I Am a Tuckling

Hermana Ostler’s Update – October 21, 2013

Hello My Dearest Friendsies,

The rainy season has half way started in this strangely, strangely, painful hot locale. I thought Oregon knew how to dump water from the heavens in an extreme manner, but Puerto Maldonado takes the cake! When it rains, it RAINS! Like, rivers running through the streets and entire buildings being washed away and all. Well, the last part is a lie, but it does rain a ton.

WHICH MEANS WET WEATHER GEAR. My Mamacita, Hermana Masquez gave me her poncho and rain boots. Woohoo! Now as I walk the streets decked out in rubber, I feel like a “tuckling.” Or, a Turtle Duckling. It really is a very unique feeling --- I can’t quite describe it fully, but there it is. I am a Tuckling. It’s just that I feel so unbearably adorable in boots and a poncho, marching in my “I’m A Missionary” attitude. But all of this vanity is unfounded because whenever I glance at my reflection in a window, I don’t see a Tuckling. Rather, I see a hybrid offspring of a dementor-sith lord. But hey...in my heart I will always be a tuckling.

Also, a result of the wet weather... Running in the rain every day. One day we were running and I seemed to have forgotten that I live in Peru and that the streets contain an absurd amount of hazards. I was following Hermana Warner and she jumped over this beautifully giant puddle. And... if anyone knows me, they will know what I did next… I ran THROUGH the puddle. But it wasn’t a puddle. IT WAS A GAPING HOLE! The result was falling, blessing profusely, and maybe some profanities? Yeah, there were definitely some profanities. So now I have a giant scar and it will definitely be on my leg for years to come, so I will show you when I get back.

Enough of my silly shenanigans. I promise that I am a better person, curse words and all. I really am changing a ton. I feel an incredible interest in other people now, which is different for someone who is incredibly self-centered. Instead of daydreaming about myself, I find myself thinking about how to help other people, what I should say to alleviate their pains, and how much I just love my friends here. Sometimes I fall back on being selfish and think, “What is the point of all this? These people will never change. There is no point in spending all this time talking and helping and listening to these children, to these old people, to anyone.” How silly and asinine is this way of viewing the world!?! Whenever I get caught up in this negativity, one little phrase comes into my mind:

“Can there ever be too much kindness in the world?”

Can we ever listen enough?

Can we ever stop too much to play and listen to the concerns of little kids?

Can we ever hear too many life stories?

Can we ever feel the pains of others too much?

The answer is NO. There is always room for more kindness, for more good energy, for more real, unrelenting love for others. There is never too much.

I love you all. Keep doing all the wonderful things you are up to.

Love, Hermana Alex

Pre-Mission Alex (obviously)