Buen Dia
Wow this week was super difficult, but also super amazing. We had a problem with our new converts They WENT TO A EVANGELISTS church and they were super confused about alot of the doctrine. well just the two girls, just Yoselin and rosalia. Alejandro And his mom lidia are super strong, alejandro told us that the pastor started attacking with telling him his church was bad and all that stuff he said he did not know what to do so just went home and prayed and he said I know this is the only true church. and his mom who was the biggest evangelist ever, is now just always blowing them up always just saying all they do is scream and shout but do not have it in there heart... and she still is not a member. but anyway yoselin and rosalia were super confused they both have boyfriends that are from other churches so they just feel super confused and they are always questioning them saying they dont know what the bible says... we tried to just tell them to just share there testimony but they wanted scriptures so we started explaining it all to them and they got super excited we showed them all the references of the book of mormon in the bible and she is just determined to convert her boyfriend it was awesome...Other than that the zone is not doing so well i worry alot i am doing my best to just be an example but sometimes i just to not know what to do, or how to get them excited pray that i can do better.
Also this week we had a first activity with the branch and there was more investigators than there was members. and all the members were an hour late..... yeah welcome to bolivia. i am pretty stoked to baptize all of missori when i get back....
but sunday i asked the branch president to give us some time... and we gave it to them super hard.... i创m talking my comp just straight up told them they were not worthy to take the sacrement without being better members of the church. then i got up and gave them alot more. it was good and ofcourse we did it with increased love at the end just as dyc tells us alot of people were alot more excited and i am sure there was some repenting going along.
Love my mission it is amazing. the hardest thing i have ever done in my entire life. sometimes i lose my temper and want to just beat some one up but it is not the way to do it. i am always striving to strengthen my relactionship with Christ and always remember him. it helps alot.
We are in the truth. there is no other path. Never forget what it means to be a Olsen, and more important A member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
We are different.. So be proud of it.
Love Elder Justin Foss Olsen
Monday, October 31, 2011
Monday, October 24, 2011
19 Sept 2011
wow this week has flown by i cant not believe how fast time is passing. this week i went on transfers with a elder in villa montes it is an hour and a half away it was good i got to know him and we worked really hard. also we had another zone conference and i decided to have another title of liberty but this time i did not have to rip off my shirt. i just used my pillow case. (haha steve would kill me for that) but it was good i put the pillow case on a broom stick and went loco waving it around just going crazy, i just have so much energy, i dont know when i get pumped up and start giving a speach or something i just want to jump around and just get everyone pumped up, THIS IS THE WORK OF THE SALVATION OF MEN why are people not more excited i love this stuff. it turned out super good. and to finish the conference i had a elder from columbia direct the music with the flag of liberty we sang battle himn of the republic. and the last verse just jump up all of us start to stand and sing. it was super beautiful, the spirit is a powerful tool. i love feeling the spirit there is nothing better. at times i get confused of whether or not i am following the spirit or just my own thoughts but whatever. i have learned that if i keep the commandments and do the first thing that comes to my mind most likely it is the spirit guiding me. last night we had one of these moments we walked into a house i felt wow put a baptism date. which i always do but normally at the end of a lesson.. we walked in i told them who we were, we prayed then we read the end of mathew when jesus commands his disciples to go and baptize everyone, and very calmly told them that is why we have come and that we aare preparing a date for them this 15 off october. the next moment her cell phone rang and it was her brother They start talking then she just says the missionaries are here trying to put a baptism date for us. turns out her brother is a return missionary, i start telling them what more of a sign do they need, now is the moment for them, ju8st do it. in the end they did not accept a date, but i have implied the homework assignments idea mikey sent me and i really feel it is going to help them progress for this 15.of october. they are a couple more eductaded than others so i feel the homework is going to work really well. also mikey thanks alot for the idea i know i have not written alot but i have seen alot of people thanks to homework progress and enter into the waters of baptism.
Love you all tons. i am suffering but everything is all good. i am in the work of the lord what more could i ask for.
a great scripture. hebrews. 10/39 i dont know what is says in english but in spanish super powerful being an Olsen i would like all of us to remeber this scripture NO SOMOS DE LOS QUE SE VUELVAN ATRAS. we are Olsens what a powerful name. always remember what name we have taken upon us Olsen. helaman 5/6-8. thinking of all that Grandpa Eugene FOSS Olsen did gives me strength every day to push adelante.
