Shelby's last week in the MTC

June 11, 2012
Hello Everyone :)
                                                                                  
     Wow, this is so weird! This is my last email here at the MTC. Super strange! I can't explain how fast it has gone and how much it has impacted my life and my outlook.  I have come to love this gospel more than I ever have and I feel like I'm going to explode with joy all of the time.  I have so much to share, so I hope I can get it all in.

    One thing I have learned a lot about is something I learned in College. "Keep your mind and heart where your feet are." Whever you are- be there. What ever you're doing- do that with all that you have.  I have learned to really concentrate on doing my best and focusing.  I am often distracted or side-tracked, and this reminder has sure helped me alot.
      So this week we read Hebrews chapter 11.  Wow it's so good!! chapter 10 is great too, but I strongly encourage you to spend some time reading chapter 11 because it is powerful and has such a great insight into real faith.  It's fantastic.  Also, Phill. 4:11-13 - love it.  We really can do all things and we can be content and happy.  Simple, but true! :)

      So a pattern I've noticed throughout my life and throughout my mission the past 2 months- we learn best when we are low.  When there are struggles and challenges in your life, look to the Lord and ask Him to help you find what you need to get out of it.  It is hard- so hard- sometimes! But I promise, I have seen it so many times, we are more submissive and more willing to receive guidance when we look to Him.  He will make you burdens light.  I had a really great answer to pray this week.  I was looking for ways to find peace when reading the scriptures, then an elder shared a great scripture with me.  It is Moroni 9:25. Moral of the scripture- at least for me at this specific time- BE NOT WEIGHED DOWN.  In this gospel, we can be reassured that everything is OKAY.  It will all work out.  Seriously.  Find peace and rest in Christ.  Don't beat yourself up.  Try to see yourself as God sees you.  I promise if you just do your best, He will bring you that comfort.  You just have to ASK.  I'm still learning how important this is.  It's tough, but it's so great!
      So before my mission, I often had a bad or rough day every now and then, sometimes they'd even last a couple days.  Since I've been here I've made a goal to never let my tough moments and my rough times to become a "Bad Day".  It is SOOOOO hard sometimes, to pull myself away from my self pity and remember the purpose and reason that I am here.  But as soon as I try to do that, and I pray for help, my bad moment becomes easier and I am so much happier.  It's definitely not instant- But somehow, the Lord brings something back into perspective that allows me to remember how great life is, and how much I have been blessed.  Perspective is everything.  Like I said last week- I think- sometimes I miss home SOOOO much I can hardly stand it.  I love you so much and it is so hard to think of being away from you for so long.  BUT THEN, I remember the 39 million people in Poland who don't even know that they can be with their family for eternity.  That thought whips me into gear real quick.  I just want you to know that I miss you and think about you and pray for you.  You are my everything! I wouldn't be doing this is I didn't KNOW with a surety that we can and will be together for the rest of eternity.  :) :) :) Happy thought huh? :)
       So the devotional last night was wonderful. Stephen Allen. He's great.  I took some notes, and want to share some points he made.
1- If you keep thinking about yourself, you'll be miserable.  He related this to our companions, to our spouses one day, to us being parents and all sorts of relationships. It's true.  Look for ways to serve the people aroudn you happily.
2- When everything around you says you can't, listen to the voice inside you that says you can!
3- This life is not about who you AREN'T, it's about who you ARE.  Being yourself is being great.  Don't be anyone else- Be you! And be the best You you can be! :)
4- Harmony requires submission (Think about that one)
5- If you love them, let them know it.
6-How the people around you feel about themselves, depends on what label you put on them.  Don't be critical- love them, and build them up
7- Avoid childish arguments- they're not worth it.
8-Acknowledge the people around you and what they are doing great.  Cheer them on and support them.  Love Love Love them.  :)

