Loving the Mission

Dear everyone,

Can you believe that another week has gone by? I seriously feel like the mission is a total time warp. So fast at times, and at other times it seems like ¨home¨ was another life. 

So we had another great week. Seriously. I am loving my time in Guadalupe, and LOVING my time with Hermana Coburn. We just get along so great.  I love sharing my ward with 2 other companionships of elders.  I have never worked so much with elders. They are great guys and are really working so hard. We have an incredible ward with so much love from the members. I also love being the ¨new sisters¨ because we seriously are getting so spoiled. 

Starting about a weekish ago, the elders decided that we are going to play soccer every morning at 5 AM for exercise. If I wasn´t tired before, I sure am now.  I have been getting some great battle wounds. Also, (and not always soccer related)  I have been falling a lot. I am not really sure when I got to be so clumsy. Hermana Coburn and I joke that I am a cursed Sim and that I have made someone mad, and that’s why I cant seem to go more than 3 days without tripping. Sigh…..

Last Monday our pday turned out to be almost a normal day. After helping out with changes in San

Jose all day, we had finally gotten back into our area and we ready to buy groceries and get cleaning done, when our buddies Elder Pratt and Elder Lewis from the office call.  They need be to ¨babysit¨ a sister who is going home this week for two days. So we turn around and head BACK to San Jose. It was crazy to have her for a couple of days, and I guess it just made me realize how close I am to being in her position! Lets not talk about it..... 

So this last week we had to plan a Zone meeting with the Zone leaders. With changes, almost every companionship had changes and we wanted to get to know the new people and make it great. We talked about working in Unity with the members, with our companions, and as districts and zones. We played a lot of Unity games and we came up with some good stuff. First we played the Newlywed game with the districts and their district leaders. We learned a lot about each other and we were CRACKING up. Then we had a contest for the most united companionship which included who dressed alike, who could say the first vision one word each companion, and ended with an interpretive dance to see how unified they could me. The Zone leaders cracked EVERYONE up with their dance, because one is short and one is tall. They got totally into it and even had some great lifts. It was a great way to have fun and then feel the spirit to get the zone going for our ¨new¨ zone.

Saturday Rorigo was finally baptized! The very next day he received the gift of the holy ghost, and then the priesthood! So stinkin quick! He is passing though so many problems right now, but he just keeps pressing on with so much FAITH. He even got fired from a job that he really needed when they found out he was going to be baptized. But today he called to say he has an interview for an even Better job, so wooo!  He is so great, and also, he only has 4 fingers! Cool right?!?!?

One of the members in our Ward who is SO nice to us got married the same hour as our baptism.... not our fault.

Pablo (our mission dad and the best Ward mission leader in the world) had his birthday. Right after the baptism we celebrated with cake and we gave him a picture of us for his birthday. Ha!

Yesterday, Said, blessed the sacrament for the first time. I was all grins! He did SO great and didnt mess up even once. He was glowing. He is getting excited as one of his friends from church is preparing to leave for his mission this week and wants to serve one too. Finding people like Said make all the hard times on the mission worth it. :)

Okay, the last little bit is copied and pasted from my companions email to her family because I am out of time. Blame tipos on her! MMMKAYGREATBYE!

Love,

Hermana Patterson

Okay so we went out with a member on Friday and it was just crazy because we planned to contact a few houses as soon as the member left because she said she only had an hour to leave and work with us, so we did a lesson and at the hour mark we were like we{re going to this street to go contact... and shes like i want to go with you. so we go and we all are like THIS HOUSE. So we yell and a dog Like curby comes out and is just barking and barking and trying to bite us and its awful but we don't give up we just wait. and wait .and wait. because we know there's a reason for this and so finally a little boy comes and then finally he calls and gets his mom and before saying like anything shes letting us in. so we go in and we are just talking and teaching and she starts crying and shes like i have been waiting for  this because i'm not really religious and i want to change and i want to find god and so i prayed and here you are and then she was like id love to be baptized and we were going to put the date for the 2nd of august when my comp looked at me and was like i know the lord wants you to be baptized the 9th and shes like that's the day after my birthday and i want to give this gift to the lord. and it was just amazing as this member was able to be apart of the miracles we've been having. I know the lord always will lead us to the people that are searching for Christ and i  know that as we are obedient we will be able to hear the spirit whispering to us where they are. I love this work and I love the miracles we have been able to experience.

