CREATED AND UPDATED BY: M♡M

They just don´t get it!

August 10, 2009

Hi,

This week we just keep working. We borrowed some member’s bikes a couple times to get to some appointments an hour into nowhere. The path is really rocky and muddy but it was faster and more fun than walking. Unfortunately the first time, we were stood up, but the second time, we had a good lesson.

Our zone was combined with the Limon Zone so our ZL’s are in Limon. The zone is still called ‘Atlántica’.

Max was not baptized this week. Its going to take at least a couple more weeks for him to be baptized. I don’t know if anyone is really close to baptism right now. Every time we think someone is getting close, something goes wrong. For example some sisters we were teaching are hesitant to listen to us anymore because some of their uncles, and stepdad, told them the Church was diabolical. Even though the sisters have been to Church many times and have said they feel good when we share with them, they believe what other people say. Also the people that are most likely to be baptized always have economic problems, or live far away, or have too many kids, this makes it difficult for them to go to Church and progress. Then the people we teach for a long time, like Jonathan and Juan Carlos, just won’t be baptized for some reason we can’t figure out. And then they won’t pray about it either. It’s really sad.

We are planning a ward mission activity since a member basically told us we are lazy because we haven’t planned one yet. We had a guy tell us that he respects our mission but thinks we just walk around passing houses without visiting people. We explained to him we usually have appointments we are walking to but when we don’t, we do stop and knock doors. Unfortunately, sometimes we (the members) tend to forget that missioneries, have been set apart as servants of the Lord, and that they teach by the spirit. Jesus Christ will guide you to the people that are ready to receive his teachings, stay close to the spirit and don't get discouraged! M♥M

The doughnuts in the package were in fine condition and good. I did also get the ties. Silk isn’t the best (beacuse of the humidity), but I like the pink tie and wore it to Church. I basically already finished the books you sent too. They are very interesting and helpful. (Catholic Roots, Mormon Harvest and Book of Mormon Evidences) I’m glad school’s going good for you girls. I know you’ll all do great. Stay confident (all of you), and be friends with everyone. Have some fun. Hola Abuelito. Hola Abuelita. Hi Grandpa and Grandma. I hope everyones doing well. Goodbye.

Changes...???

August 03, 2009

Hi family, How’s it going? This week I went on divisions in ‘Guapiles’ and in ‘La Rita’, so I was away from my area for 2 days. Our Zone Leader, Elder Mathews was in ‘Cariari’ saying goodbye because he is going home tomorrow (Tuesday). He was here in ‘Cariari’ and ‘La Rita’, for almost half of his mission and they sent him back to this zone as ZL in ‘Guapiles’.

Max was supposed to be baptized yesterday but he didn’t show up! My companion was supposed to have changes but the plans changed at the last second so he and I are staying here in Cariari. In our zone Elder Mitton has changes. Our other zl Elder Shamo will be going home in a couple weeks (6 missionaries are leaving 3 weeks early for school) so we'll have 2 new zone leaders. 18 missionaries are going home tomorrow. Also we were going to get 20 new missionaries but only 10 are coming to our mission so 6 areas are being closed.

We played soccer again today as a zone in ‘Guapiles’. I suck now and I’m fat. It was elder Burgos’s birthday and we went to 'Pollo Campero' and ate cake again (no wonder I’m getting fat). My comp's birthday is next (at the end of august) and then Elder Welton (from Tucson) so we might get more cake soon.

I met President Galvez. He gives good hugs. He told me I needed a haircut. It’s not my fault, we just hadn’t had time. I finally got one! I received the package as well… *Ü* It had some books, an umbrella, doughnuts, starbursts, gummy bears, Kool-Aid packages, and packages of pasta and other food. Yum! Thank you!
Good luck in school, work, and play everyone.

Same ol' Same ol'...

July 27,2009

Hi,

This week nothing new. Same ol' Same ol'. We had a lot of appointments fall through this week. We also got stranded out in the middle of nowhere and got home late because the buses aren't very reliable. There are drunk hobos everywhere here in Cariari centro because there are a lot of bars. The other night we hung out with a bunch of the drunk hobos, trying to get them to turn their lives around.

