D+C 4 - The Sun Will Shine

OH FAMILIA!!!

Hello, hello! HELLO!

It has been wonderful hearing from of course. I am so grateful for the letters, emails, and mom, that pop-up elder package was muy fubloso! I ate way to many cookies. THANK YOU! and the snacks are PERFECT, seriously, at the end of the month you are always running a little low on monies, so thank you. I feel your love and support and i am happy to hear about all the different activities. Sledding looked way fun kiddos! Jeshua you look so handsome! You too ganae, very sly! hehe. And thank you for such a wonderful fhe activity. really lifts us up doesn't it! I have named the "pop up elder" Obediente! So everytime i see him, i go OBEDIENTE! to help us be 100% obedient. And the little stuffed animal in my stocking from christmas is named STEADFAST. So i sleep with steadfast and obediente every night---i am well taken care of.  I am well taken care of by the Lord as well.

Family I could hardly wait to write you this week because i had an epiphany---and it will change the course of my mission, and the rest of life. Its changed everything. :) I am so happy to tell you all about it. 

Most of the things i learned came from the talk "The Fourth Missionary"--so if anything i say sounds super inspiring, know that it came from that talk and that teacher. 

In D&C 4 verse 2:

 2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the ^aservice of God, see that ye^bserve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand ^cblameless before God at the last day.

you know how the last few weeks had been rough? I kept trying to work harder, be more obedient, and just keep going---and it just wasn't working! It wasn't clicking! I prayed and i felt reminded to read this talk that this sister gave me in my first transfer. It was like 24 pages and I had tried reading it and it never stuck. But when i read it this time, i felt so taught!

I had been serving God with all my MIGHT, and with all my STRENGTH.  I was working, I was doing what needed to be done, I was truly performing  my duty---and all was going well. But I had not been serving him with ALL my HEART and MIND. My heart and mind have often times been in the work, but they have often times been at home, or in the future or even in the past. I often thought, I wonder if so and so will still be home after my mission? Or I am going to learn how to paint, and become yoga instructor, or MY FAMILY IS SO CLOSE! I can't wait to see them again, i can't wait to take them on a tour, its gonna be wonderful to be a return missionary! I can't wait to be a mom! When I'm a mom i am gonna do this this and this :) and how i have really felt the affect of not having voice lessons, singing and music yada yada! All of these wonderful righteous desires, but do you see how my mind and my heart often trailed elsewhere? I was doing what i was supposed to be doing, but there was a part of me that just wanted to get through it, so that i could get about doing what i wanted to do. My heart and my mind was in conflict with what God wanted for me. I was giving Him everything, but He already had all of that. My talents and time---He gave me those, with every breath, its a blessing, every talent and gift, He gave me. Everything was already His---except one thing, my will. My heart and mind are unique, and He respects that, and the only thing I can give Him is my will (my agency per say), my heart, my mind, my thoughts. And He will make SO MUCH more of me.  I can only make something human, He can make something Godly. I am learning how to give Him all of me, everything, I can't have one foot at home and one foot in the mission. And when my desire became NOT to be a great missionary, but to be a SERVANT of the Lord, something changed. I was happy, but i was peaceful, I felt the Holy Ghost burning inside my heart, I felt heaven's approval. This is what He needed, He needed me to give Him what He didn't have---because you can't change or mold, or BLESS something that you don't have. Now He is blessing my very heart and my very mind, not just my strength and might. Now He has my heart, and my mind, my thoughts, and I feel so humble and blessed. 

In the talk it says, "Elder Holland teaches that great swimmer once said when asked his secret of success, "I kick when I don't want to kick, and I stroke when I don't want to stroke."...The difference between the third and fourth missionary is that the third missionary  will kick and stroke because it is his duty, because that is what is expected of him and he will hate and resent it., while the Fourth Missionary will kick and stroke because he knows that it is the only intelligent thing to do."

The glory of God is intelligence isn't it? So be intelligent, be glorious. 

So now, I am kicking, I am stroking, and i'm not fighting anything inside that is wanting to do something else, I am kicking and stroking as much as i can because this is how Christ can help me, and this is how I can help others. It has made all the difference to know what I am witholding and knowing what I need to give. "Your world is in your head. Get your head right and your heart will follow, and you will be right." Honestly, it has made me FEEL like gold, I feel golden-ness around us when we walk and talk because I have finally been able to surrender myself to heaven's hand, to not just do it because its right, and i love missionary work: but to do it, to serve because its the glory of God, and I love Him. I love the Lord.

To offer heaven's hand to others, to reach and see and listen to them, and discern where "in their quiet heart is hidden, sorrow that the eye cannot see" but then to see it and feel it with heaven's guide, and then love them has been a blessing far beyond measure. To be on the errand of angels, or declaring the terms of repentance---if declaring how through faith and consistency on the path brings the joy and peace of heaven into our very mortal lives has made all the difference on Temple Square. To let go, and be His servant is all i want. 

