May 6, 2013

Dearest Pa.

Welcome to Costa Rica. Sometimes the power is out. And sometimes the water is shut off for days. And you just keep on truckin. So I liked your question about what to do about water supply. This is another example of how completely different the states are from here. Some people have water towers in their backyard, if they´re rich. If you´re a missionary, you wait for 2 days to have water again, and fill up old milk jugs. Like you should´ve done when the Holy Ghost prompted you to a week ago. I don´t know if this makes sense or not, but sounds like you´re on top of it. You got it, Pa. Oh, the other day we were eating dinner at a member´s house and the dad said, I know that you´re too young to know the show, La Casa En La Pradera, which translates to LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRARIE! And I told him yes of course and it rocks! We then changed subjects to who is the most powerful superhero. Have you ever had that conversation in Spanish? If not, try it. Super fun. Thank you once again hand gestures; for getting me through the verbs I can´t wait to learn. Fly. X-ray vision. Fire breath. One day. One day.

Dad, funny story JUST FOR YOU this week. While walking through the Costa Rician sun in beautiful Ciudad Colon, I decided to ask what my companion who her favorite cartoon was. I then wanted to tell her mine. ¨Have you seen Arthur? ¨I asked. She thought for a moment then responded, ¨You mean that monkey? ¨ I laughed so hard. Oh Pa. You are my hero. I love and miss you.

Also, that Uchtdorf talk is one of my favorites. It keeps me going. And sometimes when I have rough times, I think of that talk. There is something in each day to embrace and cherish. I love and miss our ward. PURA VIDA. I´m a stressed person, did you know that? Well maybe it´s just the mission, but I´m working to just breath. Chill. Sometimes we can´t control everything. Just, pura vida. haha.

Hey, when´s the last time someone told you how great of a dad you are? Because it´s true. You´re a great dad.

I love you!

Meg

For the record, Arthur is an AARDVARK. Not a monkey. ¡Por favor!

Mommy,

Those photos of bray are so hilarious.

I love the letter from you mom, so much goodness!

SKYPE INFO. I think we´ll go to a member´s house to use Skype. By now you and J should be friends. And if not, find him. He can help us if we can´t get in contact. Man he´s awesome!

You know when you´re in primary being told to memorize the articles of faith because one day you´ll need them? What about when you´re learning about the values that will help you make and keep sacred covenants in the temple in Young Woman’s, where I learned to be an example of the believers at all times, in all things, and in all places? Today I learned how very important it is to always have a testimony ready. Also I´m so grateful for the many years of ¨training¨ I´ve had to lead up to this moment. I was given an hour to talk about our beliefs as a Mormon. Ask a Mormon night, haha. My comp and I went with Dalton to his University class where everyone is trying to learn English. We introduced ourselves and started to qute the articles of faith and explain them. We got so many questions, and by we, I mean I was the only one who could understand. haha. ? Are you Christian? Why are you called Mormons? Do you celebrate birthdays? How many husbands do you have? Do you believe in the Virgin Mary? Why don´t you worship her? Wait, you don´t even drink alcohol for your birthday? Who is Joseph Smith? What is the gift of tongues? Can you go to visit your family? How do you baptize? What is a temple? Who wrote the Book of Mormon?

And more. I was in the hot seat for sure. I was defending our faith in every meaning of the term. There were many times when we got some tough questions and I just had to take a breath. Pray for help. Answer with confidence. It was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. I´m grateful for this experience. Three people came up to us after and asked to learn more. We left feeling like we could take on the world. I know that in the strength of the Lord, we truly can. I love being part of these miracles. The Lord is merciful. This work is good, oh so good.

This photo, we ran out of money for food and ate what we had in the house. Jell-O and popcorn. haha. Fun moments.

Okay this was the happy story. Know how we have to have opposition in all things? Ready for the opposition?

We got a call Saturday night at 9:30 from H. He told us that they didn´t feel ready to be baptized. We were so confused. I was crushed. There is comfort in the Book of Mormon, that much I know.

