June 18, 2016

Elder Frederiksen and I before our video conference with Guatemala!

This is my new hat

June 11, 2016

Hello Everyone! I hope that you all had a great week. Lately it has been RAINING like CRAZY here in Escazu. Lots of water and lots of wet shoes and pants! Fun right?

This week some unexpected things happened. While we were having our Multi-Zone meeting with President, the lawyers call me and say "Hi Elder Black, We need 6 papers from you as soon as possible. We know it´s unexpected, but Migration is asking for them right now!" So I had to talk to President and tell him what was going on. 

I had to call in 4 Missionaries from their areas and made them come to Escazu as fast as possible to go the El Salvador and Guatemala Embassies. I had to get paperwork done, forms signed, and pictures taken to take to the embassy. It was crazy. The lawyers didn´t think I would have had it done until this week, but I went a step ahead of them and got it done in 2 days! Now on Wednesday, All I have to do is go to the Mexican embassy because it takes more time!

If you remember who Miguel Aguilar is, he was the Branch President in Santa Ana when I was there a year ago this month! He is President Laboriel´s Best friend from Honduras. He came to ANOTHER multi-zone conference that we had this week and talked to us about his book, Quetzalcóatl, el Mesias Judio. It is a book that I bought from him a year ago that HE wrote about the Mayan people and the visitation of Jesus Christ in Central America. He showed us pictures of the temples in Honduras and Guatemala, and Mexico. There are tons of things that we learned! We even saw some things that the Lamanites practiced thousands of years ago that have to do with the Temple!!! Crazy! I will have to show you some of the things that I learned later.

Nothing really huge happened this week! ha, ha it was an unsuccessful week that´s for sure. We didn´t find anybody that was ready to hear the gospel this week...keep praying for us! 

I love you all, if you need anything just let me know!!

I made Dr. Pepper Marinated Steaks!

SELFIES! And new haircut!

June 4, 2016

Buenas tardes mi querida familia,

If I were to describe this week in only one word, that word would be TIRED!!!!!!!! I can´t explain all that went on this week. This was the most crazy changes week that I have ever had on my whole mission. Let me tell you why!

Monday: We had a meeting with President Laboriel talking about the results in the mission. We worked so hard as a mission this month! We ran, fasted, prayed, suffered, worked, sweat, burned and over all just sacrificed for the month of May. In the last couple of months, we have gotten around 40-60 baptisms monthly. Now, with all of the hard work that the mission did in May, we achieved 116 BAPTISMS!!!! The most that this mission has ever had since the split! We went from 66 baptisms to 116 in a month of hard work. We are very very proud of the work, but not satisfied because we know that it´s not enough. We have the potential to have more! Elder Bullecer is now training elder Frederiksen to be the new secretary. He is from Idaho and will be my comp in July!

Tuesday: The new missionaries came. At 8:00 am, 3 Latin missionaries came. and Also the old missionaries came to the office for their last interviews with president. I got all of the paperwork done for the news, and then we had to run and get lunch for them. Then, I had to go to the Honduras, Colombia, and El Salvador embassies here in the country. I had to take each of them to the embassy to fill out MORE paperwork. Very stressful but I took care of it. Then I had to take them also to get their fingerprints taken. We got back around 6:00 pm and then went and had 1 lesson with our recent converts. At 8:00 we had to go BACK to the office to wait for the new North American sister. Then I had to do migration stuff with her. It was a crazy day.

Wednesday: Well, I thought that I would have been going to the temple that morning, but the APs called us Tuesday night and said "hey you guys aren´t going tomorrow." so we couldn´t go. I didn't ask why, I didn't argue, but I wasn´t happy either. After everyone got back from the temple, they assigned the trainers and I had to bring the other missionaries to their embassies. After we got out of the office, we got a call from the APs saying that there was an Elder that had been in the airport since 8:00 am and it was 7:30 pm. So I made some phone calls to see what the heck he was doing, and it turns out that he was an elder from the Panama mission that got deported because the Migration secretary in panama didn´t do his job correctly. So that was fun. After that, I had to go to San Jose to try to sleep in the other secretaries house so I could go to the airport in the morning with the old missionaries. I also got an email from President telling me to by a plane ticket for a missionary that would be going home that morning! So I had to wait for the plane ticket to arrive!

Thursday: I woke up at 2:00 am to go to the airport. I had to take all 13 Missionaries to the desk to get their bags checked and weighed. Then we left them to go through security. It was a little hard seeing Elder Dale leave. He was there for me in my first area. He helped me a lot, now he is back in Utah. He had 4 months when he trained me, so now I only have 4 months. I was so dead after dropping them off. We went and ate breakfast, and then went back to the office in hopes of sleeping, but I had more work to do. I had to go to the Argentina Embassy and do paperwork. Then when we got back,, we had to set up everything for the Leadership counsel. Tables, chairs, flowers, food, tablecloths and a whole bunch of stuff. After, Elder Contreras and I had to drive the APs back to Heredia at 8:00 pm. (No, I didn´t drive don't worry). I didn't get to sleep the whole day. And then on Friday, I had to wake up at 5 do go to the Leadership meeting!

