Misfortunes and Miracles♥

Brace yourselves. This week was a little...really crazy!!

I’m going to start at the beginning!

This past Tuesday, I had a really cool personal finding experience. We were walking a street looking for someone to teach. We were walking pretty slow, passing houses on the way and I felt the Spirit tell me to go to the house on my right that had the door open. So that’s what we did. I introduced who we were to the woman who looked about 30, and I didn’t even have time to ask if we could share a message with her before she told us to come in!! We entered her house and sat down. She immediately told us that about a year and a half ago she was visiting with her friends in their house, when Elder Parker and Elder Savedra (the Elders in the area at the time), came and shared a gospel message with all of them. She became really interested but could never find the missionaries again after that. And there we were!!! She mentioned how she is divorced and lives with her 8 year old son, who showered us with stickers during our visit. We taught the woman, Carolina, about the restoration and because she is an ex Jehovah’s Witness, clarified doubts and questions that she had. She accepted everything!! She was so happy that we were there and she even ordered chicken burritos for us to eat with her. It was the first actual burrito that I have eaten since I got here and was soooo good...but that’s not the point…. I was so happy when we left! I was grateful that I listened to the Spirit. It’s hard for me to think about how many missed opportunities that I have had because I haven’t listened to the Spirit. It’s so important that I am sensitive to its promptings. 

Wednesday, we had divisions in Guacimo with Hermana Moon and Hermana Tabora. I worked with Hermana Tabora all day. It was an interesting experience to say the least. At night, I noticed that it’s a lot darker there and it made me feel a little uneasey. Well we were in a family home evening when all of a sudden, someone came and told us that Hermana Moon and Hermana Tejeda were assaulted just down the street from where we were. Yeah assaulted!! Hermana Tabora and I took off running to find them but they had returned home! One of the members walked us home because we were really nervous. It turned out that the guy that assaulted them had a mask on and the only things that he took were our phone and Hermana Tejeda’s planner because they screamed and he ran away. Safe to say that we couldn’t sleep Wednesday night, out of fear and because it’s like 100 degrees in their house and the Hermanas don’t like the fan....what’s up with that?! HahaJ

When we came home Thursday we luckily had another cell phone in our apartment but we were missing the SIM card. We did what everyone here does and went and bought he chip at one of the stores. We got all of that settled and headed out to do our visits. We had an appointment planned at the Bishop’s house which is really far and the Elders had given us directions. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the house. We decided to call the Bishop to ask. Well, it turns out that the phone that we were using DOESN'T WORK. He was saying "hello? hello? hello?" and he couldn’t hear us! No one that we called could hear us. Ok, that was when I knew that we needed to head back to the part of our area that was familiar. It was dark and I was nervous from the assault the night before. Well, the only way back was to WALK THE FREEWAY. Yeah we did that. It was quite the experience trying not to be hit by a truck haha. Don’t worry, I’m alive. We made it back and continued with our appointments almost 3 hours later. Wednesday and Thursday weren’t the best but they are definitely memories.

Yesterday at church we saw major miracles. While one of the Elders was sharing his talk, I felt that someone was in the doorway of the building. I looked and saw that a young woman was waving for us to come help her. It was about 5 minutes before the close of Sacrament Meeting and a couple and their nephew who were new investigators were there asking for help. Hermana Tejeda and I found them seats and then accompanied them throughout church. Apparently, the missionaries had invited them to church about 3 years ago and they came but never returned, and neither did the missionaries to their house (WHAT!!). The woman, Maria, said that she has been missing something in her life and wanted to come back to our church. The husband, Andres, is gringo!!! He is learning Spanish and was so happy that I could explain things to him in English. He had no fear to try to share his thoughts in the classes. I am so so so excited to teach them!! They have plans to keep coming to church which makes me really happy. All of our investigators struggle with coming to church. I’m also super excited to teach a little bit in English. It’s funny how much I’ve forgotten! 

Well, that was my week!! I hope yours was amazing! I love you all!

Keep going strong and stay true to the faith! 

Love Hermana Zerilli

"No matter what someone says to me or how loud there voice, I will never change where I stand."

Today I have officially been in the mission field for 7 months!!!

