Following the Promptings of the Spirit!

Dearest family and friends:

Yet another great week out in the field! Elder Montes and I really wanted to focus this week on getting the members excited about the missionary work and helping invite their friends to church/taking missionary lessons from us. The members here are great...the active ones. It´s really tough to engage the members when we get a max of about thirty members to sacrament on Sunday. Elder Montes and I always knock on the doors of members and ask for references when we pass bye their houses but haven´t had any such luck quite yet. We´re going to keep working on gaining the member´s trust and helping them feel comfortable teaching their friends little pieces of doctrine.

Anyways, this week was pretty crazy. Elder Montes and I were out contacting looking for an appointment and we couldn´t find anyone. It was a really long day and all six of our appointments fell through so we were really disappointed with the numbers from the day. It was eight o´clock on Saturday and it was cold, miserable and it started to rain so we were about to give up. Elder Montes said, let´s head back and plan because we´re not going to find anyone but I felt impressed to say ok but we are going to go down this street first. I have no idea why that thought went through my head because the street was dark and, very obvious to me, dangerous (peligrosa). He agreed and just when we got to the end of the street, we ran into an old couple, probably in their late fifties. I don´t know why I said it, but I turned to the Señor and said, "Señor! Yo testifico que Usted puede vivir con su hermano despues de esta vida si siga el ejemplo de Jesucristo." (I know that you can live with your brother again after this life if you follow the example of Jesus Christ.) We acompanied them back to their house and taught them the plan of salvation and restoration. It turns out that his brother had just died and that he was worried about where his brother would end up. The couple´s names are Efrén y Gloria and we are teaching their 27 year old son Alberto too. I have a feeling that they are a golden contact.

This Sunday we had another baptism: a joven named Brandon. He is 17 and accepted our invitation on Tuesday last week. Elder Montes and I are really excited about this area. We have baptismal dates planned for the next four weeks and are praying that we´ll find more. The record for the mission is eight weeks straight of baptisms in an area and we´ve got three so far (one for the week before I arrived in the field). We have a goal to get eleven straight weeks of baptisms. Now, I know that some people think that having a goal of baptizing is ugly and we´re just trying to bring more people into the church. FALSE!! We are bringing SOULS unto Christ and inviting them to grow closer to God. These people are wonderful and I love them.

We have eight-twelve new investigators depending on how you count and are working hard on inviting them to follow Christ´s example and bringing more joy into their lives through the waters of baptism, the book of mormon, and prayer. Elder Montes is a great companion and we hope to see a lot of success with each other and to keep growing in out teaching abilities and love for the people.

In a less-church related note, Thanksgiving: Elder Montes and I made plans to eat thanksgiving dinner with a family in our ward from America but they had some things come up and that went down the tube...like a lot of our lesson/appointment plans so we ended up contacting the rest of the night. I hardly noticed it was thanksgiving but when Elder Montes would remind me that I was missing out on one of my favorite holidays, I would think of you family. I love you all so much, family and friends and continue to pray for you every night and day. I do read your emails and I love them. I believe that day has my mission office address and that is the best place to direct any of the mail you want to send me. Dearelder remains the best way to go as far as price and security go...

Keep up the scripture study and prayers,

Love:

Elder Palmer

1 Week... and 3 baptisms!!!

Dear family,

 

This week has been nuts. I got here monday, as I already have informed you. We had cambios/changes on tuesday and that´s when I met my companion. His name is Elder Montes, from Chihuauha, México. He is a stud and really has helped me out a lot. My Spanish is really helpful as far as understanding people goes but they sure do like to use words that I have no idea what the heck they mean... Anyways, we taught a few lessons my first day with him and spent some time contacting. I was really excited because our first day seemed really successful. Then day two came.

Day two was a good time and we met a lot of people but all of our lesson plans that we set up fell through and we ended up teaching only members. Fun fact, I come all the way out to Mexico and the first three people I contact are 1 a jehova´s witness, 2 a Mormon from West Valley and 4, a French! What is going on in this world...