We met with them Sunday morning. The night before they talked with a preacher friend of theirs. The preacher said that we were too young to be preaching the gospel. That Joseph Smith was confused so he started his own church. That Mormons don’t believe in the Bible, only the Book of Mormon. It was so hard to hear. We just cried. I bore my testimony. The most sincere testimony I have. I know so deep down that none of these things are true. I know that I am called by a prophet of God to do these things. I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ, translated by Joseph Smith who truly saw God and His Son and restored the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They told us that they want to keep learning, so we´re going to keep teaching. I was so bummed. Walking around with a rain cloud above my head. But (ready for the good again?) then we went to church and testimony meeting was GREAT! J bore such POWERFUL testimony! He said that every Sunday morning he looks in the mirror at his white shirt and tie and short hair. The changes he´s made are incredible. And he said he´s going to marry his wife in the temple and baptize his children in this church and they´re going to baptize their children in this church,etc. Awesome. And that´s why we’re here.

Then in Relief Society all the women just went on and on about how amazing we are.

I HAVE NO TIME TO DO THIS JUSTICE. I’m sorry

Point of the story,

Heavenly Father knows what we need, exactly when we need it. Trust in him.

I Love you!

Megan

Congrats on the garage sale.

cinco de mayo means nothing here. They don´t really spend money on stupid things here like in the states. Like Labor Day, buy a mattress get a free hot dog. Nope. I don´t miss that. But, I did see a poster for Iron Man 3. Heart melted! haha

Okay got to go soon. We ran out of time today. sorry!

By the way, Obama is in Costa Rica, biggest thing ever. He was in Ciudad Colon! haha they shut down all the busses and schools and work. hilarious.  yeah, San Jose today with our zone. We had a talent show. Fun. Our bus was slightly late. My fingers can’t type as fast as my brain. SORRY!

Sunday. woot woot. okay. CIAO.  HAVE A GOOD WEEK!

April 29, 2013

Hey mom. You are awesome. I miss you one million and one Swedish fish.

Here are my answers... (Pencil at the ready?)

How are you feeling? Great. Really great. No aches, no pains, pure pura vida. Yesterday, I just missed you. I really just wanted your hug. My companion hugged me instead. Now I know that as you read this, you may be inclined to cry. And if that is the case, I will cut off all communications with you. Haha, just kidding. But seriously, I could not be more protected here. Many people pray hard so that I am safe, happy, and warm. There are so many miracles!

Are you in a sketchy area? No. This area has been dominated by elders for the past 18 years. President did a lot of research about the area. He was looking for an area that could be safe for sisters for the rest of the missions history. And Ciudad Colon seriously super ¨tranquillo.¨ It´s tranquil, peaceful, super super awesome. I think I will move here someday. With all of you of course. It's clean, friendly, happy. BEAUTIFUL! We haven´t had money for a while, so we haven´t been able to pay for the bus. We´ve been walking up and down mountains, and it´s great. This is what I decided the other day. If I have to spend the next year and a half of my life away from my house, why not here. It´s heaven. Don´t worry. I am good!

Do you love the area? Yes. Please read above.

What can I get for you? What do you need?  Nothing. I thank you for EVERYTHING! Went to the office and got my package today. Thank you for EVERYTHING! The photos of temples, CTR (HLJ) rings, Preach My Gospels, thank you. And thank you from the other Spanish missionaries who did not have a Preach My Gospel in Spanish. The CTR rings are going to H and V and their kiddos. Their baptism is Sunday. Super excited. They´re great. They love to sing Families Can Be Together Forever. Remember when us kids would get mad at each other and you´d sing that song? Wait, that was Love At Home. The point is, you are a great mom. Seriously, I am amazed at how well you did, doing, and will continue to do. Phenomenal.  

What is our plan for Mother's Day phone calls? Have you found that out yet? Diay, I have no idea. It actually scares me. Christmas was really hard to keep my focus, ya know? It´s tough. But for now, I have no clue. I THINK it will be after changes. So I may have a new area, companion, or neither or all of the above. If it´s here, I would like to use a member´s computer to Skype or call you from the house. I have NO idea what we´ll do. But don´t worry. It´ll be chaotic and nuts, but that´s the San José Costa Rica mission. Expect it. haha. It´ll all work out the way it’s supposed to.

