Honor of a Lifetime

After having been with my grandparents for the last I don't know how many days in a row, I headed down to the cities yesterday to spend a couple days with my sweet cousins Sophie and Isabelle. Though I am happy to be here with the girls, I can't believe I missed such a big day up North. That is alright, it all happened the way it was supposed to but you can bet I am going to run home and give my Gramps a huge hug as soon as I can.

Since I wasn't there and my mom was, I am just going to post what she wrote about it.

This will be a quick e-mail - but today was one of the BEST days of Dad's whole life.

Last night, September 26, 2007, the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa voted to make Wally Olson an honorary member of the Tribe!! Several of Dad's friends came to their home today to present him with a plaque commemorating this occasion. First, Dave Morrison gave Dad a card telling him how much he means to his family and the Nett Lake Church and the whole village, and how he had come up with the idea that he presented to the Tribal Council. He then gave dad a beautiful Nativity ornament that he had chosen for dad. Then he had his wife, Theresa, read the plaque, signed by Kevin Leecy, Bois Forte Chairman and Dave Morrison Boise Forte Secretary/Treasurer and he presented it to dad. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. Hank (Whiz) Goodsky gave dad tobacco and two feathers and then prayed a Native Prayer and interpreted it for those of us who would not understand. He told how dad had always coincided with the Natives and that together they brought comfort to grieving people by sharing tears and laughter - kinda like the Lone Ranger and Tonto. He really knew how to bring humor into the situation. Gene Goodsky then talked of how dad showed how the Native beliefs and Jesus are side by side, and that we really walk hand in hand. Stan Day said that Dad has always been here for the Native People and that he counts dad as one of his closest friends.

Dad was sooooo blessed by today!! I can't begin to describe the joy of this day. Dad looked at his stomach and asked me "which side of me is native?" My answer of course is "the inside - it has been for years!!".

I've attached a coupla pictures of today so you can see the blessing of this great day!!

Please join us in celebrating this great day! And please thank God for these Native friends who count dad as one of their brothers.
We serve an awesome God!!
Love,
Karen
Congratulations Gramps!!! I have happy tears for you.

One Last Run

For those of you who have been out here- you know exactly why we look like this. For the rest of you, my Grandpa and Dad built the world's best water-slide about 15 years ago. It is made out of a large section of rubber belting and is about 115 feet long. We go down using inner tubes and on this sled we can go together. This slide is used in the summer as well as in the winter and the entertainment it has provided us is immeasurable.

A couple of days ago Amy and I realized that we had taken our last run down the slide and hadn't even known it so...

On September 22 at 10:30 am with Grandpa watching from the window we took not one but two runs down the slide into the icey water below. It was great and will be a memorie we will cherish.

We sure will miss this place.

Sleepover

Mom read about the slumber party and decided that we should have one last sleepover at this house before we moved out. Last night was the night. Mom, Amy, Grandma, Grandpa, even Randy, and I all stayed here. We climbed into bed with Grandma and Grandpa but for some reason Grandma said we couldn't stay- what a party pooper. The rest of us had to camp out in the living room. With all of our giggling I think it was probably for the best.













Amy showed up with some great pajamas on, only they didn't quite fit her- so we thought why not try them on together.







Yesterday most of this house was moved down to the new house. Jessie Schunk headed up the un-packing team and it really looks like a lived in house already, including decorations on the wall and full kitchen cupboards. It will be so nice to move and have it set up for us. Today we will be moving most everything else with the exception of Grams and Gramp's bed and Gramp's chair. Tomorrow we will move those things along with Grandpa himself. I cannot say how smoothly things have gone. Everyone has been so kind and extremely helpful. I know that we will be settled in and comfortable in no time- it is the movers who will be sore for the next week. THANKS EVERYONE.

Staying Here

I guess I never really let you know what my decision was about heading to Africa or not- I realized this after the last post. You can probably already guess that I am staying here. This is all happening faster than any of us expected and God has really put everything into place for me to be the one to stay with Grams and Gramps and help then in anyway that I can. I do miss the kids and my friends in Salone- but as Karen boland told me- "Africa will always be there". I need to be here with my grandpa and the rest of my family right now.

