Feliz Navidad!

I cant believe that Christmas is here! There are so many Christmas type things going on here in the mission, but honestly, when its 80 degrees (Can I just rub that in your faces a little more?) it just doesn't feel like Christmas at all. 

Our ward here in Escazu is amazing and planned an amazing "live art" open house to invite people from the community to get to know our chapel a little more and enjoy the spirit of Christmas by remember the birth of Christ.

This week has been a little slower for missionary work. The main reason is that everyone is getting busy with Christmas stuff. Lots of people leave to go to other parts of Costa Rica, many go to the United States or to Nicaragua to be with family. We have been spending more time with the members (which is really great, just that we dont get to count them as lessons). I have honestly been feeling really stressed out this week a lot. 

One day I was feeling particularly overwhelmed. Its was in the morning and I felt so stressed out I just wanted to crawl in bed and cry. Instead I got on my knees and asked for some help. Later that day a member in our ward, who honestly I had never talked to before came to me telling us that he had a friend that he wanted up to meet. He had already given his friend a Book of Mormon and she had already read through 1 Nephi! WHAT!?!?! The next day we had a appointment with her, and honestly it was one of the most spiritual lessons of my mission. It went to well, that we challenged her to be baptized and she accepted without even hesitating. It was awesome. She is so excited to learn everything she can and has already gotten her answer that the Book of Mormon is true. Her name is Claudia, she is a Tica who actually wants the lessons in English (which was WAY harder for me then it should have been.... awkward) and we LOVE her. 

The very next day I was on my knees asking for more miracles (could I BE more selfish?) We hadn't even left the house and half of our planned appointments feel through. So frustrating. I just told the Lord "I am trying to give you ALL of my time, just show my how to fill it".  We ended up dropping by a less actives house, and then walking through the park. Randomly (or you know, by the Lords hand) I see Enrique from a distance. I cant remember if I told you guys about Enrique. He basically walked into a ward activity one day, wanted to learn about our church, came to our services the next day and read the entire Book of Mormon in a week. The problem was that someone robbed his cell phone so we didn't have any way to contact him, because he wouldn't tell us where he lived (a little shady). I was so disappointed when we lost him. I had been praying for weeks to find him again and promising the Lord I wouldn't miss our chance if we found him again. My mind was boggled when we ran into him. He was really excited to see us too. We had a lesson right there in the park and I am grateful for the chance to work with him again. 

Anyways, I am out of time, but I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Christmas! Remember the reason for the Season!

Love, Hermana Patterson 

Pictures from an Hermana in Costa Rica!

The email from Lexi Dated 12/17 did not have a letter attached, but a lot of great photos.  Enjoy!

 We took Christmas pictures as a zone and we were awfully festive!

Last week we had a relief society activity ¨Super Saturday¨ They taught us how to make Christmas treats and sock snow men, it was really fun! We brought two investigators with us, Ruth and Maria Jesus. 

Elder Hugie and Hermana Garcia got transferred the next day 

Some of my favorite memebers/ less actives 

Anna bonilla (very active)

 and Mitzi with her kids, Amy and Andrian

and Jami y Pedro 

Before Hna Garcia got transferred she had to say goodbye to Anna Hazel. 

The next day, me and my new companion (Hna Delgado) helped paint Mitzis house. 

 Me and my new companion Hermana Delgado!

Yesterday we had our Christmas activity. We went to a old folks home to sing Christmas carols and spend time with them. 

Christmas Lunch and with the Wilkinson family! (Mission Presidents family) 

we went to the hospital after the Christmas party to do anything we could to help my old companion, Hna Hernandez and her new companion Hna Stark. 

This is the first week that I cant say ¨it flew by so fast¨. So much happened and there was so much running around. Preparing for Christmas there are so many ward activities and errands to be run, plus just having transfers, its definitely an interesting time of year.

3 Nephi 17:8 For I see that your faith is sufficient that I should heal you.

Last Tuesday I got super sick. Any form of illness on the mission, but especially food poisoning is the absolute worst.  There are always so many things to do! So many people to see and teach!  Feeling bad for yourself?  (As a good friend of mine says) Ain´t no body got time fo ´dat! No, but seriously. In normal life, you take the day off, don’t go to classes, call in from work and spend the day recuperating.  In the mission if you stay home it is HIGHLY frowned upon and you feel guilty for wasting the Lords time. #missionpains 

I spent a good 48 hours feeling HORRIBLE. In case you have never experienced being extremely ill in another country its…. awful.  You don’t trust any sort of medicine, you call the mission nurse who tells you ¨drink water and get to work¨ and you desperately want your mom.  But, you keep on waking up at 6:30 a.m. and you try to pretend that its all okay. 

