November 9, 2015

Yes, yes, you heard right mom - I got mugged on Thursday. Again. And yes, President Hayes talked to our Stake President as well. Which means he either didn't get or didn't read the email, or he thought since I am almost done, he didn't want to worry you with the information. But President Wilkinson never talked to our Stake President the other 2 times, so I was surprised that President Hayes wanted to. Because he told us not to tell you about it so that you wouldn't worry... But when he called Salt Lake to make the report, they told him he needed to let our Stake Presidents know, and have them call our parents. Maybe President Wilkinson was just used to missionaries getting mugged, so he just never made the reports. I am not sure.

Well... Thursday night we were walking in the street on our way to an appointment. We were walking on the street that we used to live on, so it was not new or anything. It was about 7pm and we used to walk past every night at 9pm, so no big deal. There are cars and people and little stores and bus stops and everything so double no big deal. Well I saw two guys walk past us and go sit down at the bus stop on the other side of the street. They were 2 young men, maybe between 20-25 years old, looked like they were up to no good, probably about to smoke weed. Hermana Gividen and I were hungry, so we were discussing whether or not we would stop to get some fries where Cindy works, but we decided not to so we kept walking.

All of the sudden we heard running from behind us and I think I blacked out.. Probably just went into shock. But I remember that a man was behind me and was shaking me and telling me that he was going to kill me and was throwing me back and forth to rip my backpack off. And I could hear myself screaming bloody murder... Oops. :) And then he got the backpack off and ran away, and I stopped screaming. :) So I looked around for my companion and Sister Gividen was in the street on the ground with a man over her trying to rip her backpack away as well, also screaming bloody murder. And before I could do anything to help her, she gave him her backpack and he ran away as well. So she stood up and we looked at each other and it was weird. Because then all of the sudden we were safe, and it was like it never happened. But we felt naked because our backpacks were missing...

A lady who saw the whole thing let us into her house while they called the police. And when the cops showed up, we went out to talk to them and another man came over to offer to be a witness as well. So we gave our names and numbers and as much information as we could, and then they left. And never called us, because they never found the guys or the backpacks. Meanwhile, the nice lady gave us $10 and we walked over to a members house who lived really close. (We plan to go back to the nice lady and give her the $10 back and maybe teach her about Christ :)

We apparently went to the right members house, because they stuck us in a car and we drove around to all of the scary spots of our area to look for the men. They would jump out with a big metal wrench and a crow bar and go ask the thugs for any information. Not much luck. But they said they thoroughly threatened all thugs and scared them enough to never mess with us, so that's good. :) The members said they were really looking forward to beating someone up, but maybe next time... They members actually scared me more than the actual muggers... Hahhah. But they did find out who the muggers where. Two punks from the projects in San Francisco. They would not give names, because they say that those two have guns and they don't want to mess with them. So apparently we got robbed by two men with guns, but they didn't hurt us at all, so that is lucky. :) Sister Gividen says that her mom put our names in the temple that very morning, so that is probably why all they got was our backpacks.

Mostly I was just mad... They stole my scriptures! They nice ones with all of the markings and stuff. :( And they stole my nursing flash drive that had LOTS of information on it, so basically hours and hours and days of work. And they stole my good chapstick, my good pens, my patriarchal blessing, Spanish plan of salvation cards mom sent me that were sweet, my sewing kit, my, my mission handbook with important things in it, letters I wrote for people, my subway card with lots of points on it, my sweet blue backpack, my baby hymn book that cousin Maddie gave me from her mission, my candy, house keys, Gividen's camera with all of her pictures and other important stuff from her too.... Bummer. BUT President Hayes is the nicest person in the whole world and bought us new backpacks and scriptures and hymn books. And today we went and bought other little things we were missing. It's not the same, but pretty close. We are happy now. :) President Hayes is seriously the best in the whole world.

