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
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
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
Monday, May 7, 2012
It´s time to fly south for the winter
So to start off I´m transfering areas for the first time in my mission. I have been reassigned to the Rio Branco, Rio Branco ward in Acré and so tomorrow morning im going to take a plane to a place that is much colder with lots of Tereré. My new companion is Elder Nunes. Elder Almeida will stay here with a missionary transfering from gloria.
Monday:
I got the nastiest sun burns from playing soccer. like really nasty. I´ll send you pictures next week of the burns because i had a defined sock mark.
Tuesday:
We had our last district meeting of the transfer. It was good and rather sad.
Wenesday:
I went on a division with Elder Gray in Colina do Aleixo. It was fun and in one part of the division we spent an hour looking for a house in the limits of the area. I think we might have gone out of the area/zone looking because no one had a clear sense of direction where the street was. It was cool because the area that we were in is in the middle of the city but all the houses have yards and its like its all in the jungle which is awesome. When we were about to give up a lady came out of the house (it was a reference from a member) and flagged us down. We went and taught the woman´s husband and taught him the restauration. Hes an elect and asked us immediately when he could be baptized because he wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. At the end of the lesson we taught about the word of wisedom and i asked him to give me his coffee. He said that he would throw it all down the sink and that he was done drinking it. And he did just that. He dumped it all down the sink and it was an amazing moment.
Thursday:
We had an ok day and it was fairly normal.
Friday:
We taught Michella and Rodrigo and now they are living above the house of Irmão Cesar, (he let me use him computer at Christmas time). They are awesome and i hope that they get baptized but they need to get married.
Saturday:
André our favorite little priest went and walked with us for a couple hours. Then that night we went to a Devotional with Elder Marzagarrdi a member of the seventy and the second counseler in the area presidency. We took Valeria, the mom of Seisi. It was great and i was able to see elder walch for a little bit. its been a while since ive last seen him. Elder Marzagarrdi talked about he was baptized after he visited the temple in São Paulo. It was really enjoyable.
Sunday:
Rodrigo Michella (the daughters of michella 3) Valeria and Divina all were at church which was the most investigators that we´ve had in a while there. I bore my testimony about accepting the will of god for us and that we can choose to accept it or we can choose to reject it and not recieve the blessings.
We had a division and i visited Iury and it was during this lesson that I recieved the transfer call. During the lesson i felt very lost at times because libras are definitely different than ASL.
We visited a family that the sisters here were teaching about a year ago and it was good. The daughter of the family said that she wanted to be baptized and serve a mission. An elect family for my companion to teach. It should be very good.
We ended with visiting Irmã Maria Rita. She is like family to me here in this area and it has kinda become a tradition visiting her at the end of each transfer. I gave a message about how i´ve come to love the people here in this area since coming here. I really do love them and im going to be sad to leave.
Today:
I sent a package home with my scriptures, sunglasses, something from the indian fair and my letters. Thank you very much for continually sending me letters since i´ve arrived. I counted and off all the ones that i´ve kept (which have been almost all) I have recieved 170. Yes i do want them after my mission still.
Until next week,
Love
Eric
Thursday, May 3, 2012
I feel like a fat American again. Yes!
So this week lunch was money several times and so I had the oportunity of eating 5 burgers at a members new cafe. They are huge, cheap and delicious Also they have the best pizza that ive tasted here in Brazil, tastes like home to be honest.
Monday:
We went to a family night at a members house and it was cool. I rather like it when people give us food.
Tuesday:
District meeting and we started teaching the family of Klingers sister, which is good. I rather like them and they are receptive.
Wenesday:
At the English class we sang ´´I am a child of God`` it was really good and I rather liked the class.
Thursday:
I don´t remember anything too exciting about today other than we taught with a member this night which was good.
Friday:
Exciting things. I got my fan back after a week of not sleeping with it. Also we encountered more people through knocking doors and I´m starting to rather like knocking doors.
Saturday:
So i´ll start with lunch today. We went to go to lunch and no one was home and so that wasn´t fun. So we went home to get money and eat at Valters cafe. So we show up to the cafe and no one was home there too. So we went to a restaurant. I was going to have to pay my companion back because I had no money. So we showed up to the restaurant and ate alot and then i went to the bathroom. When i came out i asked my companion if he had payed. he didnt answer me and said bye to the lady working then. when we got out he told me that he had tried to pay the lady three times and had even given her money and she gave it back and said ´´ your presense here is a blessing`` and let us eat for free. I felt humbled and remembered the scripture about going out and not bringing anything with you and that the laborer is worth his hire. Also the scripture of the lillies of the field.
