07/24/2018 - We Have to Trust in Christ to Truly Have Our "Seas Calmed"

HEY everyone! 

Well a good week this week! It was also a blur so let me try and recount the blessings we had!  We started the week on another Exchange. It was super different. I was with Elder Raun, he is from Taiwan. It was awesome, he is still learning the language so it was a little tough for him, but we did some awesome work and we saw a cool miracle. We were looking for a former investigator and we knocked into a guy named Paul, he let us in and we were able to teach almost all of the restoration, and invited him to church. But he didn't come and we haven't seen him again. But we will work to catch him this week! We could find a new investigator! I know we will. 

Then we worked pretty regular all week, seeking to find more people to teach, we were in members homes, out on the streets and all over to find more people to bring closer to Christ. We saw another miracle. We had a day where we were just struggling to get some appointments, well the Lord needed us to do something else. So we did what we always do and got to work contacting and trying to talk to as many people as possible. We  were looking for another former investigator and knocked the door and a man came out and started talking to us. It was such a funny experience, he had LDS friends when he was in high school and even came to church. We were able to answer tons of his questions and started teaching the restoration. Anyway, we got side tracked by a question about adam and eve and before we know it we were being taught about how he is Vegan and we should be vegan too. It was a new one for me, haven't ever had that on the mission before. The whole time I was thinking " he is talking to the wrong guys, I am going to go home and be a farmer and Elder Johnson pretty much doesn't like anything except meat." Haha it was super fun, it made sense and the guy was super genuine about it so we listened and left him with a book of mormon. He was excited to read it. We even shared with him D&C 89 and he loved it! haha it was a fun experience, he wants to know more and said we should meet up again and go to a vegan resturant. It was great and I know the Lord needed us to find him! Unfortunately he is a YSA but thats ok! (also he drove a hybrid). He was a baller and we are excited to teach again. 

Anyway that is what the week was like. We were also able to take a lot of the young men out with us, which is always super fun, preparing them for missions. One of the Young men got his call to Hawaii and is hyped to come out with us. He was even made a ward missionary and was at our coordination with our ward mission leader this week. So we are getting him ready! 

Lastly I guess this week was a spiritual pump up for me. This area has had ups and downs, seems like almost weekly, but missions are hard. Anyway I was reading about Jesus calming the tempest, and it resonated with me. We have to trust in Christ to truly have our "seas calmed". So I made the extra effort to make this happen. It started with prayer, praying more fervently, remembering him throughout the day and praying so that I can be a tool in his hands to find the prepared. It was a much needed spiritual boost. Sometimes in the mission you think you got it, and you just lean on your experience, but as I focused more on Him I really felt the spirit extra strong. I know the Lord is there for each of us.

Also tomorrow I hit my 18 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Love, Elder Ollis

7/24/2018 - Some of my favorite members gave us a 5 gallon bucket of ice cream
(don't worry there was only like a gallon left, we didn't eat all of it) 

07/24/2018 - Lambo of the week

07/24/2018 - Not a lambo but still a dope car.
And you all should email me your vote, red or blue, Byu or Utah? Which looks the best?
(you all know I think the blue)

07/17/2018 - We Are Striving to be the Best Finders This Mission Has Seen

Well hello everyone.

This week was crazy. Seems like last Pday was a month ago. But we did a lot of stuff this week. Last tuesday we went on exchanges. So I got to be in Wildwood area again, which covers downtown calgary. Super cool. We got to go past the stampede grounds and holy cow that is a huge event! There are so many people there it was crazy. But the stampede is officially over now. Then we just worked hard all week. 

Saturday we had our stampede breakfast, so we got to cook pancakes and sausage for a ton of people, that was fun. Our new investigator came, she seemed to enjoy it. Then Sunday night we did a special BYD with all the youth in both our wards. We did a face to face thing with them and brought President Keung and SIster Keung and helped answer questions the youth had about missions, missionary work and just about everything in between. It was a great way to introduce our new mission President to the ward and encourage those there to share the gospel! Also as a result our bishop invited us to do a 5th sunday lesson about social media missionary work. So things are going good! It was a lot of fun. 

Then we had Zone Conference Yesterday. It was great to get some good training. We are really striving as a mission to find more people to teach. The reason is, our mission is really good about getting those we teach baptized. We have a higher percentage than most missions of people being taught actually getting baptized, but we aren't finding as many. So we are striving to be the best finders this mission has seen. So it's exciting! But that is about all I got.We are working hard and doing lots of good. I love this gospel! 

Oh and to update on our investigator, we were able teach her and give her a book of mormon, but we are going to pass her off to the Mandrin speaking missionaries because we think she will progress better with them.

Elder Ollis

07/17/2018 - A guy in our ward is a fishing guide.  He gets to fly fish 6 days a week!

07/17/2018 - Lambo of the Week

07/10/2018 - Persistence Pays Dividends

Hello Everyone.

Well I will make this brief. This week was quite a week. We had MLC Friday. It was new and very different with a new mission President. So that was pretty interesting. Then we went on Exchanges with the Spanish speaking missionaries. So I was with Elder Fish in the Spanish missionaries area. Kinda a new one for me. Just followed along not sure what in the world was going on. But it was a good day. Then we had a great Sunday. 

Monday we had a couple of cool miracles, we were driving and I saw this van in a driveway that said restoration on it. It was for another Church, so me and Elder Johnson went and talked to the guy in his house. Anyway it was cool because he seemed interested and a really good guy and was willing to listen to what we said. So we are going to try him again some time. Then that same day we were trying to contact a former investigator. They weren't home so we knocked a few doors around. No one was interested but we asked for referrals and a lady sent us across the street to try a house. Anyway, they weren't interested either but we tried next to them and found a lady. So how it happened was this. When I knock doors I kinda am to that point in my mission where unless that person has the guts to slam the door in my face or tell me to go away I just keep teaching because I am tired of rude people. Even when I can tell they aren't interested I just take the time to teach so they can hopefully feel the spirit. So we knock this door and I could tell the lady wasn't interested, but once again I just thought, well until I hear “Not interested” and she closes that door I am just going to teach the restoration. So I did. I began teaching very simply the restoration and got to our Savior’s Earthly ministry. Well at that point she said “ok I will listen” and went and grabbed us some chairs and we sat down with her on her porch and began teaching. It was amazing. We were able to teach and eventually she accepted an invitation for us to return and teach her more. It will take some time, she struggles to accept anything other than the bible and wouldn't take a Book of Mormon, but we will get there. So we picked her up as a new investigator! So that was awesome!

But that is about all that is going on up here. It's summer and our wards are really small because everyone is gone. 4th ward probably didn't have more than 80 people there. So appointments are hard to come by these days. The other thing is Stampede is going on too! So lots of drinking and everyone dresses like a cowboy. And most people if they have time off are down at the stampede. We don't get to go to that as missionaries. But that is about all that’s been going on. Have a good week.

07/03/2018 - I Guess I Am a First, and There is Still Something For Me To Do Here

Well hello everyone. Another week is gone and on the board. 

First news is that I stayed. Elder Johnson and I will be together for another 7 weeks (six now) and I am excited! I am the first missionary in a whole year to do 2 transfers with a companion in this area. So that is pretty cool. I guess I am a first, and there is still something for me to do here. 

It was a good week. We worked hard and got things all set up for the transfer, Josh's baptism went well. Then we had Canada day on Sunday! So that was fun, got to celebrate the country we all love! It was a little rough, our wards were really empty and so were the streets. And it was rainy and cold. So a little bit of a dreary week but things always get better when people come home from their trips. 

We were also able to meet President Keung yesterday. I love the Keungs!! They are so loving and kind. Kinda crazy how you could feel the love they had for us even when they really don't know anything about us yet. What a learning curve right!? Gosh that would be tough. But they were ready to go and all fired up. I especially loved Sister Keung’s remarks. She said I don't know what I am doing, I am just a mother, President Keung does though. And she went on to talk about how we all, including them, are here by inspiration and foreordained to be here. It was really amazing to consider. (also just imagine them saying that in a New Zealander accent). We had a funny experience with them too. On Saturday Elder Johnson and I got a media referral, so we tried to find the apartment and couldn't find the apartment number. So we gave the number a call and they text us back saying they will call us back. Well they didn't, so that evening Elder Johnson said we should call one more time. So I did. Well, it turns out the number was President Keung's phone from before the mission haha, and he referred us someone he met but accidentally put his number in. So we had a funny conversation as I invited him to meet with the missionaries and he asked what district or zone I was in. Haha It was really a funny experience. 

But things are good. We have a good week planned and a lot to do. Anyway, I am a little tired of writing this email so have a good week and remember to keep focused on the Savior, we were able to partake of the sacrament this week and we promised to do so!

Love, Elder Ollis

6/26/2018 - I Know That No Effort is Wasted

Hey everyone back home,

So I will keep this one short. Not much happened that I thought would be worthwhile to share. It is officially summer here. Canadian schools are finishing up tests this week and Stampede is right around the corner. So tons of people are leaving on vacation because the summer is short, and some people are already talking about winter haha! Gotta love Canada! But we had a pretty alright week. We were out and about and were trying to find people to teach. Not much to say in return but we are doing our best and I know that no effort is wasted. Josh, our investigator, is still going to be baptized this saturday. We are working hard to get that going. So that is exciting! But not much else to say. 

I hit my 17 month mark yesterday, and the sisters that I came out with go home tomorrow (I know the transfers lined up weird and they lost a month) So I have officially completed a sister mission!!!!! But as for the big news, everyone in the mission is just sitting in anticipation for this next week. It will be cool to see all the changes. We have transfer calls going out tonight, transfers thursday, president leaves saturday and President Keung will officially be here. So next monday we get to have a special meeting in the north part of Calgary to meet President Keung and Sister Keung and then everything will be new. I am excited! I am looking forward to having a new Mission President, to see things from a new perspective and learn from one more great man. One that has been called to be here. 

I love this gospel, I love every moment I have to serve. Love you all and keep going, even when we feel like we are ready to collapse.  That is right when we give the last little bit and the Lord will be there to help us. Keep thinking of Him!