Pig Tail

hey hey hey:

so i am not really sure what to say this week because well life in a mission is a flip flop in life every single day. i am being transferred to havlock, North Carolina it is almost the most south part of my mission on the coast. i cant wait. my companion is sister villegas. from sandy Utah. so wish me luck. it is in a marine base so it will be so much fun! 

but this week was fun the one thing i want to focus on or rather tell you this week is that the primary program was SWEET!! they sang 'Jesus was no Ordinary Man." and man were my eyes juicing. i was bawling. i love that song because not only did my mom sing it; but it is so simple and true. and the simplicities of the gospel get me everytime, its a tender thing!  because Jesus was no ordinary person, he is our brother, and we are not ordinary either. and through the power of the atonement we can and will be the means by which miracles are brought to pass for ourselvs and for others. .. weird to think about huh. not only do we have our own relms to influence but others as well. there is some food for thought. we are no ordinary people. we are unique, peculiar, and we have so MUCH potential. that is what i learned this week. or what was re-itterated. 

this week we said good-bye to the Knight family. i will enclose a picture. (they are my favorite family) the littlest one (marquivion reminds me of my nephews). ... the cutest. 

 a

also another huge moment of this week was when our recent-convert Florita Parker, asked our investigator starlet Vought to be baptised. she said " i feel compelled to ask you star to be baptised, because i love you." -Florita Parker... and it just made me think of the gospel is all about love. we do things because we love christ. well at least we should strive to. 

i never know what to write in my emails. i just write what is in head at that time. i am better at letters,,, and questions. but this week was great! i am so happy and grateful for the time i had in greenville.. all 6 months of it! and i am now ready to be a sister training leader in havelock. it will be a huge change and such a fun opportunity to grow, and get to see more and more of North Carolina while on exchanges. i love you all tons!! 

pictures:

1.the knight family

2.i milked a cow at the simply natural dairy farm.. coot huh?? 

---highlights----

MOnday: got halloween packages from my mom and sister!!! happy halloween yall

tues:got a statue of a Jesus who is black!! it is so cool!!!

wed:connected all of the dots to how we met Florita, and why we did... and re-confirmation that God works in mysterious ways!!

thurs:I ATE PIG TAIL......  GOOD!!! I LOVED IT!

Friday:Sister Parker did the 'NayNay'? apparently its a sweet dance move that is popular right now

sat: said good bye to the Knight family

sun:threw a pie in sister Griffin's face... her last day....:(    also had 2 primary programs..i love babies....#TrunkieForBabies!

have the best week every ya'll i love you so much!! keep reading the book of mormon everyday until you feel the spirit! it will alivin you!! 

=love sister olesen

Helping Hands

hello my dears!! 

guess what? i got to be a helping hands mormon this week! it was so fun! we got to get down in the dirt, and pull out dead trees next to a river bank, i fell in a couple times but no big deal it was so fun! we also caught another frog by it and the Elders found a tiny turtle, i didn't get a chance to see it but it was super cute they said. but this week was long, but great, there was an adventure/ surprise everyday, and i believe that, that is how everyday can be with the right outlook. 

but i can honestly say with out the scriptures this week i would be in a lot more of a tiff. i love the scriptures, and the way they are able to help you to feel light, and how service can change your heart. and faith. the Ponderizing scripture i had this week was (ALMA 5:12) "according to your faith a mighty change was wrought in his heart" <or something like that> but it rings true. as we have faith that today will be better than yesterday, and you actively make that happen then... well by golly it will happen. and i learned that this week. and contention takes the spirit away...so does being tired... so get some sleep ya'll. 

this week we found a man named Leo, and he was just chilling outsided looking for squirells in "his" trees. so we stopped by him and talked to him, and asked if we could share a message about Jesus Christ, he asked if we were going to talk about Moses as well... so we said yes, because naturally the restoration has something to do wiht moses as well. lol so we came in and he had a Book of Mormon already, teachings of the Prophets, and the "miracle of forgiveness" already. and my companions and i looked at eachother in question... so we asked him about his back ground and he said that he knows a mormon, and he used to go to church with him!! so he knows a ton. so we just testified of the Book of Mormon. and this analogy came to mind to help explain the Restoration with the Book of Mormon... try to follow

Imagine a self portrait that Christ has painted himself. He worked hard on this for about 3 years or so. when he was crucified however people loved it so much that they took bits and pieces of his painting (ripped it up). one guy took his chin, another his hand, and another his eyes, so forth. well over time there was another artist (Joseph smith) who started to question why they only had a chin, or an eye, and he wanted to see what the whole painting was like. so he read, he went to the source (the bible) and found that he needed to Ask. when he asked he found out that there really is a full picture. so this artist throught the help of Jesus Christ showing him what to do through his power, was able to re-create the painting!! and boom the full church is on the earth again. ....

