An Honest Love

Sorry it has taken me SO long just to get this email out. I apologize! But it's a cute one and thought everyone would enjoy it! And also, a special shout out to those who have taken the time to read her blog and even write to her letters. I am so grateful to you and am so happy you love Elise like I do!

"Wow! So good to hear from you all!!!!!!!!!!! Mom, before I forget, that fudge you sent me is somehow still alive in my fridge.... as in there is not too much left, but it is definitely still being enjoyed so thank you. Anyways, again, so good to hear from you and from some of my friends throughout the week--so special! I keep all of my letters in this big folder thing, and its a special thing.

Anyways, I have learned so many things this week and I cannot wait to tell you all about them. But first, I want to tell you the most important thing: Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, may we respect and love Him. Second most important thing (if I may flatter myself) I LOVE YOU. Man, I really do just love each of you. Individually, you each have different personalities but are all examples to me. Thank you so much for nourishing your divine qualities and attributes. I love reading letters from you, and I love my family fiercely!

We were  sitting in Sacrament Meeting (oh which I sang in with a group by the way, dad, your priesthood blessing is unfolding. I am still able to use music on my mission, i don't know if you remember lessing me with that but it's true. I use music frequently). Anyways, Sister Ito, a departing sister, gave her talk. She said growing up she became very less active, her mother had passed away, and she was so angry, and sad with Heavenly Father. Why would Heavenly Father take away her mother? It made no sense. So she did not believe and said she did all she could to break the commandments because she did not trust Him anymore. One morning, she came home after not being at her house in a while. She was expecting her father to be angry. She goes to the door and see a note waiting for her, expecting a reproof, she was stunned and the beginning of change came when she read this, "welcome home. You are so precious to me. I love you. I want to talk to you."--dad. That's why our Heavenly Father says to us every night in prayer, and especially when we ask him to forgive us. When we repent, and change EVERYDAY, we are coming closer to the Savior, we are coming back home. Isn't it cool how Sister It's dad handled that situation? With honest love! So, how is the mission going? There are no words to describe how grateful I am that I am learning how to love. I love my Savior. I learned that some more this week too. I love you Jeshua. I love my family with all that is in me. I love the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Temple Square is beautiful. I will be taking all of your advice and tips to heart. I wish I could keep writing for there are not enough words!!! But yeah, the leafs are blowing all around temple square and I can't help but walk through the square with A BIG SMILE, this is such a safe, blessed place, and everyday I get to try to bring others one step closer to Christ.

Love,
Sister Osorio

I Am Just Loving and Living!

Oh Family, I am just so happy to hear from you today.
So happy!
This week has been another wonderful week on Temple Square. I do love being here. I love how beautiful it is, just like you said daddy! Man! Its just such an honor and a privilege to be serving on Temple Square. Mom and Ganae, that roadtrip sounded awesome!!!!! How exciting! Ganae, I totally believe you can get into BYU summer term if thats what you want, thats how i started, remember? And it was wonderful!
Okay, this kid R2 from your 5 year old primary class sounds like just about the cutest thing. I am so glad that you and mom have that calling. It just sounds like so much fun, and a wonderful way to serve. Not to mention thanksgiving dinner is gonna be AWESOME with the Robinson family!!! Oh please tell them hello and how much i love them. Brother Robinson is such a dedicated, dependable man. And Sister Robinson is so service-oriented. We have wonderful examples in our lives, don't we?! When I read that, I just thought how cool that is that they are coming up here. Just have fun!!!! JUST HAVE SO MUCH FUN! It can really be such a happy time.

