Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 8.24.15

Dear Family, 

It's all good. Haha I know that only the most dire of circumstances would prevent a letter. No se preocupe. 

This week we had a pretty cool experience. We had a video conference with President Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. What a blessing! It was cool because we heard from 2 of the mission presidents in Honduras, President Duncan of the Area Presidency, Elder Cordon of the Area Seventy, and President Nelson. What really stood out to me is the difference of how they talk about Heavenly Father in their own words. In General Conference, they kinda have to follow the talks they write for the translators. But in the meeting they all had the "freedom of speech" 

Elder Nelson told us of an awesome experience. But, "the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance and i cannot write more" I think I'll save this story for when I'm back. 

It was really nice to have had that conference. 

Yesterday we meet the husband of one of our investigators. Thats always an interesting experience because we don't know how he'll interpret our meetings or if he'll accept us. Luckily, he did accept us. We feel that they have been prepared. They have lots of questions. We learned in the conference that we don't preach about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon enough. Usually we only say, "We believe that the Lord continues to call His servants in our time" and really dont expand on that. Yesterday i was more specific. "We believe that the Lord continues to call His servants in our time, first beginning with the Prophet Joseph Smith" This immediately grabbed their attention. We invited them to read and to pray. I felt like it peaked their curiosity a lot. 

I love my mission! Such great experiences. I've been in Perez for about 6 months now. And my mission president sent me a message that gives me a feeling that I'll have changes next week. "Get your area ready to hand off to someone else" I think I've got one more area in me :'( 

Sigamos Adelante, 

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 8.17.15

Dear Family, 

Well this week has been a different kind of a week. We went on divisions with my Zone Leader Elder Parker. We had a great time and we worked hard. During that time, I could see that the Lord has been preparing some more people in this area. I'm really excited to see what happens as we move forward. 

I have begun to understand my companions humor lately and now I'm constantly chuckling. Man this kid is stinking funny. I realized that he wasn't the problem but that I was. So I said a prayer and I decided to look for the divine within him. Now we get along very well and we are enjoying the work. We still aren't having too much success with baptisms or investigators coming to church, but we have been able to find happiness in magnifying our callings. 

There is a man here named Alberto Navas. He is the Costa Rican version of Uncle Donnie. This is the guy in the ward that you can tell he gives his whole heart to be serving the people in his ward without demanding or even expecting a reward or thanks. He simply does the work that the Lord has asked of him and is silently serving in the kingdom. This is kinda how ive always seen Donnie in his home ward in Idaho. You can just tell they put their hearts into the callings they have been given. 

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to help a family change houses and Hermano Navas was their to help. Afterward we left with him to do his Home Teaching. Really, they were the normal things that a Latter-Day Saint should do. But he was giving his all for those that he was serving. Before the home teaching, he kinda vented to us about the load he has to carry. He asked why it was him that the Lord has chosen to be that one member that the ward calls when they have problems. He said that they have a branch president, home teachers, elders quorum and Relief Society to help them. Hermano Navas doesn't have a formal calling and yet he serves more than anyone i have ever met. 

He is a great example to us missionaries. In response to his questions we answered and told him,"Hermano, it does not matter WHERE you serve, but HOW you serve" He doesn't need a formal calling to do what the Lord has asked. 

I know that the Lord is more than willing to accept what we choose to give. He loves us and only asks for our best. I know that if we do so, He will have room to shape and mold us into what He would have us be or other words to help us to be like Him. 

I know that this is the True Church of our Heavenly Father and He has revealed to us His plan for our happiness. I love you all and invite you each to more fully give yourselves to your callings. I promise that He will bless you for it ;)

Pura Vida, 

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 8.10.15

Dear Family, 

Well bueno...  This week we went up to San Jose twice for a couple of special conferences. President Kevin R Duncan of the Seventy came to talk with us. He is the Area President of Central America. He is super cool. At lunch time I sat down with Elder Jackman to eat our food. And turned out that the only other seats in the room were at our table. So we ate with President Duncan, President Hayes, his wife and daughter, and the secretaries. It was awesome. Elder Duncan was full so he gave me his pork. SAWEET! I thought I made a funny joke. He asked,"Would you like my pork Elder?" "Sure thing Elder Duncan. I think I'm still within Word of Wisdom limits" he thought that has a little funny. 

