Twas a Week of Finding!

 

Working on shoe art!

Hey everyone, how have you all been? Things have been going pretty well here, and the area has definitely been progressing! This week was quite different than most that we have in Sumterville, mainly because it was all based around finding.. Which was pretty exciting. It was quite successful too!! Basically, we just went through our lists of Former Investigators/Potentials and went visiting those people again. We got to meet some pretty awesome people that way, we knocked some doors, and visited a few Media Referrals! Overall, we ended up finding 5 new investigators to start teaching!!

We found one investigator-Manya, who is way awesome!! She recently went to Utah and while there, she visited the church museum. She really enjoyed it and it sparked some questions inside her!! So we will see where that takes us! We got to meet with the Twins this week, luckily, health didn't get in the way too much! We had a good lesson with them talking about baptism and they are both just the most excited kids in the world to be baptized! We were able to set a rough date for them as of right now. So we hope and pray they will able to be baptized November 7th or possibly the 14th. We are super pumped for them! I'm glad they have come to realize why we need baptism and truly how important the role of the Holy Ghost is in our lives!

This week I did (for the most part) finish my physical therapy sessions. I do have a physical re-evaluation with them this week to see if there were any improvements. I do feel a little better. I mean, obviously it wasn't going to get solved that quick, but I can tell a slight difference! The pain is still there, is just isn't as persistent as it once was I guess! So we will see what they feel about it. Thanks everyone for the prayers and for caring about it! It's been awesome to have the support group I have!

For this week's thought I strayed away from the General Conference talks for now, only because I found an AMAZING quote given by Dieter F. Uchtdorf and Rosemary M. Wixom... " President Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “God sent you here to prepare for a future greater than anything you can imagine. That future, a day at a time, comes alive when you do more than just exist; it comes alive when you live your life to fill the measure of your creation. This invites the Lord into your life, and you begin to let His will become yours."

We need to do more than just 'exist' right now. We need God's ways to become ours. We need to try and live up to our divine potential. We need to do our best to show our Heavenly Father that we care and desire to be our personal best and act on our faith.

Thank you! I do love and miss you all! I hope you all have a safe, and overall great week ahead of you! You truly are the best. And I hope you know of my love and prayers towards you all!

-Elder A. Olson

Powda Blue Suit!!

Sporting my Powda Blue Suit!!

Hey everyone! I Hope you all had another awesome week! Ours was pretty interesting, but a very good one at that and we are still on this awesome spiritual high from General Conference. The week started out with transfers on Tuesday and yes, Elder Uber and Cooper both left to go home! I hate to see them go, but they have served well and are great examples to the missionaries who remain in the field! Elder Cooper was my trainer so it was kind of weird to see him go! He gave me an awesome gift though.. I'll definitely attach pictures. Let's just say it's like a super retro "Powda' Blue Suit". Totally awesome!!

With Elder Cooper (My Trainer)

Then sadly, we weren't able to set a date with the Twins this week. I ended up getting sick Wednesday so we couldn't meet with them. Then their grandma got sick on Friday for our next appointment. All we know thus far is that it will be sometime in November! WOOHOO! 

Also, speaking of baptisms, I found out that Jessica, who I helped teach back in Ocoee, was able to get baptized! YAY!! I was super happy to hear the news, but sad I wasn't able to attend. Also, another surprise is that my old MTC companion has returned to this mission! Maybe I'll see him around!
I started my Physical Therapy this week as well. I only had three visits this week and sadly, not much has changed yet. I have noticed it doesn't hurt all day, but the pain still comes when I sit too long for lessons, drive anywhere, or stand or walk too much. So we will see how this next 3 visits this week end up. Thanks for all of your prayers, fasting and thoughts. I'm very grateful for you all and the constant support I get!! You are my heroes!!!

Nothing else exciting really happened.. We got a new mission car to drive around. That's pretty cool! But other than that I'm still just pushing along and trying to do my best!!

For this weeks General Conference thought, I've been thinking a lot about Neil L. Anderson's talk titled " Faith is Not by Chance, it's by Choice" Seriously this talk was amazing! He talks about how faith isn't a birthright. It's something that is to be picked up along the way, and hopefully confirmed to us that it's true! Faith, like the title says, isn't something placed upon us so we abide by it. It's something that we have to choose to live, choose to want in our lives, and choose to continue in. Because, like Elder Anderson says, faith is either growing or diminishing. How we live our lives increases or diminishes our faith. Prayer, obedience, honesty,purity of thought and deed, and unselfishness increase faith. Without these, faith diminishes.

