World's Crossed

 August 18th--

OH MY GOSH!!! I can't believe you got to actually meet my CALIFORNIANS! Those are some of my favorite people from out here. Not gonna lie...It took me a minute to figure out what baby Bishop was holding hahaha sorry Lex! It took Emily's email "Your niece is so cute! Cheeks for days" to really connect that it was Lex. She's SOOO big from when I left!

This week was great but definitely a little bit different! TRANSFERS came around again! Splitting from Sister Johnson was pretty hard. We didn't talk about it all weekend and then Monday visiting one of our favorite less actives, Jeane pointed out we wouldn't even look at each other haha I knew that'd be hard for me with being out here though :) Goodbyes just are not my favorite.

And speaking of goodbyes, some of my favorite missionaries I've served with went home this week. Including EMILY Kemp. It was weird because I realized that with this group, all of the Elders and Sisters I've looked up to the MOST would now be home. President has them come sit up on the stand at transfers and it was cool to think about how much I've learned from each of them and all the good times. Especially with Kemp ;)  And it's motivating as well to hope that I'm being a good example or influence for somebody else on their mission, the way that my friends were for me.

This week as well...one of our investigators quit smoking!!!! After years and years and years of trying, she's gone officially longer than a week without it. HUGE MIRACLE! We saw her Wednesday and as she was talking about it, she just lit up! She was SO happy and I've never seen her look like that. It was another testimony builder of the atonement and how it works. Alma 7:11-13 talks about it, where the Lord suffered for us IN the flesh, so He knew how to help us perfectly. There isn't a struggle we could ever go through that He couldn't help us with!  It truly does work and is there to help us overcome anything we struggle with. I am forever grateful for that and the many miracles I have felt from the power of the atonement.

My new companion is Sister Wensel. We have had a funny funny week! This is her first transfer as Sister Training Leader so it's been fun to get to help "show her the ropes" so to speak! I'm excited to get to work with her :) Hope you all have a great week! Thanks for always thinking of me. LOVE YOU WHOLE HEAPS!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

​Emily Kemp. I just love her! I will be forever grateful the Lord let us serve together and for her literally helping to change my life.

Tyson Hansen.......​...went home to Idaho but will also be converting to Utah haha

​Sister Hacker and I with Talin Schick. He was both of our first zone leaders

Spencer Kottcamp actually left a few weeks ago to get home for baseball. And he's a HUGE Utah fan. He just doesn't know it yet...

​Larry Wright! First time I ever really talked to him, I asked him if he's related to the Wright brothers in rodeo haha Nope!

​Tyson Hansen: I served around for half of my mission...

Mint Canyon Lovin'

 August 11th-
Hello hello from the sunshine and good times!

This week was amazing!!! It went by way too fast. We had a lesson last Monday with one of our members friends that he told us to call. She is INCREDIBLE! She's a single mom of two boys and a girl and they have quite the story! For example: the boys are huge into hockey!  Holden is the 14 year old boy and last year he BROKE HIS NECK! He got checked in a game and was out. Not only did he live and is back to fully functioning, but he's just getting back into hockey again as well. He's a tough one! We were able to set baptismal dates with all of them! And in our very first meeting the mom asked: "How soon will we be able to go to the temple?" :) Yep, all RMs reading this, read it again! That just doesn't happen. Ever. It was a huge testimony builder that when we work hard and do what we're supposed to do, the Lord truly prepares the way! And we are SURROUNDED by people who are ready for peace and more happiness in their lives. So a roadtrip next September is already being planned for when they will be sealed!

Last week, Ashlyn sent me this video and I LOVE it! http://www.mormonchannel.org/mormon-channel-daily/213?v=1839005837001#.U9_POjjFWYU.email

It's something that's been on my mind a lot this week! Sometimes the Lord is going to cut us down. And sometimes it hurts...a LOT! Watching it, I thought back to some of the moments in my life where I was crying because of being hurt. I know that the Lord truly was not only there for me during those moments, but that it was all a part of His grand design for me. I have seen that many times with those people surrounding me now! "Thank God for all I missed...cause it lead me here to THIS"

Transfers are tomorrow and I'll be staying but Sister Johnson is headed out. I'm so grateful to get to have more time with these people! I love them! I love this area! I love getting to be a part of these peoples lives for only a moment and help them to see how the Lord is cutting them back for their benefit as well. This week I also got to teach at a baptism in the YSA ward. HUGE tender mercy to get to go back and see some of the people there who meant so much to me.

