10th Letter!!!

 Buenas!! March 11, 2013

The sun has been shining and people think I’m crazy when I say I love the heat here! But it’s funny because I think the Costa Ricans are crazy when they have big warm coats on when it’s like 70 degrees outside, haha too funny. We finally caught the two rats that were in our house on a sticky pad. Our 90 yr old apartment manager beat them to death with an iron rod,haha...oh how I love Hermana Elvita. She is a devout Catholic, like most old people here, but before I leave this town I’m determined to convert her. She calls me and Hermana Portillo her two other daughters. Every morning we spend our time studying and then we have lunch at Hermana Patricia’s house, who lives right across from our house. Then the rest of the day is filled with lessons and finding people along the streets, however finding families is our main goal as a mission.

Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m making progress in the language but I just keep praying that I am. There is a part in Preach My Gospel that says, “part of seeking the gift of tongues is to labor and struggle and to do all you can to learn the language.” “Trust that the Spirit will help you as you live the way you should and do your very best.” I think that is true with many gifts of the spirit that we seek to obtain. Yes, we are going to struggle and even have temptation and deception in our life, but we will be blessed when we work hard and strive to do our very best and recognize good and evil!

It was a Tender Mercy yesterday to meet Elder and Sister Flake from Snowflake (As soon as I heard their name, of course I knew they were from Snowflake). They told me that they knew Jessica’s grandpa, Lewis Tenney, very well. They worked under him at the Snowflake Temple. They raved about what a wonderful family the Tenney’s are...and of course I agreed because I am so happy to have a Tenney as a sister-in-law!

We had a lesson with Arelis and her husband and Elder Flake and sister flake joined us, since they had found Arelis. The lesson was awesome as they accepted the invitation to be baptized on March 31st. Arelis had gone to the full block of church and stayed for the baptism afterwards. I asked her what she thought of the baptism, and I think she said that she loved it...at least something like that, haha. But I know that she felt the spirit very strong and is excited to prepare for her baptism. She

is working on reading the whole book of mormon right now. Thank you for your prayers for these people in Costa Rica! They really are all so kind here...but I found out that not all people in Costa Rica are like the people here in San Rafael...Whenever we ask if we can share a message people usually always say yes. Apparently there are some other cities where that is not the case, ha...I don’t know how I got so blessed to serve here with an awesome trainer! Well there are families we need to teach! The gospel is true and I pray that we can all hold firm to the truthfulness of the gospel, because that is what is going to hold our families strong! Love, Hermana Pease

Pictures From Costa Rica!!

Number Nine!!

Buenas!! March 11, 2013

The sun has been shining and people think I’m crazy when I say I love the heat here! But it’s funny because I think the Costa Ricans are crazy when they have big warm coats on when it’s like 70 degrees outside, haha too funny. We finally caught the two rats that were in our house on a sticky pad. Our 90 yr old apartment manager beat them to death with an iron rod,haha...oh how I love Hermana Elvita. She is a devout Catholic, like most old people here, but before I leave this town I’m determined to convert her. She calls me and Hermana Portillo her two other daughters. Every morning we spend our time studying and then we have lunch at Hermana Patricia’s house, who lives right across from our house. Then the rest of the day is filled with lessons and finding people along the streets, however finding families is our main goal as a mission.

Sometimes I’m not sure if I’m making progress in the language but I just keep praying that I am. There is a part in Preach My Gospel that says, “part of seeking the gift of tongues is to labor and struggle and to do all you can to learn the language.” “Trust that the Spirit will help you as you live the way you should and do your very best.” I think that is true with many gifts of the spirit that we seek to obtain. Yes, we are going to struggle and even have temptation and deception in our life, but we will be blessed when we work hard and strive to do our very best and recognize good and evil!

It was a Tender Mercy yesterday to meet Elder and Sister Flake from Snowflake (As soon as I heard their name, of course I knew they were from Snowflake). They told me that they knew Jessica’s grandpa, Lewis Tenney, very well. They worked under him at the Snowflake Temple. They raved about what a wonderful family the Tenney’s are...and of course I agreed because I am so happy to have a Tenney as a sister-in-law!