So this transfer has started out wonderfully!!!!! Justin was baptized and confirmed this past weekend, and Jan Tahm, our Cambodian investigator, was too. It was such an honor to go to Jan Tahn's baptism! That's right! Her cambodia ward is in West Valley, so we got to drive out there, and they had us missionaries share our testimony at the baptism. It was SO COOL being with a family ward and visiting with members. I've forgotten what that's like!!!!! And to bear my testimony as a missionary in that ward was just super special, especially with Sister Pen. This is her last transfer before she goes home to Cambodia, so to go to the Cambodia ward with her was so special. It was her first time there, and man! Sister Pen and I have become close. I love her and I can't believe this will be my last transfer with her! Lets not think about that too much.

I am so happy here. I am really trying to lose myself and completely become a consecrated and dedicated missionary. There isn't anything else I need to worry about. I just want to give of myself completely to this work. How did you do that on your mission Jonathan? and Mom and Dad too?! I just need to remember that I really AM a missionary and to BE where I am at.

Dad, I talk about YOU all the time because I'm practically serving a Spanish speaking mission... haha In fact, I think i have 4 Colombian investigators right now!!! And each of them are SO KIND. I talked to two of them this morning, and it looks like next time we wanna go to Colombia, we definitely have a place to stay ;). Colombianos son tan amables, osea! Daddy, it really is so wonderful, I love speaking and testifying about my parents and I do almost everyday. I am glad you are here. I am SO glad to know that my family is so close. Its such a blessing. I love it. I love you! So thank you for bringing the family here. Utah is a great place, no matter what anyone says. Pioneers have given so much to be here and establish it, so i am grateful to live in such a state that also has a rich heritage.

Oh the joys of home! I am glad mom. Oh and mom, that FUDGE WAS AWESOME.  I have a little less than half of it in the fridge. But my trainer, Sister Pen, is an expert trainer. She knows all of the best candy deals in town, and trust me, we use them. OH something interesting: in this new transfer, we are in charge of some of the city bus tours -- you know those hop-on, hop-off buses? We hop on for like 10 minutes of the tour and we are not allowed to proselyte, but we go around the capitol building and give facts about temple square and invite them to get off the bus and take tours with us (where we CAN teach). Its really unique and fun! Its helped me calm down, and slow down, and serve in anyway possible. I love it! I thought you might find that interesting. SOOOO if you all take a city bus tour of Salt Lake, you just may run into some sister missionaries from temple square!!!!

Jonathan and Nat nat, you guys are just so cool. I am so glad you play music and wrestle with the family. Sounds like a happy place to be. Hehe. have oober amounts of fun at Thanksgiving okay, all of y'all! Man are to have joy!! Joyful joyful and glory!!!!!

GANAE AND JESHUA you two little pipsqueekers hows it going? I just love you, too. You both are growing up, too! Can y'all believe that we are halfway done with October? Who would've thought this is where our lives would take us. Do me a favor, will you two, as siblings, lead the lesson in a family home evening or scripture study and focus on the blessing found in Mosiah 5? I just think that would be awesome. I read it this morning and I was like, MAN, its like I've never seen this before!!! Will you do that, and tell me how it goes when you do/ Ganae, and Jeshua, I am SO proud of both of you. Jeshua, it sounds like you are loving having your older brother around. Everyone loves having Jeshua around I tell you what!!!

Ganay nay! Remember the Mormon message video: things that matter most? You know how thats like our favoritest one in the world!!!!! Its our favorite for a reason! Loving God, Jesus Christ, our parents and our siblings always come first. Then comes service, and have faith that Heavenly Father can help us accomplish anything He wants us to. I love that, I believe that, I know that. No, obviously, you have a life! You have school and friends and ACT/SAT and all that jazz, the list goes on and on. Here is the secret, you start everything with a prayer, you remember our Savior and that He wants the VERY BEST FOR YOU, and then you work as hard as you can, and you remember Jesus Christ. If we remember Him most, we will be confident in our lives. So how do we prioritize? We put Him first, and then move forward with confidence that we can accomplish anything that lays before us, then we will.
Even eternal marriage ;) !!!!!! hahahaha! Just kidding

My dear family, I'm sorry if this email wasn't too interesting. I am just loving and living! And i love hearing from each of you and from my good old friends too.

