Jesus wants us to succeed

Família!!!!

What a crazy week it has been.  I´m not going to lie. I had no idea what was going on when I was reading that email.... does anybody sign their name these days?! kakaka Jefferson!!! Your paps and in.... and you know where my guess is...... BRASIL!!!! vamos falar português.   Os irmãos que falam espanhol acham que podem falar português mas de verdade eles não podem!   Brasil!  Eu adivinho brasil!!  Claro, ná?! Estou aqui agora....!  But I´m really excited to see where you get called.  And that sounds pretty awesome with the tramp ball gopro fun.. Man I remember when I was a senior and graduating... those were some good times.. soak it up Jefferson. It only happens once.  Amanda I love you and I pray for you every night and morning.  You can do it!!!  Ok hold up.. I just looked and BYU is in a play - in game against ole miss... what is the world coming tooo!?  But on with the week....

This week I learned a lot about trust in the Lord.   And about Hope.  Monday night was super crazy.   We went and got pizza after I emailed, but I was able to finish my training and everything and then we went home.  Our house was packed with missionaries that came from outside of Manaus for the leadership council. I got a call at about 11 from Elder M saying that there was a missionary missing... He left in the morning with Elder M´s comp and hadn´t come back. Elder M was with the missing missionary´s comp.  The missing missionary was Elder F.  Elder M said that he was probably at the secretaries house.  So we called some of the missionaries that were there. They said that he wasn´t there…..  We kept asking them if they knew where he was.  I felt that they knew were he was they just weren´t telling.  They are all in the same "friend group" here on the mission.  They accused us of not trusting them.  It was Bad.  Elder ** chewed me out too.  I just wanted to cease to exist in that moment………... Eventually we found out that "he was at the hospital"....... After it was all over I remember that I just fell to my knees and started praying. Praying for real.  I wanted to feel God with me. I wanted to feel the comfort that His Holy Spirit brings.

The leadership council was tranquilo.  I think I did pretty good on the training. Everything went pretty smoothly. I talked about how to mark baptism dates and then keep those dates firm.  Then on Wed- Fri we had zone conference.  3 zones every day with a total of 10 zones.  (on Wednesday there were 4 zones.) 

Elder Thompson was not feeling good so we just went to the mission home so he could sleep and we could plan.  So we did. We got there and there were two sisters there, one was sick....me and one of the sisters and Presidente Castro made Galinhada e sopa.  I will have to make that when I get home!  It is amazing!!!!!!! It is just chicken and rice but with so much flavor....! after we made and ate dinner we planned out the transfer. Elder Thompson was sleeping this whole time... he was not doing so great.   We were able to get done before midnight.  Then I took a shower...... but not any shower.......I took a shower with a fire hose of a shower head with water from old faithful... all of this while BAREFOOT!!!! It was amazing!  We got up the next morning early and went to the next conference.  The other two conferences were tranquilo... nothing crazy happened at them. 

That was pretty much the whole week, just conferences.  Me and Elder Thompson gave our trainings on Courage... we started off with that clip from the Joseph Smith Film where they are tied up and the bad guys are talking bad about how they kill mormons and then Joseph stands up and rebuked them all.... It was pretty sweet:)

So every Sunday night we get the numbers from the Zone leaders.... well only a few numbers.  Usually it takes for ever because there are 16 Zones in the mission.  We are usually up till at least 11:30 or 12 doing it.  But last night we got done at 10:40! and we were in bed at 10:50!! That is a world record I swear!! It was great. 

On Saturday night we went with the secrataries to get pizza.  They invited me and Elder Thompson.  So that is us at MR. Pizzo.  That is a fried banana cinnamon pizza!! That is what I call variety.

One other big thing happening in Brasil.  So Like in most of the world right now the government is corrupt.  There was a big manifestation yesterday.  Over 1 million people  particiapted in são paulo alone.  In Manaus it was 30 thousand.  They were just protesting the government.  They want to impeach the presidente.  Her and her party have been robbing money since 2002 but for some reason they keep voting her back in........  so it was just a big manifestation but I didn´t see anything.  It was just in the center.

I´m trying to strengthen my Testimony of the Savior and of the Spirit.  I´m not a fancy righter nor do I know how to spell "writer" but I know one thing: I know that my Savior lives.  I know that because of Him, because of His death and resurrection we can have a hope for a better future.  Anything that is unfair will be made right through the Expiação de Jesus Cristo.  Jesus wants us to succeed.  He wants to help us. We have to show that we want His help by obeying his commandments.

I have learned very quickly with Presidente Castro that Jesus Cristo is leading this church, and especially a Missão Brasil Manaus.  Presidente Castro Always tell us why he does the things he does... it is because the spirit tells him to do those things.  He has told Elder Thompson and I some pretty sacred things that have happened in his life. He has taught me the importance of Prayed... not just pray but praying with fervor.  One thing that I´m striving for is to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost with me to tell me what to do just like Presidente Castro.  I love me mission and I can´t even believe that I´m over 3/4 of the way done.  This is the most important work that we can be doing right now.  I love you guys a ton!  You are my eternal family!  Now lets go out and help some other families be eternal families too!

