Week 28 Iguanas, Wild Chickens and Screaming Monkeys

 Elijah got transferred this last week.  He is temporarily serving in Nicoya until they can secure housing in Samara which is a small beach town.  He said that he has gone from the coldest part of his mission to the hottest.  He said it is HOT and HUMID!  He also told us that he has no hot water in his apartment.  Every morning he says that he gasps as he takes a shower and there is no ability to warm up the water.  He also informed us that he has to wash all his clothes by hand.  This should be an interesting area for him.  

He went to his branch this last Sunday and said that there are about 30 people.  He and his new companion, Elder Arriola from Guatemala, have their work cut out for them.  As he left the church on Sunday he took this picture of this lovely iguana outside the church.  He said that he sees iguanas and wild chickens everyday.  He also hears screaming monkeys everyday.  He said that he is in the "straight jungle."  We can't wait to hear more adventures from Lij. 

Week 27 Our Christmas Call

Merry Christmas!  Christmas Eve was wonderful.  We had a chance for exactly 45 minutes to talk to Elijah.  It was wonderful to see him and he looked terrific.  Some of the things he said is that it's been the toughest six months of his life, but its been the best six months he has had.  He repeatedly cried when he told us how much he loved the people in Costa Rica.  He said he couldn't imagine being any where else.  He cried when he told us about the two families that gave him birthday parties.  He told how humbling it was to go to these homes who had invited him, who had nothing and how they basically gave him everything they could to make his birthday special.  He told us how much it touched his heart and helped him want to be an even better missionary.  He told us how last week there was a big gun fight on his street and he peered out his window and saw police shooting.  We told him to save those stories till he comes home...  The whole family loved seeing and taking to him.  Olivia cried the whole 45 minutes.  Ethan cried when Elijah told him how much he missed him.  We all cried as he bore his testimony of the restored Gospel.  It seemed like it was a fast and testimony meeting that we won't soon forget!

Elijah emailed on Monday and let us know that he is being transferred to a small town called Samara.  He will be opening the area with a brand new missionary.  He will meet him Wednesday in the temple for the first time.  He is so very excited.  We can't wait to hear from him this coming Monday.  Feliz Navidad.

Week 26 "Two Birthday Parties"

Elder Larson had a busy week this week.  It was the week of miracles which means a lot of fasting, praying and work!  Elder Larson was lucky to be able to work with his mission president on his birthday.  He didn't mention to his president that is was his birthday all day.  The next day, Elijah got a call from the mission president saying how sorry he was that he hadn't told him Happy Birthday. 

As parents we were so worried that Elijah wasn't going to have a good birthday.  Some of the packages we have mailed him, have never made it to him.  We shouldn't have worried, Elijah's cook Ana had a little party for him with cupcakes, balloons, streamers and signs.  How grateful we are for Ana.  She has been good to Elijah. 

Elijah was even more spoiled when on Sunday a new member and her family had another birthday party for him.  He said that he had the biggest cake.  Maribel and Hector have been very good to Elijah.  He said that Maribel started crying and told hm that he was like a son.  We are very thankful for Maribel, Hector and their family.  

Week 25 "I got 8 million emails"

It's Elijah's birthday week!  Today on his P-Day, he said when he opened his email that he had 8 million emails.  He told me "Mom I don't even know how I can answer all of these back."  He asked me to send out a thank you to everyone who remembered him on his birthday.

He had a good week!  He said that he found a new investigator named Jordanny.  He said that he felt like it was a miracle to find a new investigator.  

He is excited to work hard this week.  He said that some members have a surprise for him this week on his birthday. We hope that he has a wonderful birthday. 

Week 24 "All is Well"

Elijah didn't have much to say this week.  He seemed a little discouraged.  A young man he was teaching, who was excited to get baptized, can't continue with the lessons.  Elijah was sad for him, but continues to pray for him.  He said that all of his investigators have fallen through, so now they must start from scratch.  We will continue to pray that he and Elder Geiger find those who are searching for the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Week 23 "We Survived Hurricane Otto!"

Elder Larson had a good week.  The threat of Hurricane Otto made them change much of what they wanted to do that week, but they made do.  President Laboriel emailed all of us parents to let us know that the missionaries where told to buy food and water for several days, and to check in with their zone leaders every two hours.  Lij said that were he is, in Heredia, it just rained a lot.  There was not much damage.  We are grateful for his and the other missionaries safety.

Lij and his companion are working with another young man who is taking the lessons.  They are excited to see his progress.  We can't wait to see what happens.  

Week 22 "I Have Become a Chef"

We got an email from Lij today.  He sounded great!  In fact he forgot it was even Thanksgiving this week.  We are proud of how hard he is working.  

One of the things he shared with us that made us laugh is that he has become quite the cook.  This from a son who couldn't make toast five months ago (tomorrow).  How time flies.  He also said that he has become quite budget conscious, living on fifty cents a day.  How he does that is anyone's guess.  Hopefully he isn't recycling the toilet paper.  

This week starts with what they call "a week of miracles."  He will working harder and longer each day than he has before.  It sounds like the whole mission participates and he seems really excited to receive blessings.  They had a great week and had three investigators at church.  

We love this boy!