Semana Vienticinco: I am NEVER leaving!!

What an amazing week here in the mission field... I absolutely love it y'all.  I LOVE IT!  I am so grateful to be here and for all the experiences I am having... good and bad... I am especially grateful to be part of the conversion of algunas almas.. I love the people here.  I just LOVE THEM!  The members... the menos activos... the investigators... the random people.  I am just so blessed to be here and I am sorry but I am NEVER leaving!! My date to go home is one year exactly from yesterday.... but I'm afraid I won't be going.  Perhaps the next Thanksgiving will be here in my home :)

MONDAY

Today I learned that y'all have a life other than worrying about me jaja.  With the babies and Disneyworld and everything that was going on at home... not many people could write me.  But you know what I am grateful for it!  I realized that you all love me and pray for me and think of me, but that you've got other things to love and to pray for and to think of.  And I do too!  So this week I started putting all I've got into the work and try to not think about my family.. and I have grown to love the work even more!  My mission call states that I should dedicate all my thoughts and efforts to the working placing all personal things in second place.  And as I strive to be obedient to that I am feeling MORE love for the mission... and even more love for my beautiful family!!  

Today we had FHE with Marlon.  They are just the greatest and he is fijo fijo para bautizarse este Sábado! 

Then we headed to another FHE with another member family that had a referencia for us.. named Israel.  He is 14 years old and says he wants to serve a mission!  He has already been to church 5 times and can possibly be baptized very soon!

TUESDAY

Last night some crazy things happened in this country but all is well and I am safe.  Remind me to tell you about it all when I am home.  

And then more things happened.... let's just say that the world is WICKED and I broke down crying in the street because I just hate sin and I hate wickedness and I feel so much sorrow for the sins of the world.. Why can't they understand that if they would just keep the commandments they could avoid all this??

Then we visited Daniel and put a new baptismal date with him for the 30th... the Sunday after his 3rd time at church.  He is so great and is someone that we KNOW will be a real convert for life!

Then we found some nuevos and visited Ricky y Ester... where we learned about MORE wickedness in the world.  I hate Satan.

WEDNESDAY

Today was GREAT!  We had a multi zone conference all day and received incredibly great counsel from President.  During the conference I experienced another little miracle that testified to me that my Heavenly Father knows me and is aware of my circumstances.. AND that President is so in tune with the Spirit that he knows too!  During the lunch break, Sister Wilkinson came up to me and asked "President wants to know if you feel safe in your area hermana.  He felt like we should ask."  Wow.  How did he know that for the first time I was actually feeling scared and unsafe in my area? (tranquila mama todo bien.  I'm competely safe.  I'm just a worrier.) I told her everything that has been going on and she said "are you exactly obedient" "yes of course!" "Then just have faith and the Lord will protect you!" and that he has surely done.  Nothing more has happened and I feel so much peace and safety here in my beautiful area of Gravilias.  I know that the Lord is aware of me and that President knows me too!

Also we had a miracle where we visited Israel and he accepted a baptismal date for the 29th of November!!!  The Lord really IS going to give us these four baptisms this month! The number that we fasted and prayed for!  Israel, Marlon, Daniel (even though he will be confirmed next month) and possibly Mariana!  What miracles I am experiencing!

(oh ya.  The zone leaders lied when they said that the 29th doesn't count.  It does)

THURSDAY

Today was awful.  Hermana Garcia had to get her cedula so we were in the office until SEVEN at night!!  It felt awful.  Which is a sign to me that I am changing in at least one way!  I WANT to work!  I don't like wasting time relaxing... I want to be out in the sun working!!  It was fun though to spend time with my mission friends.  But a waste :)  

We visited Israel.. he is still set for his Baptism!! Now we just have to keep praying and fasting that his mom will sign the permission slip....

Also there is a rumor that all the newbies and their trainers wont have transfers this change.  That means I will have at least 8 months in Gravilias... almost half my mission!  But that's okay.  I like it here... I LOVE it for the people :)  And I will go where you want me to go Dear Lord and work with all I've got wherever that is!

FRIDAY

Today we had lunch with Isabel again... it's SO great.  Seriously.  I LOVE HER!  THen we searched for Mariana.. she wasn't there.  Margarita and Rodriga weren't home either.  So we stopped by a house we knocked the other day named Scarlett and Rosa.  The buses in front of the house were so loud and we had to shout to teach.. it was awful.. they didn't accept a baptismal date.. Then Hermana Julia... we heard abuot even more wickedness in the world... Then Israel wasn't there either so we headed to Marlon's.  His ex-wife convert menos activa was there and we invited her to pray and she started sobbing.  We spent the next hour helping her with the process of repentance and realizing that she is worthy to pray to her loving Heavenly Father.  I love how the Lord guides us to who really needs us... even if they aren't of our area or an investigator or anything... they are children of Him that need to feel His love for them!  Then we started a lesson with Marlon... and... well... his cat started screaming and he ran into the street yelling for help searching for a clinic and then... well.. it died.  The ticos REALLY love their animals.  Really.  So we went home.  What a day!  :)

SATURDAY

Another great day!!  We visited Marlon... he had been crying and sleeping all day mourning the death of the cat.  But he is still going strong for his baptism in one week from today!  We fasted this week with him and his whole family that por FIN he can have the strength to change and be baptized!  Then we visited Ana Munoz.  She started a new store on her front pa tio (they do that a lot here.  I think dad would like it) and I bought a backpack that is really pretty... because my other one ripped completely and I have been carrying my things.  Then two hours later  it ripped too.  Then we went to visit Hermana Julia and put a baptismal date with ther nieto- Jerson.  He has 11 anos I think and is addicted to his phone but he is great and Julia prays CONSTANTLY that all her family can accept the gospel.  Then we searched for Mariana... and she accepted to be baptized the 29th!!! Truly a miracle and the will of God!  Finally we visited Margarita.  She says she will be going to a different church this sunday to see how it is and that she didn't like our church because she likes the yelling clapping screaming atmosphere of the evangelicas.  Meh.  But I LOVE the mission!

