I finally got your letters!!!

Olivia Gardner, Sarah Toller, Markie Palmer, Arizona Jr. Miss 2010

March 3, 2010
Oh my heavens, its sounds like you are all having a blast back home. Congrats Markie on AJM! It sounds like you had a lot of fun! Your two appearances on the DVD are so fitting! I am so glad you are buying the DVD. By the way, tell Sarah congratulations too! She is so great. She has always been one of my favorites!

Markie, Morgan, Olivia and Sarah, attending Morgan's Arizona Jr. Miss 2007

Also, congratulations on getting accepted to BYU for fall! Enjoy summer term! It is so fun! You should take easy classes like Science 100 with Skinner or Biology with Robinson. Those would be a breeze. Also, do me a favor and don't take Book of Mormon part 2 yet. I haven't taken it. We can take it together when we get back!

I can't believe Courtney is going to the Baltic area. Wow, that will be a huge culture shock! She is going to love it.

Keep the dresses just sew on a nice trim. Joanns has a great variety, you might be suprised. Tack on a nice zebra trim of something, I don't know.

Wow, I have heard only bits and peices about the earthquake in Chile. I was worried, but didn't realize the effects spread so far. I am glad that Daniela is ok. do you know anything about Marisol?

Well, the mission is going quite well. This part week has been SOOOOO hot. Even more than normal. I stand in any kind of shade I can find, the shadow of a light pole, a single palm frond, whatever I can find. Last night, I forgot to move the fan back into the bedroom before I went to bed. We get to use the AC for an hour, but it definitely does not last through the night. I woke up at about 2 in the morning coated in sweat. I was like a pastry glased with butter. It was disgusting. By the time I moved the fan back into the room and turned it on I was streaming sweat-- not dripping--streaming.

I have been focusing this week on not striving for perfection. I just need to relax. I feel like there are always so many things going through my head. There are so many things we are asked to do: testify, ask for referals, listen to the spirit, talk to everyone, look professional, don't be late to anything, contact investigators daily, teach clearly and simplly, listen to your investigators, guide the lesson, call appointments in advance... the list is literally endless. And I finally realized I can't do it all. My leaders may expect me to do all of these things, but the only thing that the Lord asks is that I do my best. I definitely fell like a beginner on my mission. I mess-up alot. But, my intentions are good and every day I am improving.

My companion is fun. She does not worry about those things. This week we went on a fun adventure. Since we live about three minutes away from the beach, we decided to get up early and watch the sunrise. I took my little bowl of oatmeat and we drove our car out to the Marina and enjoyed the view. It was so beautiful. The sun was so red and it was fun to just watch the little boats cruising about in the ocean. I really enjoyed doing something a little different.

Also, this week for service we helped a single mom in the ward do her visiting teaching. She felt overwhelmed because most people on her list are in-actives she doesn't know and she did not want to go by herself. I learned a little bit about visiting teaching in Puerto Rico. Most people mail the relief society lesson to their visiting teachee's or shove the paper under the door even to the active members that they know. Seriously? Why bother? The purpose of visiting teaching is not the warm-fuzzy message printed in the Ensign. It is the friendshipping adn fellowshipping. I am convinced that if everyone member did their visiting teaching, built those friendships, found out their visiting teachee's needs there would not be half the inactivity in the ward. Visiting teaching is one of the most critical callings in the ward!!! I know I must repent, I was not the best visitng teacher when I was at BYU, but I am making the commitment to change now. People, do your visiting and home teaching!

Well, I have to go. We are headed to Old San Juan this afternoon! I love you all. I love this gospel and the Plan that the Lord has for each of us.

Hermana Palmer