See you soon :)

President and Sister Laboriel, Rachel and Anna

Hello my dear family and friends for the last time here from Costa Rica. :) This week was wonderful but went by way too fast. We had leadership counsel so that took two days out of working. But it was amazing I learned soooo much. Working with Hermana Garcia for this last change was such a blessing! We just were so amazed at how many miracles Heavenly Father blessed us with.

               It’s hard and it kills me thinking about leaving Costa Rica. But I know that my mission never ends. My mission is to testify of Christ and that doesn’t just last 18 months. I know that there is a time and a place for everything and that my time here in Costa Rica is coming to an end. I can’t express my gratitude for being able to dedicate this time of my life to serving the Lord and getting to know him better.

               I’m excited for the future and know that there are lots of great things to come. I feel that it’s a privilege and the biggest blessing in my life to be able to be a representative of Jesus Christ during this time here. I have learned that our time here on earth is very sacred and that we don’t have time to leave for tomorrow what we can change today. That the Lord is waiting for us and it’s getting late. I testify that being a missionary doesn’t end after fulfilling our time in a certain country, but that this is a call of a lifetime. I’ve learn here in the mission that our success in life really depends on our attitude and I know that everything that we accomplish in life is only from the help we received from God. I know that Heavenly Father truly is blessing this beautiful country.

               I love this work and I know that not a single power or force of the world can stop this work, that missionary work is the blood of this church. Something I have come to understand more is the power of prayer. That God answers each prayer and always gives us the answers that are best for our progress. I know that this church is the only church over the face of the earth that holds the keys for the saving ordinances. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God who was a virtuous and honorable man, and that today Thomas S. Monson holds all those keys that he restored. I know that the Book of Mormon contains the fullness of the gospel and that any person that opens this book and reads it with a prayer in their heart to know the truth will receive an answer that will change their life. I love you all and am excited to see you all and serve you a lot more than I did before!!! See you soon!!

Hermana Fowler

(Anna just wrote a personal letter to me this week. She did give an update on 

Carlos however that I've included. She's a happy missionary and is giving it 

her all as she finishes her mission. -Kendra)

I'm so sorry I wasn't able to tell you everything that happened this
week. Carlos got baptized and it was so amazing mom. I just wish you
could have been there. You have to meet him some day mom. He is now
preparing for his mission. He's like read half of the Book of Mormon!!!
I cant wait to share his story more with you!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Best holiday ever!! I hope that you all have a wonderful thanksgiving!!! I now live with 3 Latin’s so I’m teaching them all the fun traditions. I feel soo blessed to be Hermana Garcia’s companion. We have a bunch of fun together. I love the way she works.

               Carlos is a young guy who is 19 years old. He is Fernanda, the new converts, friend. He is a huge miracle. He came to church 3 Sundays in a row and wants to get baptized as soon as possible. He had gages in his ears and when we taught the law of chastity he took them out immediately.

               It really broke my heart hearing his life story. His parents haven’t supported him his whole life so he has been living with his aunt since he was a little boy. About 3 months ago she passed away and now is living with his cousin alone. He told us how hard it was been for him but that God is comforting him. He said that he just wants to help his cousin be happy again. He said that when he is in the church he feels his aunt is still there. Teaching him is amazing and the spirit is very very strong and it’s just such a testimony that truly there are angels on the other side preaching the gospel. I want to be able to learn more and more how to work side by side with those missionaries.

               I love my Savior and know that He lives and is our healer. I love this gospel and know that this church is without a doubt Christ’s church. I love my family and love being able to share the blessing that we have been able to receive from this gospel!!

Hermana Fowler

Upe buenas :) Hello family!! What a great week!! It’s been such a blast with the Hermana Garcia. She is a funny one. She’s crazy. She is a very passionate person. It’s so much fun having the same companion that Hermana Peters had and be able to hear about all of their fun times.

               So this week we have been focusing on finding all of the less actives. Just in one part of our area there are 25 families and only 3 are active. So there is a lot of work to do. But we have seen so many miracles looking for them. We went to a Pulperia and asked the owner (Rammon) if he knew anyone from the list of names we had and one happened to be his neighbor. She is about 30 years old and has two daughters who are 9 and 11. So we are working with them so that they can be baptized this next month. Rammon is such a good friend. He helped us out a bunch and even gave us a free drink uush.

               My poor companion is suffering from the food here. We don’t have a cook right now and we have to cook for ourselves so it’s been very depressing for her. She loves food. I’ve got to learn how to cook. I just don’t even know how to start. The only type of rice I know how to make is minute rice and they don’t have that here. But we’ll figure it out. Miracles are real!!

