Our Heavenly Brothers and Sisters

Dear family! So i just wrote a long letter to President, so i will share some of it with you!

"First, I will start with one of the miracles of the week: two transfers ago I called this woman named Claudia de Valdez from guatemala while i was in the back of the Beehive house. I called her and this woman is in her 70's and she loved hearing from me! Her friend who referred her just recently passed away, so it meant a lot to her that I was calling. She later explained how she wants to get baptized, and she knows that this Church is the only true Church! SO I sent the missionaries. Ever since then, it had been really hard to get a hold of her, and the missionaries still hadn't come, and the connection was bad. Two days ago, I called her. She told me that she hasn't really been meeting with the missionaries, but that her 26 year old granddaughter Isette had, and that she loved the missionaries. In fact, she loved the message so much that  Isette is getting baptized on Sunday. She has a 5 year old who loves primary and comes home telling his grandma, "Grandma, did you know we are heavenly brothers and sisters!" Claudia later went on to say, "Thank you. If it wasn't for you sending the missionaries, this never would have happened. Its like what my grandson says, we are heavenly sisters Elise!". Yes, i cried. I was so happy to feel and know that I had made a difference in someones life, and that all of this is worth it. It also shows us to use our time wisely, and never give up on these referral cards, because really, they are not just cards, these ARE our heavenly brothers and sisters."

I hope i am helping new generations find the gospel. Think if this 5 year old boy stays active how it will bless his life, how he can become a missionary, marry in the temple and have his own family, i pray that that happens.

Things are going well for me familia! This is the last week as companions. I don't know when my new pday will be next week...so you may want to write on Sunday and check in! I don't know if I will be here, training, zone leadering, district leadering, or even going outbound. I am at the point where anything could really happen to me during my mission. Exciting eh?!!! I will write you if I end up going outbound and I can tell you where i am headed i believe...crazy. What do i want? I dont know. whenever i think about it i just get nervous so i try not to think about it.  I think i would rather go outbound than train, (unless i get to train someone from hong kong because then we will be SO BUSY because SO MANY Chinese people come to temple square during summer) but in the end, i want to do what the Lord wants. Come what may and love it. 

Its been a good transfer and I have learned a lot. Just about being strong, and humble and happy. 

Thats exciting about Mitas and Abuelo coming up. I've got some news! Some members of the 70 saw our performance the other night, and get this...they have asked us to do the whole thing AGAIN. So we are, we are doing the show again this coming Tuesday at 7:30pm. So...i guess im formally inviting mitas and abuelo to come down to that because i think they might enjoy it...not sure. BUT if its too stressful, honestly do NOT worry, mom has seen, i have a sound recording of it, and its really just fine. its the day before transfers too...a lot going on that week. WOW, i will get to say hola to mitas and abuelo on mothers day won't i???!!! AH EXCITED!

So Isabel and Daybor are not getting baptized this weekend. Daybor went out of town, but keep praying for them that they will stay on the path!!! I know they will. 

Well I know this letter is short, but i love you and i am eager to know what will be happening with me next transfer. its exciting.

Here is something i learned in my personal study. I read Alma 60-62----some of my favorite chapters. I love these leaders and their example, and dedication.

Alma 60: 36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.

SO this is me applying this scripture: Behold, I am Sister Osorio, a servant of the Lord. I seek not for power, but to pull up the weary. I seek not for the honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country and fellow man. I know who I am, I am a leader, a sister, and a servant of the Lord.

I also love that Moroni raises the standard of liberty wherever he goes Alma 62:4. I want to do the same. 

Okay, I love you all. I am proud of what you each do everyday. ENJOY THE CAMPING HOW FUN!! take pictures, be safe, be smart, and stay warm!

love

Sister Osorio

Temples on the Earth!

Hello family!

Well p-day has came fast this week! I can hardly believe it. This coming week is the last week of the transfer--week 6!...which is SO odd. I can't believe I am on the downward slope of my mission. i will still be writing to you next pday on friday as usual.

Dad, your experience this week with your friend is so special. Something i am learning is that the Lord's work is an 'individual' work. Its all about the individual. One by one. What you did means so much, its what really matters in this life. I will be praying for your friend. 

