Never let your prayin' knees get lazy

Dear all,

Cumpleanos feliz, deseamos a ti, cumpleanos a FABIO, cumpleanos feliz!!!
Hope you have a fablous week in Hawaii. I am jealous, but then I remember
that I am in Costa Rica, so it's all good :)

Well, I thought last Sunday was Easter. Turns out it wasn't, so that's
embarrassing. But it's not my fault. How was I supposed to know that all the
fiestas last week were just part of the PRE WEEK partying?! I don't have
news, facebook, or internet to notify me. But, this week was the real deal
Semana Santa, and it's just so funny because everyone decided to be
Catholic. That's what happens during this time of year. Por favor. The front
of almost every front yard was decorted with a cross draped in purple
material, Jesus statues, and bibles. Curious, I used it as a way to start
taking to people and find out what it all meant. But not a single person
could answer me or knew why they were doing the things they were doing.
Hmmm. They do everything here out of TRADITION and not CONVICTION.

That's why I love being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day
Saints because you can ask ANY sunbeam (note: a sunbeam is the 3-4 year old class) 

 and they will happily tell you what
we believe. They know the book of Mormon stories. They know faith is like a
little seed...if planted it will grow. They know the 13 articles of faith. 

And most importantly, they know they are children of our Heavenly Father. Something that the majority
of people do not understand or comprehend.

So that's where we come in! And that's why this work is so important. This
week has been a little crazy getting used to a new area, new companion, and
new people. But I love it. We live approximately 30 seconds walking
distance from the temple and I see it every single day! It's there shining
brightly when I wake up, and it sits there peacefully when I fall asleep.
It's so amazing and we are just close it's unreal. Our church building is
pink and beautiful and sits right behind it. I am sooo blessed.

The members? Already love them. We share a house with the stake President
and his wife. The bishop spent the whole day with us visitng investigators
and less actives on Sunday. Two sister missionaries got taken out this
change, leaving just us here in Belen. My rock star of a companion, Hermana
Ponce, and I are so excited. It's sad and hard because we have a lot of work
to do and an area to open, but a blessing in disguise because the members
know they need to step it up!

Belen is super city like and I am going to miss seeing so much green but I
have the coolest feeling when I walk through the streets. Even though I
know it's the first time I am seeing everything, it all feels so familiar.
Like I have seen it before. I feel comfortable, and this city is all
strangely familiar. The feeling, the sounds, the houses and the people.
Like I have been waiting to return. Like there are people here waiting for
me.

I had one of the most sipritual experiences of my mission this week. I will
do my best to write it out, but words aren't really sufficient.

After only one lesson, Andrea came to church. This week I was able to meet
her and we taught her for the second time. She had lots of doubts and
questions and didn't understand why everyone was talking about Joseph Smith.
She got defensive and was ready to tell us to leave. So we did, but not
first before a prayer. We closed the door, to shut out the noise. Got on
our knees, and Andrea offered the prayer. There was a long pause but then
she began the prayer asking to understand, for forgiveness, for help, and
for an answer. She prayed about Joseph Smith, about us, about the church,
about baptism. She must have prayed for what felt like 10 minutes. She knew
and understood she was talking with her Father. She begged to know the
truth. So sincerely and so specifically. Towards the end of the prayer she
began to weep. She ended the prayer and when I opened my eyes she had her
hands cupped over her face, crying uncontrollably. We kneeled in silence
until she spoke through tears...

"Do you really believe that God was listening?"

"Absolutely, Andrea."

"My heart and entire body feels warm. It's true. I know this is true!"

I have never taught and seen someone recieve and answer so clear and so
soon. The spirit was so strong. It was incredible. The gospel is true. I
know that it's true! And I ask everyone to pray and know for themselves. Moroni
10:5

Love,
Hermana Starke

Semana Santa!

Hi everyone!

Ooooooooooh I have so much to tell you all. I guess I will start by saying
that I had the best Easter of my life, and I didn't even remember that it
was Easter until Sunday night haha. It's not celebrated much here. Instead
it is celebrated ALL week long. With beach parties, lots of food and fun
vacations. Aka spring break. And here's how my Easter day began...

Sunday morning we woke up and studied. I found some great stories in the
bible. Anyway, then we left the house, all ready to go around eight thirty
to walk to church. I called our golden investigator family who I assumed
would already be on their way, and to make sure they were for sure coming to Church.
Carlos told me he and his girlfriend (they are getting married and baptized
the 26th) got in a huge fight and they didn't want anything to do with each
other or the church and they weren't coming.