Love, your Sister Osorio

Look, I Used To Be A Missionary, Too!

Sister Osorio's email was so full of energy and the Spirit. She is so happy and so excited to be out and serving. I am so proud to call her my sister! You're in for a treat, enjoy her latest email!

I cannot express to you my incredible joy. HOLY SMOKES. its so crazy. Today has been the BEST PDAY EVER. You want to know how it started? It started with getting to sleep in because of the WONDERFUL WONDERFUL work of general conference. oh man, general conference was super uplifting. When the first day finished, all the sisters were walking home, exhausted... I was so thrilled that we had a wHOLE nother day to do it again. I got home, put my stuff down, and honestly said, "That was the best day of my life." Anyway, I'll tell you more about general conference soon, but first, i woke up today feeling well rested, got to study some wonderful Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 24 through 26, i think. And then, we rushed over to the teaching center because we had gotten a text from one of our investigators to give him a call last night after conference. He loves the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has changed and grown and loves to serve, he is getting baptized this Friday. SISTER PEN AND I LEAPT UP FROM OUR CHAIRS AND JUST AHHHHH! there were tears in our eyes. You know how I met him? WE met him on MY FIRST DAY AT TEMPLE SQUARE, through CHAT ON MORMON.org!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He started chatting with Sister Pen and I and asked, "how can I get closer to God?" He is our chat miracle and we have been teaching him and just loving him for these past 6 weeks, will be praying for him forever and ever. We are so thrilled. This is seriously the BEST pday. Really. And it keeps getting better, we JUST got back from a Spanish walking lesson with this family and their friend, the Spirit was so strong when talking about Joseph Smith and Prophets, and they felt the Spirit, and they will be meeting with local missionaries when they get back home, and we will be in touch.

NOW sorry, wooo, that all just happened to me and i wanted to share it.

Holy smokes, time to describe General Conference. It is the biggest honor for me to be a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. With 21,000 members at each session of conference, and there being 5 sessions, that is a lot of people. And we got to talk and uplift them all day. It was AMAZING. We took 20 minute lunches. In total, Sister Pen and I taught 59 lessons over the course of two days. And my dear cousin David was right, I was crying all morning. HAHAA, I do cry often because it is amazing to speak to all of these individuals, and as a representative of Jesus Christ, it is an honor and a privilege to listen to them as he would, love them as he would, and help them to DO things in their lives that would bring them closer to Him. My heart is a glow! And everyone comes here to Zion! I saw the Trejos outside of the conference center, I was announcing in Spanish, meaning I wear my Colombian name tag, hold a Spanish speaking sign among about 10 other sisters all holding up signs of their languages, and welcome them to conference center with our microphone and tell them if they would like to speak more about the restored gospel, come talk to us! We want to share it with you and your friends and family. Anyways, we saw them, the Trejos, the Proudfoots -- Michael has been called to wash DC North MANDARIN SPEAKING cacaho!!! And i walso saw DEAR SWEET DAVID, such an AWESOME power house cousin. What a leader. And i saw my friend Evan, and Tina who is NOW working on her mission papers... (i'll comment on that soon too) and I saw who else, oh yeah, MOM I saw Sister Jones, who used to be best friends with Gina in Austin! And i saw the Palmers! Back from being mission presidents, they were with Angela and a few of their kids. It was so happy.

