Just call me Erica Enders....or maybe Britney Force!

Hey everyone! This week was really interesting, it was good but it had its moments. That's the mission right?

First off, the reason why I'm writing today (Tuesday) is because yesterday we had a huge zone activity. We went GO-KARTING!!! It was so rad!! I was playing Erica Enders and Britney Force the entire time, LOL! And I have to say, I did pretty well! It may not have been Talladega, but I was moving! I had the fastest time for the girls and top 10 for the zone. I came in 2nd though...which is basically last so I'll have to do better next time. I really enjoyed the activity though. Zone bonding, competition, driving and all of the "Shake n' Bake" hahaha! First time behind the wheel in a year, the world better watch out when I get home. hahaha it was a little nuts.!!

 "If you aint first your last!"....

well I got 2nd Shake n' bake!!

 HAHAHA, CHECK OUT MY TIME, AKA "TSWIZZIE"

This past week we were tried a little bit. My companion has been feeling a little sick to her stomach and the lymph nodes on the left side of my neck have been bothering me. It hurts sometimes when I yawn, talk or eat; and sometimes I get headaches on that side. I'm tough though! I don't want to sit out. The only thing that bothers me is when I have a headache and we are singing, hahah, I end up holding my head like an awkward person. There is a significant amount of mold in the house that we live in, so there is some concern about that. I have a doctor appointment this afternoon, so hopefully I get some answers. I can still walk, though so we will just keep truckin! 

Tuesday, we went out knocking doors with absolutely no success. We aren't sure if it was the area or the time of day, but no one was home and if they were home they had no interest to listen to us. At one house, I knocked and introduced who we were. The lady asked what we wanted. I replied that we wanted to share a message of Christ. :) Then the lady said "*scoff* bagabondas!!! psh jesucristo!" and stormed back into her house... We were like ummm ok. Basically she told us that we are good for nothing! we just screamed "HAVE A GREAT DAY!! " That's one thing, I know that what we are doing is good for something, really it's good for everything! I felt bad that she couldn't recognize that and that there really are people in this world who would reject a message about Christ. Something so positive and uplifting. Oh well! What are you gonna do? haha:) 

This week I received a much stronger testimony of living prophets. Recently, we have taught many lessons about prophets. Some people believe in prophets easier than others and that's ok. The most important part is that people are willing to pray about it! We have worked with less active members and investigators this week teaching about the importance of prophets. One of my favorite prophet lessons this week was with Alexia and her mom (the Catholics from last week). Alexia is great! She continues to come to church every week with her friend and is actually in the class for preparation for the mission!! She's not even a member yet!! haha! We taught her and her mom about prophets. Her mom loves to listen to us and I can see her learning every time we talk. She knows a lot about the scriptures but is just confused about a few things. The Spirit was with us in this lesson as we asked them if they believed that there is a prophet on the earth today. The mom asked us about the "Papa" which is a very common response for Cartago. We explained how a prophet is the only man on earth that holds all of the priesthood keys and that he is called of God. He has close communication with God, he is His servant here and His voice. Alexia asked us if Thomas S. Monson is the prophet. That question caught us off guard. I was thinking "You already know?!" We had the opportunity to testify that he is! I know without a doubt that President Thomas. S. Monson is the prophet of the Lord here on the earth today. I know that he receives revelation for these latter days and that we need to listen and apply his counsel to receive the blessings and happiness of this gospel. I know that I have been called by a prophet to serve a mission here in Costa Rica. He knows what the Lord wants and I trust him 100%. Our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can ever understand. He does not want us to be lost or be living in spiritual darkness, that is why he calls prophets. To show us the way back to our Heavenly Father. 

I love and sustain President Thomas. S. Monson as Prophet, Seer and Revelator and invite everyone to pray and ask God if he really is His servant here on Earth!

We had the fun opportunity to help out Relief Society with their activity Saturday. We had to act out how to be a good visiting teacher. I love the Hermanas in this ward here. Also, I got to help translate for Hermana Carol in the Relief Society presidency meeting. Translating is a fun challenge for me. I'm learning to switch languages. Sometimes my companion and I laugh because I think Spanglish is just my language now. I can't speak English without putting a few Spanish words in there. 

Yesterday was Mothers day for Costa Rica! I thought about my Mom a whole lot and read Alma 56. It's so true and the words have always stuck with me "we do not doubt our mothers knew it." Mom always knows. I Love you Mom, and las quiero a todas las madres de costa rica. gracias por siempre cuidarme! besos y abrazzos a todas!

