Christmas in the Rica

Oh my gosh. It's Christmas already. My first and last one in the mission. I'm kinda really grateful for that, cause it is a hard time to be away from home. 

Today we had our Christmas activity with half the mission. Nope Preston wasn't there... but I will see him in January WHEN ELDER COOK FROM THE QUORUM OF THE 12 COMES!!!! WOOSH!!!!!!!! So excited. We've had 5 Apostles here in the past 18 months, says President.... oh but anyways, our activity was soooo cool. We went to a Sr. home, and sang Christmas carols and talked to the old people and shared the Christmas story with them. It was so cute. I'm a lot more comfortable talking to old people... hahaha its easier that's for sure. Then we went and ate lunch, which was SOOO GOOD. Everything with out rice and beans is really good. hahaah then we listened to President talk and share a story, and listned to a couple missionaries about their experiences here in the mission. Then they gave us recommend covers for temple recommends, and also, Hna Coburns parents flew out here just to give us cookies... yes they were the same ones that sent us chik fi la in the MTC. hahahah.... but they also gave presents to those who don't get anything from their families... my comp got a bunch of stuff... I actually got a call from President on Friday asking if she recived anything yet, and other than the present you sent, no. so they put a huge package together for her.... she was crying... there's a whole bunch of families from the Presidents stake in Utah that sent the mission a whole crap load... there are so many good people out there.... it makes me happy that people actually understand the reason for the season.

We found 14 new investigators this week, thanks to our other investigators... it was absolutely amazing to share experiences and hear all the questions that people have about the gospel, because they hear so much that isn't true at all. And their view changes so much and aren't scared to talk to us now. Hahaha and they really enjoy the reunions at church. Can't say you don't like something until you try it, right? 

So our zone conference was sick!!! We have some great missionaries and leaders in this mission. We honestly have THE BEST mission, in the whole world... anyways, we talked a lot about working with the members and we should be obedient with exactness, sometimes we forget those little things that will make us better missionaries, there's the 3 glories and then outer darkness, and they asked us what one we are in right now with our obedience, hahaha I'm glad I can say I'm obedient, but there is always room for improvement. 

We had divisions this week as well, with the Hermanas, I was with Hermana Ogletree. She's so awesome! We had a whole lot of fun! And she taught me a lot and she is such an example to me and such a great missionary, I learned a lot and learned what I can do better. She said that everyone is happy with us so we don't need to worry. That's reassuring. 

Hna Wilkinson called us and told us to tell her when we have baptisms, cause she wants to be there. She has so much stuff to do, being the wife of the presidnet and having a family, but she is still supporting her missionaries. It is so great having such an amazing support system here in the mission. 

I was made a freee woman this week. Thanks to witch magic and laxitives. I'm all ready to eat it up this week. I've never felt this good in 8 months. hahaah just a little advice, if you need a little boost, just get a sick massage and drink laxitives.... ITS AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cried. hahaha The mission does that to people... its a love hate relationship... 

So yesterday at church one of the leaders was in the class for the investigators and after he was like, how's their situation at home? and honestly we teach POOR people.... but we were like, it's actually horrible.... and now he has plans to buy them Christmas dinner... and food for a while... I CRIED. I'm so sensitive, and its ridiculous. hahahah the mission does that too.... but seriously, he has such a kind heart and doesn't even think twice about helping people. It's amazing to see miracles happen. Even if they are just little ones.

Like one of the investigators that's trying to stop her habit of alcohol, her husband doesn't want to do anything about it, but she has the desire to change, and its gonna be hard because she doesn't have a lot of support from her family, but she understands so much about the Atonement of Christ and how she can apply in her life.... but its a process. we all go through it, and the most important part, I think, is not to start over with that weakness we have. Yeah, it's hard, but it's SO WORTH IT! It all is. As long as we have our lives centered in Christ, everything will turn out alright.

I learned from the president today, that the best gift we can give to Christ this time of season, is to be our best, and be the best we can be for the coming year... not just this time of year, but for our lives. everyday.... the greatest gift I could recieve, is to be with my family forever, and to have the Atonement in my life. It's hard being away from home, but I'm here because my family will be blessed... I LOVE IT :) I can already see the miracles and blessings in my life, and I only have 9 months! I  have eternity to recieve those blessings. life couldn't be better :)

Thank you for all of your examples for me. I am so grateful to have this gospel in my life. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful CHRISTmas. Enjoy your time together, that's the most important. :)

All I want for christmas is youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu... Mariah Carey says it best. 

xoxoxo peace and blessings 

Hermana Boer

Hola, from The Ricaaaaaaaaaa.

