5 more weeks of miracles comin' right up!

HOLA!!!!!

Como estan todos!? I'm good, just slightly freaking out at all my welcome
home, come home now, you're almost home emails. I STILL GOT 5 LONG WEEKS
PEOPLE. Let me love and enjoy them :) doesn't help that my companion points
to every airplane in the sky and tells me that will be me very, very soon.
And I just say no no no. I am in denile!

Speaking of my companion... she has the craziest story and the strongest
testimony I have ever heard or felt. I admire her so much and am just
learning a ton from her. I wish you could all meet her and feel her amazing
spirit.

Hermana Martinez has had a rough life but it's made her fierce and strong.
Her Dad passed away when she was younger leaving her Mom to provide for her
and her family. They struggled to get by and faced a lot of challenegs, but
it's what prepared and led her to finally find and recieve the gospel.

Her family has always believed firmly in the Catholic faith. She was taught
to be very dedicated in all she does, especially to God. She was baptized,
had her confirmation, did the bible classes, went to church 5 times a week,
and everything else a real Catholic does.

When she was 15, a friend invited her over for a family night with the
missionaries and she watched the restoration video. She thought it was all
nice until they gave her a book of mormon. She thought it was ridiculous
and weird that there could exist any other scripture than the bible. And
that was that.

Time passed and the book sat in box under her bed for 6 years. She
continued life with little purpose and even less happiness.

One day when she was walking home with her little brother, 2 boys with
white shirts, ties and nametags started talking to her brother about
soccer. They asked if they could visit him one day and he replied, sure.
Why not?

Within a few days the two young elders came looking for her little brother.
But he didn't actually think they would come! So he ran upstairs and hid
himself in his room. Annoyed, hermana Martinez had to open the door and
tell them that her brother was busy and to come back later.

Luckily these elders were persistant and Hermana Martinez ended up
recieving all the lessons. But this time was different because she recieved
a very powerful witness from the spirit that it was all true and was
baptized 3 weeks later. Sadly, she is the only member in her family and has
done it all alone. But knows its true and loves it. The day she completed a
year as a member of the church she sent in her mission papers and was
called to Costa Rica!

She figured she would have to enter the mtc late because the day before she
reported, she still hadnt recieved her visa. Discouraged she was about to
call her bishop when he called her and told her that her visa came in that
very morning! It was 12pm and her original flight was scheduled to leave at
4pm. So what did she do? She said a prayer, got ready, borrowed a suit case
from a neighbor, packed the few skirts she had, said her goodbyes and took
a taxi to the airport. She barely made her flight but made it just in
time and knows without a doubt this is where the Lord wants her to be.

She loves and embraces the gospel because she knows understands what life
is like with out it. When she shares her conversion story I just get
goosebumps because its so powerful and she teaches and testifies without a
single doubt. She is amazing talking with and teaching Catholics (aka every
person that lives in Belen...) and even though she only has a year and 7
months as a member she knows way more that I do and for real this girl is
incredible.

It's been such a blessing to be able to learn, teach, and share with her.
She loves teaching the plan of salvation to everyone because its her
favorite part of the gospel.

Which prepared us to meet Mariana. She moved in about a month ago to an
apartment above one of our current investigators and weve been wanting to
teach her since then but shes always been so dang busy.

Well on Saturday, we finally found out *why* she's always so busy. She let
us into her tiny home and we met her two children. Her 3 year old daughter
was laughing, playing and running around, but her son, Issac was contrained
to a bed.

It's a miracle that Issac is even alive, because children with the desease
he has normally only live to be 3 years old, and Issac is 5. Mariana has
struggled so much over the past 5 years taking care of him and trying to
pay for all the medicine and medical bills. Her husband works all night
long and then comes home in the morning to help her during the day. Issac
cant walk or talk and must be fed through a tube connected to his stomach.

But when I met him, I could just feel something so special inside of his
crippled, defected body. You can feel his sweet spirit when you look into
his eyes. We began to teach the plan of salvation and where we were before
this life. We explained to Mariana that Issaic was an angel before this
life and only needed to come to earth to recieve a body because he was
perfect and didnt need to be tempted or tested. We testifed that God loved
him and trusted her enough to be his mother. She began to sob
uncontrollably because she had no idea... She had been burdened with 5
years of questions and doubts, but hearing this made her feel so relieved
and filled her heart with peace. Many other pastors have told her other
things and even said that it was her fault for not having enough faith to
heal him. She had no idea what to believe until the spirit testified to her
that what we were teaching was true.