How is your companion? Does she speak English? She´s great. We get a long well, and work hard to improve this area. She does not speak English, but she's trying really hard. I have her praying in English, it´s pretty cute. She has a year in the mission. It´s hard being companions with someone with so much time under their belt, it makes me a little trunky. So many people want to know how long we´ve been here, but I’m trying not to count. We both lie about how much time we have so that we avoid being trunky. But yeah, she´s responsable, smart, kind, helpful, spiritual. Great.

Do you have a cell phone or a landline? Landline. Nobody here has a cell. Well some of the zone leaders in sketchy areas have cells, none of the Hermana’s. Which to me, doesn´t make sense. I know their SUPER pricey though, so all is well.

Investigators? Who, what where when... yes. Miracles! Yesterday we were in the chapel talking, taking a mental break really. I will spare you the details and just say it was a rough afternoon so we were just talking and calming down when I felt like we needed to go to J´s house. Which was silly, I knew his mom was visiting her daughter in Guanacaste. We had no plans, no reason to go. But I just felt like we should. I ignored this feeling and kept on. (By the way, R, his mom… you remember her?? She was so upset that her son has chosen this pathway in life?  She told me I have a REALLY good heart and she loves me. She respects me so much mommy. She is so great! Such a loving mother.) Again and again I had this prompting, so I told my companion. She agreed, we didn´t really have a reason to go, let´s go to meet up with I (another miracle) first and then if we have time, we´ll go.

I. One day, we popped into a pulperia to buy a specific type of chips my comp likes. No other pupleria sells them. There are no coincidences in this life I tell you. He looked at us. I said hello. He then told us he needs help. He recognized us as messengers of God. Religious beings. It was pretty cool. Life´s treated him a little unfairly, and he´s a little lost. We told him we´d come by and visit. We had a great meeting. He felt like nobody was listening to his prayers. He knew that life was supposed to be hard, but he didn´t know what to do. We each bore powerful testimony of the power of prayers. We closed and asked him to offer the prayer. He said he didn´t know how. I taught him. Still nervous. I told him I’d go first, and he could follow my prayer outline. And he did! Such a  great prayer! Then he ran upstairs....humm  okay.... and naturally brought down his guitar. He played us many different songs ranging from the BeeGees to Jon Lennon’s IMAGINE. Yes I was in heaven. Such a treat! He sang in Spanish and English! What a surprise! Life´s full of goodness all around us. Just gotta keep our eyes out.

So after, I said, we need to go to J. His brother, J,  answered the door. We asked for J. Out came R. She invited us in. We chatted and chatted and chatted. Then I asked her if she prayed about our last lesson. Her son, J sat in and listened to everything. R read the pamphlet of the restoration 3 times and told us what she learned and about her questions. She learned that we lived with our loving heavenly father before this life. She said that was beautiful. She asked us about the Celestial Kingdom and said that was beautiful too. She then turned to her son and testified that we were truly messengers from God. She pleaded for her son to study and learn from us too. She said that sacrifices we make (only being able to call home 2 times a year so that we can learn to rely on our Heavenly Father was amazing.) J agreed and we set up an appointment for him. J was sleeping the whole time. Haha. Mom, she knows that we have the truth. She knows it. Their family is so beautiful! I want you to meet them. I want you to be friends with J on Facebook or something. He speaks perfect English. Ask him about his life before baptism. Ask him about his tattoo. Super cool guy!

The miracles continue! Sometimes the natural woman in me is super loud. Annoyingly loud actually. But when I put one foot in front of the other and walk with faith, the miracles come! It´s amazing!

 No Dad, I haven´t ever taught in English. But, Oh! Funny stories slash miracles about English. The other day, I tried contacting two gringas. I asked them in English if we could share our messages. They said no. It´s a lot harder in English. I am grateful for Spanish. It´s like my security blanket. It´s easier to be bold when you can blame your bad Spanish. I think my Heavenly Father knew that.

