Bye bye Comp :(

Well my mom left me today ;( (Your "mom" in the mission is your trainer). I got a new companion today, her name is Hermana Pechco. She is from El Salvador and she is 24 years old. She seems like such a sweetheart. We´re going to work this area until it just can’t handle it anymore. (I don’t care that that didn’t make since.) She actually has a boyfriend who is in our same mission. Crazy crazy. But yes I’ve got my eye on those two. Anyway it was really rough saying bye to Hermana Cuevas. She really has taught me sooo much. Things that will help me for the rest of my life. She is now a specialista somewhere in San Jose. She will do great things.

Bye Mommy!

This week went well but our area is still struggling a little. Buuuut really this area has soo much potential. Our Branch President is the bomb. I couldn’t ask for a better Branch Pres. Anyway I’m determined to make this branch a ward and we are going to make it happen :)

My homie!

Oh my goodness I cannot believe I didn’t tell you guys that I had my first earthquake last week. I wish I could say that it was crazy and we ran for shelter and I saved a dog or something buuut no I actually at first thought I didn’t even feel it until I remembered thinking that my companion kicked my bed. So yaa woohoo first earthquake. 

So funny story of the week... we had an animal in our house. One night we came home and the trash that was in the garbage can was everywhere. Just imagine 4 girls who are terrified of rats or any type of creature. It was bad. So pretty much what happened was we all sat on our desks and tried to get courage to find the animal and kill it. We ended up outside our house and calling every couple in our ward we could think of. Unfortunately no one could help us. So then the scripture Joshua 1:9 came to mind. I got this burst of courage and walked into the kitchen. Yep it was a bat. I immediately thought of Dan, Jake, and Sam and thought okay what would they do?? So I got the knife on the counter and threw it at its wing. Then got another knife and threw it at its body. Bye bye bat. I really don’t know what came over me. 

Us hiding from the animal. At this point we thought it was a rat but really sitting on our desks wouldn't have stopped a bat from biting us. I wasn't really crying.

So you know that soup that I almost threw up my first week here? Well it’s like my favorite thing now haha. Bless my heart. Oh and my companion isn’t the only one that holds my hand, literally everyone does. Am I like a dangerous person or what? I don’t understand. But I’m safe crossing the street so its all good :)

This week I learned the importance of being grateful. I realized how much I ask for help and when I receive it I don’t thank my Heavenly Father enough. It made me think about how when times are hard we always pray more, but when times are good we so easily forget to thank our Heavenly Father. How wrong that is. But really I´m becoming more and more grateful for lessons. We used to be able to have lots and lots of lessons and now its rare people let us in or follow through. Lots of times missionaries just care about numbers but really how dumb is that. These are people. Yeah it would be great to have an investigator progress really fast but the most important thing is to teach through love not teach because you need another lesson to tell your district leader that day. I´m very nervous to lead the lessons and teach my new companion this area. But every time I feel scared I need to remind myself that fear doesn’t come from God, and if I can survive an earthquake and kill a bat anything is possible :) hahaha no but really life is good.

Ice cream! Yummy!

I’m more and more grateful for this opportunity every day. Serving a mission is the best decision anyone could ever make. I love this gospel and am so grateful for the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father. I know that missionary work is inspired of God and that every companionship is put together because the Lord knows what is best for us. Thank you for your prayers and thank you for your support!! 

Love always,

Hermana Fowler

P.S. I didn’t really kill the bat hehe.  Gotcha! But there really is a bat in our house. Our walls don’t go all the way to the ceiling so it comes and goes. Pray for me.

Food that my comp made me.

Mission Life

We got to work this week yay yay yay!! My companion is feeling a lot better thank goodness :) Gosh she is such a good missionary. She really has taught me so much. She sometimes will ask me a way hard question that people might ask and I have to answer it with a scripture in the Bible. She´s a huge blessing. She´s good at sensing when I´m discouraged with my Spanish, and always makes me feel better. 

