Riley Olsen's Mission: This week was FREAKING THE BOMB!

The Book of Mormon in Quechua!

Quechua, The official language of Peru.

My new invisible scripture cases. Just kidding, they are coming tomorrow.

The Inside. The book is incomplete. the books: Jacob, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon, and Ether are not even in it. The books: enos, mormon (I think), and Moroni are complete. The rest are only selections.

May 18, 2015
This week was FREAKING THE BOMB. I have a LOT of pictures, and I am sending them as I write this.

So... where to start...? I will answer Dad's questions first.

1 "How is your new companion?"

Awesome. He is super funny, and super dedicated to the work. He doesn't have a thumb on his left hand, and we always flip a coin. For example, yesterday, we flipped a coin to see who is the most handsome this week. I won. So, yeah. And it's great.

2 "Are you getting along?"

YES

3 "Are you having fun?"

YES. Except for when all of our fechas fall...

4 "How's the Spanish?"

Dumb. I don't feel like I am improving much. I know I am, but I don't really feel the improvement. I can get by, but I can't express myself very well most of the time. But it's alright.

5 "When will you find out for certain the mission you will be in after the split?"

In 4 weeks, on the day of the transfers. If I am transferred to Huaraz, then I am in Trujillo South. If I am not sent to Huaraz, I am in Peru Lima West.

6 "Who do I need to tell to write you?"

Everyone. Xander hasn't written for a while, maybe the young men, Bro. Sergant, etc. My cousins, yeah everyone.

So now, day by day. :)

Lunes: we did Family Night with a family of investigators. We Played a game called Castigo, or Punishment in English. Basically it is like telephone, but everyone has there hands closed flat, and you pass a coin from one side to the other. someone is watching, and has to guess who in the line has the coin. (you don't have to pass it, just have to pretend to.) If the person guesses wrong, the get punished, or they have to do something dumb and simple, like dance, sing, or tell a joke. It is super fun. That was it for Monday.

Martes: There was a big fire in one of our areas, Carrizales. It burnt down a house and almost a whole block. People were calling the fire department, but they apparently weren't answering. When we arrived to the site (on the other side of the block than the fire was) we discovered that, already, the ENTIRE neighborhood was there helping. Bringing their buckets of water that they use daily for drinking and stuff, and everyone was either moving furniture to protect the neighbors' things, or filling buckets with water and throwing it on the fire. It touched my heart to see everyone working together to accomplish their purpose. I want at least my companionship to work that way, if not the district, zone, or even the mission. The most interesting part, though, was that in the chaos of it all, it was strangely organized. Everyone had their job, evryone in their place, a path in, a path out for both "firefighters" and the people moving their stuff. It was effective, and the HUGE fire was just about put out before the real firefighters even came. It was a quick response, and an effective one, too. It was really kool. Also, I had this food called Causa, or Cause in English. I don't know why it's called that, but it is GOOD! That is it.

My District

Miercoles: District meeting today. Names: Elders: Olsen, Mendoza, Verdugo (DL), Hernandez, Calderon, Fernandez, Borja, and Knowlton. It was pretty good. Role plays were about burning people, kindly and lovingly. Haha Interesting. There was Noche Misional del Barrio. It was super kool. There was a game, a race with a companionship holding a balloon up with their backs, then shoulders, then legs. It was fun to watch. Then there was a sketch. A guy was walking, and he was tempted by a demon to sit in a chair that said "Pecado" or Sin. He sat down, and couldn't get up. He tried to get help from everyone, and nobody could pull him out of the chair. Until, the missionaries (The other companionship in our ward) came down the aisle slowly and like angels to the song of "Joseph Smith's First Prayer" holding their GIGANTIC book of mormon, that they said (as a joke) was for the Testigos (de Jehová) (Jehova's Witnesses). Haha. They went to the guy in the chair, and slowly showed him the book, and dramatically opened it, pretending to be teaching him. It was SOOO funny. Then, they took his hand slowly pulling him out of the chair. He got up, and walked away. it was AWESOME.

