Born that man, no more may die!

Oh man FAMILY!!!!

So good SO GOOD to hear from each of you. I loved it, nataly and jonnyboy too!!!! REALLY! Oh I just love being able to hear all of your personalities and everything in emails. So great.

This week has been great. The news in Connecticut is really heartbreaking. Everytime I walk by the flag pole in the middle of the square, I see it at half mast and my heart goes out to the world really. "Let earth receive her King." We really need to help people, and world to do that, to truly receive their King in their hearts.

dad i cannot believe we are in the same building sometimes! OPA! and i still haven't seen you. so many people can't believe we don't visit with each other. but it really does help me be focused so thanks. 

OH MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I was on the phone with one of our investigators who travels a TON, and guess what, nataly, jonathan, i got to use your gift! I'm saving your Book of Mormons for my special people, so I sent this investigator Nataly's testimony and Book of Mormon with a card from me too for Christmas. I really hope that it becomes the trigger to help her progress. Pray for that! thank you so much Nataly for that perfect testimony...you are doing missionary work!

Wow you guys think I am losing weight? no way! haha. maybe actually, thatd be fine! but thank you:) thank you very much. By the way...I am in the January 2013 Ensign!! in the 50 page numbers so when ya get it take a looksy...it makes me chuckle.  So mom, ganae wasn't that Christmas concert AMAZING, man ALFIE BOE!!! we got to go to it! The first time we got to go, the mission president got us tickets, really exciting. Honestly we are soooo taken care of here. man! This week, well tomorrow I will get to go to  a MEMBER'S HOME for some dinner and christmas traditions. isn't that so neat?! I am so grateful and excited. all of the sisters are. 

I just want to say thank you! Thank you family for everything! I love hearing about new pursuits and the new things that are happening, and Christmas in week will be so fun. Mom I met sister Howard your visiting teacher last night! SO KIND! She gave me a package and we opened it last night and i am so glad we did. Please tell her THANK YOU so special, and please tell her CTR 4 class: Sara, Jonas, Abby, Levi, Sam, Kaden, Caleb---I love you. Thank you so much for the pictures and gifts, they make me smile SO MUCH and I love it. 

I am loving this Christmas! I am feeling better, and I did manage to sing last night. sorry mom you couldn't hear it, but you know---you gave me the gift of music, so thanks. you are doing missionary work too! Jeshua, ganae, you are both so great! thanks for waiting to see the Hobbit with me. I am so impressed with you! its true you don't have to!  think about how much fun it will be to watch it together :). i love you both a lot. I hope you are all enjoying this Christmas, I can't believe you have all come SO CLOSE to the square, woof! when i read that i was like WO! ha. calling you will be grand. 

Jonathan, when you said high school teacher, i just went--well yeah!!! you would be an awesome high school teacher! and it would be satisfying...remember when i was declared teaching social sciences for middle school before i chose the theatre route? The youth are so important, i adore the youth. It really is a critical time to choose who they are going to dedicate themselves to. It is the time where they can truly develop the character of Christ. everyday is of course. 

I just want each of you: Papa, Mom, Jonathan, Nataly, Ganae, Jeshua--all of you to know that I really do love you. I am so blessed to have such an amazing family. May we all rededicate ourselves to the cause of Christ, and to each other. What a blessing you are to me, and also to the people who I get to speak to everyday---you are all a part of my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

It was interesting, one night we met two excited thrilled young men putting in the papers to be missionaries. They readily shared names with who we could call and share this message, they were smiling, kind and ready to go forward and share the gospel. It was energizing, and reminded me how exciting the work is, and how we ought to be excited about the gospel! The next morning we met in contrast, two return missionaries. They were happy---but they were also trying to find their footing it seemed, and trying to figure out how to be spiritual in the world without their calling. they talked about what they were avoiding. But what I asked was, what were they doing? Family we have the full gospel of Jesus Christ which is have faith, repent, recieve the Holy Ghost and endure to the end EVERYDAY. What are we doing everyday to be the devoted, dedicated, and loyal servants of the Lord? May we be devoted!

Family I love you. I am praying with all my heart for you and for others! I love being a missionary. I love being a member of your family and of my Heavenly Fathers. How grateful I am.

I love you. Merry Christmas! OH MERRY MERRY!

love,

Sister Osorio

p.s.---my companion threw out the trash this morning and she said, "I cast it out." oh ESL, I laughed. I love her. AND I LOVE YOU. 

p.s.s--- here is another message i shared with someone earlier, ""Born that man, no more may die. Born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! The Herald Angels sing, Glory to the new born King!"

