Letter from Elder Meyer: More missionaries on Yap, Language translation, Shorter tie? Yapese guy moving to Reno, Almost beat up this week.

Hello Everyone.

I have some very exciting news. We got another missionary. He is from the Philippines. His name is Elder Baliling. He is pretty quiet. He is companions with Elder Ramiterre and Elder Tueller. And check this out. We might be getting another Elder in the middle of this transfer. So sometime before the beginning of May. Wow, we went from three Elders to five in a week. And, we might be going to six. I am super excited about it. I can't wait for there to be six on the island. It is going to be super fantastic.

Dad

That is so many missionaries. I think when I left there was only about 52,000 that is almost going to be doubled soon. That is crazy. I am really excited that there are going to be so many missionaries. Sounds like things are going pretty well at home. Encampment was really fun. Make sure there is good food there. haha. Make sure you tell Natalie congrats for me.

Question 1: Do you know how the language translation has worked for General Conference to Yapese?

Answer: Yes, the translators on Yap get general conference a couple of weeks before it is broadcast. They work on the translating. And then send it to Guam. People in charge on Guam go thru everything and put it together. So the people who are translating have already read most of the conference talks.

Question 2: Favorite thing so far about being a trainer?

Answer: Just seeing how excited the new missionary is about everything. It reminds me of how I felt when I first came. Everything they see is new and super cool. Not just how you live, now like me. Also it makes me feel like I have learned a lot of Yapese. The new missionaries come from the Mission Training Center with a great spirit as well.

Question 3:  How would you describe your testimony of Christ now, compared to when you left on your mission?

Answer: Well, it is so much stronger now. I would almost say that before it was like it was just a little kid’s testimony. Now it is so so so much stronger. I just love sharing it too, it is so great.

Mom

That whole ant thing on your car is kind of gross. There are a lot of ants in the Colonia apartment. We don't have very many in Thool.

Question 4: Why are you tying your tie shorter and shorter?  I am concerned that either you are growing taller and that is how you have to tie your ties now, or your ties have shrunk! Please explain.

Answer: Umm, I had not noticed that. Umm, I guess I could be getting a little taller. I am not sure. I guess my ties could be shrinking. But most likely I am just tying them shorter. I haven't noticed it though. Sometimes I just tie and go out and don’t really look to see the length. I bet that I am just tying them shorter. Not for any good reason, it just happens.

Question 5: Are you spending all your time in Thool?  How is that going?

Answer: Yes. I am serving up there now. It is going pretty well. It is a lot slower pace than Colonia. I am going to do all I can to make the work go faster. I hope I can do so.

Question 6: Who are you teaching?

Answer: We are teaching Chr*s. He is outer island, and pretty interested. He is going to be a great investigator. He wants to learn more about Christ. We have met with him once so far, and he seemed pretty excited. We are still teaching G**rge. He has disappeared for a little while. We got two new investigators they are both 13 or 14. They want to learn more about our church, it might not happen though because their parents might not be happy about it.

Question 7: Describe a typical non Prep-day at Thool.

Answer: You get up and study for like 4 hours. (Because I am training, extra study time) then we go out. We just try to visit all the people we can. It is the same schedule as in Colonia. The only difference is that there are less people to teach up here. So what we are going to do is focus a lot on the less actives and part member families. That should give us some new investigators and get more people at church. That is a typical day. Going out and teaching. We see less people up in Thool though. That makes me sad, because I love to teach the people.

Question 8: What is different about being a trainer?

Answer: You are responsible for thinking of things to do. The new missionary does not know anyone and does not know where anything is. So it is up to me to find stuff to do. When I was with anyone else, we came up with people to see together.

Staheli - How is it going up there in Reno? Guess what? Someone from here is planning on moving to the states. He is planning on living with his brother who... lives in Reno. His name is Jesse. He is paralyzed from the waist down. He is trying to get some surgeries to fix it. The doctors think it might be possible. He is going to the Philippines for the surgery and then moving to Reno. So you might see a Yapese guy in Reno. Keep your eyes out.