The rest of you sound like you are all doing pretty well. 

Ganae I know that finishing up school sooner might be stressful...you know what my personal goal for this week is? to Enjoy. Enjoy the mission! So even though it may seem like a lot, do your best to just Enjoy. i will be doing it to this week, so perhaps we shall do that together eh? Enjoy. Especially serving in Nauvoo!!! Seriously---there is NO USE WORRYING about things, no use! Enjoy this incredible opportunity you have, i know you will, you are the queen of laughter or finding joy ;), so enjoy! as a wise woman once said "have fun!" (yeah that was you grabbing me by the shoulders while dancing and telling me to have fun). so just smile, and enjoy the work, because it will only come once and then it is gone, this is a privilege. think of the people around the world who would love to go to nauvoo and do what you are about to do...so worth it! so enjoy it!

BUT MY FAVORITE part about this week was: meeting the Italian contractors who are in charge of building the Rome Temple. They had come on a long research trip about LDS temples in the US, and had already had in depth tours of different temple construction sites. They were led by a member--probably the church associate for italy. They aren't members. My companion and I were standing on Map desk when the leader asked for an italian sister so that she could meet and just say hello to these men, he thought they might like seeing an italian sister. We called it in and found out who they were and it was just such an honor. What a cool experience. What a unique mission! I have never really met someone who built a temple, yet we testify about it all the time as we describe the pioneers and their incredible sacrifices to build the temple. and then here in front of us were 8 or 9 men ready to build a temple. we thanked them and just felt so thrilled for them. then sister marchetti came, and she is from Rome! So she spoke with them (i understood most of it! beautiful italian!) and then she started to thank them for what they were doing, and tried to explain how much this meant to them, by the end she was crying! and then sister williams and i were crying-- and we aren't even from Rome! But the men all seemed to understand how sacred and special this was to us, and what a unique project they had embarked on. they were so respectful and the spirit was just so warm, and gentle and strong as it testified to all of us the importance of the temple, and how marvelous and special this work really is. Even if they are not members, they will remember the sincerity of Sister marchetti and all of us, and the spirit that they felt. We all walked away edified and uplifted. I just remember all the times ive heard new temples announced, and just thought, "oh cool! a new temple"...but to see how much it meant to Sister marchetti really opened my heart to how marvelous it really is, and how many people temples help---temples are the work of salvation and exaltation! It is more than just "oh cool! a new temple"...words cannot express how profound and special the building and existence of modern day temples are today. Temples have been restored----what an incredible time we get to live. I am so grateful for that experience i had on map desk...Heavenly Father knew I needed it.

We went to the temple this morning, and at the end, when we finished, my companion asked the simple question, "are you ready?" i said yes and we went downstairs to change. but i thought about that question....are you ready? the answer is yes...with the holiness of the temple inside of me and the peace we can feel there, I am ready to enter into this world and try to proclaim to others that God's truth has been restored, there are living prophets today again, and heavenly peace is available to all once more. Come, come ye saints! the blessings of heaven are awaiting, so ENJOY them, by embracing them. The gospel, and my mission have really taught me how to be happy! hey dad which temple do you usually go to?

Alright familia, Sister Osorio is checking out. I pray for strength to keep going! one day at a time eh! I LOVE being a missionary. And more important than anything, I love the Lord. I really do, I love the Lord. thanks for writing too, i love hearing from you all.

love,

Sister Osorio

To Trust the Lord

Oh my dear family!

HAHAHA I feel like i have so much to say and yet so little at the same time. where shall i begin! So much can happen in just a week.and don't worry, I am still serving on Temple Square.

First off, hello! My new pday is on Fridays from now on.

We had transfers this past Monday morning in the Tabernacle. I am now entering my 6th transfer. There are only 12 transfers! i am going into half of my mission, can you all believe that? Meh, i am still a youngin. So, this transfer my new companion is Sister Williams, from the USA! (im not sure which state but i'll tell you why I don't where shes from in a bit.). And we have both been called to serve as Zone Leaders for the South 1 zone on Temple Square. Which zone covers the square. To be honest it felt right, but a lot of the other sisters were super surprised...most of the zone leaders in fact, i think all of them are in their 11th or 12th transfers. I'm young---but don't go telling people that, i just know you would all find that interesting. Neither of us have been zone leaders before so this will be exciting!

