October 12, 2015

WOW!!! This week was so crazy! So let me tell you about it. Everyday we woke up at 3:30 and did exercise and then we started working at 7:00. On Monday, we had a big zone meeting to throw in ideas about what we could do during the week! I gave the idea of going to the central Park in Heredia and singing as a zone and handing out pamphlets! So that's what we did! Tuesday we sang in the park for 3 hours. Wednesday, we worked in our areas and found 20 news! Thursday, we went to the Park again with a HUGE BOOK OF MORMON and handed out pamphlets and Book of Mormons! And the best part was that President Laboriel came with his wife to help us contact people! I actually talked to an athiest who didn't believe in anything! However, I got him to believe in Faith for starters! He's crazy but he is a good guy. We literally just started contacting EVERYONE THAT MOVED!!!! We contacted and Sang on every bus that we got on! Some people clapped and others looked disgusted  We had so much fun from Monday to Thursday! And then, On Friday!!! Friday was my favorite day of the week!! What we did is we took all of the investigators that wanted to come, of all of the areas in the zone, and we took them with us to the TEMPLE!!!!  We had a big lesson with all of the investigators in the zone! We even committed them all to baptism! One of the elders actually went out by the road and started inviting people off of the street to come and listen and sing! Then Elder Wilkinsen (zone leader) and I went into the front part of the temple and asked the President if we could take our investigators into the waiting room! They said YES!! So we took all of the investigators into the waiting room and we all sat there in silence! The spirit was so strong! I wasn't even inside the temple and I just wanted to lay there on the floor and not move! It was one of the most spiritual experiences I have ever had!! I loved being there at the temple! I love having it so close to me! It's such a blessing! I will send some pictures!

As you can see, this week was so crazy! As of Thursday, the mission had talked to more than 8,000 people! We are going to find out what the totals of everything were tomorrow! Thank you for praying for me and supporting me this week! It was hard! We suffered and had so much fun! My companion and I are doing great! We aren't having too much success in the area right now, but we are learning a lot. Here is the thing. I'm training Elder Serrano right? But, I am also training Denis our branch mission leader. He is a convert from last year! He is great! I'm making them both contact busses ;) Its good fun! I hope you all had a great week!! Thank you for everything!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!! <3

HUGE book of mormon!

My friend

Catholic Church

I found this picture in the house of a member, and I had to take a picture of it!

My new Nametag!

October 5, 2015

WOW!!! Has this week been absolutely Crazy! As I told you all last week! I'm training! My son is named Elder Serrano!! He is from Honduras!! He is really motivated but really scared! So, I have been having him talk to people!! The branch here is so great! Our ward mission leader is a 29 year old guy with a 2 year old baby! So young with lots of energy! He really likes going on divisions with me because we both love talking to people! Elder Serrano and I worked so hard this last week trying to get to know the branch and to find new investigators. And with the motivation of conference, we know that we can work even harder!

Speaking of conference, WOW!! So many new things came to light and helpful tips and motivation became clear! Obviously I'm going to start of with Jeffrey R. Holland! His talk was so amazing about the love that mothers have and how it was compared to the love of Christ! Mom, Thank you so much for the Love that you show me! I love you so much! Unfortunately, the satellite cut out in the middle of his talk...So I didn't get to hear all of his talk, but I will look for it today!  I loved the quote that said -What is keeping me from Progressing personally-

This week, we are doing something called a week of Sacrifice!! We are getting up at 5, getting ready, studying, and working from 8 am, to nine-thirty at night!! Pray for me because it is going to be stressful but amazing! Today actually, we only have 45 minutes to write our families, I don't know why our Zone leaders did this but I'm just going with it! I know that the Lord will bless me!

