Dear Family,
This past week was great! The most success we've had in a while with our area. Missionaries haven't spent any time in the Edmond portion of our area in a long time and so Elder Medina and I have been spending about an hour or two in Edmond just before we go to a dinner appointment because that is where most of the members in our ward live, so we're down there usually four times a week and out of the 30 or so houses we've knocked on we have two investigators and six potential investigators and they are more promising than all of our work in Guthrie. Its great for the members too because its easier for them to fellowship when its that close. A sister in the ward, Sister Wendelboe, came with us to an appointment we had there, in Edmond, for the Anderson family and she was a great asset. We were only able to teach Sam, the mother, but I think it was good that way because Sister Wendelboe was able to build a bond with her and we have another appointment and hopefully we'll be able to teach the whole Anderson family. Sam and Chuck have five kids and they are a great family! Yesterday was good too. We got three new investigators in the morning by tracting. The lesson could have been better, but they seem promising. Things are going really well. Thanks for the e-mails and updates! And thanks, Malissa, for the Valentine's package!
Love ya!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Finally some pictures
Dear Family,
We're in Edmond today for our p-day, so I get to use a decent computer and send some pictures finally. One is of the ice storm, another is my companion and myself frezzing the day after the ice storm and the last is Elder Medina on a hill near "the lost city of Guthrie." We took a detour on our travels through the day and ended up in this place that no longer exists...lost city of guthrie. On the map it shows streets and places to be, but its all overgrown with trees, so nobody lives there. So much for that detour.This past week was crazy! Starting with Zone Conference our mission president took the last hour and talked about obedience...it was great! He handled it perfectly, I think and I hope it is the motivation this mission needed to be more obedient.After Zone Conference, you may have heard of the events in Oklahoma on Tuesday. We all had to stay at the church building for a few extra hours because tornado weather was a brewin'. We were in Stillwater for Zone Conference, so the weather didn't do too much there. We just got lots of hail and heavy green clouds. Edmond, on the other hand, didn't get by so easily. As the pictures from Brother Bowman sent, you can see the damage to some of the houses in Edmond. The Lord protected us! The ward got by very well. Some got hail damage, but none of the tornados destroyed the homes of the members and nothing picked up in Stillwater where we were.That night Elder Medina and I went on an exchange in Stillwater and spent some time doing what we could with them. The next day was clear and nice...weather in Oklahoma...destructive one day and clear the next. After our exchange with Stillwater we came home and spent a little time in our area and then went on an exchange with the Edmond Elders, which are stuggling more than most of the mission. Its all messed up down there, but after some good personal commitments hopefully things turn around for that district.So now Saturday comes and its our only full day we have to prosylite in our own area and the Lord blessed us with some success. We managed to see and teach most of the people we wanted to in the week. Yesterday, we got to be an answere to somebody's prayer. We went to see an inactive member, who doesn't really go anywhere when we go see her, but her son had moved in and was praying for help to start over and come back to church and here we come knocking on the door and reintroduce the Book of Mormon to him and have plans to see him again this week with a member he knew a long time ago before he moved out. Its nice when we can see the good our efforts are having on others...now if we can get some new investigators or the ones we have now to progress would be great.For the past three weeks we haven't had any investigators come to church and none of them have reasons for not coming besides the fact that they just didn't. Ahhh! All well, keep the faith strong and the blessings will come.Well, Love you all and can't wait to hear from you again.
Happy belated Valentine's Day!-Elder Osness
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Utah Bubble
And more for my Family,
(Well, Happy Birthday to Roger last week and Jeff this week! Time goes by so fast! I hope your birthdays were and are the best!So, a little stress. The subject is pretty interesting. I just had an interview with the mission president and for the first time in my entire mission, I heard about the disobedience of missionaries. Somehow I've been lucky enough to have my Utah Bubble follow me around my entire mission. I have to say, I'm very blessed because its made me very fixed in my mind to be obedient. I never knew there was any other way. I've been exposed to little things here and there, but none that would cause serious issues and those little things to me became the extent of what disobedience was. Just hearing about the things that go on make me sick. I really don't even understand what goes on in some peoples minds.)The things missionaries do out here aren't even considered bad in the slightest in regular life, so I can see that reasoning in their minds, but when on a mission...be on a mission is what should go through the mind of a missionary. Its the same thing when at home. Some still choose to go as far on the wrong side as they can. God gives us boundaries so we can reach our potential. When we break those boundaries, we fall from our potential. They aren't rules to hold us back, but a path to spring us forward. I just doen't understand why many people don't understand that. Its pretty frustrating. What bothers me the most is they don't understand that their choices affect many other peoples lives, even if it seems like nothing. Hopefully, I'm not just rabling to something that doesn't mean anything to you, but that you can take something from it because these kind of issues go beyond the mission, but also the world around us. Live the Gospel! Besides that, my mission is great! And even better to know that I was raised in righteousness both at home and on the mission. Elder Medina and I went to Enid this weekend and helped some struggling elders...not in obedience, but in courage to open their mouths and share the gospel and it went great. I hope I can be a positive light to more of these elders.In our own area we have had some success as well. We set a baptismal date for next month for Karl, who has been an investigator for a couple months and we found a couple new investigators that seem promising. Hopefully we can help Karl quite smoking by March and that he'll be diligent in progress.Well, I love all of you very much, but I've got to go.
