Week 15 - Pyramids

The pyramids are calling and I must go.......I will write next week!!!!

Love you!!
Hermana Cox

Week 14 - Courtney LIVE!!

This is a summary of our conversation with Courtney on Mother's Day.  We were able to speak with her for an hour over Skype.  Courtney looks and sounds great.  She told us a little about her schedule …

Day starts - 6:00

Exercise - 6:30 to 7:00 

Getting Ready - 7:00 to 8:00

Study - 8:00 to 12:00 pm

Teaching - 12:00 to 2:00 pm

Eating - 2:00 to 3:00 pm

Teaching - 3:00 to 9:00 pm

Home/Preparing for Tomorrow - 9:00 to 10:30 pm

Lights Out - 10:30 pm

Her "p-day" or day away from teaching consists of cleaning her place, cleaning her clothes (by hand), contacting family via email, and getting everything ready for the next week.

She says that the weather is hot in the day and cold at night.  She has a different skin color (red) b/c she has not been diligent in using sunscreen every day and she is at 8800 feet.  At night, she has "8 blankets" but she does keep warm.  She says that the volcano rumbles constantly and with the spring rain showers, sometimes they wonder whether the rumble is thunder or the volcano.  She loves the people of San Pedro.  She says they are completely "chill."  She says that the work is hard but rewarding.  The church and wards are similar to the United States.  She indicates that she plays the piano for prelude music before church but the hymns are sung without accompaniment.  

She feels that she has grown so much spiritually.  Many gospel principles that she believed growing up have been strengthened as she has put them into practice.  She is grateful for her family and friends and realizes the many sacrifices that those around her make to teach her and strengthen her life.  She is healthy and now stays away from street tacos unless she has it on good authority that all will be well.  She closed by bearing her testimony of Jesus Christ to us in Spanish.  We finished by praying and we look forward to our weekly emails and our next conversation with her on Christmas Day.

Thank you all again for supporting Courtney.  We are grateful for you.  She is grateful for the cards, letters, and emails that you send her.  She wishes she had more time each week to write more to each of you.  Again, thank you!!

With Love, Darren and Rachelle 

Week 13 - TAKE IT EASY!!

Our Zone Picture

Making Agenda Covers with Hermana Castillo

My dad got mad (exaggeration, just encouraged her to share) at me for not sharing enough about my experiences, so here we go.  On Monday, I received an email from President.  He heard we got 100 contacts that week, which is the record in San Pedro.  Also, Elder Bednar is coming to visit the mission May 15^th !!  He sent us some talks to read so we could be prepared for his visit.  Monday was our last district meeting because of changes, so we went to get tacos afterwards.  We spent 400 pesos on tacos and split them between the 7 of us.  They were super yummy !!  I also bought a b-ball and Hermana Castillo and I go to the church in the mornings to exercise.  We had some pretty crazy rain storms this week.  One of our investigators finally received her answer that she needs to get baptized.  She has been seeing the missionaries for awhile.  We put a date with her, but she was super nervous about it.  Then she told us last week that she decided to open up the Book of Mormon to a random page.  She read a verse that talked about baptism.  She said she felt a strong feeling in her heart and she knew it was the right decision to be baptized.  Her name is Alma, which means “soul” in Spanish.  She is so awesome and she has a really strong testimony.  I love her a lot.  We contacted a guy on the street named Ignacio and he told us to call him Nacho.  And my companion and I were like N A C H O O O O !!  We taught English classes this week.  It was hilarious.  We taught animals and one of the ladies pointed to her daughter and said “monkey,” so now the little girl’s nickname is “little monkey.” We also taught them the phrase “take it easy” and out of nowhere one of the ladies yelled, “TAKE IT EASY, YOU’RE CRAZY !!”  I am not sure where she learned it from but it was pretty funny.  I LOVE YOU !!  XOXO, Hermana Cox

BONUS COVERAGE FROM HER PAPA THIS WEEK:

The elders this week invited us to go to Sam’s Club.  It was nice of them because we can only travel in groups of four and they had to pull some strings.  I bought cheese, Lucky Charms, a shirt, pita chips, and those dark chocolate acai blueberries.  We also bought pizza, papas (fries), and a soda.  Dad, they were so good !!  I cried !!  It was such a good day, so, so, good.  The best day ever.  I never thought going to a store could bring so much happiness.  It was like home !!

Week 12 - Tortilla Time

  Our investigators' wedding. We helped make the tortillas. We are getting to be pros.

Making tortillas with the ladies.

 I couldn't help myself, alphabet soup!  The lady that fed us thinks I am crazy.

Stirring giant buckets of chicken. 

The gas truck. I thought the name was rather interesting.

San Pedro says Goodnight!

Week 11 - Farm Girl

“Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy children.”  Isaiah 54:13

Sometimes I’ll hear parents say they feel their family is being punished because of their bad parenting.  Big trials come into their lives and completely knock-out any hope/harmony in their home.  They know they need to turn to their Heavenly Father, but feel they can’t, because they haven’t tried to talk to him for a long time.  Hurricane Jane came and their foundation was a little faulty.  It’s like riding your motorcycle without a helmet.  You think all is well and nothing is going to happen until you hit the witch’s eye in front of you and go flying over your bike. We won’t always see the trials that are coming and they will hit us when we least expect it.  What do you have to protect you?  There are 3 things that promise protection.  Three things EVERYONE knows and FEW people do.

