HAPPYYYY PASCUA!! or EASTER!!!

GUESS WHAT!!! IM TRAINING AGAIN!! 

We found out about changes (transfers) Friday and it turns out, Hermana Tejeda is leaving for Zone Sur to replace Hermana Perez, and I will be training one of the 4 new missionaries. Hermana Moon has the exact same thing so I'm happy that we get to train together...again! I'm excited for Hermana Tejeda. Zone Sur is the farthest in the mission and it's at the beach! I want to go there haha! Hermana Perez went there after my training to open the area. Now shes headed home to Mexcio. I don't want her to leave!! I can't imagine not being able to see her at mission conferences or meetings. However, I'm excited for her to see her family. It's so amazing the lasting friendships that we can make in the mission. So, right now I'm writing from San Jose. We have the training to be trainers, and will work with another Hermana here close by at night. We will sleep here and head back to our area tomorrow with our new companions. I'm excited!

     

    Well this week was Semana Santa and it's all true! EVERYONE leaves for the beach! This week was like Christmas, but 7 days long. It was tough but I really enjoyed knocking on doors, showing the people the 2 minute video from the church and testifying of Christ. Maybe now isn't the time for a lot of people but we are definitely planting seeds:) I studied this week, the atonement of Christ and what happened each day before He died. I really felt the Spirit everyday as I focused on His life and what happened. Friday was really quiet. NOTHING in the entire town was open and there were no buses or cars in the street. Friday was when Christ suffered for us on the cross. It was really reverent here and I actually appreciated it. What I didn't appreciate was the whole no buses runing thing!! We walked soooo far and at the end of the day I felt like my feet were bleeding. However, when I really focused on the day and the significance, the pain wasn't important. I know that Christ took upon himself every single pain and sickness of humankind.  So, Walking isn't hard when I'm doing it in His honor. 

Random news, WE ARE GOING TO THE TEMPLE THURSDAY!! I am so excited!! I really need the temple!! And also CONFERENCE IS THIS WEEKEND!! I AM STOKED!! I am going to be thinking of my family who will be in Utah attending conference, as I watch the transmission here! I encourage everyone to go into conference with a question in your heart, ready to let the spirit teach you.

Not much happened this week but it was really great because I got the chance to see more of the culture and come closer to my Savior. I love you all! Thank you for your prayers and support!! Thanks for all of the emails! You are the best!

Love,

Hermana Zerilli

HAPPYYYY PASCUA!! or EASTER!!!

 Thanks family for our treats!! 

This is Claudio and Milagro! We love them! He is a member and she is our investigator. They always drive us home.

 We had to take a selfie:)

So I have been 4 months without piano in my ward. No one can play. I found this book in the house of one of my favorite members and she said that I could have it. 
It's time to teach myself piano!

I think that I can do it!! 

There is no fear like walking up to 
your door to see this. 

Proof that we are close to the beach?

12 semanas of training done!

After Womens' Conference with Hermana Castillo and Hermana Acosta. Hermana Acosta is Hermana Perez's best friend from Mexico and has helped me soooo much in my time in Pococi. She leaves with Hermana Perez this week. Its so hard to see them go!

Soooo I don't know if this is bad but EVERYONE during Semana Santa puts crosses with a purple cloth and flowers 

outside of their houses. 
We had to capture a memory.

It's a tradition to buy your trainee "trits" (Treats) haha! 

Since EVERYTHING was closed this week including the Little Soda (restaurant) that we eat at everyday, we ate lunch at the hotel resort down the street. 
My lunch of choice obviously!

I miss Mom/Taylor Boudin salad lunch dates!

The river in our area near one of our investigators! Costa Rica is beautiful!

Andddd when tthe mosquitos come hahaha

"Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!" Hallelujah!

HAPPY SEMANA SANTA!! (Holy Week) or to all my fellow Gringos WOO-WHOO SPRING BREAK!!