This week was the first one of most recent transfers, and Hermana Tejeda and I are going to finish out her training together! Just like every first week of transfers, this week felt really long. Not to mention we had a whole lot of rain and a whole lot of sun. Everything was just everywhere! Haha

This week we had a really awesome group night at the house of a family of members. We invited all of the investigators and members that we could in that area. Unfortunately, after going to the houses of all of the investigators to bring them, none of them could attend. We headed to the activity a little discouraged. We were really looking forward to helping our investigators get to know other members and share a gospel message with them. However, the Lords hand is in His work. While we were there, 2 less active members came. They are brothers. One of them, Isaac, is young, decided not to serve a mission and decides to sleep rather than come to church every week. The other, Claudio, he is living with his girlfriend (who we are actually teaching :) ) and hasn’t come to church in almost 12 years!! When they came I almost cried! All of the members were so excited to see them and they talked and laughed the whole time. Something funny was that Claudio’s dad told me to tell him that if he came to the activity, he needed to bring a "caja de leche"...box/carton of milk. I told Claudio and he was sooo confused and then laughed! Not "caja", "Cajetta". I honestly still don’t know the difference. What he brought were white powdery squares that had the consistency of fudge. It was milk. Pure powdered milk with sugar hahaha! Everyone loved them! My companion and I were a little confused. We were eating powdered milk! Hahaha Also, everyone told us that the sausage that we were eating was horse. I had no clue whether I should believe them or not. People eat everything here! Luckily...it wasn’t horse. Phew! Just messing with the gringa, LOLJ After the activity, we visited Isaac and Claudio. Both of them said that they really like it. Claudio has plans to have a FHE (family home evening/family night) with the family soon and Isaac is going to come to church..he promises, haha. I was really humbled. The lord knows my desires and he is helping not only new investigators but less active members to return to the fold. 

This week was the week of argument. Not on our part but on the part of other people. We talked with all types of people this week. Catholics, evangelicals, Jehovah’s Witness, etc…They all wanted to argue. My testimony was strengthened in every argument. Haha. I really appreciate those people that want to ask us questions because they genuinely want to know, that’s the difference between someone who is prepared and someone who needs a little more time. No matter what someone says to me or how loud there voice, I will never change where I stand. The church of Christ needs the authority/priesthood. If it doesn’t exist, we cannot perform saving ordinances. Yes I know, there isn’t a church that can "save" us. That only comes from Christ’s never ending mercy and the Holy Priesthood that allows us to perform ordinances here on earth. The Priesthood ordinances that exist here will exist in the life to come. We cannot perform Gods ordinances without His permission! No, not every church has the authority. And THAT is why it is important that people really search for the truth and pray about it. I know that our church has the Priesthood of God. I know it, and I know that it is necessary. I love to teach about the apostasy and why there are thousands of churches on Earth and invite the people to pray and ask. Our Heavenly Father wants these people to find the truth and I am so excited to teach it to them.

On another note, cajetta de leche isn’t the strangest thing I ate this week. Yesterday I had "cabesa de chancho" or pig head. Ok it was weird, I’m not going to lie, but I liked it. I just can’t imagine little Wilbur’s head on a plate :(

Also, I’m getting pretty good at identifying Latin music artists here by their voices. Ricky Martin I had down from the time I was 6 but I’m learning more. The people in Pococi like to play their music LOUD haha!

I’m grateful for this church and every single thing that the Gospel has taught me in my life. Thanks so much for all of the love and support you all send me, the cards, letters, emails, and prayers. I miss you all soooo much it hurts sometimes but I know this is where I need to be!

Love you!! Have a great week!

Hermana Zerilli

STEVEN WAS BAPTIZED...YAYYYY!!

Wow this week was awesome!! 

I am so exhausted but it was really great!!

Well, as I mentioned in the other email, last P day we had checeo del mes (Check of the month, which is check in with President Hayes for the new missionaries once they've been here for one month) and that set off this week on a really crazy schedule. We returned back home to Guapiles just in time to have family home evenings with investigators that Monday night and everything worked out just great. 

Then Tuesday, Steven had his baptism interview and passed!! We were sooo excited for him and you could definitely see that he was too. Hermana Tejeda then started planning the agenda and everything for Saturday. Wednesday, we had to go to Guacimo for our district meeting as we do every week. That's when things got crazy. It turned out that President Hayes wanted all of us in Zona Atlantica to head in San Jose for the Conference that we had there, Thursday morning. Normally we only need about 2 hours to get to San Jose but this week we had continual down pours of rain for 4 days straight. Not joking, it didn't stop. With the rain, sometimes the buses can't pass  through the normal way because the mountains start to fall and it's dangerous! We didn't know if that was the case and we didn't want to get stuck on a 5 hour bus for another route. So with those options in mind, the zone leaders told us that we had to go home to pack and head to the bus for San Jose as fast as possible. We let our district meeting and did just that, it was about 4:30. We didn't end up getting to visit anyone. We got to the bus terminal and all of the zone was there! It was really fun to walk around San Jose as a huge group of 20 missionaries!! It was freezing and we had a whole lot of bags to carry but it was fun. We got to the office and saw everyone that had come for the conference. It was Zona Limon, Zona Sur and us. I got to see all of my friends again! We slept in the Casa de las Hermanas? House of the sisters? Yeah you get it:)

Thursday, Elder Ochoa from the 70 and the Presidency for Central America, and Hermana Ochoa came to have a conference. Wow, what a conference! I learned so much about what I need to do to have the best success possible. Not going to lie, Elder Ochoa is really blunt and was pretty strong about the things he said to us. He didn't want to sugar coat anything. This isn't our work, it's the work of the Lord. It needs to be done right. During the conference we had musical numbers and I got to sing with Zona Sur. They sang in English and it was so cool to see all of the Latinos singing my language, haha! 