LOve ELder Olsen
Love you all tons. i am suffering but everything is all good. i am in the work of the lord what more could i ask for.
a great scripture. hebrews. 10/39 i dont know what is says in english but in spanish super powerful being an Olsen i would like all of us to remeber this scripture NO SOMOS DE LOS QUE SE VUELVAN ATRAS. we are Olsens what a powerful name. always remember what name we have taken upon us Olsen. helaman 5/6-8. thinking of all that Grandpa Eugene FOSS Olsen did gives me strength every day to push adelante.
LOve ELder Olsen
26 Sept 2011
Dear Family,
Yes i got the package from you and also from tyler, but what happened there is no letters in the package!!!!! It is hard to believe you guys would send me a package half way around the world and not take the time to write a little note, yes i am very thankful for the candy but i care alot more about how the family is doing. I have not heard from nanny and papa either i showed my comp of the picture of the family reunion in hawaii and he just said,.. and none of them write you??? I know i am not the best of responding to emails but i have a limited time on the computer and i have to give a report about the zone, i really dont have much time to write you guys. But i sure would appreciate a quick update on how the family is what is happening. All the cousins, uncles. The only reason i ask is just because i love yall so much.
But this week was a little difficult our investigator had a problem with the word of wisdom, baptism rescheduled for october so this will be the first month this year that i have not had a baptism, pretty tragic it was my goal to have all of 2011 with baptisms, but we have shoved it off to the side, and we are working super hard with the investigators that we have. The biggest problem is that they are not married every week we have 6 or 7 in sacrament meeting but the problem is four of them are in need of gettting married. All of them are progressing and we are working really hard to try and get the branch involved, this Saturday we have a marriage planned and for 15 of october, also we have the fam ortiz they are mom and three kids, alejandro 19 years old, joselin 16, rosalia 15, all of them are super excited, and alejandro is preparing for the mission he is super excited. What we need a little extra help is with the fam Arias they are just husband and whife without kids. The whife albanya is super excited, and the husband hector is a little tough around the edges, this past week we have worked so hard with them so he understands the nesecidad to have the priesthood, and last night we invited him to be baptized, he told us no, ya me bautizé, his whife readily accepted but she said she wants to be baptized with him. So i have alot of hope albanya has alreadry read all of first nephi and is super excited, last night she started crying about how much she loved the lessons in church, and her husband felt the spirit to. Just needs a little more cooking.
Well love you all tons i am sorry for being such a punk about wanting letters but i just have not heard much about anyone, i know it is not your fault and you guys are super swamped also but i just love yall so much i gotta know how your all doing . moroni 8.3, also tell the uncles to write me nanny papa i have not heard from any of them since i left the mtc. Ni tampoco cuando les llamé por dia de la madre. Ha pasado mucho tiempo, hay que escribir a su amado ñieto, hijo, mejor amigo, sobrino, chistoso muchacho, el cual es Elder Olsen.
Yes i got the package from you and also from tyler, but what happened there is no letters in the package!!!!! It is hard to believe you guys would send me a package half way around the world and not take the time to write a little note, yes i am very thankful for the candy but i care alot more about how the family is doing. I have not heard from nanny and papa either i showed my comp of the picture of the family reunion in hawaii and he just said,.. and none of them write you??? I know i am not the best of responding to emails but i have a limited time on the computer and i have to give a report about the zone, i really dont have much time to write you guys. But i sure would appreciate a quick update on how the family is what is happening. All the cousins, uncles. The only reason i ask is just because i love yall so much.