SUNDAY

Today only Marlon Daniel and Mario came to church.  At 11 we left and ran to the house of Mariana to help her come.  Then Hermana Garcia pushed the baby in the back in the stroller the whole time so Mariana could actually listen :) Israel wasn't there because he was visiting family, but he already has more then three times in the chapel.  During church, we announced all 4 baptisms.. three on saturday and one on sunday... and afterwards marlon said he was going to be baptized on sunday with daniel so he wasn't alone.. nooo!!! That means we will only have 2 confirmations... and we know our inspired goal was 4!! So i ran out and called the zone leaders and they said To just baptize all four on Saturday even though Daniel doesn't have 3 times in the capilla and that he would talk to the assistants... Later we learned that President had decided that day that it was okay to baptize after 2 times so looks like we've got pretty good faith :)  So on Saturday we will have FOUR baptisms!! The fruits of our labor and faith at last!

MONDAY

In one year exactly from today I will be on a plane home.  It is so weird to think about!  And I'm actually a little sad already.  Today I was sad just thinking about leaving Gravilias.. and it isn't the place itself.. I don't really like the scenery of the dirty city... it's the PEOPLE!  I LOVE the members.. the converts.. the investigators.. the fish men we pass every morning.. the internet man Gustavo.. the milkshake lady.. the bakers from our favorite bakery.. the checker at the grocery store... EVERYONE!  I LOVE it and NEVER want to leave.  Well actually I kind of want a change of scenery... but don't want to leave the people!!  

Toady we visited Marlon... he is still going strong... and Daniel... he is so ready too!!  Then we headed to visit Israel but his mom said he wasn't there... and I am afraid she is plotting against his baptism.... pray that her heart will be touched and that she will have the desire to sign the papers so he can be baptized!!

And today here I am.  Writing y'all on a Tuesday because writing day has been permanently changed to Tuesday.... In our district meeting this morning we were asked to share how we have so much faith to really complete with this inspired goal of the Lord.  I know that this was a goal inspired of Him and that with His help we can do ANYTHING He wants!  I love this work.  I LOVE it!  And am so grateful to be here this week.. also I am so grateful for my amazing family and all your love and prayers.  Happy Día de Acción de Gracias!!! I love you ALL!

Semana Veinticuatro: A Blessed Sunday

We had a GREAT week!!! All our numbers have completely turned around and we have been truly blessed!!  Now we just need to keep working even harder to keep the fruits coming!

Wednesday

On Wednesday we got a bummer call that said that baptisms on the 29th won´t count for this month because the thirtieth no longer counts :(  No one knows why this change has been made but now the baptisms we were planning for the 29th won´t count so once again we will have a month with zero baptisms :(  It´s a bummer but also it is okay because we know we are working hard and the the month of December will be full of baptisms!

Also on Wednesday I got an EXTRA call from the Assistants to the President... they told me that the mission is starting a new retention program and I have been called to be a leader in it!  I am responsible for HALF THE MISSION and their retention efforts.  I don´t really know exactly all that means but I am excited for a new responsibility!

Today we did divisions with members in the ward... they really stepped it up after my talk in Sacrament Meeting!  We had tons of success.  I went with Emily Mora.. a young woman who wants to serve a mission and Hermana Garcia went with an older sister named Gabriella.  They found four nuevos and we found two!  We put a baptismal date with Mariana for the 13 of Dec and then we visited a former investigator named Alina that said she had been praying in the morning and our coming was an answer to her prayers.  She says she is ready to listen to us again and that she feels something is missing.  I hope that she can finally be baptized!  I was so proud of my little Hermana Garcia because this was her first time out alone and I was so happy when she told me all her stories and that she used all my teaching techniques and scriptures I always use :)  I feel like a proud mama :)  

Also we passed Andres in the street COMPLETELY drunk.. all his drunk pals started making crude comments about us and Andres yelled "HEY!  Respect!  These are MY people!" And then his buddies yelled "you´re all just busy mormoning!!!" So now we have a new verb... to mormon.  I enjoy mormoning here in the mission!  :)

THURSDAY

Another great day!! Today we had to go to the office for hoooours to get my cedula.  Now I am legal and I am tica!  

After the office we only had two hours to work before we had ward meetings.  So we met with two nuevos that Hermana Garcia found in her divisions yesterday... Lucia and Roberto.  Turns out Lucia is the mom of Sharon that I taught at the beginning of my training!  She was the thirteen year old girl that had a miscarriage.  The lesson was SO powerful and she and her son Roberto accepted baptismal dates for the 13th of December!

Then we had a lesson with Marlon... the son of the Family Fallas.  I think I wrote about him before... He is like Alma the Younger.  Except that he has done the whole change thing several times.  But I have faith that THIS is the time for reals!  He has a baptism date for the  29th of this month.  I told him about Josh Taylor and testified of the potential he has and how he can bless the lives of others and he cried and cried... I think this time is for real!

Even though we only had two hours to work... We had really spiritual experiences!  I LOVE the mission!

FRIDAY

Well today was just another great day!  We visited Hermana Julia... then Andres... he was just too drunk and we can´t teach him like that :(... then we both felt like visiting Ana Munoz who was an investigator about four months ago in my trianing.  She said tht she was about to leave and then ¨something¨told her to stay.  Then we came!  as we taught she said she felt something in her heart and accepted a baptismal date for the 20th of December.  

Then we visited Marlon.. Then Fernando and Pamela... then Marlon again with the Elders.

Then we had an appointment with Lucia but she lied and said she wasn´t home even though we saw her... Her husband wont listen to us because he says that according to the bible women don´t have authority to preach the gospel...

I really really love the mission!

SATURDAY

I just love the gospel and actually feel SO MUCH love for the mission!  I never want to leave and enter the world... I feel more focused and dedicated than ever before!! I love it!!

Today was great.  We visited lots of people and shared the gospel with loads... even just through a short testimony.

Highlights:  We visited Lucia´s husband.  He said he couldn´t even listen to us because we don´t have the authority.  So I asked if we could just pray with him and it turns out that according to the bible women can´t pray either!  I testified to him that God loves ALL his children and wants ALL of them to communicate with h im.. He asked if I had HEARD that or if I had READ that... haha oh what adventures :)

Other Highlight was with Marlon.  His family are all converts from the iglesia evangelica so they shout preached the whole lesson and it was hard to take control and even have the spirit (at one point they were shout preaching...all four at the same time... of how the spirit speaks in a still small voice and if we aren´t calm and listen we can´t hear.  haha it was a little ironic)  But they are GREAT people and truly love the gospel.  I am grateful for all the different people I get to meet here in the mission!

