Second week in Texas

Hi y'all,

It is my second week in Texas and it has been great.  Thanks to my mom, I now have a wardrobe :).  I am in an all biking area and to my surprise Texas is not completely flat.  In other words, I am getting in pretty good biking shape.  The tan lines on my feet are in the works. (Her companion had posted funny pictures of tan lines across the top of her feet).  I am sure it will be pretty obvious soon. I always put on bug spray, but I feel like I have inherited whatever makes mosquitos especially attracted to you, because I have way more bug bites then my companion.

One of the highlights of the week, was that we had a couple of investigators that we are teaching come to see a baptism on Saturday.  The other highlights are just small moments throughout the week where we are able to share a quick message of the hope and happiness that we all can have because of our Savior Jesus Christ.  I love sharing the gospel because of the happiness that it brings me and the people we teach. 

The main thing that I have learned being out here is how important it is to talk to everyone.  We ask a lot of people if they would like a pass-along card (a card with information about Jesus and contact information for the church)  and you can tell most of them are not very interested, but then every once in a while someone actually will be and you will have the chance to share a message. There was one man who we saw out fixing hail damage on his car.  We stopped by and shared President Uchtdorf's video on hope (you should try to find it. It is really good.  We share it to a lot of people) and we could tell that it really touched him.  I don't know how interested he was on joining the church, but it was nice to just help brighten someone's day.  

Love, 

Sister Olsen

P.S.  Here is the URL to the video Lindsey referenced: https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2013-05-009-a-mothers-hope?lang=eng

San Antonio Sisters

                                          Sister Olsen and Sister Philpot

Lindsey arrives in Texas, too bad her luggage didn't - AGH!

Hey y'all

I made it to Texas safe and sound, but not all of my stuff did. Long
story... my large suitcase fell out onto the middle of the road and so I
lost a lot of my clothes. So you could say that my first week started
out as an adventure...
We got to go down to Alamo on my first day here and meet/talk to the
people there. Then we were introduced to real Texas bbq and Bluebell
ice cream. So it was a fun introduction to Texas.

I am loving Texas. The people here are really nice. On Thursday I met
my new companion Sister Philpot, and we jumped in and started
teaching/ finding people to teach. We don't go door to door, instead
we go by a visit people who have met missionaries before. On
Saturday we got to see one of our recent converts get married and that
was super nice.

I am still trying to adjust to the heat and learning everybody's name
and while I am doing so I remember my favorite scripture 2 Nephi 31:20
" Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ,
having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.
Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of
Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall
have eternal life"

Last Day in the MTC

Hi everyone, 

It's my last day in the MTC! I fly out early tomorrow morning to San Antonio and I couldn't be more excited.  I am ready to apply what I have learned here at the MTC  out in the mission field. 

Like every week, there are high and low points.  One of the sistders in our district went home and that was rough because we are all so close.  The highlight of the week was last Tueday night Elder Bednar came and spoke to us.  His message was simple, the Savior knows us individually.  He referenced 3 Nephi 11:15 which is when Christ comes down to the Americas and administers to the people one by one.  At the end of the meeting we sang his new song One by One.  I think it should be printed in the New Era next month so you should check it out. I will miss my district and the teachers at the MTC, but am excited to share the gospel in Texas. It is my testimony that the Savior knows us individually and that if we turn to him we can find peace and comfort. 

Sister Olsen

(pictures are of our last day of class and our last Sunday Temple trip)

MTC Week 2

Hi everyone, 

It is crazy how fast time flies now in the MTC.  It seemed like just yesterday I came into the MTC and now we are the oldest district in our zone.  This time next week we will be packing to fly out to San Antonio!  Most of my time is spent practicing teaching and learning how to teach more effectively/simply. 

I would just like to leave with my testimony that I know that God hears and answers our prayers.  I don't think I have every prayed so much in my life and I can already see the impact in my life.

Love, 

Sister Olsen

Picture is from this weeks temple walk

First P-Day

Hi everyone, 

My first week at the MTC definitely had its up and downs, but I am happy to be here and for the spirit that I have felt. I spend most of my time with my district. There are 3 sets of sisters and a trio of elders.  We have come to really get to know each other and they make me laugh which is always nice. We spend most of our time studying preach my gospel and then practicing teaching investigators (by having the teachers role play for us).  We spend a lot of time in the classroom, so it is always nice when we get to go outside, especially over to the temple.

Here is a picture of me and my companion, Sister Loveridge 

The second pic is of my district when we walked to the temple on Sunday and the last one is of Sister Loveridge and I outside the temple. 

   

​Just want to leave with my testimony of the power of prayer and that God hears and answers our prayers.

Love and miss you all,

Sister Olsen