Semana Dieciseis: Trickiest week yet

Hola One and All!  

You know... some weeks in the mission are just the best... and others are really hard.  Unfortunately, this week was one of the trickiest yet.  But no worries... there´s always a little sunshine to be found!  

TUESDAY

We had our district meeting and the district leader asked ME to give the capacitación next week!  Only him and the especialistas do that!  So ya know.  I´m pretty nervous.

WEDNESDAY

Yesterday and this morning I felt exhaaaausted.  I just felt a lot of stress and responsibility and this burden with things that are going on here.  This morning I prayed and prayed and praaaaayed that the Lord would take my burden... with complete faith in Alma 7:11-13... and literally right after the prayer my burden was made light.  I physically felt lighter and just a relief and paz.  I am so grateful for the power of the Atonement to be able to help us through whatever challenge we are facing!

Also today I bore a WAY powerful testimony of Missionary Work to Jefferson.. our Nine year old recent convert.  I LOVE to feel the spirit testify through me.  It is one of my favorite parts of being a missionary!

THURSDAY

I woke up this morning having dreamt of me and my companion in Los Dorados... we NEVER go to this part of our area.  But all day I couldn´t get it out of my head!  After a long unsuccessful day we went to the church to pray.  I felt strongly we should go to this part of our area.. but my comp thought we should visit a nearby Menos Activo... which is good... but we already have almost all our menos activos and not a single nuevo!!!  So off we went to find this person in Los Dorados that the Lord has prepared.  And we found him!!! Marcos!  He works on a ship or something so we really can´t teach him much... but we taught a whole lesson in the street and gave a book of mormon and it was great!  I know the Lord´s hand is in every part of this mission and He is truly guiding us to His children that need the gospel!

Also today I wore two different shoes.  How Silly Hermana Cook!

Okay unfortunately that´s about all the sunshine.  And I aint gonna share the blues.  In the words of Nephi..... It sufficeth me to say that my companion is unwell and we could not leave the house for three days.  She will be going home today...  And so my future is pretty unsure!  We have one week more before changes... one week more of my training... And I´m out of a comp :)  But I know my Father in Heaven knows exactly what is going on.  He is very away of the situation and will help me and my companion!! Please send prayers our way!!

The church is true.  It´s as simple as that.  The way isn´t always easy.... in fact it hardly ever is.  But it is worth it.  And I know it from experience :)  Thank you all for the love and support and the prayers.  I am incredibly grateful for all of you!!!  Love you all!

xoxo
Hermana Cook

Semana Quince: Viva Costa Rica Pura Vida

Hola Familia!!!  It´s me!  Hermana Cook!  Remember me?  

Well this week was just dandy.  Started with..

MONDAY

Today was super weird because it wasn´t PDAY!  We still got to write home.. but pday will be Wednesday due to the fact that we get to go to the TEMPLE!! Wahoo!  Today we had a lesson with a Menos Activo named Rasheed.  Then Noche de Hogar with Fernando with the Relief Society president and her family.  They live in the nicest house I´ve been in in Costa Rica.  Hey all of you!  These Family nights are the BEST!  IT´s just the greatest when a member can teach a lesson and show through example the blessings of the gospel for these investigators.  They can ask questions and learn from someone other than us!  I think yáll should call the missionaries and offer to have an investigator come over for Family Night or even just a lesson in our house.  I would loooove to have a family like ours in a home like ours filled with the spirit that is willing to help!

TUESDAY

Today we had Reunion de Distrito... President had us change district leaders so now we are with Elder Ballan.  Then we taught Julia, Josefina y Mario (all three of them are recen conversos)  Then we taught Joselin and John who are of the familia Arauz that we found last week.  Then we got permiso for the baptism of Melani!  The little girl that wrote "si" the church is true after she prayed!  Her mom still doesn´t want anything to do with us.  Then we had Correlacion... Oh also H.  Betancourt is sick with strep and we had to go to the doc :( 

WEDNESDAY

Today we woke up at three to go to the temple!  Hermana Julia came with us to do baptisms for the first time (the zone leaders told us we could bring recent converts) but when we got there... they told us that baptisms don´t open until 9!  Two hours later!  Poor Julia.  She is so patient.  So we went ahead to the session and just prayed she´d be able to do baptisms!  I did a whooooole session in SPANISH ladies and gents!  How great.  I love the temple so much.  The people here always say "we are so blessed to live so close to a temple and we don´t go as much as we should!"  Ya they live SO close to a temple.... only two or three hours on a bus.  You guys.  WE are so blessed to have A BAJILLION temples so close.  GO!!  Go often!  Then we had our real PDAY so I journaled and my comp slept :)  THen we had a lesson with a family of Menos Activos- Laura, Esteban, Dylan, and Andres.  They are great!  Their house is WAY nice and it´s like right in the middle of the crappy houses.  So weird.  Then we taught Valery with John Paul (Recen Converso 9 year old with her 10 year old cousin) and Fernando (her dad).

