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