MTC Pitures

January 2, 2011

I finally have pictures from Spencer's experience in the MTC. Enjoy!

Spencer and Chris Jensen saying good by. He was Spencer's favorite YM's leader and he moved to Utah. We always get together when we go to Provo. They hung out the morning he entered the MTC. They went and got burritos. hahaha American Style.

Jan, our cousin (Aunt), took Spencer to the MTC. We so appreciated her for taking such good care of our missionary. She took him to Walmart for a few last things, then to lunch at the Italian Place and then dropped him off. Our last phone call was from her cell phone. She called us about 15 minutes after she left him and said how happy and excited he was to be leaving for 2 years!

Goofing off like all missionaries do in the MTC.

Getting his hair buzzed by Elder Ochoakie (sp?) from Tonga. He cut all the Elder's hair.

Spencer's favorite position. I don't think he will ever out grow it!

His Disctrict

4 left to Guatemala MTC after being in Provo for only 3 weeks.

All the Elders staying in Provo were jealous because they didn't want to stay for the freezing cold weather. It ended up not snowing very much this year but it sure was cold. Especially for an Arizonian who has never lived in the snow. Thank goodness he got sent to somewhere warm!

Elder Spencer. They became good friends. He was Kevin Morrison's Look-A-Like

Every P-day they went to the Temple at 10 am

District

During one of Spencer's workout session's, he was playing basketball and came down wrong and twisted his ankle. He had to go see the doctor there and had to wrap his ankle for a few days. He thought he was going to have to wear a brace for a while, but it healed up quite quickly.

His District

Grandma Linda had her Activity Day Girls write to her "Missionary." They went to the Gilbert Temple Visitor Center and then went to the park and wrote to Elder Olsen

Taking the tour of the progress of the Gilbert Temple

Hermana Celizar their Trainer

Elder Parker one of Spencer's roommates.

Elder Olsen and Elder Trouse

Elder Julander from Mesa (I think) and Elder Olsen

Elder Tucker Back scratching session

On Thanksgiving they did a service project and made First aide kits for Sudan

District trip to the Temple

Elder Harrington (Spencer's comp), Elder Frank -Zone Leader (he went to San Diego), and Elder Olsen

Elder Olsen and Elder Schultz (he went to New Mexico)

Elder Frank made this "Cabinet" and gave it to Spencer. He also gave him the book to read and to pass on to a new missionary. I don't know if it got passed on.

I hope I got the captions and names correct. I took notes from our phone call the morning he was in Atlanta. It was a little challenging keeping everything straight.

Travel Day to Honduras

December 13, 2011

Well, we got word that Spencer was traveling to Salt Lake City the night of December 12^th. He told us that he could call us from SLC because he had about 3 hours at the airport. Between the emails he said he had a calling card and he would call us and I told him if nothing else worked I could page him at the airport.

About 10:15 or so Grandpa Anderson (my Dad) called and said that Spencer called him. They had a good visit. Grandpa had his game night over and so he put him on speaker phone and they all had a nice chat with him. One friend had been on a mission so she had some nice advice. Another friend was a 95 year old lady that had a son that served a mission over 45 years ago. We hung up with Grandpa quickly with anticipation of the call from Spencer. It never came. We went to bed a little disappointed and a little angry that we didn’t get a call. All of his brothers stayed up until midnight and no one really got any sleep.

My alarm went off at 4 am so I could get in the shower to get ready for the day. I had a job to be at by 7:30. We waited and waited for the phone call. It finally came at 6:15 am. The payphone he was using was not working so he finally borrowed a cell phone from someone from his flight that was also going to Tegucigalpa to visits some friend. We talked for about an hour.

We first asked him why he hadn’t called us yet and he said he thought we were going to call him. I screamed…..How was I going to do that. He said you said I was going to page him at the airport so he was waiting for me to call. Emails. Sometimes a poor way of communicating.

We asked him about his weight. He thinks he did alright. He probably gained some weight but he could still wear all of his clothes but it was a little hard to button his suit coat. He also thinks he will lose it quickly once he gets down there. He played basketball everyday.

