Letter from Elder Meyer: Member’s sacrifice, but so worth it. Two more baptisms.

Hello Everyone

This was a pretty good week. We had a lot of good things happen. The baptism was awesome. Yes it did happen, and he was confirmed yesterday. So that was great as well.

Dad

That is super crazy about the drought. I did see the picture that is super super low. How much water is in the lake now? When it is full it is about 900 ft deep, but the picture looks really low.

Question 1: Describe the sacrifice and commitment the Yapese members must give in order to go to the temple?

Answer: It is the same commitments that everyone in the world makes. You promise the same stuff, but the sacrifice, it is different in this part of the world. When someone in the states wants to go to the temple, they sacrifice a day to go. Here though, it takes a full week to go to the Philippines and back, and you don't get a whole lot of time in the temple. You get as much as possible, but it is not a lot. They sacrifice as much money as they can, it is not a lot that they give, but as much as they can. 

Question 2: Do you notice blessings and/or improvements in the lives of members there who have gone to the temple?

Answer: Yes, everything in their lives is better. Definitely. I have asked everyone that went, and they all loved it. It was awesome. They all want to go again, and they all have the spirit of the Lord stronger in their lives. 

Question 3: Those that went to the temple, what did they share about the experience?

Answer: They said that the spirit was stronger than they ever felt before. And that they loved being at the temple, it was a quiet, peaceful spot. Nothing outside of the temple mattered, just what they were doing then. 

Question 4: How many lessons and with member’s present this past week?   Answer: We had 8 member presents, and 21 lessons taught. 

Question 5: Did anything happen this past week that you hope you always remember?  Answer: The baptism of R*lphord. 

Question 6: What various emotions have you felt this past week?

Answer: I have felt happy, and joy, and I have felt sad about some things, too.

Question 7: On average, how many people do you talk with in a given day?

Answer: Talk too. I don't know…10 or more people. , but ones that we have a lesson where we can teach the Doctrine of Christ, it averages out to about 3 lessons a day. 

Mom

That is no good that Reed still is not doing super good. I am glad that he was able to go to church for at least part of it. I was fasting for him yesterday. I know that he will come out of this soon. 

That spot on my head… I don't know what it is. I think that it has gotten bigger. It is super weird. 

If you thought that turtle was big, you should see some of the other ones around here. When someone catches one and it is really big, you can't lift it up by yourself. It takes several people to carry it. 

Question 8: Tell me one time when you were teaching this week that you felt guided to say something.

Answer: We were teaching R*lo, and we were reading from the Book of Mormon. I can't remember the chapter that we were reading, but it was just all making sense to me about what I need to say to help him understand the doctrine being taught. I ended up reading that same chapter in the morning, and I know that helped me be able teach him. The spirit just guides you when you listen. 

Question 9:  Did you get any packages?  What was in them?

Answer: I did get a package with all those pop-tarts in them. That was awesome by the way. Have not gotten the mail today. So there could be another. Thanks. 

Question 10:  It sounds like your area is smaller.  Do you have problems finding people to teach?

Answer: Our area is a little bit smaller. When we got 8 missionaries, my area split a little bit. We lost a municipality. It is a little bit hard to find people, just because it is smaller, but we are still doing good. It is always hard to find investigators that will progress without member support.

Question 11:  How do you decide what to talk about at the missionary conferences?

Answer: President Mecham has asked the district leaders to train on a document he created. It is called the 25 keys to extra ordinary missionary work. He linked them to Preach My Gospel and the scriptures. So I train on one of those keys each week. 

Question 12: Tell about something unusual you ate this week.

Answer: President Mecham was here, and we went out to lunch after the meeting with him. We can order anything under $10. I order chicken alfredo. It was unusual. Really good, but not something I normally eat. 

Question 13:  Is it the rainy season or dry season right now?  Does that change what you do?

