My Little Analogy

So I didn't have a heads up for today... and that big fluke shouldn't happen for awhile.

So we went to the temple today, and apparently whenever we go to the temple, we have to switch our preparation-day to the temple day. So that was fun. I learned a lot today at the temple... much of which I can't really talk about until all yall go through. Something that I really thought about though was that it would be incredible to go through the temple with the whole family when we get to that point in time.

Anyway... I was just kinda trying to side-step that gouge after hearing Tina's "You know what tomorrow is?" comment. Our preparation-days end at 6 and my companion and the district leader and his companion (who cover our area but in English) didn't even really want to come to the library! I was like "I made a promise to write my family EVERY week!"

And by the way, I will be here next week and the next.... probably for a long while. Oh, and I will give you heads up as best as I can. I cannot say this more... I am VERY VERY SORRY... please continue to have faith in me! I love writing to you and write as often and as much as time permits.

To answer your question from last week Dad, my Mission President, President Gonzalez, worked in the CIA and thus, it is very possible that his name is NOT John A. Gonzalez. I'm not sure if I included this in my last letter, but Sister Gonzalez reminds me a lot of Mom. She is very sweet and mild-mannered and yet she has many of the same mannerisms as Mom does.

Sometimes, our district leader/my companion does not have patience for things as unimportant as writing home. I got scolded the other day for going over time while writing you... I have a feeling there is a bit of a sensitive nerve there. I love you all so much. The way i feel here is something interesting. I miss you all but I feel that I am changing so much and I don't want to miss out on any of the lessons or blessings that the Lord has in store for both me and you.

Something interesting that I have encountered here is the importance of obedience. I probably have talked about this before, nevertheless, it is so important and the difference it makes here creates a sort of polarization amongst the missionaries.

Allow me to explain. There are some missionaries who do anything they want. They play basketball, waste proselyting time, even leave their companions. This they do because they think that this will make them happy. Nevertheless, it is interesting because there seems to be a dark storm-cloud hanging over them which nearly corporealizes and becomes visible to the human eye. They are NOT happy. Our district leader was trying to put together a musical number and during the time when he was away practicing, one of the elders actually said (and I quote) "Had I known the mission would be like this, I would not have come." He has turned his mission into a 2-year prison sentence. He just doesn't have the... largeness in stature... to go home and confront everyone. They do not have ANY success.

Then, there are those who are obedient. We are happy here and don't want to waste an hour of our mission. We are happy. We have fun. We are blessed with success.

And now I ask, why does it make ANY sense that we who are following the mission rules as best as we know how, are happy? Well, it is because we are on the Lord's errand, and He has set the rules. He knows that as we follow the rules and work as hard as we can, we will be happy. He also makes it pretty clear that those who do not, are miserable. And so my dear readers, being somewhat of a sound mind, I have devised a cunning plan. I will be obedient because obedience = happiness.

And I will call you on Christmas, I guarantee it. Or your money back.

And your letter Tina will be in the mail tonight. I got repremanded for trying to write it throughout the week.

I have a cool little analogy.

A farmer has a bag of wheat. He can do whatever he wants with this. However, there is nothing he can do to that bag of wheat to increase its quantity. Nothing except to plant them. As he plants them, he gives up his bag and, with as much faith as he can muster, will try to make them grow. Only by sacrificing not only the his bag, but also putting in the work, does he gain an increase. And when he does, his increase is a hundredfold.

When you write back, send me the meaning of this analogy (individually, or collectively if you like) and also give me the reference for that in the scriptures. (Hint: it WILL be hard to find but know this... Jesus said it)    ;)

So anyway... I will talk to you later... I love you!

Elder Ostler

PS ~ I will write you this Monday as expected. Same schedule as usual.