So heres the week.
Tuesday:
We didnt have Reunião Distrito because our district leader was sick. We went out and taught people today and marked the interviews of baptism for Rainmundo and also Fransisca. That night we were going to have a training session with people in the ward to go and show them how to talk about the gospel, but it was canceled. I was invited by my ward mission leader to go fishing with him after my mission and also to go and live with an indian tribe for a week in the middle of the jungle. His nephew married an indian and lives there. The tribe is 1 day boats jorney on the river. So if anyone wants to come live in the jungle with me for a bit just let me know.
Wenesday:
Today was the birthday of Elder Rainho (another elder in the ward). I made him a cake and gave him a mirror. So today was intersting because we had 2 lunches. Seriously. The first was our normal lunch which was great and the second was at the house of the person giving him a party. They had asked us to do a service project and help them prepare for the party. So we did that and I was sick to my stomach because of all of the things that I had eaten. As we were going out to teach a man from Para stopped us and said that he had read the book of mormon and wanted to know more about out church. The city where he lives still doesnt have the church in it and hes leaving soon to return to there. It was amazing to me how the lord puts us in places where he wants us. We took the mans address and passed it on to our district leader because he wasnt in our area. Funny enough he lives in the area of my old companion Elder Almeida, so i know that he´ll be in good hands.
We went to the birthday party of the elder and I ate too much....again.
Thursday:
We had the interviews of Rainmundo and Fransica today. Rainmundo will have a wait a bit more but Fransisca was set and passed the interview. That night we had a ward activity for the missionary work week and it was fun. A little disorganized but fun ( i can say that because we were putting it on). I rather like the members in the ward here. My favorite youth is a little 7 year old boy that I named Giggles, because hes always laughing. I think his real name is Junior but I dont know. Ill take a picture with him and send it to you.
Friday: It was my birthday.
I woke up and opened the package that has been sitting by my bedside for the last 2 and a half weeks and was very happy to see the presents. The boots were a major blessing and im happy to know that ill have shoes that are going to last me the next year and not the next few months :) I am super grateful for everything inside and I didnt recieve the letters yet. (there must be a strike or something because i havent received letters for 2-3 weeks). So Elder Rainho and Elder McGrath sang me happy birthday in english which was nice to hear. We went to teach Rayane who is a inactive member and we were able to find her at home and it was her bday too which was cool.
At the end of lunch the sister made me chocolate pudim which i was excited for because im getting sick of eating cake.
The day was rather normal and we ended with a movie night at the church for the missionary work week. They started by showing clips of different movies as we waited for the other elders who had the movies that we would watch. As we waited the ward mission leader and his wife showed a powerpoint presentation that they made for me. It has all of the missionary toons and is super funny. (they currently have my flashdrive and are putting it on it and ill send it to you.) at the end everyone there sang me Parabéns (the bday song in portuguese). The elders never showed up because they were in interviews for the baptims of theirs for the week and so we started watching 17 miracles. The only problem was that it was 8:30 the activity was supposed to end at 9 and 17 miracles only has the legends at the bottom in portuguese and a majority of the people there were children who live close to the church who have under 15 years of age. So a bunch of kids left to go and play outside. I didnt watch very much, just a few minutes because we were handing out popsicles and resolving problems. Ill wait til after the mission to watch it.
We encountered Elder McGrath and Elder Gomes (District leader) at our apartment waiting to swap companions. When they were swapping I was locked outside with Elder Rainho, by Elder McGrath and Elder Candido. When they opened the door they had a 10 kilo bucket full of Açaí ice cream for my bday with a 20 candle on top. We sang happy birthday and then i ate at least 2 liters of ice cream because we didnt have room in our freezer. We swapped the rest to smaller containeers later and I took lots of pictures. The ice cream is all gone now with exception of a little for our ward mission leader.
Saturday:
We had the devocional with President Klein. As we were preparing to start some youth came and told us that the baptismal font was overflowing. Elder Rainho and McGrath had been filling up the font a little more since some water had drained and forgotten to turn it off. So we were cleaning up rapidly. The devosional was good and as I went to give my talk i felt impressed to change it. I had felt earlier that day that it needed to be on love and as I went there I changed it so that it was still on love but on a different aspect of love. I felt after that I had given the right talk which was good since I gave it on the spot. The baptism of Fransisca was amazing and I had the chance to baptize her. We will most likely baptize her nephews in the photo next week. Please pray for Frank her son since he went to work last week and hasnt come back since. He is still fighting his addictions and needs help.
Sunday:
We had the comfirmation of Fransisca and it was a good day. We ended by calling people who had gone to the temple.
I love you all and please email me pictures. I saw one of our family that Billy sent me and wow Ben looks much taller, Andrew much more mature and Caleb looks like my favorite little Stinky.