Anyways, we are teaching a family, the Garcia family and they accepted out baptismal invitation and got baptised this sunday... That was nutz!! They are great people and are very fascinated by me and America but we teach the Gospel, not imigration. Anyways, Saturday, they asked me to baptize them and that was really scary for me. I´ve only been out here a week and I have three baptisms!! The members are really awesome but church is at seven am so there aren´t many people that show up which is sad.

This sunday, we went to church with the Garcia family so we got there late and right when we got the the first counselor called me up to give a talk. Anyways, this week was really crazy like that.

The area I´m in is called the Americas and all the little neighborhoods are closed, which means we have to street contact and knocking on doors doesn´t really work...It´s really tough to have new investigators because all of our appointments fall through which is always a disappointment. The people are amazing and I really do love them.

Out home is really small. Elder Montes and I live their alone but we hardly spend any time there so It doesn´t matter. The members and investigators feed us really well and I absolutely love the food here...I just need to drink more water. We can´t drink from the tap so we have to buy huge jugs.

Thank you Spencer. Because of our little walks all summer, my feet can handle all the walking. Anyways, I love you all so so much and am excited to send you pictures next week.

 

Keep praying for me and I will keep praying for you.

 

Love,

 

Elder Palmer

Sounds like our Elder is doing great!! We still haven't received a new address yet, but as soon as we do we will let everyone know immediately!

Mexico City Welcomes Elder Palmer

     Elder Palmer has arrived in Mexico City, Mexico! Monday morning Elder Palmer boarded a plane that took him where he will be spending the next 22 months of his life preaching the gospel.  We are more than thrilled for him and the many experiences that he has awaiting him.
     Our Dad just so happened to be heading to Arizona for work the same morning that Elder Palmer was flying out so he was able to see him and spend a little bit of time with him.  While they were waiting both Dad and Elder Palmer got their shoes shinned.  The gentlemen who was shinning Elder Palmer's shoes happend to speak spanish so Elder Palmer got to test out a little bit of his skills.  Dad recorded it so we all got to see him in action. We are all very confident that he will have no problems with the language.  At least we all hope so...
     Monday afternoon Elder Palmer and thirteen other missionaries arrived at the mission home in Mexico City where they stayed for the night and the next morning he will be meeting his new companion.  We will update you more as soon as we hear from Elder Palmer again.
     For now he is safe and sound in Mexico and ready to start spreading our Heavenly Father's gospel...

Here are the mailing instructions for Elder Palmer right now.  When we finally know what his apartment address is we will update you all.

Elder Palmer's Mailing instructions and addresses:

1st option: for letters:  Continue to use DearElder.com Select Mexico City East mission and all letters will be prepared and sent via pouch mail.  The service shows to be free; however, they do have options to donate for the services they provide.  Remember, pouch mail goes out only once a week, on Fridays from SLC church headquarters.

2nd option: You can use pouch mail to send letters to Elder Jordan Palmer, and here are the instructions:

Pouch mail leaves chuch headquarters every friday.  Only postcards or one-page correspondences (no envelopes) written on one side of the page.  No photographs.

Letter folding instructions:  Lay the letter blank side down and fold it inot thirds so the written side is inside.  Secure the long side with two pieces of tape about one inch from each end, but do not seal the ends.  In the top left corner write your name and complete return address.  Affix first class postage in the top right corner.  In the middle write the missionary address as follows:

ELDER JORDAN MICHAEL PALMER

Mexico Mexico City East Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City UT 84130-0150


Mailing Packages- Please send to the mission office.  When sending with a private courier, a telephone number at the destination is required.  The following address may be used:

ELDER JORDAN MICHAEL PALMER

Mexico Mexico City East Mission
Fuente de Piramide No. 1 Piso 1
Lomas de Tecamachalco Naucalpan
53950 Estado de Mexico, Estado de Mexico
Mexico

Telephone: 52 55-5003-3312

Thanks everyone!! I think until we get his personal address it sounds like going though DEARELDER.COM is the easiest way to send Elder Palmer your letters.

November 11, 2011 (11/11/11) SURPRISE PHONE CALL!