okay so i know it still needs some help, but it makes sense to me,and it gave Leo something to think about. becasue he told us that he likes to sample churches.... 

but that is the main thing that stuck out this week to me.

pictures:

1.the lizard we caught

2. Me sharing a 'because he lives" card with Zamar... who later i found out has a crush on me... awkward

---hightlights---

mon:got to know the elder couple... the lillywhites...so CUTE i want to be like them someday

Tues: lesson with Niecy. such a great example of faith

Wed:moved a lady out of her apt. she used to be a freedom writher. sis. McCoy

thurs:we had 2 meals... and JUMBALIA!!

fri:i caught my baby lizard... i ahve a sweet video.. i will show you in a year how cool it is

sat: we were helping hands people!! so great because i got to play in the dirt

sun:going to bed... and D&C 67:10... oh and having dinner at the anderson's (the first ward) 

love sister Olesen...sorry its a long email!! 

p.s. i have more pics coming

The Gift Of the Gab

hey ya'll!! i think it is time for me to be transferred... but lets be honest i think i will stay here forever because well... i just love it. (contradictory... i know.. i can't figure it out either)

but this week was great! we taught our same families a bunch of times and only one of them seems to be grasping it. it is hard here because there are churches literally EVERYWHERE, so when we say church. it is just 'another' church. also the families that go to church regularly here usually go to the church that there family has been in for years...so they don't want to leave. that is why prayer, and priesthood authority is so important. so any of you who aren't sure if the Church of Jesus Chirst is the same church that Christ established 2000 years ago.. i invite ya'll to pray. i know that sounds super missionary of me. but it is so true! this gospel has changed my life,and has changed many others for the better,just hold on, and reach up, he'll take your hand. 

The Knight Family came to church this Sunday and the mom, Quoshonda said by the end of gospel principles class that she just felt light. she felt so much better after attending church. and we were nervous because it was fast and testimony meeting, (which is a VERY different thing from other churches her in the south) and the Word of Wisdom was being taught in Gospel principles which we haven't taught them specifically yet. the kids had a great time. the littlest one Marquivion (who is 5) in sacrament meeting sat right by me and it brought back good times of sitting by my nephews in church. oh it was the best. we colored and it was great! 

this week i MOWED A LAWN!!!! it was so fun! the lady we did it for reminded me of my dad. she has this beautiful back yard, and is a busy bee. but she is very calm all at the same time. it was fun to be around her and actually know what she was talking about when she was reffering to her yard tools/power tools....#ThankYouDad!! i wish i had a picture but it was such a spur of the moment thing i was in a skirt and my nice shoes.so i tied my skirt up a little (i was still modest.... kinda) ;D and pulled my hair up and got to work. my comps pulled weeds. good times in the big 'ole south.

on Sunday we went to a members house for dinner and had a good 'ole southern meal with pork, mac 'n cheese, with rolls, and Lima beans. and by the end of the dinner i was told i had the 'gift of the gab'... so i am not sure if that is a good thing.. but its a gift. so i will roll with it. they said it was a good thing because it the south you gotta know how to carry a conversation. and dear me that is one thing i can do.... in waiting rooms and all... #ThankYouMom

well this is a longer email this week but just know how much i love ya'll and i am so appreciative of ya'lls prayers. 

------highlights-----

Mon: acted out the tree of life scriptures with members in our ward for FHE (Shane and Jamie Whittier)

Tues:went to the Eye Doctor for my comp. 

Wed:I MOWED A LAWN

Thurs: interviews with my mission president; oh how i love meeting with him, i always come out wanting to strive to be a much better person. and i realize i am not that bad ;D 

Fri:met the cutest Old couple ... i want to be like them some day!! cute and old, and so happy, they were like newly weds ;D

Sat: had dinner at TEXAS Road HOUSE!!! with sis. Poaletti

Sun: rewarded with the name of 'the gift of the gab'

pics: 

1. 'in God we trust' on our way down to Bethel

2.beautiful sunset down in Ayden. 

love -sister olesen

Like a Potter's Wheel

whoa can i say miracles!?!?! 

this week i want to focus on what i have learned. rather than on the experiences. (those i'll put in my highlights) 

but this week i learned the simplicity of the gospel. not only was that evident in General Conference but in what happened this week. so as you all know last week i was kinda bummed and a worry wart. but this week man i just let it all go,and focused on what i DID know! and can i just say wow! we taught 3 families in between two wards and it was incredible. the way the kids grasped onto the message of the restoration and on to the plan of salvation. this is so simple God doesn't want to confuse us. but just as Elder Holland said that sometimes we stray away because we are focused on what we don't see rather than on what is right infront of us! we focus on the complexities of the things we just don't understand. mind you it is so great to ask questions and wonder,but not worth it to get all crazy on it!! no way jose. well anyway. this week i just focused on what i could do. like i could teach the gospel, i can do the best i can. i can talk to everyone if i just try.. and we have seen so many miracles we have 10 new investigators 5 of those with a baptisimal date, and oh God is good that is all i have to say. so stay centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. He WILL mold  you into the person he knows you are capable of becoming!!

