Pura Vida

Dear Family, 

Well...this week passed, and right now I can't remember anything that happened.  Hmmm let's think.

Sunday an American couple that lives in our ward, the Maxwells, invited us to eat lunch after church.  Well we all piled in there car and started what ended up being an hour and a half car ride. When we finally arrived at their house they did have any food ready and so we had to wait about another 1 and a half for it to cook.  When we finally got home it was about 6 pm.  Another bad thing is we went with couple missionary as well that are serving in Liberia, an area about 2 hours away from Nicoya.  They probably didn't get home until 8 or 9.

Being as we lost a lot of time Sunday we decided to end our p-day early yesterday so we could work a little longer.  If the Maxwells invite us to their house again it will have to be on a p-day, because we wasted way too much time! (We didn't know they lived so far away!).  However, I was able to give a Book of Mormon away to one of the Maxwell's neighbors.  He's a young man named Jonatan, or something like that, and he seemed super special and interested in reading it.

It sounds like you all had a blast in DC without me.  Mom sent me a couple pictures, but send me more!!!!!!!!!!!!  PLEASE.  

One of the miracles we had was that on Saturday we went to visit a fairly new family of investigators, Luis and Roci. When we arrived Roci's mom was there too.  We started talking and it turns out that Roci's mom, Ritsy is a member.  She was baptized about 30 years ago and has been inactive for about that long as well.  However she has a lot of good memories from attending church.  She told us before she moved away and left the church she was preparing to serve a mission.  We told her she could still serve one, as all of her children are grown up, and she was really excited.  She then told us that she was going to come to church Sunday and bring Roci and Luis.  It was an awesome experience.  Although they didn't end up coming to church yesterday, they all slept in, I have a lot of hope for this family!

Our cook, Marisol,  isn't a member, her whole family are catholic. However, they are really great people and I know that Lord wants them to eaccept the restored gospel.  We've started teaching Marisol the missionary lessons everyday at lunch (unbeknownst to her).  She doesn't like to be preached to if it's not in the Bible, but we've been using a lot of strategy.  Mwahaha.

Transfers have been moved to Friday, as two area seventy are coming to speak to us.  All of the missionaries have to be in San Jose in a stake center at 8:30 am Friday morning, (Many with suitcases).  We don't know if either of us have transfers, but for sure we are going to have to take a bus at 3 am.  Woot. 

Love you all!

¡Pura Vida!

Hermana Bratt

The soup here has lots of BIG veggies

I opened up a balm for muscles and found a nice message from dad,
one he wrote 10 months ago.  Thanks dad!  Love you too.

A Week of Travels

Dear Family,

Well we didn't have much success in our area as we were gone from it a lot last week.  Wednesday we heard a general authority, Elder Alonso, speak.  I learned a lot of great things from him.  He also kind of hinted that he can see President Wilkinson as a general authority soon.  And it's true, President Wilkinson is so strong and firm in the gospel and a great leader.

Luckily when we returned to Nicoya we had seats this time.  I never again want to ride in a bus for 5 hours standing up in my life time.

Saturday and Sunday we had divisions with our sister-training leaders. I was with Hermana Corrales, who is from Costa Rica and has 17 months in the mission.  She is super great, and it was a great learning experience for me.

We still don't have any baptisms planned for this month, but today we are going to visit an ex-investigator of Hna Perez that gets along with me really well and we are going to try and commit her to baptism.  The ex-investigator is names Runia.  Evidently she had some problems with the missionary that was here before me.  But I've only talked with her 3 times and every time she wants to give me things/gifts.  I don't know why! Evidently she's never offered anything to Hna Perez and her other companion.

We've been trying to serve the members here a lot.  They are really great, but we are trying to win their confidence more.

While we were searching for a street contact-s house we found an ex-investigator, Karla.  She accepted a baptism date for April 11th.  And I think she's going to progress, which is great.

