Biking Babes

October 19, 2010
This will be my last week with Hermana Krout.  I am so sad and really trying to enjoy every last minute I get with her.  It is weird being with a missionary who is ending.  She keeps telling me that when she goes home she is going to watch North and South, just to torture me.  She is nervous and excited to go home.  She can't wait to see her family.

This week as been pretty good as far a missionary work.  We had our interviews with President and they went pretty well.  We got to talk a lot about the needs of our area--which I definitely felt like I needed guidance.  He said we should really focus on helping the youth stay strong.  I totally agree, especially when I think back to the huge influence my leaders and President Ostler have had on my life.  That is such a critical time.  We were given permission to take young women out to teach with us.  Mostly we just want to spend some good TLC time with them to get to know their life and their needs.  I am really excited.  All the young women here are adorable and they are just thrilled that they can come out with us too.

Christina's boyfriend is in town is in town, so obviously we haven't seen too much of her.  Sister Krout is totally offended, but really it is just a part of life.  It doesn't bother me at all. We've talked to her on the phone a few times and she is just giddy.  It is funny to listen to her. She can't focus and she is always giggling. Oh, I have not been around that for so long.  But fortunately, we will be able to meet him tomorrow if all goes well.
We also got bikes this past week.  Don't worry, we still have the car, but do to the increaseingly limited number of miles available, we needed another form of transportation.    It has been a big ordeal.  The bikes are of course very old and worn.  We had to buy new seats because Oh my goodness they were uncomfortable and one was extremely wobbly.  We had to install those seats with the limited tools we own.  Two random screw drivers and a small set of pliers. We also had to invest in helmets and an air pump.  (Family I know you never thought you would see the day).  Can I just say it is HARD to ride in a skirt. Can't wear a skirt too short, obviously. Too long and it will get caught in the wheel.  Not too fast or your skirt will flap in the wind.  Oh, it is difficult.  I have found that to get on and off I have to tilt the bike and get it low to the ground.   It works much better that way.  We did our first trial run in our neighborhood at night.  We thought we would have more privacy.  It was definitely a good idea.  Our neighbors love to tease us and the elders just had a hoot when we pulled up to church on our new sweet rides.  But I like it.  Sister Krout and I just play it up and say that anyone who comments about our wheels or whistles at us is our very own Paparazzi.  

We've been so blessed this last week and seen some good progress with some of our less-active members.  I have never been so busy in all of my mission.  And I have never had so much fun. 
Well, I've got to go.  I love you all and pray for you.

Hermana Palmer

Morgan's week of firsts

October 13, 2010

Oct 13, 2010 

Dear Family,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARKIE!!!!!!!!  I am putting together a package, but it will get there a bit late.  But have a happy 18! 

I am relieved to hear that Dad is finally back in the States and with Mom.  I can feel when we are all separated. Markie, glad to hear everything is going well with you.  I loved you story of meeting Kiersten in the creamery.  I will totally go Spring/Summer semester if you are there.  But I do want to tour a bit of Peru.

This email has to be shorter because 1) this computer is absurdly slow and 2) we are going bowling with the elders today.  By the way, Frisbee was really fun and I feel like I get along quite well with the elders now. 

This week was a strange.  I had some of the weirdest things happen to me.  Just odd little things. We called it my milestone week. 

 Sister Krout made a list for me:

 This last week was Sister Palmers milestone week. Every day we tried to find something that she had never done before or was just really random that would only happen to her. 

On Monday our district leaders showed us how to take real live lizards and wear them as earrings. It was pretty funny. She had never touched a lizard before let alone wear one as an earring.

On Tuesday She killed a cockroach without screaming!!!

Wednesday she played soccer which she had never played in her life, she also scored a goal.

Elder Visker, Roggeman, Mason, Snow, Hickens, Radmal, Sister Turaga and Palmer

Friday she was pinched in the bum by a 5 year old autistic boy named Luis. His older brothers told him to do it so he did.