He was traveling with six missionaries including his companion from the MTC, Elder Harrington, and 3 of them have been in the MTC for only 3 weeks and they were traveling to the Guatemalan MTC. So they were only with them to Atalanta. He said he knows Elder Morris who I have meet his parents through Missionary Moms.

He told us that he ran into Don Fletcher. They were all standing at the gate and a man came up and introduced himself as Bishop Fletcher from San Francisco. Spencer looked at him and said, “I think I’m related to you.” I have relatives that live in San Francisco that are the Fletchers. Sure enough, he is Allan’s cousin’s husband. What a small world. Don sent us an email a couple days later telling us the same story. He said that Spencer looked great and was excited to be out in the mission field. I thanked him for being at the right place at the right time. Just a little “Tender Mercy” that day!

Spencer talked about Sundays at the MTC. They had breakfast, priesthood meeting, study time, Lunch, Sacrament at 12 pm, Temple Walk, Study Time, Dinner, Devo, and Study Time. He said that every day felt like Sunday.

The first three weeks drug on, but then the time flew by. He talked with some people at the airport in Spanish and he could barely understand them!

He was freezing in Utah and he couldn’t wait to get to Honduras. We told him that it was 85* in Tegucigalpa and he was excited about that! He told us that he no longer wants to go to school in the snow. He is going to go to ASU where it is warm. I told him to wait until he gets home to see how much it costs! We’ll see.

He had a district of 6 Elders and a Zone of 5 Districts. He really liked his companion. They got along really well. They will be out the same amount of time.

Computer time: The MTC figured out how ALL the missionaries were going around the timer and how they could email/text so they put a stop to it.

He received all of the dearelders! Thank you everyone who wrote him! He received an email from Kevin Morrison. He said he was out giving lessons in the street the other day and having some great success. (He’s a friend that is in Puerto Rico)

We talked about our trip to Lake Havasu, The Cardinals beating the 49er’s, basketball NBA starting on Christmas day and the Suns crazy schedule. He knew about it from new missionaries coming into the MTC.

He loved Devotionals. Elder Scott he said was big and talked really slow. M. Russell Nelson was his favorite. The Prophet was at BYU but he didn’t come to the MTC. They were disappointed.

We told him about Garrett wearing his Kermit hat and Mitchell got mad at Garrett for wearing it because Spencer gave it to Mitchell. Garrett got it taken away but I wrote a note to the teacher to have him send it back home. Garrett wouldn’t wear it anymore.

Garrett asked about the little stuft animal he sent and Spencer said that some little Honduran boy will end up with it.

His iPod is good! Yeah! I spent a lot of time getting it ready for him. His comp only had 30 songs on his. He wished I had put the whole Wicked CD on it. He is going to make a playlist when he gets down there. They’ve listened to it everyday since he got it =)!

We talked about DearElder.com, emailing and computer time. He doesn’t think he’ll have much computer time but I told him they will have a computer somehow, somewhere. The missionaries have to write home and they have to write reports to the Mission Pres.

He hasn’t heard from his Mission President and he doesn’t know much about his mission.

He talked to Grandpa and Allie while at the SLC airport. He called us, Grandma Linda and Lauren before he left Atlanta. He missed talking to Connor because he had to leave for school.

Tegucigalpa is one of the most dangerous airports in the world to fly in to, “Top 5.” It’s a small runway and there are houses at both ends of the runway! Sis Sproge from our ward is a flight attendant told us about the airport. I would be white knuckling it that’s for sure!!

We were very happy and excited to hear from him. As we were ending our conversation with Spencer, I got a call from the Junior High that I was subbing for asking if I was on my way. I said no not yet but soon. I was then told that it was an “A” hour class and I was already 15 minutes late. I quickly said good by, got dressed and headed to work. When I got there they had another teacher sitting in for me. Once I got settled in, I introduced myself. I always tell my class about my family. When I started talking about Spencer I got all emotional and started crying. It hadn’t hit me until that moment that I just talked to my missionary. Over half the class was LDS so they were sympathetic for me. What a great day! I was on an emotional high. Now we have to wait until Monday to get our first email to let us know where he is in Honduras.

