Letter #96 (October 18, 2010) - FINAL EMAIL!!!

It has been an emotional week for me as I prepare to leave my mission.  It still doesn't feel quite real that I'm going home.  But I have felt from time to time that this is it.  No more district meetings.  No more sacramet meeting as a missionary.  No more teaching the Gospel with power and authority as a set apart representative of our Lord Jesus Christ.  I have said bye to many so far and there are more goodbyes to come in the next 2 days.  Tears have wet my cheeks several times this week.  As I have evaluated my efforts for these last 2 years, I feel that the Lord is pleased.  The adversary has tried to magnify my inadequacies and short-comings.  I suppose that I'm not alone in these feelings.  Nevertheless, I've been humbled throughout my mission.  I have seen my weaknesses, probably more now than ever before my mission.  I think of a scripture in Ether 12:27, "If men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness..."  Where in the world could you come more unto Christ than serving Him as His full-time representative on a mission.  I feel confident that I have grown and matured to a better person.  My greatest desire is to build up the Lord's Church all the days of my life wherever He calls me to serve in whatever calling or assignment.  I have friends and family that don't have what I have and I will endeavor to bring them to Christ.  There is no greater work than that of bring souls unto Christ.

      I can't wait to see you all when I get back.  I love you all!  Its going to be a wonderful reunion. 

      Yesterday went well.  We had more dissapointments with our investigators not coming to Church.  The Vermudez family are no longer taking the discussions. As Sacrament meeting started and Elder Lake and I noticed that none of our investigators or the Garzas, the less-active family in attendance, my heart saddened and I thought that was going to be the dissapointing end to my mission.  A minute or 2 later we looked back into the congregation and we saw the Hermano and Hermana Garza sitting down looking happy.  I waved at them and thanked them.  This was their first time in Sacrament meeting in over a year.  God is a God of miracles.  How can I doubt His infinite love for His Children.  I wept for joy.  I was asked to bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting.  I did and I was guided by the Holy Ghost.  It was a triumphant end to my mission.  I'm grateful for this work and I know that it's true.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #95 (Oct. 11, 2010)

    This week was a bit dissapointing.  We had 5 baptismal dates fall through.  The Vermudez family didn't come to church yesterday and they won't be getting baptized on the 17th.  They haven't been keeping their commitments consistently.  We'll have a talk when we visit them.  It's probable that we're going to let them go for a season and put their records into the former investigators section of the area book.  Ana and Heydi, the teenage sisters that had baptismal dates are not allowed by their mother to get taught by us.  Their family is against the Church.  This was tough for us.  They were eager to learn, kept commitments, and were excited for their baptisms. This week has been rough.  I've been comforted by the Comforter. 
     Despite the dissapointments we saw several miracles.  We've been teaching by the Spirit.  We taught the Garzas, a less-active family.  Elder Lake taught things that the Spirit had prompted me to teach.  It was amazing to see the Spirit work through both of us.  Hermana Garza said at one point that some of the things we were saying are in her patriachal blessing.  We invited them to kneel and offer a prayer to God to receive strength and direction on reading the Book of Mormon daily, praying as a family, and attending Church.  Hermana Garza offered the prayer.  It was a great experience.

     This is the Lord's Church.  There's no greater work on the earth.  I know this to be true.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #94 (October 4, 2010)

Elder Lake and I had another good week.  The Vermudez family went to conference.  There were some complications with the spanish broadcast so they didn't get to listen to most of the conference in spanish.  But they enjoyed their time.  They have a baptism date for the 17th of October.  They need to keep their commitments and come to church and they'll be ready.
    We found out yesterday that one of our investigators who had a baptismal date for October 17th was actually baptized 2 years ago in Mexico.  He had told the missionaries that he had already been baptized.  We thought he meant he was baptized in the Catholic church.  We gave the branch clerk his information to confirm that he's already a member.
          Elder Lake is doing great things.  He has a sincere desire to do what's right.  We're having a great time.  We're teaching well.  We're following up.  We had a great member visit last night in which we asked the member to think about one of his friends during our brief study on Mosiah 27.  We taught the importance of praying with faith.  We then, got on our knees and he offered a prayer of how to help his friend this week so that his friend could receive the gospel.  He received the impression to study the scriptures during the week with his friend.  We told him that we'll follow-up on Thursday with his studying with his friend. 
     I'm grateful for this work.  I know that its true.