We freak out.

So we take the first taxi we see and go SPEEDING to their house. They are
both upset. In tears. And definitely not ready for church.

So in the middle of all this, Hermana Wilkinson (Mission President's wife) calls me and asks for directions to our chapel because she and her family have decided to come to
visit today. Ahhhhh. So I am giving directions, to the chapel which is like
impossible to find. They are lost and don't understand a thing I am saying.
We all know that directions and I are not best friends. Johanna and Carlos
are screaming and fighting. And my companion is deperately trying to get
them into the taxi to come to church with us. Talk about stress?! Meanwhile
we could NOT be late because I had the baptismal register for Reina who was
getting confirmed. Church starts in 4 minutes. So. We finally get Carlos in
the taxi, check. We meet up with the Wilkinsons and all walk into the
chapel right as Santos was about the give Reina the holy ghost. We sit
down. The Wilkinsons sit down behind us. Phew. We made it! Unfortunately
Carlos was the only one in the family who came...

Testimony meeting was incredible. The best testimony meeting ever. So
spiritual and so beautiful. Reina, Martha, Marco, and all my favorite
people bore their testimonies and I just felt so happy when the expressed
their love and gratitude for las hermanas. But the happiest moment was at
the end of Sacrament meeting when the rest of the family of Carlos walked
into church! Carlos starting crying. And so did I.

So then president delivers me the news that I have changes and am going to
Belen, the area of the temple, to be a sister training specialist. Oww oww!
Guess that means I am pretty special. Haha I'm excited. It'll be fun. And
lots of work. So send your prayers this way my friends. I am going to need
them.

I also found out that I am going to be a GRANDMA! My sweet little hija is
going to be training a new gringa fresh from the mtc. They are going to
rock it!

Everything is super bitter sweet. I spent the rest of the day saying bye to
the people I love the most. Hugs, tears, gifts and photos. The
investigators, converts, and members truly have been my family here and I
love them so deeply. It was the hardest, saddest thing to say bye but I
promsied them I am coming back in December with my family!

It's been an amazing 6 months full of happiness, hard work, disappointments,
laughs, and miracles. I left behind a huge piece of my heart in Ciudad
Colon. But I am excited for this new adventure and I know the Lord knows
what he's doing. As long as we trust in him, everything will work out just
fine. And if we trust in him fully, things will turn out great. This is his
work, and I am just happy to be a part of it. I will do whatever He asks
and give it my all. I may not be the best but I know that the Lord loves me
despite my imperfections. That's the beauty of this gospel. Alma 7

Just so you know I am currently sitting in a crammed, loud, little computer
shack with 3 GIANT suitcases surrounding me and after I send this email I
am headed to my new area. I feel nervous and stressed and tired. But it's
all for the glorious cause of truth.

Love you guys. Miss you all. Come visit the temple in Costa Rica and see
me! So excited.

XO
Hermana Starke

Happy Birthday Jesus!

• Dear friends,
  
  Well... I made it! Thursday, April 3rd was my "birthday" here and I am now
  1 year old in the mish! So how did I celebrate? Let me begin by telling you
  what I had for lunch...
  
  COW STOMACH.
  
  No, not a juicy in n out hamburger. Not even a nice, sweet mango. But the
  apetizing inside of a cow. I know mom and dad, its hard to believe I put
  the stomach of another animal, into my own. But hey, pura vida! Right?

  
  
  
  
  

So after eating my little cow delight, I decided how much my life has
changed in the past year. And I have come to the conclusion that you know
you have been in the Costa Rica mission for a year IF:

You eat weird things on a daily basis, but they become normal. Chips with
rice. Cow's stomach. Fruit with salt. Pig feet soup. It works.

Stares are completely normal. You have learned to just smile and say hola.
And instead of the usual "take a picture it'll last longer!" comment... you
say, "take a pass a long card, it'll change your life!"

As you sit waiting for your bus to arrive, you lean your head against the
pole and then find a big fat wad of bubble gum in your hair. But hey, you're
in Costa Rica. So pura vida.

All your best friends at home got married without you. Everyone you know is
engaged, married or pregnant. And you happily get all the invites that have
NO return envelope or address. Cause everyone knows you're not actually
going to come...

You understand the importance of finding new investigators everyday!
Because let's be honest, they're not all shiny and gold like we wish they
were. In fact, they are more likely, silver, plastic, and usually catholic.

You realize that friday nights are a bit different here. We have
"appointments" rather than dates. But you learn to look forward and love
Mondays rather than hatin' on them like the rest of the world.

