Semana de Sesenta: This work is tricky

Hello!  So great to hear from you all today.  Mondays are so special for that.  Here's a little update of the week... it really was great!  A roughy but great :)

This week we were just not finding new investigators... and.. well those we have aren't progressing very much.  They just don't come to church and we have done everything we can think of.  So you know what that means?  We have got to find those that will come to church!!!!! In place of focusing on making the investigators we have progress... this next week we will be focusing on FINDING the people that WILL progress with their own free will.

Mon, Tues, and Wed were rough because all our appts. fell and we just couldnt figure out where to go or what to do because we had already visited all the members in the new area asking references... and nada.  So we prayed to know where to go... someone came into my mind and well someone ELSE much farther away came into the mind of my companion.  So I wanted to give her the chance to follow her impressions so we went there... it worked out okay so the question was.. Am I not receiving revelation correctly?  Am I not understanding?  Or was either plan okay.. we have been studying all week revelation and how the Lord will tell us where to go what to do and what to say.. so we are workin on it...

Thursday was kind of crazy because we MOVED!  The Servers headed out to Puntarenas (so sad) so we headed into their house and it is BEAUTIFUL!  I seriously can't believe I am a missionary.. it is so beautiful.  It has a washer and dryer that actually DRIES the clothes... not just spin it so you can hang them out to finish drying!  We have an OVEN!! and a beautiful stove... i just feel so blessed :)  I had a GREAT personal study pondering my patriarchal blessing and just feel so blessed...

That night we headed out to work... we didn't have much time so we had prayed to know where to go and we both felt we should visit a member family. We didn't know why because we were praying to find new investigators.. but we decided to follow the prompting.  To get to their house, we walked a different route than we would usually walk.. and there we ran into some other members who gave us a reference of a non member spouse of an inactive girl!  We felt so sure that THIS was the reason we felt we should go to that family.. so we would walk a different route and run into these jovenes and have the reference for the new investigator!! So we rushed to contact the reference.. and.. well he wasn't there.  Well she SAID he wasn't there but we saw him.  So bueno :)  Maybe that wasn't it.. so we headed to the family and shared a great message and... no references.  No new investigators.. but we know there had to be a reason we felt we should visit them!  We just dont know what that reason is :)  Learning to understand revelation is tricky.

On Friday I was working SO hard to follow the Spirit... Truly!  And well we saw some blessings!  We felt we should contact the street of that family we found last Saturday since our appt. with them is tomorrow and we could see them and remind them... turns out they won't be there tomorrow so we were able to teach them today!  We had a great lesson and they are preparing for their baptism on the fifth of Sept!  Then we decided to contact some streets we had never seen and I passed a door and literally felt pulled back to it.  We contacted it and the WHOLE FAMILY are inactive members.. lost sheep. The Lord knows and is aware of every one of us!

Saturday was.. well... a day.  :)  We were planning on having the interview of Norma today.. but during studies she sent us a message that said she wasnt going to be baptized.  We decided to leave right then and find her and help her with her doubts and fears so we walked all the way there and... she wasn't home... so they said.  So we went home again haha.  Once again all our appts. fell and we were just feeling... tired. We prayed again in the street and contacted a house... and in that house we found six nuevos!! Two of which seem very interested and accepted baptismal dates.  There are ups and downs in every day but this IS the work of the Lord and I feel blessed to be part of it.

Sunday... no one came to church again.  That's always rough, but we will just work harder on finding those that will come!  Then we went about our visits.. in between a lesson we felt we should talk to some women chatting outside.. we did and just shared our testimonies... the woman started testifying about her evangelica church so we thought we weren't going to get anywhere... but then she said that she had been praying today and we got there and said exactly the words that she had said in her prayer and that only the Lord knew... that Heavenly Father sent us directly to her to answer her prayer.  She didn't exactly accept another appt. but it feels so good to be able to help me... i was praying specifically this week that the Lord would guide me to those that are hurting or need comfort and I have seen that fulfilled!

Today, Monday, we are in San Jose again for Chequeo de Mes.  We ate some really yummy food and will be heading back to Liberia after I finishing talking to all of you (in eight min) :)  I just want you all to know that YES this work is tricky.. some days or moments are rough... but I AM feeling the spirit... every day there is SOMETHING that makes it worth it.  Though right now we aren't seeing all the results of our efforts, I know that the Lord is blessing us.  I pray always that He will bless all of you at home as well and feel confident that that is happening.  I miss you all... Time is flying!  Nos vemos pronto

I love you!

love, Sister Cass

ps... pictures next week!  There is no hook up in this comp.  love you!

Semana Cincuenta Nueve: Anxiously engaged in a good cause

 Hello beautiful family.  There is nothing more important to me than you.  That´s why I had to leave you all you know.  So that I could help others see how GREAT families can be... I love the gospel so much.  And I love the mission.  And I love YOU!

Okay so we had a great week!  Truly.  First of all... a scripture for the youth of my family... and maybe others.  Search D&C 75:29... I am learning so much about how lazy I was before and also how dirty.  The new phrase I learned this week is ´´lo limpio nos acerca a lo divino.´´ Let us always be anxiously engaged in a good cause... for the idler shall have no place in the church... :)  Bueno.