funny story.. so this week we were taking out the trash and there was this bird who we thought was dead... but sis. Griffin decides to pick it up.. . (just in case) and she felt a heart beat. so we brought it inside, and we tried to warm it up. and well after about 15 min of success he took a stretch with his wing... and died. lol (kinda like on shrek when fiona's dad, the frog, takes his last breath and catches a fly? ) well he did that and he died right after. i shouldn't be laughing but it was pretty ironic. so we went outside in the pouring rain and buried him by digging a hole with a spoon. it was a fun week. and it flew by!! 

Pictures: 

1: K.O.G our bird (kovacs, olesen,griffin) 

2: sister Kovacs and i trying to be sentimental to sis. Griffin who was bawling lol

----highlights----

mon: taught the restoration in a gastation while people were buying tons of lottery tickets

tues: we got caught in a crazy rain storm and have a new investigator Quashonda

wed: learned about a street in mexico called "calle de besos" from this really old lady in the old folks home.... it was super funny!

thurs:we burried KOG, and ran through a field that was 2 football field lengths long... we looked like pioneers

fri: a man payed for our dinner at cracker barrel. he is super kind. he told us his story of how he was in jail for 25 years, and smokes weed everyday. but is a successful buisness man.

sat: GENERAL CONFERENCE the talk by Elder Lawerence

Sun: the talk by Elder Bednar (as we listen to the words of our forefathers and give heed to them we are more able to remember them, solidify them and turn them into knowledge!!

love sister Olesen

FAITH....HOPE....LOVE

deareset family... oh boy has this been a week.

to just start off i want to say that God has a plan for everything. Last monday i had one companion, and now this week i have 2 and i am covering 2 wards and it is nuts. but i know God has a plan. Tuesday was definitely the hardest day of my mission so far and i wasn't sure if i was going to make it but like i said in the beginning God HAS a plan. that day at zone conference i had a package from all of my young women leaders. so i just want to say thank you right now. one of the letters said, "i hope this gets to you in just the time that  you'll need it most" and boy was she right. you know no matter how bad something may seem, there is always a way out of it .. through faith, hope and love. Faith that things will work out, hope/action on making things better with a better attitude (even if you have to fake it till you make it) and Love.. just love everyone, you have no idea who needs what and when they need it. I love being out here and i love being here... my mission president said that this is a trying time, but it will stretch my faith and make it so much stronger...so i am not sure how much it can stretch... but i will do it; if i am asked. 

 I am now companions with Sis. Kovacs and Sis. Griffin covering the Greenville 1st and 2nd ward. . Florita was baptized this week on Saturday, and it was so beautiful! i sure love that girl she was so nervous, but she did it and that is all that matters. she acted in faith. i think we can all be like florita. i wish i could tell you her whole story. but i promise if all ya'll will act in faith, you will be carried through!

there is a lot going for both wards here in Greenville and i can't wait to see what kinds of things happen. so wish us luck!

 p.s. i can't wait to sleep on a bed again. i am currently sandwiched inbetween two matresses on the ground. lol #missionlyfe. 

love sis. Olesen  I LOVE YA'LL SO MUCH! KEEP PLUGIN ALONG

Pictures:

1. Florita's baptism!! (sister's griffin, kovacs,and me)

2. Life is what  you make it!!  (cotton field)

------highlights-----

mon: ate at crackle barrel with my sis. Anderson

tues: Zone conference and Florita's baptism interview

wed:first day with the First sisters

thurs:did weekly planning for TWO areas... oh my goodness

fri:took our sweet shot by the cotton fields

sat:FLorita's baptism, and woman's conference

sun:found out we are an official trio! ;D

Made Pies

dearest frineds and family... 

this week. has been crazy. i forgot my journal.so i am going to do my very best to even try to remember what in the world happened. 

WE taught a lot of less-active families, and we made cup-cake size pies...so so good... don't worry we did service as well but let me just tell you, they were mighty beautiful. we dilivered them to Ann, and some of our other prospective investigators! so there is nothing better than moving to the soul with some delicioius treats right?? ;D no the spirit is the best key. anyways. i think we just had really bad timing with things this week for teaching/finding investigators. We got to teach Florita (who is getting baptized this saturday!!) and her friend Star. she is progressing really well. she has lots of questions and before she asks us she first prays, then goes to the Book of Mormon. .. the the fist place for the questions of our souls! 

funny story. so we went to the Timothy's (a family in our ward) to teach a follow-up lesson. and after a powerful lesson on the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the father bearing testimony of Joseph Smith we all knelt down to pray when their daughter (8) knelt by her brother (17). well this daughter looks up and shouts..."did you fart?" and we all just busted up laughing, and sister anderson had to say the prayer, and we couldn't get a hold of ourselves... lol but finally i got a good balance of everything.. and i kinda peed a little during the prayer...so that's a new place... so when ever ya'll feel bad, just think of sister Olesen peeing her pants (skirt) during a member lesson... i know it doesn't seem like we are working hard... just sometimes the funny stuff is way easier to remember... i hope you allhave a wonderful week!! i love you tons!! wish Florita luck on her baptism!