Elder Ostler

A ton of work

Oh tramp ball. Those were the days....

Well this week was... very different.  I honestly don´t feel like writing at all.  But I will because I know you will appreciate it.  We got to work almost none in our area this week.  But we did have about 4 planning meetings with Presidente Castro. 2 of which were at his house!! We had dinner there last night and lunch there today. We were planning all of the meetings that we are having these days.   Tomorrow we have mission consel with all of the ZL and STL.  And this transfer we will be traveling the mission for the conferences! It is going to be great but a ton of work.  So this is what my week is looking like:

Tue; Conselho da missão 

Wed-Fri: 3 Zone conferences in Manaus...

and you have to remember that we still have an area to work in... that is the most stressful part.  We have to do all of the trainings and planning and stuff... but we also have to work in our area and make a model area for the other elders.... This week our numbers were horrible.... Horrible due to all of our planning meetings.  

During our first planning meeting I was super stressed out.  I just felt like I was the worst AP in the world.  It was the worst feeling.  I was just thinking about all of the stuff that I wasn´t doing.  But I´m alot better now and I´ve been praying really hard for the spirit these days.  On Friday and Saturday I felt super good!  Just like walking around on the streets to appts I was feeling really good:)

Another big thing that happened this week was the new missionaries that came!!! There were 11!  And Elder Walbrecht is training!!!!

I trained Elder Walbrecht, well I finished his training so I have a grandson! He is from haiti. His name is Elder Dametas.  He is Amazing!!! He joined the church a year ago in Columbia.  He is great!  So spiritually stong.  And he is Black!! My Grandson is Black!  That is right!  I bet he can dunk to so I´m covered.

Right now I´m super antsy because I´m preparing my training for tomorrow.  We also have to prepare for all of the conferences this week.  Super stressful!  I just want to go out and run or play basketball or tramp ball!

Jefferson I was praying super hard for you to win..... Sorry about the loss... maybe if you would have had my grandson on your team you would have won... just saying... But it was great to hear abut the surprise party that mom organized for you..... isn´t she just the best!  I love MOM!  

Sorry this email is so tiny.. I got a ton of stuff to do and I´m not really even thinking straight right now.   Once I get through this week I think I´ll be fine...not that I´m not fine now... I´m with all of my friends.........:)

Love you guys so much

Elder Ostler

ps I read a life changing talk this week by Uchtdorf. It is called "Receiving a testimony of truth and light"  He gave it in this last conference.  I had been thinking about it for a few days so I decided to re-read it and I loved it!!!! He gives 4 simple but tough steps to obtaining a testimony... I encourage you guys to read it... it is AMAZING!!!!!!!!!

It was just so amazing to have an Apóstolo there with us

Família!!

My week was pretty corrido to say the LEAST! Crazy busy all week.  On Monday everybody got here.  We had 200 missioinaries in the city of Manaus... It was pretty crazy. Tuesday was the big day.....Me and my comp, we got to the chapel real early to got everything ready.  There were soo many missionaries. This is the first time in something like 8 years since the whole mission has been together.

It was difficult to get everybody to settle down.  I tried and Thompson tried but we are just not experienced enough.  So I asked the 2nd counselor in the mission presidency to tell them to be quiet and sit down and it worked and it was a good thing because Elder Cook walked in about 5 mins later.......!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   The conference with him was AMAZING!!! I felt as if a cloud had settled on the chapel. That is what the spirit felt like... just a cloud in our midst.  It was so cool.  He started off by stressing two points.

"You are more than just missionaries, you are ward and branch builders."    As missionaries our job is to build up the wards that we are in... our purpose is to bring other unto Christ but that doesn´t just include non members.  That also includes members as well.  Pres Castro always talks about our lunch appt. and how we need to use this precious time to build up the members and help them feel the spirit.  Elder Cook said the same thing.

"In a very real sense, you are the message."    We need to live what we are teaching... our conversion will show in our countenance to others around us.   He told us that we needed to be better missionaries.  Which is exactly what I was telling you guys last week.  "Be better now," he said.

He then went on to take questions... one was pretty good... "What do you wish you would have known as a missionary that you know now as an apostle."  First Elder Aidukaitis answered and said that we need to KNOW the book of mormon is true.... with out a doubt... we need to be able to look anybody in the eye and say "this is a true book" with no doubt in our voice..... Elder Cook said that he wishes that he would have know how important the spirit is in our teaching, especially when we teach the first vision.

He took more question. It was just so amazing to have an Apóstolo there with us... I never want to forget it.  I noticed that he didn´t really have the whole thing planned out.... he went by the spirit.  I´m not saying he wasn´t organized just that his agenda wasn´t set in stone.  After he took questions he asked if his wife would speak on Christlike attributes.  I don´t know how to explain it... but you could tell that he was just following the spirit in his directing in the meeting.  I studied that in PMG the other day, listening to the spirit when directing meetings.  I didn´t get it but now I do.  His wife LOVES music and singing. She taught us a great version of "Povos da Terra." I don´t even remember what it is in English   "heark all ye nations" that is it.    

