VIVE COSTA RICA!

Hola,

First of all........ HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, FABS!!! I don't know why the rule is
that we can only call on Mother's Day, but we should totally be allowed on
Father's Day too! Am I right? Anyway, sending lots and lots of love your
way. And happy birthday to the grandpa's and aunt Lisa. Love you guys!
Party it up in AZ for me this week!

So much has happened this week, for reals. I officially started my FIFTH
journal haha. I just love writing so much and want to have every single day
recorded because every day is filled with a new adventure and always a
miracle.

First, I have to give you all an update on Juan. Seriously he is just the
best, I love the guy. He started the book of mormon about a month ago and
is already in Alma. He sends us text messages all the time just thanking us
so so so much for finding him. He tells us that it's the biggest blessing of
his life and he just loves the scriptures and knows the church is true with
all his heart. He is the sweetest man ever, really you all have to meet him
one day. He just works all day long in his little security booth and when
there are no cars us he hurries over to his desk to get a verse or 2 in of
the book of mormon. He has every single pamphlet, including the first
articles of faith we gave to him all neatly organized in a protective
folder and has read them all a million times. He is truly a golden
investigator sent from above and is going to do great things in the church.
Now all we gotta do is find him a gf and get him married in the temple!
Haha!

We had an awesome week number wise. President sent us a text Sunday night
congratulating us which made us way happy! We found 19 new investigators
and 17 of them accepted baptismal dates. Holla! And almost all of them are
FAMILIES. We are so excited. It was so much fun finding them all because
they all live so close to each other. That's what I love here in CR. You can
contact an entire street and everyone knows everyone because everyone is
related. It's not like America where every kid lives in a different state
and you only see your loved ones at the annual family reunion. Here we are
just all one big happy fam. And that's the way I like it.

It's funny how at the beginning of my mission I was afraid to invite people
to be baptized in the first lesson because I didnt know how they would take
it or what they would say (let alone be able to understand their repsonse
in spanish haha). But now, it's just like I live for it and love it because
it's the entire reason we are here. If we truly represent Jesus Christ, we
have to do, teach and invite like he would. And when we do it with power
and authority, the spirit testifies, and the investigators say yes!

Have I told you guys about Yader? The one that was sitting down all sad on
the curb and we invited him to church? The one I left hanging but then
luckily the spirit reminded me we were going to pass by for him? Well he
has come to church 4 times now and loves it so much. The only problem is,
he has some gnarly drug addictions. He drinks alcohol, coffee, smokes
cigarettes, and does drugs *every day*. We are working really hard with
him, but the thing is, this kid needs professional help. But I know that
through the power of the gospel hes going to be able to completely stop
doing drugs and repent. He really really wants to get baptized but it's way
tough. Every day he is doing better though... and he's reading the book of
mormon which provides so much power. I just have to call him like 80 times
a day and remind him he is a child of God. And he tells me, you're right
hermana... it's true... thanks! I AM a child of god and I'm going to change.
I've been reading the book, it helps me a lot. But hermana, why does it talk
about Nephi so much. What's a Nephi. Hahaha oh Yader, just keep reading...

Oh and get this. So we brought him over an entire weeks worth of agua dulce
in a HUGE GIANT TEA POT that one of the members loaned us (it's like hot
water, sweetened with brown sugar... very interesting and super popular
here... I'll bring some home for you all to try) and he now has a week
without the coffee. But it was just so hilarious when we showed up at his
house with all this agua dulce, I was laughing sooo hard. Oh, the things we
do for our investigators.

We also had to drop an investigator we have had for 4 long months, Ruben.
We were so sad. But we have done EVERY THING POSSIBLE for this guy. He is a
single dad with 2 adorable twin daughters and I just hope and pray one day
he can decide to change. Its just so hard because he has come to church
like 7 times, has had 2 baptismal interviews, and already recieved a
comnfirmation that the church is true. Hopefully one day...

SATURDAY!!!!!!! Wow saturday was the craziest day ever but so much fun. As
I am sure you all know, the world soccer cup is going on and on Saturday,
Costa Rica played against Paraguay at 1pm!

So on Friday night we got a text message saying that the entire mission had
to leave and work in the morning at 9am and be in the house at 1pm...
studying. Boo! Haha but we were way stoked to do something different
because we have the same schedule every single day. We were excited to
change it up. Normally we study from 8 to 12 and work the rest of the day.
So we leave the house at 9am and everyone, I mean everyone is wearing red
and listening to music and just going crazy getting ready for the game.
Food and fiestas and dancing everywhere. There was even a fair going on and
it was awesome because we got to contact a ton of people! So we get in some
good lessons in the morning and head back to the apartment at one but
studying was basically impossible with all the noise and madness going on!
Well, the happy news is that COSTA RICA WON and the entire rest of the day
was celebrated with more loudness, cheering, eating, drinking, and pure
craziness but it was way fun to watch it all happen. The sister that we
live with bought us ice cream and we celebrated in the apartment with our
scriptures and liahonas... :)

Ok well that's a wrap for the week. I love this work. It's truly the best!
Hermana Starke

April and May showers bring June miracles!