Also, the other day we were looking for people, less actives. In Costa Rica, you just ask everyone you see if they know, so and so, and they usually do. They then give you the worst directions using only hand gestures and random check points. Anyway, asked two people who were very helpful. They then told me they are studying English. They then asked if I want to speak to their University class tomorrow in front of 25 people in English about everything I believe. (Can I get a SAYYY WHUUUUT??¿!) I said YES enthusiastically. I´m a bit nervous. I think I´ll just state our articles of faith and testify about each one. Wish me luck, haha.

I sleep well. I actually get cold. It´s like 64 to 70 degrees and I’m COLD. What´s wrong with me, haha. But the other Hermana’s brought me a blanket, so I’m perfect now! Mom, I’m grateful for your white blanket you slept with as a child. I think of you as I fall asleep!

oooooshh ooossshsi señor, mi español es major cada dia. dificil, pero ASOMBROSO! 

Okay, my time is more or less up. my comps siting next to me tapping her fingers. she´s polite. we haven´t eaten. haha.

I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH!  Thank you for your prayers!

Have a good week!

Hermana Meg 

April 22, 2013

Hello family. I have so much to say. But I think I shall start off with, Have I told you that I love my mission lately?? Because I do. 

In personal study this week something in the Book of Mormon stood out to me about Teancum. He´s one of my heroes, but I noticed that he made a rash decision and let his emotions get the best of him.  This eventually led to his death. One day this week it was raining super strong. I´ll admit that I did let my emotions get the best of me. I was cold, wet, tired, and nobody was letting us in. (There truly is opposition in all things.)I´m learning to trust that when we´re doing the things we´re supposed to, the Lord will put miracles in our path.

My favorite experience this week happened yesterday. You´re going to get the spark notes version, and for that I am sorry. We were at a recent convert’s house as opposed to where we usually meet him at the chapel.  He doesn´t have too much support from his very Catholic-Evangelico family. But we just were led to his house. He told us we could come in, his mom and aunt were home but were busy cooking, so no worries. We were teaching him about temples and baptisms for the dead. His mother came in and sat in the room. I was so nervous. It was the first time she´d heard missionaries speak and here we were talking about baptizing the dead. When we finished we asked what questions they both had. The member didn´t have any. When it was the mothers turn, she told us that her father and husband passed away without being baptized and didn´t know that we could baptize for the dead. She said that if it were possible, she´d do all she could to be baptized for them. The spirit was so strong. All of us in the room were crying. It was incredible. I realized, once again, this is why I´m here. To help families know that they can live together forever! When my companion and I got back to the apartment, we talked and were so enthused. We offered up a prayer of gratitude for our many blessings. It was incredible, and I love the work. I love this place and these people.

There was this amazing moment;
I´m not sure if you´ve ever been yelled at by a Catholic-Evangelico-Christian woman before in Spanish, but let me tell you. What a rush. I couldn´t understand so much. But I could understand that she loved her son, so much. Her son, J, is a recent convert. He is 21 years old and yesterday decided that he wants to serve a mission. He also got ordained to the Melchezick Priestood yesterday. So cool! It clearly pained his mother to see her son choose such a path in life. She recounted his many remarkable stories of faith. There was this moment when R (mother) was crying, my companion was bawling, and J was crying. And there I sat. Lost, dazed and confused but trying. (Always trying) I felt the familiar burning in my chest, the spirit, telling me to reach out, grab her hands, and hug her or something. So I just got up, walked over to her and hugged her. I then knelt and held her hands and told her that it was touching to see so much passion and love for her son. Then J stood up walked over to his mommy and held her. I went back to my seat and marveled at this scene in front of me. She said no matter what he chooses in life she would always love him. I really could feel for her poor broken heart. He brushed back her hair, rubbed her arm softly and kept saying, I know you love me mommy. It was a very tender moment and I got to witness it. Now, it could be that I haven´t been able to hold my own mother in a long time, but my comp and I just cried. It was amazing and beautiful to see J, whom has only been a member for a month, answer his mother’s questions, share scriptures, and speak with power. He will be such an amazing missionary. The spirit was SO strong! Amazing! This night was a miracle. As I reflect on the many things that lined up just right so that we could be where we were, with who we were, when we were. R told us that usually she goes to a friend’s house on Sunday evenings but felt an impression to go home early. She told us that we could come back and she’ll continue to speak boldly and frankly and I told her we have thick skin. We knelt and closed with prayer. J grabbed my hands, shook them and with the most sincerity, thanked me. I know that we were an answer to his many prayers and righteous actions. Also I know that this was one of these moments when sister missionaries can get into houses elders never could.

