TRANSFERS!

At the Corner of Bittersweet Dr...

Hello!

Leaving is always so Bitter-Sweet!

This is officially my last Monday at the little Menomonee Falls library.

The New Area:

I'm being transfered to SHEBOYGAN!

Everyone in this area seems to have a connection to Sheboygan. Even our neighbor's family lives there!

The missionaries who have served there say the ward is on fire with Missionary Work!

& that it's the next Lake Michigan ward.

I feel so good about going there...that's how I know it is where I need to be.

I've learned a lot about being an effective missionary because of the leaders I've served with here!

Can you believe I've spent 1/3 of my mission in this ward?!

I've decided that Life is like living in "The Falls:" (I'm going to miss saying that I live in "The Falls!")

One experience flows into the next...& what you take out of the past makes the future that much better.  

But... Everyday I get to say I live in Sheboygan! Since Day 1, it's been my favorite Wisconsin word to say.

SHEBOYGAN. SHEBOYGAN. SHEBOYGAN. SHEBOYGAN. SHEBOYGAN.

The New Companion:

My new companion is Sister Milligan.

(Sister Zebley's MTC companion! Talk about an easy transition.)

But "Holy Cats!" I am going to miss Sister Zebley SO much! She is definitley one of those people that you are forever friends with post-mission.

New Goals:

I love making goals! You know what President Monson says, "Without a goal there can be no real success."

My new goal for this transfer is to Dive into Preach My Gospel and really get to know it!

I'm so grateful for this goldmine of a resource! I don't know how missionaries did it before PMG!! Phewfta.

This week was wonderful because I was able to go on exchanges to the YSA ward! Whoot Whoot!

...Which is rare because the junior companion usually stays in the area and the senior companion leaves- so I was super lucky that they planned it this way! It was my very first time not being in my own area for an exchange.

It was crazy having a missionary work filter: instead of talking to everyone- you only try to talk to people who are younger!  

Also: the YSA sisters (aka our Sister Training Leaders) live with the Oakcreek Sisters!

(Sister Packer-who I met at tunnel singing before my mission- & Sister Ormby-who was emergency transfered from our district! So it was so fun to see both of them again!)

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE AN AMAZING WEEK!!

Steadfast and Immovable in Christ!

Love,

Sister Osmond

The Falls Library with the wonderful Sister Zelbey

Lauren's Baptism!!

Lauren’s Baptism!!

The spirit was just overflowing in that meeting. BOOM!! It just hit your heart.

Words cannot describe how happy I was! Lauren gave each of us a hug before she went into the font and with her eyes filled with tears she said,

"Thank you for EVERYTHING girls!"....& that’s why we are here...

Everything is worth it for moments like those.

ps: Her boyfriend Gary is 6'9!!! Haha & He was the happiest man ever Saturday!  

OK.... So the Hair! Chopped!!

I had been talking about it with for months! Sister Weber is the head of a salon in Theinsville! (She works with Lauren's sister actually!!) So it was super kind of her to do it for free! She's a pro! She wanted to do it- & she has a good eye! She posted it on her instagram and everyone in the ward knew before Sunday! haha ohhh Social media. 

I know it's such a Sister Missionary thing to do- but now I see why! You can see what it's like and still have time to grow it out before you go home. haha I feel like everyone has a secret fear of cutting their hair- because it's their look! So it was really freeing to chop it all off!! whoo!!

Another Bucket List item? ...check!

Plus, my hair was kind of "me" for awhile- people would always comment on my hair! & now It's gone!! ahhh- refreshing.

I'm still the same Sister Osmond--- just more courageous. ;)

Steadfast and Immovable in Christ!

Love,

Sister Osmond

FUN FACTS: 

*Sister Cutler had family in town this week but still made the effort to drive down to the Lake Michigan ward for Lauren's confirmation yesterday- it was so thoughtful of her.

*My favorite line from the white handbook is.. "How great is your calling!"

*& You guys will love this! Danielle just text us and said that she is currently serving her mission in Arizona because she convinced her roommate to go with her to church this Sunday! :) Whoot Whoot!! Way to share the Light Danielle!

Now that's (almost-)member missionary work in action!

She has such a positive outlook about post-poning her baptism because of her parents- she has such trust in the Lord's timing! I look up to her so much. 

  

**AMAZING MIRACLES ALERT!***

Menomonee Falls Library

HELLO! I'M BACK!!

So I might only have 1 more P-Day in the Lake Michigan ward!