     It must have been a lucky day(11/11/11)... Today we got an e-mail from Elder Palmer letting us know that he finally had his travel plans and that he would be calling us tonight to update us on his itinerary.
     Around 5:20 we recieved a quick call from our Elder Palmer.  It was so great to hear his voice and he seemed very enthusiastic to know that he recieved his visa and will be leaving straight to Mexico City on Monday morning.
       We are all very excited for our Elder to be moving on to the next step in his mission experience, and being able to serve the people of Mexico City.
      As soon as we have the address for Elder Palmer I will post it.

We can't wait to hear about the first few days Elder Palmer experiences in Mexico City, and to share it with you all.  Untill then....

November 10, 2011 E-Mail

Dear family and friends:

This week was a pretty rough one for my companion and myself. Our lessons didn''t go quite as well as they had been going and it was just really stressful to see everyone in the district except for us get their travel plans...
Story: Monday, Elder Olsen and I went to the travel office to ask about any news on our visas and travel plans and they told us that they will be sending a group of Mexican missionaries to the consolate on Friday so we were naturally a little bit worried. They called me back down to the travel office about two hours later and they told me that I was going to be going to the consolate that day in about two hours but that fell through...Then the next morning they called down Elder Olsen and told us that they had our papers ready and we were to report at 1:15 to the travel office to go for a ride to the consolate and sign our visa agreement. We did exactly as we were told, to make sure that we could get the promised miracles from exact obedience and, amazingly enough, we actually were going!!
As we entered the bus, the driver offered to stop and get us food from the outside world if we wrote down our order and gave him enough cash to cover the whole price. He said he would only go to Wendy''s or McDonalds and we needed to know the menu farely well. This was my moment to shine!! I took pride in the skills that I gained of the knowledge of the Wendy''s menu from those two years of work!! I was the savior of the trip. :) Our order ended up costing 99.15 and I ordered a double stack with everything and a large frosty. It was nice to eat something new.
Anyways, at the consolate, I got to sign those pretty papers and get my picture taken w/fingerprints. It was a really good time!! So it turns out that I could be leaving on Monday next week or anytime within the next month...hopefully Monday!!
I love you all and want to share a special scripture that applies to absolutely everyone! In 1Corinthians 10:13, the Lord promises us that he will never alow us to be over-tempted. God will always provide a way (1Nephi 3:7) and I testify along with Nephi that God is a supportive God and will help us accomplish any commandment that he gives me. I love you all and want you to know that God loves you too and that He''ll be there to help us through any tough times.

I love you all and will continue to pray for you every day and night. If you can keep praying for me and all the missionaries in the field doing the Lord's work, that will be very appreciated. Que les vayan con Dios.

Love,

Elder Palmer
p.s. Go NBA failing!! And hopefully the Vikings can win maybe one or two more...

Double E-Mail today!! :-)

Dearest family and friends:

First, I want to acknowledge my mother. No offense to anyone else but she is the most amazing woman in the world. She basically can do anything you can do...better. I don't know anyone else that has ran 100 miles, let alone breaking a course record the first time!! Mom, you are amazing and I bragg to everyone here at the MTC about it. Anyone that is saying that's pride, it's not. Elder Bednar says that's just righteous entheusiasm so don't judge!! So congratulations mom and thanks everyone for supporting here, especially C.G., Tinille, and Dad. I know she is extremely grateful for you.

My e-mail today will be based on this song:
"Have I done any good?"

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burden been been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

There are chances for work all around just now,
Opportunities right in our way.
Do not let them pass by, saying, "Sometime I'll Try,"
But go and do something today.
'Tis noble of man to work and to give;
Love's labor has merit alone.
Only he who does something helps others to live.
To God each good work will be known.

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure,
a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

I love the words of this song. In our fireside on Sunday, Elder Stephen B. Allen spoke to us and it was a little unconventional but spiritual nonetheless. He talked about the importance of bearing our trials in the mission field, "..cause you WILL have them..." and throughout the rest of our lives. He said that the best way to bear through our burdens is to serve others. How can we serve others?? It's actually really easy! C.G., if you see a "not-so-cute" boy, say hello to bring up his spirits a little bit. ;) We can do very little things all the time such as smiling and telling a cleaver joke that makes someone laugh. I know one thing that dad was always really good at and taught me was a lessong through shoveling the snow. Almost always, without fail, when it would snow and we went out to do our driveway and saw one of the neighbor's wasn't shoveled, dad would encourage us to help him out with shoveling their walkway. I love you dad and really appreciated that life-lesson.