But this week was a little difficult our investigator had a problem with the word of wisdom, baptism rescheduled for october so this will be the first month this year that i have not had a baptism, pretty tragic it was my goal to have all of 2011 with baptisms, but we have shoved it off to the side, and we are working super hard with the investigators that we have. The biggest problem is that they are not married every week we have 6 or 7 in sacrament meeting but the problem is four of them are in need of gettting married. All of them are progressing and we are working really hard to try and get the branch involved, this Saturday we have a marriage planned and for 15 of october, also we have the fam ortiz they are mom and three kids, alejandro 19 years old, joselin 16, rosalia 15, all of them are super excited, and alejandro is preparing for the mission he is super excited. What we need a little extra help is with the fam Arias they are just husband and whife without kids. The whife albanya is super excited, and the husband hector is a little tough around the edges, this past week we have worked so hard with them so he understands the nesecidad to have the priesthood, and last night we invited him to be baptized, he told us no, ya me bautizé, his whife readily accepted but she said she wants to be baptized with him. So i have alot of hope albanya has alreadry read all of first nephi and is super excited, last night she started crying about how much she loved the lessons in church, and her husband felt the spirit to. Just needs a little more cooking.
Well love you all tons i am sorry for being such a punk about wanting letters but i just have not heard much about anyone, i know it is not your fault and you guys are super swamped also but i just love yall so much i gotta know how your all doing . moroni 8.3, also tell the uncles to write me nanny papa i have not heard from any of them since i left the mtc. Ni tampoco cuando les llamé por dia de la madre. Ha pasado mucho tiempo, hay que escribir a su amado ñieto, hijo, mejor amigo, sobrino, chistoso muchacho, el cual es Elder Olsen.
3 Oct 2011
Wow amazing weekend, But before i forget give me janessas email so i can write she is not very fast at writing letters.
And DID YOU GET MY PACKAGE? it is the most amazing package in the world, i hope it did not break
But wow we are so blessed to live in utah I LOVE UTAH the greatest place on the world this week watching general conferance with all the bolivian i was just like that is my house, i live there... i kinda bragged a little hhaa, but i love utah i am so excited to be able to walk around temple square when i get back, really we are so blessed to live in utah.
Anyway quick story so this transfer has been a tough one for me, alot of apostacy in the branch where i am, i had to talk to presidente and we had to change the president, alot of the members got a little angry with me and my comp for doing that, and they did not like to support us in the work, and after that the house we live in there is women that are young wich is agaiinst missionary handbook. so once again i had to change that, and the elders have lived in this house more than ten years, so everyone just thinks i am crazy. at times it has been a real big trial of my integrity we are way outside santa cruz i am zl no one is going to come check on us, so i think that is why elders have lived in the same house so long, talked with my comp and we decided to just be obedient. At time it really is difficult to be obedient to the commandments of the lord, they may look small and insignificant but every decision we make have eternal consequences, whether they be good consequences or bad. i am learning more than ever to just look forward dont think in the moment act in the moment, always have the eternal perspective in mind and this will change the way we choose to act, think, and be.
I love this gospel and i am realizing my many faults every single day, this last week i got into a big fight with my companion, he has been quite lazy this transfer, i have tried to animate him and do every thing in my power to help him be more excited for the work of the lord, this last wednesday i went to the shower at night got back and he was in bed, i lost it... i started talking in a loud voice and just telling him how horrible he is doing, and i made the big mistake, i started putting him down.. and after several minutes of him just listening to me, he just shut off did not want to listen and just became more lazy, i went to the bathroom to think for a bit and when i got back he just told me, all that he is going through how tired he is, how he does not have the endurance to work with me, and how sorry he is for not being perfect. and he asked me to forgive him.... never have i felt so inconsiderad of others, i just had all this guilt shoved into my face and it just came into my mind how would jesus handle this situation, certainly not like i did. the point of this story is that alot of people start to think that to be a good leader you have to be a big yeller and know how to make people feel bad, and what they are doing wrong, this experience has helped me realize once again how much i have to change. Every single one of us has the commandment to become like christ, i hope that all of us can have this more often in our minds, and pray every day for strentgh to become as he is. D and C 88.22 this is one of my favorite and D and C 76. 50-70 I invite and urge you two to be able to study these and learn for yourselves what is really is to Become as he is.
And ask yourself some questions
Where am i in my personal progress, and path to Celestial Kingdom.?
What are some of the attributes of a celestial being?
What should i do to gain these attributes?
What can i do today to start becoming, what i am destined to be?
