Elder Glenn Osness

I'll be Home for Christmas!‏

2009-12-22T07:14:00.001-08:00

Dear Family,

Well, see you soon! Merry Christmas!

Love,Elder Osness

spiritual words‏

2009-12-16T07:26:00.001-08:00

Dear Family, This past week has been a challenge. I came into the mission sick and I'm hoping I don't leave with this nasal cold. I got sick last week and haven't really been able to enjoy a lot of missionary work. Yesterday was my first well day, but I have a return of the headache today, so I'm hoping I can be over it and accomplish what is needed and recover. There is a lot of good still happening here and its really been great to meet and teach so many people. Clara is doing great and making many friends in the church. The ward here is really doing a great job in supporting the new members. Last week we taught a new person who was formerly dating a member and wanted us to come by and answer a few questions. The member family warned us of his challenging personality and questions, but the lesson went great and I don't think we answered a lot of his questions, but did teach some principles that would help his understanding and some questions that are going to be a little more valluable to answer on his own and how those answers would come. Its up to him. On Sunday we talked with the member family about our lesson and they had mentioned that he had felt something different and he felt great even though we didn't have the answers to a lot of his historical questions. I think the spirit gave some unspoken answers and now he knows what he must do.Things are moving along and I will see you all soon. Merry Christmas!Love you!Elder Osness

Merry Christmas To All‏ (from the pres)

2009-12-15T07:53:00.001-08:00

Dear Parents and Families,
This week has been a ordinary week of nice, hard work. President Gee was showing me the key indicator report today. There were over 5000 contacts made this week by our wonderful missionaries. This means they need to introduce themselves and invite the people to listen to the message. Of course most of them say they aren't interested but when that many people have the opportunity you know the missionaries are out doing what they were sent to do. President Gee often reminds them that if at the end of the day they can say they have given about twenty people the chance to hear the gospel they can say they have had a good day, even if the people didn't take advantage of the blessing. We are working on remembering to testify as they invite. We are sure the results will be even greater as we become better and better at bearing strong testimonies. The miracles start to happen when the missionaries are willing to pay the price. There were a lot of lessons taught as well.
On Sunday the temperature reached 70 degrees in some parts of the mission. We reminded the missionaries to be grateful for an early Christmas gift from mother nature. Some were delighted to be working in shirt sleeves again. However, Oklahoma is a roller-coaster. Today was shivering cold again.
President Gee and I had a chance to deliver some Christmas packages to a few of our missionaries this weekend. It is fun to see their Christmas Trees all decorated and lit up. Some of them are about 12 inches tall. Some of the trees are closer to six feet tall. It just depends on what they find in the apartments. They surely do appreciate anything that comes in the mail. One Elder said, "I invited my family to send a physical letter in the mail. Mail means more than money." I'm sure most of the missionaries feel that same delight when something comes in the mail.
This will be our official Christmas greeting to all of you. Next Monday we will be receiving 14 new missionaries. The days of transfers are some of our busiest and I am sure I won't have time to send a message. I guess I will take a little holiday break. We do want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. We hope you love talking with your missionary on the phone on Christmas day. President Gee and I appreciate your interest and responses, and especially your prayers. We continue to pray for you. Our testimonies continue to strengthen as we see the Lord's hand in this work. We testify that your sons or daughters are literally God's messengers. What a way to celebrate Christmas! They will never forget being part of such a great cause. On to the victory!
Love, Sister Gee (and President Gee)

Baptism!‏

2009-12-09T14:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Family, I've got to be quick. I'm still working on my trunky papers. This report on my mission is taking most of my computer attention, but I will tell you it has been a great week! Clara was baptized and as I look back I often wonder how anything comes together, but it does. We also had a good temple conference and it was nice to attend the temple. The pictures are of a grip of my mission posterity at the temple conference and of Clara's baptism. Its so awesome to see things like this come together. It seems the people that require the least effort and take care of their own conversion are the ones who make real progress where as with some people we work and work and work, but progress is slow...because of a lack on their part. Just got to work on show the importance so they feel the need. Then wonderful things happen.Love ya!Elder Osness

Christmas Conference‏

2009-12-09T14:53:00.001-08:00

Dear Parents and Families,

Last Wednesday and Thursday we had our much looked-forward-to Christmas Conference in the Surrey Hills Chapel by the Oklahoma City Temple. On Wednesday when President Gee and I walked into the chapel the missionaries were assembled and reverently studying their scriptures. I could feel the spirit before we even began. I hope I never get insensitive to the power that a group of good missionaries has. We began with "Hark the Herald Angels Sing." It sounded like angels were singing. We have some wonderful singers in the group. President Gee ususally sings with gusto. He learned to sing in his youth when he spent hours on the tractor. He developed power singing above the noise. On Wednesday, however, he wasn't singing. I looked at him and could see tears in his eyes. I patted him on the leg, because there were tears in my eyes as well. It was so touching. We wished we could sing much longer. In fact, later in the day we inserted some unplanned Christmas Carols. After some preliminary remarks half of the half of the mission left to attend a session at the temple. The temple workers were almost as happy as we were that the missionaries were there. It takes a lot of work on their part to take care of us, since most of the missionaries don't have all their temple clothes. I love seeing the missionaries in their suits, ties, and dresses, but it can't compare to seeing them all in white. They were able to spend a little time in the Celestial room to ponder and pray.

After the session the group returned to the chapel to share testimonies and positive mission experiences. The other half was in the temple by then. What a boost it is to have each and every missionary share some little miracle that has happened to them and to also affirm their testimony.

Next we had a mission picture taken in front of the temple. It was freezing cold but we tried to keep each other warm. Afterwards both groups went into the chapel for the final words from President Gee. He spent time introducing the new theme for 2010. It will be "Look unto me in every thought. Doubt not. fear not." D&C 6:36

It was a day of fasting, so by 4:30 in the afternoon thoughts were turning to food. The Oklahoma City Stake furnished a very nice Christmas meal for all of us. It was beautifully decorated and the missionaries were more than eager to consume ham, funeral potatoes, beans, breads, salad, and trifle dessert. They love to visit with one another. We could tell they were reluctant for it all to end. They were taking pictures by the score. We were grateful that the weather cooperated and we didn't have to cope with an ice storm.

Thursday was pretty much a repeat of Wednesday except they were a bit more exuberant in their visiting and it took a while to get them to settle down. It was another uplifting and renewing day. President Gee and I breathed a sigh of relief when they were all safely back to their areas. We kind of feel like the highlight of the Christmas season has passed, but we will still enjoy the things that are ahead.

Christmas boxes are starting to pile up in the office. It is kind of like Santa's workshop during December. We noticed several of the elders were sporting some newly received gloves. Those gloves and also neckscarves really help. Some of them have thermal underwear, etc. that also helps to keep them warm. Thanks for your support and prayers. Please pray for the health of the missionaries. Several have developed colds, probably because winter is now officially here.

We have potential for a good month of baptisms. Please also add your prayers in behalf of those who have committed to be baptized. We love our missionaries! They want to do the Lord's work. We are so blessed to be part of the work. Have a good week. President Gee sends his best wishes. We both pray for you!

Love, Sister Gee

gonna be quick‏

2009-12-03T19:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Family, pictures:I see a star shining brightly! we put our strand of lights to good use at our apartment and made a large bright star in our sliding glass door. The other pictures are of some more mission posterity at the new missionary/trainer meeting and of the set up at the last Family Fun Zone of the season. Well, I've got to work on my trunky papers so I don't have much time. Things are good and we have a great baptism scheduled for Saturday. Clara is doing great, though we've lost our friend Edwin. no body knows where he is and as a result will probably not be getting baptized this weekend. Clara has a strong enough testimony to fill and over fill the gap that won't be coming from Edwin. Things are good and I love you all! Looking forward to the baptism of Clara. -Elder Osness

Just one more holiday...‏

2009-11-24T09:33:00.000-08:00

Hey family, It seems like everyday I'm reminded by someone that I'm going home soon. Its really strange to think. Its coming but doesn't seem tangible, which is good. I'm hoping I can see these people I'm teaching make greater commitment to God before I leave. Things are looking great for most, but some are struggling to really take hold and let their testimony grow. We are teaching one whose probably the most spiritual person I've met on my mission. She's from West Africa and is just flourishing with her testimony. She hasn't missed church since she's been and studies and will be sharing this with her friends and family. I'll be gone before I get to see much of that, but its definately a great experience to be a part of the conversion process of not only my own, but others as well. This week we ran into some members of the Restoration Church...interesting. They are a great family and you can tell they live their life the best they can to follow the teachings of Jesus and the Prophets. The Restoration church came from The RLDS church after a revelation on the priesthood that many dissagreed with. After talking with them I've come to know even more that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is God's true church on the earth in its fulness with our Father in heaven himself leading it. Hopefully with their future experiences with us and the church here their testimony of the living Prophets and Apostles will develope.I love you all and I'll see you...:) I'm off to my last holiday. I've never experienced such a wide variety of turkey. Love Ya! -Elder Osness

Got Details?‏ (from the pres)

2009-11-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents and Families,

The season has come to toss any ideas out the window that a mission is a piece of cake. We are in a COLD, cold front and it is time to put on the coats, neck scarves, hats, and gloves. It is dark by around 5:30 and that makes missionary work more challenging. I have great admiration for these missionaries who put personal comfort on the back burner and go out to save the world.

President Gee, the assistants, and I welcomed nine new missionaries last Tuesday and said good-bye to eight returning missionaries. We had a great last day together on Wednesday as we attended the temple and then met with the new temple president, President Southward. After dinner we had a meeting where each missionary shared some memorable mission experience and his/her testimony. You know it can't be described in words but you would recognize an intensely wonderful feeling. On Thursday morning there was a little experience that could symbolize the good every missionary is doing here.
As we arrived at the airport, there was a mother and daughter who had been baptized by Elder Fogleberg, They had been planning for weeks to surprise him at the airport to say good-bye. They were as excited as kids at Christmas. When Elder Fogleberg saw them he had a smile as big as all outdoors. While they chatted I thought about what had really happened. Elder Fogelberg, among other missionaries, was blessed to find a family to teach. The father and brother in the family were also baptized. What a payoff for leaving the world behind to bring unspeakable joy to people the missionary had never met. Now there is an eternal bond. They will never forget one another. In two months that family will be sealed in the temple and Elder Fogelberg will return to be there with them. His parents will be there also. That is a missionary's dream. Not everyone gets to see a family sealed, but every missionary contributes to the process of conversion and in the end they are all promised "how great shall be your joy with them in the Kingdom of Heaven." I got to see a glimpse of that on Thursday morning.

Once in a while a missionary will mention that you parents have told them about my e-mails. I have to smile when they say you have reminded them to do something more diligently, like not spend all their money eating out. I want to assure you that there is a feeling of wanting to please you. You still have a great influence on them. I think it strengthens them when you give them counsel. Many times parents have responded with something like, "I don't get many details from my son." I can understand that from the letters they write to President Gee. While I never read the letters, I do file them so I know that some do well to write two sentences and some write two pages. If you are having trouble getting enough information out of your son, I suggest you might ask them to answer some questions. (The sisters don't seem to have trouble writing a lot.) What do you do to exercise? What do you study during personal study time? How do you and your companion practice teaching? What insight did you get from your study this morning? Is it hard to get up by 6:30 in the morning? Have you had any miracles in finding people to teach? Are the members helping you with the work? What does the ward mission leader do to help you? Are you sleeping well? When is the last time you had a good laugh?

Hopefully questions will help trigger things they could share with you. It won't be long until the much awaited Christmas call. Then you can all catch up. I hope this gives you a few ideas. I think I will remind them when I talk to them how much the details mean to their families.

Well, have a wonderful week. We pray for you and certainly appreciate your prayers for your missionary and for the work of the mission. President Gee sends his greetings! The missionaries are still working hard.
Love, Sister Gee

sparking testimonies‏

2009-11-17T17:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Family, Pictures: The first is at Transfers. I haven't been in a while and I got to see some good buddies there. The other is of Elder Cannon and I...today because I realized I haven't taken one of us, so there it is.The work is going great! Elder Cannon walked into a flow of success! Four of the people we are teaching have baptismal dates that they are working towards and its amazing to see how rapidly their testimonies grow when that commitment is made. We have so much good going on and the days are flying by! Ahhh! I really can't even keep track at all. Its just sleep and wake up, sleep and wake up. Its really exciting to see so much fall into place. Hard work pays off. Well, I've got to use the rest of my computer time to write my "trunky papers" so until next time.Love you!-Elder Osness

too much month‏ (from the pres)

2009-11-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents and Families,

We hope you are enjoying your November as much as we are. The temperatures were in the 70's today so we can't complain about anything. The first time I wrote to parents I explained about tornados. So many new missionaries have come since then that I just want to make sure those parents know we are not in the tornado season right now, so don't even think about it.

Today I will explain a little about the finances of the missionaries. (That is why this is titled "Too Much Month.") We all know that story. Your $400 dollars goes to Salt Lake. Each mission has a budget to cover expenses and we have an account to pay rent and utilities for the missionaries. Our wonderful office missionaries keep everything running well. Each missionary has an MSF card. (Missionary Support Fund) He/she uses that card to pay for food, sundries, postage, dry cleaning, washing the car, cleaning supplies, etc. The missionaries get $135 dollars at the beginning of each month. It isn't much but if they are careful it is enough. In most of the areas members feed them often and take good care of them. Learning to live on a limited budget is another great learning experience of the mission. (It will prepare them for marriage!") We have varying degrees of success in making the money last. Some manage to have money left at the end of the month. Others go right out and spend the money and end up with nothing for two weeks. One of the things they do is eat out at restaurants. President Gee isn't real excited about that but they think it is fun to eat together after District Meeting and sometimes other days as well. A while ago I tried a little survey and found about half of the missionaries are successful at living on their budget. The rest dig into their personal funds, or maybe even ask you for more money. President Gee and I are concerned if they create a hardship for you by doing this. You may think they will starve if they don't get more money. You can handle this as you see fit, but from our point of view, it would be better for them to learn to make do. There are occasions when they do need some personal funds. If they need to see a doctor or get medicine they pay a ten dollar co-pay for each of these. Sometimes there are bicycle repairs to take care of as well. We hate to think they are depleting their savings accounts to eat out or buy excess keepsakes, etc. However, sometimes they are a bit too frugal and let their clothes get looking pretty shabby. With that little bit of information from us, hopefully you will know what your missionary should be doing. If you have any questions feel free to ask.

Things are going pretty well for the mission. The outlook for baptisms for November is good. The missionaries are still working hard and we appreciate all they do. Last evening President Gee and I had a good experience. The Edmond 2nd ward Bishop invited us to meet with the ward council and talk through exactly how they should go about taking charge of the missionary work in the ward and coordinating with the missionaries. Elder Salisbury and Elder Hawker were there as well. There was a great feeling of willingness to work together and try to reach out to less active and part-member families. It was fun to watch them catch the vision. We know that if every ward would really make the ward council function as outlined there would be an explosion of success. The way to do it is laid out by prophets, seers, and revelators. It just takes time to get everyone on board. The nature of missionary work would certainly change because they would be teaching more and resorting to tracting less. We hope members continue to start to "get it" and we become effective at working together.

Eight missionaries will be leaving us this week. We know there are eight very happy families. We will miss them. We will be welcoming nine new missionaries and look forward to working with them. Have a good week. Keep those prayers coming. We are working to "Go Forward and Not Backward. On, On To The Victory!"
Love, Sister Gee (and President Gee)

Running into my last transfer‏

2009-11-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Family, Pictures: District picture, a bunch of the missionaries after district meeting, and me waiting on the stairs on exchanges for our ride to an appointment. Another good week in the mission! We committed four people to be baptized in the past week, three of which before my time runs dry. Its been so great to find all these people to teach and we may end up before I finish getting a few more people baptism dates to prepare for. The field is ready to harvest! We got transfer calls yesterday and Elder Madsen is already headed out. It was a quick transfer! He's not going too far though, just the next area over. And I'll be training again, for the fourth time. Elder Cannon from Idaho will be my new companion.So, last night we were visiting a member who has recently began making steps back into activity in the church and its been a struggle to be consistent. We had a really good lesson and its one of those moments that help you know why you are where you are and that your calling is really from God. The way things work out the way they do is because God has a plan and his ways will be fulfilled. If we follow his guidance and heed the council of the spirit we can be assured we are being led by our Father in Heaven even if we don't know why things are the way they are, but will if we remain faithful we will achieve the blessing....not all blessings are temporal, but many are spiritual.Things are great! I love you all and will see you in a few short weeks! -Elder Osness

What Could Possibly Go Wrong‏ (from the pres)

2009-11-03T18:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Parents and Families,
President Gee and I hope all is well with "Ya'll." We appreciate your prayers and support in behalf of the mission and your missionary. The weather is absolutely wonderful this week. The temperature was in the seventies and the skies are blue. It is perfect weather for missionaries and we think we get a few more days just like what we have had. Most of the missionaries are healthy and doing well.

Today I would like to pass on a few experiences about baptisms. Baptisms bring joy! However, there are times when we find out the answer to the question, "What could possibly go wrong?" I hope your sense of humor is awake. In the past Elders have been told how long it takes to fill the font. Not wanting to waste time, they plan on starting the water and leaving for a while to do other missionary things. You know the answer to the question, don't you? Recently the Elders returned to find the font had overflowed and the church was flooded. They spent several hours with a shop vac trying to repair the damage. It has happened more than once.
One unforgettable experience happened several months ago. We were hosting Elder Richardson who was our Area Seventy. We decided to attend a scheduled baptism during one evening. When we arrived the Elders weren't really thrilled to see us because somehow the person who was supposed to pick up the sister to be baptized forgot to get her. It would take an hour to make the round trip to get her to the church. That ward mission leader had decided to ride his motorcycle rather than drive his car. He was having so much fun he forgot what he was doing. We waited and waited. I finally looked at Elder Richardson and said, "This is how we do things in Oklahoma." He smiled and said something about the interesting report he would have for the brethren.
The sister finally arrived and got ready for the baptism. When the witnesses tried to open the doors in front of the font they were locked. The motorcycle mission leader had left the keys home with his car keys. We tried breaking in. A former CIA agent thought he could unlock the door but to no avail. I don't even remember how we finally solved the problem. The poor sister finally got into the water and had to be baptized three times before it was done correctly.
Another time a lovely sister named Maria was scheduled to be baptized. All day long things kept coming up to stop her from attending her baptism. There were issues with the Immigration Department and car troubles, among other things. She did show up at the scheduled time. Just as we were under way the tornado siren went off. I remember thinking, "We are NOT going to stop this baptism for any tornado!!" We just went ahead and she was baptized and fortunately the tornado went somewhere else. Another time we waited and waited for a young boy to show up for his baptism. Finally we disbanded and the police and his family and the missionaries started a searth for a missing person. They found him the next day at a friends house. He had forgotten about his baptism. Needless to say, more teaching was in order. He was finally baptized several weeks later and is still doing okay.
Well, these experiences make us smile, but there really is opposition in all things and we are relieved when baptisms go as scheduled. I was able to attend a baptism on Saturday morning for a young woman named April. This one was perfect. The room was so crowded with ward members and family that they had to carry in more chairs. There was a wonderful spirit of love and testimony there. The talks were good. I love to hear the testimonies of people who often start with "I remember the day I was baptized! It was _______years ago." I realized as I listened on Saturday that knowing people who are accepting the gospel allows those of us who were born into the church to kind of go through the conversion process vicariously. These experiences help all of us to build our testimonies as well. Every time we attend a baptism it feels like a reverent celebration. There are always so many smiles. (However, I do remember one where the mother of the girl being baptized sobbed all the way through the program. She was heart broken that her daughter was abandoning her upbringing and joining another church.) I saw an artists depiction of the baptism of the Savior where he and John the Baptist were embracing and both had huge smiles on their faces. I loved that concept because baptism is so important and joyful. Thank you for your son or daughter or family member and supporting them in this greatest of causes to bring souls to Christ through baptism. May you all be blessed. We pray for you. Love, President and Sister Gee

