Hey family! Thank you so much for your letter. I apologize that mine is quite short.
It's been quite a week
full of ups and downs. Super crazy! We got home last Monday night and received
a phone call from the zone leaders in an area saying that they have some
sisters who are quite upset – thinking about
going home. We called the sisters and talked with them and decided to do
divisions with them the next day in a place called Ciudad Colon about two hours
away. Their numbers are super low and we were thinking what in the world is
going on. They had a baptism fall through and were super super depressed. They
hadn't left their house in three days!!!!! When we got there, they said we were
wasting our time, should go home, that they don't want us there, that they
don't know us and don't need help. We told them to talk and pray about it and
that we would wait outside. Well thankfully, they said it was ok and we got
right to work. We taught a little bit with them and when we left, they were in
better spirits. They said they learned how to just love the people and contact!
They were getting along again which was great and all was well. We are going to
keep checking on them and seeing how they are doing. We have three divisions
planned for this week which will be crazy. I'm heading to Puriscal tomorrow to
work with a gringa sister. That should be fun. Ha-ha. We’ll see. But so far,
things are fine in that side of the mission. The great thing is that my comp
and I have split up the responsibilities to not feel the stress of everything.
I'm focused more on the sisters and helping plan divisions with sisters and all
of that out for the month and then she is focused on planning our investigators
and filling out their papers. It's been so much better. We are kind of getting
things under way. Ha-ha.
We had a mini mission
day with the youth in our stake on Saturday. We went to another area and split
up contacting. I went with two girls in the stake and we just knocked on doors.
It was awesome because every person we contacted said yes. I thought....shoot
this is incredible. These girls are so lucky. It was cute because a woman we
contacted kept saying how she likes the states more than Costa Rica and that
she wants to buy me whatever I want because I'm so sweet. She called her
daughter in the states while we were there and I talked with her. She said that
she has many Mormon friends in the states and thank you for visiting her mom.
She was nice. It was just really funny. I'll have to tell you more about it
after my mission. But the youth really had a spiritual time. We had a testimony
meeting after and many youth - mostly
sisters sadly but still good....decided to serve missions! We have many
preparing for missions! It’s awesome. I just wish that the stake could have had
more young men. I have no idea why or what is going on. But all is part of
God's plan and will work out. Mom, I have shared so many of your cute stories
and quotes with so many people in my mission. Thank you so much. You are
motivating so many people here. Ha-ha. You
all are! So thank you!
We had a lot of
blessings this week. For example, one day we had not eaten hardly anything
because we didn't really have any money. We were so hungry and could not keep
working. It was tough. But we prayed that somehow someone would let us in and
listen to us. Right after the prayer, we knocked on a door and ended up finding
a new investigator who accepted all that we were saying. We gave him a copy of
the Book of Mormon and he's going to read it - hopefully. After we left, we
said a prayer of thanks and then prayed that a member we were going to visit
would be kind enough to give us some food. We knocked on her door, they were
finishing a visiting teaching message and then she offered all of us sandwiches
and cookies. I thought, wow, such a blessing! Two prayers answered so fast. I
started to cry because I just felt like for one moment, Heavenly Father focused
on two sister missionaries to help bless us with what we need. I felt like He
took time and tuned in to us. We felt so special in that moment. Later that
night, we had our movie night. We were going to show the church movie – “The Testament”. Well, only had four sisters
in the ward come. We had invited 50-60 and then only four came. What a downer.
Totally wanted to cry but just thought, whatever, we will at least enjoy the
movie. Ha-ha. So we did. No big deal. We were just a bit disappointed in our
ward. Our ward has not been very supportive. Kind of frustrating. We go to
their activities and then they don't come to ours. Really? Not even the bishop
was there or anyone from the bishopric. Need to figure out how to get the ward
and more members on our side!!!! Right!!! We are going to try our activity again and see
what happens. Try – try again. Endure
right? Ha-ha. So it's fine.
Some people we are
teaching......
Sobeida!!!! Oh wow. She
is incredible. We have only taught her a couple times but from the first day,
she has been all about baptism. We showed her the church building a couple weeks ago and she shared her
testimony in front of the baptismal font. She said this last Saturday that she
wasn't sure she could come again on Sunday but she would try because she needed
to go somewhere with her husband. We called her up and she said that she was
ready to go to church and ended up coming! She will be baptized in two weeks! So
excited. Her husband doesn't want anything to do with us but said he respects
her decision and she said to him very frankly that she doesn't care because she
is doing it anyway without his permission. Tough woman. She said on Sunday that
a blessing she already had was to be in church and a blessing she wants is to
be baptized and become a member. She said it in two different classes with the
members. Love love love her!
Laura and Moises....well
they aren't married and the guy has no desire to get married at this time. Laura
is very sick and we had some priesthood holders give her a blessing. They want
to be baptized in two weeks. We are going to continue visiting them and see how
things go. They are a great family with two little kids.
We have some others but those are who we are
focused on. My other comps seem to be doing well in their areas. President told
me they are happy and working hard. I will have the opportunity to do divisions
with my first companion that I had when I first came on my mission - Hna. Cartagena!!!!
She’s in my zone area! We are totally freaking out for that. It’s going to be
so much fun! Love her. I feel so lucky! But things are going well. We have been
getting a little bit stressed out but overall things are fine. Just taking it
one day at a time. So sorry I have not responded to your letters. I will do my
best the next week. Thank you for updating me. I've been praying for Papa......what
a tough old bird! Tell him I love him and pray for both Papa and Grandma
Jones - and all of you and Grandma Stansfield.
I am so glad you are all happy and doing well. Just keep having fun but not too
much fun! Be safe! I'm being safe and smart. My comp protects me a ton. She’s a great missionary. I'm having fun. Some tough days but some really
great days. I can feel myself changing and growing from each experience. I am
so grateful for my mission! Thank you for your love and support. Talk with you
all next week. Hang in there! Help out the missionaries. Ha-ha.
My zone right now.
An awesome rain storm.
A refrigerator full of pamphlets! Ha-ha!
Rain - May to November.....
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Delicious Costa Rican Fruit Plate!
Me and our planning board.
Me with some crazy elders in my mission.
Divisions with the Hermanas.!
Painting a gate for a service project.
At church on Sunday, I saw a group of young single adults from the states and one looked super familiar. We talked after church and it turns out we were in the same ward at Liberty Square - BYU and we have the same friends. Haha. Small world. We took a pic together. His name is Jonathan Right.
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Me and Elder Moran from El Salvador.
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Random contacting and ran into a woman who lives in the states. sweet woman.
Sisters being crazy!
Waiting for church to start.
Snacks that Sami would like!!!! Ha - ha!
Love
Hna. Jones
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