December 21, 2015 Baptisms and Navidad! Nueva Santa Rosa--Cuilapa 2

Family!

For starters, this keyboard is way broken and this computer hates pictures. Sorry if this letter isn't what you wanted, but I will try.

Okay we had our huge Christmas multi zone conference on Wednesday in which we had a nice lunch, a message from the president, and watched "Iron Will". On the way there I rode the most full bus in the world with Elder Galvan, my zone leader with whom I do splits once a week. Well, I was asked to move back and just could not as there were 4 people per square foot so I grabbed the top rails and jumped to jump over 5 people. Well the bump in the rode and the light box on the ceiling aligned perfectly with my jump and I hit my head HARD!!!! Let's just say my head still hurts.

I am studying the book of John with my whole mission. Please join me. Count how many times Jesus says father and have a notebook ready because it is amazing the understanding you can gain about Jesus and his divine role.

Kids do everything here! This week I met a 12 year old paramedic in full uniform with his ambulance. And I saw a 4 year old MAYBE 6 driving a mustang. Little kids guide cattle. A 5 year old galloped past me on a horse. They buy groceries, ride the buses, and sell stuff on the buses. The whole bit.

I think I was in the CCM for 6 weeks but I'm not sure. I wasn't really counting. The drive to my mission field was about 15 minutes to the selected chapel where we had interviews and met our PAPI's (trainers). Then for me was about 2 hours to my area. We use tuc-tuc's all the time here (motorcycle with a bench on back and a covering). All of my "Spanish speaking brothers" in the MTC my last week with whom I was the closest are in my mission. I am just going to miss President cox. That guy has spiritual FIRE. He gave me my vision that keeps me going. He returns to Sacramento California in January.

My new mission president is a STOCKY man. He was a football quarterback too. He and his wife both grew up in Brooklyn and the Bronx in NY. She has a GIANT accent and I LOVE her because she bought me peanut butter (old crispy tortillas and Peanut Butter makes for a DELICIOUS breakfast). My mission president was a football coach for Rick's college (BYUI) and then for BYU Provo. He had just finished off getting his children married and settled and moved into a brand new house in Utah. In the third month, he got the call. 

I haven't met any other missionaries from other MTCS. In the photo of my group Elder Mattiaccio has black boxy glasses and is a bit round with curlyish black hair, he is from Utah, and was in my district in the CCM. Elder Hightower is blondish and is from Texas.  His irises in his eyes are puny. His mom is Mexican so he speaks Spanish. Elder Diaz is the small one. His heart is bigger than Guatemala. I love that little guy. He uses and entire bottle of chile or salsa or picante but HOT every meal... not an exaggeration. Elder Rodriguez always wears the knit sweater. He was my first brother in the group and according to him I have a giant family and a house in El Salvador.  He speaks English as he was a waiter in an international restaurant. Just because of his English, he made twice as much as everyone and was able to pay for his mission. 

Elder Marroquin (mi papi) is form lima Peru, he has 3 siblings, is number 3 in his family, his father is the boss of a metal construction company, he is going to finish 9 months in his mission, he loves the gospel and would defend it to the death. He has been a member for 2.5 years and is the only member in all of his family. He has really good memory and it's fast. Sometimes he only likes to rely on memory. :(

He makes every situation fun for everyone (unless they threaten his religion). Our ward isn't even a branch. It's an unidad we have about 30% activity. It’s super hard because we only know where 3 of 70 inactives live, as addresses don't exist here.

I love the people. I never had a culture shock. Just a culture embrace. I gave a blessing in Spanish this week. Spoke in church. Angels are truly preparing the way. In one lesson I literally felt their presence. 

There was a giant parade here last night. GIANT!

Mom I want to write more. Can I take pictures and send them to you? I could write a novel about my experiences and insight ALREADY. There just is NOT enough time! Never enough time for anything. It is not hard at all to get lost in the work.

For Christmas President gave us P90x "chest and back" and "plyometrics" those are my mornings. We have a mini portable DVD player for PMG learning and learning English for Latinos.

Oh! We have a less active that teaches karate and he teaches on Sunday so he doesn't go to church. He feels really bad so he asked for a ton of Restauration pamphlets for his 70 students so he is going to teach them the gospel and instead of class one day, bring them all to church. HAHAHA we will see what happens there.

The baptism was awesome. Angelica is amazing and Samuel too! Only we found out that he is DEATHLY afraid of water. Well an hour of screaming and yelling passed with calming and us playing in the water with him to get used to it, then Elder Marroquin rather aggressively assisted him under water. It was interesting. William is getting baptized this Sunday. He is the most golden investigator ever and wants to serve a mission.