Hermana Gividen wanted to fight back, but she is grateful that she did not! They were able to get my backpack off pretty quick, but she is tougher than me and had to actually give hers up. We are really happy that our screaming did not make them mad and they did not pull out their guns. Hermana Gividen now says that we should always eat fries when we want fries. It could save our life! So now we eat fries every day. ;) Just kidding, I am trying to lose weight before coming home. But I did eat fries today. :)

So that is about it... :) We are alive. No bruises, just Hermana Gividen's pride - she says he was shorter than her and she totally could have taken him! Hermana Gividen is one tough cookie! She didn't even want to go back to our apartment or anything after it happened - we went right back to work! OH!!! And I forgot to mention - neither of us cried! We got mugged and screamed like little girls, but did not cry.  I am proud of us. And no, I do not plan on that happening again anytime soon. Once was enough. And now that make 3 times in total for my mission. :) Madi is jealous because I have cooler stories than her.. :)

I had to give 2 nursing presentations this week to big groups... It was scary.. One group was nice and listened. The other did not. But oh well, it's over! I still have stage fright even though I teach all day every day!

Hermana Fowler was sick this week so I got to talk to her and her mom! Best week ever! I miss her! She is planning to move to Provo in a house full of missionaries from this mission! So I might move in with them! But not until the summer, because I am sure it is too late. And I need a job first and money.. But at least she will be close! And so will other friends! :)

Tonight we are eating pizza in the office and then going back home with another set of missionaries because one of them is sick and she has to stay with me tonight. And the other one is Sister Montepeque!!! :) Yay!

Well, that is all, other than . . . . .  HAPPY BIRTHWEEK MADI!!!! :) Have a great week! I love you all! Don't get mugged this week! I won't either. I told the Elders that if I get mugged a 4th time, I am going home. (hahaha) So hopefully it doesn't happen again. ;)

LOVE YOU! :)

Hermana Markle

New  backpacks!  We are pretty styling.

Yoana dyed her hair!!! Oh wait,  it was just my hair... :)  Looks legit.

November 2, 2015

Oh hey! :) 

 

This was a great week! We had Zone Conferences with President and I got to meet Dr. Lynn, the one I talk to on the phone all the time but never knew who he was, and we got to go to the temple to see some of my converts do baptisms for the dead for the first time!

 

The Zone conferences was great. President taught us like we were one of his Institute classes and we learned cool new things about the Book of Mormon. And then Elder Lynn, the doctor, gave a big health presentation. He also interviewed a bunch of the missionaires afterwards and found new sick missionaries for me to take care of. :) Hahah all of the sudden we had a bunch of people with problems because the doctor was here. So we are slowly recovering from running tests, sending some for appointments, and starting others on meds. But now our mission is extra healthy and no on should need anything until he comes back next year! But seriously it was weird, we had two dog bites while he was here, new weird rashes, and lots of stomach problems. Good timing! There are two more Zones with their conferences this week, but the doctor went home. So I get to do the health presentation instead... Propbably won't be as good. But I have his powerpoint. :)

 

The temple was great! Yerly and Fernando from Escazu went for the first time this week, so they let me go to watch! I got to see a lot of members from the Escazu ward again and say hi. :) But there is something special about seeing your converts dressed in white in the font for the second time, but this time helping their family members receive blessings too. :) It was nice. :) Yerly is doing awesome, she is now in the Relief Society presidency and they say that she helps the women stay unified and happy! And Fernando brought his aunt with him to the temple who was recently baptized as well. :) He is still working with his mom and dad to help them get married. They go to church with him almost every week! What a great week!

 

This weekend Hermana Gividen and I met several new investigators who seem pretty interested! We are excited to see meet them again this week and see their progression over the weeks!

 

Today we went to PriceSmart (Costco) and bought food for the month! Looks tasty!

 

Have a great week! :)

 

Love,

 

Sister Markle. :)

Items of Business...

1. Brandon's Halloween costume looks like he should have been born in the 50s instead so he could live in the 70s. Weird.