Saturday we did 80 contacts in one day in one place

Sunday we reached foundation by the skin of our teeth. We couldn’t find anyone to teach a lesson so we had to do a phone lesson with Christina as a last resort.

Monday was a land mark week because she had gone a week without crying. 

 I think that analysis is pretty funny and accurate.  Don’t be concerned at the whole crying part.  It is actually rather funny.  I am just genetically cursed because my mom cries often, and my Dad when he does cry cannot stop.  I unfortunately am the fatal combination of them both.  Oh it makes me laugh.

Anyway, I have got to go.

I am loving my last weeks with Sister Krout.  Pray that I get a good companion next transfer. ; )

Hermana Palmer

Conference

October 8, 2010

Conference was amazing.  Probably one of the best I have ever experienced.  Before conference I wrote down a list of questions and thoughts to reflect on and conference really addressed those issues.  I did feel that I was being chastised and scolded, but I loved it.  I just kept thinking, "Hit me again!  I am learning so much!"
I love how much conference talked about faith and obedience.  So important and yet at times so difficult.  I think me favorite talks were probably Elder Holland's, which really made me reflect on and appreciate the incredible love and support of my family!  And Elder Christofferson about consecrated effort.  That one really hit home for me and I can't wait to read it in the Liahona.  Oh, and President Uchtdorf's talk fit me to a tee.  During the talk Hermana Krout leaned over to me and whispered, "This one's for you Hermana Palmer."
I really, really enjoyed every session.
Between sessions I went to eat a chili's with my zone.  It was very enjoyable.  I ordered a nice big salad.  I haven't eaten a real salad in such a long time.  I just want "girl food"  in this world of meat and fried meat.  It is interesting being with elders.  I am really trying to embrace and love them, but I am slowly building up the amounts of time I can spend with them. It is going well.  To say the least they are getting me out of my box. Today we are playing Frisbee together.  I hope that I won't embarrass myself.
Christina is doing really well.  She is planning a trip to see Temple Square in November. It will be great because Sister Krout will be able to go there with her.  The tickets are already purchased!  They are planning so many awesome activities, Christina will love it.  Also, Christina's boyfriend (who actually referred her to the church) will be coming to visit Puerto Rico on the 18th.  We are very curious to meet him.  I feel like a protective mother, determined to decided whether or not he is good enough for Christina. 

Playing 10 commandment pit with the Anderson's

Tutoring Daniela Anderson

 
I was also able to lend some awesome service for the Anderson, the American family in the ward.  Daniela needs a tutor for Algebra.  Oh, it is a perfect fit.  We love Daniela and any excuse to spend time with her is great.  I also really enjoyed tutoring math.  I felt myself having to pull back in order to not get to obsessed or nerdy.  I think it is good for me because after the mission, I am not really sure that I want to be a teacher.  I think I would like tutoring, but I am not sure that I now have the confidence or desire to demand the attention of an entire class.  I really prefer working one on one.  I am really disturbed to think that I am now doubting the career that has been my "goal" since 9th grade.  I and I cannot even fathom the idea that all those ridiculously, ridiculously  difficult classes a BYU may have been in vain.  I don't even know what I would major in if I didn't choose math.  Mostly I feel that I lack the self-importance teachers must have to be able to control and will the class.
But those thoughts can wait for later.
I love you so much and miss you.

Hermana Palmer

A packed week!

