Hello Family!
This week has been another great week! We are still learning so much and the language is slowly coming along. Its really interesting to see how you are given all of this information at one moment and are all stressed out about it but then during study time, your mind slowly catches up and it eventually becomes knowledge. That's something that i've learned while i've been here, that patience is definitely the key when you have such high expectations put upon you. It is so great to know that the Lord is on our side and that we can trust in him to help pick us up after a long, difficult day. So, thus far in language study, we've learned to give the first discussion, say our prayers, recite the first vision from memory, commit someone to read the Book of Mormon, pray and be baptized, and to hold general conversation all in Russian. I still have lots of work to do before i can really feel comfortable with any of these but we're to the point where we can say those basic things and still get by. Its amazing to see how far I've come with this language. I know that this is God's work and that he will bless those who sincerely humble themselves and then go to work, doing it God's way and not their own. I am so grateful for those promises he has given us. Tomorrow we are expecting 14 new elders in our zone which is great! It will be fun to see them and help them along. I think Joe Kashawagi in coming in with this group so that will be fun to see him! Someone said he got his call to Kiev, Ukraine which is great. I also got to see Josh yesterday here, where he works at the MTC. It was good to get to talk with him for a little bit before we got back to our studying. Sounds like everything is going great at home! Dad was telling me about all sorts of cool critters he and Caleb caught at the river. Josh was also saying something about some huge cage you all were planning on building in the backyard for the flock of birds you have now. Sounds exciting! oh, and good luck to Benjamin on asking that girl to Homecoming! im sure she will say yes! how could any girl resist going to a dance with such a great guy!?:) Well, thanks again for the letters you have sent me family. Im sorry if i cant respond to each detail but i will certainly try when time permits. Hope you all have a great week and i cant wait to hear from you all!
~Elder Ostler
Mom's note: Josh called us right after he got to see Daniel at the MTC. I guess Daniel and his companion had a break from studying and they had heard where Josh worked, so they dropped by to say hi. Josh was so surprised to see them walk it. Josh said Daniel is looking great, has a positive attitude and still has his sense of humor. His companion has had 1 1/2 years of Russian already. So it sounds like he has a lot of people around him who have learned a lot already, but he is not letting that discourage him. His example of faith is an inspiration to me.