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #93 (Sept. 27, 2010)

Elder Lake and I had a good week.  Hermana Maldonado received the gift of the Holy Ghost and was confirmed a member.  I had the privilege of performing the ordinance.  It was a tough week for her.  She had to leave her house with her 2 year old daughter because of conflict she had with her sister's boyfriend.  They all lived together.  Fortunately, Leonila Maldonado was able to get support from the members and she'll be living with them until she could find a permanent residence.  It's amazing to see the opposition attack this work.  All throughout my mission I've seen people as their drawing nearer to God they've received great opposition.  Many have not made it to baptism as they've been scorched by the fiery darts of the adversary.  I'm convinced that there are no other people on this earth that receive more opposition than the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints.  We could be purged and sanctified as we choose to follow God or we could be scorched and burned spiritually if we choose to succumb to the opposition.  Great is the Lord!  He's a God of miracles!

      We have 4 baptismal dates set for October.  2 of them are teenage sisters, Ana and Heydi.  They're not getting the best support from their family members.  Heydi is a good friend of a member named Daniel Perdomo.  He attends the Raleigh 3rd spanish branch.  I know him from when I served in Raleigh.  She's been to church twice and she's enjoying everything about the Church.  Her sister Ana has been sick lately so she hasn't been to church yet.  We feel good about them getting baptized soon.

       We're teaching another family named the Vermudez.  They're having trouble keeping commitments and coming to church.  They have so much potential.  Their date may have to get pushed back again.

      I'm grateful for this work.  I know that its true.

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #92 (Sept. 20, 2010)

We had a great week.  Leonila M. got baptized yesterday.  She enjoyed her baptism.  The branch has welcomed her warmly.  She'll be confirmed a member and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost next Sunday. 
     We're working with the members and teaching them the doctrine of Christ.  I feel confident that we're going to start see many people come unto the fold, due to the strengthening of the member's understanding of the atonement and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
     Elder Lake is a great young man.  He has righteous desires and is very humble.  But yet he's confident and has great composure.  He's going to do great things in this mission.        know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He lives!  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His only true and living church on this earth.

Letter #91 (Sept. 6, 2010) - LAST TRANSFER!

   I got transferred to another area with 6 weeks left on my mission.  I know that it was an inspired call.  I'm serving in Garner as a spanish-speaking missionary.  I'm excited to teach in spanish again.  My companion is Elder Lake.  He's been out for 6 weeks.  He's a very good guy and seems very solid in his character and purpose. 

    I had a great 4 1/2 months in Washington.  I love the members there.  I loved serving with Elder Haws.  He's going to do great things on his mission and afterwards.  It's amazing how you come to love the people you're serving.  I'm determined to have the best 6 weeks of my mission here in Garner.  I love this work and I know that its true.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #90 (August 30, 2010)

We had a good week.  We had a leadership training for 3 days in Goldsboro.  We learned many great things.  We focused on topics such as baptismal invitation, helping our investigators attend sacrament meeting, "we invite, they commit, we follow-up", teaching people not lessons.  I've learned how to better rely on the Spirit.  This is a Spirit-Driven work.  We just need to get out of the way and let the Spirit teach.  I use to be timid about asking questions.  That just wasn't my thing.  But now I love asking questions.  There is something that they would say that will give us insight to how to better meet their needs.  This is a miraculous work!

    I had the great privilege to spend time with our mission president on Wednesday.  Him and Sister Cotterell took Elder Haws and I out to Men's Wearhouse to buy me a couple of suits and a pair of nice shoes.  It was an amazing gesture of love and kindness.  We had a great time.  I have a great love for President Cotterell and his wife.  He has taught me much and he's such an amazing man. 

