April 24, 2017 This is a Commitment Barberena, Cuilapa 11

Okay. Here we go.

On Sunday, Carlos was ready for church and waiting at 7 in the morning in his Wheel Chair. (He is missing a leg). He is the one that stopped us and said, "Okay, let's do something, my wife and I are both going to be baptized"   A kind member approached him at the end of church and asked, "So will we be seeing you around here again?" Carlos replied, "Oh this was not trying it out, this was a commitment." He is so awesome!!

On Saturday, I decided to make my words action. I always say I am Chapin (Guatemalan) . . . So I carried two entire stacks of church chairs from outside to the sacrament room on my back PURO CHAPIN style. Now it looks like someone whipped me good and hard. I still lack a lot I guess.

On Wednesday, We took Luis and Luki to the temple

And there goes my time. Sorry

The church is true. Exaltation is a family matter.

-Elder Olson

April 17, 2017 The Doughnut Atonement Barberena Ciulapa 10

Okay family, buckle down because we're gonna write this all at super speed.

Do you remember Luis and Luki that were baptized in February with their 8 year old daughter? ... and there are the other two princesses?

Well they are so insanely cooliboppin! They teach me so much simply with where their heart is placed. Mommy Olson taught me that in the judgement, it probably won't be counting how many times you yelled at your sister or helped a stranger in the street, but rather God will look upon our heart to see where it is placed. If it is placed in Him or in anywhere else . . . AND... to what degree it is placed in Him. 

Luis and Luki just want to do more. They visited those recent converts with me (with the boots) and they don't have doors on their house nor food for their children. Luki started crying and this couple went to work! They are organizing to rip doors off of their own home and make more out of metal. Members are taking turns taking food to them, and the whole branch is searching for work for him. 

Luis and Luki also jumped up to action when they heard about family history work. They are going to do Baptisms for the Dead this week in the Temple of Zone 15 of the Capital of Guatemala for many ancestors (it is not forced salvation, but rather providing the opportunity to those spirits that did not have the chance or that chose otherwise in their life here --

Read from the bible 1 Peter 3:18-20

An awesome quote from "The Fourth Missionary"

"You can't be happy if you don't want to do the things that lead to happiness, even if you do those very things" 

In the words of CCM President Cox and Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the quorum of the 12 apostles: "Ya gotta WANT IT!"

INVITATION: talk about that quote as a family. Discuss it.

Okay, this week we had a branch activity where we did what I call "the doughnut atonement" . . . but we weren't able to use doughnuts. Instead, we just used a hula hoop looking cheap cake called a Magdalena. For lack of time, here is the basic scoop. We sliced it up into super thin slices and asked who wanted one. We chose one and said, "Okay come and take it, but it will cost you five pushups."  She did two and then fell (even though it sounds bad, we chose someone that obviously couldn't). I stood up (as part of the activity) and said, "Don't worry, I'll do them for you." I did five pushups with ease. Then my companion asked, "Who else" many raised their hand. Elder Beltran chose one and then turned to me, "Elder Olson". I half shrugged and did five more, again, with ease (I can do 20 without struggling too much). Then the same process, "Elder Olson" This time I shrugged a bit more with a sigh and a slight look of frustration. And so on. After many times. I had to focus mentally and do them with shaking arms. Many had compassion on me and tried to get the others to stop asking for more. Some were fixed on having more, others glanced at me questioning in their face if they could. I said, "I am willing". Well to shorten it up. They finished the Magdalena. I didn't know what to do with my arms or any of my upper body for that matter. They understood by the little that I did how grand what the sacrifice that Jesus Christ offered for us. Meditate that more.

Later that night my companion mentioned to me that I had done more than 130 pushups. (Thinner slices than I planned on)

That really amazed me. Like I mentioned, I can normally do 20 pushups without struggling too much. Many times, we put our own caps. We ARE CHILDREN OF GOD. Just take a moment to imagine what YOU can do. Don't let the world cap you off, but more importantly, don't allow yourself to cap you off. Now, I'm not trying to show off, my whole upper body is still on fire. I have a LOT of physical recuperation to do/receive when I get back (I'm out of shape).

I really do love you all. Please keep sending me ideas as they come to mind. I'll send the rest of my thoughts next week.

-Elder Olson

#untilthelasthour!!!!  

