He approached the lost sheep with an attitude of devoted physician - Week 56 (Transfer 9, Week 6) - 21 May, 2016

Brampton District (May 2016)

Man, I don't even know what to say about this week. It began with a call from President Clayton.
Can I just say how honored I am to know President Clayton and that I get to get advice from him on a regular basis? I feel so honored that someone as busy as my mission president, who is not only a mission president, but a father, a husband, and a general authority seventy, has the time to call to make sure we are all doing well.

I really learned this week a lot about what it means to stand for the Lord, even when you stand alone.

These past two transfers have been incredible. I feel like I've learned more in these last 13 weeks than I have in all my years at school and all of my months on my mission. It has been a complete...joy, struggle, roller coaster whirlwind. I love my companions so much. Sister Brown has become this compassionate, selfless, happy-go-lucky servant of the Lord. And Sister Kehrer has become this "lioness" tiger woman with no fear of loving people and sharing what she knows. They are both a light to the world. Not even kidding. They shine.

But anyway, among all the miracles and busy schedule and new challenges, there has been a lot of question marks and "man what am I going to do nows" and "dang I feel like I'd rather just not do this right nows" and "wow I've never been more stressed outs". It's hard to explain this week, or even this transfer, because I feel like a lot of the things I have experienced are very personal and I count them as sacred. They are things I feel I should keep to myself. But I want you all to know that I have decided to stand for what I know is true, no matter what, no matter where, no mater when. Even if I stand alone. I know that Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father are the ultimate source of light and truth and it is upon that foundation that we must build, for when all of the storms and might hail beats on us, it shall have no power over us. I've experienced this and I know it's ture.

Transfer news? I'm going to Barrie East to be a sister training leader! My new companion will be Sister Turley. I'm so excited because she served in Ajax with my trainer the transfer before I got there. And on top of that Barrie East is in the same zone as Wasaga Beach, which was my last area. So I've already been there on exchanges with my STL's in that area!

Okay, have a good week everyone.

Sister Mikkia

Also, everyone, quick update on P*.

He has just started to glow. He has a very difficult situation, waiting for his family back home to be able to come over here but as he has learned about the gospel, his situation has completely changed from one of desperation to hope. This week we were able to connect with his daughter S. I so feel for her and her whole family. They are all in hiding in Pakistan and will not give up their faith in Jesus Christ. Peter has been searching for the truth his whole life and finally, he has found it and shares it with his family over email and phone. S will be getting her visa soon to come over here. We pray hard for their safety and success. But anyway, I felt impressed to share this short email she sent us this week:

Dear Sister Osman, Brown, and Kehrer,

Thank you for your love and care. I was anxiously waiting for your email dad told me about your kind  and wise guidance.
I am highly pleased to know that we are being guided on a very right path indeed, I think it's Gods plan and and his immense  generosity for our family to be blessed in this way.
 I feel very satisfied that such kind people like you are around my dad to help him out in his and ( ours ) hard time.
And thanks again for giving me a chance to see my dad after such a long time I loved your picture.
Love you all stay blessed.

Kind regards,
S.

These people are real. I will never take the gospel for granted again. There are people who give up their lives searching for it. People who I love and care for. I can't wait until one day, everyone is free from pain, sorrow, sin, death, and captivity. 

What is a Sister Training Leader?

Each mission in the Church has a mission leadership council that includes both elders (male) and sisters (female) as missionary leaders. The mission leadership council consists of the mission president and his wife, assistants to the president, zone leaders and sister training leaders. 

The Mission Leadership Council functions like other church councils on the ward, stake and general church level. “In councils, assigned members meet to discuss individual, family and organizational needs and work together to determine how to respond to those needs effectively. Full expression from all participants is invited in council settings, unifying the efforts of both male and female council members.”

The sister training leaders are assigned to a certain number of sister missionaries and are responsible for their training and welfare in addition to participating in the Mission Leadership Council. They continue to proselyte in their respective areas, but they also spend time each week training and evaluating the needs of the female missionaries assigned to them. They serve as a vital part of mission leadership.