We had a lesson with Arelis and her husband and Elder Flake and sister flake joined us, since they had found Arelis. The lesson was awesome as they accepted the invitation to be baptized on March 31st. Arelis had gone to the full block of church and stayed for the baptism afterwards. I asked her what she thought of the baptism, and I think she said that she loved it...at least something like that, haha. But I know that she felt the spirit very strong and is excited to prepare for her baptism. She is working on reading the whole book of mormon right now. Thank you for your prayers for these people in Costa Rica! They really are all so kind here...but I found out that not all people in Costa Rica are like the people here in San Rafael...Whenever we ask if we can share a message people usually always say yes. Apparently there are some other cities where that is not the case, ha...I don’t know how I got so blessed to serve here with an awesome trainer! Well there are families we need to teach! The gospel is true and I pray that we can all hold firm to the truthfulness of the gospel, because that is what is going to hold our families strong! Love, Hermana Pease

Eighth Letter!!

Pura Vida! March 4, 2013

In Costa Rica, that’s the answer to everything, haha. You ask someone how they’re doing and they say, “ Pura Vida”, haha. Yesterday was an awesome Sunday...My companion and I had 7 of our investigators come to church!! My companion said that this past Sunday was the best she has ever had. The Garcia Gonzolas family came to church for the first time and I think it was a really new experience for them since they’ve never really gone to church before. They have a little baby boy and 14 yr old daughter, however they aren’t married. So the next challenge for them is to become married.

I am finding that here in Costa Rica it is really normal to have a family with a man but never marry and many times as well to have a family with a man who also has another girlfriend. It is so sad to see...so glad I can be a part of sharing the truth of God’s plan for them! Jeryca (daughter standing is Sofia) is one of our investigators and she has two kids with a man named Fransisco, but not married. Jeryca has a baptismal date next week and we really hope that her goal of getting married this week follows through! It has been a little bit of a struggle since Fransisco doesnt really want to get married. Fransisco is Catholic and Hermana Portillo and I have been trying to teach him more about the gospel. He is a little hard hearted right now but we have been praying and fasting that his heart will be softened.

Well I havent seen any sloths yet! But we do have a raton(rat) in our house that we can’t get rid of...our apartment manager (Our house is pretty much connected to her house) , who is like 90 yrs old, usually comes to save us with her broom when she hears us screaming. Our house is actually pretty nice compared to what other sister have had to live in. I have only seen one cockroach...Im counting that as a tender mercy!

The food here is still amazing and I hate to think that I will ever have to leave it! Costa Ricans have one dish that they usually eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and that’s rice and beans. The most common dish is the gayo pinto...next week I’ll send a picture of what I usually eat every day! It is still nice weather but supposedly winter is coming up, which is rain non -stop! Hermana Portillo told me that it rains every day from like May-December...can’t wait, haha!

Well I am blessed every day and I am grateful for my companion and all the investigators we are teaching right now! (We have about 13) The language is still a struggle for me, but the work goes on and I feel my testimony strengthening! The gospel is true! Love, Hermana Pease

Number 7!!!

Pura Vida!!!! 2/25/13 San Rafael de Ojo de agua, Costa Rica

Well there is so much to tell you I don’t even know where to start. Last Tuesday it was so good to talk to the whole family including Sal!!After I talked to the family we had about 3 more hours left in the Texas airport before we left for Costa Rica. So Hermana Anderson and I decided to practice some contacting. She went and talked to an older man and I found an older lady from El Salvador. Her English wasn’t very that’s what i think she said, haha). Anyways, I gave my first book of Mormon in the Texas airport!

At about 8:00 that night 14 of us missionaries (including my companions) arrived in Costa Rica, best feeling ever! And then seeing my mission President and his wife brought tears to my eyes! President Wilkinson was truly called of God! Him and the mission assistant took us all to the San, Jose temple. He said we should be able to go to the temple at least every three months. At midnight, 6 of us sisters arrived at a member’s house to spend the night. She had a little a spare house that looked like a little playhouse where the elders threw in six single mattresses for us to sleep on. That night was when I learned to be ok with cold showers, no make-up, and pony tails always,haha. However, I learned my first couple of days in Costa Rica that everyone here is super nice! Ive already decided that I want to be a tica(costa ricans are called ticos).