He taught us about the 4 types of love we need to have.

Love your companion

Love the people (and country)

Love the Mission Pres and his wife

Love the Lord

He also told us the story of when he got called to be in the twelve by Hinkley.   And then testified of Christ, being a special witness of Him.  "Jesus Christ lives.  I know His voice.  He guides his church."  The conference was amazing.  After he left we snapped a picture of the whole mission.......... that was a lot of missionaries. The guy that took it still hasn´t sent it.... still waiting on that one.

Then we did the transfer.. .. that was crazy stressful.  My main thing was getting the short term missionaries.   I was calling them and organizing it... it is hard to explain mainly because I don´t remember it all to well there was so much going on.   Just a ton of missionaries.  We tried to mandar todos os missionários de manaus embora.  That took a little bit.   All the missionaries catching a flight left most all at night.

We got a picture of our MTC district.... well that is who is left of us.  It is the first time we´ve been together in 1.5 years.  Pretty crazy.

Wednesday was still dealing with getting people to their areas because some of them left on Wednesday as well.  Elder Robinson and Elder Thomas stayed with me and Elder Thompson for the week because they are leaving today. That was pretty fun. 

So about the baptisms... we only had 2 of the 5 but it was still amazing!!!!!  They are named DF & DP.  DF is married to a member.  He is 30. well they actually got married 2 months ago with the sisters when they were here.  The wife always wanted to get married so they did.  But he didn´t want to get baptized.  He was waiting for a massive spiritual conformation like we hear storied of sometimes... very rare stories. He wanted that.  He liked the church and all and was pretty sure it was true but he wanted more. The problem was he wasn´t reading the BOM nor praying.  Me and Elder Maia taught him logo depois his marriage and told him that he needed to read and pray everyday if he wanted an answer.... then we just kinda put him on the back burner because he wasn´t progressing.  Not coming to church much and sometimes not wanted to talk to us when we passed.

But then............................  Like I said on Sunday he told the bishop that he wanted to be baptized so on Wednesday we went over to his house.  IT WAS AMAZING!!!!  He said that he was reading the Book of Mormon and was already in 3 Néfi and loving it.   He told us all about the lamanities and nephites and how God blesses them when they do what is right and curse them when they don´t keep the commandments.  He understands it so well!!!  We asked him why he wanted to get baptize and he said that it is because he feels good when he feels the BOM and just feels like he needs to be baptized!!!!!!!!  That is the POWER OF THE BOOK OF MORMON!  Sitting in that lesson I felt so undeserving of such a humble, prepared, elite investigator.  I felt like I didn´t deserve it.  It was a weird feeling.   It gave me a sense of my nothingness before God.  I did very little in helping this man get baptized... it was all God through the Book of Mormon.    I was ready to give up on him but God wasn´t.  God is so good to me.    So good. Moses 1:39  He is here to bring about our eternal life.    DF and his Wife already have a goal to go to the temple in a year... and what a blessing it is to have one right here in Manaus!!!!

DP is a fun story.  He is colombiano but speaks very well português.  He lives with his friend Julian    THE KING!!! kakakakak. Julian was baptized 2 years ago but only returning to activity about 3 months ago. He is colombian o too and absolutely hilarious!!!!!!!!! Just his mannerisms.. just a funny guy.  He got the Sacerdócio de Melquisedec last week at stake conference.  About a month ago he brought DP to church so we started teaching him.  They live in a massive house that the catholic church gives to immigrating people... mostly from Haiti.... a bunch of Black guys….

DP absorbed everything we told him.  When we told him he had to stop drinking coffee he said "Ok, I´ll stop."  It was that easy for him..... he was just ready to be baptized. He is 26.  The cool part is is that Julian baptized him!!!! IN SPANISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    It was soo cool.  It was Julians first baptism so he was kinda clueless. I wrote down the words for him to study.  He got in the water to do it and instead of putting his arm at a ninety degree angle he just put it straight up in the air!!!!! He messed up on the words. He for got to said the ands in between the names so he had to do it again... then he forgot to put his hand in the air.... then he for got to say diego´s name....finally he got it right and it was perfect!  So cool to see him baptizing his friend......  at the baptism I gave the message and I mentioned how we were baptizing these two men because of MEMBERS!!!!!!!!!!  Then our ward mission leader reemphasized it. I hope it stuck in their minds that it is their responsibly to baptize their friends... not just ours.. the baptism was great!! We played Ping Pong after and I creamed.... well almost... I´ve lost a ton of what I had..... which wasn´t much to begin with if you ask Jackson… kakakakakak

Funny story.... Yesterday while President Castro was interviewing the missionaries leaving I ripped the seam of my pants going down the side of my leg, it was a good six inches. We were here at the mission office with a bunch of missionaries.... my garments were totally showing....... so I found a needle and some thread and went in the bathroom, took off my pants, sewed up the seam and I was as good as new... I was pretty proud of my self:)

One thing that I´ve noticed that I´ve been doing is this:  Instead of focusing on the missionary I want to be... sometimes I focus on the RM I want to be... I don´t know if that makes sense or not.  I think of who I want to be after the mission than who I want to be on the mission.  I know it is just a little thing but I know it will make a big difference if I focus more on changing me as a missionary.

