foots de la mejor mision del mundo

Hello All, here are some pics from the worlds best mission! We made over 45 empanadas today and here is just a little glimpse of that

My companion, Elder Centeno and I at the temple

Elder Bagley (mtc comp) celebrating one year together with a cake!

half of Zona la Paz today for Pday! yes I know everyone will love that tie, I do!

ENJOY!

Week 53 un milagro

Hello everyone! I am so happy to be writing you this week and tell you about the miracle that we saw. On friday we headed to the Nicaraguan Embassy with Mario and determined to get a passport. When we arrived we had almost everything against us. It was downpouring and cold and we were walking from San Jose central to the Embassy. Our orignal plan was to talk to the Consulate and demand a passport, and as we arrived we realized that she was just driving off and had finished her time for the day. Apparently you need to arrive before noon to talk to her. The next thing we had against us was the fact that Mario, in order to take out a Provisional Passport (lasts for only 9 months), needed a birth certificate which we didnt have. We reluctantly arrived at the first counter and explained our situation. I saw the face of the lady who the last time I went to the embassy with Elder Gibbs in San Ramon turned us down and told us to go home, my heart dropped and I began saying a prayer and asking the Lord to help us. He passed through the first counter and headed to the second, I couldnt hear what the man was saying, I just saw him shaking his head and my heart sank even more, but then I heard him speak as a smile came across his face as he said, ¨Normally, we cant do this, but I am going to do you a favor¨ We almost jumped up and down right then and there when we heard that. THe same day they gave him his passport and we only lasted about 25 minutes in the Nicaraguan embassy. We left and realized that what had just happened doesnt happen everyday or every once in awhile, it was a blessing from the Lord. I told him that it was a testimony builder, that if he was getting baptized in the wrong church, the Lord would not have blessed us with such a miracle. We are excited to see the baptism this Saturday, and I am excited because he has asked me to perfom the baptism. We were excited as well on Sunday when all the members jumped at the chance to help. It was strange, the Relief Society went nuts when they heard wedding and ALL wanted to help, they gave us rings, offered to bring food, soda, and make a cake. It was just what we needed. It will be a special experience for all of us. We are now on the lookout for families for November, we found a family who had grown up in the catholic church, honestly, only because their parents had said thats what they should do. They had lots of doubts and lots of questions, that with the Lord´s help we were able to answer. We are hoping and praying and being obedient so the Lord will be willing to bless us with some more of his miracles and lead us to his choice sons and daughters. I´m pretty sure we saw the sun for the first time in a long time this morning, I freaked out to the point I wrote it in my journal and judged it important enough to tell you all about it. We are getting lots of rain, especially here in San Fra, but the work goes on, and I love it. Even though I am sick, I find it easy to leave the house and get to work. I love being a missionary with each passing day. Even though its the biggest trial I will ever have to pass I am glad for trials we have and for the specific tests the Lord has given me, I am amazed to know that He loves me enough to help me learn and grow in my trials. I am learning bit by bit and day by day and it just keeps getting better. This baptism and thing with Mario was a trial of our faith, but we held strong and trusted in Him and He made it happen. THats really what happens when we leave it all in the Lord´s hands. I hope you all know how much I love you, I pray for you always. Keep the faith and lose the fear. con mucho amor, Elder Falor -- Pura Vida!

