03/27/2017 - Go With the Intent to Actually Apply Those Things You Will Hear and Feel

So this week was a little slow. We didn't have the car and it is spring break for the next 2 weeks but the weather was absolutely incredible! like it was the first time that we had nice weather without the car! BUT THIS WEED WAS AMAZING... Week. Sorry. But that made me laugh as I wrote it so it will stay. 

The first thing, I am way too excited for general conference. First one as a missionary and I just can't wait to hear from our prophets. But I have to admit we had the most amazing miracle this week. But the story starts last sunday. So last sunday one of the young women spoke in sacrament meeting. And she invited her Friend Tia. After the meeting the girl asked us for a book of mormon to give to her friend Tia. We didn't get a chance to talk but we also didn't think too much about giving it out. Anyway. Later that day we got a call from the mother of the girl who spoke. So apparently Tia felt something at church. She went home that evening and asked her father if she could be baptized. So the mother fills us in and says they are having her over friday and she wants us to come and teach Tia the lessons!!!! We literally did nothing! So friday me and Elder Darden (we were on exchanges with the zone leaders) taught tia and put her on date for April 29th!!! She is so prepared it is amazing! She felt the spirit at church and in the lesson and had already been reading the BOM before we got there. And the best part she came to church again yesterday even sang in the Choir during sacrament meeting. So that was amazing! The lord really does bless us, but there were a couple of things I learned. First off I know the lord only blessed us because we were working hard and doing the things we were supposed to. This was the second solid referral we got which is rare here and I know it is because we are working and are only wanting to hasten the Lord’s work. (second part to come later)

Also I was super happy but Brother Strong who I told you about last week came through and he got us not only a book of mormon from the temple but he got us a set, so I have a white bible as well! Original scriptures from the Calgary temple! No way am I ever losing those. And they are amazing. They are huge and have the large font so they are way better to study with. I’ll send a picture with it.

But that was about it, other than we also taught Dave this week. But before I sign off I wanted to tell you a little about something I learned from an investigator. So these investigators, the Rodgers, have been on the fence for about 2-3 years. (fun fact… they were actually on the show Doomsday Preppers, season 2 episode 107 please look it up. But they also said it was very staged and they aren't quite like what they are portrayed as on the show) So Diane, the wife said since me and Elder Miller came she has been praying again about if this is the truth. But she says she still hasn't received an answer but she thinks she figured out why. And this is what struck me, as I thought about my prayers. She said she thinks she hasn't got an answer because she doesn't know if she has the intent to actually act on the answer (because I know she knows it's true she is just afraid to change). But I thought about myself when she said that. We can pray for many things and often times it seems like we don't get an answer but I think it is more because of ourselves. Why would our Heavenly Father answer us if we are asking for something we don't actually intend to act on? And so to bring it full circle I realized something. These lives we are given aren't really ours, they are blessings from our Heavenly Father. We are here to prove to our Heavenly Father that we want and can return to him by obeying all that he asks of us no matter how hard. And those things he asks of us come from prophets. So this general conference I hope that as you go with a question, go with a little more, go with the intent to actually apply those things you will hear and feel. Demonstrate your love for our Savior and our Heavenly Father and act upon those things our prophets ask of us. I know that our Savior lives, I love him so much and I know the atonement is the only way we can receive peace and happiness in our lives. I love this Gospel and brothers and sisters I am so happy to be out here in his service.

Elder Ollis

03/20/2017 - Enjoy Your Week and Try To Find Passion in the Gospel!

Hello everyone from home,

So this week was so full, this email won't suffice a portion of what happened. So last week started really rough. We had some pretty frustrating meetings with some certain leaders in the ward. Who kinda made it clear they weren't very interested and that the work we do now is way easier than what they did when they served missions. So I felt like they didn't have a ton of respect for what we wanted to do. But we met with our ward mission leader and he helped us focus on some things. He told us about a metaphorical family that we have now started sharing with the ward to help them focus on missionary work. He said, within our boundaries there is a man named Bill. He just moved here with his wife Karen. They have a small family but their life for some odd reason has been kindof unsettled. They felt that they were meant to come here for some reason. And we know that that reason is to come unto christ. So we need to pray and search for them because Bill and Karen can be found. I carried two BOM for them all week to help me remember who we are searching for. So that was something I needed.

So this week we also got A NEW CAR! It was a new Rav 4 and had 19 Kilometers on it when we got in. The newest car I have ever driven in my entire life. Thursday we got to go to the temple. It was cool because the member (brother strong) that took us works there as an engineer. So he took us in the basement and showed us all the heating and technical stuff that makes the temple run. So that was super cool. Also we noticed while there all the scriptures were brand new. And he told us they got new ones like a day before. Anyway we kept talking and we asked what we do with them. He said they keep them in storage or give them away. And he told us he will try and get me and my companion each one of the Book of Mormons from the temple. So that would be super cool if he could get us those. We also had retrainers friday so I got to see everyone from the MTC again, and went on exchanges again the same day. That was fun.