Now, as for the Spirit of the conference! Wow. It was beautiful. Here is a good story, which you will like because of all the crying. We were outside of the North visitor center and a family from Guatemala was there. Big beautiful family. We spoke a lot! We shared our stories of how we or our parents found the gospel. (the reason why I cry so much is because i'm always talking about my pioneer dad, and the missionary work of mom and dad and how it brought em together). anywho, we were all uplifted and edified. As they were leaving, one of the fathers, maybe in his 50's, came to me and said, "Look, I was a missionary, too." And he opened his suit coat, and there, on the inside of his coat pocket was his old missionary tag, in Spanish, his name Hermano and La Iglesia de Jesus Cristo de los Santos de los Ultimos Dias, some of the whiteness of the name had faded with brown in time, but his tag was there, and it was amazing to see how this man had lived his life, daily, constant living and striving from a missionary and beyond and he still held this nametag close to his heart. I looked at his tag, then up at his face, which was beaming with a smile and tears filled his eyes, and of course, mine too, and he walked away and i just lost it. I was crying so hard to see such a beautiful example of faithful priesthood. Jonathan, I know you wear that tag on the inside of your suit coat, I remember catching glances of it. What an honor. What a privilege. And that is what conference is like. It is like that. All day. We also receive names of those who do not know how their families can be together forever, who do not know the blessings that come with living as the Savior would have us live, as living like him and with him. I cannot WAIT to call these individuals and help them come to know of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ay Papa, siempre estoy agradecida a ti y mama por este evangelio.

There was another girl, actually one of the church photographers! Jessie, she photographed me when I did that shoot for the church before i left, remember? Anyways, man, that was also special, we just said a few things to her and she was touched. I ended up giving her on of my favorite visuals... I think I will try and mail one to you all too :) So you can see, I LOVE using visuals. They can bring in the Spirit, and that's why a visitor center is so amazing. 

So, I was on the Square when they announced the new mission age. I was shocked. The work is going to roll forward, wow. The youth of the church, prepare yourself for this marvelous work and wonder, it truly will be through our youth "babes" who will carry their fathers and mothers to the gospel, and nurse the world back to Christ.

I won't lie, I was shocked for a little while, and then my heart sank a little because i thought of Ganae and Jeshua going sooner than i was thinking. Much like you mom! AH! I don't mean to be selfish--please forgive me! mom and I just love you two!!! I just love Ganae and Jeshua SO MUCH. Please tell me what you think about this new age you can go serve. It truly is a marvelous work and a wonder, and it is an honor and blessing. I am so committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I support both of you no matter what you choose to do. As long as you PRAY PRAY PRAY about it first, discern the timing of the Lord in your life because His timing and plan are just so wonderful. Jonathan, you're right, a lot of us were like OOOOHHH! and we were like, "Hey now! I waited!" hahahahaha, OH man this is going to change everything! The dynamics of the church, the youth, IM SO EXCITED, it truly is time for EVERYONE to hear the message. lets get kicking. And thats why i love being here.

Transfers have happened. And I will be staying here with my companion, finishing up my training. First transfer is almost over.....wow. This is Sister Pen's last transfer, so we are going to make it her bestest ever :). We have a new assignment with this transfer too --- we will be doing hospitality bus tours... I will let you know more about what that means when i know more about it :) hehe. It was so sad to see the departing missionaries, they were SOOO SAD. I can't imagine. I guess i'll find out later... it will be weird without them though, they are such familiar faces that i can't imagine serving without them. And a lot of sisters are going outbound, to California, Texas, Arizona, Washington. Those are the hotspots to send the sisters right now.

I love being a missionary. I really just loved being committed to the Savior. My goal this week is to try and get to know Him more. Hah, my lifetime goal, i guess. Family, I want you to know that i will be faithful and committed to Him through those steadily and constantly. I want you all to know that from here on out for forever, you can count on me. You can count on me. And so can my Savior Jesus Christ, I will always volunteer myself for him. You can count on me ---any errand, any deed, any command, any need, I am His, I am yours, and I will give myself to my Savior completely. You can always count on me! FOREVER and don't forget it. You need it, I am there. I love following the example of my Savior and DOING His will. I am so proud of our heritage. I am proud of you! Of our family. I love you, and pray for you everyday. I testify of my rich heritage. Man, it feels like a month since I last emailed you!!! HA!

