Wednesday, January 28, 2009

My first Ice Storm‏

My Dear Family,

So, the past few days have been very icey, but not near the disaster Oklahoma had last year, but we did experience some ice. Monday was the beginings of the ice and we went out and worked as much as we could. It was actually quite a productive day even with the sheet of ice that covered our clothes as we walked the streets of Guthrie. It was really cool because the ice would just appear all the sudden on our coats and every movement the ice would crack. It was way cool! Yesterday, on the other hand was cool to look at, but not the greatest to be in. everything was closed and the land...not just roads, but all the earth had a layer of ice and some snow on top. "Danger Will Robinson, Danger!" Not the coolest, but very cold. Today's good though. The sun came out and everything is in melting mode and this weekend is suppose to be nice...O'right! ...lets back track a little...Last week was transfers and I got my new companion, Elder Medina. He's have mexican and from Surprise, Arizona (Phoenix area). He came out six weeks before me and was trained and gone from Norman before I got there. We started right by eachother and never knew it. He's a good companion. On the way back from transfers it took a little bit of time because I hadn't driven that drive before and I haven't been to transfers but a few wee times on my mission...and I was the only one who knew the way home, but we made it safely and hit the ground running. We're doing really well and hopefully we can direct this zone to a new level. Things are going well. Sorry you're missing out on all these pictures...I'll get some to you as soon as I can. This small town, just won't cut it for the pics.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

I need someone to Baptize!

Hey My Family,

Cameron got baptized last week! It was great! We had a couple investigators there that we found last week and they got a lot of attention from the members who attended, so that was good. I was on an exchange with one of the assistants and we were biking along and stopped to talk to a woman, Malissa, and led into a lesson. It was the most successful finding day I've had in this area. Elder Webster has been here so long that his faith for finding has been dwindling, (Great missionary, just been here too long) so it was nice to have someone else to go get things done. Hopefully I can continue to give this area the success its been having.Getting Cameron baptized was the focus and that's what got accomplished...and that's about it really. I learned, as I do every transfer, but this one seemed to be the least growth I've had all my mission. I would think that having a new calling as a Zone Leader I would've had the most of my mission, but this transfer kind of feels like I hit a dip in the road. I have a lot to learn this next transfer because I'm getting a brand new zone leader, so that means I'm training a zone leader, but its kind of scary because I'm not completely sure what I'm doing myself, The Lord must know I need a lot of stretching. It should be good though. He's Elder Medina, he's from Arizona and he came out just before me. We'll tear it up next transfer as we learn together.Well, my time is up. Love ya! Thanks again for all you do for me!

-Elder Osness

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Went to Enid‏

Oh Family,

Well, the past week was good. We went on an exchange in Enid. Early in my mission, in Norman, I received an e-mail from someone that lives there that knows Hillary, but I can't write back via e-mail, so I never replied to the family...and I forgot their name, so I didn't ask about them, but it was still cool to go up there. Its a bigger city than I thought. It was a cool place and they have some good investigators there. The Elders I went on an exchange with were spanish speaking, Elders Barney and Dallin, but we went and taught a lesson to an investigator that speaks english, so I got to participate. We also ran into a former investigator that asked us if we could show him how to tie a tie...he didn't speak english. Elder Barney came out the same time I did, so its been interesting to see the developement the other elders that came out the same time as me have had. Elder Dallin is a strong elder. He was trained by two of my favorite missionaries. I learned a lot from both and both of them wore on to him, so it was cool to see the personalities and works of both of them in one elder. We finished teaching Cameron and he's all set for his baptismal interview and baptism on Saturday. Its great! We almost had a joint baptism because he goes to school with a girl, who is the daughter of Frankie, who was baptized in Edmond 3rd just before I got transfered and she wants to be baptized too, but something came up, so its not going to work out that way.Well, Life is great...and a little bit cold. But its all good because I love my family...the end. -Elder Osness