               This week we were walking down the street and we started to talk to this cute lady. As we started telling her why we are here and our purpose she started to cry and said that she just wants help with her daughter who is a little rebellious. So we set up an appointment and said a prayer with her. The next day our appointments fell through so we just started walking towards the park and we ran into her again. And she looked at us with a face of shock and said I just barely prayed for two angels. It was so beautiful to see how the Lord puts us where we need to be.

               It made me feel so grateful to be a missionary and to be able to see God bless his children. I know that everything in life happens for a reason. That truly He is in charge. And that as we look for opportunities to serve his children we will always find them. Sometimes we forget how powerful prayer is. He doesn’t leave prayers unanswered. And he needs us to be the answers to others prayers. Missionary work is the most important and powerful work we could be involved in.

I love you all :)
Hermana Fowler

Hello Family :)

               I hope everyone is doing okay!! Please email me and update me when you can! This week was an adventurous one. But pretty much all you need to know is that I’m all good now and I’m very happy. It was torture being in a hospital room, but Hermana Hubler and I had some very funny moments. We got pretty bored. Every person that came in we tried to get to know. We sounded so desperate. One guy said, “Don’t tell me you are going to preach the gospel to me.” I just wanted to say plllleeeeaaase let us talk to you. We went to a few extremes like Hermana Hubler acted out the chapters she was reading in the Book of Mormon and we like gave each other tests on the Book of Mormon too.

               Hermana Hubler is sooo cute. She took very good care of me. I had to take this drink before I got the colonoscopy and it was sooo hard. So I told Hermana Hubler I don’t know if I can do this anymore. And so when the doctor came in she was like doctor excuse me but she can’t finish that horrible drink. And he just looked at her and said, “She has to,” and then walked out of the room. So then Hermana Hubler literally almost poured it down the drain but I stopped her and then she was like fine I’ll drink it but she didn’t thank goodness.

               The hospital that we were at was very nice so you don’t have to worry mom and dad I’m completely fine now. And I have some good medicine that is helping me. By the end we were dancing in that depressing room. So yep I’m good :) President and Hermana Laboriel  really love us so much. They take extreme care of us. Hermana Laboriel came and visited me twice and then when I finally got checked out she took us to the bus stop and she brought me a mango. I am in very very good hands. President called me like every hour to see how I was. They say that I had parasites and colitis but I’m all cleared now.  

               Saturday night we got home late and the next day was Jacinta's baptism. It was a little crazy but everything worked out and she was baptized and confirmed. I really was so touched at how God touched her heart. But what I learned from this week is that going through pain brings us closer to Christ. I feel like I can now have more compassion on people that go through pain. I learned that God answers every prayer. He is in charge and wants to best for us.

                    I had changes today so now Hermana Cook and Hermana Hubler left me at 4 this morning. Hermana Hubler went back to her area she was just serving- ya plot twist. It was hard but I know that I have a lot to learn from my new companion Hermana Garcia!! She was just barely companions with Hermana Peters and them and Hermana Hubler and I have soooo much fun together in the leadership meetings and anytime we have to stay at their house. We are way good friends so it’ll be a fun one!! I really really know that God does the transfers so I’m happy and excited to learn.

I love you all!!

Hermana Fowler

November 2, 2015

HI hi hi. So this has got to be fast so I’ll just get down to the important stuff. So Luis got baptized!!!!!!!!! Do I have pics? No. But it’s because we had a few emergencies. Let’s just say a member lost Luis’s pants and we had to shove him into a jumper that did not fit. But miracles happen. And it worked out very well. Ahh I just wish I could put to words how incredible this man is.

               Okay so this week was really good we saw a bunch of miracles. We did divisions with cañas and I was able to learn a lot! I missed Hermana Hubler so much but it was really good to learn from the sisters. We found this amazing family it was crazy. The mom had had a little bit of experience with the missionaries and even had memorized en el pueblo de sion (mom translate that if you put this on your blog thing) Anywho divisions went well.

               But on Thursday I couldn’t sleep because I had some pain in my stomach but everything was fine we went to the zone meeting and it was really good. It was hard to see Hermana Cook give her last testimony. Ya I’m just not going to talk about that.

               So anyway once I got back to my area we went and found this waay amazing girl and during the lesson I felt like I was going to pass out. So I sat down. Then I went to the bathroom and out came a green worm. Ew so gross. So then I felt a lot better but then on Sunday it got bad so I had to go home and didn’t even get to see Luis confirmation. Such a bummer I was not happy. 

