Bitter sweet last few days...

Sister Robertson and Elder Olson

Well this is nearing the end of my two year mission to rescue some of my brothers and sisters and bring them unto Christ. It has been amazing. I have learned so much and have grown to love so many people. The people I have met are very diverse. I have gained an appreciation for life that I never thought I would. We all face what may at times seem unsurmountable challenges but if we pray and gain faith, God will help us to be victorious over all of it. I have given service at soup kitchens, farms, homes, and communities. I have shoveled snow and hid from tornadoes. I have loved people like my own family and then served as a pall bearer when the Lord calls them home. I have enjoyed the happiness that new converts have when they are able to attend the temple of God for the first time. I have prayed with the broken hearted, cried with the down trodden, and laughed with many. I have strengthened my testimony of Christ and His eternal atonement. I feel like Nephi, "I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love." 2 Nephi 1:15

 

Brother Lusk is taking us out to Red Lobster today for lunch. I stinkin love that man! I ate at Red Lobster for my one year mark and now once more at the end. This past week went really well. We tracted into an amazing guy. He is fresh out of prison. He has been looking for change. He is trying to be a good person and transition into normal life. Last night we brought a recent convert out with us who has a very similar past and it went really good. They related with each other and the recent convert loved it. He told us he felt that he would fit in to a church but never knew where. He felt like he had found a spot to fit in that is by sharing his testimony with those people who had been or who are going through what he had been through. 

"Avoid fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin."

-F. Enzio Busche

Love,

Elder Olson

My story on my faith...

Read the story of my faith in Christ.
https://www.mormon.org/me/C9R8/Duncan

Photos of my week...

50 cent hot dogs at Sonic

Temple Day in Oklahoma

Keeping up the service....

Elder Hoffman and I in Moore on exchanges. We came out together.

Love from Oklahoma

Elder Bishop and I on exchanges in Purcell. We were biking and tracting and ended up at this lake where we walked around and I talked to every person that I saw fishing:) We handed out a Book of Mormon to one of the guys:)

Our zone in Norman, OK.

I am trying to make the most of the few remaining days I have to dedicate to serving the Lord. I have loved every bit of it.
Love,
Elder Olson

 

Nearing the finish line...

Beautiful sunset in Norman, Oklahoma

We had a meeting up in Moore last Tuesday and we were running late. We were headed to pick up the other elders and ran into construction work. I pulled into a gas station on the corner and went out the other side of the gas station so that I could avoid a long detour. A cop pulled me over immediately and I have a ticket to pay. It's $124 for "improper use of service drive".

 

I listened to a speech from Elder Maxwell titled, "But for a Small Moment". It was really good! We are having our zone temple day this Thursday. Our session is at 12 so we counseled with our District Leaders and decided to hold a short Devotional beforehand from 10:30-11:30. We'll have a couple talks on drawing personal strength through the Atonement and being still and trusting in God. Then we'll show the Because of Him video and listen to someone play the piano for about 10 minutes while we do some personal reflection; Write a letter to yourself bearing your testimony, read your Patriarchal Blessing, read the scriptures, write questions to ponder in the temple... etc. Then we'll have a brief testimony meeting and then proceed to the temple. I think it will be a great experience for everyone. 

 

Staying strong for the last month of my mission!! I wouldn’t change anything about the last 2 years. I love it!!

Elder Olson

Teaching and Preaching...

Elder Butterfield and me emailing

Elder Tanner is now home and I am with my last companion, Elder Butterfield. He's from Draper, UT. He's pretty cool. We have a big Mission Leadership Training Meeting on Tuesday. It'll be all the District Leaders, Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders. Then Wednesday Elder Butterfield and I will be giving training to the Zone on teaching in unity and being unified in your companionships. The sister training leaders will help by giving a brief training on the same subject. Last Tuesday we got to attend a Stake Priesthood Executive Committee Meeting. We talked about Ward Counsels and missionary work from the Church Handbook 2. It's neat getting the opportunity to work so closely with the Stake leaders. Church yesterday went well. We have found a couple more people to teach and have many more names of people to try. Continuing to serve with all my heart, mind, and strength. 

Loving it here,

Elder Olson





21st Birthday Week...

This past week was pretty good. Actually, tonight we have a dinner with the Solorzanos from Ada! He fed me last year on my birthday too! He and his family moved into Norman 4th ward and we helped them move in. He said he wanted to feed us and the other missionaries that helped. Then he figured out that my birthday was Wednesday so his daughter is going to make me some Cherry-Cherry again like last year!:) Transfers are also Wednesday. Elder Tanner, my companion, is going home and I am getting Elder Butterfield from Stillwater, OK. He is super cool! I knew him when I was in OKC 2nd ward. He was in the Spanish Branch that covered our area. Lots of changes in the zone this transfer. 11/20 of the missionaries are changing. 3/11 of those missionaries will be brand new missionaries from the MTC. and 1/11 of the missionaries is going to be a new District Leader, so we have to give him training on how to be an effective District Leader. We haven't been able to do much teaching to investigators this past week. There is a less-active, part-member family that fed us on Friday evening and we got to read some of the Book of Mormon with them. We had read from Alma 24, and asked them what are some of their "weapons of rebellion" that they can bury. We all talked about it together. It was real good:)