Got to be fast

Hey Famlily!

I've got to be quick because the other missionaries are ready to go. So all that is really new is that I'm teaching a guy and his wife who live in China somewhere. Its funny because my companion asked them what kind of chinese they spoke and they were confused. So he said "Mandrin or Kantonese?" and they said, with that typical asian, happy smile, "we speak-uh-chinese." Then they wanted to show us some video from china about christian, something, I'm not sure what it was about really. I don't even know how we ended up watching it. I was talking to his wife behind us and when I turned around a chinese video was on. It was weird. Thanks for the e-mails Natalie! I hope that new house turns out great for you and it looks like Micah and I are going to be playing some serious baseball when he gets older, if you keep going to those games. Sounds like a bunch of fun!

Love ya!

ALER-GEEZE!

oH Family!

So, I feel pretty awesome, except for ExtrEmE AlErgIE sEAsOn. (that's what I feel like...all woosy like). I think I had to blow my nose over a thousand times yesterday alone! Arghuh! That's really annoying, but I got some off brand Zertec to see if I show any improvemet. Yuk, my nose really hurts...But other than that, its totally awesome out here! I've been challenged to contact five new people between every visit/appointment throughout the day. That will be fun! Its a ton of fun to talk to people because you never know how they will react to what you have to say. Yesterday, within a quater of a block I talked to three people with completely different reactions to me. The first was a couple of young punks that told me to get real. It was pretty hard for me to refrain from laughing, but I kept to my own and left them on their way. The next was a black dude, close to my age, and he was completely receptive to us and is going to play some basketball with us and the other missionaries for our P-day today. Sweet! The last of these three, at first said, "Just walkin on by. No, no thanks, my man. I know what you're about and I don't know nothin about no Joseph Smith." So, I offered him a pass-along card for a free video about Jesus Christ and he said, "Oh, I know Jesus. I guess. Thanks." and he shook my hand as I told him a little about the video. People are so cool! Glad to hear life at home is all good. Jessie potty trained, Ryan the army crawler, and Sarah's studious mind, reading books and talking to the world. I love my family! Ryan and Micah are going to be little competitors!...There are a ton of squirrels here! Wow! It should be the state animal. They come right up to you to see what you're up to. They're so crazy! There are a ton of crazy, annoying birds here! I've never wanted to strangle a bird so bad in my life! Man!

Anyways... I love you all.

-Elder Glenn Osness

Neato!

Hey Fam-dizzle,

The work is awesome out here in Okamoka! We've been teaching the importance of member missionary work for our dinner thoughts to get the members more motivated to do their part in helping people come unto Christ. Its been working great and the members have been accepting our commitments to take a step, not a leap, out of their comfort zone and progressing the cause of gathering Israel. We've got great members here already, but I'm sure we can all use a little push and motivation. So Roger and Hillary have some good news, eh? Another addition to the family! I loved Sarah's hair! I'm stoked to come home and see all the what the changes are in the family in two years! Sounds like Nancy's family is having a great time being busy. That seems to happen. When we are busy, we tend to have more fun with life. Good luck to Marley with the dance team! I know you'll give them the best show they've ever seen! And congratulations to Ingrid with making Advanced Orchestra. That's awesome!Well, I'm doing great out here and having a lot of fun being a mission!(oh, if you haven't sent my iPod yet, can you send some old computer speakers with it too. If not, its ok. I can get some out here)(pictures-those sunglasses are a members. I put them on when we were there for a dinner appointment. And there were some cool clouds and I walked by the baseball field again.)

Love you and miss you!-Elder Osness

Great Conference

Family:)

Conference was way good! Its a totally new experience watching it in the Stake Center...and I'm sure me being a missionary made it a little different, but it was way good. We got one investigator to come to one session of conference and we taught an awesome lesson to him yesterday! He's an old dude...like in his 80's probably, but he's as limber as me probably! Its crazy! He's a cool guy. He's knows that what we teach is true, but he really likes the baptist church because he's gone there his whole life and has lots of friends there...he'll come around.The work is sweet and I'm still in my greenie area! That's way crazy because usually you don't stay in your greenie area very long and to spend 4 1/2 months in one area doesn't happen very often either, but this is a great place. Before I leave this area I may have four or five baptisms. Its so fun to be a missionary!Last week we had some sweet clouds come rushing in! I was awesome. I took some pictures. One side of the sky was pure blue (no clouds) and the other was a solid line across the sky of dark cloud. In a matter of minutes it was raining! I also took a picture of Elder Phillip from the Marshall Islands playing the piano. He's way good at it.Thanks for the pictures and mail! I love seeing all the updates of the Fam! Also thanks for getting my iPod stuff together. I have some music on there I can listen to (world music, chinese stuff, disney, and I think I have some talks on there too, Israel Kamakawiwo'ole...some other stuff too) and there are some members here that will put some hymns on there for me, so I can get more music. [iPod, usb connector, car addapter, and Aux input cable]Thanks again for all you do for me! I love you all! Hope you're all having a blast back home!

Love, Elder Osness

Super Conference

Hey Family,

This week has been pretty good. There was a Super Conference for the missionaries in this area. We learned a lot on how to better get the members involved in missionary work. The members of the church are the best key to doing missionary work. I'm in a great area. The members here are really willing to assist when they can. More so than I've even seen in St. George. I do miss the weather in St. George though. It changes way too much here. I'm loving it here though. It would be a lot better though if I could get my iPod and stuff here to have some music. Its some added incouragement in the mornings and throughout the day to hear inspiring music. One of the Elders here has a cd by the Moleni Brothers and its awesome, but I can only listen to it when I'm with them. They are brothers that all served missions and they live in Salt Lake. Anyway, I'm having a blast out here and making some great friends. There is an elder here from the Marshall Islands named Elder Phillip, who's way cool! We Play a lot of basketball on Tuesdays. He's really homesick, but he says I make him not homesick. He's a great missionary. Our investigators are all still here, but being slackers in progressing...they're coming along though. It awesome! Thanks Roger and Natalie for sending me some pictures. I love seeing my family...sorry I don't have any pictures this time...I haven't thought about it. I'll get some pictures taken.

Love you all!-Elder Osness