A Hiking Trip

Dearest Family,
so this last Preparation Day, we (my companion and I) decided that we were going to go hiking. Yes. We, being installed in Woodlake, decided that this would be a great idea. And it was.

So I'm sending you a few pictures of that. It turns out that we didn't even come near the border of our area. It was great.

Woodlake has been a great area though. I've definitely learned a lot!! However, it (this area) has probably been one of the toughest. It's much like they say on the District 2 - "Sometimes you do everything to get a baptism. You go the extra mile, talk with everyone,... aghh."

There are so many struggles. So many many people that need help, but they just can't seem to find it within themselves to put exercise just a particle of faith.

But then you come across amazing examples of faith, such as Gilbert Vargas. He had known the missionaries a while ago, but had lost contact with them in the move from Porterville to Woodlake. We met Gilbert on the street. He called us over and asked us to come by and teach him.

I'll never forget his story. You see, Gilbert's kidneys don't work. He goes to dialysis every other day. The missionaries decided to go on a team up with one of their members - it turned out that... unbeknownst to the missionaries, he was an old friend of Gilbert's, who had since changed his life as he had come to learn the Gospel. It was that member's testimony that really helped Gilbert to see the power of this Gospel.

I love hearing from all of you. I'm striving to be the missionary that you think I am - that the Lord wants me to be.

Pues, les quiero.

Elder Ostler

To those whom I love.

A mi querido familia,
I was pleased to get emails from most of you (*nervous muttering and scared looks fill the room).

Yesterday, we had training from our mission president, Pres. Gelwix. It was incredible. I love that man. I don't understand how he is still alive, but I love him all the same.
He has been wondering how we can fix our area. Woodlake has definitely been a trial. We've been scrambling around to make allies with our members who got offended that their old missionaries (who were transferred). It hasn't been easy at all. There is so much potential... and yet some people decide to use their agency to make decisions that lead to unhappiness.

Aghh... it's frustrating. Truly frustrating. But it has caused me to wonder how the Lord thinks about me, you know? I can imagine that sometimes He must feel like saying, "Aghh, won't you ever learn, Elder Ostler?"

Well, I have come to the realization that this mission has been so important for my life. More than I can say.

In fact, it just turns out that I can't really write all of these feelings in just an hour.

However, I do plan on writing more next week.

I'm so sorry if my email last week didn't send either. It was pretty loaded with pictures.

Well, I'm so happy for all of the progress that each of you are making. All of the growth that you have made while I've been away.

So... 'til next week!

I love you!

Elder Ostler

An Unseen Blessing

Pretty self explanatory, this is David. I know as much about this picture as you 

Dear Family Ostler... and guest,
So a story that is still in the works. Last week we got something working! It's slightly ridiculous to me sometimes how tough it can be to work with different auxiliaries - even other missionaries. Not that they're problematic, but rather, working around their schedules can be a hassle as well as just finding the time to coordinate certain events.

And so it was with us. As it turns out, we have been working with a girl (whom you may have heard of) named Maria Navarro. She has been really receptive with us when we come over, but, as it is with many investigators, sometimes it is hard to nudge them to make certain decisions... such as coming to church!

Well, this Sunday, we were sure she was coming. More than that, she was sure that she was coming. Due to the fact that she was YSA-aged, we had this amazing YSA team-up planned with a couple of YSA kids... an RM and his girlfriend - but... when they showed up, she all of a sudden wasn't at her house!

Frustrating, am I right? Very frustrating. Well, regardless of this, she had still promised us that she would be coming to church.

As Saturday evening came around, we threw her a text ("We're excited to see you there tomorrow!" - or something along those lines), to which she replied, "Ok, thanks!"  ... Does that count as an empty reply? Tal vez.

So Sunday morning rolls around, and - a big, empty Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zero.

So I'll admit, I was bummed! And then, our Branch President (who has been under quite a bit of stress to get the Missionary Work moving here in the branch - which includes 3 sets of missionaries) vented some of that frustration onto us through our Branch Mission Leader. Nevertheless, our BML is doing awesome, and he knows we are working full-speed... it just hasn't been manifested in the numbers yet.

So in this very meeting (during which our BML is giving us the run down on the meeting with the Branch President), all of a sudden, we get a text.

"Maria Navarro came to church today to the YSA Branch. She loved it and is planning on coming to the Fireside tonight."

I have to say, that was definitely needed at that point. My feelings were, 1st: a sigh of relief. 2nd: finally! whew. 3rd: FINALLY!!!! WOOHOO!!

So that has been something that we are happy about. The Lord does bless us as we give our best. And giving your best isn't easy. But the blessings that come from it - the answers to prayers, the progress of the investigators, the miracles which come as they strive to keep commitments - they're worth it.


I love you all.

I'm glad that I have this opportunity. I love you all.

Love,
Elder Ostler


PS ~ attached are a couple of pictures. I think you'll be able to figure them out without too much explanation.

David's new companion

Step-training

My dearest family,
I am writing you from my area.... still Woodlake. I've (...that sound's selfish) - We've, found it difficult working here. The people are nice and willing to talk, but as of yet, they are unwilling to change. Ugh... that is a sad excuse of an attitude.

