Almost December

Hey Everybody!

Elder Oliver here once again! coming live from Lomas de Atizapán México! haha. I am just sending an update on how everything is going with me! I am healthy and safe! We had a really good week! We worked hard and we are having a little trouble finding new people to teach. But hey that is the Mission. Something That I love about the mission is that it gives me the chance to try and figure out new ways to find solutions to the problems that we face. As my dad would say CRITICAL THINKING! Something that I was never very good at before the mission haha. So I am grateful for the opportunity that the Lord has given me to develop characteristics that I lack. We are doing alright though. We have been having a lot of fun when it comes to the work. This a great area. It is fun to see these people making the changes in there lives to see the gospel change them and see them become more and more happy! It is something really awesome! 

So I read a really good talk this week it is called "believing Christ a practical approach to the atonement" I would suggest to everyone to go read it or even better listen to it on speeches.byu.edu. It is great! I cannot remember who gave it...but it is really good! I helped me think about my savior and really how much power the atonement has in our lives. It does not matter what we have done..We can be clean through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We can overcome anything. The only thing that we need to do is believe it. It is true but sometimes we feel so bad about something or we feel so overwhelmed with a calling in the church or our responsibilities. That we feel like we cannot make into the celestial kingdom! It is possible for everyone. EVERYONE! That is so awesome to think about. That our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he has given us and everybody the opportunity to live with him again. He gave his firstborn son as a sacrifice so that all of us can be with him. I cant explain how much love I feel. When I think about that. I know that God loves us and he wants us to be as happy as he is. It is possible all we need to do is be faithful and make sure our live are in a agreement with his laws and commandments. It is possible. I loved this talk and it really helped me see how all we need to do is trust him. He will catch and us and carry us where we need to go if we let him! I thought it was something really awesome and beautiful to think about. 

I am so grateful for all the support and love you all give me! Thanks so much for the letters and the prayers they mean so much! i hope you have a great week! I love you all so much until next week! 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Mexican Construction Cone

Hey Everybody!!!

Elder Oliver once again in a little internet server here in Mexico! So to start off I am doing very well! I am healthy and having a great time here Mexico! Today we went bowling with a few other elders! And guess what??????? I had a 4 bagger! if you do not know what that means it is 4 strikes in a row! And anybody who knows how great of a bowler I am you know that it is a straight up miracle! So that was awesome. It was funny because I started off with 4 gutter balls in a row and followed it up with 4 strikes haha. I am just silly sometimes. So to explain why I named this letter Mexican construction cone....I put a picture of a hole in the road here in my area. And what they do to warn people that there is a giant hole in the road is they put a bunch of branches in it. haha. But it gets the job done! So I definitely cannot judge! 

So we had a good week of work! We found some new investigators and we had a few that went to church for the first time. We had 7 people come to church so that was really exciting! We have been working really hard with the families of Imelda and Iliana. They are really great people and they just need to trust in the Lord but right now they fault a the faith. But that is why we are here to give them the opportunity for their faith to grow. It has been great trying to help them receive the gospel. We have an investigator who we found that has recently lost his wife. It has been less than a year since she passed. When we found him he said that he was really sad and that he missed his wife. He was somebody who needed the gospel. I mean obviously everybody needs the gospel. But he was someone who needed hope. He needed to know that it was possible for him to see his wife again. We had a few lessons with him and then we lost contact. He didn´t answer our phone calls he didn´t try and make contact after we had called. We ended up finding him this week! We are really excited to start teaching him again! He is a really great person and has a great family! They need these blessings! 

Sometimes in the mission when people fall through or we have to drop an investigator it makes you reflect. It makes you reflect on how you are doing as a missionary if you are really doing all that you can to help these people. It is something that is good to think about because I am able to find so many things that I can do better. I am grateful for the mission because not only am I helping other people become better! But I am helping myself become better too. I am sooooooooo far from where I need to be that sometimes I can feel overwhelmed. I think a lot people feel that way sometimes. But that is what is so awesome about the gospel that we can always repent everyday and become better and better little by little. Perfecting ourselves one step at a time. There is a quote I like that I am pretty sure is from David O. Mckay that says "the gospel is to make bad men good, and good men better" I love it! We are never done there never comes a point that  we can say "Yup I sure got this gospel thing down" We are always going to have something that we can improve. I think it is so great. Great, great, great. Anyways if you are ever feeling down there are to great scriptures that always help pick me up. Joshua 1:9. and D&C 68:6. 

I love the mission! I love all of you! For the support you give me! Your prayers and letters and packages and love! I hope that all of you have a great thanksgiving! I will be thinking of you all! I hope you all are safe on black Friday or as my dad told me it sounds like it will be starting 9 on Thursday. which is a little crazy. Here in Mexico black Friday is a week long and it is this week too so we will see how that goes! haha. Love you all so much Have a great week! Till next time!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

 

How sweet it is...

Hey Everybody! 

Elder Oliver here once again! I hope all of you are doing wonderful! Sounds like a lot of snow dumped on the ole Salt Lake Valley! I hope that nobody had a car accident or anything like that. I am doing well here healthy and safe. We have been working really hard here in Alamedas. It has been fun! 

This week we had another baptism! Hermana Imelda got baptized yesterday. It was a really special service and we were all really excited for her and the step that she was taking with baptism. She is a really special lady who only wants the best for her family. We have been teaching her for awhile and she has told us that she wants her family to grow with God in their lives. We know that in the church it is more than possible for her to reach her dream. She was the only one who got baptized today but we are going to keep working with whole family because she has 4 kids two of them are of age to get baptized and also her husband. It is tough to make a decision like she did alone. She was willing to put the example for all of her family and show them how much the gospel can bless our lives. We are really excited to keep working with her family and we are hoping to have some more baptisms soon! 

The mission is something that is really awesome. I named this email how sweet it is because that is how I feel! Here in the mission watching these people change their lives is the most beautiful thing. Seeing them apply the atonement in their lives and seeing them receive the blessings of the gospel is such a rich experience. Helping these people to get closer to entering the temple to be sealed as an eternal family is something that I cannot thank Heavenly Father enough for. We are trying really hard to help these people get the blessings of the gospel and find what they are looking for in their lives. I love being here in Mexico! I love speaking Spanish I am still not fluent but that is ok I am studying to get better everyday. I love being her to help these people to receive the blessings of the Gospel it is awesome! 

I love you all so much and i am so grateful for the support that you all give me! I love you all and I hope that you all have a splendid week! Until next week! 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

 

Santa Clara

Hey Everybody!!!

How is it going?? I hope that everything is going well! I am doing well once again. This week we got news of the transfers....and guess what???  Elder Nilsson is going to stay here one more transfer! So that was exciting news he is going to be here in this area for 6 and half months! haha. It is a lot. but it is great also we have been working really hard and having a lot fun in the process. We had a baptism this week of the Hermana Iliana! I hope that you enjoy the pictures! It was really beautiful the service. We are really happy for her and the changes that she has made in her life so that she could come and receive the blessings of the gospel! She has overcome a lot and still has a long way to go. The other lady in the picture is her mom Margarita. We are hoping to work with her and help her get to receive these blessings as well. Because she is very special too. They are a family that have a very dysfunctional household. There are aunts and uncles who live there that are always fighting. It is kind of interesting because we never know what we are going to walk into when we visit them. But we are so happy for her and we are hoping that the family can feel the spirit and receive an answer that is the correct path for them too! 