This week was great because we got to work,  but it was probably one of my most frustrating weeks. On Friday 2 of our investigators who were on date for baptism this Saturday dropped us. Seriously out of nowhere. Gosh Satan is stupid. Then that same day 11 appointments fell through. Hahaha. It´s honestly funny how many things went wrong that day. My companion was very discouraged and just kept saying "is this really happening, is this really happening?" So I just kept telling her, “It’s okay Hermana. They have their agency.” And she just kept saying, “No it’s not okay. :/ It was kind of funny I’ll have to be honest. But really it is okay. Obviously we are bound to be sad for them but after we do all we can it’s really their choice. And all we can do now is be their friend and be an example.

We were walking and it was POURING sooooo hard it was unreal. My companion just looked at me about to cry and I told her about the talk that Elder Holland gave when he talked about missionaries asking the question why is this so hard? He responded by saying, “Why would it be easy for us when it NEVER was easy for him!” We have no reason to complain. Christ suffered all of our pains so we wouldn’t have to alone. It was a good lesson for us. 

This week I needed to apply the advice Sam gave me before I left a lot. It’s so easy to have negative thoughts, but you just got to switch them as soon as they enter your mind. This week I had to tell myself a lot "wooohooo I love being soaking wet" or "gosh what a blessing that was a minute ago when I was dry" or after walking 8 miles and our investigator doesn’t come to the door, "that was a good time to bond with my companion and to get a little exercise." Sometimes you just got to tell yourself the opposite of what you want to think. 

Earlier this week we had a few appointment fall through so we just started walking to see if we could find some people to talk to. We gave a pamphlet to these two ladies and they just kept walking but then a guy on his bike yelled from across the street, "Hey can I have one of those?" uhh obviously homie! So then I started explaining who we were and I couldn’t even finish the name of our church because he finished it for us. He then went on to explain that we worked with a member and that he loves that our church focuses on the family. My companion happened to have The Family Proclamation to the World (woohoo) and he started reading it and just kept saying how much he loves what we teach. Literally the thought came to my head this is a future bishop. Unfortunately he doesn’t live in our area but we gave his information to the elders so they will take care of that :) but wow seriously Heavenly Father places people in our paths. That’s why it is so important to talk to everyone we can. 

Lastly the other day in my personal study I wanted to find a comforting scripture for prayer. Lots of people have the hardest time praying and it really is the first step you have to make. I found a part in the bible dictionary that is bomb!! It says, "The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others (I like that part) blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings." ahh so sick! I love that so much. Prayer is honestly the biggest blessing. There’s no limit. So yeah pray pray pray! :) I love you all so much and I really have never been so happy. Costa Rica is heaven. You are all in my prayers :)

Love always,

Hermana Fowler

P.S. I lost my memory card BUT found it today. So that’s why there aren’t any pictures this week. Sorry Mom and Claire!! 

Hi again!

My first package and letter in Costa Rica!!! Thank you so much Germaine and Thuryle!!! I love you!!!

It felt like the last time I was on this computer was three months ago. No I’m just kidding but really this week was very long. My poor companion has had a really bad migraine and we actually didn’t get to leave the house besides when we went to the doctors and when we needed food. So yes I went a little crazy sitting in a room all day. It was a great time to study though. I can honestly say my love for the scriptures have times by 10 just this week. It just shows that we have a book that sits on our desk and the more we open it up and read it the more we will learn and the more we will love this life. Sorry I don’t have tons to say about this week but I’ll try to tell you about the most exciting parts...

So this week we had to change our cook sadly :( so now Iveth is feeding us! Her food is way good too! But I just don’t like rice and she gives us sooooo much! My companion tried to go to a member’s house to sleep while I go with the other Hermanas but it didn’t really work out so I ended up cleaning a member’s house and it honestly was one of my happiest moments this week! It felt so good to do something productive. I love service okay?? Sorry Mom for all the times I complained about doing the dishes. Don’t worry I won’t complain anymore! I actually enjoy doing dishes now :)

One day this week I had studied for 5 hours and literally was about to go crazy. I started to walk back and forth in our little house. Ha-ha I started to dance and it honestly felt soo good. That might be cheesy but you have to understand I was in a little room for daaays I needed to do something :) One morning as soon as we woke up we went on a walk outside so that my companion could get used to the light and ahh gosh I was sooo happy to be outside. I love Costa Rica! I’m convinced it’s the prettiest place on the earth besides the temple obvi.

