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

Investigators!!!

   Hey everyone! :):)

So this week was so great! Really, I don't know how to explain it.  I am just so thankful to be a part of this work.  I'll start with yesterday, since it's so fresh on my mind :) 

    So I have to tell you about our amazing Sakrament meeting.  Since we don't have a chapel at the moment, and we are in the process of looking for one, we weren't sure how many people were going to come to church.  We fasted together and invited everyone we could to come to church and meet in the library here in Centrum.  Well, on our way to church, we picked up a member, walked with her, then along came another humble sweet man who has come twice, then comes our recent convert right behind us.  We showed them up to the room, then sat in amazement as more and more people came in! We went outside in the park and waited for any more people who might not know where to go, and of course, more and more people came.  We had about 30 or more people in church! We had a very powerful experience as members and investigators alike bore testimony.  The cute little man who came just felt the spirit so strong he couldn't help but clap and say "bravo!" He's about 85 or so :) We got to share our testimonies and I personally felt so blessed to be in that room with everyone there.  What a tender mercy from the Lord and a true miracle. 

      So in personal study I've been reading about Alma and I just love him.  He is such a missionary! Alma 8:9-18.  He is so discouraged, then he's reassured from the Lord, blessed for his obedience and faithfulness, promised blessings, and then (here's the key) he SPEEDILY returns (verse18) to teach the people.  What's the significance?? He bounces back, has an eternal perspective, and he is willing to make the long, hot, tiring journey back because he knows the lord will provide a way. Soooooo cool! I just love him :) So there's that.  

       So a few quick random things that happened.  First of all, when we were teaching our Book of Mormon reading class, we were at the best part, literally a few verses before nephi cuts off laban's head, when the power goes out.  We were in complete darkness! The suspense was sweet.  Now they really want to keep reading later! So we went outside to see what happened and there was a FLOOD!!! It was soo cool! It was only like 3 feet deep, but it was fun to go wading through it talking to people about the church :) It went away quickly, but it was pretty fun :) So on August 1st all of Poland has 1 minute of silence, a lot like america, to remember the warsaw uprising.  It was a really neat moment because we were teaching english and all of the poles got to tell us about it.  I loved it.  Really cool.  So one day we were tracting and we were running out of ways to start the conversation, so we decided to start by singing...... hahaha.  Wowie, funniest experience of my life. I wish you all could have seen it.  We started singing where can I turn for peace (in polish of course) when the lady opened the door, the dog started barking like crazy, and the lady shouted "Nie! Idz tu! Idz tu!" Which means "no, leave, leave" as she summoned us with her hands and the dog chased us away.  Hahaha. We were just laughing so hard.  What else can ya do, right?? So funny :) The phrase, "When the Lord closes one day, he always opens another" has totally different meaning to me now :-D

      Okay, so the important stuff.  Guess what! Agnieszka's kids, Tomek and Kasia 8 and 11 are going to be baptized too!!! We were so excited!!! He is 8 years old and he read the whole kids Book of Mormon, and almost the whole kids D&C!!! We taught about fasting on friday and he said, "I think the most I can fast is 2 days, Mom." Hahaha, cute kid! He says the cutest prayers every! :) I am so excited for them.  They have sure changed a lot as a family since the gospel has become a part of their lives.  I love them.  

     So my companion has taught me so much.  Every day I watch her very closely (that may seem weird.....) but she's my trainer, and I still have soooooo much to learn.  She cares so much about our investigators and about every single person we meet.  She knows the Bible and the Book of Mormon so well.  She is always 100 percent obedient and she is a powerful teacher, always listening so close.  I have learned a lot from her and I know that we always have something more to learn from those around us.  :) :) :) 

     Well, I know there's more I want to say, I just can't think....... Hmmmmm, Gdansk is absolutely beautiful.  Always fresh fruit and vegetables everywhere.  I love it.  Well, I better go.  I love you all.  The gospel is true. I am so glad we get to be a part of this great work.  Every one of us get to be a part of it.  What a blessing! Take care and enjoy your loved ones in your life.  :) Love you!

