Sisters Conference

Ohhhhh Noah

Mom-    HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!  Well, from Costa Rica at least :).

  I do hope that all is going well, and that you are excited for school to start! Or work (for you Allie!)

Well, its been a good week here in Pococi! I am absolutely loving my area!  At first we spent alot of time walking around in circles... but  we are feeling comfortable with directions and what not!

Here are some highlights for the week!

1- We had a Hermana Conference! It was wonderful! The Specialist Hermanas put it together.  We got to hear from president and his wife.  Had some clases with games, learned some study techniques, watched some wonderful talkes, and did YOGA! Overall it was a success.  It was a spiritually uplifing experience, and so much fun to see all the sisters in the mission!

2.  I had my first Member (and dog) present lesson. Haha There is a dog that follows us EVERYWHERE.  We were in guapelis centro the other day... and it was still following.  You should see the strange looks that we get as we Hupe Bueno (knock on doors) with this dog next to us... Ohhhh Noah. (thats his name)

3.  I know I have mentioned it about 1,000 times... but our ward is AWESOME.  We have implemented a program that is - never go alone.  That to church and every activity they bring a neighbor or friend, or less active.  We will see how it goes!

4.  After a wonderful lesson with a less active the other night we left and were picking some mandarins off of their tree...when to my surprise a HUGE SLOTH came walking by.  I am talking size of a medium dog!!! And i didn't have my camera! It made the night THAT much better! It literally was 5 feet away.  Only in Costa Rica

Just a thought as I have been studying Moses 1:39  Gods priorities are His family, which is all of us.  And His happiness comes from loving his family... then that should tell us where our happiness should come from- and where our priorities should be!

I love you guys so much! 

I hope that you have a wonderful week!

Hermana Anderson

Transfers!!!!!

Buenas!! 

I hope that all is going well for everyone!  Mid August- I cant believe it..   I hope that everyone is enjoying the last few weeks free before the semester starts!

What a week!! Where to start...? Hmm... I guess we will start with.... 

TRANSFERS!!

Wednesday in our district meeting they told the Hermanas (us) that only one of us had changes... but they werent going to tell us who until the night time.  and that we had to find a members house for one of the sisters to wait at while the other one went to San Jose.  We really had no idea who was going to get transfered out- but I felt like it was me (and I was right).  I had more time, and I honestly just felt like my time was done in that area- it was a very sad feeling.  That night was extremely hard for me.  We said goodbye to Ingri and her family, who I love so much and some other inverstigators and members that we had appointments with that day.  I never realized that I could love these people so much, and that it would be so hard to leave them.

Hermana Starke and I recieved the news at about 10 oclock that night.   She was staying, I was getting transfered.  Well at first they told me Pocoku, Limon... but really my area is Pococi II, Guapelus.  (it is in the area of zona atlantica, Limon.  sisters arent in limon because it is dangerous) 

We then spent the night, and I mean the whole night packing.  Poor Hermana Starke- bless her heart! I had 6 months there... it was tricky to pack it all up at 1 in the morning. And the next morning we left.  It was so sad to leave Hermana Starke- So grateful for the time that we had together!!  

So here I am! Pococi II.  I am opening this area, and... I am training. 

My companions name is Hermana Tordecilla.  She is wonderful!  She is 23, from Colombia, doesnt know english, and has an amazingly strong testimony and is ready to work and be obediant.  I am so lucky to have her as a companion.

I have really really enjoyed my time here, and it has been but 4 or 5 days.  For me it has been confirmed (as I learned when I went on divisions with the Specialist Hermanas) that every area is very different.  I have been absolutley astounded at the help of the members here.  We were more than welcomed in the ward- and have already gone out with the members.  They are so willing to help, its amazing.  We are in a ward. and the support of the members is wonderful!

Sautrday I also had a WONDERFUL experience.  I had the opportunity to go to the sealing of Marcos and Raquel.  They were menos activos when I first got to Orotina...  It was a wonderful experience.  It was beautiful.
They are an eternal family now.  I really dont think there is anything greater... And I am so incredibly happy for them. 