By serving others, we are able to humble ourselves. The spirit cannot reside in a prideful, non-humble heart so we need to become like a little child, submissive and meek. As you see other people's difficulties, you realize the many blessings that you have in your life and what you have going for you. Instead on focusing on our own trials, we are focusing on others and seeing the blessings that we have. I have always been lucky to have an amazing family, both immediate and extended. As I have gotten to know some people, I realize that more and more every day. Not everyone has the opportunity that I do to love their siblings and parents and I do love my siblings and parents. Elder Allen said to us that we will notice and recognize God's hand in our life more and more as we "feed his Sheep" and serve his children. I know also that as you all serve your neighbors, family members, and acquaintances, that you will become close with God and he will pour out the blessings of heaven upon you.

In news from the MTC, we lost a teacher this week. He found another job and can't work as many hours so he's a language resource teacher for the zone and we have a new district teacher: his name is Brother Adams. Let me share a little concerning brother Adams this week. We have been focusing a lot on trying to love our teachers so we could learn more in our lessons and when we heard that our teacher was changing, we were really disheartened but I know that I felt charity towards Brother Adams the very first time he taught us. He told us his conversion story (he was born outside the covenant into an atheist family). He was a philosophy major in California about three and a half years ago and belived in a theory that nobody can know any principle with 100% surety. It was just a princeple that it is impossible to know anything with 100% surety. He said the missionaries came and he was open to hear what they had to say and he rejected them hard. He tore them apart and said some really rude things and all they could do was say that they know what they were teaching was true so he asked how and they said because they prayed and they prayed because they read the BoM and it was just a cycle of that. So then the missionaries did what every missionary should do in that case...they dropped him. He then met a girl who happened to be LDS and went to a singles ward activity to the Sacramento Temple to each a picnic or something and he said the moment he saw the temple, even without an understanding of what happens in there, that he wanted to "...go into that building." He started meeting with a new set of missionaries and took all their challenges but never got anything. He said one day, during a lesson, the missionary said to him that he couldn't be doing it right. He shared Moroni 10:4-5. He didn't have faith in God so he couldn't do it so the missionary gave him Ether 12:6. One day, he was playing videogames and he got a feeling that he needed to go pray. He described his experience: "I went up to my room, got on my knees and prayed...I said 'God, this is the most humiliating moment of my life. I don't believe in you but I want to know if you are there and if you are real and if you love me like these missionaries say. I don't even belive in you and I'm talking to a person that doesn't exist.' I laid down on my bed and began to cry. I heard a voice in my mind saying, 'I'm here. I love you and Jesus, my son, is your redemer and brother.' and then I felt arms around me and I have a little vision of me going through my whole life with Jesus next to me and me spitting and punching him and I heard another voice saying, 'I forgive you and will always love you.'" He went on to serve a mission a year after his baptism.

Everyone, I love you so much and testify that Jesus and God love us all and will forgive us our sins. I love you

Elder Palmer
　
　
　
　
　
Dearest family and friends: NOVEMBER 4, 2011

This week went by so very fast. It's amazing how fast time is flying now. I felt like this week was over before I even had a chance to catch up to it. Elder Olsen and I are doing great as a companionship and are really striving to prepare each other better for the field. I can't believe I'll be leaving in ten days too. I will hopefully be getting my travel plans today or tomorrow so by next time I write you all, I'll know when I should be leaving. In the travel plans, it will be my schedual for leaving to Mexico City but I still don't have my VISA so if that doesn't come by the day I'm supposed to leave (November 14) then it'll go to the first presidency and they'll receive revelation on whether or not I will be sent to another mission in the states or be delayed here at the MTC until my VISA comes...either way, I'm happy with it because I'm sure they won't make a wrong decision.

As Elder Olsen and I were doing weekly planning last week we decided to really focus on finding charity. We really want to learn how to love one another. Our new teacher doesn't always have the best words and he doesn't always know exactly how to express himself but I really know that he loves me and wants to help me become the best servant of the Lord that I can be and that is the best way to feel the Holy Ghost (the TRUE teacher). To find charity, we have been reminding each other to pray for it and to do one thing of service for the other every day. Again, service is the quickest way into someone's heart.