    So really quick, I have been asking a lot of questions recently about what Semana Santa really is. I know that Easter is this next Sunday but that’s about it. I learned that it’s a Catholic tradition that is popular here in Latin America. Now, that took me back to about 5 years ago, our Disney Cruise Family vacation, and Mexico. I remember sitting in the back seat of a van as we toured around at a port, looking out the window while we were driving on the freeway. I spotted a group of people on the mountain off to the side of the freeway. They were crucifying someone!! I remember being so confused and obviously distraught, practically in tears! Well, I now understand why (and I know that it was just a reenactment)!! The traditions are different in every country, my companion says in Guatemala the Catholic Church has parades with giant carpets?, but the focus is on Christ. Here, everyone goes to the beach! We are going to have to work really hard to find people this weekJ

    This week was really great, just a little more low key. Wednesday I had the opportunity to teach in our district meeting. Elder Henry, the district leader, gave me the topic "Honor and obey the Law". The reference for the lesson was the part in Preach My Gospel that talks about the laws and ordinances of the gospel; such as the temple and family history, missionary service, and the priesthood. The lesson got me thinking about the fruits of living the gospel. Each of the ordinances and laws are really just blessings. I love this gospel!! How lucky are we to be able to attend the temple, and hey I’m serving a mission in another country right now! Those are just 2 examples, there are many more. We are blessed! The lesson went great and I gave them all candy, so who’s the favorite now? hahaJ

    This week we had the opportunity to celebrate 174 years of the Relief Society!! It is the world’s oldest and largest womens’ organization and I am so thankful to be a part of it. Whoo! Haha, Honestly my only real experiences that I have from Relief Society are from my mission. Before the mission, the transition from Young Women’s to Relief Society wasn’t very easy because I am not a mother or a wife. In these past 8 months, I have gained a strong gratitude for Relief society. I have been able to introduce this program and society to our investigators who are moms and wives. I have seen a change as they have implemented principles in their homes and have taken a more active responsibility in guiding their children in the way of the gospel. It’s amazing what we as women and daughters of God can do! Our stake here had a huge activity to celebrate the anniversary and it was so great! Each ward was assigned a color to wear to the activity, and when everyone was together it looked like a giant rainbow of colors! We were able to listen to testimonies of different Hermanas from the wards and talks from the presidency. I am grateful for examples in my life from home and here in Costa Rica, of strong women who know their role in this world and live what they believe.

    Yesterday Hermana Tejeda and I achieved a personal goal of mine. 5 investigators came to church yesterday!! 5!!! That’s the most that I have had in all of my time here in Pococi!! I felt so happy and I knew that Heavenly Father had answered my prayers. It definitely wasn’t in MY timing but in His. I just had to work a little harder to see that He is there and hears me, He is ALWAYS there. Never doubt it! 

    So this next Sunday is Easter. I love Easter, always have. Chocolate bunnies and Easter egg hunts... Everything is pretty colors and its spring! However, the older I’ve gotten the more I’ve realized the significance of this day. It’s Christ! He lives and because He lives I WILL LIVE, YOU WILL LIVE, WE WILL ALL LIVE AGAIN♥

Mosiah 16:7 “And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.”

I love this scripture because it’s clear. The grave has no victory and death has no sting! I know that we will see our loved ones again. This time is short here on the earth but when all is said and done, and because Christ was resurrected, we will be too! I love my Savior! Words can’t describe how grateful I am for his atoning sacrifice and his infinite love for me and for all of us. "Oh sweet the joy this sentence gives, I know that my Redeemer lives!" Hallelujah!

Please!! If you haven’t already, watch this video! https://youtu.be/p2wdMwpYByI 

I love you all so much. You are in my prayers. May God bless you always! Please remember who you are and like Parker told me a few weeks ago BE WHO YOU ARE:) 

Love, 

Hermana Zerilli

Our 174th Relief Society Celebration!! Our color was red! 

I finally met one of my Costa Rican goals...Sloth sighting!!

Hey everyone!! 

This week flew by and there are just a few highlights to share!

This past Tuesday we had a family home evening with a member couple, and Maria and Andres. We focused on the temple and eternal families. This lesson is always special for me. I have such a strong testimony of eternal families. It was a really powerful lesson full of testimony. I really felt the Spirit there as we read scriptures and watched videos about the importance of families in Gods eternal plan. The members, Andreina and Jose, were married before they got baptized also. They were a special witness for Maria and Andres of how great this decision is to follow Christ. I was really glad that our investigators could have friends in the ward and good examples to support them. 