I love you all. Please give me specific questions and let me know what’s up? I love life here though it is hard and my body always hurts. Sorry about the pictures I am going to figure it out one day I promise.

Love 

-Elder Olson

I LOOOOOVE being a missionary!!!! Nueva Santa Rosa 1 Cuilapa

Hey guys,

I am sooo sorry right now is a bit confusing because this is my first time and I am in a computer lab in the middle of the boonies. I will try to write all that is in my heart but just know I love you almost as much as I love being a missionary. Well I can now send pictures but I found out SD cards don´t fit. mini SD´s do. I have mini SD cards but not with me today. Just imagine what I say for now. 

My first companion is Elder Marroquin. He is freshly 27 years old and is from Peru. He is my PAPI and I love him. He likes to work hard and is also the District Leader. I was born outside of the Capital in The Zone of Cuilapa in the Area of Nueva Santa Rosa. Here there is no such thing as an address or even a street name. It´s I live next to the Tree with three bushes or I live about 20 miles south next to the tienda with red letters. That is a little bit hard so street contacting is not the best, but I can´t stand to let people pass. In clear words I hear Not a Soul will pass. You talk to everyone. These are the hijos of Heavenly father and they need the Gospel in their life. 

Our house is simple. You will see pictures next week but know that we have two beds a closetish thing and a sink. Also a mini fridge, a broken stove thingy and two desks. Sometimes we don´t have electricity and sometimes we Do have water. I love those times. 

Well, I love the word of god. I have been praying for a thirst for the word of God and boy my prayer was answered. I am severely dehydrated and I just can´t get enough! I rush through preparations and meals so I can study more. 

My first morning was just like yours mom. "OH my goodness I am in Guatemala. I am here for the next two years. What did I get myself into?" Then I got out of bed. Wow. I have never been more happy in my whole life! We are Progressing rapidly! At church we had almost double attendance than normal: 67. A new record. In the past year this place has had 6 baptisms. In December we are going to have three and in January 20. I know it because that I my goal for the Lord and boy the miracles are flying in. I am going to work for it. My numbers are high because I love the guatemaltecos aqui. I love the children of god. Numbers mean nothing to me other than I need them to push myself. I love working with these people. They are soooooo humble. Most never went to school and live in dirt floors and spend all day working just to survive. The understanding deficiency is an issue, but we are working with it. 

My Spanish is soaring! I am now thinking in Spanish and can say whatever I want, though our recent convert made it VERY clear that I shouldn´t even try because I can´t do anything. He wants to learn English though so we are going to help each other. 

I have so much more to write but I love you. Dad I am making a map and doing your idea about quick visits.  Mom I only have a broken stove but I ordered a new one. I want recipes. I can print here. I have a stove and a microwave and a mini fridge. Anyone else too I want simple recipes. I love this work. I love these people. Oh also if someone wants an eagle project, more than half these members don’t own white shirts or ties. I want to give all of mine away but I am only going to do two because it is my responsibility to represent the lord in the way I look. I love you all. For scripture study this week. List common pitfalls in testimony of investigators and solve these in your hearts. Examples: is baptism by fire in the end of the world with the apocalypse? Is god real? My time´s up will talk more next week.

Love you all.

Elder Olson

December 8, 2015 Ammon is in the real mission field!

We got these pictures today, without a letter.  It's Ammon with his new president, in the Guatemala City South mission. No more training center! This is the real thing.



(Mom and Dad are wondering why the other missionaries have suit coats, since Ammon's instructions said he didn't even need to bring one.  Hope it's ok.  That's the first missionary we've sent out without a suit.)

December 1, 2015 I'm Outa Here!

I am soooooo excited for the field. It is soooo scary to think about, but with true faith there is no reason to fear. This week was super awesome. We had a Thanksgiving lunch and just got to get a lot closer to my Latino brothers. They are so amazing and their hearts just fill the place. Our qeqchi brothers left this morning to Coban Guatemala. 

This Sunday evening we went up to the president´s suite, just the gringos, and had a little family night devotional in their living room. They are such amazing people. I would suggest their friendship to everyone.

One of the hermanas in my district found out she has strep throat and got insanely sick. I was asked to participate in a priesthood blessing for her and that was just a fantastic experience. There was some peleando in our dorm the other night and boy was I humbled when I saw the aftermath of these sons of Heavenly Father. They are so tender and special. How dare I ever have one negative thought about that. We got it all worked out and most everyone is friends now.