I love you all tons, Happy b day mom. I love you tons Your the best mom in the world.
Love ELder Olsen
Arriiiiiba BOLIVIA
And DID YOU GET MY PACKAGE? it is the most amazing package in the world, i hope it did not break
But wow we are so blessed to live in utah I LOVE UTAH the greatest place on the world this week watching general conferance with all the bolivian i was just like that is my house, i live there... i kinda bragged a little hhaa, but i love utah i am so excited to be able to walk around temple square when i get back, really we are so blessed to live in utah.
Anyway quick story so this transfer has been a tough one for me, alot of apostacy in the branch where i am, i had to talk to presidente and we had to change the president, alot of the members got a little angry with me and my comp for doing that, and they did not like to support us in the work, and after that the house we live in there is women that are young wich is agaiinst missionary handbook. so once again i had to change that, and the elders have lived in this house more than ten years, so everyone just thinks i am crazy. at times it has been a real big trial of my integrity we are way outside santa cruz i am zl no one is going to come check on us, so i think that is why elders have lived in the same house so long, talked with my comp and we decided to just be obedient. At time it really is difficult to be obedient to the commandments of the lord, they may look small and insignificant but every decision we make have eternal consequences, whether they be good consequences or bad. i am learning more than ever to just look forward dont think in the moment act in the moment, always have the eternal perspective in mind and this will change the way we choose to act, think, and be.
I love this gospel and i am realizing my many faults every single day, this last week i got into a big fight with my companion, he has been quite lazy this transfer, i have tried to animate him and do every thing in my power to help him be more excited for the work of the lord, this last wednesday i went to the shower at night got back and he was in bed, i lost it... i started talking in a loud voice and just telling him how horrible he is doing, and i made the big mistake, i started putting him down.. and after several minutes of him just listening to me, he just shut off did not want to listen and just became more lazy, i went to the bathroom to think for a bit and when i got back he just told me, all that he is going through how tired he is, how he does not have the endurance to work with me, and how sorry he is for not being perfect. and he asked me to forgive him.... never have i felt so inconsiderad of others, i just had all this guilt shoved into my face and it just came into my mind how would jesus handle this situation, certainly not like i did. the point of this story is that alot of people start to think that to be a good leader you have to be a big yeller and know how to make people feel bad, and what they are doing wrong, this experience has helped me realize once again how much i have to change. Every single one of us has the commandment to become like christ, i hope that all of us can have this more often in our minds, and pray every day for strentgh to become as he is. D and C 88.22 this is one of my favorite and D and C 76. 50-70 I invite and urge you two to be able to study these and learn for yourselves what is really is to Become as he is.
And ask yourself some questions
Where am i in my personal progress, and path to Celestial Kingdom.?
What are some of the attributes of a celestial being?
What should i do to gain these attributes?
What can i do today to start becoming, what i am destined to be?
I love you all tons, Happy b day mom. I love you tons Your the best mom in the world.
Love ELder Olsen
Arriiiiiba BOLIVIA
10 Oct 2011
So this week we had three baptisms, alexandro is super stoked he is just wanting to go oon a mission and preach the gospel, he is the bomb. it has been my goal my whole mission to be able to baptize someone and for him to go on the misison i believe this young man will be one of them, other than that i have been doing really good. i am getting more tired i dont know what is happening but it takes alot more out of me to keep the pace i have had my whole mission. but i will never stop. i love my life it is the best. it is difficult to be in bolivia at times because everyone wants to marry me. last week we went to the dentist because my comp has some problems and the dentist come out and just looks and me and says "Ella esta enamorada de vos" (my secretary is in love with you.)
and she was right there in front of me, did not know what to say so i just said "hermana tiene que ir a la iglesia"(sister you have to go to church) super akward but priceless moments. i dont think that will ever have that happen in the USA. But being a missionary is the best in the world. yesterday everyone told me i have to become a pastor, sadly our church does not pay the bishops. but not kidding i could make a good church and i would be an amazing pastor. i think i would call my church "Elder Olsens ARK".(Arca de Elder Olsen) there is so many evengelistas here it is super funny the names they think up for the churches some day i will tell you all of them. and many other grand stories.
