Hermana Olsen in Minnesota

So much happened this week!!

Also Hermana Erickson says oh my word every second and I think it’s so funny.

An Hermana in our ward invited all the missionaries over to her house to teach us how to make pupusas and they were SO GOOD!! We wrote all the steps down so we can remember how to make them when we get home. Her way too! They were so delicious. Pupusas are hard to explain but they’re like meat and tomatoes and onions and peppers all smashed together with spices in between almost like two pancakes but like not. Idk haha something like that. If you have a better way to describe it let me know. 

Every Monday night at the church building members in our ward get together for noche de hogar which is family home evening and they have a lesson and afterwards there is always food and it’s literally they best. It’s also just so fun because we get to just sit and talk with all the members and get to know them more and its just so fun. I love the members in this ward SO much and oh my goodness I don’t ever want to leave them!! 

This week we had another exchange and I went with Sister Quists companion Sister Balls! I finally got to teach a lesson in English and no surprise it was so much easier. I went to their district council where we discuss our weekly progress with friends and afterwards we all went out to eat. We decided to go to Panda Express and when we got there and were ordering our food this guy went up to the cashier and told her that he got all our meals. I was like WHAT!! He was a member of the church just visiting Minnesota for work and he was so nice!! He talked with all of us and he told us he served his mission in England. He was so nice oh my goodness, I just love people. 

It seems like all I talk about in my emails is food. We are either teaching or eating. Food is definitely how people show their love here. I have had a lot of traditional Nicaraguan food here in Minnesota and it’s so delicious. We started teaching a member in our wards older brothers! They have been taught a lot in the past but we have been able to start teaching them and they are all the best. They are from Nicaragua and we get to eat their traditional Nicaraguan meals and they’re all just so fun! 

We went and visited the CUTEST old lady this week. Her name is Visenta and she isn’t able to come to church because she’s too old and cant get around very well. We went and visited her and oh my goodness I love her. She loves singing and she asked us to sing angels we have heard on high, her favorite song, precious. We sang it to her and she would try and sing along with us and it was seriously just the most precious thing in the world. We just talked with her and got to hear more about her. The spirit was so so strong in her home. 

We got to go to the temple this week!  Oh my goodness it was so amazing. The temple is in St Paul and we got to go because our friend Jauna that just got baptized was going! The temple is so tiny. It’s the cutest little thing. We invited two members in our ward to come with us and we got to do baptisms for the dead. You could just see the joy and happiness Juana felt being at the temple. She was just beaming with light. We don’t have the opportunity to go to the temple a lot as missionaries so I am so so grateful I got to go! I absolutely love the temple and the love and the spirit I feel when I am there. Afterwards we went to this taco place and got the yummiest tacos. Mmm I’m starting to become a huge taco fan!

We have exchanges this week and I am praying PRAYING that I stay with Hermana Erickson and that I stay in North Minnie! I love it here so so much and I love Hermana Erickson seriously so much!! Everyone has been telling me that exchange days are the worst and the week is so stressful leading up to it! Anything can happen. 

This week has been pretty rainy and I love it. One night we had a huge thunder and lighting storm and Hermana Erickson and I just sat and watched it. The thunder was so loud and the lighting was crazy! But I loved it! 

Hermana Erickson and I had a couple “movie nights” this week and we watched the addiction recovery videos on the gospel library app. Oh my goodness they were so good. We watched almost all of them in one night. We got snacks and had our blankets. But seriously these videos were amazing. These people and their recovery stories were so powerful and Hermana Erickson and I were on the verge of tears half the time lol.

We went to a member’s house for dinner one night and when we walked into her house it smelt like straight fish and I was a little hesitant at first because I’m not the biggest fan of fish, but I was like it’s whatever, it’ll be good. We all sat down and the Hermana asked us if we liked shrimp. Hermana Erickson and I looked at each other and we were like yes……. she brought us all over a bowl with 5 full shrimp in it. Whole body and everything. We were like uhhhh. We somehow ate it all and thought we got through the worst part. Then she brought us out enchiladas with mole. Oh my goodness it was somehow worse. I’ve never tried mole before so I had no idea what to expect and when I took a bite I literally didn’t know what to do. All I know is that God helped me finish those enchiladas. And there were so many too! Don’t think I’m the worst and I promise I’m grateful for any food given to me but this meal was just hard hahaha. It was the first meal I didn’t like. Everyone has one and I had to share it. 

We have a couple cute little old ladies in our ward and I ABSOLUTELY love them!! They are seriously so cute and the most precious people in the world. They are all so little and I just love them haha! I made sure to get a picture with all of them! They always say to us “hola mis niñas preciosas, princesas, bonitas” I just love them, like really, I want to be them. 

We went to a member in our ward Brayans house this week, all of the missionaries which is 8 of us in one ward, literally crazy, and he said he made so much taco meat and to be ready to eat! We were. Between all 8 of us we had over 85 tacos. SO MANY and so worth it. They were so delicious. Brayans brother gave Hermana Erickson the bone of the chicken and told her to eat it. They said they love it and Hermana Erickson was like literally what. It’s almost like eating cartilage, it was interesting.

This Sunday there was a baptism after church! It was one of the Elders friends Josue. Josue is seriously a genius. He’s only been the in the United States for 6 months and he speaks fluent English and he learned it literally in the 6 months he has been here. He also knows like 3 other languages. Anways he’s so smart and is just so interested in learning more about the gospel and I am just so happy for him! 

