Happy New Years :)‏

I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!! Gosh I seriously am so happy I got to talk to you guys :) It was so good to just laugh and it’s good to know nothings has changed. Sorry if I was a little blunt. It’s just hard when the times so short. I HAVE THE BEST FAMILY EVER!!

My gifts

I don’t have much time to write this week so I’ll sum it up fast. So the other day we were walking really fast past this bar, because we were late to a lesson and it’s a bar duh, and the guy that watches outside (not sure what he is called) said hey, how come you guys don’t say hello to me. I’ve wanted to talk to you guys but you guys are always so serious. That was a jab in the heart and a good lesson to learn haha. But anyway pretty much he has received the missionaries before and has been to church one time.

I was seriously so amazed at how prepared this man was. He said that he would come to church on Sunday, so we waited for him and all and he didn’t show up. After church we were walking to lunch and we saw him. So we asked why he didn’t come and he said that he woke up really early and was all ready to go (he was wearing his church clothes... how cute) and they called him into work.

Anyway pretty much he just started asking us about baptism and he said that he knows that we were placed into his path for a reason. Ahh there is more to the story but I don’t have time. It’s amazing how the Lord literally places each person in our path for a reason. Sometimes it’s hard to realize a guy yelling at you is placed in your path for a reason but maybe that’s what he needed to do to realize he needed to change. 

Ninorshca really is such an amazing person. I always beg her to come visit me after the mission. She is probably one of the most humble people I know. I gave her a picture of the Savior being baptized to look at frequently so that she can receive her answers and the other day when we were in her house I saw it hung up on the wall. Their house is soo small and there are 7 people that live in the same house but they don’t ever complain or ask for more. It’s taught me a lot about the kind of person I want to be. I love these people with all my heart. I love this work. I’m glad it’s hard. I know that I can do whatever the Lord requires of me if I rely on him. I know that God has a plan for each one of us. Not only does he know what is best for us but he anxiously wants us to choose what is best for us. I love this gospel and know without a doubt we have the truth in our hand! I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!! HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!!!!

Love always,

Hermana Fowler

P.S. I have the best companions ever!!! I LOVE THEM!!!! Sorry I don’t talk more about them. 

December 23, 2014

What a week!! In a good way :) Ahh I’m so happy to hear everyone is doing so well! I love this time of the year! I feel so honored to have maybe 2 Christmas’s as a missionary. I really couldn’t ask for anything else!

Okay so first off I have to tell you all the big news! On Thursday we had our Christmas party with the president. He started off by showing us some Christmas Mormon messages and then we watched a little clip of John Schmidt. I felt very close to home. It was like I was at his concert pretty much. Can’t break tradition. So then president talked to us about tons of great things. Honestly I look up to that man so much! He talked about how all Christ wants from us this Christmas is our sins. He wants us to utilize what he has sacrificed and to lay our mistakes on the table. I can’t express how much love I have for our Savior!

So after that he explained how he came to the country 2 and a half years ago with specific goals. One being to make another mission in Costa Rica. And last week that goal came true!! WE ARE GETTING ANOTHER MISSION IN COSTA RICA!!!!!! AHHHHH I’m so haaaaappy!! It’s really such an honor to be here to watch this country grow in the gospel. So in July there will be two missions in Costa Rica. And we will be getting almost 300 more missionaries. (MAREN)  And the really cool part is that the quorum of the 12 apostles will be reassigning us to the mission that we will serve in. I’m so happy I’m so happy I’m so happy.

So after President told us the great news they gave us this adorable key chain that says Costa Rica San Jose mission. It’s sick because this mission won’t exist for much longer. And then they feed us the best food EVER!!! I love good food. Then we all got to go to the temple :) :) but our zone was the last session so we all just hung out on the temple grounds. It was great to get closer to my zone. I really love where I am at soo much!! My mini missionary got to go through for the first time. I was lucky enough to be there with her. There is not a more peaceful place on the earth than in the temples!! After the temple session it was 9:30 so we didn’t get home until 11:30. It was a crazy day. 

So currently back in my trio and my mini missionary went home. She has been having back problems and just felt really sick. The president said that he is looking for another mini missionary but for now we will be in a trio. It’s crazy covering both areas but everything will work out. I love my companions soooo much! They really are like my sisters!! They are so sweet to me! 

This week we had our Christmas activity for our branch. We all sang and the president of our branch talked to us in between each song. I love my branch so much. Everyone is so nice and humble. I’ll never forget these people! 

Funny story... So one of our investigators, who has some mental problems, didn’t come to church the other Sunday. I was studying a lot on how I can help my investigators keep their commitments and I remembered this part in preach my gospel that said that the first thing you should do when your investigator doesn’t keep a commitment is to be devastated.

