I was able to share everything I wanted to in fluent Spanish!

Well in 2 days I will have been in Costa Rica for a month! Holy cow that's crazy! I look back at all that has happened these past 4 weeks and I am so grateful. I have learned so much and have grown as a person.

 

 

This past week in particular was really crazy. Hermana Geurts ended up leaving because of her Gulbladder problem and that was really sad. I couldn't imagine leaving the people that I have met here and the experience itself. I hope that she gets the help that she needs and be able to return to serving with me here in Costa Rica.With her leaving, I now have no one to speak English to! This really made me nervous, however, I am more motivated than ever to learn Spanish. Apparently I have come very far...apparently. No matter how many people tell me that, its hard to believe. Haha, dangit Hermana quit being too hard one yourself!

 

 

On Saturday, we had the opportunity to watch Womens' Conference. Yes it was in spanish and no I didnt understand a lot of it but I learned from the spirit. I was so grateful to "hear" from our leaders. (as in their message...poor President Uchdorfs voice is changed for Spanish interpretation, no bueno!) I am incredibly excited for  General Conference! I love it so much and can't wait to incorporate the teaching of the apostles and the prophet in the current work that I'm doing.

 

 

 

Lately it has been raining more than usual. By more I mean torrential downpours and flooding...everyday I walk in 3 inches of water (thank you Mom for my crocs) and by the time we get to the house we are walking to, my dress is soaking wet! It's an experience that I have never really had before and Its kind of fun! My parents never let me play in the rain, LOL! However, my companion and I are both sick right now and I think that its due to the weather.

 

 

Heavenly Father has such a sense of humor. This past week my companion and I were talking about shows we miss. She said that her favorite is Bones and I mentioned how I miss watching Modern Family with my family. Apparently, Modern Family doesnt exist in Spanish? However, the next day we were teaching our investigator and guess what was playing in the other room...in English. I heard Phil Dumphey loud and clear!! I had such a hard time tuning it out! OH, and then we walked to the next house and guess what was on the TV...Bones! My companion and I had a good laugh.

 

 

Today we had the opportunity to go to Mission President Hayes' house with all of the new missionaries and their trainers who where at the MTC and flew to Costa Rica with me. It was such a great expeience. I love President and Hermana Hayes. Their house is beautiful and they have such a love for us and the work. Hermana Hayes actually asked me to come prepared to share my idea about my miracle book and how I stay positive when things get difficult. I got there and was ready to share in English. However, just before, I felt that I needed to try in Spanish. Now that was a crazy thought. I was going to have to share in front of all of the Latinas, the elders and hermanas who came with me; the president, the assistants, the secretaries and the trainers. I didn't want to look like a fool. Oh my gosh I did it though!! I was able to share everything I wanted to in fluent Spanish! It was such a personal miracle and my companion and Hermana Hayes were so happy for me. Apparently, it was so good that the assistants then asked me to say the prayer, hahaha, as if I wasn't already nervous enough. I loved it though! The Lord blesses us everyday and he blesses me personally everyday.

 

Sorry I mad the little man (Anthony) tear up with my email, I cried when I read his too. I wasn't expecting an email from him! Mom its so hard being here and missing things back home. I wish I could do both. However I know that I need to be here. I feel it. I mean a month has already flown by, that's crazy! I am so proud of all 3 of my brothers. They inspire me...and you and Dad are in everything that I teach because you both taught me. I share my love for all of you through everything that I do here. Heavenly Father gave me all of you and because of that, I need to share. We pray to find families because families are central to Gods plan. They are eternal. That thought is my strength

 

I am so grateful for his companionshipo in my life right now. I can do hard things. You at home can do hard things!

 

 

I am so thankful for everyone's support and all of the emails. I love you all soooo much. I want you to know that I feel your prayers.

Te amo muchoo. Pura Vida.

Hemana Zerilli

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The Lord is constantly on our side!

Hola Hola!

 

Yep I'm still me! I still get WAY too excited over cotton candy!

 

Holy cow another week! Its pretty hard to believe that it's another Pday. Hermana Geurts and I have realized that Pday is the hardest out of all of the days of the week. We are reminded of home and that's tough. I love the feeling of losing myself in the work the other days of the week though. Time really does fly when you don't think about yourself and solely focus on the needs of other people.

 

This past week was the Independence Day of Costa Rica! It was kind of like 4th of July in the United States, but not as big of a deal. I was searching for the fireworks but unfortunately there were none. We did get to attend a parade in the morning which was super cool. I loved seeing all of the little kids and all of their cultural outfits. It really helped me to realize that I really am in a different country. However, red white and blue are still my colors! God Bless America!

 

So I'm still not fluent in Spanish...dang it LOL. However, I see little differences and blessings every day. I received a blessing by someone in our ward last Tuesday and it has helped me so so much. I am no longer nervous and feeling burdened by this language. I am working on my patience and I know that I will learn it. It will just take time. Chill Tay right? Everything is just so different, for every 1 spanish word there are 48392392 English words. Hermana Perez and Mungeau are so funny! They think that English is sooo easy. Just add "ation" to the end of every word and its English.. They call us Herman"ation". We try to tell them that every word is completely different but then we end up being proved wrong. Salvation. Adaptation. Relation. Oh ok. OH and their choice of "oh my gosh" is "oh margot" however, they say it like spanish...so the Margot sounds like Margawt. You can only imagine our horror every time they say it! We are like NO MORE!