September 29, 2010
First, Happy B-day Dad!!!
So much has happened this week.  It was absolutely packed with craze and confusion and fun.  I guess I will go in chronological order.
This past week our worst nightmares were confirmed.  Our Relief Society is very near the border of apostasy.  We have had several issues of Women being rude and gossipy, and many sisters have been offended and very recently gone inactive.  We have been trying to work with and teach the RS President to have lessons with the spirit and a more loving, and unified RS, but our last meeting with her was just overwhelming.  We informed her that we visited with a sister who was offended by the horrible lesson given a few weeks ago about not wearing pants in church.  The poor sister does not own any skirts and is terrified to return to church and be blasted again so she has just stopped coming.  When we suggested to the President that perhaps she was offended and that we should seek to bring her back, we were startled by her response.  She told us that if this sister didn't have a strong enough testimony to take criticism then we were better off with out her. We told us how she feels that we as sisters should be instruments of God to chasten and remove those members who are "lukewarm" or weak in their faith.  She then proceeded to give us a list of other sisters and families who were offended in RS and why is was so good that they were "removed" for our congregation.  Seriously.  That is what she said.  It was so disheartening to hear, because sister Krout and have worked so hard to bring these sisters back, we had no idea that we were working against our leaders.  It frustrates me that people can have this kind of outlook.  I do not feel comfortable bring members into a ward that is so stubborn and unaccepting.
In light of all that, RS conference was amazing.  President Monson really addressed the topic of judgements and tender love.  I feel that we can all learn from this.  I have definitely seen a need for improvement in my life.
Sister Krout and I also undertook the lofty task of doing our yard work.  I sometimes feel so abandoned and helpless.  We have a beautiful home that we live in, but we also have an enormous yard and absolutely nothing to take care of it with.  We have no weed-whacker, rakes, nada.  So it seems rather difficult to take care of our yard.  Finally, we sucked it up and begged one of our neighbors to borrow her weed-whacker. (Puerto Ricans have no concept of lawn mowers.  They with trim enormous FIELDS of grass using only weed-whackers).  It was a huge task.  The people who lived in the home before us were complete slobs (Hence the cockroaches).  So wee had to shovel out tons of sludge from the front yard, pull up wads of weeds and uncover tons of overgrown grass. (Dad you would be so proud of me using a weed whacker) It was interesting.  As we were working we had 5 families come out, sit on their porch and just watch us work.  The whole time they were just telling us that we were doing everything wrong and saying, "Ay bedinto, pobre Americanas."  

 I love our neighbors, honestly they are so loving and have helped us out so much, but it was just bizarre that they all came out and watched us.
Other interesting event I was invited to what the missionaries have termed "Scout Camp".  A special training meeting which President Alvarado has been giving every 2 months or so.  President Alvarado is an interesting leader.  He was a motivational speaker by profession previously and he loves to put on a show and everything is last minute.  I was informed Saturday night that I would be going to a 2 day training and staying in the mission office with all of the other sisters on the island. Sister Krout stayed in Juncos with Sister Turaga since they will be finishing in just a few weeks.  So arrangements were made and I was put with Hermana Aldana a mini-missionary who is actually a member of the Juncos ward.  Ilia, I am sure I have talked about her before she is our best friend in the ward. All the sisters spent the night in the office building in a small room with bunks, 3 showers that were frigidly cold (I don't even know how you find water that cold in PR). It was so fun to just socialize and sleep with all the sisters.  During the day we just had lectures by President Alvarado (which where extremely entertaining and performance like) .  I would say that the conference was both the best and the worst experience of my mission.  It is extremely difficult for me to adjust with Pres A and his planning skills.  Everything is spur of the moment and hype and psyche and show and fluff.  Also we were hardly fed anything at all.  And if I was starving imagine how hungry those boys were. But I know despite the imperfections and very strange proceeding of the meeting I did learn from the spirit.  Mostly I learned from the new Preach My Gospel Videos that just came out.  They are amazing.  There just moment when things just clicked and I thought, "this is what missionary work is really about.  I can't believe I have been missing that all of my mission."  I just had so many "Aha" moments.  I really learned and grew.  
 
I pray that I can forget myself, by worries and just serve.  I pray that I may be sufficiently humble and patient.  I am nervous to pray for humility because I know it can come to you in really painful and difficult trials.  But I know it is necessary.  I pray that I can learn to be humble by my own will.
I love you family!  Markie, you pictures are SOOOO cute!  Dad great job on sharing the gospel. Mom, I love you and know that you have been a great blessing to the Northridge Ward and will certainly bless our new ward in Peru.  The home looks amazing.    

Hermana Palmer

Sister Maddock, Mijangos, Palmer, Aldana, and Thornton