You also realize that you have suddenly developed separation anxiety when
your companion is in the bathroom or leaves the room for 2 seconds. You
freak out and go into panic mode when you find yourself alone.

General conference is like the SUPER BOWL!

Our General Conference Lunch 

You occasionally forget words in English. And would just rather talk in
Spanish anyways. You think, dream, and sleep talk in Spanish. So great.

You have basically forgotten how to drive. What does it feel like? I just
can't remember... it's been so long... I vaguely remember those things called
cars...

You got the bus schedule DOWN. You know your way around San Jose. You are a
pro at doing the math and figuring out what you THOUGHT was monopoly money
at first. Being squished in a crowded bus doesn't nearly freak you out as
much as the first time, 1 year ago. In fact, it's normal. It's comfortable.
And it's your life.

You have now memorized the words to just about every church hymn ever
written and only have efy music stuck in your head.

You have filled up 4 journals and think of life in periods of 6 weeks.

Your first name is Hermana. Your last name is Starke. Who is Jessicah?

Your knees are the weirdest, whitest looking part of your body and you have
decided to never show them again. Hahaha

You hair is DEAD from the sun. And your feet are covered in fun callouses
because they know they have to walk all. day. long.

Your stomach magically finds room for 3 dinners. It's truly a miracle.

Even though you have gotten pretty good at it, you understand that bible
bashing is just a waste of time and it wont get you anywhere.

You cherish the words of the scripture in D&C 18, "And if it so be that
you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and
bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in
the kingdom of my Father!"

And one of those souls for me and my companion is Reina. Her name means
Queen. And let me tell you, she doesn't fall from anything short from
being one.

Let me just tell you about the first time I visited her way back in
November. Her son, Santos, is a member and we went to celebrate his
birthday. I had already eaten 2 dinners for the day and so I politely
declined her food. Big mistake. She was completely offended and didn't talk
to me for the rest of the night. Ooops.

The next time I saw her was in January when she showed up to Erika's
baptism. I was quite surprised, knowing from Santos she doesn't support the
church at all, so I chatted a little bit with her and asked her if she
would like to learn more about what Erika's baptism meant. She said yes, and
I got her number.

I went home and found her in the teaching records. I discovered that Santos
had been bringing missionaries to try to convert her for the past 3 years
since he was converted himself. Hmm, I thought. We`ll give it a try.

In February we made an appointment with her one Tuesday at 4pm.
Unfortunately our district meeting ran late and we had to call and cancel.
When we called she told us in a very unhappy manner that we were not ever
again welcome in her home for the lack of curtousy. She had cleaned the
entire house and was expecting our arrival. Ahhhhhh. We felt horrible. So
we rushed home, took a taxi, bought her a loaf of bread, and went to the
house to give her an apology. Expecting the worst, we knocked on the door
and her daughter let us in. It was 4:25pm. There she was. Sitting in her
chair with a the most angy face I have ever seen. Arms folded. Legs
crossed. I wanted to burry myself in the ground and never come out...
Luckily she let us sing, pray and share a quick message. We taught baptism.
She told me she would NEVER get baptized in the mormon church. Have you
read the book of mormon? I asked her. NO! And then she told us not to
mention the name Joseph Smith in her home. She hated him and began to list
off all the things she didn't like about us, the church, and the prophets.

We testified, cleared up all her wrong assumptions, invited her to church,
and got out of there.

Then a miracle. A MIRACLE happened......she came.

So we followed up. Kept visiting here and there. We kept teaching and she
began to read the book of mormon. Then she began to read a lot of it. And
began to pray about it. And kept coming to church.

A few weeks later, she accepted a baptismal date, April 6th. We were in
awe. And so was Santos. When we told him, he explained that it wasn't
likely, she still drank coffee, and didn't have a testimony. So we got to
work. But mostly just prayed for her and loved her. That's all people need.
Someone to believe in them. Someone to love them. Once we gained her trust
(which was NOT an easy task) she started to open up her heart to us and we
were able to teach to her needs. To help her in a very personal way. And to
be able to help her understand the beauty of the true gospel.

We taught word of wisdom SUPPPPERRR POWERFUL and she gave up coffee. I
bought her oatmeal to drink (yes, people drink oatmeal here, it's delicious)
and she flat out told me she hated the selection of oatmeal and threw it
away. Haha thanks Reina, I love you for your honesty.

She was reading the BOM like a wild woman and even had dreams where Nephi
was talking to her. He told her to keep reading and she would get her
answer. We were patient.