Well, you know that moment in every young missionaries life when they realize why the heck they´re where they are? This moment is hard to express with words. One can hardly know where to begin. But, that just happened in my life!  It caused me to rush to the end of the street so I could shout and jump for joy? What is all this addicting adrenaline? I actually took off my backpack and ran up and down hills in excitement? Why? This is why. This is why I´m here. I want to always remember this moment! This feeling! It is SOO AMAAZING! Families can be together forever. While back in the apartment, my comp and I talked about what we had just experienced. With tears in our eyes, we knelt and offered a prayer of gratitude. We´re still both in shock over this experience.  I am truly grateful for this tender mercy. I’m grateful for this opportunity to be an instrument in The Hands of the Lord. It´s true that with a little time, everything is better. Being a missionary is incredible and the most amazing experience. It´s difficult being molded into what He wants me to be, but I know that it´s worth it. 

I´m wearing a name tag over my heart that bears the name of our Savior. I´m here for Him. My life will always be for Him. It also bears my family’s name. I do this for you. For my FOREVER family! (All I wanted to do, by the way, was to call my mom and tell her about my awesome night. You always listen to me mom. Good and the bad.) I love and miss you family.

Please know that this work is amazing. Prayers are answered. I love you more and more and more each minute. Please have a good day and week!

Love,

Hermana Workman

By the way, hi mom. I love you more than cracked corn! Hug each of my grand folks. I love and miss them. (Love the picture of grandma’s birthday dinner in the sombrero! Welcome to my world!)

April 15, 2013 

“Here you go... a little slice of my heaven. Megan’s refinement process; President Uchdorf tells us to love the middle. (I don’t love the middle) my favorite part is looking back and saying, hey I´m learning. I’m growing. I’m becoming The Megan my Heavenly Father wants me to be. “

Love my family of investigators!  H, his wife, V and their two lil boys N and I. They´re so great. They love the church and the many message about families. They love to sing Families can be Together Forever. They´re cute! 

Journal Entry: “So eventually we ran out of things to do. I had read previously that day in the white handbook that Sundays and festivals are the best days for proselyting, so we decided to take the Lord up on that promise, it being a Sunday and the last day of the festival. Our original goal was 1 young man and 2 families, close to our mission goal. And with proselyting / contacting, I’ve found that you usually have 100 no’s and 1 yes. (Thank you Lighthouse for the practice on rejection and talking to complete strangers.) We had some good success, I hope. We hit our goal and then some. We worked hard. I hope they´ll let us invite them to receive the restored gospel.”

Okay so you´ve been having nice rain lately huh? I’m assuming you don’t even know what real rain is. (Photos to follow) It´s been SO pretty. Like sunny in the morning, rain in the afternoon. And when I say rain in the afternoon I mean a monsoon. It´s nuts. I have to take off my socks, put them in a plastic bag with my scrips and just run usually to a tree to stand under.  Yeah, so how was my week this week. It was good. Spanish really only has one adjective, and it happens to be bueno. So...I don´t remember real adjectives. 