I will be going someday though-

New Roommates, New House

This week has been crazy, but we are accomplishing a lot. First I will tell you about this weekend. Thank you, Thank you for your prayers. I know that they made all the difference for us. The whole family was home by late Saturday and on Sunday we had a family meeting of sorts. Grandpa was able to tell everyone how he feels about all that is happening as well as what he and grandma have been planning for her after he goes home to be with Jesus. He has no fear and is very ready to leave this earth, the one thing that he needs to be fully at peace is to know that grandma is taken care of. So this weekend we will be moving down to my parents new house (they will be staying in the old house for awhile longer), where grandma, grandpa and I will be roommates. Shortly we will begin building a new house for grandma on the edge of my parents property. Though we absolutley love the lake and all the great times we have here, it is too much for grandma to take care of as well as very difficult for her to get in and out of during the winter. I know it means a lot to gramps to know that she is okay and in a place where she can be on her own and feel confident that she can do whatever she needs to.

Grandpa was also able to walk us through these next few weeks a bit. It was emotional but just what we needed. It hit me the most when he talked about how when he accepted the Lord as his Savior back in 1946 he thought that he would have to hang on to the Lord with all that he was, but really since then God has had him in the palm of his hands. Just like a life boat carrying him safely through the rough waters of this life. Yes he has squirmed around in that boat from time to time, but he has always been held safely in his Father's loving arms and there is no reason that God will not continue to do the same until his last day here. He reminded us that God has planned each and every day of his life. He knows the exact number of them and that includes these difficult ones ahead. There is a reason he is here, God has a purpose even in the short time he has left. Gramps wants to live these days for Christ as well, his trust is still and will always remain in him. I needed to hear too that God will not give grandpa more than he can handle. Though it will look like he is suffering and we do not want to see him go through that- God is right there with him and will not let him suffer more than He has given him the strength to deal with. I know it took all the energy grandpa had to talk with us all, but it is a time that none of us will forget. At the end Gramps wanted us to sing "Because He Lives" together- with over 20 of us in the room there was at least one person singing at all times, but it did take all of us, because we each took our turns singing and crying. God has blessed our family so much, especially in letting us all be together often and allowing us to walk through this with each other.

I have to say I found myself a bit more emotional Sunday than I have been yet. I just couldn't seem to pull it together and the smallest thing would bring the tears again. (Grandpa says that we have the same genetic defect- our bladders are connected a little too close to our eyes) I needed to head down to the dock for a little time to myself and as I sat there I knew that though it is going to be one of the most difficult things I have to do to say good-bye to gramps, it has also been very hard for me to think about letting go of this place (my grandparents house) I have come to love so much. I have held onto it a bit too tightly and I know it was God nudging me as I sat there, reminding me that he has given us this beautiful place to enjoy for a time, but it is about so much more than that. We have learned so much about life and especially love here and that will never change. I know it is okay to hurt and okay to cry (though I don't like to at all), but in the midst of it all I am so grateful that I find myself with such a sense of thankfulness. I know that can come from only one place and I feel his presence so strongly.

Thank you again for your prayers, they TRULY are what carry us through.

One last thing- Grandpa asked me if when Amy comes home, we can have a sleepover in the living room together(of the new house). I cannot tell you how much I look forward to it. I'll post pictures of our slumber party when it happens.

Koroma is President of Sierra Leone

I received this email from Karen today and thought I would share it.

Praise God! I just got a call from Joe Freeman in Sierra Leone and the election results are in and official! The APC (All People's Congress) was victorious! The SLPP, the reigning party, is out. Joe was very excited. I could hear cheering and singing in the background and he said people were out dancing in the streets!

Please pray now for peace as the government transition begins. Pray for President-Elect Koroma as he begins the daunting task of uniting the country and maintaining peace.

It is a day of celebration in Sierra Leone. Please take time to thank God for his provisions for our family of Christ at Jonathan House.

Looks like Koroma

Nothing is going to be announced until next week (or os I hear), but it looks as though the new president of Sierra Leone will be Ernest Koroma. At the moment he has 60% of the vote and it seems that most of the votes are in. I am not sure when he will take office or how this change in power will effect the country. I know that our prayers are needed for some time to come.