Wednesday (day two of the monster inside me) was harder than Tuesday.  I was a little worried because we were going to be spending the entire day in Los Anonos (aka Ghetto) where you do not trust the bathrooms AT ALL.  Through every single lesson I would try to hard to concentrate but I just felt SO bad.  At around 4, Miguel, a return missionary in our ward had plan to go visit a couple less actives with us. We went to our first appointment and before we started I told him I might need a blessing, as he gave me a blessing  he told me that depending on my faith my body would be immediately healed.  I was honestly surprised. I have had blessings of health before, and I expected a blessing that would tell me that I would have the strength to do all the work that was necessary or something along those lines, but never that I would be immediately healed.  My first thought was ¨How great is my faith? I´ve never had a blessing like this before, do I trust that it can happen?¨  then without even a second passing I thought ¨Yes¨ and a warmth that started at the top of my head and went down to my stomach and I could literally FEEL the priesthood blessing curing my body. I was an experience I will never forget.  

Food poisoning is something so… trivial. Its not cancer or anything near as horrible, but I still needed the strength of the lord to keep moving (physically, but also emotionally). I felt close to the spirit as I realized that my Heavenly Father knows me, knows the work I am doing and knows my physical, spiritual and emotional needs.  He knows when its time to step in.  I am so grateful that priesthood authority  has been restored hear on the earth. I´m grateful for worthy men who can preform miracles under the direction of Jesus Chist.  I´m greatful for a loving heavenly father who cares. 

So, did you all watch the Christmas Devotional http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/archive/christmas-devotional/2013/12?lang=eng?

Honestly, it was the first things that almost felt like Christmas time.  Everything was so beautiful. We brought Maricela and Arthuro to a members house to watch it, and I think they really enjoyed it.  Some of my quotes were:

"Whatever may cause the worry, each of us yearns to find inner peace…Peace can come to all who earnestly seek the Prince of Peace."-Elder Neilson

"Imperfect people share planet earth with other imperfect people."

"What happens next to us largely depends on how we embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ, and follow Him."

Sorry no pictures this week kids! I actually took a TON of pictures this week, but this computer isnt reading my memory card. #lame #maybenextweek

Turkey and a Proud Mama Hen

Well, Happy official Holiday Season everyone!

It doesn’t feel like the holidays AT ALL here in Costa Rica. I think it´s easier this way.  The rain is finally starting to slow down but its getting hot hot hot during the day, and FREEZING cold (okay, not all that cold for you guys) at night. 

I am not usually at person who gets all that excited for Thanksgiving. I mean, I always enjoy it, and its great to get the day off from work and spend time with family but I cant say Its my favorite holiday. But obviously waking up thanksgiving morning, in another country, without the Macy´s Thanksgiving Day Parade, knowing that my family was all together made me a little sad.  But (and I am not sure how many times I have said this in the mission) I am the luckiest little sister missionary in all of Costa Rica. I live and work in an area known for having gringos.  Our gringo bishop and his gringo wife were so kind to invite us over for dinner.  Elder Hugie (Idaho) and I were very very grateful. 

We enjoyed all the ¨norms¨.  Turkey! Stuffing! Mashed Potatoes! Cranberry sauce! Gravy! Rolls! It was classic.

We had a baptism this week! People get really excited about baptisms, and I do too. But if I am honest with myself, my favorite part of missionary work is the weeks that come after someone is baptized.  I loving seeing peoples lives change right before their own eyes as they start on their journey as a disciple of Jesus Christ. I love visiting them to hear about the different experiences they have with the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, and all around I love watching them realize that their journey does not end at baptism.

Brandon is a Recent convert that was baptized a week before I came to Escazu. Before the sisters started teaching him the lessons, they were teaching is father in law and he did not seem interested in religion at ALL. He was literally ¨born and raised in the ghetto and it showed in the choices that he made.  He was a regular pot smoker, alcohol drinker, and breaker of the law of chastity. He didn’t have any purpose to life other than his pursuit of happiness in things that only brought pleasure (see Jesus the Christ, James E. Talmage). Apparently, one day he sat down with the sister missionaries and told them that he was ready to hear what they had to say. A few short weeks later, he was living the word of wisdom, the law of chastity, and attending church regularly.

Fast forward 2 short months and we find ourselves in the baptism of Leyner, a good friend and reference from Brandon. Leyner saw the life changes that Brandon and his brother Donaldo made and how they were happier. He desired the same happiness, and just yesterday he opened the gate to start on the path of eternal happiness. Brandon was able to baptize Leyner with his 1 week new priesthood. It was a touching experience for Hna Garcia and me to see Brandon raise his arm to the square, and worthily baptize his friend. I felt like a proud mama hen!

