So everything is going great here at the MTC. Christmas was incredible! Christmas Eve Elder Bednar spoke to the missionaries and after he let all the missionaries shake his hand. He gave an incredible talk about trees, lights, and shepherds.
Christmas morning started off great, I opened my presents from my wonderful family (thanks for the packages and letters by the way, I really enjoyed reading them) and then we sang as a zone. We received a very nice present from the MTC, well all the means to purchase the gifts were donated by members of the church. We received a handmade tie, a scripture marking pen and a CD along with a few treats.
Following, we went to a devotional and lo and behold, Elder Holland spoke to us, AGAIN! He also gave a wonderful talk in relation to Christmas and the Savior. He gave, or committed all of the missionaries to study the names of Christ in the scriptures and how to apply this in our lives. I would also like to extend this invitation out to anybody that would like to study about the “Names of Christ” as well.
Elder Holland told us to do “12 Names of Christ” for the “12 Days of Christmas” that follow Christmas Day.
The 12 Days are as follows, 1) The Great Stone of Israel 2) Messenger of the Covenant 3) Christ is an advocate 4)Christ is a mediator 5)Christ is an intercessory 6) Christ is a light 7) Be a faithful witness 8) Strength and a refuge for all people 9) be a true vine 10) remember the lamb 11) Christ is the Morningstar 12) Christ is the High Priest of good things to come.
In a couple days we begin 100% speak your language and we can only speak in Russian between tomorrow until we leave (the 20th of January). I’m excited, I know this will significantly improve and help out with the language. Well I hope all is well!
Love, Elder Ostler
S.O.T.W. –“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproach, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
---2 Corinthians 12:10
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
No phone call :(
So just a quick update. Some people have been asking but we didn't get a phone call today. Daniel is still in the MTC which means that there are like a bazillion other missionaries so they say No phone calls for anybody! Kinda a bummer but we did send him a package and a little tree a few weeks ago.We think that everybody should donate prepaid cell phones for use on Christmas but until that happens we will support the decision of no phone calls.
Keep the letters and packages coming! Daniel is loving everything that he has been getting. Thanks everybody! Merry Christmas
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
All Is Well In Zion
So things are still going great here at the MTC. All is well in Zion. Haha that part is for Amber. We watched legacy a couple Sundays ago after our Sunday fireside and I laughed when they said that line. But everything is truly going quite swell. I"m not going the lie, the language is not easy, but it is coming. Tomorrow we teach our first lesson in 100% Russian!
Oh so all of the older missionaries in our branch, along with the native Russian speakers, have left or will be leaving with in a day or two to parts of Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic. Yes, now we are the older missionaries! although, now i am coming to realize that my first day here i thought the older missionaries knew so much Russian, however, now i can see that they really didn't!
I am trying to think of something that has happened out of the ordinary besides---Breakfast-Gym-class-lunch-class-dinner-and class again.
I am really excited to teach the first lesson in Russian tomorrow so I will let everybody know how it went next week.
Love elder ostler
Oh so all of the older missionaries in our branch, along with the native Russian speakers, have left or will be leaving with in a day or two to parts of Russia, Ukraine, and the Baltic. Yes, now we are the older missionaries! although, now i am coming to realize that my first day here i thought the older missionaries knew so much Russian, however, now i can see that they really didn't!
I am trying to think of something that has happened out of the ordinary besides---Breakfast-Gym-class-lunch-class-dinner-and class again.
I am really excited to teach the first lesson in Russian tomorrow so I will let everybody know how it went next week.
Love elder ostler
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Choose the Truth
Hey Family,
Thanks for the e-mail mom. So I don't' know how long this is going to be, I only have a few minutes. I wish I could write allot more, but I really don't have much time. But I got the package, thanks for it and the bag, the jelly belly stuff from Milwaukee and the scripture marking pen and everything.
The scripture memorization is coming along quite well, it's starting to get hectic though with it, I have like over 30 memorized and by the time I leave I'll have like almost 90! which I'm excited about.
I"m glad to hear that everything is going well for ya. So dad is exercising too? that's good. and i will ask heather about her date. maybe something will come from it.
Oh and I'm glad she has more space in my old room now. and i really really liked the jelly belly gummies. the bat gummies were the best. Thanks for the package, and did Kristin really make the fudge???
So today we went to the temple and because this is the last week the native Russian speakers are here we were able to do sealings. I love going to the temple and i wish i could spend more time there, especially in the celestial room but we have a lot to do on Preparation Day. So thanksgiving was great, we heard from Elder Neuenschwander, i think he might have been Cory's Mission President, but I'm not sure. He talked with us and it was really fascinating to hear him talk about Eastern Europe and all the work that is moving along over there.
Then later we had a thanksgiving meal but it wasn't anything like what Mom and the family prepare for Thanksgiving. Following the meal we had a service meeting and then we put together 10,000 kits for Haiti and another country that just had a disaster. So how is grandma Webb doing? I hope she's doing well, and what about the Weisses? have they been able to sell their house? Well I've gotta go but I'll try and write a letter if I have time.
Oh and thanks for the ring, I got it, and it fits just fine. (Daniel was given a ring and lost it before he left in the couch) And I even learned what it says. It says Vee-bare-aye Ees-tee-new. It is spelled completely different in Russian, but I don't' have Russian characters on here. But it means choose truth. Because I guess the phrase choose the right was coined by the communist regime in Russia and as a result the church doesn't want to be associated with that. Little story for the Day, Attach that and give to mom and whoever if they were wondering how to say choose the truth in Russian!
Love Elder Ostler
Thanks for the e-mail mom. So I don't' know how long this is going to be, I only have a few minutes. I wish I could write allot more, but I really don't have much time. But I got the package, thanks for it and the bag, the jelly belly stuff from Milwaukee and the scripture marking pen and everything.
The scripture memorization is coming along quite well, it's starting to get hectic though with it, I have like over 30 memorized and by the time I leave I'll have like almost 90! which I'm excited about.
I"m glad to hear that everything is going well for ya. So dad is exercising too? that's good. and i will ask heather about her date. maybe something will come from it.
Oh and I'm glad she has more space in my old room now. and i really really liked the jelly belly gummies. the bat gummies were the best. Thanks for the package, and did Kristin really make the fudge???
So today we went to the temple and because this is the last week the native Russian speakers are here we were able to do sealings. I love going to the temple and i wish i could spend more time there, especially in the celestial room but we have a lot to do on Preparation Day. So thanksgiving was great, we heard from Elder Neuenschwander, i think he might have been Cory's Mission President, but I'm not sure. He talked with us and it was really fascinating to hear him talk about Eastern Europe and all the work that is moving along over there.
Then later we had a thanksgiving meal but it wasn't anything like what Mom and the family prepare for Thanksgiving. Following the meal we had a service meeting and then we put together 10,000 kits for Haiti and another country that just had a disaster. So how is grandma Webb doing? I hope she's doing well, and what about the Weisses? have they been able to sell their house? Well I've gotta go but I'll try and write a letter if I have time.
Oh and thanks for the ring, I got it, and it fits just fine. (Daniel was given a ring and lost it before he left in the couch) And I even learned what it says. It says Vee-bare-aye Ees-tee-new. It is spelled completely different in Russian, but I don't' have Russian characters on here. But it means choose truth. Because I guess the phrase choose the right was coined by the communist regime in Russia and as a result the church doesn't want to be associated with that. Little story for the Day, Attach that and give to mom and whoever if they were wondering how to say choose the truth in Russian!
Love Elder Ostler
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