The Typical Grandma Lady that Forces Everyone to Look at Her Photos

 Hermana Ostler’s Update – March 3, 2014

This week I....

Found a FAMILY: Their names are Freddy and Norka and they just moved here from Cusco. They were a reference from this old lady that I think was an angel because I have never seen her since she told us to visit this family. But they are the BEST! Freddy has brain cancer and Norka loves that man so so so much. They are searching for the truth. They came to church this week and Freddy stood up in one of the classes and told everyone, “This is my first time coming to church, but I KNOW that this is the true church of Jesus Christ.” I had this goofy grin plastered on my face for a really long time after that. 

I walked a ton. I MEAN A LOT. Sometimes I get very very very tired. The kind of tired where you think, “Can I really do this?” But then you think about all the people that need you, the joy that you can bring to the lives of other people... and I say, “YES! I CAN DO IT.”

Still seeing the scars from a lot of abuse. The kind of scars that are written onto the deepest part of the women’s hearts. It’s heartbreaking to see but I know that there is hope. There is peace. There is healing. Christ has that healing. He has provided that for us. 

Jesper

My mom sent me pictures from HOME! This means that I literally would run people down all week screaming, “LOOK AT MY PICTURES.” Luckily, Peruvians go absolutely ape for photos. They will stare at them for so long. They love my niece, Jesper, for her blue eyes. They get this melancholy face and say.... “If only I had had a baby with blue eyes.” They then look at me and say, “YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GRINGA BABY.” 

So. I now know my purpose in this life. To have a baby with really big blue eyes. So here I go world! I have a lot of people counting on me. But I can do it. This just limits my options a little bit. You may marry me only IF you will help me provide the Peruvian world with the joy of seeing a blue eyed baby. That is all I ask. 

I love you all. I love letters. I love that weird postcard with a lady in a bikini with a monkey that Ellis Island sent me. My zone leaders went completely crazy seeing it. I love dinosaurs and hate my zone leader, Elder Gallegos, for telling me I got a package full of dino toys. I will never forgive him. 

I love the mission. I am going to complete my half way mark. I pray that you will all press forward. That you will stay strong and search for the truth. 

Love, Hermana Alex

This is my boyfriend. He is a fan and he likes to dance.

If anyone has ever baked with me, they know that I have dreams to start a 'Baking Ingredients' line of makeup. Because without fail, I will ALWAYS put the batter on my lips and act like a fashion queen. All I am doing now is promoting this beautiful fashion in Puerto Maldonado, Peru. Spreading my weirdness one Peruvian at a time...

 

Our new investigators gave us this GIANT BREAD WITH A HEART IN THE MIDDLE. It's from Cusco and... its really big. That's basically it, but I was way stoked because at this time I only had 2 soles and butter in the fridge. (The 2 soles were in my wallet, but sometimes I do actually forget that in the fridge as well.) So really, I was way excited because this meant FOOD for FREE. Which, let's be honest, tastes a lot better.

I pulled the classic They-Ask-For-Sunscreen-And-I-Pour-A-Buttload-On-And-They-Sit-And-Stare-At-It-Wondering-How-They-Will-Use-It-All Stunt on my companion. I really can't take credit for this prank because it is the Classic Shane Ostler maneuver. (Thanks, Dad!)

These women are Milagros, Rocio, and Geralda. I have been teaching Geralda ever since I got here. She was a less active member that is now coming to church every Sunday. Her husband has one eye, looks like a penguin, and is named Alberto. During our last lesson he told me I had a rocking body.... so we are friends???