Things seem to be going well!

Makall is on the back row in the light green shirt!


Hola Familia!!!!

This week has been so great! I do not even know where to start.  Well the last few weeks have been really hard. We havent really had anyone to teach and we havent really had much success. So we were a little discouraged.  Things started to pick up when we got a phone call that we were going to have divisions with the Specialistas ( sister training leaders) so I was going to Libera, which is like an hour or so away, and Hermana Garcia would be staying here. For two days.  I was not very excited to go I love Hermana Garcia and we work really well together.  But I went of course :)

 Makall at Zone conference with 2 former Layton High Students! 

This was in SAN JOSE it was raining so much and it was FREEZING!!! We bought these to stay a little dry.... my cute companion sad i look like the hunch back of notra dame hahah :) She is great! This is our District9see the picture at the bottom)

So I spent two days with Hermana Jerez who is from Guatemala.  She is really nice! We had a great time.  She made me talk to people on the street and talk a lot in the lessons and visits.  Their area is SO much bigger than ours and it is more like the city. So it felt like a totally different world there. We had a lot of fun though.  One cool thing did happen while we were there. We couldnt find anyone to teach, all the appointments were failiing through and she couldnt think of anyone to visit.  So she decided to say a pray. We did and then kept walking.  Probably two minutes later some guy comes out and says Hermanas I need you to help me with something.  So we went in and he was a member. But Hermana Jerez had never met him before  He was with a friend sitting on the porch reading the gospel principles manuel.  He said his friend was not a member and needed help understanding one of the things.  He said they were just talking about missionaries last night and that he didnt know how to get in contact with us to teach his friend.   It was so neat. We ended up having to call the Elders to teach him though because it was just one guy.   But honestly it was a miracle! In that moment the spirit bore witness to me that this is the work of the Lord.  That he is always willing to help us find people as soon as we ASK! We have to do our part and have faith that the Lord will answer our prayers! It was awesome!

So then we came back to Cañas and while I was gone Hermana Garcia committed one of our investigators to baptism and to help them plan their wedding! Seriously we have had like a total turn around.  But we know that it is not because of us. It is because we are relying on the Lord to help us know who to talk to and what to teach.  I love that feeling!

We also found a family yesterday, they were a refrence from an investigator.  We also committed them to get married and Baptized! They are really so sweet so we hope that works out! 

Also yesterday I had my first run in with a Cooka ( ¿cocaroach?) Yo no se.... but it was in the shower and i was like Hermana quick come kill it.  So she did but it was big.... I didnt take a picture though.... sorry.. Also here they have Geicos EVERYWHERE. I put a picture of on in our shower in the dropbox. So that is fun.  And also they have Frogs... I have seen a few live and lots of dead ones in the road.  None in our house yet... Thank goodness.  

But i have started to talk more and the lanugage is still coming.  I have made it a goal to start a conversation with at least 5 people a day in the street.  Usually they get to a certain point. Or I say something and they just look at me like i am crazy.... Then Hermana Garcia steps in but As long as i am trying to talk to people it Usually comes out okay! And during lessons I am trying to actually teach something not just testify. Because i know that The Lord helps those who help themselves! 

But seriously the weeks are going so fast! This week has flown by! Tomorrow we have to go to San Jose to get something done with my immigration to get my residence here in Costa Rica but I am not sure exactly what.... So that will be fun.  I love it here! Everyday is hard, and hot, and somedays I just really want to sleep but usually those moments are when we find someone to teach! I know that this is the work of the Lord.  That we are not trying to convince people to join our church but we are literally inviting them to partake of salvation! That the gospel is simple.  People make it so much harder than it needs to be. Heavenly Father didnt send us here to fail. And as long as we are trying everyday to do what is right things will work out as long as we have faith!!

Yeah the heat is getting better I drink like a million bottles of water a day so that helps.  We still have LOTS of bugs but you just kind of get used to them....unless they are in your food.... that is a little horrible.. I had a box of cereal and they were ants in it....but i didnt have any other so i have to just get them all out.... and eat it... haha :) it wasnt horrible though. 

Well family! Love you guys! Love seeing your pictures and looks like you had a fun time in Park City! :) Hope everything is well!! 

Con Amor <3 

Hermana Chatwin

Here is some more info from e-mails to Dad:

The food is great! I love all of it but the meat. Which isnt a suprise because i usually dont like much meat.  So one of the elder in my district usually eats half of my meat since its pretty pricey here i dont want to offend people. But the meat is gross.. It just like fat and stuff... so yeah.  But the language is coming. Slowly but surely.   I am feeling great! Not sick at all and excited to work work work! :)

Usually we are trying to talk to people on the buses so its a little different :) oh my heck i forgot to write about that in my email... I was on the bus from Liberia to Cañas and i sat next to this guy his spanish was horrible so i was like wait your white do you speak english.  And he did! He is from Utah not a member though.  So we talked for like an hour and a half about him and his family and missions and stuff and gave him the number of missionaries in Salt Lake! It was crazy though!

He was from Salt lake but was on a surf trip with his friends her for 3 weeks or something.  But yeah it was pretty crazy to talk to someone in English.. The other day during english class here they asked me to pray in english and I was having a hard time with that.  Since we always pray in spanish here so that was kind of funny.

Usually i think of it in English.... I dont know... haha :) I hope one day i can just speak it... I am okay when it is just one or two people but when we get into a big group of people i cant understand anything haha. So we eat lunch all together as a district most days and they are all talking and i am just like i have no idea what you just said.... but its getting better!