Lost of Studying!

Heredia

19 Years Old!  August 15, 2013

Bowling...  Look how nifty and matchy! :)

Bowling for Style!

Well, this is going to be a super short letter.

First for questions, the apartment is cleaner than the last, but it's smaller, cause it's just that, an apartment, last time I was in a house. We have to separate bedrooms, and it's nicer living with four. It's more fun, you have someone other than your comp to talk to, and more to help relieve the stress. Yes, I did see the coupon you bought for dad, I'm sure he cried a little when he saw it =)

How on earth did Brielle manage to get on the roof?! Oh, and Carter has the pinewood derby, not Cooper, right? Oh, and congrats to grandma... yeah, that's weird...

Well, now to what I did this week. Turns out Elder Elvira has a hereditary kidney problem, so the doctors told him to rest 5 days, so I played babysitter for 5 days. I studied a ton. I finished Doctrine and Covenants =) Umm, I only went out one day when we had divisions and somebody else babysat my comp. And yeah, that's it. He goes to the hospital... again, on Thursday.

Yep, so that's my super boring week...

Later,

-- Elder Black

This and That

Hey everyone!

So to answer questions... I had another bad birthday =( Long story short, my comp was mad (I didn't know why) so he didn't even talk to me (not even to say "happy birthday"). And we didn't do anything else... just argue. And that was our ward mission leader that bought the cake (for Elder Revell and I, if you remember it was Elder Revell's birthday the 14th)... Yeah, it was a pretty rough day, but that's all behind now. And yeah, we're all getting along good now, they are all awesome. And I can't believe that you are already going to start school again, and what the heck? Parker in high school?! I'm glad I won't be there =) Oh, and congrats on all that stuff you guys have done, and mom, just tell them to stop being so lazy and just do something.

Anyways, we didn't do that much on Wednesday or Thursday because of... stuff that happened. Then on Friday, the 16th, we had a party for Mother's Day (here it's always on August 15 if you didn't remember, so we had it a day later). Everyone in the church was invited, and also investigators and more. They had asked that we, the missionaries, participate. They had put us to be the last ones. Well, we saw everyone singing hymns, or they had made videos, or played instruments, and it was all spiritual. We even had an investigator that recited 2 poems that she wrote. So Elder Luna and I were getting kinda nervous, cause we had just planned something to entertain. (the 4 of us elders are assigned to the same ward, remember, Elder Elvira is my comp). Well, we got up and got ready to do... the midget act (Elder Luna did the arms, and me the head and legs) while dancing to the song "Book of Mormon style" a parody of gangnam style. Everyone was dying laughing their heads off. It was pretty awesome. Then on Saturday my comp had some pain in his lower stomach. But we just worked like normal. We were actually able to find some new people by knocking doors, Elder Elvira told me it's not possible here, but I told him that within 30 minutes we were going to find 2 people... and we did =) Then on Sunday we went to church and Elder Elvira had a lot more pain, so we called the nurse and she told him to wait one more day, but told him to rest all day... so that was boring, we played UNO for about 3 hours. Then today, I got somebody to stay with my comp cause he doesn't feel good, and I went bowling. I made everyone laugh a lot, it was fun. I was bowling with much style. We decided to make "The District 3 - P-Day's" it was hilarious. And then I came here, and just now found out that my comp is going to the hospital to find out what's wrong... and they hadn't even called me to ask... so now I'm stuck here with the other 2 elders, not knowing what's going on...

Oh, and to answer another question, mom, they have a pianist here (not that great) so I still don't play the piano.

Yep, anyways. Love you all!

--Elder Black

Changes!!!

But here are some answers, and comments. First of all, mom, I was who told you guys to go to Comedy Sportz, I went there on a blind-date... remember? Yes I got the package, and... yes, I opened it. It said on the box what was in it, so I didn't think it would matter... although, I didn't think mom would lie about what was in it either. . And Dad, I'm doing freaking awesome today! Also, that picture of Brielle doesn't look anything like how I remember her.

Anyways. Monday we played soccer with the youth again, and this time they actually let us play =) Then on Tuesday... we went to Milton's house... now he doesn't even read the scriptures, he just watches anti-mormon videos and then askes us questions that aren't at all important. Then on Wednesday we anxiously waited to know about our changes, or if we even had them. They weren't going to tell us until 9:30 at night (dumb) so we went all day saying good bye to everyone. We finally got to the house, and, well, like the title says, I had changes. I am now in my second area! I'm in the area of.......................................................................................................................................... Heredia 2!!!!! =) There are 4 of us working here in the area of Heredia. I'll tell you some things about this area. It is nice and flat here. It's also pretty cool (temperature). The 4 of us share an apartment (smaller than my last house, but still good). And I'm with a new comp from Guatemala, Elder Elvira! He only has 3 weeks more than me in the mission, but he's really good. The 4 of us all get along pretty good. The other 2 are our zone leaders, but they are really chill. They are Elder Luna, and Elder Revell (whose birthday is the 14th). All in all, I'm in an awesome WARD, awesome area, and with awesome elders. These last few days I've just been getting to know the area and it's freaking huge. The area has only existed for 3 or 4 changes, so we are still trying to open it up. Also, Heredia is known for the masks. On all of the road sign posts, there are masks. I'll be taking pictures this week to send to you guys.