Anyway---so onto what happened next. Sister Williams was serving her outbound mission in the New York Yutica Mission, and she was to arrive this past Wednesday the 20th to start the new transfer. The new day started, I met with the zone, sent em on their way, and then zoom transfers are always a little crazy. I tried to fulfill my responsibilities as best as I could and waited for my new companion to arrive...but she never did! The New York Yutica mission got confused, and she never ended up getting on the plane. They thought she was going to be flying out on Thursday, but her ticket was for Wednesday. So they weren't able to rebook her flight until Friday----- today.

SO my dear family, the past 2 days have been some of the most stretching filled of my mission thus far. I never knew how hard it could be to be a missionary without a companion. Don't worry i wasn't "alone alone" I stuck myself in a trio with either of my two district leaders and their companions, and life went on. But the responsibilities and organizing the different schedules, and rules and such things----wow, theres a lot. Being a solo zone leader was hard. Having a companion is one of the greatest blessings on the mission no wonder he wants us to teach two by two!

This is a part of the letter that I wrote to the mission President telling him about this experience, 
"I did my best, and I can honestly say that I learned so much about FAITH and relying on the Lord. I think the most anxiety came from being so eager to fulfill my duty and serve the Lord. I love the Lord, and I want more than anything to do His work. So I was eager to get working, but it all feels like a blur now. I went on exchanges between my district leaders Sisters Fedorovych and her companion Rodrigues, and the other district leader Sister Rojas and her companion Sister Muli. Once I got the schedules from the APs I felt so HAPPY because there was something tangible that I could get my hands on and get working. It was great! 


But yeah, I thought that after my first day without my companion i would go home and cry--but i didn't, no no! I found myself actually crying when I prayed for my investigators, or before I went to the square, not because I was overwhelmed, but because I found myself not turning to any companion for help, and aid, I was relying completely and totally on the Lord during my opening prayers for lessons. Yesterday I called Isabel, a woman in Colombia who was transferred to me by Sister Troches. So it was the first time I called her, and as we spoke, I just felt so much love, and I realized how greatly I wanted to help her accept this gospel, and I just prayed so hard for our opening prayer at the beginning of the lesson, I poured out my heart to heavenly Father for her because I realized how inadequate i was---i am just a 22 year old girl who is full of Love and will do my best to teach---the Lord can work with that, so I just prayed that He would. I was studying faith this morning and I realized that my faith has really been stretched and growing these past few days because I had to put complete trust in Him, that He knew where I was, that He knew every responsibility, that He cared, and that this IS HIS WORK. I had to have the faith with every footstep that this was what he wanted me to do, and faith that Jesus Christ my Savior, would enable me to complete the assignments that lay ahead.


I love the Lord. I know that through Him, and with faith, and hope and humility---we can have full confidence that all will be well, because Jesus Christ will make it so. I am eager to serve. I love the Lord."
I just got back from picking up Sister Williams from the airport (1 hour ago) and she is just the GREATEST. the greatest! I haven't been able to stop smiling for an hour. She is calm, and happy, and a solid missionary from what I can tell. We came back and she is in a lunch right now for the returing outbound sisters and so they let me come here to email (on exchange with Sister Fakahau from TONGA!). I take a step back and if you think about: all is well. there is nothing to worry about! Just keep the first and greatest commandment, to love the Lord God, and then everything else is just fine. I will now be able to officially move into my apartment and get going. Oh yeah and Isabel from Colombia is amazing, her and her husband are working towards getting baptized next week. i still haven't been able to get ahold from Nancy in Peru to see if she got baptized but all in due time. 

Anyways, those two things that i underlined were two of the main things I learned in these past few days. 
How are you?! How are things?! Let me know when you can.

I hope you all know that I am happy, and healthy, and I am full of faith that this is what Heavenly Father wants me to do. Its still a mission of faith daddy. 
I love you all! I wish you all the very best!!!
Love
Sister Osorio

Happier as a Missionary

Aloha! Talofa! HELLO! 

