October 14,2014 

heyyy yalllll

Costa Rica is the bomb. and its kinda cold.... but when I get home next winter I'll be like, yeah Costa Rica isn't cold.

I can't believe like a year ago I was like, I'm gonna go on a mission, and dad was like why are you crying, and I was like, I'm not sad! hahaha and then everything worked out, and now I'm here speaking a different language. its pretty cool I guess. 

Just to let everyone know, that they eat sour cream here like its candy. and it's kinda good... not gonna lie. It's like, let's eat sour cream and bread for a snack. and then I think, I WOULD NEVER EAT THIS AT HOME. what am I doing. I'm changing. It's weird... I actually eat food I have never liked.

So in our zone, they love to blame everything on me. like in our meeting there were some people not doing the things we were suppose to during our practices, and I was one of them, and they were like BOERRRRR. after they explained what we are suppose to do. hahaha and then they mess around like all the time and somebody gets mad at them and they're like BOERRRRR. they do it cause they know I can take a joke. hahaha I'm used to it.

So Juan Carlos has been doubting alot about getting baptized, and he told us a story about when he prayed personally and he felt something that he has never felt before when he asked if he should get baptized. THE SPIRIT. GUYS IT WAS THE SPIRIT. and he was still like I dunno. So we said a prayer right there with everyone and he again asked if this is what he should do, and I can't explain how strong the spirit was in that moment. and even after, everyone was silent for like 3 minutes after. And he was crying and everybody and their dog was crying. It was beautiful to feel the spirit so strongly. Annnnd he's still not gettin baptized. yet. he said he will but doesn't know when... so thats dumb

We are visiting this inactive who is having TONS of problems with his wife... they are seperated but not divorced and he's super loyal... but her.. not so much and he doesn't know what to do. and he doesn't believe in God anymore and its just a huge mess. but we told him that he knows what he needs to do, and that God is always there for him and ready to listen and help him when he is ready. He was crying, and is gonna start coming to church with us. THE SPIRIT GUYS ITS THE SPIRIT.

Sooo I ate sugar cane. Like straight up cane of sugar. NOT KIDDING I cut the plant of sugar cane, and ate it. It's suppose to be good for your teeth. and I was like, yeah right its all in your heads people, but after, my teeth felt nice. hahaha

GUYS WE ARE GETTIN CELLPHONES. COSTA RICA MISSION GETS CELL PHONES THIS WEEK. that's what's up. I'm sick of paying a million dollars for a stupid house phone.

We had another open house for the missionary work at the stake center.... 5 people showed up. Hna Quiroz was FULL of sass, and we missed our appointment with Angie. that's how I feel about dumb activities. The elders didn't like it as well, so never again.

There is this recent convert who was baptized in a different area, but lives in our area, so we decided to visit him. He has such a strong testimony and did baptisms for the dead the other day, and he was like, the temple is soooo cool. hahaha

We went to ward choir yesterday and Silvia was there... the crazy lady cook. And she said we couldn't sing because we sing through our noses..... you should hear her sing. I sound like freakin Beyonce compared to her. thanks.

There is this youth in our ward, and she bore her testimony, she said after conference she asked God for trials... she had a week of trials. Seriously, she ended up in the hospital. and I was like, I'm not that dumb to ask God for trials, he already gives them to me. but it was so sweet, cause before, she was just a little snob. and now she's super chill and changed so much from those experiences that she had. But God really does listen and answer your prayers. More than you know and we can learn from all our experiences and grow spiritually from them like she did.

I wish I could hear all your testimonies while I'm out here. I'm sure it's like, boo hoo Joce is gone. hahahaah jk jk

So yesterday we visited David, he is an inactive, and his mom is SUPER catholic. and we taught them about faith, suprise there right. haha but we asked them how we can strengthen our faith and she was like it's different cause I'm catholic, and we were like no, we all worship the same God. there is only one, so our faith in God can be strengthened the same, no matter what religion we are. It's so true. It doesn't matter what religion we are, just as long as we have our lives centered on Christ, the right way. Because sometimes people don't understand....