Stories from the week:
1- Last friday while talking to my teacher, I found out he served in the Houston, TX South mission and remembered knowing someone that left and was serving there (a dear friend). BRANDON TAUKEIAHO...I asked my teacher about him and he definitely knew him. He got to know him his last transfer on his mission, Elder Taukeiaho's first transfer. I asked him for his mission home address and will be writing him today.
2- Sunday afternoon at lunch we sat together as a district to eat and talk about our enjoyments in the class and we had a visitor: the MTC President, President Brown, sat with us. We had a wonderful meal together and definitely enjoyed our time together. President Brown reminds me a lot of a man we knew as President Gordon B. Hinkley. They both really have a love for life and are just giddy to tell a joke. There is a great spirit about him and he had such a love for the BoM.
3- Our district had the opportunity to host the new elders and sisters that arrived on Wednesday. This was a really good time. I got to host two sisters and one special elder: Elder Spencer Pickup...I'm not sure if you people at home remember him but he played football with me for a couple years, Dad. He's a really great man and we had a lot of good times together in high school. Family, you will be excited to hear this. He is going to serve in a mission that is very special to our family: Lisbon, Portugal!! Brandi, you are in very good company, as am I. Anyways, that was a really good time for me and I'm glad that he was able to see a friendly face to begin his next journey of life.

Spiritual thought: Once a week we have a class called a "workshop" where we participate in a 'lesson' that is chosen specifically to invite the spirit and to help us learn deeper doctrine. This week's workshop was different though. We had a guided lesson but a silent lesson. The teach gave us a couple scriptures on the board and told us to start with them and follow the direction of the spirit to study what we needed to, so naturally, I used footnotes. One footnote lead to another which lead to another and I ended up in the book of 2Nephi. I read the words that Lehi spoke to all his children from his death bed. I love the way that Lehi describes death and tells his sons to get their act together!! If you could all study from 2Nephi 1 that would be great, especiall versus 13-16 and look into how Lehi describes death to his boys and their children. Focus on the words "encirculed in the arms of God's love" (i don't have my scriptures so that's a little paraphrased) but that scripture really meant a lot to me. Whenever we are having hardships in our lives and we want to give up, please please please PLEASE go to the Lord, our Heavenly Father, who loves us so much. He will hold you in His loving, Godly, arms. I know that whenver I doubt myself here and am having a rough time with anything that God is aware of me and whatsoever thing that He commands me He will provide a way for me to accomplish it as Nephi so boldly said in Nephi 3:7.

I really love you all so very much family and friends. I truely do pray for you every night at my bedside and in my daily prayers. I know that God lives and that He loves us, each and every one of us. The Book of Mormon is the Word of God and was translated by Joseph Smith through the power of God. Jesus is our Savior and Redemer and He suffered for all of our afflictions, pains, sorrows, sicknesses, burdens, and sins. He knows us and wants us to be happy. We have a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson and he is guided by the Lord and leads our church today. God is our Father in Heaven and His priesthood is on the earth today.

Love,

Elder Palmer

October 20, 2011

　
　
　
Dearest Family and friends:

As a book-keeping note, dearelder.com is easilly the easiest way for me to get your letters and read them. I have 30 minutes once a week to read and write my email and, for some crazy reason, that time goes by way too fast. With the dearelder.com system, it's free to send letters to me here at the mtc for you and I get them the same night so I can read them that night in my personal time (seven hours a week) so I have more time to do that and I can type out more effective emails. So if you could do that instead of email, that would be amazing. Spencer, the whole attachment thing isn't working so my attempt has failed. Try dearelder.

Everyone, this week was great. I think my sleeping issues are finished. The last week I've gotten at least seven to eight hours a night so it's going great. I'm loving the basketball and gym activities and it's really a great time to get to know elders from all around the world. Just yesterday I sat with an elder from australia, taihiti, japan, and russia at the same table for dinner. So we are really learning about all different kinds of culture. The whole companionship thing worked out. We went to our Branch President, President Dennis for some advice and he let us know that the solo sisters are supposed to rotate with all the companionships each week so it all is working out well. Sister Hansen is awesome and I really feel bad for her situation...I'd feel really weird without a companion here; it's like hanging out in a singles ward with kids, I'm sure.

