Baptism!!

Oh! hello reader,

 

Well if you couldn't tell by the subject heading of this e-mail. Holly got baptized! It was such a great experience, y'all shouldve seen how excited and happy she was. After the opening prayer and song at the service she turned to us and asked if it was time yet. We told her she had to hear a couple of talks first. It was really awesome. Then after the baptism she asked if she could bear her testimony. Which we had offered to her before but she told us that she really didn't want to do that. But i guess the Spirit touched her enough that she desired to share her testimony. It is so awesome to hear someone that just only two months ago didn't know really anything about the church, and now she has said "i know it is true." Now i understand what the scriptures mean when they say our joy will be great if we can bring but one soul in the kingdom of heaven. Because i feel so blessed that the Lord would see me fit to be a part of such a wonderful conversion. I am so blessed for going on a mission, to see people come unto Christ.

 

 So Elder Cahoon was able to baptize her and I got to confirm her yesterday! I have to say after the confirmation i just felt like laying down and sleeping. It was just one of those spiritual experiences that just take away all your energy. So yes, Holly is now officially a member of the true church!

 

In other news the Halloween party for the church here was on Saturday. All of us were actually able to dress up. I ended up using probably 10-12 rolls of duct tape to make my suit. But it was so awesome! It was a hit, and just to brag a bit more, everybody was actually asking me where i bought it. Yeah I'm that good.

Also something that was really fun at the party was that there was a big chili cook off! And guess who were the judges of that? That's right, the missionaries! There was actually a ton of chili, i think we ended up with about 20 chilis to choose from. There were a lot of good ones.... and some that were not as good... and some where you wonder what happened. But then there was a haunted house and trunk or treating, it was a really good party and it was nice to have a little time off in a way.

 

It's sad news but i didn't tell y'all the last time. But i got a call from the assistants to the president and they told me that David from Hartsville passed away. So yeah that sucks. I was really plannin on y'all meeting him in this life, but i guess we'll all just have to wait a bit longer to do that. On the bright side he hasn't seen his wife in a long time and they're together now and free from this crazy world.

 

Can you believe that i will get to meet an apostle in only five days!? Hopefully I'll be able to get a picture with him, probably not because there's about 200 of us missionaries. But i know that we'll be able to shake his hand because that's what always happens when a general authority comes in. So i plan on taking many many many notes. Because it will probably be a really spiritual experience... if i choose for it to be anyways.

 

 Well i had a great spiritual week! Haha now we just got to go find someone else now that needs to be baptized. Guess we'll see how that goes!

 

Until next time

Love y'all

May the force be with you

Yoda is awesome

Elder K. Olsen

I'm Happy, I'm a Missionary, I'm a Mormon,and I love it!

Well whats up?
 

So this week seemed like it went by super slowly but at the same time super quick. I can't believe how much has happened!
 

So Holly! She's doing amazing and is for sure being baptized this Thursday at 5:30! Actually it's funny because she's already a mormon practically. She's watched Singles Ward and Charly and is going to watch the RM really soon. Also her job isn't working to well for her right now so she's getting a new job. Did i mention the job that she's applying for is in South Jordan Utah? Well it is. Also her friend is now taking the discussions and her other friend will probably move to Utah as well and take the discussions. So yeah, Hollys just being the perfect investigator as always.
 

In other news Tennis is going fantastic! Elder Cahoon has won two games and i won the game this morning. Probably because i have a legit outfit and i am honing my killer serve. Also I only hit one tennis ball over the fence today. We are up to six tennis balls now.
 

Also the new apartment is amazing. We have a porch on the back (we're on the second story). Just to let you know how amazing the porch is. This morning i read some talks by Bednar while drinking hot cocoa and leaning back with my slippers on.
 

Speaking of Elder Bednar did i mention that I'm going to be meeting him on November 3? Cause if i didn't i would just like to say the Elder Bednar is coming to out mission on November 3. In case you didn't understand the last two times i will say it once more... Ahem... ELDER BEDNAR IS COMING TO OUR MISSION!!!
 

Fun fact: It seems my shoes have finally realized that they've been on a mission for over a year. I put my feet in my shoes the other day and my heels went deep into the sole. So that's pretty cool, i feel like a pretty seasoned missionary now.
 

