The Lower the Latitude, The Greater the Gratitude - Hermana Taylor Zerilli's Mission to Costa Rica: June 2016

Okay this is whats up!!! Haha

Paraiso, Cartago... Catholics, Catholics and more Catholics. Cartago is seriously the Catholics capital of Costa Rica. I have never heard "Ave Maria" so many times in my life (good thing I love it)! However I'm enjoying this. It's a little bit of a challenge to teach people, but I myself am learning things that I never have in my life.

So my companion Hermana Pacay is awesome!! She is from Guatemala and has 4 months in the mission! She has a huge desire to work hard and wants to learn. She helped me to meet a whole ton of members this week and for that I am so grateful! I know so many people!! I already love the ward! They want to work with us! Also, they give us references of people to teach so it makes things a little easier for us:)

This week, we saw miracles!! Tuesday we went to teach an "eternal investigator"...someone one that the missionaries teach for a long time. Cough dad cough :) We went to her house and I got to know her a little bit. Her daughter is baptized but she never could be because she had to work every Sunday. I asked her about work and she said that on that very day, Her boss had changed her work schedule to give her Sundays off! My companion just about died!! I invited her to a baptism date and she said yes with tears in her eyes♥ This woman has been investigating since August 2015. Not too long ago, but still a long time, haha. Hermana Pacay was in absolute shock! I knew that it was a miracle and that it's in God's time, not ours.

All week we worked and I got to know the area and our investigators. Boy are our investigators complicated hahaha. Also, the area is HUGE!!!! No joke I don't know how I will ever fully understand it but I'm trying. I am now getting adjusted to calling the other Hermanas every night to see how they are, part of the duties of my calling as the Sister Training Leader for the Zone. My journal time is getting cut short but it's for a good cause. I love asking the Hermanas about how they are doing. Hearing their miracles strengthens me!

Saturday I had the opportunity to go to the Costa Rica Temple to surprise Steven!!! Hermana Pacay and I went alone and we had to figure out how to get there alone. We woke up at 5 and arrived at the Temple just in time that the bus for Pococi rolled in. The expression on Steven's face was so priceless! He and Daniel were so happy and I was too. It was a huge reunion! I got to see Tere and all of the family Chaverri, Stacy and Marytza, Yorlenni and the Bishop. Everyone!! Steven called Pamela and I got to talk to her!! THE DIVORCE IS DONE!!! I am so ecstatic for them!! I am so happy knowing that they are going to be able to be baptized so soon. I love that family so much. Hermana Pacay and I did initiatories because they didn't have room for baptisms, and I just took it all in. I loved hearing everything in Spanish and getting to know the temple workers. One of them was from California! They really can never tell that I'm gringa. Yayyyy latin roots hahaha! We said our goodbyes and headed back to work. The next time I go to the Temple it will be with Maria and Andres!

Daniel & Steven:)

Me and Hermana Pacay.

I got to see my girls from Guapiles!

I was happy to tears to see Tere again!

Yolenny was also at the Temple, so happy to see her too!

Today Hermana Pacay, Elder Hansgen, Elder Rossales and I went to the Mirador de Orosi. Orosi lookout? I don't know Haha. It's basically a really pretty place to go see everything in Orosi, a city in our area. It was like a little hike with a pretty view. This area is beautiful. It's green but different than Guapiles. It's not tropical. I'm still adjusting to the weather. I'm freezing I'm not going to lie, haha. I'll be fine though. I had the opportunity to buy sweaters the other day! :)

Well that was this week. I'm looking forward to week 2 of this change. I love you all so so much! :)

Keep praying for the missionaries!

Love Taylor♥

My new home, in Cartago! I am so thankful that Hermana Pacay welcomed me so kindly!

It's straight cold here!

I am going to miss this beautiful face! So many children here that I love♥

Buenas Tardes from Cartago, Costa Rica!! More specifically, my area Paraiso (Paradise).

From what I have experienced in these past few hours, its cold, and there is rain...Apparently it's always like this! I am talking EXTREME change! Guys I'm wearing a sweater!! I almost never even touched my sweaters in Pococi, it was way too hot there. I am living with only about 2 hours of sleep. I spent all last night packing and writing notes for everyone I left behind. My suitcases are packed! I am not quite sure what is happening but it appears as if I have more things than before hahaha. A lot more! All of us had to be at the bus terminal before 6 am. There were about 15 of us from the zone that had changes. We got to San Jose and it was pouring. I was freezing! A van came for us and that's when the adventure began. Little by little we traveled through the Costa Rica San Jose East Mission, dropping off Elders and Hermanas and picking up Elders and Hermanas. I got to see many church buildings and areas that I had never seen! It's true that the majority of the areas are city. We drove really far and finally reached Cartago!! I got out of the van and immediate goose bumps! hahaha... I met my companion Hermana Pacay and she is so fun!! She has 4 months in the mission, is 19 and is from Guatemala. Everyone told me that she is funny and energetic, that we are going to get along really well. So far so good! My new area is not city!! It's really pretty and green and all of the houses are classic. We also live in a castle hahahah. No joke it looks like a castle! I'll send a picture next week! Our house is also sooooo nice!!! I'm amazed at how pretty and clean it is. It's the biggest of my houses and definitely the cleanest. That's a plus:)