We have an investigator named Angie, and after we taught about the formation of the church while Christ was on the earth and the great apostasy we committed her to baptism.  She accepted, but said "I'll only be baptized April 11th if I know for certain that the person that is going to baptize me has the authority of God."  It was super awesome to hear her say that, because we could see that she understood the importance of the Priesthood, which so many of our investigators don't understand.

The branch president and his wife support us a lot, which is great!

Next week is transfers, and I'm pretty sure Hna Perez is going to leave, as she already has 4 transfers here.  We'll see what happens!

Love you all!  Les Quiero.

Hermana Bratt

A Ward Missionary Activity. We are playing the flour game! Runia is the one in pink.

Me and Hermana Corales

Growing Up in Nicoya

Dear Family,

First things first, Britani and Maryori were baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (My old investigators from Turrialba).  I don't know the details but Hna Samayoa sent me a picture that I'll forward to you all.  I am super super happy.  I only wish I could have been there to support them and experience this amazing change with them.

As for things here in Nicoya, well this week I've felt like I've finally started growing up.  President Wilkinson came for a zone conference.  I was on the front row in the middle, and felt the Spirit so strongly the full 3 hours.  I can't believe I only have 9 months left.  This can't be happening.  I have so many things to do still! 

Hermana Wilkinson told us that we have to start visiting old investigators and asking them to return their Books of Mormon.  If they don't want to return them they'll need to accept us back into their homes.  She said, quoting the Are presidency,that "The Lord has prepared SOMEONE to have that book."

It has been a little hard getting a long with my companion, but this week has been a lot better and we are working a lot better together, which I know helps us a ton, because it's been hard to feel the spirit in our lessons.  

We've started serving the members this week a lot in order to gain their confidence and trust more.  Slowly but surely we've started receiving a few referrals.  

We found a few new investigators this week and they accepted baptisms dates.  They even looked really promising, but already problems have come up.  We don't have anyone that is ready to be baptized, but I know we are going to see miracles.  We just have to work harder and be more obedient.

This week we have a multizone conference with Elder Alonso, so right now we are in San Jose.  We are going to sleep over at the Hermanas house so that we can go to the conference tomorrow morning.  Today we went to Price Smart which is like Costco but with a different name.  I bought Honey Nut Bunches of Oats.  YUMMY.

I don't have much time today and this computer is AWFUL.  I can't type fast.  The computer screen is above my head!  But thank you EVERYONE who emailed me or has written me these past months.  I just received some more Christmas and Happy Birthday cards.  If I don't respond to your emails today I will next P-day!

XOXOXOXOXO

Hermana Bratt

Honey Bunches of Oats!!!

Eating at Taco Bell 

Another Week in Nicoya

Dear Family,

Well this week we've found a few promising investigators.  Two of which are Loura and Eliecer.  They are a coupe that have been together for 5 years.  I think I told you guys before about Loura, but this week we met her boyfriend.,  We tough he was going to be scary from wat Loura has told us, but is really great.  Loura wants to be married but Eliecer isn't sure yet.  He wants to come to curch next week to see if he will receive an answer from the Lord about whether he should marry her or not.  They accepted a baptism date for the 28th of March.

This week we fasted to know what are goal for baptisms is for the month of March.  Though we don't have anyone that is ready to be baptized our goal is 2 baptisms.  I know that we can acheive it if we work hard enough!

Yesterday we made pizza at a members house for Pday.  It was super yummy which was nice, because usally te pizza here isn-t that great.  Speaking of food...we at a less=active-s house and se gave us chocolate cake thhat she made.  Well the first couple mouthfuls were great...until I tasted something weird.  I flipped the cake over to see the bottom of it covered in mold!  I couldnt say anything though and so I scraped a little off and finished eating it.  I definitely havent wanted to return to eat anyting there!

Sorry this eamil is super short, I can-t tink of anyting else.  Love you all a bunch.  Send me pictures!