THURSDAY

Today we prayed and felt like we should push the baptism of Melani for this Sunday.  (Daughter of Arturo and Maritza... the couple that fought in front of us and now the mom doesn´t want anything to do with us..Melani is the one who wrote "Si" on the little sticky note saying she knows the church is true!)  IT doesn´t feel like she will have support from her parents and she is only 9... we don´t want to rush it and feel we should wait for more support and strength from her parents.  Then we taught Christian (hijo de Hermana Julia), Melani (little girl), David (recen converso) and Victor (Menos Activo) and then had Consejo de Barrio.

FRIDAY

Today we had cake with Grama Nuria!  Hermana Betancourt is way sick!  after lunch we got a call from Arturo... he said he was out buying shoes for Melani´s baptism on Sunday!! Woops... guess we are still having a baptism!!! So we scrambled to get things ready!  We taught him and Melani, Jendry (an investigator... the mom of Jeferson who was my first baptism... not married so no baptism date), Familia Arauz... but really just Rebecca and Daniel because apparently Dayana doesn´t want to listen anymore and has forbidden Joselin to talk to Daniel because of it :(  After the lesson Daniel said "So what do I have to do to serve a mission?"  Haha we were like wooooow okay!  Be baptized!  :)  He is almost 17.  

SATURDAY

Today we had lunch with Hermana Julia, had a mini interview with Melani, then her real interview while we taught Arturo, Then we had noooothin.  It was POURING rain again (ha. I live in Costa Rica).  And all our appointments fell.  So we visited members, menos activos, and contacted some referencias.  The sad thing is that this is our first week ever without a new investigator.... it´s pretty bad.  something is missing from our work and we´ve gotta fix it!!  

SUNDAY

Hermana B´s birthday!  I woke up at 5:30 to make her a card... then we went to 2 cercas to wake up all our investigators and take them to church.  We had 9 people in the capilla!  Then we had a baptism!!! MELANI!  It was beautiful!  She is so eager to learn more and come closer to Christ!  I pray that her family can too!  Then we had Kiosco in the park and I did 21 LPEs!  Since tomorrow is a holiday... NO ONE was in their house.  Everyone goes to the park or their schools to light lanterns!  But it was pouring rain so I don´t know how they did it.  At night Antonietta (hermana in the ward) texted us saying she made banana pancakes and hot chocolate for herm B :)  So nice.  I feel pretty awesome.  I´m participating equally in lessons and doing LPEs.. I can do this!  I´ve got the Lord on my side!

MONDAY

Happy fourth of July!!! EVERYTHING was closed.  Sorry no internet :)  It was tragic really.  This morning at 5 we were woken up to a parade in the streets and people yelling "VIVA COSTA RICA PURA VIDA!!!" Haha they´re loco.  But I sure am lucky to be living here and serving as a missionary!! I love it!


Notes:  Kate... in ward counsel they were talking about how phones are a problem with the youth and I was thinking... man my sister is awesome.

Dad.... I have a recent convert... Pamela mama de Valery... that was asking about a scripture she read in the bible that talks about Giants.  I remember before the mission in SUnday school you were talking about that... could you direct me to where I can study to learn more about the Giants? :)

Todos... Do FHE with the missionaries... go to the temple.... read the Book of Mormon from the BEGINNING with the first page... intro... and all.  IT´s awesome.  

I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!! I am so grateful to be a missionary!!

Love, 
Hermana Cook

With Hermana Julia at the Temple

Me and Hermana B

Melani's baptism

Sister B's birthday

Semana Catorce: Talking in my Sleep. . . in Spanish!!

Hola familia!!! Can I just say how much I love you and pray for you aaaalways!!!???  I hope you are all well.  I am so grateful to hear from you all everyweek and for all the love and prayers I can feel all the way in Costa Rica!!! I hope you all have the best week ever.