As you can see, this week was crazy!!!!!! I am still very tired, but it was all a very big sacrifice. Thank you for all that you all do! I love you all so much! Keep praying for my investigators! I love you!!!!

Leadership Counsel

Pink ties

"DEADS"

May 28, 2016

Nombres este semana si fue interesante! Voy a explicar lo que pasó este semana.

WOW!! There is so much to tell you, I don´t even know where to begin. I will go by days.

MONDAY- Well, President Laboriel Invited us personally over to his house at 8:00 am to join him for breakfast with him and Sister Laboriel. It was Elder Bullecer and I, Elder Contreras and Garcia (other secretaries), Elder Kirk and Elder Zibin (APs), and Elder Post and Pache (New APs). We ate beans, eggs, sausage, tortillas, avacado, and fried cheese. SO GOOD!! Sister Laboriel is such a good cook! After, President sat us down to talk about all of the crazy things that would happen this coming week. We realized that this wasn´t just a meeting that would be recorded. This would be a training video for mission presidents and general authorities to show them how a meeting SHOULD be when a general authority comes to your mission. Its a pretty big thing, I will explain it.

TUESDAY- The Mission Department and Camera crew comes through the church doors and presents themselves to us secretaries and APs. What we found out was the DIRECTOR is Garrett Batty. The director of the Saratov Approach!!!!!!!!!! I Elder Bullecer and I took of picture with the man;) At 4:00 pm, Elder Jorge Zeballos and is wife, along with President and his wife, walked through the office doors. The Camera men prepared us beforehand to tell us what to do. They made a special presentation of the office. Elder Zeballos came up to each of us and presented himself and we told him what our job was and where we were from. After him and President went into his office to do an interview. 

WEDNESDAY- We had a Multi-Zone conference. We got their early obviously to help set up with the camera men. As we set up, Elder Cordón (first Quorum of the seventy) walked in with his wife. During the meeting, they had President and Elder Zeballos all with make-up. They filmed our whole meeting. Nobody got to hug Elder Zeballos or anything special, just shake his hand. The meeting was GREAT. He talked about how we can better teach as missionaries and what things we need to do specifically to change our results. NOW, HERE IS THE COOL PART. Elder Zeballos and President come up to Elder Bullecer and I and say "We would like to come to your house and see how you 2 are living in your apartment." RIGHT!?!? SOOOOO, Elder Bullecer and I waited outside of our house. And 5 Toyotas pulled up outside our house. It was raining so My comp and I covered Sister Zeballos and Sister Laboriel with our umbrellas. We opened up the gate, and they all walked in the gate. Our landlord happened to be outside of her house, so the 2 camera guys and the Microphone guy, went up to her and started interviewing her about how we act as neighbors. Of course she only had good things to say;) haha Then, Elder Zeballos+wife, President+wife, the director Garrett Batty, the maker of Mormon.org Steve Allen, 2 camera men, and a mic guy, walk into our house and check it. They had us explain on camera our house, what we do, how we live and things like that. Now you are probably wondering, Was the house clean??? Of course it was and still is as always;) Elder Zeballos walked up to us on camera and said, "I congratulate you two for your hard work and very clean and organized house. I know that when you are in college you will both live just fine!" ALL ON CAMERA. They will be using that footage to show the general authorities!! 

THURSDAY- There was another Multi-zone meeting. This one, we didn't enter. HOWEVER, when everything was about to start, Elder Cordón, Elder Chavarría, And Elder Zeballos all walked in. 3 Seventies in our church building. This was a huge deal. After the meeting, we had our Leadership counsel. Elder Zeballos just gave us some instruction as leaders and then the meeting ended. As he started to leave, he came up to us as an office staff, and hugged each one of us. I didn´t want him to leave. He is an inspired man the made a huge impact on this mission. After all of the missionaries left, the camera men and directors were cleaning up. I found Garrett Batty alone in the piano room. So I walked in and said "Hey Garrett, can my companion and I take a picture with ya?" "You bet!!" he said. So we took a picture with the Director of Saratov Apporach and Freetown!! AWESOME!!!

As you can see, it was a very busy week!!! Lots of things to do! Lots of things to learn. This week will be changes week! I hope that it will all go good. On Thursday of this coming week, I will be sending my trainer Elder Dale home from the Airport. It was been almost 2 years since we were together in Guacimo. Now, his time has come to an end. Along with Elder Tullis, Elder Zibin, and Elder Kirk. Elder Bullecer will be training this change because he only has 1 change left. Elder Fredrickson from Idaho will be my next companion in July. Then with only 1 change together, I will be training in august the new Migration secretary before I come home. It is so weird that I can see where the rest of my mission is panning out. It has been a crazy week, and I am so so so so so tired...but also it has been an amazing week. I love you all so much and hope that you all know that. I got your package yesterday! Thanks for the ties, the candy, and the beef jerky. One of the members was so excited to see beef jerky that he bought a bag from me for $13. He had been waiting 30 years exactly to try beef jerky again. Thank you all for your letters. I will talk again next week! I LOVE YOU!!!!!