Okay so lets just talk about how amazing JOCELI is. So we were so worried on sunday, because she didnt get to church and was like im coming im coming its just i have a surprise for yall.. and then as the closing prayer of sacrament meeting is said she walks in and brings with her, her two cousins. she was like i just want them to feel how i feel and then she was like im so excited for my baptism this weekend! And so that was just amazing and this morning she started going to seminary. im just so amazed. because shes just so strong and we dont have to do anything. we dont have to bring her to church we dont have to make her read we dont have to make her go to seminary. she does it all her self because she feels it. Her life has been hard but finally shes finding the light at the end of the tunnel. and shes already halfway done with 2nd nephi. i just hope she can get through those stinking isaiah chapters haha so she can get to Alma. haha.

Costa Rica goes WILD!

Okay, lets be honest everyone. I am really short on time and I feel like I have SO MUCH  to share with you, but this internet cafe is the worst and isn´t working very well.....

1. JULIO! Okay so my comp and I had to go to a meet in a different district on Wednesday.  We were already running so late, and everything was going wrong. We both were feeling a little frustrated. But I am sitting on the bus, and a man in a seat near me calls me and asks ¨Are you a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter day saints?¨ Obviously, as a missionary, you get a little excited. 

He starts telling me that he was on a bus about 2 weeks ago when a young man (not in white shirt or tie, who didn't give him any details, in other words, one of the three Nephites)  starts talking to him about the premortal life which TOTALLY gets his attention. They start chatting and the Nephite tells him that he should download the LDS library on his phone, then, almost without saying good bye, gets off the bus. Julio, starts reading everything from the Scripture guide, to doctrine and covenants. He LOVES it. He was eating it up. But he had NO IDEA where to find the church. When he saw my badge, he knew that the Lord had sent him his answer. 

I will be honest. As get is super excited explaining everything that happened to him, and then showing me on his phone what he has been reading I thought he must be a member trying to trick me. My dad is good at this game. Whenever we are on vacation and we see missionaries he likes to pretend that he isn´t a member until the missionaries start getting really excited and he tells them the truth. I thought for sure it couldn´t be real. So I decide the only way I can know If this guy is serious is invite him to be baptized. RIGHT THERE. IN THE BUS. So I look at him square in the eye and do it. I invite him to be baptized. His eyes got wide and he just blinked for a minute, and then the spirit got SO STRONG. He tells me that yes! He wants to be baptized! He has been looking for this all of his life! I almost started choking! I realize ¨Holy cow!¨This is REAL! THIS GUY I JUST MET ON A BUS ACCEPTED BEING BAPTIZED!¨ At this point we are in San Jose, and its time to get off the bus. So we all get off, and we keep talking with Julio, but now my companion has walked up and is trying to figure out whats going on. She had been standing next to me for about 5 seconds when I tell Julio ¨Hermano, I want you to know that we are preparing a baptismal service in Guadalupe the 19th of July. Hermano, I know without a doubt in my mind that you will be ready to be baptized that day. Will you prepare to be baptized the 19 of July?¨ Immediately he accepts. My companions jaw dropped. I was almost crying. It was crazy. This man is incredible. He already came to church and LOVED it. He participated and got to know a lot members. HIs baptism is what we call in the mission San Jose, Costa Rica FIJISIMO, o sea, Si o Si. 

  

2. Adela! She got married and baptized and it was beautiful and she was beautiful and we were like her bridesmaids matching at her wedding and it was just really special! I love her shes adorable! (On a funny and embarrassing note, right after the whole Kiss the bride moment, she spins around, hands me the bouquet of flowers and says ¨I´m not even going to through it, you need it so you can get married when you get home!¨ IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. I WAS SO RED!) LOTs of pictures to come when I find an internet cafe that isn´t the worst.

3. Also so Said even though hes been with the elders because of the rule,. hes our convert in our hearts and he got baptized with Adela got the spirit and got the priesthood. I'm so excited for him! Hes awesome and already preparing for the mission!! .... More pictures to come.

4. ALEX. okay so the day we met Julio, we then went to the district meeting as Hna Especialistas to help out and it was a great meeting and i learned a lot so i thought maybe this is my answer to the prayer in the bus about how i wanted to see a miracle and make the trip worth it. BUT THEN we were traveling back Hna Coburn and I with the zone leaders and we were like you know what. lets contact  this bus. I'm on a spiritual high. So we prepare what were are going to talk about and We give a really strong testimony and I could see people who weren't caring and then i look in the back there's a guy with tattoos and earrings and hes like shaking his head like he likes what we are saying so i walk back and start talking to him and its amazing. His name is Alex he lives in another zone, but he tells us that he has been praying for a while for the lord to put a church in his path where he can get married and then he felt that he should get on this bus, which isn't normal., and then we were there and we were teaching and he said he just felt that this was his answer. so i know it was. so i put a baptismal date with him and gace the number to the elders.. but the next morning at 6 he calls and says he wants us to go over at 1 and then i call the elders and set up the appointment for them and so tomorrow ill get to see how its going with our sweet alex and his wife and kid!!

