5-28-2012

Dear Family,

Thank you for all those who wrote this week. It is always a wonderful experience to hear how your families are doing and what wonderful, testimony building experiences you are having. When Mom told the story of how the ward back at home pitched in to help a woman in need, it brought tears to my eyes to think that there so many of these people all around the world who would do the same in a heart beat. That kind of willingness to sacrifice comes only from those with pure testimonies founded in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Sometimes i dream of the day when we could organize a trip to Ukraine with our ward back home and come and do service here along with the members and just be examples. We talk about it in all of our meetings, the need to serve and give selflessly but the talk has yet to move into its next phase of action. I firmly believe that this is something that will come when a handful of members decide to dedicate themselves to the work and truly live the law of consecration by giving all that they have to know God through service to his children. Thank you for sharing that experience, it truly warmed my heart. This week we began this and next transfer's companionship exchanges with the elders from Gorlovka. We spent our Sunday there and were able to see many familiar faces that I love and miss. I love the people here. Each area of our mission has a different feel with people that take adapting too but once the adaptation takes place, it's hard to leave them. Our trip to Gorlovka was a witness of that to me. This time for our exchanges we spent a few hours singing on the street while one missionary sat out in front of us with a box of Books of Mormon. It was good for the Elders see how the people really softened up and openly talked to us as we first took the step out of our comfort zones. We had many really pleasant conversations and gave away about 10 books. We also did a little house tracting in the private sector, places where people have their own houses and not apartments. For some reason its been in the culture of our mission from long ago that this wasn't very successful and at times hazardous because of the massive dogs that could eat you. But, as far as we've seen and as far as the mission is beginning to see, people are generally pretty kind and will even at times let you in to chat. The part about the massive dogs still proves to be true but the Lord is with us and the dogs honestly get pretty friendly once the owners let us into their property. I also find great truth in the story of Daniel in the lions den. Lets just say, prayer is a great blessing:) Well, this week is transfers and i'm looking forward to this next transfer I feel that much change will once again being required of me and i feel i'm ready to receive it. I cant think of any other place were such change is required on  such consistent basis. It is a blessing to be here on my mission and come to an understanding of the vital changes i must make in my life if i truly want to be a disciple of Christ. Though the change is sometimes hard to cope with, the ability to take it and run with it with constant and consistent faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ is a priceless attribute. I hope someday i can become that kind of person. That is my dream. I love you family and i hope you all have a wonderful week! Cant wait to hear from you!

With Love,

Elder Ostler

5-14-2012

Hello Family,

I was also so glad to be able to talk to you on saturday!! This weekend has been one of great spiritual blessings! I hope to have more time next week to fill you in on all that has happened but in short our district presidency was completly changed with a young branch president as the new district president. He was known for his dilligence and hard work in his branch and he will make a great district president. That sunday was also great because of the chance we had to see many of the members from area's we have served in. Its times like those that you come to realize just how much you love those people.

My time is short so i just wanted to send you the schedule for where we will need hotels when you come.

wednesday Kharkov- Aurora Hotel

thursday Donetsk- Ramada Hotel

Friday Donetsk- Ramada Hotel

Saturday Mariopul- ?

Sunday Donestk- Ramada Hotel

Have a great week!

With Love,

Elder Ostler

5-21-2012

Hello Family!

This week has been an absolutely wonderful week. I spoke a little of the changes that are to come in our mission leadership but i also wanted to let you know about a few other changes. One of the biggest ones affecting us immediately will be that the assistants now will spend their transfer (6 weeks) going on a "mission tour", meaning that we will go on exchanges with every companionship within each transfer. In doing this we hope to help all of our missionaries be inspired and unified in our push as a mission to reach 300 baptisms. We are going to pick up some sleeping bags and air mattresses with president today to be prepared as we move from apartment to apartment. I truly feel it will bless the lives of the missionaries and greatly influence the spirituality of the assistants. There will be great teaching an learning opportunities for all involved. Two transfers ago i began praying and fasting for more direction as to how to most effectively work with what responsibility i have been given. This was an answer to my prayers. We had the opportunity to travel to Kharkov and also hold a zone conference with President Lawrence where he and his wife taught great truths with gave much more identity to our missionaries. The spoke of the Tribes of Israel and just how important our calling is as the gather's of Israel. We also learned that we had great responsibility in that we were descendants and parts of these tribes and that special promises had been made to each individual, according to his or her tribe. I also learned that in our mission, we have many from different tribes. My companion is from the tribe of Benjamin and we also had other sisters and elders from the tribes of Levi, Simeon, Dan. It was really amazing to come to a realization of the literal gathering of Israel. It is certainly a blessing to be among these scattered tribes looking for those who is ready to return home. I feel the mission is greatly benefiting from these conferences, focusing on our identity and coming to realize who we really our, sons and daughters of a Heavenly Father who loves us. It is amazing how much desire, unity, and love increases when we constantly remind ourselves of who we are. Thank you for sending those pictures! Benjamin could pull off being a chimney sweep any day if he wanted to. He looked exactly like the ones from the movie! I hope you all have a wonderful week and i look forward to hearing from you.

