THE FRUIT COMES LAST! :)

BROTHER BROWN IS BAPTIZED!! 

YES, you read that correctly. 

He is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saint!

Last Sunday we had a pivotal lesson. 

"Brother Brown, we aren't here to convince you to get baptized, 

We are here to help you recognize that God has already answered your prayers."

There was a long silence afterwards. A peaceful silence that no one wanted to break. 

I felt very strongly that August 22nd was the day the Lord knew he was ready.

He wanted Brother Brown to feel of His love for him even deeper. As we talked about feeling the Spirit and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost he said, 

"It is comforting to know that even when I am alone, I am never alone. God is with me." 

I didn't want to write about it on Monday because that's when his interview was. 

And things went really well after that! 

He was baptized Saturday and received the gift of the Holy Ghost yesterday!

It was the greatest last Sunday of my mission! 

Sister Nixon and I sang a duet in Sacrament Meeting and taught Relief Society too! 

The Relief Society lesson was on Brother Brown's favorite General Conference talk- really. 

No one knew that when they asked us to teach. But he would reference it all the time in our lessons with him. It was the first General Conference he ever really watched- and he watched 3 sessions of it! 6 hours!  His wife was so happy that he would do that. Now he is baptized! The Lord's promises are sure. 

I will hopefully be able to come back in a year when they go through the temple to be sealed as husband and wife for time and all eternity! 

For the baptism, this is really special to me, the opening hymn that Brother Brown chose was "Press Forward Saints." 

My missionary scripture. But they didn't know that. 

2 Nephi 31:20-

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

I told them that it was my missionary scripture and Sister Brown said, "Don't make us cry." As her eyes filled with tears. 

"Thank you for not giving up." she told me after the baptism. She has been waiting for this moment for 8+ years. There were so many people who were apart of Brother Brown's conversion to Jesus Christ there at the baptism. He is a true disciple! The change in him has been drastic. He is so full of Light, he says the most fervent prayers, he is always thinking of others- in fact, that is one of the biggest reasons he wanted to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, so he could better serve those around him. He recognizes when he feels the Spirit. 

He told us, "I wish I would have known these things a long time ago! But I know them now." :) 

This was my "Final Paragraph" for departing missionaries I sent in to the Mission Office today: 

"Hello, It's Sister Osmond!

I am so grateful for the opportunity the Lord gave me to serve in Wisconsin. 

I know I met the people I needed to meet. 

Talk with Everyone! 

The person across the street or with headphones in is usually the person with the greatest connections to the church. haha

I know that all things work together for our good and the good of those around us as we counsel with our loving Heavenly Father, repent quickly, and give thanks to Him everyday. 

He does so much for us and always has our best interest in mind, even if we can't see it yet. He loves us. We are His children. 

One of my favorite quotes by President Erying says, "To know His will, you must be committed to do it."

As we put OUR desires aside and allow the Spirit to teach us HIS WILL, we will be the happiest as we choose to ACT on the inspiration that will come.  :) 

I testify that the fruit comes last, after the trial of our faith! (1 Peter 1:7-8)

For me this principle was a part member family we were working with for 5 months- the Brown family. 

He was agnostic and the only thing he changed in his life was reading the Book of Mormon and praying. 

He was baptized the last week of my mission. 

His life was full of God's Light. He works in the nursery and says, "Every child deserves to know they are a child of God."

He is one of the most Christlike people I have ever met and I know one of the reasons why I was sent here was for them. 

I know that every missionary has a specific purpose and as they turn to the Lord they will find joy in His service! 

I definitely did! This experience has changed my heart and filled it with greater joy than I ever expected to find. 

I know that my Redeemer LIVES! 

Steadfast and Immovable in Christ!"

Let us all press on in the work of the Lord. 

There are always great things to come. 

I love this gospel! 

I know that this is Christ's original church restored to the earth today. 

I know that it is headed by prophetic authority and that authority comes from God, it has to. 

I know that peace only comes from God. 

I will put my Trust in Him forever. 

Consistency in the gospel is key to happiness!  

Consistency in the gospel is not overwhelming. 

Consistency in the gospel of Jesus Christ is constant, growing, and enduring conversion. 

Because conversion comes from feeling the Spirit and acting on it! 

Feeling the Spirit lets us know we are on the right path and allows us to feel of God's love for us more deeply and individually. 

A question I want to always ask myself is, "What can I do right now to be closer to God?" 

He loves His children. 

Being reunited with my family, I can imagine, will be a glimpse of what heaven is like. 

Love, 

Sister Osmond

...for the last time as a full-time missionary!