Sister Carmen Olson

Kia Ora Whanau! Last Monday night we had a really awesome family home evening with two of the people we are teaching and some members. The spirit led the night and it was great to see everyone building closer relationships. Having ward members build close relationship with people you are teaching is so essential in missionary work so if the missionaries ever ask for you help, say yes! Wednesday was a great day. It was really productive. We went with a member to visit a less active sister and the related so well to each other. Sometimes all a person needs is a friend. They may not come right away, but as you consistantly minister to them, they will come. We also visited a less active couple and they said they want to go to the templ as soon as possible so we will be working with them to help strengthen them and prepare them to enter the house of the Lord. I get so excited when we talk about temples because I know how sacred and powerful they are.  On Thursday we met some...

Kia Ora Whanau  The weeks just seem to be getting faster and faster which is so scary.  So Tuesday we had a cool experience. We were going to visit a member and her neighbor was outside smoking. When I saw her, the spirit was so strong telling me to talk to her. So we talked and had a super long conversation where she said that we won't ever convert her. But she also kept asking questions about the gospel. Eventually the conversation got around to how she likes to read so I told her I have a book she could have. At first she didn't want it but after we explained it, she took it out of my hands and wouldn't give it back. Then she asked about eternal families and said "but you wont convert me." We told her that wasn't our purpose as missionaries. She invited us in and we had a good chat in there as well. At the end she still said she wasnt going to be converted but that she will read the book of mormon.  On Thursday we went and visited a less active...

Kia Ora Whanau  This week was a week of road trips. Serving on the south island is super different from serving on the north for several reasons, one of them being that everything is so far away! So Monday night, we drove 2 hours to Christchurch and spent the night there because we had combined zone conference the next day. At zone conference on Tuesday, we had alot of really great training. It was all about our personal studies that we do each morning. I was really grateful for it because I have been struggling with coming up with new ideas for how to study to keep them effective. I also received some strong counsel from the spirit that was a little hard to take but as I've tried to apply it, I have seen the blessings. That's one thing I have learned about the spirit, is that it's not always warm happy feelings, sometimes it's a little bit harsh because we need to change. But when we listen to the spirit we always come away better because of it. After zone confere...

Kia Ora Whanau, This week nothing big happened. We did alot of work because we are whitewashing Timaru.  One notable thing that happened is that we got someone on date! She's nine and just moved here with her mom. So that was exciting. She is so smart and loves the gospel.  We did a bunch of service and got lost a few times because none of us know where anything is lol. We went and saw the snow today (it's about and hour inland) and when we were there I threw some snow at one of the sisters who had never seen it before and she said "That's not fair you're in your element, I'm at a disadvantage" hahaha. It was so fun to see people who had never seen snow before get to experience it.  That really all I've got this week. We are just doing alot of the basics because we are trying to build relationships with people and figure out the area.  My spiritual though this week comes from Mosiah 7:33 which says "But if ye will turn to ...

Kia Ora Whanau  Well first things first, we are getting whitewashed so I am getting transfered after only 3 weeks in Oamaru. So sad! This transfer I have had to learn the importance of planting seeds. I am going back to Timaru and my companions will be Sister Tu'i'onetoa and Sister Mamea. Tuesday was all about the Prophet! We had a special missionary fireside broadcasted from Auckand in the morning and it was great. We only got to watch half of it because of technical difficulties which was a bummer but the part we saw was so inspiring.  One thing that stood out to me is President Nelson talked about how in the Book of Mormon there are prophesies that talk about how the gospel will go out to all the earth in the last days and so every time we open our mouth to share the gospel, we are fulfilling prophecy. Then in the evening we watched the general New Zealand broadcast in Oamaru. Again because of technical difficulties we only got to see half but what really stood out...