Another week in the Promised Land

Alright so Sister Osborne and I are basically best friends by this point. She is seriously such an awesome missionary. It doesn't even feel like I am her trainer. She is just awesome. So there's that. The other day though I told her that and she said that I was supposed to be her trainer and that she really needed me. That made me feel really good. It reminded me of how I feel about Sister Magleby.

My brain doesn't even feel like it's in my head right now. I forgot how difficult it is to not know an area and try to do missionary work. Everything that we do is about people. When you don't know the people, it makes it a little difficult. So we have just been meeting as many people as possible right now and trying to get to know them at lightning speed. So far so good. We sent out an email to the whole ward with our picture and some information about us. We also bore our testimonies on Sunday so the ward knows us. It's just a matter of time before we know the ward.

Can I just say how much I love the temple? It is seriously such a blessing to see it everyday. I love how the temple makes me feel. I think a lot of people see it, but I wish everyone would just take a minute out of their day to walk on the temple grounds. I know a lot more people would be interested in taking the missionary lessons and coming to church if they did that. Whenever I have doubts or questions or anything I just think about how I feel at the temple. I have never felt so at peace or at home. I know it is the house of the Lord and he wants all of us to be there. There is nothing more important to me then getting married in the temple and having my own family for time and all eternity.

I have to go. I spent too much time replying to emails so this will be short, but I will share one miracle moment of the week.

So this one time Sister Magleby prayerfully planned what time she was going to go to the gas station. She told Heavenly Father what pump she was going to be at and prayed that someone prepared would be there that would be baptized. She promised that she would talk to everyone she saw to find the prepared person. She did that, and 6 weeks later Carl was baptized.

Sooooo I totally copied her. After several very awkward encounters and rejections we met Terronae. She was wearing this super cute dress so we just started out with a compliment. Before we knew it, we were talking about the temple and she said her mom actually had a ton of questions about it and they both would want to walk around the temple grounds with us. Sooooooo that was really awesome.

There is something very powerful about making promises with Heavenly Father through prayer.  The only thing that stops Him from pouring out blessings to us is our own choices. As long as we are doing our best and doing what He would want us to do, He will bless us beyond all human comprehension. I know that's true.

I am so grateful that Joseph Smith saw Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ so that we could have the priesthood and temples. I love all of you! Have a great week!

Your missionary,

 

Sister Olsen

It's fine. I just get to see the temple like 6 times a day. No big deal.

This is the building I am emailing from right now. Redlands is the coolest!

Half the members here own orange groves and give us millions of oranges. I have started making orange juice and it is the most delicious nectar the tongue has ever tasted. Literally all I do is squeeze the oranges and drain the pulp. I will never be able to eat normal oranges again.

This is Sister Fife (curly hair) and Sister Bates (red shirt). They are my totally awesome roommates that I love with all my heart! Sister Fife was trained my Sister Magleby too.

The pine cones in Forrest falls are bigger than my head!

These are so delicious and everyone needs to eat them.

Exaltation!!!! Oh, and Moroni is my new neighbor :)

EVERYONE!

I HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE PROMISE LAND!!

Okay I literally just said a prayer so that Heavenly Father will help me write this email. We have been so crazy busy this past week; I haven't even had time to unpack yet! And we had a crazy fun pday today as well. There is just so much to write about and I am going to try and whip it all out in 15 minutes because I still have a bunch to do to figure out all of my classes and what not.

Alright so I am guessing that you are probably on the edge of your seat wondering where the heck I am emailing you from right now. I have been transferred to..............

REDLANDS!!!!!!

How awesome is that?!?!?!?! I am probably going to finish my mission here!!! I am in the Millcreek ward. I honestly still don't really know the area yet.... But it's the biggest and probably most awesome ward in the Redlands Stake. We take in a small portion of Redlands, all of Mentone, Forrest Falls, and Angles Oaks. The last two places I just mentioned are up in the mountains and we have some investigators and new converts up there and it's really cool. No, the Mission President is not in my ward. But...... THE TEMPLE IS IN MY WARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We literally drive past the temple about 5 times a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT'S SO AWESOME AND I AM SO ELATED. AND GET THIS! The temple president has asked us to do temple tours of the temple grounds for non-members. Remember when I really really wanted to serve in a temple visitor center? This is like the next best thing!!!!!!!!!

