Letter from Elder Meyer: Leaving YAP… last letter

[Note from Dad:  These pictures are some of my personal favorites gathered over the past two years.  He is now on a plane heading home.]

Hello Everyone

I know that my mission is coming to a close, it may not feel like it, but I know it is. I have spent the last two years among a people that have very little, but have everything at the same time. I have grown to love them so so much. These people, here, are my family. When I left on my mission, I was leaving my home in Chico, and going to a strange country. Well, the same is true now. It sure feels that way. I feel like I am packing up to leave my home here on Yap, and am going to a strange place. This island has forever changed me.

I love this gospel. I know that it is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. The Priesthood has been restored, with the true church of Christ. We have a prophet today. Jesus Christ is our Savior and he Lives. I love Him and I love our Father.

Alright… So you know about the baptisms, that was awesome. It was so great to have three baptisms on my last Saturday here. Really awesome.

Things are still going really great in our area. This area is on fire.

My goal for the end of my mission was to get these three baptized before I left, and have Yap be at half of our goal. We are not quite half way yet, but it could happen before the end of the month. My other goal was to leave my companion with plenty of people to be teaching. Well, that is the case right now. We are teaching so many people, it is great. That fulfills my other half of the same goal, that Elder Waimila's new comp, will be in the middle of a fast paced area. Well, the Saturday he gets here, he will have a baptism, so that is about as fast as it gets. So I am feeling good about that.

We have the best area on the island right now and it is all because of unity and hard work. And man it is paying off. On Saturday we will have another baptism. Her name is R*lin. She is the sister of one of the people baptized on the 14th. So that is good. They are the first in their family. So there are some good things happening there. Also, on the 28th there should be two baptisms so that is awesome. We could have a couple on the 5th and a couple on the 12th of July. So that is amazing.

Well, this is the last time that I am going to write to you on my mission. The last two years have gone by so fast. It is crazy

Dad

Question 1:  How much do you love the Lord now compared to 2 years ago?

Answer: An infinite more times!! He is almost an entire different person to me now. I have never felt so close to Him. I know that He is my Savior and my Redeemer. There is no doubt in my mind.

Question 2: How much to you love the Yapese people compared to 2 years ago?

Answer: Oh so much more. I loved them four years before I got here, but now the love is oh so real. These wonderful people here, they are my family. They are amazing. I have grown to love them so much. I see them as Christ sees them. They have taught me so much. I didn't know it was possible for me to love a strange new group of people this much.

Mom

I am glad that reed is doing good. I hope that he is going to be better soon. You know, I don't feel trunky at all. I don't really even feel like I am going back to the states soon. I have been so busy working, there has been no time to be trunky. It is awesome.

Question 3:  How many lessons this week?  How many with members present?   Answer:  We had 34 lessons, 23 of them were member present.

Question 4:   How were the baptisms?  How many were there?

Answer: The baptisms were amazing. Oh so amazing. It was awesome. There were 3 people baptized.

It was great. The service was great. I baptized and confirmed one of them. It was great to be able to do that. His name was D*llion. He is awesome. We had a fireside on Sunday, and one the people confirmed gave the closing prayer at the fireside. It was pretty cool to see.

Question 5:   Did you ever get your birthday box of chocolate?

Answer: I did. I have eaten so much of it. And given a lot away to the young men. They really like it.

Question 6:  Did you get the scriptures we sent about 10 days ago?  Answer: Not yet. I can get mail one more time before I go. I hope they will make it.

Question 7:  Share one thing you have learned about yourself while serving a mission.

Answer:  I have learned that I once I decide and put my mind to something, I am going to do it. If I want to do something, I can.   But I have also learned, I can't do it by myself. I have to have help. And anything is possible with the Lord.

I love you all. You are the best family every.

Love

Elder Meyer.

Letter from Elder Meyer: What taste like “fishy beef (Q3)? Plane trouble. Can’t believe coming home, it hasn’t hit him yet.