5. YOCELI AND ARIELKA! so I'm running low on time... but they are great. they went to church. they are progressing a lot. and i am so excited to teach them and their family. they are sharing the gospel with everyone and everyone they share it with meets us and is already reading the Book of Mormon so they end up accepting a date for baptism too! I really am so so so  happy about them. and there's so much I wish I could tell but i don't have time .

6. COSTA RICA IN THE WORLD CUP!! IS A MAD HOUSE HERE BUT I LOVEEE ITT!! I LIVE IN THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD!! I LOVE THE MISSION! AND I LOVE THAT I GET To be apart of this world wide news. i love soccer now. haha.... sorry i am like 22 years late dad!

Theres so much more but I am out of time. I love you all and I love the Lord and I love the Mission!!

Hope my pictures work this next week because I have some great ones!!!

Love, Hermana Patterson 

"GROOD" June 23

Dear Friends and Family,

Another good week in Purral 3 (aka Guadalupe). 

First of all, our new companion, Hermana Villanueva from Mexico. She has 3 weeks in the mission field. She started out her mission in Cartago, but was miserable and almost went home. So, instead, president sent her to us. She seems to be doing great. We would be lying if we didn´t say that we are a little.... confused? But its all good.

so we are in our hobbit hole.. with a three of us.. it gets a little crowded. but its really homey. we got the bed problem figured out. haha. its been fun training and all. but.... its been a lot of loops to jump too. i feel like i need to just keep working harder and harder so that she can be the best too.She has so many little pet peeves that bug me.. but then i feel the love of christ and i see how the spirit helps me be more patient. I love the stress and i love being super busy. hah. its a good thing.

I went on divisions with Hna McArthur in Zurqui this Thursday and Friday. Zurqui is a gorgeous area with a bunch of nature. It honestly reminded me a lot of my first area, Los Santos. A little branch is a house and a lot of potential! I learned a lot from Hermana McArthur. She is from West Jordan and she is so sweet. She sings OPERA. She struggeles a lot with the language, even though she only has 6 weeks less that I do, but her testimoney is just SO sincere, that it brings the spirit stongly. She taught me a lot and I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to learn from differnet sisters every single week. 

Rodrigo!! Okay so Im just SO PUMPED. so on tuesday. our ward mission leader decided to go over and talk to him by himself. so he did that and gave him a blessing and then the next hour he got some stuff worked out for his business.. then he met with us at the church telling us that his wife hates us and his mom and that we cant go over to his house anymore. so we taught him at church and it was great and he was like i dont care what i have to do i want to be baptized. it was really cool. and the spirit was really strong. then let me tell you how we were messaging and he told us his wife wants to kick him out of the house if he gets baptized. for us we didnt understand WHY she was so mad because she was already listening to us before him so we started to pray and pray and pray. because he was so happy feeling so much peace and we just seeing all the blessings BUT then this mess happened with his wife. and then on sunday we get a message at 8:00 and he said that he was going to convince her to come to church. then by a miracle they both showed up at church and LOVED IT!! he makes me so happy literally. 

KIOSKO so miracle from the kiosko. so elder macias was talking to a guy and then after wards he came up to us and gave us the reference telling us that the guy was intereseted. Fast forward 3 days we call and set up an appointment. and we go and visit him. He tells us that hes never liked or gone to a church. and that he wants us to teach his whole family. So we go. and its just incredible. So first we walk in and meet a family of 7. and then this guy Delvis starts telling us that 2 hrs after talking and praying with elder macias, someone called and he got a job. And that is the only reason why he wanted to meet with us. And so we taught and got 7 baptism dates. Then we ewnt back and taught the first vision and two of the sisters start crying. Delvis wasnt there in this lesson. But these two sisters then came to church and said that they loved it! I am so excited to help this family they are so sweet and so precious. The older sister sent us a text afterwards and was like Hey so I need to say something. I prayed a few days ago asking to find the church where god wants me to go. and I prayed asking for help through my problems and then you guys showed up. I know that god was answering my prayers through you and I cant wait to keep learning!  I am so excited! they are so amazing!