One day this week for lunch a member took us to McDonalds. I hate to admit it but it felt like home. I’m pretty sure the McDonalds is better here or I just forgot what really good food tastes like. 

Spanish is getting a little better but still have moments that I feel like I’m a baby and don’t know 2 plus 2. This week when we were at lunch after church, I understood something the president of our branch said and he said, “Oooooh so you know Spanish now?? And then he went to all the other rooms and announced Hermana Fowler knows Spanish now so no more talking about her!! Really people could have been saying the meanest things about me and I wouldn’t have had a clue. But it’s really getting better. And teaching English really helps too. 

This week was good for me to realize how much of an opportunity it is to work. I am so grateful to be involved in missionary work- to completely dedicate my life and focus on this work. Thank you for all the support! I can’t express how blessed I have been with such an awesome family and great friends!! I love you and pray for you often!! 

Love always,

Hermana Fowler

P.S. I tried to translate “bless my heart” into Spanish and that saying doesn’t exist. Really sad, but I’ll get over it :)

Hola

It feels like I was at this computer 3 minutes ago. Seriously time flies when you are having fun :). So we got a new Hermana in our house and she is from Mexico. The first few days were a little rough not having Hermana Morales help me with Spanish but now we are doing great! She really helps me with my Spanish. She probably just isn’t as sick of all my questions as everyone else haha.

Companion :)

This week Satan was a little stinker and started to give me more fears of opening my mouth. One night I was pretty disappointed with myself for not talking to more people and I was reading a chapter in D &C and I glanced over and read the words, "Yea, you shall ever open your mouth in my cause, not fearing what man can do, for I am with you." I took the hint :) the next day I had TONS of embarrassing moments BUT I was so much happier by the end of the day. I´ve come to the conclusion that I´m going to make a lot of mistakes. A lot a lot. So the sooner I make those the sooner I’ll progress. 

I taught a lot of English this week. Every Tuesday we have English classes, so this week I taught everyone how to pray in English. Then yesterday, the other Hermana's had an investigator who needed help with his English homework. So we went on splits and I helped the little boy, but oh my goodness, his family literally thought I was a rock star. I hate it. And I can’t even explain to them that I’m just a normal person. Each member of the family took a picture with me. They are so cute though. 

Conference was so incredible. And I got to listen to it in English! I almost cried when they told me there was a separate room for those who wanted to listen to it in English. But the talks that were given in Spanish we listened to in Spanish and surprisingly I understood most of it. Miracles do happen :) 

Iveth and Berlin's Baptism :)

This week was Iveth and Berlin´s baptism. I LOVE THEM. I love everyone here. Saturday was such a special day. Little Berlin has been begging to be baptized ever since I got here. The first day I was here we taught Iveth and its crazy to think about how far she has come. After baptisms I don’t really have a congratulations speech yet so I just hug them for a really really long time. 

Daniela made me pinky promise her that I would let her get baptized when she turns eight, and every time we go over to teach a lesson she wants to wear my tag. They are pretty darn cute!

So on Sunday morning the President of our branch got a bus for our investigators and some of the members in our branch that don’t have a car. We all crammed into the little bus with a driver that was literally crazy. I was holding on to the chair in front of me trying my hardest not to put all my weight on the boy next to me. Everyone was talking and laughing and I just paused for a second, and thought about how much I love these people. Words can’t describe how much I care about them. I realized how happy I am here. I really have never been this happy. It’s a moment I’ll never forget. Everyday I realize more that it was a call from God. This is where I need to be. I love you all! And am forever grateful for this opportunity. Thanks for being great, and for not forgetting about me! :)

Love always,

HermANNA Fowler

P.S. I pretty sure I’m whiter now than I was when I left. Plot twist.

