Eric's email of May 26th, 2011

            Well, this dumb computer is being a pain in the rear, and I can't figure out how to change the darn language.  So this could be painfully full of typos, sorry.

            Today we were originally going to get the transfers.  But last night the Thompsons called and said they don’t get the letters until Saturday, so now we have to wait 2 more days.  The Thompsons invited us over for an “end of transfer” dinner, so that means it’ll be a big one.  Some speculation has been made.  You’ll just have to find out next week though.

            So, Elder Tingey and I are officially overbooked.  Personal and comp study have taken a hit, as well as a few other things, like my sanity.  But, I prefer to have this problem rather than the opposite.  On Saturday we had a baptism-we had 2 candidates baptized!  First one was Soeur Nina, the daughter of Soeur Salome.  She was originally scheduled for the 7^th of May so I’m glad she got it done this time, and I also know her mother was very happy, who also gave a wonderful talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost.  The other was the oldest son of Soeur Christine, Frere Ignace!  We weren’t even expecting that he would get baptized, but what a wonderful surprise!  We did service chez eux (their house) in the morning, and in the afternoon he came to the baptism by himself.  And on Sunday, the whole family showed up, early even!  So on Sunday that whole family of Christine, including her sons Ignace and Sebastien got confirmed.  So, that is a huge worry off our shoulders.

            There was another lady that showed up to get baptized, but we had to push her to the next one.  Her name is Soeur Melanie (different than the one I’ve already told you about), who was an investigator from Elder Buck and Elder Garner that we got.  But right before last transfer, she voyaged without telling the missionaries, and her phone is broken.  Luckily we saw her 2 weekends ago, and she had just gotten back from her trip.  She didn’t come to church the next Sunday due to rain, and her phone was still broken and wasn’t at her house when we stopped by.  But, she did remember the baptismal date she had set when Buck and Garner were there, but she didn’t know what time.  So she showed up at church at 9 AM, and only found the young men of Bastos 2.  Then she left, and came back right when the service was ending.  Also, she hadn’t done her interview yet.  So I was happy that she had remember her baptismal date and done so much to be baptized, so I’m confident she'll be ready for the next one.

            Law and Order in French is on the TV in this cyber café.  Ou, en d’autres termes, Loi et Ordre.

            Soeur Marie Sylvie is still progressing well.  We read with her Acts 8:26-40.  I think she's ready for baptism, more ready than a few other people I’ve seen get baptized.  And thanks to la Societe de Secours, (Relief Society) she’ll be well taken care of.  And another Soeur that lives at Messassi, Soeur Honorine, asked us what are the interdictions, or, um, forbidden things in order to be baptized.  We explained the word of wisdom and all those, she accepted them.  I asked her at the beginning if she had prayed to know if our message is true, and she said, “C’est vrai, non!”, (that's true, no?) in a tone suggesting that I just asked a dumb question with an obvious answer.  The Relief Society is growing very nicely, and Messassi especially could have 3 solid new members close together with les Soeurs, Nina, Marie-Sylvie, and Honorine.

            Just so you know, District Meetings with only 4 missionaries is a little less exciting.  But the apartment is a lot more peaceful.

            Well, we started internet late, and we're on dinner tonight.  I think the transfer is supposed to happen on June 3^rd, so even if I unfortunately get transferred (because at this point if its up to me I would choose to stay), you should get one more email from me while I’m still in this area.

Je vous aime,

            - Elder Eric Palmer

(The cashier at Wal-Mart who helped me today was from Kinshasa, DRC!)  First off; unfortunately I have not yet been to Kinshasa.  I have been to Brazzaville, and saw Kinshasa from the airplane.

(Sarah Anderson is coming home in June!)  What the nut!?  Sarah Anderson is already getting home?  When did she leave on her mission?

(We donated the swing set from the backyard.  Any idea on what to do in that space?)  No, I don't have any ideas for that empty backyard space.  My head is too full.

(Our RS is serving lunch for zone conference on Friday.  It is the fourth day of zone conferences in our building.  We assume it is several zones.  How long is your zone conference?)  Our zone conference started at 3 PM and went til about 7:30, then ate and such.  But when President comes it is usually a bit longer, but normally we still have time to go teach a couple rendezvous.  Was the mission president there?  (Yes)

Je t'aime,
- Elder Eric Palmer

Ekeh... as the Cameroonians say.  Thats like saying, "oh la vache" (Holy Cow-his response to Mark's new calling in the Stake Presidency.)

Elder Tingey had been predicting all week that you would be in the presidency, but he said you were going to be president.

(Which stereo types from last week did you think were inaccurate because compared to Cameroonians, Americans are rich and fat etc...) Inaccurate ones, hmmm... I don't know, since there are a lot of Americans, there are certain ones that fit each stereotype, but not tout le monde, (everybody) as some people think.

(Elder Dajeu has returned from his mission in Rochester-he is originally from Cameroon.  Eric and Louis emailed.)  Elder Dajeu and I sent an email a couple times the past few transfers.  Last week I emailed his father to ask which Cameroonian foods his wife knows how to prepare.

(Do kids in Cameroon get a long summer break like we do?)  Kids in Cameroon have roughly the same school schedule, but sometimes in August there is what they call the "rattrapage", if you need to redo some tests or classes.

Je t'aime et bonne chance,
-Elder Eric Palmer