Reed - That is too bad about your foot. I hope it gets better soon. Are you going to school? If so are you just walking on it.

To Everyone

Well, this has been a pretty cool week. We got a new missionary. That is so awesome. I am still really excited. I almost got beat up this week. There was a really drunk guy. He was just super drunk. I actually used to teach him about the gospel. He asked for a ride in the car. I told him I wasn't allowed to. He was mad then walked off. Well, I was trying to see a less active member and he was sitting right next to her. Well, he came over and started yelling at me and stuff, he got really close to me and his fist was closing, my companion and the member where getting really anxious. Then the drunk guys friend saw that he was about to punch me and told him to leave. They both left and it was fine. Not a scratch on me. I was just glad he didn't have a machete. I would have been scared if he had one. I was just chilling there talking to him trying to calm him down. I made an audio journal of this. It is in much more detail. I will send it home soon.

Elder Hatch and I are getting along great. He is a really good guy. My problem now is just making sure I give him opportunity to teach. I really love teaching people and I tend to overpower the lessons. With him being so new, he has just not figured everything out yet. I need to just help him and let him teach. But I am doing my best to help him and give him opportunities to teach. He is doing well though.

Some more exciting news... When I first started my mission there was somewhere around 63 missionaries, well after next transfer we will have around 115. Which is the most amount of missionaries we can have in our mission. pretty cool. Right?

Well, I think that is about all that I have. Nothing else is super new here.

I love you guys so so much. You are the best family in the whole world. I am so grateful for everything that you guys have and are doing for me. I love you all.

Thank you so much for that chili. That was really really good. That dinner kind of stuff is really good. Anything like that you can send is great. You guys rock.

Love Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: “Yap is the place for me”, Knocking doors is strange, I like walking thru the jungle

Hello Everyone. This has been an interesting week for me, but more on that later. Sounds like you had a crazy week too.

In Guam picking up new companion. 

Dad

Sounds like your week was crazy. I hope that Reed will be okay. You guys sure have bought a lot of new cars recently. That is pretty crazy. You guys are falling apart without me there. ha ha

Question 1:  Tell us all about your trip to Guam?

Answer: Crazy. There are way too many cars and way too many people. Things are always so so busy and crazy. Yap is the place for me.

Question 2: How did the Easter event go?

Answer: From what I heard it was good. I was still in Guam when it happened.

Question 3: Where is your new companion from? 

Answer: His name is Elder Cody Klingeler Hatch. He is from Idaho Falls. He says that his mom has a Facebook.

Question 4:  When you think about last week, what puts the biggest smile on your face and why?

Answer: Coming back to Yap from Guam. I was really mad that I was leaving Yap. I know it was to pick up a missionary but, Yap is my home. I was not excited to go. But coming back, I literally did have the biggest smile on my face.

Question 5:  If you could travel back in time, anytime, where would you like to visit and why?

Answer: I would go back to the time of Christ. I would want to see the resurrected Christ. We watched Easter Dream for the fireside last night. Ii would want to see the resurrected Christ.

Question 6: Any interesting personal study revelations during scripture study lately?

Answer: Honestly, not really. Since i have been on Guam I really didn't have any time to study. It was sad. Things are just crazy there.

Mom 

Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun at the Young Women’s thing. That is really cool that you went all funny. You are good at that stuff, then bringing it into your lesson. They will always remember it.

Question 7: Tell me about your new companion?

Answer: Elder Hatch. He is from Idaho Falls. He is 19, and he likes snowboarding and wake boarding. He is excited to be in Yap finally.

Question 8:   Are you in Thool or Colonia?

Answer: Thol

Question 9:   Who are you teaching?

Answer: Right now we have two investigators. Ar*son and G**rge. Ar*son is 14, he is a friend of P*ter. He came to church and we taught him at church during Sunday school. He and P*ter were the only youth there. G**rge is and older man.

Question 10: Tell me about church - how many were there, what did you do, anything interesting.

Answer: 17 people. I taught the Sunday school youth. Nothing really interesting. Just the normally Thool stuff.