We are also planning another baptism this upcoming week. We are really excited for Imelda who is really excited to get baptized and be apart of the church. She is really special too! We are trying to work with her kids and her husband because they are great family and they would be wonderful members all of them. The husband says that he has vices that he does not want to give up. haha. We explained to him the things that he needs to do in order to be part of the church. He seemed a little more interested because he realized that it is not that much! haha. He is a good man and I think that the hermana is going to help bring him in along with her kids. We are hoping to have some more success with these two families. Because we all know that it is god for one person to join the church but it is better for the whole family to receive the blessings of the gospel and enter the temple to be sealed! So pray for these families that they can receive answers that this is the one and only true church on the earth! PLEASE! haha. 

I love you all so much! I am so grateful for the support you give me! I feel your love and your prayers everyday! It is something really special to have the support I have! I am so grateful! I hope that you all have a great week and I will talk to y´all next week! :)

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Bandarillas!

Hey Everybody!

Elder Oliver here once again! How is everybody doing? Good? I sure do hope so! I am doing well here in Mexico. Healthy and happy! We had a good week of work! But before I get to that I want to explain the pictures! First This week we had a zone conference. And I was able to see Elder Hyde and Elder Shuler my old buddies from the MTC. SO that was really awesome Elder Shuler is the one on the right! Hyde in middle and of course me on the left :) Next it is just a picture of me modeling the city. And last....I know you are probably wondering what the heck I am eating...Well it is a little restaurant that one of the members have here in the ward. They are called Bandarillas. What I am eating is a shishkabob (hope thats right) that has cheese and banana and it is deep fried. haha Yes it is horrible for me but I must admit that it was delightful! It has frosting and caramel. Oh....it was wonderful and I plan returning soon!

So like I said we had another good week of work! We are preparing a baptism this week for Iliana! We are really excited for her! We have a lot investigators who are progressing and it seems that our teaching pool is increasing everyday. We had a bummer this week though we were expecting one of our investigators to come to church. We had a member pass by to pick them up. We were waiting in the door and when we saw the member come in alone we asked what happened and she told us that her husband got really upset when he heard that she was talking to the missionaries and did not let her go. He is very catholic. It is a problem in all of Mexico! Catholicism is huge. Everybody is catholic haha. But it was sad. We are hoping that we will be able to find her this week and see what we can do to help her and talk with her husband. Because it is hard for us to teach just one person in the family for reasons like this. So we hope that we can find him and her this week to help resolve some doubts and concerns. But besides that one incident we have been doing very well!

Oh another change that has happened. With the new crazy and great news that President Monson gave us in conference about the age change for the missionaries. There has been a lot more missionaries applying to go to the mission. The MTCs dont have enough space for all of them haha. I am talking about the one here Mexico I don't know about Provo or anything but here in Mexico. So what they are doing to counteract this problem is changing the program for the Mexican missionaries to 2 weeks instead of three in the MTC. So what I am trying to get at is that there is a another change on when I will be coming home. haha. I had told you that I would be coming home three weeks early. But that no longer is the case I will be coming home on the day that was originally scheduled haha. It is a lot of changing but that is alright. So just thought I would let you guys know that the new change of the age is something really awesome. There are so many more missionaries that the MTC does not have room! haha. I think it is awesome!

Anyway I love you all so much! I hope you all had a great week and I hope you have a good one this week! Thanks so much for you prayers and support! It means so much"! Until next time!

Elder Oliver

Little by Little

Hey Everybody,

It is Elder Oliver reporting live from a small cafe in the center of atizapan. It has been a wonderful week and the weather has been gorgeous. Ok...not really it has been really hot! But that is alright more exercise! haha. Which is really good! Here they give us a lot more food and am trying really hard to make sure that it does not show. Hopefully I can win the fight haha. But I am doing fine! Healthy and strong and working hard. 

So Elder Nilsson and I are getting along really well. We have been working hard and trying to find new people to teach. We have a few investigators that are progressing towards baptism. The first one is named Iliana! We have been teaching her ever since I got here and a little before that. She is really awesome and she received her answer. She has some difficult things that are going on her life and she would not commit to baptism. It was really hard for us because she was somebody who had been doing so well in the gospel and church but was refusing the blessings that come with it. She wanted to get through the problems that she was having and get baptized in December. Well we know that the blessings are to be had now and there is no need to wait. We challenged her to say a prayer and Ask God when she should get baptized. Well this week we went and visited her and she told us that she got her answer for the 4th of November. It was a special lesson as she explained that she new she had to get baptized and that she was afraid of the change it was going to be. We know that it is a big change but it is a change for the best! We are really excited for her and we hope that she can keep reading and praying to get ready for her baptism. 

We also have another investigator and she is progressing too. She is going to get baptized the same day we hope as Iliana. Imelda loves the Church. She got her answer and ever since she has been doing great and she is really excited. Her only concern is that she wants her family to grow in the gospel with her. It has been hard for us to try and help her with her family because they are never there. As missionaries we want the whole family to be involved with the church obviously. She is really concerned about her kids and her husband. We have a lot of work to do with them so that they can all receive the blessings of the gospel. And can continue growing in the church as a family and hopefully one day get sealed. 

The area is really coming along we still have a lot of work to do. We are going to keep at and hope that we can help these families become more united. Thank you so much for all the love and support you guys give me I feel your prayers every day! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

Con Amor Elder Olvier

A Good Week!

Hey Everybody!!!

Elder Oliver writing in a little internet cafe here in Mexico! Just to start off I am doing very well! I am healthy and today we were able to enjoy a whopper from burger king so I cant complain. :) it has been my second fast food experience here in Mexico I think my second week I went to KFC. haha. It is nice to get a break from beans and salsa. Don't get me wrong I really enjoy them! But some good American greasy food was a nice change :)

So this week Me and Elder Nilsson enjoyed many blessings. Besides the whopper we were able to have a lot of lessons this week. The area here in Alamedas is really progressing. We were able to find some new people and they were able to come to church and feel the peace and comfort the being in the house of the Lord brings. We are hoping to have some baptisms by the end of the Month but we need to keep working hard to make sure that they can receive all the blessings that the  Lord has prepared for them. 

One thing from conference that I have been thinking a lot about is from the talk of Elder Richard G Scott. I know this was not the point of his message. But when he was reading journal entries from his wife`s journal. I thought that was such a special experience. It made me reflect here in the mission. I am having some awesome incredible experiences. And I sometimes arrive at the house so exhausted from walking up the hills all day that I don't take the time to write in my journal. It is something that I felt really bad about. Because this is a special time I have here in the mission. I don't want to forget all the things that are happening. So I am going to be more diligent in writing in my journal. That was my moment of reflection for the week haha. 