Have a wonderful week.
Love
Eric
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Why I always walk with a book of mormon in my hand
Então (and so) this semana wasnt too eventful.
Terça feira
We had district meeting and went and taught people. Nothing too exciting happened.
Quarta feira
I woke up at 5:00 and took a bus at 6:00 to go to the temple. When we were at the bus station there were a bunch of people trying to get on the same bus as us. I got on and was standing next to the person taking the peoples money. As we rode the bus I stuck my book of mormon out for everyone to see. One man who was entering the bus was staring at it and so I asked him if he had read it. He said yes that he had friends in another state that were members and he moved to manuas and so he hadnt met with the missionaries. I took his address and continued standing. About 5-10 minutes later the young woman taking the bus fares asked to see my book of mormon. I then asked her if she had read it and she also responded no but would like to know more. So I explained about it and took down her address and gave her a book of mormon as well. It was interesting because that morning i hadnt been planning on bringing books of mormon with me or my book of mormon in my hand but because I did more people were brought to the point of learning more about the church.
The temple is absolutely amazing and beautiful. I took pictures and theyre on picasa now. I had an amazing time there.
Quinta feira
It was normal work day and it even rained! Yay rain! But it was wonderful because we taught people. Also we had our correlation meeting and it was good.
Sexta feira
Today was interesting. So this week we had two couples that we were going to give dates for batism or cut them for not progressing. Each time we planned on doing it before we could talk they told us that they werent interested in hearing any more but invited us to pass by anytime we wanted. It was interesting that it happened two times the exact same way in one week. (the second time they gave us Mingau which is a porrige. It was really good)
Sabado
Today was the one year aniversary of my companion and also another elder in the mission. So after working for the day, we went to a members house and there they had a cake and a bunch of food for us. it was wonderful.
Domingo
We had excellent talks in sacrament meeting about missionary work. One returned sister gave a story about a young man giving his farewell address and he told a story about when he was waiting for his call and he had a dream where he was in the preexistance and he received his call to earth and it was to the us and he would have the gospel. His friend was there with him and he also recieved a call but his to costa rica and he wouldnt have the gospel. The friend who wasnt to have the gospel made his other friend promise to find him and share the gospel with him. The young man recieved his call to costa rica. One year later the bishop of the ward recieved a letter saying that hed found his friend.
Look up the story its from the seventies and is real.
This was my week and I heard a quote from President Uchtdorf that i really liked. It was ``dont judge me because my sin is different than yours``. It was interesting for me to ponder about.
Have a wonderful week and i love you all
love
Eric
Its a bird, its a plane, no....its another hill! Yay hills!!!!
So yes my area has many hills ill be taking some pictures of it all this week.
Tuesday: District meeting in our chapel because the Zone Leaders were at the temple. It was good. I learned a bunch of slangs in portuguese like zeeka which is like ``super good/bad`` depending on how you use it. I have a favor to ask. Can someone find me in the ``work and the glory`` books (it was when they were in Navoo) where it makes reference to when Christ comes there wont be rainbows that year? Im rather curious because I found something about the rainbow being a promise to Enoch also...and so im curious
Wenesday:
We taught some good lessons today. I dont remember anything too special today.
Thursday:
At lunch I saw a turtle shell that the family had and they told me that they had eated it. I gave them a suggestion on what they could do with the shell that a member in acre told me about (painting one side and putting a mirror on the other side) and in return they gave me the shell. They said that they had been waiting to paint the temple on it but they hadnt found a artist and they had had it for a while and so they gave it to me. So any suggestions for things to paint on the shell will be appreciated. Oh and the shell is over two and a half feet long and one and a half feet wide :) I put a picture of it on Picasa go and see it. I can take it out of Brazil only if it is a artesian craft so I need to find an artesian now
So I know that you all like bathroom stories so heres one. We were walking in the street and i had to go to the bathroom. Bad. So we showed up to our appointment and they were watching the soccer game of Italy and Portugual and so they didnt get the door and by the time we had gottent there I was dieing. I needed to use it bad. So we walked up the street and the first house where I saw people outside I asked and the people saw that I was desperate and so they let me use their bathroom. My companion said that another person there hadnt heard and asked where I went and a woman there told her and they started laughing a little. The end of the story
We had our first correlation meeting with our new ward mission leader and it was good.
Friday:
The first part of today was good and the night part of today wasnt so good. That night we went on a wild goose chase searching for the father of a girl that was going to be baptized that elders in another zone were teaching. It took a while. Oh and he is a pastor. He was nice when we found him and said that he would talk to his daughter and then sign the baptismal form.
