Getting bigger...

Buenos Dias a todos

Got my first charley horse this week. I always thought I knew what one felt like, like a really bad cramp that hurt, but oh no. I woke up in the middle of the night this week and it was suuuppper painful. Never felt any kind of cramp like that, so I'm assuming that it's really a charley horse. Took like 3 days to die down to, the same day I got it, I was limping around everywhere, because it hurt to straighten my leg. Weird

So for the first time in a long time, I weight more, yay I'm getting fatter. I way 155 pounds now, compared to 140, and I am getting a little pot belly. I use to always laugh how I don't how muffin tops, but ya now I do, and a little pot belly. Ill be sure to send home a pregnancy photo at 9 months to show you its progress, its hauling by the way.

Always knew that guanacaste was a cheap area, but someone explained to me that lots of the neighborhoods were free houses given by the government about 10 years back. My area, which includes Corazon de Jesus, Las Brisas, Buenos Aires, y Hicaro, all were neighborhoods where all the houses were free to anyone, expect Hicaro. All the people moved in for free, and only have to pay the lights or the water. Not all areas in Costa Rica are like that, but it explains why my area is so poor. 

So many of the youth here seem so young, but when I ask turn out to be around 19 or 21. It's weird to see them from a perspective as a youth living in their house with their parents when I'm here as a missionary, compared to me being one of the youth. They think I'm about 24 or 25, but when they realize I'm only 18 it's a shocker to them to. Weird to think of them dropping their lives at that age and time of their life and going to some other country. I never understood completely why the lord sends missionaries at such a young age, but it's definitely a miracle that people this young can be so effective. 

So I always thought that the United States was a "god fearing country" but compared to Costa Rica, I can understand now when mom and dad say that the USA has drifted away from its moral standards being a Christian country. Here. Any person, religious or not, will go on and on talking about  Jesus Christ or how great heavenly father is and our purpose here on the earth, and hardly anyone in the US does that. Costa Rica definitely is a god fearing country. 

Mission is definitely ups and downs. This week hit another hard down for a couple days, Sunday was super hard, and then Sunday night got better. I still want to serve and mission, and ill continue to work hard, but mood swings still come super often. Guess I haven't finished my 6 months time bubble that most people say it takes to get use to a mission. 

There's one lesson that everyone always bears testimony about, that's hard to completely live, but I hear it all the time. I can't control everything. My companion, the investigators, everything is out of my control, except for myself. It's an easy lesson to learn, but a hard lesson to accept and live being on a mission. Guess I have plenty of time to let that soak in to. 

Reading scriptures and my P blessing, I know that this is a challenge that will help build me. I also know there isn't a challenge that I won't be able to handle, so I just have to hang in there.  

Trying to find ways here on the mission to let the savior step in and help me with my mentality. It's kind of vague to "let the savior step in", so I've been trying to do what I think would fit into that category. Praying, reading scriptures, studying, and serving with that idea specifically in mind. I've also been trying to follow the example of Christ for everything I do here, but it's a really slow progress. I'm curious what that phrase means for all you reading this letter. If you'd be willing to share your insights being a little clearer about how you have accessed the enabling power of Christ, I would love to hear your input. Thanks!

Had a good experience with an investigator named Luis? He is the boyfriend of a member and we have been teaching him the past couple weeks. He hasn't been progressing too rapidly, and we are still lacking a few themes to teach him. We had a branch night last week and invited them to come. Surprisingly they did. The theme was about gratitude and for part of the lesson; we went around in a circle and asked everyone to share one thing that they are grateful for. When it came to time for Luis to say something, he said I'm so grateful for the change that has recently started to come over my life. We didn't think that Luis was progressing or taking anything in, but after that comment, and the lesson we had with him the night after, I know understand how much talking and serving him has helped him change, even if we didn't see it very well at the start.

Anyways, things are going good, slowly learning, and hanging in there with everything I got. Till next week!