Week 59

Thank goodness for rainboots! :)

Yes sirree, it's rained all day Saturday. It wasn't the most effective proselyting day, but we followed up with lots people so we stayed dried .See photo below of me holding a worm.

Remember the miracle I shared last week? Well we had our lesson with this family and it went well! We have a return appointment and will continue to teach her. We hope she can be baptized in early November. We have a few referrals that we're planning to contact this week and hope we can start teaching them as well.

We had two meetings this past week at the mission office. I saw Sister Swain, she's doing well! I miss her plenty kine.

Oh! last p-day, we went to the local mall in Sandy and I ran into a college friend! See photo below. She said, "hey Jade!" and I looked around and I was shocked! It was crazy to see someone I knew! We had a nice little visit in the middle of Macy's. haha!

General Conference is this weekend! woot woot! I look forward to the words and counsel from the Prophet and leaders of the church. I have a ticket for the Saturday morning session. I'm going with 20 other missionaries from the mission.

My time is short today, here's my gospel message for this week:

Love you all!

Sister Olszowka

Week 58

Hi family and friends!

A miracle happened this morning! A sister in one of the wards we cover called us and said she has a daughter that hasn't been baptized and would like us to start teaching her. We're exciting for this teaching opportunity. We express our gratitude to our Heavenly Father for answering our prayers and fast.

In other news, someone hit our car last week in a parking lot. I forgot to tell ya. No sorry note or anything. Sad day. See photo below. I had to take it to sandy to get it estimated, and the guy said, "hey you look familiar." I told him I was there last December. Remember when the elderly woman backed into our parked car? Yeah, the mission told me to take it to the same place to be looked at. Anyways, we're safe, but Nalu (car's name) has a sad looking dent on the rear bumper.

In my studies, I've been studying the topic of sacrifice. Sacrifice means giving to the Lord whatever he requires of our time, our earthly possessions, and our energies to further his work. I mentioned this scripture a few weeks ago, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness." (Matt 6:33) Our willingness to sacrifice is an indication of our devotion to God. Only through sacrifice can we become worthy to live in the presence of God. Only through sacrifice can we enjoy eternal life.

Some have asked, "why are you serving a mission?" Simple. I love the Savior and my Heavenly Father. The gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me so much happiness and peace and I want to share that with others. I know Jesus Christ lives; He is my Savior and Redeemer. I am willing to sacrifice my time, my energy, my career to serve my Father in Heaven. My purpose has a missionary is to invite others come unto Christ by helping them received the restored gospel through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the holy ghost and enduring to the end. Jesus Christ atone for all of mankind. I know by following in His footsteps, we'll be able to return to live in God's presence.

So I'd like to ask, what are you willing to sacrifice to follow the Savior and Heavenly Father?

Have a blessed week!

Love,

Sister Olszowka

P.S.  Flower is Jasmine (pikake) from someone's yard. It reminded me of home sooo much! 

Week 57

Hello family and friends!

My time is short today. We attended the Oquirrh Mountain temple this morning. It's always a wonderful experience when we have the opportunity to go to the temple.

We had interviews with President this past week. He mostly asked about how my trainee was doing and how my area was. We're still seeking for people to teach. Our potentials in the last few weeks have been avoiding us. Bummer. However we have the faith that something will come about. We continue to work hard and meet people.

It's been another week of service. We helped a sister can peaches, it was fun! See photo below. Cleaned out someone's fridge, vacuumed someone else's house and picked up more peaches!

Here's my gospel nugget of the week:

Ponder this. I testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer. He atoned for the sins of all mankind. May we all have more trust and faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Let us be spiritually changed and transformed.

Love you all!

Sister Olszowka

P.S. yes, I'm holding someone's PET RAT. eek!

Week 56

Welcome PEACH season!

Yes, we've helped pick tons of peaches this past week. Shucks I should have taken a picture. Sister Jensen has been canning and making jam like no one's business! I've come to realize Utahans really enjoy jams. I have a cupboard full of jam. Not only peach, but strawberry, raspberry, choke cherry, apricot, you name it, I probably got it. I'm not sure what to do with it all. oka.  However, I love all the raw fruits and veggies this time of year.

We received a call out of the blue this past week from someone I talked to on the street a few weeks ago. She said she wanted to meet with us and needed some help. We met with her briefly and she mentioned she was baptized when she was younger, but hasn't been active since. She’s now looking to learn more. Bam! That's what missionaries do! Teach others about our Savior Jesus Christ. We have a lesson set up with her this evening and her children haven't been baptized. I have a testimony of talking to EVERYONE. This woman was walking her dog and I just stopped and starting talking to her, invited her to come to church, told her where it was and left our number. One of the best ways to teach more people is to MEET more people.

My time is short today, but I wanted to leave this clip with you. Watch it.

The Hope of God's Light

Love you all,
Sister Olszowka

Week 55

August came and went and now September is here!

With that said, transfers happen! Sister Prenatt was transferred to West Jordan and I stayed in South Jordan with the calling of training a new sister missionary. Yes, I'm training again, wahoo! Sister Cook is 19 years old and is from Iowa. She was raised in the church and both of her parents are return missionaries. She's pretty quiet and shy, but I hope that I can help her bloom into an outgoing BOLD missionary.

The work continues to be slow goin' but things are happening. We prayed and fasted yesterday for our area. This is going to be a good transfer, I have great faith. We knocked on a door and I've met this young man before, really nice, chatted a bit and invited him to meet with the missionaries and he agreed. Since he's 20 years old we had to pass him off to the Elders over the Young Single Adult ward since they're assigned to work with 18-30 yr olds. They have a appointment set up for this coming week.

In my studies I've been studying the importance of baptism. In the Bible, we read in John 3:5,

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man beborn of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

We cannot enter into the kingdom of God if we are not baptized. We continue to read in the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 27:19

19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

So we need to be clean in order to enter into the kingdom of God as well. Think about it. What are we doing that isn't in line with God's will? What is keeping us from living with Heavenly Father? If we're doing things that are unpleasing and are not living the commandments, we need to stop and change. Repent. Rely on the Savior and His Atonement for help and guidance.

I love you all. Have a blessed week,

Sister Olszowka