Big Changes

Transfers are today and there have been some big changes.  It is interesting because President had come to speak to our Zone previously and told us that since he was so pleased with the progress that he was going to keep changes to a minimum.  He said that there would only be one new elder coming into the zone to replace one who left.  Ha.  That's a laugh!  Every companionship in the Zone had a change including mine.  Sister Curl left this morning to serve in Mayaguez.  It is really strange because all of the missionaries who came into the mission with her changed areas as well. Just goes to show that plans always, always change around here.

I am really sad that Sister Curl is leaving.  I really enjoyed working with her.  She had new ideas and energy and she was really funny.  I am going to miss her.  She is now with a Latina companion so that will be good for her.  She will learn a lot of Spanish!  I wish that she could have stayed, it was kind of nice to have someone I felt would be permanent because I have been having a lot of changes in companions lately.

I am now with Sister Barker, from Salt Lake City, Utah.  She is really nice.  She has two transfers left on her mission so it has already been interesting to hear her stories in the few hours I have spent with her.  She is studying accounting a BYU. (She asked me what kind of accounting you do, Dad.  What kind of accounting do you do?)  I don't know much about her, but I think we will get along well.

We found out last night that Sister Curl would be leaving at 10:00pm.  She didn't get any time to say goodbye.  We stayed up pretty late packing and finishing off some plans for the ward activity.  We had to be in Caguas at 8:00 in the morning and we still didn't know where she was going and who would be coming with me.  Things have been pretty chaotic. 

This morning I got to ride the transfers bus (also known as "The Magic School Bus"), with Elder and Sister Peitz, the senior couple.  I had to tag along to drop off Sister Curl in Ponce and pick up Sister Barker, since there were no other Sisters to be my temporary companion.  So this morning was a field trip to the West half of the Island.  I have never been on that side.  It was really interesting.  The west looks WAY different than the East Side.  Ponce is pretty dry and mildly deserty.  I actually saw some cactus.  You can feel that it is definitely hotter there.  On the drive I even saw some pine trees between Caguas and Ponce.  I had no idea the Puerto Rico had such a variety of terrain.  I thought it was all rainforrest and jungle.  It was a fun trip and I enjoyed chatting with the Peitz and some of the other elders I knew on the bus.

I expect that other than that, things should be pretty regular.  I am excited to be able to work in San Lorenzo and Gurabo again.  It will be nice to see new faces and meet some new challenges. 

I have enjoyed all of the letters from the roommates.  We are all learning and growing so much.  It is fun for me to read their letters because I can really relate to some of the same experiences. 

Much love,

Hermana Palmer

Good news

January 12, 2011

Happy to hear all the good news!  Glad that Markie's tests all went well and that she is healthy.  I am so excited to hear about Dad's calling.  That is going to be so much fun, and a lot of work!  We do have  good young men's program here in Puerto. The problem here is that there aren't many young men.  We have 10 young women and 3 young men.  But Dad should be great.  How big in the ward in Peru?  How many missions are in Peru

Last week was interviews.  It is pretty funny how excited I get for interviews.  You have to remember that we only have these interviews every 3 months now.  And our 10 minute interviews is the only time we get to have a one on one conversation with someone other than our companion. It is nice to spice things up and talk to someone new. : )  Interviews went well.  We were informed that now we will be covering the whole ward of Juncos which means covering 4 cities and all of their members, less-actives and investigators instead of the regular 2.  I am pretty excited and clam about it.  It really helps that I have already served in San Lorenzo and Gurabo, so I know the terrain.  I am nervous about going back to San Lorenzo though.  I am worried that when I go back I will remember all the painful experiences I had there.  I suppose the first time I go there I will re-experience some memories and feelings but I am sure I will get used to it.

Also, now the elders are no longer permitted to teach single women since as a mission we are focusing on teaching complete families.  Sister Curl and I are also responsible for teaching all single women investigators in the entire stake.  Our responsibilities just increased significantly.  I know the coming weeks will be pretty crazy as we learn to schedule and juggle everything, but I think it is a much needed change for me.  I am beginning to feel that I have talked to everyone in Juncos.  (But that does not mean that I want to leave.  It is still my favorite area and I still want to finish here!)

