Днепропетро́вск: Finally a Picture!

First i need to answer your questions. Mom,you asked about the Kiev temple. Currently is is 32% completed or so, at least that's what i saw on the internet when we showed our Chinese Investigator the temple here in Kiev. It sounds like you are finally able to get a lot accomplished. And last week you commented that you talked with come young ladies from Ukraine. That is really neat, did they show you any pictures?

Dad, you asked about the economy, yes people constantly comment about there being a crisis and they say how great life is in america. We simply reply that the crisis is everywhere. And then once a twice a week we have somebody knock on our door asking for food, and every time it is somebody different. It's very sad here, the economy. I feel so selfish sometimes when i go to the store and purchase food, because i know of so many people without.

You asked about the history and places to see here in Ukraine. I've aksed people because i want to learn and i guess there isn't very much to see here, and as far as the history of the country i learn little bits every now and then.
   However, this last week we were able to go to a museum, the lady we read the Bible with in english after english each tuesday offered to take us to an art museum, and there i learned some history of the people in russia and ukraine, however i dont' know exact, fine detail because the lady spoke really fast in russian, however, i was excited because for the most part i understood what was being said. And every now and then i understood the exact opposite of what was being said, for instance... there was a series of four paintings about an american soldier that was injured and i thought she said it was a russian soldier injured by americans.

Family,
           Saturday night Elder Richardson and i met with the individual we met last sunday morning and talked with him a little more about the gospel. To begin with we simple got to know him and he told us more about his life and his family. We learned that he is a man without many worldly possessions and that he lives in a very humble apartment. Before we could even begin talking about the first vision with him he began to tell us about what he read in the Liahona we gave him and he said,"Well i figure that if the Lord talked with Adam, Abraham and Moses, why couldn't he talk with Joseph Smith." His name is Viktor and he is an incredible individual. Pretty much everything he has owned in life has been taken from him. He lived in Kazakhstan and he said that the police, i think he said the KGB too, came and took everything from his home.
    He has now come to church two sundays in a row and loves the Liahona and is reading the Book of Mormon.
    Also, the reason he came to church last sunday was because a little bit before i came into country my companion gave out an english invitation to a young boy and tried skate boarding with him for a second.. the 13 year old told his dad about my companion, elder richardson, and he came to our church. I think it's really neat that from such a small and simple thing we found an incredible individual.

     Also, our Chinese investigator invited his friend to our lesson this last week and before we left his friend wanted to try praying, which is an extremely foreign concept for them. The lord is blessing us and the work is going forward.

So now for the great news,
       My companion does not have AIDS! this last week we went to an adject city, herson, where we had zone conference and my companion got an AIDS test in order for him to go to Bulgaria. So this week i am in a threesome with the two other elders in Nikolaev.

Remember to smile and read the scriptures.

"Learn of me, and listen to my words; walk in the meekness of my Spirit, and you shall have peace in me."
-D&C 19:23

Love Elder Ostler