Hello everyone

Dad

I am so glad that you love your calling. I was talking to the branch president on Yap before, and he said the same thing. That he loves to help the people, and is doing his best to do what the Lord wants him to do. Sounds like the missionary committee is getting bigger, that is really awesome.  Going to Israel later this summer sounds awesome. I think that would be really awesome. I would really enjoy doing that. Is it possible that we, or I, could stop on Yap, on the way back to the states!!??? Cause that would be pretty awesome as well. I think you guys picking me up in San Fran airport, rather than Chico, is fine.

Question 1:  What did you basically say during your testimony at the mission home?

Answer:  I guess I just shared what I know to be true. That Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. We have a prophet; you know the usual stuff, I guess. One thing I talked a lot about was how important it is to love the people you are serving. I have such a strong love for the people of Yap, and I know that that is sooo important when serving a mission, you just have to love the people that you are serving. 

Question 2: What are you hoping to get accomplished in the next 2 weeks before you come home?

Answer: I am hoping we baptize 4 people in my area before I go home. That is my plan. Also, to just strengthen the members here.

Question 3: Have you eaten any turtle?   Answer:  Yep. It is really really good. It is like a fishy beef taste, if that makes sense.

Question 4: Have you met anyone on the island that we might consider wealthy?    Answer: Yes, he is an American; he is in charge of local hotel. That is it though.

Question 5: Did you have a lesson that went especially good this week, could you describe it? 

Answer: I would say the lesson with D*llion. He is going to be baptized on Saturday. We taught the ten commandments. And the way he was talking about everything, was that he believed in God. The first time we met him, he did not believe, but now the way he talks, he just does.

Question 6: Of all the beautiful scenery, what have you seen that is the most beautiful?

Answer: I would say the ocean. Looking at the sun set on the ocean, with coconut trees, and a man house. Wow that is nice.

Mom

The picture was of me bearing my testimony because it was my last Zone leader council in Guam so everyone who is leaving soon gets to share their testimony. I have been on Guam since Wednesday morning and am so excited to go back. I can't wait. We leave tomorrow night around 11 pm.  Also, in case the next box arrives after I leave, I will ask the other missionaries to give the scriptures to them.

Question 7:  Do you know anyone who had gotten their patriarchal blessing? Which tribe are they from?

Answer: Everyone I know from Yap, that got their patriarchal blessing, is from the tribe of Manasseh. Elder Waimila just got his this week, and he is from Ephriam. 

Question 8: Describe a scene that brought a big smile to your face?

Answer: Just getting back together with everyone I was in the Mission Training Center with; 2 years ago. It was really fun to see them all again, and to be able to talk about our missions together. So that was awesome. Also Sister David was on Yap, and got sent to Guam, and we saw her. It was really fun. She was really excited to see us. I think she really misses Yap.

Question 9: What is something that happened this week that made your just really laugh this week?

Answer: Umm... We did a choir practice for the youth. They were all really really shy to sing, and didn't sing, so it was pretty much the missionaries singing. It was pretty funny.

Question 10: How many people were at church this week?  Answer: There  were around 70 people… it was pretty good. We had 6 investigators there too. It was awesome.

Letter to Everyone

Alright, honestly there is not a whole lot to say because I have been here on Guam for a week. But we were looking at 6 people to be baptized by the time that I leave, but the number dropped a little bit because some didn't go to church. But it is still good. We had 2 baptisms on Yap on Saturday and they were both confirmed, but I was not on the island to see them, so that was a little bit sad. It is okay though. All went well. I am excited to go back and to see them and to talk to them. I will have to get some pictures of them so I can have them with me. So that is two that could be baptized. Um… J*stin and Tr*cy are the ones that were baptized, I was so excited for them.  The other ones we are looking at are also really awesome

Here on Guam, on Saturday, there were 5 baptisms in the Barriguda ward. It was really cool, and a little tender mercy from the Lord. Of the five baptisms, there were 2 of them that were Yapese. It was crazy. There are very few Yapese on the island of Guam, and to have 2 baptized who came from Yap, at the same time we had 2 baptized on the actual island of Yap… this was just awesome to me. It helped me feel like everything is going to work out the way it needs to. The Lord is in this work, and he is in charge. We just need to be ready to listen and to do what he says, no matter what.

