Sunscreen and Mosquito Spray

January 27, 2010                   

 The famila Nieves

Friends and Family                                                      

This week was an extreme evaluation of my life. I realized how incredibly awesome it is to be a missionary and also how incredibly mundane.

First off, we had a bi-mission conference with Elder Bednar. It was an amazing expreience to truly learn by the spirit. He sent each of the missionaries two talks that he has given in the past to study prior to his arrival. Then, instead of giving a talk to us we had a sort of question and answer period. It was so incredible, we
addressed a lot of the topics I have been pondering previously. We talked about letting the spirit teach our investigators instead of us. That is what I have been trying to do ever since I got to the MTC, but I didn't know how. We talked about teaching THROUGH (not with) questions.The reason why we need to do this is so that our investigators are exercising agency by participating and evaluating on their own rather than merely recieving information from others. Our investigators need to be agents unto themselves rather than to be acted upon. I feel like this has been exactly the source of frustration in teaching for Hermana Erekson and I. I really wanted to do more than just present ideas. I want to adapt lessons to real people. In order to do that we need to ask, to listen, to observe and then speak.

It was an amazing learning experience. I think our participation of asking and answering questions with  the congregation really invited the spirit and I am confident that each of us received  personal revelation specific to our needs. Something that cannot be done by merely listening and receiving information.

That is how missionary work is AMAZING.

Hermana Mercedes. A typical Puerto Rican wearing her Bata and frying dinner.  She is so loveable and so fun

Now onto the mundane part of life. This week we had a stake conference with Elder Costa (also a wonderful experience). A tall, beautiful, blonde girl approached me and asked. How do I know you? Just by looking at here I knew it was from Mountain View. I remembered, Jaime, she was in my seminary class my senior year. She and her recent husband are here doing an internship in San Juan for Del Sol. Crazy that I would run into her at a stake conference in Puerto Rico! She was fun to talk to. She is definitely very happy young couple. It was fun to see someone I know from home and just chat. After talking to her I started thinking about how different our lives are. She is here honeymooning with her adorable husband. They just enjoy their time together. She is super cute, all the great clothes and perfumes.

I am here basically wearing a moo-moo and I smell of suncreen and mosquito spray. While she was just enjoying time with her new husband, I had spent my entire morning completly lost, roving all over        Puerto Rico because I got directions from a 19-year-old boy. (Part of his directions included using an illegal bus lane for a fair amount of time.) I also had two other 19 year old boys in the back seat of the car. One of which had a toothbrush sticking out of his mouth the ENTIRE hour, which he would grotesquely swish around every few minutes. And during my conversation with the other boy in the car he stated, and I quote, "I have entered a new phase of my mission. I started a tradition where I take a picture of myself with something different in my nostrils every morning." My life is anything but glamorous. How very different are our lifes.

But in the end, I am glad I am here. Missionary work is dang, stinkin' hard but I have a feeling that someday I am going to look back and be absolutely amazed at all that I have learned. The Lord is working hard on me, but he has a very long way to go.

Hope you are all well. I love you and miss you all!

Hermana Palmer

Family:  Two big pieces of news. That is a major bummer about the basement. Does that mean all of my stuff for college is trashed? I would imagine so. That is an insane amount of water.

Markie is doing AJM! Oh, how I wish I could sew the dress for that. That would be a dream come true!  Your talent is going to be awesome.
Just do whatever Stacy McAllister says to do. And be sure to talk about the Chinese orphans and cry in your interview!!!
Courtney did tell me she was thinking about a mission. Keep me updated on that one. I think that will be a great experience for her.

Hola from Hermana Pamél

January 20, 2010

Dear Fam,

This past Sunday was Ricardo's baptism. Despite the early morning chaos everything went really well. He has come such a long way and I really think that he is going to be a strong member of the church in the future. He is set up well with many friends in the church. The Ortegas have even invited him to be a permanent part of their Family Home Evening group. Hermana Erekson were nervous that the members wouldn't stay after church for the baptism. But we actually had a very nice size group that stayed. They were all the many people who have helped us teach Ricardo. They were all so eager to congratulate and welcome him; I was so very proud of our little ward.