Today is our last pday with this district! We have transfers this week so it’s a little sad. We played some volleyball at the church and just all hung out. It’s been a crazy week and this week will probably be even crazier! 

I love you all so so much and I pray for all of you! I hope you all know that God loves you and He knows you. He wants us to be happy and feel pure joy. I am so grateful for my Father in Heaven and for the countless blessings that I recieve when I follow His example and do my best to be better everyday. I know that my Savior lives and that He died for us because He loves us. I know that this gospel is restored back onto the earth and I know that we can all return and live with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ again. 

Favorite scripture this week:

Alma 32:21

21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true.

Hermana Olsen ❤ 

This week was definitely a service week. We came to the church every day this to help make tamales for a youth fundraiser for the youth in our ward. We made over 1,000 tamales and it was so fun!! We got to cut all the vegetable and shred the chicken and make the tamales. Fun music was playing and everyone was just having such a fun time. Everyone was dancing and singing. Ugh i love it! They had these HUGE pots that they made the sauce and oh my goodness. I’ve never seen a pot that big. It was so fun and now all my clothes smell like tamales.

The weather has been so nice this week, like in the 80s and so Hermana Erickson and I have been going to the park to study as much as we can! We were sitting and studying and we saw all these latinos playing baseball. We went up and started talking to them and they were all from Nicaragua. It was so fun to talk to them and we got to share who we were and what we do. There were two girls there and they just kept asking to take pictures with us haha. They asked us to take like 10 pictures with them. We ended up getting their numbers and they invited us to go to their house for lunch the next day to have a traditional Nicaraguan meal!

We went to her house the next day and she was dressed up in the cutest little floral dresse. We met her little sister and more of her family kept coming out as we were there. It was so fun to talk to them. They were so confused why we were there haha. They were all so so sweet oh my goodness! The meal was AMAZING!! So so good!! We had rice and this salsa salad and meat and tortillas to put it all on. That’s a pretty popular meal that we eat here but this one just hit different. It was so good! 

Hermana Erickson and I have been looking everywhere for a pickleball court that is close to our house so we can play every morning and we finally found one!! It’s 10 minutes away and worth it! The courts are so nice and we play 1v1 with our little Walmart paddles. It’s fun and the mornings haven’t been so freezing so it’s perfect! 

Hermana Erikson and I were at another park studying one day and as we were walking back to our car we saw like 6 cops cars driving all around our area. We were curious so we kinda started walking around which isn’t the smartest BUT it lead to such a cool experience! We started walking down this sidewalk in this neighborhand and there was this guy standing by his fence talking on the phone. We started to walk by and he asked us what does that say on your name tags? We told him that we are missionaries for the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints and he got so happy! He told us that he could see us glowing as we were walking down the sidewalk and that he just saw the light coming from us. His name is Mario and he was so nice. He told us that he has a book of mormon and that he loves to read it. He started talking about his love for God and that he loves sharing it with other people! He just kept saying that we are here on the Earth to love everyone and feel joy and we were like yes!!! He was so amazing!! He told us he talked with missionaries a long time ago and that he got baptized into the church in 2005 but he hasn’t gone in years. We were like we have to get his number and have him start talking with the missionaries again! He was just so amazing and it was seriously a miracle that we ran into him. God really does place people in your path and I am so grateful!

I got asked to speak this Sunday in church! I got asked to speak on my favorite conference talk from general conference and I chose the talk Remember What Matters Most by President M. Russell Ballard. I love this talk so so much! It talks about the things that matter most and that is our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and the relationship with our families. It also talks about how we need to testify of what we believe and what we know. I love that. It was so fun writing it in spanish. I would do as much as I could in spanish and then I would have to look up a few things. I thought I would be more nervous but I was just so excited!! It went so good and I was just happy to introduce myself more to the members and have them get to know me a little more! 

I absolutely love being a missionary and I am just so grateful for all of the amazing experiences I get to have and all the people I have met!! 

I love all of you so much and you are always in my prayers!! 

Favorite scripture this week: 

2 Nephi 9:52

52 Behold, my beloved brethren, remember the words of your God; pray unto him continually by day, and give thanks unto his holy name by night. Let your hearts rejoice.

Hermana Olsen 🙂

THIS WEEK WAS AMAZING!! 

Seriously, this week has been so so great!! So many miracles have happened and it just makes me so excited to see more miracles the longer I am out here! 

I had my first exchange this week which is when another companionship of sisters switch with us. So I got a new companion for the day and I went to her area which is an English area. It was so fun to just learn stuff from her and see what her and her companion usually do. I learned so so much from her. She was so so sweet. Her name is Sister Quist and she is also our STL (sister training leader). Near the end of the day we were doing cold calls which is just calling people that are active on Facebook and asking if they would like to hear a message of Jesus Christ. I was nervous because I would be calling people who only spoke spanish and since the sister I was with didn’t speak spanish, I just felt like I wasn’t ready to speak it and try and understand all by myself!!! SCARY! I got past that and found someone who was active and called them. I didn’t think they would pick up but they did! I introduced myself and told him I was a missionary and he said he knew who missionaries were, so I asked him if he wanted to hear a message. He said he did! And he said he wanted to hear it right then! I was freaking out a little bit but I started teaching him the Restoration, the first lesson talking about how our church got restored back on the Earth. It was the craziest experience because I just knew what to say. I understood everything he was saying and I just was able to talk all on my own! I talked to him for like 30 minutes and I couldn’t even believe it. Sister Quist was just sitting there so excited for me haha. He told me he wanted to meet again so I set up another time to talk! It was such a miracle! I know that God blessed me with the gift of tongues! I just love God so much and the small miracles he puts in our lives. I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn spanish and to be able to teach people in their own language! 

ANOTHER MIRACLE!! We got a referral from one of the Elders in our district, so we got in contact with him. We set up a time to go to his house and teach him and when we got there his whole family was there! They have 12 people in their family and we got to teach almost all of them!!! 3 of them weren’t there but we got to teach the rest and they were so fun! Their family is so cute and I just loved being around them!! They asked if we could meet three times this week and we were like yes of course!! 

I had my first zone conference this weekend! Zone conference is when all the districts in one zone get together and our Mission president and his wife talk to us and teach us and we do activities and just get to know everyone in our zone. It was fun and we learned so many amazing things!! It was fun to just be all together and be learning how we can become better missionaries. 

We have made it a goal to try and get more members to help us in our lessons and this week we have gotten so many and they have been absolutely amazing! Oh my goodness we have learned so much from them but also they have been so good for the friends we are teaching. All of them are recent converts to the church and they just shared the most amazing experiences and their strong testimonies!! I am just so grateful for them and their willingness to help these people who were in their same spot!! 

This Easter was amazing!! I loved this week because we got to share the true meaning of Easter in our lessons!! That Jesus Christ lives and was resurrected! I love the Easter season and the focus on Jesus Christ. He loves each and every one of us and I love Him so much!! Some of our friends came to church this Sunday too and it was amazing!! We went over to a members house for a little brunch on Easter and she had a feast. She served us this platter full of like chips and gummy worms and peanuts haha, before our actual meal and it was pretty good haha. 

Also it’s been sooo warm here. Like I don’t even know how. This week it’s been 75-85 degrees and we have been taking every chance we can to be outside! We went to the park today and played frisbee and pickleball and spikeball with our district and it was so fun. It was nice to finally be outside without a coat on! Another miracle. 

I love you guys so so much!! Have the best week!!

Oh yeah the como estas, como estas. This guy sent Hermana Erickson a voice memo saying that and he said it in literally the craziest way haha and so we say it all the time to each other the way he said it. 

Favorite scripture this week!

Moroni 7:13

13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

Hermana Olsen ❤

Week 7

March 28-April 2

Whats up!! This week went by literally so fast. Woah. It was so fun! My companion, Hermana Erickson, and I went to this cute mural that says North Minneapolis where we are serving and got pictures in front of it! Its so cute! It has started getting warmer here, warmer is like 40s, and so on Pday my district went to a park and set up spikeball. There were only small patches of grass not covered in snow so we worked with what we had haha. 

This week we’ve eaten out a lot… first Hermana Erickson and I and the other Hermanas in our district went to Cheescake Factory! The other Hermanas were celebrating and invited us to celebrate with them! We shared some pizza and got a slice of cheesecake! We also went to Buffalo Wild Wings as a district. I forgot how much I loved that place! We were able to watch a little bit of March Madness so that was fun🤭 Buffalo Wild Wings was in the city and I was so excited because I finally got to go!! I havent been able to go to the city and so we got to kinda walk around! There are so many cute brick buildings and so many murals! It’s so precious! Then one night my companion and I were craving Domino’s so we went and got the best Domino’s pizza ever. Mmmm so good! And those little cinnamon twists too. Anyways… a good week with some good food! 

This week we didn’t have as many meals with members because it was spring break so we just hung out at the church or were looking for new people to teach! Wednesday our apartment had free bagels so we went and got bagels and juice. I swear I’ve gained like 10 pounds this week from all the food I’ve eaten… 

In the mornings Hermana Erickson and I have been going on walks and it’s so pretty!! The sky is always so beautiful in the mornings but its low-key so freezing so we have to bundle up in full snow gear. We had a huge snowstorm the other day and got over a foot of snow so we decided to go play in the snow one morning it was so fun haha! The snow went up to our knees and all the trees were covered! It was completely white. I love how the snow looks. When we were leaving Saturday morning to go to the church there was a car that had been stuck in the snow for 45 minutes. Their tires couldnt grip the road and they had been calling and trying to do everything they could to get out. Hermana Erickson and I grabbed the shovels in the back of our car and went to help them. We shoveled snow from under their car and I turned to Hermana Erickson and we said a quick prayer and 5 minutes later when they tried again their car finally grabbed and they were out!! Another experience of the power of prayer!! 

This week we went to our friends Edisons birthday party! He’s one of the sons of our friend Juana that just got baptized this last Sunday! We got to talk with everyone and celebrate and it was just fun to be with everyone and of course eat more food. The food is never ending here haha. 

Hermana Erickson and I have gone to the dollar tree so many times this week for no reason and we have talked to so many people and they have asked us who we are and what do and we have been able to share with them a little of what we do and give them our number! Everyone is so precious and they are so sweet. People will notice us and be like I knew you were them latter day saints! I found little easter eggs at the store and bought them so I could write little notes and scriptures and put them in the eggs and pass them out to people! I just thought it would be a fun little way to share a small message of Christ and hopefully put a smile on someone’s face. My companion brought me to this cute supermercado which is like a little Hispanic store filled with foods, drinks, goodies, meats, breads, pottery, literally anything you would find in Mexico. It’s filled with bright colors and flags and piñatas. It’s so cute I love it!! It was such a great way to talk with people and a lot of them were surprised we knew spanish! 

Whenever we are driving in the car and can listen to music we listen to the same three songs over and over! They’re so good! We can only listen to the music on the sacred library app or the gospel library app and there are some songs that are a little interesting but there are some that are so good hahaha and we’re obsessed. If you wanna listen to them haha here’s the names. Their under songs of devotion and their called “Be thou Humble”, “Reverance is love”, and “Where can I turn for peace”! So good lol!

We had general conference and it was AMAZING!! I loved it so so much! My district came to the church and we were able to all watch conference together. I love conference so much and every talk I was trying to write as much down as I could so I could always look back to those words that stood out to me and remember them! I loved how this conference focused so much on being peacemakers and avoiding contention! Our world is so caught up in contention and we can be peacemakers and uplift others and share our love and light by being the “peculiar people”. We can stand out with our love and our light and our compassion. I loved what President Russell M Nelson said “How we treat people really does matter”. I love that so much because how we treat people really does matter and too many people have made it normal to speak badly or negatively about people. We need to live our lives uplifting others! Anyways I just loved conference and if you didn’t have the opportunity to listen go and listen! It was so powerful and I am just so grateful to have a modern day prophet and his apostles! The Saturday night session we went over to a members house for dinner and afterwards watched the last session in spanish. I was surprised at how much I actually understood but I just mainly wrote down all the words I didn’t understand so I could look them up later! 

I want to start sharing one scripture every week that stood out to me in my studies! This week it was:

Doctrine and Covenants 90:11

11 For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I love this scripture so much because God has called missionaries all over the world to speak all sorts of languages so that everyone has the opportunity to learn of this amazing gospel in their own language! How special is that! Every time I read it I just get chills and just think of how powerful this work is and how many lives we can reach! 

HAHA!! Oh my goodness so the title of my email ok so ummm haha!! We have a group chat with one of our friends that we are teaching on messenger, my companion and I and we were setting up another day we could talk with him. My companion was texting him a time that would work and I had just decided to look up a gif of the almighty loaf (if you don’t know what that is i’ll add a picture) but it’s like this weird looking loaf of bread with a face. Anyways I have no idea why I looked it up but I went to click on it thinking I could zoom in on it BUT it automatically sent in the chat!! Hahaha oh my heck it was the funniest but like scariest moment ever! I tried deleting it as fast as I could but he saw it before I could and he responded with a simple lol. I couldn’t even believe I did that and of course there was absolutely no context to it. Luckily he took it well and he said it made him laugh. But anyways the almighty loaf really is living amongst us (@cory)

I invite you all to go and listen to your favorite talk from conference and pick one thing that you are going to focus on this week! If you haven’t listened to conference GO LISTEN!! I love you all so much!!

Hermana Olsen ❤

Week 5-6

March 16-27

Wednesday was a long day of travel but I finally made it to Minnesota! We made it to the airport and my mission president and his wife met us by our luggage and brought us over to all the other missionaries they had picked up. It was a smaller group than they usually have. There were about 8 other missionaries. We headed to the mission home and had dinner and our mission president talked to us and welcomed us to our mission! The first night we stayed at a hotel and the next morning got up and went right back to the church. Thursdays are transfer days but it had been snowing so bad that they canceled them! They said that has never happened before in this mission and so instead of meeting my trainer and going to my new area, I was put with English sisters and just went with them and followed their schedule. We had dinner with members in their ward and we just learned from them what a typical day looks like on our mission. It was totally different than I had expected. I stayed the night with them and the next morning we went back to the church to finally have exchanges and I finally met my trainer!! 

MY TRAINER IS AMAZING! Oh my goodness! Her name is Hermana Erickson and she lives in Utah! She has only been out on her mission for 3 months and shes already training me! She is so amazing and her spanish oh my goodness is so good! When I first met her I was so excited! She had the biggest smile on her face and she gave me the biggest hug. Everyone once they found out she was my trainer told me how lucky I am to have her and how much they loved her. I really got so blessed! We got to know eachother and we are so similar. We both play basketball, volleyball and pickleball and we were the same number in volleyball! Her personality is so fun and so happy and we just have been laughing and working so good together!! I’m definitely grateful I am learning everything from her!! Something that I love so much about her is that she wants me to feel confident and she pushes me to learn! She will have me take lead in lessons and I have such a hard time but it has helped me SO SO much! She is just so loving and makes me feel so confident in who I am. She is definitely the trainer I needed now and I am just so grateful! 

I am serving in North Minneapolis! I am so happy I’m near the city! There are tons of areas in my mission but the Spanish missionaries mostly serve around the city! I am so so happy about that! The Hermanas aren’t able to serve in the city for safety reasons, only the elders can but we are pretty close. The city I am in is called Maple Grove and we live in a really nice apartment. This area is one of the busiest areas in the mission and the first day we had like 6 lessons back-to-back! It was crazy but so exciting! We got to teach a lady that hasnt been taught in 6 months, in her home, and I shared my testimony about the Book of Mormon and it was the most special experience. I could tell it touched her heart even with my broken Spanish. I know that people can feel my spirit through my words even if I don’t speak perfectly.

Something I am so happy about is that I am in a Spanish ward! It’s crazy we have a whole ward! I have been able to get to know more and more people and they are seriously the most loving and kind people you will ever meet. They love seeing the effort I put into speaking. It was pretty hard the first sunday because I didn’t know the members so I wasn’t able to connect with them the way I knew how, especially speaking a new language i’m not as familiar with. It has gotten better every day though, the more I talk with the members and see them I gain more confidence! 

We get fed every single night. It’s kind of amazing. We get fed lots of rice and beans and pot roasts. We eat tons of chicken and enchiladas and there are always tortillas. They fill the plate so full! By the time we are finished we are completely stuffed! It’s so fun to go into member’s homes and just feel the spirit and love in their home. One of the members houses we ate at, he was a DJ, and he was playing all these spanish songs and everyone was just dancing and having fun! I LOVE the latino culture. They are so focused on love and just being happy and having fun! AND EATING! 

The first Sunday I was here, there was a baptism and it was so sweet to experience it! Especially my first Sunday! It was the other Hermanas friend and it was just so amazing to see the happiness he had after being baptized! I can’t wait to see him and his testimony grow! 

Adjusting to missionary life and so many changes has been really hard, especially these last two weeks. I haven’t felt as confident or as much of myself because I have been trying to figure out what works best for me. I have definitely had to rely on the Lord and prayer. I just want to say that the power of prayer is real and I know that with with a surety. I have received so many answers to my prayers this week and I am just so so grateful that I have a father in heaven that loves me and listens to my prayers. I know that even in my loneliest times when I feel hopeless or feel like giving up, my Heavenly Father is right there by my side giving me the strength I need. 

I have been practicing my spanish in so many ways. It’s definitely stressful but the more I have spoken and practiced and use it more in my daily life, it has gotten so much better. I have been trying to speak more in lessons and my trainer has helped me a lot with that. She is so amazing and she is always helping me learn and practice the things I need to know what to say and to teach. We have been really busy with lessons all week and just that helps me spanish by needing to teach and try to understand the people we are teaching. I try and pick up as many words as I can and use them so I don’t forget them! 

TWO FRIENDS WE ARE TEACHING GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!! Our friend Juana and her son Eytan got baptized this past Sunday and it was so so special, oh my goodness. They were so happy and I just felt the spirit so so strong. There were so many members of the ward and their friends that came to support them on this special day! It just was perfect and I am so happy that I was able to experience it! I am so happy for them and I am just filled with so much love for them!!

I have felt the spirit so so strong! Every lesson I am just filled with the spirit and filled with so much love for the people we are teaching. Our friends we are teaching are so amazing and they are just so eager to learn! They love to show us they have their Book of Mormons with them and that they are ready to read. I love teaching them the gospel and sharing the happiness and love that I have and that God has for them. 

I LOVE being a missionary! Of course it has its challenges but that’s what makes it so much better! I am able to learn and grow from these challenges and I have learned to love them! Something my trainer told me was learn to love being a beginner because it won’t be for long. I really have learned to love being a beginner and to love my challenges. I know that because of them I am becoming a better and stronger missionary and I am so grateful. I absolutely love this gospel with all my heart and I know that I am supposed to be here serving these people!

I love you all so much and as always I am praying for you!!

We use this app called area book and that is where we put our whole days schedule and lessons and calls and we always have to sync (my companion and I) so it shows the same schedule anytime we change anything. Anyways I am always asking “can we sync again” and it’s the worst habit.

Hermana Olsen ❤

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 ❤

March 2 – March 8

Week 3

This week was the busiest week for real. So much was going on but it was so fun! This is gonna be all over the place so sorry in advance.

First off I just wanna say how much I love the birds chirping here. I’ll be sitting in my room studying or be walking outside or I’ll wake up to them chirping. I just love it. 

I was talking with the CCM President and his wife about my mission and of course after I said I was going to Minneapolis Minnesota they said oh! my daughter lives there! I was absolutely not surprised. I swear everyone has lived there or been there or served their mission there all of a sudden. But it was fun to talk about it with them. What made me really excited was they said that in Minnesota they call themselves “Minnesota happy” because everyone there is just so nice and happy!! I can’t wait to meet everyone!!! 

We did a service project this week. We helped the workers weed. We got to do it with our friends Hermana Shepard and Hermana Rick’s. We got to all chat and it was nice to help out the workers who seriously are always out making sure everything looks perfect! 

The Elders beat their froot loop record of how many bags they could eat. They ended up eating 30 bags and had a huge pile in the middle of our table. It got enough attention that people all gathered to watch. The most excitement you’ll get here at the CCM haha. Oh also they served hamburgers and fries for lunch and it was DELICIOUS! I guess you can say I’m excited for a fat hamburger in Minnesota. 

I was able to get a blessing this week from one of our Elders in my district. It was so special. The Elder who gave me a blessing, it was his first time and I felt the spirit so strong. My companion was also able to get a blessing from another Elder and I just want to say how grateful I am for worthy priesthood holders. It is such a powerful blessing in my life.

My companion and I decided to walk around the CCM for our gym time one morning. This place is huge. I have never really walked around and seen it all and so when I did I was shocked. It’s just so beautiful and just the best little place to be ever. I’m too attached. 