So on Monday we went to the office for fingerprinting of my companion.  We got home late and I threw up on the bus.  Gross.

On Tuesday we had a nice day..we had been praying for three nuevos and had found two! then it was almost eight o'clock, and we had to go buy some food for the week because well we couldn't yesterday.  So there we were in Palí... and suddenly a woman starts asking us about the toothbrushes.  I called her Hermana and she about died with happiness that we were Christians.  We explained who we are and what we do.  She said, ´´Hermanas just tell me one thing.. Where is my mom?  She died four days ago... where is she??´´ Right there in the super market we were able to testify to her about exactly where her mother is.  She cried hearing about the Plan of Salvation and committed to come to an appt. at the church building tomorrow to learn more.  We gave her a pamphlet and left in awe that the Lord helped us complete our goals even in the store.  We can all do missionary work wherever we may be.  Look for these opportunities!  At work, at school, with parents of your children´s friends.. at McDonalds!  It doesn´t matter.. as we pray to be able to share the gospel the Lord will bless us with opportunities.  

On Wednesday we taught Rosa the Law of Chastity... she doesn´t want to get married... buuuut she doesn´t want to separate either.  Ah man... Then we found some great new investigators that at the end couldn't accept a change of the ´´traditions of their fathers´´.  can´t people realize all the blessings they are missing?? I felt a lot like Alma... (he and the Sons of Mosiah are my heroes by the way... the best missionaries ever!)  When he said, ´´O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this  people? O Lord, wilt thou give me strength, that I may bear with mine infirmities. For I am infirm, and such wickedness among this people doth pain my soul. O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou comfort my soul in Christ. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have  strength, that I may suffer with patience these afflictions which shall come upon me,because of the iniquity of this people. O Lord, wilt thou comfort my soul, and give unto me success, and also my fellow laborers who are with me—yea,(Liberia1, Liberia 2, y Liberia 4, and all the other missionaries in the world)—yea, even all these wilt thou comfort, O Lord. Yea, wilt thou comfort their souls in Christ. Wilt thou grant unto them that they may have strength, that they may bear their afflictions which shall  come upon them because of the iniquities of this people. O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are  precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord ,power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren,again unto thee.

Luckily, we finished the day with Marjori.. the woman from the super market.  She studied the whoooool pamphlet and we taught her everything.. in the church tour she felt the spirit so strongly in the baptismal font that she said, ´´ when can I be baptized??´´ She brought her twelve year old son and he too will be baptized on the 29th.  what a blessing to all our prayers to find someone that keeps their commitments and WANTS to be baptized!! She is a miracle!

Thursday was good too... we taught some English (did I already tell you about the man that doesn´t want anything to do with religion.. so I am teaching him the gospel in english?)  And ended the day practing the new mission song.  I sent mi hija out to work with a member (her first time alone!) she did great.  And I stayed with the sisters that are going to be singing.  I had to whip our some of my inner Dad and remember my dictation practices because I had only heard the song in the office... and they didn't have sheet music and not a single cd or jump drive or ipod could read it (it was weird).  So I had heard it on Monday and wrote out the notes for memory on Thursday and some chord parts.  It was actually very fun.  :)  I wrote some harmonies too but well... my sweet latin sisters suffered too much with that so I took them out.  :)  

Friday we headed down at three a.m. to San Jose for the conference.  It was a great conference!  I was grateful to be able to go one more time even though I am not a leader anymore.  I had a great spiritual experience and was able to accept the new ways of the mission... its not my style... it seems a little competetive but through the help of the Lord I have accepted it :)  The song actually went great!! Afterwards everyone came to ask me for the sheet music and harmony parts and I said.. well.. I justt wrote out the melody and chords and made it up!  Haha so now I have been asked to actually write it out with choir parts for when I leave other people can play it like I did.  We ended with all the people that like to sing around the piano making up parts and stuff and I felt like I was in choir again... it was a blast :)  Happy to be able to use the skills I learned in college and to see how they can bless others... that's something else I learned.  One day it just hit me... I have talents... and I am going to keep studying and try to be my best... but it isn't about being THE best... it is about developing my talents to be able to bless others and further the kingdom of God.  We can all do the same!! We all have talents and should look for the way to bless others through them..

Saturday was probably the best day ever.  We started to pray before every lesson like we did in the MTC... and every lesson was so spiritual!! We literally felt like we weren't saying our own words.  The highlight was when we started a lesson with a woman we had contacted... and ended that same lesson with her WHOLE family and their spouses.  We found three new families in one lesson and they ALL accepted baptismal dates whole heartedly!!! What a blessing!! IT was a miracle.  This IS the work of the Lord.  I can´t do it... I´ve already tried... but when we put it in HIS hands... and trust in HIM... miracles happen!  At night we had another appt. with Marjori but she missed the bus so we taught her by phone... it was actually a VERY spiritual lesson... and she is all set to come to church mañana!

