Solo Bueno

This internet café just started playing Set Fire to the Rain by Adele…. I didn't think I would ever miss hearing Adele.
Alright, HELLOOOOOOOO Everyone!
I cant believe I am back here at the internet café. I didnt take a single picture this week. NOT ONE. Also, I feel like I didnt have anything super crazy happen. Everything was SOLO BUENO. (Elder Mancera´s catch phrase) We wake up, study like crazy, go to lunch, jump on a bus, teach the Gospel, jump on a bus, climb the hill, fall into bed.  We also play monopoly cards on our p-day. The work is a movin' along. So much is changing so quickly . People we thought were progressed end up getting dropped. People I thought would never come around and suddenly interested. The spirit Works in mysterious ways. 

Questions from our readers:
What did you do this week?  Who did you teach? 
See above. But, we had a missionary activity in the branch. It was….. a disappointing turn out for the members, but whatever. We try to remember they have normal lives. I cant say I attended every single Ward activity when I was at home either. We got a few new investigators this week.
Jenny- we tracked into on accident (But on the Lords time, is anything on accident?). But she is awesome.  She totally invited us into her house like we were best friends. We probably were in the spirit world. She is Catholic (Who isn't in this country?). I WANT HER AND HER FAMILY BAPTIZED!
Adonai- This guy just showed up at church with the Branch President yesterday.  Apparently he is a drunk that the BP literally picked up off the streets and is helping put his life together. He was telling us yesterday that Drinking has no meaning. He has wasted most of his life drinking and it hasn't brought him any thing but more pain. He wants turn to God (Hey cool! I think we can help with that!). He has the most willing heart I have seen yet. He will do whatever it takes. Rock and Roll. I WANT HIM BAPTIZED.
Also, my recent convert Alex (brother of Adriana) apparently received the priesthood last week. He was serving the sacrament, and we were like ´WHAT?!?!?! When did this happen? Thanks for telling us man! ´Haha. I am just so happy for him. Plus, Mauricio, his nephew that is the same age of him (Son of Adriana) asked to be baptized. Um… Yea. I think we can do that. I just hope I am around another change to see it! I WANT HIM BAPTIZED.
 Side note- Your Beautiful by I cant remember just started playing. HOW TRUNKY! Your beautiful, your beautiful it true, I saw your face in a crowded place….  Got to love the few times in your week you get to hear American music around.
Describe your weather right now.  What are the temperatures at different times of day?  Are there puddles when it rains?  Do the worms come out? Etc??
Supposedly we are in the middle of the rainy season. Its true. It rains everysingle day. Without fail. However, I guess when I pictured ´rainy season´I thought of a non stop down pour for 6 months. Luckily that is not the case. At least here in LOS SANTOS, it usually just is cloudy with some mild showers or mists. Also apparently I live in a cooler part of Costa Rica which I totally love. I am not looking forward to hotter areas. I am not sure what temperatura it is, but it reminds me of Danville. Occasionally puddles, only when it pours. Worms and other disgusting things come out. We try not to scream.
What have you learned so far?
Oh my gosh. How can I even start. Lets start with Spanish. I have learned and still am learning Spanish. This is a life goal of mine I can eventually cross off the list.
I am learning to love the scriptures. I cant lie when I say that I wasn't the best at making scripture study a habit. I also rarely did it for fun. Now, I come home from working all day and get so pumped to read about what Alma and his companions are going to say to people today. I am totally into it. Also, The New Testament is AWESOME when you have JESUS THE CHRIST by James E. Talmage right next to you. Why I have I never read this book before? Its totally changing my life!
I am learning patience. Patience with my self. Patience with others. Patience with circumstances I can not change. Patience with my ‘natural Lexi’ that just wants to surf the web and listen to music all day.
I am learning to love my Savior. I don't really know what my problem was before the mission. I had a testimony and I knew the church was true. But I just didn't get it. I didn't understand the role that Jesus Christ has in my life-in your life. I am still learning this and I am amazed every single day.

