Dec. 30, 2014
Well family, it was sooo great to be able to talk to you all on Christmas. It was the highlight of my day :) you are all the best and i feel so blessed to have you all in my life. Thank you dad for the prayer that you said too. There was such a strong spirit as you said that prayer, and was a wonderful reminder to me of the family i have at home that is always praying for me. 

I already told you all a little bit about my Christmas, but Christmas Eve here is a lot bigger than Christmas day. So Christmas Eve we went with some members and ate tamales and then they took us to go see some monkeys! I felt like i was in a movie, in the middle of a jungle with a whole bunch of monkeys around me, and also iguanas, BIG iguanas. Hahah it was sweet! We also had dinner with a recent convert that night and it was super yummy :) but one of the best parts of that day was 2  new investigators we found. We were in Chorotega, an area that i have been working hard in since i got here, and figured that it was pretty much dried up, and that i had talked to just about everyone. But we were walking and i felt impressed to start talking to these two women. So we talked for a second and then they invited us in to share more. So at the beginning we usually ask if they have any questions, or what they know about our church already. One of them, MariaJose, said that she didn'thave a question, but that she had something she wanted to say. She went on to tell us how she has noticed us walking around, never talked to us, but could tell that there was something different about us. She said that we don't need a badge, we don't need a sign, all we need is ourselves to show to people what we believe and who we are. This was such a huge compliment to me, to hear that people really can see something different in us, the power and authority that we carry. That just by the way we live, and the light that we carry, people can tell that we are different. This made me want to continue to live worthy of the spirit, and always do things in the way that if someone was watching, they could recognize me as a servant of God. So yeah that was just the beginning of the lesson, so we had an amazing lesson with these two sisters, and one of them came to church on Sunday, the other had to work. But we are going to work hard with them both.

Christmas morning we woke up early and opened our little gifts that we had for each other and it was so cute :) then we made breakfast together and did our studies. Then we got our Santa hats, and went out to tell everyone Feliz Navidad, and share the real meaning of Christmas. The streets were very empty, and lots of people were gone, or don't like Christmas, haha but we wanted to share the Christmas cheer, and we all know the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear. :) So we sang a lot of Christmas hymns that day:) and then i got to skype with you guys :) 

Sunday we had 5 investigators in church which was a miracle because we have had really low numbers lately.. So i was very grateful for that. And i am also very grateful for my companion. Yesterday i was really sick. I was throwing up, had a fever, body aches, and a pounding head ache. She was so sweet and took really good care of me. And while i was sleeping she washed all my clothes AND cleaned the apartment. I don't know how i got so blessed...but i am very grateful for her.

Well i hope you all have a wonderful New Year and that 2015 will be the best year of your lives :) haha i know that this coming year will be one that i am never going to forget :)

I LOVE YOU ALL :)

Love,

Hermana Peters

Our Christmas tree and presents :)

Us spreading the Christmas cheer :)

Skyping Rachel on Christmas day!

Hermana Peters and Loza

Dec. 23, 2014
Dear Family,

Well to start off, i am soooo excited for Christmas, and that i get to talk to you all soon! It feels like a dream that i actually get to see you guys.. i am soo excited!! I only have 40 minutes... So think of questions and everything before! Ahh i am so excited :):)

So last week i got to go to the temple. I don't have words to describe how amazing my experience was there. i felt the spirit sooo strong just walking in the front door. I know without a doubt that temples are the house of our Lord, and that they are the most sacred places in the world here. We did a session there and it was all in Spanish so that was a bit harder, but i understand basically all of it so that was a blessing. As i was sitting in the celestial room, i couldn't help but cry. I was thinking about how blessed i am. I was born into a loving family, to a dad that holds the priesthood, and a mom who loves me, and siblings who are my best friends. I never had to worry if i was going to have food the next day, I always had enough, if not more than what i needed. And soo many other things. Yeah i really don't know how to describe what i was feeling, but it was something i will never forget. 

After we had a big lunch as a mission, well half a mission. And after President got up and started to talk to us about Christmas and everything and then he started getting all teary. He didn't speak for a bit then looked at all of us, and said, ¨This morning i received the news that in june we will no longer be the Costa Rica San Jose mission. We will be the Costa Rica West and Costa Rica East Missions.¨ AHHHHHHH. so in the next few months i will be receiving another mission call, that will be assigned by an apostle, saying which mission i will be in!! :) All i can say is that i know that this was a miracle, and that i am so honored to be a part of it. It is a big testimony to me that this is where i am supposed to be right now in my life. That i receive my answer to serve a mission because I was needed here. I was needed to get those last few things ready to bring 200 more missionaries into Costa Rica. To help Santa Cruz become a ward, and Guanacaste become a stake, and now to have 2 missions here in Costa Rica. President said that this will completely change Costa Rica, and the church will grow like never before. How amazing is this church, this gospel, and our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

