Week - 25 "Hey Patrick, you know what's funnier than 24? 25."

Do you remember that episode??  Haha man, I miss Sponge Bob.  25 weeks though!

Hey everyone! How's life in the good ol' States?! 

Things are hot and dusty here in Guanacaste, but the baptisms keep coming!

You guessed it! Another Baptism this passed Saturday! This sick dude's name is Juan Ramon and he's a savage! He really has a love of the gospel and we had to push him a little to make the decision to be baptized but here we are with the newest member of the Church. We completed another family here in Guanacaste so now we just need to wait 1 year so they go to the temple! What a blessing to be a part of changing people's lives for the better! :)

The Road to Discipleship

Things are pretty normal here, it's kinda boring sometimes to be completely honest.. We're out here in the sticks of Guana so nothing really happens BUT the work of the Lord here is really killin' it!

This week haha I had a soup that I called "surprise" soup! It was a fish/seafood soup that had a bunch of random stuff haha. It felt like I was eating a soup made from stuff that was scraped off the side of a boat. It had a weird fish in it that tasted and had the texture of beef - I'm not sure what it was but it was good! haha

It's kinda tough here in Canas because sometimes the people are kinda lazy. They don't want to go to church or get baptized - even if they know that the church is true or that they'll receive blessings. So sometimes we have to be straight-up with investigators and say something along the lines of "Hey, it was really a pleasure to teach you guys but we feel that you don't want to keep going or listen to our lessons so we're going to have to stop coming by..." It's tough sometimes but we give them a reality check and hope that they can re-organize their priorities.

This week I had a experience that really strengthened my testimony of the Priesthood that I hold. we had to go bless a house that the previous owners had used to do witch-craft. I won't talk about it very much because it's scary, but to say the least, whatever was in that house, did not like my companion or me at all. But the house is fine now and it's a place of love and the Spirit. The power of the Priesthood is SO real and it's meant to bless the lives of our Heavenly Father's children. I'm so grateful to hold that power!

Thank you everyone for the prayers!

Pura Vida!

- Elder Eh-Stott (that's how people say my name haha)   

Week 24 - The shirt off my back

Hey whatsup fam!

Another week just flying by - feels like just yesterday was Monday haha. 

This week was a lot better than last week! 

So first, I had divisions with a missionary in Liberia on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday morning - one of the HOTTEST places in Costa Rica. It was flippin hot and dusty. I got pretty burnt but I had a pretty great time as well - I learned a lot! I also met up with the Medic for the mission and her grand-daughter gave us money! She found 10,000 Colones on the beach and wanted us to buy lunch which was super sick! She gave us a little more than 20 bucks so we went and got milkshakes :) The Lord likes to bless us in little ways :)

We had another baptism this week! His name is Bladimir (and yes, it's spelled like that because a "V" here makes a "B" sound so I guess it makes more sense to put a B - who knows, Ticos and Nicaraguenzas are strange with their names sometimes haha) but he is SUPER sick. He is always super understanding and has a real desire to be better and learn about the gospel. He's super relaxed and "pura vida" - or chill :) He has become a really great friend and I love to visit him.

Haha, it's something random, but I love to ask people how I old I am here. The usual answer is around 25 and they usually don't believe me when I tell them 19. They say it's because of my "cuerpo" or becase I'm bigger than them... who knows, it's pretty funny :)

Hey, this week I had Iguana again!!! Its called a Garrobo, and they're massive. This time it tasted different AND better than the Iguana. It tastes like carne or beef and was super tender and tasty :) Mom is gonna kill me again but hey - now I can tell my kids all the weird things I've eaten :)

Weird things always happen to me in my mission... This week, a guy who had been drinking a little came up to me and asked if Gringos think that they're better than the Ticos. I told him that like Jesus, I'm trying to love everyone so, no. He then took off his shirt and told me it was a gift. I told him thank you and that I really appreciated his kindness. Hahaha after, he told me that he wanted my shirt and tie - which I told him that I couldn't trade. He snatched back his shirt and yelled in my face that I was a terrible and prideful person and drove off on his motorcycle. Haha I don't know what it is, but drunk people seem to always follow me and want to talk to me. God loves all his children exactly the same - the drunk crazy motorcyclist too & so do I haha :)

We had an awesome opportunity this week to have a conference and organize a Stake here in Gunanacaste! We're a STAKE now baby! The area Presidency of Centroamerica (the big-whig Seventies) and my Mission President were there. I have a lot of respect for my president and I know he's going to change history here in Costa Rica. He has a ton of energy and told me that I was doing a great job here in Guanacaste! He really is great.