I also received some great news today. That the Arizmendi Family got baptized and confirmed this week. Along with sister Rosalia. They are the family of 5 and the other investigator I had when I was with Elder Cruz in Pensamiento. So here are the pictures from there baptisms and Elder Cruz on the left with his new companion on the right. It really was such a special moment for me to here that they got baptized. I really came to love them and I am sad that I could not be there for their baptism but I know that the Lord needed me here in my new area. But I was just so happy for them and I cannot wait for the day when they are going to be sealed in the temple. I hope that I have the opportunity to be with there when it happens! It would be really special. But that was news I received today and it was a great way to cap off a great week. 

I hope that you all had a great week. I am really hoping that everybody is doing well. I pray for you all everyday! And I am grateful for your love and your prayers and support you have no idea how much they mean to me!!!

Con MUCHO AMOR Elder Oliver

Conference

Hey Everybody!

Elder Oliver here once again reporting from Mexico!! So the big news! Missionaries can leave for the mission earlier! That is some really exciting news and I am so pumped to be seeing more missionaries all over the world! It is really exciting news! So I am not going to lie. I listened to all the of the sessions on Saturday and Spanish...And I understood what the main point of the message was and I could understand all of it the thing is that the Spanish voices are all monotone and it was a little boring. But I really liked the talk given by elder Nelson. He talked about missionaries quite a bit haha. It made me want to be a better missionary because I am going to receive a lot more questions! haha. 

The Sunday morning session was my favorite! I Loved the very first talk that was given by Elder Eyring. I loved what he said about the pavilion and how God never puts a pavilion over us. Sometimes we are the ones who do it. Really that is so true. In good times and in bad times Our Heavenly Father wants to bless us but sometimes we are so angry, or upset, or hurt, or in pain, that we forget he is there to help us. When times are rough that is when we need to rely on him most. We need to pray as if everything depends on him and then act as if everything depends on us. That is where we will feel his love! 

I also LOOOOOOOOOOVED the talk given by Elder Holland. It was super powerful! The question that we are going to hear when we are in front of Jesus Christ at the pleasing bar.. Do you Love you me? I hope that I can say that and that my actions can prove that I really do love him. If we love Jesus we will do what he expects of us we will change and we become more like him, we will share his gospel so that other people can feel of his love and receive his blessings. I loved that talk and I cant wait to read it again when it comes out in the Liahona. 

I also love the talk of President Monson. Where he talked about following the spirit and not waiting. Praying for opportunities to have spiritual experiences and not keeping anything away from our father in heaven. My favorite quote from this conference "The Lord is in the details of our lives" He is in everything that we do. He wants to hear how we are doing. Even in the small things. We need to share everything with him so that he can help us and that we can have this father son or father daughter relationship. We need to rely on him in all things. It was really powerful.

I really enjoyed this last conference and I hope that all of you did too! We are so blessed to have the blessings of living day prophets and apostles to guide us and help us. I hope that we can give thanks and recognize the blessings in our lives. I am so grateful to be here in the mission and to help other people learn that there is a prophet who guides and helps us. Thank you all so much for your love and your support! I hope you all have a great week and I hope that you all enjoyed conference as much as I did!!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Well we are not in Kansas anymore...

Hey everybody!!!

So to start things off this week...I am doing really well. I am healthy and happy! Well, sort of I heard that the US lost the Ryder´s cup this week......And I was extremely disappointed to hear that. I hope that the Utes can take care of business with USC. And ya that is all I have to say about those things! haha. 

Well I have finished my first week here in the ward of Alamedas. And to say the least...it is very different here. Remember how I told you guys that I am in a nice area? Well that was understatement. There is a lot of money in this area. In my old area there were only small buses and taxis in the street. Here there are audis bmw brand new VW´s. It is a huge difference. Some other differences are that in my old area it was really flat...here...the streets are hills. HILLS HILLS HILLS. My first day when we came back to the house at night I was dead...my legs were killing me and all I wanted to do was sleep. But fortunately now after one week my legs are healed and stronger than ever. haha. 

Now for the differences that are really important! Because there is a lot of money here....the work is a lot harder. We went around all week talking to people in the street and knocking doors to try and find new people. It is hard here. But something that I realized was that we are not going to have any success if we keep doing the same things. We need to change it up. Elder Nilsson and I talked about what we can do to find new people and help this part of the Lords vineyard progress. Well we found an answer that ever missionary knows...The Members. All missionaries want to work with members because that is how converts are made. What happens a lot in the mission is that some people get baptized and when their missionaries leave they stop going to church. Well if the members are involved they have friends and they will last! But sometimes it is hard because they dont help very much here. Well Elder Nilsson and I talked about it and we came up with a plan to have family home evening with all the members in the Ward and they can invite friends and family that are not members. The Bishop is really helping us and we had a lot of options to help them. We are really excited for the progress that is going to happen here. It might take awhile to really see a lot of progress but we are so exciting to keep working hard and help this area grow into its potential. Opposition=oppurtunities to grow. I hope that I can try and stay focused and look for what the Lord wants me to learn even when times are really hard. Depending on the Lord is the only way to stay on the path and find the success that is waiting for us!

Really quickly! I talked with Elder Cruz and remember the Family of 5 that I had been teaching for about 4 months? well they are getting baptized on the 14th of this month!!!!!!!!! I wanted to cry I was so happy! I am sad that I wont be there to see it. But I could not be any happier. Patience is the key. Everything works out in the Lords time. I am so happy for them and hopefully cruz sends me pictures so that I can show you guys! 

I Love you all so much and thank you for all the support that you give me! I feel your love and your prayers everyday! I hope that you all have a great week! aND i CANT WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ALL NEXT MONDAY!!

Con Amor Elder Oliver :)

OH.........Changes.....

Hey Everybody!

Elder Oliver once again reporting from Mexico....but from a different area. I had my first transfer here in Mexico and I am still in the state of Mexico but in a different area that is called Valle Dorado. I only have a few hours here but....Wow..it is really nice! I didn´t realize in my last area that it was not that pretty....haha. But here it is really nice. Lots of traffic but lots of trees and the areas are really nice (as in money). haha. The houses are big and fancy looking which is a big difference from the gray buildings that I was at in my old area. haha. But the new companion is Elder Nillson. He is my brother in the mission (Which means that he had the same trainer as me which is Maldonado.) But he is cool really quiet and shy but cool. I am excited to work with him.

So what happened this last week we had another baptism of Bro. Genaro. I will send pictures next week. But it was something really special. We were changing into our white clothing in the bathroom of the church and he just started to tell me how excited and nervous he was. I told him that he had nothing to worry about. That really his Father in heaven was so proud of the decision he made. And he said I know I can feel his love so strong. Then after we were changing back into our clothing. Then he told me that he wished more than anything that his family could make this great promise with heavenly Father. He said I feel great but I know it could be better that his girls and his wife could take this step. We have been teaching them for awhile. And they are progressing to their Baptism but they still have doubts. I know that one day this wish of Bro. Genero is going to come true. I told Elder Cruz to write me when or if they get baptized. So I will let you know what happens with them. But keep them in your prayers.