Anyways, on more church/business-related notes, we had a pretty awesome speaker come to our devotional on Tuesday night. Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles was able to join us Tuesday night and I was so exited! He gave an amazing talk. He talked about the importance of carrying around a little notebook and writing down spiritual impressions that we have at all times!! Even when we sleep, we should sleep next to a notebook and write spiritual impressions in the middle of the night. That very same night, I woke up at about four thirty and had a really strong impression and had forgotten about it when I had woken up later but I looked down at my notebook and it was written down. What a blessing it is to have living prophets and apostles today! He is such a great man. I don't know if you have had the opportunity, but just being in the presence of an apostle is amazing. I could definately feel the love of Christ there. He had us turn to Ether 12:6 and switch the scripture around a little bit, "If you try your faith, you WILL receive a witness." I can testify to that. One special thing about apostles is their special blessings that they can endow you with. He said, "I bless you that as you prayerfully ponder and seek guidence the spirit will guid you for support and guide your steps. And as you prayerfully and patiently wait, God will strenghthen week things of yours to prepare you to build your own home when you return from your mission." He testified of his knowledge of God. He said, "I KNOW...I do not believe or hope or wish. I KNOW that Jesus is the Christ and He lives."

Everyone at home and all friends, I too testify and want you all to know that I know that God lives too and taht he loves us. Really quick, as he closed, he told us he normally likes to meet all the missionaries but he couldn't because he was sick and in a hurry but i felt the love of christ that he felt for nephites in 3nephi. I love you all and am out of time. I'll continue to pray for you. I am thankful for your prayers.

Elder Palmer

E-Mail!!

So, basically, this week has had a lot of ups and a few downs as I'm sure the rest of my mission will run. Elder Olsen and I are basically amazing at teaching lessons together. We have been rolling through the lessons without fail or issue, asking the investigators questions, making challenges, applying the lessons to their lives, and feeling the spirit. So we have now committed both our investigators to baptism, tithing, and enduring to the end through church attendance, participation in the sacrament and ar working on Estela's daughter. We understand it is all roleplay but we try to think of it as real so we can have the same type of follow-up we could have in the field. I have been wishing these were real people and we were actually teaching them but unfortunately they are not. I do know that the Lod must be preparing people in Mexico for me though. Elder Olsen has progressed so much in his Spanish this last week from having our companionship reviews in Spanish. I just feel that we have been able to practice our language skills a lot more as a duo than we could as a trio.
Just yesterday, two of the three sisters in our district got their visas and they left for the Peru MTC this morning so we have one sister without companions...this means we have a solo sister (she had the opportunity to choose who she would teach with). Elder Olsen and I were worried about this because of the great amounts of progress we made this past week but, sure enough, she chose us. It's not upsetting to be in a trio but the way she made this decision flustered me a little: she put all the companionship names of the Elders in our district in a hat and drew from the hat. I think she should have prayed and gone to God about this decision. At the temple today I really tried to focus on this and what I should do and what Elder Olsen and I should do as a companionship. I had an overwhelming feeling that this isn't what the Lord wants. Any advice for this situation would be very much appreciated!!
Sunday night in our devotional, we had the opportunity to hear from the General Relief Society President Sister Julie B. Beck. She spoke about a lot of things and especially families and the importance of temple/priesthood ordinances. President Hinkley once said the reason why the Proclaimation to the World was presented in the relief society meeting the week before conference: 'There is nothing more Divine in nature than the ability to raise and bring up a child of God.' I truely believe that. Nothing on this eath is like Motherhood. I'm thankful to you mom for being the wonderful woman that you have been in my life and I love you so much. Jessi, you are an amazing sister and an even better mother. I've enjoyed watching you raise your children with a Christlike love and I know that God is proud of you and mom. Some women are sad that they do not have the opportunity to have the priesthood but I want them to feel comforted. They don't have the priesthood because men need it more. We need to be reminded all the time by the authority that we hold and how much the Lord loves us. Women are better about knowing their divine nature. One of my favorite songs to listen to when I get to go on the computer here is "Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God." It reminds me of the wonderful voices of my sisters when they would sing it when we grew up. It's sad that it took me this long to realize how much I love hearing them sing. I know I'd be really irritable at home when Brandi would burst out into song or I'd roll my eyes when Hillarie would sing but you have beautiful voices and I loved the music we had in our home growing up (D&C 25:12). Thanks a lot to the women in my life. I don't know where I'd be without you. And to address the other point of her talk. Priesthood ordinances. Dad, I can never express with words how thankful I am to have had you in my life. It means more than anything to our family what you bring. You are a worthy priesthood holder and the patriarch of our home. There is a special spirit and love about you that reminds me of the way I feel when I am close to Heavenly Father and feel his love. When you would leave on your trips, we could tell a difference when you weren't there but I know that you were a guardian and sentinel of our home and I thank you for your protective hand in my life. I hope I can be as good as you.
I want to challenge you all this week to take a tiny bit of time to get a small pocket-sized notebook and to write the things in your life that you are thankful for (50 things to be exact). It's a really easy task and you can do it as you walk from class to class, as you take a lunch break or as you think about something that makes you happy. Just open that notebook and do it. Try to do that every week so that whenever you are feeling down, you can turn to that notebook and you can see God's hand in your life. I love you all and I know that God has a hand in your lives. He has told me personally through the Holy Ghost when I pray for you every night. I appreciate your prayers and can feel their effect in my life. Thank you.
By the way, my schedualed departure date is November 14 and if my visa isn't here by then, I probably will leave to another mission in the states before I got to Mexico City on that date anyways.

