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

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