TUESDAY

BEST NEWS EVER!!  Last night I talked in my sleep!!!  Teaching a lesson!!  IN SPANISH!!  Wow.  Isn´t that seriously that greatest???  I am so happy.  Really though yáll I finally realized my progress this week.  I CAN UNDERSTAND PEOPLE!! And I can talk to them and have a conversation!!! I still don´t understand EVERYTHING and I´m still missing lots of vocab but man.  I am so grateful.  

We got Insanity from one of the elders and do it for exercise every morning.  I´m really sore...

Today we had ZERO lessons.  No one was home or they just didn´t want anything.  We used "Simi"  which is a list of all the members in the church and called every one that had a number.  It was tricky becaue we dont´know who is Menos Activo and who is actually a member.  But we are trying to get to know all the members and president says the best way to work is through the Recent Conversos and MEnos activos.  Por fin we found a menos activo that lived where we were so we visited them.  On the way... we bought ice cream... then in the lesson I had some sort of allergic reaction... :)  my lips swelled up and I couldn´t feel them and my whole face was itchy and swollen.  Haha it was hilarious.  So we ran to Gravilias to the farmacia and I took a pill and I´m all better.  I don´t have allergies so I don´t know what´s up.  

WEDNESDAY

Today for once we had all our appointments confirmed and set in stone!  First we taught Mario, a menos activo... and recen converso... in the street in POURING RAIN!  Ha it was fun.  

Then we taught Ana Munoz.... she has potential... but I can´t tell if she is really interested.  That´s how it is here.  Everyone loves to listen to "la palabra"  but not a ton are actually interested in the gospel.  

Then we went to visit a referencia named Menor who recently lost his father.  But he wasn´t there so we visited with his drunk brother and his sister was was sobbing the whole time.... during the lesson.. the rest of the family came home and said that the mom past away too.... it was SO sad.  They were all sobbing and yelling and we knew we couldn´t stay.  We left them with a pamphlet of the plan of salvation and promised to come back when things calmed down.  It was truly sad.  I am SO grateful to have the knoweldge we had of this great and glorious Plan of Salvation!  That we can all see our loved ones again!  

Then we taught Christian y Sharon... the son and girlfriend of the son of Hermana Julia.  He is 19 and she is 16 and they have a baby and won´t get married until she is 18 because of the pension she is getting from her dad :( He is really interested in the gospel... but she isn´t.  It´s a trick sitcheeayshun.

Then we visited a familia that is a referencia from the elders.  They came with us and we just visited with the family to get to know them and answered all their questions and doubts they already had.  They are GREAT!  There´s like 5 total that want to listen and they seem really interested!  ... awkward moment was when the mom started breast-feeding her baby (that is AT LEAST one... walks and talks a little...) right out in the open right next the the elders.  That was nice!! :)

Then we visited a Menos Activo familia that lives in these nice condos in dos cercas that´s like... Pepperword.  because it has a gate with security guards and all.  It is actually SO NICE!! Kinda like home!!!!  It was awesome.  I wish we lived there.

Then we taught Fernando.  He had read the WHOLE pamphlet and was studying the references in the back!  we answered all his questions and all was great until Pamela (pamela and fernando live together and fernando is the father of her children but now they don´t have any relations of any kind) who is a recen converso started telling all these things she found in the internet and Fernando got all caught up about the planet kolob... so... Anyway there´s some doubts that need to be cleared up and also Pamela needs to learn not to search the internet!

THURSDAY

Today we had Zone Conference and PRESIDENT came!  Oosh. We reported our numbers of baptisms we expect to have this month and ours are the lowest :(  As in zero :(  It´s sad.  But it´s not too late!!!  We are going to keep working!  We just have to improve our planning and our studying and our teaching and use our time more wisely.. :)  We can do it!

Then we had divisions.  It was great!  I learned a lot from Hermana Roundy- specialista/Sister Training Leader.  It was fun to visit another area for a day!

FRIDAY

Today we finished up divisions and when we were in the park.. Hermana Garner who is the nurse and served in our area like a month before I got there and who was on divisions with Hermana Betancourt... anyways this woman came running up to us and said "Hermana Garner I remember your name and your face and I need your help" and she started crying!  Hermana Garner didn´t recognize her at all, but turns out she lives in our area in Dos Cercas!  We set an appointment to visit her today!