Thursday afternoon, all of us new missionaries finally received our trainers and the name of our area that we would be serving in. My trainer was my big tender mercy last week! Her name is Hermana Potillo and hardly speaks any English. She is from El Salvador, which I was happy to relate with her and tell her that my brother served there! She is so good to talk slow and annunciate every letter for me. Hermana Portillo is a hard worker and all the people here love her! We were called serve in the northern part of Costa Rica about an hour away from San Jose. I love San Rafael de Ojo de agua! Instead of a big city it’s more of a country; with horses and cows and small buildings and houses.

The ward here is incredible as well. There are about 120 members in our ward and the people are kind to speak slow when speaking to me. It’s really hard to understand ticos cuz they talk really fast, slur their words, and talk quiet. Estaban is the ward mission leader and he actually served in El Salvador about a year ago. He adds energy to the missionary work here along with a few other people in the ward who are preparing for missions. Maria Jose is a 19 yr. old in the ward who is waiting for her papers to come. She has been coming to a lot of lessons with us and her testimony is awesome! Our district leader and his companion( Elder Keyser and Elder petlacalco) live close to us and we have lunch every day with them at Hermana Patricias house. We pay Hna. Patricia to cook every lunch for us...they are always super good! I think the Costa Ricans with a little bit more money usually hire someone to cook lunch for them.

I still don’t understand anything anyone says but It has been an awesome experience to be teaching as much as I can in Spanish. We have one girl right now with a baptismal date. Her name is Francini and she is 16 yrs. old. Some other sisters found her, but since she is in our area we get to teach her. She agreed with everything we taught her and we left her with the challenge to read and pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true. So we can’t wait for our next lesson. We also found 3 new families just by knocking on their doors. We have hardly knocked on doors but the three that we have knocked on have all seemed to be very interested. Every one is always outside so we usually find new investigators by just talking to them while walking by.

Everyone in Costa Rica is very religious or at least have a strong belief in God, Whenever we ask if they believe in God they always say, “claro” (like clearly or of course). It’s funny watching people just stare at me because of my white skin and blond hair and green eyes. Whenever we are in a lesson and my companion asks who they want to say the prayer, they always pick me, haha. So I think I’m getting my prayers down pretty good haha. Everyone has gates around their houses (usually), so instead of knocking on doors, you knock on the metal gate and say, upe...buenas. It doesn’t have a meaning, but people here always respond to it and open their doors when they hear it.

Well my companion is waiting for me...so next week I will tell you more and hopefully be able to send more pictures. For P-day today we went to a waterfall and it was so beautiful!! I love you all! The gospel is true so don’t ever be afraid to share what you know! Love Hermana Pease

Quick Note

Quick note from Myreel – from Costa Rica February 20, 2013

Well I am already sunburned all over my face and arms! Ha! I love Costa Rica!! I have been in San Jose for one day now and will be spending one more night here with all of the sisters that I flew in with. I will be getting my trainer tomorrow and finding out which zone I will be serving in. The mission President allowed us to write our families real quick so that we could let you know that we have arrived safely!!! The president and his wife are amazing! They have 3 daughters with them and a son. My preparation day will be on Monday so stay tuned so can tell you all about my adventures:) The missionaries said that the mail is really slow here and it can take up to like 2 to 3 or maybe 4 to 5 weeks...not sure but I guess we will find out. Here is my address:

Mision Costa Rica-San Jose

Apdo. Postal 249-2010

San Jose, Costa Rica

Well I love you all and I am so glad I am serving the people of Costa Rica! I understand nada, pero...its ok:) I will talk to all of you soon!!! Love, Hermana Pease

