help from above... haha just kidding.  But really if there is one thing that I miss it is going fishing with you and just hanging out on the river.  I feel that was the one thing in my life that I didn't take for granted before I left.  I also had a strong feeling this week to tell you if you can to try to find a time to take uncle Jan out to the Green or something.  Also can I get his email, I hope Abe is helping him out this summer with anything that he needs.  

This week was great and bad at the same time! We had 15 app cancel..... We were left with a lot of spare time and so of course we tracted!! haha We actually got two referrals this week from members which is unheard of....  And the interesting thing is that the whole stake fasted on the 16th and 17th for missionary work! It is crazy to see how easy missionary work is if we just open our mouths.  There are so many people out in the world ready to hear the gospel but how will they if we don't do our part.  I have learned there is never a bad time to share about the gospel.  There was this guy driving the other day and was staring at me and my companion.  I grabbed a restoration pamphlet and ran to him as he was driving away and threw it in his car! He smiled and said I'll read it! hahaha However our investigators are not getting to church which is hard because they can only progress so much without church...   

So we have been teaching a lot about the Sabbath and sacrament.  

While I was laying in bed the other night I saw a plane and looked at it til it was gone.... hahaha not the best idea it made me depressed!!!!! hahahha Oh well time is flying though and I probably only have 2 weeks left in this area.... Sad day for sure when I will leave here! But I am looking forward to seeing more places and meeting more people that I can share the gospel to.   

Also what President Omer said about me makes me happy! I dont feel that way. I still have many things I need to improve on but at least he sees the effort I put in!

Much Love, The White ZA

I received an email (below) from guy who works with me.  He went to lunch with Scott Omer.  Scott used to work with us and he is the son of President Omer – Jon's mission president. 

I had lunch with Scott Omer yesterday and he told me about a conversation he had with his dad.  President Omer said that Elder Olson is a wonderful missionary and that he wished he had more like him.  He said if he had more 'Elder Olsons' the work would be going forward more quickly.

May 20, 2014 "Everlasting impact"

Yes another week has flown by!! It is soo crazy how time is flying. I only have about 3 weeks left in my first area which is kinda surreal because after your first area I will no longer be a "greeny," as we call the new missionaries in this mission.  This week I had an amazing opportunity to speak in zone meeting.  Zone meeting happens once a transfer and for some reason Luthy asked me a question and asked me to talk about it. The question was, how will you leave an everlasting impact on those that you teach, the members you are around, and the missionaries that will come after you?  This made me think really hard and I pondered and prayed a lot about this question.  So I got to the meeting and saw 20 missionaries there and was extremely nervous because I was the youngest missionary there.  How was I supposed to teach others that have been on mission so much longer than me?  I guess I could say I felt inadequate for the assignment Elder Luthy gave me.   

I studied the whole week and yet I really didn't know what I was going to teach.... When it was my turn everything went amazing! Honestly,I don't remember exactly what I said, but during the spirit was really strong in the room while I taught! It was amazing to feel the spirit working through me and after a missionary who has been on mission for about a year came up to me and said I would never think you were a greeny! You killed it!  It felt great to hear that but it was even better to realize as long as I put effort in and prepare the spirit can work through me!   

I now know why I was asked to do that task and it was so I could learn a valuable lesson for myself! Our investigators at this time are really struggling with coming to church! We are starting to feel maybe their time isn't now which is hard to swallow because we put so much work in and then just to stop is quite sad....  However we are going to give them more time and have faith that things will work out! 

We went laser clay pigeon shooting! That was so fun! Reminded me of Abe and how much I miss him though.  He would have killed it there! haha Other than that I don't have much to say. I'll try to send at least 2 pictures a week! I need to run to the car and get my camera!  Oh I got a sweet hat like my flower one back at home but this one is camo, KUNU ON! hahaha But thank you so much for the love and support I can definitely feel the love and the prayers all the way here in the ZA!!

MISSION SONG:

May 12, 2014 "After the Skype"

All 

Here is Jon's latest.  We were able to talk to him over the weekend and it was great.  It brought a few of Suzi's emotions to the surface, but it was wonderful.  He sounds great and speaks with a SA accent.  I don't know if it's common for the missionaries to gain the accent or if Jon has tried to gain one.  It was fun.  He is really happy and not missing home.  

The reference to the t-shirts is in response to Suzi's idea about using her painting of Africa on t-shirts and selling them to raise money for orphans in SA.  I know some of you haven't seen the painting so I will try and get a copy of it and send it out.  It's really cool.  Bubba (my dad) is helping Suzi with the t-shirts and how to organize this through a non-profit.  

