McClain Mission Part 2-Costa Rica

Happy Monday! Hope everyone out there had a great week. Things have been interesting here in Alajuelita. Had the baptism of the entire family of our friends that have been being taught for several months. Such a special day. The parents got married to start off the afternoon, and then to follow the entire family was baptized. So it was a solid 5 hours at the chapel, but worth every minute of the process. Had a dog jump on me down near the precario. A precario is a bunch of tin walls squished together to form houses. Plumbing and electricity are spotty down in there, dogs run wild, lots of drugs, but a ton of happy people. Humbling to see how they can be happy in such tough circumstances. Back to the dog. Lucky for me, it didnt bite me immediately. Lucky for the dog, it got down before I had to kick it. Loving Costa Rica. Wonderful people here. Privelaged to be serving them. 48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, apray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be fille...

First week in the area is always a little bit crazy. First week in Alajuelita was absolutely wild. Alajuelita is right on the South side of San José, and it is remarkably ghetto. Somehow the majority of the people seem to have much better education than they did in Guanacaste, but so many drugs. Some of the crazy highlights - -saw somebody asleep on some little bench between the houses with flies circling his head -we spend a lot of time in an area called a precario. Also known as a fabela. Just tin walks squished together to make houses. -the elders here have become best friends with the gang leaders so they don't rob us. -spent Tuesday with Elder Cluff before here left the area, and literally everyone gave us food to say goodbye. 5 appointments back to back loaded us up. But the area has so much potential as well. Ward is strongest I have seen yet on the mission. Members have family home evenings, invite our friends, and then just tell us when to show up. Have the baptism ...

Happy Monday! Hope all are doing well. Got transfered for what will be the last time of the mission! So on a nice 6 hour bus ride for what I hope may be the last time. Got a nice stop by the beach tho for lunch, I'll attach a picture. Last week in SC was awesome. Going to miss it a bunch. Found out yesterday afternoon I would be leaving today, and earlier than we had expected as well, so only got time to say goodbye to a handful of friends like Doris and Krisia, some of our recent converts. Some wonderful people. The people of Santa Cruz taught me a bunch. Super humble, kind, and really know how to focus in on the most important things in life. Leaving behind lots of dirt roads, and incredible heat for the big city - San Jose. Will especially miss the awesome comp I had, elder Moran, and all the good times together. Headed to an area called Alejuelita! Should have a ton of potential and will finally have a costa Rican companion. Pumped about it. Loved this thought from Neph...

Happy Monday everyone! Life has treated us well out here in Santa Cruz recently. Big news of the week, we had a few days consecutive without getting rained on. However that does mean it is hotter than ever most mornings, but life has been good. Went on exchanges with my good buddies elder Call this week - headed down to Guyubal, a small little village of sorts about half an hour walking down a dirt road, and that day rained like crazy. So we hopped from house to house, meeting with friends and members, trying to stay out of the rain. Got only semi soaked, when our last lesson of the night gave a good laugh. Elder Call is 100% blond, and our last lesson has a daughter with orange hair, and elder Call made comment. Our friend then went to his phone to show us how her hair came from his "blond dad". Showed us the picture of his dad with black Latino hair, and dark brown skin, and kept on telling us it was so crazy how blond his dad is as well. Then he gave us a ride in his ...

Slacked a bit recently on writing, but still all good here in Santa Cruz! Hope all are doing well! These last few weeks have been some crazy ones. Some of the highlights - -Cristel was baptized! She is Doris's niece, and progressed super quickly to baptism. -Starting to finally see a ton of our friends coming to church! -Lots of time spent soaking wet. The roads here are pretty poorly designed, which means heavy rains turn them into rivers. Some of the roads literally are just dry river beds. Luckily Costa Rica has no shortage of awesome jungle bridges. -temperatures inside of the apartment passed 100 degrees one afternoon. -we found and killed the apartment rat with a broom stick. Traps weren't super effective. -raining really hard most afternoons, and most people have poorly designed tin roofs, so we have to scream to here one another during lessons. -met a German Mennonite from Spanish Lookout Belize. Incredibly small town, with very few German people, but it is where ...