Question 11: Did you get the new videos we sent?

Answer: I got the one box of videos. Is there more coming?

Staheli - So your, or my old, car broke… that is no good. I hope you were not driving it when it broke. Are you okay? Dad said you got a new car. Do you like it better?

Reed - you need to stop breaking things. Motorcycle and no ankle. ha ha. I am just joking. I hope that your ankle gets better soon. Keep studying Preach My Gospel.

To Everyone

Alright, so here is last week.

·         Monday… normal prep- day stuff.

·        Tuesday night/Wednesday morning at 1:00 am. I left Yap to go to Guam. Got there around 3:30 and had to wait there for the two sisters who are from Yap going to the Philippines on their mission. I didn't want them to get lost. We were on the same plane. Finally got out of the airport around 4:30 – 5:00 in the morning. Said goodbye the sisters and went to the AP's apartment.

Slept for a couple of hours. Woke up and there were 16 missionaries in that apartment. I didn't notice them at 5 in the morning is was to tired. Talked to some of the Elders that I came in with. It was nice to catch up.

·        Wednesday I worked in the AP's area for a while. Knocking doors is super strange. I don’t like it. I like walking through the jungle. That night I went with an AP and bought some pizza for everyone. The car ran out of gas and we had to push it a block or so to a gas station. It was crazy. I was also very tired because I didn't sleep well that night and the AP’s apartment's air conditioner is not working, so 16 elders made it very hot with nowhere to sleep.

·        Anyways. Elder Hatch finally made it to Guam. His plane was delayed. I got to Guam on Thursday night. Friday he had more training and then I met him. We left for yap Saturday night around 10 pm. Got here  on Yap around 11:30 and the other Elders were not here to pick us up so we waited a while. They finally came. Went to church the next morning. Taught some lessons on Sunday and then went home to catch up on some much needed sleep. Things should be back to normal today though.

From what I have heard of the Easter party went pretty well. Things seemed to go well. A lot of people asked where I was, so that was cool.

There are finally 4 Elders on Yap again. It is so good. I expect the work on Yap to pick up. It may take a little while for things to pick up in Thol, but it will get there.

I love you guys so so much. You really are the best family in the whole world. I am so blessed to be a part of this family and to have the gospel in my live.

Love you all so so much

Love Elder Meyer

Could you please send:

•  Book Of Mormon audio for Elder Ramiterre. I have it on my ipod, but can't get it off. He would love a copy.
• Consecrated oil vile. I lost mine somewhere.
• Mom could you also send the chain links things you did for YW. I lost that too.

Thanks you guys are the best.

Letter from Elder Meyer: Quick trip to Guam, Flyers for Easter event,

Hello Everyone

Sounds like you guys had a crazy week. Pomegranates are gone!!?!?! Wow, I didn't think that would happen.

[Note from Dad: Found a picture of Elder Meyer going to Guam to pickup a new companion.  There are now 4 Elder on the Island of Yap.]

New trainers in the March transfer. Front: Elder Rainey, Elder Vance, Elder Meyer, Elder Allen, Elder Ashcraft. Middle: Elder Peck, Elder Gasu, Elder Huppe, Elder Fullmer, Sister Awes, Sister Piukala, Sister Vaigaly, Sister Masiasomua. Back: Elder Holt, Elder Richardson, Elder Cook, Elder Gardner.

Dad

I hope your arm will be okay. Did Reed tie your tie for you and flick you in the face like you did to him? Crooked rows dad?  I can't imagine you being happy with that. I bet if I was there they wouldn't be so crooked. ha-ha. That is really good that you guys are reading from Preach My Gospel, it is a very good book to study from.

Question #1: Have callings been issued yet to the new members?

Answer: There are only about two of them who have received callings. Some of them are losing interest.

Question #2: When you think back over the years as a family and we did church related things (scouts, home teaching, service, church history trip, temple visits, etc…) is there anything in particular that especially stands out as a great memory and something you are really glad we did, and why?

Answer: Our temple trip week is probably one of my favorite things, because I don't get to go too the temple at all. I also really loved the church history trip because when I share my testimony about the First Vision, I can say that I was there. It is a great addition to my testimony.