-Elder Osness
(Well, Happy Birthday to Roger last week and Jeff this week! Time goes by so fast! I hope your birthdays were and are the best!So, a little stress. The subject is pretty interesting. I just had an interview with the mission president and for the first time in my entire mission, I heard about the disobedience of missionaries. Somehow I've been lucky enough to have my Utah Bubble follow me around my entire mission. I have to say, I'm very blessed because its made me very fixed in my mind to be obedient. I never knew there was any other way. I've been exposed to little things here and there, but none that would cause serious issues and those little things to me became the extent of what disobedience was. Just hearing about the things that go on make me sick. I really don't even understand what goes on in some peoples minds.)The things missionaries do out here aren't even considered bad in the slightest in regular life, so I can see that reasoning in their minds, but when on a mission...be on a mission is what should go through the mind of a missionary. Its the same thing when at home. Some still choose to go as far on the wrong side as they can. God gives us boundaries so we can reach our potential. When we break those boundaries, we fall from our potential. They aren't rules to hold us back, but a path to spring us forward. I just doen't understand why many people don't understand that. Its pretty frustrating. What bothers me the most is they don't understand that their choices affect many other peoples lives, even if it seems like nothing. Hopefully, I'm not just rabling to something that doesn't mean anything to you, but that you can take something from it because these kind of issues go beyond the mission, but also the world around us. Live the Gospel! Besides that, my mission is great! And even better to know that I was raised in righteousness both at home and on the mission. Elder Medina and I went to Enid this weekend and helped some struggling elders...not in obedience, but in courage to open their mouths and share the gospel and it went great. I hope I can be a positive light to more of these elders.In our own area we have had some success as well. We set a baptismal date for next month for Karl, who has been an investigator for a couple months and we found a couple new investigators that seem promising. Hopefully we can help Karl quite smoking by March and that he'll be diligent in progress.Well, I love all of you very much, but I've got to go.
-Elder Osness
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
AP Exchange
Dear Familia,
Well, its a short week between e-mails...last Wednesday to Monday. These past few weeks have gotten all messed up because of the ice storm. We had to change a meeting and switch around a few exchanges we're going on...so much for planning ahead. So, last week p-day was late and now its early because of the meeting changed to tomorrow, but its all working out. Last week we had an exchange with the assistants and I got to experience just a portion of their responsibilities. The only time we prosylited was after our dinner appointment, but it was a great lesson! Most of the day was taken up by helping a senior missionary couple move to their new appartment and on the way to our dinner appointment we tried to see a less-active, who wasn't home, but it was a good exchange still. I learned a lot about helping other missionaries fulfill their purpose.The biggest issue our zone has right now is talking to people. They don't do it, so they don't teach as much and don't get any new investigators as a consiquence and that means if nobody is investigating then they sure won't be baptizing. Elder Medina and I are trying to come up with a good practice for Zone Conference to inspire our zone. Hopefully I can fill the mantle. It just takes a lot of diligence and hard work. Sometimes it can be a little stressful trying to help district leaders inspire their districts and help the needs of the area as well, but I'm getting the hang of things. Elder Medina and I are doing well, I think.I really like being of some influence for other missionaries. Being a zone leader is a good calling for me. That and missionary trainer.So, are you excited for the warm weather to come back. I'm sure ready. It will be great when its nice and warm. I'm trying to remember if Roger and Jeff's birthdays are soon...I'm thinking,yes, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish I could be there for these great events, but I not. Just putting around out here in Okamoka. ;)
Love You Family!-Elder Osness
Well, its a short week between e-mails...last Wednesday to Monday. These past few weeks have gotten all messed up because of the ice storm. We had to change a meeting and switch around a few exchanges we're going on...so much for planning ahead. So, last week p-day was late and now its early because of the meeting changed to tomorrow, but its all working out. Last week we had an exchange with the assistants and I got to experience just a portion of their responsibilities. The only time we prosylited was after our dinner appointment, but it was a great lesson! Most of the day was taken up by helping a senior missionary couple move to their new appartment and on the way to our dinner appointment we tried to see a less-active, who wasn't home, but it was a good exchange still. I learned a lot about helping other missionaries fulfill their purpose.The biggest issue our zone has right now is talking to people. They don't do it, so they don't teach as much and don't get any new investigators as a consiquence and that means if nobody is investigating then they sure won't be baptizing. Elder Medina and I are trying to come up with a good practice for Zone Conference to inspire our zone. Hopefully I can fill the mantle. It just takes a lot of diligence and hard work. Sometimes it can be a little stressful trying to help district leaders inspire their districts and help the needs of the area as well, but I'm getting the hang of things. Elder Medina and I are doing well, I think.I really like being of some influence for other missionaries. Being a zone leader is a good calling for me. That and missionary trainer.So, are you excited for the warm weather to come back. I'm sure ready. It will be great when its nice and warm. I'm trying to remember if Roger and Jeff's birthdays are soon...I'm thinking,yes, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I wish I could be there for these great events, but I not. Just putting around out here in Okamoka. ;)
Love You Family!-Elder Osness
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