 

 

Tell Andrea! Elder abel is apparently the poster child for the gift of tongues here. Everyone is so impressed by him, 2 months and hes got it. The girls from the MTC who are in his area told me the other day when I got to see them. Oh yeah, I got to see my MTC people the other day...tears of joy, felt like home!

 

So  Hermana Geurts and I are teaching an English class every week now. We are super excited. It will help a whole lot with our Spanish, being able to translate and plus its service! Everyone in the ward has told us how happy they are to be able to learn some English.

 

So I've already started planning some intense workouts for when I return. These people eat carbs, carbs, and MORE CARBS. And they drink NO WATER. I feel sick after half of the meals I eat. Oh, and they put ketchup on EVERYTHING. The food is really good...but really bad for you. We went shopping and I bought fruits, vegetables and healthy cereal. Lately I've been craving a giant Boudin salad! Salads don't exist here unless they have some sort of sugar on them. Hermana Geurts jokes that she thinks they sprinkle tang on everything...I think she's right hahahaha!

 

I've started writing in a miracle journal. Everyday I see miracles and I don't want them to be overlooked. The lord is constantly on our side. This work is hard but its so worth it. I meet people with broken hearts every day. People who lack faith. Who have deceased family. Or people in general who are happy just living their lives. The gospel is for everyone and anyone. I'm really grateful for this experience. I love you all soooo much its crazy! Thank you for everything you do for me and have taught me. I think of you everyday.

 

 

Les amo muchisimo!!

Pura Vida!

 

 

My zone of hermanas dressing up in red white and blue for Independence Day, I think some of them failed (LOL)

 

 

 

 

 

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"Everyone here blasts their English music and has no clue what the songs are saying!"

Hola mi familia!

Que paso?! So this week was wayyy better than the first. I think I was just a tad overwhelmed the first week, which should be expected with moving to another country where you don't speak the language. This past week we taught so many lessons and I have already seen the little miracles that we are blessed with on a daily basis. Each day was honestly so long but looking back, it does not feel like a week has gone by. I now understand why people say that missions are so fast. I'm sure that once I speak the language, time will be even faster.

 

Some funny things that have been on my mind recently. Do the people here know what the English words on their clothing says? I mean, barely anyone even speaks English, and when their shirt says "Free Hugs" do they know what they are soliciting? I have yet to see anything with Spanish writing on it! Same with music. I was expecting to hear some type of Shakira/Enrique Iglesias/ Ricky Martin/ Becky G, but no! Everyone here blasts their English music and has no clue what the songs are saying. Hermana Perez and I were teaching a lesson and the 7 year old girl there was on her tablet playing videos in English. Out of nowhere the video screamed the F-word and no one even flinched but me! I was appalled. I had to realize that in Spanish that doesn't mean anything. They have no clue.

 

Also, I think its funny that here it rains everyday! I mean BUCKETS of water, and yet when I go to take a shower or go to the bathroom there is no water! However, in California we have no rain and I could always count on water from the faucet, LOL! Hermana Perez and I were helping our investigator move houses and during cleaning, the water went out. Luckily it was pouring. We took a huge pot outside and filled it in minutes for us to finish cleaning with. My companion said that in Mexico she has similar experiences. We are so blessed back home. OH WHAT I WOULD GIVE FOR A HOT SHOWER, haha!

 

I am learning to love the food here. Its so good! Beans and rice for every meal is definitely not a bad thing. However, I've been really wanting pizza recently. Hopefully my companion and I will go soon! I realized the other day, when we went to buy a few snacks, that everything is sold in personal size packages. I bought Oreos expecting a full tray of Oreos. Nope. I got 12 individual packages. It's because otherwise, the bugs will get the food! The flies are everywhere its crazy! Even worse, unfortunately Hermana Geurts and Mungua had 5 cockroaches in their kitchen last night. I really don't want that to happen to us...

 

This past week was such a mental struggle for me. At times, I was really exhausted from the language and feeling like I couldn't do anything. It is so easy to get down on myself but I know that everything gets better a day at a time. I need to learn patience, haha! However, on Saturday I went to my first baptism in the mission. Hermana Geurts and Mungua's investigator and the husband of a member were getting baptized. I was instantly reminded why I'm here and why I want so badly to be here! Those people were so happy and the family whose dad was getting baptized were SO happy. I was reminded of my family. Yes I miss you all more than you know but I think that is such a motivation. That cheesy saying is so true. "Missionaries leave their families for a short time, so that others can be with their families for eternity." I cried and had a desire to go talk to anyone I could no matter how bad my Spanish was. There are so many people that need this gospel in their lives!