Thanks for all the photos and videos of putting up the Christmas tree. I'll be home for the next one... where we will go into the mountains to get it.. this tree lot crap is not fun at all. :)

So transfers were crazy. We didn't get changed, Lundberg went home, Elder Taylor went to the zone where Preston is, and our district leader got changed to our new zone leader. haha we were soooo confused. But not a whole lot of changes were made. So that was nice.

We did get some bad news from the Elders. They said that if the members don't start giving us support and work with us, the President is gonna take missionaries out of Concepcion, they have 5 weeks to start or the work won't be moving forward here after January... That's what happens when members aren't being missionaries as well. START WORKING. We all want missionaries in our wards!! don't be shy. ask them. they will love to have you visit with them.

Our last zone\district meeting for the transfer was sick. We played basketball as an example of working with the ward council and members. they said I was beast on defense. and I was in a skirt. hahah it was so fun. my team won. of course. It was great. 

Wednesday, we went and helped a family paint. I love painting. We painted their whole house, inside and out... and the fence. It was a lot of work. but of course it was fun. I got to do all the high stuff, cause beleive it or not, I am the tallest one here.. I swear, they're always like, where's the gringa? I need somebody tall. I don't mind, :)

Thursday, we had permission to go to the temple with the ward, and we were going to take Juan Carlos to see what it's like and what not. He was excited to go... but then people showed up that weren't on the list, and there wasn't any room in the van they took. So we got kicked out,  we understand, and Juan Carlos because he wasn't able to enter... it was kinda sad... why don't the take a van like the Bruneels have,?? I dunno, but that would  be smart. haha  they said that we could go with them another time, and when Juan Carlos is able to go. So we are hoping for a day this week :) Keyling (the sister of Juan Carlos) started to cry cause we weren't able to go... it was a huge mess and the spirit was not present, so it was good not to go, cause I didnt wanna feel all that tension.

The baptism went REALLY well. There's always Satan trying to stop us in one way or another, but it always works out how the Lord wants it too. We don't have keys to the chapel, so we asked our mission leader to leave them for us because he had to work so we had to do everything. They were locked in his house... we finally found somebody who had keys, and the font didn't start filling up till 30 mins before... because only 1 spout worked, the dad of Juan Carlos said he wasn't able to come cause of a meeting he had to go to... BUT it all happened. and he was baptized, and it was really neat, and he has a strong testimony and is ready to serve a mission. but we will wait a year :) 

We went to Claudias to visit after the baptism... she almost died last week. It was scary.. we had an appointment and they weren't in their house so we called, and her husband said that she was in the hospital unconcious, and that she couldn't breath... but it wasn't her time to go... I know its not, cause she has to go through the temple for herself, not for a proxy... so she's doing a lot better, but it's sad..... she gave us clothes and shoes!! woot woot! There's a latino who has the same shoe size as me!!! can you beleive it!?!? and she has style... and its really funny cause she only buys stuff cause she likes it.. doesn't matter if it fits or not... I'm happy about it. I'll come home with style, no big deal... 

Yesterday we went and visited Azucena, an investigator, and she now has a date to get baptized :) and we also found 5 new investigators, all from her family!! They have a HUGE problem with the word of wisdom, and haven't seen their kids for like 3 years because of their problems.... we shared some mormon messages of looking towards the future and stuff like that, and they were all crying, saying they want to change, and that they don't want to feel this way anymore, and that they need help. It's great that they realize their weaknesses, and have  the desire to change. We are starting to do classes for them with a member on how to over come addictions, and as well teaching them the gospel. We invited Azucena to get baptized, and her daughter in law was like, why just her?? haha so we gave her a date as well, but she has to be detoxed for a little bit longer than 21 days, so we will see what happens. but the Spirit was so strong!! its unbelieveable!! :)

 I love this gospel. its the best EVER. 