Overall, the most important question to ask ourselves is "How does the Lord see MY Faith?" I hope that we all are increasing in our faith in our Savior Jesus Christ, and His Atonement. Because I know that this is how we truly grow closer to Him and our Heavenly Father. And to close this out, I will share an amazing quote from that talk. "I don't know everything, but I do know enough to continue on the path of true discipleship."
Thanks for all you guys do for me, I love and miss you all. And hope you have an amazing week ahead of you!

-Elder A. Olson 

Mini Exchange, Baptisms and Conference!!

 

Conference Breakfast with the Elders!

Hey everyone! How was your week this past week?! We made it through another week here in Sumterville and had a pretty awesome week! It started out pretty average, with the same meetings and stuff like that.  I also scheduled my first physical therapy session, which begins this Wednesday, because sadly they didn't have any openings until then. So I will be doing that and some more assessments!! Then this past Friday, Elder Uber and Elder Cooper got to drive down and do a final Temple Session. (Uber goes home this week) so Elder Thompson, Ashworth, and I got to spend most of the day in their area, Eustis, which is super close to Deland. It was so cool seeing familiar terrain and surroundings! We got the opportunity to go and teach some of their investigators, and see the people they visit. It was definitely a good learning experience/mini day exchange!

Also, we got permission from President Berry to set a baptismal date with the twins this week, so we will be doing that! They are hoping that we can do it mid-November, so that is what we are shooting for!! 
 
With us being in a branch that rents a little building, they were unable to broadcast General Conference to it. So we got permission to spend that time with the Lecanto Elders watching General Conference and boy oh boy was it awesome! I truly think I learned more from this last general conference than ever before! Those messages were exactly what I needed, and I was grateful that I had questions answered! Those men and women truly are called of God and inspired to lead, guide, and share what they did! And that's why I believe Elder David A. Bednars' talk was one of the absolute best with him expressing where we would be without our leaders and that they are truly called servants of God.  Many of you mention that you saw our frail prophet standing at the pulpit, as weak as possible, but still caring enough, loving enough to continue the message he knew we, as children of God, needed to hear. I love that man! The years of service and the love he has offered us has been priceless! The feelings you receive as you listen to the General Authorities is amazing, and the spirit that radiates from them is undeniable. This truly completes the scripture in Moroni 7:12 "Wherefore, all things which are good cometh from God.." 

There were so many good talks given though and it really did change a lot within me. And so over he next few weeks I'm going to highlight some of these talks in my email and explain why I like them. If that's alright?! So since I've already talked about Elder Bednar's talk, here's what I took from the beginning of his talk... "When you can not do what you've always done, then you only do what can be done. You will not always be eased from limitations or physical restrictions, you will be blessed with strength to continue on, and press forward."

Thanks for all the prayers, and thoughts, and support. I truly do appreciate and love you all. I hope you have an amazing week ahead of you, and you enjoyed  General Conference! Thanks again!!

- Elder A. Olson

Exchanges, X-rays and Excited for Conference!

 

Our pet Harold.

Well...This week was a success! We definitely saw more miracles! We were able to meet up with the twin girls again. They are just super pumped and ready for baptism. So we are going to be talking with our mission president about their situation, and see if we will be able to get them a date! We also had an awesome exchange this week. Both Elder Uber and myself stayed in Sumterville with Elder LeCheminant! It wasn't that fun of a day sadly, mainly because it was on Thursday, which was my Dr.s appointment! 

But before I get to that.. I'll tell you a little about the excitement that happened during our exchange. We caught a little baby lizard, and kept him as a little pet for the day. His name was Herald and so of course I had to get some pictures of him! But the rest of the time was pretty mellow and filled with appointments.  As for my back, they did In fact take the X-rays, and from what she had told me it was unusual for the pain to last that long, and that what she could pinpoint was a Lumbar Strain. But I took the pictures from the X-ray and sent it to our mission Doctor to see how/what he thinks. They have now asked that I start physical therapy and get massages to help out. The only problem is I have to go lots of times each week! But we will see. 
 
*Update - Further tests show a vertebrae out of place as well in my lower back.

General Conference is coming up this weekend!! WOOHOO! So I'm pretty pumped for that, as I hope everyone is! It's going to be awesome! Plus they will also be announcing three new apostles.. So that will definitely be exciting as well. There is a cool little message I'd like to briefly share about the importance of General Conference. It is given to us by Elder Jeffery R. Holland.But first here is a scripture I would like to share and it's found in 2 Nephi 33:1"....For when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men" And so like Elder Holland said in his talk "An Ensign to The Nations" he states:"If we teach by the Spirit and you listen by the Spirit, some one of us will touch on your circumstance, sending a personal prophetic epistle just to you."