1. Go To Church

2. Pray Everyday

3. Read the Scriptures Everyday

God doesn’t send trials to punish us, but to force us to see things we weren’t willing to recognize before.  He sends trials to refine us into the person we can become. The person that can live with him again.  Build a foundation so that when the trials come, you can’t FALL.  I testify that if you aren’t doing these 3 things, there is no promise your family will be protected.  Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21

I Love You, Hermana Cox

Week 10 - Conference Quotes ... and a Fiesta !!!

"I can teach you to dance, but you have to learn the music"

“It’s hard to find a structure that can withstand a category 5 storm.”

“When we offer succor to anyone, the Savior feels it.”

“Two keys to a successful marriage – a cookie and a kiss.”

“That became the great adventure of our lives”

“And all the while loves grows stronger”

“It will when covenants are made and kept, last for an eternity.”

“The ideals of an earthly father are magnified in our Heavenly Father”

“There will be no end”

“Not compete with each other, but complete each other”

“I wish I had been less pre-occupied with lists and more with lives.”

“The root of all evil is not money, but the love of money”

“God does not force us to believe, he invites us to believe.”

“Overtime, you will come to see that you made the best choice you could possibly make”

"We now live in a culture of temporary”

“It is important that they do not give up on themselves”

“See that ye look to God and live”

“Only when his gaze was diverted by the winds and waves did he begin to sink”

“Satan attacks everything that is sacred.”

“Many are Good, some are Important, but only a few are Essential”

“If you can’t hear the music in your home-keep practicing.”

“A saint is a sinner who keeps on trying”

“If we don’t try, we are latter-day sinners, if we don’t persevere, we are latter-day quitters, if we don’t allow others to try, we are latter-day hypocrites.”

“There are always members that seem to know who need help and how to give it.”

“The service that counts most is usually counted by God alone”

I apologize for not emailing last week, my companion and I got a little sick. But all is well now!  Conference was great!  I included a few of my favorite quotes from the Saturday night session.  A few fun things happened this week.  I got attacked by a dog, I ate cow intestine, we had interviews with President, we are going to start giving English classes, we have 2 new investigators!  My favorite quote this week was when a lady told us she feels a “fiesta in her body” when we come to visit.  Until next week! 

Love Ya, Hermana Cox 

Courtney's Room

Week 9 - Q & A

1)  Tell us briefly about President and Sister Crickmore based on your brief visit with them?

VERY KIND, SENSITIVE TO SPIRIT, DON’T MESS AROUND !!

2)  How often do you speak with them?

SEND EMAIL 1X WEEK, INTERVIEW 1X MONTH

3)  How many missionaries are in your mission?

LOTS, MORE AMERICANS THAN I THOUGHT

4)  Give us some words to describe the area?

SMALL, FARMING

5)  Describe the homes?

WOODEN HUTS, SOME CEMENT, FEW BRICK

6)  How close are you to the volcanoes?

VERY CLOSE !!  THEY SMOKE EVERY DAY

7)  Describe the people?

SUPER, SUPER KIND AND FRIENDLY

8)  Do you have any modern amenities?

ELECTRICITY, FRIDGE, MICROWAVE, NO RUNNING WATER, BED, SPACE HEATERS, TOILET WITH NO SEAT HAHA

9)  How are the bugs?

SOME SPIDERS

10)  How is the rain?

IT RAINS ALOT !!

11)  How are your clothes working out?

SHOES ARE GREAT.  CLOTHING IS GOOD.  HAVING DRESS MADE FOR ME J

12)  Any hot water?

CAN HEAT WATER

13)  Water to drink?  Have to boil?

HAVE PURIFIED WATER JUGS

14)  How do you wash your clothes?

BY HAND

15)  How do you clean up?  Shower?

DIDN’T ANSWER THIS QUESTION J

16) Do you need any money or supplies?

NO

17)  Do you have a small general store?

LOTS OF SMALL STORES TO BUY TREATS

18) Are you on foot?

YES

19)  Any other missionaries in the area?

TWO SISTERS

20)  Where do you meet for church?

TWO CHURCHES

21)  How many members are there?

LOTS

22)  Do you stick to the missionary schedule?

YES, BUT SLIGHTLY ADJUSTED

23)  Do you take a mid-afternoon siesta?

I WISH

24) Do you have your running shoes ready in case Popo (volcano) goes off ?

I WILL DIE ACTUALLY HAHA

25)  What makes you smile?

THE PEOPLE, THE FOOD, THINGS FROM HOME, SOME OF THE MEMBERS ARE REALLY FUNNY

26)  What are some interesting things you have encountered?

PEOPLE TELL US THINGS LIKE FROM DREAMS

27)  What are the strangest foods you have had so far?

CACTUS, PIG SKIN

28)  What can we pray for on your behalf?

THE LANGUAGE, THAT I CAN WORK HARD TO SERVE THE PEOPLE