This weekend everyone in the Olson family is coming home. It will be nice to be together and I know that my Grandpa is looking forward to having everyone with him. Many decisions will be made and I look forward to having some peace just knowing what the next step is and that God is going to be there with us. I am so grateful that God asks us to have faith in him and let him guide our steps. A few times when we asked Gramps what he thought about doing treatment or not- he would say that he didn't know, but that God made that decision and would let him know when he needed to. Always teaching us and leading us... that's my grandpa.

Dial-up is not a thing of the past...

So I have moved back up to the Iron Range and my mom has that good old dial-up that is so nice. You can get a lot done while on the internet. You connect- go do the dishes, go to your website- wash the counters, login-in- mop the floors, read email and click reply- organize the office.... and so on. I just love it (little sarcasm here). Anyway I have wanted to update you for a couple days and things have just not been cooperating.

The run-off election went well. Things were peaceful, praise God. It will take some time again to count the votes and to know the results. I have received a few texts and talked to a friend there and they are doing well. Continue to pray for peace as things seem to change quickly at times. I guess God teaches people all over the world patience- and I thought it was just me.

As for my family- I am at my grandparents right now. Gramps has had some pretty rough days lately. It is hard to watch, but I am so thankful to be able to be here. We never know what God has planned for us and to see He works everything together for the good... He has had His hand on me and I have felt it strongly. Not leaving earlier (like I wanted to) for Africa; having to move out of my place in Duluth and come back home; things I would have fought against have come together to be such a blessing to me. I am so grateful to be here. I know that the rest of my family does not have that option and the ways in which God has opened and closed doors for me...

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. They have come at times when I have really needed them.

New Post Part 2 (could be a long one)

The past month has not been easy for my family and I. I have been meaning to let you all know what is going on but for some reason it has been a lot harder than I thought to sit down and write it out, but here goes.

A few weeks ago my Grandpa Wally was diagnosed with cancer of the Bile Ducts- sounds crazy I know. It is a rare type of cancer and a hard one to treat. On August 21st he went in for a risky surgery with a 50% chance of making it through, which he did. However they were not able to get the cancer. His recovery from the surgery was not as quick as we expected. After 11 days in the hospital we were able to bring him home. He had a couple good days before the 2nd stint they had put in plugged up again. Wednesday, Gramps, Grandma, mom, dad and I headed back to Duluth to meet with the oncologist as well as to admit gramps in order to get another new stint. It was successful and he is now the proud owner of a permanent metal stint and on his way home with my sister Amy and Grandma right now.

The meeting with the oncologist went well. She is a great doctor who was very straight forward with us. Dr. Ochs said that though the chance of a cure is not zero it is pretty close to it, however since gramps is otherwise very healthy they would like to treat it rather aggressively. Chemo seven days a week and radiation five days a week for six weeks. He could be the one who receives a miracle from God, we know our God is a powerful God and if that is his will...
If he is not cured, the treatment could give him 10-12 months. Without treatment... 3-6 months. As a family we have a lot of decisions to make. As soon as the doctor left the room, Grandpa began praying- how like him. We need God's wisdom in the days ahead. Yes this is a lot of detail that I was not sure I should share as this does affect my whole family and not me alone, however to really let you know where I am and how to pray for me I feel as though it is what I need to do.

I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to have the relationship I do with my Grandpa. It wasn't until I went off to college that I realized how truly special it is. I really do believe that I have the best Grandpa in the world. I have grown up in the same town/area with both sets of grandparents being a daily part of my life. Often, including now, we have many parties with our friends out at their house. All through college I would bring groups of 20-somethings to stay not just at my grandparents, but with my grandparents for the weekend. That isn't the end of it, we not only spend a lot of time together, but we have a very close and deep relationship which has truly shaped who I am today. How lucky am I that my Grandparents have become surrogate grandparents to so many of my friends from both high school and college. Last summer a good friend of mine asked my grandpa to be the one to marry her and her husband. It was so funny and yet normal at the same time to look over from the wedding party table and see my grandma and grandpa at the table with my friends from college laughing away, fitting right in.