Have you had any special meetings with visiting General Authorities?
Booooo. No. Supposedly we were supposed to have a meeting with Hermano Amado, an area authority, but he canceled on us. But sometimes I feel like President Wilkinson is a General Authority. He rocks my spiritual socks off EVERY SINGLE TIME I am in the same room as the man. Let alone when we are talking face to face. WHOOOOOOOOOSH.

Call me maybe. Really internet café, really? Okay, I got to get out of here before I my natural lexi wants to start dancing right here right now.
Oh, and i lied, I found a picture we took. Enjoy!
Love Hermana Patterson

Side note from Lexi's mom:  Do you enjoy Lexi's letters?  Tell her!  Do you have questions for her?  Ask her!  Her email is alexis.patterson@myldsmail.net  She LOVES to get email!

Companion Profile: Hermana Escobedo

Hola friends and family,
I sometimes can´t believe how quickly time passes here in the mission. I went an entire week with out taking a single photo, and I feel like I don´t have any awesome/exciting/sad/traumatizing stories to share. How BORING! Well, I was asked to give a little more information on my companion so here it goes:
Name: Josslyn Escobedo
Age: 21
Time in the mission: 3 weeks more than me.
Does not know English, and frankly doesn´t really care to learn English. Dat´s cool.
She is super straight forward. If she doesn´t like something, she will tell you. This is both so nice and so hard. I am never left guessing, but its hard because sometimes her judgments can be a little…. Harsh. Nothing too ugly. But she will just out and say things like ¨I do not care for that person and don´t really feel like teaching them again.¨ End of conversation. 
We get along great. I wouldn´t call us besties or anything, but we don´t fight and we talk about things that are not mission related.
She is not happy in our area. This is her second area and frankly it was very hard for her to leave Alejula.  My district leader suggested that I try letting her take the reins from now on. UP to this point she has just kind of followed me around only giving input on lessons plans and investigators occasionally. We are hoping that if she is taking the lead she can get a little more LOST in the work here in Los Santos. I hope so. I want her to be happy and not just be waiting around for changes.
Her family life at home is less than ideal.  I sometimes worry about talking about my family because I am super blessed with an amazing family.  I don’t want her to feel bad or jealous if I talk about mine. But she handles it pretty well.
She is a convert to the church. She was baptized at 13, but had a ton of experience in other religions. This is AWESOME for investigators.  When they try to say things like ¨I don´t need to be baptized again, I was baptized in the Catholic church¨, she pulls out ¨oh really? So was I, and in the Evangelist church as well. But I knew this church was the only true church… so on a so forth¨. I almost love it when people try to use that card now. They take us so much more seriously when they realize that she made the decision for herself to join the church even after having experience in a lot of other religions. Her testimony that this is the only true church on the earth is super powerful and helpful. Score.
Things I love about Hermana Escobedo: She is always herself.  She is not going to ever be fake to ANYONE.  She sometimes makes my bed for me while I am in the shower. She is so great working with the members her in the branch (which to say the least can be very difficult).  She claims to hate singing, but sings to herself all morning long and sometimes even in public, I think its so funny! She tells me things that prove she really trusts me.
Up to this point I really love having a companions. (knock on wood that nothing will change) Ya, there are times it gets rough, but its fun to always have someone to talk to or to have inside jokes with.
Anyways,I am sorry if this email was boring! Let me know if there is anything specific you guys would like to hear about or see pictures of! I will try to do my homework!
Love, Hermana Patterson

100 Things for 100 Days

Howdy Partners! (That was traditional Costa Rican, now wasn´t it?)