     I love this work.  I know that its true.  We had the Watsons come to church for the first time yesterday.  They seemed to have enjoyed it.  We hope that they continue to progress.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #89 (August 23, 2010)

It was a slower week.  We had a great experience with Becky Voyles.  We contacted her a month ago and gave her a Book of Mormon.  We taught her for the 1st time about 10 days ago.  She had been reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning.  She should already be up to Alma.  She's amazing!  We had a powerful lesson with her 10 days ago.  We helped her recognize the Spirit.  She said that she had been praying to know if the Book of Mormon was true, but that she may have been lacking the real intent.  We had a great lesson with her.  When we saw her last week she told us that she's been enlightened as she's been reading the Book of Mormon.  She has felt the Spirit.  She then told us that when Elder Haws shared the 1st vision the previous week, she saw a great light eminating from the middle of Elder Haws' chest to the top of his head.  That was her answer to the divinity of Joseph Smith's mission as the Lord's prophet.  She told us that she told her close friends that she was going to pursue our church, and they were surprisingly supportive.  We set a baptismal date for September 25th.  She's going to be out of town for the next 2 weekends but should make it to Church in 2 weeks.  We feel good about her. 
    We've had some good member visits with the branch members.  We had one with the Penhollows.  We invited them think of a friend that they've been thinking about to share the gospel with.  We then shared a spiritual thought with them.  Then we invited them to pray for their friends and to allow time for the Spirit to reveal to them what they could do to help their friends receive the gospel.  It was a great experience.  We knelt down and Sister Penhollow offered a prayer.  The Penhollows were guided by the Holy Ghost.  Jesse, their 15 year old daughter was inspired to invite her friend Hope Jarvis to sing with her in Sacrament meeting.  The Holy Ghost was present in that experience. 

    This is the Lord's Church.  I'm grateful for this opportunity to serve him.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #88 (August 16, 2010)

We had a tough week. Wanda cancelled our appointment on Monday and told us that she didn't want to meet up with us again. Her family is opposed to us and she doesn't want to have any problems with them. We helped her recognized the Spirit she felt when we taught her the week before, but she didn't want to meet up with us. We had another dissapointment with another lady named Julie Purefoy who was a miracle contact. We set a baptismal date with her on Tuesday for September 11th. She called us the next day and told us that her family is very opposed to us and that her mother said that she will disown her if she joins our church. We're no longer teaching Beth O'brien the Part-member investigator. Her husband, the member destroyed our Spiritual lesson we were having with them when he rushed us by asking us to pray. Then he said that we were being pushy by extending a baptismal commitment.


Brenda didn't come to church yesterday so she won't be making her baptism for August 28th. She's also going to start school up again, which will make her very busy, coming home late after work and school. We had dinner with her last night with President Groves, our branch president. It was a powerful lesson. We asked inspired and bold questions. She let us know her concerns. There were mainly: Social (afraid of her current friends reaction to her new standards), she's never been a committed person, she wants to dress immodest, and some other things. We were very bold with her at the end of our lesson. Elder Haws asked her a series of questions that helped her know our purpose and the importance of having real intent and keeping commitments. It was amazing! The Spirit was felt. How merciful and loving is our Father in Heaven. Despite this being probably the most dissapointing week of my mission, God has blessed me with His Spirit and comforted me. I feel that we're doing our part.
Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #87 (August 2, 2010)

It was a slower week for us. We were still able to be guided by the Spirit and witness a lot of miracles. Our investigators are going through some difficult and transitional times. A few of them are working more than usual. Others are going through some serious family problems. We feel like they are receptive to the gospel and that they want to draw nearer to God. I'm confident that God's will will be done here in Washington.


Elder Haws is doing good. He has a great love for our investigators. We're getting along very well.

The principle of covenants has been on my mind this last week. These are some of my thoughts on the matter: We must be willing to follow the Lord. The Prophet is His representative. We must be willing to follow the Prophet. As members of His Church we are required to make covenants with the Lord and heed the words of the prophets. We are placed under a greater obligation than any other people. But we are promised the greatest blessings he has in store.

I'm grateful for my mission. I know that this is His Church.
Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #86 (July 26, 2010)

We had a good week. We are having trouble with getting into the homes of many of our investigators. They have been many re-scheduling of appointments. It seems like there is always something that pops up with our investigators to cause them to reschedule. Either they're out of town, facing difficult trials with family members, or something else. Stephen Brown is working a lot and we haven't been able to teach him. He did come to church on Sunday. But he has an addiction to cigarrettes which has plagued him for the last 15 years. He's also still recovering from his wife's miscarriage. I'll keep you updated on his status.

We were still able to find new investigators and witness some big miracles. There is a lady in her 40's who we contacted on Saturday morning outside her apartment complex. She said that she use to get literature sent to her home from our church. We found out that the literature was actually from another church. But that prompted the thought that she has been searching for something spiritually. We asked her if she feels that in the last few years she has been searching for what is true. She said yes. We then explained to her that we prayed the night before to know where we should go this morning, and that God led us to her path. She paused for a little while. She then said that she prayed the night before for God to send her someone in her path to touch her heart. She then had tears in her eyes. She then exclaimed that she had chills run down her body. She started to thank the Lord publically. She then went towards us and with her big arms, grabbed both of us and gave us one hug. She was deeply touched. And so were we. God is a God of miracles!

Letter #85 (July 19, 2010)

We had another great week. It started off slow with almost all of our appointments being cancelled and then re-scheduled. Stephen had a tragedy this week. His wife had a miscarriage. She was 7 weeks pregnant. This has been a tough week for Stephen. His faith was tried. We helped him realize that Satan was attacking his faith in God. Stephen agreed! He still wants to get baptized. We'll probably push the date back a week. He's a good man! He has a good heart. We feel good about him.


We had 2 new investigators come to church. One of them is Bonnie Rumbolo. We met her about 5 weeks ago but we taught her for the 1st time last Saturday. She's been busy with work and has had trouble with her teenage son. So, she's been going through some very difficult times. She has a boyfriend that was present for our appointment. They have an 8 year old son. Her boyfriend didn't seem too interested, but he did seem supportive of us teaching her. We had a great lesson with her on Saturday and she enjoyed Sacrament meeting yesterday. She has some obstacles but she has great potential.

Cindy was our other investigator at church. We met her about 4 weeks ago. We taught her Saturday as well. She's single and in her mid 40's. Her family is supportive of us teaching her as well. She's never been too religious but she's receptive to our message. She enjoyed all 3 meetings of church. The branch fellowshipped her well. We're excited about her.

I'm grateful for this work. I know that its true!

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #84 (July 12, 2010)

Vanessa Dixon entered the waters of baptism on July 10th 2010. She was confirmed a member and received the gift of the Holy Ghost the following day in Sacrament meeting. She wants to do what's right and has a great desire to follow the Lord. She has an amazing story. She was taught by the missionaries nearly 15 years ago. Her husband was opposed to the Church so she discontinued being taught by the missionaries. She's been separated from her husband for awhile now. About 3 months ago, Elder Collard (my former companion) and Elder Mcvey contacted her in her house. They were actually lost or they mistook Vanessa Dixon's address for some other potential investigator. She was taught a 1st lesson and then they set a baptismal date with her for June 5th. But, the missionaries had trouble getting a hold of her for a couple of weeks, including when I entered Washington. But, we finally got a hold of her. From that time she had been solid. She has been attuned with the Spirit. She received the teachings very well. She fasted the night and morning prior to her baptism. I'm very grateful that I had the privilege of baptizing her. She has such a great light and is going to be a great addition to the Church. She also has many Grandchildren that she takes care of. They look up to her. They have been nice to us and I see some of them getting baptized in the near future.

Stephen is doing well. He's still excited about his baptismal date for July 31st. His wife is going through some health issues. We came to find out that she has Crohn's disease, the same disease that I have. He said that his wife has read some of the Book of Mormon as he goes out to work. She said that its interesting. We have an appointment with him on Wednesday in his home. We taught him in the church before. Hopefully, his wife is there and receptive.

Elder Haws and I are doing amazing things. I have a great love for Elder Haws. He had a tough journey to get on his mission. Its a miracle that he's here. Not many people on this earth can go through what he's been through and be where he's at right now. I respect and admire him. The Lord put us together. This is the Lord's work! This is His Church!

Elder Olaya

Letter # 83 (July 6, 2010)

Things are going very well in Washington. We set a baptismal date with Stephen Brown for July 31st. When we extended the baptismal commitment and date he said, "You already knew I was going to say yes." He's amazing. I'll keep you updated on him.

Vanessa Dixon is set for her baptism on July 10th. She said that her sister, daughter-in-law, and one of her granddaughters are going to attend her baptism. She's going to be a great addition to the Washington Branch. Beth Obrien, the part-member investigator is excited to attend her baptism. Her husband, Brother Obrien is going to give a talk on the Holy Ghost at her baptism. That should really help them get closer to a baptismal date. We'll set one this Sunday with them. I really feel that she's going to be baptized real soon.

I'll send some pictures next week. We've seen many miracles. The Lord is great. This is the most I've been lost in the work in my entire mission. I'm grateful for Elder Haws. He has grown so much from when we first were put together. He has righteous desires and he has a great love for the people we teach and come in contact with.

This is the Lord's work. I know that He lives.
Elder Olaya

Letter #82 (June 28, 2010)

We had an amazing week. Elder Haws and I are teaching by the Spirit and are witnessing a lot of miracles. There was a Church pageant performed in Bath, NC about 15 miles west of where we live. This production has been going on for the last 5 years, 2nd year in Bath. It started in Raleigh. Sister Judy Downey is the producer. She's a member of our branch. The pageant is about a man from North Carolina who fought in the American Revolutionary War. His decendants became members of the Church while in Missouri. It had scenes from the Book of Mormon and a powerful scene where Christ visit the Americas. They showed Joseph Smith and his search for the truth. They also showed his matyrdom. We were asked by the Sister Downey with the suggestion and approval coming from President Hancock, the Kinston Stake President to give some of the cast members from the pageant blessings of comfort. This was on Tuesday. We ended up giving about 50 blessings to the cast members in one of the rooms in the theatre. We alternated giving blessings. We started with about 50 in the room and once a person received a blessing, that person would leave the room. We asked someone to offer a prayer before we started. It was an amazing experience. The Holy Ghost was present. Many hearts were touched and many eyes were filled with tears.


The Pageant was amazing. Not many non-members attended, but I know that the testimonies of all that participated were strengthened and that they will share the gospel more willingly from now on. The Spirit was felt during the performance. There was a lady who has several friends in the Church that attended the pageant. She's 80 years old, but is in good shape. She's familiar with our teaching and has always liked our church, but she's been stuck with her presbiterian faith. It's hard to break that social club that other churches have. But she came to Church yesterday and felt the Spirit. She said that she's been "church hopping" She agreed to being taught. She has some things that's going to keep her unavailable for the next few weeks, but we'll get in touch with her soon.

Probably the greatest miracle of my mission occured on Saturday. We contacted this guy named Stephen Brown, a man in his mid to late 20's outside his house as he was washing his car. We had an amazing quality gospel conversation with him and weshared the 1st vision. When we asked him how he felt, he said that this message sounds very familiar to him. We helped him recognized that it was the Holy Ghost testifying to him of the truthfulness of our message and bringing it to his remembrance. He then said that 12 years ago that he had a dream that 2 guys like us came to him and taught him. WOW! The Spirit burned in my bosom and tears filled my eyes when he said that.

We invited him to church. There was a problem. He plays the piano for his church in New Bern at 11am and our church is at 9am. He would have to attend sacrament meeting and leave promptly to get to New Bern which is more than 40 mins away. We had hopes he would come. Atleast, I had hope while Elder Haws knew he would come. As we were in the foyer at Church greeting people as they walked our way, we saw Stephen Brown. Great joy filled my heart and I greeted him with a hug. God is a God of miracles! We'll teach him on Wednesday evening.

This is the Lord's work!

Elder Olaya

Letter #81 (June 21, 2010)

It was one of the best weeks of my mission. I love Elder Haws. We've been guided by the Spirit throughout the week. I felt the Spirit strongly when I met Elder Haws on Tuesday. He's from Lehi, Utah. I'm grateful that I'm training him. He has an amazing testimony. I know that it was an inspired call to put us together. We had an amazing night on Wednesday in which we set a solid baptismal date with Vannessa D. She'll be baptized on July 10th. Our branch mission leader, Brother Agustin asked her how she felt when the date was extended to her. She said that she felt a warmth and good feeling come to her body. That was the Holy Ghost! She came to church on Sunday.


We had one of the best days of my mission on Saturday. We entered into 4 homes and taught powerful lessons. We were guided by the Spirit. When we left our apartment Saturday morning we rode our bikes for an hour to get to our 1st appointment. We taught a 73 year-old man named John Mosely. This was the 2nd time we taught him, 1st with Elder Haws. He's Baptist. He's receptive and has a sound religious mind. We taught an amazing 1st lesson. We taught the Great Apostasy with power and clarity/ simplicity. I asked many questions and follow-up questions that guided Brother Mosely's thoughts. We shared a powerful 1st vision. We testified of the Book of Mormon and gave him one. The Holy Ghost was present. John Mosely grabbed the Book of Mormon and started to thumb through it. There was silence for nearly 15 minutes as he scanned the Book of Mormon. We had him offer the closing prayer in which he asked our Father the truth of our message. He was guided by the Spirit in his prayer. I looked at Elder Haws after the prayer and Elder Haws' eyes were tear-filled. It was amazing.

That day was filled with miracles and we were guided by the Spirit. At around 8pm I looked at my planner and realized that it was June 19th. That has always been a special day for me. 21 years ago my mother passed away. It was a tender mercy of the Lord. My mother is doing something in the other side for me to be receiving so many blessings.

I'm grateful for this work and I know that it's true.

Letter #80 (June 14, 2010) - TRAINING!

 Elder Collard will be returning home to his family in San Diego after serving honorably and faithfully for 2 years in the North Carolina Raleigh Mission.  I had a great 6 weeks with him.  I'll be training a brand new missionary starting tomorrow.  I'll meet him tomorrow and I'll give y'all more information about him in next weeks' email.  I'm excited and also a little nervous.  This will be my first time traning.  I'm confident that I'll get along with him. 

      We were able to teach Sister O'brien again after 4 weeks of not teaching her.  She was scheduled to get baptized on June 5th but wasn't ready.  She wants to read the whole Book of Mormon before she gets baptized and she also wants her husband to baptize her.  He has to become active and prepared to do it.  They're a good family and slowly but surely she will get baptized. 

    I'm grateful for this work.  Thomas S Monson is the Lord's prophet.  God is a God of miracles.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #79 (June 6, 2010)

What an amazing weekend!  I had the great privilege to have an Apostle of Lord Jesus Christ address us in our mission.  Elder Bednar is a master teacher.  He instructed us for over 3 hours.  It was a 2-way address between him and us.  He asked us to comment on what we learned from the 2 talks (Seek learning by faith and Ask in Faith) that he assigned us to diligently study prior to his coming to teach us.  He then would ask us questions and follow-up questions to our comments.  He allowed us to ask him questions.  It was an amazing experience.  He's a true Apostle.  The Church is true.

 

Love, Elder Olaya

Letter #78 (June 1, 2010)

We had a good week. Vanessa came to church for the 1st time and she enjoyed it. She missed our appointment that we had for that evening because she was running late from a family get-together. We pushed our appointment back an hour but she wasn't there when we showed up. She didn't call us back. I wouldn't normally be too concerned, but with the way our progressing investigators have been dissapearing, I get a little worried.


Elder Collard and I are doing well. We're doing a lot of finding. We're having effective companionship studies. We role-play daily. He's doing a great work and is being guided by the Spirit. He goes home in 2 weeks. He's focused and finishing his mission strong.

I was studying from Mosiah 1 this morning. King Benjamin explained to his sons that if it wasn't for the scriptures, the Nephites would've dwindled in unbelief. He said that the scriptures are true and they knew of their surety because they had it before their eyes. I'm grateful for the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon. We have it before our eyes and we could read and ponder its message and know of its surety by the power of the Holy Ghost.

I know this Church is true and that we have a true and living prophet. We're actually going to have the great privilege of meeting Elder David A. Bednar. He's going to instruct and address our mission this Saturday. We're all excited!

Love Elder Olaya

Letter #77 (May 24, 2010)

 I had a good week.  We still haven't gotten a hold of Kevin T.  Its a big mystery.  We don't think anything tragic happened because we got a hold of his family members that live with him and all they say is that he is home at the time.  We are very dissapointed about how he dissapeared.  Vanessa D. is doing very well and she is reading the Book of Mormon consistently.  She didn't come to church because she had to go to Greensboro this weekend for her granddaughter's basketball game.  Vanessa is progressing and she's excited.  Her sister (who lives with her) said that we could teach her next week.  Her family is very supportive.  We're excited about her.  She keeps praying about Joseph Smith.  We feel that she'll get baptized next month.

    I've been thinking a lot lately about prayer.  I've thought that many of my prayers haven't been answered due to other people's agency.  I just need to pray for specific things or events and then respect the agency of others.  Alma the younger had many pray for him and then he saw the angel of the Lord.  But he still had to use his agency to choose to be converted.  As I ponder our investigator's needs and pray for specific ways that the Lord could bless them and how I could assist, that's when I'll see the Lord's hand in the work.

    I'm grateful for this work.  I know that its true.

 

Love, Elder Olaya