April 10, 2017 #GetitdoneSon Barberena, Cuilapa

Okay familia,

I HAVE A CHALLENGE: 

-You will think it is too simple, but we'll see who completes it.

-We are having weekly activities here in the Branch to help them unite and bring friends and family and just enjoy themselves

- Your challenge is to give me ideas of different activities to do. (In order to complete, you need to send me an e-mail with a list of ideas and details)

- We have had a NIGHT OF GAMES teaching and playing various group games----give me your ideas of group games.

-The attendance right now is about 30 but it should grow, so basically just give me family night ideas and we'll fit the WHOLE family in.

Okay, this week I lost my buddy Elder Aaron Monson, they took him from me. He had emergency changes to go to the Capital. He is from Huntington Beach, California. He actually spent his childhood in Fountain Valley in Kate Huffmire's ward, but he only remembers Brother and Sister Miller (her grand-parents). 

I am still here with Elder Beltran though and he is awesome.

Did the Missionaries Huffmire send a letter back yet? I want to read it!

President Caffaro loves hashtags ..... #untilthelasthour!

Anyway, Elder Burns here in the Zone is from the Army and he LOVES random army type things. Anyway, a while ago we said that we'll bomb his area if he didn't complete a goal and put #call'nairstrike

Well, one of his investigators wanted to be baptized, but didn't have a date to do it and would be leaving the next day for 15 days to El Salvador. The hashtag arose #getitdoneSon!  We sent Elder Beltran to his area to interview Amparo and she passed and they took their whole mini branch all the way from Ixhuatan and hour and a half to Cuilapa and baptized her and then confirmed her with permission. 

Anyway, over analyze that hashtag along with a conviction to complete with faith. Then talk about it with someone else and analyze it again. The Spirit will teach you. 

I promised God I wouldn't go over my hour today so we'll talk next week

Watch General Conference again and share it with a friend!!

-Elder Olson

April 3 2017 Would You Hide Your Light? Barberena, Cuilapa 8

Greetings fine family and acquaintances,

The Lord has truly manifested His hand in the lives of these precious Children of God and has humbled me.

This week was very stressed and as usual, crazy.

We accepted a challenge from President Caffaro in December to read the Book of Mormon before General Conference. I was going alright, but then everything went crazy and I stopped dedicating as much time to finishing it. One of my favorite scriptures from the Book of Mormon is in Alma 53:20

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength andactivity; but behold, this was not all—they were menwho were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.

So . . .  I didn't get very much sleep this week. I even spent much of the night on my head doing headstands to muster energy to read more .. .. Thanks dad for teaching me that. I think it was like 2 minutes on your head is the equivalent of 10 minutes of sleep. 

I finished. What a marvelous work by the Hand of God. 

Thomas S. Monson, the Moses of today as literal Prophet of God, shared with us the importance of knowing that the Book of Mormon is true and studying it. Do you KNOW if it is true? if not, read it and ASK God if it is. He will tell you just as He has told me and more than 15 million people more in the World today. 

Karina Barillas decided to be baptized this week. She wanted to do it before, but her catholic dad came and chastised her and scared her half to death. One of my companions, Elder Beltran, is 26 years old having 2 and a half years of having been baptized. He was catholic before. He shared his own testimony with her and she decided to take the step that God wanted her to with a smile. She needed to her the words of Elder Beltran as many need to hear your words. 

I have told God MANY times in these last weeks, "I ask and plead that thou might help ............... to be able to feel the truth of the message in their heart and decide to be baptized." then I felt that I should promise, "I promise that I will believe that (s)he can and will be able to feel it, even unto the last hour". Afterwards, I thought about why I had been impressed to say that. It takes courage to believe. Believe isn't in the mind nor in words, but rather, it is in your very being. It motivates and affects all that you do. It wasn't enough to say "I believe" but rather I had to promise to be strong through whichever trial or difficulty (opportunities to doubt). Those moments came and I held loyal. The Lord worked miracles. That is my new plead. I have done nothing more than be willing to believe. I see the miracles and the blessing, but it is not me that makes them. The Lord is so GREAT!!!!!!!

We all have a light within. We all have daily opportunities to hide and dim that light or to allow it to grow brighter. I loved that theme in General Conference.