2. I liked Katie's and Derek's costumes! They are cute! But I have never seen that movie...

3. Why is Kami part of the PG 'Brotherhood'....? Extra weird.

4. I did not get a picture of Madi for Halloween, or Mom and Dad, or Suki. Don't tell me you forgot to dress Suki up??? She loves to dress up! It's her favorite!

5. My wrist hurts a lot. Every morning. But I never damaged it... So who knows why. It's annoying. Today I couldn't sleep because it hurt so bad. But then it feels fine right now. 

6. Tonight a Tico is making us dinner! Exciting!

7. I bought 4 new dresses..... Ooops..... They are cute.

8. Suprise! I dressed up as a sister missionary for Halloween again! No one let us go trick or treating... We gave candy to a few people though!

9. That is all.. I love you all!

 

October 26, 2015

Hello! :)

Another day in rainy paradise! During this time of year I feel like I live in a Rain forest. Thunder storms, lightning, downpour, all like clock work. Like when you are in the grocery store by the vegetables and they play the fake rain forest sounds and mist the veggies every 20 minutes? Like that. But without so many veggies. And no monkeys or snakes or huge bugs.

I really liked Alma 16:16-17 this week! It talks about how God was helping to prepare the hearts and minds of his children for when Christ would come so that they did not reject him. I think this was happening like 60 years before Christ's birth. I liked that a lot. God does not just dump big new commandments on us, or expect us to believe crazy miracles, or change our way of life over night. He works to prepare our minds and our hearts to accept His will, to accept Christ, and to obey his commandments. He works for years and years on softening hearts, teaching little by little, showing examples, changing life small ways at a time. He allows us to time to learn, accept, and change. How many bosses do you know who do that? Or school professors? God has perfect patience. He knows all and He knows what we need to make it back to Him. :) He is working with each one of you right now to prepare you for the second coming. To help you to open your minds and your hearts and to accept Christ as your Savior. Are you listening to his teachings? Are you allowing him to mold you into the person He knows you can become?

Have a happy Halloween!!! Be safe! I love you all!

Love,

Sister Markle. :)

Hospital trip for a triple appointment! Kill 3 birds with one stone!

And Hermana Ruth took us out for Mexican food afterwards. :) She is the greatest.

We also had a surprise birthday party for Elder Burt!

This was our goodbye pictures we took while switching back companions... I have my Hermana Gividen again! :)

This is how poor missionaries have to open cans.. I was really really careful though!

Hermana Ruth made us dinner again. Best food in all of Costa Rica.

October 19, 2015

Hello! Happy Monday!

Time for another surprise... After I emailed and said that we did not have transfers, they told me we had transfers... Awkward... But only for 1-2 weeks. Hermana Gividen was not happy at first, but then she was okay with it. They sent her to Concepcion to work with Hermana Woods (friend of McKell and Josh) for a week or two while I take care of the injured Hermana Mendoza. She sprained her ankle pretty bad and got stitches, so President wants her to rest as much as possible and heal up before going back out to work. And since I am in the office working some days, she can rest even more!

Some days I do divisions and go out and work with a member while she stays in the house of another member, and some days we work in the office, and some days we stay home and I clean the giant house while she watches The District. :) It's going alright so far. :) Hermana Gividen came by the house today to get more clothes and it sounds like they are doing good! As soon as Hermana Mendoza can walk again without crutches, I'll send her back and get Hermana Gividen back. :) But for now, we are doing well! Plus, I get to take her stitches out here pretty soon! Wahoo! :)

Laura got back from vacation last night, so I am pretty excited to go visit her this week! She doesn't know it yet, but we are planning to set a baptismal date with her for my birthday... Birthday present to myself! ;) Hahah but first we are going to make sure that she is progressing well and is ready to make the covenant with God to follow Christ. :) I will keep you updated on her. But for now she is doing awesomely.