Answer: Right now it is the rainy season. It doesn’t really change a whole lot. We still go out and see people. It makes it harder to just find people. Most people are hiding away in their house until the rain passes. 

Staheli

Hope you are doing well? Mom said that we might redo the church history trip. That would be really sweet, yeah. I don't remember a ton from the first time around. I just remember how I felt, really. I think that we would all understand more now that we are older. 

Reed

Man… I am sorry that you are not doing well. You are going through some tough trails in your life, but it well end. You will be stronger after it is all over. I promise. Just keep doing what you know is right. 

Grandma

Hope you are doing well. Things are going great here. I am really enjoying the time I get to serve here. It is super fun.

Letter to Everyone

Alright, let me think. That is right… the baptism. There were 2 people baptized. R*lphord and Z*ric.

R*lo was in my area and Z*ric was in the sisters area. It was a really good service. I tried to get A*gistine to baptism R*lo, but that didn't happen. He wanted me to baptize him, so I did. It was really good. A friend of Z*ric baptized him. He was really scared to do it, and I helped him through it. It was a really good service. We had many people there, and it was really good. I will send home some pictures of it. 

I interviewed Z*ric. He is a really good guy. I think that he will do good in the church. Elder Ramiterre interviewed R*lo. He said that it went well. I think things are going really well on Yap right now. 

There is going to be a child of record baptism in my area this week. We have been working with him and his mom, to get them more involved. It is super cool. I am very excited about it. The boy turns 8 on Tuesday, and we are going to baptize him then. It will be really awesome. The boy’s name is J*marion. It is super cool. They are a really good family. The baptism is going to be in the ocean. It is going to be really awesome. 

Well that is about all that is new. I will try and attach those picture.

Love you all so so much.

Elder Meyer

I got some more names for scriptures... you got J*hnny's and M*ry Jane's, right.  Here are the new ones:  R*lphord Ezra Y**rthin and E*phresia L*yan

Letter from Elder Meyer: When you’re on a tiny island for 2 years, the plane coming is noticed. (Q13, Q16). Never baptized someone with just one leg before.

Hello Everyone.

This was a pretty good week. The AP’s didn't make it, but President Mecham did

Dad

That is crazy with Reed. It is a good thing you listened to the spirit. The spirit helps out so so much.

Question 1: Can you share a miracle that you witnessed on the island?

Answer: R***. He has not been able to stop chewing beatlenut, he has not made any progress. Now he is so close. He is only chewing 1 or 2 a day. It is way better than the 30 plus that he was chewing in a day before.

Question 2: Have you seen any priesthood blessings that were especially notable?

Answer: Not that I can think of. Most of the priesthood blessings I see are the ones that I or my companion give.

Question 3: Do members get Patriarchal Blessings?

Answer: They can, but they have to go to Guam or the Philippines to get them. We only have a district on Yap, so no patriarch is on the island.

Question 4: How many lessons this week and how many with members' present?  Answer: we had 23 lessons and 10 with a member present.

Question 5:  How has your testimony grown over the past year?

Answer: I think that I came here believing everything was true, but now I really do feel like I know they are true. Testifying about the doctrines every day, either makes your testimony stronger, or will make you believe you don't really have a testimony. It has made mine stronger.

Question 6: What did you most enjoy doing this past week?   Answer:  I enjoyed baptizing someone this week.  More about that later.

Question 7: If you were to meet the Savior later today, what do you think that would be like?

Answer: Honestly, a little bit scared. I know that it would be a joyful experience, just like when Joseph Smith saw him, or when he appeared to the people in the Book of Mormon. And since it would happen on Yap, I think that it would forever change the island. I think that the spirit would be infinitely times stronger here.

Mom

It is good that you listened to the spirit to. I am not sure where the world would be without the help of the Spirit of God. It would not be good.  I hope you had a wonderful birthday, besides the whole going to the hospital thing. You are, what, 29 years old now right? ha ha

Question 8:  Tell me your favorite thing that happened this week.

