December 2, 2013

Hello my family! How is everybody doing?? Just think in a couple of days, we'll be seeing each other. I am excited to see you guys! It is going to be so different being home and I will try and adjust well... But I am going to be honest it might be a little hard.... Just bear with me. And mom I am gladyou had a good birthday! Sorry I didn't do anything for you.... I will make up for it when I get home. 

So things here have been going well. We had so many investigators come to church yesterday! it made me so happy! They are really progressing and should be getting baptized on December 21! So we can all look forward to that. basically that is all that has been going on. This week has been super busy just with getting ready and everything. I can't believe that everything is coming to an end! it is so weird to think about that 17 months has passed. I know that this is the best thing I have ever done with my life. I have grown to love these people and this culture more than I thought I could. And I have grown to love my Savior by serving our brothers and sisters. I know that this church is true. I am so grateful that I was able to serve a full time mission for our Lord. I love you guys so much and will be seeing each other soon!!!!!!!! 

Sister Palmer

November 26, 2013

Hello my family! So I am in a better mood today. Sorry if last week i wasn't. I guess I was just really shocked... I still am, but I know that this is what God wants and this is his plan for us. So, with that being said, WE GET TO SEE EACH OTHER NEXT WEEK! WOW That is like so crazy to me. I am going to be so sad to leave here. This has been my life for the past 17 months and it is who I am now. And now I have to return to the cold...... I think I might die! (P.S. Parents, can you bring me a coat to the airport when you pick me up please?) i get cold now when there is air-con... how am I going to survive?? But I know i'll be fine, because we have winter clothes and stuff. Anyways, I am just worrying about little things like that. But anyways, I am excited to see you all. I am starting to get more excited as the days go on. Yesterday we went to Dagupan and went to a career workshop there. It was like the best thing ever! I loved it so much. And they basically said, follow your dreams, set goals, make plans and go.... SO kind of like we do on our mission. We set goals and make plans... and then we DO! Because that is the most important part. But of course we need plans so we have direction for our actions... Anyways, i loved yesterday so much! It was the best! 

Anyways, things are going great in our area. We have some baptisms coming up which I am so excited for. They really are the greatest! One of my favorite families from Manaoag (my last area) got baptized! I am so happy for them. This work is so amazing! God is hastening his work, and showing signs... Everything that is happening is just signs of the times... Totoo yan! So, we need to prepare today because we don't know what tomorrow will bring.... be might just be on an ariplan coming home.. I know that God loves us so much. Just continue to keep the commandments with a willing heart and he will bless us. I love you so much! Next week na! Have a great week!! Love you xoxoxoxoxox

Sister Palmer

November 18, 2013

Hello my dear family. So I guess you all know now that I am coming home... I don't really know what to feel right now, so don't get offended if I don't sound super happy... I am happy of course to see you and spend Christmas with you. But I guess I was just caught off guard by all of this and of course it is a little sad with only two weeks of preparation. But know that I love you all so much and we'll be seeing each other soon! 

So we have had about 40 new missionaries coming from Tacloban mission. At first I was like super sad that I was going home, but then after talking to them for a little bit I just felt so sad and impressed with them. The missionaries were there when the storm happened... But they are all safe. They said that every thing around them got destroyed, but there apartments didn't. The Lord really protected them. I know that I was just being seflish with thinking that my mission is now cut short because of the storm, but at least the people I am leaving are living and the area is still standing. When they left there was nothing. Anyways, I really know that God is in the details of our life. Even if we don't understand why some things are happening, God knows and there is a purpose for all things. 

Anyways, things are going well here. We have a lot of progressing investigators which make me so happy!! They should be getting baptized in December, so that'll be great. The church is still true and God lives. I love you all so much and will be seeing you soon! Just in a few short weeks! I hope you have a great week! Love you all! 

Sister Palmer

November 11, 2013

Hello my dearest family!!! How are you? WOW I have a new niece!!!!!!!!!!! She looks so cute!!!! Ok so what is her full name, June?? And when was she born?? Wow, how is Sacha doing?? I seriously have told like everybody that my sister is going to be giving birth this week..... wow! I am so happy!!!! And I am happy that the boys were successful on their hunt!! Sounds like a great week for you guys! So exciting everything that happened. WOW! (Ok sorry i said wow like ten times, but it is a "WOW" kind of week). 

Things here on the other hand have been good too. Not a WOW, but good. We have been finding a lot of new investigators because we got some new areas added to our area. So there are a lot of potentials there. The only problem is, is it's kind of far from the church, and sometimes they don't have money for fare. But it's ok, because they really show their faith when they start coming to church. In one of our lessons we watched the Restoration. WHile watching it I got this overwhelming feeling that this is the true church of God. I have known that for a while, but it was so refreshing feeling that again so strongly. I know by doing little things every day we will come closer to God. President Uchtdorf said "doing simple things that matter most will lead us to the savior of the Lord". I love that so much. He didn't say we have to perform great miracles or do some big extravagant thing, but by the little things each day. Little acts of service, reading the BoM everyday.... THings like that will build our armor against Satan. I know that this is the true church of Jesus Christ. He knows and loves each one of us. 