Yesterday I went out with a member to do a visit or two, right? And as soon as we stepped outside, it started to pour..... buckets... And we got drenched! And when we got to the investigators house, we sat in their doorway dripping for a good 20 minutes while ringing out our clothes and then she let us come in and sit on towels. :) It was funny. Poor member... She didn't bring an umbrella, so we shared. It didn't help much. But after we finished and picked up my companions, we went back to the members house and she made us hot chocolate and gave me slippers to wear. :) So all is better. :)

While in church we were learning about families and eternal marriages and kids... And teacher said something about how it is our responsibility to have children and raise families and work together... And I was thinking. I used to only want like 3 kids, because I wanted to work part time and then full time as soon as I could. But then I realized that we are not here to work and work. But we ARE here to create families and to learn and grow together. So now I want like 5-6 kids... :) And I still want to work when I can, I love working, but I hope I can have an awesome family too. :) So that is exciting news. Can't you just imagine 6 of me running around! How great, right? ;)

Well this week we have meetings planned, one hospital trip planned, visits to awesome investigators, and then switching back companions! Sounds like an adventure! I hope you all have a great week as well! I love you all! Be good! And stay healthy!

Love,

Hermana Markle. :)

A burrito and fries we bought... The fries have cut up hot dogs and lots of mayo and ketchup... It was over kill... But that is what they like here. I still ate them. :)

I found chicken in a can from Costco here! LUCKY! I love that stuff! (And I hate tuna...)

Cute little baby bananas!

 

October 12, 2015

Hey!

 

It's transfers week.... Ready for the big news?? Well that's too bad, because there is none... I get to stay to finish training Hermana Gividen! :) Which means I will probably finish my mission here in San Francisco because the next transfer is only 4 weeks long and that would be silly to move me for 4 weeks.......

 

This week went really well! The last week we were so busy moving . . . we were so happy to have a great week of teaching this week! :) We saw some pretty awesome miracles.

 

Did I tell you about the missionary lady that we gave a Book of Mormon to?? Well she read the whole thing. And prayed about it. And got an answer and now wants to be baptized! She LOVE it! She is going on a missionary trip to Africa in January and she says she wants to learn as much as she can from our church before she goes so she can bring them this knowledge! We are going to make sure she gets connected to the missionaries in Africa! She is awesome! But... She doesn't live in our area. So we won't be there at her baptism. But we are still pretty excited for her. :) I sent you a picture of her a few weeks ago I think...

 

Also! The Bishop gave us a reference this week so we went to go find her. And she said she has been waiting for us for 2 months! Sorry! We had no idea! She says she is very very interested in studying with us and joining our church. Her neice is a member and has helped her out a lot. She went on vacation this week to the beach and won't be back until next week, so she can't come to church with us until the next next week, but we are still pretty excited! :) She is awesome as well. :)

 

Olga went on vacations as well, so we haven't seen her in a while, but I am sure she is great... :) Marco called us this week! The one we were teaching months ago! He had surgery and asked for a blessing. We are starting to work with him again. :) Also another guy named Ernesto called us this week and really likes the Book of Mormon we gave him last week! So basically this week was full of bunches of great things. :)

 

Hermana Gividen and I are excited to stay together and help all of these great people we are finding together! :) I hope you are all seeing miracles in your lives every day as well! God doesn't only love his missionaries or the people we are teaching, He loves you too! Ask and you shall receive, knock and it shall be opened unto you. Do your part, repent, change, serve, and love, and you will start to see the miracles every day. :) Love you!

 

Love,

 

Hermana Markle. :)

 

Items of Business...

1. Madi is having an EFY party without inviting the best EFY nurse/BC/Counselor ever??? Lame... ;)

2. If Kami is baking so much now, maybe she should bake me something and send it to me... Maybe it would still taste good by the time it got here...? :)

3. Good job on Ponderizing your scriptures! I am ponderizing too!

4. Kami is going to another dance?? And you didn't ask Nathan to make it all funny and cute and be twins with me? Lame... You'll have to ask him to Morp... Who are you going with???

