Week 46: Where do you want to go?

Hey yáll!

"God is anxious to take us as far as we are willing to go"

This week we traveled the 3 hours to go to San Jose in a very winding trip (mom´s stomach would probably not handle this car trip, much less a bus trip), for a Multi zone conference with President Wilkinson. This man is called of God. Wow is all I can say. He taught about plans, God´s plan,   Satan´s plan, how to plan under inspiration, why we need to plan and have a broader perspective, and how we need to teach in such a way that people can know the doctrine, apply it to their lives, and feel that it is true. I loved a quote that he read, which right now I don´t remember who said it, nor the exact words, but here it is: Live in such a way that our mirror is clean enough to relect the light of Christ...or something like that. Especially as an authorized representative of Jesus Christ, a missionary must be living the commandments with pure motive, as well as obeying the mission rules, so that the Light of Christ may shine to those around us. Also, he mentioned that we have to be clean vessels so that the Spirit may work travel through us to the hearts of our investigators and the members. I know that that is true of all disciples of Christ.

Also, President Wilkinson helped us to see that God has an enormous perspective of who we can become and what we can do. We are the ones who limit ourselves. God is willing to take us as far as we are willing, but sometimes we lack the faith. When making plans, when fulfilling a calling, when raising children, when studying for a career, when sharing the gospel, etc. etc. we must pray that God may use us as instruments to fulfill the greater design that he has planned.  I know that, just as the brave men and women of the scriptures, we can do great things when we trust in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

President Wilkinson told us that when he first came to Costa Rica, missionaries jumped for joy when they taught 15 lessons in one week....that is purely unacceptable! Since I have been here, 30 lessons in a week is the minimum we should have! The missionaries at the time that Pres. Wilkinson was starting out, thought that Pres. Wilkinson was crazy. They didn´t have faith. They lacked trust that he was called of God. The minimum goals for our key indicators that we strive to reach each week are more than double what the missionaries had only 3 years ago. This is God´s work, not ours. He can do it without us, but he gives us the opportunity to do so, but he needs worthy workers, worthy disciples. Not ones that lack faith. When we read about the apostles with Jesus Christ, he was constantly admonishing them for their lack of faith. How much more need we faith. Ok. End of rant. haha.


I love being a missionary! The Church is true! Christ leads and guides it. It contains the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We are lead by inspired leaders who act under the holy Priesthood of God. Wow. We cannot sleep through the restoration. We are in such an amazing time. Let´s make the most of it.

This week was different from any other week I have ever had in the mission in an aspect that has always been my weakness. I have always found it hard to talk to strangers in the street, the bus, bread stores, etc. I did it, but mostly just to reach the goal of contacts we make....but this week I felt like a talking machine. I didn´t fear anyone. The only thing that matters is that Christ has commanded that we share the good news and the gospel of repentance with every man, woman, and child. So that is what we have got to do. And it is easy when we think about the eternal perspective.

Well, go get em everyone!
Love yall,

Hermana Flake

Week 45: We Thank Thee O God for a Prophet

Hey fam :) waz up?
This week we found a family that was a reference from a new convert. They accepted us, even fed us, in their house. A few days later they moved into a new house, and we, with the Elders in San Carlos, went over to help them move in and to do some yardwork. After a couple hours of cutting the weeds with a machete and moving trash, they killed a chicken (chopped its head off) and made soup with it for us. Everyone loves to feed the missionaries. Anyway, they are a promising family, even though they keep on telling us that they don´t believe in our doctrine, and they´d prefer to continue being good friends but they won´t come to our church. Just great. But that didn´t get us down too much (at least 3 in the house are interested in learning more, an aunt, one of the daughters and her boyfriend), because the following day we decided to knock on the doors of the new neighbors. They recieved us gladly into their home. We asked them if there was anyone that they knew that could benefit from our visit, and they told us to visit their neighbor, Rosa, who recently lost her 3 month old baby. We did so immediately, and found Rosa in the house, with her ex spouse and two of her children. She had watery eyes throughout the entire visit, where we shared a bit about who we are, our purpose, and the plan of salvation that our Heavenly Father has for us and our families. We invited them to come to conference the following day. Juan Carlos, the ex, came for the Sunday Afternoon session, and enjoyed it a lot. We introduced him to the Bishop and a few other members as well as gave him a tour. He said he will keep coming each Sunday to learn more.  Basically, from this experience, I learned that even when things might seem to be going downhill, such as when the family that we helped move their house, told us that they did not accept our doctrine (without really giving us a chance to share our doctrine...), we did what Preach my Gospel tells us to do, visit the neighbors. God brings us to those who are prepared. However, sometimes it isn´t the first ones who appear in our paths....sometimes its the reference from their neighbors.