Dear all,

As missionaries in Costa Rica we now spend most of our days huddled under
umbrellas and we have experienced lots of rain these past few months. But
after the biggest of rainstorms, you get the prettiest of rainbows! And so
it is the same in the work. After the biggest rejections and most bitter
trials, come the sweetest blessings and greatest miracles. So when the rain
begins to fall, just remember where the rain falls from.

Maybe the biggest miracle we've seen here in Belen, is Juan. About 4 weeks
ago we were leaving the house and passed by the temple, as always. Right
next to the temple there's a giant soccer field and you have the pass
through a security booth to get into it. So I smile and waved and said hi
to the security guy working outside. He was friendly and waved back so we
decided to talk to him. We learned that his name is Juan and we gave him
the articles of faith to read and asked if we could visit him one day. He
said he worked every day from 11am to 11pm... except Sunday.

So Sunday rolls around and we called Juan to see if we could stop by. He
said that he had picked up another shift at work but maybe next Sunday...

Another week passed by and when we were walking back home Saturday night to
the apartment, we passed by Juan. And we decided to invite him to church.
He said he would come! He's seen the temple and church for the past 6 years
every day at work and has always wondered what the mormons are all about...

So he came to church on Sunday, and absolutely loved it. We gave him a
pamphlet of the restoration and told him to read it before our lesson on
Tuesday. Even though he works sooo much, Juan got up early to be able to
come to the church and have a lesson with us. After the opening hymn and
prayer we asked him if he read the pamphlet and he said he couldn't remember
much.

So I'm thinking ok, no. He obviosusly didn't... But then he said well, I just
have 3 questions for you guys.

1. Is the grand apostasy just a period of time or has it happened in
different times through out history?

2. How come it says I have to pray in order to know that Joseph Smith was a
true prophet called by God?

3. What is mormon, and how can I get a copy of this book that talks about
Christ in the Americas? I want to read it.

OKAY SO HE DEFINITELY READ THE PAMPHLET. We answered all is questions and
had a great lesson and he accepted a baptismal date right then and there.
We knelt in prayer he asked God if he should be baptized if this was the
true church and if what we were teaching is true. It was so humble and so
pure. Then when he ended the prayer we were all in tears because the spirit
was just so strong.

By the next Sunday at church he had already read all of 1st Nephi and told
us how much he just loved reading it along with the bible. He told us how
it was like a seed in his heart that kept growing and it was just delicious
to him. Wow. He basically quoted scripture.... Alma 32 anyone???

So when we taught him the word of wisdom he told us what a blessing it was
to be able to have this wisdom without paying money to a food specialist or
doctor because we have health instructions directly from God. He said he
would start living it right away. Not only did he stop drinking tea, but he
wanted to make sure he wasn't eating too much meat or too many sweets. It's
safe to say he lives this commandment better than I do!

So then law of chastity, he told us how beautiful the pamphlet was with
happy faithful looking couples. It's hard enough to get people to live the
law, let alone get people to read the pamphlet, let alone be so grateful
and so happy of the pictures inside! Golden investigator, I think yes.

When we taught him tithing he told us it would be an honor and a pleasure
to be able to help build the kingdom of God here on the earth. What?!! Juan
you are awesome. He then broke down a little and told us about his
family... He was adopted young and his parents have given him everything,
including a religion. They are pastors of some strong evangelica church and
he told us they would kick him out of the house if they knew he was going
to get baptized. We told him to pray real hard and ask Heavenly Father what
he should do, and right away he said, "no hermanas, I know all this is true.
Im going to get baptized".

And he did! It was the greatest moment. He was so happy. And he bore his
testimony in church after the confirmation and cried tears of joy
expressing his love for Christ, his baptism, the book of mormon, and us.
Truly it has been the biggest blessing being able to teach someone like him
and I will never forget it.

Another huge blessing this week was getting to have a zone conference with
Elder Ochoa of the 70! I learned so much and it was an incredible
experience. Then he suprised us all and showed up to our ward on Sunday and
I got to hear him speak again! After the meeting, he congratulated us for
finding Juan and said we are doing great work. Best. compliment. ever...

And today we went with a family in our ward to the coolest place in Costa
Rica and I hope you all enjoy my pictures just as much as I enjoyed holding
butterflies, frogs, and TOUCANS! It was the bessssstttt!