SUNDAY

What a blessed Sunday!! We had NINE investigators at church!  Margarita came AT LAST with her novio and daughter.  Today was the primary program and her daughter participated :)  They go all out for those... with matching scarves and boutenirs and everything.  Daniel didn´t come though :(  He said he was fatal and had to go to the doc.  So his baptismal date for the 29th fell through :(  But it´s okay he will be baptized in December.  

Today Evida talked to us!  I really think she´ll be baptized... just slower progress.

Then we went to visit Jendry... she didn´t answer either phone or the door again... we used to visit her every day... and the elders too... and now she is avoiding both of us.  Something happened!

And Lucia and her husband are avoiding us too.  It is so hard to tell when the excuses are real or when they are just excuses.

This week we have been truly blessed!! I am completely healed from my cold... we have had LOTS of opportunities to teach the gospel... have found 9 new investigators... we have 9 baptismal dates for December... and have 9 investigators progressing... and had 9 in church!! Looks like nine is our number :)  I am so grateful for the LOVE that I truly feel for the mission and for Costa Rica and for the gospel.  Thank you to all of you for your prayers and love!  I´m working hard and focusing here but am so glad that all the babies and everyone were born safely!  Love yáll!

PURA VIDA!

Hermana Antonietta y su amigo

Blurry...but Costa Rican hotdogs

Don't make them like this dad...I don't like it

Gifts from members to heal me

Exchanges with Hermana Zapata

Hermana Bratt

Divisions with a ward member...Emily

We're Ticas!!!  We have our credulas

I like this painting - I think they are Ticos

Her I go to work!!  That's me today

Semana Veintitres: A Nasty Cold

Another great week!!! This week I have really felt a lot of love for the mission.  I just really really like it and am so happy I am here.  Even with all the challenges!  I love it!

MONDAY

Today I went to get money out of the bank and the machine ate my card!!!!!!!!  So we went to teach Margarita and she wasn´t there... she said she would be back at 8 so we went to visit Hermana Julia and then back to Margarita´s but she STILL wasnt there... then the zone leaders called and said we had to go meet everyone in the park so we ended the day... it was crazy.  Also a sister was with us all night that only had one transfer more than me and she struggled with her spanish so much that they changed her mission call to MONTANA!! She is gonna have to change her whole wardrobe.  I am so grateful for the way I have experienced the gift of tongues!

TUESDAY

I am ill.  But that is okay.  We got a new ward mission leader and it is AWESOME.  He works so much better than our last one and we are really improving the situation in the ward!  

We had a lesson with Margarita today at last.  Right when we got there she started off a list of her doubts.  We listened... then identified that the real problem was that hadn´t received an answer to her prayers about the truthfulness of what we taught last time.  I knew that if she could HEAR the restoration and not just read it in the pamphlet that she would FEEL the truthfulness... so we shared Lesson 1 with her and it was my turn to recite the first vision... I´ve got that thing GLUED to my memory and NEVER forget... but today suddenly I forgot!! I paused brieful and then resumed and it turns out that pause was just what she needed.  The spirit was so strong and she said her hairs were standing up on end on her arm.  She said she could feel the presence of God and KNEW that the Restoration was true.  It was a powerful experience!! Then she said she still hasn´t received an answer so now I´m wondering what her question is...

WEDNESDAY

I am just really ill.  It´s a nasty cold and I don´t feel at all well.  Last night was awful and apparently I had a nightmare because H Garcia says I was SCREAMING in my sleep. But it´s all good Ñ= smiley

All we did today was pray and work!  We really only have like 4 investigators.  It´s a bummer.  So we have been studying and studying and studying how to find enw investigators in preach my gospel  and we put it all into practice today!!  We visited Menos Actoivos and Recent Converts to ask referrals... members to ask referrals... contacted former investigators to try to teach them again and ask referrals... offered service.. talked to EVERYONE.. and... nada.  So we prayed and started knocking doors.  In dos cercas.. nada... so in porvenir.. nada... so gravilias... nada... so we prayed again and went forth with faith... nada.. It´s a little discouraging but we know that if the Lord wants four baptisms this month he will get them!! Even if it doesn´t look like it!! 

THURSDAY

I just really like the mission.  Today we fasted again to find nuevos.. especially those that will be baptized this month.. our four!  We headed to teach Margarita.. we´ve known she has a boyfriend and drinks coffee so it is important that we teach ehr the Ley de Castiadd and the Palabra de Sabiduria right away.  When we got there her boyfriend was there and she said We live together now!!! noooooooo!Ñ= smiley.  One day too late... one day!! haha oh man.  But we put a baptismal date with him too for the 29 so now its a family!  They just have to live separately again or get married..... then she and him and her daughter Jasmin can be baptized on the 29!!!  And Evida too!! We put a date with her for the 29th too!!! There´s four!! 

Adriana and Michael... I dont´know if they really want to listen to us Ñ) frowny.  they always have excuses.  Also we visited the evangélica wife of a menos activo... I think there is potential there just slower progress.  

Today the cough started and it sounds gross.. but thats okay!

And someone entered the church with a gun and robbed some children in the chapel Ñ) frowny.  We live in a sad sad world.

FRIDAY

Today we had four lessons with new people!!!! But... they didn´t accept a second visit.  Ñ) frowny.  

My cold is even worse but Grama Nuria´s got me covered.  She gave me limes to squeeze to drink hot.

Even though we had a lot of doors shut in our faces... H Garcia and I had lots of fun together.  I really love her and am so grateful for the blessing of having her as my companion!  