So I saw Ramon walking on the other side of the street so I yelled for him to come over and then I explained to him how sad we were that he didn’t come to church on Sunday. He then started bawling. And just kept saying macha macha (means blondy). Then he gave me his pamphlet of the plan of salvation and his bread he just bought and laid in the middle of the sidewalk bawling. I told him I forgave him a million times but he wouldn’t stop crying. Then a policeman came by so we had him take care of him. Poor guy. I hope everything works out. 

I’m running out of time so I guess I’ll just have to tell you all more on Thursday!!! AHHHH I’M SO EXCITED I JUST CANT HIDE IT!!!!!!!! I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!!!!!!! Please answer your skype. I love you all so so so much!! 

Love always

Hermana Fowler 

P.S. Sorry mom but I left my camera at our house. Just know that our house is decorated adorable and that the temple is beautiful. I’ll send them next week no worries :)

Pura Vida ;)

Hi hi hi! :) I love my family soooo much! This week was crazy but I’m grateful for all the things I learned! So on Wednesday I got a new companion. But she’s not a missionary just a mini missionary! So it’s a big change for me. It’s kinda like training but not because she’s only here for one more week. And then after that I’m not sure what will happen. I’m just happy to be here! I love Costa Rica. It’s sad how much of a white girl I am but I hope by the end of my mission I’ll be more of a tica :)

mini Bananas soooo cute!

So a few times this week my companion has had to leave and do stuff, like for school and stuff. And while she does that I’m with the other Hermana’s in their area. So it’s stressful because my area needs more attention. But everything will work out :) So one day my companion returned limping because she decided to go play soccer after her appointment :/  so she can’t walk very well I feel really bad for her. She just kept saying, so this is what happens when you are disobedient. hahaha yep sorry :/ She calls me Emma. Ya I don’t know why but its chill. Oh ya it’s because she says I look like Emma Watson (or however you spell it) LOL no. 

Lots of miracles this week. So I have been really bad at updating you guys on my investigators. I’m sorry I’ll be better. Anyway, Agustin is a boy who is 17 years old and he kinda lives with the family that we harvested coffee with. He have been teaching him and preparing him for baptism. One day this week during a lesson he told us how he feels like he isn’t ready for this step in his life and he needs more time to prepare. And to be honest my first reaction was oh no oh no oh no. This lesson was with a member (which seriously is amazing, So everyone help the missionaries) and the member could completely relate to him. He still felt iffy about it.

I then told him that in the night to knee in his room and pray specifically to know if this Sunday is the day he should be baptized and after to wait for 2 minutes. We promised him that if he will do this he will receive his answer. I know with all my heart that those were the words Heavenly Father wanted me to say.

The next day we came back and he said that he had never felt so good about a decision in his life. I feel so blessed to be able to feel the love God has for these people in Costa Rica. 

Agustin's Baptism

We had another great experience with Ramon this week. We started the lesson by asking him how he has liked about how church so far. And he said that he loves all of it, he just can’t give up coffee. He had been drinking coffee every day for 37 years. He went off for like 10 minutes on how much he loves coffee haha. After I really don’t know what we said but he said that he doesn’t want to drink coffee anymore. It was incredible how the spirit taught that lesson. And if I would have doubted that he would live the word of wisdom the spirit wouldn’t have been able to teach. So I’m grateful I learned my lesson with Agustin. Fear doesn’t come from God. 

I love this time of the year! I love Christmas in Costa Rica. It’s been such a great experience to learn more about Christ. Something we have been asking a lot of people is "what would you give Christ this Christmas?" After all he has done for us, what can we give back? I’m so incredibly grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission. I’m grateful for my difficulties. Thanks to our hard times, it’s possible for us to understand peace. I know this is Christ’s church and that this gospel provides a sure and solid foundation. I love you all AND CAN’T WAIT TO TALK TO YOU ON CHRISTMAS!!! Best Christmas gift I could ever ask for! Be safe and do something nice haha :)

Love always Hermana Fowler

December 9, 2014

Hello peeps:)

Okay so this week was craaazy. We had the opportunity to do a lot of service which really made me sooo happy. First we got to harvest coffee haha. Kinda ironic. At that point our investigators that we were harvesting with didn’t know about the word of wisdom. But it was a good setting to do so :) It really was so fun. I saw bugs that gave me nightmares but over all I was so happy they let us help them.

coffee woohoo 

One of our investigator families harvests coffee every day for their job. All of them. Even the 8 year old. They are so humble it’s unreal. Gosh I love that family. Vamos a bautizar ellos :) After a lesson with that same family, we asked if they were going to be coming to church on Sunday and they said that they probably couldn’t because they haven’t had water in their house for 2 weeks so they haven’t been able to wash their clothes. So after literally 20 minutes of begging (I’m not kidding I went to drastic measures hehe) they gave us their dirty clothes and we hurried home to wash it all. Walking away from that house with a bag of clothes was probably one of the happiest moments in my mission so far- just being able to do something for them that they couldn’t do for themselves.