It was a miracle. Issac is a miracle. I love missionary work because it's
not always just about how many people you baptize but how many people hear
the true message of the restored gospel. We are called and sent forth to
preach this message and I know it will be taught and preached until every
child of God hears it.

Hermana Starke

Bee Stings and Angel's WingsThis

Hi family!

Well............ "IT'S THE FINAL COUNT DOWN!!!!!" Because today is the start
of my very last change in the mission!

My last planner
My last companion
My last pair of shoes
6 more weeks of rice and beans
6 more weeks of spanish
6 more letters home
and 6 more weeks to enjoy, live up, and love every moment being a
missionary!

Ready, set go.

Ok I just have soooo much to tell you all. I could sit here and write for
days... but I wont cause there is just way to much to do. Belen is on fia
and I am just the happiest ever that I get to end my mission here. God
loves me! And answers prayers.

Update time,
The Sibaja family is going through the temple September 6th and I get to
go. Yay!
Juan has already read the book of mormon... TWICE!
Miguel and Brandon came ready in their white shirts and ties to pass the
sacrament Sunday.
Members are going to talk with Martha's boyfriend tonight so they can
convince to marry so she can get baptized.
Yader has introduced us to all his neighbors and tonight we have family
home evening with them.
Natalia is still my favorite investigator in the world!

Story time,
So we went to teach her and Oscar the restoration on Wednesday. But before
we started, we asked them if they had read the pamplet. Oscar says of
course and starts to go into complete and full detail about the priesthood
and the apostasy and Joseph Smith and I'm pretty sure my jaw was just
hanging wiiiide open because I have never ever ever met a family so amazing
and so prepared. For real. And the best part is THEY LOVE COMING TO CHURCH.
And all the members are sooo sooo happy to see a new family there. Every
one ran up to them after sacrament and made them feel so loved. Then after
church we went over to their house with some members and watched the
restoration movie and we were all just crying afterwards sharing
testimonies because the spirit was so powerful and just filled the room. No
one could deny it.

So then I asked their 6 year old son, Dani, what he liked the best. And he
said, "when he prayed in the trees and saw God! But I didn't like it when
they didn't believe him. But dont worry, I believe him!"

Ahhh it was just the best thing ever and we all knelt down to pray after
and it was the most touching prayer I've ever heard. Oscar asked to have his
heart, mind, and soul open to be able to discern if this is what he should
do for his family and to be able to accept the gospel in their lives to
continue feeling the peace they have felt.

They are just the greatest, nicest people ever and I just cry when I think
about how blessed I am to be able to teach them. And how the Lord put them
in our path. No doubt they will be ready for their baptismal date September
6th!!! YEAH!!!

When we feel like hope is lost, we just have to keep praying for those who
are waiting for us and I TESTIFY they will come. As long as we keep
working. Natalia, Oscar, Santi and Dani are the people I've been praying for
my entire mission.

Crazy news time,
Hermana Ponce has changes and is going to return to her 2nd area. She will
have a total of 9 months in this place! Wowww! She is super excited and
going to train a newbie for her last 6 weeks. I am going to miss her like
crazy. We have seen so many miracles together. And it's so sad saying bye to
someone you have been with and grown to live in 4 months...

My new companion is hermana Martinez from Honduras. She's got 6 months in
the mission and has been to Belen on divisions and taught Natalia for the
first time. Coincidence?! No way. God is perfect. And so are his plans.

Story of my life time,
So I got stung by a bee for the first time, which really hurt, and found
out that I'm slightly allergic. And by that I mean my entire leg swelled up
like a baloon while 3 sister missionaries who didn't know what they were
doing tried to get the stinger out with no luck. Finally we went to a
pharmacy... which is like a doctors office here... and when I asked the
doctor to look at it she encouraged me to buy tweezers and do it myself
because they dont "do these types of things" haha. THANKS! Then she sold me
some weird cream that said tico on it and well hopefully it'll heal up here
pretty soon. Yep, that's the story of my life hahaha.

Tico time,
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY, MA! Because August 15th was Mother's Day here! Why you
ask? Because it's also the birthday or celebration of the SANTA MARIA!


Being a missionary is the biggest blessing and greatest miracle there could
ever be. I love representing Jesus Christ and am determined to make this
last change, the best yet! These past few months haven't been the easiest,
but seeing the miracles and the blessings now makes every tear worth it.
And I can now testify that president Monson's favorite scripture is true...