3/17/2017 - Retrainers Meeting

As for the most important things, the work this week was successful. The start of the week was rough but we didn't have a ton of time to get out like we wanted to. But we finally got to meet with our now new investigator DAVE! So we had been trying to meet him but it finally worked out friday. Dave is new to the area and recently went through a divorce. But we got to his house and walked in and the first thing I noticed was a big amercan flag on the wall and like alma "my heart filled with joy." Anyway he is so solid, he is from mississippi and served in the airforce then got married and moved to canada and lived here 20 years. He loves fishing and drinking coffee and beer. But he said this trial he is going through he doesn't want to be bad (turn to a bottle) and he knows Jesus Christ will give him the opportunity he wants. He is looking for a church and reads his Camo bible everyday. The lesson went well and he loved the Restoration, especially the apostacy part that he really understood. The spirit was so strong when we talked about the atonement and we left him with a bom to read that he seemed really excited to read. So that was super cool. ay

But Brothers and sisters I wanted to bear testimony about a couple of things that I learned this week. First and for most I love the temple. I prayed and went with a question. A real concern I had for the area and I sure got my answer. I prayed to know how to help the ward (since the meetings were super discouraging) and I felt like I should just keep praying for those leaders and work hard on some personal attributes. And all ready this sunday things improved with a great spirit I felt from those leaders who were quite apologetic to us. And showed a determination to work hard. And not only that but the temple was really refreshing. During retrainers I felt inspired to work on one area of my work so far. That was my passion, not just feeling it for myself but showing it. And wow. That along with the temple was one of the coolest things I experienced this week. As I made that my focus, tracting saturday was super weird. It felt super refreshing, and I had so much fun even though we only picked up one potential.

But Brothers and sisters I know that I was full of the spirit this week. I could feel it. The temple is truly the house of God and I challenge all of you to try and make it there this week. It will help you, and strengthen you because it is the saviors house and he can help us more than we can understand. I am determined this week to work myself sick, to not waste a single moment because this is His work and I am so happy to be able to be a part of it. I know that he lives and he loves all of us. Brothers and sisters please share that, the world is a dark place but I know we can and need to fill it with light. ENJOY YOUR WEEK AND TRY TO FIND PASSION IN THE GOSPEL!!

Elder Ollis

03/16/2017 - Another Text from Calgary!!!

The following is from Elder Ollis' mother:

I received another wonderful text from Calgary.  It makes my day that these wonderful people are sending me pictures of my son!

"Hi! I'm Sister R from a Ward in the Canada Calgary mission where your son is serving.  ...my husband took your son and his companion to get a Canadian classic of "poutine".  The best place is at Costco.  I thought you might enjoy the pictures.

My response:
"Thank you so much for th pictures and for feeding my son!  Poutine was something he was looking forward to trying and I'm sure he was thrilled!

Sister L response:
"Our pleasure.  We also introduced him to Donair Pizza a few weeks ago.  Not necessarily a Canadian thing but there is an awesome pizzeria near our house that make spectacular pizza....My husband is from Rwanda so he has already had African donuts.

03/13/2017 - The Lord's Work Stops for Nothing

Hello everyone. So this week was a little weird and tough but I have a great story. So first off, the cold was unreal here. Like -30 C (about -25 F) with the wind chill, and we didn't have the car!!! So let me tell you a little about how that went. Your eyelashes would often freeze together, and your face is just numb all day. And I still haven't purchased a winter coat, so I was out there in my long raincoat. It was quite interesting. But none the less, the lords work stops for nothing.

This week was also Zone conference, which was super fun to get together with people from the MTC and a couple of other zones and get to know the elders and sisters in our mission. And I learned a ton, President Miles is the best and I got answers to some things I needed answers to.

Lunch at Zone Conference

Now for the funny story, so after Zone Conference we were doing exchanges for a day. I was going to 6th ward with Elder Zolman. But Zone conference went longer than it was supposed to so we had to switch quickly with the other two elders and make it to our supper appointments. So as you can imagine, some things were forgotten, one being the keys to our room. After our supper with a member we got back to the room and we had to put my things away so we could go do some visits. That is when we realized we didn't have keys to get in. However there were some spare keys in the room, on the third floor of the building. So imagine this, it is dark, freezing cold, lightly snowing. I am wearing my dress shoes and suit pants and I climbed up the balconies to the third floor. All while people are just inside their rooms watching T.V. and no one saw me. The best part was when I got on our balcony, the slider door was locked. So I pulled out a credit card and flipped the lock to get in and get our spare key. So that was kind of eventful. Something I won't be doing again hopefully.