It´s been a bit difficult to get to know San Carlos....it´s enormous. Literally enormous. But, I know that my goal is not to get to know all of San Carlos, or even to get to know where every single member lives (though that sure would be nice...), but my goal is to obtain the Spirit to be guided to those parts that we need to visit. I still remember that President Wilkinson told me in my last interview with him, that if we reactivate members that we would also baptize....we are still in the process of trying to figure out where the inactive and less active members live...but I know that it is true. We found one inactive member who has 3 or 4 children who are not baptized. We are still trying to help her to regain a testimony of the restored gospel, but I know that there are many more famillies like this one who we just need to find.

General Conference was amazing!!! I hope you all were able to listen to the talks, to write down some notes and impressions from the Spirit, and that from now on and onward we can all change something that we are doing or are neglecting to do, and put into practice the words of the Prophet, Apostles, and the other General Authorities. What blessing we have to know that we are guided by a living prophet who is a man called of God and who holds the keys and authority of the Priesthood to recieve revelation for the whole world. Wow. D&C 1:37-38. Remember that the words of the Prophets are God´s words and is God´s will for us, His children here on Earth.


Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Week 44: We Are Family

Things are good here. I cannot believe I already have 2 weeks in San Carlos....time is flying like a jet. Yesterday Elder Orellana and I gave talks in sacrament meeting (they told us the night before, but hey, we´re missionaries...haha). I wrote down some ideas and some scriptures and that´s about it....haha. but it went well. this public speaking thing is getting easier and easier each week. My topic was "the miracle of the Atonement". My mind was fresh from the General Women´s conference and lots of lectures lately that have been directed toward the theme of God´s family, and that we are all part of God´s eternal family and the role of the families here on earth and after this life.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ guarantees that each one of us will be resurrected and that we will live eternally; however, if we want to live eternally with our family in the presence of our Heavenly Parents, we had better do all that the Savior commands us, the which includes baptism, confirmation, and receiving the ordinances of the temple. We need to make the temple a priority. It is the focus of everything we do as members of the restored church of Jesus Christ.

Yesterday we decided to contact a family that was a reference from a recent convert (Yesinia), who she met about a month ago in the hospital the night she had her baby. both of them had their babies the same night and were in the same part of the hospital. Beverly, Yesinia´s mom, and Carlos, the husband of Luz (the other pregnant woman) became friends as they waited anxiously in the waiting room of the hospital. Anyway, long story short, we went to visit Carlos and Luz. They recieved us well. We started to talk to them about our purpose as missionaries, and that we were there to help them to understand God´s plan for them, for all of us as His children. They are very interested in learning more. They have two teenage daughters and a baby boy. They served us dinner (a special plate from Nicaragua, they are from Nicaragua), and want us to come back. When we were sharing with them, they told us of an experience that they had. the night before they had been talking about how they felt like they needed something more in their familiy, and in their life. He prayed to God asking Him to send his family someone that could help them come closer to God. Next day we are there in there house...God answers prayers. I will keep yáll updated on their progress. They are a very good family.

