The Mullang

Hermana Ostler’s Update – May 26, 2014

The Mullang. The mullet bangs. Or in other words, I got a haircut in Peru.

Why would I do that? WHY?!!?!?! Well. I did. I told the nice young lady to give me a little bit more form. A little less volume. AND, to not cut a ton. And now I have bangs and my hair in a mullet. This resulted in a full on panic attack (not being helped by the cab driver who confirmed that really, my hair looked really reeally bad.) About 10 minutes after the hair tragedy---we were called to the offices. THE OFFICES. Full of blood sucking Elders who laugh at other people’s pain and are bullies! I was being called to the flippin’ wolf den of the mission with an atrocious haircut! AHHHHH.

So. I naturally wrapped a scarf around my head and went. Naturally. Because looking like an Old Russian Lady does NOT call attention to a bad haircut. Of course, President Harbertson just happened to be in the offices as well and forced me to take off the scarf so he could see the bad hair. AND HE LAUGHED. LAUGHED!

I now look in the mirror sometimes and see that guy from Aerosmith with the big mouth looking back at me. I am officially scarred. 

But other than the HORRENDOUS haircut, this week was good. I got about a bajillion doors slammed in my face. No joke. We only taught about one lesson. EVERYBODY rejected us. I have come to know that some reject with love, and others... with a little less love. I am so grateful to have a companion because it makes doors in the faces, yelling, and insults a bearable experience. Without Hermana Tamariz... I would probably cry. 

I will only say one thing. PLEASE don’t slam doors in people’s faces. It is rude. I do not care if you don’t share my beliefs, but have the courtesy to listen to a message that is so important to me that I have left my DIRT BIKE and powder skis and schooling and cuddling with my mom to share it. Just give a couple minutes of your time to listen and I promise you that you will do so much good. When did sharing the same religion become the requisite for politeness and common love for all humans? Yeah. Enough of the rant.

HEY! I got rejected a ton this week, but I really did see a ton of miracles as well. We started to leave the door slammers to themselves and began to work with the members. INCREDIBLE. Also, President Harbertson talked to me this week about expectant faith. That so many times we have this wishful faith, “I hope we find someone to teach today. I hope it does not rain.” But we do not have the real firm faith in God, that he really fulfills what He says. He does not lie. If He promises you happiness and success, you will get it. If you feel that you should do something, we must do it because He ALWAYS follows through. I really felt this during the week. I don’t care if everyone says that I am wrong, I will find someone who is searching for something more in this life. 

And then we found Miguel. He is the son of Paulina (an absurdly adorable lady who is super fat and has no teeth). Miguel was baptized when he was a teenager but fell away. He started to find himself wrapped up in other things and he always wandered about for his work, without a purpose in his life. We found him one day and started teaching about the love of our Heavenly Father, and that He is always waiting for us. That there is always time to come back. I will never forget the look in his tear filled eyes as he explained to me the emptiness in his heart, the gripping sadness and bitterness inside of his soul. He then looked in my eyes and said, “I know where to find what I am missing. It is in the church.” He was in the Chapel this Sunday. In suit and tie with his little son. He has found those living waters that fill our souls with so much joy, if we but let it.

This morning we went up to the mountains of Cusco. I never wanted to leave. There is something about exploring that makes me feel like a little kid again, without worries and jumping and leaping and dancing and climbing things. I never wanted to come back to the city again.

Last of all. Hermana Harbertson told me something that will always be with me, especially in that moment when my life crashes headlong with tragedy. 

“He never makes mistakes.”

How grateful I am to be His daughter, doing His work in His time. I love you all. And I hope you will love me back after seeing this new haircut. 

Hermana Alex

Before the haircut

I love picarones.

I am offically a monster. And my companion as well. But me more so.

Peruvian Hairdresser. With her muse? Oh boy.

What did we do??

We became a lot happier when we found out how to hide the bangs. 

This is Gustavo. He told me that I was way beautiful, haircut and all. Thanks Gustavo. 

I am officially a tall person in Peru. 

I Went to Ecuador

Hermana Ostler’s Update – May 19, 2014

The responses to my Double Dragon letter were a hoot. Some were completely grossed out (I am sorry, Ben, if I am shameless, but I HAVE NECCESITIES TOO), and some people even shared some of their own detail-filled pooping the pants stories. Yay for shameless people! 

But I have recovered. Thanks. 

This week I went to Ecuador. I guess they don’t like it when you stay illegally in a country for a year? So I basically got booted out and had to spend three days filling out papers and having a giant English binge. Sharing stories about the mission…I basically beat everybody with all the crazy things... pee getting thrown on me, paint wars, killing eels, getting tipsy, miner strikes, accidents… I have had a full mission!  The only thing I saw from my travels is that there are a lot of bananas in Ecuador and that Elders are disgusting because none of them brought a change of clothes. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GRACIE LOO, KENZIE KURRR, AND KARRIE BABY. I love you all, my May babies! 

