Hello-August 22nd

Well first random fact from here in my ward Tecate, if it wasn't for us missionaries we would be declining members in the ward, because we had another member die yesterday morning. So we have another funeral service tonight. Yipeee!

But, this past week I had another conference in Tijuana with Pres. Carreón. It was good. He has changed many things here in the mission since he got here. Thanks for the package which i received there. But, thanks to weird baptismal interviews I stayed in Tijuana Thursday, friday, and came back Saturday in the morning. I was with the zone leader in his sector there in Tijuana. In his sector is going to be the temple! Another interesting fact.

But the work keeps rolling here in Tecate. As of today we no longer have a bishop in our ward. He was relesed yesterday, and they didn't call anyone new. So, it will be something new that I haven't seen before. I gave a talk in sacrament meeting yesterday, and it made me feel alittle bit better of my spanish because I talked for just under 10 mins, and it went much better than my last talk.

Here in tecate we are starting to work with the in-active members more. We should have a baptism this week of a child that is not baptized, and we are working with the family. but things are good here., and remember,

That everyone loves a missionary,

Elder Olsen

P.S. Yes it's hot here, but I am surving, just fine. I will tell you that I actually bought sunscreen. But 90 percent of the days I forget to put it on, but hey I have some.

Another One Bites The Dust-Aug. 15th

Well another interesting week. First of all I spent friday with the zone leader in his sector in Tijauna. I learned some things from him and it was nice. But I now know where the temple is going to be built because it is in his sector. The church has the land but now they are trying to buy the land next to it also.

Also this week we had another funeral here in our ward. The last one was a funeral expected. this one was not. He came to church sunday and was perfect, Thursday he felt pain in his chest, Friday morning passed away of a heart attack. Saturday was the funeral. What is special about him is that our last baptism, was his great grandson. And he got to baptize him. Little less than a month later he pasted away. SO this is the picture of him with his family at the baptism. Good man, good family.

So thats the big news of the week. We have a lot of work to do now that we have the whole city to ourselves. But we keep going along.

About the camera. I have decided that it would be best if you bought it and sent it to me. Don't worry about it attracting to much attenceion to be because my stature, white shirt, and lack of spanish already draws enough attencion. But one that is nice. Thanks and until next time, remember,

That everyone loves a missionary,

Elder Olsen

Well my calender that I have said that Kez turned two, so I decided I would do my best to celebrate it...took some fotos

Hola-August 8th

Well another week has gone by. This one was a little different with us trying to find investigators in our new part of the sector/ find members to help us-that sort of thing. which lead us to being lost a couple of times (see photo with sign, and have Jake translate) but it was good. We didn't have a baptism this past week but we are going to do all posible to have one this week.

So also this past week has been the start of the hottest month here in Mexico. So, it's been warming up nice and toasty this past week.(p.s. i don't think i told you but last week we got to go to EFY here in mexico. EFY just started here and it was a great sucess. In total there was 1150 kids there. About 300 nonmembers, and 3 of the 300 were investigators of ours.) Sorry just thought of that.

1. yea Pres. Carreón does belive in the piano, but there are many other people the play it.

2. I am doing just fine with clothes, but lets talk about clothes a little futher ahead in the game.

3. there is no officail talk about the temple yet. only that Elder Anderson will come to do the ground breaking. offical, offical, loctaion nobody knows but generaly yes. It is under a large hill that says, "Jesucristo es el senor" it could make for some pretty sweet photos. but the ground breaking, some say november, some say september. I don't know.

But until next time know that i love you. and remember,

that everyone loves a missionary,

Elder Olsen

New Sector-Aug 1st

So every 6 weeks we have transfers. that was today, hence my really late letter home. But yea I did get a new sector but not a new companion. That's right, there used to be 4 missionarys here in Tecate. now its just me and my companion. So it makes for a lot of work and a lot of ground to cover.

I did go to Tijuana today to send off the other missionarys. One which went to Mexicali (remember almost the hottest place in the world) But yes i did get letters for the first time in three months, and my package. Thanks for the letters and the package.:) But the work here in Tecate is harder than Tijuana I am coming to learn the longer I am here in Tecate, but we keep working.

More pictures. So the tradition in the mission once you have 6 months in the mission you burn a tie. So here i am burning it. Then the rest of the fotos, we hiked up a hill we have in our sector and i must say that i was a pretty good model for my fotos that i thought i would share them with everybody.

But oh how the time goes by so quickly i can't believe it. Thanks for your support, and i love you all,

Remember that everyone loves a missionary.
Elder Olsen.

P.S. Kez is so big i can't believe it. and Savion sure does look like a Savion

More Pics-July 25th

Well I thought I would send some more pictures of this past week. I didn't know about the missionary in Guatamala but, sort of crazy.