My Spanish is just a part of me now. It is comfortable. I am FAR from perfect or even fluent, and I know that when I hit the field it'll likely be like a whole new language, but my Latino brothers are helping me out.

I am going to be the hardest working missionary that hits the field when I get there. Not because I’ll be the best but because I need to commit myself to that effort for my lord who gave me everything. I am so thankful for this opportunity and privilege of giving my time to the lord and seeing what he does with it. I love you all.

-Elder Olson

November 24, 2015 Turn Out CCM

I am sooooooooooooooooooo blessed to be a missionary of the Lord Jesus Christ as his representative. This Sunday we watched the Joseph Smith movie. My crying pal Elder Taylor and I just cried through the whole thing. The Divinity of the work of Joseph Smith and the saints in that era is just unreal. This gospel is unreal. The message that the missionaries carry is not of this world, but it is for each and every person on it directly from God our Heavenly Father. If there is ANYONE that is reading this that has not yet listened to the message that the missionaries bear, open your ears to what God wants you to hear. To put it simply, He wants you to succeed and be happy. For my brothers and sisters, share what you can. I can't believe that I ever walked by a fellow brother or sister at school without sharing what I have with them. God is with you when you help his children. There is NO reason to fear. 

Well real quick, on Saturday our teachers (yea we got six instead of two now because the CCM is low on missionaries) surprised us and let us loose out of the CCM to spread the gospel. It was SOOOOO MUCH FUUUUUUUNNNNNN!!!!! Can you believe 3 people accepted a Book of Mormon from my companion? HE is sooo awesome. Another guy accepted the Gospel of Christ folleto. Two people: Rosa Solto and Vonx and his wife accepted his invitation to hear the missionaries to their house. I don't have enough time sorry. 

But elder Bednar in a devotional said the atonement of Christ only worked because of his character and his character is to turn out when you or I would turn in. Homework this week is to find example in the scriptures of that and to commit yourself to turn out when in tough situations. 

Love you guys!!!!! You are the bomb!!

-Love

Elder Olson

November 17, 2015 I Absolutely Love the CCM!

Hey guys I am going to write this first then another one. This is an effort to answer some of dad's 4 billion questions, but it can go to everyone else. 

The flight was amazing. The plane was pretty small. I'm not sure what else I can tell you about it that I haven't already. I sat next to two Guatemalan brothers in my row. The guy was very nice to me but I could tell it was just because of pity. The guy across the aisle that accepted a book of Mormon from elder Madero and I was actually interested and kind. When we were flying into Guatemala, the guy next to me smacked his brother who was in the window seat and pushed him back then tapped me and pointed to the window. The people here are absolutely awesome though. 

The missionaries I came with are elders: taylor-dallas texas-honduras;sligting-riverton utah-el salvador; mattiaccio-linden utah-guat sur; neilson-indianna-honduras, lowder-spokannish washington-honduras, thomas-syracuse utah-retauhleu guat,rock-south ogden utah-retauehleu guat, dickson-liberty utah-honduras,gorze-kaysville utah-guat east, deines-tsaile near lukachukai north of chinle around teec nos pos in the navaho nation 45 minutes west of the four corners in arizona-honduras, oh gorze says he's the best, chavez who says he's the better than gorze-el paso texas-honduras, landgraf-nu'uanu oahu hawaii-queztaltenango guat, madero-utah-honduras, diez-arizona-guatemala.

Hermanas: shciess-provo utah- queztaltanango guat, stoor-gray's lake(wayan north of soda springs(caribou county(idaho)))-el salvador santa ana, moore-layton utah-honduras,colo irvine california-queztaltenango guat-erickson-misnnesota-honduras(she's a nurse).

There was a man outside the airport walking around with a pocket knife eyeballing suitcases. We got picked up by a short little man in a coach bus. When I got to the CCM, there were about 160 missionaries and now they have about 73. There are about 30 nortes and there were about 50. For Christmas, they will have 2 nortes. Temple is really small. Most of the people that work in the CCM work in the temple. Temple work here is HUGE! The people here just fall in love with it. Every Saturday the temple has around 22 sessions. My companion is Elder Rock. He has 3 brothers and two sisters. His only older brother served in Cabo San Lucas Mexico. His friend is in Texas. He is a runner but hates it. He loves swimming or just being wet. Between us a new superhero was born. Super Speed Shower Man. He is really getting big down here. Don't be surprised if his movie comes to the states before I do. His super power is extremely complex and counter-intuitive: he can shower at unbelievable speeds. He even has a catchy theme song: SPEED SPEED SPEED, SPEED Shooooowwer MAN!! He strikes fear into the hearts of his enemies...and friends with the utter "SUPA SPEED" of his showers. He has mastered it in such a way that he no longer needs water on occasion. Rumor´s out that he once took a shower in thirty two minutes FLATT!!! Criminals and all manner of sadness struggle to exist as he yodels, "Now don't ya done be doing that! or I’ll take a shower SUPA-FASS!" 