My companion is also probably one of my favorite companions. We have only been together for 5 days and she is right up there with Sister Magleby and Sister Shin. Oh wait. I forgot to tell you I am follow up training again. Hahaha. That's funny that I forgot to mention that. Yes so her name is Ashley Osborne and she is from Napa Idaho. This is her second transfer in the mission field. So after this transfer I will have been a part of four sisters training. Also, I will have never done a full training on one sister, but that's okay. I flipping love it here so I am totally cool with what is currently happening.

Here's the thing. Sister Osborne and I are basically the same person. Our lives are like 93.8% the same. We even have bunions and varicose veins in the same place. Is that too much information? But we like all the same things. Purple is also her favorite color and she is just as obsessed with giraffes as I am. But literally like 5 or 6 times a day she will say something or the other person will say something and the other person's response is usually "me too...." or "I feel the same way..." It's freaky, but also super awesome. She is just so great and this is so great and I am just loving my life so much right now. I am very tempted to tell President Van Cott that I don't want to leave mid transfer anymore because I am super sad that I only get to be here for 2.5 transfers. But don't worry I will come home. Maybe...

Okay so I don't even know where to begin because this week has been so crazy! On top of this transfer, we also had an Area 70 visit the stake this week. It was super cool. I also forgot to mention that our ward is ON FIRE with missionary work! We are seriously about to baptize nations!!!! Once I figure out just what the heck is going on of course. I am still meeting everyone and trying to figure out how to get places. It has been a very, very, very long time since I have lived in a city. I forgot how to drive where there are a lot of cars and stuff everywhere.

Anyway. So this area 70 is Elder Jay Pimentel. He was so flipping awesome. He invited us to the adult session of stake conference. And because he is the coolest man currently living, he had a special meeting in the morning just for the missionaries and all the people they are teaching (investigators, recent converts, and less actives). All of these people's fellowshippers were also invited. We had three investigators, a couple less actives, and a few recent converts there. IT WAS SO COOL! And of course, he talked at the main session.

He made some super cool parables that I want to write about. He talked about baseball so I feel that dad and Tay Tay will like these ones. He compared fasting to a sacrifice fly. In baseball, if someone of the opposing team catches the ball when you hit it before it touches the ground, you are out. But, if you have less that two outs and there is someone on third base, you can hit what is called a sac fly. If you hit it to the outfield, and the player on third base makes it to home plate, you score. A sac fly is also the only out that doesn't hurt your batting average. However, if there isn't someone on third base, hitting the ball straight to the outfield to an opponent is pointless. The same goes with fasting. In order for our sacrifice to be beneficial, we need to have something on third base.

He also likened having a broken heart and a contrite spirit to a baseball glove. When you have a brand new baseball glove, it isn't very flexible. You can't open and close it. You have to break it in first. It takes a lot of work to break that glove in, but once it's broken you can do whatever you want with it. We are like the glove and Heavenly Father is like the hand inside. In order for him to use you and work with you, you need to be broken in.

He also talked about God's perspective. He said this one time he took his kids to the Empire State building in NYC. They went to the lower observation deck. He pointed to a taxi that was driving by until they couldn't see it anymore. He pointed to a taxi that was parked that they still could see. And he said there were probably more taxi cabs coming around the corner that they couldn't see yet. They went to the very top and they could see all of the Taxi cabs. He said that the first cab is like our past, the middle is our present, and the last is our future. We can't see everything all at once from our own perspective, but Heavenly Father can see everything. That's why we need to trust him because he has a much better perspective and vantage point then we do.

One last parable. When you put a foam cup full of water in a fire, it will not burn. If your foam cup is even a little less then full of water, it will burn. He suggested that the water in the cup is like the love of God. We need to fill ourselves with God's love to protect us from harm.

Anyway, sorry that was a lot. I didn't explain any of that nearly as well as he did. But it was amazing to hear him speak. President and Sister Van Cott spoke at their stake conference for the last time. Holy cow they were a powerhouse. He said that if you felt anything missing inside, do missionary work. If you want more power, do missionary work. If you want to have incomprehensible joy, do missionary work. Etc. It was probably one of the most powerful talks I have ever heard at a stake conference. I left that conference feeling like I could just conquer the world! I love conference so much!!!!!!!!!!

One last thing. The temple is being cleaned this month and they asked us to help clean it. We just scrubbed rust off the men's lockers in the baptistery, which wasn't very exciting. But what was exciting was the guy that was in charge of the temple cleaning showed us all around the temple! We got to go into the bowels of the temple! It was like the chamber of secrets, but sacred! We went into the basement and saw all the pipes and plumbing and vents and stuff. It was really cool.We went into the break room and everything. It was awesome.

