3 Months!

Traditional Meal

First Baptism Performed!

The font is outside, the water was cold!

Baby tarantula found under desk

So yeah, I've been gone for 3 months already. Time sure flew fast! I'm 1/8 of the way done... there's no time!!! Also, I've completed one transfer here in Costa Rica! Yeah! Just one more for my training!  So yes, I was able to listen to conference, but only 4 sessions. And I don't remember which was my favorite, I'll look back over my notes and let you know next week. Mom, have you sent me those recipes yet? If not, you should because I should be able to get them next Monday. So you guys can send as many DearElders as you want this week, cause like I said, Monday is one of the rare opportunities for us to get them. To answer Dad's question, "What's up?" ... great question Dad, but I don't have enough time to write a good answer. When I get home you can read my journal (I have 3 months worth, I've written everyday) But yes, converts and church attendance are up, which is really good. I'll explain in just a sec. Other than that, sounds like Florida was really fun for you all. Nice pictures, looks like a blast. And congrats on the anniversaries, you guys are ancient! (But it's ok, members say that you look good for 50, and almost 45. Yes, 45, not 29) And Dad, good luck with what it is that you think that you should be doing, I've been praying too, so hopefully that's your answer. Also, if you have questions about any pictures on dropbox, feel free to ask. I thought I'd take a picture of a normal meal for you... the meal is a little small, but it should give you an idea of how much and what I eat.

Ok, so what did I do on Monday? Yes, it was something cool. We hiked up a mountain/hill. It was really pretty and made me feel more at home because there were pine trees everywhere. I didn't know how much I would miss the little things like the smell of pine trees. It was very relaxing for me. Anyway, we hiked up and there was this cool... structure. It used to be a building for worship I think. And those are the pictures on dropbox. I would have taken more of nature up there, but I got caught in my first rainstorm! Within two seconds it went from hot, to pouring rain. So I couldn't take pictures of the landscape... And we had to go back down the mountain in that rain, so I got soaked. But, I did find out, my backpack, is waterproof =) We were a little worried cause I had everyone's cameras. But it's all good, it's waterproof. And then we went back to the house to make smoothies. For that I bought 2 pineapples and 8 mini-bananas. And right now, have everyone guess how much that cost me.... ok, it was just under $2! It's so cheap! And delicious! And then the next day, I learned how to cook ripe plantain. It's delicious. Eat it with cheese, or sweetened-condensed milk, mmmm.... And the next day, we were walking out of the house, and there are tons of chickens and chicks and roosters right? Well, I guess we walked to close to the chicks, cause a chicken jumped up and attacked Elder Ramirez (in the stomach.. haha). We went and taught some investigators, Bryan (17, new investigator) and his brother, Jose Pablo (16). They both seem really good and we're pretty sure that they will get baptized, we just need people to be friends with them, cause that's what everyone in the church needs, a friend. And then we left the house and were walking down the street. I looked down and saw something right next to my foot. My first snake here! But as it slithered away I noticed 3 things... black, yellow, red. And that's when we realized, it was a coral snake, super poisonous, and it had literally been 1 inch from my foot. I know there's a plan for me here, cause if that snake had bitten me, I would have been in serious trouble. Blessings of being a missionary are great =) So in the next couple of days we prepared 8 of our investigators for the interviews that didn't happen... but they should happen tomorrow or Wednesday, so it's ok. But we did find out that Asencíon won't be getting baptized this week, he doesn't have the money to get married... but he did go to 3 sessions of conference! And those were the ones when they hard-core talked about chastity. For me, conference seemed like everything our investigators needed to know. It was definitely missionary themed. So with that, Saturday morning, Elder Ramirez and I were the only ones that showed up for conference, so we couldn't watch it. The afternoon and priesthood sessions were only in spanish, so I didn't understand a lot, but Sunday I got to watch the sessions in English, so I was really happy.  And I learned a lot from those, and am glad that we have that opportunity to listen to prophets and apostles of God. If we listen, we are going to learn so much. And to think, my mission assignment came from God, through one of them. Awesome.

Now really quick, some other things. First of all, an investigator gave us lunch on Wednesday, my first weird food. Rice, with squid. It actually wasn't weird, but it sounds weird. And also, Mom, look up the video on youtube, "Pollito Píu Píu", it's super popular here, and the kids will probably think it's funny. Also, can you ask Brother Bishop what it was he wanted me to write to the teachers quorum? And yeah, that's about it. I'm supposed to have a "check of the month" with President Wilkinson (a check to see how we're doing after one month, but now it's more like two months) next Monday, so I don't know when I will be emailing next. And also, get on Facebook and accept people por favor. And that's about it.

Hasta Lasagna,

Elder H. Black