David´s Baptism!

Remember Marbel!?

My CLEAN Desk!!!

Right now! haha

New Costa Rica Tie-Thanks

Pool with the Caldwells!

GARRETT BATTY BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!--Director of "The Saratov Approach" and "Freetown"

May 21, 2016

Well, this week will be something a little more interesting. I will basically not be doing anything migration wise. Instead I will be in meetings with President, the assistants, a general authority, and a camera crew from Salt Lake City. They will be doing about 50 hours or so of filming on our mission. I think they will be making a training video for mission Presidents and general authorities. They will be filming our Multi-Zone meetings and our Leadership council. It is a pretty big thing! I am not even sure what to expect! Wish me luck and be praying for me please:) Elder Jorge Zeballos, President of the Mission Department will be here for 1 week! 

This week was the week of sacrifice! And trust me, it was a lot of sacrifice. I had to work, in Migration and in the office. It was so stressful and difficult. On Thursday morning AND Evening, I had to bring missionaries to get their IDs. I am not one to be late to appointments, so when the missionaries get to the office late, i get really mad and nervous. So when the 2 companionships came late, I had to pull them aside and chastise them because they came 30 minutes late! There are some people in the mission that don´t really like that I do that, but that is what President has told me to do. This mission is a mission of discipline...

I will let you all know how everything goes! I also have a baptism tonight at 7:30! Our second this month! Wish us luck! I love you all!! I will send pics of last weeks baptism!!

I did not take these pics, however this is the volcano that is really close to erupting here in Costa Rica right now! Crazy right?? It did the same almost 2 years ago when I was in Guacimo. The ash is hitting my area! #breathingash

 

Jose's Baptism

Mexican and Guatemalan Food!

Culture night! Missionaries cooking

May 14, 2016

Buenas Tardes!!!

This week was very interesting. I don´t know if it´s the same thing in the states right now, but this week was something that they call, "Family Week". So this week, they had lots of activities for the members to do and to bring their non-member friends with them to participate. ( Alot of the members didn´t even try to bring anyone, which helps us out alot...) However, some did!! And they loved it. We are hoping for lots of investigators in church on sunday because 1: We worked like crazy this week to get people in church. and 2: We have a baptism tonight, and a confirmation tomorrow!!

The boy´s name is José Antonio Corrales. He is 14 years old and is the cousin of a now Active member. His cousin´s name is Brayan Corrales. Brayan will actually be baptizing his cousins. One will be baptized tonight, and the other on the 22nd of this month. José actually this week broke his arm!! So we are going to put plastic bags on his cast and baptize that boy! 

Yesterday we had a ward talent show! I sang "Prueba la Promesa" for everyone and they loved it! They weren´t expecting it because they only think of Elder Bullecer and I as the "Office Elders" Next week is the week of sacrifice, and like always, I will have to work on migration stuff. On Thursday, I will be at migration from 10:00 am --1:00 pm and again from 5:00 pm --7:00 pm. Crazy right? It will be interesting. We will be working specifically to Find people that are ready to listen to the gospel. So please pray for us to find those "Chosen of the Lord". 

Today in Costa Rica it is really hot! However there is a slight wind! Green like always and crazy as ever. We just got done tossing around a football with the Ward Leaders. Something that came into my head yesterday and again today, is that the Costa Ricans do not rely on their schooling. They don´t think it is very important to them. They act like they can go on through life, beginning Poor, and expect to make more money in the future not going to school. They don´t have money, so the solution they have is to drop out of school and try to work. THEN, they can´t find a job that will accept them because they didn´t study. So then they are in an even bigger problem! I am grateful for diligent parents that, even though I am stubborn, made me go to school. You can literally SEE the difference in the people. You can teach someone something in the simplest way and they still don´t get it because they never learned how to process things inside their mind. I never thought I would say it but, SCHOOLING IS IMPORTANT! I see everyday, the results of non educated people, and it hurts to see them this way. That is why the Prophets have ALWAYS taught us to "Gain as much education as possible". There is a reason for it. 

I love you all so much. I hope that you all invite non-members to church activities because without your help, the missionaries will never reach their potential. Have a great week and I love you all so much! I am praying for you daily!

Skyping with the family on Mother's Day!

May 7, 2016

Buenos Dias!! Just to let everyone know, I will be Skyping at 7:00 pm tomorrow. It is the same time! so don't worry! I will get the same time, like 45 minutes.

My Buddy!

Cockroaches!!