Thursday, January 8, 2009

A special treat





Dear Osness Family,
This evening we shared a meal with your wonderful missionary son. He is "one of the finest missionaries" as was stated recently in our Sacrament meeting by a member of the Stillwater Stake Presidency, President Holyoak. He has only been in our Guthrie Ward a short time, but we already recognize that President Holyoak's statement is so true. You can be so thankful for his dedication and obedience. He is representing your family in the very best manner. Oklahoma is blessed to have his sweet spirit and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ here to find and teach those who are ready for the truth.
My husband and I are native Okies and have raised our family here. It means so much to us to have representatives such as Elder Osness serving in Oklahoma. We love them and enjoy their sweet spirits. They are great examples to our grandsons.
We have 2 sons and their families and a grandson and his family in our Guthrie Ward.
We have sent sons and grandsons on missions to Colombia Bogota, Florida Tampa, Utah Salt Lake City, Iowa Des Moines, California Oakland, Guatemala Guatemala City, Germany Hamburg, Paraguay Ascuncion, New Zealand Wellington (my husband & I), and 1 grandson waiting for his call. We know of your sacrifice in sending this fine son to Oklahoma. We also know of the tremendous blessings he reaps now and forever, and that his family reaps. Just know that he is serving valiantly and he is loved by lots of Okies and others.
I believe that your family was in our son's ward in the late 80's. Our son, Terry Wade, was the first Bishop of the St. George 22nd Ward. We also lived there at that time, on Don Lee Drive, next door to Terry and Gina and the boys. Elder Osness mentioned and aunt, CaraLee, and the name is so familiar, but I could not come up with the last name and neither could he. I am sure we were acquainted. It is a small world in the Church. Terry and Gina and 3 youngest sons are in Paraguay serving as Mission President.
When the elders arrived this evening for dinner I took their picture and am enclosing them for you. I know you will enjoy them.
Thanks again for sending us your precious son.
Shirley and Arnold Wade
4085 Michael Road
Edmond, Oklahoma 73025
405.330.4336
grannyswade@aol.com

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Blackwell....eeh...‏

My Family,

This pas week was pretty good. I went on a couple exchanges. The last one was in a little town called Blackwell. It was an interesting place. The missionary apartment was pretty cool. It is in a really old, historic hotel. Its small, but way cool. The town is the perfect place to film a scary movie. It has a very historic look to the town and a bunch of it is empty...and it gets better. After our dinner appointment the whole town was filled with fog. We could only see about ten feet in front of us. It was way sweet! There was one section of the town near the apartment where the fog just stops. It was like there was an invisible wall that the fog couldn't pass through. It was a pretty creepy town. I wish I would've got some pictures, but I didn't think about it. That was the most exciting part of the week and the rest was basically regular days of missionary work. I like being able to go on exchanges with missionaries and help them see how easy it can be and how much fun they can have while being a missionary.We got a couple new investigators and some dropped investigators...you know the usual. Things are going well here in Guthrie though. We have a baptism comming up next week and hopefully some other people will begin to progress.Thanks for your love and support! I love you and I love being a missionary! Got to go...my time is up!

-Elder Osness

Friday, January 2, 2009

After the Call‏

Dear Family,

So, I just talked to you on the phone a few days ago. That was great!It was good to hear everyone...well most everyone. We've got so many in the family that its hard to get all the nieces and nephews on the phone, but it was a great call. I'm glad we could get that conference call, so everyone could get on. Thanks Jeff, for setting that up for me. I got Malissa's package in the mail yesterday. Thanks for the thermals and especially for the letters and drawings. I think my favorite thing to receive in the mail is letters and pictures.This week was pretty good. We went on exchanges with the Assistants and found a way cool family that's been prepared by the Lord. They're the Downs family. They have two little kids and were ready and willing to accept the commitments we left. It was a good Exchange. Yesterday, I went on an exchange with a brand new missionary, which was great. I like being able to help and shape new missionaries. They're full of the spirit too, so when we talk to people they can't help, but listen. We got an inactive member to want to come to church, so we had some good experiences. Sorry, this e-mail doesn't have a lot of meat in it, but I'm low on time. We are really busy today and still have to drive back to our area.Love ya and hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for all you do!Someday I'll send you some more pictures:)

-Elder Osness