SATURDAY

Oh Saturdays... the second most important day of the week... the last day to find nuevos to bring to church and the day when you have to visit ALL your investigators to get em to come!  And surely...like today... they will cancel those appointments so that you are just left PRAYING with ALL you have that they won´t bail on you when you go pick them up tomorrow.  Well thats what we were up to today!!!  Also we have been really low on lessons with members this week so our district leader sent a member from his ward to work with us.  She is really tiny and yells when she talks and gets right to preaching the gospel in every situation.. she is great.  And also she bought us coconuts to drink and told me specifically that it is good for the skin.. With her today we were in Dos Cercas and a drunk man yelled at us so of course we ignored him but she said let´s talk to him!! So off we went to talk to him and it turns out he is an alcoholic but wants to change his life and just doesn´t know where to congregate.  He said the "something" told him to shout at us.  We put a baptismal date with him...Andres for the 13 of Dec (happy birthday Kenn!)  We are gonna take him to church tomorrow!  Maybe the Lord is giving me miracles like that and I´m just ignoring them because I think they are drunk!!!!! Or maybe not... haha but we will see if he actually progresses!

SUNDAY

Oh how I LOVE sundays... we woke up early and left the house early to go pick up all our investigators.  Our spirits were cheery because we felt so confident about Evida Margarita Rodrigo and Jasmin... our four baptisms!!!  none of them came to church Ñ) frowny.  Not one!!  That means all their baptismal dates fell through and they can´t be baptized this month Ñ) frowny.  Finally it was nine and we had to go because I was giving the talk today.  Last minute we remembered a señora that we contacted in the street and said she would come to church so we went to her house and hey!  She came!! She is named Mariana and i think she has a little mental problem but the ward was great and greeted her and everything.  I gave a talk on missionary work to motivate the members and I think it worked!  There were tears in the congregation and afterwards several families came up to us to ask if they could work with us this week!  Awesome!!!  Also a member... Caroline Fallas... had a non member friend with her today named Daniel.  He is from a different area so we didn´t think anything of it.  But she invited us over to talk to him after church and of course we went.  WOW he is so prepared!!!  We taught him the restoration and he accepted a baptismal date for the 29th of this month... we are going to baptize him in our ward because of the support and friendship he already has here.  And thus we see that even with all the dates that fell... Heavenly Father is already giving us miracles. Today our leaders asked how many baptisms we are REALLY going to have... I told them that we really only have the possibility of 2... but that we received revelation from Heavenly Father that our goal should be 4 and I´m not going to change or doubt that revelation just because of some setbacks.  We are going to just keep working with the faith to see miracles!!!!!

Still way sick and could barely get sound out during my talk... the members love to take care of me though.  Hermana Patricia (the member that we eat dinner with every sunday night) gave me a long sleeved shirt a scarf and limes and honey haha.  

Also today I had my first experience teaching someone who doesn´t believe in God... it is SO different from the usual experience!! How did you do it dad?

Well yáll... that was my week!!! I know that this is the true church and I am so blessed to be serving a mission.  I KNOW we will be seeing miracles this month so stay tuned!!!  I miss you all and hope you are doing well.  So excited for all the babies ... I´m praying for you all!!! Also I got the package today!!! Thank yo SO much for the christmas music and hot chocolate... maybe finally it will feel a little more like christmas!! Love you all!!

xoxo

Hermana Cook

Semana Veintidos: Trust in the Lord and Work

My how time flies!!!! This week I completed my Fifth month in the mission!!  Rumor is that I might get jipped a month and that our group will be going home the beginning of November 2015... so I only have  a year left!!! I canNOT believe how fast the time has gone!!!

On to the week then shall we?

TUESDAY

We worked REALLY hard today and actually had some success!  We taught five lessons today which is better than the usual :)  The most important was with Adriana and her husband Michael.  They are amazing and I truly want with ALL my heart to help them get married and baptized and have an eternal family!  They are a beautiful family and say they haven't found the true church yet or the motivation to be married.  WE'VE GOT IT!  I know they'll be baptized this month... I'm a prayin!!

WEDNESDAY

Today I went to Aserri for divisions with Hermana Zapata- the Sister Training Leader.  I love divisions.  and I really like Aserri!  It's in the mountains so it's really pretty!  Hermana Zapata is great... and I learned so much from her!  She told me some of the best stuff ever.  For example... in her training she baptized TWELVE people!  Just in those three months!  THen she trained and she had NOTHING.  Nada.  She felt is was all her fault.  She said she talked to president about it and he said that there was a time in his mission when for MONTHS he didn't have a SINGLE investigator at church... the very day of Transfers there were SEVENTY investigators at church and fifty of the seventy were baptized.  So maybe we won't see the results but our work is not in vain!  The only thing we can do is work work work!  Then I told her how I feel our lack of results is my fault and at the end of the day she told me that my teaching is perfect and she wishes she could teach like me!  She said to just TRUST myself and trust in the Lord and work work work!  It was a great confidence builder... I've really been feeling that I must not be a good teacher or something because of all that's happening but now I know I've got the skills I need I just need to TRUST in the Lord and work!

THURSDAY

Today we found Margarita!  She is a single mother with two girls and is only 23.  She is GREAT and accepted a baptismal date for the 29th of November!  Then we visited Evida.  She has barely read a thing or prayed but we hope she can come to church on Sunday and really feel the spirit.  Then we went to visit Jendry.  The elders told us that she is gonna move to Aserri and that her "husband" unmarried doesn't want to get baptized.  It's sad.  She is the mom of Jeferson- my first baptism.  But she wasn't home... so we visited a million houses and no one was there.  So we went to the house and called 17 people and no one answered.  Yay!!! :)  Yesterday I fasted to know the exact number of baptisms Heavenly Father wants us to have this month.  If it is an inspired goal there is NO reason that we can't reach it!  I feel very strongly that the number is four... but it doesn't seem possible and I want to be sure that that is the number the Lord wants... so I ate lunch and then started another fast.  I love the gospel and love being a missionary!

FRIDAY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!  

Today for halloween we were ticas!! We said all the words that only ticos say ilke pura vida and diay and tuanis etc.  And we added "tica" to all our words... like chicatica.. minutico... etc.  We bought something sweet and had a grand old time.  The ticos don't celebrate halloween... or the guatemaltecas... but we did!  