The pictures/gifts that I prepared and left for my converts...

More news, I'm the new Sister Training Leader for my zone (like the zone leader, but for the hermanas). Yes. It's happening haha! This past week we had divisions (exchanges) in Guacimo. I went to Guacimo and Hermana Moon came to pococi. I was honestly so terrified all day to be in Gaucimo because all of the experiences from the past, but I made it through. At night, the Zone Leaders called. They told me that President Hayes wanted me to go to the leadership meeting, that they normally have every change, with Hermana Moon, our Sister Training Leader. I was sooooo confused but everyone started to say "Do you know what this means? Are you excited?!" I told them that I had no clue what they were talking about. I liked to think that I was going because President Hayes knows just how much I love the Price Mart pizza! Long story short, I went. In the beginning they welcomed all of the new leaders, including me. It was a really impactful meeting! I learned so much and obtained a perspective very different. One by one we reviewed every area of the mission. We talked problems and solutions. At the end, I wondered which area was going to be mine. The meeting was about 7 hours long! At the very end, President put up the transfers and announced them. He announced my name, area and that I was going to be the "Specialista". Hermana Moon got changed for a place called Moravia and both of our companions are in our old areas still. Hermana Moon and I were so shocked and so sad to be leaving our areas. President came and talked to us both. He told us that he needed our help. He needs our enthusiasm and hard work in these areas specifically. I told him and Hermana Hayes that I was nervous and they said "You're always nervous but everything works out great!" hahahah My life! President also told me, "who doesn't want to go to Paradise?" Touche President. So here I am. New area. New companion. New responsibilities. New chapter of my mission!

Hermana Moon and I on the bus after the meeting

So, I knew that I was going to have to have changed eventually. My goal was to help move Pamela and Allan along as far as I could. Pamela's husband doesn't want to help out with money in doing this divorce and so its been really hard. She wants to get divorced, get married, and me baptized but she was having to wait until they had the money. Hermana Velez and I took things until our own hands. We talked with our ward mission leader who loves to make pizzas and organized a big event to sell pizzas and make money for this divorce. I love this about the church. We dont give out money. We couldn't do that, we dont have money to give. But we always offer service. This was a fun way to serve and help a family on their journey . All week we went out pricing and buying pizza ingredients and talking to the bishop who actually sold all of the pizzas ahead of time. Saturday, the Elders, our Ward Mission Leader & his wife, and us were in the church 6 hours making 24 pizzas. We were so tired after this activity, but I was incredibly grateful. We raised all the money that we needed to to help out with the divorce. Yesterday, I was able to tell Allan and Pamela and they started bawling. They were so happy and thankful. It was so easy. Things like that don't need a thank you. I couldn't think of any other thing that I could have done for them before I left. I am so glad that we could do it!

The pizza order list, everyone who ordered.

So yesterday was my last day in Guapiles & Pococi. It was tough! Everyone in church said "Oh Cartago is cold!" Haha. I have to say, I hate cambios!! They are soooo hard. I love the people in Guapiles. I loved my ward, Pococi. The investigators that we had were incredible. The area was beautiful. My companion there is amazing. Everything was great, but the Lord needs me here now. For what? I dont know but I am about to find out! I am going to work really hard here. I have had such amazing experiences in the past 7 months that I was in Pococi and learned things that I am going to apply here. I think above all else, I learned to love the people. It has always been easy for me to love people, but truly love them unconditionally like Chrisy-that's different. It's a love without judgement! It's selfless and it's for everyone. I am still learning, but Guapiles taught me that. I think that's why I was a mess last night hahahah. An area means nothing if we dont love the people! I truly do, and I hope the best for every single one of them!!

I hope my Dad had an awesome Father's Day and that my Mom celebrated her birthday well!! I love you both so much!! This week I was thinking of you both a little more than usual!!

I hope you all have an amazing week. Remember to take every opportunity possible. The summer is almost halfway gone! Love you all!

Chaito!

Because I knew you, I have been changed for good♥