Dearest Familia,
Hey Y'All...
Oh my good lands! the lord has opened the windows of heaven and poured out a blessing so great that there’s literally not room enough to receive it... and by blessing I mean rain. This past week has been crazy! every day it has poured for hours on end. Not that I don’t love being sopping wet and all, but I just really don’t love it. I know that Costa Rica needs the weather and that so many people have been praying for rain, but its a serious pain in the booty for missionaries. Apart from being soaked and freezing all day no one wants to stop and talk to us and no one wants to let us in, but the Lord always provides a way! One day we were walking through the little drizzle when it started to rain really heavily. we ducked into a little ice cream shop to wait it out for a few minutes when rain started to come in through the roof! we got buckets and brooms and helped the shop owners to clean out the water that was pouring in. Later when it finally stopped we invited them to church and gave them a pamphlet about the restoration and in return they gave us free ice cream:) ush! hopefully they’ll become investigators so we can frequent their shop haha.
Anyways, this week has been sort of a bummer. the rain sort of washing away our spirits a bit and also having a small affect on our health (just the beginning of a cold mama don’t worry) so we asked our DL if he could give us blessings to help us. In the Blessing he promised us both that through our faith we would see miracles.. Let me just tell you a few of the miraculous things we saw happen!
1. Y’all should be really proud. my comp and I are living examples of a harmonious companionship. So we don’t have anyone in the ward who plays piano during sacrament and it sort of bothered us so we sort of called ourselves as ward pianist. between the two of us (Hermana turner playing the left hand and me playing the right) we can get through the majority of hymns! this was our first week that we played in church and it was awesome!! we practiced a little but we were still super nervous, but the Lord helped us and we played each song nearly perfect:) it was a miracle because the music really helped us to feel the spirit more during the meeting.
2. One time I was wearing my companions white/cream skirt and I dropped a mango on it and there was a HUGE stain :( we forgot to take it to get washed last week but today when we looked at it the stain had totally disappeared!
3. The Lord blessed us hugely this weekend and gracias a el and also the members we had 9 investigators!! 9:):):) that’s the most I’ve ever had in my whole mission! the members were bringing their friends and boyfriends and family members and we even had some members go pick up other investigators (including 2 of the daughters from the big family of 11!!) Were super excited because they all had a great time and said they’d be coming back, with their families, for a session of conference:) woohoo way to go team!
Anyways, that’s pretty much a rundown of my week here. love and miss all yall back home! I’m super duper excited because in this next week we get to go to the temple and go to conference! I love conference. but I LOVE it. I hope each of you can do your best to be present (physically, mentally, spiritually, etc.) for all the sessions of conference. it is SO important. listen and the follow the words of our living prophets, they will literally guide and direct us so that we are safe and happy. they’re called of God after all! and don’t forget to think of me too;) just sayin.. love you lots!!! prayers from Costa Rica<3
All My Love,
Hermana Kugath
9.28.2015
9.24.2015
Par Avion
Well, This week was bipolar... one day we were crying in front of a drug hotel and then next thing you know were laughing and stuffing ourselves with doughnuts from Pricemart! The beginning of the week started out awful. Every day we had like 6 or 7 appointments- like set in stone, and each morning as we called to confirm our appointments one by one they cancelled on us... so there we are, only 10 am with nothing planned all day. And to top it off it rained for like 3 days straight! If you wanna make a missionary unhappy just tell her she has to walk around all day soaking wet. Needless to say we had a few days where our moods probably matched the weather, but the sun always comes after the rain!
2 super highlights of the week!!!
I got to send my second Dia de Independencia here in cost Rica! (It’s like 4th of July for us but it’s the 15th of September.) There were parades and activities and fireworks, they went all out. The only down side, they don’t throw candy in their parades. Lame.
