SPARWOOD, B.C. -- Normally, the missionaries assigned to the remote mountain town of Sparwood, B.C. -- nestled snugly amid the snow-capped Canadian Rockies of southeast British Columbia -- begin their day like the 60,000 other missionaries around the world.
This frigid, sub-freezing morning however, was a little different; largely because one of the missionaries assigned to the Sparwood Ward, located in the heart of Elk Valley -- coal-mining country -- is himself, a little different. Well, maybe not different, but certainly unique in these parts, eh?
"It's been amazing," Olson said. "I haven't even played a down of college football, and I have people up here asking me for my autograph, wanting to take my picture, the whole thing. I've even had a couple newspaper articles written about me so far. I can't imagine what it would be like if I were a famous hockey player or something."
The fame of being the nation's top-ranked high school quarterback, along with the anticipation of becoming BYU's next in a long line of well-known signal callers, has followed Elder Ben Olson to the mission field. While he has had interviews with local reporters, signed autographs and taken photos as part of his early fame, nothing compares to the attention he garnered on that freezing day in early November.
Before the sun had even thought of creeping over the tall mountain peaks surrounding Sparwood, Olson's budding celebrity status had drawn the attention of one of the largest sports publications in the country. His guests for the day included national college sports writer Gene Wojciechowski, photographer Michael Lewis and his assistant, Will Taylor.
"There was something about the combination of football and faith, and Ben's status as the former No. 1 recruit in the country, that appealed to me as a writer, as well as a college football fan," Wojciechowski said. "Mission work isn't easy, and I wanted to convey that through Ben. I also wanted to show the trickle-down effect of someone such as Ben serving a mission. How does it affect him, his family, his program, his future?"
With permission given from Olson, his parents, his mission president, and the missionary department, Wojciechowski's journey -- from his Chicago home -- had taken him to Provo on Thursday to interview a few players and coaches as part of the feature. Friday, he flew from Salt Lake City to Kalispell, Mont., then made the winding, nature-filled drive up the Canadian Rockies to Sparwood.
Lewis and Taylor, commissioned by ESPN to photograph Olson for the multi-page spread, left New York City early Friday morning, connected through Salt Lake City, and after loading a rented Suburban with bags and overstuffed cases full of camera equipment, began the scenic drive up the mountains. By the time Lewis and Taylor reached their hotel room at the Fernie Mountain Lodge, they had spent over 12 hours traveling to the remote site.
Promptly at 7 a.m. on Saturday morning, Elder Olson and Elder Perkins welcomed the crew from ESPN, The Magazine -- who were each nursing steaming cups of coffee in an effort to wake up, and unthaw -- at the downstairs entrance to the three-story apartment building. After brief introductions on the frozen doorstep, Olson invited them in and told him their apartment was on the third floor.
"No elevator?"
"Nope. No elevator, just ugly, purple doors," Olson said.
"Figures," Lewis replied. "That always happens when we have all this equipment to lug around."
After more in-depth introductions, and discussing a few plans for the day, Lewis and Taylor began transforming the "humble" apartment in to a full-blown, New York-style photo studio, while Wojciechowski began asking the companionship questions for his story.
"This is amazing," Olson said between flashes. "I'm not sure how many missionaries have this kind of experience on their mission. Good thing I got a hair cut last night."
Wojciechowski was intrigued by the notoriety Elder Olson had received throughout his mission, and by the fact he had put a promising athletic career on hold to serve a Church mission.
"Ben said something during our interview that stuck with me," Wojciechowski said later. "He said, 'Some things you pay a price to do, and you don't count the consequences.' Ben isn't counting the consequences this might have on his own playing career, or on the careers of others. I respect that sort of commitment."
After a few hours in the apartment, the crew packed up and headed to Brother and Sister Gurr's home -- members of the Sparwood Ward who are pictured in the magazine.
"They're a great family," Olson said. "They're a lot of fun and take good care of us out here."
After a brief visit with the Gurr family, a few more photos and a few more questions -- and learning more about how to sharpen ice hockey skates then you will ever need to know -- Wojciechowski, Lewis and Taylor packed up their things and made the trek back to Kalispell for an early Sunday morning flight. Olson and Perkins, on the other hand, stepped back into their missionary world as if nothing different had happened that Saturday morning.
"You think we can count that as first-time contacting?" Perkins asked.
Wojciechowski's five-page feature, titled "Mission Statement" was published in this week's edition of ESPN The Magazine. The publication was delivered to subscribers this week, and will be available at the nearest magazine outlet by Monday, Dec. 15.
"Ben, his family, his mission president, his comp, his fellow elders, and BYU were kind enough to provide me the necessary access to convey the essence of a missionary's life, and in Ben's case, his football dilemma of sorts," Wojciechowski said. "I couldn't have asked for better cooperation."