How are you? In my underwear.‏ - Week 5

Note from the editor: Mik had very little time this week (this is a pattern now :) and could not even send pictures, so the family/friend email is short. But then tonight, I got an email from a member who sent us a cute note and a picture of her. I love it when people are thoughtful!

Hey everyone, 

Can I just say how much I love being a missionary? Nothing beats consistently learning, teaching, and becoming more like the Savior. But just know that I do miss you all. I think about you every day. 

This week, we had a lot of funny experiences. One of them being:

We knocked on this guys door and his son answered it. As he opened the door we said, "Hello, how are you?" And he responded, "In my underwear." We just sat there for a second with the most awkward eye contact as he stood there in his black boxers...

But anyway, but besides all of the awkward things we do as missionaries and funny experiences we have, we also learn A LOT.

One of the things I learned this week is that knowledge is power, but that with power comes a huge responsibility. People that we talk with often don't want to know if the message that we share is true, because they know that if it is and that if they know it is, then they have the responsibility to do something about it. And that responsibility comes with a lot of changes to their lifestyle and commitments. What they don't realize though is that with those changes and new found knowledge comes an incredible amount of joy. Our Father in Heaven gives us 100X the amount we could ever give up. Even if we gave up our lives for Him, we would forever be in His debt. 

I love being a missionary because I get to help people, and live what I know. But the sad part about being a missionary is all the people who don't know what they don't know. 

I'm so grateful to know what I know. I know it's true. I know that Christ is our Savior, I know that God is our father, I know that this gospel that we have is His plan for us. And I know that it is very important that we share it.

What do you know? :) 

This week, do something about the things that you know. 

I love you all!

Sister Osman

So grateful for these people:

Your daughters came by and shared a wonderful message with our family.
We are very happy to have them in our ward. They are doing great work.

The K*s

Sister Osman & Sister Reese

It's a Good Life Hazel Grace‏ - Week 4

Note from the editor: If you did not get a personal note today, even if you wrote her, Mikkia was so busy that she did not have time to open/answer all the emails, but she will try for next week! :)

Hello everyone :)

It has been...another fantabulous day here in Ajax Canada. I'm loving it. 

All week the phrase that has been coming to my mind has been "It's a good life Hazel Grace". Because seriously. It's a good life. 

This week was so funny!!! 

So we go and knock on this old lady's door and we hear her massive dog barking through the door. I swear, dogs are the bane of a missionary's existence. Anyway, this tiny old lady opens the door and she is just struggling to hold back this massive dog. So I'm like, "Lady, would you like some help?" And her response shocked me. She said, "One word and you wouldn't be standing there." I seriously was so confused. I was like, "what?" And she said, "My dog is trained! Do you know what that means??" And I was like, "Well yeah...it means he does what you say!" And I swear, this little lady suddenly stood up straight, and got on her tip toes to look in my eyes, (they were huge and blue and creepy) and said, "It means that if I tell him to get you he will!!!" Hahaha I seriously had to keep myself from laughing. I just stared right back at her, and my companion Sister Jolie asked her if there was any way we could serve her. At that point she suddenly started going on a rant about how she grew up a devout catholic and went to church 3 times a week and was raised by nuns and all that kinda stuff. So we said back, "well I bet we could learn a lot from you!" And she said, "yes. Yes you could!!!" And then she slammed the door. I don't know what happened to her Cheerios that morning, but we laughed so hard. 

So we kept on walking to a different street to go visit this lady who has a bright purple house. As we knock on her door we hear the neighbors yell, "Don't open the door!! They are Mormons!!!" But she did open the door and we had a great time. I love that lady. Haha and afterwards we just laughed some more. So the next door we knock on this boy opens the door. He was probably around 26. 

We tell him that we are missionaries and ask him if he believes in God, all the while the smell of weed oozing from the door. He had these pretty blue eyes but he was definitely very "not all there" if you know what I'm saying. Well, he smirked and said that he was the wrong person to talk to because he knew for sure that he was beyond saving. Just then a whole bunch of his buddies came to the door. Apparently it was his friend T*'s 26th birthday and they were celebrating by hotboxing in this guy's house. Haha we talked to them all at the door for a second and T* informed us that he was from New Finland...(not sure why he felt it necessary to tell us that) And then all of a sudden one of his other buddies comes to the door. So There is this huge group of boys crowded around the door, and us two small missionary girls trying to explain to them how much God loves them and all of a sudden one shouts out, "SHE'S A BABE!" And points at me. At that point they all proceeded to ask us if we wanted to go clubbing with them. So the boy who originally opened the door turned around and started yelling at them all how stupid they are for assuming that we would do something like go clubbing with them. Haha it was seriously the funniest sight. They were all just so out of it. Hahahaha so we explained that we would not be going clubbing with them and why, but that we hoped they had a great time. Then we invited them to church, and gave them a card and left. 

As we walked away they all watched us from the window. 

