Semana Cuarenta y Dos: You are going to Liberia

I've got loads to tell you!! It was a huge week.

Did I tell you about how President cancelled transfers this month? They were supposed to be Sunday... so Sunday we were watching the phone the whole day..  I kind of felt like I'd have changes but I didn´t want them because I finally had  GREAT relationship with H. Ortiz and I just love those zone leaders of mine.... well nothing happened Sunday.

Monday... one sister in the zone had transfers and Elder Macias got his new comp Elder Fisher.. so we figured that was that with transfers.  I was happy and settled in to 6 weeks more with my favorite friends of the mission...

Tuesday... Today I don't remember much what happened... I do remember that I have been playing ´´jinx me debe una coca´´ with my companion and we bought two cokes... haha. I love her.

Wednesday... Today in the evening we started divisions with the Hermanas from Trinidad.  Hermana Flores and Hermana Jensen.  Hermana Flores came to Tejar with me and Hermana Ortiz went to Trinidad.  We went to a baby shower of a sister here then headed to the Bishop's addiction class with an investigator.. Myron (whom we have to pass to the elders because after the class in the bus he started asking if I have a boyfriend... I said yes... and if we are still writing etc... I said yes.....) :) 

Thursday... Today with Hermana Flores we set a goal to find 15 nuevos and put 8 fechas bautismales.  Elder Fisher didn't believe we could do it so he said he would buy us milkshakes if we did.  So of course we were working very very hard :) We saw MIRACLES.  We had prayed and felt like we should work in Villa Carmelina that day. But after lunch with Natalia we knocked a door by her house.  They let us in and we had 3 nuevos with 3 fechas!! We asked referencias and she said she wanted us to visit her mom and three sisters that live in... guess... VILLA CARMELINA!! So of course we contacted them.  In the afternoon we had found 10 nuevos and put 5 fechas.... then I got a call from Elder Macias... The conversation went a little like this... "Hola Elder!  Como está??´´ ´´Horrible Hermana.  Seriously.  Awful... Hermana you have changes....´´ ´´........... haha Elder... very funny.... changes already happened´´.... ´´I know but the assistants just called.  you are going to Liberia.  we are SO SO SO sad to lose you..´´  ´´...........(tearing up)... Elder if you make me cry for a joke I will kill you!´´  ´´ (in English) Hermana this is serious... you really have changes... you have to be in the office tomorrow at 6 a.m.", and then I cried a bitty bit.  Haha.  I just really love my comp and my zone leaders... we all worked in the same area and we were a great great great great team.  I was so so sad to leave them.... then Elder Macias told me to pass the phone to Hermana Flores... she had changes too... to Liberia!! Haha... I am in Liberia 3 as a sister training leader and she is in liberia 2.  We live together!! :)  So we finished crying... said a prayer to refocus our minds... and finished our work.  we found 16 nuevos and put 7 fechas.  Then ended the divisions... then the Sisters from San Carlos had to come stay at our house but they didn't get there until 11... and then I packed and wrote in the books of my friends... and then... didn't sleep!! Ha.  At 3:45 we caught a bus to San Jose... went to the office... then to a meeting with Elder Maynes and Elder Duncan....

Friday... in the meeting I... well... I fell asleep.  I felt SO bad!! I literally slept the whole time.  Seriously I feel awful and repented a lot.  Then I headed to the office for my suitcases.... then at 5 we headed to take a bus to Guanacaste (Liberia is in Guanacaste... one of the hottest dryest parts of Costa Rica) and we got there at 11:30 at night.  Then I slept  :)

Saturday.... my first day we had a baptism!! Named Marcos Chavaria. The elders had EIGHT baptisms... and the other sisters had one.  So TEN baptisms!! What a great welcome to the area.  My new area is so ready  to be harvested :) We are gonna see miracles here!!!!!!!!!! 

My comp is Hermana Corrales.  She is Tica.. from San Jose... and is finishing her mission this transfer.  Our apartment is BEAUTIFUL.  Seriously.  It is like... new.  and doesn't have bugs or spider webs or anything.  I've got loads of pictures but you have to wait.  Because I am DYING to use the bathroom (I've started drinking more water because it is so hot here and well.... I need the bathroom) Also we have air conditioning in the apartment!

Everything is well.  I've got LOTS of work to do.  And I am going to put my shoulder to the wheel and work Miracles through the Lord!! I sure do love you all and look forward to next week.  Next week I complete TEN MONTHS in the mission!! That sure seems like a whole lot more than nine.... aaa the time is passing way to fast.  I hope you all know how much I love you!!!!!!

