Winds of Change...March 17, 2014

Saying goodbye to the Dickman's

Me, Br. Dickman, Elder L

Camo and Red Solo cup wedding

 

We're in a hurry today so I can't really send a long message.

New address:
2421 Oakhurst Apt C
Ada, OK, 74820 

I have been transferred to Ada, OK. I will leave Guthrie on Wednesday. Ada is about 110 miles from Guthrie. It is a town of 16,000 with a 4 year university. Sister Rollins has been invited to be a guest lecturer there later this spring so hopefully, we will get to have lunch with her and Dakoda when they come.

I have become very close to the Rollins family. We are going with her tonight when she receives her patriarchal blessing.

I attended a sweet wedding in our church last Saturday. It was pure country, and the food was great.

We worked our buns off this last week and biked some cause the weather was nice. We got to see a lot of people and continue our efforts with some of them. I just hope that the families we have taught stay true to the church and not just to the missionaries. I'm so happy for the time I’ve been able to spend in Guthrie and all my experiences I’ve had.

Love you! Have a great week!

Elder Olson

 

Thoughts from some families in Guthrie: 

Might be getting transferred next Wednesday! We have had them for a great 6 months and we will be really sad to see them go! We also know that other people will be touched by their service and sweet spirits. We don't find out until Sunday if they are getting transferred but we leave today out of town for the next week and we realized that last night at the meeting might be the last time we see them. It was late and we went and woke up all of our kids for a picture and to say goodbye-that's why some are sleeping :) Thank you for raising such great guys- they have touched my little guys hearts and made our home just that much more happy! We wish them nothing but happiness in the future!

The Dickman Family

We might be saying goodbye to two of our elders on Wednesday! We really don't like goodbyes but feel very grateful to have had them for the last 6 months!

We love having these missionaries in our home. The Dickman's

 

Please know he is a very special blessing to our our family, both my son and me, and if not for him and Elder S, I do not think my son would be attending church or growing in his faith. We love your son very much and are happy to watch over him while he's in our area. 

I always look forward to feeding them, (I do not cook anymore since I have cancer). He and his companion graciously give me blessings before my chemo treatments, they have fasted with me as I prayed for complete healing, but best of all, they play basketball with my son and take him along to talk to investigators. Your son has wonderful leadership qualities that I have already seen grow and increase just during his time around us. ... We will be so sad when he leaves!

Thank you for sharing your son with us. I do not need to tell you he is a fine young man. ... I will send a photo of my son with the elders before long. Just took one tonight. It is so cold here and I could not believe they walked to our house this evening. I gave them a ride home. Brrrrrrrrr!

They are all beautiful, those elders of Guthrie. We are blessed to have them. We got to see them yesterday and today! Hope to see them tomorrow also. They are family to us.

The Rollins family



Learning Patience...

Guthrie Elders at the Dickman's home

Guthrie Elders at the Oklahoma City Temple

Duncan and Elder Larson

                                                     Onward Christian Soldiers

                                                 

                                  We went to the temple last Tuesday in OKC. It was awesome.

 I love this gospel and the hope that it brings to us in times of trouble. Joseph Smith gloried in tribulation. He had had it so much in his life and he accepted it and knew that it would make him stronger. I pray that I can one day be as accepting as him towards the storms of life that we all face.  

 

It stormed here and snowed and froze so church was canceled on Sunday. Bishop's mom, the stake patriarch's wife, passed away last Friday. So her funeral is on Wednesday. It was pretty expected to happen. She has had 90% blockage in her heart for a while now. But it's still sad.

I’m feeling better. I've never been as sick in my life as I have been on my mission, probably just working so hard and the stress.

 

 We've been working our tails off and trying to be as obedient as possible, but we have not been as successful as we planned and prayed for. It is a little disappointing. I’m trying to fix it or figure out what area I need to improve in. I know there are many. Ha, Ha! 

I recently read the talk, Safety for the Soul by Elder Holland. Probably the best talk I've ever heard. I have been studying patience. I have learned from the scriptures that it is important to bear trials with patience and faith! –Mosiah 24:13-16 :)

“13 And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage.

 14 And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.

 15 And now it came to pass that the burdens which were laid upon Alma and his brethren were made light; yea, the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

 16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage.”

Love you much!

Elder Olson