This week we finally got to have our activity that we’ve been planning for about 2 months now!!!! It was so so excellent. It’s called the Avion (the airplane). Basically we built an airplane in the cultural hall of the church, and then we had every one get on and played sounds of an airplane taking off and everything. We even had flight attendants and security officers (from the primary! so cute). Basically everyone goes on this trip, but here’s the catch, the plan crashes and everybody on it.... dies. Sounds a little morbid but just wait for it. So everyone dies and they get sent to 2 other classrooms, half to spirit prison and half to paradise. They get to learn about who goes to prison and who goes to paradise and why. Then we take them to rooms representing the Telestial, Terrestrial and celestial kingdoms. They learn about who goes to each kingdom and why. It was soooo awesome!!!! We had each organization in charge of a room and they did an excellent job! Every room was decorated to look like its name. We had a great turnout of members, less actives and investigators. There were at least 25 people there who weren’t members!!!:):):) The very best part (next to the doughnuts obviously....) was that we had a surprise guest! About a week ago we called President Hayes to invite him and his family but we didn’t think he’d be able to come, well, he came!!! It was super awesome. He got to meet lots of our investigators and members and teach them a few minutes about the importance of the plan of salvation. We were so happy and honored that they came to share this experience with us. It was really special because wed been having such a down week before that day and being around him really cheered us up! Anyways, the activity was a huge success and it was super fun too. yay for ward activities!:)
Last I just wanted to share one experience we had this week while we were teaching. We went to visit an elderly lady named Norma, we’ve been teaching her about the restoration but really slowly so that she really understand the importance. We talked to her about how the Lord has always showed how much he loves us by sending us prophets to guide us. Then we asked her, wouldn’t it be great if we had someone like that to guide us today?? She thought for a second and then started to look sad at the thought that we didn’t have one. But then we invited her to general conference so she could hear and listen to the words of the Lords Latter Day Prophet and she got SO, but SO excited. It was like a little kid at Christmas time... it was adorable. Yay:)
Okay last thing I promise.... my companion is hilarious. This week she literally made me cry laughing. One day we were sitting at the table studying and one of the other girls in the house said "do you guys think I could learn how to be humble in 3 weeks??" my companion, dead serious turns around with this snobby look on her face and says "I did it in less......" I was dying... haha. Yay funny companion:) Well lots of prayers fam!
All my love,
Hermana Kugath
2 super highlights of the week!!!
I got to send my second Dia de Independencia here in cost Rica! (It’s like 4th of July for us but it’s the 15th of September.) There were parades and activities and fireworks, they went all out. The only down side, they don’t throw candy in their parades. Lame.
This week we finally got to have our activity that we’ve been planning for about 2 months now!!!! It was so so excellent. It’s called the Avion (the airplane). Basically we built an airplane in the cultural hall of the church, and then we had every one get on and played sounds of an airplane taking off and everything. We even had flight attendants and security officers (from the primary! so cute). Basically everyone goes on this trip, but here’s the catch, the plan crashes and everybody on it.... dies. Sounds a little morbid but just wait for it. So everyone dies and they get sent to 2 other classrooms, half to spirit prison and half to paradise. They get to learn about who goes to prison and who goes to paradise and why. Then we take them to rooms representing the Telestial, Terrestrial and celestial kingdoms. They learn about who goes to each kingdom and why. It was soooo awesome!!!! We had each organization in charge of a room and they did an excellent job! Every room was decorated to look like its name. We had a great turnout of members, less actives and investigators. There were at least 25 people there who weren’t members!!!:):):) The very best part (next to the doughnuts obviously....) was that we had a surprise guest! About a week ago we called President Hayes to invite him and his family but we didn’t think he’d be able to come, well, he came!!! It was super awesome. He got to meet lots of our investigators and members and teach them a few minutes about the importance of the plan of salvation. We were so happy and honored that they came to share this experience with us. It was really special because wed been having such a down week before that day and being around him really cheered us up! Anyways, the activity was a huge success and it was super fun too. yay for ward activities!:)
Last I just wanted to share one experience we had this week while we were teaching. We went to visit an elderly lady named Norma, we’ve been teaching her about the restoration but really slowly so that she really understand the importance. We talked to her about how the Lord has always showed how much he loves us by sending us prophets to guide us. Then we asked her, wouldn’t it be great if we had someone like that to guide us today?? She thought for a second and then started to look sad at the thought that we didn’t have one. But then we invited her to general conference so she could hear and listen to the words of the Lords Latter Day Prophet and she got SO, but SO excited. It was like a little kid at Christmas time... it was adorable. Yay:)
Okay last thing I promise.... my companion is hilarious. This week she literally made me cry laughing. One day we were sitting at the table studying and one of the other girls in the house said "do you guys think I could learn how to be humble in 3 weeks??" my companion, dead serious turns around with this snobby look on her face and says "I did it in less......" I was dying... haha. Yay funny companion:) Well lots of prayers fam!