Then we had a great comp inventory and went to work!  First we taught Hermana Julia because she is now our cocinera!! (probably just for the month because it´s really tricky with her living so far when sometimes we need to come back to other areas!) 

Then we taught a young lad who was playing with the son of Pamela- named Aaron.

Then we went to teach this woman from the park- Gabriella.  She is having many trials right now and says she knows the only way she can have peace is through God!  It is amazing how the Lord prepares people and puts us in their path! She said she was about to get on the bus but sprinted across the street in the park to talk to Hermana Garner!  We set a baptismal date and all is well!

Then we visited this familia.. the breast feeding one.  Their names are Rebecca (Mom) with children Daniel (16) and another child that we didn´t teach and the baby... and then her sister Dayana and her children Joselin (11) and John... I donl´t know how old he is.  9 10 or 11.  He is adopted.  But wow they are great!   We taught all of lesson one and they got it all and we set FIVE baptismal dates for THIS MONTH!! Wahoooo!!!!  

Later we taught David por telefono because the capilla is ocupied- some general authority is coming!  

Later that night we called Gabriella and also the Rebecca fam to see how it´s going with their reading and the familia was gathered together studying the pamphlets together!!! Aaaaah so great.  I pray that they will come to church and be able to be baptized on the 27 of Septiembre!

SATURDAY

We did service for a member in the ward this morning.  Then we taught Christian, Gabriella, and Melani.  Remember Melani?? The little girl with the parents who are having difficulties with their matrimonio??  Well the mom still won´t talk to us but she let us teach her daughter!! She is so cute and learns so fast!! She wants to be baptized so badly and if she comes to church tomorrow she can be baptized next saturday!!  We dropped of some chocolates and a note to her mom and we praaaay that she will let us teach her again!  She changed sooo much when she started the lessons.  Melani says she is back to her old ways and it´s really sad :(  

After that we visited a menos activo that lives right next to Hermana Julia.  Turns out they stopped coming to church because their missionaries went home and they LOOOOOOVED their missionaries.  The missionaries were two gringos entonces ustedes tienen tarea!!!!!  Talk to the brother that lives in our ward and also in the stake and see if any of them served in Dos Cercas and taught slash baptized an Isabel Jimenez and Raul!  And I think one of their children!  She seriously loved them and how great would it be if they could contact them!  

SUNDAY

We worked HARD to get our investigtors at church today.  Woke up at 5:30 and were in Dos Cercas by 7!  We hupe buenased practically every door to wake everyone up and then stopped by again to offer to walk with them to the church!  There were about 16 investigators that we talked to in the morming.  Familia de Rebecca came!  They walked with us!  But we were missing two- Dayana and John- which means those two can´t be baptized on the 27th of September because they need three times at least in the capilla :(  But Rebecca and Daniel and Joselin and the baby Raquel came!!!  Daniel and Joselin made us gifts and they are just the sweetest.  We ended up with 9 investigators in the Capilla!  Big improvement from last week!  It was actually a great fast and testimony meeting and I think they had a great spiritual experience!  ... Rebecca breast fed her baby throughout ALL of principios del evangelio and ALL of relief society... this time she had a little burp rag to cover up :)  Haha but it was a great day!  I am so grateful for the success we are having and know it is all in the hands of the Lord!!!

Everyone keep doing all you can to be closer to the Lord!  I read this this morning- Alma 17:2-3 and would LOVE to see this when I come home to my brothers and sister and mom and dad!  :)  I love you all more than words and like I say every week I am SO grateful for the love and prayers!  Can you believe how fast time is a flyin??? I love you and pray for yáll everyday!!!

Love Always,
Hermana Cook

Semana Trece: I Love Being a Missionary

TUESDAY

Yesterday in planning we both felt strongly that we were going to find a family of five... So that was our focus today!  First we had a lesson with the son of a Menos Activo- who is also Menos Activo, Juan.  Then with Hermana Julia... then Mario... then NADIE.  So Hermana B asked me where I felt we should go and I felt so strongly to go to this one place but I had no idea where it was.  So I said, "Where is La Esperanza?" and she said "I FELT we should go there too!!!" So off we went! We "Hupe! Buenas"ed every single door/gate and....... nadie.  So an hour or so later we went to this little corner to pray and felt we should hupe buenas the corner.  POR FIN we found this woman who said she reads the bible every day for an hour but doesn´t feel like she has found the right church yet!  We had a powerful lesson with her... then skipped around in the POURING rain (it has rained every day this week-hthe most since I got here!)  It feels so good to follow the spirit and teach the gospel!!