In the end, Elder Ochoa picked 2 missionaries to come up to the pulpit and speak on faith and repentance. I was really nervous because I was literally right in front of him. Well, he chose Hermana Tejeda!! She got to go up and share her thoughts with everyone. I was so proud of her. She did great! The Conference was about 5 hours long. President Hayes and Elder Ochoa answered so many questions and I loved it. I feel that I am able to understand so much more doctrine than ever in my life. The scriptures are perfect, read them. After the conference, we all said our goodbyes. It was so tough because I feel like so many people I will never see again but I have learned so much from them. I know that God puts people in our lives for a reason. We returned home really late Thursday night. 

Friday we got to have a whole day to play catch up and then it was Saturday! Saturday was such an exciting day for us,. Steven was baptized!!! He is officially a member of the church. I am so happy for him and grateful for the opportunity that I had to teach him. He now is attending seminary and preparing for a mission in 4 years. I am so grateful to his best friend and member, Daniel. He wasn't afraid to introduce his friend to the gospel. What a huge difference that he made in the life of his friend. He is an example to me.What I also loved was that his mom came to support him. She got to watch him be baptized and feel the Spirit that we all felt. He is the only member of his family but I know that the Lord is preparing his parents and siblings. Ahh the gospel is true! 

This week was full of amazing experiences. I know that I will never forget them. Thank you for the undying support and love that I feel. I love you all. 

Les amo. 

Hermana Zerilli 

We made crepes with a family for noche de hogar (Family Home Evening)

 Last checeo de mes for Elder Nelson and Nielson. 

They are leaving the office after 1 year as secretaries. 1 year is sooo long! That never happens!! They are headed for Zona Sur with all of the outcasts near Panama, just kidding...but they are so far away out there!

Hermana Munguia

Elder Macias...Such an awesome missionary,assistant, and 

friend in the mission. Hes the one who always assigned me to talk/pray in EVERYTHING. He returns home this week to Mexico.

Elder Herrarte, Hermana Perez and I. Elder Herrarte was our 

District Leader and good friend in Aserri. 

So I lied....THIS is the last picture I have with Hermana Perez in the mission.Heading home on the bus. - My bestie♥

THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGES!! SUCH A GREAT SURPRISE BUT

 I FELT A LITTLE BAD CARRYING OUT NOT ONE BUT 2 PACKAGES 

FROM THE CONFERENCE...HAHAH OOPS. 

 Steven was baptized!!! 

His best friend (Daniel, Far left) was so happy. YAYYYYY!!

"Time is more precious than money! Spend it wisely..."

Happy Monday! 

We had checeo del mes today for the new missionaries, so I'm in San Jose writing to you. Remember the thing at President Hayes house that I had during training?? It's "check of the month" for all of the new missionaries...that's what we are attending.  I'm sooo tired. We woke up at 4:30 yesterday and 3:30 today. 

This week was really great! Honestly, there is nothing too huge to talk about because the week before was full of really different things. This week however, I was able to get back into the groove of working because we didn't have any random trips to the office or conferences with Apostles. 

This week was a week of sifting and gathering haha:) It was actually a little tough for me. I think my challenge right now is finding those investigators who are prepared and have a desire to listen and keep there commitments with us (read, pray, come to church). Throughout the week, we had to stop visiting a lot of our investigators because of there inability to make commitments. We explained clearly our purpose here as missionaries, to bring people to Christ, and how that can't happen if the people don't want to progress. In the end, everyone has their agency and we aren't here to obligate anyone to do anything. It hurts though because when I come to love these people, I want them to have the joy that this gospel brings me. When they deny it, i can't do anything about it. In that way, we lost a few investigators.

Also, we learned recently about the limits of our ward (geographical ward boundaries) that we hadn't known about before...because the missionaries before us didn't know. With knowledge of the limits, we had to pass on the people outside of our ward as references to the other wards, and lost more investigators...yeah another ouch! haha... However, I am so happy with the investigators that we have right now. I have faith that if I keep working super hard, the lord with illuminate the way and the Spirit will tell me where to go. We are working with many part member families right now. Honestly, they are all so close to my heart!! I want the non members to be baptized and for their families to be sealed in the temple SO. BAD! There is no other happiness than that! Really.

