Sweet Sweet Rest

Hermana Ostler’s Update – August 18, 2014

After a whole month of living without a single day off, we were able to go do something fun today! We went to Valle Sagrado with the Familia Farfan from the ward. They are my favorite. We had the opportunity to help Carmen start coming to church again and now she is seminary teacher and everything! But. The point is that we got to leave and get all relaxed and everything. AND I FORGOT HOW TO DO IT. I felt like I had to be doing something productive and felt stressed out. But luckily that only lasted for about 30 minutes, after that I was once again able to be the wild Hermana Alex who jumps and runs and laughs really loud. We went to Moray (a big hole in the ground that the Incans made) and Maras (the salt collecting place of the Incas.) Maras is my favorite. You literally can just walk around and eat free salt! And from what Hermano Erick told me, it is really special salt because there are crushed up seashells inside. I totally bought a ton of the salt and so we can eat it when I get back. 

A man tried to put my hand in his armpit when he felt my ice cold skin. I love Cusqueño men. 

I am learning a ton from living in Latin America. One of them is Sugar Coating everything. And when I say “sugar coating” I really mean that you take those words, pour chocolate syrup on top, cover it in caramel and then throw a pound of sprinkles on top. Basically you have to be really careful not in WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. Its honestly helping me a ton, because I have learned that in the eyes of God, cultures do not exist. There should only be one culture in His church and that is one of love, respect, and a willingness to change. So I am working on the sugarcoating. 

Concilio was this week. I LOVE CONCILIO. The Elders basically just like to blabber mouth for 6 hours while I wait anxiously for the food. This week I had the chance to make out with a slice of lasagna that had about 3 pounds of cheese on top. 

We are also teaching a part member family. His name is Alexander and his wife is not a member. We had the most beautiful family night with them this week. We taught the Plan of Salvation and I just relished in the joy that I felt to know that God DOES have a plan for us. Thanks to that plan we can know where we came from before we were born, we can know why we are here and what our purpose is in life, and we can know where we will go when we leave this mortal body. How my soul delights in that comforting knowledge! I know that this life isn’t just a random coincidence. I know that this life is not just to find momentary thrills or to satisfy every urge and desire that comes to mind. The purpose of life is to have JOY. Joy is so much more than adventures or food or family or religion. IT IS ALL OF THAT and more. It is a balance that comes to life when we put the things of God first. 

I love you all. Do not forget that my birthday is tomorrow. Sing me a little jingle from thousands of miles away and I promise I will feel it! 

hermana allleeexxxx

When the toilet overflowed...again. And my eyes look creepy because I was taking off my makeup when the poop crisis occurred. 

Reunion with the Coffey.