Saturday:
We spent the morning going to the dermatologist. We showed up at the hospital and they said that the dermotologist wasnt seeing patients there anymore and gave me the new address to go and find here. Luckily it was on the way home and so I went and saw the dermatologist and it was all good. The mark on my hand is a reaction from the acid in lime juice and the sun and I just need to use more sunscreen and a cream for my hand.
The girl who was going to be baptized said that she wanted to wait a little more so we will get the signature later.
That night we went to a BBQ for a returned missionary from Port Alegre. She said something interesting which was that she didnt remember how she was before the mission anymore. Only how she is now after the mission. When she said that I started thinking about it as well and realized that I dont quite remember completely how I was before the mission. I remember what I did but not how I think anymore. It be interesting to see how much I will change by the end of the mission.
Sunday:
CHURCH!
After church we went to ward counsel and then taught a lesson.
This was my week. :) I also wrote a ton of letters this morning so prepare!.
I love you all and please pray for me everyday,
Eric
Im here....in Manuas....and its starting to get really hot.....Im here... in MANUAS!!!
So as you can see Im here in manaus again. And before I forget I attatched my pictures of Acre and uploaded them.
Monday: I found out that i wasnt leaving until tuesday at 5:00 and so I spent the day packing and saying bye. I was really touched by Sister Ester who told me about the impact me and Elder Nunes had made on the life of her son since her husband (theyre separated) never did anything to help with him. Her son was enos the boy who we got to read all of the book of mormon by the end of the transfer. She was crying as she told us and I was really touched. I had given her a pair of pants to mend since the sewing job was beyond my ablilties (it needed a patch). She gave me back the pants along with two other pairs of pants which I was really touched by and really happy about because this week three of my four pants ripped and ill need to get them fixed and with this fifth pair (i left the 6th in Acre for elder nunes to send to me) I was able to have a pair of pants to use. I packed until 12:30 that night and got up at 2 to go to the airport at 3.
Tuesday:
I arrived in Manaus and it was wonderful. I was able to see my old friend Elder Shepherd and some other people before arriving in our area. My house is huge and we live with another companship of missionaries. We even have a really nice barbecue on the second story of our house :) I got to know the area and some of our investigators there. It was wonderful truly it was.
Wenesday:
It was a normal day of work. My area has a bunch of hills. Like alot of hills. I cover Cidade de Deus and also Mount Sião (the city of god and mount zion). It was a good day.
Thursday:
We continued working. My companions name is elder candido and hes from Londrina Parana. He is super cool and super chill. I like him alot.
Friday:
Work (nothing too exciting happened this week).
Saturday:
We went to our first appointment for the morning and it was raining and so I was using my umbrella and a man ran up and stood under my umbrella with me which i thought was normal. He then tried taking my umbrella and I thought that he was just trying to hold it so I just ignored it and kept walking. So the man continues to follow us around and after a while I realized that he was on drugs. We ditched him under the eaves of a building and i was glad to do so.
This night we went to an investigators house and i was showing the wallet pictures that i walk with and a 14 year old girl saw the picture of andrew and didnt want to give it back to me. She was going to keep it. After a while i negociated with her and she finally gave it back. I am no longer going to let others hold pictures.
Sunday:
We got to church and went to fill up the baptismal font because we had a baptism and it was dirty because the water didnt drain out and so we cleaned it :) Then we had the baptism of a 12 year old boy named Rogerio who is an awesome kid. I really do like him.
Well that was my week, please continue praying for me
Love
Eric
The Spirit of the Lord has called me away to another place....
First of all Im super excited for my three new nieces and nephews and im still waiting for pictures of Aaron Jr. PS If you recently had a baby send me your address next week so that you can recieve a letter.
So my week goes like this:
Tuesday:
We worked as usual. A member asked that we passed by their house so we did and he rewarded me with a Palmeiras hat which i was suprised that he was giving me and accepted it with pleasure. I have another story about today but ill save it for a letter.
Wenesday:
At the english class we had a man walk in and i thought that he was a friend of a member only to find out later that he was new in the area and looking for a church. His name is daniel and he moved here from cruzeiro do sul two weeks ago. I marked a day with him then a member invited him to a dance in the stake center and then the first counselor in the bishopric gave him a tour of the chapel. It was really cool experience. Also a member brought her friend named jessica who we marked to visit sunday.
Thursday:
We went and taught daniel and met his twin sister daniella and he accepted to read about the book of mormon and pray. Other than that it was a normal day.
Friday:
So we were teaching a peruvian investigator and this fat spider ran across the floor. I tried squishing it but it was too fast and so I threw my bag at it which hit it. When i picked my bag up there were hundreds of little spiders on the floor and the big one was still alive. So i squished it again and even more spiders came out. I spent the next couple minutes trying to squish all the spiders of the floor that I had created there. It was the weirdest thing that I saw.