Also.  Go read D&C 123:12-17... we all need to have this urgency in the work of the lord!! We must WASTE and WEAR out our LIVES (not just our missions!!) to bring the truth to those who don't have it!! we must do ALL in our power cheerfully then watch the Lord work miracles.

I LOVE YOU!

Pura Vida, Hermanita Coco

Semana Cuarenta y Uno: In the exact moment

Hola todos!!!!! Lots happened this week!! It was a really really great week.... listos????

We were blessed with three baptisms this week!!!! Marco (Marco Antonio Chavez Murillo) was baptized on Friday... it was seriously such a beautiful service.  The spirit was SO strong.  Marco asked me to sing "Let the Holy Spirit Guide" which i did with mucho gusto.  We had a little testimony meeting after the performance of the ordinance.. in which we invited Marco's mom to be baptized too!! She needs to go to church three times or else we'd just get her changed right there and then and do it! :) It was just beautiful... then Sunday Marco was confirmed and Faiker (Faiker Yuleidi Solis Alfaro) and Naomy (Kelyn Naomy Solis Alfaro) were baptized!! That was ALSO  a beautiful meeting.  Faiker and Naomy were actually investigators of the elders... but they weren't progressing with them so they dropped and said we could pass by.  So the elders gave the talks and baptized them.  After the ordinance Faiker wanted to share her testimony.  She talked about how she came to know the elders.. then she yelled, "BUT THEY ABANDONED US!!!" and then talked about us ahaha.  It was funny.  We didn't have much support from the ward.... nao asked me why there were so few people there... I told her only the most important people came.. as in the missionaries and the bishop and the bishops wife... but hey.. are you all supporting the baptisms in our ward???? You should.  They are very important moments in the lives of these people.

Also this week there have been several volcanic eruptions!!! Look up the Volcan Turrialba.  You'll see it.  And all the ash blows in the wind all the way to Alajuela and was in our eyes aaaaall week long.  And everone said we were gonna get cancer.  But It's all good.  Apparently the general public has been in a panic in social media thinking that we are all gonna die... so the Bishop spoke about the emergency plan that the church has for our ward.  Don't worry.. if anything happens... we are prepared!  Maybe I'll get to do a service mission for a while and rebuild houses! :)

And the most triste parte de esta semana.... ok back ground.  Mayela (Cruz) is a type of person that is very very exact with dates... like.. remember how her first baptismal date was for the 28th of March?? And that she has gone to church EVERY Sunday... like 8 times.  Is reading the book of Mormon... completing every commitment... she was so prepared to be baptized before... so we invited her to change her date and she said no! the 28th! Anyway she is like that with our appointments too.  ONLY Tuesday at 3 o clock.  That's when we visit her.  Well.....this friday... I felt that we should visit Mayela.  So my comp agreed and we headed to her house.  She let us in and gave us juice like always... sat down and said, "I'm a little worried... Chu chu (Rodolfo... the muchacho with the huge long construction thing?? remember??) hasn't come home since yesterday." With those words a man came to the door... entered... asked her if she suffers from a Cardiac disease... then announced that her son had been murdered :( apparently he was into drugs and was robbing and was killed :( we were the only ones there with her and she didn't have saldo (you have to buy saldo in order to use your phone instead of paying monthly...) to call her family... so we helped her out... The Lord is seriously aware of His children and sent us to her in the exact moment... well.. two minutes before...she really needed us.  And now.  Well Mayela has moved wto San Jose with her daughter :( She said she could come this saturday to be baptized but it should be from another area.  we are going to talk to president to see.  I've got an interview with him tomorrow so I'll let yall know on Monday (MONDAY!! I am back to writing on mondayS!!)

Cambios were yesterday!! I'm still here in Tejar 1 de Alajuela Costa Rica with my comp Hermana Ortiz.  Elder Ballen went home to Colombia and now Elder Macias is companions with Elder Fisher!! Do you remembera Elder Fisher? He was my first district leader in Gravilias!! And then they changed our districts to Elder Ballen! So all my district leaders are always my zone leaders too.  :)  Anyway.  All is well.  I hope you are all having spiritual experiences every single day. I hope you all know how much I love you.  Seriously.  I always say it but I'll keep saying it every week... we have the BEST family and I am so grateful for each and every one of you!!! Have a great week!!

Love, Hermanita Cook

Semana de Cuarenta: March Miracles

We have been seeing many miracles here in Tejar!  The Lord is guiding us to people that are ready to be baptized.

Baptisms this month:

Marco Chavez.. 13/3... MILAGRO!  This muchacho has gone to church for nine years... is married to a member... but never wanted to be baptized.  We visited him... and gave him a calendar of March and said, ''choose your date'' :)  He chose this Friday!  The Lord really is preparing people.  We just have to open our mouths with boldness and invite them!