Following week’s letter:

Alright so we came back from Guam on Wednesday morning around 4:30am. It was not fun. We are on the plane, and I fall asleep, I wake up, and we are getting ready to land. I ask Elder Waimila if we are on Yap and he said no, we are on Guam again. I was like, “what?” I look out the window, and there are a ton of lights… way too many to be Yap, I ask what is wrong. He said something is wrong with the plane, so we all get off the plane and wait in the airport. I thought we would be stuck there for until Saturday. But it got fixed, and we made it back. When we got back, everything was really slow. Nobody was home, we could not find our investigators, being gone for an entire week was not good. It really hurt our area. But now that we are back things are going strong again. Saturday and Sunday were good days, we had lots of lessons, and things went well. We should have 4 baptisms before I leave Yap. So that is going to be really great. The APs flew in on Sunday morning, so that was good. They are here now. They are really good missionaries. We take them back to the airport tomorrow night. We have not had that much sleep this week. I am really excited about Yap and my area. It is going really really good.

D*llion is doing great. I told you about him earlier, he is awesome. I really love teaching him. He should be baptized on Saturday.

M*lisa  is ready for baptism as well. We are really excited for her too. She will be baptized on Saturday as well. She is so excited to be baptized. She wants to be baptized today, but we said Saturday would be better.

R*na - she is a girl that we have been teaching for a little while. She has come to church 3 times, and  really wants to be baptized. We have had a lot of good lessons with her just recently, and she said she wants to be baptized with M*lisa, so that is what we are going to do. So that is three.

Al*kita should be baptized on the 18th, my last day on the island. She is really good. She just didn't go to church enough times. We had to reschedule her baptism date. Elder Waimila said the 18th, I liked that because I would still be here. Normally the baptisms are on Saturday, but she wants to do it on Wednesday.

Well that is about what is going on here. I sure do love it here. I don't even feel like I am going home soon. It still feels forever away. It is going to hit me one day soon. Probably when I am on the plane, but as of now, I just don't feel like I am leaving Yap.

I love the people here so much. I love serving them. I love this gospel. 

I love you all so so much

You are the best family every

Love
Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: It’s coming to a close. A basketball miracle (end of letter).

Saying "goodbye" to Yap Island

2 years on this tiny island... but big miracles were witnessed.

  

Hello everyone

This was a pretty good week. I am in Guam right now, we had a meeting yesterday. It was really good.

Dad

Don't worry about the short letters, you are doing amazing work, you just need to focus on that. I do want to get as much work done as I can before I go home. When you said that, man, it made me hurt a little inside. I know that I am going home soon, but I don't feel like I am leaving soon. It just doesn't seem right to leave Yap. I don't feel like it is going to happen soon. Then when you said that, it kind of made me realize I am leaving sooner. I want to have 23 people baptized on the island before I go. The goal is 45 for the year, so that is half.

Question 1: How often is the Holy Ghost noticeably present during your teaching times?

Answer: Honestly, almost every lesson. It is rare, but very noticeable when the spirit is not in a lesson.

Question 2: Have you learned anything during your mission that will make you a better dad, when that time comes about?

Answer: I would say patience. I have learned how to be more patient and also helping people make the right decisions; Allowing them to use their agency, but to help them use it in a helpful way. 

Question 3: If you had chosen not to go on a mission, what would you have missed?

Answer: I would have missed out on everything. I am a new person now. I see everything differently. My testimony would not be where it is today. It would be weak. 

Question 4: What have you been praying for lately?

