November 6, 2017
Hi Everyone!
It was a great week! I celebrated my 21st birthday by receiving my new companion, Sister Jensen, who brand new to the mission. She is amazing! She is so excited to be a missionary. She is learning the area and all of the people that we are working with really quickly. I am going to be sad to only have one transfer with her.
Before Sister Jensen came, I had one last lesson with Sister Swarts and Pete. He is doing really well and is excited to be baptized. We talked about about how families can be together forever. He is looking forward to being able to raise his family in the gospel. It is amazing to me to think of the impact that one person can have from living the gospel. Sister Swarts bore a powerful testimony about the importance of families. I know that she is going to be great in her new area, but I/ the members will miss her!
This week we also saw a miracle from ministering visits. This week I also went to MLC and President Polley spent a lot of his time talking about how we can increase ministering visits ( when members and missionaries go on visits together). We visited one family Sunday night and learned that their 10yr old son isn't baptized. He wants us to teach him the lessons to help him prepare for baptism. We are super excited. It will be fun because I haven't had much opportunities to teach children on my mission. President Polley has promised us that as we focus on ministering visits, that we would be able to find people to teach. It is amazing to see his promise be fulfilled in our area.
I know that following the Savior brings happiness. I know that as we seek to serve others in small and simple ways every day that we can be filled with peace and happiness!
Hope y'all have a great week!
Love,
Sister Olsen
Pictures 1 Last day with Sister Swarts
Pictures2 First picture with Sister Jensen
November 13, 2017
Hi everyone!
It was another great week! This week we were able to go to the temple
to do baptisms with Bryan. I love being in the temple. It always feels
like home. Bryan couldn't help but smile when he was doing baptisms. It
was a blessing to be able to see Bryan be baptized and then to be able
to see him do baptisms in the temple.
We were also able to go over the baptismal interview questions with
Pete. His testimony has grown so much since I first started
teaching him. Sister Jensen asked why he wanted to be baptized and he
responding by saying that he wanted to make the next step in coming
closer to Christ. He told us that he always feels the Spirit when he
comes to church. We are going to be doing family history work with
him this next week so hopefully we will be able to go to the temple
with him before I leave.
We have another investigator that we are working with and we noticed
that she isn't progressing as much as she was in the beginning. As we
were pondering what we should teach her we kept feeling like we should
teach the Word of Wisdom. She is still working on gaining a testimony
of the Book of Mormon. We felt that we needed to give her a new
commitment to help her increase her faith. I know that we are able to
gain a testimony of the gospel by living it. We are given commandments
to help us be happier and to come closer to Christ.
It was another great week! This week we were able to go to the temple
to do baptisms with Bryan. I love being in the temple. It always feels
like home. Bryan couldn't help but smile when he was doing baptisms. It
was a blessing to be able to see Bryan be baptized and then to be able
to see him do baptisms in the temple.
We were also able to go over the baptismal interview questions with
Pete. His testimony has grown so much since I first started
teaching him. Sister Jensen asked why he wanted to be baptized and he
responding by saying that he wanted to make the next step in coming
closer to Christ. He told us that he always feels the Spirit when he
comes to church. We are going to be doing family history work with
him this next week so hopefully we will be able to go to the temple
with him before I leave.
We have another investigator that we are working with and we noticed
that she isn't progressing as much as she was in the beginning. As we
were pondering what we should teach her we kept feeling like we should
teach the Word of Wisdom. She is still working on gaining a testimony
of the Book of Mormon. We felt that we needed to give her a new
commitment to help her increase her faith. I know that we are able to
gain a testimony of the gospel by living it. We are given commandments
to help us be happier and to come closer to Christ.
November 20, 2017
Hi everyone!
This week flew by! We have been busy preparing Preston and Josh for baptism and going on ministering visits with our ward members. This week we were able to help Preston do family history work so that he can go to the temple to be baptized for his deceased relatives. It is excited to help him with his family history because he will be able to be baptized for close family members. We are super excited for Preston's baptism next Friday.
This week we also had a lesson with one of our investigators who we are trying to help to feel and recognize the Holy Ghost. We had invited her to read the Book of Mormon with a question that pertained to her personally. She wanted to know how she can get through the busy part of the end of the school semester. As she read the Book of Mormon, a simple verse stood out to her. She was reassured that if she worked hard and did her part she would be able to do well. I have also seen this week that as I gone into my Book of Mormon studies with a question that I have been guided and received answers to my questions.