I was feeling a little low the other morning and I know Satan was working extra hard. He made me believe that I couldn’t take this any longer… that I was living the definition of insanity, doing the same thing and expecting different results each time. Every morning I exercise. Study. Walk. Return. Wash, rinse, repeat. Maybe you could call it slightly stir crazy. I finished my personal study and walked into the bedroom and knelt in prayer. I didn´t say anything for a while, trying to listen. I told my Heavenly Father the things that He already knew: about me missing my family, wanting to be His instrument, my physical pains, things from my heart. I cried for a while. I really do miss the comforts of my old life. I really do miss my family. ...But I know that our Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask, He just waits patiently with open arms, allowing us to use the agency we fought so hard for. I asked for a miracle. Finished up my sobs, wiped away the salty water leaking from my eyes and headed to start comp study. I decided to follow the courage of Esther, to do the difficult things. And out we went. We decided just to walk and knock on every fence we could… We walked up hill and downhill. We walked on pavement and pebbles. Then we walked some more. I saw beautiful mansions and humble homes of wood slabs strapped together by safety pins. We knocked on about 50 fences or more and contacted people at the festival. I think sometimes the miracle we expect or look for is some grand bang. A firework type of miracle. But the miracle can be that we walked and talked with power and authority, God with us every step of the way. I don´t know if I changed lives today, but I know I opened my mouth and cried repentance, what I´ve been set apart to do. The miracle is that I get to know my Heavenly Father better and that He can cure me from my pains, when I trust Him. The miracle is His love for me, Megan, personally. He knows all of us so well. He loves us, and I know this. 
"And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this." Esther 4:14 

Want to hear about a miracle? While walking down the street, someone in their car called out HI SISTERS! Where are you from, I answered: “Utah!” And that was it. But later, while walking through the festival, a young man walked over and without saying a word, handed me money. Porque? I asked. He only touched my plaque. I then asked in English, where are you from? “Utah. Highland.” I asked if we could come over and meet his family. They told us that we never have enough money and gave us their spare change. They wished us well and were off. It was a small dollar amount, but huge in kindness.  I´m so grateful! Angels are all around me mommy. Your prayers are answered, and don´t worry. 

My hospital trip...

THINKING IN NUMBERS, FUN FACTS AND SONG:

• Investigators here are astronomical. Everyone here loves God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. They all say yes to a conversation about religion. The tricky part is getting them to “DO”. If I was to put a number on the people I’ve seen… one million and then some… Specifically in San Jose on a Friday night.  200 people I’ve said “Hi” to daily.  And if I forget, they say “hi” to me. Helped baptize? 100… everyone I invite to church, give a pamphlet to; share a piece of my testimony. “But as to my own strength, I am nothing…” It’s all The Lord
• 500 25,000 600 miles I’ve walked. (Sing it with me)
• Never seen an apple here. However, mangos and cantaloupe are the crowd’s favorite. Young and old alike. Seriously, have you ever seen a baby gnawing on a juicy mango with the skin still on it?
• Shells at Playa Concha (seashell beach) It’s so beautiful here. It’s like God gathered up all of the seashells in the world and dumped them here. There is no sand… just shells. Billions, Trillions… a gazillion!!
• “Tico” the language in Costa Rica. For example; libro = book. However, in Costa Rica, you say librito!
• Here, in CR, people GIVE! In our culture, we’re always worried about what we have, or don’t have. I’ve been on the receiving end of so much generosity. My heart is full of gratitude. They are so willing because they want to give! It’s amazing to me! (Everyone give something today!!)
• No rules here for navigation. Even Siri would be lost! Just go visual! That’s the trick to getting around. If you live a block from the pulperia (store). That is your address.  If your house is pink… like my old one… use that too.
• Here, we just tap fences. No door knocking. We use rocks and tap the fences and yell: ”Lupey” Which means knock knock. Or “Buenas” (if someone is home their door will be open) If they stroll out, which they usually do, we share a message about God.  When they are enthusiastic about it…we get invited beyond the fence.
• Soccer match between USA and Costa Rica was in Colorado. Crazy for soccer here. It’s on all the televisions. I miss the snow.
• WE WORK. We don’t stop. We’re on the Lord’s time. I’m on your dime. Never stop working.

Favorite quote of the week comes from Hermana Q. “Want to know why I want to learn English so desperately? Not because everyone in the world speaks it or because if I know English I’ll get paid more money. But, because I want to hear the prophet speak.”  We are all so blessed! Not just because we’ve been born to goodly parents or parents who love the Lord. We have so much. It’s no coincidence that we were born where or when we were. Take a moment to really think about that.