Today lots happened but most important was Jendry!  POR FIN  Ella decidió to leave her boyfriend/husband Johnny  but wont move out until JANUARY!  Which means she won't be baptized until then :(  But then I remembered a situation with Pamela and Fernando where they lived together but kept the law of chastity, and she was baptized so I told her she still could too and we set a date and we were so exctied and she was soooo happy!  Then I found out that is not actually allowed and can't be baptized until she moves out.  I'm so sad and haven't told her yet.... but we WILL find a way to get her baptized!!

SATURDAY

Last night was quite eventful... 12 earthquakes and... well some other things that happened.  BUt no worries I am safe!  I love my area.  :)  

Today wasn't the best day.  Turns out Hermana Garcia also felt our baptism number was 4!!! So we gave that number to our zone leaders and they were like "are you SUUURE!!!??? Who are they"  So we gave our six possibilities and they said "No who are the four going to be??"  I got a little nervous that we can't really reach the number four.  But I am POSITIVE that that is the number I received and Hermana Garcia too.  So we KNOW that's what Heavenly Father wants and if that's what He wants we can do it!

We had 7 lessons today which is good, but Satan is already working on our possible baptisms.  Tomorrow is SO important.  They have to go to church three times to be baptized and there are only four sundays left in the month.. I'm trying to have faith... we've done all we can... there's just so much pressrue!!

SUNDAY

No investigators came to church.  All our appts fell.  We taught a bunch of people in the street.  The Zone Leaders called and said that I could do more such as fast.  I told them that I fasted three times this week including the double fast and they waid "whoa okay don't kill yourself just keep working".  I am!!!!  Goodness it's rough out here :)  I got a little homesick today.... I miss my amazing family and also I am pretty sure that Katelin had her baby and I just wish I was home with her.  But then I repented and refocused my thoughts.  It is STILL possible to have four baptisms if that's what Heavenly Father wants!!

MONDAY

Today was chequeo de mes for my companion!  We went to the office and president asked them all these questions about obedience and then came to sternly talk to us about what we are doing incorrectly as trainers.  I had nothing to fear- that's one thing I'm good at is obedience!! It was SO fun to see all my best friends of the mission... Hermana Davidson.. Hermana Bratt... and Hermana Geis.  I love that I get to meet so many people and that I will have friends forever!!  Also I learned that President has a goal to split the mission before he leaves in June.  So that's why the mission has the goal of 200 baptisms this month.  If we reach that they will for sure split the mission!!  I hope my four can help out!  Also I learned that Kate did no have her baby this week... that's okay Katie you can do it!!!  I'm a prayin for you and Kelsey so much!! And also the rest of my family.  I just love you all and hope you are all doing well.  The mission is always hard but always great and I LOVE it and love all of you!!!!!! ADIÓS  

Semana Veintiuno: Up your game people

Bad news Folks... My computer in the internet cafe broke and now I have about five minutes to type up my weekly report for yáll.  :)  So this week... I´m not gonna write much..  Let´s just say it was another week of ups and downs... of goods and bads... but the one thing that is for sure is that it was another week where my testimony was strengthened.  I know I´ve said it a bajillion times but I don´t think yáll realize... Here in Costa Rica... I´m having the chance to see ¨the world¨.  And it's awful.  Satan is strong and working hard to tear down the children of God.  I am here to testify to you all that those little things we ALWAYS talk about... praying daily, reading the scriptures, keepin the commandments... are of the UTMOST importance.  I´d like to challenge you all once again to up your game.  Don´t just pray daily... develop a relationship with your Father in Heaven.  Don´t just read the scriptures... seek to understand them and why they are important.  Don´t just keep the commandments... understand God´s will.. His plan.. and obey them with all your heart might and mind.  When you fall short... utilize this great blessing of the Atonement and repent!  We have the opportunity to change... use it!  Teach your children these important principles... hold family home evening EVERY monday night... never miss it.  Pray and study the scriptures as a family EVERY day.  Never miss it!  The minute we start to be lazy or casual with even just one of these things... we are giving Satan the power to enter into our lives and into our homes.  Don´t let him!  I have seen what happens!  I have seen how he can destroy the family and confuse the hearts of the people.  I have seen the sadness and tragedies in peoples lives because they are so lost.  I have felt literal pain for the lives of these people and I pray with all the energy of my soul for them and for you... that you will realize the blessings we have to live where we do.. that you will truly live the gospel.. that you will become truly converted and continually fight in this battle with Satan that is more real than I ever knew.  You have a Father in Heaven who truly loves each and every one of you.  If I am aching for the sins of the world I cannot imagine how He feels.  Trust in Him and follow His plan... the blessings that await you are great.  Teach your families and share this glorious gospel... this way to find happiness.. with all that you see.  I love you all so much and every day am grateful for the family that I have... the leaders that I have... for all the experiences that I have had in this beautiful gospel!  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is TRUE!  Live it!!! 

P.S. I found a ¨Guide for the Family¨pamphlet this week... it´s like a book that describes everything we should do as members of the church to have a happy family... way to go mom and dad I think you must have studied that together every night because you nailed them all!  I am so grateful!  You new mothers out there (aka Kels and Kate... and you too Court) should find this pamphlet and study it with your husbands to be sure you are raising your families with these correct principles!

Also.  Grama Nuria and her daughter Isabel are going to give us lunch every day starting next week!  No more rice and beans every day!! What a blessing :)  Also today are changes and I am blessed to be able to finish the training of my sweet Hermana Garcia!  Six more weeks and then who knows!  

They don´t really celebrate Halloween here... all the Evangélicas love to tell me what a sin it is to celebrate Halloween... don´t celebrate anything dark and scary okay?? But I am looking forward to pictures!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY EASTON!  Did you know I was baptized on your birthday many years before you were born??  It´s a special day!

If a baby is born this week you had better tell me!! I am praying for you all every day!

And I am out of time.  Sending ALL my love to the best family in the world... and to all the rest of you reading my blog in Poland and Turkey.... visit mormon.org or search for the local missionaries in your area.  Your life WILL be changed!  I promise that there is a way to find true happiness and peace in this life and Eternal Life in the next!  I leave this testimony with you all in the name of Jesus Christ, my beloved Savior and Friend, Amen.

Semana Veinte: The Carnal Desires of Men. . . and Fleas

Hello one and all!  I had another week of learning here in Costa Rica!  Days of discouragement and days of great joy!  

