So the other day we had an awesome opportunity to do service at a members vineyard. We had called a couple members to go with us out to help this older member harvest rice. So we woke up early to go and help him and when we got there, he told us that there wasn't anymore rice to gather, he had done in all already. When I found out I was sad because I had never done it before and apparently harvesting rice is something that you have to do as a missionary! So I asked him if there was any left that I could do just so I could have the experience and he said yeah there is a little. So he took me and got me suited up for the job! First he brought out a pair of boots so I could go trudging in the mud but there was a problem. He is a Thai person, which means he has small feet and I have big feet...and so I looked at it and thought well, I got to try. So I squeezed me feet inside and you know I got them in but it was very tight and a little uncomfortable. But it was the only pair he had and I was determined to harvest some rice! So I dealt with it. Then he brought me out a hat, some gloves and a scythe to cut the rice. So now I was ready to go! So he took me to the field and showed me the rice he wanted me to cut and there were only 2 little bundles for me to gather...I felt jipped! But I went down and did it anyways and it took me all of 30 seconds to finish but that was enough because by this time my feet were dying! So I hurried and put down the rice, jumped out of the mud, ran back to my shoes and took off the boots. I didn't do it for very long but now I can say I have harvested rice! It was really fun! All the members that came were laughing and making fun of me while I was doing this because I had no idea what I was doing. They were mean to me...ha-ha but it was funny! But it was really fun helping him out in his vineyard.
But yeah that was the highlight of our week! But I got to go, I love you guys! Talk to you all later!

Steve

Hey,
So this past week we have been working hard to get 4 of our investigators baptized and trying to work out there concerns. Some of there concerns are pretty big and some are really small and make me laugh a little bit. We have a 13 year old investigators, named Gan, she is the daughter of Gaw, abd she said she doesn't want to get baptized anymore because she doesn't want to get the Holy Ghost. I was very confused by this because I would suspect people would think the opposite! So I asked her why she didn't want to get the Holy Ghost and she told us that she didn't want it to be with her always because she is afraid of ghosts...lol, it showed us that she really didn't understand what the Holy Ghost is and what it means to have Him with us always. So we went on explaining what the Holy Ghost was for a little while but she still didn't want to get it...So we are still trying to work with her.
But we have a family that we are teaching right now and the husband is way funny. Whenever we give them homework to read or to pray or do whatever, he always calls me and tells me that he finished reading the chapter or that he prayed and then that's the end of the conversation and he said that's all he wanted to say. But then yesterday when he called to tell me he read, he asked me if I thought he was ready for Baptism and I said "I definitely think you are ready" and he said "really? good because I feel ready and I want to be baptized as soon as possible!" It was amazing to see the desire he had to be baptized and how willing he was to keep our commitments we give them so he could be baptized. He is going to be a sweet member and I'm way excited for him to be baptized!
But I've been having a lot of fun out here! Elder Young is an awesome companion and its been really fun out here! Well I hope all is going well at home and I miss you guys! Don't be afraid to write me! Ha ha Love you!

Steve

Hey everyone! Sorry for the lateness of this e-mail. None of the Internet Cafes were open. Starting from Monday to Wednesday was the biggest Thai holiday of the year. Its called Songran or the Water Festival. What they do is for 3 days during the hotest time of the year, they have a huge water fight! People come out of their houses and fill the streets with squirt guns and buckets and just get eachother completely soaked! During this Festival, everything is pretty much closed and we weren't able to send email. We couldn't even work because nobody was free, inviting didn't work because people would just soak us with water or they were drunk...so we decided not to resist in trying to fight against the festival but to just embrace it and join them in playing! lol, So we had an activity on Monday with all the young single adults at the church and played games with water and then we went to the street and threw water at trucks driving by. People would get into the back of their trucks and fill barrels with water and throw it on people on the side of the road so then people on the side of the road would throw it back! so we did that for a while and that was fun and then we went to a street called Sticky Rice and thats where everyone in Khonkaen goes to celebrate Songran and there were people all over the steet and what they do is take baby powder and rub it all over your face. I'm not sure why they do it but everyone does it to everyone and so we got covered with baby powder and because we are white, we got it a lot worst then all the Thai people. Thais love White people so we got hit a lot with this powder! But you have to accept it or else they will get affended. But it was way fun! My legs and feet got pretty sunburned. I was able to wear shorts and flip flops for the first time in a year and wow my legs and feet were white! But its ok because there not white anymore, there now red!So Yesterday we had moves meeting and I got a new companion and I was called to the District Leader in KhonKaen. Its going to be fun! I'm excited for this moves because my new companion seems pretty fun! His name is Elder Young. He is from Colorado and has been out in Thailand for 6 months.Well I got to go. I love you all and thank you for all your prays and all your support! if you have any questions, fell free to ask! Talk to you later!
Elder Olsen

Hey,
So last Sunday we had another baptism. We baptized this lady named Gaw. She has been amazing to teach. Whenever we ask her to do anything she would always say yes I will, I have too if I want to get baptized! It was awesome! Her daughter is also learning and getting ready to get baptized but is still afraid to do it. She is only 14 and is still unsure. But I feel she will get baptized soon as well. Right now we are working really hard with a couple other investigators to get them baptized. We have about 5 other people that are really close and should be getting baptized within the next month. Well that's our hope!
So tomorrow I hit my year mark as a missionary. Its weird to think Ive been a missionary for a year now! It goes by fast. I'm half way done! well the work is going good here. The work can be the same as it is in Bangkok if you let it be. There is definitely less people here but that should determine how hard to work and determine your success. If you work hard you can have the same success anywhere you are. People say that there are dead areas but there really is not. Its all on you and your willingness to work. But I'm having fun out here! This weekend is Conference for us, we watch it a week later because they have to translate it and send it to us. so that should be fun! Well i love you all!

Steve