Living in Cusco is sweet. My sector is pretty fancy and well to do. People have tile floors! There are also supermarkets and American food and microwaves. All things that do not exist in Puerto. The ward, (ITS A WARD!) is really cool. The people want to help out and have strong testimonies. We are reading the Book of Mormon with all the members to help them finish it by Christmas. It is amazing to see the change that people have when they read that book. I will need a man who loves it as much as I do because I get soooooo carried away reading it. But I can see how people get so excited to read when they see that someone else is overly stoked. Testimonies are contagious, share it. 

Fleas are also contagious. I have them. 

Sometimes I think like we all get a little down sometimes. The other week I was in the PITS (That is for you, Ellis Island). The type of week where everything is so fun, but there is a lot of sadness right behind it. But then you lift up your head and realize that the clouds are pretty amazing in Cusco and that you live with 5 Latinas who are crazy fun and that it doesn’t matter where you are... there are still children of God waiting to feel His love. Life is so beautiful. It’s the kind of beauty that breaks my heart into little fragments and then picks them up and makes an extraordinary stained glass mural. Sometimes we feel broken, and then He makes us whole. Sometimes we feel ugly, like maybe we aren’t that special, and then we see that we are all a giant artwork of moments that our Heavenly Father has given us. And then we forget ourselves and find happiness again. 

Also...... I realized that I don’t function without exercise. I was thinking, “WHY AM I SO SAD??” And then I remembered the words of my wise, wise Mother. Have you exercised? Go out and move around and then come back and see if you are still sad.

Genius.

For some reason I sat by the same person for all 4 flights this week. Elder Nicholls. He is from Kennewick and knows Dan and his family! Weird how there are so many connections, right? We talked about base jumping (we decided that sky diving is better), shark tanks, ending the mission (scary), real life (even scarier). Basically, we came to the conclusion that it would be better to just be a missionary forever and never have to worry about anything, but also to have time to go hang gliding or skiing during p-days. Hahaha.

I love you all! Never go to Ecuador for just a day because it is SO NOT WORTH IT.

Hermana alexxxx

In Ecuador

The weird and extremely awkward Titanic shot with the Tamariz. She is my Peruvian comp that is the BEST. We have way way way too much fun together. 

Going to the airport to drop off Hermanas at 3 in the morning. My life! 

Double Dragon and Cusco Life

Hermana Ostler’s Update – May 12, 2014

Right before coming to Cusco I was hit with a bad dose of the Double Dragon. I woke up at three in the morning with a terrible pain in my belly. I army crawled to the bathroom and started to puke for a couple hours. Normal right? NO. BECAUSE WHILE I WAS THROWING UP, I POOPED MY PANTS. I will not go into more detail... but there it is. I pooped my pants and I am twenty years old. 

Sister Training Leader Life is HECTIC. It means picking up people there, dropping them off here, paying for this, going to that meeting, going to this house, waking up at three in the morning to go to the airport... It is so so so so so hectic. It also means leaving the house with makeup on ONE EYE because with all these things in my head, I kind of lose my mind. But it’s cool. One eyed makeup is totally hot and in style right now. 

Cusco is a big city. A big city with old cathedrals on every corner and about a million cars. CARS. I am used to MOTOS. Cars can kill! Crossing the streets is a big hullabaloo for me. The other day this man had to accompany me across an intersection because every time I tried to cross, I ran back to the other side screaming. A MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR CROSSED and I couldn’t do it. Full on panic mode. 

Cusco also means buses. There is always way too much pressure to get off those things. Everyone screaming, “BAJA BAJA” and there is no time to stop and pick daisies or anything. The other day we were trying to get off the bus, (me screaming BAJA for about 3 blocks before they stopped) and it was so so so so so crazy. They can cram people onto those things. Well, I was trying to escape and as I was pulling my money out I tripped on someone’s foot and WOOOSH. All my money just flew. And that is how I lost all my money on a bus in Cusco. 

I love you all. I love my compy, Hermana Tamariz. We are way too comfortable together after only a week. We have so much fun together! I love you! 

Hermana Alex

Leaving Puerto

Beautiful Puerto

My Ruizita. I love her so much and miss her like crazy. We are going to be neighbors in the Celestial Kingdom. 

I got to see my convert, Yovalid, in Cusco, at CHURCH! Her daughter got way sick and had to come here for an operation. She told me that she has almost finished reading the Book of Mormon. I walked around with a goofy grin on my face for the whole day. 

This man is named Jesus. He doesn't speak Spanish, only Quechua. He was the most beautiful little old man. All of his family died and his sheep too and he is completely alone. He had the most beautiful smile I have ever seen. We gave him a pamphlet and he lovingly put it into his little bag on his back, promising to visit because his dentist (HOW DOES HE HAVE A DENTIST IF HE HAS NO TEETH?) lives close to the chapel. I literally could not stop weeping while talking to him. My heart was so full of love for someone that I didn't even know. I love moments like this.

The Easter Egg House - also known as, the Mission Home.  

This is my Mission President and his wife, Hermana Harbertson and my new companion, Hermana Tamariz. I was feeling extremely inadequate for my new calling and was talking to Hna Harbertson. She told me that the world needs more strong pioneer women. Women who roll with the punches, who laugh at the hard moments, and just keep going on with hope and faith every day. She told me that I was one of those pioneer women. Completely untrue but I am now going to do my best to live up to it. 

