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

Hi family!!

               Soo the rain season is definitely back. You’d think I’d learn my lesson by now but nope. Once again we got stuck in the rain for hours without an umbrella. I know I say this every time but really this week’s rainstorm was by far the worst. It’s different here in Guanacaste because the roads aren’t pavement they are dirt so it’s a little more interesting. But it got as high as our knees. I love when it rains though because it’s a great way of getting into houses :)

 

Hermana Hubler and I with Fernanda in this beautiful river.

               Hermana Hubler and I have been just enjoying life. It’s interesting because ever since we have gotten together we literally have had sooo many trials. But I love it because we look back and just laugh so hard. This week we were walking home and we had had a tougher day, one of our solid investigators said that he didn’t want to come back to church, then
Fernanda drank coffee and Jasinta didn’t show up to her baptismal interview. Oh and that was the day we got soaked.

               Anyway we were walking home and we were laughing for some reason and we just looked at each other and Hermana Hubler said to me, “how are we still so happy?” I really am so grateful for her. It’s nice being around someone that has the same humor and laughs at my not so smart moments.

               So with Fernanda and coffee... She is obsessed. We were able to do a fast with her and actually our whole district did it together for her and ever since she hasn’t drank. She is such a smart girl. When we teach her she really gives all her attention and it’s so amazing to be able to see the spirit work through her. She has had a really hard family life and so going to church makes her feel like she has a family.

               Two weeks ago we were talking to a guy while we were waiting for the bus. We invited him to church and he said he would come. And he did. Fun fact. Ticos are all soo chill but so chill that they almost always say they’ll do something but have a hard time keeping their word. But this time he really came :) And he loooved it. We weren’t able to visit him this week because we couldn’t get ahold of him and he lives so far away but this Sunday he came again. After we had a lesson with him and he told us how his whole life he has never been part of a church and has never ever wanted to be part of a church either. But know that he is attending this church we has never been so happy. He said how he wants to be a member and wants to get baptized soon. The Lord is preparing his children!! The field is white and ready to harvest :) I’ve got to go but I love you all and love this gospel!!!!

Hermana Fowler

    

Sacrifice week woohooo. So one time every month we now have something that is called sacrifice week. It’s awwwwesome! So what we do is at 5 we wake up then we get ready and study for one hour then at 7 we go out on the streets. From 7-9 we just talk to everyone!! During this time Hermana Hubler and I went to the Central Park and we sang for people. She mainly just sang and I lip-synced to not scare the people way. It actually worked really well and we found a lot of potential investigators. We also would go to bus stops and talk to people waiting for the bus or to construction sites.

               It was really fun to open our mouths more. We got rejected so much it was funny. This white man yelled at us so hard. But it was really interesting because as he was talking I just like shut out what he was saying and just smiled. Then it was really interesting because he then started mumbling his words and he couldn’t talk clearly. We decided to just walk away. I felt really bad for him but sometimes that’s what people need to be able to come to know the truth. So then from 9-12 we contacted. This was the hardest part for me. The sun felt like it was 2 feet away from my face. Soo hot. I always made fun of my companion because before she came to Guanacaste she asked me if we just randomly pour water on our heads. So I always made fun of her for that until this week when we actually did it.

               Then from 12-12:20 we ate lunch. Then from 12:20-4 we would pick an area each day and work in their area. We saw so many miracles!! Then from 4-9 we have our normal appointments. On Wednesday morning we woke up and my companion was soooo sick. Just kept throwing up and throwing up. So we got some medicine but it didn’t help at all. So she just suffered a ton and at 12 she said she wanted to leave the house so we did but once we got like a mile away she had to sit down on the road and just couldn’t do it. We went back to the house and couldn’t work that day. The members were so cute and kept asking how she was and bringing us food and stuff over. She didn’t want to eat anything but it was good for me :)

               That next day I got sick. But mine went by way faster and now we are all good. I was upset to be honest because things keep happening to us which restrict us from being able to work. First in San Jose for 3 days and then we both got sick. But everything worked out well and we saw sooo many miracles. One of them was with a family that we are teaching. They are so adorable and just members at heart. The husband has been a little shy but since we could work in the mornings we were able to visit him more. We ended up getting on the subject of forgiveness. He opened up a ton and told us how he really just wants to know why he has so many trials in his life. We listened to all he had to say but for some reason we both felt like we should answer the question. At the end of the lesson he
said the prayer. It was so cute to hear him pray for his future wife and for his baptismal date. On Sunday they came to church. The meeting was so good and I felt like all of his questions got answered.

               Marco and Dayan are sooo cute I loooove them!!! Fernanda is getting baptized this week :) She is such a cutie. She is 14 and so humble. She accepts correction and is very afraid of sinning.

               This week was Hermana Cook’s birthday. We decorated the house all cute for her and made her pancakes with ice cream. Everyone thought I was so weird when I told them we should eat them with ice cream but then they realized why once they ate them.

