Operation Purple Ball

Feb 23 – March 1

Week 2

Every week here just gets even better! It’s making it really hard for me to say goodbye in two weeks.

I have made so many new friends but I’m sad because they have all been leaving! It’s so fun because when we are at lunch or we run into them walking around we just run up and give each other hugs and just talk and laugh! I just love it. We also met the sweetest Latina hermanas ever!!! Oh my goodness they are so amazing. One of the Hermanas english is so good and she told us it’s because she watched so many one direction interviews and videos that she learned it haha. Literally I thought that was the best. The rest only speak Spanish so it’s nice to talk with them and practice. They asked us if after our classes for the day if we wanted to all get together and just talk. They said they really wanted to get to know Americans and talk with them. We sat down after class and we were telling them we had taught a lesson to our teacher in spanish and they asked us to teach them! We taught them our lesson and we ended bearing our testimonies. It was the most spiritual and powerful experience. I was just filled with the spirit and my spanish came so easy. What I wanted to say I just could. I really do know that the spirit was able to speak through me and I was able to share my true testimony with those Hermanas. I love them so much and I want to stay in touch with them forever!

Thursday our district matched again wearing all neutral colors so that was cutsie. We just had our usual classes and I had my health meeting which I forgot to mention in my last emails. I got called as the health leader for my district. My job is to make sure everyone stays hydrated and healthy. If they feel sick or have health issues I let them know where they can go or what they can do. I make sure if anyone is stressed or struggling, to help them and get them the resources they need or just be someone they can talk to. Whats super convenient being the health leader is that I’m the only one having health issues in my district haha! I’m just getting hit hard with absolutely everything. I got really bad eczema all over my hands and have had the worst headaches. I had to go to the enfermeria and they were able to give me the medication I needed. A couple days later I went back because my eye was super inflamed and it was so painful to even blink. They got me everything I needed and I was off again haha. And then to top it all off, everyone in my district is dying of allergies and I’m pretty sure there’s some sort of cold going around. There is not one person who doesn’t look completely dead and isn’t sneezing non stop in class. It’s been pretty bad. But we’re all surviving… pray for us!

My companion and I have been the only companionship in our apartment for the last two weeks and every Tuesday we have been hoping we could finally get roommates but we haven’t yet!! We don’t know what’s happening. All the other apartments have 3 companionships to an apartment but sadly we are still waiting. It has been nice though being the only ones since there is only one bathroom with two showers and two toilets. So we’re able to have our own stuff. We just want the company haha

The food here is surprisingly good. They always have a main meal, fruit and then a little dessert. Everyone told us to stay away from the meat with the red sauce cause it gives everyone stomach problems but let’s be real all the food here does. The biggest hits for my district is Nutella on bread and froot loops. The froot loops come in little bags and one night, two Elders literally ate like 10 each. It was nuts. But those two things are the only things saving us from going to the bathroom every ten minutes. We eat them literally every meal. I’m not complaining I love it.

HAHA! This next thing was the highlight of the week for sure! My district is the best. Everyone just does the funniest things and we all just end up laughing our heads off. Saturday night at the end of our last class of the day my whole district was sitting outside waiting while our teachers set our last activity for the day. This elder started to beat box and then this Hermana in our district once he finished just started going at it beat boxing. It was literally the best. We were all just shocked. It was hilarious and everyone was just dying. They started doing a beat box battle and it was too good haha. I literally love every single person in my district.

Our elders absolutely love to sing whether they sound good or bad. None of them have any background with singing so its an adjustemnt haha. Their obsession has been child’s prayer. They are so adoment about performing it either at a devotional with all the missionaries or on Sunday during Sacrament meeting. They’ve been practicing anytime there’s a piano and they still can’t decide if they want us to sing with them or if they want only the Elders haha. If they do ever end up performing I’ll make sure to send it. I’m not gonna lie, they’re getting better. God is definitely blessing them with their talents.

Sunday was a good day. I didn’t get called on to speak in church which I thought I would, so I’m guessing it’ll probably be next week. Sunday was a really good study day. I got to find and study a lot of scriptures that are gonna help me throughout my whole mission. Sunday night we had a devotional. It was again given by Elder Holland and it was on obedience. I have noticed that they are enforcing obedience so so much here at the CCM and I totally understand why. Something that elder holland said that I loved was “obedience is the first law of everything” he just tied that into everything there has to do with being a missionary. His words are always so powerful and they always get to me! It was a good kick into my week. During devotionals my companion always brings her little origami paper and makes little hearts for the Hermanas sitting around us. It’s fun to see their faces light up when we give it to them. ❤

Lastly, we have those little ketchup and mustard packets out for every meal in case you want to use them and a fun little game the Elders have recently started playing is they try and hide them in your bag, pockets, shirt pockets, jackets, literally anywhere they can without you noticing. So we all just find random mustard packets everywhere and feel defeat that they got us! Its fun but we’ll see how long it lasts.

Oh yes operation purple ball! We have gym time every day for 30-45 minutes and an Hermana brought up the idea we all play 9 square. There’s a certain big purple ball you have to play it with and so we all were like Elders when you come over you need to grab that specific purple ball. One of thr Elders after screamed Operation purple ball and I just thought it was funny. Now thinking about it, it wasn’t that funny but its my title and I’m sticking with it!

We got to go to the temple today and it was so perfect! We just did an endowment session and literally the whole time I just kept sniffling. We have to wear masks in the temple so I legit just shoved tissue up both my nostrils and put my mask back on and you couldn’t even tell. My nose has been running so bad so it was perf. I pulled my mask down for a second and I guess the lady that came with us to the temple (who is the CCM nurse) saw my little creation and she asked me what was wrong and I told her I have been having a stuffy nose and you’ll never guess what she told me… when you get back, go to the infermeria.

I love you guys!! You are all in my prayers!!

Hermana Olsen ❤

Pics!

1. Me and comp on the bus to the temple