So that was his talk pretty much, it was really powerful. We all needed it.  I have to say this. Whatever I am or am going to be, I owe to great teachers- beginning with my parents.  Thank you so much for hanging in there and teaching me.  Thank you for teaching me about life and about this gospel.  Because of so many wonderful examples in my life, and from the love within my own family, my desire to teach well and love those that I teach has grown so much!!! That's all I want to do is teach the way I've been taught, because my life has been so blessed by so many wonderful people.  Mom and Dad, thank you so much for supporting me on this mission. I am so sorry it's so tough.  I love you more than I will ever be able to tell you.  Seriously.  I wish words were more powerful.  I am so excited to write to you from Poland.  I don't know when that will be, but I am SOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to call you!!!!!! Yay!!!!!!!!!! :-D I hope you have a blast in Lake Powell- just relax and don't think about me okay? You'll be busy doing the things I said to do in those letters ;) Dad, I hope you have a wonderful Father's Day next week. I love you so much! I will be thinking about you! Be safe and have a blast in Lake powell.  Anyone who is going to write or email again, needs to send stuff before friday otherwise I will not get them.  Sorry :( This is so Crazy!!! I'm going to Poland!!!! :-D I've never had a one-way ticket before! I can't wait.  Seriously, my district thinks I'm absolutely crazy because I'll radomly get so excited and giddy that I kinda... freak out :-D Hahaha, this gospel is amazing, this church is true.  You're in my prayers night and day.  Stay strong and endure the tough times- it's all worth it. I love you all!!! Talk to you in Poland! :-)

Love, Sister Shelby Ostler

PS. Momma, please don't be sad.  I sure miss you.  You and dad each give each other a big hug for me okay?? :) My scripture for the plack is actually my song :) There is sunshine in my soul today :) I LOVED the pillow case. You are amazing. Thank you so much.  I cherish that picture!!! Your package was so great! Everyone LOVED the pretzels.  YOu do so much.  Have fun! I love you!!!! :) oh and you'll get my travel plans, I sent them to you on friday.  :) :) Muah!

Week 7 MTC

June 4 2012

 

 

 

Hello Friends and Fam! :)          

       How are you??? I hope you are all doing so great! Mom, thank you so much for your awesome email.  I love to be filled in.  Thank you and dad for your letters, I love them so much.  Tell Ash and Kels I miss them :( I miss them soooo much, and those little munchkins! 

      So, I had a fantastic week.  I can't even tell you.  I feel so blessed.  We had a lot of awesome days of just Polish. Saturday was by far the best though.  We literally only spoke 10 or less words in English all day, and that was on accident.  But wow I felt blessed! I have a more firm testimony of faith and works.  I can pray all day long for the gift of tongues, but unless I buckle down and do the work, I'm not going to have much help.  I witnessed the Lord's ability to fill my mouth.  We taught a great lesson and practiced contacting a ton because of how much we had been speaking Polish all day.  It was so great!! 

     So the rest of the week was great too.  I love this language.  It is so much fun to learn! We got to host on Wednesday. All of the new sister missionaries coming in, and that was so much fun! I got to take Erica Nelson around, and it was soooo good to see her! I love that girl! So yeah, the past week FLEW by, as they all have over the past 7 weeks! It's such a bitter sweet feeling knowing i'm almost to the end of my stay here.  I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited to go to Poland, don't get me wrong! That's what this is all about! But I also know that I will never get this experience again IN MY LIFE. So it's interesting to experience these feelings. 

     So I learned a lot this week.  Some really great lessons.  One I learned was about this world before the restoration.  Ask yourself, What did this world have to offer before the restoration??? It was a mess and there was no point.  It reminded me of a frebeeze commercial. You know which one I'm talking about, where the people are blind folded and they spray febreeze and the blind folded people think they're in a beautiful garden or something, but when they take the blind fold off, they're in a gross discusting place.  That is what Satan does! He deceives and lies to us.  This gospel can introduce a whole new world that is real and beautiful.  I know we can help others to come out of that place and not be deceived any more.  Interesting thought.  

      So yesterday we were talking about inviting the spirit and what some of the things that we do in our lives invite Him in.  I remembered when I was little and I used to come into your room, Mom and Dad, at least 3 or 4 times and tell you I love you.  Eventually I didn't do it AS much, but still even up to the night before I left, I remember going in there and telling you how much I love you and just wishing so bad that you really knew how I felt.  I know that those times in my life allowed me to feel the spirt.  I think it is the same when we pray to Heavenly Father.  The more we express our love and gratitude, the more He will bless us with His spirit.  It really begins to burn within you! I love you Mom and Dad :)

        So I was thinking.  I really desire to have peace in my life.  I imagine everyone wants peace, right? In my study journal I asked, "How can I have peace"? and I followed it with a bunch of scriptures and such.  I started to recognize the patterns in my life that lead to a lack of peace.  When I harbor grudges, when I am judgemental, when I have a lack of confidence, when I am discouraged, when I compare myself, when I am angry, etc. Then I read in Alma where the people burry their weapons of war so they can have peace.  It became so clear to me!! What can I burry in my life, right now, today, that will allow me to accept and enjoy the peace that this gospel can bring me? It was so releiveing to know that I can actually turn it over to the Savior and have peace.  It's a challenge, but I have sure found more peace in my days. 