5 Minutes Late!‏

2009-11-03T17:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Family, Pictures: Obviously I was forgeting to pull out my camera and it was hard to stop and get a good picture, so these will have to be good enough to see the Family Fun Zone in action with missionaries trying to get people to come and enjoy some good company and food. We get a few regulars that make a pit stop on their way to the OU game. I'm a slacker and just cook hotdogs and wait for people to come to the grill so I can talk to them, but my companion, Elder Madsen is doing great! Him and another new missionary join up and walk all over talking to people and they got to teach a lesson during all the activity and passed out two copies of the Book of Mormon. Elder Lewis and I did happen to have some good contacts and committed a few college students to come to church at the institute the following day. Hopefully they followed through.Last week we taught a great lesson to a woman from West Africa and she, during the lesson, asked what she would need to do to join the church. That was a surprise and I found myself struggling to answer such a simple question, but it finally came out. She then went on to explain her previous experiences with missionaries and finding copies of the Book of Mormon and conversations with others who had typical anti opinions about the church...she corrected them. We have a lot of good going on.So, to the highlight and subject of my e-mail. President Eyring made a special visit to his daughter's baby blessing in the Noble ward. I missed my chance to meet him. We, the Norman 4th ward, meet at the same building as Noble and we have church right after them and our morning meetings start just after their sacrament meeting. Our ward mission leader picked us up as usual, around 10am to go to our corrilation meeting at the church. As we pulled up to church and walked to the door, something had caught our ward mission leader's attention. When he caught up to us he said, "that looked like President Eyring in that SUV!" Elder Madsen and I were thinking ya, sure. Well, to our suprise we walk in to the building to hear everyone chattering about the visit President Eyring made to their ward...ough! Just five minutes earlier and I would have been able to meet President Eyring. I happened to learn from it though. It wouldn't make much sense to you, but it was an experience God gave me to teach me something. Its been really interesting on my mission to see how often God is teaching us if we are open to it. Overall it has to do with the feeling of knowing I could have experienced better, but didn't quite make it. Kind of like at some point in time we will all have an understanding of what it would be like to "dwell with God" and how disappointing will it be if we have to settle for less and depart from something so wonderful. There was a lot of connection and learning that came to me beyond that. Much like the experience Elder Scott related in General Conference about personal revelation and prayer; "is there more that I should know."Things sound good at home. Hope all continues well and I love you all!-Elder Osness

2009-10-27T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Another week in the mission passes by.Pictures: A couple of them are from a couple weeks ago at the trainer/ trainee meeting. My companion was busy talking with a missionary from the mtc and didn't get in the pictures. I need to get some with him. We've been staying really busy and I don't even think about pulling out my camera unless at a meeting. The last picture is Elder Medina and I at Zone Conference. Which was great! The Norman Stake President is terrific and always has some good instruction to keep the work going forward. Out of all the Stakes I've been in, he is the most involved in the efforts of the missionaries and members. His life is his calling. He's well involved in the community and the member's lives here. Among the things learned from Zone conference I believe prayer, personal preparation, and the spirit were of the greatest value for me.I also got my "trunky papers" this week. This letter from the office is a notification of my departure day and instructions on writing an end of mission report. Three pages at first seemed so intimidating, but as I've brain stormed and wrote a few notes, I'm going to struggle to fit all that I want to write on three pages. I haven't gone through half the bullets I'm suppose to and I've got three and a half pages of notes. This is going to have to be much like the book of Ether and condense my two year experience.Things are good here and things are moving along. Oh, by the way departure day is not going to be Christmas Eve, but on the 23rd of December. See you soon, but for now its beck to work.

Love you! -Elder Glenn Osness

Greenie Talk‏ (from the pres)

2009-10-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

Greetings from Oklahoma. I was not even close to a computer last week so I didn't write a message. It will be like that some weeks. We had Zone Conferences last week and also have been interviewing missionaries for almost two weeks. That means we have seen each and every missionary in the mission. The missionaries are doing pretty well at being healthy. We hope it continues.

It is always renewing to meet for Zone Conferences. There is strength in numbers. It is good to be around fellow missionaries who have testimonies that are strong enough to be willing to do this work. It feels like safety from the storm. President Gee reminded them again how important it is to take time to listen for instructions from the Spirit about where to go and who to talk to. He did a review of Elder Scott's conference address on receiving personal revelation. Stake Presidents (or a counselor) were our guests in each Zone Conference and it is always good to receive their insights. We studied the focus doctrine of obedience and agency. There were practices on teaching the First Vision and other topics. As always there were delicious lunches prepared by wonderful Relief Society sisters, some of whom have missionaries serving at this time. We always sing "Armies of Helaman" as a thanks to them for taking care of us. Many of them wipe tears from their eyes as they see a room full of missionaries who remind them of their children. President Gee always calls on a few to share their testimonies and to give a talk on the focus doctrine. We seem to share a few laughs as we go along. After it is over the missionaries really would like to "linger longer" which they do for a little while. Then they are off to resume their work.

As President Gee interviews I visit with the missionaries who are waiting. I love to listen to them chatter away. Sometimes I learn something that I can pass along to my husband or to the parents. One thing I have picked up is that often parents do a count down of how much longer their missionary has to serve. (I did the same thing with my children.) When we arrived in the Oklahoma City Mission I realized that part of the mission culture is to try not to speak about going home and how much times is left. It makes it easier to concentrate on the work and to not get homesick. I would suggest that you can do countdowns at home on calendars and with the family, but you will help your missionary the most if you don't include them in the countdown, especially when the end is getting near. It is hard not to get "trunky." I hope that little bit of information is helpful.

I love these missionaries. It is fun to watch them grow from scared newcomers to confident and polished missionaries. I thought you might enjoy a little description of what it is like to learn to talk to perfect strangers about a message that fills our lives to the brim but is very different to the people out here. I call it "Miracles and Greenies."

The touching, tender, heart-warming, and sometimes humorous reality is that the Lord truly uses the weak and unlearned to "thrash the nations by the power of his Spirit." D.&C. 35:13. Even after months of experience this is true, but it is especially true of "greenies." Usually they have been primed and prepared for years, but suddenly having to get it out of their mouths in a logical way is at least humbling, and sometimes humiliating, depending on the day. To quote one trainer, "My companion taught all gospel principles in 30 seconds, learving me to say in my mind, 'Oh, no! What do we do now?" I hope you can see the humor!

It might sound something like this:

We are missionaries from our church and we have a message about Jesus Christ. It will bless your family and it has really blessed mine because we have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, and we meet every six months in general conference because Joseph Smith saw a vision in New York and was called as a prophet. So here is a Book of Mormon to witness it is true and you will know it is if you pray about it. So would you like to know more? (Possible slamming of the door.)
If they say "yes" the missionaries try to hide their surprise and go forward to teach.
The miracle is that the trainer I quoted above and her companion baptized the woman who was at the door.

In Doctrine and Covenants 35:14 the Lord says: "And their arm shall be my arm and I will be their shield and their buckler; and I will gird up their loins, and they shall fight manfully for me."
That is what your sons, (and even your daughters and parents) are doing out here. They are fighting manfully for the Lord. We are proud of them and we know you are also. We hope you have a great week.
Love, Sister Gee (and President Gee)

1 out of 6‏

2009-10-21T07:23:00.001-07:00

Dear family,

Well, I have some new pictures this past week, but I didn't bring the cable to the library to attatch them to the e-mail...sorry.This week we had the new missionary/trainer meeting and learned all the things I'm still not perfect on...close, but...haha! I still have a lot of refining to do. Things are good here. We seem to cycle through our investigators pretty rapidly. We've been getting lots of new people to teach and then they haven't been keeping their follow-up visits. Every few though, we get somebody who wants to continue. This past week six people gave us strong commitments to come to church...and one came. Pheobe, who is a daughter of Samantha, who has recently started coming back to church...sound familiar. This situation has been the avenue that has progressed the most since I've been in this ward. A single mom with an unbaptized child wanting to come back. In our last visit she mentioned she would like to start the lessons to prepare Pheobe for baptism. Great! can do! She'll get to grow up with a great foundation.Everyone is getting bombarded with opposition though. It seems the more these people want to do what's right they get blasted with a world of struggle to get there. I hope they can press through the difficulty and get rooted in the faith of God so they can be delivered...just as in the last verse of 1 Nephi 1. Those who are faithful are delivered. They still must go through the trial though. All must press through the trial to be free of it. Then we have grown and been refined more and more through every trial.Love ya!-Elder Osness

Gloomy Joy‏

2009-10-13T10:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Family, Sorry, no pictures...The week was good though! We have found some great new people to teach and hope to see some great progress! Things have been kind of floating on by the past month with people coming and going in our investigator pool, but I think we're about to move foreward with David. He's a great person who has been to the church, not our ward, but non-the-less come serveral times and is very sincere. We taught a terrific lesson last week with a member and things are looking good. Elder Madsen sounds like me when I first came out. His words were something similar to mine when I was teaching Angie in the begining, "I feel a baptism coming!" Ha! Things are going great and we're enjoying this transfer. We also taught another really good lesson. An appointment fell through, so we went to visit our back-up plan and she had two friends over and they said we could teach, so we did and at least one of them needed to hear many of the testimonies shared in that lesson. The spirit was very strong during the lesson the only down fall is they are young single adults...which means we hand them off to the singles ward/univerity ward. I hope things with them continue well.Even with the gloomy weather the past few days we are doing good and enjoying life!Love you all! -Elder Glenn Osness

Where The Action Is‏ (from the pres)

2009-10-12T19:41:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

Another week has flown by already. The beautiful autumn weather I was predicting hasn't come through. We have had a week of pretty heavy rain and cooler temperatures. I sometimes feel sorry for the missionaries who are out in the storms until I see one of them grinning from ear to ear. I have to remind myself that some people think it is fun to get wet.

For your information we are still trying to decided what to do about flu shots. It seems the vaccine isn't readily available so we are trying to figure it out. If you have specific concerns please feel free to let me know about them. We have had some sickness in the mission that lasts from two to five days. Right now most of them are getting better. We certainly appreciate your prayers in behalf of the health of the missionaries. We came up with a substitute for the handshake. We call it the "pound." We make a fist and quickly touch knuckles. Some of the wards have big bottles of hand sanitizers strategically placed so everyone can stay sanitized during meetings.

I would like to make a few comments about "where the action is." Actually, the action is wherever a missionary can be found, but I would like to describe district meetings. These meetings are held on Friday mornings, five out of the six weeks of transfers. They are under the direction of the district leader. He plans the theme and makes assignments to carry it out. Unless the district is especially large, each missionary gets to participate each week. That is what makes it "where the action is." The district leaders get the experience of conducting with dignity and being responsible to make sure it is a spiritual and uplifting experience for the other missionaries. Sometimes there is prelude music, if they are lucky enough to have a piano player. Sometimes the opening hymn has beautiful harmony. Sometimes it doesn't, but it is beautiful anyway because the song of the righteous is a prayer, even if it is slightly out of tune. Our mission theme is written on the board to encourage everyone. It says, "Courage brethren, (and sisters) and on, on to the victory!!!" Missionaries participate by giving "trainings" which is a fancy word for a talk, on some aspect of missionary work. They always have a practice on some skill, usually led by the district leader. He will explain the purpose and demonstrate with his companion how it should be done. If President Gee is there he delights in letting them practice on him. He can be scary but also fun. Usually everyone learns a lot. (President Gee and I try to visit a district meeting each Frday.) Everyone gets a chance to give feedback on what went well and suggestions for improvement. It is a little stressful and a step out of the comfort zone, but it is a good stretching experience. The meeting usually ends with a training on some doctrine. At the end they often make a list of their investigators who they can pray for. Then they kneel down and pray for each one of them.

This last Friday President Gee and I visited Midwest City District. They were practicing on testifying as they teach and as they resolve concerns. The practices are sometimes challenging because we are really pretending. However, on Friday as they were practicing testifying, suddenly there were tears in the eyes and that remarkable feeling in the room as the Spirit bore witness AGAIN that the teachings are true. It was a touching meeting.
When district meeting is over, the quiet reverence gives way for the business at hand. What is for lunch??? Sometimes they go to a restaurant to eat. Chinese buffets are very popular because they get all they can eat for not much money. If they are especially ambitious they have lunch together at the church. Last Friday the Elders had made Buffalo Wings and brownies. We were impressed.
These meetings build the missionaries line upon line as they prepare and participate over and over and over. I kind of liken district meetings to what happens in the church on a ward level. This is where everyone gets a chance to be on the front line. Zone meetings are more like what happens on a stake level. They are held less often with more missionaries. They are all good. The organization of the Lord's church, and the missionary force is a marvelous work and a wonder.

I hope this helps you to visualize what a district meeting is all about. Please continue to pray for the work. I often visualize hundreds of family members praying diligently for the work to progress and for the missionaries to feel joy. Who can describe how much good comes from prayers of faith. Have a good week. Greetings from President Gee. He is still smiling. We had another good week with the baptisms. Love, Sister Gee

Miracles Never Cease‏

2009-10-12T10:12:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

We hope you had a wonderful weekend enjoying the conference sessions, as did the missionaries serving here. One of our sisters kind of summed it up when she said, "Every talk was for me." It is a miracle that answers to questions and encouragement to face challenges can come uniquely to everyone by the same talks. There was great enthusiasm for Elder Hollands powerful testimony of Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. One sister said she loved Elder Anderson's talk about the open arms of the Savior and his love for everyone.I'm sure you will enjoy hearing from your own missionary about the things that were especially meaningful to him or her. As for me, I loved it all. I feel like I get to go to heaven for a few hours. The subdued music spoke to my soul, especially "O Divine Redeemer." When Elder Holland was "speaking with the tongue of an angel," I was so excited to think I am a missionary and part of spreading the good news.

We are thinking a lot about miracles here in the mission. They are happening all the time. Most of them are ordinary miracles, not the sensational kind. We keep hearing accounts of praying over where to go and what happens as a result. The most recent one I heard was that a companionship prayed to know where to go and there was not a common street in the answers they received. However, two streets were close to each other so they decided to go there. After about an hour of fruitless tracting they decided to check on a less-active member they had never met. The man was home and let them in. He had been in a bicycle accident and needed some help around the house. As the Elders drove away they realized the man's address was exactly between the two streets they had decided to tract. Those things are happening constantly.
Another kind of humerous thing happened at a baptism. A man showed up to get ready for his baptism about an hour early. To the horror of the Elders, the jumpsuit that fit him was nowhere to be found. They searched and found a pair of white trousers that would fit, but there was no white shirt. People were coming and they were running out of time. They walked through the halls of the church, trying to decide what to do. A stake leader just happened to be in the church at that time. The Elders asked him if he had any idea where they could find a white shirt. He smiled and said he had just picked up his laundry from the cleaners and he had a white shirt they could use. Now I ask you--was that coincidence?? It was absolutely another miracle.

Maybe the greatest miracle is the army of missionaries that comes in wave after wave after wave. When I consider how difficult missionary life is, how they are required to forget their own comfort and desires, and how in the general population this age is probably the most self-centered time of life, it is amazing that there is a generation willing to do this work. We just welcomed eight more Elders and Sisters last week. President Gee and I are so pleased with their preparation and potential. They have a great spirit about them. We are excited to get to know them better in the months ahead. All of the missionaries are a living testimony that this work is truly the work of the Lord.

For your information: We got a memo from the missionary committee about the flu shots a day or two ago. We will be making some decisions with our mission doctor about what we need to do. They are recommending that we find a way for the missionaries to at least get the seasonal flu shot. The cost will be paid by the families. In the meantime, they are saying to tell the missionaries to stop shaking hands, to use hand sanitizer, and to wash hands constantly. It will be interesting to see what creative substitutes they come up with for shaking hands. We still have a few who are sick, but I think your prayers for our immune systems are helping. Please continue.

May you all be blessed this coming week, and we hope you have great joy because of the service your loved one is giving to the Lord. My testimony of the power of united prayer is growing constantly. Thank you for your love and support. Love, Sister Gee

Good Conference‏

2009-10-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

pictures: two are of our district before Elder Baker left to Ada and Elder Madsen from Gunnison, Utah came to join us. The other is of Elder Madsen and I doing some laundry. I'll get some better pictures coming. There is another home game this weekend, so some time will be at the family fun zone.When Elder Madsen got here we got settled in and headed out to a great first week of work and some inspiring words of Prophets, Apostles, and other General Authorities. We have had some great new people come into the picture this past week and hope to see some progress in testimonies. None came to watch conference, but hope to see some commitment come. The days are cruising by and we just seem to be busier and busier as the days go by. This transfer should bring some great accomplishments. Elder Madsen is keeping me well focussed and has a lot of ambition to help everyone he sees. He has a lot of faith and a great testimony of the restored gospel and people just seem to let him in more than I'm used to. The first night we went tracting, we were getting close to the end of the road and he simply asked if we could come in and share a quick message about the church and the door opened to let us in. Eric is in high school and we found out he knows a few of the members and has been to church before and he willingly accepted our invitations. We hope to see many great things come because of this experience and others we have had daily since then.Among all the inspiring words spoken this past weekend, my favorite talks were given in the Priesthood session of conference, which complimented each other perfectly; President Uchtdorf and President Eyring. President Uchtdorf helped me want to be more temporally prepared and diligent and as President Eyring spoke a felt a great desire to never do wrong and always be spiritually prepared in all cases, at all times, and in all places. The most talked about by the members we've seen the past couple days was Elder Jeffery R. Holland as he laid down the power and truth the Book of Mormon holds.Its been a great week and happy to hear of another niece. I can't wait to meet Abby. Congratulations Jeff and Heather! I love you all!-Elder Glenn Osness

a bunch of no shows‏

2009-09-30T07:48:00.001-07:00

Dear Family, Pictures:

All the pictures have to do with last weeks P-day adventure to the Museum of Natural History. Its a great museum that the University has. As you can see we had fun in the native oklahoma area with a large canoe and the where's Elder Osness wall of many faces:) Outside there was a steel buffalo, so we took a group picture there. It was a good brief on Oklahoma History and Natural wonders of time.This past week wasn't bad, but we didn't see as much progress with some that had made solid commitments. We had four investigators committed to come to church and none showed, but a good member who hasn't been for a very long time came and brought with him his fiance. After church we talked with him and he said we could come by and practice teach the lessons, so hopefully that will be an opportunity to share what is most important with his fiance and see some lights come on. We had a real great start to the area, but just can't seem to keep it up to a constant. Hopefully in this week we can see some avenues open up.Its transfer week! Elder Baker and I waited patiently for the call last night to see what surprises would come with transfer calls. The news....Elder Baker is leaving me....and I'm training again! Elder Madsen from Mayfield, Utah. There sure are a lot of us from Utah. I'm going to have to start saying I'm from Arizona or something. I can predict the response every time somebody asks us where we are from. "So, where are you from? Utah...Utah... Oh, both from Utah! Wow, they must send all the missionaries from Utah to Oklahoma. We sure do get a lot from Utah." Well, I'm pretty excited! I always get a little nervous before I have to train...hoping I can do a good job and make the transition an enjoyable, fulfilling experience.Well, I love you all! -Elder Glenn Osness

Ties That Bind‏ (from the pres.)

2009-09-28T21:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

We just had an exciting weekend with several baptisms. President Gee is smiling a lot, which makes my life happy as well. We had a good month in August and September was even better. We know we are being blessed. The missionaries continue to work with their might, especially asking for guidance to find prepared people. The members are starting to catch the vision of working with the missionaries, and of course after all is said and done, we are just having some miracles. President Gee has told the missionaries over and over that we are a team. While not every companionship has baptized recently, we all share in the joy and the accomplishments of each other. We feel the power of your prayers in our behalf. We are learning that specific prayers bring specific blessings, so we suggest that you could pray for the following:
1. Pray that the immune systems of the missionaries will be strong and that they will be able to fight off illnesses, especially the flu. (We have several missionaries who are sick with some kind of flu bug. We still don't have official word from Salt Lake about shots for the flu.)
2. Pray that the members will show love and concern for investigators and step forward to fellowship them.
3. Pray that the missionaries will get better and better at perceiving directions from the Holy Ghost.