Then yesterday while we were knocking on doors this super tall lady answers the door. She was black and explained that she didn't believe in religion because it causes so many problems and segregates people (which is totally understandable) but then she went on this huge rant about how she is a daughter of the universe. At first she was very mad that we knocked on her door, but at the end of her rant I told her how beautiful I thought she was and asked her if I could take a picture with her to send to my mom. Then all of a sudden she loved us and invited us in as showed us all of her grandchildren and told us that she was from Barbados!! Well her husband came downstairs to meet us. He was from Cameroon in Africa and had the cutest little son. Well he came downstairs and looked into my eyes, he was towering over me. I asked him if he believed in Christ and he brought his nose very close to mine, stooping down from up above, (his eyes were deep brown with blue rims), with a very, very intense and creepy almost crazed stare, and yelled into my face, "JESUS CHRIST IS THE GREATEST MAN TO HAVE EVER LIVED!!!!" I did my best to stand straight and return his gaze and I said, "AMEN BROTHER!" Haha, I love that family. Anyway. We said goodbye and left. At which point we saw a really cool bug. I'll send you all a picture. 

Well I had a lot more to say today, but that took too long to write. But anyway. Don't listen to anyone if they ever tell you missions are boring. They aren't. They are fun. Go on a mission. 

Also, I've been studying the Book of Revelation in the bible this week. Everyone should check it out. It's really interesting.

And listen to the song Bitter Sweet Symphony by the Verve. Great song. I miss it.

Love,

Sister Osman

Sister Osman & Sister Jolie

It's a good life Hazel Grace!

Shout out to Sheridyn, she misses you! :)

Take on the day!

Lovely Lady from Barbados. Her husband is from Cameroon!

Cameroon

Barbados

Little boy, dad from Cameroon. Mik loves kids!

Call me Superbug!

God is the best artist! Sunset over Ajax!

Tan lines from trackting beat frost bite any day!

Hey, Mann!!!! #jamaicaisrad - Week 3

Note from the editor: Mikkia called yesterday and was in great spirits. After getting to Canada, she went trackting right away, had a whole bunch of meetings and did not miss a beat. She was so tired that she fell asleep standing up but that did not keep her from diving right in. She loves talking to people and told us so many funny stories during her phone call on Sunday :)

Her trainer is Sister Jolie whom she absolutely loves. She is learning a ton and is working hard. She is thrilled because her mission president is allowing her to buy a guitar. She can only play it on p-days but she is in heaven! :)

11 May,15

Okay,

Hello everyone! I've been here in Ajax, Canada for almost a week now, and I'm loving every second of it. :) Seriously, everyone in the world should go on a mission. It's such an adventure.

I don't have much time left, so this is going to be short. 

But anyway, so here in Ajax about 70% of the doors we knock on are Jamaican men. Hahah they are so hard to understand, but so nice and friendly. We stopped and talked to a big group of them this week. They were very respectful and wanted to hear what we believe, but then ended up informing us that they were all high and would never convert because they love weed too much. Hahah it was so funny!!! Then this other old man who was also Jamaican started yelling at me because I told him my testimony of Christ. That was pretty funny too. And then this other old Jamaican man said he wants us to come back when his wife is in town and teach him. He was such a sweet old man. I love him. :) 

We found 2 new investigators, both Jamaican. The first is named K*, and he is 18 or something, and the second is J* and he is 24. J* committed to be baptized already!!! :) May 31st. Woot woot. But  K* asked me on a date...sooooo....yeah we had to give him to the elders for teaching. Haha :)

I love it here. Absolutely love it. I wouldn't rather be doing anything else. I know that Christ lives, I know the gospel is his plan. :) 

Everyone check out Romans 8:31-39 and Enos 1:13. 

Enos 1:13 is so cool because it's talking about the Book of Mormon. And Romans is just beautiful. :)

Well, there is so much to tell but no way to share it all and not enough time. 

I love you all! I pray for you!

Write me!

My new address is:

Since this blog is public, I am choosing not to publish the address. However, email me at talitao@hotmail.com and I will give it to you, or you can email her at mikkia.osman@myldsmail.net. If you are on the official email list, you can find the address at the bottom of the weekly email.

Love,

Sister Osman

Always smelling the flowers!

Trackting - all day nothing and then the last door of the day makes it all worth it :)

One of Mikkia's favorite words: Raxeira. She always loves the sunlight and how it plays with the world!

So grateful for Sister Jolie, she is a great trainer!

Making an "I love you" sign. Message to all of you!

Power planning!

Sister Jolie and Sister Osman

Sister Jolie and Sister Osman

This gotta be a first :) Maybe there is hope for her domestic qualities after all :)

This is more like it :)

Their cute basement apartment

Patio

Love the symbolism of steps - walk to her house

Study

Kitchen

A Call from the Airport

Mikkia might not be able to email this week, because the p-day of her mission is today but she is traveling to Canada and the MTC p-day is tomorrow, but she'll be gone :). 

She just called from the airport. She is doing great, she is in great spirits, loving life and testified to us that the gospel is true and thanked us for helping her go on her mission. Sweet girl! Our pleasure all together! 

Additionally, she told us how much love she feels and related that his morning when she tried to buy a calling card at the airport, a man walked up, asked them if they were missionaries and bought their calling cards. A few minutes later, when they went to get breakfast another man walked up and paid for their food. As they were walking to their plane, numerous people shouted out telling them that they are praying for them.

We are so grateful for kind strangers who watch out for our daughter and all missionaries around. Definitely paying it forward!

Sister Clayton, Sister Smith, Sister Anthony, Sister Osman, President Clayton

Last night with her district at the MTC. They became great friends!

Sister Anthony & Osman on their way to Canada!

Mikkia with her new companion Sister Jolie from Canada

Sister Clayton, Mikkia & President Clayton

Here she is after many, many hours up and on the plane. Still smiling :)