Ganae and Jeshua, and especially Jeshua since your service is certain, prepare yourselves to be the Lord's army in these latter-days. You MUST be as the army of Helaman, Mom and Nataly, guess who has to be as the mothers of the armies of Helaman, and Jonathan and Papa, guess who has to be the covenant making and keeping fathers no matter what sacrifice. You are these people, I see more than ever how noble and great you are, I am forever and EVER grateful to you all! You are a covenant making and keeping people, let us all press on in this glorious work of the Lord. ALLAY WONDERFUL LUYA! I miss you, I am devoted to you. Lets pray for those who have not received this gospel.

Love,

your dedicated sister and daughter :)

Sister Osorio

Blessings Are Worth It

Hello everyone! Elise's letter brought me so much joy and a wide smile on my face. I just read it, like literally, it's still in my hand and i need to share it with everyone in this whole world! Enjoy!

"Oh my beloved family!!!

All of your emails and letters brought me so much joy! Really, it has been such a HAPPY HAPPY day and week. I love missionary work, it is such a blessing to be a part of. You all sound like you are doing well. I have stickers with me always, so that i can give them to children on the square and I listen to your advice mom, i get down on their level, i kneel down and look into their eyes and I just love them. Some of them are crazy. So I assume that you all go to the same ward, right, like Nataly and Jonathan go with you too?! That's so COOL!

So daddy, i got your written letter in the mail this week. I actually got mail everyday this week, and so when i went to check on Wednesday i think it was, anyways, i wasn't expecting mail cause i was like, "I can't get letters again!" So i got closer to my box and I saw a letter and I was like, "for me? For me!" So i pulled it out and saw it was from my daddy. I forgot anyone else was in the mail room, i just went, "Oh, oh! Oh! I got a letter from my daddy!" And i started walking out, and all of the sister missionaries were like, "AWWWWWW!!!! so cute!!!" hahahaha it was funny. But daddy, thank you so much for writing me. When I get letters from my family, it is like that, EVERY TIME. You think that you would get used to it, but letters from home are so special so thank you. I loved reading and re-reading every word. I do that with your letters too mom :).  And don't worry mama, I got mail this week from good, wonderful people, like Sister Horn and some friends from school, so i am so well taken care of. As to your question about the special package I AM EXCITED BOY OH BOY!

All of the sister missionaries have a wonderful friend on the square. His name is Bob. He is in this electric wheelchair, and also has a mental handicap because of a terrible car accident he endured when he was about 18 years old. I imagine that he was very bright as a young man. He now spends every day on Temple Square because he LOVES it here. He cruises around in his wheelchair like a champ. He is so funny too, I always say, "Bob you're back!" when he cruises up to the desk we are working on, and he always responds with, "Haa, like a bad dream!!" and it cracks me up every time. One day, on a particularly hard moment, i was on desk and he cruised up. He told me his story and it was hard to fight back tears, about how hes had to learn to talk, and walk, and eat, and do EVERYTHING, physical therapy for some odd 30-40 years ever since the car accident. His life has never been the same. He is such an example to me, to remind me that my life is blessed, and beautiful and wonderful. That I am able to do so much, his life has NEVER been the same since that accident. And he is a constant reminder to me of carrying on, i feel like Heavenly Father has him on the square for a reason. He loves the square, but he blesses more than he will ever know. He even brings cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory for us sisters sometimes! Sometimes, when I am speaking with guests, I'll see Bob, and we'll sneek each other a thumbs up. One time, I said, "Bob, its a good thing you are here, you can teach me how to do better, okay" and he just looked up at me and said, "Oh, i don't see how you can do better, when you are already doing your best." And he meant it, and all i could do was smile. It hit my heart and I was so grateful.