This past week has been a good one. I am sending a couple of pictures of a little ranch we went to here in TECATE. the other two missionarys baptized a girl that lived there so we went to visit them. It was sweet and definitely reminded me of working at grandpa's farm. But it was cool.
The new companion. Elder Padilla. My first companion that i am older than.(about 14 days) he has 1 year in the mission, and is our district leader.

Crazy lesson of the week came from last Monday:
We went to see a less active member in the church to give her a lesson. Her baby of 6 months, had died 3 days before and asked if we could come and visit her. Well we got there and taught her the plan of salvation. Wow the hardest lesson i have taught, but also one the most powerful. When it was my turn to talk about Jesus Christ and the atonement, the words flowed with out me even thinking about what I should say. The lady cried through the whole lesson which made it hard to teach, but we did it. At the end she asked us for a blessing. During the blessing she held her baby's ashes. WOW. then she cried the hardest of the night.

One can learn many things in the mission, and the mission also teaches many things.(THINK ABOUT IT) but i can say that yes i am learning many things in this difficult, hard, frustrating, happy, sad, painful, joyful, thing they call a mission.

Hope you all have a great week, and until next time remember,
Everybody loves a missionary,
ELDER olsen

New Companion-July 18th

Yes the past week has been a new experience in the mission. I said goodbye to my companion Elder Cedillo yesterday in Tijauna, and by now he is at his house in southern Mexico. It has definitely made me think and act a little bit different here in the mission seeing him and how he felt and the end of his mission. I first thought that it was bad but not it is good. and my new companion is Elder Padilla. We went and got him from Tijuana today.(yes this has been a week of traveling) but we are all back here in Tecate. My new companion has just under a year in the mission, and my first impression is good. but normally when we do go to Tijuana it is by bus. yesterday and today we got rides from the members here.

We had a baptism last saturday of the kid in the picture. His name is Alan.(but you have to say it with a spanish accent) in the last email i sent i told a little bit about a couple of investigators. Well in the picture of the three men is them. the one on the far left is in fact a member that was baptized a long time ago. but the other two are investigators. no we didn't have their baptism because one smoked and the other, is waiting to receive his answer from heavenly father. but they both have a new date for the 30 of this month.

The weather has been a little calmer this week, then the past couple of weeks, The interview with Pres. Carreon was good. we went friday to Tijuana to meet him. He is a good guy and really like him. He told me to say hello to the whole family for him.

Yes i have a microwave, yes i ate the food from past package, no i have not gotten any mail, but neither has the zone, so i am not the only one without mail for a while.
This week we are going to try and find new investigators.
Got to go but remember,
Everyone loves a missionary,
Elder Olsen

Hola-July 11th

Well i didn't get any mail when we went to Tijuana, but I do go there again this Friday to have a interview with the new president. He is really cool. he seems to be more personable then past president. He is here in Tijuana with his four children, 18, 15, 13, 10 ages. Pres. Carreon( i think that's how you spell it still not sure)

But here in Tecate my companion leaves next Sunday, so next time i write i will have another companion. But Tecate is good.

One time we talked past a house of immigration, (a house owned by the catholics to help people that have been deported) one a guy yelled at us to come. Now might seem weird, but it is nothing new to me to have someone yelling at us. but we went and he said that he had talked to missionarys like us about 2 years ago and that he would like to listen again. So, we went to the central park, to teach him, he brought a friend. They really liked our lesson. then couple days later he brought other friend. They went to church. We set a date for baptism for all 4 of them. They are really great. When we met them they didn't have anything. but they put their trust in the lord, read the scriptures, went to church, prayed. and now they all have jobs, they are renting a house. 2 will be baptized this Saturday, if they don't work. Just another testament that when we put our faith into action, and follow the teachings of Jesucristo, we will be blessed.

Don't think i will have to time write letters this week, preparing Elder Cedillo to go to his house but next week,
but remember
That everyone loves a missionary,
Elder OLsen

No Time-July 4th

First of all, I would complain about all the pictures my sisters took while I was at home. But since I got in the mission I have hardly seen any photos. I feel like the sending pictures are a one way road when it should be a two way road if you know what i mean.

But I don't have a ton of time like 3 mins but i wanted to send some pics. No time to explain.
I haven't meet the new president yet or talked to him, but i will Thursday when we go to Tijuana. But things are good here busy like normal. No they don't celebrate 4th of July here but I wish they did. I hope that we aren't hogging all the heat here in Mexico hope you have your fair share.

Not using sunscreen, but what can a mother do but try.

yea i am alright.
The scripture of the week in 3 nephi 1:11. The last scripture when Jehovah speaks. Read it. its really cool.
Remember everyone loves a missionary,
Elder Olsen

New Area-June 27th

Well lets just say that my new area is nothing like my old area! I love this one already. Tecate is a little town here on the border of Mexico and USA. But the people are nice, there are parks, there are some really nice cars, shade,and it's a lot safer. Now that i am out of my old sector i can tell you that, yes it was pretty dangerous, and past 7:00 at night if we weren't in the part by our house, I was scared. But no need to worry now because here is really safe, because it used to be were the Sister missionarys were, until about 3 months ago. So, it's a lot cleaner, safer, and nicer.

