Ryan's Adventures in Costa Rica: Wuv... Twue wuv (Love true love)

Querido familia!

First to answer your questions...

1) No they haven´t caught the kidnapper haha, bu believe it or not everyone here is super racist! They are super racist against Blacks, Nicas (Nicaraguans) and Mexicans. And so they keep telling me that a bunch of Mexicans are stealing all the kids, haha but really who knows

2) Yes, I´m receiving all the Dear Elders so keep sending them how you are thanks!

3) No news on my package

4) Yes I have a new comp! His name is Elder Cruz, he´s from Honduras and he´s way fun to be around. He has about 11 months in the mission. He´s a lot different than Elder Nape because he loves to talk to people and joke around with them, whereas Elder Nape was super reserved, but yes Elder Cruz is rad and were going to do a lot here in Guacimo. Oh and p.s Elder Nape is a Zone Leader now haha, it was a huge shock but he´s going to rock as a ZL.

Well,

So I really liked what you said Dad in your email to me about prayer. In the back of the Book of Mormon in Spanish there’s a part that’s basically the Bible Dictionary but it´s for the Book of Mormon, and under prayer it says something like this, ¨The act of aligning one´s will with the will of the Father. Prayer is not used to change the will of the Father, but to ask for the things that Heavenly Father is already willing to bless us with.¨ And this is so true.

Like you said Dad, we grow up and begin to recognize that the things we need, aren´t always the things that are best for us. I think about my life before the mission, how much time I wasted playing video games when I should have been studying the scriptures. I was focusing on things I thought I needed, when really I never thought to ask my Father in Heaven what was in his plan for me. And I´m sorry to hear about how rough the start of Tyler´s mission was. I feel like a lot of missionaries go through that, but really it has made him a stronger missionary and I bet he learned a lot from his experience and is a better and more developed missionary because of it.

Well, this week we baptized Natacha, Edith and Floribeth!!!! Whoosh! And I´m super stoked for them! All of them came to church (with their two special and hyper-active sons Andres and Daniel) and it was just a super good weekend. So that was very special. I am just super excited for what the future holds for this family, and Edith is 18 and wants to serve a mission!!!!!

Not much else happened this week, it´s been raining a ton and so every day we are basically swimming to our appointments.

Oh, and so you may be wondering why my title is Wuv... Twue Wuv... well remember how I said that the Law of Chastity is a huge problem in Costa Rica? It´s because all these couples live together their whole lives without getting married, well a family that we are teaching are getting married today!!! Diego and Tatiana!!! Diego is only 4 months older than me, and Tatiana was born the same day as me haha, and they are getting married! I´m so stoked for them! They will be baptized the 10th of November.

I am super tired because we have been running around doing their paperwork for the marriage and that in itself is super stressful. I´m glad Mom will do that for me haha, just kidding. But yes, we are having the wedding today and it´s going to be super rad!

Well, I hope everyone is doing well. How´s Aunt Deanna doing, and Aunt Suzanne? How´s Jason, is he still at Vassar? Sorry to hear about Dad´s injury, he always seems to work himself too hard. I love all of you so much, and I hope that every day you are feeling the love of our Father in Heaven. I love this church. I love this gospel. I love the atonement, and the patience of our Father in Heaven with all of us, and especially with me. Love you all, and you´re always in my prayers.

Love,

Elder Taylor

Photos:

1) Diego and Tatiana