Let's remember a scripture mastery scripture from Seminary (early morning Bible study before school)

Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on anhill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Would you have such a beautiful burning light, and then hide it? Of course not, nor can you! Why then do we try so hard to hide it? When you feel that nudge to say that comment or to invite that friend, why not just let your light so shine. It is easier. But rather we make the effort to hide that feeling and even though it annoys and bothers us, we work diligently to neglect it. It is like smiling. Smiling uses less muscles than frowning, but many times we are the very ones that choose to do so. The world tells you you need to be sad so don't smile, but we must decide to do so. Likewise, decide to let your light so shine. Decide to obey that first prompting and Elder Rasband (one of the twelve apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ) so invited us to do. Be valiant. Living by the first promptings is easier. I promise you that. Test me now in this (put it to the test).

This week in Church is testimony meeting where anyone who believes in Jesus Christ can share it. I invite and challenge each one of you to attend Church this week, member or not, and share your testimony. As you read this, you will feel the prompting and desire to do so -- in other words, by the time you are reading this, it is no longer my invitation, but rather it is already from the Lord. So?   In the words of Mary, "whatsoever thing he tell you. Do it". 

Do you KNOW God? Do you actually KNOW your Father in Heaven? I don't.... not all the way at least. I invite you to get to know him with me. Let's read and study about the Life of His Son, thus knowing Him more.

Also. This historic weekend, Literal Prophets and apostles from God shared with us in a gathering called General Conference. (Only twice a year). I earnestly invite EACH one of you to go to lds.org and watch, read, and listen to their words. You will feel that GOD DOES LIVE and know what He wants YOU to do. 

I Love you all but it doesn't compare to the infinite love that Our Heavenly Father has for all of YOU!!!!! 

-Elder Olson​​ 

Mar 27, 2017 The Power of Yes--Barberena, Cuilapa 7

WOW!!!

I often think about the movie "Yes man".

The movie itself is a little over the top, but what a powerful message it presents!!!

Do you love God?   Yes

Does he love you? Yes

Would you do anything He asks you?  Yes

Does God want you to (pray/go to church/read/get baptized/ask ...) ? Yes

Will you do it?     It's just that . . ... .    Well, you see that... 

That is more or less just about every single lesson.

We generally have of fear of new things. It is more comfortable to conform to the world. Are you afraid to stand out? Are you afraid of your potential? 

Here there is too much to be done. The Holy Ghost floods my mind with great ideas to get them done and more, but the first thought that comes to mind is, "but WAIT!!! No one  has done that before!"

As I have replaced that thought with "that's because I have never been here before" or "that's exactly why I'll do it!" I have seen my own potential and I LOVE who I am becoming!!!

As I have said YES. I am empowered to make a difference.

I would like to share a story about a lesson this week that went a little differently. 

On Friday, we went to present my new companions Elder Monson and Elder Beltran to Luis and Luki, the recent convert family from February, The quick visit took a small turn. We mentioned that we would like to speak with Luki's Catholic-to-the-death mother, Magdalena. She is so sweet. We shared with her our love and also Doctrine and Covenants 93:39,40  

39 And that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men,
and because of the tradition of their fathers.40 But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth.

Given that she was present in the lessons since the beginning in her old age of 78 years and despite Luis' grand
explanation of how her catholic sister from the US is coming in April and her hard cored heart in the Catholic faith, we asked her direct questions so the spirit could testify.

Magdalena, do you love the Lord Jesus Christ?    (quick reply) Yes!

Do you believe that The Church of Jesus Christ is the only true church on the face of the earth and that it is directed by Jesus Christ himself?      Yes

If it were possible, would you be baptized today?   What?! Today wouldn't be possible!

If it were?          Well,   Yes.

Magdalena, will you be baptized on Sunday by someone who holds the authority of God?                
She looked at her daughter long an hard as a sweet smile crept upon her face.                  Yes

On Sunday, Luis Pedro Cardona received the Aaronic Priesthood and about an hour later, baptized his Mother-in-law, Magdalena. She came out of the water just crying. what a WONDERFUL SIGHT!!!!

They say we don't get paid for being here in the mission, but we sure do!!!

Perhaps with money no, but what does money compare to an experience like that.

I have too much more to write but my hour is up and I am writing on a rubber roll out spy keyboard which was cool until I tried to type.

I have read and will print out all of your letters and I adore each one of them. 

I love my life because I have forgotten myself and have found it.

