Oh, if only we had a few hours to sit here and
email... there is so so much I would love to talk about. So much I am
learning. But alas, this is not to be. So I will give you
everything I can as soon as I take care of some matters of business.
First off, I'm sure you received word from the
mission office that the postal system is no longer forwarding our mail.
This means that I'm now allowed to give you my address where I'm actually
living. Pretty sweet eh? People can still mail to the mission
office, but it will only be delivered to us at most once a week.
Here is my address:
Elder Benjamin Ostler
4124 Ranons Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90065
I will need to keep you updated on where I get
moved to and stuff like that. But as of right now, I assume I will be
here throughout my entire 12 week training. I'll keep you posted on
transfers and stuff like that. I have two weeks left in this transfer.
Regarding Dad's question about my missionary
plaque scripture: I have decided on Doctrine and Covenants 135:3
(but only the first sentence). Also, I would like the words "Joseph
Smith, the Prophet" to be replaced with "Elder Benjamin Ostler, the
Missionary" and the other change that needs to be made is "this
world" needs to be switched to "The Arcadia, CA Mission"
Hmmmmmm actually, that might be altering
the scriptures too much.... so lets go with a different one ;)
The one I really want as my missionary plaque scripture
is Doctrine and Covenants 11:21 I love how this one promises that as
I seek to study and fill my heart with the words of God, that the spirit will
aid me in my teaching in the very moment I need it.
Ok. This week, and actually the past two
weeks, have truly and unmistakeably illustrated the absolute necessity of
following the spirit. I must have full confidence that as I am striving my
best to be my best self and missionary, that the Lord can, will, and does
give me spiritual promptings. And more than this, I must act upon these
promptings with promptness. These promptings can be for my benefit or for
the benefit of others. But regardless, I must act with promptness so as
to demonstrate to the Lord that he can indeed trust me to accomplish his will
in the very moment he needs it accomplished.
I have had many experiences with this. In
some, I acted. In others, I passed off the prompting as a "thought
of my own that didn't make much sense" But in truth, the Lord guides
my thoughts as I live in accordance with his will. And so, I must follow
my thoughts/impressions/promptings because more often than not, my first
impression or instinct in a given situation is the guidance of the spirit.
It may sound odd, but I believe that the Lord tries to use us as a tool in his
hand more often than we are prone to believe it. Our job, or my job, is
to realize that I must act with promptness rather than speculate in my
head, "So, is this actually a spiritual prompting? Or is this just me
having a weird thought?" I need to stop speculating and start
acting. When I'm doing my best to live my life in a way that constantly
fulfills my purpose as a missionary, I need not be concerned over if I'm
receiving a prompting or not. I must simply assume it is a prompting and
act with promptness.
Saturday night, it was supper rainy, dark and
cold. Not many people were out on the streets. Elder Ingram and I
were standing at a crosswalk waiting for our little green light to allow us to
cross. As we waited, two very shady looking dudes approached us from
behind. I glanced over at Elder Ingram and knew that he too felt very
uncomfortable with these two men so close. As they approached, I felt I
should turn around and talk to them, maybe ask them if they have ever talked
with missionaries before. But then, I told myself that to do so would be
stupid... after all, they obviously don't appear that they want the gospel in
their lives. And so, I ignored this thought. And I and Elder Ingram
anxiously waited for the light to turn green and allow us to cross.
The men came uncomfortably behind me. And
I rationalized once again that rather than turning to talk with them, I should
continue faking an attitude of calmness, and pure confidence. Then, one
of them made a really loud obnoxious noise in my ear. His buddy started
laughing, and Elder Ingram and I continued ignoring them.
The light turned green and we crossed the
street. The men didn't cross with us and instead walked the other way.
When we got across the street I noticed a large
screw stabbed through my tire. I wish I had turned to talk with them.
Had I been facing them, they wouldn't have been
able to "screw up" my tire..... and our entire night for that
matter(we weren't able to get anywhere for the rest of the night). I am
very grateful that it was just a tire that got to teach me this lesson and not
something else. I replaced it that night and now, Elder Ingram and I are
back to cruising the streets. We live in a scary world with scary people.
But the Lord knows this and wants to protect us...especially his missionaries.
I just need to start acting with promptness.
Well, I have no more time. I love you my
family.
Your son, brother, and Missionary,
Elder Ostler
