Hermana Starke: "May God Be With You"

Hi Friends and Family,

Thanks for all the emails this week. They made me real happy! But the truth
is, it's almost impossible *not* be happy here :)

We had a great week... 50 lessons and 2 baptisms! It was the perfect week
to end this change. Yep, Tuesday we have changes! It's bittersweet.

So I kind of love serving my mission in a foreign country because even
though I feel like a Tican, I obviously do not look like one. A white
gringa walking down the street with a colorful skirt and name tag draws a
lot more attention than I realize.

But all the nice, friendly people say, "Que Dios los acompane!" Which in
English means, "may God be with you!"

But this week was my favorite. Some guy said to us as we were walking by
"Que Dios los acompane.........si yo no puedo!" Which in English, is
creeper for, May God be with you, SINCE I CAN'T BE!

Hahaha it was great.

Oh and then there's the embarrassing part of my life where Costa Rica
decided to get CRAZY WINDY!!! Seriously the wind here is inanse, and
wearing a flowy dress out was not the best decision I've ever made in my
life. But coming on a mission was! In rain or shine, in mini tornados or creepy
cat calls, we push on and we make it through.

Some days I struggle to make it through another day, but then the Lord
blesses me with tender moments that remind me it's all worth it. And our 2
baptisms this week were some of those moments!

Alejandro is the sweetest, happiest 12 year old boy I know. He loves life
and is the youngest son of a family that we have been teaching for the past
several months. His mom and sister still have lots of changes to make in
their life so we had his baptism early, because he was so ready! To learn
all the lessons, I made him a little book with pictures and he ran out with
a big smile when he passed his baptism interview. All the youth adore him
and he is so excited to be a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter
day Saints. And on Sunday, he proudly represented his new CTR ring! Thanks
for sending those mama :)

Erika is also a sweet, shy, 12 year old girl. She moved in with her aunt,
Alexandra, who was baptized only a few months ago. The first time we visted
her I gave her a book of mormon and when we came back the next day I asked
her if she had had time to read it. To my amazement she told me she had
read EIGHTEEN chapters. I was like WHAT?! No way!! So she showed me her book
of mormon with yellow highlighter marked all the way up to Nephi chapter
18. Wow right? Since then, she has progressed so quickly and I know the
Lord has big plans for her future. Only 7 more years and she will be
serving her own mission! I love my Erikita.

And I love Costa Rica, and my mission. Miss you guys a ton but I know I am
where the Lord wants me. So, may God be with you, since I cant be!

Love your fave sister missionary,
Hermana Starke

P.s. Sending lots of hugs and prayers to my sweet mama who is having
surgery this week! Love you xoxoxo