Hermana Bratt

A Book (that looks suspiciously like chocolate) that Grandma Sent me! 

Makin Pizza

Still Adjusting to My New Area

Dear Family,

This week I've still been adjusting to my new area, things here are really different than in Turrialba. Our area is HUGE and we are always always wlking, as there aren't buses here.  My companion is the exact opposite of Hermana Samayoa.  Hermana Perez is a lot more serious, but she's good at getting everything done that needs to be done and remaining on top of things.  Hna Perez is 24 and studied medicine for three years before she came on her mission, so I'm in good hands if I get sick!

Yesterday we went to the beach for P-day.  The water was super warm and there were coral shells everywhere.  We could only walk in the ocean up to about mid calf/knees.  It was hard not going in further.

Yesterday we also found anew investigator, Loura.  Loura was a referral from a neighborhood girl.  When we knocked on her door Loura said she was super surprised because none of her neighbors like her and she spend all day hiding in her house.  Loura has a ton of problems and isn't keeping many commandments right now, but when she left she thanked us for coming and said that she felt a lot better and more peaceful.

Sunday only on investigator came to church, Delma.  Delma has a baptism scheduled for March 21st.  She's great, but learns really really slowly.  We have to re-teach her the previous lesson every time we visit her.

This week we were trying to find a bunch of new investigators that we knew could progress and be baptized.  We probably taught 15-20 new people, but of them only 9 we counted as investigators and of theses 9 only 3 or 4 look really promising.  By the end of the week I was a bit tired of teaching the first lesson, (Which just so you know isn't the restoration we teach ten points about our purpose as missionaries and then teach about our loving Heavenly Father and that the gospel blesses our families).

Sunday I gave a talk in Sacrament Meeting!  I was a little nervous, but I think it went really well. I talked about keeping the Sabbath.  Our branch president is ADD and is ALWAYS moving or talking, or joking, etc.  But he's really great.  His wife was a missionary and is really great as well.  We ate with President Solis and his wife Geselle (Branch President) Sunday.

Doctrine and Covenants 39

 5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, he that receiveth my gospel receiveth me; and he that receiveth not my gospel receiveth not me.

 6 And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things of the kingdom.

I've always taught that the gospel is the plan of God and the teachings of Jesus Christ, and while it is those things it is also something more simple, to repent and be baptized!!!!!!!  This is really what we teach when we teach about the restored gospel or about the Atonement, or about the Word of Wisdom.  This is our message to the world!

THANK YOU Grandma for always sending me packages!  I just received another one with yummy chocolate :)

Love you all!  No me olviden!!!  estan en mis oraciones!

Hermana Bratt

Us on the Beach

Yes, I almost have 9 months on the mission. How does time go by so fast!!!

First Week in Nicoya

Dear Family,

Well it's been a week of adjustments! I don't really know what to share, but here are a few tidbits about this week and my new area:

• I saw monkeys!  I was running in the morning when I saw three or four small black monkeys in a tree.
• President Wilkinson had to return to Utah for a few weeks to have a surgery so we have an ex-mission president from Guatemala, President Cordon here supervising us.  He came to our zone conference and taught a bunch of awesome things.  He told us that in the work of salvation we need to work first with our heart, then our mind, and then our feet.
• There's only a branch here.  Sunday about 65 people attended church.  The branch president and his wife are really friendly but very strict as well.  The members were really welcoming :)
• We had four baptisms scheduled for this Sunday but Ismael, the dad of the family started having doubts about the Book of Mormon and so never came to church.  He told us later he doesn't believe it's true from the research he's done.  He's trying to find evidence about the Book of Mormon from the Bible and maps, etc.  He doesn't understand that when trying to gain a testimony or answers to your prayers you can't search for evidence!!!
• We found a family of a single mom, Carolina, and her 5 daughters Taina, Adriana, Kiara, Keren, Camilla, and a son, Jordon.  They are catholics and right now her daughters are taking classes to be confirmed in the Catholic Church, but we are hoping that after a few more visits they'll receive an answer that our church is true!!!! They are a super great family.
• Our cook isn't a member, her names Marisol and lives next door to us.  Luckily she gives us less food and there is always salad on our plate :)
• There's a blender in our apartment so I've been having fruit smoothies for breakfast.  Yay!  (Try a banana, a pear, two apples, and strawberry yogurt.  SO YUMMY)

