AAHHHHH

EXCITING NEWS!!!

I am leaving on June 10th, 2009 to the MONTANA BILLINGS MISSION!! hahahahaha I am so excited! It is Montana and part of Wyoming. I will be there for three transfers which is until October 14th. We got our calls this morning and I was really surprised. I have video of the whole thing I will send some day. =) I'll let you know next week what my flight plans are so I can call you from the airport-yay! This week was really great--so many miracles that now it all seems like a blur. We have been praying so much for the German people and in one day we took 5 German tours and had 7 referrals...unheard of for sure...even Spanish speaking sisters don't see those kind of miracles =) I love the German people so much. Usually if people say no to Sister Hofmann I just smile really big, share my testimony, and reinvite them and it seems to work, because they do not know enough english to give me excuses, haha. One funny story was this this couple from the Netherlands who had never even heard of our church before and were so skeptical and affraid to talk to us. Finally I got them to losen up and talk to us just about the Grand Canyon (to see that we are not aliens/terrorists/cultish) and then all of the sudden he asks,"Why are you so fit?" I was so confused...and then he said,"Everyone in America is so fat, even the little kids, but it seems that the Americans in your church are very fit; does that have something to do with your church?" Haha so many experiences I've had make me realize that people base their entire image of the church on their one experiences @ Temple Square...they ask:So you have to wear long skirts in your church? Only women are missionaries in your church? I did have the opportunity to explain to him that we do believe in taking care of our bodies, inside and out, because they are gifts from God...he liked that and even gave in and took a tour =) One night this week we had to stay @ temple square late because of protestors. Its sad, I don't watch the news so I actually have no idea what was going on outside our little bubble. I was hoping they would come on the square and do something wild to spice things up a little bit but no such luck. Lately there have been a lot of military people here because they were recently transfered or being trained @ Hill AFB. There was a return missionary, Craig, who brought 7 of the people he met @ training, from all over the states, on a tour of Temple Square. At the end they all passed back their cards and every one of them wanted missionaries to come to their homes and teach them more! I don't think Craig has any idea that they all requested more information or how much of an influence he had on these people in just 2 weeks of training. I have learned that there are so many people that are willing to meet with missionaries and want to learn more, we just need to invite them. Please never underestimate your influence on the people around you!! I love you all so very much and hope you have a great week.

Love, Sister M. Olsen