Saturday:
We had interviews for our baptismal candidates and sadly none of them were quite ready but we have a bunch ready for next week. Including Daniel who accpeted a baptismal date.
Sunday:
We went to church and daniel came by himself which I was really excited about. Jennifer, Sara and Mardson all were confirmed and it was an amazing moment. I had the oportunity to give a talk along with my companion. I had prepared to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ but as I sat up there I felt impressed to speak about Love and loving others. It was what the Lord wanted the people there to hear and the spirit was there in the room very strong. After Sacrament meeting we recieved 2 references from members and 1 from elders who called us. Then after lunch we recieved another reference. It was amazing. Then we had a division with the ward mission leader (who gave me peanut butter) and went to teach jessica and as we were starting to teach i recieved a call saying that i was transfered to jardim botanical 2 in manaus. It was a shock for me and this area will always be my favorite. I love this ward, area, and my investigators here but the lord needs me in manaus now. Maybe one day ill come back here and i pray i do. My plane will leave at 3 this afternoon.
have a wonderful week
Elder Olsen
ps I have a man who is making me a caiman skin scripture case that my companion will send me. will speak more of this in the future.
And it came to pass that on the 7th day he saw the work done throughout the week....and it was good.
So this week was amazing and maybe the very best in my mission up to this point.
Monday: We returned home at 10:30 at night. It was fun but very tiring.
Tuesday: Our bus got to the stop at 6:30 am and we had district meeting imediately because all of us were zombies. I think that I was the up there for one of the most tired. Then we came home cleaned and worked.
Wenesday:
Our dear friends the traveling assistants were back after teaching and baptizing in a outlying city. So we had divisions with them. I went with Elder Menezes and it was a very delightful division.
Thursday:
Our friends the assistants left for manauas. They also took all the heat in Rio Branco with them. We had the coldest weather in all of northren Brasil I think. It was 60 degrees fareinheit and 16 celcius. By far the very coldest it has been on my mission. From the reaction of the people here you would have thought it was in the 40s or 30s. Everyone had coats gloves and sweatshirts. Except for the two crazy people wearing short sleeve shirts and black pants. I was freezing. That night my thin sheet didnt help too much either.
Friday:
Today it was warmer but still really cold for us with 73 degrees F and 23 C. Im going to die if I ever encounter snow again. We had a lesson with Jennifer and Sara going over the baptismal questions and at the end we gave them the option of being baptized this week or next week. They wanted to get baptized this Sunday. It has been very interesting for me to see how the Lord has worked with them for these last two weeks to bring them up to this point.
Saturday:
We had the interviews of Jennifer and Sara and they went through without a problem. At lunch a member asked if i wanted any american food from bolivia because a friend of his was going there and they have a bunch of things like root beer and peanut butter. So I told him these two things. That night we had the temple celebrati0on which was very well put together. I think that President Uchtdorf got burned by the sun in manaus because he was looking rather dark.
Sunday:
We had the dedication of the temple. President Uchtdorf and Elder Cook were there. It was amazing and I had the oportunity to watch two sessions. It was interseresting for me to listen to the diferences in the translations in English and Portuguese. But the dedication was amazing. A member gave me an the first jersey of a soccer team that I like here and it was original too. I was touched by the generosity of such an amazing gift. This night we had the baptisms of Jennifer and Sara. I baptized Sara, but I was nervous since it was the first person that I personally baptized since march. I mixed up the word for bend your knees and instead said kneel down. So she was rigid as a board and since I was nervous I dunk her under the water. But her foot came up all of the members were looking at me a little suprised that I dunked her so rapidly adding to my nervousness. So I said the prayer again and then dunked her again. It was definetly a journal experience.
Today: On my way here to the library we passed a pile of books in the street with some boys ṕicking thorugh it. It was rather funny because I found the churches old testament guide and some other church books in it. The boys werent members but they still wanted the books of the modern day prophets.
This week are transfers and honestly I dont want to leave or a new companion so Iḿ hoping that nothing will change.
I pray that all of you are having great weeks and look for letters on the horizon. Oh and my watch broke this week So if you didnt send one in my birthday package I think im going to start looking for one.
Stay happy, keep smiling and pray always,
love
Eric
ps I want to hear about new nieces and nephews this week.
Monday: We returned home at 10:30 at night. It was fun but very tiring.
Tuesday: Our bus got to the stop at 6:30 am and we had district meeting imediately because all of us were zombies. I think that I was the up there for one of the most tired. Then we came home cleaned and worked.
Wenesday:
Our dear friends the traveling assistants were back after teaching and baptizing in a outlying city. So we had divisions with them. I went with Elder Menezes and it was a very delightful division.