March 20, 2017 Don't worry, be happy now. Barberena, Cuilapa 6

Dear Family,

First off, if you know where the subject title is from, you'll know all the memories that were passing through my head this week. 

Well Barberena has changes !!!!!! I am going to a faraway land of Barbie-Queen.  . . . Barberena. I'm staying. Elder Alegria is leaving though. I thought I would be able to stay with him until he died. (He is finishing his mission this next change). Anyway, He has been my very best friend in the mission for this 

... a guy just came up to us and contacted us saying that one time his friend invited the elders but they never came. . . .awesome!!

A seventy visited us a couple months ago and said if we were exactly obedient and worked diligently, they would find us.  . . . neat.

Anyway, Elder Alegria is going to be the new assistant to the President. I will be receiving two companions. Elder Monson, from my same district and Elder Beltran, my tech master buddy from Mexico. It is going to be so much fun!!!!! 

My buddy elder Hansen is leaving the zone. =( He is awesome. We are going to go farm it up later in Idaho. 

We did divisions every single day this week. Basically it was just a high five to my comp and off to another area every morning. It was super fun, but we are both dead tired. The Lord is showing His hand. Satan is attacking like never before, but he only has the power we allow him to. I will not back down from his petty shows of his miniscule power. 

There is not worry. Only be happy now. Worrying doesn't help anyone. It never makes a situation better. Just smile and live as though watching the movie of your own grand success story. Already knowing that you will win in the end. 

In this life we generally get what we want.  . . . that comes entailed with the question: How much do you want it?

Meditate over that before shutting the thinking box. Think about what you want. How much have you shown how much you want it. What more would someone do that wants it more than you. If you REALLY want something, you will get it. 

I love the mission. I love the Book of Mormon. If any of you are wondering whether you ought to go on the mission. stop wondering. just say yes and ponder over all of your wonderful experiences and the eternal innumerable blessings afterwards. If I had not gone on the mission. I would be NOTHING. Compared to who I am and what I have obtained already, there wouldn't be sense to go on living on such a low level. God has better plans for us. 

Read Isaiah 55.

Love you all.

-Elder Olson

Oh!!! I worked in Nueva Santa Rosa on Wednesday and I visited Ofelia. WOOHOOO!!!!!

Picture:  This is Elder Hansen from Idaho.  Divisions were awesome.

March 6, 2017 Wait, what? x 5000 Barberena, Cuilapa 4

Okay, I'm going to be an Uncle?!!!!!!!   "Uncle Elder" I like the sound of that.  . . . nope "Uncle Ammon" much better. Keep him in there til I get back!!!!!

This week has probably been the craziest week of my whole life, however, I have experienced calmness and tranquility (no stress). The Holy Ghost or the Spirit guides my life. I am obedient to the commandments of God with all my heart to the fullest and so I live in His hands. He organizes the parts of my life that I don't understand and allows me to attempt to do what I do understand first before He intervienes to organize that too! We are having so much success and great accomplishments like you cannot imagine. Is it because I am here? No. The Lord loves me enough to permit me to witness the works of His hand. 

My precious mommy Olson shared with me that Christ taught our relation and works to His doings in the earth; Think of an apple tree (Christ shared it with a grape vine). The wonderful fruit comes from the branches, but the branches do not grow them. The tree or the trunk is what grows them. The branch on it's own cannot grow them, but neither can the trunk without branches. Think and ponder about it before reading on and make your own relations. 

...

Christ is the trunk the fruits are good works, miracles, baptisms, happiness, marvellous acts, etc.

I see these fruits all the time related with my being here, but I do not dare take credit for them. I am the branch, you are the branch. The Lord needs us to "do" the things because His work and glory lies in our success and progress as royal children of a God. However, all that I do is a privlege that God make this fruit through me. Ponder that more.

Mom asked me if I ever have a bad day. What you think is a bad day I have ALL THE TIME!!! But I have learned what the true definition of a Good and Bad day is. I don't have Bad days anymore. YOU DECIDE. Everything depends on YOU!!! we are free agents and are not subject to anything.

Anyway. I have to get off, but just so you understand, My companion, elder Alegria and I worked together for a grand total of 5 hours (all added up) in the whole week. Yep. Too many details to explain. We also didn't really sleep. 

Love ya all. 

Elder Olson