Love at home

April 17, 2010
I am relieved to here the good news at home. Things look a bit more manageable than they did last week. I am especially grateful for the personal attention of Dr. Burrell. I have full confidence in him and I am sure he is a blessing sent directly from God. I was also grateful for the update from President Dewsnup. I was mainly concerned because I had absolutely no idea what a blood clot really means as far as long-term damage or risk. He was able to very eloquently explain everything to me using his sophisticated lawyer vocabulary. That at least made me laugh. My previous 2 companions were majoring in nursing and I was able to rely on their knowledge when Grandpa died and Mel was in the hospital. It is a bit scarier not knowing what anything means. (Speaking of what is a thyroid?)

As far as events this week there wasn't too much out of the ordinary. We had a mission activity last P-day and we were all invited to come and have a barbeque and play sports together. it really wasn't my style, but it was a nice activity. As a sister I feel pretty isolated from most of my peers. I am not sure how to interact with elders. I can't, nor desire to really flirt with them and talking about missionary work is nice but really we all need a little mental break from that on Pdays. Anyway, I casually watched the others play volleyball from my comfy lawn chair and chit-chatted with some of the sisters. I still hate volleyball and after playing it in the MTC, my determination to avoid it has only increased.

We also helped a member, Abigail, paint her house. She is planning to move to the states at the end of this month. (A huge difficulty for Puerto Rico. It seems that so many of the members are moving to the States and our little branch is shrinking instead of growing) It was an interesting experience to be in her home. It was anything but peaceful. Her son is involved in drugs and was absolutely outraged at the presence of missionaries. Her was extremely vocal that he did not want to here anything about "la palabra de Dios" and insisted he did not want us in his house. I very quietly tried to blend in with the wall that I was painting. There was a lot of bickering going on and I am sure that if Dad were there he would be singing "Love at Home" in his sweet melodic voice. I am soo grateful for the home that I grew up in. That my parents were firm in the discipline and instilling the standards of the gospel in each of us. I have a better idea of how I would like my future home to be.

This week has been a bit frustrating as far as the mission work goes. The district president called this week to clear up what he thought was surely an error on the branch's record. We have only had one baptism in January, February, and March? Yes. There is really nothing else to say. I know that I have been doing the very best I know how, but it seems we have been 'skunked" again. last night we had a very disappointing appointment. Hilda is not progressing. She is not reading, She is not praying. And she seems only find more and more reasons to doubt the veracity of this church. Not that I think doubts are bad. Doubts are critical to the progress of investigators. The part that makes me sad is that she will not take her doubts to the Lord. She does not ask. She does not pray. I felt some of the most intense sorrow I have ever felt as I looked into her eyes, knowing how blinded she is. How little she can see or understand about the beauty of the gospel and Book of Mormon. And knowing that there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. It rests all at her feet, but it is now up to her to accept it. She needs to read and she needs to pray.

Ivelisse and Jose, however, are doing splendidly. They love to have us over and I love being there. So we are helping them start FHE and they have started praying as a family each night. As I read in Alma 26 this morning I could not help but think of them. As Ammon and his brethren rejoice in the souls which they have helped bring to Christ they rejoice in that they are freed from the bonds of hell and are encircled about in the matchless bounds of his love. I too rejoice that Ivelisse and Jose know of the truth and I cannot wait for the day that they will be able to be baptized and truly begin their conversion from the winds of the world to the protection in Christ. They will no longer be tossed in the winds where they enemy will have them go. That is so beautiful to me.
I love you all and I have to go!
Hermana Palmer