Well that was our Crazy week full of Transfers, Elder Cook and Miracle Batismos!!!!!!  Hope you all have a wonderful week!!

Elder Ostler

First Apostle handshake for this guy!!

FAMÍLIA!!

Ok you will never guess what happened?!?! We got ipads!   As of now we (me and my comp) are the only missionaries who have them.  They are so legit… I'll senda picture of them in another email!  So Legit!

Way to go Jefferson on the big win!  So now you are on to state right!?  That is great. You better play your heart out.  Jefferson is now owning on the floor!  Just like I taught ya.... 

This week was super crazy.  The transfer will end next week, like this sunday. But seeing that the WHOLE MISSION will be in Manaus tomorrow, we decided to do the transfer and week early to save a bunch of money on plane tickets and travel in general.. so this week we had to plan the transfer and plan the Elder Cook conferênce... Talk about a lot to do. 90 missionaries are coming in from outside of Manaus.  About 50 got here at 9 this morning.  We are putting them in the houses with the other missionaries.  The rest get here in an hour or two and tonight. It is just all really confusing. I´m really glad we have 4 secretaries now instead of just 2!  Me and Elder Thompson are going to stay together one more transfer and then I think that I will be transferred.  I think I might ask Pres to send me to an interior. I´ve only left Manaus for 6 weeks... I´m hoping he lets me...It will be my last area... that is really weird...

One thing that I´m realizing is that I need to be a better missionary. There is not just like anyone thing that I need to do to be a better missionary, I just need to be a better missionary all around.  It is hard to explain.  I need to be more obedient and faz meu estudo mais eficaz e minhas orações mais sinceras.   I don´t think that it is Satan trying to tell me that I´m a horrible missionary, I think it is the spirit telling me that I CAN be a better missionary. I can be more focused on my purpose.  I can be more reliable for Pres Castro. I can do everything that I say that I´m going to do.... Don´t think that I´m breaking all the rules and doing nothing. I am working. But I know and God knows that I can work harder.   Thank you for always giving me those little words of advice at the end of your emails. They really do help me want to be better.

Yesterday we had stake conference and Elder Aidukaitis was there. He talked about the importance of serving a mission. He talked principalmente to the youth, the young Men. The church really needs more missionaries, desperately, at least here.  There are 18 leaving next week and only 11 coming (13 if the two americans get their visas).  We have to close areas when this happens... we are going to drop below 200 missionaries. It kind stinks but it is going to happen.  So help all the people you can to get on missions!

Anyways the stake conference was really good.  Then last night we had a special devotional with Elder Cook and his Wife in our Chapel that was broadcast by internet to all of the other stake centers in Manaus.  I Saw him Yesterday!! AND SHOOK HIS HAND!!!! First Apostle handshake for this guy!!  I actually don´t know if we were supposed to shake his hand.  At the end of his talk he said that he would like to shake the hands of mainly the children and youth.  We stuck around because we had to find a ride for our recent converso (firm as a rock, João).  The line to shake his hand was almost nothing so Elder Thompson said lets go. I told him that we would shake his hand on Tuesday but he was like "But it is a apostolo!" and went.... as his comp I had to follow,,,,, wouldn´t want to be found with out your comp with an apóstolo present..... It was weird being that close to him!  I mean I´ve only seen this guy on TV!  My favorite part was when he bore his special testimony of Jesus Christ. It was amazing!  He said something like this,

"Being one of the 12 apóstolos is a great responsibility.  Our greatest responsibility is to be a Special Witness of Jesus Christ.  As that special Witness, I´ve had experiences that are too intimate to share, but let me say this: Jesus Christ lives.  He Leads this Church. He is our Savior."

It was very very cool... The spirit just grabbed my Chest as he was speaking those words. That was my miracle this week Dad.. Seeing an Apóstolo!  And shaking his hand.   In his talk he told a couple of stories abut the importancia of FHE.  That is what his Wife talked about.  Then he said that he was impressed at everything the members are doing here, like worthiness and missionary work.  But he said that the members are faulting one thing: Family History Work. So that was his main theme. Tomorrow we will have the conference with him with the whole mission!!!!! It is going to be crazy... we are going to try to take a picture afterwards with all 200 missionaries and him.... don´t really know how that is going to work... we will plan it out tonight.