This past Friday, President and Hermana Hayes stopped by to check in on us for a little bit. Hermana Hayes is an angel and baked homemade chocolate chip cookies for us. I was beyond thrilled. Chocolate chip cookies aren't a thing here. Yes, chips ahoy exists but no one bakes cookies. President Hayes was able to answer some of my long list of doctrinal questions. I'm thankful for a president who really just knows everything about the scriptures. He always says that the scriptures are his life, 50 years of scripture study for the church and for work. I was amazed at his answers and I have applied his teachings in my own.  

Later that night, we had a ward mission activity. We planned this activity with the Elders and with our ward mission leader. It turned out to be a success!! We had 7 of our own investigators there and the Elders had some too! Then, members brought family and friends who are interested in the gospel. The theme of the activity was NOE. That's Noah in Spanish. Like the prophet Noah and the ark. It stands for Noche de hogar (family home evening) Oracion (prayer) and Estudio de las escrituras (study the scriptures). Each department had a different theme and we had groups that rotated to learn about the themes. For example, primary taught about prayer and young womens' taught about the scriptures. I was impressed with how all of the members did there part really well and prepared little lessons for the investigators to learn about important principles of the church. I could really see the group effort. In the end, we ate picadillo. I had no clue what that was until I saw it. Picadillo is anything that you chop up really tiny and cook. We had picadillo of potato and meat and green papaya. Just a whole lot of picadillo!Haha You eat it with tortillas. It delicious and everyone ate and enjoyed. The activity was a hit and I hope to have more activities like it in the future!

                                                                                               

Yesterday we had a really awesome lesson with our investigator named Carolina. She's the ex-Jehovah's Witness and she has a whole lot of enthusiasm to learn. She actually has a whole lot of enthusiasm in general. Shes a lot of fun. We taught a lesson and then after, I helped her with her English study! It was really funny answering questions from her and Hermana Tejeda about English sounds and verbs. Their pronunciation was the best part! I now understand why people chuckle a little when I try to say words I don't know. We laughed and ate ice cream and coca cola with condensed milk! Yes, I drank it and it was good...haha. It was kinda like a root beer float. People here are OBSESSED with condensed milk! They put it in and on everything!

Another thing for the week...i finally met one of my Costa Rican goals. I SAW A SLOTH. IN A TREE!!! I WAS SO EXCITED. I WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN AND EVERYTHNG.....I also saw chickens in a tree but its just chickens:)

Well thats this week. I'm really happy to be here. Keep going strong everyone.

I love you and like my dad always says, "keep on keepin' it real Karen"

Pura Vida,

Hermana Zerilli

I got a little too much sun!!

I forgot to mention that Saturday night the Elders told me that they had a package for me. I was so excited!!  I went to go get it and the package said Lehi, Utah. Instant tears. The Horsleys sent me the best surprise. It had cards from each one of them and a surprise one from Parker haha. The box was FILLED with goodies. I love them so so much! Please thank them for me in person when you head to Utah. That package was too much!!  

My first Sloth Sighting♥

Chickens in a tree, LOL:)

My Coke with sweetened condensed milk...

they put it in everything here

Another hot day, I got totally roasted!!

Yes, Mormons believe in God. Yes, Mormons can eat ice cream hahahah!

Well this week wasn’t as crazy, but it was really great!

To answer all of the questions and concerns, Hermana Tejeda and Hermana Moon are ok! The guy didn’t harm them in any way, just scared them a lot. We are using a lot of caution at night.

Have I mentioned just how many dogs there are here in Costa Rica? Now, by that I mean that there are dogs in houses and dogs in the street EVERYWHERE. You can hear dogs barking, constantly! Luckily, I’ve never felt at threat until this past week when I was actually attacked by a dog! Don’t worry; it was a multi-poo with a whole lot of bravery. It came flying at me when we entered a gate to visit one of our investigators and it wouldn’t get off my legs. I wasn’t bit so I don’t have to worry about rabies, but it ripped my skirt! I just gotta laugh haha!