Love, Sister Ostler 

A Gdansk Baptism



Matching shirts....



Hey all of my friends and family!!!

     Wow, this has been a wonderful week! It sure flew by too.  Thanks for your awesome email Momma :) I loved it.  And you too Ash, and Dad, and Makell! You're the best :) 

     Okay, there's so much I want to say! First I'll start with the greatest thing ever! Saturday we had a wonderful baptism.  Basia Kupieraczyk.  She's 64, and she was so ready to be baptized.  She is an amazing example to me.  Her best friend, who introduced her to the missionaries 2 months ago, turned on her, and told her she shouldn't get baptized and a bunch of other stuff, 4 days before the baptism! Basia was so strong though and knew she wanted to get baptized.  She said she couldn't wait to have the Holy Ghost with her all of the time.  So we had a pool in the basement of our chapel and it was so neat.  After she was baptized, I said, "you look beautiful" and she said, "Thank you, that's because I'm without sin now."  She was just gleaming! Truly, she is so sweet and so .... inspiring.  Sunday was amazing too.  When she was confirmed, the spirit just filled that room and it was a very special experience.  One of our fantastic investigators was there too and I looked over and she was crying and she said to me, "That was wonderful".  She wants to be baptized.  What an amazing experience.  If that was all that happened my whole mission, it would be worth it.  I am learning how truly valuable one soul is in the sight of God.  I love this work! :) 

     So that was great.  This week was great, but it was also challenging because of all of the lessons that fell through or some of the people that didn't meet us. :( It is really heart breaking.  But it is sure great to see some of our progressing investigators.  This week Sister Bezdjian and I focused on Charity and Christ-like love.  It was really great.  We also focused on being very specific in our prayers.  We pray for a certain time of the day (tracting or contacting) and pray for someone specific to come into our path, or a family, or an unplanned service opportunity. It went really great, and we're excited to continue to do this.  I personally have learned a lot of lessons about Charity and the root of Christ's love for us.  It is so deep and so powerful, and we only experience a small part of it in our lives, when, if we were obedient and faithful all of the time, we could experience more and more of it in our lives.  I am hungry for that love, and I want so badly for people here in Poland to feel that love and hope as well.  They need it! Well, life here in Gdansk is great.  One great lesson I learned I call "Just Do It."  We were about 30 steps out the door and I thought, "maybe we should grab the umbrella" then sister Bezdjian said "Hmm, maybe I should grab a jacket".  We both decided against it because we didn't want to go back and get it, and it would be inconvenient to carry, right? So then, a few hours later, the storm settled in and we were soaked from head to toe, freezing and looking rather..... sheepish :-/ We learned a pretty awesome lesson.  Just Do It!!!! I don't know how many times in my life there has been a rule that I don't understand or it may not seem THAT important, so I go on and avoid it, perhaps it is "inconvenient" or a "hassle", and then, later, of course, I regret it greatly.  So that is my lesson.  We may not understand the why, and perhaps it may be a hassle for a little bit, but you will be so grateful and you will be blessed!!! (and dry, and warm and happy!) :) 

       So yesterday in church they asked me to translate.  I was pretty hesistant, but said I'll do my best.  But then luckily I was saved!!! this great member from warsaw was here with her dad.  She translated.  I am not quite to that point yet, so I was glad.  But happy they asked me... I guess ;) So like I said earlier about Charity, I had a really monumental moment for me a few days ago.  I was just being... selfish.  I was frustrated with myself and I really just wanted to overcome the natural man (woman) in me and become a missionary!! It was a mental challenge for me.  So I put my personal study towards learning about charity and Christ-like love.  Wowie it was sure a powerful hour for me.  I read in True to the faith about charity and one part says, "He will strengthen you in your efforts to live this gospel." Then it says to strive to love as Christ loves, with unfailing compassion, patience, and mercy. Powerful words huh? I thought about that for a long time.  Compassion.  How can I have more compassion? As human beings, how can we have more compassion? Read Moroni 7, it's great when you have a specific question you need answered.  So anyway, that was a powerful experience for me.  My heart has been filled over and over :) 

