Feb 8th, 2011

My first injury here at the MTC was a cut hand. Playing basketball I got sliced on the back of my hand. It didn't get on my clothes, but it bled pretty good.

I'm not very informed about my visa, but I am one of the people going to Mexico. In short, it's not looking like I'm leaving by the scheduled date of March 28th. There are a couple people that just left our branch that have been here for 12 weeks that went to Mexico. And everyone knows that there are three countries that have problems, Mexico, Brazil, and Spain. So, I am planning to be here for a while.

I don't know what else you wanted to know, but that should be good until next time...remember everybody loves a missionary.
Elder Olsen

First Batch of Photos

My companion, Elder Erekson, and I

Left to Right: Elder Salmon, Elder Osborne (Draper), Elder Olen (Bountiful), Me. "Sweater Day @ the temple"

Our first picture of our district (48-H) before we got 2 more people

District w/2 new Elders: Our district leader is on the far left, Elder Salmon from Alabama, Awesome guy. I will be sad to see him leave in 1 1/2 weeks to go to Peru.

Elder Olsen showing his "stylish" looks

Plan of Salvation

Well a district is a small group of missionaries that are all in the same class. Everyday I go to the exact same classroom with the exact same people. Some have sister missionaries in them, ours only has 10 Elders. Then we have about 10 districts that make up our branch. All of the elders in my district got here the same day I did, but three of them leave in a week and a half to go to the Peru MTC.

The schedule is getting easier and the gospel lessons are coming along really well also. The language not so much. But first goal is to learn the gospel before you seek to preach it.

There is plenty of food to go around and it's ok it just gets really old after a while. I am going to send some pictures home this week for y'all to look at.

The past couple of days I have been preparing a lesson about the Plan of Salvation. The first lesson is the Restoration and the second is the Plan of Salvation. We like to think of it as in the first lesson, "its how God gave it to us." and the second lesson is,"What God gave to us." So when i opened the letter from Ashlee last night it peirced my heart. Not because I was sad (which i am), not because I am happy that she will finally have the reunion with her husband after so long, but that night I lay in bed not able to go to sleep because I know that the plan of salvation is true. That we are all sent here to learn, to grow, and to be happy. Now Grandma's time was up and she had fulfilled all of those things in her life. Now she can be eternally happy in heaven with my grandpa who has been waiting for her for a long time. Let the family know that i am praying for them and that Grandma might be gone from the earth, she is not dead, she will live again, and she will forever live in our hearts.

Thanks for all the letters, packages, and prayers. And remember everyone loves a missionary.
ELDER OLSEN

Excerpts from Letters Home....

....Some of the MTC rules to help you send appropriate packages to me that won't have stuff in them to tempt me. Absolutely no Gum or music.....Now back to me, since Y-all really want to know about me. I have two teachers here at the MTC. Brother Harris-been back from his mission one year from the Tijuana Mission, cool guy. And Sister Marillo, who lived in Mexico City until she went on a mission and has been teaching here for 2 1/2 years. I might send home some pictures next letter but don't get your hopes up because I haven't taken any yet.....

...So my companion isn't weird like Ashlee was hoping for. He was a band member all four years of high school, really smart, and a good guy....Always say your prayers.

First Letter

...Just so you know i saw about half the ward today at the temple today. But back to the business. The MTC is crazy! Waking up at 6:30 every day and going to bed at 10:30 with anywhere from 8-10 hours of sitting in the same chair, in the same room, with the same people, is an average day for me. I could end here but i don't think that you would like that very much so i will go on a little more. Everyday wake up and come to class for 45 mins. Then we have half hour for breakfast. Most days we then have one hour of gym time with half hour after to shower then it is back to the class room for about three hours. Then 45 mins for lunch then back to the class room. Four hours and forty five mins later we leave the class and go to dinner. After dinner we go back to the classroom for another three hours. Now we have arrived at the 9:00 hour. This is when i get together with my companion and we plan what we are going to do the next day. At 9:30 we leave the class and go back to our residence and in bed before 10:30. This is the only really "free time" that we have on everyday except for on sunday's and p-day(today). Its really hard because sometimes our teachers give us homework to do. But other that all that the MTC is ok. My companion, Elder Erekson, from Colorado,we get along pretty well. He is into music and really smart. He knows a lot more spanish than i do. Speaking of spanish our teachers want us to go to completly spanish in three weeks. WOW. They expect a lot here and put a lot of work on your shoulders. I guess if it were easier it wouldn't be as rewarding. Random facts, total of nine people in my district, Me, District leader Elder Salmon from Alabama, Elder Olea from Bountiful, Elder Hampton from california, Elder Running from Alpine, Elder Witiker( i think thats how you spell it) from IDaho, my companion, elder Kruger from Minnesota, and elder Obsborn from draper. Well that's about it i only get half an hour to e-mail on p-day..... Elder Olsen out.

Entering MTC on January 26th

Scheduled drop-off time was 1:15pm on Wednesday, January 26th. Pulled up into spot #10 and was met by a missionary in his district, said goodbye to mom and dad, and was on his way.