And a lot of you were asking about how it was to work in our big area!  Well...  I haven´t had much luck with that :)  Our ward directory (which I was using to make the area box JD) is AWFUL and says we only have about six active members... which is not correct.  And several people have already died... so... still workin on that :) 

Okay

TUESDAY

First of all I had a dream...  That I got this AWESOME reference of a family of 10 from Kennedi and Lettie.  So Dad and Mom and me went to contact them.  Haha.  Mom was taking notes on all the people and where they live and their challenges and why they are interested.. and Dad was prepping the crowd and telling me what to do. Then I said, "Dad.  

I´m a missionary.  I can do this."  Haha... I love it when missionary work is family work!  I hope you all at home are actually doing your part!  Haha I know you are.

After District meeting Elder Perez and his companion came to work with us for a while to help us learn.. but we had no appts... They all fell through.  So I walked and walked and then went to the only members house that I knew in the area.  The elders went to contact the street while we taught a lesson... The member opened the door and had guests over so could talk with us.. but then one of the guests said she would listen to our message!  Her name is Marie.  She is very Christian but said if she feels that it is true when she prays then she will be baptized!  

WEDNESDAY

Today was a blessed day!  We finally had appts that didn´t fall!  The highlight was teaching Jendry... we taught a beautiful lesson about eternal families and she cried and finally said she would get married and we set a date for December 6.  Then we found SEVEN nuevos!!!  Obviously not all will be baptized... but at least we had the chance to share the gospel!

THURSDAY

Once again all our appts fell.  So we were a little down.  I guess every day can´t be a good day right?  We prayed and prayed that the Lord would put someone in our path.  Suddenly this man came (that I´d taught once before and kind of scared me) and said that he really wants to quit smoking and asked if we would share something with him to help him.  We took this as our answer and said of course!  So we went to his house and he said his mom was in the bathroom and would accompany us... so we sat down... and after a little while the mom didn´t come out... and the man came and sat by me and kept moving closer... then started talking about his "carnal desires as a man because we were very pretty" and we were terrified.  Suddenly there was HUGELY loud thunder and in a matter of seconds the man insisted that we leave before the storm hit.  We didn´t find nuevos... but this storm was definitely a tender mercy from the Lord protecting us from the "carnal desires" of men!  

FRIDAY

I HAVE FLEAS!! I am so disgusted I might cry.  But it is okay because today was a MIRACLE!  First we had Kiosco in the park and we got in trouble with the police.  I was PRAYING that they wouldn´t ask to see my cedula because well.. I don´t have it!  I am still illegal here... hee hee..  

Later we visited Marie from the other day... we taught the Restoration and the spirit was SO STRONG!  Afterwards I asked, "Hermana... would you like to know for yourself if this is true?"  and she said,"Oh I already know it´s true!  And I´m going to be baptized... I just want to be really prepared first."  I just about died..  So we put a datefor November 22.  :) Then she told us the best thing ever...  She said,"  I never dream... but when I do it always happens in real life.  And I´ve dreamt everything that has happened until this moment with you sisters.  The other day I just felt so strongly that I needed to visit (the member.. the day we contacted her)  and now i know why."  What a miracle!! That day.. tuesday.. when we contacted her I was lost!  We had no appts and I didn´t know what to do and then there was that member´s house!  The Lord is truly guiding us to be exactly where he needs us!  The sad thing is that technically... Marie is from a different area :(  But what an experience!  I am so grateful for it!

SATURDAY

Today someone told me that they´re not fleas.. just teeny mosquitos.

Today when we left it was raining SO hard!  We had to walk through water up to our knees with our skirts hiked up!!! a Muchacha was filming us on her ipad so maybe I´m on youtube!

We started out not having much success today so we decided to head for 2 cercas.  I felt like we should call Evida... a nuevo that was a reference.. to confirm our appointment with her... but when we called it turned out we didn´t have an appt!  But she was crying... so I told her we would come over right away.  She isn´t interested right now in the gospel... but this daughter of God needed someone to share a message of peace with her.. And so we did!  Then we had nothing.  nothin.  So I said ok.  We are going to talk to the FIRST person we see!  So we did!  And she invited us into her house!  Her name is Mariella.. she is a 20 somethin year old that just so happens to be searching for the church with COMPLETE truth :)  She says she knows it isn´t a coincidence that we found her because she was walking one direction... then "something" told her to stop and turn around... so she started walking the opposite direction.  And there we were!  This is the Lord´s hand at work!  Also after that... there is this investigator that we only taught once and didn´t think she was very interested and weren´t going to return... but after the experience with Mariella she called us to offer us food and cake... of course we said yes!  She has a husband and a baby.... ETERNAL FAMILY POTENTIAL HERE!! We were overjoyed... right now they are not too interested in our message but are very polite and listen.  They did voice that they don´t agree with all things catholic so there is potential!  I am PRAYING to find a family to baptize before my six month mark so that in a year I can go through the temple with them for their sealing!

SUNDAY

Ah man.  Today was rough. Not much success.  We visited an alcoholic whose 20-yr-old son is in jail for killing someone while on drugs.  I just kept thinkin about my mom.. her great example for me.. and where I am right now with my twenty years... How great a difference!  I am forever grateful for the principles of the gospel... the teachings and examples of my parents.  This world is SO awful.  Every day here in Costa Rica I learn that more.  I have seen first hand the effects of Satan on the family... the way it impacts you when your don´t have the gospel... what happens to a recent convert or even a member when they stop reading the scriptures or praying or going to church... family and friends these things are of the MOST importance!  We may think it is little... but the minute we stop praying.. reading the scriptures.. and giong to church.. we give Satan the chance to enter in.  And beleive me... I am seeing the destruction he can cause!! Don´t let him in!  Do all you can to conquer him!  Never ever quit the little things and ESPECIALLY do all you can to strengthen your marriage and your family!  Please!  I love you all so much and am ETERNALLY grateful for this gospel.  I KNOW it is true and it is ONLY through these principles and we live in such happiness!  I love you all... thank you mom and dad for blessing me with this church!  

I hope you all have the best week ever.  I will too.  :)  PURA VIDA!

