President Hayes "bore testimony for and with us...one of the most spiritually powerful moments of my whole mission"

Hello friends & family!

Its a little crazy writing today since I was able to talk to my family yesterday on Facetime but there is still so much to say!

This week was actually so amazing! Tuesday, we had a Zone Conference with Zone Limon. President and Hermana Hayes, and the assistants came. It was really great and I enjoyed it a lot. It ended up being about 7 hours long starting at 9 and not ending until about 4. President Hayes talked a lot about what we are all here looking for. Very rarely are we here because we want to preach the gospel. He got to the point that we are here looking for happiness! Happiness comes from the gospel and only the gospel. If we want to be happy in the mission and in life really, we need to live the gospel. We need to be obedient and in my case, I need to open my mouth and share the gospel. I am grateful that Hermana and President Hayes care about our happiness in the mission. They want us to enjoy this time and they are helping us to see that if we work hard, we will be the happiest! I know that it's true. 

During the conference, President and Hermana Chaverri came and President/Elder Chaverri talked to us. He spoke about his mission and about the importance of having a vision. He knew why he was serving and what his purpose was. His stories were incredible. One month he had 13 baptisms in one day...not to say things are about numbers, but wow!! He had a lot of faith that if his prayers were sincere and he worked hard, the Lord would show him miracles. President Chaverri then showed the importance of working together in companionship. He called Hermana Velez and I  up specifically, because he knows us, to show an example. It was really fun for me to learn about missionary work from my Stake President! I'm grateful to know the Chaverris. Another surprise, guess who got called on randomly to get up in front of everyone and teach a principle of the gospel. Haha, me. I was so nervous in the beginning when they told me but I am soooo happy with how I did! I taught about the importance of enduring to the end! I used Helaman 14-16 to show how the Lamanites were converted and then fell away and couldn't recognize the signs of  Christ because they hadn't continued reading the scriptures or doing the things that would have strengthened their testimonies. I felt really confident talking in front of everyone and it was so fun! I Love to share my testimony and I hope that the zones learned something from me. Overall, the Zone Conference was super great and I'm happy that we had it this week!

Thursday was Andres and Maria's baptisms!! I really can't explain to you their excitement. All of their friends who are members came. The whole program went really well and after the baptism you could just see a change in them. Normally Maria gives hugs that are ehh, but this time she didn't want to let go! She was in tears! Something different was that after they were baptized, the bishop got up and said that they were going to be confirmed!! The same day! That never happens! Well, officially Andres and Maria became members of the church Thursday! Yay!! I have been able to have the privilege to watch as their lives have changed. In one year they will go to the temple and that is the ultimate goal!

The next day, Friday, another wedding! My companion did my hair for the Elders wedding, like "Frozen"! It was another beautiful wedding!

 Me & Tere

Me & Hermana Velez

Saturday was amazing...Milenna and Pable took us to Subway!! Yes, Guapiles has a Subway now...prayers have been answered!

Yesterday, Domingo! It probably was one of the craziest days of my entire mission.  My companion and I woke up at 5:15 to get to the church at 6:40 am. It was the big Stake Conference that everyone had anticipated. We got their just in time to save the last row of soft benches. The conference started at 10 and every 30 minutes we watched at buses came bringing wards from the stake. The building is small and so people had to watch Conference on TVs from all of the classrooms and even the parking lot! Steven's family, and Maria and Andres sat with us, and we had room for Milenna and Pablo. Well it turns out that Pablo was already there saving room  so they didn't need it anymore. But hey everything happens for a reason. Hermana Anna Lauren Chaverri, President's wife, came with her daughters and there was NO WHERE to sit! Luckily we had that room right up close. We got to sit with Anna Lauren and with Tere, both the Chaverri wives haha! 