So ya after that i was on the biggest spiritual high that i have ever had. :) I couldn't help but just want to work even harder. So that's what we did, especially with our little branch soon to be ward. Our president of the branch had planned this Christmas dinner on Saturday for the branch. I have soo much respect for the president of our branch, and know he is working hard because he has such a huge responsibility supporting the people here. So we decided to surprise him by decorating our ¨church¨that is just this building. So all of our missionaries put our money together and bought  some decorations and gifts for the ward. I felt like i was back in high school decorating for a dance because all day Saturday we spent decorating. But it looked so nice and i could tell that the people were so happy and grateful.  The only problem we had is that our church has 2 bars next to it. so we kept having drunk people come in and ask for food... And this one crazy lady came in and started screaming at me because she thought i was the mom of one of the kids in the branch that i guess did something to her.. i don't really know what was going on.. but i guess she wanted to fight me.. haha yep only in Santa Cruz... haha

I am glad you got my package from the Tolmans :) i have been wanting to tell you guys about it but then thought it would be better to have it be a surprise :)

I am so grateful for this gospel and for the opportunity i have to be a missionary. I know without a doubt this is where i need to be right now, not only for the people, but also for myself. i am learning so much and growing in ways that i could have only done here. I am honored to be able to give my life to the Savior right now, walking the path that He already walked and is walking again with me. I know He lives and the He is the reason for the season. I know that because of Him, we can become the people the our Heavenly Father wants us to be. That because of His grand Atonement, we can be cleansed from our mistakes and shortcomings, that we can become new. And that because of Him and this great plan, we can be a family forever.

I love you all sooo much!

Merry Christmas!! :)

Love,

Hermana Rachel Peters

At the temple

My family here :)

this is our cute little church all decorated for the dinner. it doesn't look like a lot, but it was a lot of work. haha

oh and we went to the beach again yesterday :) 

Dec. 16, 2014
Hello Family,

How is everyone doing? Sounds like everyone is still wishing for a white christmas.. I hope you guys get snow soon, i will be praying for you :) haha as for me, i will just enjoy the warmth. :) 

So this week was great! Everything feels so different but i love it. My companion Hermana Loza is amazing and i am learning so much from her. She has only been a member of the church for 4 years, but has one of the strongest testimonies i have ever seen. And such a great love for all the people.  It was weird at the begining to not have Hermana Holmes here because my whole mission has been with her, with a gringa that lived life the same way that i did. But i actually really like that change. i love learning all about Columbia from Hermana Loza, she is sooo  funny.

With a latina companion, we are supposed to speak English in the house, and spanish in the streets.  haha the other day during lunch i told hermana loza to tell me a story, She knows very basic English and so she started to tell me how she met her ex boyfriend. She started and said "i met my ex boyfriend... in the bathroom" then she looked at me and i burst our laughing! We both sat there for a good 10 minutes laughing ;) then she was like "bathroom is baño huh?" haha we both got a good kick out of that one.  

That is another thing i am learning.. how to teach English..Haha lets just say my calling in life is not to be an English teacher but i love it. I used to not really like language study, but i love it now! i love being able to help Hermana Loza learn more, and she is helping me a ton too! Dad to answer your question, yesi can roll my r´s. Haha miracle right? sometimes it takes me a few tries.. but then by the end i usually can get it:) Hermana Loza is helping a lot this that too! 

On Sunday here there was this big parade, festival of the lights. EVERYONE here goes to this parade, and so we were walking around, not really knowing what to do. We were trying to find people to teach, to use our time in the best way possible, but everyone was at the parade. So we were like "Okay lets go :)" we went and talked to a whole bunch of people and saw a bunch of our investigators too which was great! and then we got to sit down and watch the parade :) it was one probably one of the coolest parades ever. Haha everything was covered in lights, and tons of Christmas music everywhere. And lots of native Costa Rican dancing and things. i loved it!! :)  i will send an email with pictures! 

Mom i just put some pictures in the dropbox :) Merry Christmas.

So tomorrow i get one of the greatest Christmas presents ever. I GET TO GO TO THE TEMPLE!! I have never ever been so excited to go to the temple, ahh i´m almost giddy about it ;) haha but really, never take the temple for granted. Its amazing.