PHOTOS:  traditional dish here. Arroz con Pollo and Ensalada Rosa. It´s like potato salad, but with beets in it. haha Go Beetdiggers, right? It´s actually delicious. BEAUTIFUL CITY! Green and street art. My heart loves it here!  Me and my babies (yes they´re generally called babies when you train them, but I didn´t call my trainee a baby. She was my equal and really great. I call them my babies because I love them like a mother loves her child. My hospital trip - Hermana F pointing to my butt, because I was about to get an injection in my nalga. “Drop your skivvy’s toots.” And       all of the pillows were to keep my head elevated because when the blood rushed to my jaw it was killer. But don´t worry. All is well now. 

Love to you all!

Hermana Meg Workman

Fright, Fight or Flight.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Hi!  Okay so yeah I have some type of virus, but I didn´t mean to scare y’all. Really I´m fine. The Lord is really helping me. I made the mistake of telling you I was sick. Never again. Ha! Truly though, I was and am so well taken care of. So many people love me. Expect a letter soon. I just need to find the post office first. Wish me luck. Thank you ALL for your prayers. I FELT THEM! 

I am in Ciudad Colòn, oooooosh ooooosh. And to be honest, I feel like I´ve just left the stoner table of the Mean Girl lunch room and moved up to the cool kids table. Not the plastics, but the really cool kids. (please ask M to help you understand this reference.)  And, who doesn´t love a stoner friend, right? Guanacaste. It taught me a lot. It was like leaving home all over again. My family. The only place I´ve ever known, right? Guanacaste is a really humble place. Really humble. The people have nothing but are happy regardless. They love you as a stranger and are willing to give you all they have. I think this has taught me to be more relaxed and less worried about my own comfort and just be willing to give. It´s the place where I experienced my first real case of culture shock; which is very real by the way, not just a fancy name. Everything around me was so different. But I managed. I didn´t die, in fact, I came back better. Part of my refining process. I learned more Spanish, the area, and I trained someone!  Guanacaste taught me to be stronger and just keep going. 

I´m happy you all enjoyed General Conference.  Was there breakfast casserole involved? I missed being at home. Shout out to Austin S, totally saw you on conf! Also, Donny Osmand, I mean Danny O. Congrats! In all honesty, Satan was working really hard on me. He knows me so well, it´s eerie. (More on this later.)  I found out that my only option for watching General Conference was in Spanish and honestly, I was crushed. I cried. We were in a janitor’s closet, and I´m really not kidding. Two elders, my companion and I, all cramped in this tiny little closet, watching General Conference, in Spanish, on a small computer screen. On the positive side of things, the picture was great. Eventually we got it in English, and “THE HILLS ARE ALIVE” Please cue both The Sound of Music lady dancing on the hills (me in colon) and Moulin Rouge (because both rock.) Yes! I noticed a lot about marriage and family too. It really touched some investigators we have. They really liked how much our church focuses on families. And I want the world to know, that THIS LIFE IS NOT THE END. You CAN live with your family forever. That´s why I´m here…away from my family; because I know that I´ll see them all again. Both in this world and the in next. I’m so happy to have God on my side. This means I´ll win every time. Make God the center of our lives! C, you made me laugh. Sorry you were uncomfy, but I don’t think you realized what you have. To be in the same room as a prophet is a miracle! Truly! BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   In all honesty, 

I have a new companion, Hermana L from Mexico. She is 28 years old. I miss Hermana F, we were together for an eye blink. But so far, all is well with sweet Hermana L. Shout out to Hermana P if she stumbles across my blog. How´s good ole Nicoya? Also, I miss you. Maybe. 
I now live about 30 min away from San Jose. This means that I live close to a Wal-Mart, also every other good that the States have to offer, more or less. I really am hoping not to gain weight. Also, the climate here is PHENOMENAL!!!!!!! When I grow up, I think I´m going to move here. Absolutely beautiful! It´s so so so so so so SOOOO green. It´s the Costa Rica from the photos, and I really feel like I´m in Jurassic Park. 
We walked into our new house, which has been occupied by Elders for the past 6 years.  We walked into a scene from a horror movie, and that is no exaggeration. Seriously, you know in Snow White when she and the animals clean all the cobwebs and dirty dishes, etc? We were literally sweeping the ceiling and scraping the floor boards trying to get dust and spiders and creeping things out of the way. (Mom, thank you for putting that song from Enchanted on my iPod, I laugh every time we clean with it because it describes perfectly my new house.) It made me miss our beautiful pink house in Nicoya. I don´t think that our new house has ever been cleaned.  By the way, can I tell you what an honor it is to be here right now? This area has not had sisters in 18 years. Let me repeat that, 18 YEARS!  I feel the pressure and responsibility, and this area is HOPPIN! Oh! I have a bishop again! It´s SOOOOO awesome! And a mission leader! And such a good ward. It´s SUCH A BLESSING!

