Week 50

Greetings family and friends!

What a LONG week! It's been a little bit more of a challenging week, but I continue to press forward with faith and hope.

We did a bit of service for a sister in one of the wards we cover. I got to wear one of Sister Jensen's (our landlady) hats. We pulled all the dead weeds out of the garden, it was definitely hot and I was sweating a whole bunch but it's always so rewarding to see what you've done.

We picked up a new investigator. He's an older gentleman and he's actually ordained in the Presbyterian Church. He's meeting and listening to us basically at an academic standpoint but you never know what the Spirit can do.

We have movie night on Friday with the recent converts and a less active member. Yes, we can watch church approved movies. We watched President Thomas S. Monson's film entitled "Servant of the Lord." It was good. 

Here's my gospel nugget of the week. In the gospel of Jesus Christ we learn about having faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end. I was studying about "enduring to the end." What does that mean? It means we keep going even when life gets a little tough or challenging. Enduring to the end is a lifelong pursuit. We continue each day to build our faith in Jesus Christ through studying the scriptures, praying and coming to church. We repent daily because we're not perfect. We come to church on Sunday to partake of the sacrament to renew our baptismal covenants. We remain worthy so the Holy Ghost can guide us and comfort us. I bear witness as we continue to do these things we will have the strength to continue on in this life and in the life to come. We will have peace and happiness. The Savior is mindful of us and our needs. We need to have faith and continue to carry on.

I love you all,
Sister Olszowka

Week 49

Hi!

Transfers came and went and guess what?! I'm still in South Jordan and  I'm training this transfer. Yup, I have the opportunity to train and new missionary. I haven't trained before, but I'm excited! My companion is Sister Prenatt, she's 26 and from West Virginia. She's been a member of the church for only a year and 5 months! She has a strong testimony of the restored gospel. I picked her up from the mission office on Wednesday and we've been working hard. Sister Swain was transferred to Sandy young single adults (18-30 yrs.) I joked with her saying, "eh! don't find your husband there!" and she replied with "shut up, don't say that." I said I was just joking, but no I was seriously. LOL!

Hmmm, let's see.

A miracle happened! We received a media referral from someone saying that they were a member of the church but things have happen in his life and he hasn't been to church in a while. So we went to contact the home, but no one was there. I felt impressed to text the number so I did and he responded! He's from China and hasn't been to church in 3 years, so we told him we were going to be at his ward and to look for us there. He showed up Sunday morning for 9am church and he expressed his desire to come back. The speakers were great and the spirit was strong.

In my studies this morning, I was reading from the book of 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. Here is what it said:

 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where mothand rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal;

 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal.

 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

3 Nephi 13:19-21

I've been reflecting about how many people are of the world, they are materialistic. They're this pressure about having lots of money and lots of things. Yeah we need money to live and funtion, but we can live within our means. In all honest, I don't think we need much. Heavenly Father knows us. He knows our needs. The chapter continues to say....

 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

 34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient is the day unto the evil thereof.

3 Nephi 13: 32-34

So I invite all of you to think about what you're doing to seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness. May we all strive a little more to be better people. Show obedience to our Heavenly Father by keeping the commandments. Turn to the Savior in times of help, I know I do this every day. Let's do all we can to follow the Savior.

I love you all! Until next week.

Sister Olszowka

Week 48

Hi Family!

We had a busy week of exchanges.

A miracle happen! While on exchanges we were headed to a less-active member's home and we saw a neighbor walking out. We chatted with her for a few minutes and then I asked her, "whom do you know that isn't a member that we could teach?" and she thought about it for a second, and said, "my niece, she's 10 and she lives in my basement." boom! miracle!

So we set up an appointment for yesterday, but unfortunately her aunt called and cancelled. This little girl doesn't receive a lot of support from her less active dad, so she said she didn't want to take the missionary lessons. So we were a little bummed yesterday, but its okay, it's all in the Lord's timing.

We also did some tracting (knocking on doors) in the new apartments in our area. No one was interested and mostly here from Arizona/Nevada for work.

As a missionary you come to realize you "plant seeds" that will one day be "harvested." I think about the people I've taught and how I'm not the first missionary they've met with. They've all have other encounters with members of church, perhaps they had a good friend who was a member that invited them to activities, someone was a good example, they came to a mission farewell, they saw missionaries riding their bikes etc.

All of these small interactions (seeds) lead people to desire to learn more about the restored gospel. They take the lessons, exercise faith, pray, repent, read the scriptures, come to church. They come to realize that the gospel is what they need in their in lives; they want to follow the Savior. They are ready to be baptized. People can change and I've seen it! I testify that living the gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed me and can bless YOU! :) check this out.

Well, my time is up. I love you all. Transfers are this week. We know for sure that Sister Swain and I are being split up. President has 6 sets of Sister Training Leaders (STL) and wants to utilize the leadership more so we're all being split and will train another sister who could potentially become a STL.

Oh! and the photo below is of the Curtis family, they're awesome! All future Sister Missionaries! We love them lots! :)

Sister Olszowka

Week 47

Hi Family!

Another week in South Jordan has come and gone. I swear, every Monday when I sit down to write this email, it's a struggle to remember what has happened this past week.

Transfers are happening next week already! Sister Swain and I will most likely be together. Everyone in the stake has been praying that we'll stay together. So many AMAZING people we've met. We're definitely loved.

We had about 6 lessons this week with less-active members. We were really hoping and praying that our less active sister that we've been working with for a few months would come to church, but she didn't make it. We're hopefully that she'll be there next week. It's all in the Lord's timing; we continue to learn patience, diligence and love. We taught in Junior and Senior Primary again in another ward and then taught in the Young Women's and Relief Society so it was a busy Sunday.

For 4th of July we were invited to a few family parties. Lots of people were out of town. South Jordan is an affluent area so everyone has HUGE homes, boats, toys etc. We had grilled steak for dinner it was good! :)

In my studies, I've been reading mostly from the Book of Mormon and if you haven't read it, I highly encourage you to read it. I really enjoyed reading this from Preach My Gospel (missionary study guide) in regards to handling objections and took it to heart because its sooo true.

President Ezra Taft Benson said:
“We are to use the Book of Mormon in handling objections to the Church… All objections, whether they be on abortion, plural marriage, seventh-day worship, etc., basically hinge on whether Joseph Smith and his successors were and are prophets of God receiving divine revelation… The only problem the objector has to resolve for himself is whether the Book of Mormon is true. For if the Book of Mormon is true, then Jesus is the Christ, Joseph Smith was his prophet, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true, and it is being led today by a prophet receiving revelation."

He continues to say as missionaries, “Our main task is to declare the gospel and do it effectively. We are not obligated to answer every objection. Every man eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there he must make his stand” (A Witness and a Warning, 4–5).

Our former investigators struggle to understand Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. All we have to do is ask Heavenly Father through prayer if the Book of Mormon is true. We are promised (Moroni 10:3-5) if we ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, He will manifest the truth of it unto us, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I have a strong conviction of the Book of Mormon, that it is true. I know it is. I have asked and received an answer. The Book of Mormon describes the plan of happiness, which gives meaning and perspective to life.

Have a wonderful week, I love you all.

Sister Olszowka