August 25, 2012
[3rd day in MTC]
Dearest Family,
We were given a short P-day today (Saturday) to do laundry since we wouldn't be able to have a Prep day 'til Friday of next week.
Anyways, I have a short moment to write you now while we wait on laundry.
I don't remember exactly what I shared with you about my MTC experience thus far, so I'll do my best to share only new things.
Spanish is mui dificil para mi. I hit the wall yesterday when we learned how to bear our testimonies and say prayers in Espanol. It was really cool and spiritual while I was writing it out on a script, but the moment I had to put away that carefully prepared script was dreadful. I felt so blank. There was so much more I wanted to say, but the words are not in my vocabulary yet. So that's hard, but I take comfort knowing that the Lord knows what I want to say.
Spanish class/lecture is a total immersion experience. Our teachers rarely speak to us in English. In fact, we went the first day and a half before I ever heard a word of English from our teacher. The teachers use hand signals and lots of body language in an effort to help us understand them. But it's still hard. I can get the gist of what we are being asked to do most of the time, but only because I can piece it together by hearing words I recognize.
We taught our first investigator in Spanish last night as well! Yesterday was a big day. That was way harder than trying to understand what was going on in class because our investigator kept acting bored whenever I was having trouble or stumbling through the language. I would get stuck and have to think about what to say, and before I knew it, our investigator was looking out the window, checking out his arm as he flexed it, and basically just trying to show me and my companions how bored he was. It was funny thinking back on that struggle as I was lying in bed last night. But in the moment, I felt so incredibly stupid and unprepared.
Spanish makes me appreciate every word of English I get to hear, speak, write and read. I love that I get to do my personal study in English. Yesterday, right after I hit the wall in Espanol, we were given time for personal study. I was reading in Alma 31 and 32. As I read in Alma 32 about faith, I was reminded that I need not know or have a perfect knowledge, but rather, I need to act and exercise and believe in myself. I need to run with the language program without getting frustrated. As I diligently act on the mission program and maintain faith that I will get it someday, I will be blessed with help from the Lord. And help from the Lord is what I need most as I work to share his gospel. That experience I had yesterday with my English scriptures was a big boost. I was grateful for that extra encouragement.
Oh!!! I went to go pick up the mail last night! I was supposed to be able to get it the first night I became a DL, but the ZLs didn't know where they put our mailbox information. So we had to wait 'til they found our mailbox code so we could go get the mail. Thanks so much for the mail mi familia! It was so nice to hear from you. I wish I could have read the mail before I emailed you last night, but alas, it was not to be. When I picked up the mail with Elder M, I had 4 dearelders, he had 1 letter from home, and another member of the District had received 2 letters. Rather than taking all the mail back to the classroom, I felt impressed to hide 3 of my dearelders back at the dorm room. I felt that would be the best thing to do in an effort to avoid turning it into the Elder Ostler mail party. I'm so glad I listened to that prompting. The Elder that received 2 letters is struggling just as much as me, probably even more, with the language, so it was awesome to see how happy he was and how happy the District was with and for him. It was a nice boost for him. Even though the entire District was supportive of the three of us that had received mail, I could tell that a few Elders were somewhat disappointed. But everyone did really well. When we wrote home yesterday, several members of the District told their families and friends about dearelder.com. So I hope that works out well for everyone. Mail is a blast! And, I truly hope every member of the District gets to experience that fun really soon.
Well, laundry is almost done and me and my companeros need to prepare another lesson in Spanish for our investigator that we are teaching again tonight. Love you all very much.
Adios for now,
Elder Ostler
August 27, 2012
So when I went to send this letter on Saturday, I learned the Post Office closes early on Saturday. So I'm sending it out today instead.
I just want to let you know that Sunday was a great day full of muchas Ingles. Speaking in English for a great majority of the day was definitely needed for me. Especially since my District Leader trainings were yesterday. I can't even imagine trying to learn all my responsibilities as DL in spanish.
The coolest thing I learned in my meetings was the importance of developing Christlike attributes in my leadership. And of all the Christlike attributes we talked about, love was the attribute of most emphasis.
The only thing I didn't like about yesterday was that my meetings took me away from the District, but more importantly it took me away from my companionship. Having a trio companionship is hard in and of itself, but when you add in the factor that one member is gone for meetings at different times for a great majority of the day, it brings up a whole new set of problems. While I was gone at meetings, my companions prepared our entire lesson for our investigator and it seems during all this time together, they were able to develop a pretty good friendship and bond. It was frustrating preparing for my portion of the lesson by myself, while they were able to talk and laugh and have a great time, but I know they don't mean any harm by it. It is just tough feeling like I'm working on the lesson alone rather than with my companions. The only other thing I'm struggling with right now in my companionship of three has to do with our sleeping arrangements. The Elders we were assigned to live with are also in a companionship of three. They are English speaking missionaries and they really struggle with being obedient. Our first night in the MTC, these Elders were up talking 'til 2 a.m. Being new to the MTC, and super exhausted, I was able to fall asleep pretty quick, which was a huge blessing since the topics of conversation were not appropriate. The next night, after I had become DL, the Elders we room with stayed up talking super late again. It's hard not to join in , I mean, if they are keeping me up, why not talk?...Right? But, the branch president challenged me to be strictly obedient in all things and he even specifically mentioned bedtime. He explained that I can lead by example the principle of obedience to my District and offer correction when needed. But I know that if I'm not living in strict obedience then my example and my corrections will be hypocritical. So, rather than join in the conversations, I find fun nonthreatening ways to remind our room of Elders that we need to be obedient and go to bed so we can have the spirit with us to aid us in our learning. But, instead of choosing to be obedient with me, both my companions and the other companionship of Elders continue to talk. They have even said to me, "Elder Ostler, we understand you are in a hard position being DL and having to be obedient, so we won't be offended if you don't join in with us tonight." (The English speaking Elders said that.)
So its a struggle to go to sleep at night, and its also hard knowing what I'm forfeiting get-to-know-ya time with my companions, but I am hopeful that my efforts to be obedient will bring the blessing of the Holy Ghost to aid me in Espanol.
Your son,
Elder Ostler
Ignorance is Bliss...
P.S. I thought if I got up at 6:00 a.m. (half hour early) that instead of working out I could swap extra workout time for writing this extra part of my letter to my family. However, I was informed by the other Elders we room with, when they woke up at 6:30 a.m., that this is against the MTC rules. Apparently P-day is the only legal day to write letters, even if they are hand written. So, this will be the 1st and last letter you get from me that is not written on P-day while I'm in the MTC. I want to be obedient. Love ya!