The sister training missionaries report directly to the mission president on sister missionary needs. They work closely with the mission president’s wife in training and caring for sister missionaries.

Sister training leaders: 

• Are members of and participate in the mission leadership council. 
• Are experienced and exemplary missionaries who serve in a companionship with another sister training leader. 
• Are responsible for the training and welfare of sister missionaries assigned to them. 
• Maintain a vibrant proselyting area in addition to working regularly with other sisters. 
• Conduct 24-hour companion exchanges every six weeks with each companionship of sisters assigned to them. Report directly to the mission president on sisters’ issues (an average of two exchanges per week). 
• Are assigned to a specific zone. However, depending on mission geography and the number of sisters in the mission, the mission president may assign sister training leaders to train sisters in a single zone or in multiple zones. It is not necessary to have a companionship of sister training leaders in every zone. 
• Function as members of districts and of zones and assist the mission president, zone leaders, and district leaders in training meetings and zone conferences.                                                                                                                          

Service, Listening, and Loving People - Week 55 (Transfer 9, Week 5) - 16 May, 2016

Hey Everyone!

Miracles this week. This week we went on exchanges which means that we switch companions for the day. Generally one companion will go work in the Sister Training Leaders area, and one companion stays in the area, but this week the STL's both came to our area to help out, because we told them we need it. It's been super busy; this area really needs 3 companion ships here to be honest.

Anyway, they came to our area and I honestly started getting all teary just because I was so grateful. Sister Bell was my companion when I was serving in St. Catherine's for one week, so we are already pretty good friends, and then now she is our STL (sister training leader). So anyway, her and her companion were just THERE for us. They came to our area, helped us out, we were able to contact some of our referrals, and I felt so much support from them! It's hard to explain what a big service that was to us. And then, Sister Bell lent us her GPS. It was honestly so inspired because the day before, the 3 of us were all rushing to our next appointment. Me in the drivers seat, driving while trying to instruct everyone what to do next while at the same time Sister Brown is in the passenger seat making calls, while Sister Kehrer is in the back seat trying to update teaching records while reading the map and directing me where to drive. We were just all talking over each other and on the phone and it was just so much commotion. And then it dawned on me: I need to give up my pride and just get a GPS. This map business is nonsense. Everything would be so much easier. Anyway, so I told the Sisters that and they were all like "ermagersh, revelation." And we all laughed at our stupidity. Then we drive up to meet with the STL's, and as soon as we drive up, Sister Bell says, "Hey Sister Osman, Sister Robison (her companion) has a GPS, so I wanted to lend you mine. Just thought you might need it more than me. It may sound ridiculous or small, but no joke, it meant the world to me. So I really gained a testimony this week of the influence of service, listening, and loving people. I know that our leaders are called by God. Even our Sister Training Leaders.

Other than that, exchanges were amazing. We had the spirit the whole time. All of our lessons were extremely powerful, and everyone we talked to wanted to listen to our message. I don't know what it is about this area, but it feels like everyone we talk to wants to listen. I never want to leave. I'm so excited for the miracles that are happening here.

We saw lots of other miracles this week, but it's too much to explain. There are some things that you just can't explain.

I just want you all to know that I know that Christ lives. Without a doubt. That has been given to me, and there is no way I can deny it. And I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that there really are 12 apostles and a quorum of 70. I know where I came from, why I'm here, where I'm going, and I know that God loves me and every one of these amazing people I meet on the street every day.

I love you.

Love,

Sister Osman

P.S. Oh yeah, before I forget, we met with P* again this week and show up to our lesson and he's all, "Sisters, I meditated for two hours last night and read the Book of Mormon, and the Spirit has taught me that I lived with God before and that I am His Child and that I have worth! Before I met you, I was homesick and alone and felt like a selfish old man, but now I have come to understand that God has a purpose for me." We were floored. So cool, he literally learned it from the Spirit.

