Transfers

February 16, 2010

Well the big news of the week is that I have been transferred. I will be leaving tomorrow to work in Fajardo. My new companion will be Hermana Barnhurst, who thankfully I have met at a few of the meetings. Hermana Erekson will be staying here in Carolina, probably until the end of her mission in May.

Jeisa and Jose

I am very nervous about leaving. I feel like there is so much more to be done here in Carolina and I am sad that I will not be a part of it. It will be hard to say good-bye to many of the members, but I know that I will continue to learn and have good experiences in Fajardo. Looking back on Carolina, I am proud of the work I have done here. Although, I am sure many other missionaries could have done a better job, I can honestly say that I did the very best I knew how. Ricardo is doing so well. He passed the sacrament last week and went to some teaching appointments with both us, and the elders. We are teaching his son who is at least showing curiosity if not interest. I think that he will do well.

Last night I visited Jeisa's house to say goodbye. She was a menos activo who Hermana Erekson and I re-activated. She is so awesome. She fed us dinner and we shared a message with her and her husband, Jose. She thanked both of us for helping her get back to church and expressed her excitement for the new primary class she has been assigned. She has an awesome testimony, she is a returned missionary, but after moving to a new ward she just needed a little help getting comfortable in a new setting. It is incredible to think I actually made a difference for someone.

I am sad that I will not be here to see Carmen Acosta come back to church. She is another menos activo who has been progressing well, a real power-house of the ward before she went in-active. She is at a pivotal point and ultimately it is now her choice whether she will come back or not. I wish I could be here to see how that all unfolds.

President also gave us special permission to teach an investigator who lives outside of our area this past week. She doesn't not feel comfortable letting men, the elders, into her home. Her name is Mona and she is incredible!!! She is actually an older woman from Denmark and speaks English better than Spanish. I completely admire that woman. She has had a lot of experience with traveling the world and she is extremely intelligent. She has a lot of really, really good questions. Hermana Erekson actually began teaching her a year ago at the start of her mission and now has the chance to teach her again. We went to meet with her and we talked about some of her questions. I am amazed at how well she understands the doctrines. That is quite rare. Most of the questions were too hard to answer on the spot, but we have studied them out this past week and I have learned SO MUCH! The great thing about Mona is that she really wants to understand the basic doctrines. Her questions are relevant and I have come to understand more of the beautiful simplicity and importance of the basic ordinances of the gospel. I am devastated that I will not have the opportunity to teach her anymore, but so grateful for the brief experience I had with such and admirable woman.

Tonight is Hermana Carolina's birthday. She is probably the best friend I have in the ward. We have a Family Home Evening planned with her family and Ricardo tonight to celebrate. She doesn't even know that we know it is her birthday! This time we are bringing a piñata! I am so excited. She has really been such a friend and support to both Hermana Erekson and I. We spent many P-days in her home and we just love her cute little family!

Also this week, Hermana and I found the greatest little fruit stand that has the most amazing mangos for cheap! Oh, it is such a find! There is nothing more delicious than an authentic mango. Seriously, just wipe that silly little image of a store bought mango out of your mind. This does not even compare!!!!

 Familia Ferrer

The elders are also doing well. This Sunday they stayed after church to watch the Testaments with an investigator and eat popcorn in celebration of Valentines Day. I guess, The Testaments is the best chick-flick available on the mission--although I would vote for Legacy.

I learned some neat Puerto Rican cooking tricks. Cooking in Puerto Rico has been a bit of a struggle because they do not sell Green Enchilada sauce. That eliminates most of the recipes I know!! But Hermana Garcia taught me I can chop up a nice pumpkin and put it in my rice for some added flavor and nutrition. Hermana Carolina also taught us how to make papusas or home-made corn tortillas (she is from Honduras). They were delicious at her house, but not quite as successful when we made them on our own.

Oh, we knocked doors with Hermana Mercedes this week. Mercedes is a crazy recent convert. She is one of the sweetest people I know, but also one of the most dysfunctional. It was so funny to go with her! She shouts "Buenos Tardes!" with the most nasally Puerto Rican accent possible and she always gave us the funniest introduction. At every house when someone came out she would say "Buenos Tardes. I am Mercedes Vazquez. These two are missionaries, they are not from here. They are from another country, but they are learning Spanish to share the gospel. We are going from house to house sharing the word of God. These two have something to say, will you listen to them?" It was such a funny little speech, but the people were so much more willing to listen to us. It was amazing! We were so grateful for Mercede's little magic touch!

I am very nervous to go to Fajardo, and extremely apprehensive of that whole awkward phase of getting to know new companion. It is hard to go from complete strangers to 24/7 buddies in a matter of seconds. I am sure it will be exciting and educational. Love you all and hope you are doing well!

Hermana Palmer