We are hearing often that when missionaries pray to know where to go that they find someone who will listen. For instance one set prayed individually about which street to go to. They got different answers so they decided to go to both of the streets. They found someone to listen to them in the area between the streets. This may seem like a "coincidence" but we are feeling that in the Lord's work there are no coincidences. It is really faith building. Perhpas that is what Elder Ballard meant when he said the Lord is micro-managing his church.

Now, about "Ties That Bind." One of the most endearing and charming things about the mission culture is how important the Elders think their ties are. That is the only way they can express their individuality. It makes me laugh to hear them talk about their ties. One missionary said, "My ties are my treasures." They trade ties. They observe each other and know who wears what color of tie. Perhaps your missionary would like a new tie or two for Christmas. You might ask him about that.

Speaking of Christmas, it is only three months away. I once asked missionaries what they like to get for gifts. Mostly they like anything that comes but some of the suggestions were: stamps, gift cards, ties, lots of letters from loved ones, and pictures of family. They are inundated with sweets from members during the holidays. You might try to think of healthy food gifts like natural snacks, etc. Sometimes their white shirts get looking a little dingy so a new shirt might help. When it gets cold neck scarfs, hats or ear muffs, and a good pair of gloves make life much more pleasant. You might find some kind of clothing that won't let the wind through to wear under their proselyting clothes. I hope this gives you some ideas to start thinking about.
President Gee and I try to give the missionaries some little thing for Christmas. We would like to give them the new Gospel Art book this year. We know some of them already have one, but they can give one away if they want to. You might want to avoid sending them another copy for Christmas.

Thank you again for your support, prayers, and interest. Stay healthy and happy. Love, Sister Gee

Another Home Game‏

2009-09-22T12:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

PICTURES: OU had another home game, so it was off to the family fun zone on Saturday. These may give you a small idea of what its like here for Oklahoma Football.This week was great! You know how a while back I was talking about how many great people we were teaching and how close they were to progressing toward baptism...well, most of thos have fallen away, we're still working with a couple of them, and two got baptized. What made this week great though, was we found eight new investigators. A few of these people are showing more promise than others, but its a bunch to work with and help develop faith in Christ, repent, be baptized, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.The way one of these new people was found was interesting. We talked to a girl on the street a while ago and she said we could come over and teach her and her family if we wanted another time, so we did. She was asleep, but her step dad said we could teach him, so we did and got another time to come by. When we came by he was there...and the girl we had talked to...and her mother...and her boyfriend...and her neighbor...and her neighbor's cousin. The neighbor, Jacob, is our new investigator. They all listened to the lesson, but Jacob was the only one who participated and had questions and when it came down to giving reading assignments and coming to church, he's the only one that made the commitments...and he kept them, though he wasn't home yesterday for his appointment and we haven't been able to get ahold of him, so...hmm. He loved Lehi's vision in the Book of Mormon and church was great, so I don't know where it all went. We'll find him again. The others we found hopefully start making more progress.Things are pretty great here in Norman. Love ya!-Elder Osness

Super Conference‏ (From the pres)

2009-09-21T13:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

This week we had the much anticipated "Mission Tour." Every September a member of the General Authority Seventies is assigned to come to our mission and see if it "feels good." This year our guest was Elder Michael Ringwood of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He was sustained in April General Conference and this was his first mission tour. He is tall, slender, and soft-spoken. When he speaks he speaks with the power of the spirit. He was able to interview a very few of the missionaries, but he was able to look into the faces of each one of them. He will be speaking in the Sunday afternoon session of conference in October, so be sure to be watching so you can see him.
The north part of the mission met in Edmund on Wednesday and the South part met in Norman on Thursday. It is always an inspiring sight to see the missionaries gathered together. I told them on Thursday that the word "synergism" comes to mind. Most of them looked blankly at me, but I explained it means the total is greater than the sum of its parts. There is a power when they get together that can't be denied.
The two days were similar but not identical. It is interesting for me to watch good men become men of God when they have a mantle and when the spirit is guiding. Both Elder Ringwood and President Gee stood up, ready to let the spirit direct the things they said. Both days Elder Ringwood told them he would be most delighted if each one learned something that wasn't spoken. That would be personal revelation just for them. (You might ask your missionary what was most meaningful to him/her.) He reminded them of the words of Elder Scott that their willingness to raise their hands and participate indicated that they were ready to be taught by the spirit. We had many, many comments from the missionaries. Part of the time was spent going through II Nephi chapter 31. If you want to join in the study you are invited to do so. It was to the missionaries a powerful example of the Father and the Son, teaching in unity.

Elder Ringwood told many stories. I will share just two of them.
When his youngest son was born, his oldest son was ten years old. As the baby brother was placed into his older brother's arms, the ten-year-old looked up at his dad and said, "Why do I love him so much!" That is the kind of love we need for the people we are teaching.

The next story comes from a brother who lives in Europe. One night he had a dream. He was separated from his family by a wide gulf. They were beckoning him to come to them, but he was with his friends. In the dream he decided to stay with his friends. Then he heard a voice say, "In two days I will send my messengers." Two days later missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints knocked on his door. He told them about the dream. He said, "I saw the faces of the messengers and you are the ones that I saw."

There were many examples of the way the missionary work is directed from the Lord. I hope you catch the feeling again that these young missionaries really are the messengers of God. They are his angels. They just need to be reminded over and over so they don't lose the vision of the work they are doing.
On both days, as Elder Ringwood talked, the theme emerged that miracles are happening but we may never know about them. Sometimes it will be years later that people will accept the gospel. His words were very encouraging.

President Gee spent part of the time talking about the focus doctrine of prayer and fasting. Many of the missionaries shared thoughts and feelings. President Gee shared an experience he had many years ago. He was married at the time. He has always loved, even adored his father. One day his Dad was working in his acre of potatoes, which was his special little project. He was weeding them by hand. Somehow in the process he lost his glasses. His eyesight was not good so he couldn't see to search for the glasses and without them he was almost blind. President Gee could not stand to see his Dad be miserable so he went himself and crawled up and down every row, searching for the glasses. He had no success. In the potato patch he offered a prayer to Heavenly Father in behalf of his dad, and asked if he could be blessed to find those glasses. As he continued to search he walked carefully between the rows of potatoes. He saw a flash of something and found the glasses lodged up under a potato plant. These everyday experiences build faith that Heavenly Father is mindful and watching over even the simple things. Think how mindful He is over helping his messengers reach his children.

Well, the day was full of such examples and the spirit was strong. Elder Ringwood felt good about the mission.
The work still seems to be going well. We are sure every prayer offered in our behalf is being heard. We have the armies of Helaman here and an army of others praying for them. Please pray that the members will catch the vision of their part in this work. Have a good week. We pray for your families as well. Love,Sister Gee
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pictures are the highlights‏

2009-09-21T13:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

The week was pretty eventful!....ooooh. So, We'll start with Zone Conference. Zone conference was great! Edler Ringwood came and spoke with us and had a bunch of inspiring words. He used a few scriptures as the basis of his discussions with us; D&C 4, D&C 88:...can't recal, I have it written in my notes which are not with me, and 2 Nephi 31. D&C 4 was all about serving with all your heart, might mind, and strength...what I got...heart is service spiritual motive(testimony), might is commitment/will power( that is a toughy), mind is our inteligence, strength is our physical. It was very motivating. D&C 88 had to do with how he went about teaching us...having us all edified and all speaking our learning and understanding, so ALL are edified. Which helped out a ton with our 2 Nephi 31 discussion. I got a ton out of it and don't have the time to go through it, but it is now a much greater chapter in my heart. Great before...better now...all were edified. The picture to depict Zone Conference is the one of me and a few elders in the gym. Its all my mission posterity, save but one. A good little reunion.The next picture of the week depicts a baptism! yay! Kaleb's baptism went well, though we were getting a little anxious becouse they didn't show up till close to go time...niether had the opening prayer or the first speaker, but it all worked out and was a great day for Kaleb. I had the honor of taking him into the water.The water didn't stop there! The last picture is of the Family Fun Zone for the OU Sooner home games. It rained all day! Lucky for us, once we got the tents put up we had some shelter and were dry in a couple hours...until we had to tear it down and the rain got worse. The missionaries get to be apart of this activity because there really isn't a whole lot of productivity on these days because like I said before college football is more important to this town than anything. This way we get to be a friendly face giving free food and water out to those passing by. Pretty much the entire state migrates to Norman for the home games, so the missionaries get to share some joyful hotdogs and every so often talk about what were all about.It was a pretty eventful week!Love Ya!

-Elder Osness

Excitable Asian Christian‏

2009-09-10T08:39:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

Pictures: there are a couple of our p-day activities, laundry, and the car wash, the last picture is of another spider. Oklahoma has a ton of bugs...I think it has more sects of spiders than it does churches...maybe that's an exageration, there's a lot of churches.;)The only thing that is a bigger deal than church here, is football and boy does the town close down when OU plays some ball and it will pick up this weekend when they have their first home game...too bad BYU knocked them down a bit down in Texas...ha! On Sunday I figured something failed with the Sooners by how untalkative everyone was. When the Sooners win we don't hear anything, but OU football and the big heads that come with game, but when they lose don't you bring it up. Football is insaine here. OU football is truely the Golden Calf for Oklahoma, especially here in Norman.Back to missionary life...Things are looking good for Kaleb's baptism this weekend. We just need to print out some programs, have the interview, and fill the font. Hopefully OU's game is later in the afternoon, so it doesn't interupt the baptism...I guess during this season I can't escape football in this missionary work.The week was good. Yesterday we talked to this hilarious Korean woman. We were parking our bikes to knock on some doors and this woman pops out of her house across the street and here is our conversation; "Hey! Are you the police?" "no. We're missionaries!" "Oh, really, what church? Penticostol, Presbeterian?" "No. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints." "Oh, Jesus Christ...Christians? I love Christians! I'm Christian! I need to take your picture! I get my camera. Oh, I love Christians!" hahaha! We talked with her and her husband for a while and gave them a Book of Mormon, but they didn't want to learn more. There are lots of great people who love Christ, but are just so satisfied with their church they don't feel the need to learn more. We try to be clear about what they are missing and the cause of all that through The Great Apostacy, but they're okay with their church. Find them that will receive you, I guess. Anyway, we'll find some others who do want more.Love Ya!-Elder Osness

Talk with Everyone‏

2009-09-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Pictures: well, I got some for ya. The first is of my shirt that has had enough. Good thing summer is coming to an end because that shirt had holes wearing through every seem. I've got a couple others that should do me in tell it chills out for good. Its crazy that its already starting to turn to fall...ahhh! Well the second is a sign with our missionary bikes. If you notice the sign says something about the fishing...I'm sure they won't mind us...we're fishers of men...ha ha. I know cheesey joke, but I had to. The last picture is one of Oklahoma's notorious thundar storms in action. I figured since I tell you about how awesome the clouds and storms are here, I'd catch it for ya. cool, huh!? Well, this week was a good one, though we have some struggles with a few of those we are teaching. Kaleb should be getting baptized in a couple weeks and its looking great there! Lee is having a lot of family opposition. He wants to pursue his baptism, but I know we have to resolve this huge issue with his family. I've seen opposition in this senario before, but this family is very unsure of our purpose and very upset...not a good situation, but will be resolved.I'd like to share a cool experience and it has to do with talking with everyone, or as we missionaries call it "OYMing." About a week ago we were biking to an appointment and a family was walking home from school, so we stopped to talk a bit and they gave us their information, so we could come by. Well, we came by on our appointment for them...and nobody was there...how typical. So, we kind of put them off and didn't think about them too much, but we had been tracting in the area every couple days and got a few others to say we could come by...so we got more appointments with these people...no shows. Ah, nuts...again! Well, as we were just finishing tracting another street because they fell through, I thought of Victor, the man with his family, walking back from the school, so I figured we were in the area, why not just stop in and see if we can catch him even though he didn't show for his appointment the previous week and it wasn't the right time of day for him (according to the info. we got from him). So we went and knocked. We waited, no answere...then the door opens and a man welcomes us in, but its not Victor. Well it turns out Victor gave us the wrong house number and this man, David, had been going to church with some members in a small town outside of Norman all summer and has grown close to the family and familiar with the church...and thought that they sent us to teach him...well, close...God did...and we will be seeing more of David. Cool, huh?So, talk with everyone and follow the spirit. Love Ya! Thanks for the e-mails. Life sounds good...and is!

-Elder Osness

Trials of Faith‏

2009-08-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Things are going good down yonder. I forgot to pull out my camera this week so...no pictures sorry, but thanks for all the e-mails! It was great to hear from you all! I need to do better with that camera thing.Life at home seems happy and the pictures were great! It was weird to see former "Elder" Barnum in a photo at home...eeek...time keeps slippin'. On top of that on Sunday at church I could have swore I saw someone I worked with before the mission. I was greeting people as they came into the chapel and I turn around and...FLASHBACK...oof! It seems like distractions are on my doorstep. Thanks for your encouragement! Its a good thing and a bad thing that I'm back in Norman. Everyday I'm reminded how old I am in the mission and everyday I'm reminded of when I first came to Oklahoma...which really just reminds me of how long ago that was. (distractions=trials of faith)The week was good except for a few of our great investigators are giving in to push from the influence of another and begining to flounder. Just yesterday we dropped three investigators...well, they dropped us and another is going to start attending another church because his girlfriend wants to become more spiritual and doesn't like the mormon church. Lee's mom is very against him coming to the mormon church as well and especially with his choice to get baptized, so she has been playing an active role in getting him to the baptist church early so he misses ours. All this trial of faith all at once must mean a blessing is near. (investigators slipping=trials of faith)Kaleb is doing great and will be getting baptized on the 12th of September! Good news there, but we really need to build our teaching pool again.We had a stake leadership meeting this weekend which was good. Some emphasis on organizing ward missionary work will help out. It was good to see where we and the ward are doing well and what we can do to improve the work.Answer to a trial of faith=Hard Work, Prayer...and More Faith Well, I love you all!-

Elder Osness

Leadership‏ (from the president)

2009-08-25T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,
Last week we welcomed twelve new missionaries and we are excited with their potential. We enjoyed getting to know them and they are now learning the ropes with their trainers. Next week they will spend another day together to ask questions and get more training after a few days of real experience.

I just wanted to say a few words about mission leadership. Each mission president will have his own way of assigning leaders. I thought you might like to know how President Gee feels about leadership opportunities. As you probably know, there are several outlined positions in the missions of the church. They include Junior Companion, Senior Companion, Trainer, District Leader, Zone Leader, and Assistant to the President. This is a terrific training ground for the future leaders of the Church. Every missionary has his or her own set of talents. Some have a gift to lead and some have a gift to follow. Each is essential. Some are comfortable being leaders and some fervently hope they won't be asked to become a leader. The most challenging part of leadership is they need to be the example of righteousness, obedience, skillful teaching, and working with people. They also need to be able to correct their peers if necessary, and that is hard to do. It is important for leaders to love and encourage the missionaries they are called to lead. They need to be loyal to the Lord and to their President. They are called on to demonstrate to the others how to teach and that puts the pressure on them. However, it is also fun and a good opportunity.

President Gee feels he should follow the pattern of Church callings. There are times to be called and times to be released. This is not a mission where once you become a leader you stay there for the rest of the mission. Assistants often end their missions as regular missionaries. Zone Leaders sometimes becomes District Leaders. There is a lot of shifting around. Sometimes missionaries serve well for a while and then get tired of the leadership responsibilities and desire to be free to concentrate on regular missionary work. We want you as family to know that if your son is moved around or released from these positions it doesn't mean anything is wrong. It is just a natural part of the missionary work.

We feel there are some advantages to not drawing a line in the sand and dividing the mission into leaders and others. We like having fluid movement back and forth between callings. For one thing, we all know it is one of Satan's tricks to divide into camps and throw stones at one another. It can happen in missions and it can happen in wards and stakes. We need to be careful. That is why it becomes such an important matter to sustain our leaders. Another of Satan's methods is to appeal to pride from position and power. It can become part of the culture here and back home to "climb the ladder" of positions. President Gee and I both have strong feelings about avoiding this mentality as much as possible. It is usually safe to say that a missionary who becomes a leader is doing well as a missionary. However, there are good missionaries who don't get these positions. As in the church, it is not where you serve but how that is important. We hope this helps you understand what is happening here and also to give praise and encouragement, no matter which position your missionary may be in at the time. You may also know your son enough to know if he needs to be pushed a little to work at his full potential.

Have a good week. Love, Sister Gee (and President Gee)

Funny investigators‏

2009-08-18T15:55:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Another transfer gone! Time slips by so quickly and I can't grab on.Pictures: As usual, here are a couple District pictures and one of the baptism of Kaitlin.Its been a great transfer and Elder Baker and I will be spending another together...it will be another good one. We already have a two baptisms lined up for this transfer, so hopefully we can hold on to them and help them prepare for that commitment before time slips by and hopefully we get another person ready to make that commitment for the following transfer. This Sunday was funny. Lee, who is preparing for baptism was pretty excited to let people know at church that he was getting baptized next month and he is just as comfortable being at church as ever. When one of the members introduced him in priesthood (where they have visitors and new comers introduce themselves) Lee stood up and put his hands to his shoulders and cawed like a bird. His last name is Hawk so he left his little trademark. It was hilarious! Lee's a pretty goofy guy.Another investigator, Lu, had a revelation for me...haha. She doesn't know very much about the church or missionaries or how it all works, but she's very spiritual. She's a 70 year old Jamaican and she leans not unto her own understandin' and trusts in the Lord with all her heart. The other day when we came over she asked me if I was leaving soon, then she said she had a dream that I was leaving and got married...uh, not for a while. So, anyway...a revelation from Lu...not so much true, but interesting.Things are going pretty good...there's only a couple more weeks of the hot hot heat. I can already feel it cooling a little. Its been a lot nicer lately than the past few weeks. Fall is the best and its just around the corner.

Love you all! -Elder Glenn Osness

going in circles‏ (from the president)

2009-08-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,

It is Tuesday morning and preparation day again. Our alarm clock was displaced by startling claps of thunder. The weather here seems so dramatic. We love it when we get a little rain and I love it when the missionaries get to stay inside when there is lightning and thunder. It seems like only a minute ago that I sent the message about what Transfer Week is like, and here we are again. By now you have probably figured out that our measurement of time is a "transfer." Here is a summary of the transfer cycle:
Week One: Regular missionary work. All missionaries attend District Meeting on Friday. Zone Leaders have Zone Leaders' Council on Wednesday.
Week Two: Regular missionary work. All missionaries attend District Meeting on Friday. New missionaries and their trainers meet on Wednesday for more training. President Interviews begin.
Week Three: All missionaries meet for their respective Zone Conferences. President Interviews are also held.
Week Four: Regular missionary work. All missionaries attent District Meeting on Friday. President interviews completed. Zone Leaders' Council on Wednesday.
Week Five: Regular missionary work. All missionaries attend District Meeting. We often have a Senior Missionary Temple Outing. President Gee works on transfers.
Week Six: Tranfers, new missionaries arrive and returning missionaries leave for home. Regular District Meetings.