-------Highlights:------

mon: lesson with sister napier, her love of Christ, and the atonement

tues:we made pies

wed:had a lesson with this cute lady named Nicole reid... now i thougt my mom could talk...no she    can talk lol she has really great stories!

thurs:Taught tithing for the first time to Florita! she is so wonderful! and loves to learn!

Fri:.... i peed...

Sat: stake meeting with all of the missionaries, and ward missionaries/mission leaders. we learned how important missionary work is through members. 1:70 people that missionaries find on their own are baptised and 1:5 people reffered by members are baptised...so everyone, do your missionary work, so we can ALL be together someday. 

sunday: i spoke in church for the first time! on community service :D  

LOVE sister Olesen!!  BE GOOD!! 

Pictures:

1.our pastries!!

2.the field is all white and ready to harvest... good ole cotton fields

Good Day Sir

how are all of you?? if you're week has been as crazy as ours.. well there is something in the water then ;D 

I will be honest i don't really remember a whole lot that has happened this week it has been a blur. of miracles and sorrows as well but that is just life as well it just is up to how you look at everything. just another testament on perspective, and the eternal perspective. 

One story that sticks out is when we went to the McCreas for dinner it was super spiritual. we taught the Sabbath day and why we keep it holy. "for it is a sign between your generations" Genesis 31:13,16-17 but anyways it was good because it really hit home for all of us! but as we were leaving they gave us a referral to go see a less-active family. so as we went to visit them we saw a family outside on their porch. so after we tried the less-active family (who wasn't home) we went to say hello. We asked if we could share a message with them on how God is our loving Heavenly Father and like everyone here, they said... "yes please." so we shared the Restoration with them and they said they wouldn't see a problem with getting baptized again.... well... in fact, by being baptized by the proper priesthood authority you will never have to be baptized again. This is what hit her. so we explained the priesthood line from Christ--->Peter,James,and John----> Joseph Smith, and she was mezmorized. so... we will see what happens next :)  she didn't want to commit to baptisim.but she understood the line, so that is powerful! I love this gospel it truly just makes sense. I know that this is the restored church, and if you don't know that for yourself. its okay. i didn't know that till well about 2 months into my mission. i mean i thought i knew it ... but i didn't KNOW it. 

i hope everything goes well this week i love you all so much!! 

Scirpture of the day 2Nephi 26:24 Gods plan is the plan for us! He wants us all to return... so ask him yourself what His plan is for  you!! 

----HIGHLIGHTS---

Mon: We had a run in with Jehovah's Wittnesses. and my testimony multiplied! because he wants us ALL to return

Tues: Had another Lesson with Florita, and her prayer was Amazing!! the power was real

Wed: WE had two lunches in 1 hour!! and it was fish and tomatoes. my favorite.. However, sister Anderson was so sick!! lol but she ate it all!! i was a proud mama!

Thurs:Lesson with Ben Dixon. We met him about a month ago, and he wanted to have a lesson! He is so prepared

Fri: i stepped in gum today... and an Elder Scraped it off of my shoe. we were on our way to give Florita's son a blessing

 

Sat:Lesson with the Edmondson Family. #joyjar

Sun: we had 4 investigators to church!!! 

Love ssister Olesen

pictures: 

1. THE ORANGE VAN!!! 

2. Sister Anderson made dinner!! Meatball sandwhiches!!

Fishers of Men

okay so we were out tracting this week ... a LOT. because everyone has dropped off of the face of the earth Ann is still getting baptised in september, but everyone else has well... i am not sure. but i can't focus on that for forever or else i am going to be sad all over again, God's plan is so much greater. Its so crazy because you spend so much time on somone, and effort, and sometimes it just doesn't go according to plan. Well anyways we went tracting. We went to the Greenville commons park which is really close to downtown Greenville. We found a beautiful pond, (ill attach a photo) but we found a lady named Florita. We asked her to take a picture of us and ended up talking about religion. she has been studying with the Jehovah Witnesses for a couple of weeks and is just gathering information. so we asked if we could share a quick lesson. The spirit was so strong (mind you we are teaaching her on a dock while she is fishing over a lagoon thing that leads into a big river) So we finished and she was very interested so we did a return appointment. and all is well right?? no . she couldn't meet the time we set up as we were on our way she called to tell us, but hey, at least she remembered, that means it was on her mind. So that is a HUGE plus. 