Remember that God love all his children equally but does not have equal trust in them. Take a moment everyday to think to yourself "Am I worthy and dignified of the Lord's trust today?"

Thanks for all the emails and love and prayers!

Pura Vida! Ush!

- Elder Stott :)

Week 23 - "It tastes like chicken"...ughh

Howdy family and friends!

Hope your week was cooler (temperature wise) than mine! haha It's flippin hot here in Guanacaste!

So this week was really great! It's tough memorizing everyone's name and the parts of the new area so about half the time, I feel like a lost puppy just following my companion around haha. :)

So I had a baptism my first week! I'm not totally sure what happened, but after 10 years of investigating the church she decided that she wanted ME to baptize her. She said that I gave her really good "vibes" or something like that haha. So, you guessed it, we baptized her! Her name is Mercedez and she's from Nicaragua. She is part of a huge family - Familia Mungia, and her whole family is super awesome! They remind me a ton of my Jones Family side hahaha :)

The area is pretty great. I do like my old area a lot better but I'm getting used to it now! It reminds me every single day of Meadow/Fillmore, Utah haha. It's super hot, dry, there's always semi's passing by and the people are chilling outside. It's a super weird feeling, feeling that I'm in Meadow, Utah but that I'm in Costa Rica haha :)

Mom isn't gonna be happy to hear this but a couple of weeks ago, I ate Mondongo (cow stomach) and it was super flippin nasty. It tastes really foul and reminds me of gum - it's pretty chewy. Don't worry, I'll never ever eat it again haha. And yesterday, I ate Iguana.. It was pretty good because it tastes a whole lot like chicken. You wouldn't know it was iguana if someone didn't tell you.. haha I wasn't a HUGE fan so I don't think I'll ever find myself requesting it haha.

Not a super cool story but I thought it was cool... haha I found a little baby parrot walking around in the street and it was chill enough to climb up on my finger. So the picture of me is with a chill and wild parrot :)

I'll have more to write about my investigators next week when I know more of them and their names but the ones I've met are super cool!

I hope everyone is staying cool! Remember to never let a day pass by without serving someone. I've done it everyday in my mission and I can testify that it will bless their lives and your's even more!

Todo "Tuanis" (slang for awesome) here!

Pura Vida

- Elder Stott :) 

Week 22 - 5 months!! Good vibes and a new area.

Hey everybody, hope everyone had a sweet 4th of July! I waved my tiny American flag in my apartment.

So this week was honestly not too exciting at all until Sunday night.. More about that later... haha :)

We've still been working with 3 awesome investigators. They all have their own challenges so we've really been working by the Spirit with them.

I bought some incense and peanut butter this week so I was super stoked for that! The incense adds a nice touch to studying and relaxing after a long day - gives you some good vibes hahaha ;)

Our Mission President got here last Monday and the mission feels different already. I haven't met him yet but people that have, say that he's super strict. He was a Area Seventy before. I'm not totally sure what to think and I've heard that there are some big rule changes coming, so all I know is that it's gonna be tough.  But I know if I'm obedient, I'll be successful. I'll learn to love him, and I have to trust my Heavenly Father more! 

So this passed Sunday, I got a call saying that I had changes! They told me I was going to Cañas, Guanacaste! So I spent ALL last night packing and calling converts and families. It's been a whirlwind of emotions because I really didn't want to leave - I was "born" in Alejuelita (it's like my home haha) but at the same time, I felt like I needed a fresh new start.  I feel like I came and baptized the people that were prepared for me. 

My companion's name is Elder Guzman and he's from El Salvador (like my trainer). I'll be sure to send a picture of him next week, but he's super short and he seems like a really sick dude. I think we're going to get along really well! :) 

My area is called Cañas and it's in Guanacaste. I took a bus from San Jose and it took 4 hours to get here so that sucked but hey, I'm finally here :) The weather is dry and super flippin hot (95-100 degrees). It reminds a lot of Central or

Southern Utah in the middle of the Summer! There's a ton of dust everywhere so we'll see how that goes. My comp told me that the people here are kind-of friendly but he also told me there's always a ton of baptisms here! 

Sorry there's not a ton to write about this week.. I'll make sure to do something crazy or worth writing-about this coming week!

Hope everyone has a killer week!

Pura Vida!

- Elder Stott :)

Caught 'em snoozin!  ;)

Arroz Cantonese with Hermana Amarilis

Stott Fast Sunday tie pic!

Converts of the other Elders plus a member

Ruben's family is awesome

Me and Shayla - Amarilis family

Elder Black.  The non-sporty version of me!