So then today we went to a zone activity to Africa safari. It was soo much fun. But I really shouldn’t have gone. But I did and it was a really cool experience. So as soon as we got back I had to go to the hospital. They think I have a parasite but they aren’t sure we are still waiting on results. But here’s something interesting. About 3 week ago I felt a bug in my ear. So we put a little water in it and nothing happened So today the doctor was checking out my ear and found a spider web. Nasty. And then a dead bug came out. At least it’s out now so we are good. Everything is going to be fine. Right now it just hurts to eat and hurts when I don’t eat but the doctor said that there is medicine that will help get that little stinker out. We named him Ladron (thief) he’s a stinker. So now we know why so much of my hair has fallen out. Hopefully it’ll stop now :) I have to go I’m so sorry this email is so lame but I love you all and love this gospel!!! :)

Hermana Fowler

I’m coming home on the 10th. And guess who is now coming home with me … 

HERMANA HUBLER!!!!!!! 

Mom I really really really want to live with her, Hermana Cook and Claire please please please talk to their moms!!! I hope it’ll work out!!! Another thing… 

I LOVE YOU. Another thing. I’m fine don’t worry. Really everything will be taken care of. 

I love you mom and I love this work. I love Hermana Hubler so much. She has been a huge blessing to me. 

Ahh mom we have soo much to catch up on. But for now just know that I love you and am happy!!!

October 26, 2015

Such a great week :) This week Elder Duncan came to speak to our mission. So on Wednesday we had to go to San Jose. And that night I stayed at Hermana Peter’s house. I appreciate her more and more every time I see her. Oh and I got robbed for the first time on the bus ride to San Jose :( 60 dollars. ;( But the secretaries were able to help me out so it’s all good. But yes Hermana Peters is doing well and her and her companion are sooo funny together I love it.

               Okay so now about the meeting... well on Tuesday we got a call saying that Hermana  Hubler, Hermana Cook and I would be doing a musical number. Ya I was
just as shocked. But at the same time sooo pumped to finally have my singing moment. I still have the heart of a singer but the voice hasn’t changed. It was so scary I wanted to back out the last minute but they wouldn’t let me. But everything went well besides the fact that my lips were vibrating while I was singing. :)

               So Elder Duncan is amazing!! What really impressed me the most was being in his presence. It was so cool to see how he would listen to every person that would make a comment. The meeting was sooo inspired and I really learned so much. After I was thinking and I realized that everything he taught us was something I had heard many times before. Heavenly Father has got to be sooo patient with me. But it also taught me how if we aren’t continually nourishing our testimony and expanding our knowledge we will lose it. He said something that really impacted me he said that it’s not the church that is true, it’s the gospel. God doesn’t love the members of our church more than members of other churches. People from other churches do have very strong testimonies of Christ but the only difference between us and them is the authority to do the ordinances. And that we shouldn’t be discouraged if they don’t accept the ordinances. We should trust and have faith that they one day will. There are no bad people in this world. Every person is progressing. He asked us how many missions there are in Costa Rica. So we obviously said there are 2 and then he said NO there are four. Costa Rica East and West and then in heaven Costa Rica East and West. He said that when someone isn’t keeping their commitments we should say to them okay the missionaries are going to come back on December 15th at 3:30 and until that day the angel missionaries will prepare them. We need to work by their side!

               So once we finally got back to our area we went straight to Jasintas house. And she told us that she doesn’t want to get baptized. I felt like she was a total different person and it hurt to be honest. But after we got down to why she really didn’t want to get baptized she told us that her daughter told her she cant. After talking it all through she said she would pray and if God tells her to get baptized she will. But unfortunately she didn’t show up. God has sent her sooo many answers. That’s what makes it so sad. But she will get baptized soon. Fernanda on the other hand was soooo happy when we finally got to see her. We were shocked because she usually is a very calm person but she was just glowing and so excited for the next day. Her baptism was sooo beautiful. The young women were able to be there and support her and even one of her friends came and wants to keep coming.

               After church we taught Luis. Okay so how do I explain him? Just sooo cute. He has a heart of a child. One example, he was studying about the word of wisdom and said that he wanted to share an experience he had with it this week. He said he went to a party and they had a huge pig on a stick getting roasted. Then he said usually I would of eaten a ton but I stood up and left because I knew we shouldn’t eat a lot of meat. Extremely obedient. Gotta love it. We found him on sacrifice week and he has progressed sooo fast. But we haven’t even been able to teach him a ton. So the members have been visiting him and he has studied all the reading material that we have left him. He said that on Sunday his boss called and said I need you to come in and he said nope I’m going to church and hung up. So it was easy to teach him the Sabbath day because he really was the one teaching us. After we talked about his baptism on Sunday and he said wait a sec I just want to make sure I have something clear. I’m not going to get baptized because you guys talk pretty or because the church is nice. I’m getting baptized because I want to serve God and this is where he wants me to be. THANK YOU!! That is exactly how it should be. So ya he will do great things!!

               God is building up his kingdom and we need to have the constant urgency the help him. There isn’t a more important work to be involved in!! I love you all!!!!! Be
safe and Happy Halloween :)

Hermana Fowler