President Zayas picked it out for us and has helped us out a lot, because believe me, we have had problems with that apartment. Everything looked good at first. In fact, elders have lived there before a long time ago (before Juncos and Las Piedras combined), so we knew that it had worked in the past. We went and checked out the house with the couple missionaries The Pietz who are now in charge of the mission apartments. It was fun because I had to be the translator and helped negotiate the water and electricity billings. But we noticed that there were a few very large cockroaches lurking in various locations. Sister Pietz noticed and brought it up to Elder Pietz. I loved the different reactions.
"Honey, the sisters can't live here until they fumigate".
"What? Did you see one tiny spider?"
(There was four inch long cockroach crawling right behind his head on the wall right at that very moment and several scuttling by on the floor).
Luckily President Zayas offered to fumigate and clean the apartment thoroughly before we move in. But it was not that easy. We got a worried phone call from President Zayas later in that day:
"Hermana Palmer, How afraid are you of bugs?"
"I hate bugs! ""
"We have a problem. Hermana, I have never seen so many cockroaches in one place in my entire life. I think we could make a soup of all of the cockraoches in your house and feed all of Puerto Rico. I need you and Sister Castillo to come and see for yourself right now."
We drove over to the apartment, and President Zayas was right. We had a problem. Apparently there is a huge nest behind the all of the kitchen cabinents and when we walked in the floor was littered with cockroach carcasses. (In the pictures I attached you can only see the big ones). President Zayas has really been attentive to us and has helped us so much with that apartment. He has already fumigated it twice. Put in caulking in all of the cabinents to seal off the nests, done a thorough cleaning with Clorox, and He is going to fumigate it one more time today and leave plenty of poisons. I trust President Zayas and I know that he has exhausted all of his efforts to make sure we are comfortable and happy. However, I know that there will still be a few critters lingering around when we move in on Friday. The only question is how many? Any extra prayers would be appreciated. It is certainly tue that the mission teaches us exactly where our weaknesses are. I feel like in the past 12 weeks God has done a thorough sweep to make sure he hit each and every one of my weaknesses. But despite all of the insect woes I am happy. I love President Zayas and I am grateful for the wonderful care President Alvarado has given us.
Other apartment blues. Due to the Heavy rains and flash floodings we went an entire week (Sunday to Sunday) with out running water. Luckily we have a cistern and we had enough water to shower and bathe and wash the dishes and whatever, but definitely made me grateful for modern conveniences. Each day as a took a bucket bath I thought about all the experiences dad has shared with me about Africa. I know they would be so happy to even have water to shower with. How often do we take for granted that we can just lift a lever and have water pour out of our kitchen sink? It was a good experience for me. Although I would be fine it didn't happen again for a few more months.
As for actual missionary work. We have been working closely with an investigator that the elders found before we got to Juncos. Lucy and her two sons. They are so incredible. Lucy has given up so much and worked so hard to reach her baptism date that was set for last Saturday. The Elders had told us that she was married to her husband, but unfortunately it was not so. I felt like I totally relieved the experience I had with Ivelisse and Jose. Having to look into her eyes and tell her that she could not be baptized, to see the shear devastation in her eyes was tormenting. Again. Just like with Ivelisse and Jose. She has taken it very hard. She is truly saddened. We cried with her for a good bit of time and have been working so hard to build up optimism again. She was left depressed. But we have helped her to set a new date for September and Bishop even promised to talk with her and her husband this Saturday. These past two weeks we have finally gained the trust of the bishopric and boy what a difference it has made. (I don't know if I expressed frustrations earlier, but they were making things difficult for us to say the least)
Lucy is amazing and I hope things work out sooner than later.
Hopefully things will go a bit smoother this next week and things will settle down, but I am not going to jinx anything.
I know this is the true gospel. I understand and believe completely in the doctrine of Christ. That through fatih, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end I can become clean and worthy to live with God again. I know that God hears and answers prayers and I know that the priesthood is the power of God on the earth.
Love you all
Hermana Palmer
Shout out to the roommates!!!!!!!
Thanks for writing me you guys! It means so much to me.
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