All my love,
Hermana Kugath
9.20.2015
Way to Go IDAHO
My Dearest Family and Friends...
Patience: Patience is the capacity to endure Delay, Trouble, Opposition or Suffering without becoming angry, frustrated or anxious. PMG (Preach My Gospel) pg 120
Well, I finally figured out why I’m still a missionary! The Lord really, really, REALLY needs me to learn how to be a patient person. As I look back over the last 2+ years of my life I can see how I have had specific trials with delays, troubles, oppositions and even suffering... At first I was a tad upset like "Hello Lord I got it, you’ve given me one of each already good enough." But what I realized was that its not the trail that’s important, its our ATTITUDE During the trial. I’m a little embarrassed to say that time and time again I was given the opportunity to demonstrate my patience but instead I was frustrated and angry (which aren’t fruits of the spirit so we should actually NEVER feel them). I kept asking why do these things keep happening to me?? But the answer is simply because I didn’t learn from them what I needed to and the Lord needs me to learn to be a woman of patience and he needs to to figure it out now.
So this week has been awesome! Apart from loving my companion we have a great investigator! his name is Fernando and we Love him!!! he acts like a member in the lessons. asking all the right questions and understanding the scriptures perfectly. He’s really special because his ex-girlfriend and 2 kids are all members and although they’re not together anymore they still live in the same house.... secretly we would LOOOOOVE if they would get back together!!! they’d be the perfect couple/family:):):)):) sooo cute. So this week we went over and talked about the importance of FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY and FAMILY prayer. that was our subtle attempt to hint to them to get things straightened out. as my companions says, were Suuuper duper sneaky.
Have I mentioned how awesome it is to live in a house with 2 other Hermanas from Idaho?!?! I’m honestly being spoiled silly. I apologize because last week I did not do justice to the magnificence that is My new companion Hermana Turner. This is probably the twin I never had. She’s the most sarcastic, energetic hilarious person I’ve ever met (at least in Costa Rica:)). I have never laughed so much or so often in my whole life. We even have the same sense of humor so were double trouble. We have one of those freaky finish each other sentences and laugh until we literally cry kind of relationships. Its such a relief because when Hermana Mendoza was transferred I was afraid I’d be doomed to boredom without her, but the Lord knows what he’s doing. Let me just tell you a funny story from this week.. so we both sort of sing, all the time. And one night as we were getting ready for bed the theme was Phantom of the Opera. We were just being our usual weird selves and singing part songs or verses as we remembered them. My companion got up on her bed and told me to hush up so she could pray, but I wasn’t quite done so I came out of the bathroom toothbrush in mouth and in my best phantom voice sang "Pray for meeeeeee!!!" (you know, like when he says sing for me!! only funnier:)) its not a lie if I told you that we laughed for 16 minutes straight. On top of being hilarious were also brilliant... this week we started a tradition, every night we turn on our little counter stove and roast marshmallows:) it reminds us of Idaho and they’re also perfect delicious smoremallows! I’ve never been a happier missionary!