As you can tell, we are in week six. I hope this helps you visualize the system. Well, I am off for the kitchen. We are greeting twelve new Elders today. It is a highlight for President Gee and me to host them for an evening and get acquainted with them. We will say good-bye to six Elders this week and one more in a few days. The greetings are fun. The good-byes are tender. We are so grateful for the service these missionaries have given, and for all that the current missionaries are doing. It brings tears to my eyes when I read verses of scripture that tell of the blessings for those who share the gospel. Again, thanks for your prayers and support. Have a good week. President Gee sends his love.
Love, Sister Gee

Follow Me!‏

2009-08-11T13:28:00.000-07:00

Dear Family, Pictures: The missionaries in Norman last week on p-day decided to do the FreeBIRD challenge (6lb. borrito in 13 minutes...and its free) too bad nobody won and they all had to eat the cash. Elder Baker and I were a little smarter and decided to eat at home before meeting up with the other elders. The borritos sure looked good, but the missionaries looked disgusting after trying to eat that monster.While tracting we found our next picture of the guard spider. These spiders are pretty large and this one was hangin' around the door of a home. No need for an alarm system this spider will eat you up!And finally my studious companion...sorry none of me. I've got to remember to put myself in these photos too.This past week was nice. We set another baptism date...but he's a little flakey and we will be setting another soon with a great new investigator. Last week we went to visit an investigator I've been struggling with since I came here, Lee is the name. He's great, but just doesn't follow through with half his commitments. A lot of desire, but not a whole lot of will. So, last week we dropped in on him and he blurts out in the middle of the lesson, "I want to join the church." So we said sure and set a baptism date. He's going to be a lot of work to get him to understand the commitment level of being baptized. Half the time we get him a ride for church he's not home when the ride shows up...that's annoying. We'll be working with him...and we'll be working with another who I started working with in Oklahoma City. There was a family that we were asked to visit my last week in the City and we started teaching her unbaptized son, Kaleb. He's really smart and catches on a lot better than Lee does for sure, but he's better than some of the other people we work with too and he's only nine. Well, as you know I left to Norman and what do you know! Last week I got a call from a member of that ward and they filled us in on a move. So, now I'm teaching Kaleb again and this weekend we will be talking about baptism. Lots of great people falling into place here. Throughout my mission I've had maybe 3-4 really promising people to teach among those we taught. Here, we have like 6-7 awesome people that I'm sure will find their way to make that commitment of baptism to God. Its just a matter of time before they find some strong enough answers to their prayers.It definately helps that the ward is always willing to step in and be a part of this work. During the next month we will be focussing a lot on helping families set goals on a family mission plans and that will help continue the success the ward here is seeing. Things are good!Love you family! -Elder Glenn Osness

Success‏ (from the president)

2009-08-11T08:19:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents and Families,
Another week has flown by and today is the communication day with your missionary. Isn't e-mail an amazing thing! Again let me say how much we enjoy the contact we have with you. It seems like the circle of faith for this mission has unified and expanded. Let me say that if you ever need to communicate anything of a sensitive nature I do have another e-mail address: sistergee@myldsmail.net (or james.gee@ldschurch.org)
I have been thinking about how I felt when our children were on their missions. One son was sent to a particularly difficult mission, where the number of baptisms was similar to the number here in Oklahoma. I was often concerned that he would get discouraged because it was so hard. From my limited point of view, the number of baptisms was the measuring stick for success. Now that I am in the mission field I realize there are several ways to measure success. Before we came to Oklahoma we would meet people who had served here and they would say, "I loved my mission in Oklahoma!" They were always sincere and enthusiastic. I wondered how they could love a mission if they didn't baptize many people. Let me share some of the other ways I have discovered make for a successful mission.

My favorite analogy is to visualize the mission as a big sprinkling system. Each missionary is one of the sprinklers. If they cover their area with diligence the grass will be green. If they slack off, the grass will burn and some repair work needs to be done. A missionary who can be trusted to stay on task and keep working, no matter what is worth his or her weight in gold.

We often recite the missionary purpose when we have meetings. It is to INVITE others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel through faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ and his atonement, repentance, baptism, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. President Gee often says if at the end of the day they can look back and see they have invited several people to hear the message they have had a pretty good day and they have been successful. The people have their agency but we can control the inviting. The mission as a whole is stepping it up right now. They are working hard. We do measure the number of people we contact, teach, who attend church, who have a baptismal date, and who have been baptized. We are seeing a positive, upward trend. We are encouraged. We feel there is an increase of faith. We are sure your prayers and faith are helping.

President Gee has done a little playing around with the numbers. If we have to find people on our own, the numbers indicate we have to talk to 800 people to get one person baptized. The phrase, "labor with all your might" comes to mind. If the members help us get referrals it is more like one in twenty who will be baptized. We have also learned that people usually need several positive contacts with the church before they are ready to accept the gospel. We keep telling the missionaries that they never know what will happen down the road, even if they are rejected now. In fact one recent convert told us in her testimony that her sister not very politely turned the missionaries away from their door. Now that sister is taking the lessons herself. We have to have faith to keep trying.

Another thing I have observed is how difficult it is to determine who "gets the baptism." There are so many people involved in teaching the gospel and so much overlap that it is hard to answer the question, "How many baptisms did you get?" It is almost impossible to answer. Transfers often take them away just before the baptism occurs. Sometimes it is months before baptism occurs.

Probably the most important measure of success is absolutely under the control of the missionary. That is how diligent he/she is in following the morning schedule. If they are obedient they are up early, they exercise so they stay in shape physically, they eat a healthy breakfast, they have personal prayer, they have personal study for an hour, and they study with their companion for an hour. They learn to plan and prepare for the people they will be teaching that day. They work on memorizing some scriptures, and they open themselves to personal revelation. When they do this faithfully they experience incredible growth. If you want to know how your missionary is doing, that is where you should look. That is a big part of the price they pay to receive the blessings available to them.

Another important way to determine success is how obedient they are to the rules in the missionary handbook. They have heard this until they are sick of it, but it is true. Apostles and prophets know the tactics of Satan and they have made these rules for the protection of the missionaries. They are young and sometimes naive. They often don't realize how hard Satan is working on them or how subtle he can be. If they can stand up for the things they have promised to do they are successful, even if they never baptize a soul. Please keep praying for them against the power of Satan.

A subject for another time is leadership positions. This can become a false measuring stick yet leadership does give great opportunity for service and growth. I will have more to say about this in the future.

Well, that is about enough for today. I hope this gives you an expanded perspective. You are sensitive to the spirit and will get a feeling of how your missionary is doing. Keep offering encouragement to keep up the fight. Let them know you can see the good things that are happening. If necessary, tell them as President Hinckley's father did, to "Forget yourself and get to work!" That is some of the most pertinent advice you can give. We appreciate your wonderful influence and your concern. President Gee is enjoying these communications along with me. He sends his love. Have a good week.

Love, Sister Gee

A Day At Zone Conference‏ (from the president)

2009-08-04T18:10:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents,
Last week was probably the busiest week of the transfer for us. President Gee and I were traveling for interviews and zone conferences. That means we saw each and every missionary in the mission. Today I would like to tell you about what happens at zone conference.
One of the things I have learned while being on this mission is how closely the missionary work correlates with the organization of the church. There are five stakes in this mission and the five zones roughly have the same boundaries as the stakes. There are a few exceptions to make use of travel miles more efficient. We never put missionaries in a town unless there is a unit of the church established because the work can't be done unless there is support from the members to fellowship and help investigators. The five zones in this mission are Stillwater on the north, Oklahoma City and Oklahoma City South, Norman which is south of the metro area, and Lawton on the far south of the mission. Each zone has two Zone Leaders who work with us and the assistants to keep things organized. We meet with the zone leaders twice a transfer so we stay unified.The zone leaders take care of the details of setting up the building, contacting missionaries, teaching, etc.

On the day of zone conference all the missionaries meet at a central location. Some have to travel quite a distance to be there. Usually by the time President Gee and I arrive we find all the cars lined up in the parking lot. Elder and Sister Fowers are there, ready to give each car a very thorough inspection. You will be glad to know that air pressure in the tires is checked and everything else we can think of for their safety. There is a central department in Salt Lake City that watches over all the fleets in all the missions. They are very fussy about safety and taking good care of the cars which are bought with tithing money. It makes us smile to see all those cars lined up with the hoods raised, like a row of big toys. Elder and Sister Fowers have been outstanding missionaries. They completed their mission last week so Elder and Sister Hall will be taking over their position. You may end up speaking to them for some reason in the future.

The thing that would impress you is how reverent the missionaries are when we walk into the room. They come early and study while they are waiting for zone conference to begin. They stand while we shake hands with every missionary. One of the zone leaders conducts the meeting. They are learning about announcing who presides, and what will take place, and recognizing visitors. This is good training for the future. Here are some of the things that happen: an opening hymn, prayer, announcements from the other zone leader, a scripture recitation, a testimony or positive missionary experience from one of the missionaries, health training from me, discussion of a Christlike attribute, and practices of missionary skills which each missionary participates in, a lot of instruction from President Gee, safety training video, message from a visiting Stake President if he is there, and a discussion on the focus doctrine for the transfer. This goes from 9:30 a.m. to around 3:30 p.m. Of course there is a break for a lunch which is prepared by a local Relief Society, and some birthday treats for those who have a birthday that month. After zone conference President Gee interviews some of the missionaries. This is a time for a little visiting with one another. They love being together and catching up on the happenings in the mission. Sometimes they have to be invited to get back to work several times! They are, afterall, normal young people who happen to be dressed in Sunday clothes.

This time we had three practices. Elder Torres, an assitant, led a practice about how to ask good questions. The other assistant, Elder Healy led a practice on how to get the investigators to pray after a lesson, preferably the first lesson. Each set of zone leaders led a practice of their choice in the afternoon. One of our sons and his family visited us last year and attended a district meeting. Our oldest granddaughter, Kami, watched the missionaries practice. On the way home she commented, "This is the first time I realized that being a missionary is hard." You would probably agree if you could watch your son or daughter rise to the occasion of being on the hot seat and thinking on his feet. It is especially challenging because we all know we are going to be critiqued on how we do. Sometimes everyone in the zone watches, but this time it was a little more fun. The leaders demonstrated and then each companionship practiced by themselves. There is a very pleasant buzz in the room when they are all involved. It seems like no matter how good the missionaries get at teaching, there is still something to learn. If you want a challenge, try thinking of good questions. It stretches the brain!

Our focus doctrine this time was practical application of faith. Each missionary was invited to come prepared with a five-minute talk on faith. President Gee randomly called on a few to give the talk. He also asked all of them to share insights gained from their study. I wish I had the power to express in words the spirit that we feel when we meet together. President Gee is almost pleading with the missionaries to exercise increased faith as they do their work. He invites them to really pray about where to go and when to go there, and listen for an answer, expecting to receive guidance. Some of the missionaries have shared their little miracles of finding prepared people to teach. President Gee also constantly reminds them that there is a price to pay to get these answers, and it is strict obedience. He reminds them that the missionary rules are their commandments for this brief time in their lives. They have promised the Lord they would obey these rules. There are tremendous blessings of personal growth waiting to be given if they will obey. The interesting thing is that two of the Stake Presidents this past week testified of the same thing, even though they didn't hear what President Gee's message was. It is a witness that the Holy Ghost guides the thoughts of those participating. I feel the testimony that these men are truly messengers from God to teach and instruct these missionaries. Your sons and daughters, (and mothers) are doing a tremendous work and are experiencing great personal growth. Overall, there seems to be a renewed energy in the mission. They are picking up their pace and we are seeing improved results. We are grateful that they have "faith in every footstep" just like the pioneers did. Of course, there are ups and downs in every person's mission. Some get discouraged and need reinforcement that they are doing something of value. Your e-mails and letters are very important to them. It is still the Bible Belt, and many wonderful, already satisfied people live here. Please keep praying that hearts will be prepared and softened, and that we can find those people. We need your prayers and faith. We also pray for you constantly. I hope this gives you a better idea of what a zone conference is.
Greetings from President Gee! Love, Sister Gee

My WorkHorse‏

2009-08-04T18:09:00.001-07:00

My family, Last week we had Zone Conference and I got another bike. Its Elder Roper's bike and that thing has been ran nearly as far as it could possibly go. Elder Roper finished his two years in July and left his bike, lucky me, because now I have something to ride for free. Although its kind of like riding a horse. During this bike's two year treck its been riden nearly every day by a 220 lb. football player, with a few busted and repaired spokes, and a car accident later it fell into my hands...ha! The bike is awesome, but I am glad its only for the end of my mission and not from the begining. The rim's spokes are in tact, but from getting hit by a car both rims are bent and wobbly, hence like riding a horse. No back brakes and some sketchy front brakes make this cruiser a dream. I'm pretty glad to be back on the bikes though, so we can be more productive in the work.The zone conference was good. We had some good trainings on commitment to pray and asking good questions. The most inspiring things though come from the discussions President Gee gives. Our focus doctrine for the transfer is faith and every zone conference President Gee leads a discussion on whatever the topic is and its always great to hear his insights. Faith is pretty simple right, well the great thing about the gospel is the expanse of knowledge that comes from a simple topic.The week was okay. We had a ton of failed appointments and cancelations, so last weeks teaching pool was lamo. Being a missionary has a couple interesting factors; people open up very easily to us 19-21 year olds and many think that they cannot learn anything from a 19-21 year old. Last week was the most occurance of both of these that I've had my entire mission. Either people wouldn't get our purpose and would just want to tell us all the bad things that are going on in their lives or they would tell us all the knowledge they've gained through their experience and age and disagree with us simply because they have much more life experience...what they missed was their life experience and age is outside the fulness of the gospel and our sense of experience and life comes from someone greater and more experienced...namely God. Through faith, prayer and living gospel principles we have much more positive experience than any of these people that are closed to a more excellent way.Well, that's how great my week was. Love ya! -Elder Osness

And that bike got Stole!

2009-07-29T08:02:00.000-07:00

Dear family, Pictures: We had a meeting for the trainers on Wedensday, so I got to see a couple of the Elders I came out with; Elders Torres and Lewis.The next is of some of my mission posterity; Elders Baker, Kleinman, and Jensen. The Last is of some delicious bbq pizza we made for lunch today.The trainer meeting was good. It was kind of like an accountability meeting for us trainers. Not much training went on, but it was good. Elder Baker and I are doing pretty good.On Friday we had our President's interviews. It was the usual, "how are you doing...I don't really have much to say. No worries, keep it up," kind of thing. The highlight of events though happened Sunday morning when we opened the front door to go to our corrilation meeting with our ward mission leader to see my bike was stolen! Ough! We keep our bikes under the staircase that is completely covered on all sides and no way to tell that there is something behind there unless you look specifically there...and the bedroom window is right next to it, so I don't know how I didn't notice something like that going on in the middle of the night. I guess I'm a heavier sleeper than I thought. It hasn't really hit me yet that my bike is gone, but its pretty lamo. Hopefully a missionary about my size left a bike when he went home, so I can just continue its use for another five months. Cool, huh? Luckely President Gee hasn't let me go to an area without a car, so we have some transportation. Still lame though.We're still teaching some great people! I'm hoping we prepare them all for baptism. During our weekly planning we were going through the people we're teaching and I'm hoping that we can help this area get a baptism every month...especially since they haven't had one 14 months. Katelyn is still on track for August and hopefully we can set a date for Arlyn for September and continue progress with the others we are teaching and continue finding new people to teach. This week we taught a new guy. His name is Doug and is studying Law at OU and knows a member from Norman 2nd ward. We talked to him about two weeks ago and was just able to teach him. He's been reading the Book of Mormon and shared some of the scriptures he said have inspired him along with some he had concerns with, but accepted them. He's pretty great! Our example will have a powerful influence on the lives of others. This is true because of the member in Norman 2nd ward. Brother Hale was an example of what Doug would like to have in his life. An inner joy and satisfaction and always seemed to be happy with life...like he was content and happy and needed nothing more than that which he already has. This is because, something Doug didn't know, the knowledge of Gods plan and purpose for us can do more than any worldly desire of success. Back to the good example Brother Hale is, Doug had some concerns in the Book of Mormon and because of what friendship and sincerity he showed him he knew those passages had to have some other reason for being in there and wasn't a negative aspect of the gospel (one of the scriptures of concern is early on when the Lamanite's skin color was altered as a marking to set them apart from the righteous). His concerns were answered by the spirit and not by and logical discussion because he was humble.Anyway, I've got to go. Oh, and by the way, I'm not sure who was planning on sending a couple short sleeve shirts, but they haven't arrived and I'm really begining to wear through the ones I have now...really, wearing through them.Love Ya! -Elder Glenn Osness

Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow‏ (From the Pres)

2009-07-22T10:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,
I just have to tell you how much fun I am having reading your responses. I think I will make a book that I can enjoy through the years. I hope I get to meet you in person sometime in the future. (If you don't like to respond don't feel obligated, but thanks to those who do.)

Today I would like to talk about the pain of separation from your children. President Gee and I sent three sons and one daughter on missions. I think I understand every emotion that you are feeling. There is joy, satisfaction, peace, tenderness, faith, increased testimony, sacrifice, anxious feelings, and counting the weeks and months. Our oldest son went to the Salt Lake City Mission. He was only a hop, skip, and a jump away from us. It seemed like everyone in our community saw him except us. I remember standing at the top of the church Office Building and looking out at Salt Lake City with my husband and knowing he was out there somewhere and we couldn't go find him. As I look back on our children's missions I have to admit that my perspective wasn't the same as it is now. We kept the rules faithfully but I didn't have the vision of why we had to be so limited with our contacts. Being here in the mission has helped me understand more what the Brethren are trying to accomplish with these rules.

We as parents have been the lifeline to our children since their birth. We have nurtured them, taught them, protected and supported them, helped them solve their problems, given them goals to work toward, had fun with them, become their friends, shared life and love. For most of them their parents are the first place they turn when they need anything from food to comfort to money to encouragement. We have loved that relationship. It has blessed our lives and even given us good reason to live. This relationship is still important and is a key to the happiness and success of the missionaries. That is why the missionaries are expected to stay in contact with you through e-mails and twice a year, telephone calls. We hope they share their feelings and experiences.

This is also a unique and set apart time in their lives. Never before have they been called on to be so disciplined and unselfish. They have agreed to serve the Lord with ALL their hearts, might, mind, and strength. It is quite a challenge to avoid the distractions that the world so freely offers. We all know that if they set their minds to it, there are ample ways to communicate with family and friends back home beyond what has been outlined. When they do this they are establishing lifelines to the world rather than a lifeline to heaven. What they have the opportunity to do here is learn to reach to Heavenly Father when they need help, rather than to other people. That is what we have all hoped and prayed they would learn to do as we have raised them. We now have the opportunity to stand aside and let that heavenly process take place. When parents support them in keeping the rules, they fortify their children and allow them to progress. The spiritual growth that is possible on a mission is a wonder to behold. We watch young men who were in jeans and t-shirts, riding dirt bikes, put on their missionary clothes and become prophets. A prophet testifies of Jesus Christ. We watch them become responsible for their areas, and learn to become leaders. The young women often come with a maturity beyond their years. They still learn to do things they didn't think they could do. The greatest thing you can do is unflinchingly help them to be obedient.

There are times when parents desire exceptions to the established rules. They may want permission for a visit or telephone call. Sometimes the reasons are valid and permission is given. Please understand that President Gee is absolutely converted that because apostles and prophets have established the guidelines, it is his responsibility to be true to what they have outlined. While he would love to make everyone happy, his first desire is to do what the Lord expects. Hopefully, this gives a perspective that would help you understand if there is ever a hesitation or a denial.