I have been studying a lot about the priesthood since that was the ¨theme¨ of the month. I have appreciated specifically studying the difference between ¨power¨ and ¨authority¨. I´ve liked this and this. I finished and started my now third study journal, which is like.... so great. I am learning a lot in my personal studies. If any of you have learned anything really great about the priesthood this month, let me know! 

Everytime we pass these  ¨How to train your dragon 2¨ ads we joke that because we eat with the members every single day and we are going to get home from our missions looking like ¨this guy¨.

 Our district minus Elder Reyes. Our new companion in the sister in the middle wearing red. 

On tuesday we had to go sleep in the sister mission house becuase Hna Villanueva needed to get her fingerprints. Almost every companion I have had was in the house! It was such a fun reunion! 

Every wednesday night, we eat dinner at Krystal and Gilberts house (aka the cuttest recent convert couple on the face of the planet). They just went through the temple two weeks ago, and I was so jealous of the elders who baptized them ( one of them, elder sorenson was my zone leader in Escazu, and he is an incredible missionary). 

I went on divisions with Hna McArthur in Zurqui this week. I feel like I am starting to get the hang on things!

 While I was there Costa Rica won thier 2nd game in the world cup and everyone was in the streets going CRAZY! And we were in a little down! HOnking! Jumping on stuff! Waving flags! It was very festive in deed. I wish I could have gotten more pictures. 

Love you all! Thanks for your prayers on my behalf! I can FEEL them! 

xoxo Hermana Patterson

P.s. Hermana Coburn may or may not be the same person. Not only do we quote snl like ¨gilly¨ and ¨sue¨  but now I learn that she can quote teen girl squad. #iminheaven

Where Much is Given...much is required

Wow. I don´t think I have ever really understood this scripture as well as I do right now.

Where much is given

We are.... incredibly blessed here in Purral 3. We see so many miracles every single day. We are incredibly spoiled by the members and our investigators are great.

Said-  Said is just great. He makes serious sacrifices to come to church. He even turned down going to his best friends wedding because we wants to avoid the party scene (crazy!). He loves loves loves the missionaries. He had a friend that tried to pull hi down by giving him a bunch of anti-Mormon junk, but he doesn't accept any of it, and he even said that ¨friends¨ who do that aren'´t really friends at all. He would have loved to be baptized already, but we have to wait to required 3 weeks in church to baptize him. He is getting baptized on the 28th.

Lizzie-  Lizzie was another miracle this week. When we contact, we always ask if anyone else they know would be interested in our message. One gave us the reference of her daughter Flor (we will get to her in a second). We went to go find her, but Flor wasn´t there. The good news is that her next door neighbor, Lizzie, WAS there! She is GOLDEN.

Rodrigo- Said  he doesn't like religion, but now says he wants to be baptized! Told us he wouldn't promise us to come to church, but then SHOWED UP ON HIS OWN EARLY!

Much is required. 

1. We are opening an area. That means when we got here, we didn't have investigators. Starting from scratch is a very very spiritual, but exhausting thing. Honestly, I love it. 

2. Our new calling takes time. First of all, doing changes is tiring. Usually you have to wake up early (for missionaries! So you KNOW its early) do a lot of traveling, have a lot of meetings, a lot of responsibilities and are expected to have a stellar area that can be an example to the rest.

3. Now we are training! (What?) We got word last night that a sister that came this last change (3 weeks ago) has been having some troubles with her trainer and wants to go home. We are now training her so that she feels better. Her name is Hna Villanueva. She seems really sweet. I just met her myself, so I will have to give you details next week. 

4. I am exhausted. I love it. I probably will not feel fully rested until August 22nd. So, just so you guys know, I will probably need a week to hibernate. Haha Just kidding.

Out of time! Love and praying for you guys! Stay safe Lauren and Casey! :( 

#tornadosaretheworst 

Hermana Patterson 

June 16, 2014

Zona Toyopan! (I still feel like the word toyopan is something japanesse, but in fact it means ¨Mountain of the lord¨ in a costa rica indiginous language. tuanis.)

We went on divisions with Cordinado this week. It was our first time there, and we couldn´t believe the crazy catholic church they have out there! Its HUGE! These pictures were taken at like 6 am but we were BLOWN AWAY!!!

Divisions with Hna Gray went GREAT!

The sisters in Cordinado, us and the zone leaders at went crazy doing to kiosk in Cordinado. We got them so many numbers of interested people!

We eat with members every single night. I really should take pictures with the members, because they just so great to us, but for now, here is some aztec soup that we had.... YUUUUUUUUUUM!

