Dear Family,
I was so happy to read about how Benjamin and Caleb are doing! Thanks for those great notes. I still can't believe you are finishing your senior year benjamin! I might just have to hire you as a tutor when get back :) Sounds like Caleb is also having to make some big decisions with changing schools. I hope that that works out well for you and that it will not be quite so intense as the academy.
As far as flight plans go for coming over, I would highly reccomend staying in touch with Sister Hatch, our office secretary. She recently performed a cleaning check on our apartment and asked me what was my plans with family coming. Thanks so much for taking care of all of that!
Oh and one quick question, Is Lance going to be rooming with me and where will i be rooming?
SO, this week in the field i recieved a transfer!! very unexpected since i just got here for the second time but that must mean I have some more work to do elsewhere in this mission. Its always kind of sad leaving an area earlier than expected but its good to know that the branch is good hands, the Lords hands. This week we spent a good amount of time taking care of all of the documents needed to move our new senior couple in, the Southams. They say they know some Ostlers in Orem so maybe they know some of our family! They are a really fun couple and will prove to be a great asset to our branch here in Gorlovka. This week at church, our investigator Natasha and her inactive husband Roman came to church for the first time in months! it was so great to see them there and the members did a good job and making them feel at home. I know she feels something there at church and i hope and pray that she will gain the desire to act upon those desires in faith. We showed them a film about Spiritual Crocidiles that Boyd K Packer talked about a while back. She seemed to enjoy it but was pretty terrified of those huge crocidiles. We feel like it had the desired affects:) That small film really gives a good visual of why we shouldnt mess around when it comes to temptations satan sends our way, kind of like what Bishop Kerr taught Benjamin and the youth about dynamite. Quit trying to put the flame out and just get out of there! I think that is such a great lesson to learn, training our minds to not rationalize in situations that could lead to great harm, and learn to act upon spiritual promptings immediately.
We also had an investigator ludmilla at church this sunday who has been really hard to meet with because she can never meet during the week.We met with her after church and had a great 1st lesson with her to really set up her foundation in the gospel. She has great desires and seems to be a very sincere lady and really opened up to us on that lesson when she had been very quiet during church, perhaps a little shy. She was pretty sad when she heard I was leaving but she will do so great if she keeps coming for the right reasons.
As this transfer is coming to a close, it felt good to reflect on my efforts to have greater love. I feel that the Lord truly honors our righteous desires, though seemingly impossible to us, he makes all things possible. I have made it a matter of prayer and fasting and have truly felt a slow but sure change. I have much more work to do to truly become a disciple of Christ but I am coming to learn that these things cant be changed over night and need time to make it lasting.
I love the Lord and I love this work. I can't imagine being any where else at this time in my life.
Thanks for sending some more warm weather our way! Its greatly needed and welcomed!:) Spring is coming and its a great feeling! Thanks for support and letters. May the Lord bless you in all that you do!
With Love,
Elder Ostler