Something cool that I did! My branch mission leader, Elder Serrano, and I, Were on a bus to Heredia to watch conference on Saturday! The whole bus was filled like none other!!! We were just sitting there, and I got up, walked up to the bus driver and said ´'Can I sing a song´´ He said sure! so i got up in front of the bus, this time just me! and i sang -Families can be together forever- The whole bus got completely quiet as i sang and then invited them to look for Christ in there lives! After that, the bus was quiet until we got to the last bus stop! Many people smiled as they walked by me and some gave me a short, thank you. I could feel the spirit so strong. I have never during my whole mission got up and just started yelling at everyone. I have only sang to invite the spirit. I know that music brings the spirit into whatever surrounding! It is a tool of conversion! I love the savoir and the things that I am learned out here in the field, and the wonderful things that I learned during conference!  

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ Love you with all their hearts. They know exactly how you feel in every moment in your life. I don't fully understand the Atonement, and maybe never will, but I know that there was a reason that Christ spent 2 times suffering physically on earth. When we are down, lonely, stressed out, and just unhappy, they know! Christ had to suffer for EVERY PAIN so that when we have pain, he knows EXACTLY how to cure us. We just need to look, trust, and follow his counsel. However, he also suffers a 3rd time now, as he watches us sin. I'm sure it hurts him again just as it did before. Always do the will of the Lord, NEVER your own! -I God have  suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.- Repentance is not just confessing your sins to a bishop, that is just the first step in changing, but it is changing your heart to become more like the savior. A change of action, thought, and spirit. I am not perfect when it comes to repentance, but I know how much it can change someone. I love you all so very much and hope that you all can take the things that you learned from conference and apply them today, tomorrow, this month, and this year. The Father and the Son will NEVER leave us on our own. 

-God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

 -Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46: 1,10 

A scripture that I want all to look at this week is (Matthew 13:10-14) I love learning about the life of Christ!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!! HAVE A GREAT WEEK!!!!

September 28, 2015

Well Everyone! I don't really have time to write a huge email because of the crazy day today!! BUT SOMETHING REALLY COOL HAPPENED!!!!!!

So today is Change day!! YES I GOT CHANGED!! With the impression that i have made on president, President has decided to change me to Santo Domingo, Hereria!!! But the awesome part is...I Am opening an area!!!! Its gonna be sweet but really difficult!...HOWEVER! THERE IS MORE!! I Didn't receive a new companion because.............I AM TRAINING!!!!!!!! I finally am going to have a son! I'M A DAD NOW!!!! So right now I'm in my area with another Elder that is going to train, but on Wednesday, I will be having lunch with President and will get my kid!! I'M SO EXCITED BUT REALLY NERVOUS!! :D Pray for me because it is going to be stressful! The best thing is I'm in the same part of the country as the TEMPLE!!!! Its part of my Zone!! These passed 11 months have been crazy!! But its getting better and more stressful ;) I love you all so much!!! Have a great week!

September 21, 2015

Hola mis queridos amigos y familia!

This week was so hard. Not the work as much as the stress! My health is just fine. My tonsils have bettered with the good old help of Listerine. My skin, like always itches every morning and so it kills me to shower. I know without a doubt that the Lord is testing me physically! I know that he loves me and wants me to become someone better. There are days when I feel like I'm not giving my all because of the stress and how hard it is. I know that everyday there is a chance to make changes and become better. Something my zone leaders asked me was, "What miracle did you see today?" Everyday I try to do something different. I know I'm not the best missionary here in Costa Rica. I'm learning so many things that I never even thought of before. But, that is just the thing... I am learning, I am being tried and tested, I have been given this opportunity to use the atonement and learn about my savior. The work is hard, sometimes I think, if my investigators won't progress, then I need to! I have a very strong testimony of this gospel and the miracles that it brings. One of the things we need to memorize as missionaries is " All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith."(D&C 103:36) 

The mission is the hardest thing I've ever done, but at the same time, I will be eternally grateful for the things I learn! I love you all!! Read D&C 103! Its great! I hope you all had a great week! I will keep praying for you all!! Les Amo!!

We went to the windmills in my area. Also, we found a new pet!!!!