Thursday:
Our friends the assistants left for manauas. They also took all the heat in Rio Branco with them. We had the coldest weather in all of northren Brasil I think. It was 60 degrees fareinheit and 16 celcius. By far the very coldest it has been on my mission. From the reaction of the people here you would have thought it was in the 40s or 30s. Everyone had coats gloves and sweatshirts. Except for the two crazy people wearing short sleeve shirts and black pants. I was freezing. That night my thin sheet didnt help too much either.
Friday:
Today it was warmer but still really cold for us with 73 degrees F and 23 C. Im going to die if I ever encounter snow again. We had a lesson with Jennifer and Sara going over the baptismal questions and at the end we gave them the option of being baptized this week or next week. They wanted to get baptized this Sunday. It has been very interesting for me to see how the Lord has worked with them for these last two weeks to bring them up to this point.
Saturday:
We had the interviews of Jennifer and Sara and they went through without a problem. At lunch a member asked if i wanted any american food from bolivia because a friend of his was going there and they have a bunch of things like root beer and peanut butter. So I told him these two things. That night we had the temple celebrati0on which was very well put together. I think that President Uchtdorf got burned by the sun in manaus because he was looking rather dark.
Sunday:
We had the dedication of the temple. President Uchtdorf and Elder Cook were there. It was amazing and I had the oportunity to watch two sessions. It was interseresting for me to listen to the diferences in the translations in English and Portuguese. But the dedication was amazing. A member gave me an the first jersey of a soccer team that I like here and it was original too. I was touched by the generosity of such an amazing gift. This night we had the baptisms of Jennifer and Sara. I baptized Sara, but I was nervous since it was the first person that I personally baptized since march. I mixed up the word for bend your knees and instead said kneel down. So she was rigid as a board and since I was nervous I dunk her under the water. But her foot came up all of the members were looking at me a little suprised that I dunked her so rapidly adding to my nervousness. So I said the prayer again and then dunked her again. It was definetly a journal experience.
Today: On my way here to the library we passed a pile of books in the street with some boys ṕicking thorugh it. It was rather funny because I found the churches old testament guide and some other church books in it. The boys werent members but they still wanted the books of the modern day prophets.
This week are transfers and honestly I dont want to leave or a new companion so Iḿ hoping that nothing will change.
I pray that all of you are having great weeks and look for letters on the horizon. Oh and my watch broke this week So if you didnt send one in my birthday package I think im going to start looking for one.
Stay happy, keep smiling and pray always,
love
Eric
ps I want to hear about new nieces and nephews this week.
OPERATION AGUA
Tuesday:
District meeting. I woke up a little bit sick and tired. The day was normal overall i dont remember anything too special.
Wenesday:
I woke up sick today after having some bad sleep, but i took some medicine and began to feel better.
It rained today. Hard, with rivers in the streets. It wasnt too delightful because a car came and splashed me with water that was about waist high.
We taught a man Tiago who wants a change in his life and invited him to be baptized. He has much potential and accepted a date for June 9th.
This night we taught the first English class and it was ok. Iḿ learning more about english grammar and phonetics teaching this class so its rather interesting.
Thursday:
So today we started operration agua. Ok so it doesnt really have a name, but it was when we started to do contacts in a different form. We have begun to work at ´´the end of the world`` which is at the end of the barrio cadeia velha. It is the end of a very long street which is about 20-25 minutes from our house walking and 30 minutes from the chapel walking rapidly. We went there and started to teach people and invite them to prepare for baptism on first contact and for next week or once they have recieved their answer about the church. We invited 3 people who accepted to be baptized.
Friday:
We continued this tactic of finding people at the end of the world and ran into a bumch of good people and also had the oportunity to teach thawany again who has a baptismal date for next week. Please pray for her that she will recieve an answer.
Saturday:
We had a division today with members of the ward and I made the trek to the end of the world twice. It was good and we were able to encounter more people at home.
Sunday:
We had lunch with a Peruvian family here in the ward and it went well. My companion challlenged the twelve year old son to finish the book of mormon before the 18th of June, hes currently in the begining of Alma. To make it fun I told him that he has to read it all before I do and Iḿ was in 1st nephi 13. It should be interesting.
We had another division this time with our ward mission leader, Irmão Enrique, who is from Peru. I had the oportunity to go with him and learn more about Peruvian culture. He told me that in Peru he used to play professional tennis and that he knows a world famous American Tennis player personally. (i dont remember the name). It was cool to have the oportunity to work with him.
We visited Manuel and his wife (an indian family waiting to get married so that they can be baptized), and also Manuels nephew Mardison. Mardison accepted to be baptized this week as well. After we visited Pedro and Lucena and taught them about the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. Then we went to Fred, who is an investigator who also is from Peru. During the lesson Irmão Enrique spoke Spanish and it was interesting because I understood about 70-80% of what he was saying. I tried speaking a little spanish as well by switching the pronounciantions of the words and it worked out.
