March 16, 2015 "Baptism of Itu"

So, this week has been another amazing week with some of the most amazing events that have come from it.  Some that I will never forget!! I was able to baptize one of my best friends this week! His name is Itu and is only 21 years old! 

So a little background on Itu.  He has a child that is one. He has homemade tattoos that he did himself and has been drinking and smoking since he can remember.  So, from that statement alone really he would be a lost cause in most people's eyes.  However, through the gospel and mainly the atonement of Jesus Christ he has been able to change not just his nature but his behavior.  He asked me to baptize him so right after I baptized him he kinda hurried out of the font and went around the corner to the changing rooms.  I walked after him and he had his face in his towel so I asked if he was good and then I realized he was crying....  He then said, "I have never been so happy!!" That was such a cool thing to hear from him and to see that he felt the spirit bare witness to him that what he was doing was the correct decision!  

I sit and think about the gospel after experiences like this and I realize how incredebly sad it is when some refuse the blessings of the atonement and live life in a way where they are trying to do it on their own.  That is not part of God's plan. He didn't just throw us down here and tell us to survive. He wants us to be happy and only through the gospel can we recieve that.  The area is doing amazing and I am loving life.  I'm not going to lie, I have felt a little down missing Madi's wedding.  I had no Idea that at the airport that would be the last time I would see Madi Olson.... haha but life throws curve balls! I am just grateful for my family and especially you dad and mom.... you guys are the best even if I am immature, crazy, and a little irresponsable you did your best with me! haha

March 11, 2015 "The scuba analogy."

Another sweet week with a lot of driving.... 900 ks... but we were able to get a lot accomplished!!  We actually will be having the first baptism in this area in 7 and a half months!!! His name is Itu and he is so cool! this guy used to be crazy and it shows...  He has a bunch of homemade tattoos that he did himself and everytime we tell his family he is getting baptized and that he has quit drinking and smoking they just laugh! It is kind of sad but at the same time it is so cool that he has come so far that no one even believes him... I'm sure Alma the younger had the same problems so I think it is cool! This week I did get a little discouraged because we have been working extremely hard and haven't seen an increase in investigators or anything but then again I realized that faith is tested before we can receive blessings so I know that I just need to continually be diligent and the area will get better it will improve.  Also this week I have seen the blessings of being obedient.  There was a missionary in our zone who has been on mission for almost 6 months and still barely knows any english... We were trying to figure it out and found out he was breaking some mission rules.  We had to sit down and talk with him and he admitted to it and it was solved.  Ever since then his companion said that the spirit has been much stronger and he is picking up english a lot better! Obedience is the first law in heaven and I could say it is the same for mission as well. 

Also we were able to teach zone meeting and I came up with this super cool analogy.  Its called the scuba analogy and how we need to be scuba missionaries and not snorkle missionaries.  As we think about the two, which one is more likely to find hidden treasures?  The scuba diver has much more equipment that helps him.  First is the oxygen that the scuba diver receives which is a lot less limited than that of a snorkler.  We can apply this and swap the oxygen for the spirit. Without the spirit we cannot be lead to those hidden people or receive guidance on what to teach.  The goggles which can be applied as scriptures because they help us see our purpose as missionaries and the purpose of our life.  Then the fins is our love.  Love is what motivates us, what pushes us to be the best we can be.  Love for our area, investigators, and our companions.  Then the wet suit which is the atonement that is what will keep us going when it seems too cold or hard to push through.  Then finally the weights which are the trials that the Lord can give us because of our preparation. The missionaries seemed to think it was cool so I thought I would share it cause it can be used in life as well.  Also we talked about diligence so at the end we had everyone test their diligence by putting their feet in ice water for ten minutes and if they succeeded then the would get a candy bar hahaha.

Much love jon jon

March 2, 2015 "Play with the lions...for my 3rd time"

this week was another hectic but amazing week! At the beginning of the week we went to Tzaneen (the Hawaii without an ocean) for Pday and for exchanges with some other missionaries. Since this is my third comp in this area I had to take him to play with the lions so for me this was the 3rd time... But really It is hard to get bored of playing with lions! Then I went into my old area Lenyenye for Monday night.  Even though I was there for only 6 weeks most of the people still recognized me which made me happy...  We had some great lessons and it was good to bond with the other missionaries there.  Then the next day I stayed in the town of Tzaneen and worked with some missionaries there.  At the beginning of the day we contacted at a college which was way fun and managed to pick up a few numbers and return appointments for them.  Then had some wonderful lessons!  