*And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your
face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be
in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.*

XO,
Hermana Starke

P.s. we had pancakes for sacrament this week. Hahaha I LOVE CR!

Always a party we are planning....;)

This is the reunion with the  Hermana's Training specialist.  

This is my view everyday... getting to see Hermana Ponce

My view everyday

This is my view everyday....

This is about how many soccer balls one family has

This is what they wear to school

We made these for all the Mother's on Mother's day

Beautiful Rainbow

This is Natalia and Oscar and their kids

The Haws Family from Arizona that fed us.

This is the street that I live on

This is where I live

#miraclesfordayz

Hi everyone!

Even though it's summer for you all up there in the states, it's been soo
cold here. And when I say cold I mean 60 and 70 degrees. The funniest part
is, everyone starts pulling our their beanies, scarves and sweaters. I don't
know what I will do when the humind rainy weather is not my life anymore
because I am just way too used it it. People have never ever seen or
experienced snow here and so when it gets a little windy, that means
freezing to them. It's hilarious.

So much happens in my life everyday I feel like it's impossible to just sum
it up in a few short paragraphs. But hey, it'll just have to do! Here's the
top 5 best things that have happened to me all week... enjoy!

1. YADER GOT BAPTIZED. Remember yader?? If not, just know that on saturday,
I witnessed a complete miracle right before my eyes as Yader entered into
the waters of baptism. All day Saturday I had to keep reminding myself that
it was real because I just could not believe it. Seriously, only God knows
and understands how much we have worked and prayed for this guy!

It's so crazy how just acting on such a small simple prompting to talk to
him one Sunday after church could lead to this... When we met him, he was
completely alone, sad, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and living with
someone. We invited him to church, he came, and began to change his life.
He has never missed a Sunday since! We met him 13 weeks ago and his journey
has been rough but completely amazing. If I didn't believe in the atonement
before, I sure do now. It's real and that I know without a doubt.

He reads the BOM everyday and it's just incredible to see a new light in his
eyes. He looks different, acts different and it's all because he now knows
hes a child of God. Hes only 21 and has his whole life ahead of him and
says hes excited to go on a mission in a year. He also is a crazy talented
artist so he said he's going to paint us a picture of the temple to thank us
for changing his life and inviting him to the church he lived next door to
for 7 years... it's truly a miracle.

3. Miguel got baptized! Hes Benitos 16 year old brother that got baptized
last week.... next on the list, their mom, martha! Woohoo! She just needs
to get married first. This kid also has changed a ton and goes to all the
mutuals and seminary and just loves being a member of the church of Jesus
christ of latter day saints. I mean, who doesn't? He got baptized Sunday
before church and after wards we had gallo pinto for breakfast. The stake
President showed up and congratulated us and told us thats how every
baptism should be!!! Hahaha sounds good to me.

4. Natalia is my favorite investigator of all time. I started talking to
her one day in the street while she was struggling to teach her 2 sons to
ride bikes. She was so nice and friendly. Turns out she used to live in
Ciudad Colon and knows a few members there... we got her number and made an
appointment to go back. We taught her, she accepted a baptismal date, and
came to church Sunday! Her husband already looks and acts like a member and
they read the bible together as a family everynight. They are super super
prepared and I am so excited to see what happens with them. Yay.

5. Today we enjoyed pizza with refried beans on it and honestly, it's the
best pizza ive ever eaten. That or my blood has turned tica. I LOVE COSTA
RICA!!!!!!!!!!

Se con todo mi corazon que esta obra es real y que no trabajamos por el
Senor, proque El trabaja con nosotros! Lo amo y los amo a ustedes. Gracias
por sus oraciones, amor, y apoyo. Nos vemos in siete cortas semanas!
Ahhhhhhhhh!

Con mucho amor, Hermana EEHHSTARR (yep, thats how they say mah name)

White Cucaracha

Yader GOT BAPTIZED... Whoooo hooooo

 Benitos brother Miguel got Baptized

Knocking on Doors.... inviting investigators to church

Taking selfies, waiting for our investigators to get ready

These two got caugh playing in the flour

F

Front door to a investigators home

Sunday dinner

Pizza with refried beans on it.....seriously the best pizza EVA...or else my blood has turned Tica....

Love makes the WORK go round

Hiiiiiiiii everyone,



Your favorite missionary from Costa Rica officially has 16 months in the
mission. But last Monday we had interviews with President and he told me to
just imagine that I still have a year left so that's what I'm gonna do. So
here's to another year, woohoo!!!