Answer: Taking A*gistine teaching with us. It was great. He came with us to see his brother R*lo. It was the best lesson I have ever had. A*gistine taught probably 50% of the lesson. It was so great.

Question 9: Describe a time when you felt directed by the spirit this week.

Answer: Honestly, to take A*gistine teaching with me. I have wanted to for a while, but he lives far from my house and his brother’s house, so it has not worked out. Well, we were close to A*gistines house, so I asked, he said he would love to, and it all went amazingly.

Question 10: Tell me an unusual thing that happened this week.

Answer: That would have to do with the baptism that just happened. You will have to wait to hear the rest.

Question 11: Tell about church - how many there - what did you do - anything unusual?

Answer: I think there were about 20 people there this week. It was okay. I did about the same thing. I taught the young men priesthood class like normal, and then I also lead the music in sacrament meeting. That is about it though. A pretty normal week here in Yap.

Question 12:  Tell about the 1st Councilor - and the GPS coordinates.

Answer: He just went with a member who knows where almost everyone lives. Then he would take his GPS and put a flag where he was. His GPS is the one like dad and I used for camping and stuff. They are going to compile all the info and try and organize rides for the members.

Answer 13:  How was the AP's visit?

Answer: They didn't come. They went to the airport on Guam and then the pilot decided not to show up, so they just went back home.

Answer 14: How was President Mecham's visit?

Answer: It was really good. He talked a lot about the gathering of Israel again. He said that that is something that the General Authorities of the church really want the missionaries to understand by the time they come home.

Question 15: Any baptisms?  Answer: Not from my area, but one in the sister’s area. It was last Saturday. This week, we have one in our area and one in the sister’s area.

Question 16: Did you get any packages?  What was in them?

Answer: Nope, but the plane didn’t come in the middle of the week, and I have not checked mail yet. So maybe soon.

Staheli – How are things at work? I know that you stay really busy that is good though.

Reed - Man o man. You really scare me with all of these concussions and stuff. You be more safe.

To Everyone

Alright, what do I get to tell you guys? Oh yeah, the baptism. So we went down to interview the man being baptized, C*rlos. He is super prepared for the baptism. He has been taught very very well. He is great. Well, C*rlos is an interesting man. He has one leg missing. It is cut off right below the knee. Well, I asked him who he would like to baptize him, and he said me. Yep, that is right. He wanted me to baptize him. I was more that little nervous. I have never baptized someone with only one leg. It was a little bit scary. I said a prayer right before I baptized him and all went well. It was really cool. I really enjoyed being able to baptize him. He is a great man.

After that, we picked up A*gsitine to go see his brother. It was a wonderful lesson. A*gstine is such a good missionary. He is bold, and actually likes to share the gospel with people. It is great. We talked for a long time about the Word of Wisdom. It was great. I think it really helped him out. It was so good. We then read a little bit from the Book of Mormon. A*gistine did a real good job explaining things.

It was great. A*gistine really has the gospel figured out.  He is still in charge for the young men, and is doing a good job.

R*lo is almost ready for baptism. He should be all ready by Saturday. He is very excited. So am I. It is going to be great.

President Mecham is always motivating when he comes. I think that we are going to get some good work done this week. Everyone seems pretty motivated. That’s about it.

Oh wait… one the members had a pet bat and 2 turtles that they were going to eat. So I got a couple of pictures with that. It was pretty awesome. I think that is about it.

I love you guys so so much.

You guys are the best ever.

Love,

Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: You can always have more copra (Q7). Heard an Earthquake coming (Q2, Q10).

Hello Everyone

Things are going pretty good here. We are not going to have a baptism this week, but it should happen next week.

Dad

Sounds like things are going well. Ward Conferences always kept you really busy, but they were a lot of fun.

Question 1:  Does it feel like time is going faster, slower, or the same on the island?