While we were waiting for Elder Nunes we sat on a bench in front of the chapel and a drunk couple came up and the wife said that she would wait with us while her husband went and bought something and then they began to start having a conversation. It was a little funny but dont worry we left and waited at Enriques house for a bit before we switched back.
I´m losing all fear on giving a baptismal invitation when we talk with people for the first time. If they are ready and are willing to follow the will of the lord, they will accept. If not they wont.
Please pray for me, my companion and the work here in Rio Branco. I really could use the prayers right now.
Love
District meeting. I woke up a little bit sick and tired. The day was normal overall i dont remember anything too special.
Wenesday:
I woke up sick today after having some bad sleep, but i took some medicine and began to feel better.
It rained today. Hard, with rivers in the streets. It wasnt too delightful because a car came and splashed me with water that was about waist high.
We taught a man Tiago who wants a change in his life and invited him to be baptized. He has much potential and accepted a date for June 9th.
This night we taught the first English class and it was ok. Iḿ learning more about english grammar and phonetics teaching this class so its rather interesting.
Thursday:
So today we started operration agua. Ok so it doesnt really have a name, but it was when we started to do contacts in a different form. We have begun to work at ´´the end of the world`` which is at the end of the barrio cadeia velha. It is the end of a very long street which is about 20-25 minutes from our house walking and 30 minutes from the chapel walking rapidly. We went there and started to teach people and invite them to prepare for baptism on first contact and for next week or once they have recieved their answer about the church. We invited 3 people who accepted to be baptized.
Friday:
We continued this tactic of finding people at the end of the world and ran into a bumch of good people and also had the oportunity to teach thawany again who has a baptismal date for next week. Please pray for her that she will recieve an answer.
Saturday:
We had a division today with members of the ward and I made the trek to the end of the world twice. It was good and we were able to encounter more people at home.
Sunday:
We had lunch with a Peruvian family here in the ward and it went well. My companion challlenged the twelve year old son to finish the book of mormon before the 18th of June, hes currently in the begining of Alma. To make it fun I told him that he has to read it all before I do and Iḿ was in 1st nephi 13. It should be interesting.
We had another division this time with our ward mission leader, Irmão Enrique, who is from Peru. I had the oportunity to go with him and learn more about Peruvian culture. He told me that in Peru he used to play professional tennis and that he knows a world famous American Tennis player personally. (i dont remember the name). It was cool to have the oportunity to work with him.
We visited Manuel and his wife (an indian family waiting to get married so that they can be baptized), and also Manuels nephew Mardison. Mardison accepted to be baptized this week as well. After we visited Pedro and Lucena and taught them about the importance of keeping the Sabbath day holy. Then we went to Fred, who is an investigator who also is from Peru. During the lesson Irmão Enrique spoke Spanish and it was interesting because I understood about 70-80% of what he was saying. I tried speaking a little spanish as well by switching the pronounciantions of the words and it worked out.
While we were waiting for Elder Nunes we sat on a bench in front of the chapel and a drunk couple came up and the wife said that she would wait with us while her husband went and bought something and then they began to start having a conversation. It was a little funny but dont worry we left and waited at Enriques house for a bit before we switched back.
I´m losing all fear on giving a baptismal invitation when we talk with people for the first time. If they are ready and are willing to follow the will of the lord, they will accept. If not they wont.
Please pray for me, my companion and the work here in Rio Branco. I really could use the prayers right now.
Love
I WANT TO BE LIKE DAN JONES WHEN I GROW UP
HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!
Dan jones is the missionary who served in wales who was very successful in the time of joseph smith
So my card reader isnt working and so you are going to have to wait even longer to see pictures.
Monday:
We found a member whose family arent all members and so we will teach them. The only thing is that they are from Peru and some of the family members came here 2 months ago and so they speak only spanish...which after hearing it i dont understand...should be good.
Tuesday:
A wonderful day that ended with me and Elder Nunes out in the rain and man does it rain here in Acre. Like alot. So we walked in the rain without an umbrella for about 15 20 minutes looking for a house of a member which we eventually found. We entered and taught the mother there about the word of wisedom and it was an ok lesson.
Wenesday:
We went to a restaurant with a member and I paid. Ok not really, they only took card so i paid and then he paid me back. We taught Ana and Fernando, a mother and son and commited them to baptism this day. That night we marked to have our first English class but we had a blackout in the whole city right when we were about to have it and so it was a little bit sad because we had to cancel the class. Funny enough 20-30 minutes later the lights came back on.
