Well actually mostly just Adventists and Catholics.  But the most interesting one is Maria, an Adventist.  She's been an investigator for at least a year.  She got really mad when I told her that her baptism isn't valid in the eyes of God, but she still insisted on feeding us dinner.  She fed us dinner today, too.  She's fun to teach, but also hard because she is so Bible-heavy.  She asked on Sunday, "Where does it say in the Bible that Christ came to the Americas?"  My companion and I looked at each other like, there is something fundamental that she isn't getting here.  Other things she doesn't like/ doesn't understand/ doesn't believe - baptism for the dead, authority/priesthood, prophets, Sunday...

On Saturday we both came down with colds, and so we were walking around San Sebastian basically like zombies.  But we found two new investigators who accepted the invitation to get baptized!  Now the only struggle (well, the biggest) is that we have conferences three weeks in a row.  I'm not sure who planned that.  They didn't plan well.

I'm very happy to be in San Sebastian, and always so happy to be in the mission!  I love this work.

Hermana Kirkland

Well I honestly didn't think I would ever leave Adjuntas, but I did.  And it's okay!  I love San Sebastian.  It is flatter, a little rainier, a little hotter.  My new companion is Hermana Ponce, and I love her.  She is my most fun companion hasta ahora.  She's hilarious.  I will be killing her, so we will definitely have only one transfer together, but she isn't trunky (yay!).  So we have a lot of work to do.

Other news - we have a half American family, and the mom (who is from New York) asked me to pray in English.  And I basically couldn't do it.  I kept trying to use Spanish words.  And I only have seven months!  I'm not going to know English when I get back.

Also in our apartment is Hermana Stevens from Layton (I practice English with her) and Hermana Madrigal from Mexico.  We have a lot of fun in the house.  It's been ages since there's been more than one companionship, and I've never had one where everyone got along, so this is a real blessing.

Keeeeep Mooooooving Foooooorrrrwaaaaarrd

Hermana Kirkland

6:30 am - the usual morning lineup

Start on the chores - we'll sweep 'till the floor's all clean

[There's so many pamphlets], do laundry and mop and shine up

Sweep again and by then it's like 7:15

And so I'll read my Book

of Mormon [I have like 3]

How're my investigators

[Have they been reading?]

Then it's companion study, pray and basically

Just wonder when will my P-Day begin

Then go to lunch, there's nothing else we can do here

[Did a letter arrive?  Of course not - we'll try next week]

Go shopping for food [But why is it always raning?!]

Then we'll email, start to pack

Write a letter, take a nap!

And now it's 6 - [we're late!]

It's time to hit the floor

Then go to FHE

See what they have in store

And then I'll pray and pray

And pray and pray some more

Still in the same place I've always been

And I'll keep wondering and wondering

And wondering and wondering

When will my P-Day begin?

Tomorrow night it's transfers again

Adjuntas, farewell - on to San Sebastian!

What is it like?  [Do they always say no?]

Now that I'm better

President might just let me go...

Love you all!

Hermana Rapunzel

P.S. The Catholics around here tend to stick up pictures of Jesus around the house, so we often see pass-along cards stuck in random places - a good sign that they've been contacted already.  But Olga's husband is the only one who has nailed the Plan of Salvation pamphlet to the wall.

Hola,

I am really looking forward to the end of the Christmas feasts.  Tomorrow es dia de los reyes, and afterwards we can have normal missionary work again (maybe with people who will even want to listen to the gospel!).  Yeah, it's been a hard transfer.

Not in the least because we have 15 recent converts and only 2 of them came to church yesterday.  BAUGH.  It is probably the hardest part of mission work, to see people change and then make bad decisions after feeling the Holy Ghost (and getting baptized!!!!  AAAAAAAHHHHHH).

We're working more with the branch leaders, which is great.  Once they start meeting regularly, this branch will be a ward.  It's only a little push.  Well, sometimes it feels like the branch is a handcart that my companion and I are pushing.  And it's stuck in the mud.  But that's why you have prayer.

But really all's good in Puerto Rico Land.  I am so happy to be on a mission, even when it's hard.  I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Love you all!

Hermana Kirkland