I'm sad I will miss the Christmas lights this year at temple square. can't believe a year ago I went through the temple :) the best time of year in SLC. have fun Christmas shopping. Enjoy the snow for me! 

Remember. God knows you better than you know yourself. So does satan. CTR. Recognize your weaknesses and change them. I BELIEVE IN YOU! 

I LOVE YOU!

Remember the reason for the season. God is good.

And Jesus lives. 

so does Hermana Boer. :)

December 9, 2013

Hi. Just wanted to say. I GOT MY CHRISTMAS PACKAGE. be jealous, I've got the best parents in the world. My comp thinks so too. :) and I got letters from Tay and the fam and from the Woods and from Snyders and Elly. THANK YOU ALL!!! I love every second while reading them. Y'all are the best. Thank you.

This week wasn't very exciting, only a couple updates comin your way... I'll start with the best one...

JUAN CARLOS IS GETTING BAPTIZED!!!!!! This friday!!! on Tuesday, we got some help from other missionaries on what to tell him and what he should do. So we took the advice of our leaders.. which is always good. Anyways we went to his house and challenged him to talk to his mother, for heaven sake, and he was like ok yeah. I will. He doesn't have a lot of faith in that, but I'm sure its changed. anyways, we were walking back to the house, and I was feeling a little bummed cause he was a little hesitant to say yes... while thinkin that a car pulled up behind us and it happened to be the young mens president. he was like, how do you feel about the announcement!?!? what announcement??? oh you havent heard?? well don't tell anyone that I told you, but the bishop talked to the mom on Juan Carlos, and she gave him permission!! he's gonna get baptized the following Friday!!!!! We started crying. haha I'm such a baby. the best news, right??

Soooo I cut my hair. Only a little bit. But guess what. A BLIND LADY CUT IT! #livinontheedge adrenelin rushing, am I right, or am I right? yeah, she's been blind for 3 years, but has cut hair for 32... so she knows her stuff. I was nervous, but it turned out really nice. it's not as long, but it'll be super long when I get back home. It's crazy what a nice trim will do.

Our neighbor, just happens to be excommunicated, and he was like, yeah its not easy coming back, I've heard, so I'm not gonna try, its not worth it. I wanted to slap him in the face. WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOUR SALVATION IS NOT WORTH IT!?!?!?!? he's crazy!!!!  Does he not realize what he will be missing??! yeah, just kickin it with our Heavenly Father, and Christ. no big deal...  its heartbreaking, when he knows! he served a mission and everything. a convert when he was 20. he's got a testimony. but he's just stupid.... I had to take deep breaths... I still am. haha

So the Christmas devo was the bomb, as usual! right??? I love listening to the mo tab, its relaxing, and the messages were fantastic. I love listening to the words of the prophets and all that good stuff. We brought 7 investigators to that... we only got 2 in sacrament meeting... we are hoping that they'll show up to church just like they show up to the devos. haha its hard to get lazy people outta their houses.

We get a little bored on the bus sometimes or walking in the street, so we play the game where if you see a nun, you hit your comp. she always wins, cause I'm never really lookin out for them, not like there everywhere or anything, haha but anyways, I saw one, and I hit her as hard as I could, while we were waiting for some other hermanas. she was like, owwww why so hard! I was like, I was so excited I didn't know what to do, so it just happened!! hahahah it was funny...

I can't believe its been another 6 weeks. Time is crazy fast. Soon it will be Christmas, and then new years, and then mothers day, and then my birthday, and then I'm home. WHAT IS THIS!?!?! I'm still not confident about my español. but then I hear somebody say something wrong, and I'm like, hey comp that's wrong right? and she's like, yeah you learn on your own, I haven't taught you anything. You are good to go. hahahaaha she's the best. I'm still workin on that confidence stuff, but it's getting there. I feel better in lessons and I feel better talking to random people on the street or bus, when I've never liked doing that in my life. #shystatus anyways. The prayers really help. Thank you.

Ecclesiastes 3. enjoy. cause there's a time for everything. :)

I'm excited to get those Christmas cards. *hint hint*

Costa Rica sends its love. PURA VIDA

love, Joce

December 2, 2013

8 months in the mission!?!?! I'm almost half way done. I don't even wanna think about it. Time is flying by... don't know how I feel about it. And its almost Christmas..... wow. and its the dry season here, so its freakin hot... I should remember to wear sunscreen this time of year.

