March 11, 2013

Hey! How are y’all!?¡  Here is this week's Top Ten in Costa Rica!!

1. We baked cookies at the church for our ward leaders. We want him to help us pick a mission leader and we hope this helps motivate him. We ended up eating all of them ourselves, we did share them with a stranger on the street and the branch president, don’t worry. But there were 4 women in one hot house with delicious chocolate cookies just staring at us. What were we to do?? Ha.

2. None of our investigators came to church yesterday. The most bummed I’ve felt as a missionary. Not as Hermana Workman, but as a missionary. 6 of them said they would. We went to 4 of their houses. Not even S I couldn´t figure out why. What´s keeping them? And how can we help them understand the importance? We´ve taught the doctrine. I´m a little lost at what we should do at this point. I know we´re going to pray for Heavenly Father to lead us to those who REALLY are ready for the gospel.

3. After moms post-it note suggestion and A’s amazing email last week, I started out the week looking for the miracles. Have I been blind because it turns out they´re all around me? We were walking and walked past this lady with a bucket on her head and both hands carrying bags of mangos. My companion nudged me and said, “We should help her!”  Which by the way, we are one step closer to understanding each other. I think the Lord blessed me with a love of sign language because He knew that one day I’d be unable to use my voice and would have to rely on my hand gestures and facial expressions. We do have a lot of fun. Hermana P tells me that I’m funny with em. But hey, it gets the point across. haha. Anyway, we carried her stuff back to her home and talked a little, turns out she’s a member of the church! Very inactive! We were able to set up a return appointment, and I know the Lord put her in our path. Or, He at least helped me to see this great opportunity.

4. While randomly eating dinner the other day, Hermana P told me, “I want to meet your mom” and I thought that was sweet. I told her that she’s way cooler than me and that if y’all (I am now talking to all the Hermanas) ever meet her, you’ll naturally like her better. She’s just so much BETTER than I could ever hope to be. They all think the world of you, mom. Also every time they see that picture of you around the truck, they tell me how young and pretty and happy and beautiful you are. They all want to meet you! Thank you for praying for them specifically and that temple jazz. You are so flipping amazing. How do I deserve you!?  I love you Dad! Thank you for the words of support and wisdom that I crave and need each week. You are hilarious and amazing! And know EXACTLY what I need to hear. Tears of joy up in here. I love you both SOOOOOOOOOO much!

5. Okay I just attached a picture of the frog outside our door. My prince? Perhaps. But I was too scared to pick it up. Hermana Q, naturally had no problem with it. What a champ! So I may´ve let my prince slip away, but he started leaking white stuff out of his neck. We have a hunch it was poison so we all ran away. Hilarious!

6. Okay so cover B’s eyes for this one. We were about to enter our house when we saw the biggest spider I’ve ever EVER seen in real life. The photos just can’t do it justice. He was right by our door. We tried to capture it in the photos, and then the Honduranian, haha Hermana Q grabbed some hairspray and a lighter and took care of business. We had our little reading flash lights, felt like a wand from harry potter, and then Aragog (bahaha forgive the movie references. Did I just hop into LOTR??) And burnt him to smithereens. It’s these little things in the mission that can turn a rough hot day into a great happy evening. I really love these Hermanas!

7. So I was at D’s house, his parents just got married, using the restroom, which is outside by the  way, and also I’m tall enough to see out of it, does that make sense? When I stand up, people can see my head. Anyway, D comes by to use the shower, which is right next door. It was weird and funny. He kept saying, don’t look, and I don’t think I’m doing this story justice. This story illustrates a few things. I’m freakishly tall in this country. I was going to the bathroom outside, and it’s actually not that bad. Peaceful if you asked me. Until the 13 year old pops by and starts showering. Funny.

8. Mom, please send me a Spanish edition of Charley. And if it doesn’t exist, send one in English. I told Hermana Q about the story, she has the soundtrack, but doesn’t know what it is, in Spanish mind you. I was pretty impressed with myself. Another example of how the hand gestures really help. Ferris wheel transfers pretty well in Spanish by the way. Anyway, I wouldn’t tell her the ending, that’s not my style. I told her to wait and read it. Thank you!

9. M C, you make Hermana Q´s week! You are her angel! Thank you for writing her. I’m so blessed to have a ward so willing to serve and help. You are amazing!

10. So the other day we were in a lesson and we got on the subject of nicknames. What are your nicknames, etc. This one man, G, said, They call me tres tetas. I was slightly confused. Don’t worry; he lifted up his shirt to clear up the confusion. He had three nipples! Two normal tetas and a medium little une underneath! bahahahaha funniest thing. Gotta love the people here.

So there you have it. My week summed up in 10 bullet points. But if you really want to know how my week went, go read, Alma 28:8  [This is an account...of their sufferings in the land of Costa Rica, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their (get ready! you´re not expecting this part) INCOMPREHENSIBLE JOY...]  

I really do love this work. I´m trying to get lost. To just keep putting one foot in front of the other. I can feel every prayer. Every special prayer helps me. Thank you so much for all of your support.

To everyone reading these words, know that I have a strong testimony of this church. It is TRUE. And I know that if you don’t already know it for yourself, you can too. Ask the missionaries, they can help you. Just have the faith, even if it’s a little bit of faith, or a desire to learn more, let that faith or desire grow. Pray and ask for help. The Lord is always more than willing to answer!

I love this gospel. I´m working on receiving His imagine in my own. Alma 5:14.

I love all of you! Thank you for everything!

Hermana Workman

P.S. The food is good again! We just got a new cook. Today she made us steak and, of course, Rice and Beans. I really like rice and beans now. I think, no, I KNOW that I’ll miss that when I return to Utah.