Hermana Roundy came back!

On my mission, one of my favorite jokes was mimicking Rose from Titanic,

desperately calling for the rescue boat to save her

"Come Back!" 

I can't exactly remember how, but quickly, "come back" quite often became 

"Hermana Roundy, come back"

I love Hna Roundy

She is one of the kindest, 

most loving,

most dedicated,

obedient,

incredible missionaries I have ever met. 

She taught me everything I knew about an area book,

and she ROCKS at writing in her journal, and hand written notes,

She lookes good EVERYDAY

and does not have mean bone in her body.

She was also sweet enough to share her easter with us. 

This weekend, HERMANA ROUNDY CAME BACK!

I think it was one of those things that I didnt realize how much I had missed her until I was with her again.

First off, she ROCKED her homecoming talk. 

I was totally tearing up, the spirit was SO STRONG.

Then, Hermana Bay and Hermana Roundy had a tender reunion.

Hermana Bay almost plowed the "gentleman caller" that was anxiously awaiting to congradulate Hermana Roundy

(they couldn't help but hold hands... so tender)

We got to meet the Roundy's. They are as adorable as I imagined.

 Reunited and it felt so good! 

Thanks for changing my mission and life Hermana Roundy! 

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

Lexi runs into some old friends!

CRAZY!

So crazy!

Two weeks down at the MTC!

The first week was sooooooo looooooooong. But I am not even sure where this last week went! (And I hear that it just gets faster from here!)

I am not even sure what to write about because I feel like I just wrote this email! HA! (If you have anything specific you would like to hear about let me know!)

This week was so much easier for everyone in my district. We finished teacher "Ariana" and that went well, and now we have to more investigators that we just met named "Carlos" and "Julia" (All three investigators are our teachers) and we are just getting to know them.

We got a new district under us this last wednesday and it feels so good not to be the "youngest" anymore! We really like to think that we have our act together! ;) It helps that my district leader (Elder Sorenson) and his Companion (Elder Barnes) got called to be Zone leaders this last week and my companion (Hermana Law) was called as Coordinating Sister (think RS pres.) so they are forced to be in the know and let us all know what is supposed to be happening. It's crazy when they all leave for their branch meetings because we were a small district to start with- 9, then Elder Cloward went home (sad- 8), then when those three leave we only have 5 of us around. Our district loves eachother so much. We have so much fun, but also feel the spirit together so nicely. We get along great and it makes it easier to not feel homesick or discouraged.

But guess who is in the new district in my zone?!?!?!? (This question is directed at you Erin Packard, any anyone else who might know her from Rexburg) Rachel Garlitz! So crazy when I realized who she was! Okay, and she is so DARLING! Love her already so much. We took a cute picture to send you, but still haven't figured out how to do that....

I also ran in Sister Lauren Peterson more than once this week. She is looking so great and happy! She will be here for 3 weeks because she has "visitor center training" so I get a little more time with her than normal english speaking missionaries.

To anyone entering the MTC soon- when will you be here? I know that Rae (Kalli..... wierd), Natilee and Veronica R. will all be in here before I leave, anyone else? I can't wait to see more familiar faces! It truely is a reunion at the MTC every day! Before you come in to the MTC, watch a video on youtube called 'missionary work and the atonement". IT WILL CHANGE YOU. We were crying our eyeballs out when our teacher showed it to us! It's from a talk elder holland gave to new mission presidents with a little bit of President Eyering as well. Of coarse. Those men are awesome!

Also- (And everyone should read this) try to find a talk by Elder Bednar that he gave on Christmas day (year?) at the MTC called "the Character of Christ". It's  made a big impact on my this week!

My favorite people of the week are:

Jacob Patterson

Libby Patterson

Alyssa Whipple

Erin Packard

Brianne Kirkby

Megan Straw

Emmalee Vanorman
Katie Smith
Veronica Rosedahl

and obviously- My mom and dad!

Thanks for all the letters, Dear Elders, and packages. You might not ever know how much it means to me! As for the rest of you.... I expect to have my mailbox full by morning! ;) Just kidding... But seriously.

The two weeks at the MTC might just be the best of my life!

Hope everyone is doing well!

(Lexi's mom here-feel free to leave a comment and I'll copy and paste them into a "Dear Elder" for her.)

the farewell

I can't believe it's over.

My missionary farewell has come and gone.

What a whirlwind of a day.

Stayed up late, woke up early and was going and going and going

all day long. 

My talk was about the Plan of Salvation and the Atonement. 

I used a lot of really great material from The Continuous Atonement  and His Grace is Sufficient .

I was overwhelmed with love as so many people I loved came to say goodbye.

The Kirkby's came all the way from Las Vegas,

Road Runner came from Wyoming,

Mark, Emily, Sarah, Natilee, Grant, Jake, and Vanessa came from Idaho,

Charise flew in from North Carolina to surprise me,

And my Grandma and Grandpa Patterson flew in from Chile

Plus HUNDREDS of loved ones from work, college, high school, the ward and my entire life came to show their love. 

{The Danville Gang-minus Ariana}

{Ariana- who at the moment of this picture I didn't realize was ENGAGED!}

{Aspen/Amelia, and the ever attractive photo bomber Jolie/Christina} 

{Natilee and Sarah came down a day early to have a little bit of a "roommate reunion"} 

I had so much fun talking to everyone and feeling like a celebrity. 

I felt like I was constantly running around,  trying to socialize with everyone.

My mouth was so dry, and my stomach was begging for food,

but I had to keep socializing! (Like I'm complaining...)

I felt like I had almost everyone important to me all in one room,

and let me tell you- it was crowded.

I also got some pretty awesome video (bideo's) as going away presents:

Also- I found this youtube video, and I wish I could put the audio on my ipod

Thank you to my  parents, grandma's, aunts, cousins, and other family members for helping everything run smoothly-

Constantly washing dishes and dishing up Chicken Croissant sandwiches.

Thank you to all who travel near and far far FAR! 

Thanks for the advice.

Thanks for the gifts!

Thanks for the well wishes and prayers in my behalf. 

I am one blessed girl. 

Happiness is.... Jaever you are

Watching Mean Girls on TV twice in two nights

5 Buck pizza's (Again? Seriously?.... Okay!)

New Maxi skirts.
My newest DownEast Employee- SHUFFLE!

Waking up to rainy days

These adorable young men:

Great ward activities

Working out so hard that you can barley walk 

Getting emails from my baby sister

How to BE the right person.

Love this blog post from puddles so much 

This news made me cry with happiness

Not really doing that much homework this week

Comic Frenzie "Hola Mama!"

Hijacking scary movie night

pumpkin cookies

For day's when your spirit needs some feeding

Please watch this when you are ready. Not before. Not too late. But when you are craving some spiritual nourishment.