Ricardo's baptism with Hermano Ortega

I played a musical number, which was very simple, but it really helped bring the spirit and keep the members from chattering during the meeting, which is sometimes a problem. Reverence is not a forte here. (There are always at least two toddlers climbing on the pulpit and two trying to play the piano with me during the hymns.There have been a lot of complaints, but in the end, only the parents have control on that one.)

I started driving this week with my new Puerto Rican drivers liscense. Whoa. There are so many pot-holes. There is no point in trying to dodge them, because 5 meters later you will just hit another one! The roads are in terrible condition. There is onepot-hole that is so big they just stuck an orange barrel in it--right in the middle of the lane. I was coming over a hill and all of a sudden an orange barrel in right in front of me. It is a really, really stupid solution because it leaves you with two options. One, swerve into oncoming traffic or two, run the other drivers off the roads. Neither are ideal.

I had two realizations this week. First, the word "bifstec" is actually "beef steak" and two, the street "Ladakid" is actually "La 'The Kid'". Go figure.

This week we had an interesting experience in the Campo. Hermana Erekson and I went deep into the Campo to go contact a member referal. We found the referral, a big burly black guy, and his two friends (also very big black guys) . He was really not interested and had no problem showing it. So we left and walked back to our car. Well, it had been raining a bit the previous few days so things were still pretty muddy. Unfortunatley our car got completley stuck in the mud. We couldn't move. So, the two stupid americans had to go back and ask them to help get our car out after they had just flatly rejected us. They wrost part is, after we all walked back to the car, they just told us to put the car in reverse. We did and it slid out with no problem. It was so embarassing. I am sure they will always remember those silly little missionary girls.

We were also on the news this week. The city of Carolina was doing a relief effort for the people in Haiti and some of the city representatives apporached the elders adn asked if the missionaries could help out sorting the donations. It was a big event and we collected a lot of food and clothing for the people in Haita. Some of the members said we got a nice 10 second segment on TV. Too bad the newscaster said we were Baptist missionaries! :D

Well, I am still doing well and learning lots. I know that I still have a ton to learn. I am looking forward to the Puerto Rico Missions conference. Where we will be able to hear from an apostle and I will also be able to see Sister Miller!!!
Love you tons!

Hermana Pamél

The tropical island of Puerto Rico

January 13, 2010


This week was one of the craziest yet. Puerto Rico celebrated its favorite holiday, Three Kings Day, and there was no holding back. Lots and lots of parties during the night and let me tell you, no one woke up the next day until like 5 in the afternoon. Those two days were really hard because everyone was inside their house partying and didn't really want to hear from the Mormon missionaries, including the members. But, the bulk of the Holidays are in the past. They are now celebrating "The Seven Days After 3 Kings" which in my opinion is just an absolutely riddiculously extended reason to party, but it is not as big of a deal.

an entire aisle of fat and mayo

Also, it rained for 2 and a half days straight! We did not see the sun for over 48 hours and there was a constant drizzle or down-pour. I have never seen that much water in my life. That also made missionary work a little bit frustrating. I love how anyone we visit tells us "God bless you! Don't get wet!" but never lets us come in and rest from the rain.

Ricardo is getting baptized on Sunday! We are very excited! He is very ready. We have definietly see him turn his life completely around. He has truly been converted by the spirit.

Mantecado!

Hermana Erekson, have really been learning how dependent we are on the members. We can not teach without their help. All of our investigators and even contacts are men except for one! It seems the Lord really wants us to focus on teaching the priesthood, but we have been struggling so much to teach any of them because we need a sister to accompany us. We have been trying to schedule and arrange like crazy to be able to get some lessons in. But flatly, we have not been able to find anyone to come with us. Missionary work can only progress as fast as the members allow, and we are really struggling with that. The Lord is really trying to get us to teach the priesthood-- or work with the ward more.

I had my first real conversation with a member the other day. Where I actually shared my feelings and told a story. It is hard to balance being a focused missionary with also being yourself. I haven't quite found how I
can do both. It is an amazing leap of progress that I actually enjoyed a casual conversation with someone since Puerto Ricans hardly take a breath between their words and are very dominant of the conversation. It is hard to squeeze in your two cents. Especially since my Spanish is a little weak in the chit-chatting areas. Most of my vocabularty pertains to the gospel, which is frustrating. But I am learning a TON everyday and I have seen drastic improvements.

