A nice relief‏

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

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

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

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

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

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

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