September 9, 2014 "You have the ability to change your mind."

This week has been very good.  I figured out some things that are really going to help me with mission because I actually hit a wall this week... I think the wall was more physical but it did effect me spiritually so it made mission really hard at the beginning of the week.  It was Wednesday and we were walking to an appointment and I was in a bad mood.  Then right before we knocked on the door for the appointment I thought to myself you have the ability to change your attitude.  Right as I thought that I put a smile on my face and had a great lesson filled with the spirit! I was so amazed after and I realized that my attitude doesn't just effect me but everyone around me. I needed to learn that experience for myself and so that I can be the best to those that I teach.  In sacrament meeting while it was being passed I thought to myself and prayed that things might come to my mind that will help me be better.  Many things came to my mind and so I wrote them down.  It was crazy right as I finished writing one down a new thought came to my head it was personal revelation flowing through me which was so cool.  One of the things I wrote down was never say I'm tired.  That sounds like something really small but it isn't. It makes the biggest difference because everyone is going to have that thought, I am tired, I need a break, but if we throw that thought away and don't feed it then it will go away. 

High of the week:  Brother Sunday fasted yesterday so that he can have the strength to quit smoking so that he can be baptized.  He and his wife are the most amazing investigators.  They feed us and the lessons we have with them are sooooo spiritual.  With them is the closest I have come to crying during a lesson.... You can just see that they truly love the savior and this gospel.

Low of the week: We live in an apartment complex and there were two really loud parties that were going on till about 5 in the morning... Eish Elder Smith-Holley and I didn't get an ounce of sleep. 

One of my favorite sayings on mission which I have really come to embrace is "it's fine." I say it all the time and it helps a lot.  Elder Smith-Holley will say I am so hungry, all of our appointment have cancelled and now we have to tract all day and my response is "it's fine."  It is my way of saying come what may and love it.

Hope you guys are having a good week and everything is going well.  Tell Abe and Christian that they need to work out more.... hahahah but that is a cool experience that you guys had and it is true we should never ignore the promptings that we have! I love you all and miss you so much! I got one of the packages and mom the photo of me at the hospital is not funny... It is not ok to feel vulnerable... hahahahaha 

Much love! JON 

(This is an email sent to Jon by a member in his stake)

Elder Olson

This below is you sir….

I wish I could express adequately how I feel today after fasting and pleading with the Lord about some people that I love dearly, those who are assisting in shaping my life.  Some are people that I have known for a while – others just a very short time.

You look in their eyes and notice that they are angels – people sent by God to come into your life at the precise moment when they are needed.  I have met more of these angels this past 8 days than I have met before in a given week.

We think angels to be these perfect beings who appear to us in the form of a vision etc….

I disagree….some are just ordinary people, just like you and I who just go about being who they are – but make a miraculous impact in our lives, or the lives of others.

My observation and question to you is….

       Have you ever considered that you are one of them….?

Yes Elder Olson – you!!!!

To me and to Elder Smith-Holley and to one other – which I hope he will allow me to talk to you about….(and us are just the starters….)

God sends angels to deliver a specific message to people – you do that…everyday

God sends angels to help the down trodden and faint hearted – you do that….everyday

God sends angels who sacrifice their own needs and forget themselves for another – you do that …..everyday.

You see Elder the Lord will send the most humblest and totally reliant person to help another.  This week again I have seen in the lives of others how a specific person has been prepared, specifically for and meet the exact needs of another – in a miraculous way.

This is evidence that God lives and hears and answers our prayers….He IS in control.