Hello Everyone.
[ Note: Here is a video showing 2 of Elder Meyer's friends racing up a tree to harvest coconuts. We're going to need to plant some here in Chico... --Dad ]
Dad
I am glad that you have enjoyed conference. I am glad work is
going so well; that is really good. I still don't fully understand what you are
doing. I know you keep telling me, but i have just got so much stuff going in
my brain, it is hard to keep it all straight.
Question 1: General Conference
speakers talked about how important it is to stay committed to supporting moral
standards in our community. Even if the world is trending another way. Do you find it difficult, or rather easy for
Yapese members of the Church to live God’s standards… or are they looked down
upon or prejudiced against because of such standards?
Answer: Some
of them are harder and some are easier. Keeping the Sabbath day holy is more of
an accepted standard because the Catholic Church has been here for so long. The
dress standard is frowned upon here, and so is the Standard of keeping our body
healthy and strong; namely because of betelnut.
Question 2: Have you ever taught someone about
Jesus Christ that didn't know anything about Him? If so, what are your key messages?
Answer: I haven't taught someone that knows nothing
about Christ, just someone who knows little. What I focus on is what He has
done for us. His Atonement for us, and why he did it… and what He requires of
us to do to partake fully of the Atonement.
Question 3: How are things progressing with that “other outer island”
language?
Answer: Well, it is very very
hard. I have been told that this language is easy, but I am having a hard time
with it. My brain is structured in Yapese, it doesn’t accept this new language.
In fact, my brain is kicking out English a little bit. I find myself talking to
myself in Yapese often. I am trying though. This 2nd new language is
close to Chuuckese. . Chuuckese is the easiest language in the mission. I am
going to keep trying, but I am having a hard time.
Question 4: If
one of the Elders were to get hurt, say a broken bone… what exactly would
happen and how would you go about getting care? Do you know if anything like
that has happened before?
Answer: Well, he
would go to the hospital here on Yap first. If they could not take care of it,
he would fly to Guam on the next flight. He would stay there until it was all
good, then come back. Elder Mafi, broke his ankle here. He left right before I
got here. He went to Guam for a while and came back.
Question 5: We gain knowledge a bit at a time…
is there something you've learned recently that you are grateful to have
learned?
Answer: I have studied a little bit about
adversity, and burdens that we are given. There is a lady in the branch having
a hard time with this. We are going to talk to her tonight. What I have learned
is that God gives us challenges in our life for a couple of reasons, one to
"test" our faith. To see if we are truly committed to Him, or not.
Second, to help us learn. The challenges we are given teach us something. We
may not understand what we are learning until it is over, but we learn
something from every problem. And as always to help us increase or faith in Him.
Question 6: Do you know of anyone on the
island that may be considered very wealthy?
Answer: No one here would be considered wealthy
by the standards in the states. By the standards here, yes people are wealthier
than others. The guy who owns the church’s’ property is wealthy.
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Elder Meyer and a bunch of stone money, and a
community house in the back ground.
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Question 7: Besides growing local food and fishing, what jobs do the
members of the Church have?
Answer:
One works on the Education board, several members teach school, some fix
computers like Aug*stine, some work at the stores here.
Question 8: Dance is such a predominant part
of the Yapese culture, have you learned anything about what the dances
generally mean? Could you teach someone from the states how to do a Yapese dance?
Answer: I understand so little about the
dances and what they mean. I have seen many of dances; I know what some of them
mean. Each dance is very unique. They all tell stories about the culture here
and the legends here. The problem is, the words in the dances are so old, that
the most people on the island do not understand them. Very few people actually
know what is going on in the dances.
Question 9: When you look back over this prior week, was there
anything that happened that put a huge smile on your face?
Answer:
M*ldon getting the priesthood. It was great.
Question 10: How many lessons did you get to teach this
past week, and how many with members present?
Answer: This was a
tough week. We had 20 lessons and 6 with a member present. Elder Garrett wants me to thank you for
making me accountable to you for what I am teaching here.
Mom
Those are great quotes for the
1st presidency; I really love them, thank you. I told Elder Ramiterre about the
scriptures, he is so excited.
Question 11: Please tell me
about the people that you are currently teaching.
Answer: J*ven is a young boy that we just found. He
is really interested, but he is not sure how his parents will react. He said
that he really wants to learn more. We taught him the restoration, and he
seemed to like it. He gave us the name of one of his friends to go and teach,
so he liked most of what we shared. Another young boy his name is Br*ndon, we
taught him in the past, he has never been interested before, now, his girlfriend
is about to be baptized. He is more interested now. He wants to learn
more. There is a girl named Abb*. She is
form the Philippines. She is interested in the gospel, but she is not sure how
her parents will react. I have talked with the mom, she seemed okay with us
teaching Abb*, but didn't want us to teach her.
Question 12: Tell
me about your companion. I know he is
from the Philippines and doesn't cook much.
What else?
Answer: My
companion is from Fiji. I have also had a companion from the Philippines
though. He is a great guy. He is very excited about the gospel. And he enjoys sharing it with others. He is a
little shy. He says, he doesn't know English very well. He is really funny, and
connects with the people here.
Question 13: When you go and teach a lesson - tell my how it typically goes.
Answer: That is a very broad question. It really depends on the person. Sometimes
they are more accepting, sometimes not. It really depends on the person. If it
goes well, the Spirit is there and it is great, if not, they just listen, and
don't pay attention.
Question 14: What
would you like for Christmas?
Answer: I have no
idea. I have not thought about that at all, I will start thinking.
Question 15: Chips and Salsa are on the way. Anything else you crave?
Answer:
Jell-O or brownies or cheese-its.
Staheli
- It was so great to hear from you. I love to hear how you are doing. I really
am enjoying my time here on Yap. I have learned so much, and I love to share
the restored Gospel with the people here. It brings me so much joy. Thanks for
the email. I really do love hearing from you.
Reed
- How is it going? Did you make the team? I am very curious.
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| Hazard marked... |
To Everyone
Well,
time is about out, so I will go fast. I took a long time answering your
questions today. They were really good questions. Let’s see what is new. President
Mecham will be flying in on Saturday. To that should be good. It is raining
really hard here right now. They road to my house is super muddy. It is so hard
to get in and out. In fact right now, there is a bus stuck in the road and the
wheels are completely covered in mud. It is crazy. I never know if I am going
to make it out from my house to go and teach people. It makes things pretty
crazy. We are still seeing a lot of people. We are working with so many less
actives right now. It is good. We are seeing several of them getting excited
about the gospel again. It makes me so happy to see people progress in the
gospel. I love it.
Could
you send me a copy of the “Book of Mormon Movie” and the “Other Side of Heaven”.
I have got people asking for those.
Thanks
you guys are the best.
I love
you guys so so much. You are truly the best family ever.
I love
you all
Love
Elder Meyer
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