We have a large sector though, like my last one, but here there are not as much buses so we walk probably twice as much here. But its alright. my comp. leaves to go to his house in three weeks from today so that should be different, and i am not sure what's going to happen when he does go home, because he is leaving 2 weeks early to see his sister married in the temple. But that's for another day. But it is really hot here also! Not quite like Mexicali were they are about 120 degrees, but its probably about 100 degrees here about everyday. Then they tell me that in the winter it gets cold. like Utah i guess. But all for today. thanks for the package again.

P.S. I mailed a letter out to the family a while back. Did you get it because I have sent about 4 letters to different people and i was wondering if they are getting out? But until next time remember, that,
EVERYBODY LOVES A MISSIONARY,
Elder Olsen

Hello Again-June 20th

First of all happy fathers day, day late. That is crazy that as soon as Ty got back his grandma passed. Yes i did get the package the other day. Thanks for the food, shirts, which are perfect, and candy. We did not go to applebes with the pres. instead we had a BBQ with the whole zone. not quite as cool but it was nice. Glad to hear the everything at home is starting to warm up because we have had some heat for a while also. although we do have the second hottest city in the world here in our mission, MEXICALI.(no i didn't get transferred there, although i had fear that i would. but i didn't) but yea its starting to get really hot here.

I have had some changes in the past week but not as many as i said in my last letter. One our new mission president doesn't get here until the 30th, but i did change my sector. And i am outside of Tijuana. I am in Tecate! It's a little town about 30-45 mins away from Tijuana. There is only us four missionarys in the whole city, and the whole city is one ward. So that will be a little bit different but good. My address will not change for my whole mission unless they change the mission office, which they won't. My new companion is another Mexican. this is his last 6 weeks in his mision until he goes home. Plus he is leaving two weeks early, so really he only has weeks left in the mission. But things are good here and that i am actually really happy to be here in Tecate. We are going to have to spend more money to get around but it will be nice. I am excited and yea all good stuff. But until next time always remember that,
everybody loves a missionary,
Elder Olsen

Another Week-June 13th

I am glad to hear the Jake comes home this week. This past week has been good and busy. nothing really terrific to share, but we have ward conference this next week and our bishop is really worried, and wants everybody to be on their best behavior. I don't like our bishop. We have been busy visiting people because there are a lot in inactive members and we are trying to get them to come to the conference this week. I am also glad to hear that Ty made it home the past couple of weeks.

So the next week is transfers, which means hopefully i leave the sector i am in right now. If I do leave don't expect my email as early as normal because here our leaders will call us about 10:15 Saturday night and say who is leaving and who is coming, then they leave and come Monday morning. So in other words i hope leave my sector, but i don't know and i won't know until Saturday. Tell the family hello, and i should get the mail, and package this week because we have our last conference with our mission president Wed. then next week we have our new president. but hopefully my next email will have more interesting information, but until then,
remember that everyone loves a missionary,
elder olsen

Hola-June 6th

Yea i am glad that you have found out the secret of my letters-There is only a limited amount of information i am willing to share. but that's for when i get home, maybe not, i don't know. But this week was good i had been thinking a lot about home this week with memorial day, chantel's mission call, the farm, the family, all the good stuff that isn't here in Mexico. But it's been alright. I am starting to get sick of my sector, and especially my ward (can't explain everything right now but its not a very organized ward) But we keep working.

The other missionarys in our zone have had quite a bit of success. The other missionarys that live with us baptized 12 people last month, for this our mission president is taking us out to eat a Applebees next week (plus he only has two weeks left until he returns back to utah and we receive our new president) but things are alright here. In closing just to let you know that you can ask me any question you would like but i am not sure if you will get an answer. And yea i did get two letters this week, and I sent a letter home also. I have a multi zone conference next week where i should get more mail, but more importantly you remember,
that everyone loves a missionary,
Elder Olsen

Happy Memorial Day

So like always i don't have much time, but i hope that you are having a great memorial day down in Sanpete. I am glad that kelly got his bear, because i can remember him talking about it. But this past week has been good. The surprise at the zone activity was a relay race, and who ever won got a free BBQ from the zone leaders. We took second. But the new companion is different, he can teach really well, but he is not as personable as other missionaries. So we are not as good as buddys as my last companion.

I want to tell a little about how much everyone expects of missionaries here, yesterday we had the high councilmen tell us that the last hour of the block would be ours to instruct everyone for the fifth Sunday, but my companion did everything.

Now for the pictures, we played dogde-ball as missionarys, but with raquet balls. one foto is of my wound, the other is of our forts we build to protect ourselves. then me with a car from utah. and yea all for now,
But remember,
Everyone loves a missionary,
Elder Olsen