Hope you have a great week. LOVE YOU WHOLE HEAPS! Check out the dress Marisse gave me that she wants me to wear to her baptism..... Definitely called for a photoshoot! It's a fiesta down here!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

Last week we finally had RAIN! Never thought I'd miss that stuff. And yep...I again got ALL bundled up for 70 degree weather

The shirt Rebeca sent me for an early birthday present! Isn't that adorable?!?! I'm obsessed. Now I have one that says HOME with Utah and LOVE with California :)

Yesterday at church with our investigator Marisse :) She's from Poland and is a HOOT! I love her so much. I first met her when Sister Hacker and I were in YSA. The Mint Canyon Elders called us to "help her organize a little bit" and when we got to her apartment her door would barely even open! A little help Elders?!?! She's getting baptized in 2 weeks :) And her apartment is also now fully established :)

Connor and Kameron! I LOVE THESE BOYS! We are teaching them and their parents but we had just found our Kameron and his dad were moving out so we were taking pictures and telling them bye. Both of them are very talented at skateboarding. Jax needs to come learn some tricks ;)

Wasn't gonna show this to anybody but it was pretty funny! Connor was doing pull ups on those boxes so we joked about arm wrestling.... If you look close you can see how flexed my arm is. And how close I am to seriously losing haha oh well! Sometimes you just lose to 9 year olds... ​

Meet Delane and Kaleb! They are 2/7 kids at our complex that have figured out where we live and that we constantly have candy with us. EVERY time we come home, within 2 minutes of our door closing, they're out there knocking and asking for candy! I LOVE THEM! If I could adopt them, there's a chance I would. They can't come inside so we put that table out there and gave them a mini ping pong kit they can play ping pong while we make lunch. We've also taught them about service so now they also love to come "help" us; they check our mail and take out our garbage :)

We did a "literal fireside" with our youth a few weeks ago. SO FUN! But every better sat way far back haha A fire pit in 114 degree weather? Oops hahaha  I love working with the youth!!!

Hey Hey Hey

August 4th.....

First and foremost...HAPPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEZY GIRL! Oh my gosh I can't believe she's five! That's crazy.

This week was good! This is our last week before transfers and so everything will be up in the air again on Saturday. Transfers go by so so fast! Sister Johnson will probably be transferring out but we'll see. We're getting a new zone leader for sure because Elder Kottcamp went home. And Sister Kemp goes home next week...we won't talk about that! :(

I love this area! I love love love these people! It's so fun getting to work with them and getting to know them. It's such a blessing that the Lord lets us be involved in their lives for a little while.

Not much time today because we have a lesson at 11 but:
Thought for the week: Helaman 5:6-7 talks about what it means to take His name upon us...
         "Behold, Chantel, I desire that ye should remember to keep the commandments of God; and I would that ye should decalre unto the people these words. Behold, I have given unto you my name; and this I have done that when you remember your name ye may remember me; and when ye remember me ye may remember my works; and when ye remember my works ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good. Therefore Chantel, I would that ye should do that which is good; that it maybe said of you and also written, even as it has been said and written of me." 

And quote of the week:
"She burned a Book of Mormon once. But she's learning she shouldn't do that! She should READ IT!"

Haha hope you have a great week again! Kiss the babies for me! We are making cupcakes later to celebrate Kezs' birthday ;) We are totally safe with the fires and floods. No worries! We hit 114 degrees twice thise week and then yesterday it hit 73 and was raining! pretty crazy. LOVE YOU WHOLE HEAPS!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

Happy 11 Months!

July 28th--
Sorry I didn't write last week!

Last night getting ready for bed, I realized that today is my 11 month mark since I went into the MTC! CRAZY! Ahh it's going by way too fast! Most of the people out here that ask how long I've been out, I white lie a little bit and tell them I've been out "about nine months" so it's weird to realize how long I truly have been gone.

So what does one learn in 11 months as a Sister Missionary?
1- Missionary work is the TIREDEST I have ever been in my life!
2- Sometimes missionaries feel as awkward standing on your doorstep, as you feel to find them there!
3- Every word in the scriptures God put there for a reason. It's our job to study them and find out why
4- Having charity is a lot more than just getting along with people
5- Avocados and guacamoles are not different vegetables. In fact, avocados MAKE guacamole...
6- Many morning prayers go: "Help me to want to wake up. Help me to have the strength to do so." 6:30 am just never gets easy!
7- The priesthood is not a man. And there are amazing priesthood holders out there.
8- Studying the scriptures truly can change your life!
9- It goes by faster than ever imaginable
10- Seeing people feel the atonement in their own lives is the greatest feeling in the world!
11- When it's hard and you are doubtful, give more!

I can't even express everything I'm thinking today! This week I learned so much! I was reminded again of how aware of us the Lord is, and knowing that everything we go through in life is according to His plan. We followed Nephis' example a lot this week: "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do" (1 Nephi 4:6).  So many times this week, we were lead somewhere not sure why. But we followed the promptings and did our best to be where we were supposed to be. We saw amazing blessings and miracles from it!

I am so grateful for being out here! I am so so grateful the Lord let's us see and be a part of so much! It's crazy the miracles He lets us in on. Hope you have a great week! LOVE YOU ALL!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

​Got a crazzzzy tender mercy this last Monday! Sister Johnson was trying on clothes at KOHL's and LUKE BRYAN video pops up out of nowhere for Crash My Party!!! Yep...tears were shed again ;)

 

All of the Sisters in our zone

​About 10 seconds before that pointy end went through my thumb hahaha but looking at this picture...at least it didn't go through my head

​Shane loves to draw so asked him to draw me as a missionary so this is my superhero picture. LOVE HIM!