Anyways. it was a pretty good week this week. ok it was awesome!!! one of the best that we have had in concepcion in the past... I dunno maybe a year. 

Tuesday after the district meeting, we went to do interviews with the elders, they went really well, and we called the mom of Juan Carlos to see if we could interview him just to see his progress... they have pre paid phones here and its really annoying when the time cuts off and you can't call them back... so we are still working with the mom... she didn't pray, but we told her that its really important so we will talk to her tonite to see what happens. She's really a nice person, but understands nothing about the priesthood... so its hard trying to explain that just because he was baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost doesn't mean his baptism counts.... theres wayyyy too many religions out here... its crazy.

A young woman in the ward, the daughter of the area 70.. who is in our ward... asked us if she could come do visits with us. Of course we said yes, this is the first time anybody has wanted to work with the missionaries. haha she was awesome. And her testimony is so strong. It's neat to see that some kids these days actually have testimonies of their own, and not just from their parents who are strong in the church! And one of the other young women, who is on vacations for the month wanted to come with us another day as well... she's awesome, but is deathly afraid of dogs... ITS NOT A JOKE, the dogs and missionaries, together, don't really work out too well.... 

we were going to visit a contact that we had on the street, we went but they weren't there, so about an hour later we went back. and we had no idea they had a dog until it jumped over the fence, barking, while my comp and the chica were screaming, and I was like "shut up! its gonna come after us if you keep screaming"... they don't listen when they're scared.. it came down the stairs after us, and my comp is running around like a chicken with its head cut off, and the dog is following her, and finally she jumps back, and the dog latches onto her skirt... rips her skirt, and shes still screaming.. hahahahah finally the owners get it to calm down, and they're all like, "oh my gosh I'm so sorry, how embarrassing, here is a change of clothes, I'll fix that skirt for you".. hahaha and my comp still can't think and she's shaking and doesn't know what to say... so I'm like, is it okay if we come back another day? hahaha and the chica that was with us was almost crying... while about 100 yards ahead of us. haha SO FUNNY. and ya can't trust the dogs here... they're all from the street. #rabiestatus

I MADE TAMALES!!!! gosh dang I dunno what to do with all this talent now.... I'll share it with my future husband... hahahaha WHAT!?!?! yeah right...

no but seriously, I learned how to make tamales. and it was the best afternoon of my life. and we made dessert ones as well. SO GOOD. I'm proud of myself. It's a freakin proccess though, that's for sure. It's not like empanadas, where ya just throw a ready mix bag in water and there ya have it.... it takes work.... and its so worth it after, cause they are SO DELISH. 

FREAKIN PAUL WALKER DIED!?!?!? WHAT IS THIS!?!? the second coming is soon. so sad.

anyways now i got that off my chest...

So our funny little mission leader decided to pull a sick joke on us and call us Friday night to say that Juan, the bishops dad decided that he wasn't ready for baptism... after I got settled down and he told us it was just a joke, we decided to do the same to the elders... they flipped... haha but anyways, at 10:40 our mission leader called us again, and was like sorry it's late but the bishop just called and sayed that we can't have the baptisms till after church on Sunday cause the chapel isn't dedicated yet. OK BRO, you are killin me. no it wasn't a joke, and the elders didn't believe us... they even called us Saturday afternoon asking how the baptisms went. haha dude, it didn't happen... ohh I thought it was a sick joke, we couldn't beleive you a second time! hahaha yeah... the baptisms didn't happen saturday BUT we had our open house of the chapel Saturday night. it was a good turn out, but not alot of investigators showed up cause it was too late and its "too dangerous" to be out that late. ok 6 at night people. DONT BE LAZY.... and I made sure to tell them that there was food! It didn't help so much. 

Sunday we had... no not 86, or 63, OR 98 people at church, but 156!!!! what!?!?!? are you kidding me! thats a miracle for this ward! And the chapel is a freakin miracle for the area. Even though like 30 of them were visiting for a baby blessing, it was still awesome. the classes were full of people, and the baptisms were AMAZING, and like half of the ward stayed for them. 