I am so grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel with others and watch them change their own lives as they come closer to Christ. I am grateful that I know that the only true happiness comes from living the Gospel. I love this work!

Hermana Patterson

PS- This is me showing you baby bananas!

Over the Hill!

Well kids. This is crazy, but I am officially over the hill.

 For those of you who don't know, the mission (for sister missionaries) is 18 months. I officially have more than 9. How did that happen? Where did the last few months go? People weren't kidding when they say ¨Time flies in the mission¨.

So there is this crazy tradition among Sister missionaries. The idea is that the day you hit your 9 month, you take a pregnant picture with a pillow or something. Its half hysterical, half totally embarrassing. But, if you know me at all, I couldn't resist an opportunity like this.

My companion is totally cute and went all out, making signs and baby chocolate cake.

On Saturday, we had a ¨Mormon Helping hands¨ ward activity.

I was super pumped about putting on the yellow frock. Its sounds dumb, but its always been a dream of mine.  All the wards of the church in Costa Rica had a service project on the same day. Our ward picked up trash all morning. It was actually pretty fun. Also, super hot. But I resisted taking off the beloved frock. By the end we bought Costa Rican Otterpops ¨Bolli Helados¨.

I also have been studying Hope. When I came across this scripture it brought me a lot of inner peace:

Hebrews 6: 10-19
10 For God is not ^aunrighteous to forget your work and ^blabour of ^clove, which ye have shewed toward his ^dname, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same ^adiligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:
 12 That ye be not ^aslothful, but followers of them who through ^bfaith and ^cpatience inherit the ^dpromises.
 13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could ^aswear by no greater, he ^bsware by himself,
 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will ^abless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
 15 And so, after he had patiently ^aendured, he obtained the promise.
 16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an ^aoath for confirmation is to them an end of all ^bstrife.
 17 Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his ^acounsel, ^bconfirmed it by an ^coath:
 18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to ^alie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for ^brefuge to lay hold upon the ^chope set before us:
 19 Which hope we have as an ^aanchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which entereth into that within the ^bveil;

I have had a special love for the symbol of an anchor ever since my first year at Retreat for girls, but now, that love has come even stronger. I know that no matter how hard the mission can feel, if I am working out of love for the people and the Lord, he has promised to bless me with success. And the Lord always keeps his promises, sometimes I just need to learn to be patient and more diligent.

Happiness is:

Finding pumpkin pie in Costa Rica.

Getting a paper Christmas tree from my cute mom.

A friend sending fall leaves in the mail.

Anchors popping up everywhere (Thanks Ariana, you didn't even know!)

One on one time with Sister Wilkinson (Presidents wife)

Knowing I still have 9 months in Costa Rica

Not being rained on, even without a an umbrella.

Banana Paper

Having Gringos in your ward to invite you over for thanksgiving.

When people you didn't expect come to church.

1 hour of personal scripture study every day.

Answers to prayers

Being lead by the spirit 

Butterflies

I'm not really sure what changed this week, but we had a lot of involvement with butterflies this week. 

First, this AWESOME picture of a huge butterfly on my hand (I was trying not to freak out long enough to get the picture) and we have a HUGE black pet butterfly in our bedroom. We aren't really sure how she got out, but she left us this morning. #sadface #slash #itkindoffreakedusout

My favorite part of the week was a Multi-zone Conference we had with President Wilkinson this week. The man is a spiritual beast. I basically knocks our socks off with the power of his testimony EVERY TIME. We basically got our heads chopped off for everything we are doing wrong  and I basically have a LOT of repenting to do. Not that I was disobedient or anything bad but the spirit was so strong and I have never in my life had so much desire to change. I am looking forward to a new week to make those changes. I cant say I learned anything new and spectacular, because it was always available to me in Preach my Gospel, but wow, it still changed my mission.

The worst part of the week was when I met a once endowed- real life Coriantumr  (If you know what I mean) .  I could almost feel the spirit being sucked away. It was awful, and I am not sure if I will ever want to return even though I should. 

I wanted to take a few minutes to mention of few of my new favorite progressing investigators (Who I will have to try and get photos of them this week).

-Maria Jesus and her children Belinda and German. We love them! They are progressing nicely, and with the best of luck (and the help of your prayers) They will be baptized asap.

-Arturo and Maricela, a couple who are reading (and if their text last night indicates anything LOVING) the Book of Mormon. Lets get them married and in the water.  

Holy...... cow. I would totally write more, but time has gotten away from me.

Your all very beautiful people. 