Just a few other tidbits... last week when we climbed the mountain we climbed 104 sets of stairs. our greatest amount of steps was 25,380.. also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO MY FAVORITE LADY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Mommy:) I love you so much. I’m so sad I can’t celebrate with you, but I’ll be here wishing you a Happy Birthday and telling all these Ticos how fabulous and special you are! I hope its a beautiful, happy, wonderful day. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate the example of sacrifice you’ve been in my life. I’m who I am today because of you:) lots of love and prayers from Costa Rica!
All My Love,
Hermana Kugath
Patience: Patience is the capacity to endure Delay, Trouble, Opposition or Suffering without becoming angry, frustrated or anxious. PMG (Preach My Gospel) pg 120
Well, I finally figured out why I’m still a missionary! The Lord really, really, REALLY needs me to learn how to be a patient person. As I look back over the last 2+ years of my life I can see how I have had specific trials with delays, troubles, oppositions and even suffering... At first I was a tad upset like "Hello Lord I got it, you’ve given me one of each already good enough." But what I realized was that its not the trail that’s important, its our ATTITUDE During the trial. I’m a little embarrassed to say that time and time again I was given the opportunity to demonstrate my patience but instead I was frustrated and angry (which aren’t fruits of the spirit so we should actually NEVER feel them). I kept asking why do these things keep happening to me?? But the answer is simply because I didn’t learn from them what I needed to and the Lord needs me to learn to be a woman of patience and he needs to to figure it out now.
So this week has been awesome! Apart from loving my companion we have a great investigator! his name is Fernando and we Love him!!! he acts like a member in the lessons. asking all the right questions and understanding the scriptures perfectly. He’s really special because his ex-girlfriend and 2 kids are all members and although they’re not together anymore they still live in the same house.... secretly we would LOOOOOVE if they would get back together!!! they’d be the perfect couple/family:):):)):) sooo cute. So this week we went over and talked about the importance of FAMILY SCRIPTURE STUDY and FAMILY prayer. that was our subtle attempt to hint to them to get things straightened out. as my companions says, were Suuuper duper sneaky.
Have I mentioned how awesome it is to live in a house with 2 other Hermanas from Idaho?!?! I’m honestly being spoiled silly. I apologize because last week I did not do justice to the magnificence that is My new companion Hermana Turner. This is probably the twin I never had. She’s the most sarcastic, energetic hilarious person I’ve ever met (at least in Costa Rica:)). I have never laughed so much or so often in my whole life. We even have the same sense of humor so were double trouble. We have one of those freaky finish each other sentences and laugh until we literally cry kind of relationships. Its such a relief because when Hermana Mendoza was transferred I was afraid I’d be doomed to boredom without her, but the Lord knows what he’s doing. Let me just tell you a funny story from this week.. so we both sort of sing, all the time. And one night as we were getting ready for bed the theme was Phantom of the Opera. We were just being our usual weird selves and singing part songs or verses as we remembered them. My companion got up on her bed and told me to hush up so she could pray, but I wasn’t quite done so I came out of the bathroom toothbrush in mouth and in my best phantom voice sang "Pray for meeeeeee!!!" (you know, like when he says sing for me!! only funnier:)) its not a lie if I told you that we laughed for 16 minutes straight. On top of being hilarious were also brilliant... this week we started a tradition, every night we turn on our little counter stove and roast marshmallows:) it reminds us of Idaho and they’re also perfect delicious smoremallows! I’ve never been a happier missionary!
Just a few other tidbits... last week when we climbed the mountain we climbed 104 sets of stairs. our greatest amount of steps was 25,380.. also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK TO MY FAVORITE LADY IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD!!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday Mommy:) I love you so much. I’m so sad I can’t celebrate with you, but I’ll be here wishing you a Happy Birthday and telling all these Ticos how fabulous and special you are! I hope its a beautiful, happy, wonderful day. I hope you know how much I love you and appreciate the example of sacrifice you’ve been in my life. I’m who I am today because of you:) lots of love and prayers from Costa Rica!
All My Love,
Hermana Kugath
9.09.2015
Climbing With a New Companion
Dearest Family and Friends....
