Wow...
I have so little time to actually write you. I have 8 minutes as of 20 seconds ago to write to you a long email... I'll see what I can do.
So everything has been going great. It is something interesting. Everyone told me this but I didn't really know exactly why until I came out here.
The Mission is a Roller-Coaster! Sheesh. I understand why so many missionaries feel that they cannot continue... that they need to go home. Out here, there are higher highs than ever. We walk into people's houses and share with them something so simple... the Gospel and our testimony. Something so simple, and yet often so difficult. We tell people how to change their lives. All of this comes by faith. It is interesting thing for me because, we don't always notice it but when we are doing our best to be our best, whatever that might be, we are given the companionship of the Spirit. When we have that Faith, Hope, and Charity that Moroni talks about (Ether 12), there is an interesting thing that people can see.
Example:
The other day, we went to one of our investigator's homes and we spoke about the Spirit. Now before starting, let me make something clear. I know for a fact that these people have felt the Spirit. I have felt the Spirit so strongly there that I cannot deny it. The husband said, "My wife and I were talking about it the other day, and we like it when you guys come over because you bring the good Spirit. Not the bad spirit. When you guys come over, even if there is tension or fighting or other things going on before, when we hear that knock and you guys come in, there comes a Spirit of calm and peace.
Note: I'm not saying this to brag about anything of myself and my companion, but rather to state the importance and significance of the calling as an Elder and as a Missionary.
The husband has problems with smoking. The wife... is just awesome. I really don't know what is holding her back. Last Saturday, we committed him to stop smoking for a whole day. One 24-hour period. He agreed that he would. The next morning he was texting us and told us that he wouldn't be able to continue until 7 am. We called him later that day... I think he thought that we were calling him to chastise him. But we didn't. We just called to see how he was doing to which he replied, "Oh. Well I'm doing Ok right now."
The next day, (fast sunday) we were waiting for Sister Bolton and her son, (Bro. Bolton told us that she would go) and nothing. We were sitting in the pews watching and waiting and NOTHING. Ugh, we were so dismayed/discouraged. Then about 15 minutes later, she walked in. Later that night she told us this story about she was going to sleep in when she heard a knocking her bedroom door. She got up to check and there wasn't anyone there. So she went back, confused. Not 5 minutes later, she heard "tap-tap-tap!" on her door, so she got up and checked the house to find that everyone was still asleep.
Then she told us, "I think it was the Lord telling me that I need to go to church."
I love this family. I love this work.
Thank you all for everything you've done for me in helping me to be here.
I love you.
Elder Ostler
No comments:
Post a Comment