Joy is in the Journey

Hey fam!

This week was quite an adventure, a journey you might say. And just like
all good journey stories, they start out with a "Once upon a time"...

So, once upon a time, there was 2 Hermanas living in a cute, hot, little
town called Orotina.

One day these two Hermanas searched and searched to find a less active
member named Esmeralda. They asked, and questioned all the Ticos they knew
and finally found out where Esmeralda lived.

When they got to the tiny blue house they were surprised at what they saw.
The cutest, littlest, oldest, 91 year old lady greeted them at the door.....
They had found Esmeralda!

Recognizing them as missionaries, Esmeralda glady let them in. She told
them to call her Lala. The Hermanas really liked Lala and her family.

When the Hermanas asked her about her experience with the church she
proudly told them, "I am Catholic!"

So then they said, "But Lala, you were baptized into the LDS church?"

"Well yeah, but that was one time!"

"When exactly were you baptized Lala?"

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

"Wow, that long ago huh?"

"Yeah, those Elders, they tricked me into it. It was in a river and
everything!"

Trying not to laugh at this sweet lady and her slightly senile state, the
Hermanas decided to share a sweet and uplifting lesson in their best
Spanish, because these hermanas are American, you know.

But they decided to keep it short because it was 6:00 and their bus was at
6:30.

Just as the lesson was about to end Lala says, "HUH?".  And then happily
admits she didn't understand a dang thing. She then starts to talk about her
famous tortillas.

All of a sudden Hermans Starke gets pushed into the kitchen and with a smile
on her face starts making tortillas with Lala!

Byeee 6:30 bus.

Lala starts wipping things up and dumping ingredients into a bowl. Never
mind all the ants and insects crawling around inside of it. Lala likes it
all. She picks up a bag of meat from the ground and then, grinding it with
her hands, throws chunks of old, unrecognizable meat into the bowl too.

Then it's Hermana Starke´s turn to mix it all up. Yum.

Meanwhile, Hermana Anderson is teaching Jose Luiz about prophets in the next room.
She runs into the kitchen and hands Hermana Starke the camera, because they
have to "kodak" this moment. Just helpin' a sista out!

So Hermana Starke starts taking pictures and Lala is NOT a fan of the
flash. So she decides to take pictures of Hermana Anderson teaching in
action. For memories, right? They both catch her and things just get super
awkward for everyone involved.

Meanwhile Lala has been talking to Hermana Starke about who KNOWS what and
Hermana Starke so kindly nods her head and pretends she understands her.
Lala also decides to demonstrate and explain what is like to have 6
children. For the first time in her life, Hermana Starke was grateful for
her limited Spanish vocabulary.

She also invited Hermana Starke to bring her children back to Costa Rica to
learn how to make tortillas one day! Oh, what fun. Lala will be at least
100 by then. And I'm sure still makin those tortillas.

So the tortillas are ready and it's now time to eat them. Three large
tortillas for each of the Hermamas. Smelling of dog meat and burnt corn.
Yay! They were the nastiest tortillas they had ever had in their lives.

BUT, how wonderful is Lala to teach us how to make her famous little
delights and to spend her money on those delicious ingredients. Awwwwww. Even
though the Hermanas had stomach aches for the rest of the night, they were
also very grateful. Thankful hearts, and sick stomaches. What more does a
missionary need?

They kept saying how amazing they were and it made Lala sooo happy.

Finally they force down all the tortillas and it's time to leave with a
prayer. Hermana Starke is invited to say it...

She expresses her gratitude for the opportunity she has to be here and Lala
shouts out loud, during the prayer, "GRACIAS!"

Smiling so big and trying so hard not to laugh, Hermana Starke continues to
pray and blesses Lala and her son, Jose. But wait, everyones name is Jose
here! What is his second name? She was trying so hard, but couldn't
remember. Jose...Jose, Jose what!?

But not to worry, Lala helps her out, "JOSE SMITH!" she yells loudly. In
the middle of the prayer.

The room is silent. Then Hermana Anderson starts cracking up. And Hermana Starke,
with all her might, is holding her laughter inside.

But then all the events of the night catch up with her. Like the fact she
is literally living a new life in a different country with Lala. She
couldn't hold it back any longer. And bursts out into laughter.

She laughs, and prays some more, and laughs again.

Finally she pulls it together and finishes. She apologizes and thanks them
again for those mouth watering tortillas.

Then the 2 Hermanas laughed happily ever after all the way home.

What a journey, right? And this is my life on a daily basis. And I am just
ABSOLUTELY LOVING IT.

President Utchdorf said, "There will always be things to complain about.
Things that don't seem to go quite right. You can spend your days feeling
sad, alone, misunderstood, or unwanted. But that isn't the journey you had
hoped for, and it's not the journey Heavenly Father sent you to take. With
this in mind I invite you to walk confidently and joyfully. Yes, the road
has bumps and detours and even some hazards. But don't focus on them. Look
for the happiness your Father in Heaven has prepared for you in every step
of your journey. Happiness is the destination but it's also the path."

To add to that, I invite all to find joy in the your current journey. Who ever
you are, where ever you are. Look for the good! Be happy! And enjoy the
journey of life that we all must endure.

My journey here in Costa Rica has taught me so much about the real journey
that we are all on to make it back to our Heavenly Father. He wants us to
return to Him. And He especially wants us to help others along the way.

So that's what I am doing, inviting all others and helping others to come
unto Christ. To feel the joy that the knowlegde of the gospel can bring!
And to find joy in their journey.

I love you all,
Hope you can find lots of laughter in my journey here in Costa Rica,
Hermana Starke

Esmeralda...aka Lala

Making Tortillas

Butterfly

Just Singin' in the Rain

 Brownies and Coke

Family Home Evening with an awesome family from our branch..... brownies, coke and spoons!

Recent Converts... these kids are so adorable.

Elders had a Baptism... I just love this family.

This was on the back of a bus......So weird

This is Chris, he and his wife made us dinner.......

......and we had RICE.......Again :)

We bought our investigator Amber a skirt to come to Church with us

This Gringo family nearly doubled our attendance at church on Sunday

Branch Activity 

Going cocnuts....

Caterpillar and River rafting

At the River with Sandra

Look what I can still do.......

Just being creative.......;)

The most beautiful flowers......

Plantanas.... "Do they have these in America?"