The Cockroach Nightmare

Hermana Ostler’s Update – December 9, 2013

Living in the jungle is not as elegant or cushy as it may sound, if it sounds like any of those things. For instance, sometimes the city just turns off the water for a couple of days. Leaving me without water.... sweating... walking in the sun...with Peruvian food. Like seriously, I can’t even flush the toilet without a moment of fear, “will it go down? is there water?” And I am sorry that I am talking about this in a public email? Yeaaah… moving on.

We also live in a zoo. No, not that one movie that is way too long with Ryan Reynolds. We LIVE IN A ZOO. With cockroaches. Lots of them. In my bed. Scuttling across the floor. And the other night, on my back, touching my skin. My compy was extremely startled to hear me scream like a stuck pig, ripping off everything and then murdering that little sucker repeatedly with a broom. Sometimes I literally start screaming again because I feel them crawling on me... in lessons, restaurants, our zone meeting. I am traumatized.

But other than that, all is good. I am a freaking celebrity here. I walk the dusty streets and all the little kids yell, “Hermanita Gringa!” And I just wave and strut like the prom princess that I never was. But really, we are always getting free mangos and papayas and sugar cane and castañas and people want us to visit. It’s so beautiful to be loved. But also more beautiful is to love these people with a love that is even stronger.

They want to make me fat with food but I want to make them fat with life. With a life that is fulfilling and eternal. That has an abundance of love and peace. That has strong families and trust in relationships. I want to give them the Book of Mormon, which makes my spirit as fat and jolly as Santa. That book is true! If you would just read it with an ounce of faith, then you would know too. This is what I testify of. That God is real. He isn’t an illusion in my head. He is real and I see miracles every day. I know that Christ was born into this world to redeem us from the hunger and thirst that come from sin, that come from living below our divine potential. I testify that He lives. That He was born, suffered, and then rose up from that death. We will live because He lives.

I love you all and I love my mission. But I don’t love cockroaches.

Hermana Alex

Also, send me some lovvvinnnn. I miss Good News Gardening with my Hood Ladies. (Hola my Girls!)

Av La Cultura 2417

Frente a la Urb Santa Ursula

Capilla Mormona

Cusco Peru