I know this email is a little scattered but i just had alot of thoughts in my head. take care and wish adam a happy bday, i would like to know if he is still super small. has he grown? is sam still chubby? andrew still super skinny ? amanda still the best at Biking? anyway lve you all .
Elder Olsen
BOLIVIA the bomba.
a quick spiritual thought, today i was reading in mosiah and i read mosiah 2 i know everyone knows and has memorized 2.17 but the whole chapter is amazing really gave me a good look on what a real leader should do. I encourage you all to study it and apply it in your lives. we are in the army of the lord, he needs leaders. not losers. Be BOLD.
and she was right there in front of me, did not know what to say so i just said "hermana tiene que ir a la iglesia"(sister you have to go to church) super akward but priceless moments. i dont think that will ever have that happen in the USA. But being a missionary is the best in the world. yesterday everyone told me i have to become a pastor, sadly our church does not pay the bishops. but not kidding i could make a good church and i would be an amazing pastor. i think i would call my church "Elder Olsens ARK".(Arca de Elder Olsen) there is so many evengelistas here it is super funny the names they think up for the churches some day i will tell you all of them. and many other grand stories.
I know this email is a little scattered but i just had alot of thoughts in my head. take care and wish adam a happy bday, i would like to know if he is still super small. has he grown? is sam still chubby? andrew still super skinny ? amanda still the best at Biking? anyway lve you all .
Elder Olsen
BOLIVIA the bomba.
a quick spiritual thought, today i was reading in mosiah and i read mosiah 2 i know everyone knows and has memorized 2.17 but the whole chapter is amazing really gave me a good look on what a real leader should do. I encourage you all to study it and apply it in your lives. we are in the army of the lord, he needs leaders. not losers. Be BOLD.
24 Oct 2011
WOW i wrote you guys last week but the internet was slow and so the email did not send in time..
But wow this is so crazy to think i do not have a house, jajaja but how are the kids taking it i hope they do not cry to often that would make me super sad, they gotta think of this as a time to just grow together as a family and have more fun together, i hope it is all good with that, i just still can not believe you have really changed houses, what is everyone going to do... is janessa living with steve and mike, and where is mike, where is steve, the only one of my brothers that has written me is tyler and half of the time it is nicole writtinng haha but i think i understand it a little better, i believe tyler is in idaho studying, steve and mike and janessa i have no idea what they are doing.... and amanda adam andrew and sam are all in ZION, with mom and dad...
just a quick question.. where am i going to live jajaj
That came to my mind pretty quick and has been distracting me this whole week because my unit is in salt lake, and it is 2 battallion 23 marine corp. fox company..... anyway i dont know what i am going to do with all of that.
I got alot of questions that is my this email is so scattered, i honestly just do not know what to think, all of my family is changed...
I guess i just always thought everything would always be the same, and i would get home to the same stuff, but life is not like that, i´m sure nefi felt the same, one day got home from school, or work, and his dad is just like well boys lets go camping in the desert.... man if you really think of the obedience and love to God that nefi had.. we can always learn something new from nefi.
But i hope you have kept care of my stuff.. it is super expensive to buy it again.
But this week was good i feel like i am finally able to work with the members, as you all know it has been rather difficult in the district for me, but with the recent members helping us we now have alot of new investigators and they have friends in the church so i am alot happier, it is just you feel so much relief when everything finally starts to come together after so much work, and prayers. The new investigators are Felicidad and her husband Mario and there two children, they are the most humble people i haave taught in my mission, they arre not married, and they live in complete poverty, after the first lesson the tentacion came into my mind to just think they are never going to progress they do not have money to get married or the education to understand our message.. i was proved wrong they all came to church by themselves, that is just what the spirit of the lord can do to someone... and it was super funny because during our gospel principles class my companion was speaking and he gave felicidad a folleto to read a small paragraph after finishing the paragraph she just kept reading, my companion tried to explain that ya that is good, but she just kept reading... she has a sweet spirit.. her husband mario has problems with the word of wisdom, and they have had serious problems in the past with there relacionshiop and i think that is why when two servants of the lord show up at the house,, they realize who we are and what we can do to help them solve there problems... i love this work there is nothing better than helping out the children of our heavenly father...