Wow, Mom what a blast last night was eh? It really was special to see you and those two young woman you brought. They seem great, and you my dear family seems great too! I am surprised, I thought if I ever saw my family I would be distracted: but I just felt so happy, so happy to be a missionary and to see my mom!! Its my mom! Thanks for the support, you are the most supportive woman I know! The spirit was really strong during the end of the show and I really felt golden. Afterward our mission presidency gave us cinnamon rolls MY FAVORITE! So last night I just felt so happy to be a missionary. I love my companions, we are getting more and more unified as the days go on---and that also makes me even happier as a missionary. 

Hearing about you family was GREAT. You sound like you are doing really really well. I AM SO PROUD OF YOU!

So this week was stressful its true with the show and missionary work. all is well, but it is also a lot.----but if you think about it: its also really fun and an amazing time in life. 

3 experiences i want to share:

1). We were walking home as a group and the AP's were with us. We were just talking and all that, and I said in passing, "Hey, our districit meeting is tomorrow, if you wanna come you can, its at 10am! :)" They were like oohh, cool, we'll see. I did not think they would show up! And what do ya know, They were there waiting for our district with President Gillette for district meeting! WO! HAha, my district was so surprised...I was happy, and surprised, and yes a little nervous, mucho nervous, but i didn't want to be! Ha, but it really did go well. One hour and a half conducting a district meeting with the President and the assistants and the wonderful missionaries in my district. We talked about our Missionary Purpose, and relating those with the key indicators which they just aligned for us to be the exact Preach My Gospel key indicators. It was really great talking about the things that Joseph Smith restored, you can make a super long long list, which we did on the board and talked about the exciting news we have to share and how to help our guests on the square, and our investigators on the phone obtain all of the blessings of the restoration! So I thought taht was a fun experience to share.

2) uhh i can't remember . oh yeah! insight! So we had a dress rehearsal for the show, and as I sang, my voice cracked on one note. As i thought about it i realized something: That song has hundreds of notes. Hundreds. All of the other notes went well, they sounded great, in tune, great! I messed up on ONE out of hundreds...So rejoice in the successes! Think of all the ones that went well! Satan wants us to focus on the one note, and make us think we failed. Jesus Christ wants to fix it, and Heavenly Father has promised us to to forget our mistakes when we repent. Rejoice in your daily successes!!!

3) I drove to a baptism with Sister Moldogalii because a mongolian investigator that we took around the square got baptized! The spirit was so strong when the man raised his arm to the square and said that he baptized her with the authority of Jesus Christ. I was stunned, when he said those words it hit my heart. That authority has been restored on the earth. It was an amazing experience.

Dad: I am so proud of you. Let me say it again! I am SO proud of you! I just think your a great dad and a great man. thanks for everything. Thanks for being dedicated to your calling and your family. I love you. This weekend we are going to speak in 2 wards in Park City, a spanish and english one, about missionary work! I have a lot of ideas, but one of them is to talk about how missionary work has blessed our family, how it blessed you---and really its through missionary work that our family came about. :) thank you for teaching me how to work, and be dedicated, thank you for teaching me spanish ha and english! and thank you for teaching me how to be a leader. i'm still working on it. but you are a great leader.

Mom: thanks for the girl scout cookies!!! Those are my favorite kind mmmm. I haven't opened the box yet, you know me, but don't worry, i will be sure to share. thanks for all you are doing, especially with the young woman. God gave you certain experiences so that you could help others when they go through similar things...there is a reason for everything i think.

Jonathan! yeah i will go outbound but not yet i think. I think they will keep me here for General Conference NEXT TRANSFER! I love general conference, its the most wonderful time of the year, especially for Temple Square missionaries! Interesting news on the classes, do what is best, you know it! and tell nat nat hi for me! And thanks for your leader tip---i agree with you, and its something i have been working on about being sure to enjoy. i've got a lot to learn brother. But i am happy and trying my best. And as Bob, our temple square constant says, "how can you do better, when you are doing your best?" thats a comfort when i get stressed. I also need to be better at mighty Prayer. I've been working on my prayers, and staying focused in them...they are improving, but wow that needs to get better too :)!!!