Well. time always passes by so quickly. I wanted to share more about the plan of happiness that God has for us that has been the focus of so many things lately, but I invite yall to study the theme for yourselves. We are one giant family, God´s family, and He wants us to return to our heavenly home, having learned here on earth.

I love you all so much!!!

Love,

Hermana Flake

Week 43: Just Another Day In Paradise

Hello my beloved family!

 

Here I am loving life and loving the mission. Even though I am in paradise, don´t yáll think that there ain´t no trials, no sweat, no work, and it´s all play....haha, but even though we come home dead tired each night, I cannot think of a better place to be right now, than serving the Lord in a full-time mission. I know that this is where the Lord wants me, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.

This week we had a mission meeting that was with every single missionary here in Costa Rica, President and Sister Wilkinson, Elder Duncan (president of the Central America area) and his wife, and one of the presidents of the Seventy, Elder Maynes.... It was super neat to be with every single missionary, and to hear the words of inspired leaders. I forgot to bring my notebook, so I will let yáll know what I learned next time...it was amazing. The sneak peek is that he told us, that instead of teaching us and lecturing us about how to teach better, or how to be more organized, more obedient, work harder, work with members, find new investigators, etc. etc. etc., he wanted to teach us doctrine, and how we can understand the doctrine of the plan of salvation and the atonement better so that we can explain it to our investigators. so until next time....

So I am in San Carlos now. It is gorgeous. Well, I think that every area is gorgeous, but I am talking mountains, green vegetation everywhere, great views. this is the life, haha. We found a lot of new investigators this week even though we had to travel to San Jose two times this week which took a lot of our proselyting time. So, San Carlos is enormous. Like, HUGE. You can travel 3 hours in bus and still be in our area....so yeah. There is me and my comp, and Elder Pratt (our district leader) and Elder Orellana (from El Salvador) in this area. One ward. a huge church building, but very few members come each Sunday. So we are going to reactivate and baptize so that we fill up this gigantic chapel. bring it on.

Today was p-day....yup. we went to a waterfall. yup. gorgeous, and very tempting, i wanted to jump in. one day. one day. haha. There is a part of the creek that is very deep and has a slip and slide made of rock to enter it. sweet. but for now, I could only watch Greivin jump in and swim around while us missionaries watched and envied. haha.

I love you so much. I LOVE being a missionary. I know that this is the Lord´s church. I am so thankful to be a part of it. Now go out and share the gospel with someone. Hoy mismo, this week, tomorrow, today. just do it. peace out

 

Love,

 

Hermana Flake

Pictures Week 40:

 

 

 

Week 42: Climb Every Mountain

Hey fam!!!

I cannot believe it!!! Jessica is going to the Dominican Republic!!!! what in the world?!?!! I am so excited for her!!!! She is amazing. Keep the Flake Legacy going strong, and remember that when we decide to serve the Lord now, He will serve us for the rest of our lives. Faithful service is the example that Christ gave. Start now, every single one of us, to be a truly devoted disciple of Christ.
 

I am not in Coronado anymore ....Now I am in San Carlos of Alajuela.  I am going to miss those people that I have come to love so much in Coro... my goodness, I was there for 6 months, and the members there have become family. It is so hard to leave them. My comp, Hermana Rubio is now with Hermana Lovell, who entered the MTC the same day as me. My new companion is Hermana Vasquez (she is also from Guatemala, the fourth Guatemalteca that I´ve had as a companion). She came in the same group of missionaries as me to Costa Rica but she goes home a transfer after me because she didn´t have a month and a half in the MTC. It is amazingly beautiful here in San Carlos. I thought that it was amazingly beautiful in Coronado, and it was, but it was the terrestrial kingdom and it is the celestial here. my goodness. The only thing is that there are 600 members, and only an attendance of about 70 each Sunday.....a ton of inactive members. We are going to be reactivating a ton. Just reminds me how important it is to remember that we are disciples of Christ until the end of our lives, not just when we´re baptized, or when we have time, or when we feel like it. This life is short, and Satan works on us especially once we´ve come to the knowledge of the truth, through laziness, pride, or putting other things first. 