That is probably my favorite line in my new favorite Christmas hymn. Born that man, no more may die. How incredibly profound that statement is, and oh how I love being a missionary and doing my best to proclaim that glorious message. I feel so privileged, almost as if I get to be one of the Herald Angels. I have often wondered if i got to sing in the choirs when he was born...I am grateful that I get to sing, and speak, and email, and call, and text, and let everyone know of the gospel of Jesus Christ, now, in this special time of year. I know that because He was born, we can all live forever, if we follow the principles of the gospel we will have eternal life. Born that man, no more may die!"

Scripture and Modern-day Examples!

Well Good morning Family!!!!

Good to hear from all of you again, so nice. Christmas will be fun to talk to you.

Family i am doing so well! My soul is happy, and i truly love being a missionary. Its a great privilege. 

FAMILY we are more united than you may think! I also gave a talk in a family ward in West Valley on Sunday!!! WOO! I spoke about humility! And then I sang the primary song that you taught me last year, the one where Samuel the Lamanite prophesies of Christ's birth--and then the Hosanna, Hosanna! Such a beautiful song, and then this week on Temple Square I also sang BREATH OF HEAVEN SAME AS GANAE DID! Opa! I was like, wo how cool! I am glad your talks went well though, i bet it was so great. In my talk I spoke of how humility is dependence on the Lord, as well as confidence and courage in the Lord. No need to be timid about the cause of Christ, humility is knowing where your true strength lies. Like Nephi, that man was asked to BUILD A BOAT AND SAIL ACROSS THE OCEAN. Honestly, thats just so amazing to me, but he knew where his strength lied, "If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them. If he should command me that I should say unto this water, be thou earth, it should be earth...if the Lord has such great power, and has wrought so many might miracles among the children of men, how is it that he cannot instruct me, that I should build a ship." (1 Nephi 17: 50-51). We know where our strength is. We know it. The blessings of the gospel can be ours if we but do what we must in order to obtain them. Let us trust in the Lord, build OUR boats according to His instructions, and then, watch us sail. Always guided, ever guided across our oceans to our promised land. And then yes, I also spoke Jesus Christ, and His life and atonement of humility. Luke 24 I believe. 

ANYWHO! Jeshua---i am really touched that you and ganae are waiting to see the Hobbit. :) Its true, i don't mind missing it, but it does mean so much to me that you are going to wait. You and ganae are wonderful people, true examples of loyalty. Ganae, i am so glad you are sharing the gospel through things like the good samaritan that is really neat. You are so service orientated, such a Christ-like quality! And jeshua you ARE growing up. wow, i am proud of each of my family members.

DADDY! cool question! So really i can wear my Colombian flag whenever I want! And i do, i wear it on my winter coat most of the time. Our mission language is english, but we spake any of the languages we know at any time with guests and members. Right now we are teaching a woman over the phone in Peru. We have taught her the first two lessons, and she is expecting the local missionaries any day now really. We found her through one of the spanish members who came to temple square :). We have investigators in both languages, its interesting translating for your companion---and teaching in different languages too, because it should still by 2 by 2 teaching and preaching, so that makes the dynamics interesting. So I speak spanish whenever I have the opportunity, or whenever we are calling spanish speakers of course! I love it a lot. People can't tell where my accent is from, probably cause it is such a mezcla! Some people think I am from Spain/Colombia, because its clear and very annunciated. they like it! heheh, vamos hablar un poco por telefono. O y si! Mis abuelos son los mejores. Yo les amo.

Mom that backpack for my companion sounds perfect!!! Totally allowed, and her favorite color is pink so she'll love it. thanks sooo much for doing that, wow, i know she will just love it. her family in Mongolia is just so far away, she is the first missionary in her family---she is such an example to me of dedication. I call her Moses and she calls me Moroni sometimes! i also call her banana, and she calls me pineapple! haha, just language study things, I don't know, I guess its just one of those things that brings you together you know? 

We are staying so warm too! She is used to the cold from Mongolia--and I am doing just splendid with it, it is cold though! I am excited to see the Christmas package. Since my pday falls on Christmas this year we will open those gifts after our study time in the morning, its perfect and we will eat and then call you!

I LOVE our investigators. I really do want what is best for them. I am so happy to be here, its just so amazing. I will attach some pictures of us, on birthday and beyond! 

But I want you to know that I love you! That i am happy and strong! ummm I did go to the doctor today and am in the early phases of strep throat however ....:) Im hanging in there though! HA! I am going to go get some antibiotics (amoxicillllllllan!) after this, only a 10$ co pay so i'll be good no worries financially, and my zone leaders will find an exchange for me to stay home for the rest of the day---kinda disappointed i won't get to talk to one of our investigators in Canada tonight, she is so lovely and sincere and is reading the Book of Mormon diligently, and going to all the church activities and services, and meeting with the missionaries. Oh such an amazing example!