Week 52, todo en las manos del Señor

Hello my amazing family, This week has been all right. Its been a lot like a rollercoaster. We went early in the morning to the Nicaraguan Embassy to see what we can do with Mario's papers so that he can get married. Unfortunately, Nicaragua is a country unbelievably unorganized so there is lots of people who are here illegally and who do not have any sort of ID or birth certificate or anything, we got super lucky that Mario has a passport, but that expired last november. We went to find that the embassy was closed because of a holiday for central america. We have plans to talk to the consult as representatives of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and basically demand a provisional passport for his marriage and baptism, supposively it works with other missionaries, Elder Centeno and I dont look too tough but we will see if everything works out. But as for now the baptism is postponed. We are hoping and praying for the 29, but as for now everything is in the Lord's hands, and if we have sufficient faith, and it is all according to His will, it will all work out. Today we went to the temple, and as always its breathtaking, I am amazed at the temple, even though I dont fully understand it, I obey and follow the counsel I receive and know the Lord will bless me. Well tomorrow marks my one year mark, and I have some mixed feelings about it, as I am sure every missionary would understand the feeling of missing home, but loving the mission so much it makes you sick to think about leaving. I really do love this country, I love the people and everything about it. This year has been one I will defninitely never forget, it is full with some of my most cherished moments. I am so glad this entire year was spent in the service of my Heavenly Father. We're trying eveyr day to open our mouths and to share the gospel with every single person we meet on the street, we did that and had quite the sucess. I love sharing the gospel, I love the way my testimony just flows out of my mouth. I love the gospel because its so easy and makes so much sense. If anyone just opened their mind and heart they would all understand the truthfullness of it. There has never been higher necesity than now for the gospel in our lives, I need it every day, its my feet and my legs. I helps me walk, think, talk, eat and do everything I have to do. I love it. Well family, I am sorry this letter will be kinda short, I hope to have a longer letter next week. I pray the Lord will continue to bless you and keep you safe, I hope you never forget how much you mean to me. I love you with all my heart. Hasta pronto, Elder Falor KEEP THE FAITH AND LOSE THE FEAR!

Week 51, siempre estoy en San Fra

Hola mi querida familia, How is everything going? I am doing great here in Costa Rica, and still in San Francisco with my same companion, Elder Centeno. It is a strange experience for me, I have never been in an area for more than 3 months or with a companion for more than 1 and a half. I am going to enjoy this change and enjoy every minute I get in this great area and beautiful country. I am most happy about the fact I didnt have changes because its here I wanted to complete a year, especially with Elder Bagley, its fun to think about 12 months ago we started this journey together and we are celebrating the half way mark together. I am also happy because if all goes well we will be baptizing a family this 22 of October. We will be needing a LOT of prayers to help us get this all worked out. Like everyone in Costa Rica, this family is not married, so we are planning a wedding for them and hoping to get them married and baptized the same day. Mario and Silvia (Silvia is a member of the church, baptized about 2 years ago in another area) are an amazingly humble family that we found about a month ago and have progressed really fast. Silvia came to church with us and found a resparked light and love for the gospel of Jesus Christ and her boyfriend Mario has found a love for it as well. We have been teaching them in their super humble and super small house, but they always lovingly accept us and offer us orange fanta (a typical thing that EVERYONE drinks here in Costa Rica, next to Coke, but the missionaries are not allowed to drink coke) We are trying to find a way to pay the Lawyer to perform this marriage so that Mario can get baptized. We are planning on making Arroz con Pollo to eat and using the HLJ rings as wedding rings for now. Its an amazing thing that we have seen here in San Francisco. I have personally received a testimony of prayer. This past week my mind has been racked with the feeling of having to leave another area and another family behind that I was going to baptized. I can say I prayed so hard this week to be able to say here and baptize this family. The Lord answers and hears my prayers. I am hoping and continuing to pray that he will bless me to see this baptism through, it will be the first family baptism that I will see in my mission. It means more to me because it will be 2 days after completing a year so that if they stay faithful for 1 year at the last moment of my mission I will be able to attend their sealing in the San Jose Temple, so as you can see, I, they and we as a companionship need your prayers for all to work out! That is our biggest focus here in San Fra, we have been on a crazy search to find those that the Lord is preparing. Its an amazing thing to see that after fininshing a prayer asking the Lord to direct us to those who are searching and we find those the Lord puts on our path. We found another family who is struggling with financial things and the husband just lost their job and the wife just had a baby. Luckily they got married so they could be baptized in another church, but with somethings that happened they fell away from the church and are "buscando a Jesus" we were thrilled to tell her about the good news and good blessings that come from obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. The work is amazing. I have no other words for it. I love being able to tell people about our older brother and best friend, Jesus Christ. I love to see their faces light up when they hear "there is a way out and a way up." I love seeing tears enter their eyes and feel the spirit enter the room when we explain their families dont have to be "until death do us part". Its something I cant explain, but its something I've become addicted to. I dont know how, but have always been constantly blessed with the Lords blessings in the mission, I am eternally grateful to Him, as well as all of you! Thanks for all your support and all your love! I can feel it all the way here. My testimony of families has grown immensely in my time on the mission, I never realized how great we have it to be born into families. I have realized that happenstances dont exist. Its not happenstance we are here in families, because our families are meant to be eternal. God is eternal, and the family is ordained of God. It only makes sense. I love this gospel. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I love the fact that His church has been restored once again to bless every human soul. I am so grateful for the Priesthood and for the saving ordinances that are available to all of us. I am so grateful for my covenants and for my amazing family. I know its true. And I cannot deny it. I hope you know how much I love you. With all of my heart. Con todo mi corazon, les amo, hasta pronto, Elder Falor