Everything here is going great. We are working really hard with all of our investigators and trying to help them progress and make those steps towards baptism. We have a few that i have faith will get baptized here soon, but they are just having a hard time coming to church. Everyone right now is having a hard time going to churhc, even the members. They all miss the old chapel, and i don't blame them. Its hard to have church in this random building in the middle of the town. But i know that this will help this branch gain the strength they need to be a ward. All the trial and hard times in our lives are to help us become what our Heavenly Father wants. Sometimes we dont want to step outside our comfort zones, but there is no growing in a comfort zone. So i hope that we can continue to help our investigators and this branch to become stronger. Oh on Sunday we taught primary and i had brought some of the gifts from you guys in my gifts for everyday. i brought jolly ranchers and stickers and the kids loved it. They were all laughing as they tried to open the jolly ranchers because with the heat and all some had like melted and got them all sticky. But they loved opening them and then eating them :) so thank you mom :) i told them this was a gift from my family, so they all say Gracias :)

Well that's all i have time for today, but know that i love you all. I hope you all have a fun and safe week and that it will snow soon :) i´ll be praying for you guys! 

LOVE YOU :)

Love,

Hermana Rachel Peters

Hermana Peters and  Loza 

Festival de Luz

Dec. 9, 2014
 5 months down!!!

Hello to the Greatest Family in the World :)

How is everyone doing? Finals are coming up for some of you right? Good luck with that.. i am VERY grateful that i wont be having finals for a while :) haha and Michael, sounds like you had a wonderful time at the dance. you are such a beast to take her roses. i am sure she will remember that for the rest of her life :) and everyone should follow Sarah's example. She sent me a ton of pictures and i loved it! Thank you Sarah :) you are the cutest. and i still cant believe you are almost 16...

First off, we had transfers this past week and Hermana Holmes got transferred... We all kinda saw it coming, but it was not fun having to say goodbye to my mom on the mission. And can i just say, she is a boss. Her new assignment is to open and new area AND train again!! Wow. All i know is that i know i couldn't do that, and if anyone can, its Hermana Holmes :)

My new companion is Hermana Loza. She is from Columbia and is amazing. She joined the church 4 years ago and i already can feel her testimony radiating from her. She is so strong and i know that i will learn a ton from her. Especially with Spanish.. haha she doesn't speak any English... But i feel good about it all and know that this is who i am supposed to be with right now. I am very grateful that i get more time here in Santa Cruz too because i LOVE it here. The people here are like family to me and i am grateful that i get to spend Christmas and my birthday with them :) 

So on Thursday i woke up feeling like i got hit by a bus, and all of a sudden had a horrible cough, and a stuffy nose, and kept losing my voice when i tried to talk. But i was not going to let this get me down. We had a zone meeting in Liberia so that was one hour i had to rest a little bit in the bus, which was good. And then i figured i could just kinda sit back and enjoy the meeting. But Heavenly Father wanted me to prove to myself that i have power of the natural man. I was asked to share a personal experience, and later to share a scripture, and then to do a 10 legged race thing. I was like okay of all days.. really?? but I was just fine! i got up and did what i needed to do. I said what i needed to say, and that's about how my whole day went, and the next day too. I really learned that all that i am doing here really isn't me. It is all the Lord. This is His work and He will make sure that His servants do all that he needs done. There was one point on Friday when i felt so weak, and just wanted to lay down on the dirt road and sleep. Right then i huge breeze came from behind, or should i say a whole bunch of angels that were giving me that extra push i needed to keep going. Don't worry, now i am feeling much better. OH also a tender mercy.. Thursday when i woke up feeling so sick i opened the little gift for that day and it was propel! Yeah it was PERFECT because i didn't want to drink water because i had a nasty taste in my mouth. So thank you mom :)

Saturday we had another baptism of a girl named Michelle. When i got here i thought she was already a member because she comes to everything, but turns out she wasn't and wanted to be. So we worked with her and got her all ready, and then we found out the reason she wasn't baptized is because of her parents. We have to get permission from both of them, and her mom did not want her to be baptized. We tried and tried to talk to her but she was either not home or sleeping. So ya long story short, we had a miracle happen Saturday morning when she told Michelle that she could be baptized :) So we had everything all ready to go, and we all went to the church. That morning Hermana Holmes and i had gone to the church to fill the font (the last time in this church before the start building the new one!!) but i guess i didn't plug it all the way because we got to the church and all the water was gone. The Elders had started filling it up again and everyone was just kinda sitting there waiting. Oh and also we didn't have seats because men had already come to take everything out of the church. Yeah what an interesting situation right? haha so as everyone is just waiting i was thinking about how i could speed up the process.. So i went and grabbed the garbage can, cleaned out all the trash and also cleaned it a bit and then went outside to where we have this little hose. So i started to fill up the can, then went inside and dumped it into the font. Everyone looked at me funny and then all stood up to help :) haha we found a few other things to help fill the font, and everyone was all laughing and smiling as we all filled the font with garbage cans and pans :) Also that same day a little 8 year old girl got baptized too. Her family is already members and they are one of my favorite families here :) 

I thought about all of you guys on December 5 :) and sounds like you had a wonderful Dutch Chirstmas. I hope you all know that i love you so much and am so grateful for all you do for me. Thank you for the prayers and love. i really can feel them. I hope you all have a wonderful week! And go watch He is the Gift if you havent already! :)

I LOVE YOU :)

Love, 

Hermana Peters 

Saying a rough goodbye to my friend and trainer, Hermana Holmes
Yep, still wearing glasses because the wind is still strong and rough on my contacts!
It is still super hot, but I am promised it will get even hotter!

