We Have the Greatest Tool to Change Lives…the Gospel of Jesus Christ

8/18/2014

Well another week has come and gone... and I’m going to complete a year in the mission on Wednesday.  Not much to say there, just wow!  Where did the year go? ha ha.  So this was another really difficult week.  The people are really stubborn here. They just want to keep doing what they are doing and don’t want to change their lives, but luckily, we have the greatest tool to change lives.... the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I really have seen people’s lives change because of the things I get to teach.   It really makes me sad that people don’t want to accept it, because I know it can bless their lives so much.  So that’s why I have to keep opening my mouth.  And with one year down, I still have to keep working hard, harder actually, because August is more than halfway done and I’m pretty sure it started a week ago.  Time is flying, and it’s weird because after a year it’s different.  Time is running out.  I don’t know how to explain.  All I know is that I want to give my all everyday, so I can look back and say that I left it all in Honduras.  I hope that I can do all the Lord wants me to do and that I can be an instrument in His hands. I’m so glad that I have had a year to grow and learn, and that I have one more to keep on going.  I’m excited to see what I will learn.  I know it’s not going to be easy and I will get discouraged, but there are things I have to improve, things I need to do before I get home.

I’m so very thankful that I have this time to progress and to grow my testimony, because it really has grown.  I honestly have a great fear that I will look back and have regrets, and I don’t want that.  So I’m just going to keep working, and practicing being positive.  And with that, faith, and more prayers, I’ll make it through.  Love you all and hope you know that I love this work even though I get discouraged sometimes.  I know this is the true church, that Christ is my Savior, and is guiding a living prophet today.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true and I know that if we read it and act on its teachings, we will grow closer to God.  I know that one day, if we do what God asks, we can return to Him and have eternal life and happiness. And that’s what we should all be focused on. I know that Joseph Smith is, and was, a prophet called to do a work that has blessed the world. I know part of that work was to restore the power of God to the earth, which is the priesthood.  I know that power is real, and I’m thankful I have the opportunity to use this power to bless others’ lives.  So I’ll just keep going on!

Love you all, Elder Ollis

The Scriptures Really Have Power

08/11/2014

Well here I am again.  It has rained about every day this week and its super weird.  In Honduras, when it rains, it’s like someone turns opens a flood gate up there in heaven. It pours.  Yesterday we were walking [in a street full of water] and I stepped in a hole and was almost up to my knees in water.  Super funny.  So after that it was just whatever, I’ll walk through anything now, I’m already wet.  And the thunder and lightning, wow, it’s crazy.  I thought I was going to die a few times at how close it had come to us. Everything lights up and then a second later, the whole world explodes.  It’s super awesome. 

I just wanted to share a little experience I had.  We were teaching yesterday and explaining the importance of Jesus Christ in receiving forgiveness from God.  I honestly don’t remember where I read, but I’m pretty sure it was in 2 nefi, verse five or something that talks about the importance of letting everyone know that it’s only through the holy Mesias that we can return with God. Sometime along in the lesson, I had a little inspiration to read in John, and I still don’t remember where, sorry, but it’s where Jesus says he’s the way and the light and the truth and that only through him can we return to the Father.  But it was a really cool experience to receive a little bit of inspiration, and to be able to use the Book of Mormon and the Bible to teach together, they basically taught the same thing really clearly.  The scriptures really have power, and they really are for our benefit.  It’s only through Jesus Christ that we can return to live with God.  He suffered all of the price for our sins, and through him we can receive forgiveness. 

And just one other thing.. I guess I need to be more positive and happy, because I think about half of everyone that wrote me said be positive and happy.  Thanks to all who gave the tip.  I hope we can all have a good week and try to be positive.  

Sorry I’m out of time, but I love you all, Elder Ollis

It's Things Like That, That Make Me So Happy to be a Missionary

08/04/2014

Well, I guess I’ll be 19 tomorrow... that’s real weird.  But another day just like normal, so nothing else there.  This week was pretty difficult.  We live in a little town that would be like Idaho in Honduras and there are some parts that are really poor. So these past few weeks, the city has been giving away free plots of land.  They’ve been having interviews or something like that, and everyone who wants one has to go each day or they won’t get any.  So basically half the town is there waiting to see if they can get free land, which includes a lot of our investigators.  So when the investigators aren’t there, we end up contacting.  But half the town is gone.... so bummer for us a bit.  So that’s been a real challenge.  

