Feliz Navidad

My very dearest familia...

I wish you a merry Christmas I wish you a merry Christmas I wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year! MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY! I know it’s only the 22, but I can’t say it next week cause it will be after Christmas and everyone knows that it just weird to say it afterward haha. YAY for the most wonderful time of the year. I have so much I want to tell you this week so I hope I can get to all of it.

Holy Christmas package mommy!!! Never in my life have I seen a package so big. There we are in the middle of our Christmas dinner, handing out packages and this elder comes walking up with the most gigantic, most beautiful box anyone’s ever seen. My first thought was "wow, somebodies mom REEEEAAAAALLLLLY loves them" and then the second thought "wait wait wait that’s MY MOMS handwriting I know it!!!!” sure enough the elder delivered the blessed package right to my seat and I just held it on my lap laughing and hugging the box as if it were one of you in real life:):):) the truth is that the size and the contents of the box aren’t what filled my heart with joy and eyes with tears, but to see the cost of the postage, the beautiful photos of Christ and the carefully translated Spanish phrases on the side and knowing that the package represented a sacrifice from the ones I love most in the world. Everyone else in the room must have thought I was just another spoiled gringa, but I know the time energy money love and sacrifice that the box contains.):):):) Thank you from the very bottom of my heart!!!!!

So let me tell you a little about this last week! It has been the week of fiestas (parties). It seems like everyone wants to have a birthday in December. On top of that everyone here is in full Christmas celebration mode which means turrialba is over flowing with tamales, queque (cake!) and gringos haha. This last week we had 2 birthday parties, and a ward, relief society and mission Christmas party! So I guess were not exactly suffering. Just gotta throw in a quick shoutout to my mom for teaching me how to cook because this last week I made the best lasagna ever and also a cake (yeah from a box, but the frosting was from scratch!). I’ve missed being in the kitchen but it was a sweet little blessing to get to cook for a few people. Other GREAT NEWS!! This week we signed the contract for our new apartment. What a relief! Believe me I am grateful to have a roof over my head right now, but ill be even more grateful when we have a roof and a working toilet, shower and lights haha. Next week we get to move in, yay! What a blessing. The family that owns it is so nice too. Their little boy Brandon is 6 and is igualito to cannon they could be twins! He even has that mischievous twinkle in his eye. Hopefully we can start to teach them too, double win.
  Anyways this week besides just partying we have been working a little too;) we’ve had countless opportunities this week to testify of the saviors birth, life, death and resurrection. As hard as the world tries Christmas will always be filled with the spirit of Christ and bring us happiness as we reflect on and rejoice in his birth. Last night at the Mission Christmas Party President Hayes taught us a really important principle. He reminded us that never in history had Bethlehem been an important city in Israel. To this day the people don’t regard it as much. People would rather visit Miami or LA then visit the site of the Lords birthplace. So we know that it maybe wasn’t the biggest, most impressive, most beautiful city.... but from it came the greatest, most wonderful, most perfect person who has ever walked the Earth. Our Savior. He taught us that we are like Bethlehem. We also might not be the grandest or most impressive but if we follow His ways we can become like he is, perfected. We can do small miracles everyday in the lives of those around us and that is what counts. For from small and simple means are great things brought to pass! I challenge you to BE the small means that the Lord can use to bring to pass his grand designs. President also counseled us that in this next year we can DO Better and BE Better. I know that those words are true for each of us. As we strive to DO and BE better we will one day achieve our true potential as children of Heavenly Father.

I just want you all to know that I love you so, so very much. If this mission has served for one purpose it has taught me to love, appreciate and treasure the people God has placed in my family and in my life. I love, think about, care for, pray for and miss Each and every one of you. Thank you for your prayers in my behalf and know that you are my reasons for being here and helping the families of Costa Rica to receive they joy we have:) prayers from Costa Rica!

ALL MY LOVE...
Hermana Kugath