So something crazy that i never thought i could do a year ago. We were going around in a members big van to pick people up. Well i get out and go to the door and the person we were picking up wasn't home. But their neighbors were! So they ask if I'm Mormon. I say "yes." Then they ask if i have magic underwear... by the way that's a strange topic when you first meet someone. I suggest not asking that question to anyone. But anyway a year ago i would've been stunned and probably wouldn't know what to say. Well yesterday i said, "they're not magic but they are sacred and so i'd rather not talk about them". Then one of them said, "That's exactly what youtube said you would say! Youtube also said that you don't believe that black people will get into heaven!" I just laughed and said, "Sir we're all Gods children and we all have the equal opportunity to go to heaven." Then the conversation traveled to baptism and i got to teach about that which was sweet. Then that same guy said we don't believe that black people go to heaven again. So i replied, maybe a little bolder than i shouldve, but i said, "Sir. God is not racist and we are all his children, we'd love to come back and talk with y'all more but i need to go to church now." Then i turned around and left. But the best part was that one of the ladies was like, "Hey wait! When are you coming back?!" So i set up a time but it's for the other missionaries.. so we'll see how that goes! But who knew i would ever be that bold in the ghetto. Pretty cool!
 

Something i thought that was interesting as i was on the way over here. Not because i was angry. But being angry is such a choice. For example, i don't like it when shoes are on my bed... not at all. But i realized that by saying that i have made the decision now that i will be angry if it happens. Which seemed ridiculous to me. So i realize that if i get angry at something it's because i've already chosen at some point that i would get angry at that. I'm a Son of God and i have the power to choose how i act when i act.
 

Also speaking of power. I can't remember the scripture exactly but it's in one of the four D&C sections about the priesthood that Pres. Uchtdorf mentions in a talk that Dad gave to me a while ago. But it spoke of how we have the power to obtain eternal life. Wow! Isn't that more power than all the money in the world can buy? I have the power to obtain eternal life, i have the power to go to the Celestial Kingdom and live with my Heavenly Father. Because i have the power of agency, and the power of the priesthood.
 

It's ridiculous how much revelation i feel that i receive. The Spirit speaks to you more, the more you listen to Him. Interesting isn't it? And the quicker you act on promptings the sooner you are to feel happiness, comfort, peace, and receive revelation.
 

I love this gospel and I know it's true and I have absolutely no doubt about it. Zero

I'm Happy, I'm a Missionary, I'm a Mormon,and I love it!

Model homes, baptismal dates, and a greenie

Model homes, baptismal dates, and a greenie

 

So this has been a pretty amazing week! I'm not quite sure where to start but I'll try to cover everything.

 

Kay so first Holly holly holly. So we've been making major progress with her and just for privacy reasons for her i just want to say that we've jumped tons of hurdles. A few days ago we put her on date for Oct. 25. So she's really excited about that but super stressed at the same time. Yesterday she recieved tons of revelation and guidance and has realized how important baptism is. But she also realized that she need to quit smoking which will be hard. She works crazy hours so she texted us at 4am telling us she expected a really good lesson tuesday and she needs to quit smoking. Then she texts us at 6:31 telling us she needs help again and to wake up! Then she called us. Did y'all know it's rather difficult giving a lesson two minutes after you've "woken up" after sleeping on the ground (I'll explain the ground thing in a bit). Anyways we're super pumped but nervous and excited but stressed. So we need prayers for her to quit smoking and she'll get baptized soon.

 

Next of all we moved!!... sort of anyways. The original plan was to move last friday, but it turns out we had to move out last friday but couldn't move in to the new place until today. So yeah we were totally homeless for a few days. Luckily the new place let us stay in the model home which is amazing! Then we found out we could stay in the old place, but it smells like cigarettes and marijuana from the people downstairs so we stayed in the model home. Completely furnished with automatic lights and tons of other fancy stuff. Unfortunately only two beds. Since we were only staying two nights we agreed i'd sleep in the bed one night and sleep in the bed the other. Thus explaining why i was sleeping on the floor. Technically i was on tons of throw pillows and blankets and slept great, but i was on the floor as well.

 

Also our new apartment complex has a tennis court so Elder Cahoon and I decided we would take advantage of it. So i bought a polo shirt, a bag for my racket, and am working on getting a sweat band, and official tennis shoes. Evidently my black soled shoes aren't aloud on the court. So this morning as i was playing in my black soled shoes i found out I'm pretty good at serving the ball. In fact I missed only a couple times and only almost hit the ball over the 12 foot fence on the other side of the court. Well after Elder Cahoon hit both balls over the fence we decided that we were done until tomorrow.

