It looked like your Thanksgiving was so much fun! Well you know how I said we had 5 Thanksgiving meals planned? Yeah... well we still have been having Thanksgiving...... actually, now that I think about it, pretty much everyday is Thanksgiving here! So much give give giving, and love and graditude and.......... food. Eating is a chore now. Really. At times I feel like I could go a whole year without ever eating again. Ahh... so much of it.. but I pray every night that my stomach will be ok, and it hasn't exploded quite yet. I start every morning with doing sprints up and down our stairs outside our apartment for 15 minutes, then I do insanity for 10 minutes, and then I'll do abs or something, or jump rope. But for some reason, that aint good enough.... No big though. 'Tis the Seasons!!:)
Ok sorry about that rant. But just a quick update..... the Villegas came to church!! Well 2 out of 4 of the boys - that have a baptism date. (which now is pushed back again) Cody (16) and Chantz (8) came. Chantz LOVES church you guys, It is the cutest thing in the entire world!! It was his older brothers first time coming to church and Chantz was showing him the hymn book and telling him how cool it is that, "he gets to take the bread and water today to remember jesus!" When the water and bread came around, I looked over at the boys and they're heads were poking out with a smile SO BIG because they were SO excited to take the bread and water. It was a lesson taught to me. To be more like that when taking the sacrament. ( on the inside haha ) but I think a lot of times we take advantage of what amazing priviledge we have to be able to take the sacrament each week!, We actually even KNOW the full effect it has! All these boys know is that they take it to remember Jesus. So I challenge you to all remember that next Sunday:)
Also- The Villegas mom, Christie, has nooo money for Christmas. It's sad to hear her tel her boys, "sorry but this christmas isn't going to be that good" and the boys go, "we know mom", They dont have any decorations either... So me and sister Teuscher went to the store with the Purcell's (they're my family away from home) and they were going to buy them a little tree for us to give them. While we were at the store, some lady came up to me and asked, "Are you buying yourself something tonight?" I said, "Yes...." She then slipped me something in my hand and hurried off. I rushed up to her to let her know it isn't for us, but for an investigators home, and tried giving her, her money back. She then said, "Oh! then keep it please." and she disappeared! It was the greatest blessing ever! We bought them a little christmas tree, and stockings, cheap stocking stuffers, and ornaments.
GUESS WHAT!!! We are going to go to their house right now and decorate it with the boys to surprise Christie when she gets home. I can hardly wait. It's the best feeling in the world. I hope you all can look for opportunities to make someone's Christmas Jolly and Bright. It super fun:) We also have a Nativity set someone donated for us to give them:) This is going to be the best night ever!! Best Christmas ever! I'll take pictures and show you next week:) I LOVE THE VILLEGAS!!!
Mikey- He bore his testimony at church on Sunday. We didn't hear it because we were at the family ward with the Villegas, but on the 15th I'm going to be speaking and so is Mikey. Mikey will be speaking about his baptism! I can hardly wait! He actually wants to move his baptism sooner and picked December 10th to be baptized. I'm so excited! He is so ready! At church he learned about all this stuff about the temple! He is learning so much faster then we can teach him! He's always coming up to us saying, "Sisters! Why didn't you tell me all this cool stuff about the church!?" Haha you guys, if there is anyone that the Lord has prepared, it's Mikey.
Alika ( a less active that we have reactivated <<- that sounds so weird?) He asked us how we felt knowing that we're the ones helping people come closer to Christ. All I could say was grateful. I truly am so grateful this time of year, actually this time in my life....... to be a part of the Lords great and marvelous latter day work. Anyone else could be in my shoes, and teaching these people, I'm so grateful that its me! I'm truly so blessed to be an instrument in his hands in Maui, and now it Waipahu.
At this time of year I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I was reading a talk by Russel M. Nelson this morning and I loved it! I love reading about the Atonement. I read John 18:37 (or it might be 32?) This Gospel IS simply- the Atonement! It is our Savior and our Redeemer Jesus Christ. How wonderful it is to have the Book of Mormon, to be able to read prophets of ancient time testify of of Savior. How wonderful- that we can read of when Jesus Christ himself appeared in the Americas. What a wondeful day that was! What a wonderful day it will be when it happens again and he appears to us all. How wonderful it is to have Thomas S. Monson today to add upon and continue the teachings of our Savior Jesus Christ,. To have a prophet who understands our Father in Heavens plan for His children. He is the same yesterday today and forever. I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of the Gospel.
In fact- funny story- I just told someone that yesterday. We found a random guy in the streets who is Inactive and left the church. I asked him why, and he said, " because their music is too old and boring and every other church is getting better music and changing but the LDS one. " ....... Yesterday, Today, and Forever. I'm so glad our church does accomadate the world. What a mess it'd be.
Well family. You are all wonderful, and radiating with spririt. I can feel it through your letters and your pictures. I love reading about how amazing fellowshippers you are in the ward. I visualize it and I love it. I love knowing that you are actively engaged in church. You magnify your callings and you always have a helping hand extended. Keep it up over there in Oklahoma. I'll keep doing my best here as well.
Have a wonderful week! It's the best time of the Year:)
Aloha
Sister Olsen
P.s.- We had to drop Taylor because he lives out of our area. We do that SOOOOO SOOO SO SO MUCH HERE!!! I should've told you guys that forever ago. Our area has Marshalese, Tongan, Philipenes, and Samoan ward. Considering we (white people) are the minority here, we are alwayyyys giving our investigators away to the Elders. It's stinkin tough trusting them and always giving them away but, that the way its gotta be.
P.s.s..- I also love the Branch. Wish I could tell you about all the people and investigators here. No time:/ Got to go! Thanks for the letters!!! and CHRISTMAS BOX!!!
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