We went to the temple this week!
Sister C* and Brother M* have returned to the gospel
and we got to go with them for their first time!

Brother M*

Here's a cool car we saw. 

Cute Sister Brown!

The most adorable little man named Brother T* has finally started coming to church again.
HURRAH! He's so happy.

Sister C* made us this huge meal. I was so touched. Almost started crying AGAIN. She is from Guyana and has a very hard life here making ends meet, but spent her money and time to make us food. She literally goes out and finds us people to teach. I LOVE HER!

Us.

Me!

Sister Kehrer & Sister Osman

Morning Study! What's with the chair?!

Happy Mother's Day! - Week 54 (Transfer 9, Week 4) - 9 May, 2016

Hey everyone!!!!

This week's letter is dedicated as a special tribute to my amazing mother.

Mom, you are the boss. You are the champion. In my mind, you are the head of all the other moms.

I hope you had a lovely mother's day.

This week was an amazing week. But also really hard. I miss my family. I miss my home. I really reflected this week on how much my family has changed my life, or rather made my life what it is. My mom was always an example to me of what it meant to think of others before herself. And she still is. Every day. She showed me what it meant to be a virtuous, kind, beautiful, and intelligent woman. If I had to pick one scripture that describes her, it would be this:

Proverbs 31:26-28

I love you mom!

Everyone, please pray for Canada. There is a very large fire in Alberta. The firefighters need our prayers! Pray for rain.


With my thoughts and prayers,


Sister Osman

During morning studies!

Sister Kehrer, Sister Brown, Sister Osman

v*'s Baptism!

Our investigator G* from Serbia/Italy!

Thank you so much for my birthday book, you guys rock!

 

 

 

We are seeing miracle after miracle! - Week 53 (Transfer 9, Week 3) - 2 May, 2016

Hey Everyone!!!

I'm so sorry that I haven't sent out an email in a while. We are just so incredibly busy that even P-days are the most stressful days ever. We are loaded with so much to do, it just can't be done. We hardly have time to eat. It's intense. I love it, but I am exhausted to the bone. No joke. I'm trying to simplify everything possible.

BUT we are seeing miracle after miracle. So much happens in a week that I don't even know what to say or where to start. It's impossible to describe everything and everyone.

But here are some pictures. I'll do a better email next week.

1. So tired.
2. Our apartment.
3. P*. :)

So tired!

Our apartment in Etobicoke

Sister Kehrer, P*, Sister Osman, Sister Brown

I love them. They are my people! - Week 52 (Transfer 9, Week 2) - 25 April, 2016

This week I am going to write you a quality email. So much has happened.

So this week started off strong. Which is great. I love setting up lots of appointments on P-day right after it ends at 6 pm so that we can get our heads straight back into the game.

We have been teaching this amazing guy named P* who I want to tell you all about.He is from Pakistan and is a refugee from the war. He has a very interesting back ground and an incredible story. This old, faithful, loving man has the Spirit so strong and I know that he is one of the people I was meant to teach on my mission.

We are teaching a lot of refugees. P* being one of them. Like I said, he is from Pakistan and his family got a ton of death threats because he is christian so he was forced to move here. He is reading the Book of Mormon in Urdu and started crying the other day because he said, "For so long I have been alone, and now I know that the church is with me and that God is with me and that You are with me. My only dream is to be with all my family again one day in peace and I know I can be there at the temple some day." His family is all stuck in Pakistan and in hiding. These refugees are real people who are starving and suffering. Their lives are in danger.

We have also been teaching an investigator named G* who is from Cosovo but speaks Italian better than his own language. He grew up in a very impoverished, war torn home and never got an education. Which is INCREDIBLE when you look at him because he is so kind, so clean, so professional looking. And incredibly hard worker and from the look of him you would think he is the CEO of a company. He is SO HUNGRY for knowledge. He will do anything to learn. He will do anything anyone asks him. He has so much integrity and love and is just so amazing. And if He had only gotten to have an education....
We have been working with the stake presidents counselor who served his mission in Italy and he has actually been translating for us at the lessons to make sure G* is really getting the most out of it and understanding.