Okay this is the longest email of my life. Oh! One more thing! For pday today we went to the university of Redlands! I got a sweet sweatshirt! Oh! One more thing! The Redlands Bicycle Classic was this weekend and we got to volunteer! It was so much fun! This race is the oldest in the country. We helped with the Disabled Veterans Race and the Women's Race. I don't remember what their names are, but there were Olympians that have won medals in both of those races. So cool! 

Now I really am done. Love you all! A lot happened this week. By next P-day hopefully I will know things better and things will be back to normal. It's not every week you get to meet a general authority, take a backstage tour of the temple, and go to a world famous bicycle race.

What's funny is, none of you had any idea that I was doing any of this this week. Haha. Love you all! The church is very much true!

Your Missionary,

Sister Olsen

This is Webster (the floppy one)

and the palmer family that I was living with

This is a super cool children's garden in Yucaipa

Saying goodbye to the amazing Sister Ashcraft

This is the Chudy family. She reminds me a lot of Grammy neat. They live up in oak Glen and I was teaching their neighbor Rob. I am really excited to take you to their ranch someday! The dog's name is Ranger.

This is sweet Lyla Terry from Yucaipa. She is 91 and has been my grandma away from home these past few months. She is basically an angel on earth.

Yucaipa zone day before transfers.

 

 

This is my awesome new companion Sister Ashley Osborne! Yay! 

Redlands bicycle Classic at the start/finish line

We ran into the Harbers from Yucaipa at the bike classic! They were my totally awesome neighbors in Yucaipa.

Redlands bicycle Classic

Repentance is Real

Dear Family,

I was going to pull an April Fools prank on you, but I am too lazy... Remember last year when I told you I was going to speak Spanish? This year I was going to tell you that I was extending my mission and I was going to put a lot of effort into making it seem real, but too much happened this week that I need to write about. So there's that. No sugar is still going strong, but our investigator is still struggling. Prayers would be appreciated.

This week has been super weird for me. I have never been so grateful for the Atonement in my whole life. My weaknesses have been shown to me. I keep thinking about the Savior. Despite my weaknesses and all the things that I do wrong, he still loves me. He is so, so patient with me and will always forgive me when I come to him.

I keep thinking about the man that had a huge debt that was forgiven him, but he couldn't forget the small debt of his servant. I get so annoyed with people for making mistakes. Even when I am driving or at church, all these small little things bother me. I have been so humbled by the Savior's example and that he always forgives me of my mistakes, so I should always forgive others.

I have also been thinking about how the Savior is the ultimate example of self control. When he was suffering excruciating pain beyond all comprehension, he could have stopped it, but he didn't. He has all the power in the universe and could have done anything. He CHOSE to suffer for our sins. If the Savior could have that kind of self control, then I should be able to, too.

This week we were having a really rough day. I literally went into the closet and prayed and prayed to God. All of my weaknesses were shown to me and it was very clear of the things I was doing that I needed to change. So I did. I literally came out of the closet talked to my companion and ACTED. The scripture in Mosiah Chapter 2 is SO TRUE when it says the Lord will "IMMEDIATELY" bless us when we obey his commandments. Less than 24 hours later from when we showed the Lord we were serious about our plan, we found 3 new investigators. MIRACLES happen when we obey the commandments with EXACTNESS.

I also wanted to tell you all that I know two of the area 70 that were called!!!! Our very own President Calderwood from the Oakton Virginia Stake, AND! Drum roll please! PRESIDENT MISKIN!! Yes! My mission president's second counselor! And he is in my ward! No pressure everyone, I am just serving in an area 70's ward!!!!!

Okay time to go. Love you all and have a great week!

Love,

Sister Olsen

We had a very difficult day because it was rainy and cold and we got rejected probably 15 times (yes we usually talk to about 10-20 people a day). But at the end of the day we realized how much the Lord loves us for doing our best and we saw a rainbow! Yay!

I am now realizing that you can barely see the rainbow in this picture... it really was there okay! It's in both pictures.

We went to visit this part member family in our ward. They weren't interested in the gospel, but that didn't stop me from taking a selfie with their super majestic horse.

Last pday was flipping amazing because an Aldi opened in Yucaipa. My groceries cost me HALF as much as stupid Stater Bros.

 AND Sister Ashcraft had to pick up some medicine at a pharmacy in Redlands by Cafe Rio SO I GOT TO EAT A SWEET PORK BURRITO ENCAHALADADADA STYLE! Happiness!