Yamileth, the lady that has a baptism date, and is pregnant, isn't pregnant anymore. she had her baby sunday... she sent us a message at 5 in the morning saying she wasnt able to come to church, and we got a message right before church saying that she had her baby... we don't know if thats a good or bad  thing yet... shes gotta get baptized...

But the dad of Nikol showed up to church and the baptism. I think that it was a turning point for him. To have his daughter set an example, was the best thing that could happen. He told us he wants to stop drinking, and he wants our help, and they want to go visit the temple grounds!!! what!! He's Catholic and wants to die Catholic. nope, not gonna happen. haha we'll change that right around for ya.

Oh my gosh, to see Padre Juan get baptized was a miracle as well. The bishop started crying during the baptism prayer, and barely choked it out. but yeah, finally, it happened and we couldnt be happier...

Our neighbors are inactives for about 3 years, and we finally got to share a message with them, and they were so bummed they couldn't make it to church yesterday, but said they really want to make it back to church, cause they just feel like something is missing, and the mom isn't a member and wants to go as well. It's so awesome.

honestly, I've seen so many miracles in just this past week, and I know that only more can come my way... and I'm excited to see them. 

The mission is the best. 

y'all should read James chapter 3. its so good.

and read, "merciful obtain mercy" by Elder Uchtdorf. its so good.

and as well as D&C 6:19. do it and be blessed.

I still can't believe I'm in a whole different world here, preaching the best thing in my life, the gospel. I thought that getting married and getting a career, and hanging out with friends was great, yeah it is, and I miss those things sometimes, but it's gonna be even better when I get back. And the mission is the best thing for me in my life right now, and I couldnt be happier :) I have the best companion, the best support system, and I'm in the best mission. and I'm not alone, I not only have my cousin here with me, but I also have a Heavenly Father, who loves me and watches out for me. My testimony is strengthened everyday. 

be happy, be mormon, be you. (my comp says this all the time) :)

November 25, 2013

HIIIIIIII!!!!!

I can't believe its Thanksgiving this week. I totally forgot.. cause it doesnt exist here. which is sad. why can't they have a day where they just stuff their face with turkey and watch football??? lame...

AND ITS MOTHERS BIRTHDAY!!!! 29!! AGAIN!!! wow... time flies right? you are gettin old momma. happy birthday. you are the best.

First, I just wanna say how thankful I am for all of you in my life. I'm thankful for all the love and support you have given me in this awesome journey I've decided to take. I'm thankful for the gospel and the happiness its brings into my life. I'm thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus, and because of that, I can be a better person everyday. I'm thankful for the missionary work, and the time I have in Costa Rica to serve the Lord. I'm sooooooo thankful for my family. I love them... Im thankful for email... cause I would die if we could only write letters. I'm thankful for my bed at home, cause its waiting for me to get back. I miss it... I'm thankful for American food. I'm thankful for english. hahahah ok I'm just being dumb. I'm thankful for everything. 

So we talked with the mom of juan carlos!! its was scary cause all we have heard is harsh things about her, but shes chill. she just feels like he shouldnt get baptized again cause he was baptized in his other church. but we invited her to pray about it, and told her about the authority... so we will probably hear from her tomorrow! its so sad because he has no support here, or from Nicaragua. only from us and the bishop, so we will see what happens.

Gaby let us know that she cant get married, because she doesn't have her papers, so she has to go to Nicaragua to get them... in April... but she still wants to get baptized... well there's a problem, you gotta move out if you wanna get baptized. she doesn't understand the law of chastity.. so its frusterating trying to teach her it like 3 times and still doesn't get it. and its sad knowing that her boyfriend is a member and doesn't support her decision, and only wants her for other stuff.....

So this past week, we set a bunch of baptisms dates, more than ever in this area. the work is moving. but we also have the family of Ivania and Juan that are preparing for baptism. It's exciting. they are the ones that were having problems with their church... they were never baptized and they really wanna follow the example of Christ. they are pretty golden. and also, the lady thats pregnant accepted a date, buttttt shes about ready to pop.. so we will see what happens. but her daughter is really excited to be a member. which is exciting for us...

There's this little part of our area that's supposed to be dangerous, but we have never been worried about it... but we ran into some youth up there, and they were like hey will you teach us english, and I was like, heck yeah I will! and I was thinkin that they're really cool and what not... but then we talked some more with them... its sad what the world does to these kids.. they are just starting their lives and they ruin it with all the drugs and parties and stuff... I'm so glad I was raised right and have a good support system...