      So one thing we are learning to do to get into the hearts of the people here in Poland is to serve them first.  You can't just walk up to people and start talking, or else they think you're a sales persona and they just seem afraid of you.  They really do.  It's tough.  So we are trying so hard to be creative.  We are learning that we MUST serve them first.  Once they know we care and love them, then they may open up and listen.  Then they will also come to know that Christ loves them.  I thought about that, and it sure relates to everyone around us, does it not? Who do you know that you would like to be closer to? I'll tell you how- Serve them, love them, care for their general welfare, and be their friend.  Then teach as Christ would teach.  We're still trying to figure this out with complete strangers.  But we learn something new everyday! :) 



Look how beautiful this new investigator is





An everyday event...being caught in the rain



Shelby's first written letter to Poland.  She wants mail......

     Okay, so some random stuff for you.  First of all, after tracting for a few hours yesterday, we got home for dinner and I came to the conclusion, "Chocolate never Faileth!" :) Mom, that awesome truffle you sent me in the MTC says that on the package and we sure needed that! It saved us haha :) Also, the best juice in the world- Kaktus Sok! (Cactus Juice) :) So good! Oh, and another conclusion: The only reason missionaries bring jeans on their mission is to measure how much weight they gain! :) We never wear them, just try them on the see how we're doing hahaha :)

     Okay, well, I better go.  But know that I love you all so much.  You mean the world to me. I appreciate all of your prayers.  You amaze me.  :) Keep living the gospel, you'll never go wrong.  Go to the temple as often as you can.  I sure miss it.  What a blessing it is to have members and temples, and churches and every resource you could imagine in Utah.  Take advantage of it all :) Okay, gotta go! Love you!!!

  Love, Sister Shelby Ostler

So Blessed

Sister Bezdjian and Sister Ostler! What a beautiful companionship! Go to it girls!!!


Hey Fam:)


 Wow, this week sure did fly by! It's been hot and humid and jungly around here! How is it at home? I miss the dry air! :) You're right though mom, it totally feels like I was just writing home! 
   So to answer your questions real quick, 1) Her name is Sister Harker and she is a member here from Hawaii/Cali/Provo! She's awesome! Accept her!!! :) 2) You can send packages to this address and please tell Ashlee she can send stuff here, not to the mission home.  I'm so glad you go my letter so fast! Awesome :) :) :) 3) my shoes rock! I'm sooooooooo glad we bought them, I have a funny tan line from the strap ones haha :) 4) the weather is actually SUPER HOT! It feels like 90's most days.  It's a scorcher! 5) P-days..... Hmmm. I don't really like them actually.  I'd rather just shop, rest a little and stuff.  But we rush around all day trying to do fun stuff, and buy stuff we need and get our food and do our laundry and email and then fit in lunch and dinner before we go teach at 6.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE emailing you and reading them :) but the rest of the day just isn't my favorite.  We might go to the Zoo, that'll be fun :)
so yeah, there you go. :)

Okay, so this week has been soooooo great! We were so busy, we really didn't know what to do with ourselves.  We had about 17 lessons last week, and they challenged us to have at least 2 more than last week this week, and we got 22, so that was great! We just running all over the place, trying to catch this tram or that bus and trying to be on time.  Everyone we meet with is so great.  They have the smallest little living arrangements I've ever seen! We're just so blessed and spoiled in America.  Everyone gives us gifts and loves to feed us, and sometimes is hard because we just don't have time to spend at everyone's houses that long- too many meetings.  It's so great though! :) We love it.

