So much to say and so little time it feels like! First I'll give you a little run down of the layout here. On the Dartmouth side is the mission home, office, and temple and most of the Elders. We live on the other side of the big bridge - in Halifax. There are four Elders on our side with us in our district (my DL and ZLs)....For now the best thing is to send any mail for me to the mission office, we're here once a week usually anyway I think. So will you let everyone know that? When we got here and it was wet and RAINY! I got so wet moving luggage around last Thursday. But it has since snowed and been ridiculously cold. Sometimes it's not so bad, other times I really, really have to talk myself into going outside to work. But it's only supposed to get 10 times worse, so buck up! It's not too bad it you dress right and wear a million layers.
When I left Amherst, Alison a recent convert was so sad and in tears.....she wrote me the kindest letter and when I was leaving her, she hugged me and told me that I made her want to be a better Mormon. I'll take that as the best compliment ever. I love her so much. There are some really great people in Amherst that I'm going to miss and some I definitely plan to stay in touch with for a long time!
So we work in a YSA branch (young single adults 18-30), and the Elders have the family ward. The people in our branch are amazing! They don't let anything slip through and they care so much about people. It's incredible. The church parking lot is funny. The church is on a hill, and there are three parking lots that tier up to it....and they call it the telestial, terrestrial and celestial parking lots. haha The funny thing is the later you are to church.....well you can tell what kingdom you belong to, haha. And the family ward is first so they're always in the celestial parking lot. Fitting eh?
We've been doing a lot of knocking and street contacting. We have two colleges in our area, so pretty much knocking on college student's doors. It's slightly intimidating. But good. Good thing I'm in a long skirt that screams nun. hahaha. There are so many reasons why this place should be intimidating, but I feel so good here. Not to say it isn't intimidating, but I know I have lessons to learn, and I feel so at ease and comfortable. I'm excited.
God is so good. He's giving me my deepest desire and wishes for myself in the way I didn't expect would get me there (a mission). He's helping me love myself so I can let other's love me. Fitting me to be a disciple and servant to His children for life. Helping me to know the gospel for my family, children, and those I rub shoulders with. He's helping me overcome my faults, fears, and boundaries. And I'm helping others in the process. You really do find yourself when you lose yourself. My new district leader said something the other day that I loved, he said, "The worst thing you could do is to pretend that you don't have any weakness. Then, the spirit of the Lord is absent from you." I'm done trying to hide my many weaknesses.
Let's see.....I did end up meeting Elder Bloxham briefly the other day. Seems like a nice Elder! He said his friend or someone told him to look out for my name too.
I read a talk the other day that you should all read, it's really good. It's called, "What I wish Every New Member Knew -- And Every Longtime Member Remembered" by Elder Holland Oct 2006 Liahona.
So there's this really cool Chinese investigator that we teach (there are MANY ethnic backgrounds here!). His name is Joe. He is awesome. He is pretty much a member already, comes to church and everything, he just is hesitant about baptism. We're trying our best to help him. He's so cute though. Every time we come, he buys us cranberry juice and we meet him on campus. When we're done, he walks all three of us ALL the way to the car. He's a cool Chinese guy haha.
The past couple days, knocking has been a little difficult and hard to do. But at the end of the night or every time we do it, we end up meeting the most amazing potentials that we get so excited about! One guy had been to Utah when he was little and remembered the demo done in the old tabernacle.....it made me think of Alex! The work the missionaries do in SLC is so amazing. People definitely feel something there and take it home with them. He isn't the first I've met out here that has said they've been to Utah and temple square many years ago or whatnot.
We do service in a military center twice a week. We went yesterday for my first time. We just did office things and cut things out for crafts for activities they do for kids and families that we'll get to help with in the future. Anyway, it was amazing. These people that work there are the HAPPIEST, KINDEST people I have ever met. They joke with you and love you, they drop whatever they are doing to help you, they want to make sure you've been fed....and on our way out this guy put three huge candy bars on the counter and was like, "If I put these here, will they disappear?" haha. They are so nice and happy. I already know I'm going to learn a lot of lessons of love and service from them.
I'm really sorry to hear about Tyson, I have no idea what happened, because Mike never emailed me. But my prayers are with his family and friends.
Thanks for your emails Mom, Dad, and Chris. Parts of each one made me laugh out loud. Chris, thank you so much for the email! I did print it, and it's something I'll treasure for a long time, it means SO much to me to hear those words from you. Thanks for staying late. :) I love you brother!
