March 11, 2014 {Cara}

LOVE YOUES

Wow! I am just so happy seeing all your letters! It truly made my week! Wow thank you so so much! It means a ton to get a letter from you guys... I never know who to write- ha ha so thankyou! I dont have much time so I just printed the letters, and I'll write you guys back later! I'm sure they are awesome, thankyou and MAHALO for all of them:) I miss you guys! 

Ok. So this week was great. I'm going to be honest. I'm so tired. Spiritually tired, and starting to get physically. Everyday is getting more and more busy. BUT you know what?! It's all because my awesome companion and I make it that way:) I have never, in my entire mission, been so busy. I'm starting to really get this whole missionary work thing down the the T. Haha. Hilo is known for being really slow pace and not many baptisms or much to do/laidback...... but Sister Buckner and I are changing that around! We have been meeting with our Bishop, and got to give him great ideas for the ward (its a very old ward with few - i repeat - very few young families. In fact... I think there is 3 families with kids. Lots of elderly - but aint nothing wrong with that:) So we have this cool missionary activity planned and got the members on board! We have 11 member present lessons this week! Record I've ever had on my mission. Its awesome. We taught allllmost 30 lessons this week! It's worth it though. So worth. I mean it makes so much sense... if you want to work.... you really can! Hilo is no longer going to be known as a slow area:)

Ok sorry for that rant.... We are teaching Lucy Jolet. She is marshalese and speaks very little english. (we have lots of language barriers here- but it doesn't stop the spirit from touching their hearts) She has a baptism date for March 22- RANDOMLY during the lesson she goes- "ok- I have decided. I will be baptized. I love Jesus and I know I am ready." The cute lil white aunty who is a member that we brought with us, jumps up and said, " I love baptisms! I'll make you a cake Lucy!" Then  BOOM- Lucy (big marshalese woman) jumps up and bear hugs this little grandma and says, "Oh Aunty I love you!" and they start talking for like 5 minutes and start PLANNING HER BAPTISM!!! Hahahaha me and Sister Buckners eyes were like wide open, and we looked at each other and hugged and then just started laughing! It was the funniest moment and lesson in my life. We have been trying to get a date for Lucy for 4 weeks.

Except we just found out she's pregnant and a lot- a lot- of things change and just got complicated. Please pray for her.

Then we taught Albert Einstein ll. His name is Arthur Chris Eccel. Oh my goodness- this man writes dictionaries you guys. And speaks 5 languages. He even lived in Jerusalem. He is 70 yrs. old. You cant see any thing on his walls but bookshelfs with books. His house is PACKED full of artifacts and gold and silver given to him by Kings from all around the world. He is sadly Agnostic. Nothings too exciting. I'm just so obsessed with history. Just thought I'd tell you about him. Nothing cool. Just a cool experience. Someone Id never thought I'd meet. 

Ok so Analyn Domingo is next. Well she is 12 and has been going to church for long time. She wants to get baptized. Well for weeks we have been trying to contact her parents. Every single day actually- we stop by her home to see her family. We have been praying every night for her.. and finally...... their neighbor across the street- Brother Sewell invites them to dinner!!! He invited us to come too. So last night we shared an awesome message and the dad agreed to come to church with Analyn. Ahh... Pray for them please! It was a miracle dinner. Super cool too.

Ok well please pray from Darrell and Kirruu and Analyn, Elijah, Mark, Lucy, Grant, Helen. Buck. I wish I could tell y'all all about them and let you know the countless miracles that we see everyday! It's spriitually and physically draining... I remember when unko Randy told us about Joseph Smith passing out because he saw so many angels and ran out of strength. Yeah.. teaching so much is harder then I thought! I fell asleep during a lesson once. Haha.

It was a long day and a very old aunty, with an english barrier.
Sorry gotta go.

Sister Olsen

Just know that I know the church is true and I'm so grateful for you and the knowledge of the Gospel.