Well, Its been quite the exciting week. All the students have left for their two week vacation, but a lot of the new students are slowly showing up on the streets. They are all about. My new companion arrived safe and sound on wednesday. And the Senior Couple on Saturday. So between them and sending Elder Jorgensen back I got to take 3 trips to the airport on a small, curvy mountain full road. I'm happy thats all over with though. Elder Haag, My new comp, is from Sacramento California. He is way excited to be here. And we have been finding a lot of new people to work with. The one that has impressed me the most is a 16 year old boy named Ezekiel. He is way awesome. We have only taught him a few times, but he has been reading and is planning on coming to church, and he is a really good prospect.
Birdy is slowly moving along, she told us last night that she knew we would come to her house someday. A while back she had been praying and somebody told her that she wasnt going to church anywhere and she didnt have a place of worship and stuff like that. She knew in her heart that someday God would give her a place to go worship, that the time wasnt right back then, she hadnt found it yet. She is ready I think, its just a matter of her feeling ready. Its also been going slow with her because her daughter is here visiting for two weeks. And since her daughter lives in New York and hadnt visited for 17 years, she's taking advantage of every moment with them. I understand a little.
The Bruners are also here in Portsmouth. They are getting themselves established here. Getting a phone line, learning to navigate the roads, banking, matresses, the whole jazz. They are really cool. Elder Bruner was an Technician/repair man. He repaired appliances like refirgerators, microwaves, toasters. He's a handy man. They have the missionary spirit. They have already started contacting people, and sharing the gospel. Its great. Elder Bruner is a convert to the church as of 41 years yesterday. So today he is going to take us out to dinner to celebrate that. I'm very happy that they are here.
I dont know what storm your talking about it been a little rainy and some thunder, but nothing out of the norm.
Love Elder Osterloh
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
August 18, 2008
Well its early pday Monday, because of transfers. In Puerto Rico it would be Tuesdays, but my comp has to fly out tomorrow on Tuesday. So this will be an unexpected email for you.
We went to zone conference in St Kitts, the other one I went to was in Antigua. They switch it around a little bit. I'm becoming very well traveled. :) Ha, but it kinda sucks because basically we are taken out of our area for two entire days with all the traveling. It really hurts our numbers for the week. especially since another day also goes towards pday.
So finally this investigator we have been teaching came to church. Her name is Birdy. It was about time. She has been showing a lot of signs of progression lately. Before her reading and praying were just so-so. But we stressed the importance of reading daily and helped her make a time each day to do it. Now everytime we pass she is always telling us about what she has read. She started from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and has reached 1 Nephi chap. 5. She told us she would read more of it if she didnt have the TV distracting her. She just likes her game network to much. Theres something funny about Dominica. Most people live in such a state of poverty. They hardly ever have food to eat (not Birdy, she's fine) and even with the hunger they have. they still find the money to get big TV's, giant stereo systems and $200 sneakers. Is something backwards here or is it just me?
So the weather has been pretty good lately. Not to much rain, the sun is still a blazin though. I'm lovin every minute of it.
Elder Osterloh
We went to zone conference in St Kitts, the other one I went to was in Antigua. They switch it around a little bit. I'm becoming very well traveled. :) Ha, but it kinda sucks because basically we are taken out of our area for two entire days with all the traveling. It really hurts our numbers for the week. especially since another day also goes towards pday.
So finally this investigator we have been teaching came to church. Her name is Birdy. It was about time. She has been showing a lot of signs of progression lately. Before her reading and praying were just so-so. But we stressed the importance of reading daily and helped her make a time each day to do it. Now everytime we pass she is always telling us about what she has read. She started from the beginning of the Book of Mormon and has reached 1 Nephi chap. 5. She told us she would read more of it if she didnt have the TV distracting her. She just likes her game network to much. Theres something funny about Dominica. Most people live in such a state of poverty. They hardly ever have food to eat (not Birdy, she's fine) and even with the hunger they have. they still find the money to get big TV's, giant stereo systems and $200 sneakers. Is something backwards here or is it just me?