I know and can testify that if we go into this conference with a question, or concern in mind, like Elder Holland said, and as we listen by the Spirit, our specific circumstance or situation will be answered. It may possibly not be how we expect, but the Spirit will notify us and we will feel of God's love and comfort! I'm super excited for it again, and I truly hope you guys are too, and that you will enjoy it.

Sorry to cut this short but nothing much else is going on in my life haha! Talk to you all soon! I Love and miss you all. Thank you for all you do for me and for the prayers and fasting for my back. Love ya!

-Elder A. Olson 

 

Gators are good eatin' - Not to be confused with Investi-gators though........

 

Let's play!  You take the yellow one;) 

Yes yes..It's another week down and it was a pretty cool week! We've been pretty busy  with a lot of lessons, a new investigator, and best of all, I got to eat me some Alligator this week! We had a member take us to a local favorite restaurant called Catfish Johnny's. I was feeling a little wild so I decided to get the sampler! It came with some good ole' Catfish, Frog Legs, Alligator, and some fried Okra! It was really good, honestly! Alligator was seriously like the best!

We have been teaching some pretty awesome people, some of which I mentioned last week. The two twin girls Aliyah and Alora are so dang energetic and excited for baptism! We are going to hopefully set a date this week! It's been awesome though, and we basically just go over and ask them to teach the lesson to us! They are way smart and basically teach it like the way we would. We are just waiting for some last little bit of information to be finalized before they can get baptized! We've also been just talking to everyone we see. We have started teaching this lady who believes in Joseph Smith, and has already read the Book of Mormon. She already attends a different church, but she wants to attend ours and see how it is! And we also talked to a cashierat a Family Dollar store. Her name is Montie and she is like super awesome and happy, and fun! She had a friend that served a mission too! So we will hopefully be seeing her again too! Please pray for them!!

My doctors appointment is this Thursday for my back. I do appreciate all that you guys have done for me in behalf of that.. All the prayers, thoughts, and concerns.  It hasn't been the worst I guess, just kind of bothersome lately. I did tweak it a little today, but hey, that happens haha! I'm just excited to see what they do for it once they've got it all figured out!

Other than that, nothing too new or exciting this week. We did have a "Why I Believe" Fireside last night and heard some great testimonies, and we had to sing in a missionary choir!! There were like 20 or so of us and it was really good considering we only had 20 minutes to practice! I got a (crappy audio) recording of that I'll try to send. Although it might be too large if a file to send over Email. I dunno. I'll try though!!

Sometimes in our lives, we face troubles, discouragement, loss, pain, etc. So when our life seems cloudy and storms linger, when we feel like we are enclosed, and there is no escape and that a particular "storm" may never end, if we rely on our Father in Heaven, knowing with full heart that he is aware of our situation, He will bless us! He will bless us if we turn to Him and if we continue growing in Him, building ourselves higher and trusting in God. When we eventually get to the top of those storm clouds you look and realize the suns still there, shining as brightly as it ever was before! Sometimes the effort of climbing up through that cloud is all the more rewarding, because the ground can seem unpleasant. Life is like that and storms come but the sun is still there. All you gotta do is lift your sights a little bit higher, trust God, and believe it will always be okay in the end.

Thanks for all the help along the way family and friends! You all truly mean something special to me. I love and miss you all greatly and I always hope and pray that you have a amazing and safe week ahead of you! I'm always praying for you! Love you!

- Elder A. Olson

LONG Meetings and Croom-A-Coochee!!

We've got us an investigator peeking out!

 

Well....we made it through this week!! It was definitely was a long one to say the least, but we were able to push through and see some miracles! The week started off at Zone Conference, where the Leesburg, Deland, Lake Mary, and Orlando Zones met together to get some instruction. It was a pretty awesome NINE hour meeting. hahah! We got further insight on the progress of the mission, how we can continue in growth, and a few more guidelines!

Also, this was yet another big finding week! We spent most of the days tracking down referrals and talking with former investigators. We ended up going to a little town we've never been to called Croom-A-Coochee, which is literally dirt roads in the middle of a national forest about 10 miles in. hahah! It was a little sketchy, but we did meet some awesome people! We also did end up finding a few new investigators! They were mostly media referrals, who had called and said they wanted the Book of Mormon, so we will see how they progress. Also, we got two additional investigators. They are twin 10 year old girls, who just moved into our area with their grandma (who is a member)! They are super prepared to be baptized, but we just have to wait for some things to be worked out with the parents I guess. We are way excited to have them coming to the Branch!

Then on Thursday, we had to drive the hour and a half back to Orlando, for the Trainer Follow-Up meeting, which was yet another SEVEN hours. We just basically got to ask President Berry how we can improve being trainers, so that we can help ourselves and our trainees!! We also got to also learn how to use our Area Book Planner App more effectively and how to plan out our weeks better..