Later on in the week we had to travel down to Joburg for MLC (mission leadership counsel).  It was awesome to see what President Dunn presented to the mission and how he is continually seeking inspiration on our behalf!  We also were able to have dinner with them and had some nice mexican food! Sister Dunn always spoils us... Then President Dunn came down with his kermit the frog puppet and did a hilarious impression of him while singing I want to be a missionary!  Also I hope you enjoyed skyping with the Dunns. That is sweet.  Then we woke up in the morning and again Sister Dunn had sweet rolls for us so we wouldn't be hungry on our drive home.  

The work we did in our area was pretty mediocre but we had a cool experience with one of our investigators. his name is Itu  we have had him on date for awhile and what was holding him back was he wasn't reading the book of mormon.  He always said I am too busy and I don't understand it.  As we continued to meet with him we started to get worried but always prayed for him.  We arrived at his house one day and I saw that his book of mormon was not in its normal place under his tv but on his bed.  I then asked if he had been reading and he said yes and then continued to explain the first six chapters in complete detail... I was a amazed I couldn't even explain it that well.  He didn't miss one detail! He is going to be baptized on the 15th of March.  

So this week was good hope you guys had a great one! 

February 24, 2015

Well this week has definitely been a bitter sweet week! This Tuesday was transfer meeting and I had to see 3 of my previous companions go home.... so it was rough but the hardest part was at the end.  I walked up to Elder Reed and he just hugged me and broke down and cried... I realized how much this mission meant to him and how hard it was for him to go home...  He was the best companion... the best friend and yes he made me cry as well... but it was all good cause then it worked out that we were able to stay at the mission home with each other cause his flight left the next day so being us we slept on the roof of the mission home and had a great night together.... we even went and finished it off with our last KFC run.  We have learned to love KFC haha 

And then Elder Lucking.... mom if you think he has an accent that is kinda funny. We always made fun of him for having such an american accent! But that kid is amazing and that 6 weeks I had with him was probably my favorite transfer on mission! He is such a crazy good missionary and also person! And yes take him to a jazz game! he is crazy about the jazz! And then I had to see Elder Johnson go home... that kid was awesome.  It was a quick six weeks with him as well and he taught me a lot about relaxing and letting the Lord take over!  

But my new companion is a crazy english man and his name is Elder Henderson.  He is great and we are having tons of fun together. We are also killing it in our area! We only got into our area for 3 days this week and we taught 14 lessons so that was pretty cool! We have this guy named Itu that moved into our area that has been taught by other missionaries and he will be baptized in a few weeks! We just have to get him to gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon then we will be good! We had to drop Freddy this week because he just would not seek with real intent to know if the church was true.  Hopefully through the absence of the missionaries he can feel a difference in his life.  All is well here. I'm on early again cause we have to go on another road trip to Tzaneen to visit some new missionaries.  Also we are going to be in Joburg this week for MLC (mission leadership counsel) so that will be cool. Just a lot of driving that I am getting sick of....  But oh well 

Love

Elder Olson

February 16, 2016 "Miracle of the thick cloud"

So this week has been good! I have been really sick this past week... lost about 4 kg with a bacterial infection... All this food is getting to me! It was about 4 days with this sickness and I thought I was feeling better but then I didn't sleep all night so right in the morning I called Sister Dunn and she had medicine waiting for me at the pharmacy within 2 hours!! THAT LADY IS AMAZING!!  It was crazy.  Its been a week since it started and I am slowly starting to feel better.  It was Elder Johnson's last week on mission so I had to make sure we worked hard for him even with how sick I was.  I honestly would lay in bed and say to myself I physically can't do this so I used the atonement and I did it!!   

There was one miracle this week that I would like to share.  I was in Lenyenye doing a service project moving dirt for a member.  I was doing everything I could to say it wasn't too hot but it was painful how hot it was! I also couldn't even stand up straight because of my stomach pains... I went around the corner bowed my head and said a silent prayer.  No word of a lie, 5 minutes later the wind was blowing and there was a thick cloud over our head.  Also my stomach was perfectly fine!  I was so glad I was able to serve and to gain that testimony of that God blesses those that are true to him. 

I don't have a lot of time this week so this is my only email.  sorry it is so short! Tell mom not to worry about me I'm fine.