So, my comp, the zone leaders, and my district leader and his comp and the Corrales Family did a surprise party for me. Our p-day was filled with interviews with President Wilkinson, so we were getting back from San Jose at about 5pm, hadn´t eaten more than saltine crackers for breakfast and lunch, and we hadn´t really had a p-day. I open the door and they all start singing feliz cumpleaños :) We had hamburgers and cake. Couldn´t ask for more  Seriously, I am going to miss them so much. My companion cried. I love her so much. We´ve been through a ton together, as well as some of the hardest parts of the mission, pretty much every single holiday (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, new years day, valentines day....etc.) and we´ve both grown a ton. 

In my interview with President, he asked me if I had any questions. I asked him how he always kept such a positive, go get ém, attitude. He told me, being happy is a choice, a decision. We have to make it every morning when we wake up. It is so true. He has been through so many trials. I´ve been through nothing in comparison. He lost both his parents, he just had his hip replaced, just to name a couple things. He is amazing. So is his wife. HIs whole family is such a light and example to the missionaries, Costa Ricans, and especially to me. 

San Carlos is amazingly beautiful. I am already in love. We are writing right now from the church building. It is amazingly beautiful as well, and huge! My companion, Hermana Vazquez says that it is way too empty on Sundays. We are going to have a go at reactivating, reactivating, and maybe a bit more of reactivating. The members need to feel an urgency, for their own salvation as well as that of others. 

I learned so much from Coronado. I learned a lot from the members, a lot from my companion, and from my leaders. I know now, that there is nothing worth getting me down. Who am I to think my load is hard? You impacted me with what you said in our interview, that being happy is a decision. I´ve always known it. But like teenagers who hear the advice of their parents and never quite ´get it´, I never really decided to be happy in the hard times. Clearly, there were times when I said enough, and started smiling despite the difficulties or the rejections, but it was not a daily decision. I´ve been relying too much on my own strength, my own wisdom (which is almost nothing...), my own abilities. But that will not do at all here in San Carlos. If I don´t rely completely on the Lord, nothing will change here. The members will keep staying in the own little world, and those looking for the gospel will stay lost, unless my companion and I rely on the Spirit and do whatever it takes to rely on miracles. 

I love this gospel. I know it is true. I am so thankful for the LDS family that I have in the world, the entire world. Time is short, and I have to let everyone know that I know it is true.
 

Love,

 

Hermana Flake

Week 41:

Hey fam!

Keitty, the daughter of a recent convert of ours, was supposed to be baptized this weekend, but she told us the day before her scheduled baptism, that she was nervous and didn´t feel ready to be baptized. So we were calling her, trying to visit her but she was with her aunt the whole weekend. She got sick too, and her aunt took her to Alejuela...basically everything was against her being baptized this weekend. Now we have to wait until the weekend after Stake Conference because the ward doesn´t want to mess with conference. But other than that, Keitty and her mom are doing fine. Grettel is starting to fill out her family history book and we are going to help her to go to the temple with the ward in two weeks. Kattia, our other convert is super excited to take the names of her dad and brother who were both murdered, to the temple with the ward. Tomorrow is her temple interview for her recommend :) It´s so exciting!

This week the elders from Ipis (super close to Coronado) baptized a family that we´ve also come to know. They were baptized this pday so we were invited and we sang a special number, all of us missionaries that came. IT was great. ALso because one of our investigators came.

The other day we found another atheist (the third one I´ve taught here in Costa Rica), but he promised to read the entire Book of Mormon. His mom is a believer, but is comfortable with believing that Jesus is in her heart and that is sufficient. But they are a great family and I am excited to keep teaching them and see the changes that the gospel wraughts in the hearts of every humble person.