As far as my back, it hasn't really improved or declined. There were a few days of pretty uncomfortable pain and a few days without much bother but luckily it's hopefully going to be figured out soon. My doctor's appointment is the 24th so we will see how that goes, and I will keep you all updated! Thanks for all the many prayers in behalf of that situation! I really do appreciate them and all of you! 

This spiritual message is going to be a little different, but this is something that has not only changed my missionary work, but my life. And it focuses on our Savior Jesus Christ. So we are going to go over this scripture (Alma 7:11-13) twice. And the reason I wanted to share this so badly is because of this fact: we were provided a Savior who would come down like is scripture says, who would suffer, and die for us so we can grow and be enabled to overcome the bonds that would face us.

 

"11 And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of His people.

 

12 And He will take upon Him death, that He may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and He will take upon Him their infirmities, that His bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that He may know according to the flesh how to succor His people according to their infirmities.

 

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that He might take upon Him the sins of His people, that He might blot out their transgressions according to the power of His deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

-Jesus Christ suffered for EVERYONE, and it doesn't single anybody out. This was for all of us. But not only for all of us, He knew how it would affect us individually. That's definitely something to focus on. The love of our Savior. I know, and I hope you do to, that if I were the only person placed on this earth after the Fall, (or you were the only person) that He loves us on individual basis, and because of this love Our Savior would still come down, and on His will and through His obedience and love, suffer for an individual person. He loves us, as a whole and as individuals. He wants us to grow to become better, but we wouldn't be able to do that without Him! And in doing so, it allows us to live with Him again! That we might never need feel alone, because He suffered so that He might also feel our afflictions so that He knows best how to help us. I love this scripture, and I love it's message. Let's make it personal, because truly, Scripture will only change the reader. Although He suffered for all, in everyone of us He still remains a personal Savior.

 

"11 And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith He will take upon him [your] pains and sicknesses.

 

12 And He will take upon Him death, that He may loose the bands of death which bind [you]; and He will take upon Him [your] infirmities, that His bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that He may know according to the flesh how to succor [you] according to [your] infirmities.

 

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that He might take upon him [your] sins, that He might blot out [your] transgressions according to the power of His deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me."

(John 3:16-17)

16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

Anyway, sorry for the long email, and long spiritual thought! I do love and appreciate you all. I hope and pray you have a great week ahead of you! Thanks for all you do! Talk with you soon!!

 

-Elder A. Olson 

Cool tree in the field

Happy Labor Day!

This week has been pretty awesome!  We focused a huge amount of time this week on finding new people to teach. We went around the only apartment complex we have in our area knocking on doors and we were actually able to find some awesome people to teach! One we found is Hillary, and she JUST moved in and had been looking for a church! So we will see how everything works out with her.

We had another great week of training as well! Elder Thompson has been doing great and adjusting very well. He is definitely strong at teaching and has a good drive to get work done! We've apparently made some cool connections with people we know from Spanish Fork (his relatives) are family friends with my family! So that's pretty cool! Hello to everyone in Cokeville! haha! It's already crazy to think that we're now in week 3 of the transfer. The time seems to be moving along quite well. But overall, it was a pretty mellow, regular week. We tried finding less actives and others, but no one seemed to answer the door. But we definitely saw blessings for our efforts of talking with everyone.

Lately it's been pretty nice, my back has hurt less the last few days. It is still annoying, but not as bad! I'm still scheduled for the X-Ray, or whatever they want to do with me at the end of this month. Although lately, my chest has been hurting has well....It should be alright though! Thank you all for the thoughts and prayers, I truly appreciate them and can feel and see the difference!This upcoming week is going to be the busy one. We have our quarterly zone conference tomorrow, then we have a trainer follow-up meeting Thursday in Orlando, then we have exchanges Friday! We are going to have to squeeze a lot in, because we are down about 2 days because of these meetings!

Also, pray for us that we will find some new people to teach! We have some awesome people already, but faith in God is affecting some. This week I've truly been trying to improve myself. We all hate not being perfect. We always nit pick ourselves to be better. One things I've come to realize this week is that through loving others, that's how we can become better in the challenges we face in life. We become better as we serve one another as well as by following the commandment of "Loving Thy Neighbor" 

President Gordon B. Hinckley said “Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. … Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ."It's interesting the dichotomy between healing the body and healing the soul. When we heal the body it's always an inward effort. We are always paying attention to ourselves. When we heal the soul, turning inward doesn't work. The triage of the soul is found in turning outward to other people. We should always be trying to uplift and help one another, as the Savior did. That's how we truly help improve ourselves! 

I love you all, and hope you have an amazing week ahead of you! I miss you all, and am always praying for you! Have a great one!

-Elder A. Olson