okay so analogy time. we prepare for a fishing trip for a week or so right, get all of the supplies, to go out... well by the time you get out on the water you don't really know what to expect you just have really HIGH hopes and do the best you can do and wait for the magic to happen. NO. you have to put effort in catch and release wait for the big one, the one that can change your name for the fishing champ in the family. (thats not you dad ;) its greg at the moment.. maybe Reece actually with the sword fish) but anyways back to the analogy. all the while as you are waiting you make fun memories with those you are fishing with. and making experiences that the 'why' of fishing so worth it.

 well folks this is why 2 Nephi 2:2 "consecrate your afflictions" look up the actual deffinition of concecrate and you will see what i mean. Make your afflictions holy, give them to the Lord and just see what will happen. enjoy every fishing moment you have, participate in the spreading of the gospel. it is fun, even when it doesn't give you a HUGE memory making Fish tale, it is all worth while. 

I love you all this week there isn't much to tell, just a HUGE learning experience. and a few tears nd stuff. lol I thought i was tough... then along came a mission lol.. 

----highlights----

mon: i made a mural of Christ's life for our apartment

Tues:it rained all day.. and all of our 8 lessons fell through

wed:we had a very powerful Book of Mormon study class in our ward that the missionaries teach,      and everything that was said was exactly what we needed to hear after our week...so far

thurs:we played the lisence plate game, and i owned it , #orangevans

Fri: teaching on the Dock to Florita

Sat:had a super sketchy lesson with a former investigator, adn we were able to sense what it is      like to not have the spirit present... it was a huge motivator to ALWAYS feel the spirit.

Sun:I made the one and only Olesen burgers-- Vol. 2 to wrap up our week. 

well ya'll i love you tons.. be good okay and remember to always!! CTR it really does make a difference in your day! and READ the scriptures daily.. the power is UNREAL. 

-sister Olesen

pics:

1.the river we found florita on~~ absolutely beautiful.. my head is blocking the sunset, but it was pretty just trust me

 2. the NEW Olesen Burger.. watch out greg, the competition is on! -sister Anderson said it rocked

Pig Pickin' and the Rooftops

So this week was insanely long!! i drove for the first time in 3 months, to Virginia, and back!! lets just say that Brigham Young was not the road planner in Virginia! the roads are insane, and even with a GPS we got lost a couple of times. and a GPS is kind of like prayer too! so again the Lord is truly amazing!  we had a mission conference, and on top of that trying to catch up on the area after leaving for 2.5 days! lol and i am training! so it has been crazy! but i truly do love every moment of it! 

Sister Anderson is my new companion. she is from St. George Utah, and she is great! she and i are buds, and we have had so much fun each day! i love being her comp. we have had some pretty funny experiences. i decided to take her to the sketchy areas first, just to get her accustomed first, and now she is set for all occasions ;D. we had a real pig pickin'! now i am sure you're wondering what that is, well they litterally throw an entire pig in a smoker and then pick from it what you want! hte face and everything was in there... it was pretty cool. then the man who made the food thought it would be cool to let a ham (leg of the pig) hang for decoration, it was covered in mold, but its okay because it was cured so it wouldn't spoil. when they are ready to eat that ham they scrub it and cook it and .. well eat it. so my friends prayer is real when it comes to eating! 

the spiritual part of our week was that we went to go teach a less-active member, but she was sick and didn't come to the door, so as we were heading back to our car, these 2 girls came out and were peeking at us so we said hello and asked if their mom was home? so we asked their mom if we could share a lesson with them. so we shared the restoration on their porch. As we were teaching their husband got home, and joined later, another man from the neighborhood came up and asked if he could join as well! so it was absolutely amazing! we preached from the 'rooftops'. the spirit was strong, and we now have another lesson with them later this week. the man who walked in on our lesson has been studying the bible for 30 years and hasn't found the church for him he believes the church is in your heart. which is true... to a point. we need to live the gospel, but we also need to go through ordinances by acting on faith to live the gospel as well. 

sorry this email is long, but last thing. there was a talk in sacrament this week and a man asked us to ask ourselves this question... "am i true?" and that really hit me, especially with the man who we talked to. Are we true diciples of Christ? do we really live the gospel everyday and love everyone in every way we can? are we true? when talking about construction a true 2x4 is straight, solid, square, etc,... so that has been my soul search this week ... Am I TRUE? 

             

******Highlights******

Mon: i drove

tues: it rained so hard, and i thought i was going to kill sister Young and I in the car

Wed: i met Sister Anderson!! she is so cute!

Thursday: we had mission conference, and a pig pickin'

friday: we asked a investigator if we could 'meditate' after she prayed... i am pretty sure we're not allowed back ;D ( well it never hurts to try a new method)

Sat: preaching on the rooftops

Sunday: AM I TRUE?