I love being a missionary. I love Coronado. I love sharing the gospel. I know that if I serve God with all my heart, mind, might and strength now, that GOd with serve me for the rest of my life. I am thankful for all the experiences and trials and challenges and crazies that the mission brings. I pray that I can better confront them with faith and a positive attitude.

This week we had a multi zone meeting with President Wiklkinson and Elder ALonso. It was great, hopefully the next week I can write more about what they said. IT was great stuff.
Part of what }they said is that Satan works little by little with his poison. THe two most common poisions that he uses are pride and complacency. Read ALma 47:1-18. we cannot let him posion us at all. I know that we are capable of resisting everything he throws at us, with the help of our HEavenly Father.

Love,

Hermana Flake

                           Pictures Week 40:

Week 40: Onward Ever Onward

Hello family!!

This Sunday a lot of less active members arrived, but not so many investigators came with us...Only Marielos came, and stayed the first hour. Keitty came with her mom (Recent Convert) for the last hour of classes because her mom had to work. Laura and Robert came, but they are eternal investigators...But we were very happy because Lilia, the Cruz family, Maria Elena, and a few other people who almost never come to church, came! :) Lilia hasn´t been in 2 years...

My companion and I have been trying to have more lessons with members, and we´ve steadily increased that key indicator. We have been failing to put inspired baptismal dates with the new people that we find to teach...I know that it is a matter of keeping in mind the eternal perspective, and that if we don´t invite them to prepare to be baptized, we aren´t loving them enough to help them come to Christ through the restored gospel.

We have one investigator named Jose who is already in Alma of the Book of Mormon :) He is great, but there is only one little problem. He works from 7am Sunday until 7am Monday....so he can never come to church....He has come to the baptism of Camila as well as the baptism of Grettel....We have taught him the restoration in the home of a family who 8 years ago were also Catholic. I know that he has felt the spirit testify that the book of mormon is true...he always tells us about the last chapters he has read. We are praying that he can find a different job, or that at least he can have a different schedule.

John 14:27  Mosiah 4:3
I love you all so much!!!!!

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake

                           Pictures Week 40:

Week 39: Do You Want to be Happy?

Hola beautiful family!!!

We had a great family home evening with the Familia Corrales where we watched the movie Jose Smith: la profeta de la restauracion. Hermana Corrales shared her testimony about the trials of being a new member (her and her family were baptized 8 years ago) and the importance of staying strong and keeping our testimony alive and growing. This was two days before her baptism. Saturday everything went well for Grettel´s baptism :) Even though not as many members showed up as we would´ve liked, those who did come showed tons of love and support.

We want to focus more and more on completing families here in Coronado, looking for those members of the families who are not baptized, or not active, and helping them to repent and come unto Christ.

I love Coronado. I love being a missionary, a representative of Jesus Christ. I will always strive to be a better representative of His name and try to be like Christ. It´s not easy. Sometimes I lose perspective. But when I remember why I am here, who is my example, what He has asked us to do, who I am here to find and teach, and who I want to become, I have greater motivation to serve with all my heart, might, mind, and strength.

“Do you want to be happy? Forget yourself and get lost in this great cause. Lend your efforts to helping people. … Stand higher, lift those with feeble knees, hold up the arms of those that hang down. Live the gospel of Jesus Christ.” --Pres. Gordon B. Hinkley

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake

                           Pictures Week 39:

Week 38: Come to Christ

Hey fam!!!! my computer wasn´t working for 30 minutes of my time, so this week is a short one, but I do love you, i promise, haha. seriously. I love yall.

This week flew by, as does almost every single week. The days are like weeks and the weeks are like days, seriously. I am so glad that you are better and are back in Costa Rica. We pray for you every single day, so that you can keep leading us and helping us to bring people to Christ.

