July 30, 2016

Buenos dias mi querida familia,

This week I have never wanted more than to feel the spirit in my life. Coming down to those last moments, it makes me think, what do I need to accomplish before coming home? Elder Frederiksen and I have been focusing on Obedience, Patience, Humilty, and following the spirit. We know that we are nothing without our Heavenly Father´s help. We are just human bodies with a spirit that needs to learn. And the only way that we will learn is if we are humble and accept the Lord´s counsel and Obey what he has commanded us. We have been teaching a family lately named Jairo and Scarlett. They are a young couple about 30 years old with 2 kids. Logan (7) and Liam (11 months) They are an absolute miracle. We love them so much even though sometimes they are lazy. They have showed great faith and desire to follow Jesus Christ in their lives. They are funny and loving. On Wednesday, they came over to a members house to have a family home evening! It was a great hit. They created a great friendship with the members and already made plans to come to church on Sunday and to have ANOTHER family home evening next Wednesday! Please pray for them that they will come to church on Sunday. Their baptism date is the 27th of August. They will also be getting Married on that day! We will be helping the Lord bring a family back into his fold.

This week we also found a man named Nelson. He is a young man about 26 years old and lives with his girlfriend Arelis. Nelson smokes marijuana like a chimney, but he knows it is terrible for him, he just can´t stop. Yesterday, he didn´t smoke! He forced himself to not smoke! He has a baptismal date on the 5th of September and he is coming to church this Sunday. Please pray that we will be able to meet our investigator attendance goal this week please:) 

There is a scripture that I love that shows everyone their full potential that I want to achieve. It is in Doctrine and Covenants 67. I invite you all to read this section. Study it Together as a family and write down the promise that the Lord makes to us.

I love you all and I hope that you have a great week. If you need anything, just let me know! I LOVE YOU!! 

-Elder Black

My birthday package arrived!

July 16, 2016

Since we can´t have guitars and ukelele, I bought a harmonica so my companion and I can play hymns in lessons. 

Everything is great! I have 2 changes left! this is my last change as the Migration secretary! Then I will be training. This week was crazy because it was changes week!

Here is my friend, Toucan!! Its cool huh?

This was done by one of the members in Escazu. He is 18 years old! He draws like a pro!

Happy Birthday Mom and Beau!

July 9, 2016

HELLO MY FAVORITE FAMILY!! This week was pretty interesting and really busy!!!

This week, We found a young man named Victor that has NEVER heard about the Book of Mormon in his life. Before this, we were standing in the road praying to know which way to go. We had a feeling we should go behind us on a road that was not busy at all. But I saw a young man in the house on his phone and I had the feeling to talk to him. He loved the Book of Mormon! We gave him a book and gave him 2 Nephi 31 to read!  We haven´t been able to visit him again because of the office schedule, but he will be coming next Sunday to church with us. 

This week I have been studying the importance of the Book of Mormon in our own personal conversion. I have never realized why it is so important! I will give you a little hint to help you investigate the members in your ward. ***The members who are Studying the Book of Mormon DAILY, will always have spiritual experiences. Will always be looking for someone to share the gospel with. Will ALWAYS come EARLY to Sacrament meeting, and Always want to strengthen others before themselves. these things i have seen here in Costa Rica and I´m darn sure that it happens in Utah as well! 

Think about it! When we take time to read the Book of Mormon, we discipline ourselves! I invite you all, if you are already not, to take 30 minutes everyday to study, not just read, but study the Book of Mormon. you will see a new light in work, school, with friends, and will have the desire to change things that aren´t right. 

I love you all! This week is changes week and so It will be *insane!! I love you all! If you need anything, let me know!! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Monkey taking a selfie with my camera! Zoo trip!

In my new house, I wake up and open the door and we find a big pile a CRAP! Literally! Left by homeless men in San Jose! Awesome right!? hahaah Thought I'd share that with ya;)

Selfie!

Mountain view from my area

Tico Bus

a pic from heredia

July 2, 2016

Leadership Counsel Yesterday!!

ZONA SION!!!
#AlReinoDeDiosONada
#FeEnCadaPaso

June 25, 2016

Well hello there everyone! This week was pretty great!

We have been teaching this family from Nicaragua named Bismark and Tatiana. They are a golden family that just understand everything we teach them! They have a baptism and Wedding date for the 17th of July! Right before our birthday! WE also found a family named Jeuel and Scarlett in the mountain of Escazu! They were being taught by Elder Kepo´o and Elde Acuña a year ago. Actually, when I was in Santa Ana, I visited them on divisions but they never got baptized! 

Well, President called my Companion and I into his office yesterday and said, "Elders, I have received revelation from the Lord. You have been in this area for too long. You will now be switching with the other Secretaries to San José Central to work still as secretaries but in a different area!" Its the HUGE city in the Center of Costa Rica! BABYLON here I come! Ha,ha 

This week was normal! Ha,ha. But with lots of twists and turns! I am getting ready to take Elder Bullecer to the Airport in 2 weeks! This will be my new area. It goes ALL the way through the center! It´s huge! 

Well, I will be in this area for only 3 more months! Then I will be coming home. I love you all! Have a great Week!!!!

My new Costa Rica Jersey;)

Snake

Art Show at the church

My favorite!!

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!