Catching up

So our mission was chosen to try a pilot program for the church. We set up a kiosk type thing that have questions of the soul, then, while people are walking by and looking at the questions, we get close and start talking about the church. It is incredible! I love it! Its really effective and gets people talking and thinking about deep things!

When we found out about changes, and the day I left Aserri

We are opening our area, so we are the first people to live in our house. When we first got here, we didn't even have beds. We affectionately call our home the ''hobbit house''.

First picture with my new companera, Hna Coburn

And our first leadership council with President Wilkinson

When two gringas are companions, they go crazy and buy Nutella!

My posterity in the mission! Hna Beltran (my daughter- which means i trained her) and Hna Davidson from Canada (my grand-daughter- Hna beltran is training her).  We had a conference with Elder Ochoa of the Central American Area Presidency which was amazing!

I went on my first división this week with Hna Salcedo from Guatemala. We were in her área and we both learned so much! She is a great missionary and is training right after finishing her own training! She had her birthday a few days before we had divisions, but one of the members in her Ward invited her over to celebrate a little late.

I got really excited because in their house they have a Book of Mormon in what I am guessing is Chinese. I was REALLY excited, and started joking around telling Hna Salcedo that I could read in Chinese, opening up to the page in this picture and saying (in spanish) ''I Nephi, being born on goodly parents'' when she started laughing and said ''Hermana Patterson, I would believe you, but that is the table of contents!''

...... That's embarrassing!

We eat with at least one member every night. Sometimes two, and sometimes three. I am not even joking. We don't even really need grocery money. Its so good and so bad all at the same time.

How many missionaries can you fit in a taxi to Pricemart? More than is probably legal......

Dear friends and family,

I want you to know how happy I am. Usually changes are hard because you feel sad for leaving people behind and having to start over, but I can honestly say that I am so happy to be here in Purral. I have reflected many times this week on how gracious the Lord has been with me. Different circumstances in my mission have really shaped and carved me into the person I am now, preparing me for my future. I love this ward, I love the area, I love the missionaries in our zone, I love the sisters that we serve, I love my companion and basically I am just so lucky.

The ward mission leader (pablo) is on fire! He loves this work! He loves the missionaries, and he is willing to do WHATEVER it takes to make our lives easier.This ward has only had elders for 10 years, and I love being in a ward that has been awaiting sister missionaries so long! I am feeling so spoiled! Everyone wants to feed us (No! Seriously! They start fighting over who will have us over for dinner!) , the sisters are eager to work with us, and all around everyone is just happy to help! I have never ever seen a ward like this one here in Costa Rica! What a blessing and privledge it is to be here in Purral.

Said

I wanted to share an exciting experience we had this last week. Opening an area means starting from scratch, which sometimes can feel a little hard, but its also something that I LOVE. In my experience its easier to focus on your purpose when you start out with nothing.

As you can imagine, we have spent a lot of our time this last week connacting. One day, we felt impressed to enter a certain street, that actually looked pretty small. As we entered, we realized that the street was way longer than we thought with WAY more houses than we were expecting. We walked and talked, talked and walked until we got to the end. I am not sure what caused us to call out ''upe'' (how you let people know that someone is outside their house)  to the very last house on the street that looked like nobody was home.
 Luckily, Said (thats his name)  came out and started to talk to us. We talked about how we are missionaries, we talked about our message to christ, and he told us that he was interested in talking to us, but right in that moment he was busy. We made an appointment with him for the very next day. He arranged to give him a tour of the chapel and there were various key member of the ward at the time we met up with him for a ward activity that was happening. He met lots of really nice people and then sat down to chat with us.

We explained our purpose, we answered a lot of his questions and we taught him the restoration. It is very rare to find someone who is so ready to hear the gospel as he is. (I have only met two people like him in my entire mission- 1. Claudia and 2. Carolina) He was asking how he could become a member, when he could be baptized, and if he too could serve a mission(WHAT!!??!?!?) . The spirit was strong and he was excited about reading the book of mormon. For 15 days he will be in Guanacaste, but every day he texts his questions and his doubts and we talk him through it. Every time we talk to him the spirit is strong and we can SEE the faith he has in his eyes.

We are sad because there is a rule in our mission that if you share an area with Elders (like we do) you can not teach single men, and they can not teach single women, we have to pass it along. Because he is single, so we will have to pass him over to the Elders to teach when he comes back to Purral, but I am grateful that the Lord allowed us to be part of his missionary/ conversion experience. THE FIELD IS WHITE AND READY TO HARVEST! I am grateful for the testimoney of that I have gained of that principle.