Did you know, that last thrusday, I hit my 100 days in Costa Rica mark? It´s true, I did. How jealous are you? I couldn´t help but think of ¨back in the day¨ when we had 100 days of kindergarden and we all brought 100 somethings. Too bad nobody gave me 100 somethings for 100 days anniversary. $100 would be good if anyone is interested. Better yet 100 Mil colones. But, I know how excited you all are about this information, so I will go ahead a treat you to 100 things I love about Costa Rica/ The mission. Buckle up:



1.       Clean water (one of the only countries in L.America that you can drink from the tap- take that!)



2.       President and the Wilkinson Family



3.       Temple



4.       Plug voltage is the same as USA



5.       The sun rises super early, so its super easy to wake up at 6:30



6.       They have American Fast food, (Taco bell, KFC, McDonalds) not that I eat at them that often



7.       Hot water for my showers! HUZZAH



8.       We can also flush the toilet paper.



9.       Overcast days are beautiful



10.   How green everything is



11.   Branch leadership (cough…. Apparently this one was written quite some time ago….)



12.   Zone leaders/ district leaders to help out when things get crazy



13.   Everyone says ¨verdad¨



14.    Rain



15.   Stunning Views



16.   Taking Buses



17.   Always having someone to go with you places



18.   The Food isn´t too weird



19.   Pura Vida



20.   How friendly everyone is (At least here in Los Santos)



21.   Soccer fields that get USED



22.   Lunch is the main meal



23.   Having a Cook for Lunch



24.   Swimming Pool baptismal font (love hate relationship)



25.   Agua Dulce



26.   Atol



27.   Avocado off the trees



28.   Pineapple



29.   Trying new foods



30.   Studying the scriptures 2 or more hours every day



31.   Lizards and frogs



32.   ¨Misty¨ green mountains



33.   Sodas (little restaurants)



34.   Fireflies



35.   Full moon (It seems closer to the earth here in Costa Rica)



36.   Mango



37.   Cookie and Cream suckers



38.   To knock on doors we stand at the door at say Upe Buenas!



39.   Teaching English



40.   Cheap frozens (smoothies)



41.   Learning Spanish



42.   District meetings



43.   Dyai



44.   Lightning Storms (And usually there isn´t any thunder…. Its so pretty!)



45.   Bananas off the trees



46.   Emilia



47.   Hermana Hernandez



48.   The gift of Tongues



49.   My wall of Photos next to my study area



50.   Gelatinas (GIANT otter pops)



51.   Panaderias



52.   The word ¨Chunca¨ could be used for anything



53.   Ito´s and Ita´s



54.   The Branch is so young (only 5 years)

55.   Tuanis



56.   Natilla



57.   Tabasco with everything



58.   How colorful the money is



59.   My cute house



60.   Hermana Escobedo



61.   Waterfalls



62.   We are noticed everywhere we go… like celebrities, but sometimes they avoid us.



63.   How quickly the weather changes (Utah has NOTHING on CR)



64.   Pedestrian Courteousy



65.   Living across the street from the chapel



66.   Multizone conferences



67.   Getting snail mail



68.   Frescos with fresh fruit



69.   Santa Maria



70.   Work of Salvation Broadcast



71.   How bugs rarely startle me anymore



72.   The lizard pair that live on the wall outside our house



73.   Internet time



74.   Teaching with the Spirit



75.   When someone agrees to be baptized



76.   Small, but regular earthquakes



77.   Finding people who speak English



78.   My nicknames ¨greengita¨and ¨patito¨



79.   Sandy, the four year old of one of my investigators. We are best friends



80.   My investigators



81.   PUlperias



82.   Randomly hearing American Music in stores or blaring from cars



83.   Missionary words (trunky, giper)



84.   Mothers day skyping



85.   The Costa Rican Flag



86.   How safe Los Santos is



87.   Everyone wears Hollister, Ambercrombie and American Eagle regects



88.   Ropa American stores (Ideal thrift shopping)



89.   Finding Peanut Butter in the super



90.   Church bells when there is a wedding in town



91.   Chirulitos



92.   Trips to San Jose



93.   The Spirit of Missionary work (you read a scripture, or hear an EFY song about missionaries and you heart skips a beat, because you remember YOU ARE A MISSIONARY!)



94.   Having Elders in the Area. Perfect for Blessings and safty.



95.   Gallo Pinto



96.   Monopoly Cards



97.   Our Small church



98.   Crazy feet tan



99.   Serving the Lord



                Bringing the world his truth. 







The Church is true! Its the best feeling to share it with people



Love, Hermana Patito



p.s. Photos from when the Elders cooked for us and we played cards. #simplepleasures #matching Sock buns