Question #3: What does it mean to you, personally, to have been “born in the covenant” as compared to being a convert

Answer:  It is just a great blessing I think. To have grown up in the church, to have it be a part of my life since I was born, is a blessing within itself.  I am just lucky to have had that spirit with me my whole life.

Mom

It is crazy that you guys tore out the pomegranates. All that hard work was just ripped out.  Tell Kashmir that her calling is awesome and that she is going to love the people there.

Question 4: Packages update?

Answer: Have not gotten mail today. But we got the one for the two other elders. They were very thankful.

Question 5: Explain church - how many people are there? Do all the members take turns talking and teaching?

Answer: In Colonia, there are around 40ish that are there. It works just the same as anywhere else, just a little bit slower. The members talk every week. And there is a Sunday school teacher who teaches every week. And we missionaries fill in the gaps when people need help.

Question 6: When does President Mecham come to Yap Island again?

Answer: He will come at the end of April for a district conference.

Question 7:  Tell me the funniest thing that happened this week?

Answer: On Saturday we split up. I went with Elder Garrett and Elder Tueller and Ramiterre were together. I stayed down in Colonia and the other two went to Thool. We spent the whole day passing out flyers for the district Easter party. Well, Elder Garrett is just a funny guy. I can't explain his personality. I was with him for like 6 or so hours. It was just a fun day. The other two Elders finished a little bit early and didn't come down to take some of the people we were passing flyers out to. It was just a crazy day..

Question 8: What is something you brought that you wish you had left home?

Answer: Maybe my rain jacket. I never use that thing.

[Note from Dad: In September, it rained around 17 inches in one month. The average rainfall for Seattle during the entire year is around 36 inches. Yap Island low temperature shown below…]

Question 9: What is something you wish you had brought, but you didn't?

Answer: Maybe a jacket. I get a little chilly sometimes.

[Note from Dad: What will he do when he returns to Rexburg, Idaho?   Jan/Dec averages a low of 13 degrees]

Question 10:  How is the language?

Answer: It is still hard. I am able to say a little bit more now, though. Some of the stuff is making more sense, but understanding people is still quite a challenge.

Staheli

Hope you are doing well. Did you know about the whole pomegranate to almond change? Did you have to help did all those holes? I love you.

Reed

Sounds like you did a number on your motorcycle. I hope that it will be up and running soon. Sounds like you had a party. Was it fun?

To Everyone

Well nothing super new over here on Yap. Things are going a little bit slow. We found a new investigator. His name is T*no. He has never been taught before. I found him when I was passing out all those flyers with Elder Garrett. I am excited to go and teach him. I think that he is going to be great. Other people we are teaching. Alv*ra and M*cheal. They disappeared for a while. We just found them again. I still have high hopes for them.

Oh yeah, we got a new investigator and lost him in the same day. His name is R*chy. He was a great investigator. We had a wonderful lesson. S*m was there and it was just a great lesson. I really loved it. Well, as soon as we left he got in trouble. His whole family is Baptist and they were not happy that he was meeting with us. So we can't go back there anymore. He is only 14 years old, so we cannot teach him for a while. It is really too bad. I don't know why, but the Baptist people here dislike us. It is a little ridiculous.

That is about it.

I love you guys so so much. You are the best family in the whole world.

Love, Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: Tough week, Spending time Finding, Preparing SPAM for dinner

Hello Everyone

We got two Packages today. Thank you so so much. Elder Ramiterre and Elder Tueller were both very grateful. There was lots of wonderful snacks. We are all very grateful.

Dad - Sounds like church today was pretty good. You ordained Reed to a Priest, which is really cool. I ordained a boy here to a Teacher a month ago or so. I did get the email about the quads for the scriptures. I will compile a list of members here who I think will use the quads a lot. I will tell you next week. Thank you for doing this. I know that many of them will appreciate it.

Mom - Tell Travis congrats. I know that he will love his mission. Before you know it, Reed will be on a mission and I will be home.