Well love you all.  You are in my prayers!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TALMAGE! I'm excited to start anew in Nicoya!

Hermana Bratt

Us With Our Cooks Family in Turrialba

Holding Parrots With Hermana Perez

Nicoya Guanacaste!

Dear Fam,

Well I've been transfered!  I'm now in Nicoya, Guanacaste.  It's super hot here and Nicoya is kind of colonial.  It's different than Turrialba, but other than the heat I think I'm going to love it!  My companion is Hermana Perez from Guatamala.  She told me that there's monkeys here.  Hermana Perez came to Costa Rica when Hermana Samayoa arrived as well.  She has 4 months in the mission. 

Nicoya is 4 1/2 hrs from San Jose.  Elder Sub called us Sunday night to say I had transfers and I was up until 2 packing.  Then I woke up at 5 to finish packing.  He told us we ahd to be in San Jose at 10 am.  Well we arrived at9:30 and I had to wait for 5 hours the park for a mini misionera (A member that was only a missionary for 1 month because one missionary didn't have a companion) Hermana Chavez.  When we got to the Bus station at 3:30 to take the bus at 4:30 they told us there were no seats left and so we had to travle nearly 5 hours standing up!!!!   I was sooo tired.  Eventually I just sat down in the middle of the aisle, but when I sat down I got really nautious and so mostly just stood a lot of the way.  I arrived in Nicoya at 10:00 pm. 

The journey was terrible to get here, but I'm happy!  Our house is bigger and nicer than in Turrilba.  Yay!  Also our cook lives next to us, but we have to wash our own laundry.

Hermana Samayoa's new companion is Hermana Hales.  She's from Utah I think and looks a lot like me, same hair and build but a bit taller.  It was hard to say good by to everyone in Turrialba!  I'm goin to miss them.  The bishop and his family invited us to eat lunch after church on Sunday and so we finally visited the bishop's house!  I think that the ward in Turrialba is focusing a lot more in mission work. 

Right now we have a baptism scheduled for the 14th of February Tomas, and his three daughters.  I haven't met them but Hermana Perez says they are golden investigators.  Hopefully it doesn't fall through!

Love you all!  Send me more pictures of Sebastian and Tal's dances!

Mom shared a verse on baptism with me that I just love: 

10 But, behold, the days of thy deliverance are come, if thou wilt hearken to my voice, which saith unto thee: Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on my name, and you shall receive my Spirit, and a blessing so great as you never have known.

 

And these are the verse that come next.  Theya re amazing too:

 11 And if thou do this, I have prepared thee for a greater work. Thou shalt preach the fulness of my gospel, which I have sent forth in these last days, the covenant which I have sent forth to recover my people, which are of the house of Israel.

 12 And it shall come to pass that power shall rest upon thee; thou shalt have great faith, and I will be with thee and go before thy face.

 13 Thou art called to labor in my vineyard, and to build up my church, and to bring forth Zion, that it may rejoice upon the hills and flourish.

I just love these verses.  The promise of baptism and then mission work is so amazing.  I've been baptized, and as long as I pray and listen to the Spirit the Lord has prepared a greater work for me!

Hermana Bratt

Me, Hermana Rosa, her daughters and her granddaughter 

Giving Hermana Samayoa a Piggyback Ride

Some of My Zone in Turrialba

The Day of Transfers

Me and Hermana Samayoa

Me and My New Companion