Announce the Baptism!‏

(we are out of town so I am not on my own computer so I cant post the picture until next week when we get back!-Heather)

Hey Fammy,

Starting off with the picture; Its of Elder Scott and I while e-mailing because I haven't taken a picture all week.The week was pretty good. I went on two exchanges. One was with Elder Sivertsen, the one from Las Vegas. It was a fun exchange. He's shotgunning the area he's in, so we spent a lot of time finding and getting to know the less-actives. The other exchange was with Elder Martin, who was my MTC companion. He's a cool Elder, but has lost a little fire since first coming out. Some positive influence will bring it back out of him. I'm not a big fan of being a district leader because it takes a lot of my focus away from my area and places it on the needs of the missionaries in the district, so its hard to accomplish all that I want to. The good side of it though, is my companion also came out with me and is doing great and is a great help to me. Some cool knews on Franky; he announced his baptism in Priesthood meeting. He's so awesome. He's way excited for his baptism and hopefully some of that will wear onto others in his family, so they want to get baptized as well.Thanks for getting the conference call set up...I'll have more details as it gets closer to Christmas, on a specific time. Thanksgiving should be good here. A really cool family is feeding us. Congratulations on your new calling Natalie. I know you'll be awesome! You've got the personality to get things going and people involved.Thanks for the update Roger. I can always look forward to hearing your update. Keep an eye on Sarah. Oh, how's the ball game going with your corporate team? You didn't tell me you were doing anything that exciting. Watch out for the Crazeez!Well, I best be off. Its good to hear from you all! Love ya! \-Elder Osness

Another planning on being baptized‏

Dear family,

There's a random picture for ya.We met with Franky Evans and he committed to be baptized before I leave this area so, I could be there for it. That's cool. He...and us...are going to work on his family too, to see if we can't get them all baptized. I hope so! I would be great if we could. Franky is progressing great and will be a terrific member. That's really the greatest thing of the week. So great, I can't even think of anything else...We're teaching Yao Yu the lessons again and then we'll teach the new member lessons. She continues to grow in her understanding everytime we come over. I just hope I don't have to eat anymore chicken feet. Well, I can't think of any more updates.So, to the world you live in...This protest stuff is pretty rediculous. Here in Oklahoma there isn't any protesting, so I'm lucky. We just here it from the members. Good luck to Roger and Hillary in San Fran. I hope you are being affected so much by it. It might be a good time to start looking for places a little less...Homo, so Sarah and Will don't have to grow up in such a society. Its great to hear Will has arrived just in time for the holidays. We have the coolest family! Hey speaking of holidays...Christamas call is just a month and a half away. We need to figure out how we're going to manage that before it rolls around. That Fall Ball looked great Natalie! Hope it was as fun as your pictures say it was. Thanks for the mail! and speaking of mail. You could throw a two short sleeve shirts in the package. I'm a 15 1/2 neck I believe and the stafford shirts have been working out great, so that should do. Oh, no button on the collar. That looks funny. short sleeve 15 1//2 no button collar. Hope life's great!

Love you all! -Elder Osness

another to the household of God‏

Hey Family,

Well, the week went great! Yao Yu was baptized and confirmed a member this past weekend. Now to keep her strong and motivated in learning the gospel. She do great in progressing in the gospel. She is a very self propelled individual. You may be wondering what the picture is of the food in the pan. Well, I'll ask you; what is the strangest thing you have ever eaten...well, mine is a chinese norm. Yao Yu insisted she make us some chicken feet before she got baptized. I think her husband, Jay had something to do with it too. It wasn't the greatest food I've ever had...matter of fact, I'll probably avoid eating it the rest of my life, but its all about the experience, right?We also met with the Evans last week. They are are progressing, but at a much smaller rate than Yao Yu. Things are going well. This economy drop and election may make our job as missionaries more interesting. A few people may depart from a comfort zone they've grown so fond of and be tossed into a world of wonder. We'll see what kind of things begin to happen in the missionary life. Its great to hear from so many of you! Thanks for checking up on mom and my account Jeff. I liked seeing the family photos in the Japanese Tea Garden. Brings back great memories and its just a really cool place. Hope my new nephew is doing well. Sounds like the halloween parties were good fun, Natalie and Malissa. Those were some great decorative food ideas. I hope the world around doesn't have too much affect on the lives of yours back home. Good luck and God be with you!

I love you all!-Elder Onsess

Start fillin' up the Font‏

Hey Fam!

Hey, thanks for the love! I enjoy hearing from everyone! I'll definately have to spend a halloween in SanFran. Its a fun city. It looks like you had a lot of fun too Rog. Halloween here isn't as popular as it was back home. Not very many people dress up and there were like a whole 20 housed decorated for the holiday. Hopefully Christmas is better. Its a better holiday anyway. The pictures are of my companion and I carving pumpkins and our last trip to the Masonic Temple we found a book of mormon in the library there, so I snagged a picture.Well the week has been really good. I'm super stoked to work with my new companion, Elder Scott. Its way cool to have someone from the MTC as a companion. So the update with Yao Yu, she has been taught everything necessary and is excited for her baptism this Saturday. The interview is tomorrow with the zone leaders. We are also meeting with the Evans tonight and hope to set a baptismal date with them to work towards. The father in the family is in the book of Helaman and I think he now knows and understands more about the Book of Mormon than me. He's so awesome! I just hope his wife will begin to catch on because everyone else is ready to be baptized. Its been great!This will be an awesome transfer! I've got a great district. One companionship seems to lack a little motivation, but are willing to work and they want to see success, so it will turn out great. The other companionship is great. Elder Sivertsen is training a very motivated missionary and shot gunning an area (shotgun an area=two new missionaries that have not been serving in the area). They do a lot of finding, but are being very proactive and moving their area right along. Oh, my area got a new car the other day. That's exciting. I'll have to take a picture. Its a '09 Toyota Corolla. I feel pretty lucky; great companion, awesome district...and a new car. I guess I can handle being a district leader if things are this great! ha!~Well, I think I've decided my favorite season is fall! The trees are so cool in the fall and the weather has been way nice.~Love Ya!-Elder Osness