Hello from Juncos

July 19, 2010

Dear Family                                                               July 19, 2010

Much has happened since I last wrote.  For one thing, Hermana Castillo and I were emergency transferred to a new area. Things have been absolutely crazy. When we got home one night, there was a man in the neighborhood who was drunker than drunk.   He had basically passed out in front of our apartment.  Naturally we were frightened, so we called President Alvarado.  I was quite impressed with how quickly matters were resolved.  He sent the elders to come and make sure we were ok and they arrived very quickly.  We were also instructed to pack our bags and we got to stay the night in the home of the mission President's first counselor, President Zayas.   It was great to stay the night with their family.  They were more than hospitable and the beds were fantastic.  I haven't touched a bed so soft in my entire mission. The next night we were told to pack all of our possessions and switch apartments and areas with the Zone Leaders.  Everything was very quick and we hardly had time to process all of the changes.  At 8:30 Saturday night we had no idea where we would be sleeping and by 9:30 we were moved into the Juncos apartment.  We will have to move again however in a few weeks to a new apartment that is closer to the chapel.

Pday is Monday this week for whatever reason so I won't be writing again until next Wednesday.  The reason I did not write last week.  When I got to the library last week I had just enough time to read my emails before President Zayas called telling me that we needed to  go immediately to look at a house that he was thinking about renting for us.  We headed on over there to arrive before the owner closed a deal with another client, thinking that we would be able to return and finish email later.  However, on our way over there we got a flat tire.  (By the way, on my first official night in Juncos I ripped off half of the front bumper.  To get to our apartment we have to back in slowly  down a steep hill of the main highway, so we got a flat tire on the spare car that the office had lent us to replace the one I had already damaged)  I have never changed a tire in my life and I know nothing about that process.  Seriously, it was lucky I actually know where to find the spare tire. At home my tactic would have been to stand on the side of the road and look cute and helpless until someone pulled over to help.  But disguised as a frumpy missionary   I hardly thought that would be effective. Fortunately Hermana Castillo knew more than I and we were able to find the jack, lift the car, and remove most of the bolts before someone finally pulled over to help us.  It was really, really hot and we were both streaming sweat by the time we got on the road again.  We spent the rest of the Pday in Pepboys.

I am happy with the change. We are still in the same ward but the other half. There are a lot more families in this half of the ward and a lot more people in Juncos. But  it is great because we can still talk to the members we know in church and when they come out to teach with us.  Honestly I think this switch is a direct answer to prayer.  Hermana Castillo and I are able to start all over in a new area, new people, new attitude and the elders have been more than helpful. Honestly I think that Elder Walker and Johnson are my new missionary heroes,  They have absolutely bent over backwards to help us have success in our area and to help us feel safe. They have left their area in excellent condition with many investigators and some of the best maps I have ever seen.  I really admire them for their work ethic, their kindness, and their devotion to the gospel.  Seriously, there are bad elders, there are good elders, and then there are some that absolutely blow me away. Elder Walker and Johnson amaze me.  

Elder Mason, Johnson, Walker, Snow, with Sister Castillo and I

However, they are still elders.  I am so grateful that by sheer coincidence they had cleaning checks the day before we moved in because I can't imagine what it would have been like otherwise.  At first glance it looked clean, but when I opened the microwave I swear I could have made an entire meal with all of the crumbs I found inside.  Also there is a strange scent which I cannot for the life of me locate.  I think I have to assume that it is just the smell of boy which has permeated the walls of the apartment.  There are also very strange things scattered through out the house that would not be found in the sister;s house.  Spiderman posters, basketball hoops, and names carved into all of the furniture.   

My first impressions of Juncos is that although  it is still a smaller town, it is much bigger that San Lorenzo.  There are people to talk to finally!  And there are actually maps and street signs.   I am so grateful!!!  One thing that I think is funny about Juncos is the street lights for intersections never work.  I think I have seen them working 3 times in the entire week I have been here.

Right now it is raining super, super hard.  All of the highways are completely flooded with inches of rain and all of the streets have been converted into rivers.  I don't know if we will be able to leave Hermana Ilia's house.  We might have to wait until this afternoon because it is showing now sign of stopping.  It has been pouring and thundering since 8:00 this morning.

Well, things are going much better in my new area.  I am still learning a lot.  I will not deny that the mission is hard.  It has been stressful with all of the quick changes, but I think it will be good.  

A tarantula got into our house.  Sister Castillo killed it!

 We had interviews with President Alvarado this week and I think it is funny that he is already giving me the same advice President Dewsnup gave me.  "You need to loosen up!"  It is really really hard for me to relax.  Especially after having entered the Zone Leader's old area.  They are top notch missionaries and I want nothing more to be a good missionary like they are.  But, I need to be patient with myself and my situation.   The mission is either going to push me over the edge or finally soften me into a more relaxed person.  Please pray for me.  

I love you all and want you to know that I am doing well and much happier in Juncos.  Hope all is going well for Markie in BYU!

Love Hermana Palmer