One Year Anniversary plus Happiest Place On Earth - The Temple!!

The week has come! And the year mark has been hit! (Well...in a few days...) I really can not believe it's been a full year already! I look back and I realize just how fast the time is truly flying.. It's kind of unsettling! This has been the most rewarding thing in my life! Sometimes I can't believe I'm actually out here, but I look how much my life has changed and how my relationship with my Heavenly Father has grown! Phew....a year....

This week we were able to go attend a session at the temple too! I mean...we had to wake up at like 4:30 in the morning, to give us enough time to get ready, drive to our rides house, and get to Orlando by about 6:30. It was SOOO amazing though, I mean...Disney is supposed to be the happiest place on earth, and although it's great, I think the temple is!

We were able to spend a good amount of time there, and even see some old missionary district members from Orlando South Stake- Ocoee area! So that was a good part too. I love the temple, and the spirit is always so strong. The ordinances that take place and the opportunity we have to be sealed as a family for time and eternity is the most amazing thing we can ever want and have! On our way back we got stuck in traffic, because there was a 3 semi truck accident on the opposite side of the Turnpike... CRAZY!!

Speaking of crazy, we taught a lesson this week that really made a lasting impression but sadly not in a good way. We were basically in the center of the largest argument I've heard on my mission.. It was terrifying! And at one point, we apologized for the contention and tried to leave, but the man in the house told us to stay seated and we couldn't leave. It was the craziest lesson I think I've ever had. So we aren't quite sure what to really do anymore with that all...scary.

We also were able to start teaching Dana, Linda's son! He is way awesome and is being quite receptive to the discussions. He has a great attitude about everything and we have been able to already see a huge change in him. We are excited to see how he continues progressing in the gospel.

Also, sadly this week, my back has been slightly worse some days... The medication hasn't really been helping, so this Friday I'm switching to something a little stronger I guess? If that's doesn't work, in 2 weeks they will X-ray it... But I'm still moving along and trying to do my best! It's been super uncomfortable to even sit in a chair and teach a lesson! Ah..no worries though!

I appreciate all the help I've received from you guys, and the emails and letters and prayers too..You truly make it easier! Also thanks for all the early birthday wishes! I appreciate it and I love and miss you all!  I hope you have a splendid week this week!
 

One year without my favorite band, Twenty One Pilots!!

Week of Dr. Visit, Orlando Temple with Salem Sister Sighting plus Linda's Baptism!

 

True Men in Black form here!

Ah another week down and I truly can't believe how fast this is going!!! My year mark is on the horizon! Man... it doesn't feel it's been half of a mission already! Sometimes I still feel brand new and back to my greenie stage! haha. I am so happy to be serving in the mission I am. No matter where you are placed, there will be people who need YOU! You are serving the Lord and His children.. Florida has been amazing so far and I couldn't ask for anything more awesome!

This week was such a different week but it has been quite the adventure! First off, we were able to head down to Orlando again. We visited Dr. Bean....and....he actually isn't sure what is going on with my back. He looked at it for quite a while and couldn't really prescribe anything to do! He gave me some stretches to do and told me to take meds, but overall, he believes it's Sheuermann's Disease. From what I understood about it, it's slightly like Scoliosis but it's more of a annoyance than anything is what he said! So if it doesn't fix itself in 4 weeks I get an X-ray.. So fingers crossed it's alright!!
 
Also, Friday while in Orlando, we went and did a temple tour with Linda! And while there the two new sisters (Sister O'Hara and Davis) from Salem were there! So that was pretty awesome and exciting to see people who went to high school with me! They seriously are in the best mission ever and I hope they enjoy it while here!

Also speaking of Linda, we were able to have her baptism this week, and it was seriously one of my most stress free baptisms. She was so prepared and had everything set up and ready to go basically! It went very well and we are SUPER excited to have her in the Branch Family.  We weren't able to get any pictures of the baptism sadly...it just kinda slipped the mind, but we did get some group ones at the temple the night before. Once I receive them from the member, I will send it out!

Also, I forgot to mention that my new Zone Leader for this area is Elder Cooper! (my first companion/trainer) So that's pretty exciting! I am going to try harder with sharing a little spiritual message in my emails again. I used to, but have slowly stopped and only would when something came to mind! So here's a little thought taken from a General Conference talk.. "While it is important to be aware of the desire Satan has to own us, it is not necessary for us to live in fear. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are taught, “If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.” (D&C 38:30.) As we prepare ourselves to receive the blessings of the Lord and to be worthy to serve him, we are gathering strength--power from the Holy Ghost--preparing ourselves to overcome evil."

