Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 5.31.15

Dear Family,

Hahaha is Corbin taller than Brendon?!? HOORAH. Looks good for the graduation bud. Congratulations. 

Hey Mom, two things before I forget. How did the audition for Brigadoon go? and Can you send me instructions for French Toast? I'm done with Ramen noodles every morning..... 

This week has been good and bad. It was full of JW's', investigators returning the Book of Mormon without bothering to read it or pray, empty chapels on sunday, and unexpected miracles. I'm sure glad that the Lord has a perfect plan for us all, because my plans and thoughts aren't working out so hot. 

We are trying to clean up the Member Registries to help convert it into a ward. We are making a lot of progress. but at the same time it could be faster. The members are a little slow on the "let every man learn his duty and act diligently in the office wherein he is appointed" thing. But I'm not perfect in my calling either. Oh well.

We have found many cool families that seem super ready to receive the gospel but they are taking their time with the commitments. I am certain that if a person would read the Book of Mormon and pray, there is no power on Earth or in Heaven or Hell, that would stop them from being baptized. Those that actually do them, baptize. Even if they say they've done it and/or have received an answer, and they don't come to church or be baptized, I know that they actually havent done these things. It's really funny their reactions when you call them out on it. They give you this,"Is he reading my mind and heart?" look. "Yes I know it's true" "How do you know?" "It speaks of God" "Wonderful. But did you ask God if its true?" "Um... no" "Yeah we know" hahaha They are funny sometimes. But other times, it's just plain frustrating. haha what is SO hard about, read the book and ask your dad if it's true? oh well. We keep moving forward. 

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 5.25.15

Dear Family,

So good to see the Drama Banquet was a success. Congrats with the Stewie Award. What a cool gift that you guys got Wilcock and Shelley. I bet they loved it. 

This week has been pretty weird I'll admit. Things were going great. Giving service, teaching good, you know, the usual. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, popped up 6 companionships of Jehovah's Witnesses. It was like a plague that struck us in the core center of our area. Once again, we are back to square one with finding. The work goes on. 

The status with become a ward. I had an interview with President Wilkenson last Monday. I walked in like the normal interview that it was. We talked for awhile about the normal stuff, (how are you?,your companion?, your area?,have any questions for me?) but then he changed the subject. Elder, I want to show you something. He turned his computer around and showed me how I can help this branch become a ward. 

We have been working hard to clean up the ward registry because their is a great difference between active members to inactive. Many have simply moved or have passed away so they are reflecting bad on the branches progress. Once we clean it up good we will have helped out a lot. President is trying to put this new ward into place to create another stake here. I'm trying to fulfill my part of the load. It's stressful but good :)

We also spoke with a lot of members about how they came into the gospel. One of the newest members to move in told us of how as a teenager she couldn't ever get into reading the Book of Mormon. She found a Jehovah's Witness Bible that had pictures in it that she really liked. She said one day she was sitting on her bed with both books. She said she began to pray to ask which book would help her to come unto Him more. She said that after finishing the prayer, she reached for the JW bible because she liked it more. As soon as she touched it, she said it burned or shocked her. She obviously dropped that book. She wondered what had just happened. She looked at the Book of Mormon and said that she felt full of joy and peace when she touch it. 

The Church is true, the Book is Blue. (Go Cougars)

I know that this church is true and that we are all in this school of life to learn to put on perfection like our Father. He loves us so much. He gives us these trials not to punish us, but to teach us and help us grow. 

I love you all lots and I hope that this week treats ya good.

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 5.18.15

Dearest Family,

This week has been a little bit of a let down yet we still had incredible miracles. This will be my 2nd week without investigators in the church on Sunday. Yet I know that the Lord has people prepared. We just gotta go find 'em. Happy Hunting.