Remember when I said the Elders were practicing a child’s prayer and they wanted to perform… well it happened and the Elders and Hermanas sang together. The first couple practices were a little rough BUT after some time we sounded so so good!! The Hermanas sang the first verse in English and the Elders sang the second verse in spanish and the last verse we overlapped and it sounded so good. Oh my. We told our stake president we wanted to perform in Sacrament meeting and so we had to perfect it. 

We had our first fast Sunday here. We fasted Saturday night dinner and Sunday breakfast which wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I was expecting to fast from Saturday night dinner to Sunday night dinner since those were the rumors going around. Sunday we shared our testimonies in Sacrament and I was able to go and share mine! I shared my first part in spanish and then finished in English. I wish I could express everything in spanish but I did what I could with what I knew. It was such a powerful meeting. I just love love how I feel here. I just am always overwhelmed with joy and love and happiness and I pray that you all will feel that!

Sunday night we had our devotional. At devotionals we always recognize the missionaries leaving that next week and when the president asked all of them to stand, 2/3 of the missionaries stood up. It was crazy. Everyone was leaving. It was honestly sad to see them all leaving because I have made a lot of friends and I didn’t want them to go but I was so so happy for them!! Every sunday after the devotional, before we all leave back to ours casas, we sing “God be with you till we meet again” of course in spanish and that songs just hits me so strong. Just hearing all the missionaires sing it and just being filled with the spirit it makes me so emotional. My companion and I were sobbing by the time it finished and then we had to say goodbye to all of our friends. Lots of tears were shed both happy and sad haha. It makes me sad thinking next Sunday I’ll be the one leaving. 

This week we have done lots of teaching. We have planned 15 minute lessons that we teach to our teachers or we have to teach to people over zoom. It’s been a challenge but each time it gets a little easier. Only a little haha. We also have been doing a lot of test prep for our final spanish exam at the end of CCM. 

Of course there was more beat boxing this week and it got even better. At dinner one night Hermana Parmentor showed us all that she can make trumpet and flute sounds. Our other Elder started beat boxing while she made the sounds and it was just the best haha 

Another hit has been hackey sacks. Every time we have a break in class the Elders are always throwing the hackey sack around. They chuck it as hard as they can at each other, ypu never know where it’s going. In class our teacher always is holding one and we do hot potato with it. It’s just become routine.

My hands have been unbelievably dry here. So I’ve been putting Vaseline on them and putting socks over them before I go to sleep. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night so uncomfortable so I’ll just take them off wash my hands and go back to bed. It defeats the purpose but its helped a little.

We went to the temple this week and did initiatroys and an endowment session. It was sad knowing it was my last time at the Mexico temple. The temple brings me so much peace and comfort. I love the feeling the temple brings and the love that surrounds me there. 

This week my companion and I were wondering what HLJ stood for on the ctr ring. I just thought of the first words that started with those letters and said hasta la Jesus. My companion was like definitely not haha. We then learned it stands for Has Lo Justo which translates to do the right thing. So do the right thing!!!! 

Last thing! At our devotional one thing that I absolutely loved that was said was “Whom the Lord calls, He qualifies” -President Monson. I love that so so much because the Lord doesn’t call those qualified for the work or perfect for the work. Who He calls He qualifies. Through Him we can do all things. It was such a testimony builder for me and I know that if I put my trust in Him and turn to Him whenever I need strength I can be qualified for this work. I love this gospel and I know that it’s true. I know that my Savior lives and that if we have trust in Him we can do all things. I promise you that. 

I love you all!! 

Hermana Olsen ❤

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

2. Toilet paper that I will now have with me at all times for my nose

3. OUR FAV LATINAS! (we didn’t get a picture with our other fav Latinas so we will this week and I’ll send it next week) 

4. Our BESTIES!!! (Hermana Dickson and Hermana Christiensen) 

5. Sunday study with my comp

Feb 14 – Feb 22

Week 1 in Mexico MTC 

I’m finally writing an email and I have so much to say! It’s taken me a bit but it’s finally here!

First off I’ll start by saying that I started my mission a whole week earlier than I was supposed to which was a huge surprise! I got a call from my mom one day and she told me the stake president had called her and said the church had messed up my starting date and instead of leaving in 10 days I was leaving in 3! I definitely was filled with so many emotions. Tears were shed both happy and sad haha but I was so excited to be starting my mission that I have been waiting for my whole life! I got to spend my birthday and last three days with my family and with the ones I love most! It was just perfect! 

The first two weeks of home MTC were bittersweet. I loved it but I also had a really hard time. I loved my classes and my district but it was hard being at home and trying to stay focused and motivated. Home MTC was completely different than I had expected. I woke up at 6:30 every morning, did my studying, got ready and started my first class at 8:30. My first class was my gospel class and that went until 12:30. I had about a 3 hour break until my next class and that was our time to do personal, companion and language study. My last class of the day was my spanish class and little did I know from day one that it was gonna be all spanish. Absolutely no english. It was terrifying! I did not understand a single word they said. Let’s just say the reason I survived the first two weeks was because of Google translate. That was my first blessing. 

My family was absolutely amazing and helped me so much with my millions of emotions. I was having a really hard time with the language and wasn’t grasping it the way I wanted to. All my siblings were in my same spot at one point learning a new language and they gave me the most perfect advice and just told me to have fun and not be too hard on myself. To practice as much as I can and not be afraid to mess up!! That was my second blessing. 