My comp has a problem with being sarcastic, thanks to all the gringa comps shes had her whole mission... the latinos do not understand sarcasm, so when shes sarcastic, they feel bad... and its really annoying how she can't take a joke, but can totally mess around with other people.. so I let her know this past week. and she made our mission leader really upset because she was just being a brat.. so I let her know what shouldn't happen... she's a lot better.. but I can never be sarcastic with the latinos, cause I don't know words in spanish.. haha ok thats a lie, I just learned in my first area with the crazy Guatamalan that I can't be sarcastic. sometimes just gotta put people in their place... haha

So everyday we have to talk to 10 people that we don't know, right?? We always decided to bring up Christmas, and if they want to hear a christmas song. it works everytime. I love it. cause I think I can sing better than I can talk in spanish. and they are always like, come back again and sing some more, we love how you girls sing! nailed it.

Our mission leader is gonna ask his girlfriend to get married... the ring is HUGE. I hate it. cause I'm like, everybody is getting married and all I got is a CTR ring on my finger. it's ok. Single is good. Preston thinks that I'm gonna be married before he gets off his mission. I bet I won't be. I'll have a year to avoid boys while Preston is still here. hahahaha 

Saturday we went to Tres Rios for the mormon helping hands service project. Look for me on the web page and in the Liahona. no big deal, just helping the world one mormon hand at a time. It was actually really neat.. we recycled a whole bunch and went around and told people the importance of that, and how to avoid dengae. which is like west nile virus. 

Sunday I gave a talk in church... I've been lucky. I've been out almost 8 months and it was my first time talking in church. I talked about the missionary work. surprise. but I put people in their place... gotta be firm with these latinos or they do nothing... even if you are firm, they still dont do anything. But I felt the power haha so hopefully it touched the peoples hearts. hahah

Friday we talked to the presidents wife, and she was like you want to come to my house and make cookies on pday? and we were like yeah of course. and then we called her last night, and she was like there is a problem, the new people have their month checkup tomorrow, so we can't make cookies. and we were like, we can help you if you need it, and she was like yes please of course!! So we went and helped her cook and buy food and stuff. It was fun to spend time with her. Shes sooooooo funny!!! I love her. I learn alot from her. She's the best... AND I got to see Preston again!!! People still get surprised when we hug, and Hna Wilkinson was like, Yes of course you can hug him!! haha we ate so much food. but we had hamburgers. It was like an American cookout. loved it. 

so I really like these scriptures... 

1 nephi 13:37. its pretty powerful. as you can probably tell, im starting to read the BOM again, so all the scriptures are from 1 nephi. haha

 Genesis 21:6... hahaha enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving. enjoy the parade, and the football games, and the turkey, and the break from school and work! 

I love you!!!! 

xoxoxo

November 18, 2013

Ahhhhhh, I'm so sad I missed Chubba receiving the priesthood. I'm so proud of ya bud!!!! and freakin Rem is 16!?!? WHAT!?!? wow... I'm old.. anyways, glad it was a good weekend for all, even though I wasn't there...

So ya know how the chapel was suppose to be done like a year ago, yeah we got a text saying, once again, that it wont be ready. the 1st of December is when we will finally be in it. And we get to have Juan and Nikol baptized the 30!! we are so exited.

Some other good news. Me and Hermana Quiroz don't have changes until January!!! woot woot! The President let us know that we will not be having changes, cause he wants us to work one transfer together in the new chapel! AND we get to skype for christmas!!! so we will figure that out when the time comes. :)

funny story... So we wanted to go visit Nikol on Tuesday, so we called, and she was like, I'm at my soccer tournament... but the last we heard you didn't have permisson from your dad.... yeah, well me and my mom packed our bags and left right after he left for work, he is really upset, he called the police and wants to take away my moms residency.... oh can we talk to your mom? and she said, IM SO SICK AND TIRED OF HIM TELLING US WHAT WE CAN AND CANT DO; I HATE MAKING HIS SOUP ON SUNDAY; HES THE ONE THAT KEEPS ME FROM GOING TO CHURCH. hahahaha shes got some courage.. but we said, ok just let us know when you get home safe and sounds. they didnt show up until yesterday morning. haha but they are all good. 