Mother's Day Parade this past weekend♥

Anyway, this week things are looking up!  I saw Christmas decorations yesterday...I'm psyched and at the same time, it is nowhere near time for Christmas! haha! 

Love you all. Remember Christ in everything you do and look for the miracles, they are there!

When your best hermana friends show up looking the same as you, ahhahaha !

 With Elder Munoz

 With some of the other hermanas from the zone.

 mango selly with chili lime and salt mmmm...

  Divisions with Hermana Freeze and Hermana Mendoza last night.

My package arrived from home...special thanks to the RM who brought it to me from the U.S. and thanks to my family for sending it! I soooo needed those tights, it's cold here.

Group Picture from Zone Conference

 Group picture of my zone at the Go-Karting trip!

A New Family of 9 & A New Friend From California♥

We waited a good 40 minutes after our
 district meeting because it was raining so hard! This is why my mission has been sponsored by Crocs, even rubber shoes can be cute!

Hey Everyone!!
Week 1 of this cambio, and 10 cambios already done! Holy cow time is flying. I think I have said that 500 times since I got here and will probably continue saying it until my mission ends! Sunday someone got up during testimony meeting at church and said, "I love this day...because I love Christmas, and August means that Christmas is SOON!" I was like "Hermana, what are you saying?!" I love Christmas too, but I'm not ready for December!!

This week I saw incredible miracles with Hermana Martinez. First off, I am so happy to be with her! She is fun and we are a lot alike too, so it makes things more enjoyable. 

Tuesday, we went out looking for new investigators. I had a few families in mind that Hermana Pacay and I had never contacted but she had showed me where their houses were. Well, I worked with Hermana Pacay a good 3 1/2 weeks, so I can't really remember these houses that she showed me. Embarrassingly, we knocked doors asking for Rachel with no results. However, this one door we knocked, the people were really different. They were friendly and actually Rachel was their neighbor! They showed us where, and we talked with them about who we were. This family is HUGE! They invited us in and we had a lesson with 9 people. 9!!!!!!! They were friendly and really interested. We were amazed at the miracle that we had of finding 9 new investigators in 1 house!! Well, the next day they called asking if we wanted to go over to their house again for lunch!! Hahaha, That NEVER happens!  We couldn't go but we planned another lesson for Friday. We went and they had invited over extended family that lived close by!!! 4 more people!! We were shocked!! I love meeting people who truly want us to come back and teach them but not just that, this family wants others to hear too! The first week normally sets the bar for the rest of the change and I am so excited to work with this family TAN GRANDE!! 

Aside from that, we were on a roll with finding new investigators. 

Another experience that I want to share took place while we were teaching a lesson with a young woman from the ward. Her name is Ester and her friend Alexia is really interested in the church. We went to visit her friend this past week and when we walked in the house, we knew immediately that the family is really Catholic. We sat down with the girls to start our lesson and the Mom came in to listen. We started to talk and honestly my companion and I had no clue where the lesson was going. Her mom just started saying things in general about prayer and we were just kind of testifying of what she was saying, LOL. I felt nervous so I actually said a prayer in my head and heart while the mom was talking, that the Lord would help us know what to say. I finally asked her if she had ever wondered why there are so many churches in the world. If there is one God, why are there so many different churches teaching different doctrine? It got her thinking. We used many examples from the Old Testament (which I'm reading and I love). Eventually, we got to talking about the ministry of Christ and how He established the church with a Prophet, Apostles, scriptures, revelation and the Priesthood. I have those parts in a puzzle to show how the church is "built". We explained it very simply to where no one could be confused. The mom, Alexia, and Ester were all listening very carefully. At one moment it got quiet. We had laid all the parts of the puzzle on the table and my companion looked at Alexia's mom and asked "Do you know of one church on this earth that has all of these pieces?" She quietly said, fighting tears "no". In that moment I looked at my companion and I said "I feel the Spirit so strong" and she told me that she did also. Literally shaking...with tears in my eyes too, I testified of the true church. The Church of Christ that has every single one of those pieces. My testimony was strengthened beyond belief! I felt the spirit so incredibly strong in that moment and I knew that they were feeling it too. No one could have denied that feeling. The lesson was perfect. The Lord was so good to us this week! 

