Best Week Ever and yes I said EVER!

Hello All!

Today I don't have any emails other than my Lala's because she emails me every Sunday. Everyone writes me on Tuesdays and today we start writing on Mondays again so I have time to write a really long big email! I bet you are all so excited! I know I am! 

Plus I have lots of cool things to say!

This week we had a mission conference with ALL of the missionaries in Costa Rica. So cool. There were 2 visiting general authorities, Elder Richard J. Maynes of The Presidency of the Seventy and Elder Kevin R. Duncan of the Seventy. It was so so so cool. I honestly do not know how to describe the incredible spirit that you could feel in the room. We (the sisters who had to sleep in the mission house on Thursday night because our areas are too far away to travel on Friday) decided to get to the church early so that we could get a good seat so we sat on the second bench and it was incredible. I don't think I have ever felt the spirit so strongly before. 

It was also really really cool because we all got to shake their hands. I cried. I won't lie. haha but it was incredible. 

Elder Maynes spoke really well. I wanted to share what he spoke about but I honestly don't think I can do it justice. Actually I know that I can't. Just remember that the habits that we have and the customs we have determine which kingdom of glory we will end up in. If we have celestial habits we will end up in the celestial kingdom... if we have telestial habits.... well I am sure you can imagine. 

Also... the part that I can't not share "No somos perfectos, pero somos dignos"

We are not perfect, but we are worthy. We are worthy of the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. While we are not perfect, and in this life will never be perfect, we can be worthy so that the atonement of Christ can make up the difference. 

We were also able to see a lot of really cool miracles this week in our area. I can definitely see the hand of God in the work in this area. 

I got to speak in church yesterday and it was so so cool. I have now realized that it does not matter what language I speak in, I get nervous. I get really hot, nauseous, and start to shake and talk really really fast. But yesterday I think I held it together okay. I was asked to speak on how to find people to teach, so I tried to relate it to the members and not just missionaries, I think I did an okay job. One of members who is part of the district presidency told me that I speak with the spirit and it was really strong. That definitely made me happy. I try to speak in a way that the people can understand (not just because of my broken Spanish) and that I can really get my point across. 

Yesterday we had a lesson with some investigators of the elders and that made us rice and beans. It was super tasty. It made me a little bit home sick.. like my home in limón. Its not just regular rice and beans, its cooked with coconut milk and Panamanian chillies and other wonderful things and it is oh so tasty. We were also making some pastries so here are some pictures of that. 

I definitely know how to cook with fire now. So that's cool. 

The bus always stops at this one place on the way to our area. Its the break at the halfway point of our 5 and a half hour bus ride. The times after I had to go to the bathroom so there wasn't any time to take pictures. This time I deliberately didn't drink any water in the bus for the first half so that I could have time to take pictures. Its sooo pretty!!!!!

There are more photos but I don't have time to put them in there. I also saw monkeys in the trees and baby monkies and what not. They are everywhere in my area. I just don't have a picture. But today I will take a photo. 

I Love you all and hope you have the most wonderful day

Pura Vida

Hermana Gibson

P.S. I now write on Mondays again!!!! YAY

I'm teaching a bird to talk

So today the main thing that I wanted to share is a really cool quote that I absolutely love by Dieter F. Uchtdorf

"We need to accept that the commandments of God aren't just a long list of good ideas. They aren't "life hacks" from an Internet blog or motivational quotes from a pinterest board. They are divine counsel, based on eternal truths, given to bring "peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come."

I read that quote in a talk this week. I love it so so so much! Mainly because it is so true. Muchas veces, I think that we all forget to that the commandments are not just things that can make us happy if we decide to listen to them, its not just " oh yeah... that could be a good idea" or "maybe I should do that" NO. That is not actually how it works. The commandments are given to us to ensure that we can obtain salvation. If we don't follow them, simply put we are throwing our salvation down the drain. It is not to say that we are going to be perfect here in this life, because no, but being human and being imperfect is not an excuse that you can use now to do things for which you will need to repent later. Talk is from the General Women's conference in October and it is called "Living the Gospel Joyful" and you should all probably read it. I even made it clickable so you don't even have to use that much effort. I'm telling you that you will change your life.  

Here are some photos of this past week. I didn't take that many because my camera died and I kept forgetting to charge it. 

This is a road in my area and I just thought it was super super beautiful!

​This was our lunch the other day. One of the sisters that we share our area with is Colombian and she made us Colombian food and it was super tasty. Except the avocado.. this is actually my companions plate... I don't put that weird food anywhere near things that I eat. 