We are preparing Grettel to be baptized this Saturday. She hasn´t been sure about her baptismal date for weeks now, and she kept on saying that she wants to be sure and more prepared, but we´ve explained and shared our testimonies of how we don´t have to know everything there is to know about the gospel, because we will never know, but that what matters is if we will be humble enough to obey the Lord and follow the promptings of the Spirit, and we will be guided to know what we need to do in our lives. She has been progressing extremely well, and we´ve taught her all the lessons she needs to be baptized, but this Sunday she finally said yes to being baptized this Saturday. It´s been her date all along, but she always told us that she still didn´t feel ready or prepared. But sunday, our mission leader asked us if he could tell the bishop to announce her baptism. So we asked her and she said yes! Finally. I know that she is ready to make this covenant with our Heavenly Father to keep and obey His commandments. We are very excited for her.

I know that when we do our part, the Lord does the rest (really it´s the Lord doing everything, but he allows us the opportunity to be a part of bringing our brothers and sisters to the truth), and the miracles happen every single day, we just have to know how to recognize them. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a representative of Jesus Christ and to testify of the restored gospel to the people here in Coronado. I know that whatever happens, I can choose to be happy and that even though I cannot control the actions or will of others, that I can mold myself into who the Lord wants me to be. I want to continue to strive to be a better servant of the Lord and to develop the attributes that Christ showed us we need to have.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake

Pictures Week 38:

Week 37: Faith is where it starts

Querido familia,

This week we continued working with Grettel and her daughter Keitty. Grettel came with her two daughters to the Relief Society activity on Friday. I think she really enjoyed it. They learned how to make honey butter and watched a movie about the life of a bishop. We almost had more investigators than members show up, ha, almost.

The two daughters of the regressing-to-activity family were baptized this weekend! Camila and Ana :) It was wonderful, as all baptisms are :) I gave the talk on baptism because the member who we´d planned couldn´t come, and the mom gave the talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The following day, Sunday, Camila and Ana both shared a scripture in sacrament meeting, and their papa gave a talk on Prayer. It is so amazing to see the progress of this wonderful family. Their papa is recent convert since 3 years ago, but only in these last 6 months or so has he been active (when his job permits). Before his baptism he was an alcoholic, and fell into that again after his baptism. But with the help of the bishop and ward members, he was able to baptize his little girls :) So adorable.

I was reading about the faith one day this week and found in James 2:19 a scripture that basically says that Faith is not only Believe, because the demons and devil believe in God, but they are not saved. We cannot only believe that there is a God and that Jesus Christ is our Savior- we have to follow Him. John 14:15 Helaman 15:7.

The primary purpose of this life is to put it in harmony with the will of God through repentance. We can return to live with God only through the mercy of Christ, which we only recieve with the condition that we repent.

Sorry this is so short, we had to take a huge survey that took up most of my time. I love you all so much!!!! have an amazing week and serve the Lord the best that you can!!! Until next week

Love,

Hermana Flake

Pictures Week 37:

Week 36: Recognize your blessings, the Spirit, and your testimony

Buenos tardes mi familia maravillosa,

Another week has gone by...time flies. We are still focusing on helping Grettel and Keitty prepare for their baptism this month, as well as preparing Ricardo and Karla´s family for the baptism of their daughters, Camila and Ana. Yesterday we had a noche de hogar with Ricardo and Karla´s family in the house of Gabby, a member who´s husband we are teaching but still hasn´t accepted to be baptized. It went well; we taught the lesson about eternal families and the road that leads us to the temple. Ricardo and Karla are preparing to go to the temple soon. I am so excited for their family and I love them so much.

Hermana Rubio and I went to seminary today. It was nice to see 6 of the youth in the ward there. I sure am happy to be a missionary. I know that there are more people here in Coronado that we need to find and allow the spirit to teach them the gospel of Jesus Christ. My companion and I have a lot still to learn from each other. I, for one, know that I need to learn to have more tolerance and patience for my companion. We are sometimes too honest with each other and I know that I need to start with myself so that we can be a dynamic duo worthy of the company of the spirit always. This morning I made a pact to think, "what would Jesus do" every time I respond to my companion. I know that I need to not only be converted in my testimony of the gospel, but in my actions to become like the Savior through following His example, even and especially with the companion that God, through inspiration given to my mission president, has given me.