Spanish marathon: all of the hispanic sisters and spain sisters had a spanish marathon this week of calling all of our spanish contacts and it was an honor to be with them, and so fun!! So fun! i have a picture of a group of us, not all of the spanish sisters, but some from last night. Sometimes i feel like im on a spanish speaking mission! I had a special experience this week. I felt prompted to have personal study in Spanish this week because that was day, we would be teaching a spanish family on the square. Sure enough the first tour we had was 4 women from Spain, and they LOVED it. And boy does Heavenly Father love them, he told me to take care of them, and it was so powerful. They loved the Conference center and the Christus and two of them will be meeting with the missionaries in Spain to learn more about God's eternal plan, and how their families can be together forever. And we get to keep in touch, and teach them over the phone. It was such a blessing and miracle.

Another one of our investigators, Justin, had a huge turn around and is doing awesome. He LOVED church, missionaries and everything. He's in Virginia and we met him on chat. Anyways, its a quote of Justin's that I would like to leave you with, and it meant SO MUCH coming from him, because he has a lot of changes to make in his life. "The blessings of the church, I was like, man I want that! The blessings of the Church are worth every sacrifice."

I testify and bear witness of that truth. the blessings that come with the restored Church of Jesus Christ are worth every sacrifice, every change. Every day we ought to REPENT which means CHANGE a little more. Today is a day where I feel so much love for my Savior. Do I love Him? Yes. Thus, I will feed His sheep, forever.

Sister Osorio

P.S. - This REALLY helped me develop charity this week, it opened it up, "Do you love your companion more than yourself? Do you love her more than yourself, more than your own thoughts? Are her needs more important than yours?

Photos of Elise

Here a bunch of pictures that should be fun to look at if you love Elise!

I Love You Forever

A constant pattern that i've been recognizing in Sister Osorio's letters and emails are her words of love! Love for the gospel, family, letters, investigators, opportunities, and friends. Thank you everyone who supports and prays for Elise and just know that you are very much appreciated by us and especially her!

"Oh man, i am trying to choose what to report about... i shall do my best to respond to your questions! oh and i love you a lot.

OKAY so congrats to all of your accomplishments! Ganae getting to sing and scoring awesome and developing faith, JESHUA EATING A WHOLE PIZZA! jonny boy and natnat and the job and dad too, and the house is coming. Sounds good. I know that things can be really stressful but ive been praying for you.

So to answer your questions! Temple Square is a great mission. It's a lot to take in. This week was kind of touch but i have made it a goal of mine to never complain...soooo the highlight would probably be talking to the youth! There was a youth group that came and i got to talk to them, and just be with them, and share a message with them, and every time i walk away from talking with the youth, i walk away so impressed and uplifted. Jeshua and Ganae, that's you! My favorite age group to talk to.

So on temple square, this is how it works: you pray for where to go, make a plan, and walk and contact people and take them on tours if they would like, where you give a combination of history and testimony. Since i don't know too much history yet, i do a lot of testifying. We don't get fed by members unfortunately, Jonathan, we make it all. Last pday, i made enchiladas (thank you beloved mother for that recipe) and that lasted me the week -- on rotation with salads, and peanut butter sandwiches. I haven't gone hungry yet! It's good experience, learning how to budget and plan in such a way. I officially passed off taking tours in english so now when big tour buses come, i can be assigned to them! We call them motorcoaches. I took my first one yesterday and it was crazy great. Question were flying all of there place, we couldn't talk enough. "Mormons don't take medicine, right? Do you believe in Jesus Christ? What's the difference between Christians, Catholics and Mormons?" We had 30 minutes to try and straighten it all out. My pday is work in the teaching center where we call our investigators and less actives who are all over the world -- we are hoping to teach a guy in London and one in Russia, just so ya know how international it can get :) and then the afternoon is full of errands and emailing and hopefully refocusing a bit. Church is on Sunday at 7:30 am and its all the sister missionaries in a beautiful chapel, because the square doesn't open until 9:30 am so it works great. I am LOVING this whole getting to bed by 10:30 pm every night...I love that. My apartment isn't that small, i really like it!!! and i am in love with my bunkbed... baha its kinda funny, but going up there is soo nice because it is like my private comfy space with my perfect blanket. My favorite part of missionary work is when i truly get lost in it, and get to focus on what people really need! It's wonderful.