MY COMPANION!! I LOVE HER!! Seriously I have so so much love for her. She has been so helpful and so patient with me and my spanish. She is absolutely hilarious and there is not a single time we are not laughing. Our personalities fit so well together and we just have fun!! That is something that I need! I realized that if I had started my mission a week later, I wouldn’t have been her companion and I just know that we were supposed to be companions! God really does have a plan for me and all of us and I just need to put my trust in Him and know that things happen for a reason! That was my third blessing! 

My time at home MTC went by so so fast! I couldn’t even believe it! I gave my farewell talk on Charity-The pure love of Christ and it was the most perfect topic. I was filled with so much love and was so happy to share my testimony on the love of Christ and for the love I have for everyone, especially for the people I will get to teach! I was so lucky to have all of the people I love most share such a special day with me. It just reminded me of how much love I have in my life and I am just so so grateful for everyone who shaped me into who I am! Again such a huge blessing in my life! 

It finally came down to my last day at home before I left to the Mexico MTC and of course knowing me, I waited till the very last minute to even start packing. I pulled a nice little all nighter and just packed and cleaned and did everything that I had two weeks to do haha in one night. By 5am I got it done and got in a quick little 30 minute power nap before I had to wake up to leave to the airport! Somehow I managed to do it all and I was in shock that it was time for me to leave my home and my family! I have never really left my family and I didn’t know how to even feel! All I can say is that I have felt so many emotions these last couple weeks and it’s hard! We started driving to the airport and I had realized I forgot to say goodbye to my dog and that was the first thing that made me start to break haha. My parents walked me to security and when I had to say goodbye I was trying so hard not to cry but just seeing them waiting there as I went through security, it made me so emotional! My sweet, proud parents just videoing me and blowing kisses and saying goodbye and saying that they loved me, I was so sad and right as I finished with security I broke out in tears. I got to my gate and got to meet some Hermanas in my district! I was filled with so much love and I knew that everything was going to be OK!

I am so grateful for a family that loves me and supports me so much and the decisions that I make! Just another one of the many blessings that I have recognized. 

The two weeks I was at home MTC I recognized so many blessings in my life. I knew that my mission wasn’t going to be easy and I learned that quick but every single day I recognized more and more blessings because of it. I realized that I was supposed to start my mission when I did and that because of it I received so many blessings. I know that everything is in God’s timing. He placed certain people in my life at certain times because He knew it would strengthen me and I would grow as a missionary and as a person. I am so grateful for my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and their infinite love for me. I know that this gospel is true and I can’t wait to share it with the people of Minnesota! 

I love you all more than you know!!

(I’m gonna write another email talking about my experience here at the Mexico MTC!) 

I promise things will be more organized by next week haha! 

Hermana Olsen ❤

I am in love with the Mexico CCM! Absolutely in love! I never want to leave!! 

I had a direct flight from Utah to Mexico and it just didn’t even seem real that it was all happening!! We had about 15 missionaries on the flight and it was just so fun to see everyone and see all the missionaries dispersed throughout the plane. I got to talk with the missionaries around me and got a little nap in before we landed in Mexico!! 

When we landed, me and the other Hermanas walked together off the plane and just walking into the airport was crazy. The line for customs was insanely long but luckily we got pulled into a different line that only took 5 minutes. After we got all our luggage I found the Elders in my district! It was so fun to finally meet and see them all! We waited in the airport for about another hour and a half before all the missionaries were finished and we all got on the bus to go to the CCM! It was about an hour drive to the CCM and I just looked out the window at the city the whole ride. I love how Mexico is filled with so many colors!! There is artwork absolutely everywhere and I just loved watching and seeing their culture. Oh my goodness it was so cool to see it all. The driving was insane tho! Like seriously so crazy. I don’t understand how people don’t get on crashes every 5 seconds. All in all it was fun to watch haha.

We finally arrived at the CCM and you pull up to this whole gated community with a sign that looks like a missionary name tag saying La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los ultimas dias! Ahhh my heart was beating so fast I was so excited!! We pulled in and I was just in awe. It was absolutely beautiful! There are cute white buldings everywhere. The landscaping is gorgeous. This place is just so well kept. There is not a single second people arent working outside to keep it looking nice. It just feels so homy and safe. Our own little bubble. I love it. We got introduced to the CCM Presidents, the Hymas’s and then we got all our books and got all settled into our cute little apartments! 

My companion got to the CCM around 8pm and I was so excited to finally meet her! Like I said before she is the funniest person ever and I am so grateful for her. For as much as she is funny, she is even more of an example to me. Oh my goodness she is always helping me with my spanish and sharing her sweet spirit. Me and her have a lot of fun together. Seriously when I tell you we are constantly laughing, we are literally constantly laughing. Our district is the best haha! Everyone just has such different personalities that we just all fit. Everyone is so random in the very best way and we all just get along so well. I got so so lucky with the people here!

