Soaking Wet

I AM SOAKING WET.

Do you know how wet the wet season in Costa Rica can be? Let me tell ya…. Wet.

My companion left her only umbrella in a taxi pirata, and my umbrella is super small and broken for the two of us. It’s a miracle that one of the two of us hasn’t gotten sick yet. The good news is that we heard that sister missionaries in our mission are now allowed to use sandals because so many sisters are getting funguses and infections. THE CHACOS COME OUT TO PLAY!

Its been another great week here in Escazu. I cant believe that I have been here almost a month. Time has FLOWN. We work so hard all day long and so we always have so much going on that we collapse into bed at the end of the day. I LOVE IT. I think maybe I have always thrived in crazy busy situations. The problem is that we are noticing that its starting to slow down, so its time to bump up the speed. To infinity and BEYOND! Okay, yea, I'm a total Disney nerd.

We had a double baptism this Saturday.

First Kelley. I cant actually call her my convert, because I never actually taught her. She was studying with the sisters until I got here. The day I got to Escazu she moved to Alejulita and so had to study with the Elders there. But because she wanted my companion to be at her baptism so badly, she wanted to be baptized here. Also, she is the sister of Brandon, Donaldo, Joshua and that whole gang. So it worked out. She is a HOOT. I feel like maybe we were best friends in the premortal life.

Also, Lisamar. Oh Lisamar. She is DARLING. She is basically a Latina version of Alyssa Whipple. So sweet, so spiritual (for her age), and just all around adorable. She found out that Kelly was going to be baptized Saturday on Friday, and because her family is friends with Kelly´s family, wanted to be baptized with Kelly. We ran around like chickens with our heads cut off to get everything ready  before the next day. It was fun.

We bought Brownie mix from Pricemart (Costa Rican Costco) and made them for the baptism. They were to DIE FOR. I didn’t realize that I liked brownies so much. I think anything that tastes like home starts to be AMAZING. Okay, anything that isn’t rice and beans.

Question from our readers:

How is your new area different from your old area?

Well, Escazu is definitely more city.  Los santos was all mountain, and colder. Escazu is closer to San Jose, and we frequently go for small things. Unlike Los Santos where the bus alone was 2 hours to  get to San Jose, and it usually required a day trip. Los Santos didn’t have ANY Americans, on the other hand Escazu is known for  being ¨gringo territory¨. The American Embassy is here, so there are a lot of Americans who live in Escazu, and all around, just a lot of us. Escazu has Walmart, Pricemart, a HUGE BEAUTIFUL mall, and sometimes it feels like America. Los santos barely had a grocery store. Escazu is a ward (A WARD!) Los Santos was a branch. I sometimes feel like I am in a different country. Haha. Not really, but almost.

do you still wash your own clothes? 

Yes, but we have a washing machine! HEAVEN!

 cook your own food? Ugh… yes. In Los Santos, one of the members feed us lunch every day (We paid her)

  do you like your companion? I love her. She is amazing. She is so obedient and motivates me to be better every single day. She might have changes this week. I am PRAYING that she doesn’t.

how is the work different there? In Los Santos all we heard was ¨We are not interested we are (non practicing) Catholics¨. Here a lot more people are willing to give us a shot. It makes a big difference in our motivation levels.

 what do you get to do for Halloween? Go home early. Haha. I am actually kind of excited. My companion might have changes that day. Booooo…… But one of the elders found candy corn in one of the gringo stores, so I might need to go get some of that…..

What do you like better?  What do you miss about the old area? 

I basically only miss the cool weather, and the people. But to be honest, if I had to choose to live in Costa Rica one day, I would totally live in Escazu.

Well, I think that’s about all folks!

Peace and blessings, Peace and blessings.

Xoxo Hna Patterson   Picture on right: 

My missionary family (My mom/trainer, my sister/ trainers newbie, and my grandma/ trainers trainer who goes  home in two weeks)

Picture on left: 

my new zone

Celula and Cellular

oopppps! apparently I only sent last weeks email to one person. MY BAD.  Well lucky for you folks, this week you get double, #ohwhatfun

What a crazy week we had. 

First of all, we had hardly a full day to work in our area this week. It felt weird. There are people who we usually see regularly that we barely even got to see. 

The main reason is that I spent two, half days at immigration. GOOD NEWS FOLKS! I´m legal! I´m tica! Im here for good! Haha. No but really, I am legal. I have a cute little ID (celula) with my name on it and everything. I would attach a photo if I wasn't afraid of.....stuff. Dealing with government offices is always a joke and a half. The good news is that I basically just had to act like I owned the place to get things done. Gringos get priority (apparently.... hurray for the good kind of racism! .... is there a good kind? Probably not) 

The other cool thing that happened this week is the mission got a visit from Elder Amado of the Quorum of the 70. He is also our Area authority. It was a very .... long meeting. It was good, the only thing is he spent like an hour lecturing on how we should get married ASAP, which is.... not helpful on the mission. No but it really was good and I learned some good stuff. It is always fun to see the other missionaries.

The best part of the Elder Amado meeting is that we FINALLY GOT CELL PHONES! *key the hallelujah chorus* The work here in Costa Rica just got SO MUCH more effective. You have NO IDEA how frustrating it is and how much time we waste when we don't have cell phones. If you need to find a missionary when they are not at home, TOO BAD. If you are trying to find a house (because Costa Rica addresses are terrible) but you have a phone number, TOO BAD. If you are waiting outside an gated apartment complex and trying to yell loud enough so the person you are trying to contact can hear you, and they don't... TOO BAD. All of our wildest missionary dreams basically have come true. 

Also, this week Joshua was baptized. Joshua is Brandon and Donaldos younger brother. The gospel is changing this family in so many beautiful ways! They have such strong spirits and we love this family to DEATH. We also got some REALLY good news which I would share with you, but I think I will leave it as a cliff hanger. Also, because I don't want to jinx it. 

I am still loving Escazu. I feel right at home. I am growing as a missionary and my testimony continues to grow EVERY single day.