Week 54- Costa Rica East Mission

Well, it happened. The mission is officially split! The new mission presidents get here today. 

On Tuesday, we had a conference with the whole mission - a final meeting all together. We took a whole mission picture and a lot more pictures haha, and President gave us his final advice and taught us a bunch of awesome things. He is so great! We are going to miss him so much. But i am WAY excited to get the new mission president as well! Because I know that he is called by God to come to the Costa Rica East Mission. He is President Hayes, from Idaho. Im way excited to meet him and learn from him. And about how they assigned us to the missions, president made all the changes for who he thought should be in each mission, and then sent the list to the apostles for them to review each name. And they didnt make any changes :) Im just so grateful for all the time ive had with SUCH amazing people and missionaries

The big mission meeting was kind of sad, just because there are a lot of people i know who are going to be in the other mission, who we wont be able to see anymore. But it is so amazing for Costa rica, to be able to have to missions, two mission presidents, more stakes, and more missionaries. The work is going to explode even more here, i cant even imagine it! 

So we have been working with Gleny, griseldas sister and roxanas mom. And she has been progressing like crazy. Her baptismal date was for the 11th of july, but we felt like we should move it up to the 5th because she was so ready. So when we were teaching her on thursday we told her that we wanted to move her date up, and she was like, ¨To this sunday?¨ And we were like, ¨Umm....do you want to do it this sunday?¨ And she was like, ¨Yeah!!!¨ haha so we said well okay great! So on saturday she had her interview and on sunday she got baptized!!!!!!! Just so you all know this is a complete miracle. I told hna chatwin today that she got baptized and she couldnt even believe it. Gleny was SO happy, and so was griselda :) Gleny is so amazing and is already an amazing member of the church. Now we want to help her husband accept the gospel, and thats what she wants as well, so they can one day be sealed in the temple. 

hermana soto came yesterday for the baptism of gleny! so that was super fun to see her :) I am soo excited for her to go to new york, she will be so amazing! 

Well sorry i dont have that much to say, things are awesome and things are going to be a little crazy these next few weeks with the mission split and everything. Im way excited.

I hope you all have an amazing week! Trust in the Lord always :) Miracles happen all the time.

Con muchisimo amor,

Hermana Geis :)

Some of the best missionaries in the world :)

Hermana Soto gave this to me as a gift!

Gleny's Baptism

Week 53- Mission Split

Hello everyone! 

Well this week was really good of course :)

On tuesday we had the zone conference and i got to talk to everyone about becoming a Preach My Gospel missionary. I love that subject! And David A Bednar gave a really good talk about that so i gave everyone a copy and we studied. Preach my gospel is so amazing. 

After the zone conference we all went to taco bell (because its the cheapest place haha) and then i got to do my first division as a sister training leader. It was really good! My companion went to another area, Paraiso, and one of the hermanas from Paraiso came with me - Hermana Montepeque. She has 2 months in the mission and is from Guatemala, and is super sweet. It was a lot of fun because you always learn so much in divisions, and you can really help each other. They lasted till thursday, and on thursday we went to Paraiso to meet up with the other hermanas and we sat in during their weekly planning session to see how their planning is. It was awesome. 

So with divisions and all this week just flewww by. We have found a lot of amazing people to teach. The mom of Roxana, the girl who just got baptized, accepted a baptismal date! Her name is Gleny. She loovees the church. Me and hna chatwin taught her a little a long time ago, but she ended up telling us she didnt want anything because she didnt want to ¨change her religion¨ and what not, but she now loves everything about the gospel and wants to be baptized. A miracle :) And this is Griselda´s (recent convert) sister, so grisela is extremely happy to have her family in church with her! Her mom is also coming with them :) So now we are traveling a lot to where they live, which is kinda far away. But its worth it! Its funny because we have really seen that the people who are really prepared live farther away - but they are the ones who get baptized! And they are all active :) so its amazing! I have seen SO much success in cartago, and everyone was telling me how hard of an area it was! I LOVE cartago!!

So tomorrow we have a meeting with the entire mission! But im soo sad because it will be the last time i see a lot of people :( including president wilkinson. I have learned so much from him. His wife wanted us to send her what we have learned from him so this is what i sent: One thing i learned from President Wilkinson is to forget myself and go to work. I remembe rthat when he got sick and they wanted him to go to Salt Lake, he said that he wanted to stay and work, and that he would rest in the Millenium. That is just amazing! I learned from him that what we want doesnt matter at all! That everything should be for the Lord. Ive learned that i have all of eternity to enjoy myself, as Parley P Pratt said, so i should give my whole heart to this work! Hearing president´s testimony has strenghthened mine so much. And i have really learned about exact obedience - not just for the mission rules, but  for the commandments of God. I am so grateful for every single thing i have learned from president and i know that my future has changed because of what ive learned from him.

