08-10-09 email.. Subject: Costa Rica is jungle mixed with garbage

So, I am starting the mission in a place called San Miguel, but people sometimes like to call it San MiHell. It is about 30 minutes or so south of San Jose and I love it. The first week has been so awesome. > My trainer is Elder Garcia from Guatemala. He knows a little bit of English and we are helping each other learn. My area is really hilly and covers quite a bit of ground. People are extremely poor here (it´s the ghetto), most of the houses are covered with metal sheets and aren't really houses. They are something that Scott and I could make in a day, given the supplies. Obviously there are some nicer ones, but not by much. The people are just like you´d expect Latinos to be, but they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Most everyone here is Costa Rican, or ticos. There are some illegals from Nicaragua or Honduras, but not many. Because the area is poor, people are humble and pretty nice. My companion says its really dangerous here but I don't believe him. (The people are littler here anyway, the only thing dangerous would be a gun and people are too poor to be able buy them.) But, the people are cool. Lots of drunks, druggies, and disgusting immodest women, but for the most part it´s normal. I was warned before coming here that most women want a white baby and it´s true. I get hoots and stuff. My companion says that they say some bad stuff too. Haha. And it´s not only the girls, everyone gets infatuated with a gringo. They try to speak English or try to swear in English. Hah. Todo bien. But in reality, we mostly contact families. I mean we don´t ignore other people, but families are much more receptive and ready for the gospel.> I think I´ve lost a lot of weight already. We eat quite a bit I guess, but I swear more comes out than went in. I had the runs for the first three days, barely avoiding a few catastrophes. But the food so far has been great. Nothing like what I expected. We usually only have to buy breakfast. We get fed lunch every day and most of the time people give us food at night too. > There is garbage all along the streets (if you want to call them streets) and in most of the rivers too. I see probably around 50 stray dogs everyday. Obviously people here drive crazy and there are a lot of motorcycles. I saw an ATV the other day in San Jose too. My comp. said that it was illegal, but that cops here don't really care. > The ward is awesome, it seems like a normal ward when inside the chapel. I was surprised at how strong the members are in the gospel. We have about 140 members in our area, which is only one ward, not bad.> Anyways, I have pictures of everything, I´ll be sure to get them home soon. It´s gorgeous here minus the garbage. My apartment is nice and pretty dang big as well, compared to the rest.> The Spanish sure has been a kick to the face. I know Spanish I swear, I just don´t know how to listen or to speak it. People speak so fast and slurred. It´s nuts. All I can do is get the jist of what´s being said. So that makes teaching a little bit hard as well as contacting. But I know how to share scriptures and bear testimony, just following along in a lesson can be hard. > I am doing really well, I really love this. I get to go to bed exhausted and thrilled and know that I get to wake up and do it again. It´s awesome.> Anyway, love you all. People ask me if I miss home and I just tell them no, mostly because I dont know what they are asking me.. :) Love ya´ll.