Jueves: My scripture cases didn't come like they were supposed to. The are going to be made of Guinneapig Fur. Awesome, right! They are gonna have pictures on them, drawn onto leather by hand, and it is gonna be GREAT! But Antonio (the guy whose house I live in) did ask me what I wanted from the temple. I asked for a Book of Mormon in Quechua, the native language of Peru. So yeah.

Viernes: I got my Book of Mormon in Quechua. We watched José Smith, El Profeta de la Restauración with that family from Monday. We are trying to gain trust and friendship with them. It is alright. I think they like us a little more now.

Sábado: We didn't have ANY success today. One lesson, that's it. Yeah, it sucked, but it was ok.

Domingo: Yeah. ALL OF OUR FECHAS FELL. ALL OF THEM. WE HAD ZERO INSAC! So, yeah. Then we had a broadcast from the general presidency of the Southamerica Northwest Area. It lasted until 8. Then, we talked with our ward council. It took forever, and we could'nt get any missionary work done.

Lunes: So, today, was District P-Day. We were told by Elder Verdugo, that we were going to clean our rooms. As a district. Meaning that we just clean up, and then it is a regular P-Day. So, we did that, and bought our stuff. We saw Elder Verdugo and Elder Hernandez at Metro, and it was kinda funny. Then I took my laundry, and Hna. calderon, our lavandería, told me that I look like I am losing weight. Haha, you know me. Always looking my best. And being fit and skinny. with my almost 6 pack 4 pack almost almost (in realiy it's really far away from that.) But yeah. then we played Monopoly again, and I was winning like the boss I am until we had to leave for Internet.

I am awesome.

So, tomorrow, I am studying humility as my Personal study. I am already the best at everything else ;).

Yeah. I am exited for this week. The Assistant to the President called today and said we have emergency transfers tomorrow.

Just kidding it's a joke.

I am going to the TEMPLE on Wednesday because I was Companionship of the Month. I will be gone all Wednesday, and It's just me, unless Elder Guevara is going, too, which is pretty likely, as he was my companion.

So, now the testimonio.

Yo puedo testificar que Jesucristo vive, y es mi Salvador. Él puede ayudar a todos. con cualquier problema que tenemos, por ejemplo, español. estoy bien agradecido por la oportunidad a aprender otro idioma, y poder enseñar con el espíritu. La misión es increíble. Todos ustedes deben ir. TODOS. La misión es la mejor experiencia que he tenido en toda mi vida hasta ahora, y he crecido mucho como persona, hombre, e hijo de dios. Yo sé que el Señor está ayudándome siempre. Con el idioma, la obra, la fe, todas las cosas. Necesitamos confiar en Él. Con Su ayuda, podemos hacer todo, y como "Predicad Mi Evangelio" dice, "Sin Jesucristo, no podemos hacer nada." NADA. Nadie puede hacer nada. Entonces, Confíen en Él. en todas sus oraciones, piden ayuda, en todos sus hechos, piensan de Él. Prometo que Él va a ayudarles, si ustedes tienen fe, y verdadera intención. Les Amo MUCHO. Tengan una semana fantástica!

google translation:

(I can testify that Jesus Christ lives , and He is my Savior. He can help everyone. with any problems you have, for example , Spanish . I am very grateful for the opportunity to learn another language and to teach the spirit . The mission is incredible. All of you must go. ALL. The mission is the best experience I've had in my life so far, and I've grown a lot as a person, man and son of God. I know that the Lord is always helping me. With language, work , faith , all things. We need to trust in Him. With His help , we can do everything, and " Preach My Gospel " he says, " Without Jesus Christ , we can do nothing. " NOTHING. Nobody can do anything . So Trust him . In all your prayers , ask for help , in all events , think of Him. I promise that He will help , if you have faith , and true intention . I love you very much . Have a great week !)

Con MUCHO, MUCHO, amor,

El Élder Riley J. Olsen :) (AKA El Élder Guapo)