Last MTC Email!! December 10, 2011

November 19, 2011 (DAD)

DEAR ELDER OLSEN Sound like you are doing good but wanting to get to work out in hon.well thing are prity quit here with out you. Garrett is almost doing what he is asked to do .the gym rats ask about you all the time .Last week I went to Alicia's boys football game it was fun it was the play offs he is the QB the littleest guy out there they won so today your mother and I are going to the champship at Queen Creek HIGH .IT brings back all thoughts memorys with you.Time just FLYS. So dont mess around too much .I know you will but not too much. (I have no one to lisen to me when I get on my soap box So I had to stand on it .thanks for reading this ,I hope .) Dinner at mottas was good to hook up with UNCLE LESTER'S family we are going to do this every three mouths.WE are going down to Bretts for Thanksgiving to help him move 10 tons of rock it will be fun I guess .ASU plays U OF A tonight ASU was doing good but blow it the last 2 games they will go to a bowl game but it not sure how good of a bowl game BYU SUCKS this years.cards are playing the 49 'ers IN SF .they are do very good ( 7-1 )grrrr CARDS are 3-5.Iginio was trimming a door with a saw ,it kicked back and cut his legg IT was 1/2 to an 1" deep and 18" longs.Did not call me he finised the door went to work when he came home they took his to the hospitl he got 14 stiches got home at 2 am the next morning cleaned out side went to work .Day three i went down there and he told me what happened That is dedication and gutts he is my HERO.I LOVE YOU and pray for your DEDICATION AND YOUR GUTTS LIKE IGINIO YOU BOTH ARE MY HEROS PS like how you adderes you emails you would think that you only have a mom ha ha I know were I stand. I am proud that I raised a son who loves and respects his MOM like you do YOUR EARTH DAD ALLAN

December 9, 2011 (MOM)

Dear sweet spencer,
I just wanted to write a quick note to let you know how much I love you and how proud I am of you! You are a great young man and I am so excited for you and the experiences you are about to embark on. I know what you mean when you said that getting your travel papers is like getting a second mission call. It makes it real!
I went to the Christmas relief society party last night and all the ladies asked how you are doing and I told them all you were still in the MTC but leaving on Monday night/Tuesday morning. Sis udall (the dark hard one) thanked me for your thank you card. She has it one her frig and she says she gets a big smile whenever she looks at it! You have a special place in all there lives just by being who you are.
About calling from the airport sis Kerr said for me to page you so I'm going to call the airport today to find out exactly how that works and I will let you know. So be aware that your name will be called over the loud speaker in Atalanta! If that doesn't work you can call collect and then we will call you back
I have been subbing jr high and high school all of this week. I did Lang arts at greenfield on tues and it was horrible so yesterday I did the same at highland jr and I took my minute games and it worked All the classes were awesome. I am doing highland jr band today. They are taking a math test. Haha. I brought my basket again and I made cookies for jazz band cuz they did an awesome job at their concert.
We are going to lame havasu tomorrow and Sunday for grandmas bday. Us and shelly and mike and grandma and clarke. It should be fun. We were going to take the boat but it's way too cold and we aren't going as long as planned.
Oh guess what Dennis won a $1000 bonus last night at his work party. He was one of five that was awarded. Lauren called me all excited. They weren't expecting it at all. They were given front row seats for the event. They had a comedian come and they gave out a bunch a prizes before and that's when they gave it to him. It's a real honor to be given the award.
Not much else is going on. Just getting ready for Christmas. Inside is decorated. Lights are up on the house. I had to buy new ones because the old ones we threw away last year. I still need to get the tree up. I hope to get that done to night. His full time working is killing me.
Have a great weekend. Hope your infield training went well. We love you and well send one more letter on Monday and then you'll be gone! I can't wait to talk to you and just hear your sweet voice!
LOVE YOU. MOM
Ps how is the iPod? Did you get it? And the socks?