The Conference was incredible. Elder Alonso of the Seventy, and Elder Camey, a new area seventy from Guatemala, came. The purpose was to release President Chaverri (from Stake President), now Elder Chaverri (of the area Seventy), and to realign the Stake Presidency. The Conference started with the new callings. They called soooo many new stake leaders. A new patriarch  from our ward! Then it came time to realign the Stake Presidency. The 1st counselor became the President, the 2nd counselor became the 1st Counselor and Hermano Alejandro Chaverri, Teres husband and Elder Chaverris little brother,  got called as 2nd Counselor. There's a new President Chaverri!! Tere was so happy! It was really special watching him, Alejandro, walk up there with Elder Chaverri smiling big. After that, it was a giant 2 hour testimony meeting from all of the new leaders. Hermana Lauren even got up to share her testimony after Elder Chaverri. It was really powerful hearing every leader testify of Priesthood authority, the temple ordinances and ultimately a living Christ.

The new Stake Presidency...President Alejandro Chaverri on the right side of the photo.

President Hayes had the opportunity to speak. When he did, he asked all of the missionaries to stand up. Hermana Velez and I were right in front of Elder Alonso and I felt like he was staring into my very soul hahahah. President Hayes wanted us to stay standing his entire testimony because he wanted to testify with us! He said the most amazing things. He said that we are the Lords team here in Guapiles, to bring others to Christ. He asked that others could forgive us for things that we have said or done that have not been correct. We are young and we are doing our very best! He bore testimony for and with us. That was probably one of the most spiritually powerful moments of my whole mission. I looked at my fellow missionaries standing behind me and I felt support and love. We are a team! After the leaders, Elder Chaverri called on random people from the congregation to come up and share their testimonies. Pablo was one of them! He got up and spoke about his mission in 36 days. His testimony was incredibly strong. Watch out Salt lake City South Mission, he's coming! haha Elder Alonso finished us off, speaking last. He has so much energy and bore special witness of Christ. I know that He lives. After the Conference, everyone was smiling and crying and hugging and taking pictures!! 

Milenna and Pablo drove us to Tere and Alejandro's for lunch and to talk with our families! Milenna wanted me to call her when I spoke to mine because she wanted to say hi, and they were going to be eating next door at Anna Lauren and Luis Claudio's, haha! The biggest blessing in the world is the opportunity that we have 2 times a year to Skype/Facetime our families. That 45 minutes is the fastest that I have ever experienced but its amazing!! I couldn't fight tears. I guess I'm not as much of a tough missionary as some of the others who say that they don't miss their families, I do. I needed that 45 minutes!! I am so grateful for Milenna and Tere who were there, probably crying more than me haha, to comfort me. I am blessed! 

Right after the Facetime, we got in the car and headed back to church!! Alexandra (Steven's sister) was baptized!! She was incredibly excited and I could see the Light of Christ in her. She is beautiful! She has such a desire to make good choices and to continue learning!! She wears her Haz Lo Justo ring that I gave her every day!! Pamela and Alan want to be baptized so bad and we are working so hard to get them there. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to have one more transfer in this area! 6 more weeks! I'm going to work so hard to finish what the Lord wants me to here!!

This week was such a big one for me. I can't believe everything that has happened. The Lord is blessing me and helping me to be strong even when I know that I am weak. I love you all so much! Thank you for your prayers and support! 

Hermana Zerilli

When you can't find the keys for the baptism font...and you have to climb over....it was for a good cause! 

We did weekly planning in the primary room, waiting for the baptism font to fill for Maria and Andres Baptism. Our Ward Mission Leader wanted it all the way full because Andres is really tall!

Lessons with Steven's family

Sebastian (6) Janpul(2) Alan and Alexandra (8)

Love this family♥

May the 4th Be With You...Applying Yoda's philosophy!

WELCOME TO MAY!!! Hey everyone. How's it going? 

I can't believe that...next month is June....and then August...and then, well you know what comes next hehe! Time is flyin folks!! This is my last month as a teenager...and don't get me started on just how depressed that makes me. But wow! Dad was right, the only certainties in life are death, taxes, and time stopping for no one. 

Well, this week....WE HAD A WEDDING! 

and you know what I found hilarious...they don't throw rice in the air here hahahaha, I mean c'mon. You'd think out of all places that it would happen here, hahaha no!