These refugees are real. Toronto is full of them. They are so alone. They literally have two choices: Stay at home and die or come here and have everyone resent them. I love them. They are my people. 

P* and G* both came to church this week. :) P* was supposed to be getting baptized this Friday but it turns out he is not allowed to get baptized until he has a permanent residency....we had to push his date to July 29th. Pray that his residency will come sooner. G* has also accepted to be baptized but he does not have a date yet. But man, I want him to have the gospel so bad. It would benefit him so much. He needsss itttt. They both do. They both want it so bad.

Then there is G*. We are working with her and she is supposed to be baptized on May 7th but we may have to push it back a week because she is so busy that we have a hard time meeting with her. She was previously meeting with the elders before, but she is our investigator now that they have been transferred. So I don't know much about her yet.

This week church was incredible. I needed it. Actually, this whole week was incredible. We are so busy that we have no time to think about anything else so it makes being focused and consecrated easy. I wish I could teach everyone all the things I've learned on my mission. Last night my companions asked me for help on communicating with the ward council because they felt they didn't quite know how and it ended up being this whole long discussion about all the communication skills I've learned on my mission and how Preach My Gospel teaches us inspired patterns of communication. I will use these tools long after I am home.

One thing I wish I had known at the beginning of my mission?

1. How to listen to and recognize the spirit. I'm getting so much better now. I'm starting to be able to pick people out of crowds that will listen to the gospel. This week we were on exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders and there was this guy walking towards us. I said, "Hey look it's a new investigator." And then he was. That's been happening so many times this transfer! Where God will just prompt me to know who to talk to and they just listen and it's so easy. It's incredible. Or when I was with Sister Gousse, we were doing weekly planning and someone came to my mind who we had seen on the street. I knew he would be baptized. So we went to his house, started teaching him, and now he is baptized and he is going to the temple on May 14th. Or P*. Man, I can't wait to tell you P*'s story. Or this other girl that we found named V* who we handed off to the YSA elders. She is getting baptized next week. WE JUST FIND PEOPLE because God literally tells us who. I'm so glad He is around. Sometimes I get afraid that it will all go away. I don't want that. I want the Spirit in my life forever.
2. How to communicate. Here is what I have learned:
Identify a concern or a problem.
Come up with a solution. Make a plan
Then talk to someone about it. (An investigator, a leader, a companion, etc.)
State the purpose of your visit, call, conversation, etc. Whether it's teaching a new investigator or working with mission leaders or counseling with your companions.
Set expectations. Tell them what you want out of the visit, call, conversation and what you hope to accomplish. Basically, tell them your goal. Tell them you expect to meet with them regularly, twice a week for 20 minutes. Establish the expectation that you will have regular daily contact. If it's with a leader, let them know you want to update them regularly on the things you are doing, and ask them when would be a good time to have 10 minute calls where you can coordinate your efforts.
Then tell them the plan. Make a suggestions. If it's an investigator, tell them you will ask them to read, pray, come to church, and be baptized right in the first lesson. Tell them their role in their conversion. Tell them our role. Tell them the role of the spirit.
Ask for their suggestions. If you are working with a leader, don't counsel them. Instead offer your plan on suggestion and plan WITH THEM. Modify the plan to fit everyone's needs. Work TOGETHER.
Leave a commitment.
Let them know you will follow up on that commitment. If it's a leader, ask them to follow up with you on carrying out the plan. That way it doesn't seem like we are telling them what to do.
Promise blessings. Let them know you know this will work.
Finally, ask for referrals. Do you know anyone who would be interested? Is having a baby? Had a divorce? Major life change? etc. If it's a ward leader, ask, who can we help in the ward? What can we do for you?
Then follow through.