No Sugar Added

I have a few emails to respond to so I am just going to send this big one really quick. This week seriously flew by faster than any other week. This is the last week of our 7 week transfer. I have absolutely no idea what is going to happen. No clue. I only have two transfers left now so I feel like if I stay this next one and finish Sister Ashcraft's training I will probably be here for the rest of my mission. That's a long time folks! That would be 8 months in Yucaipa! But I don't think they would transfer me and leave Sister Ashcraft here. So no clue. I guess we will find out next week!

Anway, what even happened this week? It's getting hard to remember! The whole thing is just blending together!

Oh yes. I added the subject as "no sugar added." I am sure you are wondering why that is. Well our investigator is really having a hard time giving up her word of wisdom addictions. There is a study in preach my gospel that suggests to give up one of your own addictions so you can understand what your investigators are going through. Sister Ashcraft and I have decided to completely give up dessert and treats to help our investigator. We have only gone a few days so I am still going pretty strong. Actually, I have tried giving up sugar before on my mission, but it has been super hard because anyone and everyone give us junk food pretty much everyday. But with a purpose behind it, it's a lot easier. In fact, after the women's broadcast (which I hope everyone enjoyed because I know I super felt the Spirit!!) they had cookie ice cream sandwiches and it was pretty easy for me to say no thanks.

BUT IF NO ONE COULD SEND ME ANY TREATS VIA MAIL THAT WOULD BE SO AWESOME THANK YOU.

I just put that in caps to add emphasis that I don't need treats :)

Miracle of the week:

Pretty much our entire ward council was out of town for the Easter weekend; including all 6 of the high priest and elders quorum folks.

We got a call at the beginning of the week from the Relief Society in the Upland 2nd ward (for those of you who do not know where that is, it is just outside the mission very close to my last area in Fontana). She told us that there was a less active sister that is trying to come back to church moving into our ward on Saturday.

........

We literally called probably 25 people and everyone was out of town.

So I had a mini panic attack, prayed for help, and the next 5 people I thought of to call could all come! So it turned out great! This sister even had three of her friends come that were not members. Two of them were married and very active in another church, but they were super impressed with our members and had a ton of questions about the church. The other guy was single and said he had taken the missionary discussions before, but because of how impressed he was with these members being so kind and willing to serve, he said he was going to take them again! (He lives in Nevada so we won't be teaching him.) Not to mention another investigator came. And Brother Francis (a member) was bearing his testimony while lifting heavy boxes and talking about his mission like a boss. 

Then on Sunday I was a little sad because all our investigators couldn't come to church because they were either working or out of town for Easter. But don't worry because one of our neighbors that actually lives across the street from a family that helped with the move just showed up to church! What! Who just shows up to church?! It was awesome.

Okay my fingers are starting to hurt so I am going to end it here. I love you all! I hope you have a great week!

The church is still as true as it was last week :)

Love, Your Missionary,

Sister Olsen

Our Easter treats! We put the passalong cards in the Easter eggs

This is Sister Jean Jeffery. She had us for an Easter dinner last week (not actually on Easter. We spent Easter with a different family.) But she worked so hard on the meal and gave us such a cute card. Definitely one of my favorite mission memories.

Photo shoot in the Palmer's backyard. Enjoy.

This was the last treat I had before I stopped eating treats. Super sad.

 

This is Webster- a.k.a. the floppiest cat I have ever seen. We made him a little angry I think. I call him "The Floppy One"

Another week, another email...

Well people, Taylor and Tara both had great questions for me so I used all my email time on them. Sorry! I'm out of time, but here are some pictures of the week :)

St Patrick's day goodies

Look! We helped feed some homeless people! Yay! Sister Ashcraft and I were at the end of the assembly line and tied all those bags ourselves.

Yes, I am aware my Book of Mormon is upside down.....

We went to a member's house, but they weren't home. We liked their wisteria so we just took some pictures by it.

Remember that Strawberry Shortcake video we had about Strawberry Shortcake going to the Big Apple City???! We were volunteering at the Yucaipa History Museum and they had this game board in the 50's to 60's exhibit! I was elated!

This is from when Sister Van Cott came out with us last Saturday.

This cute little gal grabbed my hair and said

"look! I'm a blonde missionary!" I thought it was cute.

Sister Ashcraft snook a picture of me when I was trying to understand how Ammon baptized thousands of people.