March 9 – March 15

Week 4

My last week is officially over. Never did I even think that when I first got here I would be so heartbroken to leave. It’s been an emotional week but it was filled with the best memories.

We matched as a district for the last time! We all wore black representing the funeral of all of us leaving. It was sad knowing these things we did were all gonna be our lasts together before we leave! 

Our gospel teacher Hermano Mendez kept telling us it was his birthday soon. We realized it was gonna be after all of us had left so we decided to celebrate it our last day of class. We wrote Feliz Cumpleaños on the board and gave him a card. He was so happy when he saw it. Hermano Mendez is the best and we seriously got so so lucky to have him! I already miss him so much.

Friday night we did an activity where we split up into our companionships and a latino district came and one of the Latinos were with every companionship and after 3 minutes of teaching they would switch and we would teach someone new. It was honestly so so fun and after we had taught two times they said to switch. Now the Latinos had to teach us but in English. My spanish teacher was the one that was sitting with us and we couldn’t believe it! My district has never heard him speak English. From day one of mtc he has spoken only spanish since he’s our spanish teacher and so when they said for them to teach in English we were like no way. It was CRAZY listening to him speak. He did sooo so good. He kept saying how bad his English was but it was so good. It was the craziest thing to hear. Never did I think I would hear him speak English! 

Saturday we took our final spanish test and I was honestly surprised at what I got. I did a lot better than I expected and it left me feeling so good! It was nice to just have that finished and focus on taking in the last little bit of class and time with my district as I could. 

For gym time some Elders from my district and me and my companion went and played volleyball with another district. Let me tell you these two girls in the other district were crazy into it. It was just hilarious. You could tell they played volleyball before the mission. Everytime anyone called for the ball they would scream at the top of their lungs that they got it and run across the court to get it. It was nuts. They would elbow people out of the way and we couldn’t even believe it was real hahaha. It was seriously playing 6 on 2. Everyone else either watched them play or got shoved out of the way so they could get it. It was the funniest thing and I can’t even tell you how much I laughed while “playing” with them.

I just wanna say that I was a wreck our whole last day. It was our last time in class with our teachers and being with the district all together all day. I just couldn’t handle it. For the end of our last class Saturday my teacher took us all out to the flags which is this beautiful area with a fountain and all these different flags from different countries missionaries are serving in, and we all sat down and he told us we were able to bear our testimonies. This was the most special experience for me here at the CCM. I have never felt the spirit so strong. Just sitting there with my district and hearing them bear their testimonies in spanish was the most powerful thing. Just the thought that we have all been together for 6 weeks working and learning and studying this language and this gospel and then at the end of our time here being able to hear us all bear testimony of this gospel and of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in spanish just was a moment I will never forget. In these moments when I bear my testimony I feel God’s love so strong in my heart. I am so grateful for the time I have spent at the CCM and I will never forget the people I’ve met, the things I have learned and the love and spirit I have felt here. 

My companion the first day at Mexico CCM told me “I really hope it rains at least once while I’m here”. Her wish came true because these last few days it’s been raining. There’s been thunder and wind and rain and it’s nice to experience it after how hot it’s been. I’m not gonna lie though it does make saying goodbye and leaving sadder. I just always feel so sad on rainy days. That’s why I titled this “Mexico is sad we’re leaving” because it chose to rain now when it’s our time to go. 

On Sunday I didn’t get called to speak again! I’m a little sad I wasn’t able to give my talk but its OK cause at least it’s planned for another time if I need it. AND GUESS WHAT! We sang a child’s prayer as a district in Sacrament meeting and it sounded so so good!! We really did a good job and I’m proud of us. My companion and I got asked to teach Relief Society and we taught on Laws and Ordiances from Preach my Gospel. We mainly focused on missionary work, service and enduring to the end. It was a good practice teaching in spanish and gaining more confidence in my speaking!

After our church meetings my companion and I asked for priesthood blessings and again I want to say how grateful I am for the priesthood and I want to testify that the power of the priesthood is real. This time we were able to have all the Elders in our district be there to give the blessing and I was filled with the spirit. I really do know that my Heavenly Father knows me personally and loves me more than I can even imagine. It was comforting to receive a blessing before leaving out on the mission field. I had that extra strength and peace I needed to be out there! 

Our district all had our last meal together before our devotional. It was nice to be with everyone one last time. After dinner missionaries just went outside and we all talked and hung out and of course there was a final rap battle. Hermana Parmentor asked Elder Pereyra for one last battle. After a couple rounds this other Elder came and started beatboxing with them. It was so good!!! Ahhhhh! Afterwards they all did it together and the other Elder started freestyling. Everyone was just cheering and we were all just having a good time. 

After that experience it was time to say goodbye. 😥 We had to say goodbye to all the Elders before the devotional because they have the Hermanas and Elders leave separately after the devotional. It was sad but I am so excited for all of them. I know they are going to be amazing missionaries. We are able to see the Hermanas after our devotional and say bye then. It was just weird saying goodbye to the people I have spent every day with for the past 6 weeks. A bittersweet goodbye. 

Our devotionals audio ended up not working so our CCM President spoke instead. He is the best. He spoke on the atonement and how we can all return to live with our Savior again. At the end of the devotional we sang “God be with you till we meet again”. I was surprised because after how emotional I have been the past few days saying goodbye to my teachers, my district, the CCM and everything I didn’t cry. I just had this peaceful feeling that I knew that I would see them all again and that they are going to be OK. That I was going to be OK. 

Monday was my last day with my companion. I love her more than you know. We packed our stuff and were finishing up some last things we wanted to do before she left and we got an email with no notice that we had to move out of our apartment on the 3rd floor down to an apartment on the 1st floor withing the hour and we were like uhhhhh. So we had to speed pack and change rooms. We played more volleyball with that district and again it was so fun haha. We kind of just soaked in the CCM and hung out with our two Elders that were left from our district. We got to explore the CCM a little more and just got to all talk one last time. After that we went back and my comp got the last of her things packed. We went to bed and woke up at 1 so she could leave to the airport. The hardest goodbye was for sure without a doubt my companion. I love her so much and am so so grateful for her. I just know she is going to be the most amazing missionary and bring light to so many lives. 

Tuesday I was in a trio with another Hermana going to my mission and her companion. They have been so sweet. We kind of just hung out and did laundry and packed up all our stuff. We played pickleball and that was so so fun. I haven’t played in a while so it was nice to finally play again! We went to our last devotional and we listened to Elder Cook speak. Afterwards we just came home and got ready to wake up at 3am to leave to our missions!!!

I’m so sorry this was so long🫣

I love and miss you all!! Next time I write I’ll be in Minnesota!! I can’t wait to share everything with you! 

Hermana Olsen ❤