Another quick story that just made me super happy... so last nigh we were teaching lidia ortiz her son and daughters were recentlly baptized she however was not due to problems with her papers and is not married.. but is the most loyal sistter in the church... anyway last night and we were getting ready to she just starts telling me how much she loves her son from the united states, and she said it like this. te quirro mucho mi hijito chocito.. i love you alot my little white son... haha ah man it makes me so happy, i love the people of bolivia. my best relacionships have been with moms i dont know why but i am just a big mamas boy. sis. roxanna, sis ortiz. sis. mendez, sis soliz. i love tihis work, keep praying for me and nanny wrote me i do not have time to write her but slacks would be amazing. same size i think 32 but if she could send me black.. love you all.
Se cuida mis hermanitos no quirro que sean triste, esta es una oportunidad de aprender y unirse mas como familia.
ARRIBA BOLIVIA
Elder Olsen
But wow this is so crazy to think i do not have a house, jajaja but how are the kids taking it i hope they do not cry to often that would make me super sad, they gotta think of this as a time to just grow together as a family and have more fun together, i hope it is all good with that, i just still can not believe you have really changed houses, what is everyone going to do... is janessa living with steve and mike, and where is mike, where is steve, the only one of my brothers that has written me is tyler and half of the time it is nicole writtinng haha but i think i understand it a little better, i believe tyler is in idaho studying, steve and mike and janessa i have no idea what they are doing.... and amanda adam andrew and sam are all in ZION, with mom and dad...
just a quick question.. where am i going to live jajaj
That came to my mind pretty quick and has been distracting me this whole week because my unit is in salt lake, and it is 2 battallion 23 marine corp. fox company..... anyway i dont know what i am going to do with all of that.
I got alot of questions that is my this email is so scattered, i honestly just do not know what to think, all of my family is changed...
I guess i just always thought everything would always be the same, and i would get home to the same stuff, but life is not like that, i´m sure nefi felt the same, one day got home from school, or work, and his dad is just like well boys lets go camping in the desert.... man if you really think of the obedience and love to God that nefi had.. we can always learn something new from nefi.
But i hope you have kept care of my stuff.. it is super expensive to buy it again.
But this week was good i feel like i am finally able to work with the members, as you all know it has been rather difficult in the district for me, but with the recent members helping us we now have alot of new investigators and they have friends in the church so i am alot happier, it is just you feel so much relief when everything finally starts to come together after so much work, and prayers. The new investigators are Felicidad and her husband Mario and there two children, they are the most humble people i haave taught in my mission, they arre not married, and they live in complete poverty, after the first lesson the tentacion came into my mind to just think they are never going to progress they do not have money to get married or the education to understand our message.. i was proved wrong they all came to church by themselves, that is just what the spirit of the lord can do to someone... and it was super funny because during our gospel principles class my companion was speaking and he gave felicidad a folleto to read a small paragraph after finishing the paragraph she just kept reading, my companion tried to explain that ya that is good, but she just kept reading... she has a sweet spirit.. her husband mario has problems with the word of wisdom, and they have had serious problems in the past with there relacionshiop and i think that is why when two servants of the lord show up at the house,, they realize who we are and what we can do to help them solve there problems... i love this work there is nothing better than helping out the children of our heavenly father...
Another quick story that just made me super happy... so last nigh we were teaching lidia ortiz her son and daughters were recentlly baptized she however was not due to problems with her papers and is not married.. but is the most loyal sistter in the church... anyway last night and we were getting ready to she just starts telling me how much she loves her son from the united states, and she said it like this. te quirro mucho mi hijito chocito.. i love you alot my little white son... haha ah man it makes me so happy, i love the people of bolivia. my best relacionships have been with moms i dont know why but i am just a big mamas boy. sis. roxanna, sis ortiz. sis. mendez, sis soliz. i love tihis work, keep praying for me and nanny wrote me i do not have time to write her but slacks would be amazing. same size i think 32 but if she could send me black.. love you all.
Se cuida mis hermanitos no quirro que sean triste, esta es una oportunidad de aprender y unirse mas como familia.
ARRIBA BOLIVIA
Elder Olsen
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