Family, I love you so much and i wish the very very very very best. I will be praying for the house, and for each of you---that we may all be unified, humble, full of charity and of course COURAGE, courage to accept the will of the Lord and courage to be do what is right and good.

With all my Love,

your

Sister Osorio

Elise's Birthday and Gratitude

WOW. I'm pretty sure I have the funniest family ever. bahahaha. up on the rooftop! HA! Oh wow, I'm still laughing about it. That is so much fun... I can't even imagine what I woulda done if I had been there, sounds scary. and so funny.

ANYWAYS You all sound SO GOOD!! I am happy to hear it. The photos you sent were spectacular, our home looks so beautiful! WOW! and ganae and jeshua CRACK ME UP, oh so funny. Thank you for making me laugh! And our home looks so beautiful, way to go! Mom the decor is quite fabulous if i do say so myself.  I am happy too and sometimes can't believe that I am here. To be on Temple Square during Christmas is amazing. busy, but great. Our investigators are during well...i can't help but feel we are at standstill with them though, please pray for them...they are so close, just need to keep progressing. 

 Rumor has it Jonathan was on temple square?! WOW, yeah I had a lot of sisters tell me about nat nat and jonnyboy coming to the square, I am sorry I didn't see you I guess, i would have cried so maybe it is for the best. :) But i promise I do work on Temple Square!! Promise! Our purpose is to invite EVERYONE to come to Christ, if we remember our purpose, everyone should feel uplifted when they leave temple square. Anywho, thank you for trying! I can't wait to get the gift you were talking about though, its exciting for me, it means my birthday is not over...yes! so thank you!

Jeshua you little tike it sounds like you birthday was grand! 16!!!! WOOO! My birthday was SO GREAT. Actually, the night before, i realized I hadn't asked Heavenly Father for something for myself in a long time. Honestly! Like I have been praying for good night sleep, for other people, but i realized something: I have been afraid to ask for specific things because I don't want to be ungrateful for all of the blessings I have. PROBLEM! And i realized it was hard for me to ask, i was praying and it was hard for me to let go of my pride and wanting to be strong, but i did, i prayed for something that may seem silly, but it really meant a lot to me: I prayed that Heavenly Father would help me have the best birthday ever. :). And it was. I woke up all groggy eyed and then opened my bedroom door to find it all decorated by my dear companion, and that wasn't all! We had a mission meeting in the morning and they all sang happy birthday to me, and for lunch we ate some MONGOLIAN FOOD! (my companion took such amazing care of me! and so supportive and happy for me!) The mongolian food was like mongolia version of empanadas, or samosas---so much oil=oh so good. we had it for lunch and dinner. And then we took 8pm dinner (sorry jonathan, that could have been why we missed you) and then i opened all of my presents and i loved EACH OF THEM. and the birthday cards as well from both of my amazing grandparents. Thank you so much family for that amazing birthday package. The past 3 days I have only worn the gifts i have received, they all fit perfect and i love them. And of course my birthday was so great because I got to teach and preach! And it was just happy, I just can't help but be happy on my birthday and full of gratitude. Thank you. Thank you so much. It really was the best birthday ever. And I am still working on praying for specific things, when we pray for specific things, we receive specific blessings. I tell that to the people we teach all the time, now I better be living it as well. 

Anyways---we DID get to go to the Christmas devotional! it was so special and wonderful. President Eyring's talk really touched my heart, to hear how much he loves his family, and how the best gifts remind us of the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ and of eternity. 

Afterwards i saw many of my BYU friends, so neat, they are all such good, good people, you can just tell how strong they are.  and Aunt Francios too---with STRAWBERRY PIE, so good. my companion and i have eaten half of it already. mmm. it will be gone soon. but that was so kind of her.

Supply coordinating is keeping us busy---we try not to be stressed, and i don't think we are. it does keep us busy however. but we got some jingle bells from Sister Gillette, and so now whenever we roll around the cart delivering materials throughout the square, we bring the bells----its quite a ruckus, but we go along telling everyone merry christmas, it makes people and us smile and it also makes the work fun. 

So Mom, you asked what I want/need for Christmas. I am so well taken care of really. I am so grateful for all you and papa have done to enable me to be here. I will pray that the house gets sold soon. But really, I am so good. I can think of three things! 

My companion needs a new back pack---nothing too fancy, but her strap has broken. we have fixed it topatolandra! but i was gonna get her one, but maybe thats something. 

