Monday, November 14, 2016

August 1 2016 Suffer with patience thy afflictions -- Peronia, San Cristobal 9

Hey family,

Before all, I just wanted to thank so much Uncle Jeff and Mommy Olson. Hermano De Leon couldn't believe that you guys wrote him. He is so happy! And especially thank you to all of you who wrote to Elder Marroquin. I have no way of knowing who wrote to him, but when I was his companion and one of you wrote to him, he couldn't stop talking about it all day.

Okay, well this week was really interesting. It was one of those amazing testimony builders. Have you ever wondered why bad things happen to good people? Does God ignore us? Or is He mad at us? NO!!!!!! It's because He loves us!!!! We have to remember His whole purpose of glorious being: 
Moses 1:39
39 For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
He wants us ALL to progress immensely. Can you imagine if your parents (or you with your children) just held you by the hand your whole life because they "love you so much"? pffffff. We wouldn't become anyone! 
A prophet of God once said, "If it's not challenging, you will know that God has given up on you" I believe it was Jeffery R. Holland (apostol).

Well, this week we helped one of our investigators, Didiari, seal cologne (that scent spray stuff that everyone in the world down here uses and many up there). He works for the companies that make that. They send him a concentrate and bottles and he has to make them in his lab in his house and balance the colors and everything. It was a neat experience.

On Saturday, we had a ward movie night as a missionary activity of "Meet the Mormons" and Fernando came!!! He was just a guy I contacted in the Street. Wow. He is really neat and really wants to learn everything! . . .  including ENGLISH. I'm thinking about starting a class here in Peronia.

We also had a feeling one day to spontaneously visit a contact and Wow!! Brigido and Mirna. They are evangelicos and at first were really really against anything else, but something caught their attention when we invited them to ask God. 

We also carried water up a hill in buckets for about an hour in order to have a lesson with one of our investigators because water arrives at the bottom of the Hill every two days and they live at the top. That was fun as well. 

Also, we as children of our Heavenly Father, have free will. A very true principle first taught to me by Jacob (my brother) is that we were not given free will to do whatever we want. Rather, we were given free will or free agency to CHOOSE God over all. Are we doing that? Are you doing that?
Doctrine and Covenants 58:26-27
 26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.
 27 Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness;
 28 For the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward. 
We need to become the valiant children that God hopes for us to choose to be. I love you all dearly! 
-Elder Olson
P.S. read 2 Nephi 2:27

27 Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man.  And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.  

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