Love,

Elder Palmer

p.s. I was glad to hear that nobody got pulled over this week! Keep going to the temple and enjoy its blessings. I have gotten dear elders from you t-luv and alex and mom and dad. I appreciate the calendar Jess and Levi. Mom, I can't understand anything you try to say in letters! haha and good luck on your race. You're crazy but I love you nonetheless!!

October 13, 2011 E-Mail

So, basically, this week has had a lot of ups and a few downs as I'm sure the rest of my mission will run. Elder Olsen and I are basically amazing at teaching lessons together. We have been rolling through the lessons without fail or issue, asking the investigators questions, making challenges, applying the lessons to their lives, and feeling the spirit. So we have now committed both our investigators to baptism, tithing, and enduring to the end through church attendance, participation in the sacrament and ar working on Estela's daughter. We understand it is all roleplay but we try to think of it as real so we can have the same type of follow-up we could have in the field. I have been wishing these were real people and we were actually teaching them but unfortunately they are not. I do know that the Lod must be preparing people in Mexico for me though. Elder Olsen has progressed so much in his Spanish this last week from having our companionship reviews in Spanish. I just feel that we have been able to practice our language skills a lot more as a duo than we could as a trio. Just yesterday, two of the three sisters in our district got their visas and they left for the Peru MTC this morning so we have one sister without companions...this means we have a solo sister (she had the opportunity to choose who she would teach with). Elder Olsen and I were worried about this because of the great amounts of progress we made this past week but, sure enough, she chose us. It's not upsetting to be in a trio but the way she made this decision flustered me a little: she put all the companionship names of the Elders in our district in a hat and drew from the hat. I think she should have prayed and gone to God about this decision. At the temple today I really tried to focus on this and what I should do and what Elder Olsen and I should do as a companionship. I had an overwhelming feeling that this isn't what the Lord wants. Any advice for this situation would be very much appreciated!!
Sunday night in our devotional, we had the opportunity to hear from the General Relief Society President Sister Julie B. Beck. She spoke about a lot of things and especially families and the importance of temple/priesthood ordinances. President Hinkley once said the reason why the Proclaimation to the World was presented in the relief society meeting the week before conference: 'There is nothing more Divine in nature than the ability to raise and bring up a child of God.' I truely believe that. Nothing on this eath is like Motherhood. I'm thankful to you mom for being the wonderful woman that you have been in my life and I love you so much. Jessi, you are an amazing sister and an even better mother. I've enjoyed watching you raise your children with a Christlike love and I know that God is proud of you and mom. Some women are sad that they do not have the opportunity to have the priesthood but I want them to feel comforted. They don't have the priesthood because men need it more. We need to be reminded all the time by the authority that we hold and how much the Lord loves us. Women are better about knowing their divine nature. One of my favorite songs to listen to when I get to go on the computer here is "Walk Tall, You're a Daughter of God." It reminds me of the wonderful voices of my sisters when they would sing it when we grew up. It's sad that it took me this long to realize how much I love hearing them sing. I know I'd be really irritable at home when Brandi would burst out into song or I'd roll my eyes when Hillarie would sing but you have beautiful voices and I loved the music we had in our home growing up (D&C 25:12). Thanks a lot to the women in my life. I don't know where I'd be without you. And to address the other point of her talk. Priesthood ordinances. Dad, I can never express with words how thankful I am to have had you in my life. It means more than anything to our family what you bring. You are a worthy priesthood holder and the patriarch of our home. There is a special spirit and love about you that reminds me of the way I feel when I am close to Heavenly Father and feel his love. When you would leave on your trips, we could tell a difference when you weren't there but I know that you were a guardian and sentinel of our home and I thank you for your protective hand in my life. I hope I can be as good as you.
I want to challenge you all this week to take a tiny bit of time to get a small pocket-sized notebook and to write the things in your life that you are thankful for (50 things to be exact). It's a really easy task and you can do it as you walk from class to class, as you take a lunch break or as you think about something that makes you happy. Just open that notebook and do it. Try to do that every week so that whenever you are feeling down, you can turn to that notebook and you can see God's hand in your life. I love you all and I know that God has a hand in your lives. He has told me personally through the Holy Ghost when I pray for you every night. I appreciate your prayers and can feel their effect in my life. Thank you.
By the way, my schedualed departure date is November 14 and if my visa isn't here by then, I probably will leave to another mission in the states before I got to Mexico City on that date anyways.