Last night we had the YSA face to face. ( It was a live broadcast where two Apostles answered questions that young adults have). A bunch of the YSA/ missionaries from San Antonio got together to watch it. It nice to be able to see Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard talk in a less formal setting then general conference. At one point Elder Oaks was talking about how the only label we should have is that we are a Child of God. He said we often Label ourselves saying "I'm from Texas". Everyone was laughing about it here. Texas pride sure is real.
Overall what I took away from the Face to Face was how much Joy living the gospel brings. I have noticed this week as I have taught lessons, studied the scriptures, done service projects, and helped with family history that I felt lasting happiness. I have noticed that not only am I happy in the moment, but the happiness lasts even once the Activity is over. I know that this happiness comes from doing things that invite the Spirit into our lives.
Hope y'all have a great week!
Sister Olsen
November 27, 2017
Hello Everyone!
It was a great Thanksgiving week! On Thanksgiving we were able to volunteer and an assisted living home. We normally volunteer there and help the people play bingo. On Thanksgiving we had planned to sing hymns with one of the other volunteers that helps with Bingo. We sang How Great Thou art to many of the residents. ( How Great Thou Art was one of the only Hymns that we had in common). We also had two of the residents join us. One of them was a 93 year old man who used to be a Reverend for the Baptist Church. We would push the two residents in their wheel chairs to room to room and leave them with a prayer after we finished singing. Thanksgiving is my last holiday as a missionary. While we were singing, I couldn't help but think that serving is the best way to spend the Holidays. I think there is an extra special sprit that comes when you Sacrifice your time with family and friends and visit those who are sick and lonely. Sister Jensen and I are super excited to be entering the Christmas season. The church is doing the Light the World initiative this year again. Every day in the month of December leading up to Christmas there is a different way that we can serve in a simple way. I would invite you to go to Mormon.org and check it out. I know that if you seek to serve this Christmas season it will become more meaningful to you.
On Black Friday, Pete was all dressed in white. He as baptized on Friday and it was a wonderful evening. He bore his testimony afterwards and was moved by love and support that he has felt as he has learned about the church. He bore testimony that he felt closer to his Heavenly Father and felt clean and happy. On Sunday he received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. I know that Heavenly Father always rejoices when we seek to follow the Savior's example.
Have a great week!
Sister Olsen
Pictures1/2 Thanksgiving
Pictures 3 Pete's baptism
December 4, 2017
Hi Everyone!
It is crazy to me how fast the time has gone by! This week I had my last zone conference and MLC. I had the opportunity to share my testimony at both meetings. One of the things that we talked about was studying and pondering the Book of Mormon. In MLC, we took an hour to break apart two scriptures in the Book of Mormon. In my scripture study this week, I have gone in with questions/ a desire to better understand how studying the scriptures in depth improves our spiritual growth. I can say that as I have studied this way that my scripture study has been more meaningful. I have been able to receive answers to my questions and have a better understanding of the blessings that comes from living the gospel.
We had our first recent convert lesson with Pete this week. He was able to share more of his thoughts from his baptism. He bore his testimony of how keeping the commitments that we extended to him has changed him and made him happier. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I have had to see him progress and the impact that the gospel has made in his life.
I look forward to be able to share more of my experiences as stories with everyone in person soon. Somethings are really hard to describe over email.
Have a great week!
Sister Olsen
December 11, 2017
Hi everyone!
It is my last weekly email. I can't believe this day has come. I have so many mixed emotions. First off, I would like to say that it was an exciting week. It snowed! There were real fluffy snowflakes falling from the sky. We were shocked to see snow covering the ground after we came out of our dinner appointment. Also, Jacob got baptized this week. It was an amazing baptism. It was great to see so many friends and family members supporting him. He truly was loved into the gospel.
I have loved serving in the Alamo 1st and Encino Park ward for the past year. This area feels like home. I am grateful for all of the members and all of the people that I was able to meet. I love them so much. I wanted to leave with my testimony. I know that we have a loving Heavenly Father and that he is mindful of each of us. I know that serving others brings joy. I know that the Book of Mormon brings us closer to Christ. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through him we can be forgiven of our sins. As, we exercise faith in Christ that we are able to progress and become more like him.
I look forward to seeing you all Wednesday!
Sister Olsen
Hope y'all have a great week!