Answer: It feels like it is going really really fast. It has really sped up, knowing my time here is getting smaller and smaller each day.

Question 2:  Did you feel the earthquake on Yap Island?  I think it was 1am and registered 4.9?

Answer: Nope, I have felt them before, but I haven't felt one for a while.

Question 3: What has changed most in your life over the past 1 ½ years since you’ve been serving on Yap Island?

Answer: I would say, maybe enjoying the simple lives people have here. They are sweet and simple, outside stuff doesn't matter, and I like that.

Question 4: What made you smile super huge this week?

Answer: My companion and I were joking around one night, and one of them said something that was super super fun, I can't remember what it was. Elder Mott was eating sunflower seeds and he start chocking on one, he kept laughing and his face was super funny looking. We both just laughed forever.

Question 5: Is there a gospel principle that you have come to really enjoy lately, and if so, why?

Answer: Eternal marriage. Seeing A*gistine and his family come back from the temple, and the other families, and seeing how much it affected them. It was great. It is a principle of Christ that no one else can offer. And it is Awesome!

Question 6: How many lessons and how many with members’ present this week?   Answer: We only got 19 lessons this week. We did have 8 member presents though. It was an alright week. We got to do some service this week too.

Question 7: Any service opportunities this week, could you describe what was done?

Answer: Well, this week we helped someone collect Copra (old coconuts). They use copra for cooking and eating and feeding pigs. You can always have more copra. So we just walked through the jungle looking for copra. You pick it up and through it by the car. It is fun.

Mom

Okay. So we could get iPads in my mission soon too? That would be pretty cool. I am glad you enjoyed your break, but I know that you are excited to teach again. I think that you guys should go on a CES mission together. You are both great teachers and you both really understand the gospel.

Question 8: Do you play basketball on Yap?  Please send a picture of the basketball court.

Answer: I play sometimes. I will start taking pictures of the basketball courts. There are several. Some are really nice and cement and others are just a hoop tied to a tree. It is fun.

Question 10:   Did you feel the earthquake today?  What happens when you have an earthquake?

Answer: I didn't feel one today. It times past. when I felt the earthquake, it  happens so fast, that you don't have time to really do anything. One time, we heard one coming, but we didn't know what it was. Everything  shook, then it was over.

Question 11: How was church yesterday?  How many were there?  It seems like you teach the youth Sunday school class - did you do that today?

Answer: Church was pretty good. It was nothing super special, in fact, in the small Thol Branch, there was only like 15 people to begin, then 4 more came during Sunday school. It was a pretty typical Sunday. I have made a new “deal” with the branch presidency. The 1st counselor will teach the Sunday school youth class every week, because that is also his calling, than I will start working with the young men during priesthood. I will try and do some duty to god stuff with them and really get things going.

Question 12: What is the most challenging question that you have been asked by someone you are teaching?

Answer: I would say that a hard one to answer is about pain and suffering. I mean, I understand that, but when someone is in pain and suffering it is hard to answer. There are many scriptures on it, but it is difficult at the same time.

A while ago when I was teaching J*rom, he would always ask questions about the bible, very specific scriptures and ask us to help interpret them. That was very hard as well.

Question 13: Do people on Yap have smart phones?

Answer: Some, well very few have smart phones, most are just regular phones .

Question 14: Between you and your companion, who is doing the cooking now?  Answer: We are about 50 - 50 most of the time.

Question 15: What does a trip to the store look like?  What is there?  What do you buy?

Answer: Well, when you walk in you have a limited supply of choices. There are lots of canned goods and things like that. Canned soups and raviolis, spam, and always rice. There is normally a supply of ground beef and pork and chicken and hotdogs. It is not the best quality meat, but it is meat. So we buy some of that. We normally get spaghetti sauce and noodles. oh and lots of top-ramon.

Question 16:   What are you doing on P-day today?

Answer: I think we are going to a spot we call the cliffs. It is red dirt that kind of looks like Utah.

