Sept. 11, 2017 Storms and Earthquakes

Dear Mom and everyone,

This week was Interesting, Oh and nothing happened to me. 

Tuesday, I had divisions with the ZL, it was fun, we knocked on doors almost all day and we had pizza from little Cesar’s for lunch.

Wednesday, we went back to all of the people we had contacted and almost no one was home. 

Thursday was the interesting day, we went to the church to teach a lesson there but it started raining really hard and there was a woman in a wheelchair with only one leg, she was looking for a place to take a bath. We took her to a store to wait out the storm. We went to the church and got super wet even though we were about two streets away. The guy couldn't come so we headed home. We beat the rain home so when we got there it wasn't raining and about 10 minutes later the rain came like a wall of water it was super crazy. There is like a ditch beside the house for rain run off that had turned into a river and destroyed two bridges. We couldn't do anything to help so we went to bed. Then the earthquake hit we were both a sleep and almost didn't wake up. but the sister we live with was yelling at us to go under the door so without realizing I’m under the door. and everything past. The rain really did more damage than the earthquake. But in El Istmo got a hit pretty hard so they asked for donations and I’ll see if I can send some money from you gave (I don't know if I can).

Well the rest of the week was pretty normal nobody needed our help (or at least that’s what they said) and the damage was very minimal. Oh and we have been running pretty consistently with one of the members we live with and his dogs. it’s been pretty fun. Oh, and I never talked with Sister San Juan. I was going to see them today but I couldn't get ahold of them but oh well.

Oh, and today we caught Chapulines they are like grasshopper that they eat here so we started cooking them all at once.

Well I love you all,

Elder Olsen

Here are the posts that Pres. Conde sent out on his Facebook Page to let us know what had happened in Oaxaca after the earthquakes.  It was nice to be able to get information quickly and know that our missionaries we safe and taken care of.

First communication from the mission:

El sismo se sintió muy fuerte en Oaxaca, hay muchos problemas de comunicacion, inmediatamente hasta donde ha sido posible tener comunicación con misioneros y hermanas están bien, estamos yendo a ver a los que no se pueden comunicar, y los hemos encontrado bien, el Pte y los asistentes están saliendo a Matías Romero que es donde nos falta tener noticias, gracias por sus oraciones diarias de protección para sus hijos porque el Señor los ha escuchado

The earthquake felt very strong in Oaxaca, there are many problems of communication, immediately to where it has been possible to have communication with missionaries and sisters are well, we are going to see those who can not communicate, and we have found them well, the president And the attendees are going out to Matías Romero which is where we are missing news, thank you for your daily protective prayers for your children because the Lord has heard them

Communication from Pres. Conde the morning after the first earthquake:

Last night we had an earthquake that affected the entire state of Oaxaca, among other states in southern Mexico.
Fortunately Sister Conde and I arrived in Juchitan last night to meet with all the missionaries in the areas of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in a conference that would be held Friday morning. So immediately after the earthquake, we under took the task of contacting each missionary of the whole mission with the help of the district leaders, the zone and the assistants. At dawn we personally visited those missionaries who could not reach us by cell phone.
Today we will visit or contact each of the missionaries of Juchitan, Ixtepec, Salina Cruz and other cities of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
We are humbly grateful to our Eternal Father for His blessings and protection.
Some parents, mothers and leaders have contacted me to know the status of their children and the answer has been the same: every missionary in Mexico Oaxaca is well and in a safe place.
Thank you for your prayers and concern for all the missionaries.
Pres. Conde

Communication after the 2nd earthquake.  This is the one that hit Mexico City:

After last nights Earthquake we can report that we have checked on all missionaries in the Oaxaca mission and they are safe and sound and are in safe locations.