 

So today we are moving and I'm super pumped about that. We found out that we get the upgraded apartment with brand new carpet and wood floors with granite countertops and new black appliances and cabinets. So basically missions are hard.

 

Elder Wilkinson our district leader is training! The new dude is Elder Potts from american fork, utah. So we got an apartment full of utahns. So it's always pretty funny when we introduce ourselves to people and announce we're all from utah and that we've never met eachother before the mission thingy.

 

So i did a fist pump and said "yes!" when i saw that Chris got those papers in. The person next to me looked at me weird... plus all the people behind the counter. But we're used to getting weird looks. Imagine all the looks we'll get when we go to wal-mart after this and ya know, all wearing suits. Those Mormons.

 

Well Elder Cahoons plans when he gets home is to first catch up on movies and video games. Then he plans on becoming a rock star. If that doesn't work he's gonna make video games. He'll be going to the U of U. So yeah normal stuff.

 

As for a suit I'll keep my eye out. This suit will probably be able to last being worn every day... but I should probably wash it.

 

Hmm well that's my life...

 

Oh man! I'm supposed to expound a scripture today!

 

Okay so I may have said this one before but not officially. One of my favorite verses is Moroni 6:4. It speaks of what happens after baptism and recieving the Holy Ghost. It says that it cleanses us. Which is usually what people think of when they think of baptism, becoming clean. But it also says that we will be "wrought upon" by the Holy Ghost. An example of being wrought upon is a blacksmith who is beating something into a shape that he wants. Well it's the same with the Holy Ghost, after we recieve Him He beats us into the shape that God wants us to become. We are not only cleansed, but changed.

 

I love being a missionary and i love y'all!

 

eLDer K. oLseN

General Conference rocks!

So I may have trouble talking about specific things about conference but it was definitely the most spiritually uplifting conference I've been too. Being on a mission certainly helped that to happen. I received so much revelation and had so many questions answered. But the coolest part is that all my question weren't exactly answered word for word by what was said. But it was answered by the Spirit. All of my notes that i took were the spiritual promptings which i felt and things i learned for myself.
 

I want to tell you all the amazing things that have happened with Holly! So she wasn't able to make it to the first session on saturday. Buuut she made it to the last session and she loved it! She loved it so much that when she went to work right afterward she told all her friends about it. Then we get a text Sunday morning.... she can't make it to the first session. Then we get another text... she can't make it to either sessions. But that's because she invited all of her friends to watch it at her house! Isn't it crazy that she got more people to church this week than we did? But anyways she watched both sessions and the session on Saturday! It's quite an experience watching conference as a missionary. Because you try to envision what your investigators are thinking when they watch it. It was perfect for her and her friends! We'll be teaching her probably every day this week, because she asked us to. Honestly i don't know how much more we can really teach her. But this i know, she's getting baptized this month.... we just don't know exactly when Haha.
 

In other news! I'm not sure if you knew this but transfers is this wednesday and we found out who's leaving on saturday. So what we found out is that I'm with Elder Cahoon another transfer! Actually his last transfer! Which I'm really excited about because he's definitely one of my best friends. Also Elder Stever goes home this wednesday and Elder Wilkinson will be training (those are the other missionaries in the apartment).
 

Speaking of the apartment we are moving this wednesday as well to a better apartment complex. I guess it turns out the the augusta apartment was the worst in the mission. So I'm glad that I've had the worst of it now... only better from here. But we actually got some pretty great stories from being in georgian place (our current living situation). But... I feel that it will be wise to tell the stories after I've moved. So until next week!
 

Last Monday was P-day like every other Monday. But this last Monday we went mini golfing! I believe i got second place, but i got 3 holes in one. Which was the most of the day. Also after that we went lazer tagging. Guess who totally pwned at that one? Me!!! Alright so it was companionship teams. So Elder Stever got 900 points, Elder Wilkinson got 950. But theeeen! Elder Cahoon (my companion!) got 16500 points! And I got 33500 points! So basically we annihilated.
 

It's kind of cold today actually. It's probably about 70 degrees outside. Which i used to laugh at when i first heard that. But everyone is in sweaters and jackets. 70 is a pretty big jump for us. And since it's after the october conference it is now suit season! That's right the slacks are hanging up for the season and i get to wear this suit coat every day. So that means I'll probably be going to goodwill to get myself a cheap suit... if i can find one that fits my abnormally tall body.
 