Thursday:
We taught a lesson to Bianca a girlfriend of an inactive member and the lesson was absolutely amazing. The spirit was there very strong and she commited to read and pray with a real desire to know if it was true and also to a know if she should get married. We will return back there thrusday and find out her answer.
Friday:
We did a service project this morning. A member in the ward had 2,500 bricks in front of her house that she needed moved to the back yard and so we hauled. Alot. the project ended when me and elder nunes were taking a 31 bricks (our carrier held 18 comfortably and 22 was pushing it) and a bunch fell on me and cut my hand. Don´t worry the bricks were ok and my hand too.
Me and Elder Nunes were going to put on a ward activity and do an iron rod activity and we got prepared and bought a bunch of supplies and...no one came. So needless to say the activity will have to happen in the future. It was a little bit saddening but oh well.
Saturday: We called the world to repentance.
We started this morning with finishing the service project and we took alot of bricks. We hauled a majority and left the boys that live at the house to do the rest.
That afternoon we visited the contacts that we had made throughout the week and it was ok. We encounted a contact at home and taught. Her name is Tawani and she accepted a baptismal date and is showing interest in the church. She definitely has potential.
Sunday:
We had stake conference and so we went to the stake center. There we heard a bunch of good speakers and ended with the secretary of the mission irmão Brito. I didnt even know we had a secretary until this point in time.
On the way home the ward rented a bus and a member back there gave us a bunch of cake and candy and snacks. It was nice. I think we need to do that too when we go to stake conference.
So were teaching more people and taught the first lesson to a family, Lucas13, Nei20 and Jenaina18. They live with this grandma along with a bunch of other kids. We taught them and marked baptismal dates and they all appeared to have lots of potential and then the grandma came and said how they were baptists and probided us to teach and because they werent going to change religions. It made me sad to see here proibiding them but it just reminded me of the parable of the sower with some seeds falling and the thistles choking them.
That night we taught Manual and his family. They are a indian family who we are waiting to get married before they are baptized. They´ve been going to church for a month and a half straight without our help. they are amazing. They speak kashinahwah, and i know thats not how you spell it but its how you pronounce it. They taught me one phrase and how to say happy new year (Bah-Rhee Boo Nah).
Thats crazy that Luke is already back. it feels like not that long ago that he left...
So this was the week. Still calling people to repentance. I hope that you all are well and remember that iḿ praying for you all.
Jesusun nuku mekei kiki
May Jesus protect you (kashinawah)
Elder Olsen
Dan jones is the missionary who served in wales who was very successful in the time of joseph smith
So my card reader isnt working and so you are going to have to wait even longer to see pictures.
Monday:
We found a member whose family arent all members and so we will teach them. The only thing is that they are from Peru and some of the family members came here 2 months ago and so they speak only spanish...which after hearing it i dont understand...should be good.
Tuesday:
A wonderful day that ended with me and Elder Nunes out in the rain and man does it rain here in Acre. Like alot. So we walked in the rain without an umbrella for about 15 20 minutes looking for a house of a member which we eventually found. We entered and taught the mother there about the word of wisedom and it was an ok lesson.
Wenesday:
We went to a restaurant with a member and I paid. Ok not really, they only took card so i paid and then he paid me back. We taught Ana and Fernando, a mother and son and commited them to baptism this day. That night we marked to have our first English class but we had a blackout in the whole city right when we were about to have it and so it was a little bit sad because we had to cancel the class. Funny enough 20-30 minutes later the lights came back on.
Thursday:
We taught a lesson to Bianca a girlfriend of an inactive member and the lesson was absolutely amazing. The spirit was there very strong and she commited to read and pray with a real desire to know if it was true and also to a know if she should get married. We will return back there thrusday and find out her answer.
Friday:
We did a service project this morning. A member in the ward had 2,500 bricks in front of her house that she needed moved to the back yard and so we hauled. Alot. the project ended when me and elder nunes were taking a 31 bricks (our carrier held 18 comfortably and 22 was pushing it) and a bunch fell on me and cut my hand. Don´t worry the bricks were ok and my hand too.
Me and Elder Nunes were going to put on a ward activity and do an iron rod activity and we got prepared and bought a bunch of supplies and...no one came. So needless to say the activity will have to happen in the future. It was a little bit saddening but oh well.
Saturday: We called the world to repentance.
We started this morning with finishing the service project and we took alot of bricks. We hauled a majority and left the boys that live at the house to do the rest.
That afternoon we visited the contacts that we had made throughout the week and it was ok. We encounted a contact at home and taught. Her name is Tawani and she accepted a baptismal date and is showing interest in the church. She definitely has potential.