We are planning an amazing ward activity.  We have been filming the testimonies of all of the members, with the help of Hermana Aldana, editing it to make a video to show for an activity.  I have only seen the testimony part, but Hermana Aldana tells me that they are putting it all to music and including clips from church movies and audio recordings.  I think it is going to turn out to be amazing.  The activity is going to a "Premiere'" so we are going to be counting down to the official release of the movie, playing games, and even some special guest stars are going to make an appearance.  We are making costumes and scripts for Nephi, Ammon, Abinadi, Samuel the Lamanite, and Moroni.  I think this going to turn out really well.  I love planning and planning with Sister Curl is great!  I really hope that there is a good turn out for the activity, because we have put sooo much work into filming the videos and editing the movie. 

I came to the conclusion yesterday that nearly all of my skirts have either a small hole or a stain.  All of them except for the 2 which mom sent me for Christmas.  My favorite white skirt with stripes finally met its end last week.  It was a sad, sad moment as I folded it up and laid it in the trash.  It was one of the original skirts and has served me well throughout my entire mission. 

I hope that all is well at home.  I will talk to you next week!

Hermana Palmer

Despidido el ano

 January 5, 2011

Arihesli

Keisha, Amerfis, Arihesli, me, Sister Curl, and Airet

Happy New Years to every one. I can't believe that new years was just last week.  It feels like it was soooo long ago.

For New Years we ate dinner with Amerfis and her family.  Did I tell you about Amerfis?  She has a great story.  She was baptized a long time ago in the Dominican Republic when she was 14 years old.  However, shortly after her baptism she moved to the United States, had her first daughter and became inactive in the church.  A few weeks ago when Hermana Curl and I were walking in the Pueblo She came up to us and said that she wanted to talk to us and come back to church.  Since then we have started teaching her and her three girls.  They are so amazing to work with!  They are making friends in the ward so quickly and fit right in!  Her daughters are Airet (13), Areihsli (8), and Keisha (4).  Amerfis' "husband" is not really interested and doesn't seem really that great, but hopefully Amerfis will be able to talk to the bishop and counsel with him about the situation.  I love that family so much.  I get the feeling that the Lord wanted Sister Curl and I specifically to find and teach her, because we have a great relationship and although Amerfis saw many other missionaries through the years she never felt impressed to stop them.  Now she is ready to make the changes necessary in her life to come back to church.

After dinner with Amerfis, we went back to our apartment at 9 and I went to bed.  (That is a miracle of the mission.  Despite the loud music and partying everywhere on our street I fell fast asleep.  NEVER would have been able to do that before the mission) But at 12 I was suddenly awakened to was sounded like a bombing!  There were fireworks EVERYWHERE!  There were probably 5 different major firework shows surrounding the near proximity's of our home---which does not include the smaller roman candles, and sparklers all over our street.  It was a really good show.  But then after the fireworks ended I went straight back to sleep through all the music and partying (another blessing from the mission).  Sister Curl told me that things started quieting down at about 2.

Also, something I forgot to mention.  On Christmas Eve we had an earthquake, maybe more of a tremor.  It was 5.4.  It did absolutely no damage, but in true Puerto Rican fashion it set the whole island in Panic mode.  We were eating dinner with Tammy and Julio when suddenly the table started shaking and the doors started rattling.  Tammy screamed "TEMBLOR" and Julio jumped up so quickly out of his seat and yelled "Everyone outside!!!!" with his mouth overflowing with rice.  Three thoughts came into my head at that moment. 1) Wow.  I haven't felt an earthquake for a long time.  2) I wonder where the nearest doorway is, and 3) Calm down Julio and swallow your rice!  It was pretty funny to watch. Tammy and Julio were pretty shaken up. People are still panicking about it and making it seem like it was the biggest earthquake of the century.  I liked my parents reaction when I told them on the phone.  They asked how big it was and said No big deal.  Pretty anti-climactic.

