Ryan's Adventures in Costa Rica: Ya Soy Tico...

Buenas Familia!!!!

How is everyone!!!! Well let’s start out answering Moms questions...

1) No you didn’t tell me that the Coxes moved... is it Lance Cox? Because I don’t remember the Coxes from 5th ward!

2) Today for p-day I think that we are going to sleep, and buy groceries, and play with my slingshot that a member gave me. He was walking one day in this finca (I don’t remember the English word for finca) and he found a slingshot and was thinking of me so he gave me it haha

3) I have been sick on my mission! Like super bad! So this past Friday, Elder Hernandez and I couldn’t work because he had super bad food poisoning! We woke up Friday at like 3 in the morning and we were vomiting like crazy! Do you remember that line from Tommy Boy, where Chris Farley is talking about a car crash... " And the new guy is puking his guts out, and the other guy is like, "Oh my gawsh....". Well that was our Friday morning, and basically all of Friday. But were all better now. Everyone is saying that there has been a virus going around, but I have never heard of a virus that could destroy us like that! I really think its because we ate some weird chicken thing, and repollo at an investigator’s house. Oh well, hope it never happens again because it was terrible!

4) Yes, all my clothes are holding up! I think I’m fine for now, Elder Hernandez is enjoying the American candy haha, so no worries, all good for now!

Okay well the news for this week... we had two baptisms!!!!

I attached the photos, we held the baptismal services of Graciela ( Martins mom) and her granddaughter Meri!!! And the coolest thing is that Casto (Martin) got to baptize his mom!!! That was super awesome! He was super nervous before hand, but super excited to do it. Then when he was finally in the water with her, he was super nervous and shaking, but he said the prayer with authority and power and totally rocked it! Casto is a stud, and I know he will be a bishop one day. Well, so that was something really special that happened this week.

Well, some bad news is that Virgilio, my first baptism here in Aserri fell back into bad habits and is drinking more than ever now. I don’t even now where he is living now, probably in the street. Its really sad to see him like this again. He was an alcoholic for 8 years... got baptized, quit all of that and even had a calling and was preparing for the Melquizidek Priesthood, but with a few bad decisions, he is in the street, and has nothing. We are trying to help him, but really we can only help him so much. Until he has the conviction to change his habits once and for all, there is nothing that we can do. Sad, but we will have to see what happens. Haha sorry for this little sad part, but this week we also had a super awesome experience.

So we were knocking doors (I love knocking doors!) and we found this one lady, Carla. I was talking to her about the church and she told me that she doesn’t believe in any of that, and that there is really no hope for peace in this life. So we came back to visit her yesterday, and we just starting talking to here about our purpose as missionaries and Jesus Christ, and she started asking us super good questions!!! Like, " How can I grow closer to Jesus Christ?" and, " How can I have a better relationship with God?"... So we basically answered the questions of her soul for like an hour... Afterwards she asked us the best question... she hesitated a little and then asked us..." Is it possible, that one day... I don’t know... one day that I can always feel the peace that I am feeling in your presence?" IT WAS AWESOME! She was feeling the spirit so strongly, and was finally finding that peace that she has searched for her whole life! I love contacting because the Lord is really preparing people to hear our message. There is a scripture in the Book of Mormon, I don’t remember where it is found, but is says that the Lord is sending Angels to prepare the hearts of people to hear our message. It is the truth.

The Lord is preparing our friends our families to hear the peace of this Gospel. We don’t know who is prepared, but we can never be too afraid to share the Gospel. Share it, show your friends, family the love that you have for them. We have the joy and love of the Savior in our lives, and it is our duty and responsibility to share it.

I love you all, I hope all is well at home. I attached photos of the baptism, and I hope this is a nice chatty letter for you all!

Pura Vida!

Elder Taylor

Casto, Meri, and Graciela baptism day