We also visited Angie, with Glenda, the relief society president. it was SO GOOD. We finished with the plan of salvation... that lesson gets me everytime. and it got Angie real good, she bore her testimony about what she learned, and it was so sweet. she knows that families can be together forever, and that we can apply the atonement in our lives EVERYDAY. no matter what. She's getting baptized on Saturday. First baptism in Concepcion in 1 year. woot woot.

Oh a little experience yesterday... so we had 0 money to ride buses and get to where we needed to go, so while we were running from one appointment to the next, we were both screaming prayers in our heads like, we need a miracle right now or we will never get to these appointments in time. Because they were like 15 mins from where we were.... and right when I was like, please Heavenly Father, we need help. a car pulled up and it was the elders quorm president with his family and he lives across the street from where we needed to go. and he was like ok, get in, lets go. I almost cried. and his kids told me a joke in english." is your name google? Because you got all the things I'm looking for". hahahahaha yes.

Read Luke 10 verses 25 through 37. Be the good samaritin this week. spell check please. 

I miss and love you all. So much. I say it everyweek, but its true. I couldn't have been more blessed.

xoxoxoxox

your favorite missionary... ok favorite redhead missionary.

Hermana Boer.

forgot Preston is out now. hahaha

Confernece was awesome…..yes, I watched it in English. It says somewhere that we should all listen to the prophets voice in our own native tounge....  but dang, wasn't that such a good weekend? And how the prophet was like, yeah we just had the most inspired conference in 50 years. That's what's up. The power went out during Elder Hollands talk, sooooo tell me what happened. haha freakin satan.

Monday after internet we went and ate with some elders, and just chilled and played games and stuff, it was so nice to just like, do nothing and have fun while doin it. Except we played monopoly and I was crying cause I was so bored... sorrry, I still hate it. Then we went and bought clorox for some reason, and the lid broke,,, on my shoe... MY BLUE TOM IS NOW BROWN. gross.

Tuesday, of course our district meeting, we did practice lessons, while recording ourselves, and Elder Taylor and I taught each other, it was so funny, I started talking in English, and was like, OH MY GOSH WHATS GOING ON! hahah and he just died. and he talks A WHOLE LOT with his hands, and was like, dude I gotta stop movin my hands like a mad man. yeah, he calls me dude. or Jocelyn... stupid zone leaders know our names. haha 

So we have a golden investigator named Angie, her boyfriend is a member, and we got a reference for her from like the entire country. she has such a strong testimony, and was like I wanna learn and I wanna be baptized really soon, I am doing this for me as well, not for my boyfriend, he doesn't even know I am taking the lessons. WHAT?? yeah she has a date for the 19. woot woot. and one day last week my comp was like, can we walk to her house, and its like 3 miles away and I was like sure, and we walked forever, in the dark. we were scared.... but then we found an inactive and he gave us 3 references. yeah he is golden. and we went to find another inactive, and come to find out,,,, HE MOVED. 

Elder Ellsworth called us Wednesday morning at like 6 and was like, yeah I have emergency transferrs. and we were like, uhhh you are joking. But no, our awesome district leader left us to be zone leader somewhere else. We were sooo bummed. he almost cried. we almost cried, and my comp goes to her bed, and was like, I AM DEPRESSED. and then Juan was like  yeah, we are waiting for the chapel to be finished so I can be baptized. STOP PROCRASTINATING YOUR SALVATION. he makes me mad sometimes....and Juan Carlos is having doubts cause his mom lives in Nicaragua and she was like, the only thing I don't want you do do is become mormon... so he doesn't know if its better to disobey his mom, or God... hmmm. think about it....