My companion

Madison Coburn from ''just south of atlanta'' (and I hope you all read atlanta like adlana).

20 Years old.

1 semester at BYU provo under her belt.

She has served in Guancaste, and San Carlos (both very hot areas, and far away from San Jose).

She has 14 months in the mission.

We were friends on facebook before we left.

I.... LOVE HER!

I am thrilled to be with Sister Coburn. We KNOW without a doubt that our companionship was inspired because we work together so nicely. My stengths are her weaknesses. Her stregths are my weaknesses, so we have an incredible balance. We already feel like the best of friends. We can be so serious, and we can laugh for days. We already teach is a great unity, which is unusual for an new companionship. We are SO happy we are companions.

The Elders

-Elder Macias, The district leader, from ''Mexico''. I say Mexico in quotation marks because he is from a mormon colony in mexico were everyone speaks english. I Its basically Utah, just on the other side of the border. I am not even sure they eat tacos there..... He is basically gringo. But dont tell him I said that.

-Elder Reed, his companion, from Montana. He is hysterical. One night, Elder mecias was calling us to congradulate us for our numbers that day, and Elder Reed was in the backround yelling ''woo!'' every five seconds. He is the ''strong, quiet type'' but then randomly pulls out some ''woo!''s.

-Elder Reyes, Zone leadler, from Mexico. He has.... some time in the mission. I cant remember exactly how much time, but he is funny. He is SO skinny, but eats SO MUCH.

-Elder Mejias, Other Zone leader, from El Salvador. He has the voice of an angel. Not really, but he loves fake opera singing to get us all laughing, and it works, every single time.

The elders are SUPER jealous of us. The ward is CRAZY about having sister finally, and no body wants to feed them. I kind of feel bad for them.... but it will all work out.

We are happy! We are working hard! And I LOVE Purral!

I am excited to see the miracles that are headed our way!

Love you all!

Hermana Patterson

Wait...What?!?!?!

What a good weeks its been!

I don´t know if you noticed, but last week, I felt a little ¨down¨. Everyone who has been on a mission (but I guess its also just part of LIFE)  knows that it has its goods, and its bads. Its ups and downs.  

Truthfully we had had a couple of hard weeks in Aserri. We were trying to stay positive, but satan was really just attacking us like crazy. But the Lord was always aware of us.

I am not sure if I have explained this before, but in Aserri, we shared an area, and lived next door to the Hermana Especialistas (Sister Training Leaders/ like Sister Zone leaders). It was a really good experience for me, because they really taught me a lot through example. Not only do they work hard, but they care for every single one of their investigatores, and the sisters they are over. Because our time in Aserri was very hard, there was more than a couple of times that we would just go next door and cry and cry while they comforted us with hugs and just listening to us. I have been so grateful to live next door to Hermana Bay and Hermana Roundy.

This week it was our turn to go on divisions with them. Truthfully, I haven´t been on very many exchanges in my mission, but every time they come around I learn a lot, so I was looking forward in finding ways to be a better missionary and help my area progress. I also was secretly praying that I would be the one to leave our area to that I could see missionary work in someone elses area (Because for some reason, every time we have divisions, I stay in my own area ). But no, It was decided that Hermana Bay would be coming with me to our area, and Hna Beltran would go to their area with Hna Roundy.

The day of divisions, I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. I felt a little grumpy,  but not overly. More than anything just tired. Tired and worn out.  We had taken a couple of spirtual hits.

Starting our divisons with our Personal Studies, I decided I needed to study the Christ-like attribute of  ¨Humility¨. I felt the spirit so strong and I realized that maybe I was having a pride issue. Not a ¨Wow! I am so great! Better then the rest!¨ kind of pride, but I wasn´t recognizing the Lords hand in my work, and I was being very grateful. I became repentant REAL fast. During our companionship studies, I shared with Hna Bay the things that I had learned and felt, and again felt the spirit and began to cry and cry. We talked about everything that had been happening and I began healing, tear by tear.

We worked, we sawe miracles, we found some GREAT new people to teach, but for me, the best part is I didn´t just learn the things I could improve, but Hna Bay really helped me heal. I realized that the Lord REALLY understood what I needed,and for that two days, and specifically that week, I really needed Hna Bay. I was even sad when divisions ended. 

After ending a good week, I was ready to jump into the next and work like a mad man. 