6. Still nothing from Brandon.....

7. GOOD LUCK DADDY!!!!!! WIN WIN WIN!!!! :) :) :)

8. Have a great week! I love you and pray for you! :)

October 5, 2015

Family,

Conference was the BESSST! :) And yes, I got to watch the whole thing in English. :) Luck me for having a new companion. :) I understand the talks in Spanish, but listening to their real voices is so much better. And some of the good quotes get translated funny. Like Ship-shape and Bristle ready, doesn't work well in Spanish hahah. I loved it. It is like Christmas for missionaries (quote by Alli). :)

I feel like 2 main themes were about the importance of the Holy Ghost and Spiritual Progression. I loved all of the talks about receiving personal revelation each day or each week about the little things you can do to improve or the little bits of service you can add into your day. And when they said that the faith and knowledge that we have right now is not enough. We need to be continuosly progressing and learning and improving. And the best way to do that is with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. To do it in God's way, and not man's way. It is never to late to become a little better or learn a little more. :)

This week was crazyyy busy.... We had a full day in President's house with the news, temple trip and multi-zone conference, general conference, hospital trips, and moving our giant house and taking down and putting up lots of bunkbeds.... We are super tired, and will probably sleep all day today if we can. :) And we are ready to get back to work in our actual area again. :) We missed our investigators.

This week while working with a member, we found the coolest lady named. We were looking for a reference that a different member had given us the week before, but the directions were bad as usual... So we knock on the house we thought it was. No one answered. So we knocked on the next house we thought it was, and no one answered. So we sat out side of that second house for a second thinking about where it could be and looking at my planner... And then a lady peeked her head through the curtains of her window, so I waved at her and she quickly hid. That happens a lot... Where they think we don't see them looking at us, so I wave at them to let them know that we really do see them and are going to sit out here until they answer... Hahah anyways she answered the door! And came out to talk to us. We asked her if she was the lady we were looking for and she said no. But she showed us where the real house was! :) And we talked to her for a minute. (Pause... While watching the district last week during training time with Hermana Gividen I learned a new line we could say to try to get people interested in listening to us... So I tried it out... Play..) And it worked! She said after visiting the reference, we could come back and visit her. So we did. And we had a great little lesson. :) And at the end of the lesson, I had her say the closing prayer and it went something like this.... 'Heavenly Father, I don't really know why I let these people into my house, I have my own religon and was not looking for something new, but I know that thou hast a purpose in this visit, I didn't even hear them at my door, but my dogs heard them at the door, so I went to go see who it was but I did not have my glasses on, but they waved at me, so I thought it was one of my friends, so I answered the door, and I know thou hast a purpose in all things, and I don't know what that purpose is, but I know that you do, so please help me to know why they are here visiting me today, I put my life into your hands and I will follow your direction, please help me to know why these people are visiting me today.'...... Probably one of the best prayers I have ever heard in my entire life. And I have heard a lot of prayers. She was sincere. She had a full on conversation with God and it was obviously not the first time she has had conversations with Him. She is open to His will. She knows He knows all, and she knows He will guide her and has a plan for her. She humbily asked her Heavenly Father for guidence and is willing to change even when she was not looking for change, if it be His will. She is pretty awesome.

Well that is about it for this week. This is the last week of the transfers. Who knows what will happen next week! I hope I get to stay with my baby for at least one more! Have a great week!!! Watch conference online if you missed it! It is the best! :) Love you all!

Love,

Hermana Markle. :)

Items of Business:
1. Good job on the marathon dad!!!! :) Wahoo!

2. I love our new house! Wayyy better than the last one! And it's cheaper too! But I never want to move again.....

3. IT'S OCTOBER ALREADY!!!! Holy guacamole!!!!

4. Speaking of guacamole, I ate some pretty good guacamole yesterday... :)

5. Brandon is running out of time to send me his email.... It better be a good one....

6. Still haven't gotten Kami's letter yet... :( I hope it did not get lost... I will give it another week or two to show up!

7. I love you all!!! 

Selfie on our way to the temple!

