Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 1.27.15

Dearest Family,

This week has been incredible! I have been SO blessed to see this group grow. When I came, the attendance was about 28. This last Sunday, we had 56. I am so happy for this. You have no idea. We received word that we have to change apartments to fit all the people so we have been house shopping a lot. It's weird talking with home owners about rent. It's definitely different and I feel like an adult. People with 40 years have to barter with me, a white gringo with 20 years, to get me to pay for a house. WHAT? Que tuanis? 

This end of the week, we should have a baptism. Right now we are in divisions so that we can baptize Luis. I'm here in Guapiles about to have my first baptismal interview conducted by me. I have to interview a 13 year old youth to see if he is ready. I'm super excited. 

Lately in the mission it's been hard but the Lords help is every where. If you are ever feeling down, study about Grace or the Enabling Power of the Atonement. I promise in the name of Jesus Christ and as His representative, that you WILL feel His love and strength if you do. Doesn't matter your circumstance. He will come to help you if you diligently seek Him. He lives. 

I got a lot of great photos for you guys this week. I dont have time to explain them though :/ sorry

I love you all and I hope everything is going great still! 

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 1.20.15

Dear Family,

WHERE DID THE TIME GO? Holy Hannah. One year already. I'm completing one year this week. How quickly it's passed by. I gotta get to work before I'm out of time :P 

Well this week has been pretty interesting. We received a new Zone Leader this week. He is from Colombia. Elder Saavedra. He is super cool and he is ready to help each of us reach our potential. In the District, things are going great. I'm still getting the hang of being a leader. I feel like the Lord is trying to teach me something. In every single area we have the same problem. There is a person ready for baptism but they simply aren't making the choice of baptism. I have no idea what to do. Elder Saavedra gave some council to me that I think might help. If there is disobedience or contention in the District, the Lord will stop the success of the work to teach us how to forget ourselves and go to work. He can only bless us according to our faith. So if our actions aren't in conformity with what we pray for, he can't/won't bless us. I'm going to try to help the sisters the best I can. Wish me luck!

We have lots of people that our ready for baptism. One of our investigators is named Modesta and everytime we talk with her she asks when she can be baptized. It's awesome. Sadly I and the other missionaries think I will have transfers at the beginning of of February. I don't think I'll have the chance to see her and her fiancee get married and baptized. But I'm going to work my hardest to help them prepare. I love this people! 

It's great to hear that the funeral service went well. I thought it sounded very nicely done. Hermana Wilkinson hasn't said anything to me. I don't have much contact with President or his wife much. 

I love the Lord and His Atonement. I have learned so much about the Enabling Power of the Atonement lately and I have felt it influence my life. I love this Gospel.

In other news, I finished reading The Book of Mormon in Spanish for the first time. Let me tell ya, regardless of the language, that book is true. Hahaha. I know that the Book of Mormon is true with all my heart. I add my testimony along with President Monson when he said,"If you havent read The Book of Mormon yet.....READ IT!" It is the Word of God that leads us to the Savior and Our Heavenly Father. I love this!

I love you all and I hope that everything is alright at home. I'm doing my best to not think of home and getting to work. Thank you for all your prayers and love. 

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 1.13.15

Dear Peeps,

This week was one of the hardest weeks I have been out on my mission without a doubt. As a District leader, I get to see moment for moment progress on baptisms. Well.... we started off the month with 7 for baptisms and now we are fighting for 2 that might happen. It's been frustrating. But we are doing better little by little. I feel desires to do better all the time. I thank everyone for their prayers and letters. We did have a lot of success though on Sunday. 7 investigators in the chapel and an attendance of 45. That was incredible to see!

It made me a little sad to hear about Aunt Rosie. But I know that she's moving on to great things. I like the one of the first Russian converts to become mission presidents. Elder Nelson called her up to the microphone at a Stake Dedication. Her husband had recently passed away after they were released from serving as mission presidents I think. He said that she bore a powerful testimony of covenants. She said, "We are still mission companions. Him on that side and I on this side of the veil" It is a great talk and a powerful testimony of the reality of covenants. I know that Aunt Rosie is a virtuous woman and that they are keeping their covenants. Haha I found the spanish version of Uncle Mikes talk in a Liahona this last week. 

I love my mission even though that it's the hardest thing I've ever done. The Lord is the Gardener here and he knows what he wants me to become. Just gotta hold on tight and keep moving forward.

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 1.6.15

Good New Year Everybody,

Well this week went pretty good. I have a funny experience with a man from Alabama. He was a Baptist preacher who turned Methodist who turned Menonite. Now he is establishing Evangelist churches in the jungle. Man pick a team why don't ya? Anyways, we were walking down the street on PDay and I heard his accent saying, "Can ya speak English?" I say "Well a hoot an' a haller, ya I can Beuford!". Well in my smart-alik mind I said that. But he began speaking to me and I simply asked if he lived here. He told me little of himself before he began speaking of the church. "I know you teach that you can all become Gods" Yep. "You teach that Christ and Satan were brothers" Yep. "Brigham Young had 50 wives" Something like that. "You have a mother figure like Mary that you worship" Nope. "Brigham Young wrote your doctrine" Not even close. "you believe that Adam is Heavenly Father" Ok we are done here. haha. I simply explained to him that he could read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it was true. He said he would think about it. He then went on to ask me questions to see if I was a good person or not by using questions that it didn't matter which way I answered I was in the wrong. "Have you ever looked on a woman with lust in your eye?" Like what sir? "Have you ever checked a woman out before?" Yes of course. "Good because if you said no, it means your a homosexual. Now you are just an adulterer in your heart." 

What a great experience! 

Other than that it was a pretty normal  week. I hope you enjoy the photos this week! 

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Puerto Viejo, Heredia, Costa Rica 12.30.14

Dear Family,

Things are going good. We have been having a little bit of a hard time because of the holidays. Our 4 baptisms for the first part of January have all fallen through. Its been a little tough to take. In the District, 2 more fell through. Today we had a meeting for the District Leaders and the Zone Leaders about January. We set a goal as a district for 5 baptisms between 6 missionaries. I have faith that all will go good. We just need to keep moving forward. 

Two new investigators came to church this last sunday so we were excited. The only challenge to getting them baptized is he needs to get divorced and then marry them. Divorce in Costa Rica is like a 6-10 year process. So we are planting seeds with them. Things are going great other than that though. 

I don't have much else to report because we talked about a lot on Christmas.

Happy Birthday Corbin! 18! My heavens.... I thought I was turning a big age. Have a happy birthday bud.

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider