Juncos

Christina's Baptism

Well, we had Christina's baptism yesterday.  It went really well. She is going to do so well within the church.  She really wants to work and change the ward.  I have really liked teaching Christina because it is more like teaching a friend than anything.  We are the same age and all get a long very well.  Christina is just so excited about the gospel.  She gave her Book of Mormon away to some one she met in her class yesterday and we are going to hopefully start teaching the friend.  I really admire the passion she has for the gospel.  She has been looking for it for years and is finally able to share her knowledge with everyone else.  She is just going to be so powerful.  I think my favorite part of her baptism was that as she was getting changed when asked me if she should take her belly button ring for the ordinance.  I said, “yes, that would be good” and she took it out and threw it straight into the trash.  Way to go Christina!  She is so fun and spunky.

On Friday we had a really great FHE with the Familia Anderson.  I love that family because they have 3 daughters who are all drama, drama, drama.  They love sparkles and Hannah Montana and they all love to talk at the same time.  Hermano Anderson reminds me of Dad, suffocating in a world of all girls.  Anyway, we invited Christina over and did an FHE with their family.  We played Pit in the 10 commandments version I invented and it was an absolute hit!!  They loved it!   We got so loud and into it I am sure all the neighbors were wondering what was going on. 

We have also started working with a really fun less active couple, the Iannones.  They are so loving and generous to us.  They are and older couple and both are from New York.  Typical New Yorkers.  The wife Hilda is Puerto Rican and is just the sweetest, kindest person.  The husband John doesn’t speak much Spanish and loves talking to us in English. Typical New Yorker he calls his wife “Babe” 100%  of the time.  ;) He used to be a comedian and is absolutely hysterical.  He know a ton about New York and I would absolutely LOVE to tour there with him one day.  He tells us about all the great Jewish and Italian pastry shops.  Knows all the right people to buy good Broadway tickets and supposedly has met all the great ones including Frank Sinatra, Neil Diamond and others.  He is a fascinating man and not your typical Mormon.  He was telling me of his conversion story and how he used to be in the Mafia when he was a teenager.  He was young and wasn’t too far involved, but man I learned a lot from his stories.  I felt pretty naive  asking about how the Mafia works and how you get in, but man it was so interesting.  I think New York Puerto Ricans are my favorites.  The Branch President in Fajardo and his wife were also from the Bronx and were some of my favorites.

Hilda and John Iannone

When we got to the Iannone’s for the appointment we had Sister Krout and I were completely taken aback.  We walked in and the table was beautifully set.  Oh my goodness they had made the best food ever.  American style roast meat and potatoes, a leafy and lush salad and sour dough bread!!!!  It wasn’t rice and beans and it was so delicious!  Oh, I love anything that isn’t rice and beans.

I am so much happier to be working with less actives. I just feel so much more peace of conscious focusing on those precious lost sheep.  It was something I had wanted to focus on all of my mission and it is so gratifying.  I love this gospel and although I am definitely far from perfect, I love being a missionary.  I just hope and pray the Lord can help me become what he wants of me.

Hermana Palmer