I could also use a new watch--my battery is out and i tried to get it changed at walmart and they don't carry it...i am sorry about that because i love that pink watch daddy gave me. 

And thirdly, I just love hearing from you all. All i want for Christmas is a backpack for my companion, and to hear how the Christmas spirit is blessing my family, and how you are using it to bless others. I love you all, and I want the best for each of you. Lets all pray for specific things this week, and lets all serve.

I love you---I do miss you, and I do love the Lord and I love my companion. I am praying and sending you all the best Christmas love I have, everyday.

Be well,

Sister Osorio

Elise's Birthday Letter

Hello All! Today is Elise's birthday and her letter was just so lovely and uplifting. I'm so happy for her! Make sure to wish her a happy birthday if you get a chance!

Oh Dearest Family!!!!

So good to hear from you and that the holidays went so well! It sounded like so much fun and I had a great time too!!! I was SO THRILLED to see the Robinsons, they saw the first run of the Christus statue, and it was just so special. I would have loved to talk with them more and share more of my testimony with them...but its alright! they are strong, and its true, we do need to work. And heather waiting for a mission call--what B-LAST! you must let me know where she goes. they are fabuloso---and with the atonement of Christ we can be healed, move on and let go! Both of my companions help me move on from my mistakes, i didn't realize how no bueno at that i was---letting go and letting myself just feel the love of God. ANYWHO!

Family, thank you so much for writing me. I love you.

AND THANK YOU FOR THE THANKSGIVING/BDAY package! Don't worry, I saved the presents and will be opening them on Saturday! I can't believe I will be 22, SO EXCITED, i have never been 22 before!!!haha. but truly thank you, for what you sent, perfect timing! and thanks for the kind words in your last email dad! i had a package for you all but i didn't get it sent before thanksgiving...so its old, but ill try to send it tomorrow. I WAS SO HAPPY TO RECEIVE YOUR PACKAGE. big smile and joy joy joy.

Mom, you are blessing me with all you do and send and write so thank you. 

I AM SO HAPPY! My companion is SO KIND AND SWEET. I feel so much genuine love for her its just amazing. Honestly, we can't help but be happy everyday! She serves me so much. last night, i came out of the bathroom at home, and i found her at the table sewing on the buttons to my coat that had fallen off and securing the other ones. I sat with her, and almost cried, don't worry i didn't jonathan, but i was just SO GRATEFUL, now i get to WEAR the love she has for me everyday. Her service to me brought us closer together. Our theme for this transfer is SERVICE. oh and i get to do language study with her, so i get to help her learn some english which i thoroughly enjoy doing with her...its making think about keeping the ESL minor i started before i left...but honestly, i have THE BEST companion. she works hard, and is always so positive.

supply coordinating keeps us busy...we try not to let it take away from our teaching time, but keeping the square fully stocked is quite the responsibility at christmas. and we did some singing yesterday---it went so well, the spirit was simple and strong if people took the time to listen and many did. i sang were you there and feliz navidad. but yeah, with faith, I know Heavenly Father will help both of us fulfill our calling of supply coordinating, and teaching others. We have about 3 progressing investigators right now--so i suppose that i ask you to please pray that even though we have a lot of responsibilities, that we can still focus on the missionary work---it is what we are here for. but wow, Sister Moldogalii and i truly have felt the spirit so strongly together. We LOVE each other. Love the Lord and love your companion= a wonderful mission.

Being a missionary on temple square during Christmas is incredible! What sacred blessing, opportunity and privelage. On Sunday we taught many people, (its amazing how many members and guests we get to teach EVERYDAY, there is ALWAYS someone. on sunday, we taught so many people when we got home we just sat down on our beds and laughed and smiled with happiness!! we are so blessed and grateful that the Lord granted us his spirit). and it was so sacred to represent the Savior, and also testify of him and His birth. We taught these three families in the tabernacle, shared with them a scripture about the Savior of the world, and then got to testify of His life. How blessed are we! As companions we feel so blessed to be able to testify of Him, represent Him, and speak of Him on such holy ground----the calling to be a missionary is so special. So i say THANK YOU family, thank you for supporting me in everyway to be able to enjoy these experiences. 

jeshua i know your birthday is coming up too---i love you.

I just want to say to my family: i love you. i pray for you, i cherish you. I love all that blessings and memories we have shared. may we remember them for all our lives. 

I love you and i best be off, I thank you all for all you do. 

Love,

Sister Osorio

p.s.--one time i accidently introduced myself as Elise Osorio....hahah so crazy, it was actually in the microphone right before we were singing...the sisters were cracking up. oops! :) hehehe