Talking to Hermana Pease

We got to talk to Myreel at the Dallas airport as she had a 6 hour layover before heading to Costa Rica. We got to talk to her for about 45 minutes and it was thrilling to hear her give the first vision all in Spanish. She shared how she was blessed with wonderful teachers and she loved the MTC. She said it is getting really crowded in the MTC, so she said, it was time to LEAVE. She said in the cafeteria the lines are long and you can hardly find a place to sit to eat. Myreel is so happy and loves all her companions and the growth of learning in a threesome. There are 14 missionaries arriving in Costa Rica (6 sisters, 8 elders) and she will be assigned her trainer on 2/21. Myreel said they had to get up at 1:00 in order to be in Salt Lake to catch their plane. They are a bit tired, but it is all good she said. She said she is anxious to go forward in faith and ask that everyone keep praying for her as she knows it will be a culture shock, and she will feel lost knowing little Spanish. But she is also ready to do hard things and bring the gospel to the Costa Ricans.

Letter number Six!!

Date: Mon, 18 Feb 2013 Last letter from the MTC

...I will be leaving for heaven in about 14 hours, I mean Costa Rica!!! My companions and I are really excited, especially since it's starting to get a little too crowded here. The lines in the cafeteria are always huge and it sometimes it's hard to even find a table to sit at...however the MTC will be missed. I feel so blessed that I had the best district and best teachers here at the MTC. Hermano Zenger (one of my teachers) served in Puerto Rico a couple years ago but along with spanish he speaks about three other languages. Tonight is our last class time with him and I believe our whole district is going to cherish every minute with him. He said that they are going to be transferring him to the Mexico MTC to train teachers in the summer there. He is an inspiration to so many! We had our last class with hermana Collette who we also love so very much. She served her mission in Argentina and pronounces her "yu" sounds with "zsh" sounds; we like to give her a hard time and tell her to stop teaching us false doctrine.

On Saturday we had a teacher come in and talk to us about her mission in Costa Rica. She said that all they eat is rice and beans but the fruit there is amazing!!! Her best tip was just to love the people there and love their culture. She said the people are so much more receptive to the gospel when you become one with them...I am so excited to become a Costa Rican! However there is one thing she said that made me a little bit nervous. Most of you probably know that there are tons of big bugs in Costa Rica. I wasn't too worried about it though until she mentioned cockroaches that fly. She said to make sure just to zip up everything after you are done using it so they don't go crawling all inside. Haha...well I guess it's time to make my cockroach weakness a strong one. Maybe I'll learn to love flying cockroaches...especially if I have to be sleeping with them.

Yesterday was a great Sunday! We had one last district testimony meeting which included many tears. All the elders have grown so much stronger in their testimonies. And it has been humbling to see. I feel that my companions & I have also grown tremendously, as well. It's amazing what the gospel can do for you, especially when you are using it to bless others. Every Sunday meeting our branch president

calls someone random from our branch to give a 5 minute talk from which you should have prepared before church started. The whole 6 weeks of being here I thought I had dodged not giving a talk until yesterday when they called me and Elder Black. Took me by surprised but how glad I was that I had remembered to prepare a talk that morning during personal study. My talk wasn't very long, especially since it was in Spanish, but I was glad I could at least feel confident in bearing my testimony in the Spanish language. The lord has helped me numerous times with the language and I know there will be countless more tender mercies from the Lord while in Costa Rica.

The other day I was reading my Spanish book of Mormon along with my English set of scriptures. Before my study, I prayed that I would be able to recognize a subjunctive conjugation in the book of mormon (subjunctive has been a hard grammar concept for me to grasp). I received that recognition of subjunctive about 2 minutes before my study was over. How I love those answers to prayers. I then read the verse in English which was located in 1 Nephi 3:15. It says, "we will not go down to our father"..."until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us." I decided to make that same promise to my Heavenly Father. So parents...I promise that you will not see me until I can say I have done the thing which the Lord hath commanded me. I am gonna work as hard as I can in Costa Rica and I am going to pray as hard as I can! I love the Lord and the gospel is true!! I hope to send pictures next week!! Maybe some pictures with cockroaches:) Love you all! Pura Vida!!! Love, Hermana Pease