       This mission just blows my mind- at least once a day.  It is seriously and literally a MIRACULOUS thing.  Miracles around every corner, tender mercies in every trial.  It's amazing.  I CANNOT comprehend my life without the gospel.  It's just to hard to imagine.  I love all of the hope and guidance, all of the friendships and testimonies that have been built over the years, all of the insights that have been shared and all of the eternal relationships that we can have! Oh it's so good to know we are a part of something so great.  I am starting to understand, just a little bit, what a REAL prayer is.  What REAL scripture study is.  And wow, can I just tell you, it is powerful stuff! I thought I did okay before my mission, but now it's like there's a whole new world that I didn't even know existed! I am amazed everyday when I pray for something specific, and sure enough, the Lord answers my prayers through the scriptures or through someone's insight. It's amazing.  I'm also very touched by the power of music.  Some elders were singing a song the other day that was no good and it brought memories and thoughts into my mind that I did not want! It was a bummer.  BUT then I listened to the Mo Tab singing Come Thou Fount, and WOW! I felt so darn good, I wanted to jump up and down and shout Hooray! :-D I know that if there is a gap in your life, it can be filled with good music that rejoices in Jesus Christ.  It's a blessing, no doubt! :)

      So I heard a great metaphor yesterday about running a marathon.  The lady had a rock in her shoe, but was in too big of a hurry.  She was running for a faster time.  She kept going and it started to bother her more and more.  It became unbeareable and towards the end, she took it out and it was just a little tiny thing! She had developed a huge blister which made it very difficult to continue to run.  She taught us that if we don't stop and take care of the little things in our lives, they may develop into bigger things that can injure and cause harm.  I know I have sure experienced that in my life, and I am so thankful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  

      Well, I'm running out of time. :( Story of my life on a mission. You just want to have more time for everything! :-) I love life, I love this gospel and I am so thankful for the plan of happiness.  It is sometimes very hard here.  Only for a few minutes while I miss and desire so badly to see or talk to my family, but I know and have the greatest assurance that I will be with you for eternity! I know if I do my best, this will help me to be happy for the rest of my life.  Thank you so much for your love.  For you support and for you prayers.  I feel overblessed to be able to experience this.  I love you all and I hope you are happy.  Smile and enjoy the journey- you only get it once! :)

      Love, Sister Shelby Ostler

Week 6 MTC

 May 28 2012

Hey Everybody! :)

     How are you all? This week has been a week of miracles! I learned a lot, and I experienced a lot! One of the miracle was pretty powerful to me.  On friday I was soooooo sick.  I could hardly move around and I still had about 5 or 6 hours left until we could go back home.  I made it through our lesson, and sat through most of class.  Them my companions encouraged me to ask the elders for a blessing.  I asked Elder Bokinsky and Elder Register.  I received a wonderful blessing.  I am so glad they could give me one.  They said it was a very spirtual experience for both of them.  Then I went home right at 9:30 and went to bed.  I woke up, started to get ready for the day and realized I was 100 percent better!!! I couldn't believe it.  I really had thought that I was going to have the flu and be sick for the weekend.  What a miracle! 

      So once again, this week has sure taught me a lot.  I was humbled many times.  First of all, after I was done being sick. I was reminded of how grateful I am for good health and for strength to go throughout the day.  Also, when I fist got here, I didn't understand why they have coverings over all of the sidewalks.  I thought it obstructed the view of the mountains and the sky and I was bummed about it.  THEN, on thursday, it started to rain very hard! I walked from our class to the cafeteria without getting wet one bit and I was still able to enjoy the smell of the rain and the beauty all around me.  I was humbled by that, especially when I thought about rules and commandments.  We don't always see the purpose until we are under attack by Rain or by satan! (Kind of a funny way of putting it), but it's true! I am so thankful for a loving, caring Heavenly Father who gets it and sees the big picture a lot better than I can! :) 

