Dear Family,
I now find myself writing from the Alekseevka region, another suburb outside of center Kharkov. The branch here also has many strong members who are so willing to help when asked. Sunday night we went out searching for lessactives, honestly being a little lost because we are both brand new to the area. We ended up stopping by two members, one being a previous branch mission correlator and the other being a Primary president. They went through the branch list with us, telling us what happened to each person and indicated that at least a third of the people listed had moved and should have been transfered to another branch or sent to the general branch list in kiev. These two, unplanned meetings saved us hours and hours of searching to correct this information and was a miracle to us. Once this area gets organized, the missionary work will work ten times more effectively. This week end we also attended the baptism of Olya! We arrived a half an hour early to find that everything was in order, that olya and her sister had already arrived with the elders and that the font was full, each of which seemed to me a miracle. about five minutes till we started the room filled with about six investigators from surrounding area's, their missionaries, and the rest with local members, making a total of about 30. This was also a great blessing that so many showed up to show support and have their own testimonies strengthened. I was a bit worried when we were getting close to starting with only a handful of people but that was soon put to rest. The program went well, under the direction of a member of our branch presidency. After two spiritual thoughts on baptism and the holy ghost, we were invited to enter the font and proceed with the baptism. As I entered the font from one side and looked into the audience, the smiling faces of both members and missionaries met me and it was such a great comfort to know that their are such great people in this world and that Olya would have a great branch family to help and support her. I think that is always the concern of a missionary, that once they leave, that everything will work out with the transition of the new member into the their new life and branch. Once Olya came down the steps from the other side and entered the water, I moved her into position and proceed with baptism. As i concluded what words i needed to say, i let her down into the water and back up again. What an amazing feeling! To have seen her through all the lessons and be with her as she came to understand the atonement on a more personal level, it was such a strength to me to see her come up out of those waters, seeming to shine. What a wonderful plan our heavenly father has for each of us. I felt so wonderful to be back in the water, all in white, performing saving ordinances in a sacred place like that branch. It makes me look forward to attending the temple and taking part in saving ordinaces on a regular basis. I know Olya will do so well and as i changed back into my clothes and entered back into the hall, i felt a great peace come to my heart that all was in the Lords hands. The members then offered powerful testimony and Olya then bore hers which made her sister even start to weep from what she was feeling. Family, I love this work, and it makes me want to weep just thinking of leaving it. My time has almost come to a close here but I know that these feelings will never leave me. I want them to stay with me for the rest of my life. I am so grateful that i was blessed with this time to serve and look forward to continuing this great work back at home. I love each of you and also cant wait to see you and share experiences together. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the pictures.
With Love,
Elder Ostler
I now find myself writing from the Alekseevka region, another suburb outside of center Kharkov. The branch here also has many strong members who are so willing to help when asked. Sunday night we went out searching for lessactives, honestly being a little lost because we are both brand new to the area. We ended up stopping by two members, one being a previous branch mission correlator and the other being a Primary president. They went through the branch list with us, telling us what happened to each person and indicated that at least a third of the people listed had moved and should have been transfered to another branch or sent to the general branch list in kiev. These two, unplanned meetings saved us hours and hours of searching to correct this information and was a miracle to us. Once this area gets organized, the missionary work will work ten times more effectively. This week end we also attended the baptism of Olya! We arrived a half an hour early to find that everything was in order, that olya and her sister had already arrived with the elders and that the font was full, each of which seemed to me a miracle. about five minutes till we started the room filled with about six investigators from surrounding area's, their missionaries, and the rest with local members, making a total of about 30. This was also a great blessing that so many showed up to show support and have their own testimonies strengthened. I was a bit worried when we were getting close to starting with only a handful of people but that was soon put to rest. The program went well, under the direction of a member of our branch presidency. After two spiritual thoughts on baptism and the holy ghost, we were invited to enter the font and proceed with the baptism. As I entered the font from one side and looked into the audience, the smiling faces of both members and missionaries met me and it was such a great comfort to know that their are such great people in this world and that Olya would have a great branch family to help and support her. I think that is always the concern of a missionary, that once they leave, that everything will work out with the transition of the new member into the their new life and branch. Once Olya came down the steps from the other side and entered the water, I moved her into position and proceed with baptism. As i concluded what words i needed to say, i let her down into the water and back up again. What an amazing feeling! To have seen her through all the lessons and be with her as she came to understand the atonement on a more personal level, it was such a strength to me to see her come up out of those waters, seeming to shine. What a wonderful plan our heavenly father has for each of us. I felt so wonderful to be back in the water, all in white, performing saving ordinances in a sacred place like that branch. It makes me look forward to attending the temple and taking part in saving ordinaces on a regular basis. I know Olya will do so well and as i changed back into my clothes and entered back into the hall, i felt a great peace come to my heart that all was in the Lords hands. The members then offered powerful testimony and Olya then bore hers which made her sister even start to weep from what she was feeling. Family, I love this work, and it makes me want to weep just thinking of leaving it. My time has almost come to a close here but I know that these feelings will never leave me. I want them to stay with me for the rest of my life. I am so grateful that i was blessed with this time to serve and look forward to continuing this great work back at home. I love each of you and also cant wait to see you and share experiences together. Have a wonderful week and enjoy the pictures.
With Love,
Elder Ostler