So the weather has been pretty good lately. Not to much rain, the sun is still a blazin though. I'm lovin every minute of it.
Elder Osterloh
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
August 13, 2008
We didnt have any investigators in church, except one. He was an old investigator and showed up out of the blue. The whole time he was asking how he could become a member of the church. :) Then we were gone all Monday and all Tuesday for zone conference. Today is Pday. So three days down the drain. But we will go and see Julias tomorrow and see if we cant make his desires reality.
Another guy named Bli (vincent is his real name), we had an awesome first lesson with him Sunday night on a mini-tradeoff with E. Olsen. We need to work on getting him to church though. At the end of the lesson he offered a great prayer. It made me really excited.
The President wasnt able to check any bags, because of his tight schedule, so I was unable to recieve my package. He said that now, because of the changing baggage restirictions they wont be able to carry as much stuff out for zone conferences. They encourage parents and friends to simply send a letter and some money. So that means no more E.L. Fudge cookies for me. :( I'll live though.
Got some good news from President this week. We are expected a new senior couple to be arriving around the 23rd of this month. Quick, eh? The Bruners, as they called them, are from somewhere in California. I dont remember where. It will be really nice to have them here.
Lately I have been in charge of paying all the bills for the church and mission here in Dominica. Good learning experience, but its a hastle. Also, I'm getting a new companion next week. We fly E. Jorgensen out on Tuesday, I stay with the Roseau Elders for a night and we pick up the new guy on Wednesday. Pres. told me that the new guy has one transfer on the mission. So, basically I'm going to be his stepdad (mission term) 1st comp=trainer/dad, 2nd=stepdad.
Love Elder Osterloh
Another guy named Bli (vincent is his real name), we had an awesome first lesson with him Sunday night on a mini-tradeoff with E. Olsen. We need to work on getting him to church though. At the end of the lesson he offered a great prayer. It made me really excited.
The President wasnt able to check any bags, because of his tight schedule, so I was unable to recieve my package. He said that now, because of the changing baggage restirictions they wont be able to carry as much stuff out for zone conferences. They encourage parents and friends to simply send a letter and some money. So that means no more E.L. Fudge cookies for me. :( I'll live though.
Got some good news from President this week. We are expected a new senior couple to be arriving around the 23rd of this month. Quick, eh? The Bruners, as they called them, are from somewhere in California. I dont remember where. It will be really nice to have them here.
Lately I have been in charge of paying all the bills for the church and mission here in Dominica. Good learning experience, but its a hastle. Also, I'm getting a new companion next week. We fly E. Jorgensen out on Tuesday, I stay with the Roseau Elders for a night and we pick up the new guy on Wednesday. Pres. told me that the new guy has one transfer on the mission. So, basically I'm going to be his stepdad (mission term) 1st comp=trainer/dad, 2nd=stepdad.
Love Elder Osterloh
August 5, 2008
Yep, its zone conference week. I just finished a trade-off with my district leader in Roseau, the capitol of Dominica. It was great. Lots of new experiences. Roseau is much bigger than portsmouth, and it seams that people might actually have money there. Thank you so much for sending a box. It doesnt really matter to me whats in the box, its more of the excitement of getting a box, and then rubbing it in your companions face. I try not to do that though. I try to be a good boy.
Our zone leaders are in St. Kitts. Its only a few of the islands. There a four zones in Puerto Rico and three in the islands.
We have stopped working with Island so much, we still pass on the occasion, but they just arent determined to fix their problem. And they are stuck were there at until they do. But we do have some new faces. We go through a lot of people to see who will keep commitments that we leave, and thereby prepare to keep covenents they will make with the lord. One guy is named Wendel. He is a groundskeeper at Ross University. He reads the things we leave, and also other things on the internet that we dont leave. So lately we have been doing a lot of doubt solving from the anti mormon literature he has been reading. Stuff like plural marriage, Some kind of Blood atonement thing. Mostly just people misquoting prophets and taking things out of context. He seems to accept the answers we give him. We also exlplained that God can answer his questions that he has and that he shouldn't rely on the precepts of men. He knows that is what he should do, and we are praying that he can recieve the answers that he needs. We have many other news faces to the crowd, always shifting through them, separating the wheat from the tares (sp?).