　
December 10, 2011 (Spencer)

Hey mom and everyone,
　
So this will be my last email in the mtc. Im so excited to get out of here. I should also have a lot of time in the Salt lake airport to call you we will be there for like 3 hours or so so i might call you frmo there also. I have a big box of stuff i am sending home and there will be pictures i should send it just before i leave. But ya i had heard of that manager too parra called her the oger hahahaha. But i have no clue about her. But it was a good week it goes by so fast that sometimes i forgot some of the stuff that goes on hahaha. But it has been a great experience here i just wish i had gone to another mtc. Well today has been pretty good we went to the temple this morning and we did the spanish session with out headphones i understood like half of it but mowst beacuse i knew what was supposed to be going on hahaha. So we have this tutor in our zone that she went to sps mission in honduras ans she was telling me and elder harrington all about it hahaha it got me so excited to get down there. well anyway idk iof i told you this but me and kevin have been emailing back and forth but darin never emailed me back you should talk to the kerrs about that for me hahaha jk. But ya he sounds like he is doing great. Oh ya i also saw weston bush here the other day that was way weird and i see corbin wheatherby every so often it pretty cool. Oh and i also see Alec steve and carlor's son that is my age i got a pic with him but i didnt get it devolped i had already doen that by then. But i cant wait to hear from everyone on monday or tuesday im so excited to get out of the cold.
　
Love Elder Olsen

Travel Plans: Tues, December 13th 12:55 am

December 2, 2011

(Mom)

Dear spencer,

Well another week has gone by so that means you're that much closer to leave. Do you have your travel date yet? I want to make sure I'm home that day so we can talk to you. We also need to figure out the best way to talk to you. Ask around and I'll ask too and we'll figure it out.

How is the weather? We finally had some rain today. Its all over the news and Facebook about the wind and snow you got today. Just think only two more weeks. Did you get my package? How is the sweatshirt? Better?

That is so cool that pres Curtis wrote to you. I gave him your address at church on sunday. He said he wanted to write to you before you left. We have stake conf this weekend so that will be nice.

So we finally went and saw breaking dawn. I used the last of the passes. We still have four more remits thy we'll save for Christmas. It was hrs to let go of the tickets the kid that went to the dback game took the tickets. I didn't remember him but he remembered us. Jenna was there too. She said you sent her a text on thanksgiving. She said she has picked up all of your shifts. She worked 56 hours last week. I told Connor he needs to work there! The movie....it was entertaining but the acting was terrible. Connor went with me along with Garrett and they had to leave during a couple of scenes. Part two will be better.

Well I know you don't like to get emails in the morning. But I forgot to write this morning. Please write to your brothers and your grandma. Have a good week. give me some details please. Are you still running everyday? How's your weight? How's your comp and district? Did you get Lauren and Dennis package? We Love you! We are excited to talk to you. Have a good week and stay warm!

Love you MOM

Ps I'm teaching AG at Gilbert tomorrow. Haha wish me luck!

(Spencer)

Dear Mom and everyone,

I GOT MY TRAVLE PLANS!!!! It is seriously like recieving a 2nd mission call its so awesome. My flight from salt lake to atlanta isat 12:55am on december 13. We land in atlanta at 630 or so then we have a 4 hour layover in atlanta and leave there at about 1030 so ya. It shouldnt be to bad. Then we get to honduras at about 130. I cant wait to get out of here. There weather isnt bad its jsut cold. We didnt get snow but we did get wind. we just got back from the temple and on our walk back we could still see our breath. I dont like it. While i was in the temple i met some elders going to pres. petersons mission hahahaha. It was pretty funny telling them about him haha. I tried to scare them a little bit.

I got your package and i love that sweatshirt its perfect. And i also got lauren's package when i opened the soda she got me (rootbeer) I didnt relieze how shake up it really was and i got it all over one of my shirts it was so bad but i did laundry today and i think it should be fine.

Its so hard to put detail into these emails right now there really isnt a whole lot going on other than class hahaha. Our 2 teachers are our investigators and they both are "getting baptized" tomorrow lol. How is your guys missionary work going? I really need to send you that package back there are some really good pamphlets in there for which help alot in our lessons. The language is getting better and better every day. I can kind of sort of not really hold a conversation lol. some of the concepts are really hard.

But ya everything is going great out here i just cant wait to get out of here are really starting doing stuff it really doesnt feel like i have even started my mission yet but in a good way i guess. So anyway im about to finally get out of here a week and a half so ill actually get to talk to you then. Oh also have you gotten a chance to finish my ipod yet. Cuz i would really like to have that before i leave. Les amo todo. Dios bendecirá cuando hacamos Su obras. Yo sé que es verdadero.

Love

Elder Spencer Olsen