I’m sure I’ve used this before but it definitely applies today.... How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of them who publish peace!!! This morning we woke up at 4:30 AM to hike a mountain as a zone... why? I’m still not quite sure, but it was awesome! It was soo beautiful and the view was without description. Sometimes I feel cheated because I live in Costa Rica but I don’t get to enjoy it like other people, but today I got a little taste. The whole hour while we were hiking I just kept thinking "I betcha Nephi himself one day hiked this mountain too" I told my companion that and she said, " no, he cheated, he was carried away by the spirit to the top of it. He didn’t have to walk" ha-ha... sorry, when you’re a missionary your sense of humor changes a little;) but we at least think were funny.
Oh hey speaking of companions... Last week we had cambios! My little Hermana Mendoza was sent away to Cartago to blossom as the little missionary butterfly that she is. And guess who I got blessed with!!! One of the sisters who I found in the airport when I was coming back! My companion is Hermana Turner and she’s from Kimberly Idaho. Also she makes me laugh, a lot. We have the same type of personality so were actually hilarious together. I’m finishing her training and trying to help her learn to love the mission. Us Gringas (and just new missionaries in general) have it really hard the first few months. Everything is new.. We don’t know how to be missionaries, we're not used to the food, we don’t know anyone and most can't even speak the language for crying out loud. A lot of times that has a negative affect on the news, that’s why I love and appreciate my job so much! I just get to teach them the Love of the mission!! I get to teach them how to laugh and smile their way through the week:):):) I’m sure grateful that the Lord taught me how to first so now I can help my Hermanas.
Anyways, I promise we do more then just laugh and smile and sing and look pretty;) This week we were working with our two big families. We went to see the family of 5 and pretty much all they wanted to talk about was why we should go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday... it was sad. We tried explaining the Sabbath in every way possible but they just didn’t understand. Then we just gave them a book of Mormon, invited them to read it and pray to receive answers. They gave us some books written by their prophet and told us the same.... (This is the funny part, they’re all like the bible the bible is our guide and we follow everything it says etc etc, but their prophet is a girl... they should probably read 1 Corinthians 14:33-34 again hahaha) We also went to see our miracle family of 8. Last week they called us and said that they didn’t have anything to give their kids to eat for lunch the next day and asked us if we could help them. It was really difficult because were here to preach the gospel and we always only have money to get through the month, but I couldn’t stand the thought of those little kids not eating. So we called the bishop and he, with the help of the other missionaries in our zone, gathered up some food to take them. He went with us and explained how we as a church strive to do as Christ taught and feed the hungry. It was really humbling experience for us and for them.
Sorry this letter is sort of choppy, we got up extra early this morning.... anyways, love you all!! Prayers and blessings headed your way!
All my love,
Hermana Kugath
I’m sure I’ve used this before but it definitely applies today.... How beautiful upon the mountain are the feet of them who publish peace!!! This morning we woke up at 4:30 AM to hike a mountain as a zone... why? I’m still not quite sure, but it was awesome! It was soo beautiful and the view was without description. Sometimes I feel cheated because I live in Costa Rica but I don’t get to enjoy it like other people, but today I got a little taste. The whole hour while we were hiking I just kept thinking "I betcha Nephi himself one day hiked this mountain too" I told my companion that and she said, " no, he cheated, he was carried away by the spirit to the top of it. He didn’t have to walk" ha-ha... sorry, when you’re a missionary your sense of humor changes a little;) but we at least think were funny.
Oh hey speaking of companions... Last week we had cambios! My little Hermana Mendoza was sent away to Cartago to blossom as the little missionary butterfly that she is. And guess who I got blessed with!!! One of the sisters who I found in the airport when I was coming back! My companion is Hermana Turner and she’s from Kimberly Idaho. Also she makes me laugh, a lot. We have the same type of personality so were actually hilarious together. I’m finishing her training and trying to help her learn to love the mission. Us Gringas (and just new missionaries in general) have it really hard the first few months. Everything is new.. We don’t know how to be missionaries, we're not used to the food, we don’t know anyone and most can't even speak the language for crying out loud. A lot of times that has a negative affect on the news, that’s why I love and appreciate my job so much! I just get to teach them the Love of the mission!! I get to teach them how to laugh and smile their way through the week:):):) I’m sure grateful that the Lord taught me how to first so now I can help my Hermanas.
