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

Dear Claudia

Dear Claudia,

I think that you don´t even know what a big miracle you were in our lives.  First of all, I don´t think I had even spoken two words to Dalton in my life before he came to tell me he had a friend he wanted me to meet.  2 days later, we came over to the Karlinksy´s home (some of our favorite people) to meet you.  We loved you from the start.

You´re a Tica, but you prefer English.  That was actually really fun for me. I didn´t realize how hard it would be to give the lessons in my native tongue (My MTC past self is so proud) but I somehow managed through. 

Not only did you already have a copy of the Book of Mormon, but you had whipped through 1^st Nephi and really enjoyed it.  We shared our testimonies with you, and I felt the strongest spirit that I have ever felt in a first lesson with anyone. It was easy to invite you to be baptized.  When we asked, I watched your face thinking about what that would mean, but without even a few seconds lost you answered yes.  I almost cried.

Fast forward exactly two weeks later (the fastest I have ever baptized someone, we even had to get special permission).

Your baptism was definitely one of my favorites on my mission.  With the help of Sister Karlinsky everything was beautiful! The music was touching , the talks where great and we even had a printed program. The spirit was strong and everyone in attendance knew you were ready.   

As you stepped into the font and Dalton raised his arm to the square I couldn´t help but feel grateful to my heavenly father to be part of your conversion experience.  If I am honest,  as missionaries, we were just a protocol. You were the most prepared investigator I have ever met.  Not only that, but Dalton usually beat us to the punch to teach you the things you needed to know before baptism.  With almost everything you had accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ before we even asked you if you were willing. Honestly Clau, you gave me a testimony that people are chosen.  I usually have to work so hard to convince people to live a better life for themselves, but with you it was easy.  Thank you for your open heart, thank you for your desire to follow your Savior, and thank you for friendship.

I look forward to be friends in the future.  I mean, OBVIOUSLY I will still be around for a while. But, I am excited to live close as you attend your first semester at BYU (is it bad luck that I am already calling it?), to send you letters and packages on your own mission (I almost passed out with excitement when you told your mom), and (if I can invite myself) see you be married in the temple, just like your blessing at confirmation said you would be.

I LOVE YOU!

Hermana Patterson 

also...

Pictures from our trip to La Sabana park nearby today for P-day

 Okay, so the first picture is actually not from today. But its another cool butterfly picture! 

The next picture is Sister Stark and I. I am sporting my new Costa Rican T. 

¨Mae¨ = Dude

Tuanis = Cool

Pura Vida = Pure life, the Costa Rica catch phrase. 

 I had way too much fun blowing bubbles and I even bought a cheap kite to enjoy for the day. Ask anyone there, I was like a child running around. 

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.