Well, that is enough for today. The most important thing I said was about the "heavenly process." Thanks for all you do to enable this to happen. The missionaries are working their heads off. Somehow the leaders have ignited a fire in them. In spite of the heat, they are outdoing themselves in contacting people and inviting them to listen to the message. Their faith is increasing. We tell them to expect miracles and I go around with my little Miracle Journal and a pen to write down their testimony building experiences. One of these days I will share a few. I get chill bumps when I think of the possibilities of united missionaries and their parents and families all praying and fasting for the spiritual lives of the people in this mission. Please continue with your prayers. There is so much power in united faith. President Gee sends his love. On to the victory!!!
Love, Sister Gee

getting things in order‏

2009-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Family, The pictures: I still love the crazy sky weather here in Oklahoma! Just as a storm was blowing in Elder Baker and I decided to take a picture. The other is of the weather calming and the sun of an old day setting.Well, I'm starting to figure the area out a little and ward is a ton of support for our efforts, so we are happy campers here in Norman 4th ward. Last week we taught Katelyn again, who is getting baptized next month and things are looking great! We had an awesome lesson and she has a great testimony that is getting stronger and stronger. After our lesson we put together a calendar/plan for our lessons before her baptism and the chapters in the Book of Mormon she'll read on what days. It was cool to see how much enjoyment she got out of it because its her date and her schedule and her progress, so she can track and see all the things she's done to prepare for baptism as the days go by. We're pretty excited! I was talking to the ward mission leader the other day about her progress and he mentioned that the last time somebody was baptized in this ward was April, over a year ago, so everyone is pretty excited to see someone make progress. There are a few others we are working with that I think in time will make that commitment. Things are really good. We talked to a guy the other day as we passed by him and after talking to us for a little while agreed to let us come by and teach him some about the church. At first he just told us he'd wouldn't mind learning about the church, but wanted to do his own research, but later agreed to have us over. Yesterday we went by and he let us in and we taught and he had read into the first couple chapters and understood what was happening and from that reading his intrest peak went up and had a lot of great questions about the church and how we have the Book of Mormon and what its about entirely. Its great when you teach someone completely to their needs because they are searching and learning for themselves. His name is Arlyn. We also taught someone who was baptized three years ago and is inactive, but was excited to see us. He is Daniel and is wife is not a member and that is why they haven't been coming to church. She is from Russia and wanted to stay with her family religion, Greek Orthidox. She's real nice and I think if we can just get her to learn and seek answers from God she will jump on it fast because Daniel is ready to get back into it.Well it was a great week, but the computer time is almost gone, so I love you and hope life is going great at home! -Elder Osenss

Shotgun a sister area‏

2009-07-22T10:47:00.001-07:00

Dear Family, Well, things here in Norman are pretty great! I got here and realized I haven't really taken any pictures of my return here except one with Elder Baker. Next time I'll try to have more to share. Norman 4th ward is pretty excited to have elders in the ward, so they are very willing to support us. They've had sisters for the past three or four years. I still haven't been able to meet most of our investigators. In fact, I've only tought one of them, but we set a baptism date with her. Her mom recently started wanting to come back to church and her daughter went to girls camp and has been to church a few times, so we talked about how she felt about the things we teach and if she's been reading the Book of Mormon then asked her how she felt about baptism...she felt great and like it was something she wanted to do, so she has a date she is committed to on the 15th of August. Another investigator that I was teaching in Norman 2nd ward over a year ago had moved into this ward boundary just before I had left to Edmond, so I asked around and nobody knew about him and his teaching record wasn't in the area book. I was hoping to be able to teach him because he was preparing to be baptized before he left 2nd ward. On Thursday I was going through a bunch of randome papers of the ward roster, notes, and meeting programs and in the middle was a teaching record of Rudy Dopler..."I found it, I found it! I found the great valley!" Sunday night we went by to see him and he said the sisters stopped coming by a long time ago. He needed to get married and come to church. That was his hold up. He's the assistant manager for Golden Corral so he works a lot and has to fill in for those that don't show, so it makes it hard to come to church, but he does need to step up and he can make it possible to come to church. But, he had some good knews, he got married the begining of the year and has come one time and wants to work towards getting baptized, so we are going to follow-up on his lessons and get him committed to take more action in his efforts to come to church, so he can get baptized.So Elder Baker and I have walked into a great place. Elder Baker is an interesting fellow. He's probably the least outgoing companion I've had,but he is a good elder. Yesterday I kind of gave him a jump start and had him lead...at least as much as he could and he did a really good job. He comes from a big family, the oldest of seven and everyone is home-schooled. He's not very conversational, but knows what to say and do. He just needs a nudge to get him to go from observer to doer. He's a good guy and we'll do a lot of good this transfer.Well, I love you! Hope things are great at home. -Elder Osness

An e-mail from a member in OK

2009-07-19T19:15:00.001-07:00

Hello families of Elder Osness and Elder Baker

Your Boys are eating well and in good health. Today They ate at the Tuckers.

Elder Osness is an old hand at eating at members, Elder Baker is kinda quiet just taking it all in. Both havve a great spirit about them.

They are in good hand in Norman 4th ward. They will be taken care of

Bless you all or in oklahoma we say ya-'all

David Tucker

A letter from President Gee and his wife

2009-07-19T07:11:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents,
Today I would like to describe what transfer week is like. On Tuesday, (preparation day) the current missionaries who are going to be transferred are busy packing and preparing for moving on Wednesday. In the meantime President Gee, the two assistants, and myself head for the airport to welcome in the arriving missionaries. This time there were nine Elders and two Sisters to greet. It is always fun to see a big group of smiling missionaries come walking down the corridor of the airport. They do stand out in a crowd! We know that it also isn't hard for them to spot us. This group of missionaries was impressive, happy, polite, excited to get going, and a little nervous. First they go to the mission office to get acquainted with the office missionaries. Then they head for the mission home where we feed them a snack. The afternoon is spent getting oriented by the assistants while President Gee interviews each one. Usually they nod off a little after a couple of hours. We have a dinner about 5:30 and enjoy visiting and getting acquainted. Then the part they really look forward to comes. Although they have the jitters they are excited to get out and see what missionary work is like. They go for about an hour and a half with some of the local missionaries. They come in and report, we pray, and send them to bed.
On Wednesday we start with breakfast. President Gee puts on an apron and becomes the chief chef, making omelettes, and whatever else I tell him to. We load the missionaries up in the van and they go to the Stake Center nearby for more orientation. By 10:30 they are supposed to know enough to meet their companions and head for their areas.
It is a lot like a carnival on transfer day. We have five zones in the mission so each zone is assigned a specific place in the church parking lot. Cars are arriving from all over the mission and missionaries are all over the place trying to get their luggage in the right vehicle to head out. Usually someone forgets to leave the cell phone or the keys from their last area. We are learning to deal with it. The really fun part is watching everyone take advantage of the chance to visit with missionaries they have known in former transfers. There are hugs and high fives all over the place. It feels like a celebration as they are able to get caught up on what is going on. President Gee is there and smiles for a while. If it goes on too long he starts to pace. They need to get on their way and get back to work! They arrive a little before 10:30 and usually by about 11:15 everyone is on their way again, ready to start adjusting to their new situation.
The missionaries who are ready to go home load their belongings in the van and head for the mission home. We feed them a snack and then have one great last experience. We take them to the temple. We have been blessed to have the temple president, President Gillespie, spend about an hour with us after the temple session, talking with us about future temple service and also discussing things about the temple. This has been a great blessing to the ones who have been able to be in this meeting. We have been fortunate to have most of the groups going home for the past year be able to do this.
Then we head back to the mission home and have our last feast together. Usually the missionaries going home are about as nervous as the new ones were the day before. However, they seem to retain their appetites. President Gee gives them one last interview and instructions about their flight home. They find it drives them crazy to sit around and not have anything to do. They hope they can sleep during the night. We are up early to get them to the airport in time. President Gee helps them through all the details and I try to hold back the tears. We say our final good-byes before they go into security. President Gee and I watch through the glass windows until all of them are through. They turn and wave, I can't hold back the tears, and they are gone, back to their families. We know how excited the people are at the other end to see them again. It is bitter-sweet for us as they end this most wonderful chapter of their lives.
I hope this gives you a picture of what happens every six weeks. Again, we appreciate the communication with you. Please feel free to tell us if you have any concerns. It is hot here! They seem to be surviving.
Love, Sister Gee

Going back...to Norman? Alright!

2009-07-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Its transfers week...and I'm getting transfered. I didn't really expect it, but I'm leaving my area and its getting shotgunned...which means taking the missionaries serving there out and puting new ones in...and they're sisters. I think they'll do great here and find a lot of success. The teaching pool is built up just in time for me to leave and them to reap the harvest. They'll do a good job, I'm sure. I'll be meeting with the new ward mission leader tonight to give him the run down on the area, so he can assist the sisters in adjusting to the area. Its a bitter sweet transfer. There are a lot of people that I've spent a lot of time with and sad to leave them, but they'll be in good hands and I'm going to take over a sister area in........NORMAN 4th ward! I love Norman! If you remember, that's where I started my mission. I'm going to be in a different area, but I'll see so many of my favorite members and great people at church from the 2nd ward. I'm sad to leave, but excited to see what became home to me when I started. With this transfer there are serveral new missionaries and Elder Kleinman will be training again (number three) and so will I! This mission is getting filled with our posterity. Elder Kleinman was my first trainee and then I was suppose to get Elder Jackson, who still isn't out and now am getting Elder Baker from Erda, Utah and Elder Kleinman is getting Elder Jensen from Salt Lake City after training for the past couple transfers with Elder Call from LV, and Elder Hamner from UT, who will also be trainers as they get older in the mission.So, a cool experience happened with a new investigator. On Friday we got a referral for Sandre Salinas. Here's how; A month ago he was found by some missionaries in New York and went to church with them and a couple activities, but he told them he was moving soon to Oklahoma City. The missionaries told him to find the missionaries here once he arrived...he didn't, but no worries. The Lord was on it. The Spanish elders did some tracting in an apartment complex and knocked on his door. It gets better...he sent them on their way with a "Hey, sorry I don't have time." The missionaries gave him a pass along card and thought nothing of it, just another rejection. What they didn't know is the Lord sent them to that door. Sandre read the card later in the day and remember the Elders in New York and called the number and we got a referral the next day. After being in Oklahoma for three days the Lord put us at his door and he's back on track. He came to our 4th of July pancake breakfast and church the next day and plans on continuing to do so and the ward was very helpful. Don't worry about rejection...those seeds are worth everything even if its simply being there....and now the sisters will be here. Well, I hope your 4th was great! Love ya! I'm off to pack up and get ready for a new assignment!

-Elder Osness

A letter from President Gee and his wife

2009-07-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,
This week is tranfer week so I thought I would share a little bit about the process with you. Every six weeks we get new missionaries and also send those who have finished back home. This is both an exciting time for us and a challenging time. This transfer we will greet eleven new missionaries and send six home. What this does can be compared to breaking up a puzzle that has been put together and almost starting over. Each new missionary is assigned a trainer so obviously eleven companionships are changed at the start. It is just like dominos as President Gee tries to put everything back together. He considers how long they have been in the area, who is cleared to drive, how long they have been serving in the mission, and most of all, what feels right. He usually spends a few hours a day for a week putting it all together. He makes the first draft and then spends hours staring at the transfer board and pondering if everything feels right. He would love to make everyone happy. Some don't want to be moved. They are getting along so well with their companion and they may have someone almost ready to baptize. Some are praying that they can get transferred. When the calls come on Monday night about who is getting transferred some are happy and some are not. In fact, at least with the sisters, a few tears are often shed. For some of the missionaries change is a big and stressful challenge. Sometimes new assignments are greeted with enthusiasm and sometimes the missionaries feel overwhelmed. All through their missions we are constantly turning their world upside down. The longer we have been here the more I have realized how much faith it takes to just do what they are asked to do and trust it will all work out. We so appreciate those who have the attitude, "I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go." Those of you who have served missions know exactly what I am talking about. The most important thing for President Gee is "feeling" it is right. He has learned there isn't always an ideal situation for every missionary. We have to do the best we can. Sometimes they get "growing pains" as they learn to adjust to living with another person. In the long run the experience can help them grow spiritually and socially. Thank you for your encouraging words to them. They usually adjust after a few days. Just keep telling them to pray for help to be a good companion and to love their companion. The health of the mission is determined by the influence these missionaries have on each other. Please continue to join us in praying that we can all be trusted to obey the Lord's commandments. Again, President Gee and I have enjoyed reading the responses that we get from you. We appreciate communication because you are an integral part of this work. If you ever have any thoughts you would like to share with us about the well being of your missionary please feel free to communicate with us. Sometimes answers to our prayers can come from you. We love your children and this work. May the Lord bless you for supporting your sons and daughters in their missionary service. Have a good week. Love, Sister Gee

A letter from President Gee and his wife

2009-06-29T14:00:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents,
Again thanks to you who have responded with your messages. I can feel your faith!
Well, we did it. We had a most wonderful and unique experience Saturday evening as we attended the Tabernacle Choir Concert. There was a large, generous, and friendly audience of Oklahomans gathered to listen. The first number was "Praise to the Lord" which begins with a rousing fanfare and I think the audience was won over from the first. Standing ovations began before the first half of the program was over and continued off and on for the rest of the evening. The sound was typically wonderful. President Gee and I are still on a "high" from the power of the music and the power of the spirit. President Gee was sitting by a man who with tears in his eyes said, "I have never heard anything this good in my whole life." (He is an educational administrator and a former band teacher.) Our neighbor called to thank us for the tickets and said, "They are out of this world." I think she spoke the literal truth, though I'm not sure she understands that a prophet sent them off with the promise that angels would bear them up. They are wonderful ambassadors who sing and play their hearts out and it could be felt. People may think it is all the power of impeccable musicians but I am positive it is also the power of the Holy Ghost. There was such a feeling of love, and graciousness, and unity. I thought to myself, "This is the way missionary work should feel. People should feel the power of our love for them."
The missionaries were scattered throughout the audience. They had strict instructions not to proslyte, but they could answer any questions asked to them, and they could visit with the people. They looked great with their dark suits, shirts and ties. The sisters looked good also. Fifty of the missionaries were able to be ushers. Even though we couldn't talk about the gospel, we are hoping the association of the music and seeing the missionaries out in force will open some doors and soften some hearts for sharing the message in the future. It has been forty years since the Choir performed in Oklahoma. You can see this was a rare opportunity for missionaries and we think they loved it. We were relieved when they all arrived back in their areas safely. We hope they are energized and renewed with enthusiasm for their work. They need it because it is hot here. Last week it was over 100 degrees every day. It is a bit cooler this week, but not much. They are tough and seem to adapt to the heat.
Well, enough for now. We appreciate your prayers and faith. We can visualize a whole network of loved ones praying particularly for the Oklahoma City Mission. "On--on to the victory!" President Gee sends his love also.
Love Sister Gee

Good things bring relief‏

2009-06-23T10:34:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Sorry, I took a lot of video, but only have a couple pictures and I managed to miss myself in them...so here's Elder Maesato as he looks away.I think we are finally getting the hang of working both areas effectively. In addition to that, we got an addition on Saturday night to our companionship, and he is...Elder Maesato. He's from Haiti and his adopted mother moved to St. George while he has been on his mission, so a mission friend for sure! He's great! I actually heard about him a few transfers ago because he served with Elder Medina a long time ago.This transfer is full of surprises.Last week was Zone Conference and we got to go to the Temple. Its still pretty cool to have a temple in our mission and to be able to attend it often. Last year President Gee mentioned that he wanted to get us to the temple more often and take part in that blessing sense its available. This Zone Conference was different from other Zone Conferences. Usually we train and practice...doing and learning things to improve our skills as missionaries, but this time it was completely on the spirit....well done sir! The spirit is deffinately the key in conversion and when you are converted you are compelled to act in life. Knowledge does no good if it doesn't make you do something with it and the temple is a great place to receive spiritual knowledge. The begining of conference was on how the spirit works in helping our investigators act and then we moved into personal spiritual growth with the temple, so we can bring that spiritual conviction more to our investigators. A good conference!Good things coming...Saturday is going to be a great day for two reasons...the baptism of Brother Thomas and in the evening we (the missionaries) get to go to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert in Norman. With all the frustration of a couple of investigators who come up and down with their testimony, I needed Brother Thomas in my life to give me some balance. The concert is a great bonus to close our day!Well, things are good here!

Love you all! -Elder Osness

A letter from President Gee and his wife

2009-06-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

Dear Parents,
It has been fun to communicate with several of you since I wrote last. I think we have started a good thing and I hope all of you enjoy this little update.
You may be aware that we had a unique and wonderful time during these last zone conferences. President Gee and I wanted to do something to give the missionaries an encouraging boost for their missionary work. We felt there could be nothing better than to have each zone attend the temple on zone conference day. Everyone traveled to the chapel by the temple for a preliminary meeting. We talked about how to feel the spirit and the atonement of Christ. It would be wonderful if everyone who goes to the temple could have that kind of preparation. We invited them to come fasting for this day. I want you to know that as I looked around at the room full of Elders and Sisters it brought tears to my eyes. I felt like my family was together in the temple. After the temple session and some pondering time in the Celestial Room we went back to the chapel and had lunch. President Gee finished the day with some concluding thoughts. It certainly is one of the highlights of our mission and we hope your children felt the same. We are so blessed to have a temple in our mission boundaries so we could attend together.
One of the things that President Gee explained to them is that the mission as a whole seems to be experiencing an added measure of opposition in many ways. We have several who are sick or injured and many who have trouble sleeping. Some feel discouraged or tempted not to obey the mission rules. We feel it is important to follow the advice in the scriptures and pray daily against the power of the devil. We invite all of you parents to join us with your faith and prayers. We know your strength can can bolster our efforts.
We do have many blessings as well, and little miracles happen often. We look forward to this weekend when for the first time since President Gee and I have been here, all the missionaries will be under the same roof at the same time. We are excited for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Concert on Saturday evening. We are hoping that hearts will be touched and that some people will be open to hear more about the church and gospel.
Thank you for all you do and for your encouraging words to your sons and daughters. As our mission theme says, "On, on to the victory!"
Love, Sister Gee

Hard to balance‏

2009-06-23T07:48:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

The pictures are just some great Oklahoma landscapes. Those giant wind propeller things were crazy! This past week was dificult. Having two areas with a lot of work to be done is a little tricky. So, pretty much all that is getting done is a priority list; what's most important to accomplish out of all that we need to get done. The only time we have to find new people to teach, which I don't know how to fit them into our pool at the moment is if we happen to talk to someone on the way to place to place. We do make time to tract or contact people, but usually it happens as a back-up plan to something we already have planned. The hardest part is trying to get our areas to corrilate, it doesn't help much that none of our people to see work out living in the same direction...that doesn't make much sense, let me try to explain. We go from one end of my area to another to some distance in Elder Kleinman's area, up and down and all over the place...so our bikes are slightly neglected. We only ride them about eight hours a week, but its getting better because we've been able to have a planning session to work it out better, but there are still some conlflicts we run into. The good side is...we don't have to worry or spend too much time with those that aren't as committed. We are working with a lot of really great people...and there is a possibility that I might be with Elder Kleinman in his area for Brother Thomas' baptism, which we set last week. That would be great since Max doesn't feel ready to make that commitment yet...and Brother Thomas is one of those unforgetable people's lives to be a part of.Well,

Love ya!-Elder Osness

reunited‏

2009-06-09T10:26:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

The pictures: Elder Kleinman and myself, our district...i'm not sure why it wanted to so bright, and a p-day activity of risk. World domination!hahaha! That game is pretty intense with six players. Well, last week was another good week. On Saturday Elder Kleinman's companion went home for work on his knee. Later in the afternoon, my companion's time was up and time to go home arrived...and I still didn't receive Elder Jackson from the MTC because of the Swine Flu containment and he is still getting work done on his knee from Basketball at the MTC, so Elder Kleinman and I are reunited. After nearly a year since I trained him we are placed as companions again to run Oklahoma City 1st ward and 3rd ward. We have two cars, two apartments, two areas, and two wards...eight hours of church. As a result we had to cancel a lot of appointments though, but its really cool to see his growth and meet the people who's lives he's been influencing for the past five months. Its a little crazy, but fun. President Gee is working on getting us a couple guys to serve mini-missions until he can get us companions again.Last night we taught a part-member family; the Thomas'. Brother Thomas has been going to church regularly and meeting with the missionaries for about a year and is now confident in making a covenant with God to be baptized. He's really humble and sincere. I'm glad I got to be a part of his walk to Christ. He's a lot like Frankie from when I was in Edmond. It was great to teach him.Dwane, in my area, is doing good too and introducing his family to us now too. He doesn't fully understand the importance of what it means to have Christ's church in its fulness here again, but is very open knows he has felt the spirit as we come to teach him, which I'm glad for. He really looks forward to our lessons.Max and Stan on the other hand aren't progressing the way they could...because the don't keep commitments, especially reading from the Book of Mormon. Its so frustrating when you do so much to show them the way and assist them in accomplishing the task and they don't hold up their part. It will work out down the road.Things are great! Oh, and I'll be going to Norman to the Mormom Tabernacle Choir on the 27th! That will be fun. Back to my missionary birth place. Well, Love Ya!-Elder Osness

delays

2009-06-02T13:40:00.001-07:00

To My Family,

I talked to President Gee last night and there are some issues at the MTC and all the elders have to stay a while longer, so I won't be getting Elder Jackson for a while. In the mean time Elder Mora and I are doing really good except for a few flat tires and the fact that he leaves this weekend and I probably won't have my companion still...so..uhm..yeah.I'm not sure what will happen. Hopefully something gets figured out so I can still work in this area because we are doing really good and a lot is going on for us.The Adams are doing really good. We didn't get to teach them last week, but they are reading and happy to see us. We stopped in on them yesterday to say hi and they have a change of plans and might be moving this weekend to Tulsa...out of the mission, but good news too; they asked us if they could fill out a referral card so the missionaries could come by when they get in their new place. I'm sure they'll join the church...its just too bad I don't get to see it happen.On the other hand, Dwane is doing even better! He's really taking hold and reading the Book of Mormon and began talking about the persecution that the church receives and mentioned that if he becomes a member he'll be right in there with the rest of us, so he wanted to ask some questions to get some understanding on the rumours people spread about the church. He's awesome!It gets better! Max is very excited to get baptized on the 20th and has been sharing the gospel with friends and on Sunday asked us if he would be able to serve a mission after he's baptized. That's what I like to hear. Things are real good here! Just waiting for my new fresh companion.Mahalo nue loa for the e-mails. Sister Allen is Hawaiian and loves to speak her language to us when we go over and read the Book of Mormon with her. So I've picked up a few phrases.Take care of my new niece...I can't wait to see you all for Christmas!Love ya!

