Time is truly ridiculous over here! I feel like I just emailed you all yesterday. Nevertheless, a week's worth of things have happened during the last 168 hours. I had an exchange to Turlock. Not a huge fan of the place... but that is probably due to the fact that it isn't my area. I personally feel that as a missionary, one comes to gain an appreciation and love for the area that he is serving in as he is able to fulfill his purpose no matter how sketchy the area. For instance, the other day (as in yesterday) someone was shot in Gustine. But I love Gustine. I mean, I wouldn't live there, but I haven't ever felt in anyway threatened in that area. Weird how that works.
I really liked your email Mom about going out with the missionaries. That was really funny about how you said Jiminy Crickett... =]
I think that missionary work is one of those things that, because it is so incredibly fulfilling for both parties (the giver as well as the receiver) Satan is hard at work to make it seem like it wouldn't be fun. That is a bald-faced lie.
I mean, how can helping someone else find immeasurable joy, happiness, and peace in this life be droll? ;) That doesn't make sense. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I would say that if you aren't having fun as a missionary, you're probably not doing it right. Now that isn't to say that there won't be hard times (i.e. ~ hard times with a companion, struggles with finding and teaching investigators, etc.) but the mission has a way of bringing one closer to God – by both the riding through the high altitudes of success as well as being dragged the dark and rocky mire of despair – which brings one to realize that they are absolutely helpless without God.
I am happy that I have come to that realization. It is really something quite special to me because in reality, the mission hasn't been easy. But it has been completely worth it.
So it turns out that we did hear about the rapture that was supposed to happen on Saturday. I was actually on an exchange that day in Turlock. It wasn't all that it was cracked up to be. No rioting in the streets, robbing of banks, or anything.
But yeah, it turned out being all in all, a pretty normal day.
Hmmm... 2 minutes left... what should I say?
OH!!! So this past Sunday, we got 5 Investigators to Church AGAIN! That's right people. 5. Not trying to set any records here... but just saying...
Love y'all!
Elder Ostler
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