This week we visited a new investigator named Nadia and honestly I think we were friends in the pre existence. She has 2 adorable little daughters, and she has a huge desire to come to the United States on a Disney vacation!! She asked me a million questions about Disneyland and Disney Cruises, and everything that she could think of! I felt back at home talking about 2 of my favorite things; Disney and vacations in general haha! I told her to work on getting her visa and that maybe in 2017 when I’m home, I can meet up with her and her girls in Disneyland. We taught her a really great lesson and answered all of her questions about Mormons. Yes, Mormons believe in God. Yes, Mormons can eat ice cream hahahah! She has a really strong desire to raise her daughters in a church and has a friend who is a member. She likes how the church is a huge part of her friend’s family. I am really looking forward to helping her see just how the church can bless her little family too!

We had a lesson with Maria and Andres (the gringo)! We are planning their wedding for April!! They aren’t married but they want to be so that they can be baptized. They don’t want to wait any longer than April so that’s when it will be. Yeah, April is a little far off but that ensures that they will have really strong testimonies and become strong members of the church. :) That’s the goal right? I am so excited to be planning a wedding. As missionaries, we take on so many roles: wedding planners, teachers, counselors, friends etc. It’s amazing to me that we have the ability to do whatever possible to bring others to the fullness of the gospel.

OH! I forgot to mention that I have broken 2 things in our apartment recently, the sink and the shower! I broke the sink about 2 weeks ago, and the shower last week. I was cleaning the sink and somehow the faucet exploded off and I flooded our house hahahaha (dad remember when I flooded my bathroom at home?). The shower actually kinda fell on its own. Our landlord thinks I’m destructive but my companion is smart and she told me that everything was rusted. The shower was bound to fall any day. Luckily it’s all fixed! Just something to laugh at!

Yesterday we had a special Stake Conference that was just like what all of you had at home recently. It was a broadcast for Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, El Salvador and all of Central America. Elder Neil L Anderson directed it. Did you know that he speaks Spanish?! It was so incredible. The main topic that all of the authorities spoke on was missionary work. Now is the time that missionaries and members need to work together. I have seen in my almost 8 months in the mission just how huge of an impact members have on the work. Members are necessary! I hope that the conference really spoke to the members here! Maybe we will be seeing references in this next week :)

Answers to a few questions that I have been asked…

Q. What has been my favorite thing to eat?

A. My favorite thing…That’s so hard because it’s all good, but nothing really stands out...I like to eat bistec...which sounds like “beef steak”. It’s actually the closest thing to steak. Or I love when people make fajitas. I’ve learned to love onions, and you know how much I hated onions, tomato, and peppers. Now I love it, it’s all so good. I still hate the things with cilantros and there’s a lot of that! They have these things that are like enchiladas but with pasta on the outside and they are super yummy. I’ll ask what they are called. Really, I eat rice and beans every day. It’s nothing too amazing. hahaha it’s good but yeahJ

Q. Are you going to be able to make yummy Mexican food when you get home?

A.  Seriously, ITS NOT MEXICAN!! It’s tico… It’s rice and beans and meat. I know how to make tamales and tortillas and tres leches cake! I LOVEEEEE TRES LECHES!! I will have to make that when I get home. It’s like a thousand calorias but oh well!

Well that is my update. Stay healthy and happy! (speaking of health, I’ve asked our cook to stop feeding me rice and beans. I should have done it earlier!! I think I’ve eaten enough for a lifetime) Love you all! 

PS, I have been thinking a lot about Kayla and Nick! How are they doing? I've been praying for them...I am confident that they are going to be great missionaries!

Ice cream fixes everything, even if it's not Leatherby's! We had a really long day and needed a pick me up... super sweaty hahaha:)

Okay so McDonald's needs to stop trying new things! 

This is atrocity to all of my Italian ancestors.

The shower that I broke, but didn't really break:)

My companion trying to stuff a toothbrush in the pipe

 for the sink to stop the flooding...ahahah!