This Saturday we have a goal to have 4 baptisms but there is a possibility of 5.  And all of them are MEN (and one Young man) !!!! 4 of which have the age to serve missions!! It is going to be great. It is Rá*, Tay, Tay, Diego (columbiano), and Diego (not colummbiano). I´m hopping that we can pull it off:) 

We did a division this week with the Elders de Êxodo, my old area.... I went there with Elder Stenquist. It was great!  We went and visited some of the people that I baptized.  Unfortunately they were inactive.  But now Elder Stenquist knows were they live so he will visit them and get them back to activity!  We went to K* house too.

I don´t know if you guys remember her.  I baptized her with Elder Volk... she said that she would go back to church. We read the BOM a little with her as well.  The division was great. Elder Stenquist really needed it.  

I know that this isn´t the LONGEST email but that was the week:)  Dad you are a beast with that retaining way. It looks great!!!! So great! Good luck at state Jefferson! Hope you guys take home some hardware!  I love you guys!

Elder Ostler

Elder Ostler: The ipads are great!  They aren´t really like other ipads... but they are still awesome. They help improve eyesight and awareness.  They can read for you so it makes studying  a lot more time efficient.  Unfortunately I lost in the staring contest. They never blink!  We are thinking of giving them to the other missionaries as well.  Of course it has to be approved by the quorum of the twelve but we will see.

Besides, who wouldn´t want to talk to two missionaries with these things on their heads!! It is genius!

Mom: Oh my gosh! Aren't you funny. You had me - you really really had me. I think I'll forward the big email to the family, and not send them the pictures until a few hours! Hilarious Harrison - Just hilarious.

Elder Ostler: kakakakakak I knew you would totally fall for that one!!! kakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakkakakaaakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakkakakaaakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakkakakaaakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakakkakakaaaka

That is just too funny!

until next week! love ya!

Don't look up Ostler

Família!

How are you guys doing?  Sounds like Jethro is really kicking but on the basketball field... Way to go CHubbs! Keep it up.. all the way to STATE!!!!  I believe!  Go Bombers!

Benson.... I have´t no idea hw hot it is... all I know is that it is HOT!!  And I still sweat exactly the same amount that I did at the beginning of the misión.  That is a lt f misionary news happening.. That is great that Micheal is going to serve a mission! and Bryson is home already! that is pretty crazy. Kelci is almost home. I Left before her! what is this?

The package got here!!! Thank you soooooo much!  It was such a good one!  Speaker... Hi-chews.. Pills.... fried Rice... Hi-chews..... Tacos...... Hi-chews... Man those things are good!  I left the US at the wrong time...kakakak  But seriously, we loved it!   Thank you soooooo much!  The toe is....... still infected or inflamed whatever yu want to call it... I think I will take this set of pills and see if these ones kill it.. the day that I went to the hspital last week it wasn´t acting up.. it just looked a little red but other than that fine...we see if american antibiotics are all that and i bag of chips:)

I fr got to tell you last week but last week at church I talked.... The bishop came up to me after Priesthood and told me I would be speaking.. so the whole time during gospel principles I was prepping. I had studied about grace that week and the reason why we keep the commandments.... we don´t keep the commandments so we can make it to heaven, we keep the commandments to say thank you to Jesus for suffering and dying fr us. He sacrificed himself because of Love... we shuld keep HIS cmmandments because of Love.... Love for Him... So I talked a little about that.... it wasn´t the greatest talk because I wasn´t able to practice it before hand....

Last Sunday our ward mission leader (antonio)  Who is AMAZING!  pinted out a girl to us in sacrament meeting and said "She is your baptism this week... She has been to church for a while now." She is 11.

Turns out she is the niece of a firm family in the ward.  Her parents aren´t members. Her mom does drugs so right now she is living with her Tios. She has been to church a couple times befre with her Tios but now she is officially  living with her tios.  We passed by her house almost everyday this week t teach her. While we weren´t there her aunt wuld teach her primary songs and teach her.  It was a blessing from the Lord for sure.

We had a funny moment with her... It was while we were teaching the Palavra de Sabedoria.. we told her the 5 things that we can´t take; álcool, cigarro, drogas, café e chá preto.  Then we asked her to repeat them back to see if she remembered.......... She got all of them except illegal drugs... Then her aunt looked at her and said  "what you mom does."  Then she exclaimed in a loud triumphant voice  "Maconha!!!"  (marijuana)  It was funny but sad at the same time.. just to think abut all that this little girl has gone through.... her mom being addicted to drugs and all....  But I have no doubt that her life will get better now.. no doubt:)  On our last visit she made us chocolate milk and this pancake like thing called tapiooca (see pic).. it was super good!  She is the best.

Guess what else happened this week?.. CARNAVAL!  Let´s just say it was crazy!  The place where the do it (sambódromo) is right in front of our house... it is like a cat walk but with floats... There are stands on both sides of a little strip of white road where the dancers and floats go.... They have been practicing for it all week so there were always dancers there at night.... the main event happened on Saturday night.  It was with all f the massive floats and dancers in crazy costumes. The chapel is about a block away from this place and our house is right across the street from it.  So we had to walk right through all of the performers getting ready on the street. Almost everybody was drinking, walking around in their costumes with a beer in hand.  It was pretty funny.  The good part is is that we didn´t see any nudity.  I was really worried about that. The Lord prtected us that is for sure.