Ganae: congrats on snow college! with a scholarship and everything too right? you know, i think that is a GREAT choice...meet you at juliard! ;) no joke. AND how was prom?  and of course you can wear that dress---my clothes aren't mine, they are yours! silly! how are you? i am happy! i am going into my 6th transfer ganae, which means i am going into half of my mission. how can this be? i love serving the Lord, i really do.

Jeshua: Congrats on running!!! opa! and how was prom for you too? you are so funny! Kaden's house sounds fun with that persian dagger. I love you little brother, I am really proud of you. I hope you are staying strong with the small and simple things, like prayer and scripture study. Small, simple, and powerful!

As the great missionary Alma said,  O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the ^atrump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

 2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and ^acome unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

I know the Lord has sent me here, I know that with the gospel, our sorrows can be healed by our Savior Jesus Christ. He can fix any broken note, and we don't have to dwell on our mistakes. 

Alright! I love you. Thank you for all of your support.

Love

Sister Osorio

The Sun Will Shine

Dear Family!

Mom and dad thank you so much for the letter and newsletter! I got it yesterday and it was really fun to see! My companions and i all looked at it.  The ward seems so great to be a part of! And so organized! Thanks for putting me in that newsletter, so neat!!--and mom that little interview with you was cool. Your letters were wonderful of course and i am glad to hear that things are going well.

I've attached a picture of me with my last companion Sister Moldogalii and i on transfer conference day. She really is a best friend from the mission. I will send some pictures with my current WONDERFUL trio as well--no worries!

This week I felt like my companions and I are really learning how to trust each other more. Which is important in a companionship. We just feel a lot of love for each other, and I know that we want what is best for one another. I am doing really well family. I am just happy, and calm and peaceful. (ha, well now I am! ha, we went to a baptism this morning, and i drove, and didn't know which exit to take to come back to temple square so i wasn't peaceful then you could say----so funny---i ended up going to the airport because i know how to get back from there bahaha.) Right! But NOW i am calm and peaceful and really always am when I remember my purpose here. The sun is coming out in every way. I feel my self growing and changing---and I hope that I can help my companions and investigators to grow and change as well. I have happy news! One of the ladies I have been teaching since September or October in Peru, she has a baptismal date for next week I believe. I felt like crying when I found out. We will do all we can to continue to support her. She has SO MUCH FAITH. Like immovable. And she says she may come to Salt Lake to visit her brother in November, so maybe one day I will even get to meet her. That was one of my highlights for the week. I know you will be praying for her too. 

I really love you all! honestly, i just feel focused and happy being a missionary. Jonathan i look forward to those dl tips and missionary tips because i know you were a great missionary. :)

 

Dad: Its always so good to hear from you. I love you a lot. I am glad that you and the family are here in Utah---I know that sometimes that isn't the easiest. Especially with all the international work you have done, just know that no matter what---we are happy. i am proud of the you and the decisions you have made, and look, you  are now back in the United States of America, our home sweet home and I know we all enjoy that. Thanks for all you do, for all of us! I know you must miss the international world---who wouldn't?! But in the end you know what is most important: the gospel, so you can be happiest anywhere. And who knows, in the future you may get back out there if you choose to pursue that. Heavenly Father trusts your agency. But for now, I am glad you are here. Thanks for the tips---i think i want to be a good companion more than anything. A good companion is a good servant of the Lord.  I will be sure to send abuelo a birthday card!!!! And this morning I drove a silver toyota corolla through the car wash, its one of the mission vehicles that we were assigned to clean this weekend, and i was like hey! my siblings drive this car too! COOL!

MOM! how are you doing my wonderful mother? How are the youth?! Thank you so much for thinking and praying for me. :) I will always be your princess. Thank you so much for the life of service you have given to me and the family. You have given so much for us, and our talents have grown with your nurturing. i am so grateful for music!!!! and speaking spanish too---that was handy at the baptism this morning---the baptism was for Augustina, a woman that the elders brought for a lesson here on temple square. we took her through the Conference Center---she is so strong. . (The Temple Square concert next week on Friday at 7:30pm in the assembly hall and it will be great. I am singing in a Sound of Music medley group and in Amazing Grace with Sister Rynders who has a great voice, and it is going to be uplifting to everyone I hope. I love to sing! i really do.  It definitely makes things very busy---but I just remember my purpose as a missionary, and when I focus on fulfilling that, I am much happier.)  I admit, i have not asked if you all can come to that performance...as long as i don't see you! But I know that they are going to sound record it so you will get to hear it all the same. Anyways---MOM being a missionary is wonderful! Are you still in touch with any of the people you taught in Colombia? Thats amazing that you went there. I know the Lord can really change us when we give ourselves to Him. The easter basket!!! oh mom you are SO SWEET, that is so cute. don't worry, we are doing really well. My companions LOVE Reeses, well all do actually. so there is a handy tip. 