Transfers is something really strange...It felt like my home in my old area. I had been there 5 months. I knew that transfers would happen eventually but the time is passing so fast....it is crazy. Sunday we went to church and did all the usual things. Then after the services we went and visited all the friends I had made and all of my converts. It is something that was so special and so difficult. I really never thought that is would be so hard to leave an area. But I really do love these people. My converts are people that are really special in my life and they always will be. As I was laying in my bed at night. I remember thinking...how great is the mission? These are people here in Mexico and they are such great friends of mine. That I have such a special relationship because I was able to watch them change their lives and grow in the Gospel. It has been something so amazing. I am so grateful for the decision I made to come on the mission. For the opportunity I had to serve in Pensamiento. And meet all these great people. Although it was so sad to leave these people I was so excited to come to this new area so that I can meet more people like them. I will always be in contact with these people. They will always be my friends. So being transferred wasn´t to bad just another opportunity to meet and help and serve more people. But more importantly serve the Lord.

Thank you so much for all of your love and your support. I love you all so much and I hope that everything is going well. I feel your prayers and your love everyday. Thank you so much!!!!! I hope that you have a great week! Until next monday!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Holy Fireworks???

Hey Everybody!

Elder Oliver Once again. How is everybody doing?? I hope wonderful as usual. I am not going to lie I was very very delighted to hear of the Utah Victory over BYU! It sounds like it was a crazy game!!! I definitely wish I could have seen but I am sure that will watch highlights when I return. It is always a good game between BYU Utah that is why they are so fun you never who is going to win. I was surprised and happy to hear that Wynn quit the team. He has never really been my favorite. And now we see how classy he really his. But anyway not important. haha. I am glad that it was a good game! 

This was an interesting week. And when I say interesting I mean difficult. haha. This past weekend was the independence weekend of Mexico. So it was crazy all weekend. I almost got nailed with a firework haha. But besides that nothing happened. Last night and the night before we could not sleep because there were so many fireworks. And they were lighting fireworks all night!!!!!!!!!!!!!! hahaha. But that is ok. I was fine with that. The part that was hard is that all of our investigators were out of town visiting families. It was a bummer because we were excited to see them and we had prepared some pretty powerful lessons for them. But I am glad as well that they were able to go spend time with family and enjoy themselves. We are working really hard to find new people to teach and it is something that we are struggling with. The one thing that I am learning here in the mission is that I am far from perfect. I am learning something new everyday about how can improve as a missionary and as a person. That is one of the reasons that the gospel is so amazing. We can always improve. We always become more like our savior. I am glad that in this life we are not going to finish the journey. Because I know how weak I am and how much I can improve and it motivates me to change the things I need to change. To strive harder today than I did yesterday. It is easy here in the mission because we are always praying and fasting and talking about the savior. But It is something that we all need to do wherever we are. Because that is when we grow. And if we fall (which we all fall in something at sometime) What a great opportunity it is to grow. I know that we could have done more this past week to help our investigators. Elder Cruz and I both felt that we should have done more. We both felt really bad. But then we began to talk about what we did wrong and what we are going to do to fix it. And we got so excited for this week to improve the things that we lacked so that our investigators can progress. It was something so special and I learned a great lesson. We are going to do things in our lives that make us feel bad, or guilty, It is in these moments that the atonement carries us. To improve and remember so that we don't fall in the same mistake. We become perfect in this area in our lives. We are slowly perfecting ourselves one aspect at a time. It is so awesome the power of the atonement I am grateful for lessons I learned this past week. 

I love you all so much and I hope that you are having a wonderful day! And week! I want to give a shout out to Miranda! happy Birthday Friday! I hope it is wonderful!!!! Once again thank you for all of your support I hope that you have a great week!!!!!!! I love you all so much!!! 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Fighting Hard

Hey everybody!!!

How are all of you doing? Well I hope good. Because if I am going to be honest...I would be really sad if any of you were not doing well. I am very sad for the news that Utah to Utah State this past week. It was something that will keep me up at night...No...not true I am glad that Gary Anderson is having success but I am sad that we lost. 

I am glad to report that we had another good week! With another baptism! It was an interesting week because we have both been struggling with sickness. Nothing serious just the runny nose and fatigue. But when we are walking all day in the sun it was something that was difficult. But we fought really hard this week. And we were able to have more blessings and miracles. We found a new investigator who was the most prepared by the Lord that I have seen. We taught her the first lesson and she accepted everything and told us that she would be baptized. It was something really special. It was another testimony builder for me that The Lord really is preparing people. And it is up to the missionaries to work hard and do everything they can to find them. 

We also had another miracle Sunday! We were in sacrament meeting when one of our investigators came in late to hear the talks. One of the Brothers of the ward gave an excellent talk about is conversion and how much the gospel has blessed his life and the lives of his family. After sacrament meeting he told us that he is ready to baptized and wants to be baptized this week. He also has 3 daughters and his wife who were not able to go to church because his wife fell and hurt her back. But we are hoping that we can help them receive an answer as well. So that they can enjoy the blessings and happiness of the gospel as a family and some enter the temple and be sealed for time and eternity. 

We have been working really well together my companion and me. We have been finding ways to find new people. Elder Cruz is someone that I am learning a lot from. I am also learning a lot from my Father in Heaven. The scriptures and prayer have been my fuel to find answers to help people accept the gospel. If there is one thing that I have learned here in the mission it is that I really am nothing. This whole work is run and operated by God. I just need to make sure that I am worthy to be the tool in his hands so that I can do what he would have me do. 

I am so grateful for what I am learning here in the mission. I am so grateful for the support That I receive form home. I love you all so much and I will keep praying for all of you. 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Oh...the possibilities...

Hey Everybody!!!

How is it going??? I hope well! I am glad that first that the Utes won!!!! In fine fashion and Congrats to the BYU people also. I don't know who they played or what happened but I heard they won. haha.

So we had a really good week. We had a lot of lessons and were able to talk to a lot of people. Right now we have so many possibilities here in ward. We have a lot of people that we are teaching. But the ones that really stand our and it seems like are really interested. We have two families of 5. They are both really good families. They both have told us that they want to be apart of the church they feel that is something really special. The only thing is that they will not commit themselves. We are working very hard with these families because it really does look like that they are going to be really good members. They are really special. We have so many possibilities to help many people accept the gospel in their lives.The is trying to relate the gospel to what is going on in their lives. We are really praying hard to find the answer. But I know that they will be baptized it is just a matter of time.

We also had a baptism! Her name is Gloria and she is a girl of ten years. She is really awesome and is always excited and super happy and her baptism was something that was really special. Her mom who was inactive broke down crying because she was so happy. It was something really so special and something that I will never forget! I am excited to help these people receive these same blessings that Gloria and her mom were able to receive. I need to work as hard as I can to be worthy to help these people but I am going to give my all! 