Now, remind me next week to tell you about a super weird tradition that only happens in this one area of all of Costa Rica, my area is the only one that does this, I'll tell you more next week, cause that's when it will start.

¡Hasta Luego!

-- Elder Black

Pura Vida!

Waterfall in Grecia 

Pura Vida!

So this week was pretty average. But I'll get to that in a sec. First of all, I needed to make a correction, the person I found in the park 4 months ago, his name is Luis, I think I put Emanuel. Second, there are 6 months of wet season, 6 months of dry season. The wet season doesn't end until December, but luckily I am in a fairly dry área and it doesn't rain too much, but it's supposed to pick up again. Baptisms, we haven't had any, and the goals we do have are going to take a little extra time.

Also, sounds like I have some crazy siblings. Cooper, you are still so weird, way to go :) And Brielle sings the songs? I still can't really believe that. Also, Katarina... I still don't understand her... Good luck Dad with everything you're working on.

So this last week I finally played soccer =) But, I had 2 problems. 1, we played against a drunk who was pretty aggressive. 2, the Young men here are prideful, and didn't pass to me and my comp. So, yesterday, I was teaching the Young men in church, and like they say here I "corté la jupa". They don't involve other people very much, so that destroys any chance of our bringing new investigators to church. If they don't have friends, it's a lot harder to go to church. So I let them have it. And then on Tuesday we had interviews with Pres. Wilkinson and that went well. And then... yeah, pretty much everything else was normal.

The thing that was different this last week is that they had their celebrations of the Virgin of Los Angeles. For those who don't know, every Spanish country has a virgin. I don't remember the story here in Costa Rica, but they celebrate the whole week, but it centers on August 2. So everyone was partying and having fun, and we were trying to find people to teach, it was a little hard.

But yeah, that's about all that happened this week, sorry it's so boring, but that's the way it is sometimes.

Oh, random thing. Yesterday we found a tarantula in the street, so I killed it. Yup.

Love y'all,

-- Elder Black

   Elder Hunter Black   

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                              

 Costa Rica San José  

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                

          2013-2014          

Soccer!

American style treats for FHE!  What a hit! 

View from the house

Hey everyone!

So I had a good week, I'll get to that in a sec. The guy I met in the park, his name is Enmanuel. Yes, Elder Brindis is a DL, I have been the comp of a DL the whole mission. Card game, we play one where you start with 11 cards and have to win with 12. You win by making at least a set of 3 or run of three, but you have to use all 12 cards ex) 4 sets of 3, 2 sets of 3 and run of 6, etc. To make platanos maduros, cut it, and cook it in butter or oil... that's it. Or if you want you can cook it with cheese as well or with sweetened condensed milk. You can also put that sweetened condensed milk on breads, in Coke, and stuff like that.  I never did make the caramel popcorn. We always eat with spoons because only in the fancy places are where they use a fork and knife. And it is actually easier to eat with a spoon (and fingers:) I think my little weight I've gained is from the food, and also muscle (in my legs) cause I have to hike these hills every day.

So this last week on Monday we had an FHE and it was pretty boring until it was my turn to do something, I took the refreshments. I took something purely gringo... smores :)  Everybody loved them and wanted more and more, it was pretty sweet. And then that night our ZL's called and told us that they wanted to do divisions with us, ok, cool right? And then said that it would be for 3 days! That never happens! Divisions are normally 1 day, but I ended up working here in Naranjo with a different companion, Elder Nape, for 3 days. There is something very true of the mission here, when a leader comes to work in your área, they bring a lot of luck. That Tuesday we were able to find a new investigator, and also place 3 baptismal dates, so hopefully those work out. Then, on Wednesday we had a day of purely lessons with investigators, that's really ard for us so that was pretty sweet. And we placed another baptismal date. Then, on Thursday we were able to find another new person, place 2 more baptismal dates, I was directed by the Spirit to teach what I needed to, and we just had an overall good day. My ZL said that I'm a great missionary, I plan very well, and I truly testified from the heart, so all of that made me feel pretty good. My goal for right now is to be ready to train in the next changes, which are in a week, so we'll see what happens. Then on Saturday we had some appointments fall through, but we were able to teach the boyfriend of one of my converts. He listened and seemed interested, ojalá!  We're going to play soccer with him and some of the Young men today in an indoor court, and hopefully he can make some friends. This is also going to be my first time playing soccer in Naranjo! Finally! And then yesterday we went and visited an old lady and she talked with us for a long time, it was good for her so I feel good. Also we got to see part of the Golden Cup (soccer) and the US won, yeah! And yeah, that's about it.

