Things I Do When My Compy is Sick and Sleeping in Her Bed

Hermana Ostler’s Update – September 16, 2013

  

My companion is still sick. But getting better! One day I wrote down all the things I do when we can’t leave our room.

Praise my creativity please!

1. Write this list

2. Read BOM (Book of Mormon) in English

3. Then in Spanish 

4. Cut pictures out of magazines

5. Think about how I am going to use these pictures for people’s cuadernos de memoria 

6. Think about how I need to buy glue to paste the pics in people’s cuadernos 

7. Watch “Finding Faith in Jesus Christ” for the billionth time in Spanish 

8. Start watching “Finding Faith in Jesus Christ” in Chinese. Because, you know, there may be a Chinese family in Urubamba, Peru. Always prepared, you see 

9. Count all the chapters in the Old Testament 

10. There are 1,023 chapters in the Old Testament 

11. Added up how many days I have left in the mission… And then forgot it

12. Did the math on how many chapters of the OT (Old Testament) I need to read each day to finish during my mission: 3 chapters a day 

13. Thought about reading the 3 chapters for today... and then didn’t

14. Looked out my window wistfully and watched all the people and dogs walk by 

15. Why do all the dogs run down the streets with such purpose here? It’s like they have a special purpose in mind. It’s weird 

16. The answer to the above question: they smell lady dogs

17. Wrote in all the dates in my planner -- for 6 whole weeks

18. Folded my towels 

19. Read some Jesus the Christ. Something about “Shiloh” being a person or place...I don’t really know. I was definitely thinking about buying galletas at this moment in time 

20. Wrote my mom a VERY long letter. Like 8 pages. Tronky much? (Tronky is slang for missing home really badly here in the mission.)

21. Counted all the days my compy has been sick during my mission. It was ugly 

22. Sprayed windex everywhere because I like the smell of lemons

23. Put lotion on....again. You can never be too moisturized 

24. Zumba. This is my life. I seriously live for it. Liz Brady, if you are reading this, just know that I think about you every time I dance with Beto. Every time. Hope you are doing well! 

25. How-Long-Can-I-Hold-My-Breath-Experiments

If you fell asleep reading this post, just be grateful that you are reading about it and not living it. 

But no! I am so happy, I promise. Sometimes I get bored, but if you know me, that is just a challenge to have more fun. 

I love you all! 

hermana alex

Boriinnngggggg Uppdddaaatttteee

Hermana Ostler’s Update – September 9, 2013

  

1. The dog bite is healing. My heart will need more time.

2. We had a surprise baptism this week! Her name is Mabel and man, her story is inspiring. I will have to elaborate later when I don’t have less than ten minutes on the freaking internet!

3. But yes, the baptism... What a spirit that was felt there! My heart was filled with a joy that will NEVER die. Never ever ever. This woman and her family have found peace in the midst of heart wrenching tragedy. This is possible for all. 

4. The culture for what girls can do here is different. Kicking rocks, dancing in the streets, throwing things, not agreeing with everything that men say..... these are things that are not permitted (according to my companion). I just smile, and then maybe just throw a smaller rock or something. :)

Not much time. This week I spent a lot of time looking out my window and dancing to Zumba like a maniac because my compy was sick. I’m keeping the faith and smiling through it all. One step at a time to become more like Christ and just be happy, happy, happy. 

Love you all! 

Hermana Alex

Pictures to make you smile:

The Falling Out Of A Lifetime: My German Shepherd Boyfriend

Hermana Ostler’s Update – September 2, 2013

Yes my friends… I HAD a German Shepherd boyfriend. His name is Wishbone and my goodness, is he handsome! He is the guard dog at El Verge; the orphanage that we visit all the time. He is so friendly, always sitting on my lap, giving me kisses, kind of being the clingy, loving boyfriend I always wanted. Our mutual affection was something precious to me. And I thought he felt the same way... But there was a different future ahead of us than we both anticipated. 

Suspenseful, no? Let me just cut the flowery story short and get to the point… 

Freaking Wishbone BIT ME! Yep. I was bit by a German Shepherd. Hombres… (Men…) One moment they want to take you to the movies and wag their tail and what not, and then the next they don’t call, start dating someone else, or in my case: bite your arm. But before panic ensues, I do not have rabies. Just a couple scratches, and one giant bruise. We looked into it and all is well. Granted, my heart is shattered into a million pieces, but I am just looking forward with an eye of faith and hope. One day I will find the right dog for me. (R.I.P. Herc.)

This week I have just been counting my blessings. How blessed I am to live here! In Peru! With a companion that I seriously love with every fiber of my being! She is like my mother here. We go through a lot together, and are just here to lift one another up. Sometimes we are unable to work because of her poor health, but as a literal Representative of our Savior Jesus Christ, I know that I am doing good. I am bringing a little ray of sunshine into her moments of darkness and I do not doubt that God has a plan for me. That this is the situation He wants me to be in. 

Lately I have been noticing the obvious presence of people’s spirits. It’s amazing. Our spiritual makeup is something so very tangible -- all one has to do is look. Sometimes we see someone normal walking down the street, but their spirit will be repugnant and we will cross the street because they just don’t have our best interests in mind. Other times I meet people who have the most beautiful and shining spirits, who light up a room with their hope and with their smiles, even during their pain. 

Be happy. That is what I ask this day. Just make the decision to be happy, no matter what happens. Choose to laugh, to show affection to the people you love, to never be offended by what people say to you, to be willing to learn from others. Choose to have your whole being overflow with joy. 

Also, choose to send me some flippin’ Nutella or a letter or an email or a prayer!!! I love you all! 

Hermana Alex

This pooch is better than any German Shepherd named Wishbone!

Hercules: the dog Alex grew up with