Progress Report

My Valentine. A man of Legos. Thank you mission.

pro·gres·sion

prəˈgreSHən/

noun

noun: progression

1.

 a movement or development toward a destination or a more advanced state, esp. gradually or in stages.

Everyone knows that when someone goes on a mission, they change. Usually for the better. You are lying to yourself if you are reading this blog and thinking to your self that not even once  have you sat at a missionary homecoming and thought to yourself `thank goodness that kid is going on a mission, maybe (s)he will do some changing.` Alright, WHO SAID THAT AT MY FAREWELL? ..... I did. 

I love being here in Escazu. Heavenly Father knew exactly what I needed to do here, and exactly what I needed to learn. My companions, my investigators, the members, and even the crazy guy who yelled  wah wah wah, your going to die to me and my companion the other day have taught me so much. As a missionary, as a person, as a future mom, member of the church, and disciple of Jesus Christ, Escazu has helped me progress more than I ever thought was possible.

As missionaries, one of the things we report to our leaders EVERY night, is how many investigators you have that are progressing. At times, it feels weird to play judge and decide if someone is progressing towards baptism or not because everyone just moves at their own pace. Something that I think would be cool is to some how have a way to track a missionaries (or members) progression, but here are a couple of thoughts I have had on my own progression while here in Escazu:

-I like to think I am understand how to be a missionary much more then I did before.

-My prayers are much more sincere and I recognize the answers much more quickly.

- My investigators progress more quickly

- My last baptism, and my next (this Sunday) will be my converts with the strongest testimonies before baptism I have ever had

- I have never felt more exhausted (success)

- I have learned so many lessons both from Hermana Garcia, and Hermana Delgado. Such different people with such different lessons to learn.

- Hermana Delgado now smiles a LOT. This is a personal success because it´s taken a lot of time, work and tears on my part. She seems happier, not thanks to me, but maybe because I just haven´t accepted grumpiness as an answer. 

- I love the people here more than I love myself.

-I have seen big and small miracles

-I have 14 days keeping a daily journal. I dont know if you know this, but is HUGE for me.

-I find myself humming hymns to myself in the shower, in the bus, and just in general. 

-I tear up almost EVERY time I watch the restoration DVD. 

-I feel the spirit more regularly. IMPORTANT. 

- I have found myself closer to the Savior. This is the most important progress. I have even found myself spitting out the words How could (this person) do this to me? Can´t (they) see that I AM SUFFERING for their sins? Yes, I actually said that. I was hurting emotionally because someone else didn´t want to repent. Imagine how I felt when I realize how the savior must feel about me when I choose not to repent..... (I will give you a hint, a spiritual slap to the face). 

This is just the beginning of the list that I have. I can´t imagine that if I have changed so much in the last 4 months, how much more changing I will do in the next 6. I´m excited for the ride.

^Did you get that hint? I will officially have 1 year in the mission in 3 days! WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT ALL OF YOU COULD HAVE LIVED WITHOUT ME THIS LONG! It´s wierd to think about, but I´m excited. 

What? Are you cold? Lets talk about how its 80 degrees in Costa Rica and after this picture was taken I had to take this scarf off because I was dying of heat.

I also feel it appropriate to mention my sweet great-grandfather who passed away this week, finally going home to his sweet heart. Thanks grandpa for teaching me more about being a disciple of Jesus Christ through your 90 year life than any general conference talk. Thanks for teaching be more about true love through your marriage than any romance movie. Thanks for teaching me more about hard work than any job I have ever had. Thanks for teaching me more about being happy, regardless of circumstance than anyone else. I´m sure glad I came to your house to live.  This is a picture of two of my favorite angels

3 Week Round Up

Note from Lexi's mom:  We haven't heard from Lexi a lot lately because she's had to use her computer time writing essays for her BYU application.  Here are some pictures and snippets.  Enjoy!

Last week we went to the Childrens museum for Pday! You can´t see very well, but I am pointing to Los Santos (my first area) on a giant map of Costa Rica.

 grumpy cat and grumpy sister. For anyone who hasnt seen the grumpy cat meme´s google them. They are pretty funny. Claudia came back from her vacation in the states and brought this with her. We were cracking up. My companion esecially liked it. We decided that she is grumpy sister, because he always has this serious look on her face, even when she isn´t feeling grumpy and people are very intimidated by her. We have started making grumpy sister meme´s and we think they are pretty funny. They are all mission related and we think its pretty funny.

 We had basically 3 days to plan a wedding this week. Which basically means, chaos. I must say, for what little money and time we were working with, it turned out pretty okay. I basically hope I never plan a wedding again. Maybe, if you are all lucky, my own.

 Claudia´s mom is a professional cookie/ cake decorator. AREN´T THESE TEMPLE COOKIES GORGEOUS? I didn´t even get to eat one :( but we were so grateful that she was so thoughtful and did them for us without us even asking.

 Another cake decorator in the ward did this GIANT and beautiful wedding cake for us.

 The three day wedding planning commitee, Brynn, Claudia, Hermana Patterson, Hermana Delgado

 Gretel and Michael are official husband and wife!

 Us with the fam bam

Hermano Jerry is JUST like a patterson uncle. He knew we´ve had a couple of rough weeks, so he bought us both giant hersey kisses to help us feel better. HAHA

We also had Elder Cook come to the mission this week! WOW! what a privledge! It really brings the spirit to hear an apostle of the Lord speak to his missionaries. His message was short, but sweet. There are 3 kinds of relationships that are important in the mission, 1- Love the people 2- Love your companion 3- Love the Lord.  It was a great experience to shake his had and have a "1 second eye to eye interview" with an apostle of the Lord. 

Sorry that my emails are turning so lazy. I promise to repent of my ways in time for next week! 

Love you all! You are in my prayers! Thanks for those who sent me voice recordings! I am obsessed! It´s so fun to hear your voices! 

Hermana Patterson