Cambodia

Cambodia

REAL FINAL EMAIL 12/18/16

List of things I've learned on my mission:

  • How to cut a mango (the armadillo method is the way to go)
  • How to use a a bidet (bum gun) (why would anyone use toilet paper ever?)
  • How to take long exposure pictures
  • How to tie a double windsor (still too lazy to do it though)
  • How to not be awkward when talking on the phone
  • How to stay sane for 3 months with a silent companion
  • How to say the word hemorrhoids in Khmer
  • How to make a traditional Cambodian remedy for hemorrhoids (it involves olive oil and garlic)
  • 2 years is a lot longer when you are always reminiscing about the MTC #ElderLambertwasthebest2xCompanionEver (Cameo by Elder Lambert)
  • How to haggle with crazy Cambodian ladies to get a 50 cent discount
  • How to kinda like Christian music
  • How to make a video go viral in Cambodia (turns out all you need is white people speaking khmer)
  • How to lift weights
  • How to study for an entire hour
  • How to forgive (the key is prayer)
  • How to sustain my priesthood leaders (sometimes this take a lot of effort)
  • How to love a culture thats not my own (I've lived in other places around the world but I have never embraced the culture like I have with Cambodia. I really love it now)
  • How to love people who are hard to love (the key is prayer)
  • I learned that God is really there and he really loves me. This life isn't just an up and down 80 years and then its over. God has a plan for you and me.
  • I learned that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. He was telling the truth about his vision and about the Book of Mormon.
  • I learned that there are living Apostles of Christ on the earth today
  • I learned that through service to others we can find ourselves. By focusing on my investigators' and members' needs my days have purpose.
  • I learned that if I don't apply and share my knowledge of the gospel then it is useless. By sharing what I know over the past 2 years I have been able to actually see how important the gospel is in my life and in others
I'm so thankful for my mission. I have loved every minute of it even if some of those minutes really sucked. I've been thinking about it and if I was asked to do another 2 years I would totally do it. Its been that good. 

Love you all. Thanks for all of your support.

Love,
Elder Osborne

PS. Merry Christmas

FINAL EMAIL 12/18/16

Hey everyone. I'm almost done. 
Mission was pretty cool.
Love,
Elder Osborne

I hate meetings 12/11/16

Meetings in your last transfer are the worst things in the world. For many reasons.




The Lord can do his own work. We have this one investigator named Srey Toch https://www.dropbox.com/s/a5rr7xd3y7bulk0/IMG_0368.JPG?dl=0 . She agreed to a baptismal date of Dec 25th a while ago. And so we have been working with her to try to get her ready. Its kind of a big deal because that is my last Sunday in the country and how cool would it be to get a baptism on Christmas on my last day. So cool. But, things aren't really working out. She is doing well and reading the scriptures but she doesn't really have a good understanding or a conviction about the gospel. Also, she's scared of water. This last week we were teaching her and teaching a lot of different stuff to get her ready. It didn't feel super good. I realized that she was going to take a little more time and that I needed to let go. I don't need the cool baptism. The Lord can do his own work in his own time. I'm not counting out any miracles but for now I will be happy with any progress. Pray for Srey Toch!

We played soccer this morning. Almost every single companionship in the city. 40+ people. We had to make 4 teams and play on the full pitch. Awesome. https://www.dropbox.com/s/adlti2etpx0kxoz/IMG_0370.JPG?dl=0

The best sight as you walk into a member's house https://www.dropbox.com/s/jaerkzvyn6aqzag/IMG_0361.JPG?dl=0

The church is true. Tune in next week for the final email of my mission!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Elder Osborne

បាទ! 12/4/16

Greetings loved ones!


This is a guest appearance we made at a member's english school: https://www.dropbox.com/s/53hzg7zpk7gcbpc/IMG_0329.JPG?dl=0


I didn't steel this man's jacket, i traded it for my watch: https://www.dropbox.com/s/9v2rvv2n20ze83e/IMG_0311.JPG?dl=0

Elder lasswell has to do what he's gotta do: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o73rbfqmy8zszsh/IMG_0320.JPG?dl=0


This week was my last fast Sunday in Cambodia so I had to get up and share. I talked about the different things that I learned on my mission. The most important being that Heavenly Father loves me. I know he does. He loves everyone. Remember that.

Last week we had 6 baptisms. But not really. It just sounded good to say that. 4 of them were 8 year olds in the branch. 2 of them were ours though. Seiha is the one im standing by https://www.dropbox.com/s/tiiezvsydavq5l3/IMG_0283.JPG?dl=0

He is great. He has a mild form of autism but he is so sweet. We were worried about his interview but when we showed up to interview him he had all the commandments written on his white board. He was practicing! It was a good thing to see.

I love Cambodia. I'm going to cry like a baby when I leave. I love it here.

