Not my last selfie.

A girl takes a selfie:

And gets these responses:

This will not be last self boys...... #learntolivewithit

The best and last.

I dont think anyone could ask for a better last week of their mission. The Lord was so good to us. Lets start from the very beginning.

Tuesday- On tuesday, President Wilkinson had a suprise ¨multi district¨ meeting. Multi-district? I´ve never even heard of that. It was so great. I gave my 3rd ¨Final testimoney¨. President Wilkinson said so many great things, and really got us pumped up to work so hard. One thing he shared that really touched me was his experience of being called as a mission president. He had a interview with Elder Packer who asked him if he had any idea why he had been called into his office. Trying to be humble, President Wilkinson said that he had no idea, even though he had recieved some promptings that he might be called as a mission president. President packer stoped president wilkinson and said ¨You have had some ideas. The lord ALWAYS goes before us, stop trying to act like you are humble and tell me some of the promptings you have had.¨ (!) Dang! Anyways, its been something I have pondered and thought about a lot this week. ¨The Lord always goes before us¨.  

Wednesday- What an incredible day! We started off going to the temple. Normally, the people going home go to the temple litterally the day before they fly home. But this week the temple will be closed for cleaning, so we got to go a week early. By some freak situations, both my companions got to come with me, and we had a great last time in the Costa Rica temple together. 

As soon as our session ended we had to RUN to Gabby´s Baptism! Thats right! Little miss ¨scared of a baptismal date¨ got in the water! We were so excited for her! She was ALL smiles. There were a couple of glitches, but it ended up being a great service and we were so happy. 

Thursday- Some good solid WORK time. Thursday was probably one of the only normal days this last week. We decided to use the time to our advantage and look for some chosen children of god (wow.... that just doesnt come out the same way it does in spanish..... let the language confusion begin.....) We found Natalie and Camila. HOLY COW THEY ARE AMAZING. Basically they are getting baptized asap. We had walked RIGHT pass their house when the spirt told me i had to go back.So I stoped my companions, Natalie comes out, and invites us into her house. They both accepted baptismal dates, and basically, I am so excited to hear about what happens with them. 

Friday - Mothers day here in Costa Rica!  Its still cracks me up that mothers day is August 15th, but its not that funny..... We decided to buy some daisys and make some cute mothers day cards for the women in the ward who make us dinners and take care of us. OBVIOUSLY they just loved it.   

Saturday- WEDDING DAY! Suprise! On sunday last week, in the middle of gospel  principles, Arielka leans over and tells my companion that she wants to get married and baptized this saturday! WHAT?!?!?! CLARO QUE SI! So of coarse, we run around like crazies planning the wedding. Saturday finally comes and we are peeling raw carrots with spoons til we get  bruises and blisters, running errands and setting up the church for a wedding. Arielka  (the bride) showed up 1and a half late (welcome to Costa Rica). Edwardo (the groom), hermana coburn and I were just about to have a heart attack. But she showed up, looking beauuuuuttttifuuuullll. Sadly, I got very few pictures because we had to start right when she got there because the lawyer needed to leave and everything just happened so fast. It went great.

Sunday- We woke up REALLY early (and if a missionary says its early, you know its early) Sunday morning to get ready and get ourselves to Edwardo and Arielka´s house to get all the little ones ready so that everyone was in the chapel in time for the baptism that HAD to start at 8 am. We were worried that we were going to have to drag everyone out of bed, but we were happily suprised when we arrived at 6:30 am and the children were already bathed and dressed and just needed some finshing touches. Everyone arrived at the chapel early, and excited to be baptized. Arielka and Edward were both baptized ( Hna Coburns first family in her entire mission) and Arielka and Yogeilans mom (Yocali´s grandma) Katalina were also baptized. It went fabulously, and we were all very happy that no one almost drowned. cough. 

In my last sunday in Costa Rica they asked me to give my ¨final testiomony¨to the ward. It went really well. I said ¨fetch¨ at one point on accident, and that was embarrasing, but I got everyone to cry, so I feel like that it must have brought the spirit. 

The ¨going home parties¨ began yesterday. First stop. The amazing Ortiz family. The best ward mission leader in the world. Second, the Isaura and Nefi with Daniela and then Cristiana, our bestie. Lets just say we were about to explode from so much food. 

Monday-  Today I had my final interview with President Wilkinson. I was in there almost an hour and a half but it flew by so fast. We talked about goals for the future and he gave me lots and lots of advice. It was a really special experience to have some one on one time with President Wilkinson and to talk about me. He is just so full of the spirit and always knows just what to say. Of coarse, I left my interview bawling and feeling like a million bucks. I am so lucky to have had the priviledge of working under him my entire mission. The Wilkinsons are so special to me and basically I plan on living with their oldest daughter this winter semster to make sure that they HAVE to keep me close. haha. 

Changes were today. It feels so wierd to see changes going on without me. I feel like I am just getting shuffled out. 

The elders in Purral 2 got pulled out. :( 

Our baby, Hermana Villanueva, was sent to........ ESCAZU! ahhhh! And apparently there are plans to baptized claudias mom! 

Hermana Coburns companion is Hermana Pizza from Colombia. Hna Pizza came with hermana beltran in march and is AN AMAZNG MISSIONARY! I am leaving purral in good hands! But I have already talked VERY seriously with hermana coburn that she can not love hna pizza more than me. 

Well.. .I guess I am out of time. I cant believe this is the end. My last mission email home...... wierd. wierd wierd wierd wierd wierd.

I am so greatful for this time I have had to serve the lord with all my heart might mind and strength. It seriously has been the best of times, and I have grown so much as a person. I feel like the end (4 baptisms in one week?) was the cherry on top to the mission sundae. 