My old buddies from the MTC are now mamas! It was so great to be the shorty again and share some uncontrollable laughing sessions. Love them. 

Good Bye My Beloved Jungle

Hermana Ostler’s Update – May 5, 2014

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! 

After 7 and a half months battling weird critters and falling into holes full of water... I HAVE A CHANGE. I should be happy, right? 

Well. 

I am heartbroken. I have never loved any place more than Puerto Maldonado. Movie star status here. My intoxicating love for this little jungle city is an obsession. I love the people, I love the cool music in the streets, I love when the sun rays fall down and we walk around with short sleeves in the dusty air, talking to people about my Savior. I love it when the people tell me that they are searching for something, but that they just don’t know what it is. I love how we get invited to drink about 10 gallons of soda every day and they serve it with so much love. I love that I was here so long that people finally started to learn how to correctly pronounce my last name. I love the monkeys, the birds, the free mangos, the adventures that I had every day. I love the members, my investigators, I love the change that I can see in myself, that I love with everything that I have, that I hold nothing back. I love my Ruizita and all the memories I have with all my companions. 

I love it all. 

But on to the next adventure! 

I will be the Sister Leader in Cusco. I have no idea what President is thinking to call me, someone so imperfect and a little on the loopy side, to train other sisters... But I will do what the Lord wants me to do because I know that He knows better than I do. It will be a really big adventure to just go out and see everything and get to know a lot of the sisters. Also, the apartment of the sisters in Cusco has an oven so you can better your bottom dollar that I will be eating a lot of cookies. Hahahaha. 

This week was a little bit of a “Refiners Fire” so to speak. A couple days where you are just so so so tired that you come home and cry. A lot of feeling really sad about the bad decisions of other people, especially because I love them so much. A lot of circumstances that made me ask myself, “If I am trying so hard, why am I not having success? Have I done any good here?” But then I thought about all the prophets of The Book of Mormon, that they usually didn’t have crazy success either. At least in the beginning. I thought about mission stories where people come home and they haven’t baptized a single person but that THEY came back CHANGED. And last of all I thought about my Savior, Jesus Christ. How HE also cried for the sins of others, that HE also experienced a little (and I mean A LOT) of unfairness. And although I cried and although I felt really really alone, I lifted up my head and was full of joy. I KNOW now that it is possible to be happy even in the hardest of times. That every situation that we come across is an opportunity for us to think, “This is a chance for me to be like Christ.” And the whole perspective of “trials” really changes. I am so grateful for that. 

I also learned that our Heavenly Father is also preparing the minds and hearts of people everywhere. For most of my mission I have felt that I have been doing my “Noah Routine” which is basically imploring and convincing people to do that which is right. Just begging them to follow Christ because I know that is the way for us to be happy. Trying to help people stop in their tracks and really think about their course of life, that maybe they are sad because they are doing sad things. That is the Noah Routine. But this week I saw that God really IS preparing people to receive the message of the gospel, that if we let Him, He will guide us to these people. 

This week we started teaching the sister of a recent convert, Pamela. I always bug her and invite her to listen to us but she was always pretty cold with us. Well, this week her brother Edwin (MOST AMAZING MAN EVER) told us that Pamela wanted us to see her. We go to their house, share a message with her and after she starts telling us the reason why she wanted to listen to us now. She explained that she was about to start up a really bad job, one that would send her way way way off track and basically just cause a lot of hurt and pain. That night she had a dream. She told me that she was inside of a volcano and that there was lava everywhere and big black rocks. (In this moment I was totally thinking about Lord of the Rings and was about to get REALLY distracted with all my Frodo-Sam memories.) 

She then started to explain her dream the next day, that she was basically in the Land of Mordor or something and that there was no light. But then she looked up... and saw US. Saw me and Hermana Sanchez. We were encircled about by light. WE walked towards her... Then Pamela looked me into the eyes, and I was definitely not thinking about Lord of the Rings anymore... And she said. “YOU. YOU talked to me and told me to come back. To stop walking in the dark and come to the light. To come back to God because He loves me. And that is why I needed to talk to you so bad. I trust that this is what I need to do.”

I know that God loves His children, and even more so the people who have strayed. The people that are imperfect and lost. I was one of those children and He saved me. I am now here to follow God’s plan for me and help save my brothers and sisters. I know that He lives and loves us. 

I love you all. More Cusco Adventures next time! 

This is my leaf hat. And this is Alfredo. I was sitting in the shade of his bar (that sounds bad), because it was raining. I was humming a little tune when he comes up behind me and asks,"what are you doing?" It scared me so bad that I started to scream. Hahaha. But then we were friends. 

This is the family of Hans and Yovanna. There are menos activos and are not married, but are amazing. The other day we were all kneeling down and Hans was praying, and that big tough man started to WEEP. Crying without control asking and pleading and begging God to change him to make him a better man. I have never been so happy in a prayer before. 

This is Hermana Lido! I love her. When I first got here she didn't want anything more to do with the church. But after 7 and a half months of working with her she is back to church and is being a incredible leader here.