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.