Oh yea, my companion is super awesome. He is very emotional in all that he does. He's good at laughing though. We finally had our first lesson this week that we both equally talked. It was awesome! WE have an awesome affirmation bump, Viking clash, or ¡Snickerdoodlin YEEEESSSS tap! It’s a quick fist, elbow, foot, but we're really fast.   There’s a bit of a story behind it, but basically we're not allowed to shake hands. My comp sleeps on the top of the bunk and one night I just laughed as, in the crack of the bed and the wall, I watched a fist lower and rise, followed by an elbow and a foot, but all in the same spot. He calls me his annoying younger taller brother, so he's my shorter older brother which makes him my shoulder brother. That being said, he is a man. But yet a shoulder man thus he is hombro hombre o hombroe. I tried his last name Rock in Spanish-Roca. Not all too exciting so I had to work with what I had. 

Just a quick insert, there are three ways to be successful in the mission and in life: work, work, and work. 

The food here is amazing. it's super delicious though and I always ask the Latinos how to eat it. They love helping and showing me how. So far 100% of my meals have been with Latinos and I intend to keep it that way. We stand in a line, grab a tray, a knife and a fork then the plate of food they give you. I started talking to the cooks and getting to know them. We only talk to nonmembers if we take a field trip to the mercado or to the temple. I say hi to everyone I see and I want to try more but I don't know if we're allowed to. We took a picture today for the Ensign or Liahona. Keep your eyes open. Oh! I forgot. I'm learning Qeqchi now too. I have a few pals among the qeqchi boys and every time I see them I see how far I can get in qeqchi. I love it because it's the concept of how algebra is crazy hard until you get to calculus then that's crazy hard and algebra is nothing. All of the qeqchi elders are Latino so as I ask for clarification, it's all in Español. My first impression of Guatemala was just that it was awesome. Always busy and just plush plush green everywhere. The people are awesome humble gun-slinging people. There are two types of people here: big white Germans and little itty bitty dark dark indegenous people. Every now and then, they intermix thus making men like Hermano Abadillo. I absolutely love these people though.

President Cox is so awesome. He is the most direct person I know. With that comes some harsh times but lots of power. This man is amazing and his wife as well. She was one of the first people I had a conversation with and I tried to talk Spanish. Something must have gone well because she always comes and talks to me or just acts like she knows me. On p-day, Pres. Cox came out and played basketball with us... and he's an old man. It was surprising that he even came out let alone was a beast. I was the one that guarded him and him me. We had a ton of fun. Well my duct tape on the bottom of my shoe ripped while we were playing so I asked president if he got his shoes down here. He said yes and asked why. Then I showed him my shoes with a two quarters wide hole.   He said he'll have Hermana Cox get me some. Then at lunch either the next day or the one after that he pulled me aside and asked where I’d be then pulled me out of class with two of his pairs of shoes so I could choose my favorite. My choice was the ones that I got him to say he doesn't like, then an hour later a box of brand new shoes was delivered to me in class. They fit better in the sense that my toes wouldn't curl in them, so I chose those ones. Also, they had the price on them so I could pay him back. They were 349 Q which is about $47. well he had loaned me 100Q earlier that week for our trip to the mercado (I didn’t ask) so I tried to slip $50 in that when I returned it, but he said with big ol' eyes "What's this?! Elder, that's all part of the experience". P. cox is just absolutely amazing. He and his wife are farmers from Sacramento California. I will have to tell you the rest next time. All you have to know is that I love it here. 

I am the CCM barber. I only messed up real bad once. They have an actual barber, but the boys don't trust them. I haven't told them yet they shouldn't trust me.

"Los Pollitos Dicen" was a huge hit down here. Everyone loves it and I sang it to my class with the little tiny maid ladies and our handyman. 

I'm sorry I’ll have to give the rest next week. Love ya!!! Sorry about the grammar mom. This is a Spanish computer so every single word has an error.

-Love Elder Olson