Happiness

Hermana Ostler’s Update – September 29, 2014

This week I really understood what true happiness is. It’s preaching the gospel with every single ounce of energy I have. In the scriptures it describes missionaries as going out and preaching to every soul and every creature. I feel like I am really spreading some seeds in this time. If God doesn’t want me to reap, he will have me sow. I have always liked the process of planting and weeding sunflowers and strawberries. Of course, I love to see the towering flowers and eating the sweet strawberries, but I can’t help but think that the most rewarding part is the stuff that comes before. That is my life as a missionary. 

President invited all of us to take the time to say hello to everyone that we see. He told us that we would bless lives and change people’s perspective on missionaries.  I was on splits with Hermana Ponce and I saw a very old lady walking down the street. She was stooped over and looked like she was born in Noah’s time. I stopped, looked her in the eyes, and said hello. The biggest smile broke out on her face. Her name is Joauqina and is very Catholic and has a huge love for God and Jesus Christ. She even kissed the pamphlet we gave her about 6 times. She told us that she had been waiting and praying for someone to say hello to her the entire day. We helped her walk to her house and shared a short message with her. She was so happy. She even prayed to Saint Mary and sent the souls from purgatory to lead and guide us, her little angels. Such a beautiful soul. I know that we are here to brighten up the lives of the people who live in darkness. We are to be a light on a hill that cannot be hid. 

I live with 5 other latinas in our house. This means that almost everyday people are coming into my room to ask for medicine or lotions or moleskin. They come in to ask me if I could sing at a baptism, or play the piano or braid their hair. Much to their utter dismay, they have learned that all of these things that define “gringos” do not apply to me. They tell me I am not a “normal gringa” and leave with their noses in the air, to talk to Hermana Condie, that meets the requirements much better than I do. 

My companion has an obsession with chili peppers. She eats about 7 of them on a daily basis. She eats them like I eat sugar; quickly and without control. The other day she was on her “cycle,” as my mother says, and happened to put in a tampon two minutes after lunch. The bloody murder scream that emanated from the bathroom was horrendous. You can imagine the pain, the sting, the agony. Chili pepper hurts when it gets on your face… the other one? Forget about it. Hahaha. 

One of the hardest things about being a missionary is controlling natural feelings like heartache and anger and replacing them with a calm demeanor. This Sunday a less active teenager we are visiting came to the church sobbing. She told us of the sexual abuse she had experienced, he is her sister’s friend, and showed up to her house the other day. Her pain was so evident. I hate seeing people suffer. I hate that ugly things like abuse exist in this world. I had to pray to ask God for me to give her the right words. All I could think of was the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because He suffered the most horrid abuse, we too may be healed with His love. She will be okay because she has a lot of support in the church and from her Heavenly Father who loves her more than we can understand. It takes time to heal, but it comes to all those who trust in Christ. 

I love you all! 

Hermana Alex