A letter from President Gee and his wife

2009-06-01T12:17:00.001-07:00

Dear Parents,
I often have a desire to write to you about how appreciated your children are, but there are so many wonderful missionaries that I can’t seem to make it happen. I have decided to go modern and use e-mail to communicate with you. My plan is to send a sentence of two to keep you informed about the mission from the mission president’s point of view. We hope you will enjoy this and that it will be helpful.

The first message I want to send is concerning tornados and other newsworthy weather events in Oklahoma. The tornado season is almost over and so far it has been rather mild. If there is any weather that would put any of the missionaries in danger, President Gee watches the weather news like a hawk. The remote is in one hand and the cell phone in the other. If there are severe storms or tornados possible we can see exactly where they are predicted to be. In the metropolitan area they put maps of the cities on the television and tell viewers which streets are in danger. President Gee calls any missionaries who might be in the path to let them know what is happening. The news media makes it sound like tornados are everywhere in the mission. The truth is they seldom touch down, even if they form and when they do they cover a limited area. That doesn’t mean they aren’t dangerous. It just means it isn’t as scary here as you might think it would be. Besides, we feel the Lord is watching out for his messengers and prayer has great power. We want you to feel certain that we are doing everything we can to keep them safe. We love your children so much! We need your faith and prayers. Thank you for your support. Until the next time, may you all be blessed! Feel free to e-mail me anytime. My address is sistergee@myldsmail.net. President Gee sends his love also.
Love, Sister Gee

A nice relief‏

2009-05-26T10:26:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

(I accidently deleted my e-mail...so here it goes again...ough) I had a pretty good week. We taught a family Sunday morning who, I wasn't sure how well it would follow through, but turned out great! They had some history that was cool to hear. They moved to Oklahoma in 2002 from Utah and had taken the discussions there, but never joined the church. Although many family members did, they didn't feel that desire. As we talked, we shared mainly about the family importance and the Book of Mormons purpose. At first they didn't seem so promising, but as we taught that soon changed. We invited them to go to church with us in the afternoon and they agreed. A lot of times people agree to come, but never commit themselves, well not the Adams. They walked throught the church doors 15 minutes early! It was really good to see them there. And even more good news. five less-actives we've been seeing also came. It was a really good turnout! Things are really good! Transfers are this week...and I'm staying here in OKC 1st Ward, but my companion is headed out and I'll be getting a new missionary. I'll be training Elder Jackson from Manti, Utah! I'm pretty excited! Training has been my favorite thing to do in leadership in the mission. He hurt his leg in the MTC, so won't be coming right away, so I will have a missionary who is leaving this transfer, but is going to stay out another week with me until I get Elder Jackson.The relief part of this message is I will no longer be a District Leader anymore and simply work in my area and train. I feel like I'm forgeting something, but I can't think of what it is and I'm running out of time so...Love Ya!

-Elder Osness

Motivation on Movies‏

2009-05-19T16:00:00.000-07:00

Well, Hello Family,

Pictures: We went to the temple again this morning. Its nice to be so close. The dog poop sign was on the mail door at Quailcreek elders apartment. And another sunsent in Oklahoma that you can't capture on a camera. Well, we had a good couple visits this week. A couple of our appointments were movie visits. We watched The Testiments with Stan and his wife and it seemed to give them more desire to read from the Book of Mormon. Its a really good video; one of the few that are updated beyond the 90's. We also watched, with Max, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration. That movie is really good! It really expresses Joseph's life well and the spirit is really strong. It gave Max more courage to come to church and am sure his testimony is stronger from it. Its really encouraging to go out and share the gospel too, except for one part makes me think of home. There is a little girl in the movie that kind of looks like Jessie, then I'm just like, man I want to go see my family for a while, but luckely the movie keeps going and I just want to be a missionary and help others find the truth and light of the gospel. I went on a couple exchanges this past week, which were good. Both with very good missionaries, that are feeling less motivated than usual. Its hard to inspire missionaries sometimes, I think I gave a little boost to their system...I hope. They both have the understanding and personality to be leaders in the mission, but need to step up a little.Hey, I just thought of something that could be fun to get in the mail. With my digital screen I can view pictures and videos from memory cards and usb connections. So, my thoughts are, you can use a memory card to send videos of the family, like an upgrade from the voice recorder and tapes to video mail. just a thought.Things are good. Next week we find out what transfers have in store this time. Love ya! -Elder Osness

Good Call‏

2009-05-14T13:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

The pictures: Temple last week. The sister missionaries from Norman decided to come the same day. and my new addition to my mission posterity, Elder Hamner. I have a really good line. Good missionaries.We had a good Zone conference. I don't know what to say really. I just got off the phone a couple days ago. I'm glad I got to talk to everyone. I've feel kind of nervous to call every time, but then we talk and its good to hear the voices of those I love. It really is crazy how fast time goes by and it feels like nothing is any more different than if it was just a month or so, or at least that's how long I feel like I've been away. Oh yes, I mentioned the strange things people say here. Maybe I'll send a quote or two home every week. Yesterday, while teaching a guy in his driveway he flipped out on us. We must have hit a time limit or something because this guy was really nice then all the sudden we mention that the bible was written by God's servants long ago and we have more prophets and apostles now, and he became very angry with us and started telling us we're preaching atheism...okay. So we explained that God loves us and wants to give us direction in life and he just continued on his run with "you're preachin' atheism. no, I believe in the bible! You're preaching atheism!" Needless to say, that lesson went nowhere after that. I really think many people in Oklahoma are more robotic than people think missionaries are. Almost everyone gives us the same reply when we talk about Joseph, the Book of Mormon, or church and family. "Nah, I don't believe in that John Smith fella'." "The bible says, do not add to or take away. You're trying to add to." "Oh, I've got a church." or better yet "Sorry, I'm not a mormon." Uh, okay. That's obvious...and why we're here. Here's a really good one. Imagine somebody cleaning up after a garage sale and us walking up to help out. "Can we give you a hand?" "No, we don't have time right now." Who doesn't have time for help. Its like we speak a foreign language or something because people don't know how to respond or hold a conversation. But, every once and a while you get people open and nice. Yesterday we had interviews with the mission president and he asked me what I would like to do in my mission, so I told him that he's welcome to take me out of leadership and just train, so he's working on getting me in a position where that will work. President Gee is great! He really trusts my judgement and is okay with giving me my wants...after giving me some needs. Leadership is great for the personal growth it builds, but I just like to focus on my area and be of some help one on one, so trainer is what I would like. I've gained a lot of experience these past 16 months and a lot of lifetime understanding through my diferent callings on the mission.I love you all! Oh, and for my birthday I really don't need anything. letters and pictures is all that is real exciting out here...and beside I'll be home for Christmas. I'll be able to use...other things then...;)

Love you! -Elder Osness

baptism push‏

2009-05-08T09:59:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

Thanks for the Sweedish Fish! I don't remember if I told you already, but my companion and I have been enjoying that bag of enjoyment. A little about the pictures- Elder Lewis and myself. We stopped by last week because he's getting transfered out of my district and heading to Enid and in return Elder Whitaker is coming to my district. Sad to loose a great Elder, but we are getting one in return, so its not too bad. I've been around Elder Whitaker before when I would go on exchanges in Enid. The other picture is of a road we needed to cross, but the weather thought otherwise. It wasn't real deep, but we decided to turn and find another way. If we were on bikes I would have loved to go through it, but the church's car is a no go. This week was nice...and wet! It puts a little damper on the work, but its still been a good week for us. Max's anxieties got the best of him, so he didn't make it to church again and we're going to push his baptism date back a few weeks so he can overcome his fear. Last week his phone was stolen and we couldn't get ahold of him to come by and teach, so we just dropped in on him and he was happy to see us and hoping we would come by. He's doing great in building a testimony, but just needs to overcome his anxieties of people and get some courage to come to church.Elder McKinzie and I had some funny guy get mad at us for inviting him to church Sunday morning at 11 am. He came to the door and as he opened it he said in a grumbly voice, "WHAT COULD YOU POSSIBLY WANT!" (yes, exclamation, not question) At least that's what I would have to assume seeing as he wouldn't let us answer with what we wanted. He just blabbered on, telling us to get lost until we left. Ha! So, many oddly people. Yesterday, on exchanges, we had some funny experiences while tracting. I went to the Village Ward with Elder Williams, who came out with me. One door we asked him if he had ever heard of the church before and his response was, "have you heard of Baptist? I'm saved and that's all I need! Nice to meet you and have a good day." I gues we chose the wrong opening line, but that's okay because the next door the woman answered and told us the woman of the house isn't home, so we asked her if she lived there and she said yes. ...uh, okay. So, we talked to her for a while and she wasn't too interested so we asked her if she knew of any of her nieghbors that we could visit. She paused then came outside and started telling us all about her neighbors and some were in wheelchairs and some go to church and...on and on. Then out of nowhere she says, "am I hearing voices?" A couple houses down there were some people outside talking and she got a concerned look that she was going crazy. Anyway, that street didn't have much fruit on it at the time. We also went to see a less-active and he wasn't there, but his son was and before we started talking to him he told us to never go to Wyoming...it sucks. He went on and on about how he doesn't like Wyoming with colorful language...then Elder Williams laughs and says, "I'm from Wyoming." The son's reply was, "that sucks, man!"But, later in the day we got a random call from a girl who has a mormon friend and had been taught a long time ago somewhere else and felt the need to find the missionaries, she did a lot of searching, and find out what she needed to do to get baptized...that's just about one of our favorite kind of calls! That was good. We also got a referal for a couple I was teaching with Elder Medina in Guthrie who had moved to the Village ward boundaries, so I got to go see them before the exchange ended. Lots and lots of good on the exchange!Things are really good!Well, I've got to be headed. Love you! Thanks for the update Roger!

-Elder Osness

Looking forward to another baptism‏

2009-04-30T21:07:00.001-07:00

Oh Familio,

The picture is our new car:) Well, This week was pretty good. I'm begining to learn the area a lot better and meeting all our investigators. There are still a few I haven't met yet. Anywho, root to boot. Yup, some interesting people here in Oklahoma, with some interesting sayings. So, Max De Silva is 19 and committed to be baptized next month. I'm going to miss Jim's baptism in Guthrie, but we have a few others here that, I hope, I can help along the way. So far its just Max and he has really bad anxieties about large groups of people, so we gave him tour of the church last week and its great because the temple is right behind the church, so we walked around the temple as well. He seems pretty excited about becoming a member and is going forward with faith that he won't have too bad of anxieties when he comes to church.There is also another part-member family we've been teaching and he really wants to be baptized too, but he's on probation, so we have to get permission first. Its hard to help him understand why we go through these steps, but he's taking what we give him and walking into it with his head up. He kind of feels like we are trying to find ways he can't become a member...far from right, but we're working through it.The weather here makes people really funny. They either have no concern at all for the weather or they get scared and nervous over the weather man. On Sunday we were eating at a member's home and they turned on the weather because a storm was coming in and the quote of the day is..."This is nothing, but serious, people." I felt like singing "its the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine." We got some rain...kind of like St. George gets rain...yup that's nothing, but serious, people." Anywho, root to boot. Got to love Oklahoma!Love ya! -Elder Osness

soon to be calm waters‏

2009-04-21T13:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Family, Sorry Mom, I didn't write a letter last week, but you'll understand I haven't had a p-day really in the past two weeks, but things are coming back to normal, so I'll be back on my regular schedule. Things aren't quite calm in the missionary world yet, but its getting there. I'm now in my new area, Oklahoma City 1st Ward. Its a really good area. I'll miss Guthrie and the Stillwater Zone, but its time to do some good somewhere else. I'm with Elder McKinzie and he's awesome! He's been out six weeks, but works like he's been out plenty of time. His trainer is now the Assistant, so he was trained very well and its been a very good week. I met my district on Wednesday and they are all pretty great. I'm really excited for my new call as a District Leader for this district. I'm really close to my trainee as well. He's the District Leader in the next District over, so I see him and his trainee every Sunday and P-Day. Its a very nice stress relief after all the stuff from the past two weeks of sick and emergency exchanging.I OKC 1st we have another awesome Bishop and Ward Mission Leader and from my understanding the ward is just coming around to really assist us, the missionaries, in the work. President Gee is giving me another blessing area it seems like. I've been really lucky my whole mission, to have good companions, and good areas. We have a few people we are working with and hoping to set baptism dates with and there are a lot of part-member families in this ward...and about 2/3 of the ward is less-active, so I'm going to take Roger's advise and get to know everyone of the ward roster. Its working well so far. My companion and I still don't know the area real well, so we haven't gotten too far down the list, but its moving along.I probably need to get headed. Today we don't have too much time because we spent most of the day cleaning the apartment and we have a few appointments in the evening, so I've still got a lot to finish before our p-day ends. Love Ya! -Elder Osness

ET=Emergency Transfer‏

2009-04-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Family, The pictures are: one at the masonic temple. We went there again (we were there when I got the call you'll read about). Elder Torres, Elder Poh, me, Elder Medinathe other is at a Zone Leader's Council. Elder Torres, me, Elder Poh, and others in the background. Well, Last week I just started to feel better as I wrote in my e-mail...and a few hours later I got a call from President Gee and he asked how I was feeling, so I told him I was feeling a lot better than before and he said "good, I need you to pack a suitcase and switch companions for a few days." There was an issue and the elder needed to be ETed.That few days turned into the rest of the week, so it could line up with transfers and because of that I haven't gotten to do much work in my area...for two weeks now and...I won't be working in it anymore because I'm getting transfered as well. President Gee is dropping a few zone leaders and making them district leaders, so he can get some more missionaries training to be leaders. We've hit a wave of unprepared leaders, so President is on a fix job right now. I've spent some good time with a missionary who is four months old in the mission, Elder Evans, and it was a very good week long exchange.I'm going to Oklahoma City 1st ward to be a district leader again and hopefully I can do my job there and help them prepare for leadership.Its been a stressful week, but I've been learning a lot and I've gotten a chance to be a little more of direct influence.

Love ya! -Elder Osness

recovery and conference‏

2009-04-07T11:54:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

This past week was pretty unsatisfying. I was sick the entire week and because of that, we only did a limitted amount of work, but yesterday I began to feel more of my regular self and today I feel pretty good, so I think I'm back to hard working status. Well, I've got to give a shout out to the Gublers because they all wrote me...and as a missionary...made my day! Thanks Nancy, Randy, Marley, Ingrid, Ian, and Lizzie.Confrence was great! I really got a lot out of it. I really liked President Uchtdorf's talk and comparison to the little light that caused a major destraction and a severe downfall. Don't loose sight of the important things when little things bump your path. I also really like President Eyrings talk on leave no one behind. Do what it takes to lift those that are loosing. Go after the lost sheep. Those were my favorite. I always get excited to hear them speak. President Monson is a real and true prophet and his words were a testimony to me the whole time. The biggest thing I love about conference is the connection I feel with the new testiment epistles and the guidance we receive from our modern Apostles. The words are exactly the same. Testimonies of God and Jesus with council and guidance from their earthly mouthpiece. If people could have open hearts and understanding of the scriptures, they would know instantly of the truth we share.Its great to know we don't have to worry about all the little worries of the world with the truth and knowledge we have. Its a real blessing to be apart of this family and to live this truth God has given us. I love you!