Ganay nay!!!---Good luck on the play next week! You sound happy! and i am proud of you. I am glad you know how important family is too---i know you will never forget that, if with your awesome career. Ganae! yesterday we took this CUTE family through the beehive house, it was her mom and 3 little boys under the age of 6 and they were so funny. Carter who was four would walk around and comment on all sorts of things, like walking past a mirror and say, "hehe, mirror!" and then keep running, so silly. he also loved to come up to us and smell our clothes, haha. sillyhead! but it was special, we talked about the temple, and he said, "its Jesus's house!" The truths that children say are simple and sweet. I love that. i knew you would like that story about children.

have such a good week okay!!!! Work hard, read your scriptures, smile and remember the sun will shine! The sun is shining.

Jeshua Thomas Osorio AKA TRACK STAR!  And jeshua i can NOT believe you are as tall as me, that would be so odd. i am 5'91/2 or 5'10! oh my goodness. So tell me about track! i didn't know you had tried out for that. (nice burrito technique---just think about how cold those burritos make you feel when you run...maybe it will help you go faster!) but seriously!! let me know how it goes! and how was your trip to logan?! I would love to hear about it. I am sure you are a great example to all around you. here is a track tip: Never settle for less. Push yourself---even if your tired and have put out a good time---push yourself....try and shave off those last seconds to make your time shorter and shorter...compete with yourself. WOO! You will be excellent missionary if you learn how to push yourself, and respect your body and respect others all at the same time. I love you little brother. I am really proud of you :). Be humble---which means, be confident in the Lord and know where your true strength lies---in Him and no one else.

Jonny boy and Nat nat--- i love you both a lot! How is the busy busy work schedule and all of those things? I know life is so busy, but i know that you too are so good at being happy. i think that is one of your strengths, you are a positive people and that is so important. so yes, what tips do both of you have? or recent insights or thoughts? i respect BOTH of your insights a lot about the scriptures and the gospel. Hey and do you have any summer plans? Other than icecream sandwhiches and pool parties! hopefully that is already on the summer plan list. I am proud of both of you and love you.

Alright! Gonna attatch a few more pictures and be off. I love you all!

Sister Osorio

Eternal Families and Great Experiences

Hello Familia! 

Wow! It has been quite a week for us all. Mom and Dad thanks for the note and the face wash! PERFECT TIMING. I needed to buy more, so now i've got the right stuff. Thank you both for being so thoughtful. I am grateful to each of you my dear family :). But especially for the hand written note mom and dad, those mean so much to me.

I am so glad to hear of Jeshua and his friends having a good time and that jeshua has such great church friends. he is such a great young man, so you deserve the best jeshua---dont ever settle for less!

So ganae, ganae, ganae! I am so sorry to hear about BYU! My heart was a little sad, but you know what? you are so right, Heavenly Father knows what is best, and i suppose we all have to face things like that. Those who are persistent are blessed. Jonathan is also right: there a lot of good schools! So press forward with faith, I am sorry for any disappointment you've faced----but know this: I am proud of you. Follow the spirit, big time, you are now entering the decade of decision and now is the time for you to make some decisions then pray about them. You really are blessed with so many options, and know its agency time! My advice, talk to mom and dad, make a choice, pray about it, be happy and then act. and keep writing songs and music so that you and i can be inspirational song writers slash speakers :).

NOW what a week!! Its been busy and pleasant. Jonathan! I keep seeing President Peterson, your mission president. We had an appreciation breakfast, and he was there, lo and behold he is my mission president's contact in the missionary department. He is so nice! 