We Love the Temple!

Our new apartment - bedroom. Very Nice!

Our "study closet" -- we actually love it!

Bathroom - the best one I have had so far!

Kitchen

Awesome Bathroom

After conference Ruth took us out for Chinese food! This is the first time I have eaten Chinese in like 15 months! It was pretty good. :)

This is a conference selfie... We watched conference in English in a separate room and ate snacks. :)

I did it!!!!! I can now solve a Rubix Cube!!!! This Elder taught me how. He carries 2 or 3 of them around everyday, so we practiced for about 5 minutes after every district conference for a few weeks. And then he gave me my own cube after I graduated from the classes. :)

Lunch at the Mission home, for our "One Month Check Up" with the new missionaries.

September 28, 2015

Hello!

 

It is conference week!!! I am SOOO excited!!! :) I hope you can all watch it and take really good notes! It is going to be sooo good!

 

Well this week I ate cow tongue for the first time! Eww!!! But it actually tasted pretty good.... Just weird to think about....... So don't think about it much. It looks like normal meat, so you wouldn't even know unless someone told you what it was... Try it! They say it is really fancy and expensive.

 

BEST WEEK EVER! I got to stay the night in the hospital and we had a baptism all in the same week! :) Hahah It felt like home in the hospital. I did not really like the nurses coming in every 15 minutes to check on the recently operated on Hermana, but it was still fun. She had a simple knee surgery. Neither of us slept well. But all is well now. :) And our new convert is already wanting to go to the temple and we might get to go with her next week! She is doing great! She loves the Young Womens in this ward and is starting to read from the Book of Mormon every day! Oh and I also got a package from my mommy this week! Triple awesome week! Oh oh and Womens Conference was this week too! Super great week. A member took us out for Taco Bell after the conference and we watched it in English for Hermana Gividen so we are all happy.

 

Today we had the 'One Month Check-up' for Hermana Gividen. :) It was great! President Hayes grilled us hamburgers and hotdogs and we learned lot of cool stuff. He knows everything about everything. He's been an institute teacher for a long time... Asweome. :)

 

In my studies this week I really like a scripture in Alma. And then they talked about it again in the Womans Conference... So it is fate. Alma 13:28 (27-29). It talks about how we need to pray continually to be able to handle the temptations given to us. I hear people say all the time that 'God does not give trials too big for you to handle' or 'Satan can not tempt you more that you can handle' But that is not ture... A lot of trials are too hard for us to bear and a lot of temptations are too strong for us to bear. Alone. If we are alone, we will almost always fall. We will fall into sin, saddness, depression, mistakes, darkness. But if we look to God, pray always, and use the Atonement of Christ, THEN there will be no trials too big or temptations too strong to bear. With Christ, all is possible. By ourselves, life is too hard. Pray continually for protection, for help, for knowledge, for love, for guidence and direction, for the Spirit. And you will be able to bear all things. :) And you can be happy through your trails with Faith, Hope, and Charity. :)

 

Have a great conference weekend! I love you all! 

 

Love,

 

Hermana Markle. :)

Items of Business...

1. THANKS FOR THE PACKAGE! I have almost finished the Beef Jerky and the Tic Tacs... Thanks!! :)

2. Katie gets married in 4 months from today!!!! AHHH!!!! I haven't even met him yet!! Do I at least get a fancy dress to wear to the wedding??

3. We got like 140 flu shots this week! I have already given 4. :) I am sooo excited to give the rest. :) :) :)

4. We also move houses tomorrow I think... We will see... And Temple trip on Wednessday! Another busy week!

5. I love you!

6. GOOD LUCK ON YOUR IRONMAN RACE DAD!!!!!! DO AWESOME!!!!! :)

7. Have a good week! :)

We went to Subway for 2X1 day. :) Worth it!

Creepy Spider. . .

Beef Jerky from home! (The words on the bag say it all!)

Pizza!

We ate cow tongue this week.... it was pretty good.... :)