Anyways, I promise we do more then just laugh and smile and sing and look pretty;) This week we were working with our two big families. We went to see the family of 5 and pretty much all they wanted to talk about was why we should go to church on Saturday instead of Sunday... it was sad. We tried explaining the Sabbath in every way possible but they just didn’t understand. Then we just gave them a book of Mormon, invited them to read it and pray to receive answers. They gave us some books written by their prophet and told us the same.... (This is the funny part, they’re all like the bible the bible is our guide and we follow everything it says etc etc, but their prophet is a girl... they should probably read 1 Corinthians 14:33-34 again hahaha) We also went to see our miracle family of 8. Last week they called us and said that they didn’t have anything to give their kids to eat for lunch the next day and asked us if we could help them. It was really difficult because were here to preach the gospel and we always only have money to get through the month, but I couldn’t stand the thought of those little kids not eating. So we called the bishop and he, with the help of the other missionaries in our zone, gathered up some food to take them. He went with us and explained how we as a church strive to do as Christ taught and feed the hungry. It was really humbling experience for us and for them.
Sorry this letter is sort of choppy, we got up extra early this morning.... anyways, love you all!! Prayers and blessings headed your way!
All my love,
Hermana Kugath
9.06.2015
Fasting
Dearest Family and Friends...
Can I just say, fasting is the best thing in the whole world!!!! I’m not kidding people, it works. If the Lord has taught me anything this week its the power of the principle of the fast. The week started off pretty slow. Not many new people to teach not much goin on, but that’s normal right? Wrong. This week felt like we were walking through an investigator wasteland!! Luckily earlier in the week our DL had challenged us to put the Lord to the test by fasting twice with a specific purpose. Being the obedient little hermanas that we are we did it, asking the Lord to guide us to new people. We fasted (some of the hardest fasts of my life because it was real hott and we walked extra those two days) and also put in our part by talking with literally everyone we saw and contacting all the references wed received. So here we are doing everything we can and having the faith that we´ll be blessed, but God sometimes is funny, he likes to try my patience haha. Usually by Friday we have 6or 7 new people to teach but come Saturday night and we didn’t have a single one! So Sunday afternoon rolls around (Sunday afternoon is the HARDEST part of the whole week for me cause I’m usually exhausted and I’m one of those sunday-napper kinds but that’s not actually acceptable in the mission, but my body doesn’t want to accept that either) and its right after lunch so the whole world is in siesta mode. We walked all the way to the limit of our area to contact a reference and we got a huge surprise..... We found a family of 11 people!! This is the biggest family I’ve ever seen in Costa Rica. The mom, dad and 9 kids! Holy smokes. They invited us in and we got to know them a little and taught a short lesson about how the gospel will bless our lives and our families. Anyways, long story short, we found a family of 8 possible baptisms. 8 people 8!!! And on top of that the lord blessed us with 1 extra special new:) in the space of 2 hours Our Heavenly Father placed 9 of his chosen and beloved children into our care. It was incredible and really taught me the blessings of fasting and faith.
Anyways I wanted to talk a little bit about something called la pereza (that means laziness). Here in Costa Rica they have a saying "que pereza" that they say whenever they don’t want to do something... go to school? Que pereza. Work? Que pereza. Read the book of Mormon? Keep the word of wisdom? Wake up early to go to church?? Que pereza. I have had just enough of this phrase to last me a lifetime!!!! It may be difficult to understand or to desire, but everything worth having we have to work for. God didn’t send us down here to sit on our bums and watch TV..... He wants us to learn, to change, to progress!! As humans changing is hard, we don’t love it, but we have to. I love this quote " “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. … It is through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life.”