I love the work. I love CR. I love you all.
Hermana Starke

Put the TEST in TESTIMONY

Hi friends and family,

I can't believe how fast time is going. The more time I have here, the more
I learn to love it. And time is just flying. I don't even want to think
about the fact that in 4 months, I won't be in Costa Rica wearing a name tag
representing the one who has changed my life.

Being a missionary has meant the world to me. It's been the greatest
expreience I've ever had. It's changed me, and through this on going change,
it's converted me. I am forever grateful for that.

We realized something this week. Basically all of our investigators are
from contacting, so we decided to make a plan to get more references.
Because all though it's great when you invite someone off the street to
church and they come, we all know that the best way to find investigators
is through the members.

So all this week we have been sharing our testimonies with the members and
then asking for references. And I learned a lot. I learned how much I have
grown personally and spiritually as a person, missionary, and daughter of
God. I have had the privilege and opportunity to share my testimony every
day for the past 14 months and it has grown so much.

So today I want to share with you all a part of my ever growing testimony...

I KNOW that I am supposed to come here. Since the minute I read the words
in my mission call to just a few months ago, I have had my doubts. Why me,
why Costa Rica, why spanish, why this area. But our thoughts are not the
Lord's thoughts. His ways are not ours. He knows perfectly well what He's
doing and we need to learn to trust in that. Each companion, each
rejection, and each day is so delicately and perfectly catered to what I
need to learn. What I need to feel. And how I need to be tested. I am
completely convinced that out Heavenly Father is involved in the small
details of our lives. He loves us, and we must truly trust in him.

I KNOW that the atonement is real. When feelings of confusion and lonliness
settled in those first few months, it was rough. But the Lord gave me the
strength to push through. When the rejection was so harsh and I just wanted
to collapse and cry, the Lord gave me the power I needed to testify and
keep my head held high. When I was tired, so physically exhausted or sick
with pain, the Lord never took those burdens away. But he helped me "carry the
burdens". He comforted me. He loves me, because He understands me. And that's
what the atonement is. Doing the impossible because you are not alone.
Turning over what you cannot do for yourself. Overcoming weaknesses because
you must turn to the one who gave them to you. Hurting and suffering and
loving it because you are now privileged to take up the cross and walk a
few foot steps with Christ himself. And I know that He does not only lead
the way, but He walks right along with us.

I KNOW what I want. Cars, money and living a glamous life has little
importance to me now. The only thing I want is to be a wife and a mom. I
want a family that follows the Savior. A husband who keeps his covenants.
Lots of cute, happy babies that grow up to be missionaries one day. I want
temple visits, scripture study and family prayer because I know nothing
will make me happier. And there is nothing that will stop me or get in my
way from getting just that.

I KNOW that the Lord is protecting me. Sooo Saturday night we did some last
minute visits in a place called Guapinol, right? Let's just say it's not the
safest or richest part of CR. And well an old, old investigator from like a
year ago is kind of in love with me. Haha. He saw me and came up and
started talking to us. So I shook his hand and he tried to kiss me. But I
freaked out, ducked, and he misses, thankfully. We then quickly discovered
he is super super drunk. So we get away quickly and everything is fine but
when we leave the next lesson we found him outside waiting for us..... talk
about creepy. So we sprinted for the other direction and my companion tells
me that he's following us. Great. And we are on a dark street and it's
getting late. And I'm sorry for telling this story mom, but don't worry, it
has a happy ending. So even though I'm pretty sure he wanted to and was
going to attack us, I prayed hard hard hard and the Lord blessed and
protected us. There just happened to be a family of 7 sitting outside their
house with the lights on and I started preaching to them, the creeper just
kept on walking... So we found a new family and I learned my lesson to
never go to Guapinol after dark.

I KNOW President Wilkinson is a man called of God. We had our leadership
meeting with him this week and it was just so amazing. Seriously. It's like
one of the best parts of being a missionary... going to these meetings.
President Wilkinson taught us how to be leaders and shared with us what he
has learned in his life time of being a leader himself. Something that I
will take with me, use, and apply forever.

I KNOW it's possible to live a day without rice. Today my cute companion and
I had a picnic and made carne asada with tortillas, pico de gallo, avocados
and diet coke. Best p day lunch ever? I think yes.

I KNOW this work is true. It's hastening and we can choose whether or not we
want to be a part of it. The true gospel and priesthood keys have been
restored upon the earth through the prophet joseph smith. I wasn't with him
when he saw God the father, and Jesus Christ but I know he saw them because
I have read the book of mormon and felt it's truthfulness in my heart. Love
being a missionary. Love the gospel. Love my testmony. Love you all for
reading and being such a special part of my life. In the name of Jesus
Christ, Amen.

Your favorite missionary, Sister Starke