​Just because I held a talking bird and I am in the process of teaching it to say "Hermana Gibson es pura vida" its a work in progress.. but I think its coming along. 

I love all a whole bunch!!!!!

Have a beautiful week!

Hermana Gibson

Look who's bald!?!!! Yep… that would be ME!!!

Okay so this week I don't really have a lot of time and I am also really hungry so I probably wont be writing a lot. I am also trying to figure out how in the world I can send pictures because it is not working. :( I think its because this is the first computer ever made and it just isn't capable of doing those future aged things. 

I am really happy. I love my new area and I love my companion a whole bunch.
There is one thing.. we all know how talented I am when it comes to stairs... well there are stairs outside of our apartment so I bet you can guess what has happened a few times. I haven't fell down them yet.. but I have fallen up them a time or 2. oops. but the neighbors get a good laugh at least. ha ha 

Oh my word. I just realized that my camera is downloading all of my photos to the computer that I am using in an Internet cafe... yeah... I'm gonna have to delete those. ha ha 

There are iguanas everywhere in my area. I think I will be getting over my fear of lizards sometime soon. ha ha 

Okay I learning so much and I just wanted to share one thing. One thing that I have learned a lot this week is that we can not ask other people to do things that we ourselves don't do. If we want someone to do something, or change something, then we first have to do it. It reminded me of the Michael Jackson song about the man in the mirror  It says something to the effect of I'm looking at the man in the mirror and asking him to change his ways. It is really so true. I cant ask someone to do something that I don't do. Just a thought. 

I went to get a haircut yesterday and this is what happened when I told the lady "solo los puntos por favor" and she goes "esta bien, solo los puntos" haha so now I'm bald.. but hey... its just hair and it will grow back... i hope 

Also, we had a multi zone conference and it was super awesome. I learned so so so much. Also, my old zone, zone Atlantic was there, and so we took a picture together with the 4 of us who used to be together in Guacimo. The Elders are still there but Hermana Corrales and I are both in Guanacaste now. 

I love these people a whole bunch. 

Yesterday we were cleaning our apartment and I turn around and my companion is just cleaning with a bike helmet on... haha I'm not quite sure why there is a bike helmet when we don't have bikes but okay. 

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That's all for now folks!

Remember that I love y'all  but more importantly that your Heavenly Father loves you!
Brooke
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Meet the companion…Just kidding…you already know her… LOOK WHOS MY COMPANION!!!!!

So if you cant tell I am more than a little bit excited. To be completly honest I didnt write last week because I have not been really happy recently and I didnt want to share anything sad. So.. we had interviews with President on Thursday and he told me that I would be having emergency transfers on Monday... so I anxiously awaited the phone call to know where I would be going... and on Sunday night the assistants called. Elder Tai proceded to tell me that I would be going to Santa Cruz, Guanacaste and that my new companion would be Hermana Garcia!!!!

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I started screaming and jumping up and down I was so so so happy. I once asked president if we could be companions and he just kind of lauged at me. Hahaha 

Emergency changes suck to be real honest, but I know that I am going to be happier than I have been these past few weeks. I am so excited to begin working here in Santa Cruz. I know that it is going to be real real hot outside. I bought sweaters in Grecia and when I unpacked yesterday I left them all in my suitcase. 

I am so greatful for the time that I had in Grecia, while it was a short 4 weeks, and I wasnt the happeist I have ever been, I learned so much from the trails that I faced there. About 4 days ago I had no idea what it was that I was supposed to be learning but I think I have started to grasp some of the lessons. 

I am so excited for this new change. 

Next week I will have some photos of the beach and monkies. I think. But Honestly I just wanted to share my testimony with yall. 

This past month has been hard for me. I have learned so much how to rely on the Lord in all times and in all thigs. When life is hard and you feel alone, remember to respect the fact that there is someone who litteraly died for you and that you can turn to him for help in any moment. When you feel like you are not important remember that there is someone who loves you, and that you are important. Maybe not to every single person on planet earth, but there is someone who would give up his life for you... who gave up his life for you. 

If it werent for the atonement of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ I honestly dont think I could continue in life. Every day I turn to him for comfort. 

I am not perfect, and I will never claim to be, but I know that the atonement is perfect, and because of that knowledge, I am not affraid. I know that everything will be okay. 

I love you all more than you know. Something I have learned in the mission is how to love people the way that Christ loves them and that is something that I think all people should learn. 

Have a great week, and rememeber that yall are all important. 

Love, 

Brooke

​ps- Today I ate taco bell. mmmmm so yummy