I have to tell you that this week the focus was the wedding! We were talking with people on the phone 24/7 to make sure everything went well. Wednesday, we spent 8 hours making decorations! Just me and my companion and Hermana Xynia and Jennifer with a whole ton of crepe paper and glue, for 8 hours! It was really fun. It brought me back to all of the Student Government projects that I have done in the past. I was in my natural environment! Thursday we got to the church really early to start setting up. The decorations all turned out really pretty. We are also blessed with great members here that really made this wedding happen. When Maria and Andres got there, their faces said it all! They were so happy and Andres said "You 2 did all of this?!" They both looked so nice!!! A lot of their family came and many members came too, to support them. For the first time in my life, I spoke at a wedding. It was quite the experience and really hard not to just start testifying of the church haha. I was really glad that I had that opportunity though. At the end of the ceremony, which is really quick here because they just sign a piece of paper, Maria got up to speak. I was so pleasantly surprised! She is always so nervous to speak in front of people. She shared how happy she was and she thanked everyone from the ward, her new brothers and sister in Christ, and the Relief Society for their help. She was in tears! The rest of the night went so well. The food and cake were delicious! When it came time to leave Maria and Andres were incredibly happy and content with how everything went. Us too! I really can't wrap my head around the fact that I had the opportunity to help 2 people get married! What's incredible is that obviously they love each other but they also both have so much faith. Now they can be baptized, and they will be! This Thursday is their baptism! I really love these people!!

Working on the decorations!

 

 

 

 

And yes, my hair is growing crazy. Its huge and sooooo hot. I need it to be longer but it is up all of the time. I tried having it down for the wedding but i started to sweat and it turned to curls from my cowlicks...the sun here is death! I sweat SOOOOOO MUCH! To cool down...look for people to teach. But no one has air conditioner here! Only the cars and the church:)

Okay, and Stevens family...they are doing amazing!! This past week we went by to check in on them and to keep teaching. We got on the topic of missionaries because Steven started talking about his mission in 4 years. "Elder Monge" he said haha. I asked where hes going to serve and he said California near my house haha! Okay that works! Pamela, the mom, mentioned how we need to take a lot of pictures so that when people ask them how they were introduced to the church, they can show them the pictures. AW! Can I just mention the amazing changes I have seen in this family? The second week that they came to church, Pamela came in a new skirt that she had bought because she didn't have one and yesterday, Alan, the boyfriend, came to church in a white shirt and tie!! They talk about how much they love church all the time and this week was evidence. Alan brought all of the kids to the wedding by himself because Pamela had to work, they both took the kids to the primary activity Saturday that was 2 hours away in a museum in San Jose and then got home just in time to go with us to a baptism of the other ward!! Then of course they came to church yesterday! They are reading The Book of Mormon as a family, and Alan and Pamela read the lessons each week for the classes. I am amazed!! In February, I never would have thought that this would happen. Alexandra, the 8 year old sister, is going to be baptized this Sunday! She is adorable and absolutely loves the church. I gave her a CTR ring and she always shows me that she's wearing it. I am incredibly grateful for tender mercies of the Lord and all of the miracles. God is so loving!!

For the random fun things this week...well we forgot to pay the electricity! Yeah, I know. How irresponsible! Well, it was dark and EXTREMELY hot for 2 nights but we laughed a whole lot. I got to use my REI head light and all of those flashlights that mom has sent me. Also, bugs in the dark are not so fun!! haha

when we didn't have electricity, the freezer part of our fridge melted

Also, everyone in Relief Society wants to add mom on facebook. I absolutely love knowing that the sisters in the ward are in contact with my family in some way. They all get so excited and are like "lets take a picture and send it to your mom!" haha

We had a special Relief Society activity...It was night of pajama hahaha! And they rented a place and put blankets on the floor. 

Someone gave us sopa de mariscos the other day....

the best thing that i have eaten here!

This next week is Stake Conference. Elder Alonso of the Seventy is going to come to set apart President Chaverri as an Area 70, and to call a new Stake President. Im so excited! How cool is it that all of this is happening in my area? #blessed haha! okay! Hahaha what's funny is next week we will eat with the Chaverri's again I guess, since we are going to their house...so maybeeee if we end up eating with President Chaverri and everyone, we will eat with Elder Alonsi from the 70 because next week is the big Stake Conference, fingers crossed!