And I might as well leave you with my testimony that this little paragraph could not be more true. I encourage you all to do what the Lord has asked, and in return he will truly provide all that he sees fit In your lives. He loves you more than you can comprehend!! He knows you, He knows how you feel. I've seen it in my missionary work and more importantly my life! 

Thanks for everything you do for me!, I love, miss and pray for you all always!!


-Elder A. Olson

Parking Lot Campfire

More Sumterville, Taking Down the Tree, Plantains and The Sacrament.

Hey everyone! How has everything been going? It's been a pretty average week around here actually.  We did a lot of service for our members this week! We were asked to cut down a HUGE rotten tree that was seriously like 10 feet around! So it was stinking awesome getting to do that, although sadly,we didn't get to operate the chainsaw, but no worries!! We also just moved some furniture and cut up some carpet his week!

There was some confusion about teaching our new investigators Zoey and Damian (Branch President's grandchildren). They technically live in another missionaries area, but they are being baptized into our stake. So they got to teach them this week, and we teach them next week....so on and so forth I guess?!

The cool thing about missions is that you get to pick up customs to the area in which you serve..mainly food, but that's still fun! Like fried plantains... Mmhmm... It's a large green banana with high starch and low sugar and sounds gross but it's SO GOOD! Also, I was introduced to chicken gizzards..gross..but delicious!!

We were able to get the transfer call Saturday night too AANNNDDDD... Elder Uber and I are staying together another transfer!! Which doesn't sound all that exciting, but the unique thing about it is there are only 6 companionships staying together in the entire mission! I guess that makes us special. hahaha! It's Kind of a bummer though, because that means all of the missionaries I WANT to see will most likely be there...dang. No complaints though! This area is moving right along and at the end of the week we look back and are happy with the progress that has been made!

AND Linda was able to have her baptismal interview this week! She passed and is ready to go Saturday for her baptism so that's going to be an awesome time. Along with that, Zoey and Damian are on schedule for August 8th as well!! WOO!!

In church this week it was focused on the Sacrament and truly the importance of it. We had some guest speakers and it really was a good sabbath day.. "The ordinance of the sacrament has been called “one of the most holy and sacred ordinances in the Church.” It needs to become more holy and sacred to each of us. Jesus Christ Himself instituted the ordinance to remind us what He did to redeem us and to teach us how we may avail ourselves of His Redemption and thereby live with God again....""....Thus, with bread and water, we are reminded of Christ’s Redemption of us from death and sin. The sequence of bread first and water second is not inconsequential. In partaking of the bread, we are reminded of our own inevitable personal resurrection, which consists of more than just the restoration of body and spirit. By the power of the Resurrection, all of us will be restored to the presence of God. That reality presents to us the fundamental question of our lives. The fundamental question facing all of us is not whether we will live but with whom we will live after we die. While every one of us will return to the presence of God, not every one of us will remain with Him."

This is an AMAZING talk given by a seventy that came to our mission.  It's called "The Sacrament and the Atonement" by Elder Hamula. Also, if you'd like, go listen to "This Do in Remembrance of Me" by Elder Holland!

Anyway, we have a good looking week ahead of us, and I hope you do too! I love and miss you all. I am VERY thankful for everything you guys do! Keep it up. Love and miss you guys!

-Elder A. Olson 

 

Week SIX, More Lessons, Holiday party and District P-Day!

 

Exhausted in my patriotic socks!

Florida rain after the heat

Another Alligator!!

Thankful for a car in this heat!

Oh man!!  This transfer has been flying by! To think that week 6 is here and we find out about transfers this Saturday!.. Whew... But this one was a pretty sweet week! Once again, we were able have another successful week and taught 26 lessons! The rest of the week was pretty much spent in preparation for Saturday the 4th.  We had a huge party with the entire Branch plus some others! We had the assignment to prepare the little barn that it was being held in, and get all the decorations and tables set up. There was a good turn out and we even had new people come! Also afterwards, we were told where the "good fireworks" would be, so that was awesome! My companion and I traveled a little way with the Belleview Elders, who basically spent that entire day with us. It was a total PARTY! It was FULL of people, literally like hundreds of people.