But really...my mission prep teacher at BYU told us that our mission calls have a lot to do with the mission president God wants us to have - and now i really understand that. I have just learned a lot of life changing things about discipleship and giving all to the Lord.

This is a historical time here in Costa Rica! The best mission in the world will soon be two :) 

Also, the prophet and apostles, in the temple, reviewed the papers for CARTAGO to be its own stake this past week. So we will find out tomorrow what they decided! :)

Thank you for all your support! love you all so much!

Hermana Geis :) 

My two daughters: Hermana Moon and Hermana Perez

The girls in the zone

Zona de Cartago

Week 52- New Daughter!

Hello everyone! Well this week was pretty great :)

So on wednesday, Hermana Soto left :( We met up with Hermana Chatwin and some other sisters at a bus stop, so when the bus came that Hermana Soto had to get on she just started sobbing! Haha shes so cute....i definitely will miss her but she is already planning on coming back for the ward activity this month since she lives close by haha. She will be an amazing missionary in New York!

So after we said bye, we went to the office for the trainers meeting. It was awesome as always. President was very sentimental because we are his last group of trainers before he ends :( So he said that he wanted to give us all he had to teach us! So it was awesome. He basically used the story of the Creation and related it it to how we need to plan and create our companionsip and our area. then we ate breakfast at the office with everyone, and then we had the big reveal! Me and hermana soto both felt like i would get a gringa companion, and then we found out that only one gringa came in this group. And guess what...I got her!!! Haha i was so happy!! I love my latina companions obviously haha but i wanted to train a gringa! Her name is Hermana Moon, shes from Logan Utah. Shes awesome! We´ve already had a lot of fun.

So then on Friday we had the Leadership meeting at the office, with all the zone leaders and sister training leaders. it was AMAZING. First everyone had to rendir la cuenta, or stand in front of everyone and explain the numbers for the zone or region and basically take the blame for everything. haha! It was pretty cool :) And then president taught us a bunch of awesome things. He talked a lot about the knid of leader that Christ was, and that that is how we need to be. We need to love the missionaries undconditionally, and with that we cannot be afraid to correct them or tell them to improve. I felt amazing being in that meeting! I seriously am so honored to be with all these amazing missionaries in this mission. President told us how we was talking to the apostle elder Cristofferson, and that he said, ¨The missionaries in this country, as a whole, are the best missionaries that have every walked in this country.¨ And then elder cristofferson said, ¨The quorum of the 12 and the First Presidency are extremely happy about the work that they have done.¨ Seriously im so lucky to be here. Everyone here is amazing. Which makes me really sad for the mission split! I couldnt be happier about the split for the country because it will explode with success, but a lot of my mission friends are going to be in the other mission :( But its okay! I know that whatever the Lord wants will happen :) 

So yeah this week was super busy because after getting home and planning for the next week, i get to make a bunch of calls to the sisters in my zone and the district leaders to take numbers and see how theyre doing and what not. Like for example the package that i got from you mom, i wasnt even able to open it for a few days because i had no time. Haha! But its way fun and i love being busy as you know! Tomorrow i get to do divisions with some other hermanas for a few days. My companion is a great sport! haha

This sunday we had the baptism of Roxana! :) Shes been coming to church for months now. She is Griselda´s niece! :) Roxana has already almost finished the Book of Mormon, and shes 10 haha. She loves the gospel. We tried to teach her and her family right after Griselda got baptized, and they loved it at first but then they got scared to change. But now the mom is super interested again and they all came to church on sunday to see the baptism. So yay!

Ive decided id be fine if i ended my mission in cartago haha. I love it!

Me and Hermana Moon were talking today, and i just realized how used to the missionary life i am! So i kinda forgot that she wouldnt be used to it haha. Today out of no where i just told her, ¨Hermana I am so happy!¨ Because i was realizing how lucky i am to know all the people here and have these experiences. And the time is going by way to fast....but we are trying to enjoy every moment :)

I hope you all have an amazing week! I love you all soo much! 

Thank you all for your love and support.