This applies to everything! When I have a husband, I'll do this. If we have a problem in our marriage, I'll identify it. Make a plan. Present the plan. Ask for suggestions. Then do it. It's all from preach my gospel! Or if I'm ever a Young Women's leader, this is how I will structure my lessons. Of if I ever need to communicate with the ward council in a calling at home, I will know how. Or if I need to talk to you. Or Caelan. Or my teachers. Or my friends. Or my boyfriend. Or all my bajillion fans when I'm famous. ;) Or my contractors. Or my bank teller. Or whatever. I just need to let them know my goals. What I want. What I expect. And ask for their help. Then promise blessings. And do whatever it is that we planned. I KNOW HOW TO PROBLEM SOLVE NOWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! When I align what I want with what the Lord wants, then that means I know how to get what HE wants.

Love,

ME

Silencio or the girl who turned her heart to the work - Week 51 (Transfer 9, Week 1) - 18 April, 2016

No pics, but we got this from the mission home - Sister Osman with her two cute companions, front row, 6th from the left :)

Dear all,

Another week with hardly any info. Mikkia only had 20 min to email, so no group email and the emails that she did send had four lines. Very lean in content... She is a busy girl!

Here is an update, pieced together from those emails, her companions' emails and from "mission spies" :)

• This week was amaaaaaazing. I have AHAAAVEEEE to tell you about P* but I only have one minute left to email and then it will log me out! I'll see if I can get more time. We just had to email in a weird place today so we don't get the full two hours. 
• We found out about P* from Sister Kehrer:
• We have a baptism! P* is a Pakistani Lawyer refugee who bumped into Sis. Osman on the train and is now absorbing the gospel like a sponge! He loves it all. He stops and asks questions to make sure he understands because he WANTS the gospel. He is a spiritual powerhouse! He literally begged us for a Book of Mormon in his native tongue Urdu and is teaching the gospel to his family, who are back in Pakistan, over email. He says his wife is not only his better half but his better whole. SO cute. 
• About her expanded area. from Sister Brown:
• My companions and I got to stay together but the area that we are serving in has been extended! We were previously serving in Etobicoke and covering Etobicoke south but now we cover Etobicoke south and north! We are also serving in the Lake Ontario ward which is the only mid-singles adult ward in the whole world which basically covers the entire mission- all of Ontario!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We have so much work to do! We are sooo busy trying to reach out to everyone and in inviting returning members to church.There are Aprox. 1500 less actives in that age range that we want to work with and that's not even counting those who are active in their local ward. 

Mikkia told me that they think they can teach 60 lessons per week?! If anyone, those three power sisters can do it!

On Friday, April 22, 2016 she will have hit her one year mark. Incredible how much she has grown over the past 365 days. If the Lord is involved, we can grow in ways we never thought possible!

Thank you for all your support, she sure loves you!

A bigger area & a car! - Week 49 (Transfer 8, Week 7) - 11 April, 2016

Real quick: transfer news. Sister Brown, Sister Kehrer, and I will be staying together but they are combining our areas with the elders. So the elders got transferred out of their area and we now cover theirs as well as ours, which means we cover two wards! We have NO IDEA how that is going to work because with the elders area and ours combined that is about 60 lessons a week on average! I've never done that...time management is what I'm learning...hahaha.

Our area will now be called the Lake Ontario Area. We are now teaching a family ward and the only MSA (Mid Single Adult) ward in the world. Super stoked!

We are getting a car sometime...today or tomorrow? I don't have any time to write anyone today, so don't feel bad. Haha

Highlight: We went to the temple this week for a training meeting and I saw all of my companions there. EVERY SINGLE ONE. The list is as follows:
Sister Jolie
Sister Anthony
Sister Chelson
Sister Bell
Sister Price
Sister Tang
Sister Gousse
Sister Brown
Sister Kehrer

We got a picture together which I will send! Except Sister Jolie wasn't in it. :( 

Anyway, I love you all! The church is true.

Sister Osman