But this week was a little tough. We are getting no support from our members in the ward and it is super frustrating. Because this area has been pretty tracted out, it's hard to find people to teach, and I know there are opportunities if the ward would tell us something, but they won’t. So we just need to work harder and find people to teach so our ward sees we are serious and need help. But this next week will be good. I have a couple of things to look forward to, one is we get a car and thursday we are going to the temple. And I know that if I go with a question I will receive an answer. So I am excited for that.

But brothers and sisters, before I finish, I just want to bear my testimony. This gospel is so true. I don't just say that, I mean that. There is no question in my mind that this work is the most important thing on earth. And this week as I was studying I came across the story of ammon glorying in God to his brothers. And he sums it up perfectly. I can't even begin to tell you how much our God loves us, and that I love him because he provided a way for us to return to him. I am so thankful for Jesus Christ and his atonement and for everything he has done for us. And I know that he is our savior, and that he lives and that no matter what we do there is nothing that he can't help us through. I love this gospel and Jesus Christ and am so thankful for the opportunity I have to share it. And I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

03/11/2017 - A Text from Calgary?!!

The following is from Elder Ollis' mother:


I received the following text on Saturday....

"Hi! I'm Sister L in Calgary eh. Your wonderful son is helping us peel wallpaper!"
"Thanks for giving him to us for 2 years!"

My response:
"Oh my goodness!  This is only the second picture I've received since he arrived in Calgary.  Thank you so much! Tell me a little about yourself.  I wish I could thank you in person."

Sister L response:
"He's been reprimanded for not sending you any haha!"
"We're poor students while my husband finishes his accounting requirements haha! So we're very grateful for the service they are rendering today!"

What a tender mercy from the Lord...seeing is believing and I'm so glad he is serving wherever he is needed!  Sister L attached the photo below:

03/06/2017 - Missionary Opportunities Are Really Everywhere and Can Be From Anyone

So hello everyone! I decided to not wait until I was almost out of time to write this so I have a little more to say. To start I think I'll keep sharing a couple funny things about Canada, because this place is pretty different than the states. So two things I thought were funny. The first, here in Canada pedestrians have the right of way. No matter what. So they have all these cross walks where you press a button and just walk into the street. It's kinda freaky, every time I have done it I always think I could potentially be sent to the celestial kingdom. The other thing was what I found in the hymn books. First off in all the hymn books at the church they have the star spangled banner, because they are from the states. But here in Canada they glued “O Canada” in the back. Like straight up they just glued their national anthem in the back. It's super funny.

So this week was a pretty good one, we had the car, which was nice, but conveniently it was also warm. We always get the car when it is warm and walk when it is freezing. But this week we made it our goal to meet with as many members as we could and try to get them engaged in member missionary work, because that is where the most success is.
So we invited nearly the whole ward to this missionary plan we had created. But we also invited anyone who had had a missionary experience to bear their testimony about it and missionary work. So when they opened the time Sunday for testimonies, like 5 or 6 people stormed the pulpit and all bore testimony about missionary work. And even other people after the people we invited also shared about missionary work. It was super cool and the spirit was so strong. It honestly got me super excited to get back out there and work. But I just hope hearing it from members will get the rest of the ward engaged and looking for opportunities to share. I hope it gets contagious because there is so much joy in sharing the gospel.

Another cool experience we had was we were visiting with Brother Higa, our Elders quorum president. And let me tell you about Brother Higa, he is the man, literally every lesson we have ever needed his help with he comes. Also, he is starting a cleaning business, so all day he listens to conference talks as he cleans people’s homes, so he is always feeling the spirit. Anyway, while visiting with his family and inviting him to share his testimony a man comes to the door from some power company. So Brother Higa invites him to listen to a quick message from the missionaries. And he did. We bore our testimonies and gave him a book of mormon and invited him to read it. And he was super excited to read it! We exchanged phone numbers, and we are going to check back and see how he is doing. It was cool. The only problem was the guy doesn't live in our area, for some odd reason we are really good at finding people to teach for everyone else in the mission except ourselves. But it did help me realize that missionary opportunities are really everywhere and can be from anyone. And I know that our first purpose as a missionary is to invite others to come unto Christ (repent), and as long as we do this we will have success.

This week we also had interviews with President Miles. And I know that he is called of God, he was sent here to Calgary because it is where the lord needed him, and same goes for me. I am here because the lord needed me to share his gospel in this part of the world. And I am so grateful for the opportunity to share. I love this gospel and everyone. I know that our savior lives. I started to read Jesus the Christ, and brothers and sisters, there is no word to describe the amount of love Christ has for us. To go through everything, literally everything, for us is something so powerful, I can't even imagine. I can only try and be like him, and love everyone. And can only try and share his message. 

Elder Ollis