Elder Olson

February 9, 2015 "Lay it all on the line"

I had one of the most amazing weeks I have ever had on mission.  It has just been amazing.  President has asked us for the month of February to try and be exactly obedient and to lay it all on the line.  Give our all this month and to test the Lord and to see if he really will bless us.  Well we have been doing that and HE HAS BLESSED US!  It is amazing to see the miracles that just keep coming and coming.  There was one day when we got out into our area and we had nothing to do and so we went tracting and I decided that I was going to tract with more purpose to find someone than I ever have in my whole life!! 

We were tracting and it was 10:30 in the morning and honestly we probably could have done a more effective way of finding but I felt like I needed to tract... So, as I was walking I had this strong impression to knock on this one house so I almost ran to the gate and knocked on it.  About a minute later a lady came to the gate and said "Can I help you?" We introduced ourselfs as missionaries and before we could say anything else she said "Oh, no thank you.  I am fine..."  I walked out and as I was walking out I said to my companion, "Why would I have such a strong feeling to go to that door if she was to turn me away?"  He said, "Let's try the next one".  So we did and this man was sooo receptive to the gospel and we set up an appointment with him! 

I think it is funny the way the Lord works with me, he tests me to see if I am worthy of his prize.  That is the same with all of us.  This life is a probationary state where the Lord is testing us.  He will give us blessings in this life but he will withhold greater blessing till the next life and as long as we never quit and endure to the end those blessings are ours!  In the Book of Mormon it always says "and it came to pass" and that is the same with our trials, our let downs and discouragements.  They will all come to pass and then we will reap what we have sown. 

Another sweet miracle was this girl in our branch was going on mission and she promised us that she would find someone for us to teach before she left.  We had our hopes up but I knew how busy I got before mission so I knew it would be a stretch.  So the night before she left we stopped by her house and she had her cousin there and told us that we could teach her! I was shocked so we did a BRT (building a relationship of trust) with her and she said that she is sooo excited and would love to learn from us!  I know that the Lord is providing us with these amazing experiences because we are testing him and he is proving us.  But ya life is good I am happy and mission is fun!

Elder Olson

February 2, 2015 "This week I was humbled"

this week has been an interesting week for me and I guess I could say that I was humbled.  For the past week or so I just was not feeling right.  I was feeling the spirit but not as strongly as I usually do and it was killing me... I could not figure what was wrong with me!! I was falling asleep at 2 in the morning for countless nights just trying to figure out why I was so down.  Then one morning I was in personal study and I realized that my studies have been lacking.  Of course I did the hour of study everyday but I didn't do it with the diligence that I usually do. So I started to change that and made sure that I was staying focused and studying for my investigators.  

Then I was out tracting and we had nothing to do... it was super hot.... No one wanted to talk to us.... and I realized at that moment I was putting myself before anything and the scripture from Helaman 5 came to my mind that talks about how we must have Christ as our foundation.  Then I realized that I was even putting myself over Jesus Christ.  I felt even sick that I was only thinking about myself and that I was getting in the way of missionary work... I knew that I had some repenting to do so right there while I was walking I did and I instantly I felt like myself again and I am back to normal!  Over the course of my mission I can say that I have had 3 weeks total where I haven't been happy or that I haven't felt the spirit and it all directs itself back to selfishness.  It was a valuable lesson that I learned this week and as dad says, I did have to learn in the hard way but I was glad I was able to humble myself...

So for our investigators. We have Freddy who is 24.  He is amazing but yet he is still doubting his faith...  He has grown up watching pastors on tv perform their "miracles" and he doesn't get how they are not called of God.  We honestly have tried every way possible to help him but god cannot give us an answer unless we have that desire to know and the humility to act upon the answer he gives us.

Also we have Okopilwe who is 27.  He is the guy that went to institute and loved it then came to church the next day.  He is also cool and he is more willing to act upon what we tell him and to find out if it will be true!! We just worry because he lives with 6 dudes and you can tell it is just a crazy party house.... but I think the gospel will really help him! 

We have this other guy that came to church once and we have met with only once named Lunga.  He is the one that wanted to come to church to change his life... I think it is going to take sometime because habits are hard to break but again the atonement is exactly what he needs! 

Also I hope that my spelling and grammer is getting better...  It is hard here because people have horrible English and so I have lowered my standards in that sense.  However I will work on it!! I don't want my English teacher to laugh at my first paper when I get home! 

Elder olson

(We just need to teach him to capitalize his own name)