Sunday:
We had stake conference and so we went to the stake center. There we heard a bunch of good speakers and ended with the secretary of the mission irmão Brito. I didnt even know we had a secretary until this point in time.
On the way home the ward rented a bus and a member back there gave us a bunch of cake and candy and snacks. It was nice. I think we need to do that too when we go to stake conference.
So were teaching more people and taught the first lesson to a family, Lucas13, Nei20 and Jenaina18. They live with this grandma along with a bunch of other kids. We taught them and marked baptismal dates and they all appeared to have lots of potential and then the grandma came and said how they were baptists and probided us to teach and because they werent going to change religions. It made me sad to see here proibiding them but it just reminded me of the parable of the sower with some seeds falling and the thistles choking them.
That night we taught Manual and his family. They are a indian family who we are waiting to get married before they are baptized. They´ve been going to church for a month and a half straight without our help. they are amazing. They speak kashinahwah, and i know thats not how you spell it but its how you pronounce it. They taught me one phrase and how to say happy new year (Bah-Rhee Boo Nah).
Thats crazy that Luke is already back. it feels like not that long ago that he left...
So this was the week. Still calling people to repentance. I hope that you all are well and remember that iḿ praying for you all.
Jesusun nuku mekei kiki
May Jesus protect you (kashinawah)
Elder Olsen
PARA MEU QUEIDO FAMALIA
Hello family, I know that its only been a couple hours but im still going to try and think of something to write.
So if you are wondering about my new area it covers about 10 barrios (neighborhoods) here in Rio Branco. Some that I remember are Moranda do Sol, Centro, tropical, Bosque and some other ones.
I tried to send pictures here but the computers dont like my camera still and so I will just have to wait for next week to send you all pictures.
Tuesday:
I got on a plane and came to Rio Branco. We spent the day introducing me to the ward because if I dont know the members it will be a little hard for them to trust me.
Wenesday:
Something funny that we did is went to seminary and gave a quick message. We asked the students questions about the old testament up to the point where they were ( exodus) and if they got it right they got chocolate and if they didnt then we ate the chocolate in front of them. We ate a lot of chocolate. Thats not to say that they werent smart, just that our questions were ridiculously hard. For example: how many days was noah in the arc. Who was the grandfatehr of noah and others that were similar and very specific. The point was that if you dont study and focus in semanary then you cant reap the rewards of the knowledge there. We will do this again next week.
Thursday and Friday were similar with lots of work and lots of walking i honestly dont remember very much about these days.
Saturday:
We planned a division and it fell through, but because of that we found an eleit family. Then later we were asked by the ward to help set something up for a mothers day and then we fopund anotehr elect family . It was an interesting thing for me to see that we werent working in the way that the Lord wanted us to and so now we will begin to work in his ways.
Sunday:
I talked with all of you! It was wonderful and i wont lie it made me a little homesick because i have to wait another 7 months and also because im in a new area but i have faith that it should pass after a week or two.
Today:
I got up and studied and then went back to sleep after finishing studies because i was tired, very very tired. But its ok today should be good. Please continue to pray for me that everything will continue to be good.
Tchão
Love Eric
So if you are wondering about my new area it covers about 10 barrios (neighborhoods) here in Rio Branco. Some that I remember are Moranda do Sol, Centro, tropical, Bosque and some other ones.
I tried to send pictures here but the computers dont like my camera still and so I will just have to wait for next week to send you all pictures.
Tuesday:
I got on a plane and came to Rio Branco. We spent the day introducing me to the ward because if I dont know the members it will be a little hard for them to trust me.
Wenesday:
Something funny that we did is went to seminary and gave a quick message. We asked the students questions about the old testament up to the point where they were ( exodus) and if they got it right they got chocolate and if they didnt then we ate the chocolate in front of them. We ate a lot of chocolate. Thats not to say that they werent smart, just that our questions were ridiculously hard. For example: how many days was noah in the arc. Who was the grandfatehr of noah and others that were similar and very specific. The point was that if you dont study and focus in semanary then you cant reap the rewards of the knowledge there. We will do this again next week.
Thursday and Friday were similar with lots of work and lots of walking i honestly dont remember very much about these days.
Saturday:
We planned a division and it fell through, but because of that we found an eleit family. Then later we were asked by the ward to help set something up for a mothers day and then we fopund anotehr elect family . It was an interesting thing for me to see that we werent working in the way that the Lord wanted us to and so now we will begin to work in his ways.
Sunday:
I talked with all of you! It was wonderful and i wont lie it made me a little homesick because i have to wait another 7 months and also because im in a new area but i have faith that it should pass after a week or two.
Today:
I got up and studied and then went back to sleep after finishing studies because i was tired, very very tired. But its ok today should be good. Please continue to pray for me that everything will continue to be good.
Tchão
Love Eric
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