This week we went to price smart to get food and right as we got to our house the assistants called and said that my companion needs to pack and be ready in 10 minutes. After that horrible goodbye the assistants called again and said that they had someone in the office that wanted to talk to me. GERMAINES DAD AHHHHHHH!!!!!! So then I cried more obviously. We talked for a while and honestly it was soooo nice to hear a familiar voice. And I can’t believe he will be in Panama tomorrow the same night Germaine gets there.

(Kendra- Our friend Hector Morazan delivered Anna's Christmas to the mission home in Costa Rica. Thank you Hector!!!)

So pretty much long story short my companion forgot stuff so we had to hurry and get to the mission office. And there I got my PACKAGE!!!!!!!! 

Ahhhh Mom I can’t explain to you HOW HAPPY I AM!!!! to have a little piece of  you! Gosh I bawled when I saw all of it. Of course you went all out you always do!!!! :) Mom I seriously can’t thank you enough for how much time you put into my package. Like seriously I just cried and cried. I don’t deserve it seriously!!!!I love you so much!!!

I SERIOUSLY HAVE THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD!!!!!!! But at the same time I told you not to send anything you little stinker. When I saw that there was stuff for my companion my heart broke a little more. 

When we were returning to Santo Domingo we were walking in San Jose and I SAW MY MOM (mission mom so my trainer) I seriously miss that girl so much!!!

All the Hermana’s in my Zone :)

So before my companion knew that she was going to leave she started this joke with all the members that I got changed. So when we went to a family home evening with all the recent converts they were all very surprised. Ana (my first baptism) started crying. It broke my heart. I seriously love this area sooo much!!! I want to stay here for my whole mission. But at this moment I don’t have an official companion. I’m with the other two Hermana’s in our house and we are covering both areas ahh it’s so insane. 

Last day all together :(

But the thing is after all is said and done I know that my companion is where she needs to be. She has taught me SOOO much!! I really love her and I can honestly say that she has changed my mission for the better!!! I’m so sorry I don’t have time to explain more things I would like but next week I’ll try to fill you in!! I love this gospel with all my heart! I know that this is the Lord’s work and he needs us! entonces vamonos!!!!! I love you all!!!

Love always,

Hermana Fowler

December 2, 2014

all the hermanas in my zone :)

Hi Family!! :) First off I would love to hear from Sam Thomas and Jake!! I haven’t heard from you guys in a while and I feel like if I don’t make this public they won’t email me. :) love you! Anyway… this week was good. It looks like everyone had a great Thanksgiving and that makes me really happy. :) I smiled very big when I saw all the pictures. Wow you guys got the lights up already!! Very proud of you :) Will you send a pretty picture of our house when it snows so I can show the members? They want to see our house and snow haha.

Sooo Thanksgiving doesn’t exist here... I actually forgot it was Thanksgiving until I wrote in my journal that night. How sad I know. But before you cry for me you have to know that I really had the best Thanksgiving EVER!!! Gosh Thursday was such a sick day!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!

So we were walking down the street saying hi to everyone that passed by. Then this family across the street said hi to us so we said hi back and then they like wanted to talk to us so we were like ahh okay sweet. So we crossed the street and went to talk to them. We ended up going to their house and teaching them. Heavenly Father has definitely prepared this family. Wow they are amazing. They live in a house where the floor is dirt and not a lot of space. Which is reeeaaalllly unfortunate because the rains like none other and so it’s like you are living in mud. But it was so cozy I really loved it. Anyway pretty much this family was the most receptive people I’ve met in my mission so far. They listen. Which doesn’t happen a lot here. Ahhh I love Costa Rican people!! But as we were leaving their house and a dog that is like the size of my companion almost ate us I’m not kidding. It was probably one of the scariest moments in my life. And now that I have told you about it I don’t want to think about that dog ever again.

This week was Rogers Baptism :) The spirit was so incredible strong. And now they are preparing for the temple in a year :) Yay!!

On Monday as a zone we went to Monte de la Cruz. I went there my first transfer but they wanted to go again. It’s like a mountain with a big cross on it. I don’t really know what it stands for but it’s a very pretty place and it was fun to get to know my zone more. This month we had a huge goal for 200 baptisms in the mission. And on Sunday we got a text from the zone leaders saying that we were short 2 baptisms and to pray really hard for these two specific people. That night we got a text saying we made our goal yaaaaaaaaaayyyy!!! :) Not one more or less!! Exactly 200!! Every missionary in Costa Rica got on our knees at 10:15 that night and thanked our Heavenly Father for this miracle!! I know that mission calls are truly inspired from God. And I’m so glad Heavenly Father wanted to send me here :) I love you all so much and am praying for you always :)

Dame ese monte

Hermana Fowler