WEDNESDAY

Today we had a multi zone conference that was AMAZING with Presidente.  I have SO much to improve.... much work to be done!! Mostly it was on improving our teaching skills and working more effectively.  Then for the last part of it a health specialist came to teach us about... health.  My goodness he taught us about bugs I had NO idea existed and I WISH I didn´t know existed!! In my BED!  Aaaaaaaaaaaa so gross.  Also he gve us a list of things our cooks have to be feeding us and said we should make menus with our cooks and even go shopping with them!  We are considering dropping Mary Jane and changing cooks... We had a delicious lunch here that was like THANKSGIVING!! pumpkin pie and all!! Then we had a great lesson with a little girl name Melani who is SO smart.  We gave her a little sticky note with the question ¿Dios es la iglesia verdadera? with the commitment to pray.  She is so cute!!

THURSDAY

I was sick ALL night.  In the bathroom non stop.  Not fun.  Then after studies... Hermana B was sick too!!!!!  We were cracking up that both of us are sick.  We went to Grama´s to eat and tried to hint that we need a new cook... hoping she´d oblige.  Nope.  darn.  But she did give us chocolate cake!! Two slices that were HUGE!! Now remember that we are both quite ill.... so afterwards we sprinted to the chapel to use the bathroom haha... then we called the nurse and she cracked up when we told her because THE WHOLE MISSION is sick!! Including Presidente and the health specialists!!  Aparently that yummy thanksgiving dinner at the Conferencia wasn´t quite right haha.... How ironic that we were at a conference on our health and we all got sick!  ha.  Later we had a lesson with Maritza, the mom of Melani from yesterday.  She commited to live the palabra de sabiduria and is so prepared for her baptism!  Then her daughter Melani gave me the sticky note we had given her yesterday and on it she had written in big letters "SI".  Oh my goodness I wanted to die!  What an amazing experience!  She said she prayed and knows it´s true and feels so good!! How amazing! More lessons no time to tell about them!

FRIDAY

Today MAry Jane told us she is starting to work and can no longer be our cook!!!! Oh man!!! Haha... but now we actually have a problem because we don´t have a cook....... Today we had a lesson with MAritza!!  .... but it was actually really bad because we brought this member that´s a little psycho and Maritza and her husband started fighting about divorce in front of us and then left us to fight in their bedroom and the member walked right in to their room to yell with them.......... it was awful and now Maritza wants time to think before we teach her again :( :( Also today we started classes de Ingles!!!!  It was fun! Jesus teaches with me and he was WAY serious and kinda mean when the children didn´t say something right and so I got all super energetic and cheered and man I was fun.  haha.  

SATURDAY

We really need nuevos.  Today we taught FIVE MARC... menos activo y recen converso... y nada mas.  Enserio we need nuevos!!  Our numbers weren´t the best this week but I truly feel I progressed in my ways!! Always happy never satisfied!

SUNDAY

I made a "Sunday lunches with the Missionaries!" pass along thing and wrote out when our birthdays were and wrote a note to thank them for their service and that we love them and food too!  I feel hilarious.  Only had three lessons... wasted quite a bit of time... we have LOTS to improve on.  It is tricky to put all my ideas and solutions I have into practice!  But this week I´m gonna do it!!  Watch out Costa Rica!  The gospel is comin your way!!!


Well there you go.  A super brief update of the week.  I love you all and I LOVE being a missionary.  The church is seriously true.  Go serve!!!!  Go share your testimony!!! What are you guys doing to help the missionaries??? Feed them!  Go to visits with them!! Let them bring investigators to our house!! I would give anything to have a FAMILY that has a beautiful house that is filled with a spirit to teach investigators with!!!! Are you giving them referencias??? Go through your facebook friends and pray about someone to introduce the missionaries to!  You will be SO happy because there is NOTHING better than teaching the gospel!!! I love you all and I am so grateful for all your prayers and love!!! I feel like I had something important to say but I can´t remember.  So just know I LOVE YOU ALL SOOOOOOOOO MUCH!!!  

xoxo
Hermana Cook