I had Hna Quiroz sing to Elder Taylor for his birthday. "happy birthday to you, you live in a zoo, you look like a monkey, and you smell like one too". hahaha he was like wow your english is really good. thanks, but you don't know what any of that means!! and she was like, yeah I know. hahaha

This black kid, he's like 4, anyways, we went to their house, and he put baby powder on him, so he could be white like me. hahaha seriously, he is in love with me. I want to take him home.

OK CONFERENCE!! WHAT WAS EVERYBODYS FAVORITE TALK!!! gosh, it wassooooooooooo good. Elder Utchdorf was like, doubt your doubts, not your faith., its like, don't be dumb and wear pants to church, or try and enter the priesthood session, ladies... Elder Scott speaks spanish, so he recorded his talk before, oh my gosh, his spanish accent is the same. ahh I love his voice. and I loved Elder Adrian Ochoa. Don't forget to look up when something questions your testimony. and Elder Dervence m Vinson, how he was like, the more we think about HIM, the less we will want to leave Him. it was all sooooooooo good. I can't pick and choose if I had to. But I liked how Elder Hales was like, you will get something out of it, even if it wasn't what we said. so I hoped you all listened to the spirit, and learned a whole lot. cause I sure did!!! 

We went to lunch with the Hnas in Tres Rios on Sunday after the first session, and one of the members of the family sings. like I'm not kidding, he speaks spanish ,but sings in english, perfectly. and he is doing like an american idol type of thing here. he is 18. and I sang with him. We sang the hallelujah song from shrek, and I'm yours by Jason Miraz, and a song from the fray. so once he is famous, I'll be like, yup, I sang with him while he played the guitar. I almost fell in love for a second. but my heart is locked, so it didn't happen. but it was SO FUN. Hna Salas was like, she can sing, sing together, so we did. hahaha

Today we went and played paintball with the zone! gosh dang it was so fun. it was underground. and super sketchy. and throughout the whole week I was like, I'm gonna take you all down, and they were like bring it... and THEY brought it instead. haha I have 3 shots that bled, and I fell in something... I want to say paint but it was either crap, or mold. hahah it was awful! like 4 of us fell in it. but it was so intense,  Elder Taylor got nailed in the face, and has 2 chins now, his face is huge haha and Elder Lundburg just shot 50 all at me so I did the same. hahah it was fun. Hna Olgletree and I teamed up and took down those latino youth that came with us. 

welllll we are gonna go visit Angie tonight! Love you all!!! can't wait to hear about your weekend, and all the things you learned from conference!!! 

you are all the best!
xoxoxox

Hey guys, guess what!!! It's confrence this weekend! and I will be home in exactly 1 YEAR!!! WHAT THE CRAP!!!!

hahahaha I just want to say first off that Preston and I are the exact same person, we are SO FUNNY. I love it. he's gonna do great. I'm excited for him to be here soon! 

AND WE GOT 206 BAPTISMS THIS MONTH. yeah we reached our mission goal and more, and the 70 is saying we are the best missionaries on the block... its true. PURA VIDA,. COSTA RICA SAN JOSE MISSION. the best.

Humidity and food dont mix.... it's so gross to eat soggy cereal in the morning without putting milk in the bowl.... gag meeeeee.

Tuesday we had a zone conference. It was super good. we watched a transmission of Elder Holland, and how we should be Preach my Gospel missionaries. And it's so true, we don't have that book for nothing. 

I had a crazy dream one night. I only remember the stupid ones, but here it is.... in a minute... so we were walking back to our house at night and I had this sick shin split. It was killing me. so I took some pills, cause I'm a pill popper now, and went to bed after planning. I was in that stage where I'm like kinda awake but not. and then I had this dream that we went to a meeting with our zone, and my leg was black, cause there was no curculation, and the nurse told me just to drink water and I was like ah hail nahh I'm not drinking water for this, and the elders were like yeah we need to take her to the hospital, so they carried me there and the doctor was like yeah we need to cut this sucker off, and I was like screaming and stuff and he pulled our a machete and cut my leg off.... I woke up in more pain, with my leg still white. I'm good now though...