I studied this week the importance of the word, ´recognize´. This life is a lot about recognizing: recognizing our blessings, how the Lord had His hand in our day, the spiritual promptings of the Holy Ghost, the progress of our testimony and that of our family, the love of those around us, the service that has been rendered for us, etcetera. When we truly want to recognize all that our Heavenly Father and our Savior have provided and done for us, we will take action and put in place goals to do so. For example, having more personal prayers, showing more gratitude, being more cheerful, serving others more, writing down spiritual promptings in our scripture studies, keeping a journal, expressing our love for others especially our family, etc. I know that when we begin to do these things, begin to recognize the love our Heavenly Parents, we will have a more abundant life and will be more prepared to live in His presense with our families. Mosiah 2:19-22, John 14:15, John 8:31-32, Mosiah 2:41, 1 Nephi 11:1, Moroni 8:26, 1 Samuel 3:10, 1 Tes. 5:16

I love you all so much!

Hermana Flake

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/10/make-the-exercise-of-faith-your-first-priority?lang=eng&cid=HPTU020315669#watch=video

Pictures Week 36:

Week 35:

 Pura Vida!

Grettel came to church and this time for all three hours! Yay :) haha  Grettel is an investigator from other missionaries, but we visited her for the first time last week. The missionaries had only visited about 3 times, so she practically didn`t remember anything that they had taught. We taught about prophets, dispensations, the great apostasy, the restoration through Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. She is reading now the Book of Mormon, starting with the introduction and testimonies in the beginning. She is wonderful, and learns quickly. Her daughter, Keitty, is ten years old and we are also teaching her, but a little bit slower (we only taught her that God is our loving Heavenly Father and that the Gospel of Jesus Christ blesses families). We are helping them to be prepared and to receive an answer that the Book of Mormon is true so that they can be baptized the 21st of February. To be continued....

Derian, a twelve year old boy and less active member from a family of inactive members, came with us to church last sunday and this Sunday! :) Last week the youth of our ward went on a mini EFY where they went to the farm of familia Corrales and had many spiritual activities as well as recreational ones. Anyway, after going on this trip with the ward, Derian sent us a text saying that he wanted to go to church but didn`t have anyone to go with, so we arranged a family to come with him to church. And this Sunday we went to pick him up from his house and walk with him to church, and this time he had on a white shirt and tie! :) with his duty to God in his pocket. So adorable! haha. His goal is to serve a mission and to receive the Priesthood. Finally he is making progress towards these goals.

Heidi, our Relief Society president, came with us yesterday to visit Kattia. We taught her about temple work, baptisms for the dead, and family history work. She was so happy to hear about the work we do for our ancestors :) Her dad and brother were murdered and she wants to do their temple work for them (at least their baptisms).She is super excited to go to the temple with the ward next month.  I love her so much. She didn`t come to church this Sunday because she went to visit an elderly neighbor who had an operation in Tres Rios (a couple hours away) and she went Sunday morning...but when we visited her with Heidi, she told us that she felt bad that she didn`t go to church...she missed taking the Sacrament and said that she feels like she didn`t fill her canteen for the week :) We told her that it is for that very reason that it is so important that we go every Sunday, but that thankfully we have repentance and when we fail or fall, we can start over again. Thankful to the Atonement.

