Principle #6: Solve Problems




Natalie and I have come across several dilemmas while in Costa Rica, like:

  • What's the deal with public transportation here?
  • How do we get anywhere when there are no exact addresses?
  • Where do we buy groceries?
  • How do we understand what people are saying with this "Tico" accent and slang?
  • How do we manage our time between working with Self-Reliance, keeping up with BYU classes online, and making friends?
  • How connect to phone and internet service?
  • How do we get to THE BEACH?? ;)
This steps in this self-reliance principle simplify any problem in life:
  1. Identify the REAL issue. (What is your problem?)
  2. Consider the options.
  3. ACT.  (Reevaluate and try again if necessary.)
We've had to do research as we've gotten accustomed to a new place, which includes asking a lot of people on the street where to go and getting recommendations from everyone we meet. Since I'm graduating from college, 

I'm also at a point in my life where I'm making bigger decisions, like where to live and work and whether to get a Master's. I'm grateful for agency and Heavenly Father's confidence in me to choose. I'm also grateful for the Spirit to guide me and resources that can help me identify the best options for my life, big or small.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Principle #7: Be One; Work Together

Image
I've learned a lot about teamwork while here in Costa Rica. Besides taking personal initiative to figure out the needs of this area related to Self-Reliance and contacting Church members to know how to help them, Natalie and I have practiced working as a companionship and as a team with our Area Self-Reliance Manager! (Sounds a lot like a mission, right?) Here are some examples of our teamwork: Natalie is excellent at making meals from whatever random ingredients we have at home; I'm great at eating them. ;) I teach English classes in the Seminary and Institute Building while Natalie works one-on-one with our manager to update records and make phone calls, especially to recently returned missionaries who we invite to our bi-monthly seminars. Natalie and I both like making friends everywhere we go! We have had multiple dinner invitations from kind people we meet on the bus. Rodrigo (our manager) is a fireball! He has this entire country to take care of as far
Read more

Principle #10: Integrity

Image
Integrity is a quality that I think is sometimes hard to measure, yet defines so much of our character. It is tied to virtue. In Preach My Gospel it says, "What you choose to think and do when you are alone and you believe no one is watching is a strong measure of your virtue." Natalie and I have been flying solo as a companionship for the past 2.5 months. It was up to decide how to act. Now Natalie is back in the United States with her family (she got permission to return early for an important family reunion) and I'm on my own! I am happy to find myself studying the scriptures, exercising, and completing my self-reliance commitments on my own. I know I can continue to improve my integrity and virtue by being more reliable and responsible in all I do.
Read more

Principle #3: Be Obedient

Image
Natalie and I have learned a little bit about obedience here in Costa Rica... that the buses are disobedient to the schedule, birds are disobedient when you tell them to quit squawking early in the morning, monkeys are not disobedient to the rules about not stealing tourists' food out of their bags, and the rainstorms don't obey anyone one but God. We've also learned that being obedient to the principles we've learned at home, at church, on our missions, in the self-reliance groups, and in the temple truly blesses our lives. Being two American girls alone in Costa Rica is a challenge, but we've been able to stay happy and safe. In general, as we seek for blessings in life, whether it be a getting a job, learning in school or having peace in our homes, we need to be obedient to the principles that lead to those promised blessings . We can all evaluate what we want and need, and Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are overjoyed to help us do what we need to
Read more