Honestly, this week was just plain awesome. My interview with President
went great and he just made me feel like the greatest missionary there ever
was and that makes me happy because I always doubt myself and get sad for
not having more when I just give my heart and soul to this work. Anyway so
that was fun.



Then later, we had a huge giant fun family night with like 20 investigators
and it was a blast. But oh no no the partying does not stop there!



On Wednesday we had divisions and 2 missionaries from Guatemala came to
work with me. They finish their missions in 3 weeks and are super trunky...
aka ready to go home... so I put them straight to work and we talked with
every single person we saw and worked super hard and had 7 lessons! We did
not waste one minute! So much fun. They were seriously so dead at the end
of the day but I felt great haha.  I think I did what Jesus would do. And
that's my goal so I would say it was a successful round of divisions!

So on Friday my companion remembered about a nice sweet lady she had talked
to on a bus and wanted to find her. Okay. Only problem was… she didn't have
her number, last name or address. Just a basic idea of where she MIGHT
live. Hmmmm. So I was like great it will be an adventure, let's do it! So we
looked all around for Edith. We asked about a million people for her,
knocked on lots of doors, and got chased by dogs. But it was just the best
feeling ever when we finally FOUND HER! Really I just know that when we get
on our knees and pray then get on our feet and work, the Lord can bless us
immensely with anything he wants to. We just have to earn it and be worthy
of his trust and confidence. Just another one of the great lessons the
mission has taught me…



Pause. In the computer place where I am right now there are weird crazy
computer gamming kids surrounding me and it’s a lil distracting. They are
screaming and talking to themselves and their computer screens so sorry if
this email is all over the place. I can't exactly focus right now. Hahaha.



Where was I? Ok Saturday was one crazy day as well and lots of funny things
happened to us.



1.A car of boys rolled down their windows, told us they loved us and wanted
to marry us, and then started dancing and shaking their butts towards us.
It was the weirdest thing ever. But we just couldn’t help but laugh
hysterically afterwards.



2. I saw this guy approaching us with a cigarette which always makes me
excited because it means I get to hand out a word of wisdom pamphlet. So I
stopped in front of him to start chatting but he just kept walking with his
dread locks and all, then shot his arm up to the sky and made the peace
sign. Hahaha what? Ok pura vida.



3. We were standing on the corner waiting to cross the street when a car
drove by and shouted at us, MUERTE AL PAPA!!!!!!!!!! They basically told us
that they wanted the pope to die. Well sorry buddy hate to break it to ya
but we aren’t nuns!



4. Hermano Emilio threw my companion ANOTHER surprise party because well I
guess he didn’t exactly get the memo last week. So we celebrated again with
cake and friends. But this time with a live guitar! And crazy Spanish
songs. We are so loved here in Belen. And I have never eaten so much cake
in my life.

But Saturday had it's happy spiritual moments too! Our investigator Benito
got baptized. He's been so fun to teach and was a reference from members
that are basically his parents and raise him. He has a huge family and they
all came to church Sunday to support him and are investigating… just
progressing slower than we would like. Hopefully they will all be baptized
soon too! Eso es la fe!

Also, Marney and Roger got married! Now they are just one step closer to
baptism. We planned it all in just a couple days. Seriously, the Lord can
make miracles happen and always prepares the way for his children to keep
his commandments. So after a little stress and running around like crazy
people we threw it all together and now they are even more excited for
their baptism. Roger just needs to come to church 1 more time! Luckily a
bunch of members came to show their support and love and it was just what
they needed.

I love you all soooo very much! Thanks for joining me in my adventures…
that aren’t going to end for another year! Hehe.



Xoxo, Hermana Starke



P.S. In ward counsel this week, we took 20 minutes to discuss the issue of
head lice and how it's spreading around in the primary... I was trying real
hard not to laugh. Yeah, things are way different here in CR haha.



P.P.S I was the happiest ever on Sunday when I got a package of goodies
delivered to me at church with lots of fun yummy treats. I didn’t know who
it was from at first but I just want to say THANK YOU KAYDEE!!! You are
awesome. I love you. Thanks so very much! That was so kind and thoughtful
of you. Muchas gracias!



P.P.P.S Well it's safe to say that the guy next to me lost his game. His
moaning and I think crying. Akkkwward. Well that’s my cue outta here.
BYE!!!!!!!!!!!!