Monday, December 9, 2013

Monday, December 9, 2013

Twins!!!

Hey -

Sorry...only one picture for this week. I forgot my camera cord and so...my comp emailed me this one that I liked from this week. We decided to wear the same dress...only different colors. I know...we are dorky. But anyway. I hope that you guys are doing so well and enjoying the new snow that you got. Sounds like a lot of fun. It has actually gotten so HOT here! It's crazy! We are dying of heat and drinking so much water. I know that mom and dad will enjoy it here. But FYI, Guanacaste is SUPER SUPER HOT...like...unbearable. Not sure how long you'll want to be there. Ha-ha. And...Yes....Costa Rica is super expensive!!!!! It's not like third world country or cheap. Food, hotel, cars, bus, activities...all expensive. I've been talking with a woman in the ward who is a travel agent. She said that in January, we can start making plans and she'll look for package deals for us. She's going to Texas for Christmas and won't be back until Jan.1st. So we can start planning then. Hotels are really expensive! Like...300 a night. My comp said that in San Jose will be cheaper than outside. I don't want to do stuff in San Jose. It's a super city and dirty and just a lot of sketchy pick pocketers. I wanted to drive to Cartago, Belen, and Alajuela to visit some people. I talked with some people from the temple and the first counselor of the temple told me that he'll open the temple up for when we come... ha-ha. They are like my grandparents here. They are so cute! Plus I know the Temple President and many workers there. I've been asking one worker in our ward to find out exactly what the schedule is during February. I think that they are closing it the last week and then first week in March. They all said they'll let me know. I think as missionaries we are going this month to the temple so I'll see what else I can do. I know many people who have said we can stay at their home. I've been asking around to see about cars. Buses are just crazy because you have to take so many. It's possible and I know which ones and where. I will admit that I'm more nervous with you guys on the bus than in a car but I understand the whole insurance thing. I have a friend who works at the airport so I'll ask him what he has heard about renting cars. I'll try and look into all the stuff and keep you updated.

Ok...with that out of the way...now on to other things. We have had such an awesome week. Things are really going well. We never knock on doors....ever! That's a rule in our mission. We aren't allowed to knock on doors. If our appointments fall, we go to members home, share a lesson and then ask references. We ask EVERYONE for references. We work only with the members and then people that we teach. We have split our area up into pueblos. Each day we go to a different pueblo and work the whole day there. That way we don't waste time on buses or travel. We hardly walk because we try to just stay in one area or on one street. We have many progressing towards baptism...just either need to get married or get permission from their parents. Ha-ha. So fun! We have many members who keep inviting us over for food that our cook for lunch is like...why do you pay me? Ha-ha we have had lunch and dinner practically all week and people keep inviting us. We have plans for Christmas and people beforehand that want to cook for us. It's crazy! We are so loved here. BUT...more than food, we want REFERENCES!! The neighbors have respect for the members and will be more likely to let us in if the members are there too. We have a message of PEACE AND JOY!

This week we have had some neat experiences that you can share with the family for Christmas. We have been thinking of what you could share and this is what we came up with. So we have been teaching two investigators for 2 months almost 3 now. So many people said...they'll never go to church, they'll never read the Book of Mormon, they'll never get baptized. Well....for a moment, it was tempting to drop them. One`s name is Eddy and the other is Julio. Eddy isn't married...yet. He also hadn't been coming to church. We almost thought about dropping him. We prayed and prayed and still felt like we needed to teach him. We continued to stop by, teach our messages and invite him to read and come to church. Well....after two months, he has been to church 2 times....getting ready for his third and working on preparing for baptism...we hope. Ha-ha. He told us that he and his girlfriend who is a member are getting married this weekend. We have been talking with lawyers to get things set up and just have to plan it with them. Then hoping he'll be baptized Sunday after church. He wants to be baptized and knows it's true but just says he hasn't received his answer. We taught him a lesson about how to recognize his answer and such. He said he'll pray again and we'll talk tonight. His girlfriend told us thank you for being persistent and not giving up. She said she has seen many changes in him and is grateful for our patience. Ok....now Julio. He was coming to church, praying just not reading the Book of Mormon. He said he was always so tired. His family who are all members said...just let him go....let him hit rock bottom and he'll realize he needs it. We almost gave in but felt like...well...even if little by little we'll continue. He is now reading the Book of Mormon...all the assignments we have left him to read for the past 2 months. He said he's reading little by little and can feel a change working in him. He will be baptized this month for sure! So awesome. I'm so grateful that we did not give up. I feel like that's just like Heavenly Father with us. He probably would love to drop us when we don't do what's right...but He stays with us and keeps helping us go and move forward even if it's a little bit. We just help people little by little make good changes in their lives...and celebrate when they do it. I have found it's best to hope for things than to have expectations. When I hope people accept our message, I'm not let down as much for when they don't. Or I hope that members will help me...I don't know how to explain it. You just have happier attitude. So when I come home, just hope things will happen but don't have expectations of it so if I don't meet them, you aren't upset with me. Ha-ha. Ok...other story....a few weeks ago, we went to the waterfalls in Grecia right? So while we were there, we taught one of the workers about the restoration and shared a pamphlet. Well....another worker there ended up seeing the pamphlet one day and read it. That was a few weeks ago. We got a call yesterday from this worker saying....ya, I'm calling to have someone come teach me about the Book of Mormon. We were like...WHAT! Sadly, he lives outside of our area....BUT us leaving the pamphlet totally helped this man! That goes to show that you never know what will happen. Even if you leave a proclamation to the family with one person and they don't accept it, maybe someone else will see it and they'll accept! It's so cool how Heavenly Father works.