Love, Hermana Cook

This fruit is very stange but delicious!

Maika Walters is in a Mormon Message!!

I LOVE Hermana Bratt!!

Semana Diecinueve: Happy 20th to Me

What a great week!

MONDAY

Last monday we had interviews with president.  I am SO grateful!  First we talked about the incident with my old comp and he promised that it will bless my life in some way.  He said, "I want you to know that I have complete trust in you and the Lord has complete trust in you.  You aren´t training just because your companion left and we didn´t have anyone else.  Your companion leaving has nothing to do with the fact that you are trianing right now.  I had you pegged as a trainer for 5-6 weeks.  I´ve had your picutre next to different newbies for 5-6 weeks!"  I was seriously shocked.  I have kind of felt that I am only training for that reason... like a default.  I told him that I dont´feel like I have anything to teach my new comp (because she is amazing!) and he said "You have LOADS to teach her!  Start with the very basics of missionary work and teach her everything you know!"  Then he asked if I had any questions and I whipped out my map and my plans for the Area Box and said yes!  We talked about my ideas and he gave more solutions and now I am so ready to work!

TUESDAY

Man there are lots of struggles here in the mission.  I don´t know if I´m doing something wrong or if the Lord is still testing our faith... but we aren´t finding ANYONE to teach!  We are praying studying preparing planning organizing... and still nothing!  Not only that but every day all our lessons are falling.  All our progressing investigators are no longer progresing... We´ve just got a blank board.  Satan is telling me it is my fault and perhaps someone else should be training... but I sure hope this is just a trial of my faith!  I am constantly thinking of what more we can do... I go to sleep thinking about it... dream (and talk in my sleep) about it...and it´s the first thought that crosses my mind in the morning!  There has GOT to be something missing... I just can´t figure it out!

WEDNESDAY

Today started our the same as yesterday... we are fasting so all the rejection and rejection and rejection felt even worse.  We are giving it ALL we´ve got!  Why aren´t we having success??  

We had a lesson with Jendry.. her dad and two uncles and cousins are getting baptized on the 25th so we are trying to commit her to do so with them!  We are PRAYING that she decides to!

Then we tried and tried and tried to have lessons but we had nothing.  Finally the last appointment of the day was with a former investigator at Hermana Julia´s... but he didn´t show.  So she said "I have someone you can teach!" And left to get them.  It was a family of a mom and her two kids and they were so receptive and all three accepted baptimal dates!  It´s amazing to see the Lord´s hand... if the former investigator had come we wouldn´t have had this opportunity!

THURSDAY

Today was another blessed day of nuevos!  Today we found FIVE new investigators!  For weeks we had nothin and then in two days we found EIGHT!  What a miracle..  three were references from a member... one was an LPE... and the other was a young girl named Jesica that we just taught in the street!  Tomorrow is my birthday and today I realized that next month... the END of the month but still.. I hit my six month mark!! That means only a year left!  I can´t believe it.

FRIDAY

Feliz cumpleanos!  Wowee can yáll believe I am twenty years old??  I feel so wise and mature... ha.  I need to start acting my age :)  I have been thinking a LOT these week about how I want to truly CHANGE in the mission.  I don´t want to come home the same person... I truly want to change!  And I don´t have much time left to do so!  

My birthday was awesome... I didn´t complete the costa rican tradition where they break eggs on your head and throw flour at you... but I DID have a great day!  I ate pancakes that were really just a chocolate cake mix that I made on a stove... and I opened the BEAUTIFUL package from my family!  Everything was so perfect... ant traps... stickers and gifts for the kids... a watch and an outfit... I loved it!  I am SO grateful for my family that is so thoughtful and loving.  I love them!!! (and I was just a little homesick) :)  

Then we went to Grama Nuria´s for lunch and it was the best!  THey bought me a cake and a candle and sent pics to mom on FB.  Then we went to work in Los Dorados... how did we choose there?  Well.. we prayed together to know where to go then had some time to ponder and pray and we each wrote down where we felt then compared and Los Dorados was the answer!  So we went and searched and searched.. there were only three people in the street and no one was interested.  So we visited three Marc that we knew of and one said that it´s awesome that we caught him because today he randomly decided to not go to school!  Then we headed to gravilias to visit an LPE that said we could... but he wasn´t home.  His mom was and it turns out she is a former investigator!  We taught her that visited the member that lives next door.  Her granddaughter was there that is a menos activo and we helped her decide to come back to church!  Today our work didn´t really result in baptisms... but It is amazing how the Lord truly puts us in the places wehre His children need us most!  I am so grateful to be a missionary and see the Lord´s hand working every day!  

Also H.Garcia bought me ice cream and gave me a card and Lidilia who washes our clothes bought me chocolates and a pura vida bracelet!  What a beautiful birthday!

SATURDAY

Man.  In the mission we have lots of responsibilities.  I feel like I literally have the salvation of souls in my hands.  It is hard sometimes to really know how to be a good  missionary EVERYDAY.  It´s hard to know what to do every day and how to have success every day.  Today we didn´t have any really firm plans so we wrote "MILAGROS"  in the spaces.  And basically we just ended up walking around.  It was 7:30 and no one was in the street so we went to the park and had lessons on the pohone.  I feel SO bad.  I don´t like being a trainer for that reason...  So many times I have no idea what to do and I don´t feel the revelation coming from the Lord.  I need to depend more in him and learn to recognize his promptings!  

SUNDAY

Today we had such great plans... solid plans!! And they all fell.  And no investigators came to church... All of our miracles of the week?  Nothing has come of them... half won´t answer the phone or open the door and the other half says they don´t want to listen to us.  I don´t get it... where are all the people in the stories that are actually prepared and want to change and sacrifice to come to church and read the book of mormon!  I can´t figure out if it is my fault.. if I´m doing something wrong... or if it is just a trial of my faith.  We went to lunch with a sister that served a mission and she told us so many cool stories... I just about cried... I feel like if I were to go home now... I´d have no good stories to tell.  I have three baptisms... but not a single one is coming to church.  What am I doing wrong to not have these experiences?  