A quick side note, tell Nick i will happily go straight to his house for Halo. Sorry mom, a mission can't change me that much
 

Also crazy sauce! Could you believe that they lowered the age requirement! Haha i thinks it's so cool to see modern day revelation! I seriously pray that i can train an 18 year old. Isn't it weird to think that if that was the rule when i went on a mission I'd already be home? Blech. don't want to think about that.... Not that i don't love home, but ya know, a missions pretty fantastic. Lot's of work to be done, people to baptize, spirit to constantly feel.
 

So i got a note in the mail saying that i got a package waiting for me at the post office on saturday. But i couldn't pick it up because they were closed. So of course they don't work on Sunday.. oh and guess what!? They're not working again today. Dang Columbus!
 

 

Wow... the guy next to me sneezed so loud that he put the Olsen sneeze to shame. It actually surprised me so much i didn't even say God bless you, i just sat there stunned.
 

But anyways church is true, sky is blue, and i love all of you... y'all

Elder K. Olsen

Change Happens

Alrighty then!

So this week was amazing! First i have to tell y'all about all the great things that are happening with Holly! Holly is probably one of my favorite people in the world! So this last Wednesday was the no more strangers fireside where all the investigators in the zone come together and listen to some talks by recent converts and the mission president. Well Holly went and she loved it! I know how crazy it sounds but we didn't teach her an official restoration until Thursday. Up till then we had just been discussing and answering questions. Well the great thing is that on Thursday she asked if we could come by on Friday to teach the plan of salvation. Then on Saturday we taught her the gospel of jesus christ at the church. Which that was awesome because we taught faith, repentance, then we went and watched the baptism that the other elders were having. Talk about an amazing lesson! Then yesterday we finished the gospel of jesus christ after church. It's just so amazing, she's so excited to learn and to feel the spirit! We don't know when she'll be getting baptized but she knows she will.
 

But while teaching Holly I've noticed something. Elder Cahoon told me if the last missionary that was here taught her that she wouldn't have stayed as an investigator. But we conveniently found her right after i got here. There is no coincidence in that. It scared me for a moment to realize what could have happened if i didn't come on a mission. Holly probably would have recieved the gospel. But maybe not, she herself has told us many times that she's glad that we are her missionaries. Because she's met several other missionaries since. I'm not saying I'm a great amazing missionary and only i could convert Holly. But I believe that all of this happened this way for a reason. I'm so grateful I chose to serve a mission.

  

So i feel like talking about my scripture now. I actually chose several scriptures that revolve around the life of the apostle Peter. But the one i want to focus on is Acts 5:15. This scripture talks about how the people who were sick were put in the street hoping that just the shadow of Peter would overshadow them. Isn't it amazing that this is the same man that denied the Christ three times? Peter definitely wasn't a perfect man, In Luke 5:8 he told the Lord very humbly to depart from him because he wasn't worthy. But the Lord calls imperfect men to lead the way to perfection. Now something i found out was amazing. The time between denying the Christ to having people pray that his shadow overpasses them was only 2-3 months. Now I may be wrong, but I know that it wasn't much time. But the time limit isn't important. What's important is the change. Peter repented which caused him to change. Repentance isn't merely being forgiven, it's changing and growing into what the Lord knows you can be.

 

 For some reason this week has been big for me. I have changed a lot and i can feel it. The Spirit seems to be stronger and my desire to serve is greater. I've realized the seriousness of what I am doing. I was in interviews with President Holm and i told him about this. He said that this is what a mission president prays for with his missionaries. He prays that they reach that turning point where they understand what a mission is and give it their all. He says some reach that point the first month or the last month. But just like Peter the time limit isn't the most important thing. What's important is that that change happens.

 

Right now as i type this i am realizing how time really doesn't matter to God. He cares about the end result. Because can't someone not believe in christ for 80 years and then when they do believe and are baptized and endure to the end. Don't they recieve the same result as the one who was baptized at 8? Even those who don't recieve the gospel in this life can recieve it in the next. The plan of salvation is for everyone. And it is an eternal plan that is balanced in our favor and available to everyone. Because God loves us.

 

 

Alright so I counted all the change that i've picked us since I've been here and I've picked up a whopping $23.66. Some of that change is probably from change at McDonalds or something. But still that's a lot of change that I've got in my tootsie roll piggy bank!

 

 

Well I don't think that i need anything right now. But i'm so glad that today was "payday!" I didn't budget very well last month and it's not too fun being broke. But I will definitely tell you if i need anything. Oh! Actually i was wondering if big box of ties number two is on the way?

 

 

Anyways my life rocks and I love y'all!

Elder K. Olsen