Hola mi Familia!
Well, its nearing Christmas time, and the weather around here is still worthy of wearing my short sleeve white shirts. Haven't even considered wearing my long sleeve ones, not to mention my sweater. I'm guessing that if they get used at all, it wont be for very long. Apparently, what I and Elder Ingram deem as t-shirt/short sleeve weather though, is actually quite cold for some Californian folks. Its been fun talking to the people who make comments about how cold we must be or how crazy we are. I sure hope I stay crazy though. I don't want to have to start bundling up. So far it has been an excellent source of conversation with all the people who think we are crazy.
This past week, I stopped studying my scriptures in English. My personal scripture study is now in Spanish. I would be lying if I said I enjoy it completely. Its really really hard. I miss reading my scriptures in English. But I am very hopeful that I will start seeing major improvements in my Spanish as a result of this decision. There was one day last week where I only got through one scripture verse and one section of the Plan of Salvation in Preach My Gospel. It was rough. It felt unproductive. But like I said, I'm hopeful that I will start seeing major improvements soon. Its gonna be hard, but I believe I can do it.... or at least I hope I can do it.
The new Elders we have in the apartment, Elder Russel and his trainee Elder Crane, are awesome! Elder Crane was actually in my zone in the MTC so I knew him a little bit already. Both are really awesome guys! Its awesome having them with us.
Since they are both new to the area, Elder Ingram and I have decided to let them use the car until they get to know the area better. So we actually haven't had a day with the car yet. But that is OK because we love biking! I don't remember if I told you this before, but something funny about biking in East LA is that I feel WAY safer biking the streets here than I ever felt biking back at BYU Idaho. I cant even count how many times I had close calls with drivers in Rexburg. But here, I feel safe on my bike. Everybody actually looks out for bikers around here. Just a fun fact.
I got your Christmas package. I already opened it up and figured out what I was meant to do with all the stuff inside. I put the presents under the small Christmas tree we have in the apartment (the Cowin family, the family who lives in the house upstairs from us, gave it to us). And I used the gift bags to wrap my gifts for the other Elders. Thanks Mom!
I wrote letters for Kara and Daniel last week. I put them in my backpack with the intention of dropping them in the mailbox later that day and then forgot to do so... Whoops! But I remembered on Thursday.... so that is when they got in the mail. I'm not entirely sure, but I'm assuming I wont have time to write an extra letter home today. We have a big Zone activity this afternoon. And we have to go shopping between now and when the zone party starts.
Remember the family I mentioned in my last email? Well we had another lesson with them and they are just so completely amazing! They want and are ready to get baptized. The only thing that has to happen is they have to get married. But to do that, they have to get divorced from their previous spouses. And that could take a while. But they are working on it.
Well, Adios mi Familia!
I love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Ostler