Oso, me and Elder Na

Week 21 - Captain America in Costa Rica

Elder Stott's mission was divided last week -they are growing!

He'll be serving the West-side of Costa Rica.  (Official name, Costa Rica San Jose West)  His new mission president, German Laboriel Guitty, is from Honduras.

Today is day 146 :)  Here's his letter from this morning!

Hey everyone! 

Sounds like this week has been a scorcher back at home so I hope everyone's been staying cool!

My week was hot and a little bit rainy but hey - I think I'm used to that now haha

This week was a really really good week with some ups and downs! (I think I'll always have those haha) 

So first of all, we had our last mission conference with President Wilkinson! It was super sad and I really don't want him to leave or change mission presidents. Something pretty funny - so my first mission conference back in March, President called me up in front of everyone with my companion to show the size difference between us both and he said that now Elder Mejia could go anywhere he wanted without problems! haha Well this conference he had a few demonstrations and asked for someone who was really strong. The room was quiet for like 2 seconds and then all of the sudden people started chanting my name and next thing you know, the whole room of 250+ missionaries was chanting "Elder Stott!", so President called me up in front of everyone haha. He had me break some strings and pencils (and because I'm so strong, I broke all of them haha) but he had a pencil taped to a baseball bat and asked me to break it - I definitely couldn't! He also gave me a hard time because I want to play football for BYU after my mission and he went to University of Utah (they're rivals) so that was funny. And he called me Captain America and now, the whole mission knows me as "Captain America" or "Elder America" haha. 

That was my 3rd time in front of the whole mission - I think I'm one of the President's favorites ;)

My companion and I are still working at getting over our differences. He's maturing a little and we're working on having him talk a little less. He still likes to bring up jokes that happened a month ago but hey, at least he thinks they're still funny! haha

For the mission conference, we had 4 extra elders in our house and it was nuts. We went to bed super late because people kept talking.. That day we had divisions with the Elders (we switched companions around for that day) and I couldn't go to our family's house that we always visit. But my companion brought back a bag with some sodas in it. They had bought me a A&W Rootbeer, Mountain Dew, and Dr. Pepper.  I couldn't tell if it was sweat or tears but I was filled with indescribable joy haha :)

We had a baptism cancel this week which was really really hard for me. I thought we had helped him prepare the best we could but it turns out that he had some problems to work out.  I was super frustrated with myself because I thought I had done something wrong. It was tough to deal with and honestly, I let the news ruin the rest of my day. There is no such thing as a bad day in the mission, but there are definitely some really hard days. We talked it through, he made a new baptism date and we are going to keep helping him. I'm going to make sure he understands all of the lessons to ensure that he will be ready next time!

Sister Amarilis got baptized!

But to finish with good news, WE BAPTIZED SISTER AMARILIS! I was sooooooo stoked to be able to baptize her. For 23 years, she has been off-and-on investigating the church and now finally decided that she wanted to be baptized! She asked me to baptize and confirm her as well which was super special for me. The baptism went perfect.  I also got to play the guitar and sing "I Need thee Every Hour" in Spanish. It went really well :)

I'm practicing my beatboxing because the ticos really love it. They always ask Elder Navas to rap and to have me beatbox and it's funny to see their faces. There's always kids that like to run up to me and hang from my arms too - I love those little guys!

I hope this week will be awesome for everyone and happy 4th of July!!! I'm going to have my own little celebration here haha :) 

Pura Vida!

- Elder Stott 

Week 20 - Patience is a virtue...

Hey everyone, Elder Stott here writing in the tiny internet cafe here in San Jose! 

Making tortillas

How´s everyone doing? Hope all is well :)

So this week again, was a really great week. The days went by super flippin slow but the week went by fast. That's usually how it goes here in the mission. 

I was stoked that I have nothing to write in my "Appliance or Animal of the Week" section! WHAT A FLIPPING BLESSING :)

Alejuelita squad

So I´m getting along a little better with my companion. Hes a little immature but that's just something that Ill get used to haha. He does have a lot of really cool music and its nice to hear something other than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir every once and a while. He still likes to ask a lot of questions but I'm working with him on that. We actually have the same amount of time total in the mission and he's my District Leader so I'm helping him learn how to be a leader as well (my last comp. was a savage DL)

We're going to have 2 baptisms this week. We had to reschedule Amarilis' baptism because the ward wasn't really prepared. So that will be on Saturday and on Friday, we have the baptism of Jean Carlos. Hes 15 years old and he's super awesome. He actually started coming to church with his friends who also aren't members. He really progressed fast and wants to be baptized and it's no surprise that we were stoked! :)

Mi favorito

We had stake conference this week and President Wilkinson was able to come! I don't have very much time with him being my President but I have SO much respect for that man. He's done big things and he's going to do big things as well - I wouldn't be surprised if he was an Apostle someday. He gave a really good talk about being a Pastor and an Administrator and being balanced between the two. He invited all of our investigators that were there to be baptized and the Spirit was SOOO strong. He reminds me a ton of Elder Holland and he can singe your eyebrows a little too. I always leave with a new energy to be the best missionary I can possibly be - it's always a much needed recharge!