Sorry this is short!! I done have a lot of time. But I love all of you so much! Am so grateful for your support and your love and prayers you really don know how much it means to me. IT is something I am so grateful for and I don't know how I got so lucky to have all this support. I hope you all have a good week! I love you all so much and until next week. 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Ups and Downs, Cakes and Chilis

Hey Everybody!

How is everybody doing?? I hope well! I want to let everyone know that I am doing very well. I am learning a lot and staying healthy and safe! It was another good week here in Mexico! 

We were able to work hard and too see miracles this week! But as always there are ups and there are downs. We have a lot of investigators right now that are on the edge of getting baptized. We have the Dad who smokes and the daughter who both committed to be baptized but they just have not gone to church. They have both overcome their addictions and preparing for baptism. The thing is that they cannot be baptized if they do not attend church. They told us this past week that they were going. They committed and we visited them Saturday night and they said yes they were going. We we arrived at church guess what happened??? We did not find them there. They did not go again! It is something that is frustrating for us because we come to love these people and Heavenly Father has so many blessings for them and they are choosing not accept them. I am learning not to get upset with them but instead looking at what I am doing how I can better help them understand what they are missing out on. We are going to hope they attend this next Sunday. 

We also have a baptism this upcoming Sunday. Her name is Gloria she is the daughter of a less-active member. She is 10 years old and is really excited for her baptism so I will have pictures from that hopefully next week! We also have two families of 5 that we are teaching. I think I have talked about the one family who could not attend because they work Sundays well we had an extremely powerful lesson with them yesterday. And they told us that there is no problem and they are going to attend no matter what that is what they told us. We explained to them that they can find peace in this life. We asked him if he had ever felt peaceful in his life. He told us that only a few times in his for a very short period. We asked him what he would do to have peace all the time and he told us anything. The spirit was so strong that I really could not breathe very well. I felt like I was on fire but I was not sweating or anything I was thinking super clearly and speaking the best Spanish I have ever spoken. It was such an amazing experience I am just so grateful that the Lord allowed me to be apart of it. I am so excited for this family to progress! It was something really special that I wont forget!
So really quickly! It was the birthday of Hermana Alicia yesterday! SO we went over to her house and had cake with her and other members. It was so awesome! And delicious. And this week I also had chilis and ya...It was spicy and I did not like it. I know some of you will know what a Jabañero is...ya that is what I had...I thought I was going to die. haha. But that's ok. I am alive and doing well. I love it here in the mission. I hope that everyone is doing well I am so grateful for all the support I get from you guys. GO UTES!!!!!!!! I heard their first game is this week! And Also congrats to my sister for moving into to her new house in California. Its really weird for me to think about but I know you guys will be great! Love you all so much HAVE A GOOD WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Teotihuacan again????

Hey Everybody!!!!!!

Elder Oliver once again reporting from Mexico. I am doing very well. Healthy and safe. It has been a really good week. We have been working really hard and we were able to find new people to teach but I will get to that a little later. But guess where I went today??? yup you guessed it Teotihaucan. It was pretty sweet once again. We went much earlier so it was not as hot and I hope that I did not get burned as much as I did last time. haha. But it was fun it was the first time that Elder Cruz had gone. I am definitely lucky that I have been able to go twice in my first area. 

So Like I said we had a good week. We found a less active member in the street and we were able to talk to her and she told us that her daughter who is 10 years old has not been baptized. And we were able to visit them and now she is going to be baptized in September!!!!! So that was super exciting! 

Right now we are teaching another family. They are all older. But they live next door to each other. The son Lives by himself and has 28 years. And the dad and the daughter live together. The dad is old and the daughter is 26. So anyway... ha. We are teaching them all at the same time but separately. Because each one has really serious problems. The dad has been smoking for 40 years and drinks 10-15 cups of coffee everyday. He is super sad because his wife passed away 3 years ago. He wants to change his life and find God because he wants to be with his wife again. The daughter is super Lonely....She does not think that she will ever find the right person and that she is going to be alone her whole life. And the son has serious drug problems. He lost his family because of the drugs and he is super sad as well. This has been quite the challenge for us. We know that the gospel can bless there lives and we have trying to figure out how we can help them apply the atonement in there lives and receive the help from our heavenly Father. I am glad to report that The dad has cut down his smoking to 3 cigarettes. It is not great because he is still smoking but he almost there. He has dropped coffee completely. And is now preparing for his baptism in September. The daughter has also accepted to be baptized in September and seems to be walking with her head a little bit higher. And I know that is because of the Lord. And The son....we are working really hard with him he knows what he needs to do. But he does not think he can do it. So is not really committing himself. We are working so hard with these three people. And they are all so awesome and I am just so grateful for the opportunity I have had to know them I hope that they can keep pushing forward so that they can have the blessings that the Lords has prepared for them. They really are so special. 

I am So glad and grateful for the things that I am learning and experiencing. It is crazy that 7 months have passed by so fast. I really am having a hard to believing it haha. But I really do hope all is well with you! I pray for all of you everyday and I am so grateful for the support and Love I get from you guys it means so much!! Thank you so much Love you all I hope that you all have a great week!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

 

 

WOOOOW my sister is married!!!!!!!!

Hey Everybody

So to start off I want to say congrats to my sister and Norman!!!! It sounds like everything went really well and really smooth. I sounded like it was a beautiful event. I am glad that everything was great! I am not going to lie I missed you all a lot this week and I was thinking about the Family and the wedding And wishing that everything went smoothly. I am glad that it did. I am expecting a very detailed summary of how it went and how everybody felt when I get back. So you all need to remember very well how everything went. haha.

I am doing really well. We are working hard and trying to help the people that we are teaching understand and accept the gospel so that they can have the blessings that it brings into their lives. It was a week up ups and downs. We found old investigators who Elder Maldonado and I talked to when I first got here. We had not seen them in months. And the last time that we talked to him he told us that he did not believe in the Book of Mormon. He felt like it was inspired of Man not of God. And after he told us that we decided to drop them because they were not progressing and usually just wanted to argue. But when we saw them in the street he was like when are you going to stop by? So we made an appointment and went to visit him. We talked about how he was doing and they are in a really hard situation. His papers are in Venezuela and because of this he cant get a job. His girlfriend works a little bit. But they don't have any money. They have nothing in their house. and they are 5 months late on the rent. And then he explained to us that he was reading in the Book of Mormon and he got really sleepy and fell asleep while he was reading. He told us while he was sleeping he had a dream that the missionaries that he first talked with visited his house and they talked about the Book of Mormon and his baptism and in the dream he believed that it was true and accepted to be baptized. He said that he felt super relaxed and content. Another Miracle. Another Dream. Another Prayer answered. They said that they wanted to get baptized and that they know this is the correct path for them. We are not sure when they will be able too because they need to get married and its expensive. But we are trying to find a job for him so that he can save some money and so that he can have the blessings of the gospel. 

