¡Pura Vida!: Another Part of God's Plan

So it's been awhile since I've written, and sooo much has happened. Our area is great like always and our investigators are doing better than ever. Remember that kid Danny who walked up to us on the street and asked us to teach him? Well he is progressing incredibly and is super excited for his baptism. He told us that he has a new goal after his baptism, he wants to serve as a missionary. This guy is incredible and is such an example to me.

It's still raining like crazy in Limon and the streets seem to get more and more flooded everyday. All this rain is making all of the trees and plants brighter and greener than ever, which seems impossible to do, but it's happening and it's beautiful. I know I say this a lot but Costa Rica really is paradise. If any of y'all are looking for a new vacation spot, I highly recommend it.

So here is why I titled this entry "Another Part of God's Plan," something big happened this week that really showed me that we can never really know what God has planned for us. This past Saturday our little branch had a soccer activity for all of the members. Us missionaries thought this would be a perfect opportunity to invite and play with a bunch of our investigators, so we went to the activity and played soccer with everyone. Well, long story short, my knee ended up blowing out on me. Not being able to move it or put any weight on it, we decided to go to the hospital. While there, the doctor told me that I had torn my meniscus. After calling my mission president and telling him what had happened, he came to the conclusion and thought it would be best to send me home to the States to have my knee operated on.

So yes, here I am back home in Houston right now. I flew back this past Tuesday and met back up with my family, can't really describe this unreal feeling of being back home this early. We've been meeting with a bunch of doctors this week getting MRIs and X-rays and whatnot preparing for surgery. The good news about all of this is that I will be returning to the mission field ASAP, as soon as my knee is totally healed up. It's hard being home, but it's all good knowing that I will be able to get right back out to Costa Rica soon to complete my full mission.

This whole ordeal has been stressful, devastating, exciting, confusing, and just overall unbelievable. But I know that it's all part of God's plan for me. I was meant to have this accident and I was meant to return home at this specific time for a specific reason. I don't know what it is yet, but I know that there is a reason I need to be home right now. I just want everybody to know that I returned home honorably and with no shame or guilt about anything. As soon as my knee is healed, I will be out teaching the people of Costa Rica once again.

Thank you all for your prayers and good thoughts, I really can feel the influence of each of you out here. I love being a missionary and there is nothing that can make me ever lose the testimony that I have gained. I hope all is well with everybody and that everyone can recognize Christ in your life everyday, because He is always there... I know it. I love you all.

Keep On Keepin' On...

~ Elder Willis