We had to get on Jon a little for not sending pictures.  I guess his camera wasn't working well so he went and bought a new one today.  Hopefully we will get more pictures.  He doesn't have an excuse now.  

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day.  Thanks for all your love and support.

Hey fam,

It seems like things are going well for you all!!  Things here are great as you have heard from the phone call!  Man that was a great phone call and it was so good to hear Americans again... I feel I kinda forget what you guys sound like sometimes... But to hear about Jesse and Anika is so great!! I have anikas email but not Jesse.  Will someone tell him to email me or can someone give me his email.  Those two are great people and I hope Jesse gets called to my mission! I could train him! Hahaha   

My days lately have consisted of a lot of teaching but also a lot of finding... We are trying to find more people and have faith that there will be someone ready for the gospel.  We just have to keep looking!  Shame Raymond and Bryan didn't make it to church but Temwa was there!  So I have some ideas what we can do for the money that you get from the t shirts and I am talking about it to the wife of the mission leader. I will have her email you guys and talk to you about things! She is a great lady and feeds me every Tuesday! She is awesome!  But with our great week of lessons we didn't have one investigator show up to church which was sad... we were hoping for so many and none showed up.. However that just means we have to work harder!! haha but honestly I don't know how we are going to! But that's where prayer comes into play.  Ask what I can do better and where I can improve! This transfer is going so quick and I only have most likely one more month here.... I like it here so hopefully I'll stay! My companion is awesome and I see that as long as we continue to work hard we will always get along! I'll go buy a camera today! I'll make sure it is on sale lol hahaha.

Much love

May 5, 2014

All

It was great to hear from Jon after not receiving an email last week.  Apparently last Monday, was some type of holiday in SA.  Everything was closed and they were not able to access email.  He continues to do well.  Unfortunately he fails to answer most the questions we ask.  I think he takes after me in the area.  I had two "small-world" experiences this past week with ties to Jon's mission.

1 - I am serving in the 3rd ward right now and one of the counselors in the bishopric (he is a doctor) asked how Jon was doing.  As we were talking, we came to the realization that the counselor worked on Jon's companion due to a rugby injury when he was here in SL playing in a rugby tournament.  If you don't remember, his companion played for the Zimbabwe national rugby team.  

2 - The new Temple Square Mission President is President Poulsen.  He was a previous mission president in Joberg.  He came to our house prior to Jon leaving to talk to us about SA.  He is a wonderful man.  I was invited to attend a luncheon where he was speaking.  At the luncheon, I met a sister missionary from Denmark.  She knew Jon's MTC companion - who is from Denmark.  

I know these are trivial experiences, but it's fun to make any connection to the mission.  Jon is in good hands with all those he is serving with.  He is being blessed.  Thanks for your support.  

Family, hows it guys? Things seem to be going really well back at home! Things are going great here as well! My new companion Elder Smith is an amazing missionary. He is almost done and is very obedient and loves to work hard! We worked so hard this week and it was way fun! When we weren't teaching lessons we were finding.  Whether it was knocking on doors or walking around town and starting conversations with random people.  Doing this I have realized how much mission has done for me... Before mission I couldn't even ask for a to-go-box at a restaurant and now I really don't have a problem walking up to people and tell them that the gospel can change their life.  We have two new solid investigators that I am very excited about.  Their names are Portipher and Andrew.  They are both on date for June 8^th, which might be my last week in Krugersdorp.  I hope that we can baptize them by then.  Temwa is doing well but still no job and still no Emmie.  I am getting a little worried about her though because the trials she is going through could distance her from the gospel and I just pray that it doesn't.  Mission is the hardest thing that I have ever done and yet it is the most amazing thing that I have ever done.  My life will never be the same after these two years and that is a blessing because I really don't want to be the selfish egotistical guy I was before mission.  I am now starting to see what the Savior and my Heavenly Father have in store for me.  At times I feel as if I don't deserve the blessings I get but then I remember that because of the atonement I can be forgiven and live the life I know I am supposed to live.  Love you guys and I can feel your prayers in my life. 

Much Love, Elder Olson

These pictures were sent to Suzi from the gentleman in the pictures with Jon.  He be-friended her in Facebook.  Since Jon doesn't send too many pictures, it's nice to receive these.  I believe the 3rd picture is of Jon's new companion.  

Thanks

May 2014 "I think he wants to keep her"

From MOM:

I think he wants to keep her: