Geraldine's funeral in Polacca

Dear Family & Friends,

This is an email I sent to the Elders & Sisters serving here in  the mission field.  Our missionary numbers are getting smaller, since 7 couple will be leaving in the next few weeks and at this point we do not have others who will be taking their place.

We do have the Seminary couple next door and the counseling couple who leave about a 1/4 of a mile from the church, but they travel a lot and we don't see them much.  

 Here is the email I sent to them which I wanted to include in our blog, so that I could have a copy.

  We attended a funeral Saturday for a young woman who Elder Olson baptized when she was 9, which was about 45 years ago.  As I looked out over the crowd and saw their faces I was even more intensely aware of how many are wounded not only physically, but spiritually and how easy it is to "judge" wondering why they cannot see what we know to be true.  

 As I listened to Pres. Eyring's Conference talk, I was touched by what he said about our tendency to become impatient, which happens so often when they do not seem to understand what we so desperately want them to understand.  I pray that we can heed his counsel as we share the hope and understanding of the Atonement and its power to heal.  I pray we strive to overcome our impatience and show forth more compassion and love to all those we come in contact with as we serve among the people.

"There is another preparation we must make. It is a human characteristic to become hardened to the pains of others. That is one of the reasons why the Savior went to such lengths to tell of His Atonement and of His taking upon Himself the pains and sorrows of all of our Heavenly Father’s children that He might know how to succor them.

Even the best of Heavenly Father’s mortal priesthood holders do not rise to that standard of compassion easily. Our human tendency is to be impatient with the person who cannot see the truth that is so plain to us. We must be careful that our impatience is not interpreted as condemnation or rejection."  Pres. Henry B Eyring

I also wanted to include the talk I gave at our last meeting with the missionaries who served this last growing season.  They are an amazing group of people who served with incredible diligence among the native American people in this area.

As I pondered on what I could say this day, I knew it would not be easy.  After teaching for 32 years the end of the year good-byes never did easier.  The kids always liked to do a count down, but they never realized the teachers were doing the same thing often with even more enthusiasm.

Today is the last time that I will see some of you during our mortal probation.

I want to express my deepest gratitude for the sacrifices you have made over the last few months by being here and not at home with your “maturing parents,” kids and grandkids.

Gratitude for the time you spent serving the people here.

For the time you spent on your knees pleading with the Lord for His help to know what to do and for who to do it.

  Through the hours you spent serving the people with far more that showing them how to have a successful garden.

Gratitude for sharing your talents, your expertise, your love, and your faith in the gospel and the power to the Atonement to heal both physically and spiritually.

Gratitude for building the people up

Encouraging them

Teaching them

Accepting them where they were and not judging them when they didn’t understand.

Working alongside of them in their gardens and accepting the gospel.

Loving them as your brothers and sisters, sons and daughters of God.

This chapter in some of your lives, just like this planting season, will soon come to an end

I hope you will share your “good memories” and the lessons you learned from the “not so good” memories or as Pres. Justice says “the take aways” you gleaned from the harvest you reaped during the more difficult days.

You may never have your picture appear on the front page of any newspaper and you most likely will never become famous except in your own families and neighborhoods.

BUT all of you will be forever etched in the hearts of those you served here on the “rez”

You have continued to follow the legacy of your pioneer forefathers

You have worked hard

Traveled far

Gone to bed bone tired,   But rose again to serve the next day renewed and refreshed, strengthened with the resolve to help another along the way

You have faced each days challenges with faith in God and His ability to give you whatever was needed to get the job done.

You have each had your Hole in the Rock experiences.

Hopefully, you did not have to eat soup made from boiling a cowhide because there was nothing else to eat

Surely someone was willing to share their mutton and some fry bread.

Many of you probably have beadwork or items of silver.  But your real treasures will be the memories you made while serving faithfully with those who were once strangers, but now have become good friends.

Please know how much President Justice, President Batt, those you served with and even more the love our Heavenly Father has for you and your willingness to serve God’s children in this small area of the world as you return to your homes and families. 

Please know with surety that you will be greatly missed.  You have been tried and tested AND YOU MADE IT.

Your example and attitude has been one of love, hope and faith.

You have loved as God has loved

You have done as He would have done

You have served as He would have served

Well done thou good and faithful servant.

Your children will have changed some and your grandchildren grown an inch or two

Things may have changed at home, but the greatest changes will have been in you.

Having running water, indoor plumbing , lights that work consistently and a Walmart only a few miles away will not be taken for granted anymore.

Please know how much your service has meant to those you served and to everyone in this room and many more.

Our last request is that you would say the things that would build up those who may be a little hesitant to serve a mission.  That your comments would be honest but positive about their ability to serve wherever the Lord needs them.  That their faith will be His faith to do whatever is needed.  That their funds will be His funds and be enough for whatever is needed to keep them there. That His love and foresight will be all that is needed to accomplish whatever is needed to move this great work forward.

I know that Jesus is the Christ,  that in Him and through Him all things can be accomplished.  That Joseph Smith was divinely inspired and that the Book of Mormon will provide the answers to the challenges that we face.  That God will answer the righteous desires of our heart and like Peter we can do all things IF we stay focused on our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.  And if we falter we can know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He will be there hand extended to get us back on track.

I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

It is actually more an outline of what I said, because I knew I would not be able to say what I wanted without crying.  Not that I am emotional or anything like that. :o} 

 Elder & Sister Olsn