We are here, planting seeds, alongside heaven's hand, and the Sun will Shine. The Son will bless those with faith, and how He can make us grow. The Sun Will Shine, thus, I will sow. With ALL my mind, with ALL my very might! with ALL my strength, and with all my heart. May He chasten my soul till I shall be in perfect harmony with Him, and His ways. 

I LOVE YOU AND I HOPE YOU KNOW IT!!! 

Love

Sister Osorio

Press Forward Saints

Hello Family!

Oh thanks so much for the bundle full of letters last week! It was SO GREAT! SO SO SO GREAT.

Mom thanks again for all of the christmas gifts, i wear my spectacular watch everyday and i really like it. every now and then i will press the light up button for fun, hehe. AND also mom, i listen to the CD's you sent, the Lamb of God, and We must Sing, THEY MAKE MY DAY! i hope i don't overplay em, but they are really being put to good use. thank you!!!

It has been super cold, but we are doing very well! I know last week was rough, but its gotten better! We actually got a LOT of work done this week, and plan on working just as hard next week. On thursday we had a surprise snowday! the president ordered all of us to be home by 2pm because of all the snow. So guess what i did? at first i just stood there and went, wo, what do i do? we haven't planned for any of the next few hours..wah! is this what it will feel like when i go home? oh boy.... but then... I PAINTED MY NAILS. be proud ganae, be proud, the first time in like 7-8 months no joke. It was fun, we went into Sister Freitas and Sister Schill's apartment, (both are in my district) and it was Sister Freitas' birthday so we just celebrated. And then A NAP! and then, it was so cute, we heard all this cheering down the hall, and my companion and i went down to check it out and we walked in and everyone just said," OH now MONGOLIAN, now mongolian dance!!!" So we showed them some mongolian dance, (my companion had taught me earlier), everyone was just cheering, it was so cute. "OH NOW COLOMBIA COLOMBIA!" So i got a long skirt and attempted that...hehe. it was fun. It was such a neat experience, all of us, sitting and cheering for all the dances, hawaii, tonga, australia, germany, usa, all kinds.

Anyways that was a very unique day! And so was yesterday actually, I had the special opportunity to do temple service. Some of the sister missionaries get to go help clean the temple. It was really neat, we moved some of the chairs out of the celestial room, and then we got to clean the sealing rooms. It was so beautiful. I just wanted to stay in it all day long, its amazing how bright those rooms are. i thought about how jonathan was married in one of these rooms recently, and it just felt like such an honor to be able to clean the Lord's house. I loved it, because it felt like i was literally serving the Lord in a way where i could see and feel like i was helping----ya know how relief society will sometimes go clean peoples homes? It felt like i got to do that for the Lord---and i was so happy to do that, and i felt a really special peace and love for it. Even if i don't understand everything about the temple, when i was in that sealing room, it was the only place i wanted to be.

Mom you will be working with the youth! My dream! Just love them, and help them reach their potential! See them as how God sees them...I know you know that, but it makes a difference. With ANYBODY, with our companion, friends, investigators, guests on the square, visitors, members---if we could learn to see a person as God saw them, we would love them so much more, and we would be willing to do whatever it took to help them see themselves that way, and reach their potential. i am grateful for the opportunity to be spiritually minded--for that is life eternal 2 nephi 9:39. Those young women, are very lucky to have you!

I really learned a lot about diligence and dedication this week. With the struggles and hard times, it was an opportunity to cling to my testimony and let it convert me more. Conversion comes with daily keeping the commandments, and I realized while reading the general conference talk from Elder Bednar about testimony and conversion, that i really need to be using the atonement to help cure me of doubt---i don't have to struggle with the same thing for forever, i truly believe the atonement can CHANGE me, and now its about accessing that, and being willing to change, and be fully converted. its hard to let go of some things, but the atonement can change us. I suppose i will work more on that this week! Thanks for letting me throw my thoughts out there.

So my companion wanted me to let you know that I dreamed about batman again this week. kinda odd, but ah well! she thinks its just soooo funny. it was actually just jeshua and i gonna watch the new batman movie---thanks for saving me a seat jeshua ;) knew i could count on yoU!  Don't worry, i am trying to fill my thoughts with my investigators more than batman!  oh and i also dreamed that for my outbound missionary experience they sent me to serve with SISTER PONO FOR 2 MONTHS. boy do i miss that best friend of mine. i love her so much. she is amazing, going so far away. i really admire her.

Please tell the Reeds that I say hello. I think about them a lot actually and i want what is best for them. I hope they are happy and strong! Lizzie and Savannah are my sunshines and true anchors in the world, good people, good friends, and hope they are well. Will you let them know that I think about them and pray for them too---I love them.