It is a fun spot to run around.

Staheli - Hope you are doing well. What do you like to do for fun now? Are you still making lots of wonderful cakes?

Reed - That is an awesome goal to play for the NBA. That would be pretty cool. If you really put your mind to it, you could do it. Make sure you go on a mission first, that is very important.

Grandma - Hey grandma. How are you doing? I love to get your letters. They are always fun to read. They make me so happy. How are things going around the house? It is January, so no more garden, but any trees doing anything?

To Everyone

Alright, what else do I have to share. The 1st counselor from the mission presidency is  on the island. He is working to get transportation for the members. He is going around and trying to find all the houses and get the GPS coordinates. Should be interesting.  I hope he has better luck with finding people then I have. He is taking members here with him, so it could work. People just move around so much and so fast, it is hard. Tomorrow night the APs are coming, so that should be fun. Someone from my group from the Mission Training Center is the AP. He is a really good missionary. I am excited to see him. They go back to Guam on Saturday, and President Mecham comes in the same Saturday. So it is going to be a crazy week here. We are going to have many visitors from Guam. It should be good. When people come it gives us a new drive for the work, so it will be good.

R*lo is doing really good. He did not go to church is what I was told. He goes to the other branch so it is closer. So if he didn't go, he won’t be baptized this Saturday. I am sad about that, but it should happen next week. I am going to go see him today at his office, then we will have a lesson with him tomorrow.

You now the two boys that I am looking out after?  Well, one of them is kind of lost, a little bit. No one has seen him for a while, if he goes to seminary he is not his normal self. I have tried to find him, but I have not been able to. He is making me a little bit worried, but I am sure that I will find him and talk to him soon.

Well that is about it.

I love you guys so so much. You are the best family ever.

Love you

Love Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: One Unhappy Pig. In the Village, where will this path go? (Q11). Fav food = Swamp taro with coconut milk (Q14).

Hello Everyone

Things went pretty well this week. We should have a baptism on the 25th of January, so that is awesome.

 

Leading music

one unhappy pig

Dad

Sounds like all is going well. I feel so blessed to be your son. I am the lucky one, not you.

Question 1: Learn any important “life lessons” this past week?

Answer: Patience is key. Nothing really specifically happened, just when you are working with different people, and they use their agency in not good ways, you just need to be patient with them.

Question 2: Could you describe one of the best teaching moments this week and why it was the best?

Answer: We were teaching R*lo, he should be baptized on the 25th. We were teaching the Word of Wisdom. The spirit was so so strong when we were there. He understood and didn't argue with it at all. It was the best because of the Spirit. I have never felt the Spirit so strong when teaching the Word of Wisdom before. I think that he was just spiritually ready to hear it.

Question 3: How do the men generally treat the women on the island?

Answer: Women don't have the rights like they do in the states. They are very much underneath the men of Yap. That goes back to the culture. The men are in charge. For the most part, men are not mean to women, but it does happen like that sometimes. What the man says goes, for the most part.

Question 4: For those that belong to other church’s that teach about Christ, what would they most be interested to learn about from the missionaries?

Answer: Honestly, for the most part, if they are active in another church they don't want to talk to us, but when they do listen, they like to agree with us about who Christ is and what He did for us.

If we connect that, and then lead into the Apostasy, they are okay, but question the Restoration.

Question 5: Did something happen this week that made you LOL (Laugh Out Loud)?

Answer: President Mathew was teaching Sunday School and we were playing a game like hang man, one of the sisters in the branch said “O.” Pres Mathew didn't not hear at first and just kept telling her to say a letter. I said she said “O” and then he yells. O, O O, O. It was funny.  One of the missionaries cut it on video. It was great.

Question 6: When you get to a new home that you haven’t visited before… how exactly does the introduction conversation go?

Answer: They immediately know who we are. I try to connect with them somehow. Something they have, or something that they are doing. Just a connection outside of the church. Talk for a little bit, and then share a message.