P.P.S. I kill bugs like it’s my job. And I actually kinda like it. Ben you probably think I’m lying but I’ll send proof next week.

I like Costa Rica! a lot a lot!!!

It was so good to hear how great Women’s Conference was!! I got to watch it but sadly my Spanish is not quite good enough to fully understand. I’m praying really hard that I will be able to watch conference in English or with subtitles. If not I’ll just read them all later. It was so great to see the conference center. It felt like home. Especially when I thought I saw Janessa. I told everyone, "That’s my cousin, that’s my cousin!" but it must have just been someone who looks a lot like her. 

Jasmin's Baptism

Jasmin’s Baptism was this week and it seriously was a day I’ll never forget. Before her baptism she went with us to a lesson. She has such a strong testimony. I look up to her so much. Right before the baptismal service started I could tell she was getting extremely nervous. Satan is a little stinker. But we talked to her and she felt calmer. Right before she went into the font she said thank you so much Hermana’s I’ll never be able to repay you for this. So obviously that made me cry. Especially since we don’t deserve any credit. It’s seriously the biggest blessing watching people make the decision to be baptized.

After she bore her testimony and I bawled like a baby I’ll be honest. She talked about how she has been to a lot of churches in her life but when we came into her house everything changed. Her last words were, “This is the best day of my life in the name of Jesus Christ amen.” She will be an incredible missionary one day. 

All the missionary tags of all the members in our branch.

On Sunday we had this activity with the branch that was honestly great. After the three hours of church we all had lunch and then some of us stayed in the church and cleaned it real fast while the others went out in the street to find people. Slowly the member would bring people into the church and then we would give them a tour and teach them a little about the gospel. It was so great. The best way to do missionary work is through the members. Missionaries come and go but the members are always there. I love my branch and I hope I get to stay in this area for as long as possible. 

My Branch

Changes were today, so Hermana Morales (one of the sisters in our house) left today and the other sister will be training on Wednesday! So we will have a new girl in our house. It’ll be really great. I want it to be someone who speaks English but it’s probably best if it’s a Latin. I’m really going to miss Hermana Morales. She has become a close friend.

Bye Bye Hermana Morales

This week the 4 of us Hermana’s sang in church. My companion and the other Hermana in our house Spanish sang army of Helamen in English and then Hermana Morales sang in Spanish. I lost my voice on Saturday and have been a little sick this week so let’s just say that I don’t want to think about it for too long. We sing A LOT here. But seriously every time I sing I think my voice gets worse but its chill. 

Okay I’ll end by telling about a funny experience. So there’s this man who isn’t a member but brings his dad to church sometimes and on Sunday I went to go shake his hand and I could tell he wanted to hug me too,  I just locked my arm and shook his hand but then somehow when I was walking away he kissed me on the cheek. AHHHH bad bad bad. So now my companion is very protective of me!! 

Random facts

1. Everyone calls Lays chips lies. It drives me nuts. And they call skittles skitlets

2. I now have a favorite snack that I bring with me every day. Baby food :)

3. Probably 70 percent of the people here are Catholics.

4. We play this rain game where we try to see how long it takes for someone to reason it’s not raining anymore and they don’t need their umbrella. It rains more than it doesn’t rain.

5. I’m the worst soccer player in this country. I’m starting to regret doing all those cartwheels in the field and not listening to the coach during my soccer days. 

6. The other day during a lesson everyone started getting all worried and kept asking me if I had my umbrella. I was so confused why we left so fast and then I looked across the street and it was pouring soooo hard but there was absolutely no rain on my side of the street for a good 3 minutes. It was the coolest thing. I LOVE COSTA RICA!!!!

I love you all and am so happy things are going so great!! The church is true!! I love it I love it I love it!!

Love always,

Hermana Fowler