So yesterday we had a great experience. We had to leave our studies early to take a spanish tour and it was a beautiful young family, or two parents and then 3 young kids. The youngest was the cutest little boy who loved pushing the stroller around really fast! We found out that they were going to be sealed in the temple today, on saturday, as a family. So we took them to God's Plan for Families, and wow, it was amazing. To see this family, ready, worthy, and happy to enter into the temple and fulfill the plan of God. Everyone was so touched by the feelings we had. I am just SO grateful, SO GRATEFUL for my parents being married in the temple, so that we can all be together forever----Eternal Families is what all of this is about. Can you think of a better way to start your day? To meet people who were about to enter into the greatest covenant, and who seemed so happy and humble to be doing so?

This morning I got a phonecall from the first person on my mission who I helped be baptized. I am so proud of him. Speaking to him was so wonderful, and we talked about being faithful no matter what. It reminded my of a story that I think President Monson told, i think it was him, maybe not. Anyways i feel prompted to share it: A man who was working in construction was often bullied and teased for his beliefs. But he never wavered. Gradually, with time, they respected him. The lead bully guy ended up passing away, and he had asked the valiant construction worker to speak at his funeral.

When we are honest and true to who we are, and more importantly, when we are honest and true to Christ and God, we change lives. In the end, it is those with standards who can stand tall. Be true to who you are, we cannot afford to be dishonest, use foul language, or have impure thoughts----be worthy of the blessings of heaven, and enjoy the sanctity that comes with cleanliness. Mom, I hope one day I get to meet your youth! May they stand in Holy Places and never move. May they BE a holy place. 

Daddy, remember how I told you this was my mission of faith? This quote i heard really touched my heart---i heard it in the new Mormon message, Mountains to climb---check  it out! Its about walking with faith, which is what you have done in moving here. 

http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng

It says, "Serving God and others persistently with full purpose of heart and soul (is what) turns testimony of truth into unbreakable spiritual strength."

I know that every part of that statment is true, and that is what I hope i am doing. serving Him persistently, with all my heart and soul, and that my testimony will become a spiritual strength that is unbreakable. I wrote down in my journal, "when i hear and watch things like this, i am reminded of the times that i have chosen faith, when i have chosen to keep climbing, and now i am here! on a mission! because of the small times and big times where i have chosen the Lord's way and when he has sent me angels and priesthood power to bear me up."

Some of that priesthood power that I was talking about dad, was you, in India, when you gave me a blessing before I left back for school that one winter semester. I will never forget the word "shield" you used in that blessing. I have felt that shield, and i know the priesthood is real. I know of friends and family that God has put in our paths to strengthen us. Ganae, asking for a blessing, is something I invite you to do in your desicion making.

I best be off. I love you all, be safe, be strong, be true. I LOVE YOU.

Here is a picture of me and most of us in our district, just missing one companionship!

Love,

Sister Osorio

Buenos Dias

Oh Family you all sound so wonderful!!!! It is so good to read your letters and emails :). You too nat nat and jonny boy!

Well I want you all to know that things are going so wonderful!!! All of our investigators are spanish speaking and its just amazing. I am really learning a  lot from these two sisters, about how to teach in spanish and everything. They are great. We all balance each other out and actually have a really fun time with each other---you can imagine the laughs we have. We are also finding more ways to be even more obedient and I really like doing that, we need to do that and not settle for anything less!

This week has been BUSAY! And I am pleased to report some wonderful things! First off, I had my first district meeting this week! And it went great. I just felt a lot of peace and the sisters in my district are doing well. We started off with each of us going around the room and sharing our testimonies about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and that really set the tone and invited the spirit. The rest of the teaching and roleplaying went well, and i even made a treat for the end! Its this desert that my Australian roomate taught me how to make last transfer. pretty much cookies and chocolate rolled up into this yummy ball: the point is, you know I must love em to make food for them, because that was never something i really did, was make cookies or something for people.....just so ya know! haha. I am so sorry i forgot my camera i wanted to show you a picture of some of us, i will share it next week. I also finally PASSED OFF IN DRIVING! I know, Im like almost half way through my mission and I just now passed off, but I did it yesterday in the snow and everything and we are all proud of it! Ha. Dad thanks so much for your advice, to pass off and help the sisters and the president. I really took that to heart and thats what got that whole process started! And you know how I get anxious whenever i drive and i grip the steering wheel super tight and don't breathe normally? haha, well i was so so SO calm and peaceful and safe and happy to be there cruising through town. i can honestly say that i was very blessed yesterday morning. 

