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:)