Fourth Letter!!!

Dear ……….Familia y Amigos!!!!!!!! February 4, 2013

Only 2 weeks left here at the MTC, and I do not feel ready! Pero, I'm praying that the Lord well help me be prepared enough for those people in Costa Rica!! All of us missionaries going to Costa Rica are hoping to get our travel plans this Friday and hoping that our visa is coming real soon! It's been so amazing to watch our Zone grow so big. First week here there were only 2 districts. There originally were 8 in the first district and then 10 in my district. But our zone has doubled and there is another district joining us this week with 6 elders and 6 sisters. They say in about 3 weeks there should be the same amount of sisters as elders here in the MTC...us hermanas are pretty excited!!!

Yesterday my district had a pretty sweet testimony meeting. After the meeting I just felt such a great love for each of the missionaries in my district. The testimonies that others bear help you see people for who they really are, which is a child of God. I love it! In my district there is a trio of elders, 2 sets of companions, and then the Hermana trio ( me and my companions).

For the record: Elder Black: he is young but with the help of our teacher Hermano Zenger, I have seen him grow spiritually stronger. He is really musical and makes me a little jealous, haha. Elder Ritchie is our district leader. He is quiet but is dedicated and diligent in his work! Elder Johnson is the fun but an eager missionary to do the work of the Lord. Elder Chisolm was struggling with the language a little bit at the beginning, but I have seen him progress so much because of his hard work. Elder Pugh is a 6'6" giant...both physically and spiritually. I feel that his spiritual maturity has grown so much! Elder Hinckley is the buff elder that all the other elders really look up to. He had 5 knee surgeries before his mission call and never thought he would be serving out of state...tender mercy for him when he got called to serve in panama. Elder Banaier is from Guadeloupe and keeps us all smiling and laughing with his French accent and not very good English. He is learning Spanish and will be serving in France. He blows our minds when he can't think of how to say something in English and transfers to Spanish(Native language is French). Thank you to those who have written Elder Bananier...he doesn't get any letters from family and so I have loved seeing his face when he got a letter from someone he didn't know. He was really grateful for those letters! My companion and I, and all the elders, except for Hinckley and Bananier, are going to Costa Rica! Me and my companions are so grateful that we will be able to see each other in Costa Rica for the next year and a half.

I love these girls so much and they have taught me many important lessons! Hermana Anderson is 20 and from South Joradan Utah. She was supposed to " run" for BYU but ended up having to have surgery on her ankles. She didn't think she would be able to walk again, but how grateful we are for the miracle of her being able to walk and serve a mission with me and Hermana Lopez. She is one organized and structured girl, but me and Hermana Lopez are so

grateful for that because it keeps us on track! Hermana Lopez is the energy of our companionship. She is 23 and from Tuila, Utah (originally from California). Her Dad is from El Salvador and so she knew a tiny, tiny bit of spanish before she got here. Hermana Anderson and I have been trying to adopt her accent...hasn't quite worked yet though. Hermana Anderson has been Mormon her whole life and Hermana Lopez was converted when she was like 12. Her family isn't totally active, so we're glad she can be that light and example to her family.

I am so grateful for our strong bond in our companionship, it helps the spirit to be with us always and most importantly when we are teaching Fernando and Gloria. Fernando is getting baptized this Saturday, which we are so excited for. He was a little unsure about the whole tithing thing but we invited him to fast and pray about it this past Sunday, so we are excited to talk to him tonight. Gloria has two children and a boyfriend who is a member. Her progress is slow, but we have seen a desire grow within her to learn more and do as the Savior has taught. She loved the plan of Salvation. We teach both of these investigators twice a week. All our planning, personal study, companionship study, language study, and class time is centered on Gloria and Fernando. But when you lose yourself for His sake, you will find it

..................................Well I'm out of time but I just want you to know that I had the best Tender Mercies yesterday. Wednesday Hiedi Corbridge and Emily Lewis (cousin) arrived on Wendnesday...no sight of them for five days! I prayed and prayed that I would run into them somehow. Sunday morning my electrical outlet had a shortage so I had to curl my hair in the bathroom. My bathroom was full so I went down the hall to the next bathroom. Few minutes later I find could Emily standing next to me at the bathroom. There was a little bit of screaming and lots of hugging! Love that sister missionary! Aunt Vivienn...She is doing great and smiling as much as she always does!! Argentina will love her!! Sunday evening came along and I still trusted that the Lord would lead me to Heidi...I found her meal time schedule from the front desk and went to her dinner which was an hour before mine...still no sign of her. However while staning in line for some food, I looked over to the right, and there was a peaceful sister Corbridge praying over her food!!! I ran over to where she was sitting and caught her by surprise after she was done praying. The Lord answers prayers and know our needs for sure!!! Most important thing I learned this past week...trust in the Lord!!! "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5. I challenge all of you to recognize all that the Lord has done for you and trust in Him with all your heart! The gospel is true and the MTC is one of the best places on earth!! Buenos Noches!!!

Love, Hermana Pease