Well, love you all tons and miss you!

Mom:

I am so amazed to hear about Uncle Mel's recovery! That was a big trip for him to make!
Wow. It sounds like most of our stake got cut to pieces. I wonder what the reasoning was behind that.
I am glad to hear that your lesson went well. f Jaime and Jessica were apart of it I am sure everyone had to have loved it.the gossip here is that supposedly Elder Bednar is coming to Our stake on the 24th. We know an apostle is coming, we are just not sure which one. All the clues point to Elder Bednar.  We will also be having a special mission conference with the East and West missions combined. According to Pres.Dewsnup we are not to associate with anyone from the West mission. We are supposed to "pretend they are not
there". I plan on talking to Hermana Miller though before or after the meeting. I got a letter from her and it sounds like she has a rough trainer.

Markie:

You are begining to sound like someone we know with your procrastination!

Hope you find someone cool to go with.I want to hear the song you wrote on the guitar too! I will just have to wait a year and a half, so don't you dare forget it between now and then. I wish you could come do a musical number in this ward. You would blow everyone away.

Well, I love you all tons and miss you!

Hermana Palmer

Tres Reyes

January 5, 2010

I just completed my first transfer and boy am I glad to have that behind me! Can I just say I have learned A LOT! I feel so much better about things now. I feel like I am contributing and completing my purpose as a missionary. Things are going to be ok.

I was able to listen to Grandpa's funeral last week. It really, really bolstered my spirits. I think there was a lot of mourning that needed to be done before I could progress. I didn't realize how much it was weighing me down until after the CD ended and I could feel a big weight lifted off my shoulder. I love my Grandparents. All of them have always been wonderful examples to me. Grandpa Richins' example has been particularly meaningful to me as I reflected at his eternal optimism. I decided that I am his Granddaughter, and I am going to look at my mission the same way he did. I am going to love it.

Dad, I have a story that you especially will appreciate. This week we decided that we needed to teach Ricardo about tithing. The thing about Ricardo is that he has very little. His house consists of 3 walls and ramada roof. He has nice things like a fridge, cupboards and a couch; but he is building his house in his spare time but the progress is slow. It is actually very exciting to teach Ricardo because we basically sit on a couch in the open air as the billions of chickens and dogs come in and out of his "house". Anyway Sister Erekson came expecting that this was going to be one commitment he would be hesitant to make. But as I was explaining to him what tithing is and how it is a law of faith and not a law of money he interupted me and said that he had already read about tithing in the Bible and had already set apart his money he just didn't know where to send it. He absolutely amazes me. He has taught me so much about sincerity and humility. He truly wants to come unto Christ. It has been just amazing to see how much he has progressed. I have seen every step. It is so visual.

On the contrary, we had a lesson with a less active member who was once very firm in her testimony. We finally discovered the source of the problem--tithing. She basically became lazy in paying her tithing and as a result her testimony eventually deteriorated and crumbled away. These two experiences made me think back to Chile and the struggles the members there had with tithing. Those who paid are still firm those who didn't dwindled. I can see now that tithing really is a trial of our faith and not finances. It is so critical in remaining firm in our faith.

Other interesting tidbits about the week. The Christmas season is over, but Tres Reyes is here and it's bigger and better. It, The thing about Puerto Ricans is that they celebrate all American Holidays, and all Latino Holidays. They are partying all the time! I swear the mail only comes every other day because of all the feriados. Three Kings is even more chaotic than Christmas. as the title suggests, celebrates the day that the 3 kings gave thier gifts to Christ. It is interesting all the ways Satan has come up with to take all the attention away from Christ's birth. Even most of the nativities here have more focus on the 3 kings than on Christ.