-Elder Osness

sickness‏

2009-04-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Hi family,

This will be short, sorry. Since Saturday, I've been pretty under the weather. The doctor said it was a combination of allergies and a virus. Luckily, not strep or anything real sever, but enough to drain me and make me look pretty scary. My eyes and my throat are the worst. But the week was pretty good. Jim is still struggling to quit smoking, but comes to church regularly and is committed to his choice to be obedient. On the other hand of obedience there is some sad news.The mission had some unpleasing news about a few elders from my mtc district. They went home for obedience issues. One got drug down because of his companion and will be coming back to Oklahoma in six months. Its really disturbing, the way some missionaries act. The choices we make affect others and its sad to hear about them going home.Anyway, I'm just letting you in on a brief update. Sorry its not lengthy or exciting.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

Stop Smoking...take 2‏

2009-03-24T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Family,

The computer just randomly restarted as I was finishing my e-mail, so here's trial #2.This past week was great! We didn't get to spend a whole lot of time in our area, but the time we did spend was very successful.We went on two exchanges; one in Stillwater and one in Enid and both are pretty fun places to go work. In Stillwater I spent the day with Elder Evans and spent a lot of time biking place to place without accomplishing much. Appointments cancelled and people were gone. I don't think it helps too much that it was spring break, but it was still fun to be there. We did manage to see one investigator, but it was our very last stop of the day. After all you can do God will give you a blessing.The other exchange was with Elder Whitaker in Enid. Enid is a very different place compared to the rest of Oklahoma. Just being in Enid has a very different feeling, but its a good place. People reject our message just as often as anywhere else, but people will still sit and talk. One person wouldn't stop talking and we had to go somewhere else because it wasn't going anywhere, but the conversation just went on and on and on. Elder Whitaker is a good missionary. Right now he's with the former Assistant, Elder Carlson, who is training him to be a leader in the mission. It was a good exchange.In Guthrie we just started the stop smoking workshop with Jim. He's a great investigator and wants to do what it takes to get baptized. He has a really strong desire to do what it takes and this workshop that we reviewed with him guarentees you to be smoke free in seven days. Basically you swap out the bad things, smoking, drinking alcohol, coffee, and tea and replace them with good healthy habbits that turn off the nicotine bell that tells your body its time for another cigarette. He was really excited to begin, so we should continue to see him progress to his baptism next month. He's really been loving church! Last Sunday he started walking up to people and introducing himself to people and telling them that he is learning about the church and just started coming. The ward has been very welcoming to him too. We also taught a black guy. Amazingly, all my time in Oklahoma, I haven't taught many black people and I've only seen one come to church and he was visiting from Florida.Brian is the guy we taught and he was pretty excited to hear what we had to share. He said other missionaries have talked to him before, but none had presented it the way we did and it struck his interest. He's a teacher for a Baptist church and wanted to share the Book of Mormon with his class...that's cool! He's also pretty excited to hear the prophet speak in a couple weeks. Things are really good. There is a lot to do and sometimes its hard to accomplish everything, but hard work and letting the Lord stretch you brings a lot of happiness.Love you all! -Elder Osness

Blessing to a Baptism‏

2009-03-23T09:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Family, This past week was great! On Sunday my companion and I were asked to give a blessing to a woman that lives in our area. There was a sister from Texas visiting a friend who has been strugling with an eye infection and loosing her sight, so when she saw us at church she asked if we would come over after church and give her friend a blessing, so we changed our plans a little to give, Susan Grace, a blessing. She was kind and seemed to be very distressed with her eye, but felt calm and greatful after the blessing. We asked her if we could come by later in the week to see how she was doing and she was happy to let us come by again.On that Tuesday, we had a stake activity for missionary work in our area and Edmond 3rd area with the Stake Presidency, Bishopbrick, the quarum presidents, our Mission President, the assistants to the president (AP), and the area missionaries. The purpose was to contact Part-Member families, Inactive members, and to have a couple investigators lined up to see and hopefully get us, the local area missionaries, new investigators. All the different leaders had appointments lined up for everyone to go see, so we split up for a couple hours to teach and fellowship. I went with a brother in the Guthrie Ward, Brother Walser, and a brother in the Stillwater 2nd Ward, Brother Heep, and we went to see how Susan was doing.Susan had visited the doctor on Monday and said that her eye was improving and she'll be able to see again and was pleased to have us in her home to teach her about the church. Her brother, Jim, was also there and eager to learn. As we taught they listened intently and participated and committed to find out if what we shared was true and we got a follow-up appointment for Friday.On Friday I was on an exchange with Elder Poh, one of the AP's, and we talked for a while about the reading assignment and Jim had read it about four times and related the experiences in 3 Nephi 11 to himself and understood it perfectly. Its great when an investigator keeps their commitment and then to have read it four times and relate the scripture to his life...that's amazing! We talked a little about what they understood about Joseph Smith and watched the Restoration video.After the video, all Jim could think about is how he could become a member of the church and what he would have to do. He said, "I want to be obedient to God. I want to obey." So, we told him what he would need to do, one of which is to quite smoking, and agreed with excitement, so we set a date for the 11th of April. His sister Susan felt very good with everything as well, but wasn't sure she was ready to commit to be baptized. She wants to feel the fire that Jim feels before making that commitment, so Jim is going to read to her and help her along the way. Its all very exciting. They came to church on Sunday and both enjoyed the talks and Gospel Principles class, but didn't stay for the thrid hour...still keeping commitments!...and it all came because of a good example of a friend who simply asked to bring the church into their life.By small means, great things come to pass. Frankie, in my last area, was baptized because of a friend inviting another friend to hear her speak in church...now he's teaching the young men in the church.I've been blessed to be apart of a lot of peoples lives on my mission!Another cool thing...President Gee, our Mission President had interviews with my companion and I and he said he's been taking into consideration about letting me train the rest of my mission, so hopefully I'll get my wish there.Well, I've got to go! I love you all!

Green Valley 1st Ward Reunion‏

2009-03-09T10:13:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

Its the most stress free transfer I've had as a Zone Leader. We got there early and all ready just as the other missionaries were arriving...and guess who arrived. I got to see Elder Gabrielson. Mom is probably the only one who knows him because he's in my home ward. Elder Gabrielson and I are the only ones from the ward on missions and we just happen to be in the same mission, although we are on opposite sides of the mission, but we got to have a little chat which was nice. I got to see a lot of missionaries that I don't get to see very often and a couple of them are in my zone now. Two of the hardest working missionaries, Elders Roper and Carlson, both from Utah, are in the Stillwater zone.Things are going well, especially the weather. Its been great the last few days. Its suppose to get a little colder this week, but its starting to warm up...and so are my allergies. The past weekend I've sounded sick, which is annoying. Its a great impression to give people when sharing the gospel...hi, sniffle, I'm a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ...sniffle. I hate allergies, but its only a couple months of bad pollen and then I should be great!A couple Less-Active members are coming back to church now. We've been puting a lot more focus lately with less-actives in the ward and its begining to show some good. No investigators are coming to church...still. Soon though. The Anderson family is very promising. Very ready for the gospel.This week the Stake Presidency and our Mission President and some other missionaries are going to come to our area for an evening and we will all go on splits and visit inactives and investigators with the goal of getting us more people to teach. They did it last year with a different ward and through it and in time six baptisms came from it, so I'm excited. I wish there were as many missionaries as people we're going to have Tuesday night at a constant rate in every area. Missionary work would explode! Getting there...step by step.I hear some good news with a new baby soon! The family is going to be so different when I get home! I hope you feel well. Happy Birthday Natalie!

I love you all!
-Elder Osness

Transfer week‏

2009-03-03T10:28:00.001-08:00

Dear Family,

It was a pretty good week. We went up to Blackwell on an exchange last weekend and I spent the day with Elder Stoddard. He's a goofy kid and loves bikes. I'm not really sure what else to say about him, but it was good time. Blackwell has a tiny branch and has been there longer than some wards...struggling, but surviving.The most exciting news, for me at least, is our zone is getting some great missionaries this next transfer; Elder Roper, who I served with in Norman and is the hardest working missionary I know and Elder Carlson, who will be a District Leader his last transfer in this Zone. He was just the Assistant and a very good leader. I'm excited to have these inspiring elders in the Stillwater Zone. They're replacing some less-diligent missionaries.Here's something funny. Elder Medina and I were visiting a recent convert and her dog kept on running over to my companion and sitting in his lap and all the sudden it threw up on his pants and into his shoe. I don't know how it got in his shoe, but he had a shoe full of gross...I guess the good knew is none of it got on the front portch...eek! Haha! It was pretty gross, but it cleaned up. Our Edmond success hit a standstill last week. We didn't have any success in Edmond this past week, in fact most of the doors weren't happy with us. One guy told us not to believe in the Book of Mormon and then said make sure you believe in Jesus Christ. We proceded to let him know the Book of Mormon is a Testiment of Jesus Christ and shared a testimony of who Jesus Christ is and he stopped talking and shut the door. Sometimes its pretty frustrating the ignorance people have. Once they realize they've been taught falsely about us they are either shocked and want to hear more or don't say anything and shut us out as though we hadn't said a thing. Someday everyone will know and they'll see. For now life is good and I enjoy all the trips of my life. How are things at home? Good I hope! Happy Birthday to Natalie soon!Time is going by so fast! Every transfer until I go home, I know someone that leaves...its scary. Its going by too fast! Its all in a wink of an eye.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

Oh Promising Edmond‏

2009-02-24T17:23:00.000-08:00

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!

Finally some pictures‏

2009-02-18T07:41:00.000-08:00

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

OAK TREE TORNADO 2-10-09

2009-02-14T17:09:00.000-08:00

These pictures came from a family from Glenns mission.

Utah Bubble‏

2009-02-09T09:54:00.001-08:00

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

AP Exchange‏

2009-02-04T11:14:00.001-08:00

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

My first Ice Storm‏

2009-01-28T13:47:00.000-08:00

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

I need someone to Baptize!

2009-01-20T14:14:00.001-08:00

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

Went to Enid‏

2009-01-14T14:05:00.001-08:00

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

A special treat

2009-01-08T07:26:00.001-08:00

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

Blackwell....eeh...‏

2009-01-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

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

After the Call‏

2009-01-02T09:02:00.001-08:00

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

Ice and cold ice and cold‏

2008-12-26T09:33:00.000-08:00

Hello hello hello,

So, another week in Guthrie. Its been rather cold lately. There is a large pond by our appartment and its frozen over. Just an idea of how cold it is plus piercing wind. eek! Its been going well though. We've been teaching a recent convert's son and he has accepted to be baptized next month. Yay! Viola, the recent convert, is pretty cool. When I was in Edmond I interviewed her for baptism...now I'm teaching her and her son. Hopefully we can find some new investigators here because we only have a couple and one is getting baptized soon, so we've got some finding ahead of us. The ward here is good. They're all like a little family. Guthrie is a small town like Manti, so that gives you an idea of what its like here. Its probably a little smaller and on a more humble standard than Manti is. I went from the richest area to one of the less wealthy areas. The contrast equals out to about the same success rate of any other place. In wealthy areas, we don't teach as often, but when we do, they are commitment keepers. In less wealthy places, we can teach a lot of people, but they don't progress very fast. It just goes to show, you just have to find those who are prepared. Work work work until the Lord blesses you with someone.Well, I love you all and can't wait to talk to you Thursday evening!

-Elder Glenn Osness

In Guthrie‏

2008-12-15T10:12:00.001-08:00

My Dearest family,

As you know I've been transfered to Guthrie, Oklahoma...which is the border of my last area, so I saw my old ward at church on Sunday. That was cool. So far being a Zone Leader means being on the phone...a lot and getting to know the missionaries in the Zone. The ward here is pretty good. Guthrie itself is a pretty humble place, unlike Norman and especially Edmond. Most of the people here have always lived here and are related in some way. Everyone knows everyone. Elder Webster is my companion. He's great...and from Las Vegas, so just down the road from home. Its weird because he's been my zone leader ever since I came to Edmond and now I'm his companion. It will be a fun transfer. Lots of room to grow now. We have some very interesting people to teach.Christmas time is here...just next week. So I plan on calling around 3pm here, which is 2pm in St. George, I believe...I'm not sure though. A couple notes about e-mailing here...I only have 30 minutes, so its like the mtc...really short to get everything done and apparently I can't connect my camera to the computer, so I don't know how often I'll be able to send pictures, but I'll see what I can do. Love ya! Can't wait to hear from you on Christmas!-Elder Osness

6 Months here, 6 Months there‏

2008-12-12T13:22:00.000-08:00

Mymymymy Family,

Today is freezing! Its been pretty nice the last few days, but then the wind blew in the chill...a high chance of snow even. Cool, huh.So, This transfer went way fast! Just as I thought it would. As you can see we had a great district and some good things happened this last transfer.One of which, you've already seen...the baptism of Yao Yu...and now Frankie's baptism. He'll be getting the priesthood next week, which is awesome!...too bad I won't be there for it.I'm getting transfered, but only a short step away. I'm headed about 20 minutes North to Guthrie...as a Zone Leader. One other elder in the district is becoming a Zone Leader as well, so that's cool. There is one exciting point about being a Zone leader...and that is not being a District Leader. I don't have to plan District Meeting anymore! I feel my strength as a missionary isn't in meetings at all, but on a one-on-one basis. As a Zone Leader, I'll be doing that a lot more.Things are great and I feel like I've made somewhat of an impact for good in both the areas I've served in. Six months in Norman...and now cutting out of Edmond at six months. Just before Christmas too. Its nice to be in a familiar place for Christmas, but it will still be a great holiday. We'll see what happens next, as I experience more and more of the diferent aspects of missionary work.Thanks for the e-mails! Its great to hear how everyone is doing and how the holidays have been. Good luck out there in the real world!

Love Ya! -Elder Osness

Christmas Time is Coming‏

2008-12-02T14:08:00.001-08:00

Hello Family,

Well, its December...that's exciting! So, my pictures are of the moon and a couple of stars. It was cool, so I took a picture of it. The other two are of our awesome Christmas tree that a member gave to us yesterday. Just thought I'd start off the month with the seasonal feeling.The Thanksgiving week was pretty good. The Parry family fed us for Thanksgiving and they are also the family that gave us the Christmas tree. They moved into the ward just a few weeks after I had gotten transfered here, so I've gotten to know them pretty well. They're a very missionary minded family, so they're always making sure we're taken care of. Frankie is still good for his baptism this Saturday and it looks like his wife has started to come around. Maybe all she needs to get her going a little faster is Frankie's baptism. Its exciting! Hopefully the rest of the family will get baptized next transfer...and hopefully I'll get to be here for it, but we'll see. I got transfered here just before my birthday, so if I get transfered next week, it will be a couple weeks before Christmas. It would be nice to be in a familiar place for the holidays.This past weekend I got sick, so the effectivness of missionary work over Thanksgiving weekend didn't go very far, but still a good week. The bishop called me Sunday morning and mentioned that a speaker had fallen through, so I'm thinking he's going to ask if I would speak, but he didn't. Instead he aked me to bear my testimony for the ward because I had been there so long and a transfer is coming up. He's a really good bishop. I've been blessed with great people in my life and on my mission...great members and companions. Life's been great!I love hearing from you!...and love you too!:)

Announce the Baptism!‏

2008-11-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

(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

2008-11-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-12T08:31:00.001-08:00

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

2008-11-04T11:05:00.000-08:00

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

Transfer Knews...‏

2008-10-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

My Dearest Family,

-the pictures-Gotta have the district picture for the last meeting of the transfer.Last P-Day we went to POPS. Its on Route 66 and has every soda you could imagine. Too bad I don't care about soda. The food wasn't that great either, but at least it had a really cool giant Soda figure thing land mark. Well, things are still moving along here in Edmond 3rd ward. Our baptism date, Yao Yu, is progressing great and is on the road to be baptized on the 8th of November and we haven't been able to meet with the Evans family for a while, but the father wants to be baptized. It will be awesome if he gets baptized the same day or the week after Yao Yu and then baptizes his family when he gets the priesthood and they have that desire. The area is progressing great!So, about transfers, which are tomorrow. Lucky for me, I get to stay and see the fruits of my labor. My greenie, on the other hand, is headed out and away to Chickasha. That means, by the end of this coming transfer, I'll be six months in Norman and another six in Edmond. Two areas in one year. That's weird. Oh, and I'm a District Leader now. This is no fun, no fun, planning for district meeting every week, but on the other hand, Elder Scott is going to be my companion. He came out with me, so it will be cool. I'll be a District Leader over five other Elders. It should be a great District.It sounds like things with the family are good. Natalie got a great haircut and Roger got a pink shirt...uh, I'm thinking San FranCisco is wearing in too much. haha! but seriously...a pink shirt...time to retire that bad boy and put on the biker jacket.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

Can I just get baptized?‏

2008-10-21T12:14:00.001-07:00

Dear Family,

My week was awesome! Sorry to say some of the stuff happening in other places isn't so awesome such as the protests in San FranCisco. Keep your head up. This should be some cheery news for ya. All of the hard work in this area is begining to pay off. On Sunday we had five investigators to church. One of which, Yao Yu, has a baptismal date for the 8th of November. She's from China and married a member who lives here and she's been progressing great! We've been meeting with them for about two weeks and its been going very well. The other four is a family of five, the Evans. They would all be considered investigators except one of their daughters is only five years old. Franky, the father, is doing better than I could ever hope for with an investigator. We gave them all a soft baptismal commitment about two weeks ago, on the first lesson, which is "when they come to know these things are true would you be baptized?" They agreed. Well, yesterday Franky asked if he had to wait for the rest of his family to find out its true or if he could just get baptized. Amazing! I hope the rest of his family begins to get as exciting as he is. If things continue, next month we should have five or six baptisms. The sixth comes from another part-member family, the Manzer's, who is becoming more and more desirous to know if this is real and true. Sister Manzer knows what the church stands for is great, but has never been sure if there could really be one true church. We'll see where she goes.I always enjoy the mail and pictures. Thanks Malissa and Crystal for the package. The seat cushon is great! Thanks for the drawings Makinzie!The pictures are of me, my greenie elder Kleinman, Elder Remmington (DL) and his companion elder Miesner hanging out in the institute building, waiting for some other missionaries.

LOVE YA!

Dang false teachers

2008-10-14T12:54:00.001-07:00

Hey fam! Well, first of all, thanks for the pile of mail in my inbox! Its always exciting to hear from ya'll. got a little Okey in me. Don't worry, it will wear off on the flight home, when that time rolls around.So, the pictures are of last P-day. We went bowling and its way expensive here. I remember paying like $6 at home. It was $11 here and I wasn't as good, crapy balls and crapy lanes, but its always fun to spend time with some other missionaries and I got a high score of 183.On Sunday we taught a great family, the Evans. We finally ran into a concern. Donna, the mom, doesn't fully understand how God gives authority/priesthood to his servants and when we taught about baptism and it being done by propper authority, up popped the concern. What's funny is, people here always seem to have a problem with us declaring God's authority lies in ONE church and they always know we are basically saying that nobody else has the right to do ordinances...or better yet, to preach the gospel. We don't even have to say anything and instantly something inside them tells them their preacher doesn't have authority, yet they want to defend that aspect. I have never told anyone their preacher doesn't have authority, but only how it is given and where it lies...they always know what that means, but for some reason don't want to accept that thought, even though we are right in front of them to offer the correct way. I wish it could be as simple as Acts 18 and 19, where someone with good intentions baptizes people, but not correctly so when Paul comes they accept the correct way. Their doing good though. Its a small stumbling block. Her husband is ready to jump in the font as soon as its filled, but we want his wife to be at a similar state so the family can be baptized. Great family, just taught by false teachers too much.Its been fairly good, someday I'll speak with enough power to penatrate the hearts of men...and women.It sounds like things at home are great! If this homosexuality stuff continues just shoot Romans 1:20something. Its a sin and completely against God!Well, love ya!

Progressing investigators

2008-10-06T12:24:00.001-07:00

Well family,

This week was not full of teaching, but we got four great new investigators and one came to a conference session! Which was great. I've never been so excited to hear the prophet and general authorities speak until my mission...great weekend. Anyway, back to those investigators. The Evans family were taught last night...and already have come to church and have noticed the changes it has made in their lives. One of which is their marriage. As soon as Franky (father) came to church the first time with his daughter, things in the family started looking better. Then he came again...and bore his testimony in Sunday School of how he's felt about church and the Book of Mormon. Then he brought his whole family to church and we began teaching. They are a great family and hopefully I can see them get baptized before I leave this area...that gives me probably three weeks, depending on transfers, but at the rate we are going it will be accomplished. They are excited to learn and can't get enough of the gospel. That and conference was pretty much all that was real exciting this week. We have another investigator named June we've taught twice and she is enjoying the knowledge we give her, but I don't know how much "real intent" she has. God will give her some, if she keeps her commitments.So, what's new at home? Its probably started to cool down in the last few days. Oklahoma has been really nice to us the last month...weather wise. How's the house project? I bet its nice to have that tile in the kitchen. Well, thanks for all the motivation you give me! and thanks for the e-mails Malissa and Roger.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

A family to church

2008-09-30T18:35:00.001-07:00

My Dearest Family,

Well, we taught some good lessons and some...ok...lessons, but a whole family came to church this Sunday! Ya-hoo! The Evans family joined us to church and wanted a lesson on the restored gospel, so we taught it to them. It was great! We'll also be meeting with them later this week and hopefully they can come to a session of General Conference. We have another investigator, Keiko, that would really like to see General Conference, but she's got family things this weekend. Her husband dropped us and is no longer interested in learning, but Keiko is bound to find out if its true and has set goals to finish the Book of Mormon and is reading it every night. I hope it doesn't hinder too much with her family by taking the lessons on her own now. I'm sure when she finds out its truth things will start coming around. Her husband is just too comfortable with life right now to want to make changes. We also got a great new investigator, Alicia, from a member. Alicia lives next door to the Bushman's (member). A few weeks ago, Sister Bushman told us about someone we could do service for because she is recently separated and the yard is a little much to try and keep up with, so we step into the picture. Last week, the Bushmans had us and Alicia over for dinner...and now we are teaching her the restored gospel and she is eating it up. We told her about Jesus Christ coming to America and her jaw dropped and gave her just the motivation to read the Book of Mormon. Pretty good week I'd say.Well, it was great to hear from you all. Thanks for the updates about your lives! I love you all!Oh yeah! the picture is because I haven't used my camera in a while and I thought is was time to give it a new picture, so there's my goofy self for you all.

Love ya, -Elder Osness

One to church!