It's been a successful week with our investigators.  Linda, who is progressing very well, is still set for her baptism on the 18th! We also picked up Damian and Zoey, a 9 and 17 year old who are related to our branch president. They've actually been attending the Branch for over a year now, and have decided they are ready to be baptized!! So we are going to start working with them and get them ready! (Although they already are..)

Oh also...sorry this email is being sent so late in the day. We had district P-day today and so we went to a senior couples house and played volleyball, mini golf and had a barbecue. (and other fun stuff like that).  So it's been a pretty exhausting day with so much volleyball on such a hot day. But oddly enough, it is a total downpour right now. haha! Oh, while I was at the P-day activity, I saw a 5+ foot gator sitting on a log! It was awesome! If only we could get closer...it was still like 40 feet away!

Anyway, sorry this is such a boring email. I am struggling today. haha! Actually this entire week! But I love and appreciate all that you guys do! I hope that you have a great week ahead of you! I am consistently praying for you all! I love and miss you!


-Elder A. Olson

New Investi "Gators", Branch Missionary Work, WaWa and Blessings!

We had quite the busy week this week, (although I look back now and can't remember anything too fun that happened) lets just say it was full of lessons and more lessons! Like literally..we were really close to 30 this week! Phew...it was awesome! So Linda C., who we have our baptismal date set with for the 18th, is progressing VERY well! She is super excited and is now making some friends in the Branch! AND now her son is sitting in on the lessons!! YES!!

This branch is the best though and the members are pretty amazing missionaries! They're definitely helping us find new people to teach, because sadly they are dwindling... BUT the branch president is letting us teach his granddaughter after a long time.  Along with that, the Crawfords (who I mentioned in my last email as the amazing branch members) want us to give them missionary materials so they can go around and hand them out to people they talk to while they golf and stuff!

Once again we went to Orlando this week! Exactly a week from last week's trip.  We got a call saying we had to drive down and get the registration for our car, because they couldn't mail it in time. So we went and stopped by to see a few people while in Orlando/Ocoee. But not too many people were home sadly.. It was crazy to be back in the city again! And while we were there we stopped at a gas station named Wawa...BEST PLACE EVER! Seriously, they make delicious sandwiches! Why can't Utah have em?!

Also, I attached a picture (or a few) of me teaching our new 'Gators'... They were very receptive to the message that we had to share, and who knows? Maybe we can bring em to church! But no...we ended up stopping by a little store that one of our investigators work at and found these alligators! We might as well have some fun huh? I really wanted to hold the baby alligators but they don't let you. They just look so nice and friendly, how can they be so mean!? Now big ol' 13.5 foot George here. That's a monster!

It was pretty awesome though this week and we are able to give many blessings in this area. No joke, we've given like 5 this week! It's amazing to see how they truly work and how as we rely on our faith. And the person receiving the blessing does as well.  They have faith that what they're in need of will be provided. Heavenly Father wants to help out.  He wants to provide the means by which the burden will be taken away from you.  I can promise that the Priesthood has been restored back onto the earth. It was given to the prophet Joseph Smith, and has been passed down since! I've seen it work miracles in people's lives. For example, from this week, I've seen it calm a overly rambunctious child, and I've seen it help painful feelings from one of our recent converts go away right after the blessing. I can also promise that as you seek a Priesthood Blessing, from someone holding that proper authority, asking in faith, and believing in the power that it contains, everything will work out in the end. And your Father in Heaven will provide what he sees fit for YOU!

Thanks for everything everyone!  I'm very appreciative of what you guys do for me, and my loved ones! I'm grateful for all the thoughts and prayers. I'm happy that you somehow are placed in my life! I hope you all have a swell week ahead of you! Love and miss you all! Thanks again!


-Elder A. Olson

Baptism, Temple Trip and Fathers!!

 

In the Attic with Resusci-Anne!

 

Just another week in paradise!!.. Well... Except for this humidity! Im getting pretty sick of that already! It's been high 90's with 80% humidity lately. So it really feels like 105 basically!But no worries, everything's still going well! 

 

Aynn was able to to be baptized on Saturday, so that was a huge miracle! It's so weird having a baptism when I feel like I'm still getting to know these people! I'm still super happy for them, it's just that I've never had a baptism after only knowing them for a short amount of time! But it went very well. And she was really happy and excited! A Branch Member took the pictures so I will send them as soon as I get them! 