In our lessons she offered some of the sweetest, purest, and most humble
prayers. Prayers I will never forget.

So she progressed and kept reading and April 6th got closer. She called us
the day of her baptismal interview and said she wasn't gonna go through with
it, but then we prayed and Heavenly Father affirmed to us that this was her
day. So we showed up to her house anway and she had her interview. She
wasn't too thrilled but two and a half hours later, Elder Alvarez walked out
waving the pink baptismal register! We hugged. And cried. It was magical.
It was a miracle.

So Sunday, Santos was able to finally baptize his mom and we gave Jesus a
birthday present by baptizing one of his beautiful, crazy, daughters. Who
had the hardest heart for 52 years of her life, but through the power of
the book of mormon, and the spirit, she changed. God has a special and perfect
timing for all his childen. He loves us so much.

I love Reina so much. And I love being apart of this work :)
Hermana Starke

Reina

Reina and Santos

My Companion gave this to me for my One Year In the Mish

SUPER COOL WALL!

Cute, rich little community here in cuidad colon

Families from our Ward

One Crazy Year!!

Hey everyone,

I have a year in the mission... What? So crazy! And along with that,
this week I had some really crazy experiences!

1. So I am sitting outside on a bench with my scriptures open teaching a
lesson. And right as a challenged my amigo Jose Rafael to be baptized, a
bird left a nice, big, messy surprise in my BOOK OF MORMON. Welcome to
missionary life in Costa Rica, folks.

2. We had to drop one of our investigators and I bore him my final
testimony. He continued to deny everything we taught him, the spiritual
witnesses he has had, and that the church was true. I could just feel
angles around us taking notes of all the apostacy he was saying. One day I
know he is going to have to give an account. Pobrecito...

3. We met Gloria. She had jenga in her hands, so we pointed and shouted,
"JENGA!" (PMG says look for any clues possible to get to know others,
check!) Startled and a little confused, we started an awkward conversation
with her in the street and told her we teach English. (Yes, everyone I
teach the gospel and English!) The next day she called us (ok, that like
NEVER happens, we always have to call them) and so we met up with her in
the chapel. The english class turned into the first lesson and she accepted
a baptism date. She prayed to ask if the book of mormon we had read in
English was true. The spirit was so strong it was almost tangible. She told
us she doesnt believe in coincidences. Well, guess what? We don't either!

4. A new lady moved into our ward and she is a total rockstar. She's visited
over 45 countries and loves life. Luckily she loves the gospel as well and
is so excited to help us in the work. With that being said, we got a new
mission leader this week, Hermano Sebaja :) and a new gospel principles
teacher! They both are so awesome and so willing to help. I know this is
going to help pick up the work here in Ciudad Colon! We are so happy.

5. I ate mangos shaped like parrots. Enough said. Haha I love my tican life.

6. During our district meeting this week, a guy named Max walked into the
church and said he needed help. He needed to talk to someone. He was
planning on taking his life but then decided to see what the mormon church
had to offer. You think 2 missionaries is powerful, try SEVEN. So he tells
us his story. Lost his job, lost his family, his wife left him for his best
friend, he hasn't eaten in days, he doesn't want to live another day in this
world. But then we start teaching. And testifying. And he walked out of the
chapel with a book of mormon, a baptismal date, and a smile. The gospel
changes lives. It gives purpose to life. And everyone, everyone needs it.

7. We passed by a house with a family inside Saturday afternoon and invited
them to church. They said yes. So when we called them Sunday morning
expecting them to not answer or put some excuse they said they were on
their way!!!!!!!! What. We did a happy dance and then ran all the way to
church. They came! Stayed the whole 3 hours. Loved it and afterwards
accepted baptismal dates. They have some serious changes to make in their
life. Stop smoking, get married, the usual. But these people actually have
a desire. Something that you cannot teach or give to people. Finally
prepared people have been placed in my plath. And it feels so great.

8. The general womans conference. There's not even words! It was incredible!
The video? I cried... And my favorite was the closing hymn. Let us all
press on in the work of the Lord! Amen.

Xoxo
Hermana Starke

P.s. Oh dad.....I FINALLY have some songs for ya :)
Pienso en ti by Reik
Es la meta y el camino by Reik
Vivir mi vida by Marc Anthony
Tu y yo ya no by Thalia
No te pido flores by Fanny Lu

Mango Shaped like a Parot

Some of the first members in Costa Rica

Coolest Tree Ever!

Making Tortillas

The biggest pumpkin ever

Sister Wilkinson-My mission "mom"

We got Carl's Jr for our district meeting!!