Also Zillahs wedding in next week, and Oscars baptism.  I wont be there in Orotina.  but I am so happy for them!

Oh and for my favorite language errors this week- 

When I was talking about my dad.  And instead of saying that he was an appraiser- I said... My dad is a little dog.  We got a good laugh out of that one.  Perrito vs Perito.  Can you blame me?

LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH!

Hermana Anderson

August 5th Orotina

Oro- Tina ( pot of gold)

Hello hello!!

Thank you all for you letters! I love Mondays so much because I get to hear from you guys :)  Well, we have transfers THIS week..... We will see what happens.  Hermana Starks training will end... and I have been here 6 months... I have my ideas of what will happen.  But we'll see! I talked to a sister the other week that was in an area for 7 1-2 months! So...  Until next Monday on that topic!  Stay tuned. 

Here are some fun happenings for the week-

1.  Well the marriage date is set for Zillah and Oscar!!! Whoohoo!!  August 17 at 5:00.  How exciting is that?? And they got their rings last week :) Im so happy for them! The baptism will be directly after the ceremony!

2.  So Hermana Starke and I have wanted pizza for like... weeks.  So one night we got one for dinner... then we had an appointment at a members house after... Guess what? They had pizza for us.  Its just our luck, we never get pizza!  But... even more than that- it was such a wonderful night! They had invited some friends over, and we had brought some members with us.  We ended up having a WONDERFUL lesson about the plan of salvation, specifically what is going to happen after this life.  We were all able to learn and talk together.  And we have a return appointment with the friend :)

3. Noni.... this nasty potato like fruit that drops right and left in the streets of Costa Rica... I still cant figure out why the juice is so stinking expensive in the states.

4.  My testimony has really grown in the fact that we need to have faith in the small things for our testimonies to grow.  We get so many investigators.. and well people in general that want to know all of the detail details... its so important that our testimonies have a foundation... and then we can learn and grow... and place our trust that God loves us and that His plan for us is perfect... and that all will be just and fair in its time.

5.  Wonderful Miricle! I think I might have wrote about this a little last week- But ALL of Ingris children came to church last week- and they enjoyed it.  Well this sunday they were all dressed and ready with the picture they had colored of the missionaries in hands!!  AND on top of that... they all stayed theee whole time! And kiara and Tati went to Young Womens!! And enjoyed it!  They all came to a group night that we had later that sunday- and when Ingri left they asked if they could stay longer... so we walked the girls home.  Such a miricle! It was so hard for Ingri to get to church when None of the children would go.  So happy!

6.  Ingri is one of my heros! She has 5 kids of her own... and pretty much takes care of the other 6 that live in the same house.... Her house consists of dirt floors and a bunk bed... and she is so incredibly happy.  She dedicated her life to serving her children, and is such an example! 

7.  There is a man that lives in San Matteo.... (Hopefully I havnet told you about it)  Every time we walk past his house he comes out knowing that we have to walk back past his house again.  He has a loud preacher voice and always a Bible in hand... His eyes are red... and really dont have another color int he center... when he stretches his fingers they bend backwards... and yet he looked strangely familiar to me...... Hermana Starke nailed it one night when we were laying in bed.... the GRINCH!!!! hahaha he seriously looks like him!  We have lovely adventures with him... It usually consists of some verses in the bible, and him telling us abou the visions that he has had over what neighbors and being unfaithful and the pastors as well....   Ohhh the life we live.

Well between bank lines, and lightning storms we are doing pretty well here.  We are working A TON with the members in my rama (branch) as well as some investigators.  We are really trying to strengthen the branch... so that new ones can come, and be taken care of.  I love the quote by presdient HInkley that just talks about how precious a new converts testimony is.... with out the help of the branch... itcan die.  Coming into the church is like experiencing a whole differnent culture, of which I can relate to a little bit with the short time that I have been here in Costa Rica.  I love you all so much! Thank you for your love support and letters :)

Have a wonderful week!  I am sure you are all counting down to the school days! Enjoy the last little bit of summer :)

Hermana Anderson