My comp finishes his mission in two weeks. I'm sending him home, or as they say in the mission, I'm "killing him."
Love Elder Osterloh
Michael was still at the email place so he answered a few questions for me. These are his answers. I think he went to St Kitts for zone conf, because thats where the zone leaders are.
We go to zone conference Mon-tues. on tuesday we get a layover of 7 hours in antigua. Its a half hour flight to antigua and a half hour flight to Dominica. But 7 hours in the airport. Wahoo. My comp is from Utah
Our zone leaders are in St. Kitts. Its only a few of the islands. There a four zones in Puerto Rico and three in the islands.
We have stopped working with Island so much, we still pass on the occasion, but they just arent determined to fix their problem. And they are stuck were there at until they do. But we do have some new faces. We go through a lot of people to see who will keep commitments that we leave, and thereby prepare to keep covenents they will make with the lord. One guy is named Wendel. He is a groundskeeper at Ross University. He reads the things we leave, and also other things on the internet that we dont leave. So lately we have been doing a lot of doubt solving from the anti mormon literature he has been reading. Stuff like plural marriage, Some kind of Blood atonement thing. Mostly just people misquoting prophets and taking things out of context. He seems to accept the answers we give him. We also exlplained that God can answer his questions that he has and that he shouldn't rely on the precepts of men. He knows that is what he should do, and we are praying that he can recieve the answers that he needs. We have many other news faces to the crowd, always shifting through them, separating the wheat from the tares (sp?).
My comp finishes his mission in two weeks. I'm sending him home, or as they say in the mission, I'm "killing him."
Love Elder Osterloh
Michael was still at the email place so he answered a few questions for me. These are his answers. I think he went to St Kitts for zone conf, because thats where the zone leaders are.
We go to zone conference Mon-tues. on tuesday we get a layover of 7 hours in antigua. Its a half hour flight to antigua and a half hour flight to Dominica. But 7 hours in the airport. Wahoo. My comp is from Utah
Sunday, August 3, 2008
July 30, 2008
Ha, you told me to watch out for all the big bugs, there arent really any. The biggest thing we see here are cockroaches. Dont worry, none in our apartment. I have seen a few centipedes, but they usually stay up in the mountains.
I'm not really complaining about my shoes yet. I still have one pair that is in really good shape. My other pair are my tracting shoes. I got them resouled. But now they are really heavy and give me blisters. So I just stick to my good pair. Zone conference is on monday the 11 (Aug). One thing that I wanted was some Dr. Schoels gel pad things to put in my shoe. I got the pillow type one in Puerto Rico, but they are already out of service. Nice while it lasted though.
It does rain everyday!!! Especially right now. We got a huge rainstorm this morning and all the shops had no power=no email!!! But we continued searching and found an email place near the end of town that has power, lucky us.
But ya, I have a small umbrella and it works great, one of the metal arm things is detached but so far it has given me good protection. I bet jake only went to the U's EFY because of pride. For some reason he just hates BYU. I bet its because BYU is so much better then that U in basically every sport. Especially football. Thats just my opinion though.
Elder Osterloh
I'm not really complaining about my shoes yet. I still have one pair that is in really good shape. My other pair are my tracting shoes. I got them resouled. But now they are really heavy and give me blisters. So I just stick to my good pair. Zone conference is on monday the 11 (Aug). One thing that I wanted was some Dr. Schoels gel pad things to put in my shoe. I got the pillow type one in Puerto Rico, but they are already out of service. Nice while it lasted though.
It does rain everyday!!! Especially right now. We got a huge rainstorm this morning and all the shops had no power=no email!!! But we continued searching and found an email place near the end of town that has power, lucky us.
But ya, I have a small umbrella and it works great, one of the metal arm things is detached but so far it has given me good protection. I bet jake only went to the U's EFY because of pride. For some reason he just hates BYU. I bet its because BYU is so much better then that U in basically every sport. Especially football. Thats just my opinion though.
Elder Osterloh
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