Como estan Todos?!?!
Disfrutando el dia de memoria (I think that is how one would say Memorial Day)? El Papa tiene el dia libre?!?! Que pasa con la familia?
Well... before you start thinking I got transferred back to Spanish work, I will switch it to English. Oh mom, I would be curious to know what the "trend/patterns" are that you have noticed in my mission regarding transfers. That was an interesting comment in your letter. It got me thinking, "Have there been any patterns?" The only one I could come up with was the whole staying in an area for a while which has been something I LOVE! On a side note, there are many missionaries that get driven crazy by staying in an area for a while. But for me, it is THE BEST! But anyways, to update the data for my transfer trends, here is what happened...
I'm still in Claremont 1st ward! Woot Woot! This really doesn't surprise me at all. But what did come as a surprise was that Elder G was transferred. Elder G and I had been told by our Zone Leaders that President was planning on keeping us together for another transfer because he liked how we were doing. So the transfer was a huge surprise. But in the words of Elder G, "Revelation happens. It's real." (He is the type of guy that doesn't like to stay in an area too long because he gets bored....so the transfer was exciting for him.) I now have a new companion. His name is Elder R. He is a cool guy. He is from somewhere in Utah....I forget where right now. He actually served in the English area that covered my area back in Boyle Heights. So I already know him pretty well because we used to feed him and his companions with referrals from the Bus and street back there in Boyle Heights. I'm excited to serve with him. He has about ten months out on the mission.
On a different note, there are these going away fireside things in our mission called "despeditas" (i think that is how you spell it in Spanish…I only know how to say it...). All I know is that it comes from the word "despedirse" which means to bid farewell. These are basically just testimony meetings for the members and investigators to attend in which they listen to all the missionaries who are heading home give a brief 3 min testimony. When all the testimonies are done, President and his wife speak as well. But they obviously get a little more than just the three minutes. It is a really powerful event and a wonderful opportunity for missionaries to say their "Hasta Luegos" to all their loved ones here in California before heading home. Normally I don't make it a point to go, but yesterday's despedida included an Elder Ingram. So I couldn't miss it. One of the part member families we are working with was kind enough to bring us to the fireside.
Well, other than it being a weird thought that my Elder Ingram is no longer in the mission field with me, I think it sort of hit me for the first time how old I am in the mission. With Elder Ingram being my trainer, I have always looked up to him. I think I will probably do that for the rest of my life. His whole two transfers ahead of me just seemed like an eternity more of knowledge and experience. But anyways, now that he is gone, it has made me realize on a little better level how others might look at me. It is kinda scary to think that quite possibly I might be that example that Elder Ingram is for me to someone else. I sure hope not, because I got a long way to go before I reach Ingram status, but this thought has caused me to desire to be a little better. I know on a personal level how profoundly Elder Ingram has impacted me and inspired me throughout my mission. I feel that if I could be even just half of what Elder Ingram has been for me for even just one missionary, then that would be a very good thing.
The whole reason I brought up the despedida was to mention something that I thought would be interesting for the family. (But a tribute to Elder Ingram definitely never hurt anyone.) So anyway, David Archuleta was there! He is a family friend of the Becerras. He sang a special musical number during the fireside. It was pretty cool. He sang 'If the Savior Stood Beside Me'. It was awesome. He even used a little bit of his mission language and sang a verse in Spanish. So that was pretty sweet! As he was singing, the thought crossed my mind, "So how does someone like that, someone who absolutely has it made, decide to leave it all and go on a mission? And what would he say about his experience if you asked him? I wonder if that decision had any consequences with his singing career?" As I listened to him singing, I realized that I would love to sit down and talk with him about his mission. The spirit was so strong as I listened to him singing. Then the knowing just kinda hit me that if ever asked about his mission, he too, just like I, would quickly say that his mission made him. Somehow his singing carried that message. Not sure how, but it did. It was very powerful. I wish you could have all been there with me. It was inspiring.
Oh, and on a side note, listening to that song brought back memories from a baptism more than 10 years ago! Isn't that the song that Kara sang at the baptism? Isn't that cool stuff? It seems like Kara was singing David Archuleta status songs way back when she was eight! Cool huh?
Wow! I'm pretty impressed with the scouting fundraiser golfing thing. That sounds like quite the day! Have fun!!!!
So we have some super cool stuff going on in our area and I am so excited to be able to work with Elder R on all this stuff.
One of my favorites is a bus contact we had last week. She seems to be a GOLDEN! It was a super fun contact. At the end of the conversation, I just sort of politely invited ourselves over. She nodded, gave us her address and set an appointment!
She is so prepared and she even seems to know it as well. When we extended a baptismal date to her for the first week of July she said, "Don't you mean the first week of June?" We promised her that if she was ready before July that we would happily schedule another baptismal service especially for her so that she wouldn't have to wait so long. So she is really fun. She told us a super cool story about how she has been praying recently that The Lord will lead her and teach her and guide her towards him again. She has come to the realization personally in her life that when she is in the driver's seat, things don't work out well. But when she lets God take the driver's seat and have full control, she knows and has seen that life is always better. She wants to give the driver's seat over to God. And has been praying to know how to do so. She believes it as no coincidence that we met her on the bus.
I too take it as no coincidence. I pray every day that we will be led to and be able to recognize those who are seeking more of the Lord's guidance in their life. I know that The Lord answers specific prayers.
What is amazing to me about this woman is that her words of faith are backed by her actions. In our first visit with her we learned that she works at McDonald's on Sundays. By the end of our second visit, we made a soft invite to get work off so she could enjoy church with us. We assumed that we would need to re-touch on the why church is so important later, but when we came back for our 3rd visit, she had already gotten work off for this coming Sunday. pretty good eh? I haven't met many people like her.
Well,
It's time to go!
Love you all!
Elder Ostler