Oh and dad, don't worry! I wasnt in the COB at all last week! so crazy! you are such a brave, strong man! it must be kinda hard to have me so close to you. For me its a comfort. i am glad we are close.

I love being a missionary. It really is such a wonderful time, and i feel the blessings of your prayers. i really do feel that strength. There are moments in my day where i just feel such support, so thank you for your prayers, i feel them and i hold onto them. I am grateful for the privelage and blessing of working on temple square! Thank you so much for supporting me family. Sister B from Russia told me a little bit of her story, but her mom wouldn't even say goodbye to her before her mission because she was so upset she was serving a mission and joined the church. I cannot forget how blessed i am to have a family like you, and friends who write and support me too---i am so grateful, and i will do all i can to serve heavenly Father and his Son Jesus Christ---i am loyal to Him, and to you! Thank you so much!

I best go write a letter to President. But I love you with all my big CORAZON!!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Sister Osorio

p.s.--pray for some of the people we are teaching, some have transitioned to local missionaries, and we know they need encouragment and support! please pray for them!!! This is such a mighty work----Press forward my dear saints!!!!

Happy New Year and Time to Live

Helloooo Family!!!!!

Wow! I just read your christmas email from last week and also the one you sent this morning mom, thanks! wonderful to hear from you all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!  Talking to you all on Christmas was wonderful---you all sound great, and look great to! The celebrations of the year have been wonderful for us as well as missionaries. Its been fun, festive, filling and I cannot believe how blessed we are. It sounded like you all had wonderful wonderful family time! so glad.

Remember the atonement is real, do everything we can to repent, trust in the atonement and move on, be compassionate with yourself, we are so compassionate with others--be compassionate with yourself. THIS is one of the biggest lessons i am learning on my mission.

SO MANY COOL EXPERIENCES THIS WEEK:

Transfer Conference yesterday! I was so like argh at the beginning, because i will do anything ANYTHING the Lord wants me to--I just love my companion loads and was sad at the thought of a new one, and then guess what happened? Sister Moldogalii and I will be staying together again! We will be working in the BEEHIVE HOUSE for much of the week, and our new assignment is SPORTS COORDINATORS, which means putting together some good exercise activies in the early mornings for the sisters. We are excited! And I was a little concerned with getting to comfortable---but we are determined to be diligent, work hard, and enjoy the calling of being missionaries yet again together! What a blessing. We are so happy! Our p-day will be on WEDNESDAY from now on I believe, so be sure to write next week for that. I don't think we will be allowed to check email again tomorrow, just once a week according to white handbook so we will OBEDIENTE POR SU PUESTO!!!

dad--i met a young man this week who came to the square. We took him on a spanish tour as he is from Mexico. Daddy his story is so similar to yours it seems. He came to orem on faith, planning to do ESL before going to UVU, and came to temple square to feel the spirit and receive guidance. He said at the end he felt so determined and inspired, which is definitely what we want our visitors to feel. he is staying with a missionary companion for the next two weeks, and is working on the next few steps of his life. I told him your story and he smiled and said, "I came with a little more than your dad, I at least brought $200..." See how similar he is? I was amazed! We will be praying for him and his life won't we! I am grateful that the gospel of Jesus Christ brings hope.

oh and the teasing from the sisters about page 56 in the ensign is hilarious. 

Family, I am so happy that you all are sounding good. I am so grateful for the letters and gifts and support I receive from all of you. It buoys me up . For the first time on my mission, I cried about missing you family---after the phone call. My companion started it, because she started like sobbing as she listened to you all sing What Child is This. So shes all crying, so i looked at her after the phone call, and said, Wow. And she just looked at me crying and said something that still rings in my heart, "You get to be with them... for forever." Thats when i smiled and nodded and cried, "Yes, yes I do." So i cried! bah! Sorry! But it makes sense to miss you all for a bit. But then I looked back at my companion and said, "I miss them. But I have to remember why I am here. Why would I leave them, why would i leave that? Because I want everyone to have this blessing, I am here to help everyone learn how they can be with their family for forever. That is why I am here." Family, friends, may we live our lives worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven. Keep the commandments, have faith, repent, make covenants with God, and remember those covenants with the sacrament, and change. Please! Let us not settle for less, because really do not have to. My family, I love you. I am doing best, I promise, I hope to be diligent, to keep working hard---jonathan, how did you find success in your ministry in hawaii?

I am proud of my family, I am honored to be a member of your family Daddy, and I am honored and blessed to be a missionary. Its a new year, but its really just a time to live, and love the Lord. enjoy it!

I love you! I have plenty of pictures to send home but I forgot my camera, so next time!!!

I can't wait to hear from you all soon. 

Love,

Sister Osorio

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