Hello Family!
Things are going great here in Makeebka! The snow is melting and Spring is here to STAY!! yay! I've been a little sick this last week and had to stay in a few days with a sore throat and super stuffy nose but i recieved a blessing from my branch president and companion and am feeling great already. The sickness that normally comes this time each year for me and last for a week or two has only lasted a few days and is already leaving me. I am so grateful for worthy priesthood holders who honor and hold the priesthood dear to them. Tomorrow we will be having zone conference in donetsk and we have a Member of the Seventy coming which is great! i have also been asked to sing Oh my soul Hungered as the musical number for this conference. I was worried that my sickness would keep me from doing that but with the power of the priesthood, i should be ready to sing just fine tomorrow. I was practicing the on sunday and one of our members here who knows a little english came up to me while i was playing that song on the piano and looked at the title and i could see the confusion on her face. She directly translated over to Russian which would be more like, My soul was hungry, to which we both laughed and then i showed her the scripture in Enos where it used a slightly different more ancient word that made more sense in the context of the song.
So to answer these questions you have i'll just kinda list them out for you.
1)This is honestly very trying for me but their is a light at the end of this tunnel of growing experiences. The language is slowly coming and i am feeling a little more confident in what i say. The spirit seems to also be comeing stronger and stronger as we focus our efforts on the work.
2)Right now, the hardest thing for me is knowing exactly what to say that would help each of the different people we meet with, and exactly how to say it in Russian. Its been getting a little better as i have had these different experiences with different people. Something i am still working on.
3) The most postive thing i have seen so far is the progress these branches are making towards becoming a stake! it is coming close! After we reach that, their's nothing holding us back from haveing another temple here! Every member here dreams of the day that will happen.
4) I do feel these experiences are bringing me closer to christ. It is hard to feel that sometimes but you do learn just how little can be done by yourself and just how much more can be done when your trust is in the Lord.
5)RIght now i feel like i understand about 50-60%. Well, at least i understand that much of the context of what they are saying and the general thought but each individual word, sometimes thats pretty difficult.
Well i love you all so much and i cant wait to hear from you all again. Congrats Benjamin on making all-state!!! thats so awesome!! I hope you have a ton of fun. Keep up the good work Caleb!:)
With Love,
Elder Ostler