So carnaval is this... There are Samba schools here in the city and for carnaval they each perform.. they build a float (which are awesome!!!!) and then dance on and arund it as they slowly make their way down the runway inbetween the stands full of cheering people. It usually tells a story, each samba schl...... It is almost like a Ballet but with Samba instead of Ballet... and WAY more INTENSE!  And everybody is drunk....and many of them have very little clothes on... but other than that it is just like a Ballet:)  kakakkkkk

Sunday night was Insane!! Sunday night was just a massive dance party if you can even call it that.. all of the boys dressed like girls and all of the girls dressed like boys.......Then they had about 15 carros de som which are cars with massive speakers on the back of them.. they were all blasting music.. and note.. none of the music was the same.. there were 15 different songs blasting at the same time..... I'm almost positive that is what hell sunds like... my goodness... it was HORRIBLE!

Apon arriving in home, we realized that there was going to be no way of getting any sleep that night so we packed a bag and headed over to the secretaries house to stay the night.  ON the walk to and from the house I just kept my sight down. I don't really know what was happening all around me but I don't think it was too good. I just saw a bunch of Guys dressed like girls. While we were walking through (we didn't walk straight though.. there was a side walk on the other side of the street) I just had a horrible feeling. Satan was definitely present there... I was focusing so hard on not looking and I didn´t!!! The best word t describe it would be tense....... I just kept telling myself "don´t look up Ostler, don´t look back." And it worked!  Once at the secrataries house we were able to sleep in peace :) We might sleep there again tonight because they will be doing another massive party again called Carnaboi….

Carnaval (the first night, parade) from our window

So our Golden Family is.... well they say will do stuff and then they don´t. But we did do a FHE with them and another family and taught the Expiaçaõ de Jesus Cristo. We watch the new bible videos of the Expiação.  Fr* always pays a ton of Attention during the lessons, but this sunday we went to wake them up and they said they wuld go by motercylce but they never showed up :(  But we are going there tonight so let´s see what happens:)

We have two dates marked for the 28th for Rá* e Tay.  Rá* is the nephew of some recent converts and has 21 years... he had a drinking prblem but we are helping him with that.. he loves reading the BOM and is progressing quite a bit.... Tay has 18 and is an investigator that the sisters left for us.... It took a while fr us to actually get him and teach him and for him to read but he read and he said that when he read 3 nefi11 he felt a peace and calm.  He said that he didn´t understand anything of the chapter but he felt REALLY GOOD!  We helped him understand that that was the holy ghost testifying to him that the BOM is true and then we walked him through the "If the BOM is true then Joseph Smith is...... " and so on.... It was good and he really liked church on Sunday... They are bth feeling the affects of the spirit in their lives and recognizing it.. or last lesson with Tay he said this... "I´m feeling a desire to be better and change. Reading the Book of Mormon just makes me want to be better." If that isn´t the spirit I don´t know what is!!!! they are both great!

We also went ut and taught with Sister Castro this week.  She was in the escritorio this week with nthing to do and we were going t teach a family that needed to get married and s she invited herself along!  It was great!!! We talked about marriage and she adding her testimony and tld them that they had to get married!  The man is a member but the woman isn´t. Their papers are already in the works s the marriage should be at the beginning of march.  

I´m super excited for Elder Cook but also super nervous... I really don´t know what he is going to say... if he is going to intrduce the new missionary planners and key indicators or going to burn us for not baptizing more!!!  And I feel more of a responsibility being AP if he comes here and burns us.... I feel like a lot of it will fall on my head....  But I´m still excited none the less!  An apostle in the mission!!! I´m going to shake his hand!!!!!!!!!!  He is going to look into my soul!!!!! Going to be Great!!!

Love you all! Hope this week is full of bliss! Best of luck Jefferson!!! Go get 'em!!

Elder Ostler

The best we have ever taught

Família!

Me and Elder Klumker at the temple

Me and Elder Thompson at the temple

Tu è Doido!  He is massive!!!  I hope he can still dunk.

My keyboard desn´t always type the O.. you have to hit it really hard.

But t answer some of your questions... I still haven´t gotten the package yet, yes my debit card works, my toe is getting better, and it just depends for the missionaries leaving if they go to são paulo.  It just depends on which is cheapest I think.  I´ve seen missionaries go to são paulo and others go to maimi.

So about our Golden Family.  We were there on.... I think wednesday to teach them...  When we got there Fr* still wasn´t home so we chatted with the mom and her sister. We just had the regular questins about being missionaries and why and fr how long.. it was great t get to knw her a little. Then Fr* got home. I am yet to meet a man who gives a firmer handshake. WOW!  He sat down and the two were just ready to listen.