So i've given you some details, but not too much about me! So here it is:
I am doing well. I can see myself learning and growing. I am learning how to be patience, (trying) and trying to be charitable, and really: learning how to learn. you have to GO through learning to become something, so thats what i'm doing right now. Going though it. I also learned something this week that helped me. In 1 Nephi 2:12, Nephi talks about how his brothers murmured "BECAUSE they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them." So I thought, when I feel like something is difficult, perhaps something good to go would be to see what dealing God has in store fore me. I need to seek revelation to "know the dealings of that God who created me." So what are His dealings? He wants me to live with Him again, He wants me to learn and grow. If He wants these things for me, it will help me better understand the dealings i have right now in life. Does that make sense? Missions are good, and I have to remember, I've only been on temple square for like a week and a half...so it's okay. I just don't want to settle! Right now, i am working on patience and charity, and if i can really develop that now, it will help me for the rest of my mission i am sure! Again, i'm learning, i realized that i put a lot of pressure on myself too...I look at it, don't waste one minute of the Lord's time, don't you let Him down -- and sometimes i go too far with that, though there is a balance, so i'll find it.

I am doing well. And so are the investigators! We pray for them always and that is good. 

We are already preparing for general conference! Apparently it is just 2 days of missionary heaven and busyness like no other...oh boy im excited! I like people in general.

i miss you guys, and i love hearing from you. Grandma and Grandpa Wortham send letters every week and I am SOO grateful for that. They inspire me.

ALRIGHT i love you and dote on you and really look forward to hearing more.
Love, your sister missionary,
Sister Osorio

TODAY I GET TO BE A MISSIONARY

Elise hasn't slowed down one bit since the day she entered the MTC. If anything, she's gained more energy and desire to share her growing testimony. Her last letter is full of excitement and pure joy!

"Thanks for the emails and letters from everyone, i just am so excited to report to you guys.

"There is a movie here in the visitors center called God's Plan for Families and it makes me cry every time because i am SO GRATEFUL that i get to be [with my family] for forever. OH AND ALL THE SISTERS said that they saw you when you visited and one of them even gave me a picture of you with them on the temple steps. Thank you for coming, i hope the sisters uplifted you because that is our job, to invite all to come unto Christ and taste of the fruits of his doctrine. I love my Savior. I love Him, i love Him.

"BUT FIRST lets start with leaving the lovely little MTC. I woke up that morning so thrilled! I was having a dream about handing out Book of Mormons when the alarm started blaring so i was confused, but i stumbled out of bed and i wanted to shout at the top of my lungs (4:45am) I GET TO BE A MISSIONARY TODAY! and i will say that everyday of my mission. Today, I get to be a missionary. On the busride to Salt Lake, we got to watch the sunrise, and i just stared at the window, crying and laughing! What an honor, to be serving my Savior, to drive through these pioneer plains and i envisioned families getting married and sealed in the temple so that they could be together forever with the Father In Heaven. I was so moved, to be sitting there, literally being carried to a place where i would get to participate in this work. It was quite the feeling of anticipation, knowing that it was then, that a big part of my journey was being embarked. And i have embarked on quite the journey... give 'em heaven!

