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