With Love,

Elder Ostler 

5-7-2010

Hello Family!

How's everyone doing?! I hope all is going well back at home. I just got Leslie's wedding invitation and was so glad to hear that Scott was also getting married. Tis the season! That must be so great to see them and how they have progressed. Make sure to pass my love to them! This week has been a very quick week with another barrage of meetings with missionary districts. I have no idea how you do it Dad. I wasn't even the one in charge and yet I found myself absolutely exhausted. Actually.. maybe i do know how you do it. The Lord definitly supports and helps those who are in need. When at home, i could see how he strengthened you each day even when you had to stay up late caring for the needs of the stake. The Lord is truly mindful of us. This week I learned a great lesson that is preparing me for the rest of my life. This week, with our scattered schedule, made it difficult to have time to study the scriptures. I thought about how it must be at home, having so much work to do, and how busy life can get. I noticed a huge difference when my study time decreased, in my recognizing and feeling the spirit. Dedicated scripture study truly opens up the channels to spiritual resivoirs. Getting back to our regular study schedule was just like coming home to great feelings of hope and love. I just recieved my new russian triple which just recently came out a few months ago. I hope to finish reading it before going home and have loved reading it carefully and finding what gems are there. The scriptures, which proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, provide us with such a sure foundation, giving strength to those who have none and hope to those in despair or worrying for the future. I love what Elder Oaks once talked about, good better and best, prioritizing ones time to include those things of most value, those things that strengthen us spiritually. I am so glad that the mission caught me right in time before going through the rest of my life without much understanding of this principle. I still have much to learn but can see that even having a small understanding of this principle can bring for an abundance of blessings. 

I love you all so much and look forward to reporting our next weeks findings. We plan to have a baptism this month and pray to find this child of God that is ready.

See you soon!

Sincerely,

Elder Ostler

ps.

     I will let you know next week when i have our specific schedule planned out for when you come.

4-30-2012

Dear Family!

I'm sorry i am a day late. I had a really nasty sickness come over me yesterday and we didnt have a chance to write home. I think it has to do with the allergies going around and a little strep throat so i've been taking some medicine and should be just fine. This week we spent most of our time in Kharkov in 4 districts talking about a great story President Compero recieved from one mission in the states with a focus on church member/ missionary relationships and how we can work most effectively with them. The trainings went really well each bringing up points that we will be applying to the whole mission in the near future. We really have a great group of growing missionaries and the progress in understanding and application is great to see. From our studies of this story, it is very clear that most lasting sucess can be found from referrals from members and from including members when teaching investigators of our own finding.  Both the members and the missionaries are coming to the understanding that in order to find success in missionary work, one cant live without the other. Sometimes i feel like we see ourselves as two teams working for a goal instead of one team, with no one better than the other. We are all players on the Lord's team and we all share equal responsiblity in this work. I try to imagine what it will be like and how i will be a good member missionary after my mission. I have all of these feelings now but want to make sure that they last. I think the best way to do that is to continue to apply these principles i have learned here in the mission and never let my efforts to spread the gospel slack, even amongst the many other priorities in life. True happiness is found from serving those around us. I know that the spirit will always dwell with a person who has his mind set to this principle and is worthy. 

Thank for sending that clip of Josh and Jen! it was beautiful! also thanks alyssa for writing! i loved hearing about your family. i'll try to write you a longer letter soon, i promise!:) Also, great pictures from the hike Dad and Caleb! that sounds like it made for the perfect object lesson. 

I love you all so much and i hope you all a great, safe, spiritual week!

With love,

Elder Ostler