We went and played soccer with our district this week with a couple of members. It was so fun! I haven't played soccer in like 3 months!!! Well a real game, in like 4. I scored some sick goals, and everybody was like, wow... a gringa playin soccer. YOU'RE THE BEST HNA BOER! haha thanks thanks I know... 

So we are switching cooks right? We went and talked to our new one which is the mom of the bishop... and Juan, he's lost 7 pounds because they eat healthy now and we were like sweet that's just what we need. And he goes yeah, look at me, SEXY. HAHAHAHA I DIED!!!! 

There is this little kid in San Fran, called Hayten. and everytime we walk by he goes "hna quiroz hey! oh hey matcha!" haah and one day is was like, to his brother, her name is matcha! haah its like gringa, but not... I guess. I'm not really sure.. it's just how they call white people. not just Americans.

This lady that we met in the street, and she was like "nah I'm Catholic, but we should sit and chat sometime and have some coffee", and we were like oh no we don't drink coffee, and she was like "oh yeah don't you mormons drink blood or something?"... ummm nooo, let's not listen to rumors old lady. 

This one time a couple weeks ago I sent out some letters to some friends and on the back I drew what I thought was the Costa Rica flag with Pura Vida... and come to find out, I drew the Dutch flag... hahahaha pura vida. So embarrassing. don't worry, I know how to draw the Costa Rica flag now.... I might get shot if I do it again. I just hope one doesn't get returned to me and the secretaries give me crap. haha

We went to mutual with the youth this week. I kinda miss it. Not gonna lie, it's a lot more fun than those old lady activities. Hahaha jk jk. But really. The bishop gave a lesson about service and love. He shared candy with us. So we should definitely serve ya know. Because if we are in the service of our fellow beings we are only in the service of our God.

So it rains here like everyday right?, no big surprise. But I decided this one day that I would play in it instead of hating it. So I was jumping in puddles towards my comp and laughing cause I thought I was getting her real good, and then as she jumped in one, this HUGE WAVE of water came on us. Thank you bus. You win.

JUAN CARLOS ACCEPTED A DATE FOR BAPTISM!!! WOOOOOSHHH!!! oh my gosh every one is SO EXCITED. he's gonna be one of those strong converts for the rest of his life. He's awesome, we want him and his grandpa to be baptized the same day, so we will keep praying. how cool would that be??? 

 I'm teaching my comp english, and I'm making her pray in english everyday, IT'S SO CUTE. her voice already is like super little girl, like high and stuff, like AmyLynnes voice, ahh I love it, then when she talks in english I die. It's so cute!!! .... I'm pretty hard on her, cause she wants to go to school at BYU and I'm like, dude, learn english you only have 6 months till you go home, and shes like I know. So whenever she speaks spanish I'm like, sorry I don't understand. haah shes like, FINEEEEEEE. don't worry, I still speak spanish, I still have to learn a different language too. haha

 I love the presidents wife. 

Hey y'all should read 3 Nephi 12:44. its real good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK JUSTIN!!!! THANKS FOR BEING THE BEST BROTHER IN LAW EVER. hahahaa see what I did there... you are so old. enjoy your birthday week, spoiled brat....

John 15... are you are friend of Jesus??

The talk, Saints for all Seasons by Pres. Uchtdorf was really good right. read it if you haven't.

and also read Christ like Mercy by Randy Daybell. I enjoyed it.

I am so grateful for the time I have to be a missionary. It's going by way too fast, but it's the best and hardest experience I've ever had in my life. The best decision I have made. EVER. so far. I'm soooo excited to hear the words of the prophets this weekend. We are so blessed to have this gospel. Salvation is not a joke. So live the way you are suppose too. 

I love you all!!!

<3 Hermana Joce Boer