I don’t have much else to write because it was a real rough week. So I just wanted to share how much I love this gospel, even though I do that like every time ha ha.  I’m so glad I have the chance to serve in this work and to be a missionary and representative of Jesus Christ.  I’m so glad I have the chance to share this message that can bless people’s lives so much.  I’m so glad that I get to be a part of this gospel, to be a member of this, the only true church on this earth.  I’m so glad I have the chance and the knowledge that I can return with God, if I follow his commandments.  I’m so very thankful for the knowledge I have that I can be with my family, who I love so much, for the eternities. The other day, one of my converts from my last area, Jonathan, wrote me.  I had heard from my comp that he was the first counselor in the Young Men’s.  He wrote me and told me that he now had a calling and they wanted to go to the temple in Utah as a family.  It’s things like that, that make me feel so happy to be a missionary, and they help me feel like I’m doing things right. ha ha.  I’m so very thankful I met all the people that I have met and I can help them have an eternal family too.  I know that it’s only possible through the priesthood and this gospel, and that’s why I’m here to share it.  Not much else to share today and not much time.  Just know I’m happy, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to grow and progress, and to love this gospel, and of course, to share it.  Love you all!

Elder Ollis 

I Love This Gospel and It Inspires Me!

07/28/2014

Ok, it’s been another great week and it was pretty sweet because we had two baptisms, and I got to do them in a river!  The baptisms were great!  So yah, mission accomplished.  Now I can leave my area.  Just kidding, but it was pretty cool.  One of the ladies that got baptized had to have an interview with President, but everything went fine and so there’s two new members!  Just wish I could get some priesthood for this poor little branch.  Why are men so stubborn and dumb?  ha ha.  

This week I also went to the doctor and got my rash looked at.  It’s just from the heat, so the doctor gave me some shower gel and some lotion stuff and some pills.  Then she wrote me up a bunch of other stuff for my acne because she said she didn’t want me to look ugly in the future.  So that was a big torpedo to the good old self esteem... 

But anyways, everything is going pretty good.  We had a bit of a down week with the baptism and having to go to the doctor, but that’s no excuse.  We are at the point where we have baptized all of our investigators who are progressing, and now we have people who aren’t progressing and barely anybody else to teach.  This is one of those times where we have to find people to teach... and this part is the hardest for me.  So I’m just going to dig in and get it done, because that’s all you can really do!  Like I’ve said before, I know this is the Lord’s work and I know He is preparing people.  I just hope I can be obedient and worthy enough to have the spirit to guide me. That I can hear the spirit and be brave enough to follow it, so I can find the people He is preparing, and can help them find the gospel that will bless their lives. I hope I can be a tool in Heavenly Father’s hands to do that and find the new people He is preparing.  I don’t really have much else to say. Just working hard like normal.  Everything is going good, except the fact that we don’t have power in my area still... but that’s Honduras.  We haven’t had light since yesterday night.  

So basically I’m just so glad I get to be a part of this gospel. I’m so very thankful I get to read the scriptures and have the blessings that the gospel brings in my life.  Every time I think about the scriptures and reading them, I just feel awesome and I just want to study them for hours.  And just thinking about the gospel just makes me want to be a better person and be obedient.  I don’t know how to explain it.  Honestly, that’s not how I want to explain it….I just feel so good when I think about the gospel. I feel like I want to be better and keep the commandments.  Okay, that’s it…basically, it inspires me. That’s it.  I love this gospel and it inspires me.  I hope you all can experience this.  That you can let the gospel and the church inspire you and you can have a love for it.  I know that is something I have learned in my mission and I’m so glad for the things I’ve learned here.  I love this gospel with all my heart and I know it’s true.  Love you all, and keep on keepin’ on!

Elder Ollis