Hermana Geis :)

Before saying bye to Hermana Soto. She was crying in this photo haha

Hermana Peters

Hermana Chatwin

With Hermana Chatwin and Hermana Wilkinson :)

With Hermana Montoya and our first District Leader!  He is now the assistant to the President

Roxana's baptism

Week 51- Miracles Happen

Hello everyone!

Well today was changes, but i dont get my new companion until wednesday because im going to train! So Hermana Soto is gonna be there until then. But, in addition to training, Im going to be the Sister Training Leader for our zone. So i dont really know what im supposed to do or anything but we´ll see how that goes! Luckily theres a leadership meeting with President Wilkinson on Friday. So yeah im super excited for all that! A lot of responsibilty but im way excited.

So this past week was AWESOME. We found a ton of new people and also focused a lot on Carlos and Vera in preparing them for their baptism :)

After their interview on Sunday they were just so happy and excited. Vera told us on thursday, ¨I just feel so happy. I never thought that i would get baptized, or feel so much joy. Since sunday, I have felt a warmth in my chest. But its not because its hot outside or anything, its a spiritual warmth.¨ It was just amazing to see them so happy, changing more and more everyday. They couldnt even wait for their baptism!

So we were planning their baptism the whole week, because there were soo many details that we had to figure out with vera, like transportation, how she was going to be baptized, etc etc. But it all worked out :) And we had a ton of help from the members. Their story is so amazing that everyone really wanted to help out.
So FINALLY, saturday came :) we got up early to go the bishops house, because thats were the baptism was! The baptismal font in the church would have been way too small for vera because we needed several men to hold her. So the bishop offered his pool! A member who lives close to Carlos went and picked up him, vera, and their two daughters - luckily vera just needed to be able to put the seat back so she could be laying down. So they arrived at the bishops house fine, and were both super happy and excited :) we put vera in a lounge chair that the bishop had for his pool, and she LOVED it. She said it was way more comfortable than the bed that she is always in (So the bishops gonna give her one :) ) so carlos changed into the white clothes, and then they changed vera into her white dress. So they carried her our into where we were having the service and carlos was just standing there silent, watching them bring her out. And then he told hermana soto and I with tears in his eyes, ¨I think i just fell in love again.¨

Then we had some talks and the service was extremely spiritual. We then all headed out to the pool house and had the baptism :) It was amazing of course. 4 men were in the water to help with vera, and they lowered her into the pool in the lounge chair. And it went super well! There werent any problems at all thank goodness. After the baptism I was talking to Carlos and he was crying, and said that he just felt at home, and that this was his family. After they changed into dry clothes, they BOTH bore their testimonies! It was amazing to see vera bear her testimony to everyone. She said how happy she was and how good she felt about her decision.

The next day in testimony meeting Carlos bore his testimony and it was amazing. He explained how he never thought that Vera would accept the gospel, and now she is like a completely different person.

About this whole experience, i am just priviledged to be a part of it. But really we didnt do anything - they were completely prepared by God, and the Spirit did everything else.

Miracles happen everyone! But only according to our faith. Ether 12.

I love you all so much! Thank you for everything. 

This gospel is the only way to true happiness.

con muchisimo amor,

Hermana Geis

Top, left to right: Member Heber, The bishop, Carlos, and his daughters Nazareth and Maria Jesus

bottom left to right: elder gomez, vera, and elder de leon) all the men dressed in white aside from Carlos helped with the baptism :)

Vera's baptism

Carlos, Vera, and their daughters

Carrying Vera to the pool

Where we held the baptismal service

Lowering Vera into the pool

At the bishop's house

The bishop's cat haha

With a member and her family! Jessica

Week 50- Carlos and Vera

Hello everyone! 

This week was really good, a lot happened!

On thursday, (my one year mark) we had interviews with President wilkinson. It went really well! Its always nice to talk to him. He said that i need to make the most of these last six months, and they should be my most productive! And he basically asked me what i want to do next....and you will all find out when there are transfers! ;) But it was awesome because he was telling me how many things the area presidency has in mind for cartago and what they want to do to help it grow. They already have a HUGE lot bought by the church, to build a new chapel! because ours is way to small for all the people that go there! He told me, ¨I feel very strongly that you are going to be in Cartago in a historical time.¨ So i feel completely priviledged to be a part of this. Because i was able to be in Guanacaste for a historical time as well! 