I suppose that the work out here is hard. Nothing less should be expected. It is the hardest. We've been struggling to find a true investigator. What could I possibly mean by that? Well, to be completely honest, I feel (and this is mostly my fault) that we have been withholding investigators from others. really, we have just been trying to baptize in our area, into our branch so much that we have forgotten that the important thing is that they are baptized into the Lord's area - the Lord's branch.

Sure, there are problems, but we will overcome. We have shed many tears over the hardness of the hearts of these people, but they will come.

I've never understood the importance of Member - Missionary work so much. It is vital. Without it, there is minimal work, and even less retention.

For instance, one of our investigators, has been trying to change. But she is facing a lot of adversity, right now. Her fatherless children are left nearly homeless as she is tossed about by her addiction to Methamphetamine (Meth).

It is definitely a struggle.

It has been difficult... I can't lie. I think that I feel much like Enoch (in the book of Moses) who was called to work among his people. There are so few people here and they don't even like us. How do we move forward?


I can say that I felt encouraged by the letter from Elder Shippen. I'm so glad that he is doing well and learning so much in Chicago. I look forward to seeing him afterwards.


---Anyway, it was under these afflictions you might say, that I was struggling for the past couple days. This morning, I woke up just completely and utterly exhausted. Yes, I was physically tired - it seems that I'm always tired these days - but this was a spiritual thing. There wasn't any glow. Usually, you can pick yourself up as you study your scriptures... as you go out and holding the Book of Mormon in your hand, testify of it's veracity. But this was different.

While I was thus under these afflictions, I remember reading in the last chapters of 1 Nephi and first chapter of 2 Nephi.

Then I studied Intercession for one of our investigators, Ralph Palafox.

Then I remembered his story.


Ralph Palafox asked us to come over. He reached out. What's more, he reached out at 8:55 pm, as we were walking to our apartment. He was the reason why I was unable to fix my bicycle tire. If we had been on bikes, we would not have met him.

There are definite miracles here.

I feel that fire is reignited. I love this work.

Dear family and friends, please help your missionaries by being missionaries. Invite your friends to church activities. You don't have to be a weirdo about it. In fact, I would highly suggest not being a weirdo.

If you can, go out on splits with them. Invite others to come unto Christ. There isn't a feeling much greater than that.

I love you all.

Elder Ostler


PS - A Question to Elder Davis.... Does he know an Elder Michael Arzate? That is the son of our Branch President here. That would be cool to know.

A Suicidal Companion

To my beloved ones,
I feel that I should start with a story.

~Flashback~

We were sitting in the home of a potential investigator (by the name of  "David Ruiz"), as we discussed
the importance that God and religion hold in his life.
He, being the nice guy that he is, prepared us a food tray loaded with sandwiches.
As we were talking, somehow David began talking about the different types of chiles that he had,
and then stood up, walked into his kitchen, and brought out a plate loaded with 'em.
He then began telling us how hot these little, round, yellow ones were - about twice the size of a pea - 
(known as "picquin?") and how he doubted that either of us would be able to withstand the tremendous heat.
Well, of course, being the experienced chile-connoisseur that I am (did pride have something to do with
it?... who's to say.), popped the aforementioned pepper into my mouth.

Was it hot? Eh...yeah. Nothing as dreadful as was stated on the brochure, but picante.
After the praising of my incredible ability to hold my pepper from our investigator, my companion was
anxious for a try.
(- Now before I continue, please keep in mind that my companion is not used to the intensity which comes
from eating said chiles. I'm pretty sure that onions fall into the category of Picante for him.)

As I was talking with David, I took my eyes off of my companion for all of 20 seconds, in which time he
grabbed a small, greenish chile (which I believe is called "chile de arbol"which can be quite fiendishly hot),
 and popped the whole of it in his mouth. All I saw was David's eyes get wide, and I turned to my companion
who was sitting there holding an empty stem as he chewed furiously.

After about 5 seconds, his face went a deep red, which then turned into a light purple.

"Aghh!!" was all he could scream, as he jumped up from his chair.  A look of fear quickly crept onto his face.
Then, he quickly swallowed. (Bad idea? uhh...yeah. Definitely.)
"Go spit it out!" David Ruiz said, pointing at the rubbish bin in the kitchen, chuckling nervously.

Elder Petersen ran to the rubbish bin, spewing out the small chunks of pepper as fast as he could.
"..-so HOT!" He then grabbed my glass of lemonade and began gulping it down, then stuffing his mouth with
as many sandwiches as it would hold.

After some 5 minutes, things began to settle down. I have come to realize that I would probably be a pretty
bad EMT because - at the moment of emergency - all I could do was sit there in shock and laugh.

Moral of the story:  don't bite off more that you can... handle?

~End of Flashback~

So anyway, yeah, that happened. I thought it would be important to share that precious moment with you all.
But something that I would like to share with you is something that we saw last week on Mormon.org.
"Wait. You go on the internet to watch videos?"
"Yessir."
And this is the link to one of my very favorites... our own dear presidente.www.mormon.org/larry


Well, all is well here.

I love you all.

I asked Presidente about my extension... nothing definite. =T

Well, other than that, I love you, and keep up the great work over there.

I did get my contacts... thanks so much. They were much needed. I also got the package of sweets. Thanks so much!!! =)

Also, you might see some unusual activity on my personal account. Sorry about that. Bad planning. That shouldn't happen again.

Love you.
Take care.
Elder Ostler