Merry Christmas!

I guess this is my official Christmas email, because I doubt I'll email next week since I'll be talking with you guys face to face! Apparently my face will be projected to the size of 96''? Not sure how I feel about that one, but what can you do? Haha. The foot fungus got super bad again, but these members gave me this weird cream for animals that they insisted would heal both my hands and feet, and it has been! There are cool drumline parties in the street by our house about once a week. Sometimes I really wish I could just jump in and contribute to the beat. The primary program was yesterday. It was a blast. They gave me cake and orange juice at their celebration after. Those were always the days... Sharing time on the Sunday of the primary program, just partying because you're finally done with it.

Last night, M-o told us that he's most likely moving to Nicaragua next week. Forever! I'm super sad about it. As missionaries, we're just a small part of people's lives, but they're everything to us. I can't believe he's going so suddenly, and after all this progress... He says he's going to continue going to church and learning in Nicaragua, but I'm nervous about it. Oh yeah, I don't think I've mentioned that probably at least half the people are Nicaraguan. Nicaragua is to Costa Rica as Mexico is to the United States, in just about every way, including the locals attitudes towards the illegal immigrants. I just love everyone though, haha. Our other main investigators right now are I-a and Y-h, unrelated but both mothers of recent converts. I-a thinks any church that talks about God is good and true. Y-h should be baptized by the end of this month if we can meet with her more! We also have J-a, who's been taught all the lessons but always backs out of coming to church.

Dad asked if I've had any other weird foods. I haven't had to eat anything else gross yet, but I hear that some people occasionally make Mondongo, which is cow rectum. I really hope I never have to try it. So yeah we have district meetings weekly, and I'm not entirely sure yet, but from my time here it seems that we have zone conferences about monthly. I think multi-zone conferences are every few months, and the mission president comes to those. I don't think they're going to split our mission since President already knows how the numbers are going to change. He says we have about 180 missonaries in our mission right now, and with the new announcement we'll soon have 250 total as our max.

I don't carry any pepper spray for dogs... But if I know I'm going to be near some aggressive ones, I get my umbrella and backpack ready to use as weapons.  Ah, how I miss the Chandler Christmas tradition! I hope you had a fantastic time and went to Pizza Pie Cafe. I didn't know that Grandma and Grandpa aren't leaving till May now! So sad. As for the mini package, the mission home would be best. We don't even have an address. So I would say mail it to the mission home if it's not too inconvenient. Thanks so much, and tell them I say thanks too! I'm so proud of you guys for staying up so late to watch so much LOST because you can't stop. Keep it up! Love it. I hope you guys get teary eyed at least once throughout the whole series. I did hear about the Connecticut thing the day it happened. It was all over the news everywhere we went. So sad. I can't even believe it. Those families are for sure in my prayers. Anyway, gotta go. Love you guys! Talk to you on Monday at 3:00 Rica time!

First Change: Complete.

I finally had turtle eggs this week! This drunk guy started talking to us on the street, trying to use verses from the Bible to justify drinking, then all the sudden he asked if we wanted to try some turtle eggs at the fish shop across the street. We went over there, and he bought us these little cups filled with red liquid and floaty chunks. The yolk of the turtle egg was in there. I don't know what the liquid was, but they called it 'sangrita,' which would mean 'little blood,' so that had me pretty nervous. I assumed it was one of those things that was a weird delicacy and hopefully tasted better than it looked. The guy who bought it for us then drank his and gagged twice, spitting some out and barely getting it down. I just stood there and Mr. Krabsed for a few seconds. Then I tried one sip of the sangrita and was like 'Yeah, there's no way.' I offered mine to the guy and he for some reason wanted it, so that was a lucky escape.

I'm sending a whopping eleven letters today! They're for everyone who sent me a letter in the package that I had a return address for, as well replies to a couple other letters I've received. I didn't have Erin's address till today, so I'll be sending her a letter at the next opportunity, but everyone who sent something in the package can expect a letter in the next few weeks! Don't worry, Mom, I'm okay. Just entering the holiday season without family or friends was a little hard at first. Everything's fine though.

Things are still progressing little by little with the Modern Family. Yesterday was stake conference in San Jose, so it was kind of awkward and pointless to invite people to church. We still did, but only one investigator came to the conference with us. Anyway, we have a goal with several of them to get baptized on the 22nd. The dog that attacked me didn't do any damage to my pants, luckily. We've tried talking to them about trying to give us a safer way across their yard when we come. I also try to just pray super hard and have a ridiculous amount of faith like Peter walking on the water, and not let the growls of the dogs cause me to falter. It's funny, but it really is a real problem that freaks us out every time we go.

There was one exciting announcement at changes meeting. Elder Christofferson is coming to our mission in January! He was just here like a month before I got here, so the fact that he's already coming back must mean pretty big things. President says he feels like super huge, new things are going to be happening in our mission very soon. Still no news about the Christmas call... I think we'll find out at zone conference this week. I think you can pretty much plan on Skype though. I think I'm friends with Morgan on it? and we're thinking it'll probably be during the day on the 24th. I'll let you know for sure though. People celebrate Christmas on the 24th here. That's when they open all their presents and have their big get togethers, and then the 25th is like a day of resting from all that. I'll probably open one of those wrapped gifts from the package on Christmas Eve to be little cultural haha.