So yeah it was kinda weird to complete a year...i already did a list for how you know youre out for 9 months, so the only thing im going to say about how you know youve been out for a year, is not wanting to go home! Obviously there is a lot i miss about home, but the work here is just so important and its such a priviledge to be a part of it, i dont want to go back to being just a regular member of the church! haha :) i know that i can always be a missionary, but its so different being set apart as a full time missionary. Its a complete priviledge and honor.

On saturday, we went to the temple for a wedding! Hermana Soto was a bridesmaid in the wedding - since shes just a mini missionary they gave her permission to still go. So i felt a little weird being at the wedding haha but it was beautiful. Here in CR they get married civilly in the chapel, and then after eating and what not they go to the temple and get sealed. I actually like that because you get a regular ceremony and then the temple sealing! It was very special. They read from The Family: A Proclamation to the World, sang hymns, and did their first dance. And it was funny because i was assigned to be with the bride in the room as she was waiting to go out! Haha!! Because all the bridsmaids had to walk and everything. And the bride speaks english so she just wanted to speak in english because she was so nervous. She kept saying, ¨I am so stressed!¨ And then she would say, ¨I am so in love!¨ Haha it was so cute. A very weird experience as a missionary but good!

Ok so now i just want to talk about Carlos and Vera. Vera is the one with MS. Seriously i cant even explain all that has happened with them, because it is all such a complete miracle. Since the first day we went they have loved everything and have said how much joy they feel when we talk about the gospel, and Carlos just absolutely loves church and the people and everything. This week when we were visiting them, Carlos told us that he has always felt like he has been waiting for something more, and that he is searching for the truth. When he said that, Vera lifted her hand up and pointed at her self. Carlos said, ¨You too are searching?¨ And she said, ¨Yes.¨ carlos said that she had never admitted that, ever, and that he felt so happy that she was in the same boat as him. We then committed them both to baptism again, and vera accepted! Carlos was SO happy, and he literally always talks about how badly he wants eternal life with his whole family. He said to Vera, ¨I just keep picturing us on the other side, hand in hand, you walking, and us with our kids, forever. I want to have eternal life with you.¨ Seriously everyone, I cant tell you how amazed i was at seeing all of this. Heavenly father as blessed me immensely to be able to even see this. Then we knelt down next to vera´s bed, and he offered the prayer. it was the most amazing prayer i have every heard. 

So yesterday, us, the elders, and Jorge our ward mission leader went over to have their baptismal interviews. Vera at the beginning said that she didnt feel ready - that she wanted to wait to feel more prepared to take this huge step. But she agreed to have the interview anyway. So Elder Gomez had the interview with her, while us missionaries helped their daughters cook and clean the house. Then when he finished that interview he started the interview with Carlos. Jorge was talking to vera and then called to me and said, ¨Hermana geis, come in here right now!¨ So i went in and Vera was explaining how she was feeling. She said that the interview went really well, and that she was able to be really open with Elder Gomez - she said that she felt so light and filled with a peace and joy - we were like, that is the spirit! That is your answer! She then said that she also felt scared...because she knew that her family would be completely against it. But we just let her talk, and didnt say anything. Then she said, ¨Well who do i listen to....my family, or God?.....I need to listen to God.....Im going to get baptized.¨ It was AMAZING to see the spirit work in her that way. Then when Carlos finished his interview he came in, and we said to Vera, ¨Do you want to tell him?¨ And she said to Carlos, ¨Im not going to let you do it alone:¨ Carlos just said, really?! And then he leaned over and gave her a kiss! The room was filled so stronly with the spirit and warmth and such joy. Carlos was SO happy, and Vera was just beaming. 

I cant thank heavenly father enough for letting me be a part of this. I have literally done nothing, Carlos and Vera were prepared by God. They are going to get baptized this saturday, June 6th. And its going to be at the bishops house, because he has a pool! And we need a big pool to be able to baptize Vera, because we need to put her in a little bed or something. Its going to be the most amazing experience in my whole life.

Today for pday we went to the volcano again! and then to an old ¨haunted¨ hospital where a bunch of people died from TB...and then it was a prison...and its really creepy...

Im so grateful for all the people ive met on my mission. Members, investigators, and missionaries. All the missionaries here are amazing people. I never want to leave...not because its easy here, but because the mission is a sacred experience.

I love you all!!!!

Con muchisimo amor,

Hermana Geis

At the temple!

At the volcano :)

El Sanitorio!

The Elders where they used to do the X-rays (the room was pitch black, and we couldn't see anything until we took the picture!)