2008-09-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

Hey family,

the picture is of my old companion, Elder Farnsworth, and I. He didn't get a picture of us together, so he wanted one at the Zone conference we had a couple weeks ago. He's a great missionary!Well, we didn't teach as many lessons as I'd like to have this past week, but an investigator did come to church. It was Keiko. Her husband didn't come or her oldest daughter, but she brought her two younger kids they seemed to enjoy it. Keiko has a pretty strong desire to find out if the church is true and would want to be a part of it, but her husband Tod doesn't want to know if its true and is perfectly comfortable where he's at. Tell you what, when Keiko comes to know the truth and becomes a member, things aren't going to be as comfortable. He placing a small hinderment on her progress though because he doesn't want to do anything more than listen to the missionaries, so church, reading, and prayer doesn't occur as often as it should. She'll find out some day and I hope that will trigger something, so her whole family comes to that same knowledge. Yesterday we got a new investigator. It was co-senior day (once a week my greenie gets an opportunity to lead the area) and we had planned on seeing someone who I don't ever think about going to see because I've never met him the whole time I've been in the area, he's never home and I'm pretty sure he moved, but we went to see him. Now I know why the Lord directed us to that area. A guy was sitting on some apartment stairs, so while my companion is putting on his helmet and getting on his bike I started talking to him. Little did I know he would be interested. I began talking about what I was and why I was here and he said before I could finish, "Well, lets hear it." So, Elder Kleinman and I taught him about the restoration. It was an awesome lesson! Its really great when you meet someone that is really intrigued by our message. When I was talking about "dispensations" and "apostacy" I asked him if he had ever wondered why the bible stops...why there are nomore prophets and revelations and prophecies. His responce was awesome! He said, "yeah, why did it stop? Is there an answer to that question?" We smiled and said yeah and instantly he said, "well, tell me. I want to know. You're leaving me in the dark here, come on." So, we told him about the Great Apostacy and the Restoration (Joseph Smith). We also talked about Jesus Christ coming to America and he asked us why he's never heard this before, so I went back to why we are out here on missions and scheduled a return appointment and are seeing him later this week. He couldn't wait to start reading from the Book of Mormon. He want me to mark the section where Christ came to America, so he could read it after is meeting. Its a good week so far.So, I noticed you've done some work on the house, Jeff and Heather. I wish I could be there for the project. The more and more I'm out here the more and more I want to use my hands and do some real labor. It looks like Sarah is ready to help you paint when you're ready to. She's got some great masterpieces that Roger sent pictures of to me.Well, I love you guys. Make sure I don't miss too much while I'm out here.-Elder Onsess

Sunsets and Spiders and Transfers

2008-09-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Family,

This week some non-members came to church, but none of which are investigators...yet:) All the people we've been teaching haven't been coming to church, but to our surprise five non-members came to sacrament meeting and three stayed for all three hours! Some good things are begining.Transfers are Wednesday and I was sure I was going, but the call came last night that I'll be staying with my greenie another transfer. I'm excited to be here for all the good that is becoming of this floundering area, but I do feel ready to leave. I guess I just haven't accomplished what the Lord has for me here. I saw our mission president this morning as well and he had in his mind that I was going too, then he had a puzzled look on his face and said, "oh wait, you're staying, aren't you?"Our district leader's greenie went home today. He felt like he needed to be home for family support (less-active brother). He doesn't understand that this work is the best family support he can offer. If it wasn't, he wouldn't have been called to the work.Well, I bet you're wondering what the Sunsets and Spiders are about since I told you about transfers. The sunsets here are crazy. Oklahoma skies are pretty cool. I seem to always just miss the sun when I want to take a picture though, so it doesn't turn out as awesome as they really are. So, to the spiders. Nancy and Randy might recognize the spider picture a little. If you remember when we went to see Natalie in Georgia last summer then went to Florida for a while and on the walkway to the beach there were these big spiders lining the way in the weird bushes, they're in Oklahoma too! this one was crazy cool though. Its web was probably 10 ft. tall and 6 ft. wide. It spanned from the trunk of a tree to the road up to some of the branches of the tree. The spider wasn't as big as I've seen them, but the web was amazing. They're smart too. I threw a small stick in the web and it stuck, so the spider went and clipped the web so the stick fell off and then went to work repairing the web.So, back to some spiritual matters. We got a couple new investigators that have been in the potentials list for about three months or more and finally got to teach them. They are Drew and Gatlin. Drew's biggest concern isn't what you'd expect. Its not Joseph Smith or the Book of Mormon...or Apastacy, or authority, but a real understanding of Jesus Christ. His concern, I bet a ton of people really have, but don't know it. He told us straight forward, what does it mean "He died for us." I thought to myself, I know what that means, but his concern is deeper than that. Many people probably know what "He died for us" means, but don't really understand it. Its an honest concern...a REAL concern. How does somebody die for our sins? How do you comprehend that? Its not doctrine or a "my ways right, your way is wrong" concern. Its the real purpose of why we go on missions and why we have the gospel...to help others understand the Atonement. Here comes the plan of salvation...and then the gospel of Jesus Christ, which makes it all work out. Its exciting to meet someone that has a real concern. Does it matter if there are prophets, or bibles, or churches, if you don't know why?Thanks for the e-mails and updates I received from ya'll!:) And thanks for your talk, Rog. Its a great spirit building talk on our families.

Love you!-Elder Osness

Slowly but Surely

2008-09-10T07:32:00.000-07:00

Dear family,

This past week we had a few good things happen. One of our investigators we've been seeing lately hasn't been keeping his commitments to read and pray. His interest seemed to be that he wanted to know what our beliefs were and he admired our devotion to the work, so he would let us teach him. Last week we decided to drop by his home and see how he was doing and I asked him if he had been reading and he said, "you know..." (ahh, here it is. He still isn't keeping his commitments). "I've been reading. I want to know." That was pretty cool to see someone take a step to progression. In our last meeting we talked about baptism and he really liked the fact that we do them at an age of accountabilily and not infantcy. His church does and he's very against that because children are not capable of making sin and made clean through the atonement of Christ. I think we'll see him come through, now we just need to get his family listening and coming to church. We were also able to meet with the Wrights, who we haven't been able to teach in three weeks. We just decided to stop by and they asked us if we were going to teach them a lesson, so we did. They are struggling with some of the things we've taught and we've been able to clear most of them. They just can't see the importance of authority and the husband isn't very motivated to church because they have their church to go to, but it will work itself out once a few other things happen...like a testimony. We've got some great investigators, but its taking them a lot longer to progress than I thought. I hope I get to see them make the full commitment to be baptized.Those and the package I received last week made it pretty great! Thanks for all the love you send me! How are things back home, anything new and exciting? The weathers starting to cool down. I bet thats nice. I know I'm loving it here. I just wish it would stay around 70 for the rest of my mission. haha! probably won't happen, tribulation is a requirment.pictures: The District-Elder Remington (District Leader/trainer) Elder Underhill (Remington's greenie) Me (trainer) Elder Kleinman (my greenie) Sister Lolesi (trainer) Sister Reed (Lolesi's greenie)WoW...a really really GREEN district:)

Love ya,Elder Osness

The church is true...still!

2008-09-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

My Dearest Family,

Well, Things went pretty well last week. We were able to teach alot of people, but nobody came to church. We've been going to Langston University, in the edge of our area, once a week. There's a bunch of nothing there, but now that school's in, there are a bunch of students there. Its a really secluded University, so when we go there we usually stay most the day and try to talk to and teach as many students as we can. In between classes there is nowhere to go, so they just hang around campus to wait for their next class. So far there isn't anything real promising, but we'll keep working at it and soon enough the entire campus will no about the Mormon Missionaries on campus. We got some great new potential investigators last week too. One guy's name is Rod. He's a fireman and has a couple kids, I think. We went by to see if we could teach, but he was at the fire department, but his wife was home and we spoke with her for a while. Her name is heather...oh, that sounds familiar! Ha!One of the lessons we had wasn't so good. This guy wasn't going to accept anything we told him. My companion asked him a good question because the guy needs so much proof of the Book of Mormon, he said, if their was no proof of a man, Christ, that was crucified, would you beleive in the bible. The guy thought for a moment, and said, no....sign seekers drive me crazy. He says he knows the spirit works in his life and he feels it, but he must have never felt the spirit witness to him of Jesus Christ because he even needs physical proof of that. oh yeah, he's an Elder in the Evangelist church...False Faith. The spirit testifies to me of truth and they don't have it.So, the week was pretty eventfull, but not much progression came of it...yet.A renter in your own home? That seems strange. Is it a student or something? A litte extra income isn't so bad though to fix up those household projects.Hey, thanks for the package! It came a while ago, but because of the flood thing that occured in our appartment we were at a member's home for a while and I didn't find out about it until last week. I had to wait tell today to get it because it was at the post office and the post office is out of my area, so I haven't gotten to check it out yet. Thanks a bunch for all the love and support!

Love ya!-Elder Osness

Yo Adrian!

2008-08-26T14:42:00.000-07:00

Dearest Family,

I don't have any new pictures of me for this last week, but the clouds here are still cool!Last week was a little sketchy with getting sittuated in a member's home (the Bray's), but its really nice and has been pretty enjoyable to be in the comforts their basement. Next week we'll probably be moving into a new appartment, which will be a sad change. We've been living pretty comfortably for the last week.So, the new happening events in the work...well, we found a great person to teach! Her name is Adrian. The way she explained her name was by refering to Rocky. "Yo Adrian!" haha! She came to the door and was, surprisingly, happy to see us. We talked to her for a few minutes at her doorstep and gave her a Book of Mormon, left her a commitment to read and pray about it and she looked at it and said "Okay, I could probably have it read in a couple weeks." WOW! We asked if we could come by and see how the reading was going and teach her some more of our message and scheduled an appointment. She was pretty cool. Besides that we had a few dropped appointments from other investigators, but rescheduled for this week, so its really good out here.My greenie companion had his first bash with a guy last night, which went nowhere. I could barely get a word in, he was so into proving this guys questions. It was kind of difficult, but he won't be bashing anymore. I'm really enjoying my mission!So, I hear Spencer is off to basic training. That will be cool to hear how things are going with him! What else is new in the lives of our family. I haven't heard from very many of you lately...except for Roger's diligent e-mails. I can just picture Sarah standing there with her arms out waiting to help. I love my family!

Thanks for all your love and support. Love you all!

The good and the bad...oppostion in all things

2008-08-26T14:38:00.000-07:00

Family,

Well it sounds like most everyone is doing well. A few stresses here and there, but I hope everything turns out good. (Natalie's surgery and Heather's family). The Mormon Anniversary stuff in San Fran seemed pretty cool. We know that with every good moment there is bad somewhere and with all the bad, the goodness of God will be around. Something I learned in the MTC is to cherish the hard times because those are the times that make the good times all the better. And its really true. We really don't know how good it is until there is something worse that confronts us. Lucky for me, the times have been pretty good this past week. The weather took a turn. Its been cloudy ever since the new missionaries arrived. Yesterday, there was a light mist...all day. It was awesome! The last few days have been between 70-95 degrees. Other than the weather and the overall enjoyment of being a missionary...nothing has happened. We've only taught a few lessons and no progressing investigators. We haven't been able to make contact with Andres (Baptism Date) since we set the date and our other great families we're teaching...still haven't come to church, but they will. There is good in everything. Its up to us to find it.So, speaking about the new missionaries...I'm training one of them. His name is Elder Kleinman and Music Theater is his life, if that can give you a picture of his personality. He's pretty cool...your typical drama student, but he loves athletics too. It hasn't been bad training. I think the only stress of it comes from the title "trainer," the actual work isn't different. Things are pretty good out here and hopefully more and more people accept the gospel.The pictures are of me and my greenie out enjoying the great proselyting weather in Edmond.

Love you all!

-Elder Glenn Onsess

Waterfall feature!

2008-08-21T10:13:00.001-07:00

Well Family,

there was an exciting turn of events this past weekend. The week was pretty good, we taught a couple great lessons and tried a new way of teaching...well, not a new way, but instead of talking a little about our message when tracting we decided we were going to start teaching at the door of peoples homes. It works great and should continue to be better and better as we work out the bumps of trying a new thing. We managed to pull off two lessons with commitments to read and pray about the book of mormon and we got to pray with them, but didn't get any return appts.. We'll be working on how we can manage to do that...then we'll move on to a soft baptismal commitment at the door. (Soft baptismal commitment-when you come to know these things are true, would you be baptized?)So, back to my first statement. Training a new missionary isn't so bad, but walking into an appartment with water pouring out of the roof, through vents, and light fixtures a week and a half into the mission has got to be weird! On Saturday evening at 9:00 p.m. we opened our appartment door to a waterfall sound and flipped on the light to find...a waterfall in our appartment! We quickley grabbed our suitcases and filled them with our belongings and made a few calls to get things situated...only we couldn't find any maintenance or manager numbers anywhere and the people that lived near us weren't home, so we were in limbo. Finally, at about 10:45 p.m. we got a call from the appartment manager, who was furious with us because we didn't call him. Well, the story goes, a bathroom pipe had broken in the appartment above us and while we were out and about through the day, our appartment received all the water, which then ran to the neighboring appartment and into the parking lot, leaving us to sleep, or should I say, attempt to sleep on the floor of another set of missionaries appartment with no bed, blanket, or pillow. I now know what its like to feel homeless. Lucky for us we only had to stay in that appartment and live in our car for two nights. We are now staying at a member's home who have a full basement (kitchen, bathroom, own entrance). Good news of the weekend...we got an investigator to church, who is planning on bringing is family next week! I guess its not too bad, but the work did kind of hit a stand still for a little bit.(the pictures are of our appt. the next day)Well, I hope things are great at home!

Love you!-Elder Osness

Not a cloud in sight

2008-08-06T14:28:00.000-07:00

My Family,

Well, Another week come and gone. This week went by way fast! I can't even remember anything from it. We're still just teaching the same people and other people are still just satisfied with life and don't want to talk to us, but that's the way life goes as a missionary. The sun really wears you out pretty quick. It was 107 the other day. yuk! Ithink I spoke too soon last week...now August is here and Its really hot...with hot wind...like home. Tracting tracting tracting, oh, all the time in the heat. Yep, that's me! Ough! Next transfer we should be getting some baptisms though...I hope. With one investigator with a date and an awesome family of five we've been teaching, there's some promise. The family we've been teaching has a problem with the nececity of baptism, but they said they understand where it comes from and are sure God will answere their prayers. We've been teaching at a member's home and our last lesson started off a little wacky. We told the members we were going to teach Lesson 3 (The Gospel of Jesus Christ), so they looked at it and read it and new how to help, but one of them just got a little over anxious and started talking about the temple and being sealed and just going way over their heads. It was annoying, but her husband helped us out and got it back to the lesson...oof! Besides that, everything is great and the family is still openminded and wanting to learn more...just with more questions about things we want to cover at a later time.We also went out to the far ends of our area...Coyle. There's nothin'! Just a bunch of people who hate life, but some of them were friendly, but the dogs sure weren't. We were biking and a dog starts barking and growling...then jolting full speed after us...yup, so we biked faster...Ha! dumb dog! The picture is me looking at the map in Coyle. There were a few good things about it...clouds, but still 100+ degrees.Well Love ya'll. Hope to hear from you soon!Oh, so is there a package headed my way? You know, the one that was going to get sent after the Family Reunion. Oh, and I'm training a new missionary. I find out all about him tomorrow.

Take care:)-Elder Osness

It ain't so bad!

2008-07-31T10:30:00.001-07:00

Hey Fam!

Another week gone. My mission is going by so fast! Its so crazy! This week was the hottest week since I've been here...103, but still more tolerable than St. George. Everyone from here keeps on telling me its going to get so hot, just you wait. And I tell them, so far its been just like home or not as bad...except for winter. ewuah! The winters are about the same temperature as home, but with slicing wind...Summer is like St. George with a little more moisture. It makes it nice. I sweat a little more, but its not as hot. St. George Summers are like an oven. Here, they are hot with a little wetness, so even a little breeze feels really good. My short sleeve shirts are stained with sweat from where my bag rests. They're really white except for my shoulders and my back. And my shoes are getting their use. I've already got some holes wore into the bottoms and the soles are begining to separate themselves from the rest of the shoes. Well, enough about weather and my attire.This past week was pretty good. We set a baptismal date with Andres that we can work towards and prepare him for; 16 August 2008. And we a few others that could potentially be baptized soon after. That family I wrote about that we tracted into on the 4th of July. We taught them at a member's home and they keep commitments great. Keiko read Alma 34 and the book of Moroni. I'm not sure how much her husband read or her daughter, but they seem to be moving along great! I'm excited for some events that should be occuring next month in Edmond!So, I heard a little something about Pixar and BYU. My companion told me that they got BYU set up with courses and and programs and everything they need to develope prime employees. I might have to do some good studying when I get home and see what I can do to get in there.

Thanks for all you do for me!

Love Ya!-Elder Osness

just movin' along...

2008-07-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

Hello Family,

Nothing really new, except for some awesome new investigators! I think, next transfer this area may have a few baptisms. We have one investigator that has been coming to church for a couple months, Andres, I'm pretty sure he'll be getting baptized soon. He is awesome! Yesterday, we got two new investigators; Keiko and Tod. They are great! They have three kids, one of which has already begun reading the Book of Mormon. She started before we taught them. The family was tracted into on the 4th of July...by us and said she didn't know much about our religion and said we could come by sometime. We left Keiko with a Book of Mormon and a chapter to read. She and her husband went online to mormon.org and did some research and reading and their oldest daughter (13yrs old) started reading the Book of Mormon. She was fasinated that Jesus Christ came to America. They feel really good about it and our next visit will be at a member's home.That's really all the news I have. Good week thus far. So, how are things with ya'll? (getting a little Southern on ya) How was the family reunion? Sounds like Roger and Hillary enjoyed their time in St. George.

Love Yous guys! -Elder Osness

Just hanging out

2008-07-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

Hey Fam!

(the pictures are of the Masonic Temple because I haven't taken any since.)Not much new stuff has happened this past week. We taught a really cool guy on Sunday in Elder's Quarum. He's going to be baptized...some day. We're actually going to set a date tonight with him. He's been coming to church for a couple months and the previous missionaries had supposed he was a member, but found out otherwise, so we are teaching him. He told them he wasn't a member...yet. His name is Andres. He's truely a Golden investigator. He eats up everything we teach and is ready for more. One lesson and he's already got a testimony. I love meeting people who are ready and searching for the gospel. That's really only thing I can think of that is super exciting for the past week...So, how's life with every one?

Love ya!Elder Osness

New investigators

2008-07-08T13:19:00.001-07:00

Hey fam!

PICTURES- my new companion and I in the outskirts of Edmond (not a very good picture, I'll take another one, but I filled up my memory card.) The other two are at the Masonic Temple in Guthrie. The statue was cool so I got a picture with us around it and the theater one is way cool. Its just like in the movies and they still have plays there...only for Masons though. The tour guide played the organ for us and it sounded like the Phantom of the Opera. It has way good acoustics in there! This area is kind of hard, but its moving along. I've only been able to teach one of the investigators the area previously had, but good news We've gotten some great potentials in the last couple of weeks and three new investigators...soon to increase. The ward is coming together more in their missionary work and are becoming more and more willing and wanting to help. Its been great! The 4th of July was good. we didn't get to see any fireworks, but we went to a BBQ a a member's home with a bunch of the other ward members and we met an awesome family while tracting! Good things are happening hopefully they can turn to the best things.It's definately getting hot, but I already bought a camelbak, so no worries. Thanks for the packages filled with goodies, shirts, and the supplies.

Love ya!-Elder Osness

New #

2008-07-01T21:07:00.000-07:00

I don't remember if I gave the phone number out, but my new one is (405)924-5034. It will more than likely change again before I call home for Christmas. Every area has a new number, so every transfer, I get a new number.Love ya and tell everyone 'sup for me. Oh, want to know something cool. I got a package from Kellie for my birthday. Hmm, that's weird, she's married. She's a cool friend! -Elder Osness