News from the Olsons

It's been a while, but this is going to be a big one, so in the words of Bette Davis (who can't be quoted enough!) "fasten your seatbelts...its going to be a bumpy night."

Our big news is that we've sensed God's call to return with the IMB as career missionaries to Peru.  We've been offered and accepted a position with the American Peoples Affinity Group.  The role is labeled Network Strategy Coach.  Here is how David described it in a recent email:

A Network Strategy Coach works with missionaries from within the  

American Affinity to help them effectively use US churches in the  strategic engagement of people groups.  While much of this would be  with the Connecting Cluster missionaries, it includes working with all  other missionaries as well, helping them utilize US partners in their  master plans.  After an initial shock, Cameron and I took a month to  pray about this, then talked with various different people seeking  guidance.  We first felt some leading from the Lord during OGM.  Then,  we took two days to get out of Lima by ourselves this week to continue  seeking the Lord's will.  After all this, we now feel a peace, and yet  an overwhelming responsibility to the Lord's calling in this position.

So what that means is:
We will finish our term as ConnectPeru team leaders.  This term ends January 29, 2013.  At this time we'll head back to Virginia for a 6 month stateside.  Then after that, and all this is pending all the approvals we need, we will return to Lima.  We'll be based here, but work with folks all over the Americas.  

We are excited and sad at the same time.  Until a few months ago, we had no plans of returning.  So this has brought about a big change in our plans.  But we've prayed many many hours over this, sought godly counsel and feel the Lord's peace and confirmation about it.  

Please keep us in your prayers!  We want to finish out our term here well and stay focused, there is much to do!  Also, please pray for us and our families.  It's been a very hard decision for us to make and for them to accept.  Pray for peace for them.  Please pray especially this week for a training of nationals (wed-fri).  This is the first time we have done this and are looking forward to it!

Thanks to all of you, if you have any questions, please let us know.  Also, let us know how we can be praying for you!

We love and miss you!

3 years today

July 4, 2012
Today marks our third anniversary of our arrival in Peru.  The past three years have held numerous changes and we certainly not where we thought we would be today.  But the Lord has been faithful and good in all things and He has taught us so much in our time here.
We've managed to survive June...no small feat since we coordinated over 40 teams this month!
All in all things are going well here with ConnectPeru- just busy busy.
July will be a busy month as well, though we have a week of meetings in Ecuador that we are all looking forward to!
Pete is doing great- growing like a week and running all over the place.  He's fearless on the sliding board too.

Please keep us in your prayers...

Please pray for us as we seek what the Lord has for us at the end of this term.
Please pray for all of our teams coming in this month.
Pray for our national partners!

Thanks so much!

at long last...

Wow!  This is way overdue!  
Thank you all for continuing to pray in the absence of updates.  I will try and do better I promise:)
I'll try and be succinct for this post and give you vital details of whats been happening the past 4 months or so...
Family life:  
 Pete is now a busy busy busy 1 year old who is trying desperately to walk solo.  He's taken several steps, but isn't quite ready to charge forward alone.  Thank goodness!  He's just cut tooth number 5 and loves quinoa, apples, chips and coca cola.  Yeah...he's my child.
We recently enjoyed a visit from David's parents.  They spent about 10 days with us and we traveled to Huancaya, Huancayo (2 different places), and finally we made it to Machu Picchu!  It was really amazing to finally see it and definitely worth the trip.  They spoiled us by taking care of Pete and doing all the dishes (Thanks Betty!).  We even did our first night away from Pete, he did great.  Mama and Papa did ok...
David and I are just starting a Bible study "Sacred Marriage" with another IMB couple here in Lima.  We are enjoying it so far and look forward to the challenges it throws our way:)


Ministry:
I'm not even sure where to begin.  David and I are currently Team Strategy Leaders for ConnectPeru (combined REAP North and South).  David is heading up US Partner Training (amongst a million other things).  He is coaching about 80 some of our US SC churches.  The inbox is very full.  I am working on assigning interpreters which is great, though sometimes the equivalent of doing a seating chart for a political dinner...I am also starting to work some with the affinity media team based here in Lima, doing some editing.  You know, in all my spare time?  Ha!  I've really enjoyed getting back into that a little bit and shaking the dust off of my editing skills.


Prayer Needs:
Please keep us in your prayers:
-Pray for our team, for unity and refreshment as we all work hard!
-Pray for the busy season that looms ahead:)
-Pray for clear direction and vision for what the future holds for the ministry here and for us personally.
-Pray for God to raise up nationals to do the work here!


Thank you all so much!  We'd love to hear from you, and pray for you.  Please feel free to give us a holler!
dolson905@gmail.com
Blessings!