This week we had a couple of cool things happen. I have an exciting moment to share. We got off of a bus one night on our way home from working our best. As we began to go up a hill, I saw a man looking at us. I felt for a reason that he was waiting for us, which in the mission rarely happens to us. I stretched out my hand and introduced my companion and I. We began to walk and he told us "I feel that you have something to tell me. Tell me anything" This is the point that we began praying for exactly what he needed to hear. We began teaching of the Restoration and how richly it could bless his life. He began to tell us of some family problems that he is currently passing through right now. We testified of the truthfulness of our message. This is where he told us of his experience. He said that in the bus, he began to pray as to what he should do with his problems. He said at this moment, he looked up and he saw us enter the bus. We sat down on separate parts of the bus and as we continued to travel, he prayed again to ask if this was a coincidence. He said that he then heard a voice tell him,"They will wait for you". So we he got off the bus he began to walk. Out of curiosity to see if we had gotten off the bus, he turned back towards us for just a second or two. As he did, he said he saw my hand and a gringo accent saying, "Hola! Me llamo Elder Neider"

I find it incredibly interesting that Heavenly Father can answer prayers like this. He can put us missionaries exactly where we need to be, exactly when someone is praying for it. The most fantastic part is, is that He does this completely without affecting our moral agency. He truly does guide us as we choose to listen to His still small voice. I would say this was a weird coincidence as this man named Edison did. Except that it has happened to many others like this in this same area. He hears and answers everyone of His child's prayers,

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

"The Forks in the Road" 5.11.15

The Forks in the Road 

by Elder Neider

My mind is often called to ponder and think

Of the life that I want to pursue.

I think of the choices, the forks in the road 

And realize I don't have a clue

On the one hand, there's a path made of gold 

Lined with cars of an exotic style.

There are stadiums and pools filled with people of fame

Inviting to stay for awhile

The people all walk with the greatest and latest

Of clothes, entertainment, and more

Surely this path is the one I should take

All of these blessings could I possibly ignore?

I glanced toward the other path at this fork in the road

Just to see where this way would go

It was a rocky dirt road full of holes and uneven

And to where it led was easy to know

There was a pole that lined this straight and narrow path

To help travelers like me on there way

That lead to a tree of pure white like the snow

And it shone as the sun at midday

I continued to ponder the path of my feet

And which was the way I should take

I thought and I prayed as hard as i could

Who would want to make a mistake?

I felt drawn to the path that I saw on the right

Something was pulling and urging

I took hold of that rod with all of my might

And now I could feel this warm surging

I continued on this path which lead to the tree

Steady and slowly I moved

But I heard many voices of laughter and mocking

I was pointed at, scorned, and booed

I don't know why, out of all you could do,

that was found on the other path

The activity of choice of all who were there

was insulting me to make others laugh

The road was hard, I had to keep going

Don't know why I wanted so bad

To get to the tree of Heavenly light

Under which I think I saw my Dad

I looked and I strained to see who else was there

Enjoying in the rays of this tree

My mother, my brothers, my sister, and cousins

I knew this is where I should be

The closer I got to fulfilling my goal 

The harder the path seemed to become

But there was always something urging me forward

And I knew exactly where it came from 

The Savior Himself walked this path long before

as rocky and thorny the way

He asks us to follow and hold to the rod

To always kneel down and to pray

May we continue to keep moving forward

and carry our individual load

But remember to listen to the voice of the Spirit 

when we come to those forks in the road

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider

Mother's Day 5.10.15

Mother's Day smile!

He shared this poem he wrote with us on Mother's Day.  "Forks in the Road" by Elder Caden Neider. 

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 5.4.15

Dear Family,

So this week we have the opportunity to Skype! I'm super excited. We planned to Skype at 7 pm. I know it's a little late but that is because Elder Mendoza can only Skype at that time. His family is a bunch of Indians that have to travel or something to access Skype. 

This week has been a little tough for the two of us. All of our investigators dropped us. We now have to start over from scratch again which means that we are 3 weeks away from the next possible baptism. It's getting to that point in my mission where I know I don't have much time left so I want to work and baptize. I don't have time to wait like this. But the Lord knows best and is teaching us patience. I have been asking to develop this attribute so I guess it's my own fault :P 

I love this area a lot. We don't have much member help or their enthusiasm. We are planning on doing a Variety Show or talent night. It's worked in the past. 

Other than that, not much is going on. We will see what this week brings :)

Sigamos Adelante,

-Elder Neider