We had three other investigators that have a lot of problems. It is a dad and his daughter and son. They are all older. the kids have 25 something and the dad is 60 something. They all have things that they want to change. They are all super sad. But we explained that the gospel helps us find the peace and joy that we are looking for in the gospel. They all accepted to be baptized but they all are going to need a lot of work. And they were not able to attend church and it was frustrating for us. Because they want to change and be in the good with God( their words). But then they did not show. We are going to work with them and continue praying that they can find the strength to press forward. 

And something not important but awesome. There are places here that are tiangis...Bad spelling. But they are portable malls. they really strange but the thing with these malls is that they are super cheap. I bought two pairs of Ray Bans for 55 pesos each. Or roughly 4.50 Dollars. True they are not originals but they look original. IT was awesome I am actually going to return today and maybe buy more. haha. 

But I am doing super well. I am so grateful for the things I am experiencing. I am sad that I could not be there for the wedding but I know that I am supposed to be here at this time. I am so happy for Mandy and Norman. I hope they have the best life ever together. I know that the church is true and that it really is the only way we can have the true happiness forever. I love you all so much and I am so grateful for your support and Love. The letters and packages. Everything is so appreciated. I love you all so much I hope you have a good week!!!!!!!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Special Times

Hey Everybody

 how is it going? I hope that everything is going well! I have been hearing a lot of things about the Olympics here. That michael phelps is not doing as well as hoped. And that china is destroying in almost everything. haha. But I hope everyone is enjoying them. I am doing super well. I want to say congratulations to my sister and Norman that they are getting married this weekend!!! So awesome wish I could be there but I know that it is going to be a special day. I wish the best for you guys!! Love ya!

So this has been a really special. We have been working hard in our area. And this week we were able to be apart of something really special! So we met with Ana this week and we were wondering if she was ever going to commit herself to be baptized. She had everything she read and prayed and went to church every Sunday. We went to visit her and were not sure what were going to do. But we talked to her and she explained that she was ready and that she could have all these blessings this weekend and she said yes. She committed fully. And it was something really special. Because she had always been telling us that she had doubts and that she was afraid to commit to this. And we talked to her about it after this visit she said that she still had all these doubts but that she was like whatever I am just going to put my faith in the Lord that is right for me.  And she did. The Lord really did change her heart. Saturday was her baptism and it really was something really special. Hermano Ivan was able to baptize her. Because he received the priesthood this past Sunday. It was really a special experience. I felt so much love for this family. I was so grateful for the love that my heavenly father had for them and fro letting be apart of this experience with them. It is something that I will never forget!! 

I am learning a lot here in the mission. I am learning that I am not perfect. That Spanish is awesome hard but awesome. That I things are always going to have opposition. But I am learning that there is always hope. There is always hope for everybody in any situation. Ana was someone who did not believe anything. She was a atheist. She has changed her life completely. And Ivan was able to overcome problems that can tear people apart and never recover. This family has changed my life. They will be my friends forever. and I hope that I can have the pleasure to be with them when they get sealed in the temple. But who knows they still have a long way to go. But I definitely love them and to be there when Ana got baptized....It is something I wont ever forget. I am so grateful for the things I am learning. The love for the scriptures that I have. I learn something knew. Seriously....Everyday. It is so awesome. I am so grateful for all the support that I receive from you guys. Thank you so much for the prays and the letters and packages it is all so awesome!!! i LOVE YOU GUYS SO MUCH!!!I hope that everything goes well with the wedding this week and go USA!!! Love you all. 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Another Week from Mexico

Hey Everybody,

I hope everybody is doing well and is healthy and happy! I want to say the family That I hope you all enjoyed your time in Lake Powell! I definitely missed all of you. I hope that it was a good trip! I definitely was thinking about all the good times that we have had at Lake Powell.

So this has been a really good week!! It was my first week with Elder Cruz and we are doing really well together together. It is something very strange...Companions not going to lie. We are with them all of the time. From Sunrise to sundown. But every companion brings something new to the table. Something that I can learn. We are working really hard and feel my self becoming a better missionary slowly but surely. Trust I am still a long ways a way from where I want to be but I am learning faster and faster.

We tried visiting a lot of people this week and We found a family of 5. They were old investigators that me and Elder Maldonado had taught in my first weeks here. I don't remember if I have mentioned them before but if I have I am sorry. We dropped them because they could not go to church because of there work. But as time has gone on I have felt an impression that we need to visit them again. I told Elder Maldonado and ya he was in a agreement but we never went. Well Monday when Elder Cruz got here I told him that we were going to go visit this family. So ya we went and we found them and I told them I was so sorry that we didn't pass by. They forgave us immediately and were just glad that we came back. This family has so much light in their eyes and in their this a family that could be a strong members in the church and they are only being held back because they work Sundays. It is something that we need to work with them because they cannot receive the blessings of baptism and being a member unless they go to church. This is how I know that I am changing. I am not just looking at these people for baptisms I am seeing them as they are. And what they can become. What heavenly Father has prepared for them. It is something really special. I am trying to figure what I can do to be the missionary that they deserve. What can I improve to become better. Not going to lie....It is hard. There are so many things that I can improve but I am excited that I know I can become better. And I am gong to give my all so I can do so.

Ana was not baptized this week...We are still working hard with her. We had a powerful lesson with her where we just told her how it is. She is practically a member. She has problems with any of the commandments she reads and prays everyday and goes to church every weekend. So we just told her Ana you are ready. You are a member without the blessings and the only commandment that you lack is baptism. She was like wow...you are right. She committed to be baptized this week. The most sure that she has ever been. So I want to ask all of you to pray for her that she mights stay strong in this decision so she can have these blessings. And her and Ivan can grow in the gospel together with there little boy.

I love being a missionary. It is hard and I am tired a lot. But the things that I am experiencing here are so special. So special that I don't even have words to describe. But it is not possible with out all your support so thank you very much. I pray for all of you everyday and I hope things are going well. Thanks for you letters and prayers and thoughts. They are so appreciated! Love you all so much!!
Con Amor Elder Oliver

New Companion!!

Hey Everybody,

Elder Oliver once again reporting from the state of Mexico and the Country of Mexico. I am doing well!!! I am healthy and working hard. The rain is really pouring here. It rains at least one a day and it is really rains. We get soaked haha. But it is part of the experience and actually is pretty fun. 

So with the work we had a pretty good week. We had a lot of lessons and we were finding people to teach and best of all Ivan was able to be confirmed yesterday. It was an awesome experience. I was really happy for him. We had a lot of people at church and ya it was just really exciting. 

However...We also had transfers this week and ya elder Maldonado left for the state of Hidalgo. So yesterday at church we were taking pictures and saying goodbye to all the members and everyone that he had met and taught. It was really awesome. Because It was like a reality check. I have been in this area for 3 months now and I feel like I live here like this is my home. haha. Not really but it is very comfortable. So this made me realize that I need to enjoy the time I have in my areas and make the most of it because the friends I make and the people I see everyday are going to change one day. And it also helped me realize how much I really do love the people here. I saw Elder Maldonado getting ready to leave and i just thought. Wow...I do not want to leave. 

I am so grateful that Elder Maldonado was my first companion here in Mexico I learned so much from him. We also became really close and really good friends. I hope that he does well in Hidalgo and that I will see him again in the mission or after. 

So...I know that the suspense is just killing you guys......who is my new companion?? where does he come from?? what does he look like??? Well I am sorry but you will have to find out next week because ya I am out of time once again.....

Hahaha. Just kidding :) I will tell you right now. His name is Elder Cruz and he is from the state of Vera Cruz. I have only known him for a couple hours but he is really nice. And I have really good luck with companions I think. Because he like Elder Maldonado was for me is the dad of Elder Richardson here in the mission. So ya we were talking about how Elder Richardson is doing. And if everything is going well with him. Which it is! They had a lot of success in there area together so I was glad to here that he doing well. But I am excited to work with Elder Cruz. I am going to miss Maldonado but I know that this is going to be a good opportunity to learn more and become a better missionary. 

Everybody thank you so much for all of your love and all of your support! I am learning a whole bunch of new things here In Mexico. But I think about you and pray for all of you all the time. Your support is so much appreciated that I don't have words to describe. Thank you! Love you all so much

Con Amor Elder Oliver

NO TIME ONCE AGAIN

Hey Everybody!

So I once again have no time to write because we did an activity with our district today and ya there is no time. I am so sorry. This was a tough week...We had zone conference which was awesome I feel like I learned a lot on how I can become a better missionary. SO I am excited to apply the things I learned and We will see what happens. The reason that the this week was tough because Ivan who got baptized last week. Fell in sin and ya he was so sad and felt so guilty. We talked to him on the phone and explained to him that it happens and that he needs to come to church. And ya...He didn't come. We passed by and we have yet to find him and talk with him. We have been praying a lot that we can find him and everything is ok. Because he really is a great person and will be a great member. He told us that he felt so bad that he prayed and fasted after. And Satan is just working really hard on him...So will see what happens...We had a fun day today with one of our recent converts Alicia. We went to house and she cooked for the whole district. Then after we had a water war and ya...I know you are wondering...Yes we are 20 years old. haha. But it was good fun and Alicia is a such a strong member I am excited for the day when she can go to the temple. I hope that I can have the opportunity to go with her. Well I am so sorry that I don't have any time but I want you to know that I love you all very much! And your prayers and letters and everything else is so appreciated that I really cant put it into words...Thank you so much. I will have more time next week I hope. 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Ps is my last week with Elder Maldonado....I am sad about that. But Hopefully I have another good companion like him.

Miracles Really Happen??

Hey Everybody!!! 

Elder Oliver once again! How is everyone doing? I am doing really well. Healthy and Happy. I hope that everybody had a good 4th of July! I definitely missed the fireworks and the great food but that is ok! I hope all of you had a good time and hope everyone is doing well and is healthy. 

So this was definitely a very special week of mine. One that I am definitely not going to forget. I have mentioned in some of the past emails about my investigator Ivan. He was someone who was not happy where he was in his life. He was scared that he was going to lose his family and wanted to changed. We have been meeting with him for over a month and a half. Almost all the time I have been here in Mexico. We have been working with him and trying to help him get his life in order. He has grown so much and made so many changes in his life. The spirit definitely touched his heart and he is a completely different person. Well yesterday was his Baptism. He came to the church and he was really nervous. But really excited for the step he was about to take. The services really were beautiful and He was able to make his first covenants with the Lord. It was something that I am so grateful that the Lord let me be a part of. I know that we did not do anything. The Lord was able to touch his heart and change his life. I am just glad I was able to be there and be apart of the experience. 

So along with the Baptism of Ivan were going to have 2 other baptisms. Their Names are Jose de Jesus and Carolina. They were a couple with a pretty big age difference. haha. About twenty years. We had doubts whether they were really married or not. We asked them over and over and over and over. And every time they told us that they were married. Really we asked them at least fifty times and explained how important it is for them to be married if they are going to live together. They told us yes they were married. So when it came to time for them to be interviewed for their baptism, we told the zone leaders to really question them and make sure they were married. And after about 10-15 minutes one of the zone leaders came out and told us that ya they were not married. Carolina had told the truth finally. I am so glad that they did. We have not been able to see them since. We passed by twice and cant find them. I hope they are not upset or mad. Because they were really good people who wanted to get baptized. They just have money problems and cant afford to get married. It is sad...I hope in the upcoming week we can find them and talk with them. 

So I know that I mentioned in the title something about a miracle...I am going to explain now. I hope the suspense was not to much to handle haha. 

So we have been meeting also with someone named Anna. Anna is actually the wife of Ivan. haha. We have been meeting with her regularly and she had not really been progressing. All of her family are members and they are all inactive. I think this definitely had something to do with her being hesitant to talk with us. But one visit she told us that ya she is not going to get baptized she thinks that religion is a way to control to the people. So we were a little discouraged with her. But we did not want to give up because Ivan was doing so well and we wanted them to have this change together so they could grow in the gospel together. One day we visited with Anna left a chapter of the Book of Mormon for her to read and pray about. She said she would. The next time we saw her was Saturday. We talked to her about how it went and she told us that it well. We excited to hear that. We asked why. She said that she fell asleep while she was reading......and we were like...oh.....great.... haha. But she said that when she fell asleep she had a dream. She had a dream that she was in front of a big white building and someone invited her in and every was dressed in white and there was a big chandelier. She said that she felt so peaceful and so calm. Instantly we knew that she had a dream of the temple. She had entered the temple and she knew that she was going to go there someday. 

Now knowing what she told us before. I know that this was a miracle. The Lord had answered her prayers through a dream that the church was true and that she was going to the temple someday. It was definitely one of the coolest experiences ever. I am so grateful that I was able to be there. And experience. She still has some doubts about things because she has thought one way her entire life. But she accepted to get baptized and we are planning her service for this Sunday. We are trying to see if Ivan can meet with the bishop and have an interview to receive the priesthood so he can baptize her. It would be the coolest thing ever!!! I hope it works out pray for them please!!!

So ya that was my very exciting week. I hope you guys all had a good week and that you have a good one this week. I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the support that you give. I am definitely the luckiest missionary in the world thank you so much for everything 

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Chilaquiles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! y.......pansita

Hey Everybody,

Elder Oliver here! Reporting on another week here in the state of Mexico. I cannot believe another week has gone by so fast!!! It is crazy!!! Almost at 6 months!! wow it is crazy how fast it is going. SO I am really sorry I don't have a ton time to write. I am so sorry! But that is also ok because not a whole lot went on this week.

It rained a ton this week and it is going to continue throughout this month. We have been visiting with our people who have baptism dates for this upcoming week we are working hard to make sure they are prepared. And I feel that they are going to be ready. say a prayer for them please!!! 