So I'll copy and paste part of what I wrote to President Neilson:
One story I wanted
to share is about service.  We had a meeting at the chapel and the
person we met with had a dog follow her all the way from her house ( a
long way away). So we looked at the dog tags and found the number and
called the lady who the dog belonged to.  We traveled by a couple
different trams to get there and we started talking to a lady while we
were on our way.  She helped us find the house.  Well, long story
short, we have 2 new investigators from doing that.  One referred us
to her son and his girlfriend, and the other is the lady who the dog
belonged to, she has 4 sons under 10.  We learned a lot about the
power of service.  A little thing can go a long way, and what better
way to teach about Christ's example?  Actions definitely speak louder
than words.

 So there you go :) It was a great experience.  So I didn't plan very well what to say in this email, but I just can't testify enough of this gospel.  Every day we meet and talk to people who spill their challenging life stories and their hardships and all sorts of things, and we try to help them come unto Christ by teaching them about His Atonement and the power it has to change lives.  It is probably the saddest and hardest thing about missions when people don't accept it or they won't listen.  How do you explain to a person that what you're trying to give them and teach them about really is life-saving and meaningful?? Please, find everyone you can.  Teach them about this gospel.  Love them, serve them, be like Christ.  That's the only way to bring them to this knowledge.

      Well, one other story, more of a light-hearted story.  We were at YSA with a whopping 4 people! Wahoo :) and played ping pong after our lesson and stuff.  Then we needed to make a bunch of calls, so we walked to the park right by our chapel and all of a sudden it started to down pour!!! Like, really! It was so loud with thunder and lightening, we could hardly make phone calls.  So we laughed and had a jolly ol time walking back to the chapel :) Then we went to a meeting, and we taught her, soaking wet. :) It was awesome.  Then she told us she makes arrows (and we could tell because she had hundreds all over the place along with bows and arrows) and she gave us each one! Hence the cool picture hehe :) She's awesome.

     Well, I'm sure there's more I could share, but I have no time, and this computer was a little frustrating, but oh well! :) I love you all so much.  Don't take the little things for granted like I did for so long.  Make every moment count.  :) Kocham was!!! :)

Love, Sister Ostler

Eatng Gelato after the polish opera

Polish food YUM!

YSA Activity

Homemade arrows (Gotta love the homemade pull-up bar above their heads!! Go Shelby)



At Jadwiga's



The Tramwaj!!!! (like trax, we spend way to much time on this)

Shopping and getting soaken wet.  The rain surprises us all the time.
But we LOVE it :)

The Centrum



The Elders



President and Sister Nielson

First Week in Poland

Dzien Dobry!!! Jak sie maczie??

I can't believe this is all happening.  It really is just like I have imagined my whole life! This past week has been CRAZY! Full of random, spontaneous and new stuff.  I am serving here in Gdansk and it is beautiful! Well, I guess I'll rewind a bit first. I got in the country on tuesday about 5 pm and we ate, had interviews, then hit the sac! We woke up, had a wonderful breakfast, did a bunch of paperwork stuff, then we went contacting on the Rynek (the town square).  I was a little nervous, but we had practiced SOOOOO much that I was actually really excited.  So the first 5 or 6 people weren't interested and kind of just shrug you off.  Oh well :) Then the 6th or 7th person I came to was an 18 year old girl named Ola.  She was so interested, so we (me and 2 other awesome trainers) sat down and talked for 20-30 minutes.  She took a book of mormon and set up another appointment with the sisters in that area! Soooo cool :) I was really happy about that.  So then we went back and met our companions and found out where we're serving.  I am soooo happy to be serving here in Gdansk with Sister Bezdjian :) :) :) she is wonderful.  She's been here for only 3 months and she's my trainer! We have had a blast together.