After lunch a man on the street started yelling "BE MORMON AND BE HAPPY" at us.. I was afraid.  THen he sang three verses of Jose´ph Smiths first prayer.  Ha at last he told us he is menos activo and so we went to his house to teach him outside.  He talked forEVER and introduced us to EVERY person that passed... saying he was giving us good contacts :)  When we FINALLY finished the lesson we started talking with a Jehovah´s witness in the street and asked if she knew anyone we could visit and she said "someone from your church lives right there"... so we visited him.. fernando.. and turns out he is a menos activo of like two years and he was SO happy to see us!  He made us food and asked if we had a Book of Mormon and just about cried when I said "CLARO!" and gave him one.  Once again... we didn´t find nuevos... but the Lord is guiding us to find the people that need us.

It is such a battle in the mind... President says the hardest work for a missionary is the fight in his own mind... and it is so true!  I am discouraged about not finding nuevos and not knowing what to do about our area... I´m frustrated because of all of these things yet I know the Lord is guiding us!  I know there ARE people prepared!  I know that we can find them... and any advice from returned missionaries and other wise people like my mother and sisters is more than welcome.

I am so grateful to be a missionary.  Thank you for your prayers.  Keep em comin ;)  I love you all so much and just LOVE you.  

xoxo

Hermana Cook

No words needed. . . 

Birthday Pancakes!  It's just a chocolate cake mix on a stove.

Sister Garcia loves her new scarf!

20 Years Old!  LOVED the package:)

Grama made me a cake.

This is Lucas.  He is adorable!!

This is the Hermana that cleans our clothes.  She gave me chocolate for my birthday.

Sporting the new outfit!

The scarf is from a Sister in the ward.  Yes my tag is upside-down.

This card was passed around Relief Society.  I didn't know who it was for so I signed it.  It was for me:)

Semana Dieciocho: I'm a Trainer

TUESDAY

Today we went to the office to pick up all the newbies for divisions!!! My heart was pounding because guess what... the sister I´m going to train was there! But I don´t know which one!!! There are TEN Latinas and ZERO Gringas... so I´m training a latina! :)  In the office... I got my PACKAGE!! Wow family THANK YOU!  What a blessing!!  You are seriously the best.  My birthday will be so special!!!

Then we went to work with two of the newbies... we visited Christian and Sharon and had a POWERFUL lesson.  They both committed to baptism on the 25th of this month and to be married before then!  Wahoo!!

The nuevos are great... they have so much energy and excitedment for the work and it helps me feel the same way I did right after the MTC!  I am so excited for MY nuevo and for the opportunity to train!

WEDNESDAY

Today we went to the office bright and early and President spoke to us.. then we went to his house for a delicious breakfast of gallo pinto.. At the house Hermana Wilkinson saw me and gave me the BIGGEST tightest hug of my life.  She said "You DID IT!  YOU MADE IT THROUGH AND YOU DID SO WELL!  AND NOW YOU ARE IN CONTROL!  YOU DID IT!"  I nearly cried.  :)  It was so fun at the house because all my best friends of the mission- sister Geiss and Davidson and Bratt are all training too.  We had a LOT of anxiety... por fin presidente announced the trainers and their trainees... he does it one by one and I was VERY LAST!  I almost died.  and my Trainee is.... Hermana Garcia!!!!  She is from Guatemala and is AMAZING!  I was so ready to teach her how to do everything... and be the leader for once... but before I could breath she was goin!  She is DEFINTELY  a leader personality and is not afraid of a thing.  Plus she already knows spanish so she´s got that goin for her... :)  She is truly great.  I love being with her and am so grateful for the opportunity to help her refine the skills she already has.  I think we will be a great team!

THURSDAY

With my comps before we only worked in Dos Cercas visiting the same people every day.  As a result... we now have barely any investigators and I don´t know the other areas.  So today we had to visit Christian and Sharon in Dos Cercas... (They said they now don´t want to get married until Sharon turns 18 in THREE years because she will lose the pension from her dad....) and then we spent the day working CLOSE to the church and with the members!  I think we will have success....

We had a reference from a member and were trying to contact them... but instead we found the CUTEST girls that accepted baptismal dates and everything!  Valery and Natalie.. We talked to the Young Women Pres and are going to visit them with her tomorrow!

FRIDAY

Today Mary Jane took us to teach us the limits of the ward... turns out there is EONS of area that I didn´t even know existed!  We have MUCH work to do... MANY menos activos that we haven´t ever visited... man.  There´s a lot.  No more just in dos cercas... vamos a trabajar en TODO el area!  We just have to find an effective way to do it!  

SATURDAY

CONFERENCE!! We worked so hard to get people to come to conference... the mission goal is to have 500 people there!  We had zero :(  It was so sad because we worked SO hard!  Conference was amazing though right??? Man I just love it!  I was going to give commentary on every talk... but i don´t have time... :)  Everyone study the talks for the months to come!

Then I felt we should visit Jendry.. so we did and WOW she had her WHOLE extended family there.  They invited us in for cake and we taught them ALL about prophets and invited them to conference the following day! The sad thing is they 

aren´t from our area... :)

SUNDAY

Conference again!!  we went to pick up all our investigators and they were all getting ready to come and we were so excited!  8 investigators fijas!  ... and then not a single one came.  Natalie and Valery told us they wanted to keep going to their normal church and didn´t want us to visit them more... Christian and Sharon had some excuse... there was too much traffic for Jendry... Fernando had another excuse... EVERYone had something.  SATAN!  Get thee hence!  It was a real bummer... we worked so hard to have people and then had no one.  But for the second session all six of the people from Jendry´s family came!!!!! They are from Asseri, but at least they came!!! :)  

I have been praying and praying to know how to organize our area and work better and more effectively and then I remembered Jd´s AREA BOX!  So Jd... we will be starting that this week :)

Thank you all for the birthday wishes and love!  Thank you for the packages and the prayers and the support.  Thank you for your examples.  I just love you all and pray always!!! Have an AMAZING week!  I hope you can all come a little closer to the Savior this week!!!  I love you all!  

Love, Hermana Cook

Meeting my nuevo Hermana Garcia from Guatemala

All the Trainers and Trainees

My baby, mama, and grama:)

Presidente Wilkinson