Question 7: How many Book of Mormons do you typically share in a week?

Answer:  Oh, I don't know. It depends on the week, how often we go finding. Sometimes only like 1 or 2 if that is all the new investigators we have. Sometimes like 10 or so if we get a lot of referrals or find a lot of people.

 

Elders on a Preparation Day

Mom

Sounds like you are going to stay pretty busy with teaching. I know that you will enjoy that better. Sorry that you were sick. Are you better now.

Question 8: Did you get any packages this week?  What was in them?

Answer: Yes. I got one from Karen and Bob and Grandma, (Candy and caramels and fudge) an other from  Grandma and Grandpa Meyer, (wire puzzles) and one from the high priests group. (ties, cards, and a book made by the ward)

Question 9:  How many were at church?  What did you do at church?   Answer: 25ish. I taught the Young Men class.

Question 10: Describe one fun thing did you do this week?   Answer: We helped Jesse cut down some wood to build a house for him. It was a lot of fun.

Question 11: How do you find people in the village you are in right now?

Answer: We walk around and call out for them. If they say we can come, we go and start chatting to them. If not, we don't go in. It is really hit and miss on finding people Sometimes paths lead somewhere, sometimes they don't.

Question 12: How are the sister's doing?  How do they help the missionary effort in ways that the Elder's don't?

Answer: They are doing really really great. They are teaching a lot of people. They are able to work with the women in the branch; able to take them teaching. We, as Elders can't, unless another adult male is with us. Most of the time the men are working somewhere so we can't take the women, but the sisters can.

Question 13: Describe something you saw this week that I would think was amazing.

Answer: How fast people can climb up and coconut tree or betelnut tree. It is crazy. It is just a stick growing out of the ground and they just walk up it like monkeys.

Question 14: What is your favorite thing to cook and eat on Yap?   Answer: Swamp taro with coconut milk over top. It is delicious.

Staheli - Hope things are going well. I really enjoyed talking to you at Christmas and hearing about what you are doing.

Reed - Good job on keeping the legacy going. Sorry that you were sick, that is no fun. Keep preparing for your mission. I would read from PMG.

Grandma and Karen and Bob -  Thank you so much for the package. It sure does mean a lot to me. The fudge and caramels are delicious. I really love them. My companion loves the fruit punch mix too.

Grandma and Grandpa Meyer - Thank you for the puzzles. They are so much fun. I am going to try to use them in lessons and how all things are possible. My companion has really enjoyed trying to figure them out. We have almost done all of them. Some are really hard though.

Letter to Everyone:

Let’s see, what else is new. I feel like I told you everything that happened this week. R*lo should be baptized on the 25^th. It is going to be so awesome. I can't wait for his  baptism. He is doing really really good. He has a strong desire to learn about this gospel. He is A*gistine’s brother. I think that is helping a lot too. They talk a lot about the gospel together.

The less active we found with R*vinio is still doing good. She came to church again. Her son is named J*marion Ken B*gulrow. He turns 8 on Feb 4. We are helping him great ready for his baptism. They have not gone to church in a long time, so it is like teaching an investigator.  He is a really cool kid.

Also now teaching a really good family.   Her name is J*nnifer L*yan. She would like to go to the temple. So we are going to help her prepare to go. It is going to be really really great.

I am now in charge of teaching the young men for priesthood. They got the 2014 manual and President Mathew would like me to teach them. Most of the time they just run around and play outside, because the Elders Quorum is sometimes boring. I am going to try to keep things up beat and fun. The new manual is pretty good. I like it.

Well that is about it. I love you all so so much. You are the best family every

Oh scriptures... Did I ask you to order one for J*hnny.  If not, his and the new one:

J*hnny K*gnang Tm*n

M*ry J*ne F*langr*w

That would be so great. Thanks you guys really are the best every

Love you,

Elder Meyer