happy happy happy :)

HI :) Weeks go by sooo fast. I seriously can’t believe it’s Tuesday again. I love hearing from you all and am so grateful for the family and friends that I have. I can’t wait to hear WHERE MAREN WILL BE SERVING AHHHH!!!!!! I’ll be praying my heart out for Costa Rica :)

This week was Cinthias Baptism. She is Anas daughter. She seriously has changed sooo much it’s incredible. The members really were the ones that taught her. Working with members is the best and makes a night and day difference. So help the missionaries okay?? The skirt that I am wearing in the picture I will send is one that she made for me. Everyone is soooo generous here.

This week felt like 200 appointments fell through haha. Everyday my companion and I found ourselves not having appointments and just talking to lots of people in the streets. Which made it really interesting haha.

One day this week we noticed this little older guy following us so we started walking fast but he still kept following us. So we turned down this street that ended up being a dead end and then he signaled for us to come talk to him. So I told him to go away. (I feel bad now okay?) And then this guy walked by so we told him he was following us so he went to go talk to him and when the guy came back he was just laughing and said that all he wants to do is touch my eyes. He said that he is a really good person just drunk. 

But with the lessons that we did have, we saw lots of miracles. Ramon is such a sweetheart. He really is someone I could never forget!! So we had a lesson with him and his wife, which was huge because the wife never wants to listen, and it went really well. During the lesson his wife left for a second and Ramon started telling us how happy he was to have us teach them both together. He bore his testimony to us for the first time and began to cry. I just feel so honored to be able to watch him through this whole process. 

In December our zone met our goal for baptisms so we got to go to president’s house and have breakfast. It was sooooo good. Gosh I miss my mom’s pancakes. But it was reeeeaaallly fun to be with everyone and play games and bond more. I know that I have a lot to learn from the people that I am surrounded by. 

Spanish is coming. I understand almost everything I just struggle with the talking part. But the Lord is helping me an incredible amount. I know that there is no way I would be able to do this without the Lords help. I always reject compliments from people about my Spanish because I feel like it’s horrible but I’ve realized that it’s so ungrateful to Heaven Father and all he has helped me with. I’m so grateful for this time to focus on other people and on their concerns and doubts. It has made me realize how much I will always have to learn.

We had a family night with some recent converts and we all went around the circle and shared how the gospel has changed our life. It was funny because it began to feel like a support group so we all kept making jokes and when it was someone’s turn to start they would all say at the same time Hi Hermana .... One of those you had to be there moments. But it made me realize how much my testimony has changed since I got here. I’ll always have things that I will need to improve but I hope to always change for the better and not go back to old ways. 

I’m grateful for a patient Heavenly Father who never says "Okay Hermana Fowler I’ve had it. That was your last chance." But his purpose is to help us in every moment and to help us grow so that we can one day be like him. I’m grateful for the knowledge I have. And I am so glad to have the rest of my life to learn more about Heavenly Father and his gospel. I love you all and pray you all know how grateful I am for your influences in my life!!! COSTA RICA IS THE BEST!!!!!

Love always, Hermana Fowler

P.S. I don’t know if I told you last week, but I don’t have a cook anymore. You would laugh if you saw my companion and I try to make lunch. We are considering paying the other Hermana’s to cook for us :)