Sunday:
Fransisco came with us to church and when we got there we saw that João had brought himself there. Which was good. After church i taught with a man in our ward the deaf man and his friend who can interpret. We will go to the birthday party of a child of a deaf man and will get a bunch of references.
Today we played soccer as a district with some youth and it was awesome. I got burned a bunch and feel really tired now but loved it completely. I´ll send pictures when we use another lan house because this one doesnt like my camera or card. We have transfers this week and i wouldnt be suprised if i stay again but anything can happen.
Please continue to pray for me,
Love
Elder Olsen
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Oi Oi Oi Oi
This week. How can i descrive it? Good question? Hmm maybe in the following words...
So Tuesday we had our normal district meeting and it was rather a regular day.
Wenesday: So the mission president came to our house today for interviews with us. Our house is always clean but we made sure that it was extra clean today. The only thing was when President started walking to the back to enter our house I realized that we had forgotten to take out the garbage. So I did what any desperate missionary would do. Took the garbage bag tied it up and then hid it in my suitcase. On the brightside it didnt break and spill out. But my interview was amazing and helped me to understand better my purpose and why im really here. It was really nice to get a shock to get me remotivated.
So English class had a bunch of new people this week! Still only members but we are having more people come is a good sign.
Thursday:We had a lovely morning where we went and worked out at a home gym in a members house and it felt really good to be on excercise machines again. But This was our lovely planning day where we plan for the week. We also taught a less active family where the father comes to sacrament meeting but the rest dont. They live in Tirar Dentes (translated ``to pull teeth´´). Its the rich part of our area where i have never taught anyone. We are going to start working there now and will start with references from this family.
If any of you are curious about what type of music, that isnt american, that they listen to here look up the song ´´Kurdo`` by Latino e Daddy Kall, or Velozes e Furious 5. The original was with a skinny white guy and fat black guy. A member told me the names so that you can know. Its from Angola in African and dont ask what theyre saying because i dont have any idea.
Friday:
We cut two people that have been investigators since i came. I feel like im closeing everything up here that I opened. It was weird. But i bought a really cool chair thursday that is imensely comfortable. Oh and i have to watch out when i drink Açaí because if i drink too much ill be addicted. I had some freshly made Açaí today and it was absolutely amazingzing.
Saturday:Today we had an amazing amount of lessons. 6 appointments that didnt fall through and we marked two baptismal dates for upcoming weeks. I was definetly happy. I learned not to trust my ideas about cooking without recipes. We recieved money for our lunch and i tried cooking a macaroni with a white tuna sauce. Dont eat the canned tuna here. It looked like cat food and the taste wasnt amazing. But it was still food and still filled me up.
Sunday:
We had about a third of the ward bear their testimonies and it was amazing (26 people). All of the young women with the exception of 1 maybe 2 and one of the young men as well. As I was sitting up on the stand (Elder Almeida was playing the piano) I realized that I knew everyone in the ward (maybe not 2 or 3) but it was a good feeling. Im really starting to feel at home here. We had a family night with Valeria and Klinger and they made us lasanga and it was good. The lasanga here is definitely different and they use ketchup in it and catupiry which is like bolonge.
I recieved a letter from the woman who called President Klein about me giving a book of mormon and her getting baptized and...it was me. I felt really really humbled to know that i made an impact on someone that i talked with for only 15-20 minutes. She is currently attending institute has strong friends in the church and is taking a mission prep class in preparation for a mission. God truly is looking out for me and helping me to help others.
I love you all and pray for you. Please keep me in your prayers,
Love,
Elder Eric Olsen
So Tuesday we had our normal district meeting and it was rather a regular day.
Wenesday: So the mission president came to our house today for interviews with us. Our house is always clean but we made sure that it was extra clean today. The only thing was when President started walking to the back to enter our house I realized that we had forgotten to take out the garbage. So I did what any desperate missionary would do. Took the garbage bag tied it up and then hid it in my suitcase. On the brightside it didnt break and spill out. But my interview was amazing and helped me to understand better my purpose and why im really here. It was really nice to get a shock to get me remotivated.
So English class had a bunch of new people this week! Still only members but we are having more people come is a good sign.
Thursday:We had a lovely morning where we went and worked out at a home gym in a members house and it felt really good to be on excercise machines again. But This was our lovely planning day where we plan for the week. We also taught a less active family where the father comes to sacrament meeting but the rest dont. They live in Tirar Dentes (translated ``to pull teeth´´). Its the rich part of our area where i have never taught anyone. We are going to start working there now and will start with references from this family.
If any of you are curious about what type of music, that isnt american, that they listen to here look up the song ´´Kurdo`` by Latino e Daddy Kall, or Velozes e Furious 5. The original was with a skinny white guy and fat black guy. A member told me the names so that you can know. Its from Angola in African and dont ask what theyre saying because i dont have any idea.