               I’m so grateful for this experience. Being a missionary is the biggest blessing. I love the people we are teaching right now and feel so privileged to learn from them and try to help them with their struggles. A quote that I really like is, "Spiritual confidence increases
when you accept that often trials and tribulations are allowed to come into your life because of what you are doing right." I love you all. I love this gospel. This is Christ’s true church. He loves us and knows us and wants us to become like him. He expects us to keep his commandments. And he rejoices when we apply his atonement in our lives. I love you!!! WELCOME HOME MY BEAUTIFUL BEST FRIEND!!!!!

Hermana Fowler

Hello again family! :) What a beautiful, funny, sleepless, exhausting week!!! After transfers we ended up staying in San Jose until Wednesday. So we returned on Wednesday way late, then on Friday at 3 in the morning we had to take bus to San Jose, but it was so good to talk with Hermana Hubler about everything. We are sooo similar. But something she is way good at doing is making decisions and I’m not, so I’m hoping that’ll rub off on me soon. There’s not enough time to write everything I have learned from Hermana Hubler this week.

Hermana Peters and I were companions again for 3 days. Every time I’m with her I learn something new. I’ve always prayed that if it was God’s will He would put us together as companions but even though we haven’t been companions for a complete transfer I feel so blessed that we have been able to work close by each other. I’m so grateful to have Hermana Peters here with me!

So here are some of the highlights of our week...

Leadership council was soooo amazing. It was so cool because we watched a talk from Elder Rasband and then the next day he got called as an apostle. The meeting was really focused on our callings as missionaries, and how the Lord has put us in this mission because we accepted this calling before we came to earth. My mission president always talks about how our mission is a school for leaders. He is very strict on our appearance, our neatness, and how well we know the scriptures. He is determined to mold us to become more mature leaders in the church. I’ve learned a lot from him. And love him soo soo much. 

We only got to work in our area for one whole day. But it was such a blessing to see the Lord put each person in our path. We knew we didn’t have much time so He helped us use our time wisely. We went to this new area and to be honest I was just acting like I knew where to get off the bus but I didn’t have a clue. So we just got off and we went to the first house we saw. Before we could even tell this Lady who we were she said come on in, so we knew she has had experience with missionaries. We found out that her four children are members but she isn’t because she doesn’t have money to get married. We talked with her about how God is a God of miracles and he will never give us a commandment that we cannot fulfill. Baptism is a commandment so we talked with her about sacrifice and about what sacrifice she can make to get married and baptized as soon as possible.

It’s been such a great adventure this week. I wish I had more time to tell you. I love this gospel and I love you.

Hermana Fowler

An excerpt from Hermana Hubler’s (Anna’s companion) blog entry on September 29^th. – Kendra

“I had changes!!! Guess where I'm going and who I'm with?! I'm going to....GUANACASTE. I am going to be a sister training leader there with...........HERMANA FOWLER! She is one of my best, best friends here and it’s pretty much a dream come true. We are still in awe because we are such good friends and we have the same goals and we want to work SO HARD. She likes to walk fast and I like to walk fast so it rocks. :) haha! But seriously it’s like having a sister.”

Hello family!!!

               What a great but a little stressful week! This week we had interviews with President. I swear he can read my mind. He always says exactly what I need to hear. This month we saw a lot of miracles, but also so many difficulties. Our goal was to have 5 baptisms and they all fell through. It made me really reflect on what I am doing wrong and how I can be a better instrument in the Lord’s hands. But I felt peace after my interview. President said to me, “Hermana Fowler I know how hard you worked this month and the Lord knows how hard you worked and that’s all that matters.” But I know I have lots more to give. I’m sooo imperfect it frustrates me. But something President Wilkinson always said was that we won’t be a finished product at the end of our missions and that that is a process of a life time. At the end of my interview he called Hermana Loza in and talked to us for a little and then my companion begged to know the changes and he gave in and told her she would be leaving but didn’t tell her where. So she got to say goodbye to everyone and gave her last testimony in our two sacrament meetings.

               Sooo here’s the big news.... MY NEW COMPANION IS HERMANA HUBLER!!!!!!!! We were in the MTC together. And I have ALWAYS wished to be her companion. The Lord has blessed me an extreme amount these almost 15 months. I am so excited to work with her. She already has helped me so much.

               And here is the other big news.... right now I am in Escazu with Rachel!!!!! And will be here for two days wooohoo. My companion has an appointment with the doctor so we will be staying here. So we will be companions again for a day yaay!!!

               After this week of praying for how I could improve, I had a really cool experience. During transfers today a girl came up to me and said Hermana Fowler I have to tell you something. She went on to explain that about 1 month ago a man randomly came to church. He said that he had for a blond curly haired girl on the bus and she gave him a card with an internet site. So that whole week he kept thinking about that girl who talked to him so he pulled that card out and searched the whole church’s website. He ended up getting baptized this last week. She told me that he showed her the card and it had my name on the back of it. So she showed me a picture of him. To be honest I don’t remember him but it was such a blessing to see how important it is to always open our mouths.

               Dayan is progressing so much!! I just wish you could all meet her she is such an amazing person. The members are working hard which is such a blessing here!! Before I forget, I didn’t get to see women’s conference (there was a huuuuuge rainstorm and all the lights went out. It was probably the biggest rain and thunderstorm yet. We started singing in the dark until the lights came back on.