Love you all... p.s. sorry its wicked long! 

sister Olesen

 100 days on the mission! (thank you so much for the hats marshall and miles! 

 me eating the ham leg bone thing. ... check that mold out!! 

Im a trainer!

so .. i forgot to tell you on saturday i got called to be informed that i am training!!! that was my hightlight i was going to share, so i am not being transfered but i am training here in Greenville. 

Love you all love sister Olesen

Driveway to a mansion that is seriously hidden. it is in the back woods of farmville North Carolina ;D 

Its Transfer Time

Hey Ya'll 

So this week was nothing but miracles. sometimes you just need to push through the muddy mess underneath all sorts of storms on top to recognize the miracles that are headed your way!! For some reason everyone has vanished from the face of the planet, so we went tracting.. in the crazy hot sun. but it was great i am tan now and full of miracles that would blow your mind.... Okay so one:

We were tracting and my shirt was super long sleeved, but i didn't do laundry last week so it was all i had. so just picture me a MESS. we tracted and finally our last two doors we were praying for some sort of miracle, praying for Heavenly Father to lead us to a family that had been prepared for the restored gospel. and the first door we knocked on of the last two was a less active family that hadn't been in forever, we didn't know that so we introduced ourselves like the last 30 doors, and he was "yep i am a member of  your church, and i actually served a mission," so that was pretty funny and awkward too, but anyways we talked for a bit, and they invited us over for dinner in two weeks so that is actually a huge deal!! now miracle two:

We had one more door to tract and so ... we knocked and a really cute black couple came to the door. well the wife, and the husband who was sitting on the couch with out even seeing us invited us in and to have a seat on the couch. so we were very excited to sit down because man were we sweaty! but we small talked for a bit, they have been married for about 37-40 years, and have kids, and are very faithful in their church. so that made us a little nervous, but we shared a lesson anyways, the RESTORATION! and on the page of the pamphlet right before the restoration (the Apostasy) they were concentrated, they were intently listening to every word, and the minute we fliipped to the restoration the spirit was so strong! it was incredible, and by the time we left they were so excited for our next lesson together, that they are going to invite the husbands sister! oh man we are so excited! there are some great things happing here. lately it seems to go so so grand, and then everyone drops off of the face of the planet, but because God is so aware he allows us to find miracles, all we have to do is look for them, and guess what, we really dont ever have to look very far. 

We had a lesson with Ann Sharkshnes this week about the creation and we talked about the miracles that happen eveyday, all we have to do is look up! 

Sister Glaser's last day was today. she headed up on the transfer van and i am so excited for her new adventures that await her! i am so proud of her and grateful for all that she has taught me! i am going to miss her so incredibly much.. she is my mom! ;D

I love you all so much! 

pictures:

1.Sister Glaser is headed home...

2. the beautiful North Carolina Sunset

Highlights:

Mon: fishing

tues: found a mansion in farmville.. toward the back neck of the woods

wed: found a man who is just like dad!! he gave us roses in pepsi cans!!

thurs: helped members move out of their apartment... probably my favorite members Clinton and Samantha O'dail

Fri:Burned Sister GLaser's bag!!

Sat: washed Ann Sharkshness dog

sun: fast and testimony meeting... i was a mess. it was Sis Glaser's last sunday...

Crying is a spiritual gift

My dearest Family, and Best buds

WE had a mini-missionary again this week sister Ward. and before she came she prayed for a hard week, she wanted to see ALL aspects of the work and by golly she got it! be careful what you pray/wish for especially when it involves others. This week we pretty much cried all week. it was so hard, but hey we grew. so that is good! i think this weeks biggest theme was service. we talked to a lot of people invited them to church and told them that the restored gospel is on the earth, and the crazy thing about the south, is that they ALL love our Savior Jesus Christ, so they don't see anything different about us then the Jehovah's wittnesses (and there a lot here) anyways this is all besides the point the main fact that i wanted to focus in on is service.. Me.. Sister Erica Ann Olesen, mostly just Sister Olesen Drove/ steered a Catelac this week!!! there was this man, and his car broke down in the middle of the road, and there was 3 of us sisters so we were like "hey we can help" because nobody else was willing to so they all pushed, and i of course offered to drive because it was a catelac, i wish i got a picture, but just imagine, it was fantastic. p.s. that was the same day that we had interviews with President Baker, so that wasn't the most obedient thing we could have done, but desperate calls call for desperate measures! 