Faiker Juleidy....15/3.. Una muchacha de 13 añitos.  We invited her sister Andrea to be baptized and she said, ''Hey!  I wanna be baptized!!'' :)  Seriously... The Lord is preparing people.

Su Hermana.. Naomi..15/3 Naomi is 10 years old and we brought her to mutual with Faiker.  In the bus Faiker said, ''Nao.. why dont you get baptized with me too!'' and Naomi said, ''okay!!'' jaja.  Miracles of the Lord!

Mayela Cruz... 28/3.. remember Mayela?? We helped her son with the huge construction pipe pole thing? Well it turns out her son doesn't want anything with the church... but does want something with me (we've had a lot of those situations in this area.. and even more this month.. it has nothing to do with me or if I'm even pretty... they just want the macha... I think I have to dye my hair.) Mayela has come to church EVERY sunday since we met her.  She's got more than 6 times... she dropped café.... has committed to keep the law of chastity.. everything!  She is progressing very well.

This week we were in charge of mutual.  We had everyone say something they like to do and then used those things to do a little talent show competition.  My team was two muchachas they like to sing... and they are really good!  We sang let it go and did like a mash up of english and spanish.  It was fun!  

Last week we were missing a few LPEs in our goals... so we went to el centro where everyone waits in line for the buses... like 100 personas.. and I stood on a rock and yelled ''BUENAS NOCHES COSTA RICA!!! SOY HERMANA COOK!  SOY GRINGA Y TENGO UN MENSAJE QUE VA A CAMBIAR SU VIDA!!'' :) It was fun.

I fell in a muddy hole in the street this week.

Okay sadly that's all I've got this week :)  All the days blend together.  

OH!  I remember one thing.  Yesterday was the last pday of Elder Ballen.  So we planned a scavenger hunt in the capilla with memories of things he's done in his mission then led him outside and attacked with water balloons.  We've got a very fun district!

Okay.  I think that's all.  This Saturday there is a ward activity and I think I have to sing.  Con mucho gusto.  :)  Okay.  LOVE YÁLL!! Have the greatest week ever!!!

Love, Hermana Cook

This is how close to the airport we are

Marco Chavez at his baptism

Faiker and Naomi

Semana Triente y Nueve: This is the Lord's work

I've got seven minutes to write the biggy!!! Forgive me all!  :)

HIGHLIGHTS...

Divisions in Grecia... I LOVE Grecia... do you remember that I did divisions there last transfer too?  It's beautiful.  And the people are great.  We found 24 new investigators in our three days there!!! Costa Rica is TRULY prepared for the gospel!!!  The Hermanas in that area (who shall remain nameless) have been having lots of problemitas... we told President and ended the divisions with emergency interviews with him... and then yesterday they had emergency changes... it's sad but I hope they can now reach their potential and learn to obey!  :)

FRIDAY... We had leadership counsel with President... last Tuesday I was so afraid for the counsel because our numbers weren't so good... and I wrote in my letter to President to PLEASE not be too mean.  The meeting was AMAZING.  We talked the whole time about how numbers ARE important (there are SEVERAL instances in the Book of Mormon when EXACT numbers are mentioned) but why?? Not for credit.  Not to compare yourselves to others... not for any of that.  But because these are children of God!! Do you think Heavenly Father is interested in the numbers??? YES!! HE is interested in EVERY soul that we bring unto him!!! Then President talked a LOT about pride... the Spirit was extremely strong and made clear to each of us that we need to repent.  It should never be "Nice work Cass! You found 24 nuevos!"... the minute we give an ounce of credit to ourselves... the Spirit leaves us.  This is the LORD'S work.  Everything that happens is thanks to Him.  President said that he doesn't even know how many converts he had.  They aren't his!!!  They are the Lord's baptisms!!! HE knows the names and information but not how many of HIS baptisms.  They aren't his.  I have been repenting a lot.  Something about leadership position makes it really easy to compare... to compete... to want to be better than others... and THAT equals pride.  That equals separations... and "ites"... and out goal is Zion.  Our goal is complete unity.  We have to depend on the Lord.  We have to depend on the spirit.  This is a spiritual work!!! We have to make it so!

On Saturday night my comp and I made gallo pinto and tortillas and brought it to church to feed the elders.  They said it was actually good!  :)  I've already planned Tico night when I get home...... I'm learning how to make everything!!! :)

And my time is up.  On sunday a Polish atheist woman was at church... and as Elder Macias and I speak English... we chatted with her.... and let me just tell you it was the HARDEST "chat" I've had... I am SO grateful to be serving in Costa Rica.............

Okay I love you all SO SO SOSOSOSOSO much!  I hope you all have the greatest week ever!!!!

Herm Cook