SUNDAY... I had so so SO much faith that we were going to have 8 at church... so much faith!  We did ALL we could and well.. we had three.  :)  Marjori and her son and Rosa (not rosa herbalife... rosa referencia de las hermanas)  but hey!! that's THREE TIMES what he had last week.  So next week we will triple again!  The sad thing is that we learned that Marjori lives on the OTHER side of the new ward... so we had to pass her to the other sisters...... :(  now I have to pray more specifically that we can find someone like her that is actually from our own area :)  But It was a blessing to be able to introduce her to the gospel.  She has already invited the whole world to her baptism and said that she already knows its the true church!!!  At night.. the Servers invited us all over for cake and ice cream.  They are just such a blessing.  We are so sad because they are being changed to Puntarenas :(  But the little happy news is that we will be moving into their house when they leave :)  it is beautiful... 

This work is just the best.  I am so grateful to be here... so grateful to be serving.. so grateful for all your prayers and love and support.  I pray for you all always and know the Lord is blessing you!!!! 

I LOVE YOU

Sister Cook

I don't think it's vandalism. . . 

All in a day's work

With Marjorie

Semana Cincuenta Ocho: The joy of being blonde

Upe buenas!! Ready for the update?? Not too much happened this week.

As we are now a stake.. they have split our branch and made two wards... la Victoria y Liberia.  So they also split the missionaries.  My companion and I, as well as a companionship of elders, serve in Liberia and all the others serve in la Victoria.  It's tricky because our area now is the pure center with lots of stores and not many accessible people.. and a little dusty pueblo far away from the capilla.  So we are working on adapting to the new challenges of our area and trying to make sure we know every member.

The split was a great blessing because an investigator has decided he loves me and is constantly sending love texts.  We almost changed our number.  The joy of being blonde.

So with the split we have lost half our investigators or maybe more.  Ester, Fernando, almost everyone is in la Victoria.  So we have got to find new investigators... we spent one day knocking doors and it is the last time in my life I will do that!! It is not efficient at all.  So then we starting visiting the members and asking references... they shared many stories of disobedience saying they don't trust the missionaries with their family and friends... but I guess we gained their trust because they gave us five new investigators in one day!  I hope that continues.. Because we need help!

This weekend was a big deal here in Guanacaste.  I guess before, Guanacaste was separate from Costa Rica and Nicaragua.  It was solo.  So this weekend was the celebration of when Guanacaste joined Costa Rica for their own free will.  They celebrated by filling (literally FILLING!  I have never seen so many horses... or so much alcohol) the streets on horse back and drinking.  How exciting.  So ALL the investigators (and even the members and less actives) were all at the fiestas all weekend... no one was found in their houses... it was so rough.  I felt like we were just walking around aimlessly wasting time... which felt AWFUL!  I do not like to waste time... especially the LORD'S time!! But I just didn't know what to do... I really need to be better at relying on the spirit because I cannot have a repeat of this weekend!

Saturday was the same deal... parties... but there was soemthing awesome.  Dance Alliance from BYU-I came to town!  They did a great dance show and we had permission to go with investigators!  They basically taught the Family a Proclamation to the World through their dance... they had quotes from the prophets in between... it was awesome!! That's why I love that school.....  On Sunday they all came to our ward and I was the translator :)  There were several recently returned sister missionaries and I made many friends... then before they left there was a girl that said,  ''I know you... how do I know you??"' ''Well I went to BYU-I for a year before the mission.... I lived in the Willows..'' ''I LIVED in the Willows too!!'' ''oh okay! I lived on the fourth floor..'' ''I LIVED ON THE FOURTH FLOOR TOO!'' '' oh my goodness we were in the same ward!!!!!'' haha it was so strange to see someone from before the mission IN my mission.. and very weird to talk in english to so many blondes... I felt like they understood me :)  haha.  After they left all the ward members were making fun of me because they said that my ''gringa personality'' that they had never seen came out.  I just can't completely be myself in another language!! :)  Anyways it was really fun to see them and to have all the members see them.  After the relief society lesson, one of the girls asked me to translate something for the teacher... with teary eyes she told the teacher that though she didn't understand the lesson.. she could truly feel the spirit... It is so beautiful to see and remember that even if we can't communicate.. there are no barriers for the gospel.  The spirit is the teacher.  

I love this gospel so so much.  I know it is true.  This is the ONLY true church.  Please don't let ANYTHING keep you from receiving the blessings of actively participating in this great feast the Lord has for us.  (search the mormon message about living beneath your privileges)  I LOVE YOU ALL and wish you the very best week.  I miss you all more than words..

p.s. I am currently writing from San Jose.  My sweet hija (seriously she is an angel I love her so much) had to do her fingerprints.  I'll be back on Friday to sing the new mission song for the leadership conference... then again next week for Chequeo de Mes.  I thought that not being a Sister Training Leader would mean that I don't go to san jose again.. but it looks like I will now be living here!! ;)  I love you all!!  

I love Presidente Wilkinson

My companion Hermana Loza