We said our message was primarily for the families, they both noticed how we talked a lot about families in church.  Then she said something that knocked our socks off she said something like " I believe that the family is eternal. It just doesn´t make sense for it to end at death."  What?  Did you really just say that? It was great!.  We proceeded to teach the Restauração.  It was prbably the best we have ever taught it... maybe the best I´ve ever taught it with any companin... The spirit was definitely with us giving us the words to say.  It was amazing.  I remember when I was teach about all of the apostles being killed after Jesus was Crucified and resurrected.  I looked at them and said "All of the apostles were killed because they testified of Jesus Cristo."  When I said that I actually FELT the power f those words.  It was confirmed t me in that moment that the apostles like Pedro e Paulo e João did not stop teaching and preaching the gospel to everyone. They knew that they would be killed for it but that did not even matter to them...they had n fear.  

Elder Thompson then shared the Joseph Smith story.  During the lesson I just had this feeling that the spirit would get very strong at this point.  And it did.  Elder Thompson taught it perfectly (like I said... the spirit was with us giving us the words to say).  When he recounted the first vision in the words of The Prophet Joseph Smith, The spirit settled in our chests. I felt it burning in my heart... and I knew That everybody else in the rom was feeling it as well.  It was Amazing.

After Testifying of his own words, Elder Thompson passed it over t me. I also testified of the restoratin of the Gospel and then asked them what they were feeling. This is a very important thing to do with the investigators.  You have t help them realize that what they are feeling is the spirit.  She looked at me and said that she felt a peace.  I testified to them that they were feeling the espírito Santo and that it was testifying of our words. I then prceeded to invite them to be baptized.... they accepted. We then taught the Lirvo de Mórmon. Fr* got super interested in the book and wanted to know all about it and when we mark 2 Néfi 31 for them, he was very excited to read......

That was prbalbly one of the best lessons I´ve ever been apart of on my mission. It was Amazing!  We marked t go back on Saturday but Saturday afternoon she called and said that they wouldn´t be home later.  So she said they would still go to church..... I called again Saturday night to see if they were home yet but they still weren´t.... but they said they wuld go to church... Unfortunately when we passed by their house to get them fr church, she saith they couldn´t go because their 4 year old son was sick. I don´t know if it was just an excuse to not go or if it was real.  I hope it was real. 

Other than that it was a pretty tranquilo week.  The only thing that is kinda hard to do is managing a proselyting area and the missin.  This week we had to get a short term missionary because one of the sisters went home with medical problems.... so between every single lesson we were calling to try and find a short term missionary to serve as a sister.  It was kinda a Pain in the rear.  We als missed a couple of appts because we had t do a emergency transfer. If I thought I didn´t have anytime at the beginning of the missino... I didn´t knw what I was thinking....

Carnival is the week.. it will get a little crazy here. Our house sits on the street where they do it.  We still don´t know what we are going to do.  We might go stay with the secretaries for the week.  We heard that it is going to be CRAZY!   I also had a PBandJ sandwich this week!  That was super Good!  Holy Hana

Hope everything is going well for yu guys!  Love you! Tchou!

Elder Ostler

We had a baptism!

Família!!

Well It sounds like it was a good week.  Great News about the chubbs..  He´ll do great down here in Brasil!  And Wilson..... you haven´t won the title of favorite uncle yet... She still hasn´t met me..... kakakakak.  So about you plans... they sound great... só que I think that you will actually get to be with me on Monday.... but other than that it sounds great...  that phrase "Your feet touch Pasco Airport concrete on July 3" doesn´t sound trunky at all..... kakakakaka  and I got my debit card.. thanks a TON!!!!!

So I got some big news for you guys!!.... well it is really just big news for me but I´ll tell you anyways.... Elder Quentin L. Cook is coming to our mission on Feb 24! Along with Elder Aidukaitis!  Tu è doido!  And the even crazier part is this:  The whole mission will be reunited!! The last time that happened was.... I don´t even know.. at least 3 or 4 years ago.  There are 90 missionaries serving outside the city of Manaus that will have to come on Monday or Sunday.  So we have to find housing for 90 bodies.. that is a lot. I think we are going to have to get a couple of hotel rooms.. não tem outro jeito. .  It will be a ton of work to get it all organized but totally worth it.  I have a feeling they will introduce the new missionary program that James Olsen´s mission is doing right now.  They piloted it last year.... or they might just be coming to burn the crap out of us.... which ever it is I´m stoked!!! 

This week as far as our work in the area goes was great!!!  We had a baptism. Her name is Ya*. She is the sobrinho of João, the rapaz that we baptized last week.  The sisters have been teaching them for a while now. João´s Mom and Ya*´s Grandma (same person) is a less active (she is the lady in the picture).  

We invited her to come back to church and she accepted!!!! It was seriously a miracle. We hardly did anything.  We were reaping what the sisters had planted. Ya* didn´t want to get baptized at first.  The sisters had already taught her and João everything but she was still really timid.... She was going to the assembléia de Deus with her aunt and she was afraid to leave her aunt to go to the true church, even though she already knew it was the true church. We invited her to say a prayer with us during the lesson. She was really timid about it.  João had told her that he had said a prayer asking if he should be baptized and he felt good about it. So she wanted to do the same.

