A milestone week

 Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, it seems like a lot has been happening at home. I am glad to be kept up to date. Wow! Anne put in her papers! I am amazed! That is so great. I didn't know that she was even thinking about it. I am so proud of Shannon King! It sounds like he was one of the great missionaries. There are good missionaries and there are great missionaries. I really admire the great ones although they are fewer. I hope that I can become a great missionary. I know that I am definitely not there yet.

Well, this week I hit two milestones that I never thought would come. 1) I now officially like flan. It is so good! I never thought I would come to that point. And 2) I successfully used the past subjunctive tense this week. HOORAY!!!! I NEVER, NEVER thought I would see the day!

Also, can I once again re-iterate that I hate cockroaches. Yesterday was a really hard day. One of those days that I just wanted to zombie-walk back to my apartment. Hit the pillow and put that day in the past. Well, apparently I wasn't the only one who wanted to crawl into bed. When I walked into my room there was a big fattie cockroach just chillin' on my pillow! Gross. Threw the pillow off the bed (screaming of course) and Sister Barnhurst sprayed it to its death. Ugh. Man, that cockroach really threw off my relaxing plans for the evening.

Mom. You asked how I keep cool here. Let me tell you I have developed quite the process. I come in from my morning exercise streaming sweat. I turn on the fan in my bedroom on high and open all the window so that it cools while I take a cold shower. Change back into my cooler shorts and light T-shirt. I return to the room plop myself in from of the fan on HIGH and blow-dry my hair (I haven't given that up yet. I am really stubbornly clinging to that one). Afterwards I was my face again to remove the sweat. Put on the moisturizing sunscreen and sit in front of the fan once again until that dries. I wear men's deodorant because it lasts a lot longer. Put my make-up on in front of the fan. Once I am done there, I move the fan into the front room by the window to bring in fresh air. Change into proselyte clothes. And do my studies in front of the fan to avoid perspiring while reading the scriptures. Really it makes me laugh how much time I spend in front of the fan in the morning.

This week the Lord has taught me a lot about the trials of life. Quite honestly, I have lived an easy life. I have a family who loves me, a father who provides, the guidance of the gospel. I have a lot to be grateful for. Sister Barnhurst and I got "dumped on" a lot this week. Getting "dumped on' is quite common in missionary work. It seemed that at nearly all of our appointments (both people we knew and complete strangers) we would come in; sit down, and they would spill all of their life's problems on us. I learned a lot this week. Marriage problems, financial crisis, abandonment, abuse. Everything. Honestly it makes me sad that I can't really help these people with their temporal problems. I can offer them the gospel, but it is even more devastating when they refuse to accept. I can see how happy they could be if only they would keep the commandments of God. But they cannot see that. I wish they could know what they are missing out on.

Teaching with Neysha Lespin

I love our investigators. Especially Ivelisse. She is certainly comparable to Maria Lydia. She has the biggest heart and just gives and gives. But she honestly has NOTHING. No money, no house, sometimes not even food, but she is determined to be strong. She really has sacrificed so much to come to church. To teach her grand-children the little bits that she has learned. She wants so badly to be baptized. I hope that in the future I can see her just as strong as Maria Lydia is now. Serving a couple mission. Both Ivelisse and Maria Lydia are angels in disguise.

On the other hand we have Luis. Who was also one of our progressing investigators. He was interesting to teach he accepted everything so openly, never questioned. Every opportunity to learn and attend church was just thrown into his lap. I was always nervous because he never questioned, never thought for himself. He never had to make a sacrifice. Now when Satan has come tempting he has flatly fallen away. I just can't help but think of the analogy of the tree that is grown in the shady and fertile garden. Water and sunlight are abundant and easy. Its roots remain shallow and weak. When the storm comes and the wind beats it will not survive, not having deep roots or strong timber to withstand the opposition. That is exactly Luis' situation. Unlike Ivelisse and Jose, he never learned to struggle and withstand. When hard times came he fell over flat.

Well, I think I have mostly rambled and soap-boxed today. I love you all so much and hope that you are digging roots deep in the gospel. Unfortunately, our testimonies grow by sacrifice. It is hard, but necessary.

Hermana Palmer
PS. Here is my Fajardo address for those who do not have it;
Urb. Santa Isidra Apartments
D-9 Calle 5 Apt 9
Fajardo, PR 00758

PSS Pday is Tuesday nest week (transfers)

PSSS Shout out to the roommates!!