Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 11.25.14

Dear Family,

I don't think you understood my tone of voice. Sorry about the comment about the ACT Mom. I read that and I feel that maybe it come off snobby. Sorry. I was trying to be funny :S

So writing family has been moved to Tuesdays. So that is why I'm sending this email today. Things are going great in Puerto Viejo. This last weekend Narciso was baptized and confirmed. It was nice to have another baptism. We have been really worried because our investigators haven't been wanting to come to church. If they don't come, we cannot baptize. It's stressful at times, but we keep moving forward. I love this area. I am improving and I'm hoping to see much more success here. When I came we had 30 people coming to church every week. We had 45 this last week and this week we had 36. I have been seeing those less actives we are  visiting returning. I feel great about that. 

Lately I've been getting rashes all over due to the sweat rubbing against my clothes. It's not too fun. 

It's cool seeing that you guys are doing so good with activities. I'm surprised Dad wasn't arrested for posing as a doctor. That's the law isn't it? Or is that only for posing as policeman? 

This last week I went to San Jose again to receive my residency. Elder Mills and I went down together to wait 6 hours at a DMV federal building. It wasn't too fun, but we made the most of it like only missionaries can. We doodled... and talked about the Gospel with people! Hooray! Ha Ha.

Well that's about it. Thank for writing and I'll talk to ya next week.

Sigan Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 11.17.14

Hey Family,

This was a very good week. We had 4 investigators come to church. It was a good time to be humble and pray for help. We have a coming baptism named Narciso this Saturday. I'm so stoked. He is awesome. We found him by asking if he needed help in his lawn. We taught him for 10 mins and he cried twice. I know the spirit was there. Ever since then, he has accepted every invitation. He is ready and he will have his interview this Wednesday. Tomorrow is a Multi-Zone Conference for us missionaries. We will be headed to San Jose to receive some training by President Wilkenson. It's going to be great.Then again on Thursday I'm headed back to San Jose to obtain my Green Card with my district from the MTC. ROAD TRIP!!

It's good to hear things at home are great. Things are smooth cruising here. Nothing to big to report. 

Love you guys.

Siga Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Letter from Sister Petersen about our Elder Neider 11-10-14

Hello Sister Neider,

My name is Hermana Petersen. I'm a Senior Sister. My husband (the tall one in 1 of the foto) are P.E.F./Self-Reliance Missionaries from South Weber, Utah. Elder Neider tells us he reigns from Pleasant Grove. We actually lived there for a short time about 25 years ago. We live now in San Jose, but travel all of Costa Rica, speaking in Sacrament Meetings & Elder Petersen teaches the Y.S.A. &/or entire adult Sunday School Class about the P.E. Fund & Self-Reliance when we're in any given ward, branch or group. I double as a helper to the young mission nurse, as I'm a retired R.N. I field the phone calls from the North Americans, so if Elder Neider needs to talk to a medical person, he calls me. You'll be happy to know, I've not heard from him.

Last Sunday, we were in Puerta Viejo & got to see your sweet son. He & his companion, Elder Hernandez were scurrying about in this first foto, before sacrament meeting started. They pretty much ran the show, but waited patiently for the group leaders to conduct the meeting. He ran the CD player for the hymns, while his companion led the music. After that, they taught another Sunday School Class. I asked him how the work was going & he said they'd "found" almost 20 people the previous week (the number was in the teens anyway). He was happy beyond belief. I wanted you to know that! OH, & he attended his first Relief Society class, as he interpreted for me. Also, he said he was thrilled to talk to us in English, because he hadn't spoken it for a month.

The 2nd foto is of the Priesthood brethren preparing for the Sacrament. We're so spoiled in Utah are we not? I couldn't resist taking this 3rd foto, the holder for their tithing slips.

He's doing a great work Sister Jeanine!! Thanks so much for your sacrifice in supporting him on his mission!!

Most Warmly, Hermana Petersen

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 11.10.14

Dear Family,

So I know I gotta catch up from last week. Really quick, the photos are of my district from the last transfer. The pictures of the sky if you cant see them, and the birds that came. Our Halloween costumes. And birthday food.

Ok, so this past week was Halloween. Elder Hernandez and I dressed up as each other, (switched tags for the day) Pretty creative if you ask me. What more could we have done? Later that day we were teaching a woman named Anna. I looked up into the sky to find that that the birds had begun their migrating season. I thought this was especially funny because this year Mom decorated the house like the movie "Birds" and here I was in Costa Rica actually in the movie! Elder Hernandez didnt make to the end.... I really enjoyed your costumes this year.  

For I received my birthday package the Monday after. It was awesome. Those ties are incredible! Good finds. The last picture their was my birthday dinner. Chopped bananas with strawberry jam. Nothing beats a good missionary birthday. 

Things are going great here. We have a man named Narciso that now has 3 times in the church. We taught him the Word of Wisdom with his devote Evangelist wife Tomasa. They both accepted to live it. They both fell in love with the Book of Mormon. Narciso will be baptized the 22 of this month. Tomasa refuses to come to church, but cant put the Book of Mormon down. Oh well. Shell come eventually. But we taught the Word of Wisdom and we invited them to live it. Now we are two missionaries with two packets of coffee. We don't know how to destroy them still.

We've had many miracles and we are just moving forward. I love this area and its beginning to progress. I love you all. 

Talk to you next week, 

-Elder Neider

PS Happy Birthday again Ma

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 11.3.14

Alright Gang, 

Lots of awesome things happened this week. But I don't have time to write. We have been waiting all day for this teenagers to stop playing video games to let us write. The costumes look great. I loved Corbin's. That is easily one of the coolest costumes I've seen. I'm going to write down everything that I want to write next week. I got the package and it was just in time. My companion loves your costumes too. I gotta go because PDAY is already over and Elder Hernandez needs to write his family and President Wilkenson still. I love you all and I am sorry that I don't have more time to write. I'll write next week real good.

-Elder Neider