(...nothing is "for sure" but I feel like I'm leaving- 

I have been here 6 months...YET.) <---- Wisconsin-ese

It's going to be so hard to leave my first area! I love these people like I grew up with them. 

It's the craziest thing. & I have to be honest, it was hard to think that at the beginning of my mission. While I tried to stay positive- I was always thinking of home. Now, I don't feel like it's my "duty"- 

I feel like I am a part of a community. I look forward to seeing these people and being with them! Seriously! I am constantly thinking about how I can help them or what scriptures to text them or who we should introduce them to at church.

This week we had a lot of open time because many of our investigators were on vacation before school starts up again! haha

(Speaking of which: Good Luck Zak, Wyatt, and Bella! I'm only a couple states away thinking about and praying for you that it's an awesome first week of school!)

So we called it "Miracle Time" because we knew that as long as we prayed and worked and did our part...Heavenly Father would place the people in our path that we needed to meet.

& boy, did He ever!

YES...

"Everything Happens for a Reason."

But Guess What? It really does.

I have had WAY too many experiences in just this one week to know that this is true for the rest of my life.

Like yesterday, I felt like I should call this random girl we have been trying to get a hold of FOREVER.

So I did... because when you really feel like you should act on a good thought... that's the spirit!

Yup, She answered. We're going to lunch with her this week after months of calling and texting her with no response.

-OR-

When the Elders serving in Appleton call you and tell you they just gave your cousin a Book of Mormon!!
-He is from Utah and just happened to be visiting Wisconsin!

REALLY! I started tearing up when they told me this.

*It was great also because they told him that if he read the Book of Mormon his performances would go better.

Those 3 Elders felt like they should talk to these guys on the street in Appleton, WI and sure enough...!

When my cousin introduced himself they asked him if he was related to a Sister Osmond with blonde hair, the Elders didn't know my first name... He responded, "Sophia is serving here? Tell her what's up! I didn't know she was on a mission."

I was so overwhelmed on the phone. I was so full of gratitude that those Elders listened to the spirit when it told them to go and talk to him or that would have never happened. After I hung up I had this overwhelming sense of commitment  come over me to share the gospel with EVERYONE! 

The gospel blesses families!! MY FAMILY!!!

Yesterday during church, one of the speakers couldn't make it so the missionaries were asked to bare there testimonies!

I shared this experience about the missionaries meeting "my cousin" and was pretty emotional.

Later a lady from Utah came up to me and said she was visiting her son and daughter-in-law in our ward... and asked if she could share that story with my cousin's brother who just happened to be in her ward back home!! Which she did, instilling hope and a testimony of the power of prayer!!

Of all the Sundays she could have been there!

Everything Happens for a Reason, Folks!

***ANOTHER AMAZING MIRACLE***

Lauren is getting baptized this Saturday! AH!

It has been a long time coming.. Phewfta. :)

Because she has been thinking about baptism for SO LONG... she has had to deal with a lot of adversity for SO LONG.

(I may have told you about her one of the first weeks I was in the area!)

She was introduced to the church by her boyfriend, Gary, and has been investigating the church for over a year now! So you can imagine how happy he is! haha

It's the coolest thing because she wanted to really take the time to find out for herself if everything she had been taught was true! As soon as she started diving into the Book of Mormon and sincerely wanting to know for herself if it was true she finally gained her testimony! She is now being baptized because she knows it's right.

There have been so many people that have been waiting for this day! Especially Lauren.

I am so grateful that I am going to be here to see it.

THIS IS A GOOD PLACE.

I KNOW I NEED TO BE HERE. :)

Have a GREAT week! I love back to school!!

I'll miss reading President Hinkley's Stand a Little Taller every morning!!

Steadfast & Immovable in Christ!

Love, 

Sister Osmond

Obedience

One of my favorite quotes on Obedience is…

"First I Obey, then I understand." -Marjorie Pay Hinckley

So….Jessie Dean gave us cream puffs from the Wisconsin State Fair this morning! (She runs with us at the Menomonee Falls High school track a couple times a week!) But... sadly…..WE CAN'T EAT THEM! haha

WHY?!!?  Because….. {THIS. IS. WORTH. IT.}…….

We signed a contract with an amazing family that if they would keep the Word of Wisdom and give up Coffee for 7 days... Sister Zebley and I would go without treats!!

The mother has been having a lot of health problems lately and really wants to make it to the temple with her family so we're doing all we can to help them get there!