All 5 of us (me elder thompson, ya*, joão, and their cousin) knelt to pray. All of us said a pray.  In our prayers we all pleaded with Heavenly Father to give her an answer.  It was so cute when João said "Por favor, Abençoe a Ya* que ela possa receber uma resposta."  It was great. Cousin did the same. After she prayed we got up and kept teaching her.  As we went on she started warming up and invited her to be baptized on Saturday and she accepted!!!  It was great. But I knew that her aunt would try to make her change her mind so we really encouraged her to keep her mind firm in her decision.

Her aunt was unsuccessful in the convincing and she was baptized on Saturday night... Her baptism falls into my top two baptisms on the mission..... Absolutely amazing. It was only me and my comp, João, Ya*, the cousin, the less active mom, our ward mission leader, his wife and his two little boys.  Another young couple showed up after the ordinance had taken place.

Antonio (our ward mission leader) is the best.  He had invited a bunch of people and we had told a couple people as well but nobody showed up... but it really didn´t matter.... the spirit was So so strong.. I can´t even describe it!  I was beaming the whole time.  Which means smiling.  It was such a joyous moment.  Ya* was also really excited to be being baptized.  Words just can´t describe the feelings at the baptism. It was amazing to see the mom there coming back to church. She came to church the next day as well. Both the baptisms of João and Ya* were miracles.... Complete hand of the Lord.  Amazing.  

We also found a GOLDEN FAMILY this week!!! I mean Pure GOLD!  We were going to visit some rapazes that we were teaching. They were in front of their house on the road playing with um papagaio (kite).  Their friend was there as well... he had gone to church one time I think and also plays futbol at the church on tuesday and thursday night.  Elder Thompson asked him if his parents were at home. He took us too his house and we met his Mom and his Aunt. He is 13 and named K*.  We talked with his mom a little and asked if K* could come to church with us.  She said yes. Then we invited her to church.  She gave us an extremely soft Yes.  She said she had a husband but they aren´t married (this is happening on saturday afternoon).  About 5 mins into our visit her husband shows up.  A strong solid guy who gave us a VERY firm handshake. Fr* is his name. We asked his permission to take K* to church with us and after a couple three four seconds of thinking he said we could.  Then we invited HIM!  His was taking on the role of "I´m a tough guy and a man and what I say goes."  He asked us what church.  Then he asked what time? -   - "8:30, We can pass by a little before 8 to pick you guys up"  - - "Yeah we will go" He said... we talked a little more about our purpose as missionaries and such.  We left.

I called them on Sunday morning at about 7:30 and said we would pass by in 10 mins.  He said ok.  I have to be honest.... I was seriously doubting that they would come with us... we get that a ton.. everybody always says they will come and then when we show up to pick them up they come up with the lamest excuse EVER! Super annoying.  So we show up at their house and Guess who is all ready to go with their Sunday Best!?! Fr*, the mom, K*, and their 4 year old son!  I was dumbfounded!!! they were actually going to come to church with us!!!  I should not have judged them and trusted in God More.... 

I could tell they were really confused during the meetings.  The meetings of the church are completely different than here in Brasil.  The other church’s usually have a screaming preacher and ask for tithing from the time it starts to stops.  I think they enjoyed it. We are going back to ensinar tomorrow night. The mom works all day and only gets back at 8:00.  I´m excited to teach them and hopefully marry and baptize them.  They would make Great members! 

Like I said our ward mission leader, Antonio, is Amazing! We had our meeting with him last night and he is full of energy!  We planned some great activities for the word to animar.   He is on the same page as us as far as baptisms and excitement.  He says that whenever we have a baptism to let him know and he will be there... to mater the hora ou dia!  Of course we will try to put all of our baptisms for Saturday night so that the members can go.... but even when we did that... nobody went.... But just having him in the ward is amazing! He reminds me a lot of Jackson... just more humble ;)

This transfer has been a week of firsts for me....  When we stayed at the mission home last week I took a shower bare foot!!! I felt like I was sinning!   But it felt soo goood!  First time in about a year and a half.....  Today when we went on a major shopping trip I found Body wash... like actual liquid Axe body wash......  first time since the MTC.

We spent R$140 on groceries today. That is roughly 80 bucks. But we made tacos with it as you can see in the picture, and drank tereré.

The other pic was at the conselho de Liderança. Elder Hammer, Elder Brown, And Elder Klumker.  They are great Guys and Hilarious!

Well that was the week! Hope this week goes great for you guys and thanks for all of the letters! I got three envelopes this week!  Still doing great and loving what I’m doing!  Falou!

Love, Elder Ostler

This was the mission council…. I'm not in the picture because I took it….
with my super sweet camera….everybody always tells me how cool it is…. It is pretty sweet :)

When we ate at President's house - Yum