We had tons of people in church Sunday.  I think the most I have ever had on my mission!  Amerfis, and two of her daughters.  Megali, one of our investigators, and by a miracle Lucy and all of her sons came!   It was amazing!  No priesthood, but lots of people!  I loved it!  I was pretty busying trying to accommodate all of them, playing the piano, and helping Hermana Curl understand what was going on.  But the members are really stepping it up and being friendly and introducing themselves.  Oh, it is such a blessing!  I loved it!

Love you all

Hermana Palmer

Merry Christmas

December 29, 2010
Dear Family,

The blog posts you emailed me are GREAT!  Wow, Markie is so creative!  I wish I could read more of her blog, because she describes Peruvian customs in such an interesting way! I can't wait to come and live it for myself!

Well, the past week has been one big happy blur.  The 22nd and 23rd, we had a mission Christmas Party, which consisted of hiking all day in the Yunque (the national rain forest) with all of the elders and sisters in the mission.  We had devotionals at different stations throughout the hike, which were alot of fun.  It was interesting to see how over a hundred missionaries enjoy their free time and entertain themselves when together.  Singing hymns would not have been my first guess, but I stand corrected.  I felt a little sorry for the poor tourist who walked by as the elders shouted a rousing chorus of "Buatizar, bautizar, bautizar'".  They must have thought we were all crazy fanatics.  ; )
The second day we sang at a museum of modern art along with a youth bell choir.  It was a very beautiful performance.  The bell choir is quite talented.  We were then given an hour to browse the galleries.  I thought that I would love that!  But, as I wandered form room to room I remembered how bizarre and twisted the world of art can be.  I think I am even more sensitive, since I have been a mission for a year.  It was refreshing to step outside and at least enjoy the botanical gardens.
We also enjoyed a testimony meeting, and a non- sacrament meeting appropriate talent   show complete with a Parranda (Puerto Rican Christmas caroling band, complete with cuatro, tambourines, cowbell, and LOTS of enthusiasm!)  Puerto Ricans know how to party!

Mission trip to El Yunque

Yunque with Hermana Curl and Melgar

Christmas trip to Ilia's house

Cake making with Hermana Walker

The party was certainly different from anything else I have experienced on the mission and is certainly evidence that our president is a carefree Puerto Rican through and through.
Christmas was wonderful.  I was able to Skye with my family!  It was fun to see and talk to them.  I was relieved that I was not awkward on the phone (at least to my knowledge) and that they actually recognized me since I have settled into the missionary frump look.  It sounds like so much fun in Peru and I can't wait to be there with them!

Training has been interesting and everything I didn't expect.  I am not stressed at all, which is a big surprise, but it is interesting to see the different struggles that Hermana Curl and I faced a the beginning of the mission.  We are completely opposite.  I remember being SOO overwhelmed at the work and the inefficiency and my weaknesses and imperfections that I was always completely tense.  Hermana Curl is very relaxed and "go with the flow"".  She is definitely overwhelmed with the aspect of learning Spanish, but I think she does very well.  She is not afraid to try, which is her greatest strength.  She is very mature and organized, just startled about how different the mission is from our expectations.  But she is so chill that it has me completely flabbergasted.  How can she be coping so well?  I was a mess when I arrived in PR.

I have found that since I have been training that I have begun to doubt and question myself.  Am I a good missionary?  Why isn't the ward function in this or that area?  Am I just too relaxed and wasting my time?  It is hard when someone comes in with a completely different outlook and expectations.  Sister Curl was surprised to find out that in this ward we don't have BYC meetings.  Wow.  We are looking at the world with completely different perceptions and expectations. I don't know how I should adjust to set my sights higher, but also help Sister Curl Transition.  I must has been a very very difficult greenie for my trainer.  I was very opinionated when I came into the mission.  I really do worry about a lot of things. I feel that for my mental sanity I need to slow down my pace because I am shouldering a lot more of the load, but at the same time Sister Curl is very eager to throw herself into the work and change the world.  It is difficult at times to find an appropriate balance.

I got a letter this week from both Anne and Emilly!!!!  Awesome letters! Thank you for the warm fuzzy and the delicious hot chocolate drink!  I love all of you roomies!!!!!!!

Love
Hermana Palmer