We promised her that Heavenly Father is just waiting to bless her as she OBEYS this commandment. Pretty Exciting for them. We had to call them out in a loving way because we know if they can take this giant step forward…

 There is pinata of blessings in store for them!

 *I wish I could make a Spanish N--- an "n-yay"----but I don't know how to on this computer!! haha!

ahhh! so I wish I had longer to write! 

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

We are just going to an appointment. This was the only day that we could schedule it! It's Sister Eberhardt in our ward- we are going to her house for lunch because we are going to teach a lesson to her friends that are coming over!

Steadfast & Immovable in Christ!

Love, 

Sister Osmond

Stepping Stones vs Stumbling Blocks

Danielle & Sister Osmond

So I love this concept of Stepping Stones .vs. Stumbling Blocks!

In life we are given experiences (stones) & we must choose for ourselves (agency) what we want to do with them!

Take every stone you have to the Lord & He will make it a stepping stone for you.

I have to always keep 2 Nephi 32:9 at the forefront of my mind-

"But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the FIRST PLACE ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul."

This was an incredible week! We found some very prepared people as we prayed in our hearts to have the Spirit guide us. Excited to meet with them this week! We are teaching so many young women right now!

It's amazing to meet so many people our age and share with them simple truths that have given purpose to my life!

#1 Truth: YOU HAVE A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.

Fast and Testimony meeting was one of the Best!

(Probably because I have learned how to be a better listener as a missionary. :)

Sister Weber shared a story of a man who felt he needed to take this girl a dozen yellow roses... He knew this was such an out-of-the blue prompting and he needed to follow it even though he didn't know why!

He showed up at her door and said, "I don't know why I'm here but I'm here."

At her baptism someone had given her a yellow rose... now she had a dozen at her doorstep.  She had just been praying to know if Heavenly Father loved her-

& with tears steaming down her face- she knew He did.

Sister Checketts shared a beautiful follow-up testimony with this story.

She said that when we pray to our Heavenly Father for answers...

"Sometimes roses don't show up on our doorstep or a warm loaf of bread from a neighbor... But that doesn't mean He doesn't love us. He does. His love is manifested in many ways- often the ways we least expect. As we humble ourselves, we will see His hand in our lives."

I know this is true! I know that when we feel like we aren't receiving answers it is usually because our Heavenly Father has something better in store for us. Our job is to be open and ready to receive. So cool!

Another testimony from Brother Houdek: He and his wife paid their tithing for the first time!

He said, "Usually you hear incredible miracles that happen from paying tithing!  But for us within a few weeks my wife and I both lost our jobs. It was super scary- definitely a trial of our faith for the law of tithing. But right after we found out I'd be losing my job... the missionaries showed up! & they shared a scripture we really needed to hear. So.. Be patient and Good Things will happen."

WHAT?! We had no idea until this moment that the strong prompting we had to go and visit them was an answer to their prayers!! I remember growing up and hearing stories about missionaries being in the right place at the right time and this time... They were talking about Sister Zebley and Sister Osmond! 

My eyes filled with tears.

There were a lot of investigators that didn't show up to church yesterday and I was sitting there praying about if I was doing enough and what I needed to improve on as a missionary.

Heavenly Father answered my prayer with that testimony.

Sometimes we may not feel like we are making a big impact--- but if we are living by the spirit, we are.

Whether known or unknown, the impact of our decisions to follow the Savior will always extend beyond us. It will radiate out and bless the lives of those who know you.

Remember:

#1. YOU HAVE A LOVING HEAVENLY FATHER.

He knows you and is aware of your needs.

Pray to Him first, before you do anything else.

He'll turn your stumbling blocks into stepping stones. :)

SIMPLE TRUTHS SAVE LIVES...

Steadfast and Immovable in Christ!

Love,

Sister Osmond

Also: I think I told you this but everyone in Wisconsin puts the word YET in the weirdest places. it doesn't make sense.

"The nectarines will soon ripen Yet."

"The shoes are in the closet Yet."

"How are we doing-------Yet?!"

Like what?! haha

I am seriously so happy! 110% emotional honesty.

I LOVE being a missionary! I have grown so much.. not size wise yet... but in my testimony and charity for others! It's so cool how the Lord can change us from the inside-out!

Look at this GIANT Brownie we made during our lunch hour! One way to Get'er done!

Time is the most precious resource Heavenly Father has given us- so we decided to save some time. haha!  We made them for the neighbors we are teaching and took them over with Danielle- where she shared her favorite scripture (Alma 32:28-30) and her powerful testimony of the restored truths of the gospel!