Dear family and friends,
First off, happy birthday to Dad. I hope you enjoyed your birthday present! I thought it very fitting!
Well, the MTC is definitely a direct branch from the strict rules of BYU. One of the first sentences directed to me were, "Welcome Sister, you need to wear nylons." The MTC is so emphatic about rules it is overwhelming. They list so many things that you can and cannot do, that I couldn't keep track at first. But looking back, I was planning on doing all those things anyway, so I shouldn’t have even worried about it.
One of my favorite things to see here at the MTC is the many victims of gym time hobbling around campus. You would not believe how many crutches and casts are here as a result of aggressive gym time. I am more than happy to just stay on my elliptical and stare out the window at the beautiful mountains.
I initially had two companions. One, Hermana Lindquist, recently tested out into advanced Spanish. She had studied Spanish for 6 years (2 in college) and she also did a service abroad project in Guatemala. Wow, language is her thing. She is very talented and she can conjugate like I have never seen. We are all very happy that she was able to move, but we will miss her because she was very sweet and peaceful. Now Hermana Erickson is my only companion. She is from Boise Idaho (not the farming side of the state, as we are often reminded). She was formerly the cheer captain at her school. She is very fun and friendly. I admire her because she is able to talk to people and meet people so easily. She is the typical high school Spanish graduate, along with the rest of my class. She knows a lot more than she thinks, but she is afraid to speak. I am trying to help her with her confidence.
I love my district. It is like having 15 younger brothers (we are officially the largest district in the MTC since we have 17 missionaries compared to the usual 10 or 11). They are definitely YOUNGER brothers. Often they do strange things. But generally they make me laugh so hard. I am fond of all of them and proud that they decided to come on a mission. One Elder is from Gilbert and he was good friends with Kevin Curtis, Steve Frost, Casey Peterson, Ali Kerr, etc. It nice to indirectly know someone! It seems like he is eager to become friends and strengthen those Mesa ties. Life for the Sisters is very different from the Elders. To get to our hall there are 3 check points where you have to swipe your card to verify that you are a sister, not an Elder. Life is pretty strict on the two floors of the building where ALL of the sisters live (6 per room!) We hear crazy stories from the Elders about toga parties and Samoans who eat all of their food.
I love studying Spanish! I forget sometimes how beautiful that language is. But, in the evenings my mouth gets sore from using the different muscles, just like it did in Chile. I am good with the accent and fluidity, but as we all thought, I stink with conjugation. Usually I am right when speaking, but I CANNOT write. There is a tutor here there and I am hoping that she can help me finally see how conjugation is supposed to work. (Something all my other teachers could not do)
At the MTC, Satan is hard at work. I have had SO MUCH trouble sleeping at night because of worry and stress. At the beginning I was having so much trouble (yes, mom I tried Tylenol PM) that I decided I had to see my branch president. What a powerful testimony of the priesthood! I was unsure if he would be able to help me because he doesn't know me at all. But as we talked he knew exactly what I needed to here. He reassured me that it was acceptable for me to be here, despite the fact that I never felt a specific calling from the Lord and promised me that those that I love will be blessed because of my service. He also recommended that I get a blessing of both health and comfort. I asked my district leader if he would be able to do so. He is a faithful young man and it was so inspiring to see the true power of God to work through such young and inexperienced men. It is not to say that things are not still hard, but I have directly felt the blessings of the priesthood. I know that this gospel is true and the Savior knows and loves each of us personally. I rejoice in the opportunity to feel His love!
I love you all, but my time is SHORT!
Hermana Palmer
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