Dear Family,
It sounds as if this was a week of many emotions.
Congratulations Alyssa, Jim, and kids! Your baby looks great! I also wanted to
share my love for Joe and Megan. I know the Lord loves you too and is aware of
these hard trial you have been put through. At times like these its so
comforting to know that God has a plan for every soul, even those who leave us
earlier than expected. She must be a very special and valiant child of our
Heavenly father.
The Lord is opening the heavens to us, so much that
sometimes it feels as if their isnt room enough to receive it! Just within this
last week we received a referral from the Bailey's, senior couple who told us
they had recieved a call from a young woman wanting to know more about the
gospel. We contacted her right after getting off the phone. We set up a lesson
for that week and had a wonderful lesson with her. We learned her vision is
impaired but that hasnt stopped her from learning perfect english, getting a
great job at one of the most prestigious hotels in kharkov, and contacting us
to learn more about the gospel. SHE IS GOLDEN. She came to church and everyone
loved her being there. They all kept asking us "where did you find
her" and all offered her their hands and friendship. That afternoon
we had a lesson about the plan of salvation and talked about baptism to which
she readily agreed!! This was all within a matter of a week. There is
such a difference in what we feel as we have been teaching her than in most of
the investigators i have taught before. Truly the Lord blesses us for our
dilligence in searching to find the Elect. She is planning on getting baptized
in three weeks, on the 7th i believe. I talked to her just dismorning about her
plans and we will be going to give her a blessing tonight so that she can feel
all will be alright and gain more guidance in her life. It would be wonderful
if you all could keep her in your prayers. Her name is Olya.
Just yesterday i felt the prompting during sacrement meeting
to call up our Elder's quorum president to go with him hometeaching to Lidia
Ozervo, the mother of the girl who lived with G and G Ostler. He gratefully
agreed because his companion couldnt make that night so we went over together.
We soon found out after arriving that Lidia's mother is getting very ill and
that she will probably pass away soon. We blessed lidia's mother to have
comfort in her heart and body so the pain would leave. We began a fast together
for her peaceful passing away. There was such a wonderful spirit in that room
as she talked about her life in her ukrainian tongue. It was difficult to
understand but one could feel that this was a good woman and just watching
Lidia and how much care she had for her mother was inspiring and brought peace
to all our hearts, that this family would live together again. It is always so
beautiful to see the Gospel Plan at work, comforting those who are standing in
need of comfort and edifying all those involved. I love this work!
I hope you all have a great week and i hope all is going
well for you up there at BYU Benjamin. Let me know how its going up there! I
hope Caleb and Mom are having a wonderful time in North Carolina and i hope Dad
is too lonely back at home!:) I love you all!
With Love,
Elder Ostler