So last week three of our investigators were progressing amazingly, but we haven't gotten a hold of them at all this week. Be praying for them! We have set some wonderful goals and plans for this transfer, and I know the Lord will bless our plans! Just like when He touched the brother of Jared's stones, we have brought Him our plans and we know that He can touch them and work wonders. He can do the same for all of your plans too my wonderful family, whether its getting a teaching certificate or a young women's kickoff---as we bring Him our plans, and exercise faith, thats when He can perform wonders and miracles and we will be happy!

So last night we had a wonderful experience! So we took this 999 tour, which means no one is responding so someone please take it, and it was 2 spanish people from....CARACAS VENEZUELA!! We hit it off so well! It was a beautiful couple, and my two companions were so great with them too, we all just wanted to go to Venezuela afterward. Anyways, we shared with them about Jesus Christ, which they had mixed feelings about, but as we continued and talked about the blessing of eternal families they really opened up. They felt the spirit. We watched this beautiful presentation about families and the temple---and then i got to share a cool experience. Remember dad how EVERY sunday after going to church in Caurimare, we would drive around the little redonda, you would always say look at the temple!!! Well These two Venezuelan's have seen the Temple alli en Caurimare, and they just LOVED that story and thought it was really neat how you helped us see that focus, even if all we wanted was to go home and eat mac n cheese, you reminded us that our focus must always be towards the temple. So that helped us talk about the blessings of the temple, and it was such a special experience to be able to relate to them in such a unique way. We will be calling them in a week when they return to continue to teach them and hopefully help them transition to local missionaries. My companions left feeling so excited and their excitement really helped me feel the spirit. I love it when my companions are happy----I am very positive in the group and I know they appreciate that, thus I will continue to do so. 

Its true...this mission can be overwhelming at times, but like Grandpa Wortham wrote me this week, even when we are exhausted, which we as a trio often times are, we must still be diligent. That is our purpose to keep going. And our trio is so supportive of one another. Be diligent even when you are tired!

So Sister Loisotto in her last transfer talked to this man on the phone who was a little loquito and he started screaming OLE!!! OLE!!! like they do in Spain during the bull run. So now we often look at each other and say OLEEEE!!! And get to work. haha, so funny and so fun. I just love this mission, the interaction we have with each other is great. Sometimes i do wonder why didn't heavenly father send me to some cuper cool foreign place like VANAUATU PORT VILLA where Pono is...but then I just have to remember to be grateful for all of the blessings and experiences I have had, and remember that this is really where I do want to be, and where the Lord wants me as well. We must be happy with the Lord has given us, for the Lord only wants what is best for us! So enjoy the BEST! We cannot just speak of Nephi and testify of these amazing Prophets...we must BE Nephi, and go and do, and that is what I want people to remember me as. 

So Ganae, have you heard from BYU provo yet? Everytime i read and look for that news....I'm praying for you. And congrats on getting into these other colleges. You are amazing. and of course: thank you for making me laugh. Oh and Ganae, i wanted to let you know something that I haven't said: If you want to leave on a mission, even before I get home, I support you with all my heart and soul. i am not suggesting anything, I just want you to know  that you have my love and support always. I know you are thinking of waiting a bit to go if you do, but i just wanted you to know that. All agency is yours!!! 

Jeshua! BASKATBALE! haha sorry trying to type fast, but I hope you know I am so proud of you. How is your duty to God coming? I am so glad that you are working hard, and being obedient. Love Mom and Dad, because they love you a lot, and they need your love---I know you do love em, you've always been a great example of kindness in our family i am proud of you for that. 

Okay everyone, keep getting healthier! I love you all so much! my new pday is today, on saturdays so thats when you can expect me! Thank you SO MUCH for the valentine love, OH so good! that package was cute...and i especially love the paper hearts in the plastic bag mom, its really sweet. and the pics too. 

keep singing, keep working and press forward with faith. 

till we meet!

Sister Osorio!