 

 

Mom! I miss you! I don't think I'll stop missing you for the next 68 weeks! We sang "Family's Can Be Together Forever" yesterday in Sacrament Meeting, and I cried... I couldn't keep it together. I don't want to be sad. I try to listen to the EFY songs to lift my spirits in that regard, and it does help some. I talk to my companion and at times I feel like a sucky missionary because I miss home and I get discouraged because of the language. I pray every day for help. I think that in 2 months when I know the language better, I will be wayyyy better. I try to keep an eternal perspective. Other people have done this, its definitely not impossible! I just need patience with myself...I don't doubt that in a year I will be laughing at how I felt right now:) 

 
I love you all so so so much. Thank you for every prayer. 68 more weeks!

Pura Vida!
Hermana Zerilli

 

 The First baptism I have attended...such an amazing experience

 

 The yelow sign is our apartment across the street.

 

 

These pictures are my apartment. The woodent desk is mine.

 All of those sticky notes are full of words I write down.

 My companion thinks I'm crazy!!

 

My comfy bed with my pretty comforter and Dora Pillow Pet:)

 

 We have a lovely shower...it just doesn't work!!

 

 

 

 Filling the bucket to finish our cleaning...

as it is raining buckets, as usual!!

 

 

Look everyone! My Mom sent me this photo of our Ward Missionary Bulletin Board at church back home...

There I am!! See if you can read the scripture I chose for my plaque. It's Psalms 28:7, just in case you can't see it in this picture.

I'm in Aserri, 30 minutes outside of San Jose by bus.

Hello Everyone!!

 

Last Monday I was taken to the Salt Lake City Airport at 6am to being the long journey to Costa Rica....

 

Spanish teacher at the MTC

 

Last Supper at the MTC

Mission Map at the MTC-Costa Rica San Jose East Mission

 

 We are headed to Cost Rica the next morning!

 

 

I'm here! Holy Cow! All I can say is that everything you hear about missions is true. It is the hardest thing you will ever do in your life, but also the greatest thing! I have had so many amazing experiences in the past week but at the same time, I struggled. Spanish is such an incredible language but it is completely different than English. We have about 5 million ways to say something and they have only 1. That should make it easier but it doesn't. However, I know that the gift of tongues is real. I also need to have patience with myself. Come on Hermana, its week one...

My companion is so amazing! Her name is Hermana Perez. Her testimony is so strong and I am inspired listening to her, or trying to listen, during lessons. She is from Mexico so yes, Spanish is her first language. President Hayes wants all of the Spanish speakers to learn English though so she knows a little bit. I know that having a Native Spanish speaker as a companion is such a blessing. She can help me better than any dictionary can. President and Hermana Hayes are so amazing. They picked us up at the airport and immediately took us to the Costa Rica San Jose Temple to talk to us when we got here. They calmed our nerves and told us to always remember how happy we felt when we arrived. Will do!

We are serving in Aserri which is about 30 minutes out of San

Jose by bus. We are one of two companionships there. Hermana Mungia and Hermana Geurts are the other companionship! Everything truly does happen for a reason! I like having 4 hermanas in one area. It's fun and I'm glad that there is another English speaker.

We eat one big meal every day around 1:00 which usually consists of rice and beans, and potatos or something. I'm not sure...that's just what I ate this past week haha! The food is great but they use salantro in EVERYTHING! I'm not a huge fan of that but hopefully I'll get used to it! Oh, and they don't really drink water here... People always give us soda or juice!

 

Everyone here has a dog and if they have one they usually have multiple. Oh and there are cats everywhere! Random cats. Its crazy! It's true, it rains every day around 4:30! My area is actually kind of chilly. I have been wearing sweaters. However, I have heard of other areas that are really hot.

 

Every investigator I have taught has been Catholic so that's interesting. I talk about my family a lot, and help them understand the blessing that the gospel is in families. I really enjoy teaching the people here. 

 

Oh and did I mention that our apartment is so cute and nice...however, the water doesn't work 75% of the time. Some days I wake up expecting to shower and I cant. We have to fill jugs of water for days that we don't have any. Its so crazy. Give thanks every time you turn on the faucet. Note, bad hair in these pictures...a result of a broken shower!

I can't believe a week ago today,  I was just coming here. I am super excited to expand my language and have new experiences. I love you all so much and think of you all the time especially when things are hard. I have my family picture on my desk and when I see it sometimes I want to cry. I felt guilty having a hard time this week. I want to make you all proud.  I tried not to cry but I just broke down yesterday at church singing a hymn. My companion doesnt fully understand my struggle because this is her language! Apparently Chase was in the Mission Office right before me. He told one of the elders that I was talking to, that it all clicked for him. Two months in the field and he can talk and understand everything. That gives me hope but holy cow 2 months is so long!

 

I have been asking for advice from everyone and it helps. I just need to get in the groove of things. I love the people here...they are all so kind hearted. 

 

Talk to you later! Pura Vida!

Love Hermana Zerilli

 

 

 My area, near the Catholic church

 

 Waffle Love (Utah) shirt meet Costa Rica