September 21, 2015

Dear Mom and family! 

So before I forget to answer some of the questions--yes it is weird being the oldest! haha  They all talk about how I’m almost home... which is false! haha  I think I’m just in there to learn from them. They’re pretty awesome! Elder L is way cool, I’ll have to send a pic soon! So it’s hard with Elder K gone but he got to come back for the baptism so it was awesome! I’ll gets to see him often though so it won’t be too bad. My comp is Elder C and he was in the tripan with Elder K. He’s a good guy! The person we live with can help with sewing stuff so she's incredible! They’re good people to live with!   It’s good to hear you made it to Utah ok-- a little slower then with me ;) but still ok hahaha! Sounds like a crazy week with  parties, ultra sounds and all sorts of stuff!! haha You guys are incredible especially that fire side, it sounds way cool! Listening to the Spirit is so important! It’s everything in this life! I love you guys and thanks for always updating me. I seriously love it, and look forward to it! 

So this week was the best thing ever! C Jr got baptized!!!! He is incredible!! Literally right after the baptism he was talking about a mission! haha He's great! Then L blessed the sacrament this Sunday, which was awesome as well! Too many good things are happening this week! hahaha God is just too good! So something cool that happened this week! I have been praying and really looking hard for some new investigators and all week there was nothing until Sunday night when God lead us to 2 new people who both said they want to get baptized on the 17th!!! It was incredible and it wasn’t until the end of the week! It’s like that verse, not until after the trial of your faith. God is amazing and all we have to do is have faith, and God will provide every time. One of the hardest things for me is having faith in His timing but this week has really taught me that He has timing for everything! Ohh  another blessing  this week, was that Brother M moved backed and wants to take us out!! He tackled me at church hahaha-- it was awesome! 

So about Brother M... he is incredible, but this week was harder. He felt the Spirit super strong but then rejected it. He said that he thought it was just a coincidence, which is always tough! But God has a better timing then me and I just need to be humble and except it! 

I love this gospel so much! It’s the best thing in the entire world! Mission is life hahaha I love it! No matter what happens I know Christ is with me in this work! 

Love you guys! 

Elder Oliver 

September 14, 2015

Dear Mom and fam! 

Sounds just like an amazing week! Mondays off are always a good start! hahaha That’s so cool to hear about everyone and how they are doing! Does Chantz still have his bike? Man I know what you mean mom—it’s crazy, right when things start to settle down all heck breaks lose hahaha!!  We  have an amazing family that I thank my Heavenly Father for each day! Seriously I wouldn’t be out here if it wasn’t for every one of you and I am eternally grateful for that. I would never be who I am. I would never have come this close to my Savior and have a personal relationship with Him to the point where I am a completely different person if it wasn’t for my family.  So I love you guys with all my heart.

As for this week, boy has it been crazy!! hahahah So we moved out of the T's and now are in a home with four missionaries.  My companion and I and 2 others. It’s just a little different because they have all only been out 6 weeks... so I’m kinda like the dad hahahaha!  It’s really weird but it’s going to be fun! They are all amazing missionaries and I’m going to learn so much from them! Elder C is my comp and he was in a tri pan with me and Elder K for awhile.  He is from Las Vegas.   He's pretty awesome though and is really trying hard to do his best so it makes it a lot easier! The other zone leader is split with another new missionary living at the T's. So we just talk on the phone every night and it’s like he's my second comp! hahah   I know it sounds cheesy or whatever but this whole experience has really reminded me of Nephi and when he has to build a ship. You know the Lord asked him to do this huge seemingly hard thing and Nephi just didn’t even question. He just asked—“where can I make tools”?? That’s incredible! I just think of that not because this is anything like building a ship but his confidence that the Lord will provide is crazy! I love it so much and strive to have that same confidence! 

As for the M family  C  Jr is getting baptized!!!!! We are so excited, he is just awesome!! haha He would jump off a cliff if we told him to! haha The dad is getting there, he has really felt the spirit and even committed to live the Word of Wisdom which is so cool! They really are just the best family! The ward is just super excited! It’s amazing how often the Lord blesses us and we don’t even realize it! I love this gospel!  I know  I say that everyday and it doesn’t ever get old! It truly is the best thing ever and being a missionary... nothing even compares! 

I love you guys so much! Hope everything this week goes well especially with the drives and moves! 

Love Elder Oliver 

September 7, 2015

Dear Mom and family! 

Ok first off, I’m super sorry about the short letters. Sometimes I do run low on time and I’m the worst at typing but please don’t write shorter letters! Seriously I love them and look forward to them every week!

So this week was nuts and not going to lie-- I’m a little nervous. So Elder Krogue is getting transferred to Yakima which makes me want to cry but on top of that they are splitting me and the other zone leader up to train, so it's nuts!! haha  We're kinda by ourselves but kinda not haha! It’s going to be different. Don’t get me wrong though I’m super excited-- I know I’m going to learn a ton and that this is what the Lord wants for me! So I’m stoked! I know the Lord will provide a way!  I feel like that’s how my whole mission is--just the Lord always blessing and providing a way as long as I walk in faith! That’s really all we have to do, just have faith and keep on trying!! The Lord expects nothing else. We don’t have to be perfect. That’s the hard part for me! I just want to be the best that I can be right now hahaha but I need to have experiences and learn! So that is what will be happening this next transfer. Man its going to be a party! hahaha   As for some other cool things that happened this week-- the M family is still killin it! They are seriously the best, just moving right a long to the 19th! We did meet this guy on the road that tried to tell me that aliens are real and have been messing with us this whole time to make us believe in God.... so that was funny/weird!! hahaha  One of my favorite memories of this week was last night. We were over at this members home trying to get housing stuff for the zone all situated and we were able  to do family prayer and scripture with them! These kids were seriously the cutest and it was incredible! It changed my life. That’s how I want my family to be even when the missionaries are over-- to be praying and reading! I’ve seriously learned and changed so much out here it doesn’t even feel real.  I love this gospel more than anything! I love changing and trying harder and harder every day! I love you guys so much and am so grateful for all that you do and have done for me! You guys are incredible! Ohhh one last funny story that I kinda told Chloe... so we were tracting and we knock on this door at 8:30 and this huge black guy comes and says in Morgan Freeman’s voice, “Good evenin’  brotha’s” hahaha so of course we talk to him and turns out he's a Reverend! haha When we left all he said was, “Stay true in the blood-- brotha’s” hahaha whatever that means. But he was really nice! haha I love people so much! You meet so many cool people out here and it’s cool to know how much potential they have! How they truly all are God's children and how he loves every single one of them,  even if they're mean! hahaha 

Anyways I love you guys so much! I love this church so much and I know with all my heart that it’s true! I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer! I know that God is our Heavenly Father and loves us more than we can even comprehend! This gospel truly changes lives and it has changed mine. I’m so grateful for this opportunity that I have for a whole two years to represent my Savior. He means everything to me and I can never truly repay Him but I can bring souls unto Him! 

Love you guys! 

Elder Oliver 

Ps sooo my grey suit may or may not have ripped hahaha I don’t think it’s meant to be worn every day... I’m so sorry some of my clothes aren’t doin' so hot through this summer... I don’t know what to do. It kinda fuzzed and then ripped is there any way to save it?  It is my favorite suit!