Not too many crazy things to tell you about this week. We visited a new friend Brenda this week. She is from OAKLAND CALIFORNIA!!! She lives near Caro and BF in the CUTEST HOME!! She has everything, like from home (California)...dishwasher, oven, Kitchen Aid!! Everything! She fed us after church, CHILI AND CORNBREAD; AND ICE CREAM SUNDAES! She lives alone. I love her and she hasn't gone to church in a few years, I want to help her!! She says that we can go over whenever we want! I'm stoked!  Haha 

Ok seriously...if you didn't know us, would you be able to guess which one of us is from California and which one is from El Salvador? Genes are so crazy!

Anyway, I am happy!! The mission isn't easy but I love it! All of my friends are heading home in these days! How crazy! Maddie (my bestie from BYU who has been serving her mission in Chile) and Spencer (another amazing friend from BYU) are heading home this Monday!!!! ALL of my missionary friends here in Costa Rica went home this change too!!

'Im enjoying every day, even when I'm tired and our house is growing mold hahahahaha! I am a little worried I HAVE ENLARGED LYMPH NODES!!! ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY THROAT AND IT HURTS SO BAD...it's like a big ball, my comp was like woah! It hurts and has gotten bigger. I think ITS THE MOLD...we ate with a gringa who i loveeeeee yesterday and she said it's probably from the mold in the house I am living in! Everyone says that they can see it!! The nurse said to take cataflam?? I am praying this problem gets better, because it's really painful.

On a happier note, I have a baptism in 2 weeks!!

Love you all! Be safe and keep smiling :)

♥Hermana Taylor Zerilli

Exercising on the equipment that they put in the park! free gym!!

Cotton candy! almost a year ago, remember... just a different companion!

Ummm...remember in the scriptures when Christ got mad because people were selling things in the Temple hahahaha, that's what I thought of...

My positive thought for the week...

Do you see what i seeeee???  I bought it for 50 cents!

True Religion Capris...5 dollars. Black Miss Mes 9 dollars...hahahahahaha, I love the Americana stores here!

I have a new companion and I have decided that I am against the pants!

ROSEVILLE CA. REPRESENTED IN COSTA RICA-
Hermana Taylor Zerilli with Elder Chase Abel at Zone Conferece

HAPPY PDAY!! 

So remember last week when I kept you all hanging on the 10 things that I've learned?? I mean 12 months...and 10 things? What? I meant to say 12 things in the past 12 months!! One of the things should be that I should take a breath and slow down when I'm, typing right hahaha. well here are the other 2....

1. Coca Cola tastes better in Costa Rica (but not as good as Mexico)

2. the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to achieve true happiness, that which money cannot buy!

TODAY WE HAD CAMBIOS!!(TRANSFERS) I'm still here in Paraiso (thank The Lord) but I have a new companion, Hermana Martinez! She is super cute and is from El Salvador. She has 9 months in the mission and has only had one area. I'm so excited to work with her! I've had a little bit of a break with the injury of my companion and all, so I'm psyched to get out and go! 

I also want you wish you all a HAPPY ROMERIA! I told you that Cartago is the area most Catholic of all of Costa Rica right? Well, in Cartago, they have the giant cathedral and every year on the 1st and 2nd of August, everyone from everywhere in Costa Rica walks to this cathedral to pray to the Virgin of Los Angeles and ask for miracles. People walk barefoot and some even CRAWL!! These past few days we have seen thousands of people walking. It's incredible!! They even have police out there, the streets look like a marathon run is taking place.  Haha there is free food and stand ups of Jesus to take pictures with. It kinda scares me, but it's actually really interesting and different. I give the Catholics so much credit for their faith! Faith is action! I dont know about the virgin but I know that the Lord will bless them. :) 

So this week I had a few really great lessons! However, I have now decided that I am soooo against the pants. Aside from singing "Ye Elders of Israel" at every meeting because the Elders think it's hilarious, I have had a few concerning comments from other people! For example, I was teaching a lesson with a member and it was going so well! We were teaching about God and his love for us. Everyone was listening until, BOOM!! "Wait you're a missionary?" "Yes, look at my name tag" "Oh, I had no clue! I thought you were a member...why are you wearing pants?!" I ALMOST DIED!! Over half way through the lesson and this guy had no clue that I  was a missionary. I wore a skirt every day following that hahaha!!