Okay funny story, I don´t know if anyone has ever told you this before, but Ticos are white. Really white. Whiter than I´ll ever be. With this background information, I feel like you´re ready for my awkward moment. There is a super awesome culture festival going on here in Ciudad Colòn which invites a ton of hipsters and locals. I was walking through and I thought I recognized the Relief Society President’s daughter. So I stopped, said a huge HOLA and kissed her cheek. She paused and asked me, in English, ¨Wait, do I know you?¨ At which point I realized that I had just kissed a complete stranger: flight or fight??¿ So I, being super smooth pretended to only speak Spanish. I´m not quite sure if I threw her off or not, but I´m hoping that she´d been drinking (really missionary like of me right?) so that I´m not always the laughing stock (what does that phrase even mean?) of her jokes forever. I walked away and just had to laugh at myself. A humbling moment: I´m clearly human! 
Our investigators are amazing here. They actually READ the Book of Mormon!! They do their assignments! One lady read the first 17 chapters of the Book of Mormon. She said she had a hard time stopping. She said that Nephi was a lot like Noah. When building a boat everyone laughed. But God protected the righteous. I´d never made this comparison before. I´m learning and I’m grateful for the good around me. I have a lot to be grateful for! 
Gen Conf makes me homesick. It´s my hood! My peeps! My family tradition! Satan knows that. But I know that even when we´re amongst life´s greatest (a beautiful city WITH HOT WATER! POR FIN!) Satan can enter and bring us down. When we choose to follow the Savior, there is no room for Satan.  (No man can serve two masters) Missions (life) are hard. Really hard, especially around holidays or major events. But there truly is something in each day to embrace and cherish. The thing I was given was a gift from my Heavenly Father saying, I have not forgotten you... and He let me be His instrument in His hand. He is my Creator, my Maker. Who else knows me better? My Heavenly Father, knowing my heart, trusted me with....investigators...A beautiful couple with two beautiful little boys. I´m excited to get to work! 

I’ve been studying the New Testament and the life of Jesus Christ. I want to know our Savior. I’m reading about his ministry along the shores of Galilee. 

I can´t upload photos here again. I´m so sorry! I’ve even been consciously trying to take good photos this week. Really sorry. But all will work out. GO VISUAL:  Picture me holding the...spout? Faucet thingee (I forgot the word in English) to our sink in one hand. It broke right off. Ha. Picture me in front of some of the coolest graffiti ever! Also, picture grey awesome skies and BRIGHT and dark greens EVERYWHERE! Picture hills and crazy terrain. I´m like hiking all the time. Hills are everywhere.   Thank you for the photos! OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!  MELTING HEART!  R, my comp thought this was your wedding photo! (Where are her sleves!) So happy for you. So glad you loved prom. A senior? I love you!  R, you’re so tall! Love the camping photos! B, what happened to your hair! And your puppy! Wow! Love you all! 

No package yet, but be patient. I am much closer and have more access. I´m excited about it because yesterday one of our investigators asked us for a HLJ ring. She’s not a member, yet, she just likes what we stand for!  Awesome I tell you. 

Greetings to my grandparents. Hug them each for me. I miss and love them. Tell the Workman grand folk to go to church. Then, tell them I love them. (Please send some fried potatoes and onions. ha.) 

Family, I love you so much it´s nuts. I love each of you and wish the best. 
Have a good week. 
Stop crying. 
Stop it. 
All is well! 
ALL IS WELL! 
Hermana Workman 

OOOSHHHHHHHHHH! THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!