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