On Tuesday we went to help Jonathan and Karen work in their Finca (Ranch) out in Palmitas. Its really pretty out there and we worked, chased cows, and swung on vines. We hit a lot of trees while swinging on the vines, but it was fun.*Ü* We also had to knock some coconuts down from the trees. We finally knocked one down from a tall tree with a long stick, but it almost fell on my head. I don´t like coconut juice. Coconuts should be filled with lemonade or something that actually tastes good. Anyway we worked all day fixing fences and picking fruit.

Max and Maria, Daisy's family didnt make it to Church yesterday so we might be postponing the baptisms. We have to wait and see.

Today we played soccer with our zone in Guapiles and we ate Pizza and cake.

No, I havent met the new mission pres yet. I meet him tomorrow. No, I haven't gotten the package yet.

Good luck everyone in school, work, and life. goodbye.

♫...I'm singing in the rain! ♪

July 20, 2009

Gutentag,

It’s been raining all week long. Some days it rains for a long time nonstop. Other days it rains hard for a few minutes, and then stops for a few minutes, and then rains, and then stops and the sun comes out for a few minutes, and then it rains again. We have been completely soaking wet some days. It’s refreshing at first but uncomfortable being wet all day long.

We've been walking a lot this week! (Déjà vu? *Ü*). We've recieved a lot of references and they always live far away, deep in the middle of nowhere. But they´ve been pretty good references. We still have lots and lots of investigators. There are some that seem pretty good and are progressing. We put 3 baptismal fechas this week for the beginning of August. The fechas are for Max, and two of Maria Daisy´s daughters (who have taken the half hour bus ride to Church by themselves these last two weeks). Other good investigators include Juan Carlos, Diego and fam., Maria, Roberto, Jonathan, Carla, Eduardo, and Katherine. Katherine is a reference from our recent convert Adan. We are also teaching her grandpa and her two younger sisters (who have been to church twice).

Yesterday only 28 people showed up to church. Five of them were investigators. I had to, pass the sacrament, and direct the music, and give a talk at the last minute again. I think a lot of people didn’t show, because it was raining.

Today we are going to La Rita to play soccer with our district and some jovenes. I haven’t played soccer in about 3 weeks. I need a haircut. I hope everyone’s doing good. Good luck in school everyone. Get good grades. Work hard. Be happy. Be confident. Be brave. Have no fear. Good luck in work dad. Good luck at home at work mom. Goodbye.

♪ And walk, and walk and walk, and walk ♫

July 13, 2009

Hi,

I didn’t write last week because I didn’t have time! = * {
This week has being more of the same. We are giving a lot of lessons. Found new people. Some of our investigators are progressing. Max has a baptismal date set for August 6. The family of 10 is progressing as well but the parents are not married yet. There is also a family that asks a lot of questions, but I think we have been able to answer them well and they are becoming more interested. We have a lot more, some are ready to be baptized but for some reason we can’t figure out why they don’t want to take that step yet!

We have received a lot of references lately. One reference lives out in ‘Ciudadella’. He wants us to start a new branch out there so that they can meet in his car painting shop. I don’t know if we’ll be able to do that as easily and as quickly as he is expecting, but he came to Church yesterday, and we are teaching him so that’s good. He has stopped drinking for 2 years and he hasn’t smoked in 22 days. He eats confitis (candy) instead.

We found out yesterday that our ZL Elder Manning is now AP. The old AP is going home a week or two early, for school, so they had emergency changes. Our new ZL is Elder Mathews. I haven’t met the new president yet. Not until end of the month.

We found the mouse that has been living with us, lying in the middle of the floor dead this morning. Don’t know how it died but… thank goodness. (be careful...don't eat what killed the mouse *Ü* , actually after thinking about it...maybe the mouse died of starvation!)



I Don’t know what else to write. Still walking a lot while everyone else around here has bicycles. Everyone always tells us we are "buenos para caminar". (good for walking!) It’s been raining hard lately. The good thing is that when your soaking wet people feel sorry for you and let you in the door.

I hope everyone’s okay and that there is peace and happiness at home. ♥