We set two people with a baptisimal date!! it was great one girls name is Jadaria Dickens she came to church this sunday and found out in Sunday School that Joseph smith was dead, and cried, aparently we had missed explaining that well enough.. ? whoops, we'll clear that up next time..;D

and a girl named Shaquitta Suggs is set for August 29th. so we are really excited for them! they are and have grown so much in the past two weeks! i love this work, the Lord's work you are able to see first hand the growth of our brothers and sisters because of the Atonement!! 

the reason this week has been so crazy is because its been so stressful. we went to havelock for exchanges, and then back to greenville in one day with a mini-missionary, oh man i know it seems not that crazy to ya'll but it is!! lol

well i gotta go, but i love  you all so much stay golden and read (stay by the tree) in the latest ensign. 

picture 1: Brother Smith and I all the way From Spanish Fork Utah

Picture 2: my HUGE fish!! from fishing at the Brews!!

Highlights:

mon: had a play for a member lesson!!

tues: a beautiful thunder storm that happened and it looked like a strobe light, there wasn't any rain, it was pure lightning

wed:Sister Glaser's 18 month mark

thurs:i drove a catelac, and interviews with President Baker, oh and i found brother Smith in NOrht Carolina... (he was my seminary teacher)

fri ate at Zaxby's... in memoir of my good 'ole Pops

sat had a lesson with a 95 yr old, barbara 

sun: Sister gLaser had her farewell talk in greenville!!

mon:I went fishing today!!!

como estas?‏

i don't even know what to say about this week. it feels like the longest week but also it flew by! i feel like just yesterday was Monday, but i feel like it was a lifetime that i last emailed ya'll. 

But i think the biggest thing that happened this week that was pretty random is that i now have a sweet peacock feather in my room now! right over my picture of Jesus Christ. it is beautiful! we went to a dinner appointment to the Worthington's and you know he reminds me a lot of my Uncle Jim. Very knowledgeable and a veteran in the Vietnam war. I loved talking to him, it felt just like home, its funny because i may be on the other side of the country, but i feel like i am right at home, #HomeIsWhereYourHeartIs. ;D anyways they raise peacocks and their house is about a quarter of a mile off of the main road. they literally have a zoo in their yard. peacocks, horses, dogs, cats, bugs. etc. but so that is the story of my peacock feather. 

Something that was bitter sweet this week is that Robin who was baptized last week by the elders is heading off to Ohio bordering Kentucky. things weren't working out here in North Carolina so he moved back with his mom to Ohio. but luckily we got to see him randomly at the church the night before he left to take a picture and to say goodbye. i sure am going to miss that guy! i am grateful for perfect timing and the hand of God to place in each others path one last time!

The thing that i have learned most this week is that i really am not perfect. I ... well every one knows this about me, but i am really hard on myself. so i have really high expectations that everything i do should be 100% perfect... even if i have only been out for almost 3 months. so i was getting pretty discouraged ya know and i wasn't able to feel the spirit (because discouragement weakens the spirits ability to testify through you) so that was discouraging me even more. urgh but the good news is that through the scriptures and prayer, and a few tears all is well! Heavenly Father truly will provide no matter what circumstance you are in, as long as  you turn toward him for guidance. 

WE also had dinner with the Jennings family and took pictures of course and little Colton had his peanut butter. (he was not letting that go, that is his love!!) but i am glad we got pictures! they even came to church this sunday! 

Ann, who is getting baptized in September was flipping through the Gospel Principles Book and flipped open to a baptism picture and turned toward us and grinned!! haha it was great! 

I know that all of these stories may not seem very significant to all ya'll but just know that this is the Lords work, We are his children and no matter what challenge we are faced with he will provide a way to get out of it.. even if it is a simple as having a craving for icecream. if it is important to you, it is important to him!!

-sister Olesen

H I G H L I G H T S :

mon; dinner with the O'dells the husband reminds me a TON of my Brother Gregory

Tues: took pictures in the shack that we had to change in after having lessons with Margaret. 

Wed: Ann Pointing at baptism picture with a huge grin!!

thurs: Gregs birthday (my brother)  learned a little bit more in depth about keeping the sabbath day holy, sacrament is the only ordinance we can repeat for ourselves.. think about that!! and we said goodbye to Robin

Fri: found People in the park and taught them the restoration! they thought we were crazy at the beginning, but by the end, they were very glad we stopped by, and you could really tell that they knew heavenly father loved them!!

Sat: it RAINED!!!! i was soaked all day long

Sun: had my epiphany that i don't need to be perfect to do the Lord's work.