We are working with all of Eilyn's family. They are all progressing towards baptism. We are waiting for permission for her nieces and nephews who are 10 and 11. They are reading the Book of Mormon and LOVE IT! One little girl, Katherine is SO CUTE! She is so excited to be baptized and is ALWAYS talking about it. She says...can I wear this and what do they do with this or that. Eilyn talked about doing baptisms in the temple and Katherine said to us...I want to be baptized for my dad, uncles, aunts, grandparents and so on. We said...um.....they need to be dead first for you to be baptized for them. She said...oh ok...we can wait then. SO CUTE!!! I just hugged her! She sang in the primary program yesterday and said some words in front. Her cousin is the same age and member so they help each other out. She was all about the program. After, she said...how did I do? Her parents didn't come. They are super Christian and whatever. But she's got Eilyn and her aunt who are members. We are working on Eilyn's mom still and some others. Her sister Xiomara is moving to quepos for work. We are working with the whole family though. I might have cried....a lot during the primary program. The kids all talked about the restoration and things with the gospel. Our investigators totally felt the spirit there and the church was jam packed with people!!! When the kids sang...families can be together forever, the congregation joined in at the end. I was bawling because....I just love how the gospel is the same EVERYWHERE!!! And I love Spanish!!! Oh...Eilyn went to the temple Friday night to do baptisms for the dead her first time. We stopped by her house before she left to help her get ready. She looked so beautiful. She usually has on a tank top and mini skirt but she put on a long skirt and a shirt with sleeves. I totally cried seeing her like that! She was nervous but also excited. After she left, we saw her triple on the couch....marked with tabs and the young women theme taped to the back!!!!!!!! AHHH just thinking about it makes me want to cry again! She text us later that night and said...Hermana’s...we neeeeeeed to talk! The temple is so beautiful!!! Ha-ha she loved being there and said she didn't want to leave. She wants to go through the rest but said she'll wait for her mission! Ah...I'm so grateful for Eilyn!! She is so amazing!

We did watch the Christmas Devotional. It was offered in English but I wanted to watch in Spanish. It was so beautiful and the spirit was really strong. There was a party in Alajuela central to light the tree in central park so all the streets were closed. There were drums and just a lot of noise but when the devotional started...it was like all that disappeared. The music was beautiful. When they sang, Silent Night and the congregation joined, our church sang in Spanish. I of course, cried again...surprise. I just love these Latin’s so much!!!! I LOVE THEM! They mean so much to me! I can't imagine my life without them. I love how kind and loving they are. I'm going to miss them all so much. I guess at that point, it just hit me even more that if don't have much more time here. I broke down and couldn't handle it. I feel so loved here. I know you all love me too and I love you back but it's just so different here. I have gained my testimony of the church in Spanish and it's all just very special to me. I know that life goes on but I just am so grateful for my mission. Thank you for your love and support. Know that I love you and pray for you all daily. Things will be alright and we will have fun here in Costa Rica. Don't stress it. I'll help out and we'll get it all taken care of. I think it would be best to get a place with breakfast offered because for lunch and dinner, I’m hoping the people we visit, give us some. Ha-ha. I'll help get it all planned. Please do not stress it. You’ll love the attitude here of Pura Vida. It’s like...relax. Ha-ha We'll have so much fun and you can all help me transition. I probably will have a rough few weeks and won't officially have closure until after our trip here. Ha-ha. But just know that I'll be happy with you guys! Super happy because I love you. Just sad because I love here too. Ha-ha. Well...got to go. Love you all. Have fun in the snow. Send some pics please. Be safe! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxooxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoox

Hna. Jones