Love, Elder Osborne

Trio? Threeway? Or Threesome? 11/27/16

What is a missionary companionship with 3 people called?

Elder Lasswell is a gentle giant texan with 1/4 chinese blood.

If I could describe Elder Mather in one word it would be "Clean"

This guy at the print shop loves me and always takes creepshots of me. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ys4kofd4ls56bmi/IMG_0215.JPG?dl=0


We do crazy stuff to preach the gospel: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kdrwsj67anuo4ec/IMG_0217.JPG?dl=0












Bathtub boat. His entire house is flodded: https://www.dropbox.com/s/hq5m2bh46jtis5c/IMG_0257.JPG?dl=0

And we close out the week with a solid 6 baptisms: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u83gu1db26aci7l/IMG_0294.JPG?dl=0


Pre-mission Elder Osborne was an avid user of Reddit.com. Most of the information that I in-took on a day-to-day basis came from that website. Over years of being involved in Reddit my opinions largely conformed to the popular views of the Reddit user base. This was good and bad. The good part was that I felt pretty informed about general news around the world and especially technology news. The bad part was that I was choosing for friends and mentors people that didnt share my same life goals. I'm sure many of the people of Reddit were good people who lived good lives but they did not understand or encourage me to do what it takes to reach the Celestial Kingdom. Being on a mission helped me realize who I should be looking to for council on how I should live my life.

First, we should always look to heaven. Heavenly Father is our main source of guidance. He wants to help us and lead us to gain happiness. We can pray to him and receive help. He has also given us Prophets and Apostles to help guide us. The Prophet and Apostles of Jesus Christ will never lead us astray. They have our best interests in mind always. It is good to be informed and understand the different opinions out there but when it comes down to it we need to remember Heavenly Father's plan for us to live with our family forever in heaven.

I feel like I am just now getting good at Khmae and at missionary work!!!!! So sad!!!!! I love Cambodia!

Love,
Elder Osborne

I danced at our neighbor's wedding 11/21/16

Sorry for the boring email last week. This week is only pics!!!!!

I hope President likes George Michael: https://www.dropbox.com/s/scgd2wfduzmuxys/dance.PNG?dl=0

Seyha is a questionable character in our branch: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ifjpsr2gmvh10h0/IMG_0087.JPG?dl=0

We volunteered to teach another english class at a free boarding school: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1u58s542a5kncp4/IMG_0103.JPG?dl=0




(this is the khmer strategy for overcoming a cold)

Monday was the Cambodian water festival: https://www.dropbox.com/s/2w22yqfmffgpens/IMG_0138.JPG?dl=0








No, wait, actually this guy is weirder: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftps46hw9hznb9p/IMG_0150.JPG?dl=0





















SORRY FOR SO MANY PICS. THEY ARE TOO GOOD. LOVE YOU ALL. I BELIEVE IN CHRIST.

THANKS TO MY MOM WHO FIGURES OUT HOW TO SEND THIS OUT EVERY WEEK.

LOVE,
ELDER OSBORNE

Om Srun 11/13/16

Over 1 year ago I was in a really tough area. There weren't many people to teach. The members weren't very excited about missionary work. I was pretty young in the mission so I didn't speak the language very well and I didn't know how to do missionary work well either. I also had some companions that were hard for me. I felt like I wasn't having much success. Overall it was a pretty hard time. 

Every day we would go out in the hot dusty Cambodian morning and talk to to people on the side of the road and offer to teach them in their homes. Most of the time they said no. Some of the time they said not a chance. A very few said yes but then after we failed to give them money or rice during our first visit they wouldn't welcome us back for a second time. Day in, day out I did the same thing for 5 months and when it was my time to leave the area I felt like I had done little to successfully help the Cambodian people there. As I wrapped up some loose ends around the area all I left for the incoming missionaries in terms of work to do was a few forgettable people to teach who didn't have much promise.

One of those people was an old man named Om Srun who lived on the far border of our area. I had contacted him one of those hot mornings and he was nice enough to let us come back and meet him at his guard station where he worked once a week. After meeting him every week for a few months he still didn't know how to pray, still couldn't remember the word prophet, and still carried a pack of cigarettes in his shirt pocket everywhere he went. When I got on the bus to transfer to Battambang I didn't have much hope for my former area, and especially not for Om Srun.

Fast forward through a year. I went to Battambang, loved it. Served in the office, loved it. And then I get transferred to my current area Kean Svay which is close to my old rough area. A few weeks ago Elder Slavens, who is in the area next to me, told me that he had an investigator who needed to be interviewed for baptism. He told me he was an older guy who had been learning with the Elders for a long time. He started learning in my old area but then was given to Elder Slavens because he was on the border of the area. So I go to interview him after church last week and I realize that I have taught this man before! Its Om Srun. And he knows how to pray now. He has been learning ever since I talked to him that one morning. He has been attending church every week for a few months. He is ready and excited for baptism.