I am really looking forward to this upcoming week. Hermana Tejeda and I are learning and growing as missionaries together and I'm so grateful for the opportunity that I have to be her trainer and companion. Time is flying! I know I probably say that a lot, but wow!  Time is more precious than money! Spend it wisely right? Sorry that my email is a short one. I love you all so so much. I pray for you all the time. 

The world is getting worse and worse everyday, strengthen your testimony and don't let anything change it!

Love, Hermana Zerilli            

As I was attempting to send this email, we are told that the Turrialba Volcano has erupted again. It is a very large and active volcano in Volcano Park. Still this appears to be a more significant eruption that we've had recently.

ps sorry no personal pictures today, I don't have my card reader for my camera with me:(

"Just like the Grinch and his heart...my testimony grew 3 sizes that day!"

Happy February!! How crazy is that?!! It was just Christmas!

Another amazing week!!

Well I’m legal! I finally went to get my cedula!!(Seriously is that a word in English? License maybe?) Wednesday I received a phone call from a lady in the office. I asked who it was and the person asked me how I didn’t know! A little while after I found out that it was Hermana Perez!! She was calling to tell me that I needed to go to the office the next morning for my cedula. We were able to get them together! I was able to meet a few Hermanas from the Costa Rica San Jose West Mission at the immigration office. They told me about something called "Semana de Sacrificio" or "Sacrifice week". I almost died when I heard that in the beginning of their mission they had to wake up at 4 everyday and leave at 7 to go work until 9. Now it’s normal but they have to leave their house at 10 and get less than 30 minutes to eat lunch. They do that for a week, every month. I was so shocked!! We don’t have that in the East Mission.

We worked a lot with members this week and found new investigators through references of members. I am so happy with how things are going. Our miracle investigator Steven, we are teaching his family now and are planning to have a family home evening with his family and another ward family soon! Steven is so awesome. He’s looking forward to his baptism and is enrolling in seminary and planning to serve a mission. I am beyond blessed to be able to teach him! My invitation to everyone is to work with the missionaries. I am the first to say that I was awful at that when I was at home, but I am experiencing the joy that comes from members and missionaries working together! Please help the missionaries in whatever way possible. You will be blessed. 

This past Saturday was one of the most amazing days of my mission, and one that I won’t ever forget. I had the privilege to go to a conference with the San Jose Costa Rica West Mission. Elder Quentin L Cook of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles, Elder Christianson from the Presidency of the 70, and Elder Duncan from the 70 over Central America were there to speak with us. My zone all rode together in a little bus to Heredia which is the division of the missions. We had the conference in the church there. There were about 300 missionaries, 2 mission presidents and their wives, and the 3 authorities and their wives. The conference was incredible!! It started and Elder Cook wanted to personally greet every single one of us. I got to shake the hand of an Apostle and hear him say "thank you for your service". Then, he shared a powerful message with us. I can’t even begin to explain to you how I felt as he taught, bore testimony and then blessed us. An Apostolic blessing for the missionaries here in Costa Rica! The spirit was so strong it was as if I could reach out and touch it. I couldn’t fight tears as I heard him testify of a living God and Savior. I was sitting right in front of an apostle of the Lord. Just like the Grinch and his heart...my testimony grew 3 sizes that day! I have zero doubt in my mind that this church is true. That the only true gospel has been restored and that God once again has called Prophets and Apostles to the Earth. I know it. What more do I need to want to just shout the message of this gospel to everyone I see? It’s true. It’s all true! Elder and Hermana Cook had to leave immediately after the hour but then we got to hear from Elder Christianson, Elder Duncan and our Presidents and their wives. At the end, we went outside to take pictures and get ready to go. I got to see people from the MTC who are serving in the West Mission and people whom I knew from BYU. It was so fun and the love and support just radiated from everyone. We are one giant team here to spread the message of Christ. I am so happy to be here. I wish everyone at home could have experienced that day. It was truly amazing!

I’m looking forward to another great week. Monday always means a new beginning for me. New goals. New opportunities. Lets make this week a great one!

Love you all! Pura vida!

Hermana Zerilli

This is what we do on P-Day...volcanic rock masks! 

Costa Rica San Jose East Mission riding the little bus 

on our way to the conference...It felt like a family reunion;)

 My companion and I at the conference. 

 Hermana Hill and I at the conference.

I found Hermana Perez! This is probably the last time we will be together before she returns to her home in Mexico

Hermana Herrera (my last companion on my right) and Hermana Montemoris

 Friend from BYU (summer term)...I have no clue his first name I always just called him Pineapple guy because he brought us a pineapple one day and I saw him at the gym all the time hahaha apparently its Elder Stott.

 Elder Odonnell (far right) from the MTC. He's lost a whole lot of weight...

Hermana Munguia!

Me, Hermana Perez (my first companion), 

and my current companion.

 The whole Costa Rica San Jose East Mission!