Hello family!
Well, as Mom found out from our office staff, I am heading over to Bulgaria tomorrow to have my visa renewed for a few days and return. We also had transfer meeting which was a surprise and now I am surving in gorlivka, a smaller city about an hour outside of donetsk. I have also been moved to the Zone leader and have already been having plenty of experiences that come with this position. Elder McCaulloson is now my companion and has about two transfers left. He's a great missionary and i look forward to these following transfers. I am still trying to learn of all the responsibilites that are included in this position but im slowly getting the hang of things. We had Zone Leaders Training the day after tranfers took place and it was a great experience. It really opens your eyes to see and speak with your mission president on a more personal basis. We spent most of the day at his house speaking on the different topics of Atonement, the Holy Ghost in conversion, and the Book of Mormon in conversion. Our new president, president Compero also stresses the use of practice for 50 percent of the time which has proven to be very effective. Its usually kinda awkard in times past but when we do one companionship at a time and really scrutinize every move they made, their weaknesses and strengths, it was very helpful. What turned out to be the main topic that came to our attention from these practices was Love. President Compero is such a loving man. He gives us hugs whenever we see him and his wife is also just as sweet. They are perfect examples for us. Each time in our practices we would do it over and over until each companionship could recreate a perfect way of extending a baptismal and book of Mormon reading commitment and each time Love came up as the main concern. It became very apparent how much better the investigator would accept commitments and really have the desire in his/her heart to fufill it if we extended it with real love in our hearts and concern for them, not telling them that they were doing it for us, but that they would be doing it to please God.
Our branch here in Gorlivka is also great and has many good members. Like all branches it has its weeknesses and problems which we will be working to overcome as best as we can. Thus far we havent had much of a chance to meet with many investigators and it seems as if this area will be a bit of a struggle in that respect but it should pick up here soon their are great changes coming to all area's of our mission and it is exciting to see. We are stressing more organization and unity in our branches and more strictness in following the guidelines set forth by the church in order to see the bigger blessings. Thanks for your prayers on behalf of our investigators, they really need it. I havent heard much from my last area but i certainly hope and pray that little girl made it to church with her mom. Well, i hope you all have a wonderful week ahead of you. Thanks for your love and support! I need every bit of it! :)
Oh, and thanks for that photo of you all and the cousins! it was great to see all of them. You all look so happy together! I cant wait to start see a little bit of that here!
With Love,
Elder Ostler