There is a lady we are teaching and she has three kids. One of them is blind. He was born early by three months and his eyes weren't able to develop. He is such a special child. The first time we shared we sand "I am a Child of God". At the end of the lesson, Rydel was singing the song for us. Now every time we see him, it's like he just knows it's us and starts singing "I am a Child of God". It is so cool. I love going there are hearing him sing. I really do love that song, even though we sing it so much sometimes I get tired of singing it, but if we know that we are children of God and really understand that, we will understand our role on this earth and the things that we need to do while we are on this earth. I love you all so much! I know that God loves you! Have a great week! 

Sister Palmer 

November 4, 2013

Hello my dearest Family! How are you all doing?? Maybe we'll have a new member of our fam this week! Or maybe next week! Wow that is so exciting!!!! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!! I hope you guys have fun hunting this week. One quick thing that you guys will think is funny. There are turkies that live next to our house and they always make that gobbling noise. It reminds me of Joseph when he would do the gooble noise while watching the hunting channel. I always think of him when they make their sound. it is so funny! 

So we had transfers. I didn't get transfered, but my companion did. She went to Dagupan. And my new companion is Sister Gonzales. She is really loud. I am trying to adjust . It has been interesting. We actually lived in the same house so a transfer a while ago..... But it is different being companions with somebody. So anyways, that's how things are going here. 

Last Sunday I got kind of sick, then by monday I could like barely move. It got really bad while I was emailing, so sorry if my email last week was lame. So in short we didn't work mon-wed. because of my sickness. That was the first time I had taken a sick day my whole mission. But it was ok. I can walk now and all I have is a cough. So we are all happy again! 

The other missionaries in our ward had a really big area, and ours was really small so with the transfers, we re-alligned our area. So now our area is a lot bigger. But there are some investigators in the far areas which is good. The only hard thing is the fare getting to church. Sometimes they can't pay.... So that is the only hard thing. But this week was good. We were able to meet some new people and get to know better the bishop. Right now we need to strenghten the members as wel as find new investigators so that this ward will be strong. So basically that is all that is going on here. Just finding and teaching. Something that I read this morning was really intersting. It's about Christ being our shepherd. I didn't know this but shepherd know each of their sheep and a lot of time they have names for their sheep and they are willing to give their lives for their sheep. That is why christ is our shepherd because we each have a name, he knows us, we know him if we follow him, and he gave his life for us. It was so special reading about the shepherd's and how they are. I know that Christ is our shepherd and he loves us so much. This is his church and kingdom on this earth. I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week!!!! 

Sister Palmer

October 28, 2013

Wow who can believe October is almost over?? Sacha will be giving birth soon. HAPPY BRITHDAY to Grandma this week!!!! Happy Halloween( here they dont have Halloween but all saints day and all souls day- you should look that up on google). so I'm in a computer shop and the people sitting next to me ( they like own this) are eating adobo and watching Cars... That seems like the life... JK 

So we just had transfers. My companion sister Hansen transferred to Dagupan. And my new companion is Sister Gonzales. We lived in the same house in my third area. She is fat and loud. But she is funny. I'll send you guys pictues. One thing about the Philippines is they just say willy nilly if you are fat or skinny... I have kind of picked it up too. So I hope I don't offend anybody when I get home... haha It's just a funny unique things about this cool place I am living in. 

Anyways, our area is doing well. We have some people that have baptismal dates. We are praying that they follow through with it and enter the waters of baptism. I know that this is the only true church of God. 

Oh yeah, mom you read that email from sister Stapp. We all had to get fingerprinted and I got to see SIster Stapp!!!!!!!!!!!! It seriously was the best day ever!!!!! Almost everybody from our batch have seen each other, but we hadn't seen each other for over a year. It was such a great reunion. It made my week! 

Last week we were walking past a cemetary and I told SIster Gonzales that I wanted to go in. So we went in and started talking to the guys that work there. It was pretty cool. They showed us bones of a real person. The guys held the skull so that we could see it better... And then he dropped it. It was kind of funny but a little creepy. Maybe that person who's head it was saw that. But that guy had worked there for over 40 years. He said that he has a lot of stories and things that have happened to him. We are going to go back and teach them so that we can hear some of his stories... haha 

So anyways family, I could just jibber jabber all day! But I'll keep it to a minimum, and we have a time limit. But thank yo so much for all that you do for me. I love you so much. you are always in my prayers. I hope you guys have a great week. This church is true. God lives and he loves us. 

Sister Palmer

October 21, 2013

Ok so basically I had written a whole email that was super interesting, and it got all deleted.... It actually wasn't interesting at all..... Because I have nothing super exciting to say, but that's ok. I am just glad it deleted that email and not another one that could of had more details on it. Anyways, my five minute warning just came on. I love you all so much! I hope you have a great week! I was trying to send pictures, but next week na lang becuase it isn't working... I have the worst luck with computers.... But it's all good. I love this church and I am so grateful we are all members of the Lords true church. I love you all so much! Have a great week!!! Sorry this is so short! Love love love

Sister Palmer