Oh! my family loves me!!!
This is my Christmas package - one present to open each day of December!

So beautiful and amazing here!

A friend came to visit!!!!

Another beautiful day in my favorite dress:)

Surprise!!!   

This is what my feet look like when it rains, which it hasn't for a while:)

This is the treat I gave to my feet - a soothing sand mask!  Awww, so nice!
I think I have permanent strap marks on my feet!

Happy Dec. 2nd
Hola Familia,

How was everyone's Thanksgiving? You better have all eaten extra for me :) We decided to have our own Thanksgiving lunch here so we went and bought a little chicken and some bread from my favorite bread place here :) we also made some mashed potatoes and ahh it was yummy. My favorite part though was that we all got our study tables (Hermana Holmes and me, and the other two sisters) and we made a little dinner table and were able to all sit around, eat and talk. This is something that doesn't exist here... And it might be because i live in one of the poorer parts. But no one here had a dinner table, most people just sit down on the ground or a little chair and eat. It is something that i took for granted before my mission, that's for sure, but really it was so nice to just sit and a table and talk with the other sister for a bit :)

Also, thank you mom for the package :) 25 days of Christmas has never been more exciting for me! Haha since time here is so crazy and i feel like I never have a free second, I wake up extra early to open my Christmas present for that day :) hehe so thank you mom! Like i said, you are the best! oh it isnt even the gifts. it is just like a nice little reminder everyday of my amazing team I've got at home backing me up. :)

So this week we had another baptism for the young women named Yenzel. Can i just say, she is one of the strongest and toughest people ive ever met. I have been amazed by the change i have seen in the girl the past few weeks. In the beginning when we were teaching her she was sooooooo shy. She never wanted to talk, and almost never left her house. She stopped going to school and i don't know if that was because of money of what.. But ya she was so quiet. But slowly she started opening up and we would have to explain things very simply for her, but i know that it clicked. Like i said last week, she just like sent us a text and was like, I want to get baptized! I asked her this week what was the thing that changed her mind. And she said she didn't know why. She said after she looked at her phone and thought, why did i just send that? haha but then she said she had such a peaceful feeling come over her, and she knew that it was the right thing to do. Her baptism was amazing, it started a little late because we couldn't find her.. haha but it was soo good. I did a little piano musical number too which felt sooo good to play the piano :) even if it was only a little keyboard. :) 

After this baptism i was so happy and proud of her decision to be baptized and how this is going to change her life, and the life of her kids, and her kids kids, and wow it is just incredible. This baptism is also incredible because as a mission we had a goal to get 200 baptisms this month. We received a text Sunday night that said as a mission we had EXACTLY 200 baptism. Not one more, not one less. All i can say is that this work is not our own, but it the work of Heavenly Father. 

We had our last Sunday in the Chapel on Sunday and it was so fun to see how excited everyone is to get this new one started! it will take about 8 months to build, so since i probably wont be here in 8 months, i am hoping at least one day i can come back to see it :) 

Lets see... Some random facts:)

Here in Costa Rica it is officially summer :) yep all the kids have the summer break right now until like February or something like that. Weird right? But that means no more seminary.. Which is sad. But good too because we will be having more time to work! 

People here aren't huge into Christmas.. But almost all of them have Christmas lights and they all blink. No one has just plan old lights. they alllll blink. haha

The month of December here doesn't bring snow, but wind. A whole bunch of really strong wind. Plus it isn't raining anymore so it is really dry. So i might be wearing my glasses for this whole month.. haha all the kids have now learned how to say 4 eyes in English now and that is what they yell at me. haha

Oh and here is a crazy story. We have these two investigators.. I think i might have mentioned them last week. But this week we were visiting with one of the members here and they told us how they are like in hiding or something, like under protection of the government. And that this past week something happened and they got moved. I don't know why they are under protection, or what happened, or where they went. Crazy right? 

Hope you all have a wonderful week and remember that i love you :) we will be having transfers at the end of this week... i am praying that i get to stay here longer, but we will see what the Lord has planned for me next. 

Keep all my investigators in your prayers. Satan is working very hard on all of them... But we are working harder :) 

Well i love you all so much :) 

Love,

Hermana Peters

 Some of the members of our branch after church Sunday

Our lovely thanksgiving dinner :) 

 

Our district

 Yenzel at her baptism :)

The Tolmans last Sunday :( yeah i was sooo sad. They are headed back to Utah now. 

The cute little kids here always want to use my camera and sometimes it is kinda annoying, but then i get cute pictures like this :)