Calling all prayers!

Hey Friends and Family, 

This week has been good; a little longer than most, but still good! I am seeing that the Lord is answering my prayers in mysterious ways.  I have been praying for more desire (to talk to everyone, to run to meetings when we're late, to work until the last minute, etc.) and for a vision of things as they really are.  Well, I am here to tell you that being sick in bed  has sure given me the desire to go outside and talk with EVERYONE! I want so badly to be out working.  I want to run and skip and jump and just move around. If there's anyone willing to pray for my health, now would be a GREAT TIME!! I feel them so much and am so grateful for your care.
 I am also realizing how precious every moment is.  I am down to the last 2 weeks of this transfer and whether I'll be with Sister Bezdjian again or not, I'm not ready for it to end! It's just great how the Lord really knows our needs and gives us just what we ask for (if it's righteous).  So, Sister Bezdjian has been taking care of me, and it has actually strengthened our relationship a lot.  So, even though I may have no energy right now, I know that my prayers are heard, and, from this experience, they are certainly answered as well.  We had about 30 lessons planned this week, but...... we were only able to make it to 4 of them.  BUT they were so neat! We had a couple of great miracles.  I'll tell you about one or two.  So one day we went to Gdynia to meet with a less active member there who can't come to church because of work. 

                                                                                                  

                                             

As we got off the train, a man was handing out flyers and, as we usually do with them, we asked if we could exchange flyers. So I handed him a Book of Mormon flyer and right away he started asking questions about the church and asked where he could buy a book of mormon.  We jumped at that and happily gave one to him.  He asked if we could maybe talk about it sometime and we said of course! Well, we actually invited him to come with us to that member's house while we had our lesson and so he came.  We had a really neat lesson (part english, part polish and part thai!) and he told us all about his harsh past and his desire to change and become like Christ.  He prayed at the end, and said he'll read the book of Mormon and pray about it.  He is about 22 or so and really neat.  What a miracle! Then a couple days later we met with a girl who pretty much referred herself.  From our book of mormon reading class at the mall, she asked if she could join.  Well, something happened there, so we have to meet with them personally.  So we went to her house, asked her what her expectations were and she said she wants to learn english, learn about our culture, and more about the book of mormon. Our jaws were probably hitting the ground.  She was so open, she is so prepared and she has a strong testimony of Christ already.  Her name is Magdalena and she's 24, can't wait to keep teaching her. 

      So I can't remember what else I was going to share with you...... Oh yeah! The Aquarium in Gdynia was really neat.  They had 2 huge Anakondas and a bunch of exotic fish and paranas and stuff :) That was cool. We're hoping to go to a concentration camp for our culture night in a week or so.  That should be awesome.  The history here is unbelievable.  I hope I can learn more about it while I'm here. 

      Well, I love this work.  I know the Lord answers our prayers.  I am thankful for my companion who has taken care of me and helped me learn to be patient in times of tribulation. I'm thankful for our health.  Someone ALWAYS has it worse, so I'm just so grateful that we have bodies and that we have agency.  I hope you are all doing great.  I love you all.  Keep finding ways to share the gospel and deepen your conversion; it's a life-long adventure :) Love ya! 

 She Finally got a coat!  It's hitting the winter weather already! That humidity just cuts right through the wimpy coats. She went for the good stuff!

Love, Sister 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