My companion and i became a little sick from all the traveling. Thursday was a nightmare. I felt like there was a mouse in my brain, trying o push my eyes out of its sockets. It was horrible. But we are feeling good now. 

I have recently been praying a lot for direction in my area to find prepared families. SInce the baptisms of Daniel and Maria Elena, we haven't had people in the church again. So we are just looking for the next family that is willing to work on this message. I have learned a lot more about Heavenly Father's plan for His children. He knows what they need and when they need it. He doesn't seem to be too worried over all this. He is in control and He knows when it's time for what. I just asked Him for help to recognize when it's time for what. 

I love you all lots. I don't have much more to write this week. Sorry :P

Sigamos Adelante, 

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 8.3.15

Dear Family, 

Well...bueno. Today we are in Cartago, (my first area) for a Zone Activity. Man, it was only a testimony meeting but man was it what I needed. It felt like every testimony was about overcoming hard trials and how the Atonement has blessed everyone. I was super grateful for all of what was said. 

We will be returning to San Jose on Tuesday night to stay with the secretaries for a multi zone conference with the Area President, Elder Duncan of the Seventy. Its gonna be SAWEET!!!

This last week I have also been having a little hard time with stress. It resulted that Hermana Markle thought it best to called the Mental Therapist of the Area, Elder Plaskett. Today we had the chance to touch base a little and we found that I have been having minor panic attacks. I don't have to take medication or anything, but we talked about a few exercises that I can do to calm my body down and relief stress. Nothing too major.

We have been enjoying El Dia de La Virgen in Cartago this last week. Basically its a celebration of the catholics of Mother Mary. Everyone walks by foot to Cartago Centro to get to the Costa Rican Vatican. Once there, they kneel down and walk on their knees to the altar to worship a volcanic rock which symbolizes her. It makes no sense and is the perfect example of idol worship but hey, it's all good in the hood. haha.

Not too much more to write except that I love you and I'm glad to hear of some much good news up there in the States. Please make it a priority to go the temple. Do what you need to make that a central part of your lives and youll always have enough energy, revelation, and strength to combat the adversary in the days to come. 

Sigamos Adelante, 

-Elder Neider

Perez Zeledon, Cartago, Costa Rica 7.27.15

Dear Family, 

This week has been a little stressful. To start off, my pants didnt make it. He suffered a sever laceration on the bottoms of his legs. Hermana Elena did everything she could. But you just cannot physically add fabric to the pants to make them longer. She told me that it was time. So they are currently in the dresser of my companion. I had come to terms with it already. But this morning he said, "I want to go buy a nice pair of dress pants. All the ones I have are garbage" That ticked me off a bit but I resisted the urge to say something rude. Those were my favorite pants :'( 

The new sisters came in today. My area took a hit with as much time i had to leave to attend to them moving in. Last night they lost their telephone which meant i had to run down to San Isidro Center to get their numbers this morning. We spent an hour and a half looking for them because its P-Day and they were out buying food and stuff. Eventually we found them and they laughed at us and our misfortune. "Sorry Elders, but it wasnt our fault" hahaha its ok Hermana. Once again I had to resist the temptation to say something rude. 

Yesterday was pretty cool though. We went to San Jose for a special conference. The Stake of La Paz was divided and we are now a part of the Cartago Stake. What a blessing! Unfortunately, will are still a Branch. The members have stopped working again and so we lost the autorization to become a ward for now. But i have 5 weeks to get it back. 

This month of August we have as a goal, 9 confirmations. It will require a lot of planning, work, and faith to accomplish. I know that we can do it though. I have been trying my best to be a good leader and missionary. We will see what happens

ON Saturday, we had our two baptisms. I was super stoked for them. They are going to be such an awesome family. 

That's just about all that happened this last week. We shall see what this one brings. 

Love you all, 

-Elder Neider