There are four of us in our family that seem to share one mind. My grandpa, mom, sister Amy and I all think alike (and therefore are not allowed to be on the same team very often when we play games). As I sit and think about my friendship with gramps I think it would make sense that that is why I feel so close to him, we have kindred spirits. However I also know that though we do have this, my grandpa has developed a close relationship with each of us grand kids. We all feel that we have this special connection to him and I find that to be something I would like to strive for in the relationships I have in my life. He has touched each of us so profoundly that I know we will never walk through a day in life without him.

Growing up I was so proud to say that my grandparents are missionaries. Even though I am headed to Sierra Leone- to think of myself as a missionary does not really seem to fit. Watching and listening to my Gramps though, I have learned that it is not about that label at all; it is about building relationships with people and loving them. Friendships- I can handle that. God built me for them. We talked often when I first came back last summer, sharing and relating to each others stories. The connection I feel with him has become even deeper because of this next journey God has placed in my life. I know that I will be hearing the things Gramps has told me and shown me the whole time I am there (and here). Things we may not have even talked about, but that I have learned through just observing. I have admired my Grandpa for a very long time and I cannot tell you how honored I am to be a part of his legacy.

I am not sure why but for the last 9 months I have been praying for my grandpa. God laid it on my heart to be praying specifically about my grandpa dying while I was over in Salone. At the time he was not sick at all- active as ever, even going down the water slide with us in July. Obviously now I can see why, but at the time... I believe because of this I have been able to have some peace throughout all of this. Not peace as in everything is going to be great, but a peace that comes only from the Father, knowing that God will bring us through and no matter what does happen we will be alright; sad and hurting but clinging to the hope God has given us. Grandpa wins either way and because Jesus has been working on my heart I find myself walking around being thankful for the 26 years I have had with him instead of angry for what I could miss out on. Yes I want him to be here to marry me and my future husband and to teach my kids how to water-ski just like he did each of us. I want him to walk through this trip to Sierra Leone with me and I want many more weekends at the lake with him and Grandma. God may give us that, but if he doesn't I know I can smile (and cry at the same time) knowing that he is home with His loving Savior; Laughing with his dad, mom, sister, grand kids, and many, many friends.

I share all this with you and ask for you to pray for wisdom for me. I truly want to be at Jonathan House and in some ways even ache to be back with the kids. However I love my grandpa dearly and am not sure I can either be away when he does go home or miss 6 months of the time he does have here. I am at a loss and feel completely torn either way.

I am so grateful for each of you and the great amount of support you have shown me. It is beyond what I could have expected. (Even just making it to the end of this long letter)
Thank you! Thank you!

God has also given us some great times laughing and joking together in the past few weeks- for those of you who know my family you know just how loud we can be. I know that it is only because of our faith that the nurses found us crammed into recovery, all laughing just hours after the surgery knowing the cancer was terminal. The night before 28 of us all went to dinner together and I just wanted to share a picture with you to end with a smile. We do still have fun together and God is still brightening our days through our tears. Here I am with my siblings.

New Post Part 1 of 2

I know that I haven't written in awhile and many of you are wondering what is going on- I will let you know where I have been but I need a whole new post for that. I think it is easiest to let you know what is going on over in Sierra Leone first.

The elections ended with no winner. A candidate must have 55% of the vote to be declared President and since no one had that there will be a run-off election between the top two candidates tomorrow, September 8th. For awhile the climate has been a bit violent, with pretty much the whole town of Bo shutting down. Gun shots, fires, people with stones and sticks meeting the parties campaigning, as well as other violent acts have been happening around the country. Recently Kormoa and Berewa (the two candidates) have met together to ask for peace and that does seem to have had some effect. Please pray for the elections tomorrow and in the days to come as it will take just as long to count the votes the second time. I know patience is running thin and the lack of news throughout the country doesn't help.

The staff and kids at Jonathan House are doing well. It is not always easy, but we all believe that God is in control. The faith and trust of these kids is beyond what many of us in America have experienced. Pastor Peter, Roger and the staff have the children's safety in mind and are prepared for whatever comes next.

Please pray- and I WILL let you know what happens.

-Though I did not want to wait to go, I guess the big man does know what He is doing.
-- also David is home here in Marshalltown with the whole Hatch family
---The container has also been sent and hopefully with arrive in Freetown October 20th