Thursday my comp and I were leaving a lesson with Walter, our less active member who is now regressing to activity, and we didn`t have a planned appointment for 6pm and on, so we were sitting on the steps of the gigantic Catholic church calling all the numbers we had of future investigators, trying to see who we could visit....for about 10 minutes we were there, and it started to sprinkle a bit, and it was really windy (like usual in Coronado). Anyway, I saw a man on his cell phone near us who looked like he was waiting for someone. I kept thinking that we should talk to him, and I saw him look over at us a couple times. Finally, when we started to leave, we went up to him and asked him if he lived in Coronado, if he knew someone that would be interested in listening to a message of Jesus Christ, and also if he would like us to share this message with him sometime. We started talking a bit, he asked us lots of questions who we are as missionaries and our purpose. He then asked us, "who is Jesus Christ for you?" I told him, he is our Savior, redeemer, the Son of God, who came to make it possible for all mankind to return to God. When we shared that, he said that he had heard from other churches that the mormons only believe Christ to be a prophet, the most important prophet, but not believe Him to be our Savior. After that he was REALLY interested in what we have to share. Then he started to get a little teary eyed and told us about some really difficult things that he`s going through. Then he said, "I was waiting for my friend to come so that I could vent my feelings about all this, but he never showed up. Then I prayed to God to help me, because I felt like I had lost all direction in my life. I don`t really know my purpose in living." Then he said that we showed up and started to talk to him. "You two are the answer to my prayer". Wow.  We`ve taught him once more since then, and he has called us almost every day with a question, or to ask about the Book of Mormon which we left with him and he`s been reading. I know the Gospel is the only way for him to find true peace and purpose. To be continued....

Well, another week has come and gone....sorry I don`t have much more time....
Matthew 26:29, Matthew 7:21, Isaiah 57:15, D&C 136:33, Matthew 18:4, John 5:30, Helaman 3:35

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake

Week 34: Mi familia puede ser eterna

Happy Tuesday everybody!!!

This Saturday was Kattia´s baptism :) . She was so happy. She shared her testimony afterwards saying that all she felt was pure joy. She is amazing. Damian, a recent convert of about 8 months, is who baptized her and it was his first time baptizing. He was able to be in the lessons with her and saw the change that she went through. His testimony helped her many times throughout these last 2.5 months that we´ve been teaching her. So that was special too.

We are helping the Family Montero to prepare their daughters to be baptized by their papa, who is a convert of 3 years, but was inactive for about 2 years after his baptism when he fell back into his addictions of smoking and drinking, and has about 4 months in returning to activity and in a process of repentance so that he can be worthy to baptize his daughters, camila and ana, 9 years old and almost 8 years old. They will be baptized the 7th of February and we are so excited for them.

Lots of less active members are in the process of coming back to activity in the church. That makes me so happy. Yesterday we were invited to a family home evening by a less active member who is in a process of repentance. She is 16 years old. She invited us and gave the lesson on repentance, and her inactive father participated as well. It´s amazing seeing when people, investigators and members, come to the conclusion that they need Christ, that life is so much better with Him. We need to accept our Savior and realize that life is so much more full of peace and joy when we let Him help us. I know my Savior lives. I need him so much. He carries our burden when we allow Him to.

Something that impacted me in my personal study this week that I´d like to share with yáll.... We are part of God´s family even before we were born. God is our Heavenly Father, and for that, we are all brothers and sisters. Our Heavenly Father wants us all to return to live with Him as part of His family. These restored truths not only help us to understand our place in God´s family, they also give us greater hope in having a strong and happy family in this life. I know that families are ordained of God, because having families here in this life prepares us for the eternities when we will be with God´s family as well as our personal families. I am so thankful for this knowledge and the opportunity to share it with the people of Costa Rica. Mosiah 18:8-9 We must always be witnesses of God and His restored gospel at all times, in all things, and in all places. Acts 5:29, 32, 40-42  is an example of the apostles being witnesses of the restored knowledge that Christ is our savior and redeemer in their day. Matthew 5:14-16 we have been given a great light, and we have to let it shine for others to see. If we have integrity and we are constant in living according to our beliefs, the people see it. and if we radiate joy and happiness, they see it even more. So be happy. We have the knowledge that we can be with our families even after death. Let your happiness be your style of life.

Con mucho amor,

Hermana Flake