Pictures

1. Elder Bagley, Garcia, Centeno and I on mine and Bagley's 11 month anniversary in the mission!

2. Me, Mercedes, Bishop Urena, Elder Centeno

3. Me and all my presents, dont laugh at my butch haircut, thats what I get for asking Elder Garcia to cut it for me, haha.

4. September 15, 2011, Typical food of Costa Rica, the rice and beans with black beans is called Gallo Pinto! Its my favorite thing to eat in the world!

Week 50

Hola mi querida familia y todos mis amigos! Estoy pura vida aqui en San Francisco! I hope everyone enjoyed their week, I sure did! I loved having the opportunity to watch conference this weekend. We watched all 5 sessions in the chapel stake center in Gravilias. Unfortunately our family that we are teaching didng show up on Sunday, and too bad, because this conference was one that cannot be missed! I have only seen about 4 conferences in my time as a member, but this one takes the cake! I loved every second of it! There is so much room for us to improve, but luckily we have living Prophets and Aspostles to light the way. We are so lucky to live in a time when the church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the earth, we are so absolutely lucky to receive inspiration from Heaven from the mouth of our living prophet. I love President Thomas S. Monson, he is such an example for us and such a great prophet. I loved every talk but especially the talk by Tad R. Callister about the book of mormon, he bore a powerful testimony and it strengthened mine of this amazing book, and that we must be more educated on it and gain more than a testimony but a conviction. We must feast instead of study! The book of mormon is true. I know it. I also have read every single page of that book, front and back, up and down, and IT COMES FROM GOD. There is so much power in it to all those who prayerfully feast from its words. God loves us, and thats why he has given us this amazing book, and restored his amazing church through his servant Joseph Smith. I love my Savior and am growing closer to him with each passing day. I know him, I really feel I walked with him before, and he continues to walk with me now especially through this sometimes perilous journey. I know this church is true. I havent a single doubt in my mind. Well, I figured it wouldnt hurt to start a letter with my testimony, I just dont want a second to pass by without claiming all I know and professing all I can of the truth and divinity of this work. We had an awesome conference with President and Hermana Galvez this week on Wednesday, it was a great experience. As I watched conference this week I received revelation that President Galvez was chosen by God to be mission president. Sometimes the missionaries complain at the things President asks us to do, but everything he has said to us was given a second testimony by the Apostles and Prophets this weekend, he is an inspired man, I love him and look up to him a lot. I will be sad to see him go, but know that he has served well his Heavenly Father. On Monday for my birthday was quite an experience! I would like to thank EVERYONE who has mentioned my birthday and hope you all know I love you. Our cocinera bought me a cake, we ate Repochetas which was super good! THen after they sang to me and I blew out my candles they smashed about 10 eggs on my head and threw flour on me. Unfortunately the only thing that was damaged was a pair of pants. But dont worry, I got them all back especially when I grabbed Elder Centeno to give him a hug covered in egg and flour, it was a fun day! Then we ate amazing chocolate cake, it was a good day! I am so grateful for all the amazing people in my life. I dont know what I did to be so blessed in this life! I hope the Lord continues to bless and guide you in your lives! Never forget how individually important you are to me. You all are in my prayers, thoughts, and heart. Les amo, con todo mi corazon! Hasta pronto, Elder Falor