Also yesterday was a pretty special day as well! FATHERS DAY!! So happy Father's Day to all you fathers out there. It was a very nice day, especially being the sabbath! We all shared stories and had a pretty good time! We talked about how important the role of a father is, and especially our Heavenly Father. I'm not too sure why I never really thought of that day being for my Heavenly Father too! His guidance, His love, His support. Where would we be without our Father in Heaven? So I am indeed glad I was able to realize that and truly ponder it as well. 

There's also a great Mormon message about our Fathers..here is a link to it!

 https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-01-002-earthly-father-heavenly-father?lang=eng

We were also able to confirm the baptismal date for our investigator Linda Cotton. July 18th! So that's definitely something to look and work towards! It's been pretty awesome with her though, she was found through a couple in the Branch. They are probably the BEST "Member Missionaries" I've been around since I've been on my mission. They're talking with so many friends, neighbors, ect. And will soon be inviting us over to go teach those too!!

This week we surprisingly got a phone call Wednesday morning, saying that a member (of Ocoee Ward) was going through the temple for her endowments! And since Elder Uber first taught her at the beginning of his mission we were invited to go through the session with her! We were able to attend the 7:30pm session with her, and it was AMAZING!! Not to mention that some of Ocoee Ward was attending too! It was such a great day! 

Well....it was a pretty solid week this week! Nothing else really happened! But we're moving onto week 4 of this transfer now! It's flying!! Thanks for everything everyone, you guys are the absolute BEST! I miss and love you all!

-Elder A. Olson

Chicken Chase, Country Living, The Villages and Priesthood!

 

Elder Olson...AKA Chicken Whisperer!

Well it has been pretty calm here and crazy to think that we are starting week three of this transfer already! I guess spending 18 weeks with the same companion definitely made the weeks slow down. It felt like one giant transfer! 

 

We are still rolling along and we have been doing really well! We have a baptism for this Saturday actually and it's for our investigator Aynn! She is really cool and loves us! She lives in a magical place I forgot to mention last week. Ok it's not magical, but it's still crazy!It's called "The Villages" it's the northern most part of my area, and it's one of the largest retirement communities in the world!!! We only cover a tiny portion of it, but all the houses look the same, and are very pricey. They have their own grocery stores, restaurants, theaters, and at least 50+ golf courses inside of it. Everyone drives golf carts instead of cars, and they get their own road. It's so large it is it's own city!!!! Crazy right?!

Alright...enough freaking out over that.. Haha! All in all it has been a pretty successful week with good lessons, 3 new gators, and the announcement that the annexation of the new church building has been cleared! Now we just wait for a city hearing and we can start the building process! They said it might end up being a stake center..but either way, this branch is growing and will become a ward!! WOO HOO!

Anyway, this week has been full of great things! And there were lots of small things that have truly stuck out to me! For some reason, everything seemed to be centered around the Priesthood this week!! Last Monday I went to Lecanto on an exchange, and we visited a VERY gospel smart member. He was awesome and gave us sweet advice, saying as missionaries we are called to do such a special work, that no one else is set apart to do, not even him! That if the church wasn't true it would have been gone by now letting young men and women go out and do what we do!Then I gave a blessing this week to an older member of our branch, and I felt like the Spirit absolutely guided and conveyed what was needed. I had a dream that night about a friend asking for a blessing/talking about them..THEN Sunday's talks were all about priesthood authority! SO COOL! It's just been awesome and a pretty uplifting week...I really needed it.  I've been depressed since I've come to Sumterville for some reason! Still got some more progress though..

I've been enjoying it here though for the most part and the people are great! We went to a members house and had to help catch their chickens!! It was a BLAST! So that was like...totally awesome haha! 

 

 

Anyway...It's a busy week ahead of us, preparing for this baptism and working with lots of new people. Hopefully we will be setting another baptismal date tonight with our investigator Linda. We will see how that goes! 

 

Thanks for everything, I miss and love you guys so much! I am so grateful that I've been called to serve and I never imagined how much my life would change because of it! I'm also very grateful for our Savior and how progression wouldn't be possible without him! He know what we feel and he knows what we need! Thanks for all the awesome Payson Temple pictures! I hope you truly enjoy having the Lords house, so magnificent and beautiful, so close! I pray you all have a fantastic week! Love you guys!

-Elder A. Olson