Christmas Messages From Sister Olsen (2 Weeks)

Hi y'all,

This was such a great week here in Texas. We were able to find and teach a lot of new people. Jeanne is still doing great. We were able to have her come to the chapel for a church tour with a family in the ward. We were able to show her all the different rooms and paintings in the chapel and she was able to feel the spirit inside. We were really happy that everything worked out so that we were able to do that with her. 

We had zone conference this week. It was fun to hear all of the different music numbers. Sister Polley talked about the Wise Men from the Nativity. She focused on how they received revelation to go and visit the Savior. She likened that to us and how we can act on the promptings we get. I loved studying the Nativity story more in depth this week and seeing how we can follow the example of the Wise men and Shepherds. 

Merry Christmas!

Sister Olsen 

Hello Everyone, 

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Christmas was amazing here in Texas.  Jeanne came to church on Christmas and she loved it so much.  The ward was so great and everyone came up to introduce themselves. Afterwards, she told us how much love she felt.  We are super happy that she came because it means that she is on tract to be baptized January 14th. So, we will be busy the next couple of weeks teaching her the rest of the lessons and planning her baptism. We had dinner with her Christmas Eve and she loved watching the little kids reenact the Nativity story. We also played Christmas carols with pipes. 

This week I also went on exchanges with Sister Judd, so I spent the day in the Helotes area. This also meant I got to spend the day in a car. It was a lot of fun to learn from her and to teach the people in her area. Sister Atkins stayed in our area and was with Sister Nate.  Their day went a little bit differently. After removing tile for service, they walked home to realize that they were completely locked out of the apartment.  An hour and a half later the other sisters were able to let them in. Later that night the home button on her Ipad broke and locked her out of her Ipad.  After we exchanged back we fixed her Ipad and everything is good now.  

Fixing Sister Atkins' Ipad took us to the mission office. While we were there we were able to find the Book of Mormon on tape. We having been trying to get Jeanne the Book of Mormon on CD so she can listen to it (she doesn't have a computer). We thought we had found it, but when we got home we realized they were cassettes tapes. This lead us to tract down a cassette player. Sister Atkins also discovered a new talent. She can fix broken cassette tapes. So, the miracle is that Jeanne can now listen to the Book of Mormon. 

I love being a missionary! I have learned so much here and I look forward to the new year and all the many miracles I will be able to see here in Texas. My testimony of the Book of Mormon and the Gospel of Jesus Christ has grown so much! Above all, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and that we can always turn to him for peace and guidance. 

Happy New Year!

Sister Olsen

Christmas Music and Service

Hi y'all!

It has been another great week here in Texas! On Tuesday we got a call from the mission office if Sister Atkins and I could play a flute duet at our mission conference tomorrow.  So this week we spent some timing finding another flute, finding music, and practicing. We will be playing The First Noel. It has been fun to pick up the flute again and play Christmas music.  

We were able to teach Jeanne again and teach a really good lesson about prayer with her. She is doing so great!  This week we were also able to find another family that we are going to start teaching. Trish and her two daughters used to meet with the missionaries a lot in Arizona, but after she moved and her phone number changed they lost contact. We were able to meet her because a member asked if we could help her move to a new apartment down the street. So, we spent some time one afternoon taking trips to move some boxes to the new apartment. We were able to get to know them and teach them while we were helping them move.  We are planning to meet with them this upcoming week :)

This week at Church we talked about service and how "Those who service quietly and inconspicuously are 'no less serviceable' than those who receive the world's acclaim" (Howard W. Hunter).

We read this poem that I really liked:

“Father, where shall I work today?”

And my love flowed warm and free.

Then He pointed out a tiny spot

And said, “Tend that for me.”

I answered quickly, “Oh no; not that!

Why, no one would ever see,

No matter how well my work was done;

Not that little place for me.”

And the word He spoke, it was not stern;

He answered me tenderly:

“Ah, little one, search that heart of thine.

Art thou working for them or for me?

Nazareth was a little place,

And so was Galilee.”

Best-Loved Poems of the LDS People, comp.Jack M. Lyon and others (1996), 152.

I would encourage y'all to continue to serve in small in simple ways this Christmas season and know that no matter what Heavenly Father values the service that we do for his children. 

Have a great week!

Sister Olsen 

Zone Picture

They found a baby lizard in their apartment.

Sopping Wet and Filled with Joy

Hi y'all!

Texas had its first winter rainstorm this weekend and so Sister Atkins and I had the pleasure of going out and walking through it to find more people to teach. We tried to avoid getting splashed by the massive waves from the cars driving through all of the puddles, but still got pretty wet. After being out in the rain for a while, we stopped by a lady in the ward who we knew has been going through a rough time. She was able to help us dry off and we were able to help her organize and clean her house. We were also able to share the "Light the World" video and help her get the scriptures on her IPad. She was so appreciative of the time that we took to spend with her. I could tell that it really meant a lot to her. Normally, I wouldn't find walking all over in the rain too much fun. However, I couldn't help but smile and laugh at the situation. The joy that comes from serving makes all the difference. 

This week we were also able to set Jeanne with a baptismal date! I look forward to helping her work towards being baptized in January. This week we were able to teach her more about the Restoration. She prayed in our lesson to know if the Book of Mormon was true. Afterwards she said that she felt so much peace. I love teaching her so much she is so sweet! 

I am looking forward for this upcoming week. It is so much fun to be a missionary during Christmas time. A lot of people have Christmas decorations up and we are able to help remind people of the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas is the time that we celebrate Christ's birth. The reason why we celebrate his birth is because he died for us. I know that the Atonement is the greatest gift. I know that because of the Savior we all can return back and live with him and our Heavenly Father. 

Love y'all and have a great week!

Sister Olsen