Peace and blessings

(And prayers for the Philippines/ missionaries there)

xoxo 

Hermana Patterson 

This week's letter is brought to you by the letter "F"

This is the city crest for Escazu. I wasn’t joking. They are serious about their witches apparently. 

Okay everyone, tell the truth. Are you so bored of my weekly letters? I feel like I say the same things everyweek.

¨Time is flying by!¨

¨I love the mission will everything I have!¨

¨The mission is the hardest/best thing of my life¨

¨My companion is so great¨

But, What can I say? All of the above is so true.

This week we had a goal as a companionship to take 2 pictures everyday, it was a miserable failure. I am sorry! Some day I will be better. But at least I have a couple, right? 

This is a picture of one of our families. 

 From top left: Me, Michael, Misha, Gretel, Brandon, Donaldo, Hna Garcia, Joshua, and Krishna. 

This weeks letter is brought to you by the letter ¨F¨ for Faith. I am realizing, that maybe my faith is seriously lacking. I didn’t ever think of it as a problem before, but its so weird.  Sometimes I don’t have faith in myself, but then other times I rely too much on my own abilities. Its something I am working on.

As I have realized this weakness in myself, I have been praying to the opportunity to strengthen my faith.

For the last couple of weeks we have been eating with a members family for lunch. This Saturday, they forgot to feed us, and left the house. Apparently they have a middle aged Mexican woman who lives in an apartment behind their house (that we didn’t even know was there). When we were waiting at the door, she came to tell us that they weren’t in the house, but that we could come and sit down at drink some mango juice while we were waiting (I love Costa Rica).  We accepted, but didn’t plan on spending too much time talking to her because she had a big huge rosary around her neck and instantly starting telling us how she does to mass every single day. As we chatted, she told us about her family, her new found catholic faith, and her new job when she began to cry. She has been having troubles at work that make her feel unhappy. She lives in her beautiful apartment all alone with no one to talk to. She told us that she was really hoping that she could talk to Noelia (the member) because she just didn’t know what to do. As we talked we bore testimony to her that her Heavenly Father is listening to every single prayer and he knows her specific circumstances.

At one point, the spirit told me ¨Tell her about the book of mormon¨. I looked down at my bag, where my Book of mormon was sitting, and thought ¨No way, this woman is SUPER catholic. I don’t want to offend her by trying to push the Book of mormon on her¨.  But as my mind and my heart where in an internal war, I just did it. Almost in the middle of her sentence, I interrupted and asked ¨Margarita, have you ever heard of the Book of Mormon?¨ and plopped my give away copy on the table. In this moment I internally flinched for the angry words I thought I was about to receive. Instead, she looked puzzled and kindly asked for more information.

As we explained about the Book of Mormon I almost couldn’t believe that she was accepting this so easily.  The spirit was strong as we testified of the reality of its truthfulness and I even felt prompted to invite her to read a specific chapter that talks about the Plan of Salvation and how we can turn to Christ in affliction (2 Nephi 2- One of my new favorite chapters).  She said that we were angels from Heaven and that she had been praying for an answer from the Lord and knew that we were her answer.

As we left, I can honestly say that I felt proud that I put my doubts aside and did what I know that Lord needed. As we walked away from the house, my companion thanked me for having the faith to do what she had doubted. We both realized we have a lot of work to do, and need to rely on the Lord a WHOLE lot more. We are anxiously awaiting our next visit with Margarita.

And now, Questions from our readers:

How many areas have you had?

2. Los Santos, and now I am in Escazu

 How big is it?

Um….. mas or menos big? Like a city? But we share it with a pair of Elders. There is still a lot to do!

 Have you been to any zone conferences yet?

Oh ho ho ho. Yes. We have Zone Conference every month. I love Zone Conferences. I am actually really excited because this week we have a Multi Zone Conference (only the 2^nd in my mission so far) and the last one was SO great.

 Is it super warm in Costa Rica?

Warm? Yes. Hot? Luckily no. Basically beautiful weather or rainy.

 Is it still really rainy or is the rainy season over?

It rains a lot. A also bought a new umbrella this week, but it already broke! $20 down the drain…. Urg…..  But yea. Apparently the rain will last until Christmas.

How is your new cell phone?  

I actually don’t even really enjoy it.  Its super convenient, which is such a blessing, but I thought I would enjoy it more. Neither of us ever want it in our bag. Haha.

How do you feel that Mom and Dad bought Rick a dog?

Suprisingly for everyone (including myself), not even bitter. I thought the name Lucy was pretty dumb, until lauren explained that its like Rick and Lucky from ¨I love lucy¨ which is totally cute.