15th letter!

Dear family!   April 15^th , 2013

Today we had a meeting for all of us “newbies” who came 6 weeks ago and our companions. It was so good to see my old district and how the gospel has changed their lives...we all seem a little more humbled, haha. It was fun to hear the different experiences of cockroaches, earwigs, worms, being mugged, and of course all the inspiring conversion stories! We had a testimony meeting with President Wilkinson. I can’t express enough how amazing he is. One thing he always says (that I love), “ We are always happy but never satisfied”  (think that’s the right translation haha). There is always more that we can do to improve our lives. One thing that I have learned is that God is always preparing us for something better. Sometimes the preparing part is really tough, but the blessings and happiness we receive are beyond the trial we experienced. We truly have a loving Heavenly Father and a Savior who have paved the path for us...we just have to follow and endure! After our meeting we all headed over to the mission home for a big lunch. Sister Wilkinson was so awesome to make a traditional American meal of potatoes, salad, rolls, and roast beef. All of us gringos were so excited to eat something different than rice and beans! And then Ice cream and cake afterwards...I miss the desserts in the states, that’s for sure!

This week Hermana Portillo was sick and so for about two hours Hermana Garcia and I went out contacting on our own while a member sister stayed with Hermana Portillo. Hermana Garcia and I were a little sad that nobody wanted to talk with us! There was only one lady that said we could teach if I taught her daughter piano on a little keyboard...so of course we agreed and we set an appointment to return. On our way back home we got drenched in a down pour of rain for about 10 min...I felt it was appropriate for the setting.

We had a miracle yesterday!!!! Fransisco was baptized (The spouse of Jerryca who didn’t want anything to do with our lessons)!!! In sacrament meeting their two children were blessed (It was a miracle they sat still during their blessings!!) and then after church meetings we had Fransisco’s baptism. He bore his testimony after and said that he knew there is a prophet on the earth that has the priesthood and that he is grateful for this change in his life so that he can live with his family in the celstial kingdom. He has also told us that he wants the priesthood and I know that he is working hard to be worthy for it. He had to give up coffee before his baptism, which I know was a little hard at first, but he did it! So happy for this wonderful family and can’t believe the miraculous change! Only one more year and they are off to make higher covenants in the temple...I pray that they remain faithful!!!

Well the Lord is blessing my life tremendously. I am so grateful for my companions! It’s hard to understand them sometimes but I know they feel the same way about me, haha. But they are always so good to help me and encourage me. Costa Rica is starting to turn into winter....well more like monsoon season for 7 months, but I am grateful it isn’t snow! Also, our district leader took off our shower head because it had mold all over it. So right now we shower with a bucket of water and cool whip container....makes me laugh every time. Well I love my mission and I am so grateful for all the prayers on my behalf...thank you!! The gospel of Jesus Christ truly is the only path to true happiness in this life and in the life to come! I hope all is well in the United States and that there really isn’t a war going on between Korea , because that’s what they are telling me here! Pura Vida!!

Hermana Pease