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
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