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