               I love this mission. I love Costa Rica with all my heart. The people here are just sooo good. For example today we had to take the bus at 4 in the morning and I was sooo cold because they had the ac blasted and this cute old man got up and asked the bus driver to turn it down because a girl was really cold and wants to sleep. Cute huh??

               I love being a missionary and love the hard times too. It makes it all worth it in the end. I feel the Lord’s protection in my life and in my families. He is the gentle healer and accepts us as we are. I got to go!! I love you all. Read the Book of Mormon it will change your life and make you happier. I promise you!!

Hermana Fowler

Hello Family :)

               What a great week!! This week was Costa Rica’s Independence Day! They are veeery patriotic. Like to the extreme. All of the kids in school are very much into band and parade stuff. On Monday almost all of Liberia was in the park and we were having a hard time finding someone to do our family night with. Well we ended up feeling like we should go to this recent convert’s house with the other Hermana’s that are also in our area. We got there and they had a guest over. We started to teach him and he was very interested. We invited him to be baptized and he started bawling. He felt like it was exactly what he needed to do. But then two days later we showed up at the house that he was staying at and they said that he left and is actually a thief. But I still feel like he will be back soon and repent of his mistakes.

               On Wednesday I went to Nicoya to do divisions with Sister Camacho. It was such a blast. She has really bad knees so we decided to just work in one specific area. It went very well and we found lots of new people to teach. The next day we had a multi zone conference. Besides almost dying of heat it was a very good meeting. It made me set more specific goals for my life and realize things I need to improve on.

               On Friday we did divisions again with Santa Cruz. That was Rachel’s first area!! It is beautiful!! And soooo hot. That day Hermana Diaz and I came back to Liberia and my comp stayed with Hermana Diaz’s companion. It was a day full of miracles. Since I don’t have a ton of experience in our area it was just like a clean white slate.

               One experience that was really cool was that we were walking down a street trying to contact a reference. But we didn’t know where it was at all. We both felt impressed that it was this one house so we start to pray and then called them to the door (we don’t knock here we say uuuupe buenas. I’m not sure if I’ve told you that yet). So we started talking to this family and they were actually all members besides the mom and her daughter. They had come to church a million times but haven’t gotten baptized pretty much because they are scared of commitment. It made me realize how much the Lord does guide us to where we need to go. There just aren’t coincidences in this life.

               That same day we felt so strongly to contact this one house. So we did and when she came to the door we just told her how we felt so strongly to stop by her house. We explained why we were here in Costa Rica, to come to find out that she had come to church 2 times but then the missionaries that were teaching her left so she lost contact with the church.

               After it started POURING!!! We both didn’t have umbrellas. But the difference between rain here and rain there is that it’s warm. So I don’t really need an umbrella but I just didn’t want my scriptures to get ruined so this kind lady gave us a baggy. I love the ticos they are so giving.

               That same day we were walking and literally both had just said how hungry we were and then we started talking to this guy and he said here have a feel bag of yummy fruit. And it’s my favorite fruit here. So yummy. They’re called mamon chino. So juicy.

               Then on Sunday we were talking to this girl and then all of a sudden this guy said here eat it and it was a yummy meat on a stick. There are always lots of miracles at the end of the month with people giving us food. I’ve really seen that when people give missionaries food they always receive more! But anyway so we were in the rain just loving it but also really wanting to enter a house so we went to this one house but unfortunately there wasn’t a girl inside. He came to the gate and we started telling him who we were and stuff and he said that the missionaries used to always teach him and he really wanted to go to church but always got too scared. Uh oh no more time!! I looove you all I love this gospel!!!

Hermana Fowler    

Dayan's kids!!! I love them they are sooo adorable!!

(This is an entry from a sister missionary, Hermana Cook, who lives with Anna right now.) Kendra

Hi family and friends!!! 

I am a happy missionary.  I am just gonna give a few highlights of the week...

I don´t know if I have told you but I have a new best friend!! Her name is Sister Fowler and she is the greatest.  She is gringa and is from Bountiful.  She is Sister Loza´s companion so we live in the same house and it is the HUGEST BLESSING!! I´ve never had a gringa comp but this is the closest I´ll get and it is the best.  Well on Martes we had divisions!  She is my sister training leader so she came to my area to work with me.  She is SO full of faith.  We started out the day praying to be able to find three new families that have already been to church once.  We went out to work as I always do... diligently obediently faithfully.. but we also had SO much fun :)  Seriously I love her... when we finished the day we realized that we had found THREE new families and EVERY SINGLE ONE had been to church at least once!!! Do you all realize that Heavenly Answers our prayers!!??? He truly does!! IT just blows my mind.  The next day I studied Helaman 10 and 11 and I saw it proven there as well!  THe Lord WANTS to bless us... he wants to help us!  And if we are righteous and obedient and our desires are righteous... He will give us what we want and need!  I love my Heavenly Father... and also Sister Fowler.

Hermana Cook and Hermana Fowler