Answer: I have been praying for a couple of people, specifically C*lvina, J*stin and Al*cia.  Also that our entire mission will reach 1,000 baptisms for the mission, and 45 in Yap for the year. 

Question 5: How many lessons and with member’s present? 

Answer: We had 31 lessons this week and 23 of them were member present lessons.

Question 6: How did your best lesson go this week and what made it so?

Answer: I would say our lesson with a new investigator. His name is D*llion. He has no background in God, so we are starting at the beginning, and it was just really awesome to testify something so simple that God exists. Most people here believe in God, but he is not sure. We had a really awesome lesson with him, and it he really felt the Spirit.

Question 7: What made you smile this past week?  Answer: Sunday, we had 6 investigators at church, it was awesome.

Question 8: Can you describe what makes missionary work so rewarding?

Answer: Seeing people change from doing bad things, and living a miserable life, to doing good things and see them filled with the light of Christ.

Mom

So there were 2,000 people at stake conference. That is so many people. I can't believe it. That is crazy. Sounds like prom was really fun. Could you also send another basketball, the one you sent is almost entirely destroyed. The kids here love basketball.  

Question 9:  Are you ever cold on Yap?

Answer: Yes I am. If there is an air conditioner on somewhere, I am cold. If it rains, I am cold. 

Question 10: Tell about a recent activity that took place.

Answer: Every Friday night, we have a sports night. So we had a lot of members and others there at the church playing basketball. It was really fun. I got to talk to some of the investigators that we had there, and it really helped. It helps them see that we are normal people not just people who share the gospel. We know how to have fun.

Question 11:  Describe a scene that you see often, that you think would surprise me.

Answer: Just the beauty of the sunrise or setting over the ocean. It is really nice. Way better in person than any camera can show. 

Question 12: Do you ever eat meals with members?

Answer: Sometimes. They don't invite us over like they do in the states. It is much different, but if they have food, they will give us some while we are there at their house. 

Question 13:  Who cooks - you or Elder Wamilia?

Answer: We both do. Neither of us is any good at it, but we just make stuff up and hope it comes out okay.

Question 14: Tell me something that happened this week that made you smile.

Answer: Teaching this mostly deaf guy. We were teaching about the prophet. How God always calls a prophet. I did the pen thing, and it didn't work because he wouldn't follow my hand he would go the opposite way when his eyes were open. Then Elder Waimila just says we have a prophet today he is going to speak on Sunday… okay let’s pray. And then we left. It was so funny. He didn't understand us very well, and Waimila just ended the lesson. 

Sharing final testimony in leadership meeting... before coming home.

Letter to Everyone

Alright, I can send picture because I am on Guam, but I am almost out of time, so I will go fast. This was a tough week teaching wise. We still did good, but it was a little bit harder. We should have a couple of baptism this month. So that is going to be awesome. I really hope that we can make it to 23 before I leave. We had a really awesome lesson after playing basketball. There were a bunch of boys at a basketball court, and I challenged them to a game of basketball if my team won… we get to have a lesson. So it was great. I got some of the young men to help us play. Well, we were behind 4 to 11  and then we won 28 to 30. The boys were really mad at first.  I thought it was going to be a terrible lesson, but by then end, it was great. They all felt the spirit and they were not so mad anymore. So that was good. We taught about the restoration and Prophets. They all really understood it. They all accepted a baptismal date, so that was really good. It was awesome. A member that was less active was playing as well. He was so not very happy when we started the lesson. The whole time I was praying for the spirit to be in the lesson, and that we would win the game. At the end of the lesson the less active kid came up to me and told me to go and see him and that he forgot everything inside the Book of Mormon, and that he wants to learn more. So that was really awesome. We are expecting to have a good week as soon as we get back to Yap. We will get there Wednesday morning around 4 am. We got to Guam Sunday around 7 so we didn't sleep all day Saturday until Sunday night, so it was a long Sunday yesterday, but it was great.

I love you all so so much.

You are the best family ever. I don't say it enough.

Love Elder Meyer