Arroz, Habichuelas, Pasteles, y Amarillos

The season for Pasteles is finally over!!!!!! Pasteles are a traditional for christmas in Puerto Rico. Let me just describe them to you. They are basically brown goop. There you have it. The members have been forcing us to eat them practically everyday this week. They are so proud, but I can hardly handle them anymore. The last one that I ate tasted EXACTLY like. Pumpkin bread soaked in oil and sprinkled with meat and raisins. Pasteles are so pasty that you think they will never make it down to your stomach. Let's just say I am glad that time of year is over! :D

Well, I love you all and hope everything is well! I love you so much!

Hermana Palmer

After Christmas

December 30, 2009

Well, this week was definitely interesting with the effects of Christmas. It was very nice talking with my family on Christmas Eve. I loved catching up on the news and just hearing everyone's voices. It is nice to talk in English. It is so much easier and more casual. I really enjoyed that. But, very hard waking up the next day and realizing I didn't have that to look forward to anymore.

This week we have been doing a lot of walking. We have a monthly allotment of miles each month and with all of the training meetings I have been having in San Juan we are coming up short at the end of the month. I think overall I have really enjoyed it. Street contacting is really not that bad. I feel so much more comfortable and we have taught more lessons and set more appointments because there were definitely alot more people out for the Christmas season. I have really enjoyed it, I much prefer those contacts to knocking doors and I have no complaints about the extra exercise. Although it can get pretty dang hot and sweaty right before it rains.

I had an interesting adventure in Sacrament meeting this week. As I was playing the intro to the sacrament hymn the chorister leaned over to me and whispered that she had never heard that song before. It was hysterical. An epic battle between the pianist and chorister. And NO ONE in the congration sang a word. It was interesting.

Gospel Principles also continues to be an interesting class. The recent converts who attend are packed with personality. We had a long debate about whether bacon was allowed in the Word of Wisdom and then whether Marijuna was really a harmful drug. I was grateful that we had already taught the word of wisdom to our investigator who was present. We didn't have to do too much repair work with him afterwards.

This week we actually talked to the guys who drive the Tito's Pawn Shop car. We caught them on their smoking break. They were very friendly and nice. One of them is an "inactive Muslim". When we told him we didn't know much about that religion he said "neither do I". That made me laugh. Anyways, now we are friends with Tito's Pawn Shop and we always wave at each other when we find them cruising around the streets.

We had an awesome family home evening with Ricardo again. The members are really liking him because they can see that he is sincerely interested. The Ortega Family prepared a really great lesson about the priesthood authority and baptism. Hermano Ortega is a strong priesthood member he teaches with authority. (It would have been the perfect lesson if it weren't for that little tangent about the three Nephites.) ;D

But, I am learning lots everyday. Mostly I learn how much I have to learn and how much I need to improve. It is overwhelming, but I can see little traces of progress everyday. It is amazing to see how necessary the gospel is in everyone's life. I wish I could make everyone understand that. But all I can do is try to be the best missionary I can.

I love you all and miss you!
Hermana Palmer

Family tidbits
So glad to hear about the wedding and Christmas. It sounds like Jessica and Porter had a good ole Animas style wedding. I like the way they do things. And I can't imagine Christmas with so many little boys. It must have been so strange. I hope Grandma's heater gets fixed soon. That sounds miserable.

I want you all to think of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding. The part where the aunt is telling everyone about the tumor on her neck. "Yes, inside the bump..was my twin." These are the kinds of stories I listen to everyday. They are so wierd. And every time I think of that movie. that is my life.

My P-day is on Tuesday next week because of Transfers. We'll see if anything in this area changes. I think Hermana Erekson and I will definitley stay, but the elders might change.

We had to drop an investigator yesterday. It was the first investigator that I cared about. We've dropped other ones before, but I barely knew them. It was really hard leaving her house because I knew that I will probably never see her again. She just wasn't willing or ready to progress. I hope some other missionaries can find her in the future when she is more ready, but I really don't know.

I hope Tanya is doing well. I enjoy hearing from her.  I like hearing from other missionaries. They have stories that I understand and some of them make me laugh so hard. Jace, is particularly funny. He says that some times when they knock doors people yell "If it's about religion I don't want to know about it." (in an English accent) He says they are always skeptical when they say, "Actually, it's about happiness!"

Well, I love you all and hope to hear from you next week!

Morgan