The church is true, this is his work.

See you all Thursday.

 Love you all,

(for the last time) Hermana Patterson

The Circle of Life and The Waterfall

Hola Everyone!
This week was a pretty normal to be quite honest. I don´t have a lot of exciting stories to share, or travels to Panama to report.  This week was pretty calm.
Lets start with this.
On the 3^rd of July, a group of us green-go´s had an appointment at the U.S Embassy in San Jose.  We all felt VERY patriotic being on United States soil the day before Independence day.  It was actually pretty fun. Everyone was speaking English, and there were TV´s everywhere with gorgeous photos of America the beautiful.  I think we all were feeling a little homesick at this point. We joked about wanting to sing the Star Spangeled Banner for all to hear, but we chickened out.  I was even wearing red, white and blue. Okay the truth is I half planned it. 
A fun part of the trip to San Jose is this Circle of Life photo:

This photo is fun because we have a group of 6 sisters here in Costa Rica that all traded companions this last change. Let me explain.  From Left to right, let’s number the sister missionaries off (I am #1).
Past Companionships:
1/5, 2/4, 3/5, 3/6
Current Companionships:
1/2 , 3/4, 5/6
I hope that wasn’t too confusing. We think its pretty funny. Also, for your information, My
“Mom” (Missionary talk for trainer) is Number 5 and my “grandma”(Trainer’s trainer) is number 3. Cool right?
The other fun thing this week was that today for P/day we went to a really pretty waterfall in Santa Maria.

 I LOVE Santa Maria. It  is so beautiful, calm, AND THERE AREN’T ANY HILLS! We only had to walk about 1 KM to find it. It’s pretty cloudy and cold but we had so much fun! We even climbed around the river so that we could stand in the shallow water right in front of the waterfall.  How lucky am I to be in Costa Rica? I am not sure what I did right, but I will take it. I looooove it here. I also love how I am in the countryside, not city. Chances are a lot of my mission will be spent in the city. Although I don’t have a Walmart, or even Price-mart (Costa Rican Costco….. literally costco with a different name) I love how calm and safe my area is. Super  Presh.






Its interesting having a new companion and being the one with the most time in the area. I definitely have a lot more to learn, but its also fun.

Some interesting things I found in my personal study this week that you might also enjoy:
This scripture chopped my head off when we considered stop visiting one of our less actives: 3 Nephi 18:32

 32 Nevertheless, ye shall not cast him out of your ^asynagogues, or your places of worship, for unto such shall ye continue to minister; for ye know not but what they will return and repent, and come unto me with full purpose of heart, and I shall ^bheal them; and ye shall be the means of bringing salvation unto them.

This quote:

The Gift of Prayer

“Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father. …

“It matters not our circumstance, be we humble or arrogant, poor or rich, free or enslaved, learned or ignorant, loved or forsaken, we can address Him. We need no appointment. Our supplication can be brief or can occupy all the time needed. It can be an extended expression of love andgratitude or an urgent plea for help. He has created numberless cosmos and populated them with worlds, yet you and I can talk with Him personally, and He will ever answer.”

The list of Liahona/ Ensign articles I will be looking up (I challenge you to read a few of these yourself, then email me your thoughts!)
-When do the angles come April 1992  https://www.lds.org/ensign/1992/04/when-do-the-angels-come?lang=eng
- Using the supernal gift of prayer May 2007 https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/05/using-the-supernal-gift-of-prayer?lang=eng
-Live by faith and not by fear Nov 2007  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/11/live-by-faith-and-not-by-fear?lang=eng
-The way of the disciple May 2009  https://www.lds.org/ensign/2009/05/the-way-of-the-disciple?lang=eng
-The miracle of the Holy Bible May 2007 https://www.lds.org/ensign/2007/05/the-miracle-of-the-holy-bible?lang=eng
-Planning for a full and abundant life May 1974  https://www.lds.org/ensign/1974/05/planning-for-a-full-and-abundant-life?lang=eng
-Questions, the heart of learning and teaching Jan 2008 https://www.lds.org/ensign/2008/01/questions-the-heart-of-learning-and-teaching?lang=eng

And last, but not least THIS:

“Don’t try to dazzle everyone with how brilliant you are. Dazzle them with how brilliant the gospel is. Don’t worry about the location of the lost tribes or the Three Nephites. Worry a little more about the location of your student, what’s going on in his heart, what’s going on in her soul, the hunger, sometimes the near-desperate spiritual needs of our people. Teach them. And, above all, testify to them. Love them. Bear your witness from the depths of your soul. It will be the most important thing you say to them in the entire hour, and it may save someone’s spiritual life.”

What’s some good stuff you are finding in your personal studies? Email me the scripture and if you have a good Ensign article, copy and paste the link in the email! I can’t wait to see what-cha got!
Remember, the church is true!
Love Hermana Patterson

P.S. I am trying not to be to hurt at the lack of mail and emails I have received recently.  Cough cough.
Remember:
Email: alexis.patterson@myldsmail.net
Letters:

Sister Alexis Patterson

Mission Costa Rica

Apartado Postal #249-2010

San Jose, Costa Rica

Packages:

Sister Alexis Patterson

Costa Rica San Jose Mision

De la Pops de Curridabat

500 mts Sur Oficina Isquienera

Edificio Trebol, Local #6

San Jose, COSTA RICA

Mmmmkay great! 

Pura Vida

Pfft.... I am not obsessed.... 




Costa Rica: Get Living from Patrick Pierson on Vimeo.

....I'm not!

I SAID that I'm NOT!

Okay! Fine, you totally got me. 

I'm obsessed.