Ah, I can't even tell you how much irrational joy overcame me to learn that you guys are still watching LOST and getting into it! Dad, the fact that you could name so many different characters and mention all these plot points was so exciting. I thought you guys would be anti forever. I'm so happy to see that you want to figure out what's going on and the roles of each of the characters. So fun. Please, keep my updated on your thoughts, theories, and questions (even though anyone who's watched LOST with me knows that I answer any plot question with 'I guess you'll just have to keep watching to find out!).

I think that's all I really have to say this week, but I'll totally send a couple pictures! Love you guys!

--Elder Hampton

Jake with the zone leader who left recently.

Jake and his nog box

P-Day Pictures!

Jake and a few other missionaries went to an amusement park for P-Day for one last hurrah before one of the Elders left to go home. They had a great time!

Nog Box

We had a one-month checkup meeting with the President on Friday in the mission office, so I was able to get my package there! WOW. Thank you so, so, so much. It's already made it the best Christmas possible for being away from loved ones in a different country. You guys went all out. I love it. I don't know how you managed so collect so many friend letters, but thank you! It made my season. I can't wait to reply to everyone. Ha, I got a few letters in addition to the package, and one of them was a card from Tyson, as in my cousin! It was a wonderful surprise, a great little note with a fantastic drawing inspired by Super Mario games. I'll be excited to write to him (as well as Vickie and Andrew, haha).

It's been a little bit of an emotionally difficult week, so getting that package totally made up for it. I couldn't even tell it's been opened. It appears that everything that was once wrapped is still wrapped, so I'll save it for Christmas morning. I LOVE the piano solos! Great idea. The candy is great! Thanks for the nog almonds! I just discovered a couple days ago that they sell egg nog here, and YEAR ROUND! Can't believe I've been missing out this long. I got a juice box size, as well as a big carton, the other day at the store. It tastes a little different, but still contributes to it being the most wonderful time of the year.

I love fasting. I have such a strong testimony that fasting is such a direct way to see the blessings of the Lord in your life. In the Modern Family family, there's a man named M---. He's always been super quiet and in the corner during the lessons, hardly ever reads the Book of Mormon or prays, and has said he just isn't sure when we talk to him about baptism. He also has a couple issues with the Word of Wisdom, and generally usually seems not very excited to listen to or talk to us. It's seemed like he just sits in on the lessons because that's what the whole family is doing. I started a fast for M--- on Saturday in the evening, that we might be able to know how we can help him become more converted, and that he could have his heart softened and be more willing to make changes and come unto Christ.

About ten minutes after I started my fast, we called him, as suggested by another family member, just before the time he usually goes out drinking with friends. He answered super cheerfully, said he was sober and home for the night, and would come to church the next day. We were nervous about anyone from that house showing up on their own to church, so we went to pick them all up on Sunday morning. We hadn't even approached the house yet when M--- walked outside, saying that nobody else could come to church, but that he was coming. And then he walked with us to church. I was dying with happiness! The M--- I knew a week ago would never go to church without being dragged by his family. He even asked if he could have a couple tithing slips while we were at the chapel! It's appearing that he and some of his family members will be the next people we baptize. The only thing I dislike about that family is that they have like five dogs that attack anything that moves, including innocent puppies and me. They only got my pants though. I'm gonna be praying mightily every time we visit them from now on though.

I was hit pretty strongly by something that was said in the District videos we watch during companionship study while I'm being trained. A sister missionary said something about how, as missionaries, seeing people choose not to come to church and do the right things when they know they're supposed to, is probably a tiny taste of how our Heavenly Father feels when he has to watch us knowingly ignore his will. Of course, I always strive to obey His commandments, but that perspective helps me feel it and have an even stronger desire to obey.

We taught L--- and N--- for just three short weeks! They're so perfect and amazing. I doubt that Elder Baca or I will be changed this week since he's still training me. We'll find out tonight though if anything weird's happening and we get changed. We did get to see the Christmas Devotional last night! But there was nobody around to set up an English transmission for us gringos, so we had to watch it dubbed in Spanish. I understood most of it, and it was fantastic. It was easy for my mind to wander when I didn't understand certain sections so well... but I got the general messages. I loved the music, partly because it kept showing Mr. Summers playing the trumpet haha.

I have never met this Elder Kouha, but I will keep an eye out for him! We've only got haircuts once so far since I've been here. We just went to a salon. It's way cheaper here. Where we went, it was only $4, and I don't think there's really the concept of tipping. Today was an awesome P-Day! A few companionships in our zone went to a Parque Diversiones to celebrate one of the zone leader's very last P-day. . It's a small amusement park, about half as good as Lagoon in size and quality. Fun times. Think that covers the highlights of the week! Thanks SOOO much for the package! BTW I'm doing everything I can to keep the fungus under control. Some more Toe Juice would be nice. Anyway, love you guys so much! You're the best! Can't wait to talk to you!

--Elder Hampton