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Hola familia y amigos,
This week was good, but hard. I have continued to
exercise my faith and really hope for good things to happen. Yet they
have not happened the way I expected.
This week, James, an investigator from Barrio 2 got baptized.
Remember James??? I found him, or he found me, while I was serving in
Barrio 6. Me and Hermana Hansen then Hermana Munden started teaching him.
When we unfortunately found out he was not in our area, we passed him on.
When I learned that he had accepted to be baptized I was beyond excited.
I really enjoyed teaching him and really felt a special connection
as missionary and investigator with him. If ever there was a baptism I
wanted to see it was this one. I was really excited to go to the baptism
and bring one of our investigators who is getting baptized this week.
I called our investigator and everything was good to go.
We were going to meet him in our area and then go to the baptism
together. We went to our designated meeting spot and he was not around.
Nor did he answer his phone. I believed so hard that I could go to
this baptism and that James would want me there too, and our investigator would
benefit from seeing one. I had faith that it would work out.
I suggested we pray and then I called him one more time.
He answered and said he was on his way and close. How relieved I
felt. He soon came and I was very pleased. We were going to the baptism! But then he told us that he couldn´t go all the way to Manuel Becerra.
He did not have time. I tried to help him see that it would be
good, but he really said he couldn´t. I finally backed down because I
knew it was more important he go to church the next day then see the baptism.
That was a hard thing to do.
I am trying so hard to have faith, and see miracles. I
know things are happening for a reason. I know I am going to keep being
faithful and doing the best I can, but I just don´t understand. I´m doing
okay, but I cannot lie and say I am not a bit discouraged. Part of me doesn´t
want to have faith anymore, because it just hurts so much. But I know
blessings will and have come, and I know I will keep persevering. Other
than this, it has been a wonderful week.
Dad, I really liked what you said in your email. That
will really help me this week. And a lot of good things happened this
week. I just need to focus on those!
We had 2 investigators at church that we were not expecting
to come. Justino, the man we tried to baptize last weekend came, which is
good because he hasn´t in a while and he hasn´t been able to meet with us in a
while. I think he is working more during the week so he can come to
church. I hope this will help him progress towards baptism.
We also had Miranda come to church. I called her about
an hour before it started and I´m pretty sure I woke her up. She had an
excuse that she didn´t have her bus pass. I don´t like excuses so I very
politely asked if she could buy a ticket and she said she would see if she
could use her mom´s bus pass. I kind of figured that was her making
another excuse so when she walked into sacrament meeting with about 20 minutes
left I was beyond feliz!
We have been receiving more and working really hard. I
always find great joy in working hard and I really love the mission, even the
hard parts. We have been going through our area phone numbers and just
calling people who are listed as investigators to see if they want to meet
again.
Last night we had a lesson with such a person. He is
from Brazil and she is from Ecuador and they have a 3 year old boy. AND
they are MARRIED! whoot whoot. He has read the Book of Mormon a bit, but
he doesnt really believe in Churches. He talked about how they are super
corrupt and prideful and all. Hopefully he will be open to listening
about one that isnt.
Now I want to tell you all about Montes. He is getting
baptized this Saturday and he is AMAZING. He is from Senegal and speaks
his native language and French and as for Spanish mas o menos. So he is
fun to teach. We had to teach repentance a good 7 times for him to
understand. But he has a Muslim father and a Christian mother and he
prefers the Christian belief.
I really don´t know if he understands everything, but he
prayed and felt good and has such a desire to do what is right. He quit smoking
cold turkey and when we told him he couldn´t wear his earring he just threw it
at the wall. He always asks us if something is bad and really wants to do
what is right. He is MOVING pisos becasue his Muslim friends don´t like
that he is getting baptized.
We had a miracle with him this week. He did not come
to church on Sunday and so we were questioning his baptism preparedness.
He had only come to church twice and we thought the mission rule was 3
times but it is just several or various. So more than one. We had talked
to the AP´s to see if they could help and they explained the church rule and
basically said to pray. So we did and felt really good about Montes
getting baptized this week. Then he called and explained why he wasnt at
church and had a really good excuse. He was on his way and his Muslim
friends stopped him. This is why he is moving.
We had zone conference on the 4th and got to sing the
national anthem. That was fun.
We had the most legit food appointment. She took us to
an all-you-can-eat asian buffet. Sushi, chinese bread, rice and really
good food! It was for her birthday. I felt like I was back in
Ogden. Members taking us out to eat. Never did I expect that in
Spain. It was BEAUTIFUL!
My BIRTHDAY. I forgot about that one. It was
SOOO good. THanks for the outfit mom/keith. I LOVE it! Everyone was
really nice to me. Lots of different Hermanas called me. Hermana
Hansen sang happy birthday to me in Norwegian. President and Hermana
Jackson called. It was a good day.
Con amor,
Hermana Olsen
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