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