"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.