So this week we had our Zone Conference. I had to give a capacitation....um I don't know what that is in English..maybe a training?? But anyway, my theme was how we can find happiness in the mission. OK LOVEEE THAT THEME! I was so stoked about it but also really unsettled and nervous.  I kept on going back and forth between ideas. Honestly, there is no section of Preach My Gospel that talks about this. I was on my own! I though about how a lot of missionaries base their success on numbers and baptisms, but I mean if our numbers are bad...does that mean that we aren't happy? So, Just like you'd imagine (mom)...I based my training on my friend Kaityln Dias' (personal friend & Voice of Riley) Disney movie, "Inside Out" I talked about everything in the mission that makes us mad, sad, jealous, and scared; and everything that the Gospel gives us to fight those bad emotions and to be happy. All of those bad emotions come from Satan. We are missionaries of the Lord Jesus Christ, we should be HAPPY! The capacitation was really different but in the end I felt like I was myself and that the zone understood my point. They weren't bored that's for sure hahaha :) I wish Kaitlyn could have heard me, as Riley I know she would understand, LOL. I was also glad that I got to listen to President and Hermana Arredondo again before they left. They are so wise and gave me a very different perspective on the mission. That's what I love, every one is different and there is always something different to learn.

Saturday we had our leadership counsel....PRESIDENT IS BACK!!!!!! I REPEAT PRESIDENT AND HERMANA HAYES ARE BACK!!! And they brought their daughter Lizzie who I missed so much!!!!!!!!!!! They walked in and Hermana Hayes and Lizzie ran straight up to me! I bawled!!!! President was standing there waiting to shake my hand laughing hahaha. I am soooooo happy that they are back! They were so happy too and looked great! I had an interview with President Hayes and he told me that he is much better. I'm so grateful to everyone who prayed for him and that God heard out prayer! They told us about how they were able to see many missionaries at home and how they missed us so much. They worry about us even when they aren't here in Costa Rica. That's the difference between Elder Arredondo and President Hayes. They are both really great but they have different focuses. Arredondo wants success in numbers which is awesome but Hayes wants success in missionaries. He wants us to grow into good human beings! He wants us to go home and continue to have the Spirit with us. I loved what he said when he spoke to us. I know that is part of why I was called to this mission is for President and Hermana Hayes.

LIZZIE IS BACK!!!

I really cant believe that it's already August! I have exactly 5 months left...that's scary!!!! I am super excited for what this month holds. Thank you for your love and support. You all are the best. Always remember that I love you and that God loves you! 

Pura Vida,

Hermana Zerilli♥ 

Meet Hermana Martinez from El Salvador...and the worlds most random first companionship picture....LOVE NUTELLA♥

SHOUT OUT TO MY LAGUNA FAMILY...I MADE IT!! ITS MY LATINA NAME TAG! HERE THEY USE 2 LAST NAMES SO I WANTED TO DO IT IN HONOR OF MY LATINA FAMILIA♥

Cartago banner and armor (Zone Conference)

Our cook made us tres leches! YUMMY!!!

I washed my Dora the Explorer Pillow Pet...It's so damp here in Cartago, everything is molding, INCLUDING POOR DORA!! She's clean now, hoping she is able to fully dry and make it through the next 5 months with me...come on Dora!!

I actually had tears when I saw Hermana Moon again at Zone Conference...

the Assistants drove us home the other day...

Hermana Pacays last day!  President Hayes arrived Saturday and she had cambios to the area closest to the Mission Office. Today she's going to have another exam while he's here and he will have the final call...I think she will probably go home, she is hurting so badly:(

 Hermana Pacay and Fabiola

My favorite baby Tiago

On our way to have cambios (transfers)

Hermana Freeze and Hermana Mendze bought us these "mae" hats! MAE!! hahaha Pronounced "my" and it means "bro" or "dude", it's a slang that is used a lot here in Costa Rica!

Hermana Stevens and Elder Nunez

 Elder Nuñez

We ate with the family Cy yesterday. They speak English. Actually Julius (the dad) was born in the US. He speaks Tagalog (which is what Filipinos speak I think?), English and Spanish. I loveee this family! Their oldest son is currently serving a mission in riverside, California!!

Saying goodbye Elder Lohberg! I am so sad...we will miss him but he has valiantly served his 2 years! Have a great time at BYU Elder Lohberg, I will see you there in January!