The Sacrifice of ALL THINGS. Not some, not a few, not most. ALL. Time, energy, talents, money, food, weaknesses, desires, etc. I hope we can all look more at our lives and ask what? Or how? Can I sacrifice so that my faith is sufficient to save.
I love you all so much!!!! I pray for you all, for your happiness and your progression in the gospel everyday. you are all my world:)
All my love and prayers,
Hermana Kugath
P.s. some crazzzzzyyyy news!!!!! Remember Moravia?? Well mi companera Hermana Montoya and I had a dream right? A crazy dream. We wanted 2 chapels in Moravia and....... They’re going to do it!!!!! A member showed up at our house last week to tell us that in the next few months they’re going to test it to see if it will work. There’s going to be two churches there!!!!!!! :):):):):) Were not so crazy after all I guess
Can I just say, fasting is the best thing in the whole world!!!! I’m not kidding people, it works. If the Lord has taught me anything this week its the power of the principle of the fast. The week started off pretty slow. Not many new people to teach not much goin on, but that’s normal right? Wrong. This week felt like we were walking through an investigator wasteland!! Luckily earlier in the week our DL had challenged us to put the Lord to the test by fasting twice with a specific purpose. Being the obedient little hermanas that we are we did it, asking the Lord to guide us to new people. We fasted (some of the hardest fasts of my life because it was real hott and we walked extra those two days) and also put in our part by talking with literally everyone we saw and contacting all the references wed received. So here we are doing everything we can and having the faith that we´ll be blessed, but God sometimes is funny, he likes to try my patience haha. Usually by Friday we have 6or 7 new people to teach but come Saturday night and we didn’t have a single one! So Sunday afternoon rolls around (Sunday afternoon is the HARDEST part of the whole week for me cause I’m usually exhausted and I’m one of those sunday-napper kinds but that’s not actually acceptable in the mission, but my body doesn’t want to accept that either) and its right after lunch so the whole world is in siesta mode. We walked all the way to the limit of our area to contact a reference and we got a huge surprise..... We found a family of 11 people!! This is the biggest family I’ve ever seen in Costa Rica. The mom, dad and 9 kids! Holy smokes. They invited us in and we got to know them a little and taught a short lesson about how the gospel will bless our lives and our families. Anyways, long story short, we found a family of 8 possible baptisms. 8 people 8!!! And on top of that the lord blessed us with 1 extra special new:) in the space of 2 hours Our Heavenly Father placed 9 of his chosen and beloved children into our care. It was incredible and really taught me the blessings of fasting and faith.
Anyways I wanted to talk a little bit about something called la pereza (that means laziness). Here in Costa Rica they have a saying "que pereza" that they say whenever they don’t want to do something... go to school? Que pereza. Work? Que pereza. Read the book of Mormon? Keep the word of wisdom? Wake up early to go to church?? Que pereza. I have had just enough of this phrase to last me a lifetime!!!! It may be difficult to understand or to desire, but everything worth having we have to work for. God didn’t send us down here to sit on our bums and watch TV..... He wants us to learn, to change, to progress!! As humans changing is hard, we don’t love it, but we have to. I love this quote " “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. … It is through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life.”
The Sacrifice of ALL THINGS. Not some, not a few, not most. ALL. Time, energy, talents, money, food, weaknesses, desires, etc. I hope we can all look more at our lives and ask what? Or how? Can I sacrifice so that my faith is sufficient to save.
I love you all so much!!!! I pray for you all, for your happiness and your progression in the gospel everyday. you are all my world:)
All my love and prayers,
Hermana Kugath
P.s. some crazzzzzyyyy news!!!!! Remember Moravia?? Well mi companera Hermana Montoya and I had a dream right? A crazy dream. We wanted 2 chapels in Moravia and....... They’re going to do it!!!!! A member showed up at our house last week to tell us that in the next few months they’re going to test it to see if it will work. There’s going to be two churches there!!!!!!! :):):):):) Were not so crazy after all I guess
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