Our first day was crazy! Everything is very set to a schedule. We got to finally meet our teachers in person and they are AMAZING!!!! Again I got lucky with the people because our teachers are the absolute best! They make class and learning so fun and I seriously have felt the spirit so so strong. Our gospel teacher brought up the idea that our district should choose a day to all match. So Thursdays we all wear the same color. We’re so cute! In our spanish class we do this game called “Who is the latino”. We choose a person and they have to only speak Spanish. Since it’s our spanish class we all only have to speak in spanish anyways but we still have times we use english, so if we are the latin@ we can’t speak any and at the end of class our teacher has to guess who it is. He’s never been able to guess so I guess you can say our spanish is too good. 

My companion and I have been trying to speak to more natives and at first I was nervous but I have never once regretted doing it. We have made so many friends and they are all AMAZING! We sat with some Latinos at dinner and they helped us practice our spanish. Of course the Elders were teaching us all the slang. One elder taught us Bueeeeno haha which is why I titled my email that. It’s what you say when a conversation ends and it’s awkward and you want to leave haha so now whenever we see eachother my companion and I always say bueeeeeno. It’s so fun to see them around CCM and talk with them! 

Since I love LOVE all things pink it’s a little on-going joke with some Elders that they try and mimic me and figure out what I would say about something that’s pink and they are always commenting how I am always wearing pink. You can say I’m the Elle Woods of CCM. I love to stand out and I choose to by wearing pink! 

My first meeting with my mission president and his wife.

I love classes. We have long long days of sitting and studying and learning. It’s exhausting. By the end of the day everyone is just so tired that we just have fun. It’s that tired fun you know? Our very last hour of class is from 8-9ish pm and that’s mentoring where our teachers pull some missionaries out and chat and see how they’re doing. While they do that all the other missionaries study the language and all that stuff. On our language app there’s an option to play heads so we all decided to play. It was seriously the funnest thing that we have done hahaha. We had to describe the words on the phone only using spanish words and everyone was just screaming and acting stuff out and it was just hilarious. We were all dying of laughter. Every single person! It was so intense that one of the Hermanas fell out of her chair. Anytime someone guessed the word right everyone just screamed ¡Sí! It was the hardest we had all laughed and it seriously strengthened our relationship with our district so much. At first our district was more reserved but I’m sure it’s all our nerves of being in a new place with a new and different schedule but this past week we have all opened up so much and just gotten so much closer! 

Sundays I thought would be a nice day to go to church and then rest but no. Sundays are busy! We have church at 9 and we are all told to be prepared with a 5 minute talk in spanish. Every week our branch president will pick 4-5 speakers without any notice so thats why we have to always be prepared! Since the week was so much busier than we had thought my companion and I didn’t prepare one. When we got to Sacrament 4 speakers got called and it wasn’t me or my companion. There was a beautiful musical number and then our branch president went up and asked my companion to speak. She thought she was totally in the clear since we already had 4 speakers and she hafnt prepared a thing. She went up there and did absolutely amazing. Oh my goodness. I felt the spirit so so strong when she spoke. If you asked her how it went she would tell you it was terrible but oh my goodness no. I was filled with the spirit so so strong because her words came  from her heart! She didn’t have it prepared or written down. She spoke from her heart and you could just see and feel the spirit through her. It was amazing. She is such an amazing example to me. The rest of our Sunday we had meetings with the branch president, classes and district lessons and we ended the night with a devotional in the auditorium with all the other missionaries. 

For the devotional we watched Elder Holland speak and oh. my. goodness. His words are so so powerful. He spoke on how important it is for us missionaries to study and use our time, which isn’t our time, but the Lord’s time to put in the work to learn what we need to learn to be successful missionaries. When I say he talked about I actually mean he like kind of talked stern. But it was so powerful. You could see the passion he had about missionary work and how we aren’t here to just be here. We are here to study and learn and teach not nonchalantly but with a purpose. I was hit by his message and it really made me realize I wasn’t doing enough and that I needed to do more. It was definity perfect motivation for me. The musical numbers we all sing at the devotionals are so powerful. We all sing in spanish and just hearing everyone and realizing why we are all here, it is just so beautiful. It makes me emotional and am just filled with so much love and joy when we all sing. It’s so powerful. 

Today, Wednesday, our pday we were able to go to the Mexico city temple! It’s so so beautiful!!! I am so happy we are able to go while in the CCM. We were able to do sealings and an endowment session. It was so cool to experience it all in spanish and to perform the ordinances in spanish. It was such a special moment and I’m so excited to go next week! We are able to go every pday! We got to walk through the visitor center afterwards and it again was beautiful. Everything here is just beautiful!!! The bus ride back again I just looked out at the city and the people and it will never get old. They have these gondola things that they use to travel around Mexico city. They just are traveling through the air and it’s the craziest thing. When we got back I got to call my family and loved ones and it was just perfect. I got a nice burn while I was outside talking with them and I just can’t wait for my missionary tan lines haha. 

My experience here has been the absolute best and I’m SO happy that I still have 3 more weeks here! Time really does fly and I’m making sure to take it all in and not take any moment for granted. I just love being a missionary and even though it’s hard at times it really is so worth it.

I love you all more than you know!!

Hermana Olsen<3 

1. My district!

2. Me and my companion Hermana Cors

3. Me and my comp again ❤

4. Haha some food! (I love the froot loops)

5. The Hermanas we became friends with

6. Our language assessment 

7. My friend from back home in Utah! 

8. Beautiful CCM!

9. Mexico City Temple

For the next 18 months I will be posting updates about my mission to Minneapolis Minnesota here. I will also be posting on Facebook daily.