September 7, 2015

Hello everyone!!!!!! How was your week? Here in Costa Rica its hot, humid, and fun! I think the best thing that happened this week was when I went to the temple!! It was so beautiful. I hadn't gone in 9 months and now I can actually understand the Spanish. I took my patriarchal blessing into the celestial room and read it. I felt the spirit so strong. I sat there with Elder Tullis and Elder Stott and just soaked in the spirit (and the air conditioning). I got to see Elder Dale. He is now a zone leader in Liberia Guanacaste. It was so great to go to the temple. We also went to the temple store and bought some movies and books. I am so grateful for the temple here on the earth. I never thought I would have a hunger or need for the temple this much. I now appreciate it more than ever. It's my favorite place to be.

So something cool also happened this week. Finally, zone La Sabana got divided into 2 zones! I am now part of zone Escazu and actually AGAIN, a district leader!! But this time for Escazu which includes the zone leaders, sister training leaders, and the secretaries. So I'm a district leader again. I had to do a baptismal interview for one of the secretaries whom I did not pass because she was totally not ready for baptism. She had been drinking coffee the day of. 

So yesterday at church, we were getting ready to start! I looked out the window to see if any more investigators were coming and I saw something I wasn't expecting! President Laboriel and his wife pulled up in their car and came to our church yesterday!! It was cool! Different, but cool!

So sometimes, being companions with the nurse has its ups and downs. On Saturday night one of the sisters in our zone had an anxiety attack and had to go to the hospital. So yesterday, my comp and I went to her area so my comp could see what was going on. The Zone Leaders and sister training leaders showed up and we gave her a priesthood blessing. She is in really bad condition and unfortunately will be going home today or tomorrow. Her name is Sister Amador from Honduras. Pray for her please:) 

I am doing great here in Santa Ana. I am having fun and suffering !:) Every once in a while I have some bad days, but I know that Heavenly Father knows me personally and is watching over me! I love you all!! I hope you have a great week!! Your scripture for this week is- 3 Nephi 19:22-33!!! I love you all!

August 31,2015

With that scripture, (Mosiah 1:5) when I read that it made me think of a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland that says that the book of mormon sheds light on another modern day truth that "In the Last days, mens hearts shall fail them, even the members, the Elect of God we might even say" I promise you mom, that if you are reading the scriptures with Dad every day, that your days will be better. Because when we open our scriptures every day, Our Heavenly Father has no choice but to bless us. Daily scripture reading is a commandment of God. So when we read, we not only keep the commandment, but we recieve blessings. Keep Reading the Book of mormon mommy!!

 

With the contacts, Get those things sent out!:) I want them bad! 

 

Guess what?? President invited all of the members of the secretaries and us to go and eat lunch at his house today! It will be so awesome!! Actually, today, about 15 minutes ago, President cam in and told all of us to get in a circle. He then tested us on the Articles of Faith and the prophets, and the book of mormon, commandments, and D&C 4! I didn't miss one!!! Actually, on D&C 4, EVERYONE messed up and so president turned to me and said "Elder Black, I know you have memorized everything, tell me D&C 4" I recited it off in Spanish perfectly and told everyone to follow my example ;) I felt kinda cool ;) haha

 

Question:
What is it that is giving you the courage to stay out there on your mission? Why can you do it?

 

To answer that question, IT's hard during the week. There are times during the week that I think, "I just want to go home" but then I just go to work. I look for things to become closer to Christ and one of my goals is that I want to perform a miracle everyday in someones life! As I share my testimony, it helps me strive to bless the lives of more people. Thank you for all that you do mom! Say Hi to dad for me and let him know that I love him too! <3

August 24, 2015

I saw some white tailed deer today!!!!I'm doing good! President came to our baptism!! it was so cool!! its our 3rd baptism this month!!Russel M. Nelson did a webcast conference with all of the missionaries in Central America! He Pronounced an Apostalic Blessing upon us during the conference!! He promised us that

-Our Families would be blessed.

-That we can get rid of any sickness that we have.

-And that each one of us would return to our families safely!! Its cool huh?? The spirit was so strong!!!

Mom and Dad, I need you guys to send this picture to John Osburne okay?? Ask him if he knows a Miguel Aguilar (on the left in yellow) that served in his mission!! Love you guys!!!

President Laboriel came to our baptism!!

Zoo Day