Salvation Angels

whoa.. there is soo much to write about this week it is insane! but i will just share with y'all the things that stuck out the most! 

we had a mini-missionary this week her name is Sister Jamie Martin. she is from New Burn North Carolina. she is 16 and applied to go on a mini-mission to see what we did, and how we do it.. it was incredible! she is such an inspiration. if i was like that at 16, man i don't know what i would be like now. she is going to be an amazing missionary. 

we got caught in a lot of rainstorms this week and so that was a ton of fun we played and worked hard! #workhardplayhard. we taught almost every lesson including the law of Chastity while sis. Martin was here and it wasn't even awkward. we even sang a song while we taught it. to a little tune i like to call, "head, shoulders, knees and toes" 

head-keep your thoughts pure, shoulders: keep your shoulders covered, knees: keep  your knees covered, or at least a good length, also watch your blouse as you bend, Toes: walk tall ,you're a daughter of God. 

it was a great/really funny lesson. we did a lot of less active work though this week and it was great! we got a hold of a family who we have been trying to get a hold of for a while. the Jennings. they have a son named Colton and he has autism. but he was able to say the prayer. now this is what i want to focus on; This boy cant do a whole lot, but he is able to pray, he can't communicate very well but with the help of others he can communicate with God. This really stuck out to me! no matter what happens in a mission, in a life, as long as we are trying our very best to communicate with God, all is well. This boy taught me a lot! he is 4 and he had so much to share. he might not have a lot to offer, but he has the world to offer to me. With all of this crazy happening in the world at this time we need to try our very best to hold on to our communication to God, colton taught me that.(thorugh the help of others) through scripture study, prayer, listening to the counsel of prophets, so forth. fully rely on God (D&C 17:1)

Also this week we built a fort, and got asked if we sold girl scout cookies, and man,,, when north carolina gets something in their head, it is hard to lose it! lol and i must say when it comes to north carolina bbq no body can mess with them. it is good! and people get grumpy when they are passing out the food, because it is such a delicasy it has to be take seriously... lol so that is my advice for the week. i know that this email is all over the place but just remember colton this 4 yr old boy! everyone has so much to offer, just listen to them!  it is so crazy because so many people slam the door in our face, but if we could just listen to eachother.. man the world could do some serious changing!

well. i wish you the best of luck this week! its a good one!!

-sis olesen

highlights

mon- PLAYED E.R.S for P-day

tues-Sister martin came and we Saw Niecy, who has such a knowledge for the scriptures

wed-coltons prayer

thurs-we had to bail our tub out because it wouldn't drain... sick nasty

fri-we got poured on, and sister maritn's skirt was see-through so we had to go hurry and buy a skirt before our dinner appointment which we only had like 15 min to do so

sat-Robins Baptisim, the elders former investigator now member! he is so huge!! like a gentle giant. he was baptised while kneeling and had to bed over he i so incredibley tall

sun-farewell to sister martin

Full of Miracles

well folks, it was the good 'ole fourth of july!! (my favorite)

Although it wasn't filled with bbq and fireworks it was full of miracles that is all i can say!! this whole week! #1 it was my mom's birthday so that was a huge miracle! #2 we have a new investigator. 

this week wasn't too hot so that is pretty great. not too many sweat droplets this week. ;D it was full of following the spirit. we had so many appointments fall through this week... it is summer people think they can go on vacation.. what is going on here?  no it is great that means that they are with their family which means that they are helping the plan of salvation move forward. the family is the most vital piece of heavenly father's plan for us! so i guess its okay that they go on vacation, but hopefully they come back soon. so we just had a lot of improvising to do this week... but besides all of that nonsense we met a man  on Friday named Montreal. We taught him the restoration in not only 15 minutes, but the spirit was undeniable. we were tracting a kind of sketchy area, and we looked up, were bold and spoke to him and asked if we could teach him right then and there as we was drinking his carona. but that is besides the point. the spirit was there, it testified unto him that this is good, he may not know it is true yet, but he knows the message is good, and it is of God. I love the restoration so much. no matter what or where we are the spirit is always there. and the moment you help them recognize the spirit that is when their whole face changes. they have that desire. I love this gospel. not a whole lot happened besides that this week. Marian isn't getting baptized July 18th anymore, she doesn't feel quite ready, and she isn't sure this is exactly where she wants to go in her life. so that was a huge heart break this week. and i was so sad and discouraged, but then in 2 nephi 18 there is a verse that blatently states, "this is my garden, i know whats going on" ( or something along those lines) but anyways it was powerful, it re-assured me taht this is the Lord's work he is aware of Marian's decsions and he is aware of all of us. he knows what is best for us .... so rely on him!! 

-sister olesen

Mon- 2 month mark

tues-changed in a shack to get rid of our bed bug clothes

wed-the elder's investigator, told them that he is looking for a wife, so he has been hanging out at McDonalds a lot. to seek them out.... (it is the hang out here)

thurs- Elder and Sister Steffler took us out for a steak dinner for my 'graduation' of my first 8 wks.

fri- cleaned a house for 3 hours/ found Montreal

sat- the family that we spent a little of 4th of july with,, their kids tried to guess my age,, and apparently i am 31 years old... so i am the new oldest in the family (sorry kristina)

sun-we saw Ann our investigator with M.S. and we rubbed her feet to help the swelling, it was the most humbling experience of my life. i love her honestly with my whole heart!! (sept. 12 is her date.)