.... Until Sunday came along. After church, and eating dinner at a members home, we are just going about our buisness, inviting people to come unto christ, when we recieved a phone call from the zone leaders. We happened to be waiting in the street for a couple of members to come with us to our next appointment, and I thought for SURE that my companion would be having changes, and that I would finish my mission in Aserri. So I put the phone call of speaker phone. Elder Cude (My zone leader)  started out as they always do, with small talk while your heart is racing because you know whats coming. Then he finally jumps right in:

¨Hermana, do you know why I am calling?

¨Well I have my guesses....¨ 

¨Do you know what today is, Hermana?¨

¨Yes.... changes. Do we have changes Elder?¨

¨Yes, you do. And guess who is going.¨

¨Who?¨

¨You.¨

¨Wait.... What ? !?!?! Where  am I going?¨

¨ You are going to the best area in the mission, my old area. You are going to Purral in  Toyopan. ¨

 ¨Okay.... great, thanks elder!¨

 ¨Hermana, that´s not it. You are going to be an Hermana Especialista¨ (English Translation= Sister training leader= Sister Zone leader)

¨WHAT?!?!?!?!¨

¨Congrats Hermana! You are the best! But that´s not it! Your going to be a grandma! Hermana Beltran will be training!¨

.... Obviously at this point there was a lot of craziness on our end of the line.

So now, here I am. The farthest North of San Jose I have ever been. Which is only about 20 minutes north.(Its just because all of my areas have been South ), in a new place with my new companion, about to learn a LOT OF new things.

My companion is Hna Coburn, from Georgia. She has one change (6 weeks) less than me. Neither of us know the area, and neither of us have ever been Hna Especialistas, so we are going to learn a LOT really fast. 

We are excited.
We are a little overwhelmed,
but most important,

We are excited to get to work.

...My cord is in the middle of my bags, so no pictures this week folks.  But that just means DOUBLE next week! ;)

Keep us in your prayers!
We have a lot of miracles coming!

Lots of Love,
Hermana Patterson 

This Week

I have a lot of things I could say, but let´s just say a few:

We went to the temple,

I felt really, really tired

I saw Hna Garcia for the first time in 5 months 

Kelly.... was not baptized this week

I enjoyed this story.

I don´t know where to live this semester.

My companion finishes her training this week.

I need to be better about taking pictures

Also, I have a new obsession with the ¨I´m a Mormon¨ videos:

Elaine

Sergio

Jenna

Brandon

Vanessa

Sheryl

... Just to name a few..... 

May 12, 2014

Dear Friends and family,

We are doing well here in Aserri. We had a baptism this satuday, Cristian who has one of the easiest baptisms I have ever had. I have never had someone so willing to accept the gospel. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God? He believes it without problem? Tell him to read the Book of Mormon? He´s read through Jacob. Law of Chastity? He is willing. Give up coffee to live the Word of wisdom? Aswell. We almost didn´t know what to do with ourselves. :) The best part is that Cristian was a members LPE. Scarlet is a future missionary in the San Miguel ward. Because San Miguel only has Elders, she likes to work with us sisters in Aserri as well. She does a great job of doing LPEs while she is in ¨missionary mode¨. She met Cristian in the bus, and brought him to our ward, which was the first time we met him. 3 weeks later he is baptized and confirmed a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. How cool. Not only has it motivated us as missionaries to do more LPE´s but also Scarlet as a member has more drive to share the gospel. What a great experience!

This week we also saw other miracles. Kelly is an investigator that we have been working with for about a month. The first time we met Kelly, I was on divisions with Hna Roundy and we were in a lesson with Kelly´s mom, Alba. We were inviting Alba to be baptized and trying to put a date. At first, she seemed willing, until Kelly came home. When Kelly walked through the door, Alba told Kelly ¨These chicas want me to be baptized. What do you think?¨ Obviously Kelly hadn´t been in our lesson, so hadn´t been feeling the spirit at all of the invitation. Immediately Kelly starting saying ¨NO! No! You can´t be baptized in another church! We have a youth group in our house every week!¨As soon as Kelly said no, Alba said no. As we explained that our invitation was just to PREPARE to be baptized by reading the scriptures, praying and attending church, Alba reluctantly accepting the goal, but we learned quickly that Kelly was the key  if anyone in that house would progress.