Also, tomorrow is a Zone Conference with President Hayes. I'm looking forward to hearing some good counsel. (photo sent after Taylor's email)

Anyway, this week...May the 4th be with you. 

I hope you all know that I have really applied the Yoda method in making commitments with the investigators here. Read The Book of Mormon or don't...there is no try hahahaha!

Love you all so so much! I can't wait to Skype with my family on Sunday...I've been waiting for this day since Christmas!!

WOAH, WE'RE HALF WAY THERE...WOAH-OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER! HAHAHA, Literally:)

I went on divisions with Hermana Moon this week. 2 Gringas in one area...that was interesting. People screamed "Speak English!" at us hahaha!

Hola!

THIS WEEK WAS SO AMAZING!!

First off, I'm writing (today) Tuesday because I asked special permission from President Hayes. Yesterday Hermana Velez and I had chequeo del mes (monthly check for the new missionaries), we didn't get back to our area until Pday was over. However, we had an amazing family home evening! Last night, the Chaverri family invited us over!! In the Chaverri family it's Anna Lauren and Luis Claudio (Stake President that is going to be the area 70) and their 5 daughters. I absolutely love them and their house reminds me of home. It's beautiful! They always make us feel so welcome and they cook food like at home!! Steak, salad, and potatoes! If it didn't include rice I'd call it a Zerilli dinner! However, I've learned here, if it doesn't have rice...we should be concerned:) The Elders came too and we taught their investigators who are going to get married so that they can be baptized too. Just like Maria and Andres. It was a great lesson and we all enjoyed it!

This past week was one of miracles! I have to tell you about Saturday in particular...We had a really crazy day planned with appointments in all areas. Honestly, we were really really nervous about how we were going to be able to do it all! Luckily everything ended up working out. It started out with us looking for new investigators. It was a little discouraging knocking on door after door and being rejected until we literally got to the last house on the street. We knocked and a young looking guy came smiling and let us in saying that he knew who we were but never had spoken with us before. We immediately felt like things were right! He went to invite his mom to come and she came out speaking English. Oh hey another investigator that speaks English, haha! They are African, and they are bilingual. The lesson went super well. They both accepted baptismal dates and we are looking forward to the next lesson.

After finding them, we went to teach Maria and Andres and then hopped on a bus to visit Steven's family. We taught them within the hour that we had until another lesson. We taught Joseph Smith and The First Vision. Steven was there and he was so excited that we were teaching that he literally couldn't close his mouth. He would scream out parts of the lesson that we hadn't even taught! hahaha, it was hilarious! In the end, Pamela and Alan said that they were looking forward to going to church with the family Sunday. Then they said that they didn't want to just keep going to church...they want to be members. In that moment I think my heart stopped. WHAT!! They want to be baptized!!! We hadn't even asked! Well, looks like we will be planning another wedding!! Also, they asked about Alexandra, Steven's little sister who is 8 and we told her that she could get baptized whenever she wanted! She said that she really wants to get baptized and we are ecstatic for her! I left their house in almost tears. I have fasted and prayed for this family for these past 3 months and this is evidence that EVERYTHING is in the Lords timing! What was so sweet is that Steven said "Everyone told me that if I got baptized and kept going to church, eventually my family would join too." How amazing is that? After that house, we hopped on a bus and then took off running to meet up with a member to go teach Carolina. We had an amazing lesson with her about the Sabbath Day, and now we have her committed to attend church every Sunday! So far so good! 

Saturday night, we were exhausted but I couldn't have been happier!! The Lord is blessing us for our efforts. I am amazed at His love and His tender mercies. 

Oh and guess what. I COMPLETED 9 MONTHS!!!!
"WOAH, WE'RE HALF WAY THERE...WOAH-OH, LIVIN' ON A PRAYER!" HAHAHA, Literally:) I cant believe it. Where did time go? I will be seeing you all before I know it! 

Love you all so much and pray for you always! Thank you all for your support and emails, and I am so sorry that I don't have time to reply to everyone. Take care and read your scriptures!