Love,
Elder Palmer

October 6, 2011 E-Mail

My week has been pretty good. We have been working really hard on our progressive investigators (aka teachers acting as an investigator). One of them is getting baptised and we are helping her learn more about the covenants that come with baptism and the importance of staying worthy to have the Holy Ghost be a constant companion. The other one, Gustavo, is a bit more difficult. We just committed him to come to church with us on Sunday but he's been really reluctant to pray with us after lessons so we're going to teach him about the importance of strengthening his relationship with Heavenly Father tomorrow. We do TRC--I have no idea what it stands for but it's when we have volunteers from the community come in and we basically home teach them...in Spanish (I don't think I mentioned that we do everything in Spanish). My companion and I are going to try to work on speaking Spanish everywhere we go now. It's been really tough to do because we're surrounded by people that speak English and seem reluctant to try and practice the language. Elder Olsen is a great guy and we're going to really help each other prepare for the field. In case you didn't know, Oaxaca, Mexico is just a state south and east of Mexico City. It's one of the poorest areas in all of Mexico. I think he ought to be a great missionary.
Daily schedual: 6:00- wake up, pushups/situps/pullups and shower, 7:00- In class studying, 8:00- language study, 9:00-12:00-class and progressive investigator lessons, Then lunch, gym and TRC, 5:00-dinner, 6:00-9:00-class and progressive investigator lessons, 9:00 planning time and back to residence by 9:30, personal time including journal and personal scripture study until 10:15, then pondering/quiet time til 10:25 which is companion prayer, personal prayer, and in bed, lights out at 10:30. That's basically what the average day here at the MTC is. I love it!! :D
I hear that BYU is doing horrible and the Vikings are even worse but I remain behind them! I hope Bingham keeps the title this year and gets a chance to pay Loan Squeak back later in the year. I still can't believe they lost one on the turf...I guess they have forgotten what it means to keep that place sacred. Go Snow!! Badgers all the way (speaking of badgers...what's up with the Wisconsin Badgers because I predicted them to win the national title this year)!! I'd like to hear them win a J.C. national championship this year...I heard that their win this past weekend was pretty dramatic.
Anyways, I love you all and thought I should put a little more of what my schedual is like into these emails. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Love,

Elder Palmer