I thought that my efforts for those 5 months were in vain. I thought that I should have been somewhere else doing something worthwhile. But now I know that I was there for a reason. And I am so happy that I could help at least one person. 

D&C 18:15  "And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!"

No effort to do good is ever wasted.

Love,
Elder Osborne

ARE YOU FOR SCUBA? 11/6/16

We had a halloween party: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5p5j8e8zu6rnsuu/MVI_2352.MP4?dl=0


Elder Hale attempts a contact!!!!! Good try!!!! https://www.dropbox.com/s/6nivygsz8lfp5fo/MVI_0028.MP4?dl=0

Ming Paul has two sons serving in this mission right now!!! https://www.dropbox.com/s/ccp8gg21833jfjt/IMG_0033.JPG?dl=0






Trying to take a video of the view when SOMEBODY gets in the way #rude:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/0fla42850cg41qp/MVI_0029.MP4?dl=0






This week was a little rough!!!!! Because I've been sick since Wednesday. But thats alright. I just thought about the talk by President Nelson. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/10/joy-and-spiritual-survival?lang=eng
I know that we can have joy in any circumstance.


We held a youth testimony meeting on sunday night after district conference. We invited everyone to come play some games and then we sat together and sang songs and shared testimony with each other. The youth were super nervous because most of them have never done anything like it but the spirit was super strong when a couple of them got up the courage to share what they knew. I'm thankful for all my past youth leaders that gave me opportunities to bare my testimony at youth conferences and stuff.

Stay _____, San Diego.

Love,
Elder Osborne

Here's the situation parents went away on a weeks vacation 10/30/16



Dope: https://www.dropbox.com/s/cem9jumznq7hh29/IMG_2290.JPG?dl=0


A Missionary and a monk walk into an internet cafe....: https://www.dropbox.com/s/jcczgkmppq19d0i/DSC00183%20%281%29.JPG?dl=0



We got invited to go with a bunch of members out to a big buddhist place and look around!














Our missionary work this week was 100% filled with finding old members and trying to make friends with them. We're trying to bring the lost sheep back to the fold. We had 1 success this week when an old returned missionary came back to church after we visited him 3 weeks in a row. He brought another less-active friend too! They came for first hour and then stole 2 of our other young men and went to play soccer somewhere. Lol. At least they came!


I don't know why I like this talk because i dont even have kids. I think I just really like Brett and I know I was a Brett when i was a kid. Sorry mom. I know now.

Love you all! 
Love,
Elder Osborne

Classic missionary experiences 10/24/16

This week I had 2 classic things happen.

1. I was riding bikes with my comp and our young man that was riding with us and we were going to go to teach a lesson. It was the most logical thing to do. But then i got the feeling to go see a less active that was probably at work and didn't really want to talk to us. So I turned around right then and rode there and found a giant funeral happening at his house. His grandpa had recently died and so he was home and really appreciated our visit. Then we still had time to go to the other lesson as well. Super cool. Side note: I barely recognized him because he shaved off all his hair. Apparently thats what grandkids do when grandparents die.

2. It was 7pm we were supposed to go home. But we get a call from the sisters that a member needs a blessing. Her house is hard to find and its about 15 minutes away from where we were. So we went riding pretty fast on a dark bumpy dirt road. We were supposed to take a little path to the left so we were looking out for it when I got a giant bug in my eye!!! I never get anything in my eyes. But this one really hurt so we had to stop. When we were stopped a guy rides by and asks where we were going. We told him and he said "Follow me!" We follow him and realize that we had missed the turn. If I didnt get a bug in my eye we would have rode for 10 more minutes and never found it. 

#Classic

PICS













Love,
elder osborne

CARLS JR 10/16/16

CARLS JR OPENS IN CAMBODIA TODAY.
ALSO HAPPY B-DAY TO ELDER ALLRED


Sorry caps lock.

This week was chill.

I figured out that the atonement cures everything. Stop being so hard on yourself everyone. The atonement makes up for your inadequacies.

Also I want to remind everyone that “over the past twenty years, we have observed no correlation between the depth of a relationship and the probability that a person will be interested in learning about the gospel.”
So go invite all your NON-FRIENDS to learn about the gospel. Invite someone. Literally anyone. It doesnt matter as long as you invite them.

The rainy season means that my pants are always dirty.

Elder Slavens is literally out of his mind: http://dearelderslavens.blogspot.com/
He gives me shout outs all the time too. So go read his blog.

My tailor cuts all my pants super tight like I tell him too. But they all rip after like 3 days. I should have learned by now.

K love you all

Gotta go eat a juicy burger.
Love,
Elder Osborne
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