Ya I am really out of time. ha Next week will be better I promise. But really fast yesterday we ate at one of the members house as usual. We had Chilaquiles!!!!!!!!! By far my favorite food here in Mexico!! It was so good.!!!!! and also the member made me try pansita...Pansita is cow stomach....or a stomach of some other animal. ya.......................Not good. I wanted to throw up. But that is ok because after I ate that I was blessed with cake. And that was delightful. Now don't think that I broke my goal of sweet bread because I did not. My goal is that I wont buy it in the street. And so far so good. haha Sorry I am out of time I love you all.thank you so much for all of your support I hope all is well! I will write more next week I promise!!!! Love you all!

Con amor Elder Oliver

No more bread?

Hey everybody!

How is it going?? How are you doing??? and what is your favorite snack? haha. My answers to these questions are.....GREAT....GOOD.....AND BREAD!!!! haha I know that I have talked about the bread before but it is so good....However...I have decided that I am going to not buy anymore...I know I know, You are probably thinking.. how could you come to this decision???? well I decided that all of my exercise in the morning is going to waste because of bread....So I am going to stop buying bread so I can actually work out effectively ha but I have a feeling that this goal will not last very long because...I love bread...so I will keep you updated. 

Ok now that the important stuff is out of the way...This is how the work is going...Just kidding. The work has been going really well in our area this week. We actually did not have very many lessons but that is ok because Elder Maldonado and I have been working really hard and working better together. It really has been a special week.I feel like I have grown more this week then I have in my entire mission so far. I know....That is crazy right? No it is true. I realized there were a lot of things that I was lacking as a missionary...And I still lack a lot of things. But I am more proactive at attacking these areas of weakness and I feel myself becoming a better missionary. 

Because of these changes I feel and know that our area is being blessed. Elder Maldonado and I sat down and had discussion about the things we need to do or improve in order to earn the blessings that the Lord has prepared for us. We set our goals and we went out to work. And we worked so hard this week! and we did not have any new investigators or many lessons or anything but we kept working. And guess what happened yesterday at church....A couple was there that we had not seen before..We talked to them and they told us they had been talking to missionaries but the had just moved and they were wanting to get baptized...Now I want to ask all of you if that was a coincidence......I don't think so...That was just a cool little story that happened to me this week and a testimony builder for me. 

Another thing that really was cool was we went on divisions with other elders and I was left in our area to go see everybody and plan the activities for the day and everything. Now usually this is no big deal,....however I don't speak Spanish very well and I felt a lot of pressure and was pretty scared. But we went out and worked and everything was great! we had some good lessons and I felt like I didn't destroy the area so all and all I think I am learning which is great!!! 

Well I really do hope that you have a good week and I am so grateful for all of your support and your love and prayers. You really don't know how much that means to me. I love you all so much!! Talk to you next week!!!

Con Amor Elder Oliver

Holy Rain

 Hey everybody!!

Elder Oliver here. Just an update on how am doing and how the week has gone once again. I am doing wonderful. Learning new things everyday in Spanish and about Mexico and the Gospel so ya not too much to complain about. Elder Maldonado and I have been working really hard and we had one of the worst weeks...which is a bummer. But we are really good about to talking with one another and figuring out the things that we can change in order to have more success. We didn't have a lot of lessons this week. And it was hard to find people in their houses. All of our appointments fell through and it was just a little bit of a downer week. But don't worry we are going to work twice as hard and make sure we are doing everything that we have to to do in order to receive the blessing that the Lord wants to give to us and our area.

Now one of the reasons that this week was hard as well was because of the Rain. The rainy season has begun here in the state of Mexico. And I am not going to lie...It rains a lot. When it rains a few things happen first...we get wet. haha But don't feel bad for me because I actually think it is really fun! We do the same thing everyday and the rain is definitely a nice break from the sun beating down on us. But the bad thing is that there is no one in the street. We cant talk to anybody. So it is hard for us to contact people and when we don't contact people we are losing the blessings that come with it. So ya the weather has definitely been something interesting here in Mexico in the Morning it is so hot and just beating us down and two hours the streets are now rivers. haha It is crazy but really fun as well.

We have a few investigators that are really progressing well we didn't have anybody show up for church this week however. We are hoping that if we work harder this week that we are going to see Miguel and Ivan progress and hopefully have a few baptisms. They really are special people! And the gospel is right in front of them eternal life...I just hope that we are doing all we can to make sure that they make the right decision.

I want to share something I have been studying in my personal study the last few days. I have been reading in the new testament. And I came across a passage in Chapter 16 in Mathew I think.....haha at the very end of the chapter Jesus is talking and he says that blessed is the man that takes up his cross and follows him. When we do not focus on the things of the world and focus on the God that is when we are blessed. In one of the following scriptures it says the one who finds his life will lose it and the one who loses his life will have it in the end. When we lose ourselves in the will of the Lord when we drop everything that is important to us and we turn down our will and accept his that is when we show our love for Our Heavenly Father and Our Savior.

 Our will is the only thing that we can give God. Money, our bodies, our cars, houses, everything we have are gifts from God. The one thing that we can give him, the one thing that he really cares about is our will. When we turn down our desires and replace them with his that is when we find real happiness!

I am so Grateful for all the support that all of you have given me thank you so much!! For the letters and emails and packages and prayers. Thank you all so much! I hope all of you are doing well and I will continue to pray for all of you! LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!!

Con amor Elder Oliver

Look at that nice Missionary tan

Pictures from Josh!

First Transfer Done!

Hey Everybody!

Hey it is Elder Oliver once again! I have had another a good week here in Mexico! I am still loving the food! especially the bread. I am having a blast here, the Spanish gets better everyday! Everything is getting better! It is still hot however and I am sunburned everyday. My poor nose. I use sunscreen 2 or 3 times a day but it doesn´t seem to help to much. How are you all doing? I hope everything is going good! I heard that Andrew did really well on his farewell talk!! Congratulations Andrew I know that you are going to love Mexico! But thanks everybody for writing me and letting be know how you are all doing!

This week we have a lot of work! We have been struggling to find new people to teach but we have been working hard and It is the end of the transfer so it was kind of crazy all week. I want to share an awesome experience that we had yesterday. We had an appointment with one of the contacts we had in the street. She was an older lady. When we passed by her house she was there which is a blessing...haha. And she let us come in and her daughter and her grandson were there too. So we sat down and started talking with them. They were really nice and started sharing how they had been without the word of God for a long time. They said that is why they let us come over because they wanted to have God in their lives again. We shared the first lesson and they all accepted it very well. They said that they were going to read and pray to receive an answer. Then Delia (the contact) started talking and she said that when we started talking about how God is our Heavenly Father she said that one of the curtains in the house behind us went flying open. Like there was a gust of wind. But there was not wind in the house obviously she said that she had never seen it do that before. I don´t know what happened to be honest I didn´t see it. But the spirit was so strong when she shared that with us that I definitely know something happened and the spirit had touched her and they all decided that when they receive their answer that they were going to get baptized. It was such an awesome lesson!!! haha. The mission is crazy so many things happen everyday! it is crazy!!

anyway sorry for the short letter I am out of time but I want you all to know that I love you very much! and I am so grateful for the support and the love that you all give me! I am so grateful! love you all so much!

Con Amor Elder Oliver