As we started sharing the fullness of the gospel with Alba´s family, many of their friends from their youth group also joined in on our lessons and accepted baptismal date goals. They all really understood the logic of the restoration, but when it came down to it, Kelly was the only one who was willing to keep commitments. The first week, everyone in their group accepted the invitation to come to church, but at last minute, Kelly was they only who came. At first I was worried because Kelly brought a friend we had never met before. It was Easter weekend and so many of the members (and more importantly, youth) were out of town. Kelly´s friend starting complaining about how boring church was, and wasn´t making ANY effort at all to feel the spirit or learn. Even though Kelly was making an effort, I worried her friends bad attitude would influence her.  I was relieved when the next week we focused on her study of the Book of Mormon. Everyone in Albas house (family and friends) were reluctant when it came to the Book of Mormon.  They were all very comfortable with the Bible and weren´t sure how they felt about learning about something new.  One day, Kelly took our advice and prayed, asking her Father in Heaven for guidance. She told us that we she was praying she felt the need to read the Book of  Mormon. At first she struggled with her reading, but as starting studying with her, she would mark the verses she liked and eventually starting reading on her own. She came to church a second time, and her study of the Book of Mormon continued. She said she really liked the Book of Mormon, and prayed to know if it was from God. She felt like it was, but was still hesitant when it came to baptism. On Wednesday we had a really great lesson with a recent convert (Young woman) named Deniese. Kelly starting saying that she didn´t feel like she could be baptized right now, and that maybe she should wait until she was 18. Deniese was WONDERFUL! She explained how important the Holy Ghost and other blessings of baptisms just couldn´t wait until Kelly was 18. We finished our lesson with Deniese with a knelt prayera and I starting flipping through my scriptures. I starting talking about the apostles and their lifestyles as fishermen. I talked about the questions that Christ has for them, if they were willing to leave that all behind and serve him. We talked about how now that they have the gospel in their lives, they couldn´t go back and be the people they were before. The Lord was calling them to leave their boats and nets behind to serve him. The spirit was very strong and we ended with our testimonies and left as quickly as we could so that they could ponder on the spirit.

Kelly said in that moment that she still didn´t feel ready, but she felt that she should pray alone that night, and that she felt she would be ready before her date, the 17th.  I left feeling very pleased. 2 days later, when we passed by for Kelly again, it was just Kelly and Alba. They both had a bunch of excuses of why Kelly couldn´t be baptized. I started feeling SO frustrated because we had felt the spirit so strong just the other day, and I had felt that Kelly was SO close to choosing to be baptized. The biggest excuse was the celula (youth spiritual group from another church) that they hold every week in their home. Even though they don´t attended the other church anymore, they both felt like  they couldn´t just stop the celula and be baptized in another church. Like I said, I was feeling so frustrated, and said a quick prayer in my heart, begging the Lord to guide my words and share something from the scriptures that would touch their hearts. I immediatley thought of this talk :  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/the-first-great-commandment?lang=eng

The next day, we returned, completely prepared to talk even more about the importance of being baptized. We had prayed, and prayed hard. We had fasted, and we had done everything we could think of to help Kelly understood. We got to the house we started talking to Alba. I asked her if what she would think if Kelly choose to be baptized, she casually mentioned that it was Kelly´s decision, but she didn´t think it would happen anytime soon. Then, Kelly arrived. We took a deep breath, and we were ready to jump into again, when Kelly casually said ¨Okay, I´ve decided to be baptized. I know it´s what the Lord wants for me¨. We couldn´t believe it.  She told us that before she had a bunch of small doubts and excuses, but now she could see them for what they were, excuses. She said ¨I guess the Lord just put it in my heart. It´s what I want to do.¨ Alba couldn´believe it either. She asked Kelly what she was going to do with the celula. And then came my favorite answer ¨I don´t have a convenant with the Celula. I am going to make a covenant with God¨.  We were so dumbfounded and happy!

The next day (yesterday/ Sunday) Kelli came to church for the 3rd time. She was outgoing and lovable  to everyone inviting the entire world to her baptism. Everyone was thrilled! We have used various members to work with Albas family so half the Ward was a buzz about the new girl Kelly who is going to be baptized this next Saturday. 

I am so grateful to the opportunity I have had to work with and know Kelly. We put so much WORK into helping her get a testimony that it just felt so VICTORIOUS when she finally said yes. For me, its just a testimony that if investigators and missionaries do their part (keep commitments, be obedient and pray hard) then the Lord does the rest and finally puts the answer they need in their heart, so they don´t have any doubt.

 2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

 3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

 4 Therefore this is thy gift; apply unto it, and blessed art thou, …

 5 Oh, remember these words, and keep my commandments. Remember, this is your gift.

Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-5

 

I also got to see Hna Delgado this week when she went on divisions with the Hermana Especialistas this week. I love her so much!  I forgot how little she is! haha. 

Hope you all have a great week! It was so great to Skype for mothers day!

Love, Hermana Patterson