     So yeah, those are a few things that I learned.  As I've said before, we are taught many times throughout the week and earlier last week were asked to really ponder about some things. One said, "Can you rise to the level of trust that has been put in you"? I thought a lot about that.  After I made some connections, I thought about life outside of the MTC or my mission and I realized that there is always a time in our lives where we are entrusted with SOMETHING.  It sure brings confidence and peace when we can kneel down at night and say, "I did my best, Lord."  It's a good feeling! Another question was, "Think of a time when your testimony of Jesus Christ has burned stronger than ever.  Is it burning like that at least once a day"? That made me really think.  I thought of trek, I thought of specific times in seminary and institute- these times make me want to always keep that flame burning.  Even if it's just a spark, don't ever let it go out, the stronger the flame, the brighter the light! :) 

       Well, this computer keeps freezing on me and taking away my time :( But that's okay! So I have to share what heard in Relief Society yesterday.  We heard from a lady named Janice Brady who has a down syndrome daughter.  She taught us so many principles from her! Her name is Annie.  She said "It doesn't matter when I person learns to walk, it just matters that they do." She related this to our perspective and outlook on other people.  As we teach  people the gospel, and teach them how to walk, it doesn't matter how fast the jump up and start running, it just matters that they learn how to take the steps necessary to reach their Savior.  This really meant a lot to me.  I think it can help me be more patient with people and understand their circumstances.  The next thing she said was a story.  When Annie was 16 years old, she was really really sick.  She was throwing up all night and her mother had to help her and stay with her all night.  Annie started to cry and said "I sorry. I love you." All her mother could do was hold her tight and let her know that she is so very loved.  This story brought tears to my eyes because she then told us of how we are all like Annie.  We need help and we cannot do it by ourselves.  Christ is there to support and love us.  He just wants us to feel good and to be happy.  I loved that story.  

     So last night we had a great devotional.  We heard a story about a pilot describing things necessary in order to land on the aircraft carrier.  He said, you have to spot you deviation ahead of time.  If you are flying an air craft 150 miles per hour and you are trying to land on a moving, waving carrier, you CANNOT mess up.  He said that that is how important it is for us to stay on track and on course in our lives.  If we do not spot our deviation from the course, we could die. It was a powerful metaphor and I liked it a lot because, honestly, have we not all deviated and had to find our way back to the right path? 

       So, I have a lot more to share, but I am running out of time.  I just feel such a great love for our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He means everything to me.  I gave an example in one of my lessons I had to prepare for yesterday. I talked about Joe Larsen running the Iron Man last year.  He had had knee surgery and could hardly bear the pain as he neared the end of the race.  He finished the swim and the bike and half of the marathon.  We worried about him and wondered where he could be.  Soon Jon, my brother in law, started running up the path, in his levi shorts and flip flops to find him.  Jon ran 13 miles or so along side Joe to help him finish the race.  I thought about this and it really touched me.  Sometimes in life we experience serious pain.  Even though we decided to push through it and keep going, it is still tough! But then the Savior comes and lightens our burden.  He gives us strength and support to make it to the end, whether that's the end of our day, week, month or year.  He will help us reach our goals.  I am sure thankful to have so many wonderful examples in my life.  

     This gospel is the key.  Faith is the foundation of happiness.  We can truly do all things in the strength of our God.  I read 2 Nephi 20:15 and was once again humbled as I was reminded of our need to trust in the Lord.  I hope you all have a great week! I love you, I pray for you! You mean everything to me! :) Work hard, have fun, make a difference :)

Love you all Sister Shelby Ostler

MTC Week 5

Hey Mom and Dad and Friends and Family!!!!

        How are you doing? I am doing so darn good :) This week has flown by- as usual- and it was fantastic! I sure learned a lot, especially yesterday! On friday, my companion wanted to practice the piano, so we went to a spare room after lunch and my one companion took a nap while she played, and I just looked out the window at the most perfect view of the MTC.  It was pretty ideal.  I looked out at the sky, and I saw some elders and sisters reading scriptures, some eating lunch, some reading mail, some writing letters and some just smiling walking along.  I was just feeling the joy of being here.  I have come to recognize my joy as something that I've been taught my whole life: The gospel brings you joy.  It's really that simple.  When you do everything you can to live the principles of the gospel, blessings just come.  They do! It's clear to me that everything I do good has a good outcome, and vice versa.  What a blessing this gospel is!

