Hola family and friends! I AM FINALLY IN THE FIELD! And I love it! I already know this mission is going to change my life!
but
first things first. The food here is amazing and just be prepared for
me to come back 50 pounds heavier because oh my goodness It is so
delicious!
As for the Spanish. I can
understand almost everything, or I at least can guess what they are
talking about. HOWEVER talking is the hard part! But I know that it will
come eventually. All you who are on missions speaking a foreign
language... Please tell me I am not the only one who was silent their
first week! lol.
Also a lot of people in Costa Rica speak at
least SOME English.... everywhere I go people try to practice their
English with me. A few days ago we were with a family with a million
kids and it was super loud and crazy... the kids kept yelling all at
once.... COMO SE DICE FEO EN INGLAIS.... And then the adults started
trying to explain to me what feo was and everyone was laughing and
scrunching up their faces and pointing to their faces, and they were all
talking at once and I was so confused! hahaha I later found out the
word feo means ugly in english and everything made so much more sense. 
Also
something else that is pretty funny... everytime I tell a member or
someone who knows the church that i am from Utah, they always say... Oh
la fabrica..... or english... the mormon factory. hahaha! they say it
out of love though
Also
the people here have no problem commenting on you and your appearance.
Everyone and their dog comments on my red cheeks, my different colored
hair (aka my roots because I havent died my hair in awhile) and how I am
a gringa. It is hilarious *Jessica starts to cry*
But
the people here are fantastic and Costa Rica is so great! Sometimes I
just look around me and think HOLY GUACAMOLE I AM IN COSTA RICA PREACHIN
THE GOOD WORD.
Its great I
am still getting used to the bars in front of all the house... there is
no knocking on doors here in Costa Rica... you just yell through the
bars! And I am also getting used to the fact that all the women greet
each other with kisses on the cheek... also I still cant speak Spanish .... but the people here are so kind and understanding.
The
other day a woman we were visiting with was talking about hojas... and I
had no clue what she was saying... so she started pointing at flowers
and petals and a vase... and i still was not getting it... so she
grabbed my hand and brought me to the window and pointed to the leaves
on the tree outside her window... Oh geez she was so happy when I
finally understood.
Another family we have
seen a few times this week has the cutest kids... they are always asking
me how to say things in English and I taught them a few words. They are
so cute. Ahhh the people here are just so great. And dont even get me
started on our ward. Yesterday was my first sunday and I have never felt so loved by people I had just met. Oh geez everyone..... I just love Costa Rica 
Things I took for granted in the United States
Dishwashers
Air conditioning
English
AND SPIRITUAL THOUGHT SINCE I KNOW YOU FOLKS ALL WANT ONE. I have had this phrase stuck in my head since I heard it in the MTC.
In the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, WE HAVE NO FEAR
Fear
is not a tool of God or Jesus Christ. It is a tool of Satan, and Satan
alone. A mission is probably the scariest thing I have ever done. I am
in a new world where hardly anyone speaks the same language as me
(including my companion) and where I am teaching people in their houses
and going up to random strangers and talking in a foreign language. Its
terrifying! But i know that if you want to punch Satan and his fear in
the face, all you gotta do is open your mouth and teach! Or, if you are
not on a mission right now, all you gotta do is face the fear. And just
remember that fear is the opposite of faith. SO BE BOLD! Stand up for
what you believe in! And know that you are never alone
Well... thats all I think... Love you and miss you all!
Con amor
Hermana Bass