"SO, my trainer is the one and only Sister Pen from Cambodia in Asia. She is such a funny little scatter-brained chica, and i do love her. Her english has improved a lot, and she is still improving. I am much taller than her, like a head taller so we make up quite the companionship. I admire her smile, when i am low energy she just smiles and brightens my day. She makes me laugh. She is a good trainer. I love her and her Asian accent is rubbing off on me and i find myself thinking or praying in her accent sometimes. Hehe. she is so funny, she says, "Sista, yoo ahh soo pump-ed up!" (sister you are so pumped up). She says she has never seen anyone as excited as i am to work, because evertime we got on the escalator in the visitor center, i walk up or down, there are people we must find!! No time to just stand there! There are people everywhere, and we can talk to any of them. I LOVE my mission for that, we get rejected, we go and find someone who will listen, and during summer there are people EVERYWHERE. I got my hands on a spanish preach my gospel too, so i can brush up and get better, so if i get that passed off by my zone leaders i can teach in spanish (i already have taught some of them, the spanish speakers are ready for the gospel. They're amazing.) I may even be able to get and wear a Colombia flag, what do you think my papa?

"This is what we do everyday. Wake up at 6:20am, hop down from my cutsie bunk bed that i'm in love with and say, "TODAY I GET TO BE A MISSIONARY!" and then i go run around back and forth like a crazy in this little park next to the house, or i do yoga. Then we study, and i get antsy and THEN WE GET TO TALK TO PEOPLE YAY! i have found that whenever i get tired, i just need to talk to people. When I am talking to the visitors, I get energized. I feel the Spirit. From the visitors we invite them to come to Christ, and ask if there is anyone else we can share the gospel with. We eat lunch and dinner on the square, and then we get home, plan for the next day where on the square we should go to find those prepared for our message.

"One of my favorite experiences was with this young man. [His name is] Jake. Jake is 21 an has had some struggles and was struggling to know if he should go on a mission. I'll never forget his question. "You think I can go on a mission? Me? Me make a difference?" I was on splits with my zone leader Sister Iglezias from Brazil, and we were both able to share our heritage, how missionaries did indeed make a difference. The resources are amazing, we were able to show a youth clip about the priesthood, we testified, we cried, we invited him to come unto Christ. I love being a missionary. Is there a greater work? a greater thing to do than help those come unto Him? And MAN do i love testifying and promising with authority and power. I know that i am a representative of Jesus Christ, and some of the strongest times i have felt the Spirit is when i can look at members and nonmembers alike and tell them, "I am a representative of Jesus Christ. I do not hold that lightly. I promise you, as His representative that if you do _____, you will, YOU WILL receive ____." Those blessings are real, those promises are real, and i have never felt anything like it in my life. Jake is on his way, we are calling him and checking up with him, and one day i look forward to hearing where he will be going on  his mission.

"Another special experience i had was when my dear best friend Tina Childs came onto the square and i was able to take her around and also invite her to come to the Savior too (as with everyone!) I LOVE HER SO MUCH. And she taught me that i need to love everyone who comes onto the square like that, because if i love our guests like that... they will feel the spirit, because i will want the best for them. Kinda make sense? Of course it did help that Tina loves me back! HA! but its true, when we TRULY love someone, and have true charity, then we will do everything we can to bring them to their Savior. And its wonderful, because the more we begin to know and understand our Savior, the more we will want to testify of Him, the more we will want to give and give. i cherish tina! how loved she is.

"Family, I realized in my prayers at the mtc something interesting. I was trying to "forget myself and go to work". Trying to forget myself and my past life was hard, in fact it was impossible, and i realized something, with King Lamoni and the other Lamanite king: they were willing to give away all their sins to know Thee [the Lord], they were willing to give away their kingdoms to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. So in one of my prayers i decided to not forget my life, I decided to not forget my life, i decided to give it to Him. I said, Heavenly Father, I put my family in your hands. So I didn't give you away, i never had too, i just gave you and all my concerns for you to Him, and since I'm really close to Him right now, i feel closer to you than ever before. And that, that, is the greatest gift i could ask for. Wow, do I miss you, but WOW do i love being a missionary. And I know, i know, that you are in good hands. I am so happy to give my life to the Savior. I love Him. and I love you.

"There are many amazing people in this world. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone, it is only through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement, repentance, baptism , receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end, that we can become the glorious beings and families we are capable of becoming.

Love, Sister Osorio