There's not a whole ton to write about this week because nothing else too exciting happened haha :) I'm very thankful to be here and to be serving our Heavenly Father's children each and every day. It's truly a blessing in my life. The mission has by far been the toughest thing I have ever done but it's been the toughest thing that I have ever loved as well :)

Thank you for everyone's love and support and like always, it's much needed!

Until next week,

Pura Vida!

- Elder Stott :)

Week 19 - Bad eggs and Hot Sauce

Hey guys! 

Hope all is well in the US of A! 

This week was honestly one of the longest week of my mission ha ha ha... 

New Elders in Alejuelita - my comp is on my left

So first of all, I'm getting used to my new companion. Like I said, he's from Mexico and his name is Elder Contreras. Haha he says "dude" and "man" a lot for someone that doesn't speak English. He's a little bit touchy, meaning that he likes to punch and poke at me and it's a little much for me - but I'm learning to be patient. He likes to make strange noises like a pig or this squeal thing.. I'm not totally sure what it is haha. Most of all, he loves to talk. LOVES to talk. He asks a ton of questions like "what are you doing?" but I think he just likes the sound of his voice hahaha. REGARDLESS of the strangeness, I'm learning to love him little by little. He teaches well, so that is one thing that I do like. Who knows, this change is probably only a month long (because Pres. Wilkinson is going home)  so we'll see if I'm changed out of the area.

We have a lot of great investigators. All of them were really sad when my old companion left - and a lot of them cried too. So it's been hard for them to get used to my new companion. But, they're all grateful that I'm still around. Our next baptism is this Friday - her name is Armarilis and she's amazing. She and her family are honestly like a family to me. Haha she call's me her corazon de fresa (or strawberry heart) and the joke is that it's small but VERY sweet hahaha :) She always cries when she talks about me leaving so that's going to be tough for her and her family when that happens. But she is finally prepared to be baptized! She has over 15 years investigating the church and has never really liked the missionaries... but Elder Mejia and I changed that :) 

So this week I got sick again for a couple of days. I had a really upset stomach and I threw-up for a whole night. It really sucked because I was throwing up so hard that I had those little red-blood-spot things all over my face :( It was something I ate that day (I think it was the eggs that we had for lunch). Honestly, I'm kind of scared to eat our cocinera's food now... haha I'm still sick but in a different way now. My tonsils are killing me and I have a bad headache but, oh well. It's pura vida over here in Ticolandia haha.

So I've decided to open-up a new seccion in my letters. It's called "animal or appliance of the week" This week's "animal or appliance of the week" spotlight goes to the stupid pigeons in Alejuelita. I was sitting in the park waiting for an investigator when a flippin pigeon decided to bomb on my pants. Not 10 minutes later, the other leg of my pants was bombed too. So, I'm planning on buying a 20-gauge, and destroying every last pigeon in Alejuelita - I will have my revenge haha.

Spikey red fruit things

HEY! I finally got a chance to try a fruit that I've always wanted to try but could never find! They're these little red and spiky balls and you open with your fingers and you eat the fruit around the seed on the inside. They taste like a grape and apple put together and they taste SUPER GOOD.

I finally feel like my Spanish has "clicked". I can talk to people in the street and can talk about what I want more or less. It's a really great boost of confidence because it's really hard to talk to people when you're not sure what you're saying haha :) I hope by my year mark that I'll be able to speak perfect Spanish!

LOVE my little bottle of Frank's Red Hot!

A sister in our ward, that we always eat dinner with on Tuesday's, gave me a little bottle of Frank's Red Hot sauce!!! It is SOOOO flippin good and I literally danced around the room when she told me that it was for me. I was beaming from ear-to-ear :) But, she said that we're going to eat Mondongo soon and that dampened the mood a little haha. Mondongo is cow-stomach and people here like to eat it I guess... I'm really scared to try it because #1, it's STOMACH 
and #2, I've heard that people can get super sick from eating it. Please pray for me that she forgets ha ha ha...

Well folks, that's all for this week! Thank you everyone for all your emails and updates! It's good to know that everything is going well!

Take care & Pura Vida!

Elder Stott :)