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| Pretending to sleep in a Yap Island Man House |
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| Roof of a Man House |
Dad
That is one of my favorite lines from my Patriarchal
Blessing. [Dad’s comment: A line in
his patriarchal blessing, which was received when Johnny was 12
years old, reads, “You will enjoy travel and will be inspired by cultures,
languages and societies.”] Yes, time
is moving very fast here on Yap. It is moving way too fast for me. That is
really cool that Brain and Lindsey are so close now. That is great. I can't
wait to go home and go to the temple
again. That is cool about the changes.
Question 1: When
is the last time you got a specific answer to one of your prayers?
Answer: Not too
long ago. I was talking with my companion about one of our investigators and we
wanted to read a chapter out of the Book of Mormon with them.
As always, we ask for guidance to help the investigators, and we opened our Book of Mormon’s and found a
good section to read with him.
Question 2: Will you ever be able to teach someone in one of the
outer islands? If not, how come that doesn’t happen?
Answer: As of right now, we can't go out there. There are not
any plans to go out there right now, unfortunately. The reason being,., is
there is not enough communication from the outer islands to Yap and Guam. No
internet, and no phones. Once those are there, we could be out there very soon.
Also, there are only 2,000 people in all of the outer islands. Ulithi only has
700 people and it is one of the biggest islands
Question 3: Did you have a favorite moment
from this past week while you were out “finding”?
Answer: Yeah. We were teaching a lady and
she was not interested, but you are finding, so you can't expect a lot. Anyways...
I was trying to offer her a Book of Mormon, and she didn’t accept it. She said that she did not have
time to read. I said, you may have some time in the month to read just a little
bit. She said that she didn’t. I asked her if we could help with something so
she would have time. She said no. It was all really funny, because people here
have nothing but time.
Question
4: Do you have a formal exercise program that you do each morning?
Answer: There
are a couple floating around the mission, like insanity or P90X, I do those sometimes.
Sometimes I just do my one thing.
Question 5: Do you
have a favorite section in Preach My Gospel? If so, which one and why?
Answer: Probably Chapter 4. I like it
because it talks a lot about the Spirit and the role of the Spirit as we teach.
Also Chapter 5 is really good. It talks about the Book of Mormon.
Mom
Yeah, Poison Tree is
really just an islander thing. I don't think it is in places that are not jungly.
I knew that you would get the job at Butte College. I had no doubt. Your
masters will come just like the job. You are great. I think that is really
great that you guys are doing the Book of Mormon
challenge.
Question
6: It seems like the kids are very fond of you. Can you tell me
about your interactions with the kids?
Answer: Ummm…
they just like to come and play. They just like being with me. I am not sure
what to say. I really like the little kids. It provides a good way to visit with
the parents. If they are a little bit older we will play with them, for a
little while, and then work in the gospel.
Question 7: Tell me about a tender mercy from this week.
Answer: Ummm… I didn't get transferred off of Yap. Transfer
calls come in Wednesday and I wasn't told to leave, so that was great. I really
do consider that a tender mercy from the Lord. I really love serving the people
of Yap. Nothing makes me happier. Every transfer I just pray that I will stay
on Yap.
Question 8: How are your allergies?
Answer: Doing well. The
medicine you sent works great. I will only have them for another month or so
and then they will be gone again.
Question 9: It seems like the attendance in Thool is pretty up and down. Why
do you think that is? Are there any trends?
Answer: I am not sure why it does change so much. I
have tried to figure out a trend, but I can't. One week, everyone decides not
to come, the next they all come.
Question 10: What do
you think that we would find the most unique about Yap?
Answer: I am not
sure. It is a pretty unique island. There is the largest currency in the world
(stone money), people don't wear shirts, the language(yapese), the other
language (outer island), the casts system, the rule of the chiefs, the way land
is kept by people, I have been told that the scuba diving is the best in the
world. This is just an amazing island.
Question 11: Have you read the entire Book of Mormon since you have
been gone?
Answer: Yes, several times. I have read most of the Yapese Book
of Mormon too. We started as a Zone to finish in October, so I started over in
reading that. That is where I spend extra time.
Staheli - How are things
going with work? I hope all is going well. I love and miss you.
Reed - Mom said that you
finished the Book of Mormon. Congrats man. That is good. Have fun with school.
I know how much you love it. You can't complain too much, at least you are
getting a good education, unlike people here. Good luck on the basketball team
try outs.
To Everyone
Well,
transfers came and I got a new companion. His name is Elder Waimila. He is from
Fiji. He is a really good Elder. I’m excited to serve with him. Although I got
a new companion, I am still in the same Area. After this transfer I will have
spent 9 months up in Thool. (Note from Dad, there are two areas on Yap,
Thool is the northern and more remote part of the mission) That is a pretty
long time. It is good though. I love the people in Thool.
Church
was good. We had 22 people there. I was very excited about it. I taught the
Youth Sunday school class. We had an investigator there and so I taught one of
the lessons he needed. It was great to have an investigator there again.
We
watched the General missionary broadcasts. I missed most of it because I was
teaching the youth, but from what I saw, it was great. I think it will really help
the members to do more. That is what it was about. Because, as was said in the
film, it is really the members that do missionary work. And that the members
should be helping the missionaries so much that we don't have time to go
finding. Wouldn't that be nice. But that is okay. As long as someone took just
a little bit, and is now willing to be a little bit more bold, It will be
great.
That is
something that I have learned while I have been serving here. Members are what makes
missionary work happen. I didn't understand my opportunity as a member back
home, but now I understand. Members have such an important role.
Things
are still going well with our investigators. Chr*s and D*rlene are back on our
radar. They were off for a while because they were always "busy", but
I think things are starting to look up again. We got a new investigator, his
name is J*hnny. He is a friend of S*m. He is great. He came to church. I am so
excited to teach him. He has a baptism date for the 24th of this month. It so
happens to be the same date as the Youth Camp that we are having. It could be
really really great. I am so excited about it. The youth camp will be like the
one last year. It should be really fun. As always, the missionaries are helping
move things along to make it happen. But it is good.
Well
that is about it. I love you guys so so much. You are amazing and wonderful.
You are the best family every.
I love
you all so so much
Love
Elder
Meyer
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