        So thursday morning we took an 8 hour train ride up here and we unloaded our stuff and went to work! :) Wow, what a first day I had! It was pooring and we didn't have an umbrella because it wasn't raining before.  I learned how to make phone calls and I called about 10-12 people to set up appointments, then we tracted 2 huge buildings.  1 person let us in! :) Miracles :) So then we contacted in the rain and I was loving it.  I have learned that the more you smile and talk to them, the more they smile and talk back :) We have a couple new investigators from that first day in the rain.  Really cool!

         So Friday was pretty hard for me.  I had a really bad sinus infection, and I kept thinking about you guys at home and I didn't want to get out of bed.  So, I did what any missionary would do, and I hit my knees.  I needed a turn of perspective and I needed to feel loved and comforted.  I needed to know that I will see you all again and that this is where I'm supposed to be.  Sure enough, after a good couple hours of studying the gospel, I was feeling good and ready to go.  We had a fantastic day.  The language is coming more and more every day.  when I first got here, I could maybe understand about 30 percent of what people were saying.  Then about 40, then about 50, now I can understand maybe 70 percent and I can be involved in the conversation a lot more.  It has been so great! I really love this language and people are just so grateful that we can speak it to them!

        So there is so much I want to tell you.  Wow. I've just learned so much.  The three biggest things that make this mission successful (I've discovered) are diligence, obedience, and perspective.  When all three of these are in order, everything just works out better.  Miracles and more visible and we find more people to teach.  It's amazing! I think this goes for life as well.  These 3 things will bring joy and success when your heart and works are centered in Jesus Christ.

       So, some of the things I wanted to share real quick.  Oh first of all, thanks so much for the info on the iron man. I was sure praying for you Daddy! I want to know how it went!!! How are you all? It sounds so beautiful! How's Kelsee and ashlee and chase and jon and zach and the kids? Ashlee, thank you sooooo much for your email! I loved all of them, mom, dad and ash :) I sure miss you all.  Okay, so saturday was fathers day here and we were contacting on our way to an appointment ( we are so busy we can hardly handle it.  Sometimes we just don't have time to eat meals, but that's okay! we love it!) and all of a sudden, about 30 priests come out of this HUGE cathederal.  We were standing in the middle of all of them at a stop light! Hahaha, it was hilarious! We got up the courage to offer a pass along card to one, and it didn't really turn out hahaha oh well! :) It was too funny :)

      So about the language - I love it! My brain hurt REALLY bad for the first 2 or 3 days, but I'm getting used to it now, and it's coming easier and easier.  Sometimes I speak polish and people don't know I'm american until they say a big ol huge sentence that sounds like a question and I look at them blankly and am forced to say, "eh..... nie rezumiem... (I don't understand)" haha, but it's all part of the experience eh? :)
      so the sun goes down at about 10:30 at night and it comes up at about 3:30 in the morning! It's nuts! I'm getting used to the mornings though.  Oh and the weather.  At any given time, it'll be sunny and hot and beautiful, and then without 10 second's notice, it's cloudy and POORING rain! Haha It makes for some serious adventures :)

      So yesterday was my first sunday.  I loved it.  Church is only 2 hours here.  I gave a 10 minute talk and I think it went really well :) I felt good about it.  Then we had to get to an appointment clear out of town and we couldn't be late, so we ran the whole way! Well, and mile or 2 and we made it 2 or 3 minutes late but we were sweating soooooo bad! Haha, it was worth it.  They are amazing.  Today we are going back to their house and they're going to teach us how to make pierogi soup! I love that stuff- so excited! :)

       Well, there is so much I want to tell you about.  Please just know that I love you sooooo much.  The people here love the pics of our family.  I think about you everytime I bear testimony of the plan of salvation.  I pray for you every day, all day.  I want you to know that I will never give up.  I am learning more and more the importance of this message.  I love it and I want to share it with everyone. Don't worry about me okay? I am happy and doing great.  I hope you like the videos and pics.  You are my heroes.  I love you soooooooo much!!!! Pa-Pa Na Razie! :)
Love, Sister Shelby Ostler