Reflections

These past two years just might have been the fastest two years of my life. I remember the moments before I left home like they happened yesterday. But looking back and reflecting on everything that has happened in these past 17 transfers, I am eternally grateful that I chose to serve a mission. It has been a life-changing experience. "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17)." Serving a mission has brought a rich, colorful meaning to those words. I know that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that he sent His son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for our wrongdoings, and that through faith, repentance and baptism we can be cleansed of them and can be worthy to feel the guidance of the Holy Ghost. I have never known that with as much certainty as I do now. 

On Sunday, July 16 at 11:00 AM I will be giving my homecoming talk to report on my mission. This will take place at 4100 St. Johns Lane Ellicott City, MD. All are invited to attend.

I want to thank everyone that supported me before and during my mission, and I hope that at least a couple of people will support me afterwards too. I love you all!

Love, 

Elder Olivier

Almost Home

We received this email on June 26.

So this week was pretty monumental. The mission executive secretary called us up to talk about.......flight plans. I think my mind still hasn´t wrapped itself completely around the fact that in less than a month I will be back in the states. At the beginning of my mission two years seemed like such a long time. Now, looking back, it seems like hardly any time at all.  On July 14 I will arrive home. 

We also went on splits with the elders from Manacapuru this week, which is one of my old areas. I was kind of wondering how Manacapuru was going to be (will the people that I baptized still be active? Will everyone remember me?), but I was comforted to be able to see tons of people again that I had come to love, and was super comforted to see several of the people that I had baptized, even though we only stayed there for one day and our schedule didn´t allow much time for me to visit people. During the day we went to the english class that one of the members gives every day at the church (still!) and the first person that we saw there was a young woman that I had taught with Elder Fernandez over a year ago. That was such a happy moment. Actually, the whole day was a happy moment. 

Actually, my whole mission was a happy moment. I can´t believe it´s coming to a close. I don´t know if I should be happy that I´m coming home or sad that I won´t be here in Brazil anymore. 

This week President Castro goes home and Presidente Caetano will arrive. So for the last week of my mission I will have a new mission president. I´ll see how that goes.

If anyone wants to send me one last email, next Monday will be the last day that I will be able to see it!

Have a great week! Love u all!

Élder Olivier!

Father's Day

We received this email on June 19.

Happy Father´s Day, Dad! 

My week was good. The work in our area is pretty slow right now, but we should have some baptisms coming up. I haven´t looked for any athletic shoes yet, but maybe next week I´ll try to find some. Things have still been a little hectic because we still have to bring a bunch of stuff from our old house to our new house, but everyone we ask to help us seems to cancel on us.....But this week someone will help us for sure!

I got the package! There was lots of stuff in it! Easter candy, a BYU shirt, good-smell shoe balls, hair gel, sunscreen, peanut butter, oreos and some other stuff. Thanks so much! 

Congrats Zach on your eagle project! Looks like you´re been dying to get that over with! 

Have a great week! 

Love, 

Elder Olivier

P.S.

Here are some pictures of President Castro´s last mission council that the secretaries finally sent this week!