One other thing that we have going on is that we have a mouse in the house and we can't kill it, we keep seeing it, but it's just to quick. We are going to have to do a deep clean on the house and buy some traps for those mice...

Anyway, that's it for this week, tune in next week for some new stories.

Peace out! 

-- Elder Black

   Elder Hunter Black   

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                              

 Costa Rica San José  

                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                

          2013-2014          

Awesome Investigator

Answers to questions... my favorite food? I really like pineapple cake, rice with chicken (add salsa Lizano), and platanos maduros. Also, I like to put sweetened condensed milk on certain things too. Favorite juice? Everyone here likes Jugo de Cas, I've heard it's a fruit that they only have here. Other drinks that are good: it's, more or less, wáter with oatmeal and sugar, but it's good, also lemonade that they make here is really good, and pineapple juice... also rice with pineapple is a good drink too. Favorite fruit? I like those Manzanas de Agua and guanábana was pretty good too. Also I took the advice of all of you and now I feel a bit better.

 

This week was pretty average. We did get a cool new investigator. I don't know if you guys remember, or if I even wrote that about 4 months ago I was contacting in the park with a member and I contacted some random guy. Well, finally, after all this time, we called him and got an appointment. He is awesome! He asked us if there is some story about the guy Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. Uh... YES! Perfect question! He asked a lot of good questions like that, so we will be able to teach him lots. And the rest of the week was pretty boring, one day I went to Grecia to do divisions with the Elderes there in Grecia, and I got stuck with one that was sick and just wanted to stay in the house all day, so I wasted a day there, and that was lame. Bascially we wasted a lot of time in Grecia this week (area in our district, my comp is District Leader).

 

Now a couple random things. My comp and I play cards, I and said that I win a lot more than he does, and he didn't agree, so we've started to keep score... 26 - 12, yeah, I'm winning. Second, the recent convert, Rut, started to flirt with Elder Brindis, and he hated it, he turned all red, and was laughing, so then everyone pitched in and he was dying, it was pretty funny. I don't remember if I ever said that we normally just use spoons to eat, whether it's soup or meat, we use spoons. And I've only gained 10 lbs in the mission, just fyi.

 

Congrats to Kassandra and Briona! How did Carter do in the state tournament?

 

Love you all!

Elder Black

                                                                                                                          2013-2014          

Hard Times, Staying Strong

Manzana de agua.  Anyone recognize the fruit?

6 Month tie

6 month tie in flames!

6 month tie burned to a crisp!!!

Hey, I'm just going to answer the questions. First of all, an AP was with us that one day just to see how he could help us, and get to know the área. Yes, I'm still writing in my journal, but I'm a few days back... but I've already bought a new one cause I'm about to finish my first. It feels like I've been gone longer than 6 months. I am so tired everyday so everyday feels longer and longer, but I gotta keep going, so hopefully it will get a little bit easier for me. My mission is not what I thought it would be. First of all, I thought I was going to the jungle... I'm not in the jungle. Second, I thought they you change areas all the time... I haven't been changed yet. Third, I thought the people would be dirt poor.... they're not. Fourth, I thought people would accept us... almost everyone rejects us. And Fifth, I had no idea that I would be walking so much... And there are many more reasons, but I'm going to stop there. And am I happy? Depends on the day, the truth is that I've been pretty down lately. I just keep hoping that my Heavenly Father will help me out cause I just about feel at my limit. But the work must go on.

This week was pretty boring for us too, so this is going to be really short. Pretty much all throughout the week we had appointments fall through, we contacted but nobody wanted to listen, we tried to do divisions, but those fell through. We just had a pretty rough week. Until Saturday at least. On Saturday we decided to work really hard, and we contacted and I didn't leave unless we shared a message. So all in all we had 17 lessons on Saturday. Hopefully we will be able to return to some of those houses and actually have investigators. Due to all of our work on Saturday, the church attendance went up a little bit, but we're still missing a lot to be able to be a ward here.

Other than that, it's been raining quite a bit, but not too much. I got completely soaked one day, but luckily I didn't get sick. It's been pretty hot these last couple days, so I'm good and tired all the time. Anyways, love you all!

-- Elder Black

                                                                                                                        2013-2014