​Sister Training Leaders Meeting

​SANTA CLARITA ZONE CONFERENCE THIS WEEK

​When Lindsay got baptized! She put on the jumpsuit after we'd been laughing about it and then she went really serious all of a sudden and said "I really do feel so pure." LOVE HER!! ​

"Literal Fireside" with the youth this week

Remember the Frost family from when I was in YSA? Christiane on the right is who I'd always take pictures with that they would text home. LOVE THEM! They went and watched a baptism with us and Jazmin on Friday night. Their daughter/sister comes home from Spain in October.

hahaha no comment needed :) ​

I Feel So Pure!

July 14th--

I still feel safe here haha I'll send a picture of our apartment next week! It is NOTHING compared to the valley and it actually feels quite like home. The sketchiest place up here is called "Jake's Way". It's like West Valley on steroids. But after the valley, I feel like I could go have a picnic there at midnight! haha we're good!!  This week was crazy! A few happenings or things I learned:
1. LINDSAY GOT BAPTIZED! It was beautiful beyond words. So happy and proud of her! 
2. We spent the night until 3 am with some Sisters in the Emergency Room (so fun!)
3. I get pretty loopy at nights when I don't feel good and turn into a fountain of sputterings.
4. Constantly grateful for the priesthood. It's SUCH a power! It blows my mind everytime I get a blessing and they talk about things there's no way they could have known about me.
5. Always remember to tell your investigator to bring a towel to their baptism...or you may have to borrow one the Elders have in their car! (Lindsay was a trooper! And he's a very clean Elder to be fair but definitely want to avoid that again)
6. Don't let Sister Johnson take cinnamon rolls out of the oven...she'll drop them ;)
7. 1 Nephi 3:7 continues to be my favorite scripture when we're asked to do hard things
8. I still don't teach very simply... I was trying to explain prophets to our Bishops little girl and it turned into "So daddy is President Monson?!" Super cute and nobody could stop laughing.
9. Some people change.
10. The atonement is amazing! It constantly amazes me and I love nothing more than seeing when somebody is in great need of it, is able to access it and the lasting influence it leaves on them. I LOVE IT! It's a true power.

Sorry short again this week! It was amazing. Hard to even explain all I learned but I'm grateful for it. I'm grateful for Linds and her faith in entering baptism. I LOVE BEING OUT HERE! There's a chance I'm never coming home ;) LOVE YOU ALL WHOLE HEAPS!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

Quotes of the week:
"The CIA can't find them. The FBI can't find them. The government can't find them...but those Mormon missionaries....THEY'LL find them!"
"She burned a Book of Mormon once. But she's learning she shouldn't burn it, she should READ it!"

FELIZ DIA DE AMERICA!

July 7th--

HELLO!!! Happy late 4th of July :) This 4th of July was definitely different. But still super fun! Still my favorite holiday. We had zone training meeting and Sister Johnson and I planned a small party after for the zone!! Made raspberry cheesecake again for the first time since Christmas. The next day, we were possibly playing with some "weapons" some less actives have in our ward and I got a tomahock stuck in my thumb for a second...so that was fun! I also got to practice medical stuff getting it pulled shut! No worries though, it's almost closed up and no sign of infection.

This week Sister Johnson and I got put back together! YAY! We were talking to President after and he knew we were pumped to be companions again so he started laughing and said "I almost put this into the transfer announcements!" It's been good to work together again and get back on track fully.

Lindsay gets baptized this Saturday. I can't wait! I am extremely excited for her. I love hearing her bear her testimony about how much the gospel has changed her life and the impact the Book of Mormon has had on her. I know it truly has the power to change us!

Sorry it's short again this week... LOVE YOU WHOLE HEAPS! Glad everyone was safe on the 4th!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen

​Elder Kottcamp, Elder Smith, me and Sister Johnson after the Mission Leadership Council meeting Wednesday!

​KAYDENCE! Love love love her

Sister Ah Yen...my two week Samoan companion! She bought a bag to match mine ;) White girl with a brown bag, brown girl with a white bag.

​Spencer and Lindsay after we set her baptismal date with her!

Hey Hey Hey

June 30th--

Ni-hao! Okay so I'm running out of time for today...transfer Mondays are always CRAZY!

This week was AMAZING! Sister Ah Yen and I are still companions until tomorrow and then Sister Johnson is coming back to Mint Canyon...YAYYYYY! I am so happy we're staying together. Not much from our zone is changing but we have five from our zone going home next transfer so it's gonna be crazy next time.

Even better than Sister Johnson staying....LINDSAY IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!! :) It was such an amazing lesson with her and I'm so happy for her. I love when people talk about the power of the Book of Mormon and the change it makes in their life! Nothing beats that.

The temple this week was also great! It's always fun to get to see everybody too! Things here are so so good! Hope you all have a great week and party it up for the 4th for me! LOVE YOU WHOLE HEAPS!

With faith in every footstep,
Sister Olsen