A Special Saturday....

We had a very special day Saturday. Honorio, Maria, and Jason, their son, were all baptized. We have posted about them many times before. We started teaching them back in July when we first arrived in our area. We have gotten to know their family very well of the last 8 months and we consider them close friends. We are so happy for them and their decision to be baptized.We first started teaching them when we were staying with the Blanco's. They used to live by them and they would occasionally talk about the church. We taught them all of the discussions and Honorio committed to baptism months ago. We have continued to be friends with them and have had them over to our home many times for activities and meals. Maria Blanco started to speak to Maria about the church alot over the last couple of months and the new Hermanas started to visit them recently. It was truly a joint effort to help this family finally join the church.

Maria, Jason (who turned 8 in January), Neilyn, Honorio, and little Mario....

Here we are with them before the baptism.....

Elder Munroe baptized Honorio and Jason. Hermano Blanco baptized Maria. We held the baptism at a members home, the Jimenez. They are new to the area and are renting a very nice home that has a jacuzzi in the backyard. We visited their home for the first time in December. Elder Munroe said, "Wow...you all may see a jacuzzi but I see a baptismal font!" We feel blessed that we were able to use the jacuzzi/baptismal font.

Neilyn was so happy that day. She had a big smiled and seemed to understand that it was a special day. She looked so cute!

We are thankful for these times in our mission where we are able to see positive changes in the lives of the people that we are serving. We are grateful for the opportunity that we had to take part in teaching this humble family. We have faith that they will be a strength to the branch.

A Full House....

We had a full house on Sunday afternoon. The Hermanas and A.P.'s came over to do some baptismal interviews in our home. Honorio, Maria, and their oldest son Jason, have decided to be baptized. We planned their baptismal program which will take place this Saturday. Elder Espinal (Honduras), Hermana Moss (Idaho), Hermana Torres (Honduras), Elder Munroe, Elder Galaraza (Mexico City).

Here is the group again but Hermana Munroe joined us....

The Hermanas kept the little ones busy while their parents were talking to the Elders....

Jason got busy coloring after he spoke to the Elders. We have worked with this family since our first week in Los Santos. We have grown to love them and have created wonderful memories together. We are excited for them and this important step that they are taking.

Las Hermanas arrived in Los Santos!!

Our prayers have been answered....we are thrilled to have Hermana Torres (Honduras) and Hermana Moss (Idaho) here serving with us in Los Santos. We have been praying that a set of Hermanas would be sent to this area to work with these wonderful people....and it happened!! They got here on Thursday (February 10th) and we have been on the "run" with them ever since. We have been taking them around to meet the members as well as the many people that we know from around town and the people that we have been teaching. It has been busy but very successful!

We took these pictures after church on Sunday. Hermana Moss played a keyboard during sacrament and it was a nice touch to the meeting. The members seemed to enjoy the change and it was a nice way for her to be able to be involved on their first Sunday here. We were all thrilled because Honorio and Maria attended church with their three little ones. We all went back to our home after church to break our fast and enjoy a nice meal together.

Here are the Hermanas sharing a spiritual thought at the home of one of the members, Miriam. She was baptized last year and had been quite active. She has been struggling to attend over the last few months though....it was nice to stop by and let the Hermanas get to know her.

We took them out to Emilius Pizza, one of our favorite restaurants in town, the night that they arrived. It was fun to chat and get to know each other a little. Then we "got down to business" and talked about the area and planned our appointments with them for the week.

We feel truly blessed to have the Hermanas here. They have been working very hard this week and seem to have really meshed well with the members and people around town. We hope that as a team in this area, we will be able to continue to represent the church and Lord in a way that people will want to know more about his church. We have faith that the Lord has prepared miracles that will soon be realized in this area. Welcome Hermanas!!

A Costa Rican Campout.....

We attended the Los Santos branch family camp out in San Sabana last weekend. Due to not having any camping supplies in Costa Rica, we had originally planned on not going. The Blanco's saw us a few hours before it was to start and said for us to hop in their car with them. It turned out great because we stayed with the members for a few hours on Friday night and then returned for the day activities on Saturday. Here are President Jimenez' daughters roasting their marshmallows....

Los Hermanos Munroe roasting away.....

There were a couple other branches that were invited too. These are some of the members from Heredia that were there. There was a nice friendly mix....

Hermana Munroe and Hermana Blanco chatting by the fire. Everyone took turns cooking their food and then we enjoyed the fire. Later, everyone went into a lodge and sang karaoke and danced.

Saturday was filled with games. Here is Elder Munroe up to bat.....

He played a while and then decided to take a nap....

Some of the kids from our branch.....

Our ramada where we "set up camp."