I feel like checking email every week is always risky. You never know what the news is going to be. This week: bad news. Dad, I am really worried about you, but very grateful that you were able to be treated so quickly. What a fun ambulance ride all the way from Wilcox to Mesa. (I am glad you are in the states. In Puerto Rico no one pulls over for ambulances. They get stuck in traffic just like everybody else) What exactly does this mean in the future? How common is this? What do I need to know.
I will trust that you will keep me updated and President Dewsnup too if necessary.
I am glad that you at least got to enjoy conference even admist all the chaos. I agree with Granny. It was very peaceful and uplifting this year. It is strange watching conference as a missionary. it doesn't start until 12 here so we spent the morning working, teaching, and contacting as usual. We had a very strange and stressful member-present lesson just before the Saturday morning so it was difficult to instaneously switch gears from the craziness of missionary work to the tranquility of conference. Gratefully, our branch had a little room with a seperate TV for English speakers. There were 7 missionaries and two members in the primary room to watch conference. In the chapel they showed the conference in Spanish. Ivelisse, Jose and Hilda were all able to attend and absolutely loved it! I was so grateful. Satan really put up a big fight to prevent them from coming and it really took all of my emotional strength and determination to get them there! Hilda's rides failed 3 times for various reasons and she called several times insisting that she was too much of a burden for the members to give her a ride and she didn't want to come to conference. She also insisted that she stop taking the lessons and working to baptism because she didn't want to be a burden. (That is the most pathetic reason to stop progressing, by the way) We worked so hard to keep calling her, encouraging her, arranging alternate rides, and refusing to let her tell us no. Finally, she was able to come the last session.
President Monson's final talk really impacted her. Since hearing his words she has really taken things more seriously. She is faithful reading and searching the Book of Mormon and has realized that every member has oppostion. Hers is getting rides to church. She spoke with us last night about how she needs to overcome her obstacle just like everyone else in the ward. It was so difficult to get her there. I think Satan knew what a difference it would make.
Other tid-bits of information. I participated in mission car checks this week. My knowledge of automobiles vastly expanded, although is still extremely limited. The senior missionary, Elder Daniels, taught me how to check tire pressure, tire treads, windsheild fluid, radiator coolant, power-steering fluid, and engine oil. Wow. How impressive is that? I know the Cranes and Allens are just rolling their eyes. Maybe Devaun at least will be proud of me. He was my mechanic at BYU.
Also this week Ivelisse cooked for us twice. She is a very, very good cook, but she seems to have every intent to make us both morbidly obese. On Monday she served us rice and pork. My eyes almost popped out of my head when I saw her pull out the plates heaping with food. Serioiusly there were about 3 cups of rice on each and 2 slabs of pork the same size as the plate. it was delicious. Ivelisse uses more spices than most Puerto Ricans and her food is so full of good flavor. nevertheless, I knew it would be a struggle to eat all of it. Then she came back with 2 big gulps of Pepsi and a large banana for us each. Miraculously I was able to eat it all, the whole time she kept beggin us to eat seconds and insisting that we must not like her food if we wouldn't eat more. Ok, but that isn't all. After I finally finished. She came back with two fried pizza calzones and 15 cubed inches of flan for each of us. Once again, I will emphasize that she is a skilled cook, but I could not eat any more. I got through one calzone and then begged her to let me take the rest '"to go". Tuesday the routine was similar. She called us in the afternoon to tell us she cooked us dinner and we needed to come eat it with them. A bowl of sancocho (potatoe, chicken and rice soup) twice the size of my face. Four fried arepas and a pina colada to top it all off. If any of you were wondering why missionaries gain weight and get so heavy--now you know.
We helped them conduct their first FHE on Monday. They have 3 wild and energetic daughters/grandchildren. It was a blast to share with them. We kept the game/lesson short so that we wouldn't have to struggle too long with them. All considered it went rather well. They at least loved singing and the game and are all looking forward to doing it again on Monday. I think we will focus on prayer. I helped the oldest say her first prayer on Monday night and it was so sweet. We want to Teach Ivelisse and Jose and Betzaida how they can teach their girls to pray. It will be a great growth experience for all of them.
Time is out! But I love you and miss you all so much! Family, take care of yourselves and each other! I love you.
Hermana Palmer
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