So, it looks kinda like Washington right now...overcastish, gloomyish. But it's for a totally different reason. SMOG. It's gross. I can't wait for it to rain someday this week (I hope it rains this week) so the air can get washed clean. I just hope I'm not out in it when it rains cuz it's going to be a dirty rain until all the smog gets pounded down from the air to the ground. Hmmm not a terribly fun thought. But the good news is that the weather here is warm. And I'd imagine that is rather unlike Washington.
Dad: Hmmm I'm pretty sure you asked a question that doesn't have an answer. At the very least, it doesn't have an answer that I have figured out yet. But, I have done a lot of thinking and even studying about that question. Here is what I have to offer. The Book of Mormon IS the conversion process. It's just necessary. We must study the Book of Mormon in order to become converted in the way that Heavenly Father expects us to be. So you might ask, "What is the way that Heavenly Father wants us to be converted?" (that's a question I asked when trying to figure out "the answer" to your question) I'm still working on figuring that one out. But I am for sure on one thing: There is no final benchmark we have to reach that establishes we have become converted. It is a life long process. And it's meant to be that way. But because it is a life long process, Heavenly Father has given us his aid. And one of our most valuable aids is The Book of Mormon. Its amazing to me that I can open the Book of Mormon, struggle to read it IN SPANISH, and still pull something out of it DAILY which drives me to continually strive towards becoming more converted to Jesus Christ.
So, sadly, that's all I got for you. If you want more, Preach My Gospel has an entire chapter on the Book of Mormon and the power it plays in the conversion process... but you probably already knew that. I hope that is as helpful of insight as you hoped it would be... But I doubt it was. You asked a tough one :)
Holy Cow! Harrison OSTLER! Soon to be Elder Ostler! July 31! I'm super excited for you! You will be great! You are already great. I will admit, I was initially bummed when I opened the email from my mom and saw that you won't be coming to Arcadia California with me. But that only lasted for a short second. I decided to be humbled by the fact that Heavenly Father decided to bless Brazil with an Elder Ostler as well.
Congrats Kara! That's awesome! Way to go! That's my sister! It sounds like your life just got 100 times busier! I wish I could see the performance! You will have to see if you can get a copy of it for me to watch when I'm home from the mission. And on top of that, you are singing in STATE too! Wow. Way too cool. That's a super awesome way to end High School and head off to college. And that's a whole different experience all together. You will love it. Speaking of college, when does school start for you down in BYU-H?
Hmmm what have I been up to over here in California. A while ago I mentioned that I had been praying for and receiving greater success in finding people to teach. Well, I would like to think of this as a blessing of the Lord, but depending on who you ask, I'm sure they might say something different. Let's just say, it's not terribly uncommon that I find myself in a "different" or "out of the box" (whatever you wanna call them) contacting/finding situations. It's fun.
I think the greatest one was when we went to one of our members houses this week to eat dinner. They weren't home. I had made them cookies. The cookies were part of an apology for being almost an hour late to our previous dinner appointment with them, but also me telling them thanks for everything they do for us.(Don't worry mom, being that late is not normal...there were some extending circumstances as to why we were so late...but that's an entirely different story all together) Anyway, I made the comment, "Bummer, now we have to take these cookies home and hope we don't eat them before we get the chance to drop them by again." And to this, Elder P suggests, "Well, their window is open, you could see if you can place it on their kitchen table."
Hmmm this was a good idea. But the problem was there was a screen. The screen was the deal breaker for me until Elder P showed me it was broken and that I would be able to stick my skinny arm through. He was right! My arm fit in perfectly! As I was in the act of maneuvering the plate of cookies through the busted screen into their house, the thought crossed my mind, "Hmmm this probably isn't something I would want to get caught doing...especially while wearing the name tag." And right as I thought that, a neighbor walks out of her house and starts coming towards us. As I pointed it out to Elder P, he turns and starts walking away... But luckily, I had my senses about me enough to not freak out and act like we were doing something bad. So with my arm still stuck in the window, Elder P leaving the scene, and the neighbor approaching, I called out, "Oh bueno! Yo se que para mirarnos eso es malo, pero la verdad es que estoy dandoles calletas. Tuvimos una cita con ellos esta noche. Y estabamos planeando de darles sus calletas personalamente, pero no estaban. Por eso tengo mi brazo a dentro su ventana.... Como esta?" [Dad's translation: "Oh good! I know this looks bad but the truth is I am giving them some cookies. We had an appointment with them this evening. And were planning on personally giving them cookies, but they're not home. That's why I have my arm through the window....How are you?" Mom's response: This is what we would call a typical Benism. We just love Ben!]
Yep. It was awesome. They turned into a contact and even fed us dinner! They didn't set up an actual return appointment with us, but they told us we could pass by whenever we want. Sweet.
Well, love ya all!
Your son and Missionary,
Elder Ostler