Tell everyone hi and give them my loves! I love and miss you all! Still have no idea what exactly I'll be doing on Christmas day, but we'll figure it out, hopefully in the next week and I can tell you when I'll be calling and how. Yes decorations are in full swing here as well! I love it, it helps me enjoy the Christmas Spirit and Season!
LOVE,
Sister Jen Olsen
When I left Amherst, Alison a recent convert was so sad and in tears.....she wrote me the kindest letter and when I was leaving her, she hugged me and told me that I made her want to be a better Mormon. I'll take that as the best compliment ever. I love her so much. There are some really great people in Amherst that I'm going to miss and some I definitely plan to stay in touch with for a long time!
So we work in a YSA branch (young single adults 18-30), and the Elders have the family ward. The people in our branch are amazing! They don't let anything slip through and they care so much about people. It's incredible. The church parking lot is funny. The church is on a hill, and there are three parking lots that tier up to it....and they call it the telestial, terrestrial and celestial parking lots. haha The funny thing is the later you are to church.....well you can tell what kingdom you belong to, haha. And the family ward is first so they're always in the celestial parking lot. Fitting eh?
We've been doing a lot of knocking and street contacting. We have two colleges in our area, so pretty much knocking on college student's doors. It's slightly intimidating. But good. Good thing I'm in a long skirt that screams nun. hahaha. There are so many reasons why this place should be intimidating, but I feel so good here. Not to say it isn't intimidating, but I know I have lessons to learn, and I feel so at ease and comfortable. I'm excited.
God is so good. He's giving me my deepest desire and wishes for myself in the way I didn't expect would get me there (a mission). He's helping me love myself so I can let other's love me. Fitting me to be a disciple and servant to His children for life. Helping me to know the gospel for my family, children, and those I rub shoulders with. He's helping me overcome my faults, fears, and boundaries. And I'm helping others in the process. You really do find yourself when you lose yourself. My new district leader said something the other day that I loved, he said, "The worst thing you could do is to pretend that you don't have any weakness. Then, the spirit of the Lord is absent from you." I'm done trying to hide my many weaknesses.
Let's see.....I did end up meeting Elder Bloxham briefly the other day. Seems like a nice Elder! He said his friend or someone told him to look out for my name too.
I read a talk the other day that you should all read, it's really good. It's called, "What I wish Every New Member Knew -- And Every Longtime Member Remembered" by Elder Holland Oct 2006 Liahona.
So there's this really cool Chinese investigator that we teach (there are MANY ethnic backgrounds here!). His name is Joe. He is awesome. He is pretty much a member already, comes to church and everything, he just is hesitant about baptism. We're trying our best to help him. He's so cute though. Every time we come, he buys us cranberry juice and we meet him on campus. When we're done, he walks all three of us ALL the way to the car. He's a cool Chinese guy haha.
The past couple days, knocking has been a little difficult and hard to do. But at the end of the night or every time we do it, we end up meeting the most amazing potentials that we get so excited about! One guy had been to Utah when he was little and remembered the demo done in the old tabernacle.....it made me think of Alex! The work the missionaries do in SLC is so amazing. People definitely feel something there and take it home with them. He isn't the first I've met out here that has said they've been to Utah and temple square many years ago or whatnot.
We do service in a military center twice a week. We went yesterday for my first time. We just did office things and cut things out for crafts for activities they do for kids and families that we'll get to help with in the future. Anyway, it was amazing. These people that work there are the HAPPIEST, KINDEST people I have ever met. They joke with you and love you, they drop whatever they are doing to help you, they want to make sure you've been fed....and on our way out this guy put three huge candy bars on the counter and was like, "If I put these here, will they disappear?" haha. They are so nice and happy. I already know I'm going to learn a lot of lessons of love and service from them.
I'm really sorry to hear about Tyson, I have no idea what happened, because Mike never emailed me. But my prayers are with his family and friends.
Thanks for your emails Mom, Dad, and Chris. Parts of each one made me laugh out loud. Chris, thank you so much for the email! I did print it, and it's something I'll treasure for a long time, it means SO much to me to hear those words from you. Thanks for staying late. :) I love you brother!
Tell everyone hi and give them my loves! I love and miss you all! Still have no idea what exactly I'll be doing on Christmas day, but we'll figure it out, hopefully in the next week and I can tell you when I'll be calling and how. Yes decorations are in full swing here as well! I love it, it helps me enjoy the Christmas Spirit and Season!
LOVE,
Sister Jen Olsen
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