       So, as a district, we set a goal earlier this week to only speak Polish! It has been a challenge! I have a huge head ache at the end of the night, and I just want to ramble on in English, BUT it has also helped with the language so much! We decided that we'd rather struggle with the language here than in Poland.  So that has been good for us.  So earlier this week, it was about 10 at night and I just got out of the shower and put my towel on my head when the fire alarm went off! Someone had seriously burnt some popcorn! It was quite stenchy! So out to the street we went along with 400 other missionaries! It was an awesome adventure- I thought it was exciting :) :) :)

     So, I heard something that I loved the other day.  The teacher related the spirt to a soccer or basketball game.  He said, when you grow up hearing your mom and dad cheering and helping you throughout the game, you come to recognize their voice all the time.  You can pick out their voice and heed their counsel.  He said that listening to the spirit is like this.  It must become a familiar voice to us and we must be able to recognize it where ever we are in whatever we are doing.  I liked that because of how much I hear your voice when I play soccer, Mom. :)

       I have been so blessed here in the MTC.  Some of the elders and other missionaries go on about how much they miss music, or movies and stuff like that.  I thought to myself, "Woa! I haven't even thought about music or movies.  I haven't even missed them one bit!"  I know I have had a lot of help with that because you know how much I love movies and music.  But I am so busy with other things that are 10 times more important to me than music or movies.  I'm thankful for that.  I also came to realize (in relief society yesterday when we sang this) that the song, "I'm trying to be like Jesus" has a totally different meaning to me now.  I love the words, so simple, yet so .... perfect! :)

       So in the devotional we heard from............ L. Tom Perry! :) :) It was a great talk! He was so fun to listen to. He's tall!!! But anyway, in the prayer at the end, the sister said, "Please help us to be happy farmers. To plant seeds, work hard and harvest the blessings."  I loved that  :) Plus I thought you'd like that a lot too Trisha and Troy :) We just need to be happy farmers huh? :)

      There is a sister here on a mission whose arms end right above where her elbows would be.  I mean, Wow! I am in amazement everytime I see her.  How would she do anything?? People say missions are a sacrifice, well in her case I would definitely have to agree! She is such an inspiration to me, and I hope I can be as happy and as positive as she is all the time.  I learned a good lesson the other day.  It doesn't matter what language you are learning, if you use the language of kindness to everyone, you will touch and bless lives.  Mom, you sure taught me that growing up- to always be kind.  Thank you for instilling that in me.  I know I can always improve on that, and I'm thankful for yours and dads words of advice all the time.  Thank you :)

      So I found a pattern.  I pray for something.  I have a trial.  I learn something.  I pray for something, etc...  little do I realize sometimes that the thing that I was praying for was answered by my trial.  I know I've learned this before, but I also know that this is one of those that I must embed in my mind and heart, because that is so often the way that Heavenly Father is going to teach us.  Sure gives me comfort in those times of trial as well.

     Yesterday in Relief Society, a lady spoke and she said her family motto during scripture reading is "So......" They read a scripture and then they say, "So... how can this bless or affect my life?" I thought that was so great, especially with how much I have been reading the scriptures.  I know I could've done that a lot more when I was home and it would've made my scripture reading more powerful.  They really can change our lives if we will let them. 

      So some more random things I learned that I liked this week. "We practice our agency not only by what we do, but by what we desire." our desires have great power if we act upon the righteous desires of our hearts.  Work for them, reach your goals and acheive you dreams. I know cheesy huh? :-) Also, "So much of our happiness is determined by choosing fear or choosing faith."  I think that applies to everyone's life.  Don't be afraid  :)

      So today is P day right? Well I went to get my laundry out of the dryer and I looked in the dryer and it looke a lot fuller than I had left it.  I opened it up and found a bunch of ..... elder's clothes hahaha :-D along with my clothes.  Guess he didn't want to pay the extra 10 cents for his own ;) ;) just kidding.  But it was pretty funny.... I seperated them rather quickly and got outta there :-D You'll hear more about that mom and dad :)
                                                                    P-Day Activities

                                                                     The Laundry Room

                                                                       6a.m. Service

                                                              Clean the Elders bathroom

 

                                              

 

                                                   Special gifts from special people

     Today has just been a fantastic day.  The temple was wonderful with my companions.  I sure love them.  We get along good most of the time haha :-) We laugh hard, we study hard and we teach with all of our hearts :) We've grown close.  We spent an hour in the temple today after our session discussing things and it was a great experience.  Well, I'm running low on time.  Just know that I love you all and I hope you are all doing good.  If all else fails in life, the gospel never will.  :) Live it, love it, and enjoy the blessings that will come.  Have a great week!!! :) Powedzienia!

Love, Sister Shelby Ostler