Friday:
We cut two people that have been investigators since i came. I feel like im closeing everything up here that I opened. It was weird. But i bought a really cool chair thursday that is imensely comfortable. Oh and i have to watch out when i drink Açaí because if i drink too much ill be addicted. I had some freshly made Açaí today and it was absolutely amazingzing.
Saturday:Today we had an amazing amount of lessons. 6 appointments that didnt fall through and we marked two baptismal dates for upcoming weeks. I was definetly happy. I learned not to trust my ideas about cooking without recipes. We recieved money for our lunch and i tried cooking a macaroni with a white tuna sauce. Dont eat the canned tuna here. It looked like cat food and the taste wasnt amazing. But it was still food and still filled me up.
Sunday:
We had about a third of the ward bear their testimonies and it was amazing (26 people). All of the young women with the exception of 1 maybe 2 and one of the young men as well. As I was sitting up on the stand (Elder Almeida was playing the piano) I realized that I knew everyone in the ward (maybe not 2 or 3) but it was a good feeling. Im really starting to feel at home here. We had a family night with Valeria and Klinger and they made us lasanga and it was good. The lasanga here is definitely different and they use ketchup in it and catupiry which is like bolonge.
I recieved a letter from the woman who called President Klein about me giving a book of mormon and her getting baptized and...it was me. I felt really really humbled to know that i made an impact on someone that i talked with for only 15-20 minutes. She is currently attending institute has strong friends in the church and is taking a mission prep class in preparation for a mission. God truly is looking out for me and helping me to help others.
I love you all and pray for you. Please keep me in your prayers,
Love,
Elder Eric Olsen
Monday, April 2, 2012
Dear Elder Olsen you have hereby been reassigned to...
Mission Brasil Acariquara. Yup another transfer is coming in and im still staying here in Acariquara. In was interesting, Sunday morning I felt like I was going to know the Lords will for me and that i needed to prepare myself for it. I felt the impression several other times but I was not prepared for the news that i would not be leaving after almost 6 months. The Lord has a little bit more for me to do here and the transfer is only 5 weeks this time but i plan on baptizing no less than 5 people in these five weeks. There are people that trust me and will listen to me because of this and i need to help them.
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So we watched conference in the high council room and it was 68-70 degrees in there and i was freezing. Seriously, it was cold. Dont judge my sissiness to cold. I took at least 5 pages of notes for every session and loved it all dearly. I watched it with the other americans in my stake and it was really cool to be in a room with only english speakers. But this little kid came in distracting us during Elder Christoffersons talk during sunday morning and then he left and came back during president monson so we kicked him out and i put a table in front of the door. One of my favorite quotes from conference was by neil l anderson who said ´´to be a disciple during these times will be a badge of honor during the eternities´´.
So many things happened this last week. First was I believe tuesday morning. I started my studies and we got a phone call from the president (I thought it was the district leader). He said that that morning he had recieved a call from São Paulo, I was expecting to hear that someone in our family had died and was about to brace myself for the worst. But he said that a woman called him from são paulo asking to speak with elder olsen because he had saved her life. The first thought that came to my mind is that they must have mistaken me for another elder olsen because i dont know any women in são paulo. He explained that I gave a book of mormon to a woman in são paulo when i was in the CTM and she read it and long story short, found the missionaries and has been baptized for 3 months. She remembered my name and was dating a person who works at the ctm and so she asked him to look through the records to find out who this elder was so that she could say thank you. They found me and said that i was the only elder olsen who passed through at that time so she called president klein asking to speak with me. She will write me a letter. Honestly when he told me about this i didnt remember any of it and so i was a bit perplexed and thought maybe they have the wrong elder olsen because there was an elder olsOn that passed through at the same time as me. as i read my journal i found where i had wrote about a woman on the bus that matched the description and how i said i thought she´d read the book of mormon. It is an amazing story and will only be complete when i recieve the letter.
So two people showed up to the english class and i learned that i dont speak english that well anymore and that im forgetting my pronounciations. Start learning portuguese to speak with me. But it was ok because the seminary class came and sat in after and I taught them how to pray in english.
So one of the couples that ive been working with since i came split this last week and it was really sad. I will share the whole expereince in a letter because its a complicated situation, but i cried for them and saw how the power of the adversary is real. They had been putting things of the world first in specific money before scriptures prayer and church. It was for this reason that they split up. But this week we encountered some elects and that was good.
Im sorry that ive been bad about writing letters I havent sent one in weeks but ill start sending again soon. As a missionary we live very humble lives and i dont really have much money even though i recieved it again yesterday my necessary purchases have depleteted it again.
I love you all and please pray for me and my companion that we will find the people god prepared for us.
Love
Eric
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