We had a multi zone meeting. It was SOOOOOOOO good. It was like 9 hours long, but it was so worth it. President let us know that we don't understand our purpose as a missionary and should repent. and the assistants taught us how to teach more with the spirit, by bearing our testimony more, being firm in the invitations we extend, and to promise blessings. and to teach with the power and authority that we have as representatives of Christ, it was awesome and I felt the spirit so strongly, and the president made a huge promise to us. It's incredible, just in less than a week I can see that promise come to pass. but anyways, we decide to put into accion what we learned, with the people we are teaching, and we were super firm with juan carlos, and if he has the desire and faith to be baptized, he needs to act on his faith and his mom will give him permission... so he wrote a note to her saying that if he doesn't get baptized it will be her fault if he ends up in the streets like his brother. and that he is going to serve a mission, so he needs her permission... we find out Thursday what she says... haha we are praying like cray cray.

And I learned something that I didnt really realize, that when Christ suffered, he suffered for a moment, for me personally, all the hurt, sadness trials and sins I will go through, i felt. just for me, He was in my shoes. and He has been in your shoes, personally. just remember that.

Also, a member of the family of the bishop, he hasn't been to church since he was baptized when he was 8. So we were firm in extending the invite, and promising him blessings, and he hasn't prayed in front of people for a long time, and he said the closing prayer. it was amazing how strong the spirit was. and he told his aunt when we left that he knows we are representatives of Christ and he can feel the love we have, and he wants to change his life around. it was so sweet.

We have these 2 new investigators from a family that we have been teaching, they came to church yesterday and they loved it. they love how organized it is. and the mom is pregnant and she didnt have money to pay for the bus, and we went to her house at 9 in the morning, and she was like we have to leave now so we can get there by 12, walking... we were like, uhhh no we will find help for you to pay for the bus, you are gonna have the baby if we walk. haha but then she introduced us to her neighbor who is having issues with her church right now and she wants to find one that she feels right in, and when we explained how it is, her and her husband were like, yes that sounds wonderful, we will check it out, come visit us more as well. YES. more souls comin to Christ. NBD.oh and Gaby is getting baptized!!! :)

We taught an inactive about forgiveness this week, and watched the mormon message of Chris Williams, where his family died in an accident, and he forgave the kid that caused the accident. its tear jerkin. i love it... anyways, we've always known that she is crazy, but didnt really know why, but she went through so much crap in her childhood, that she can't forgive the people that caused it... she was bawling, she was like, I cant , I cant do it.... but we promised her that if she could take those steps of forgivness, everything will turn out fine... shes strong. and it just made me think, that we need to forgive ourselves as well, and others, because we get no where with those nasty grudges. 

Ok, remember that one time when I said I wasn't funny anymore? I so lied. I am so funny. and the latinos think so too. I can't help it if people love me so much. The family Martinez, love me. they laugh so hard when I'm there. I love it. I'm like, this is my purpose in life.. makin people laugh. hahaha no but really, we were eating birthday dinner for their son, and it was AWFUL. but I tried to be polite and act like I was enjoying it, but no body was, so they thought it was so funny. 

Today we went to like central park, of San Jose, seriously, it has the paddle boats and everything, it was so fun. just chillaxin, and playin on the playground. the latinos think its so crazy to see real black people playing basketball. they're like, THEY'RE HUGE OH MY GOSH!!! ahahahah. 

oh one day, we bought milk just to make hot chocolate during planning, so I was happy and stuff walkin to our house, and the milk slips out of my hands and exploads on the ground.... I made it super dramatic.. haha and these men were like, oh what happened, and they were super worried for me cause I was crying... hahah I just wanted my milk. there is never a boring moment in this companionship. haha I enjoy it thats for sure.

3 nephi 9:13-14

Alma 7

read it. enjoy. and be a better person. 

I'm so glad I made the decision to leave and be a missionary. its hard, but so worth it. I left people I love, but I know my life will be a lot better in the future because of this experience. thank you for the prayers and support. I am soooooo grateful for all of you. I love you all. just remember, when things don't work out the way you want them to, God has something better planned. 

xoxoo