Question 1: Of course I want a package update. Any packages since last week?

Answer: We got two. One for me and one for Ramiterre and Tueller. Thank you so so so much.

Question 2: Do you use scripture masteries when you teach?

Answer: Yes. I do. Tell all the seminary teachers that it is more important to know what the scriptures are about and where they are. Having them memorized is not really much needed. You always have your scriptures with you on a mission.

Question 3: Do you use object lessons when you teach? Do you need any teaching aids?

Answer: Yes we do pretty often. I have learned some good ones. They are hard to explain over an email though.

Question 4: What kinds of fruits have you tried?

Answer: Nothing new so far. Same old stuff.

Cutting SPAM with a machete

Question 5: Are you spending much time finding?

Answer: Yes we are. It is not working out so well. It is much more effective to work with members

Finding

Question 6: Tell about an experience where you felt the Spirit?

Answer: We were talking to a recent convert about living prophets today. Thomas S Monson. I got to share my testimony of it. You may not know this but when President Hinckley died. It kind of shook my faith. He was the only Prophet I really knew and then when I sustained President Monson as the prophet, I could just feel that it was right. It was a great to share that.

Question 7: Do you have any suggestions for someone preparing for a mission?

Answer: Of course.

a)      Read and know the Book of Mormon extremely well.

b)      Study from Preach My Gospel

c)       Well, this is once you are in the mission field but it is good. Gain the trust of the members. They are the ones that keep missionary work going.

Staheli - Hope things are going well. Hope school and work is still great.

Reed - Happy birthday man. That is so cool that you got to be ordained to the Office of a Priest. And you got a sweet guitar. That is really cool.  Hope things are going well.

To Everyone

This week has been alright, I guess. It has been a little hard. We have had a really hard time meeting with our investigators. It has been really tough. I have not been very happy that we have not been able to meet with them. At this point, I am not sure if they will be baptized this month or not. We have a lot of investigators and we still have a lot of things to teach them. We will see what happens. I have a hope that some of them will be baptized this week, but I don't think that all of them will be. On the bright side, we had a lot of time to see all of our recent converts. So that was good.

When you are not teaching new people on a mission you are not so happy. So it has been a little bit tough. We have high hopes for this week though. I am going to try even harder to make sure that we meet with them. Not too much is new. I think that is about it.

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

Love, Elder Meyer

Letter from Elder Meyer: Makes a nu'nuw

Hello Everyone,

This week has been alright. Nothing new here, really. Elder Richardson is back because he is an AP and he is visiting all of the people to say one last goodbye.

Elder Meyer making a new'new (nu'nuw)
it is a lei

Dad - Sounds like the branch up in India is a little bit bigger than the branch in Thool. That is so cool that everyone there is so strong.

Question 1:  Do the new converts have the quad scriptures?  I wonder if it would be a nice gift if they had such and with their name engraved. 

Answer: Not very many people in the church here have quads.

Question 2:  What do you think will be most different about your future now, compared to prior to your mission?

Answer:  I don’t know yet. I have not thought about my future after my mission. Everything is about the here and now.

Question 3: Can you say now, for certain, that God really does exists?  If so, how do you know for sure?

Answer: Absolutely!! Well, life wouldn't make sense without a God. Everything on the earth proves that there is a living God.

Question 4: If you had a choice between us sending you more beef jerky or candy, what would you pick?

Answer: Beef Jerky. Candy is nice, but snacks are the best

Mom - I had no idea I had been out for 9 months. It sounds like you are keeping track for me. Do you want me to come home soon? We do a Family Home Evening in both branches every week.

Question 5: What was in the last package you received?  Did you get Elder Ramitere's shoes?

Answer: Yes, he is wearing them now. And a lot of gum, and the chicken. It is great.

Question 6: What is the most interesting bug you have seen?

Answer: Centipede. There was a huge one in my house. They are very poisonous. I killed it.

Question 7: Tell me about a time this week when you felt directed by the spirit.

Answer: We were sitting at a corner trying to decide where to go. We turned left for some reason. We found someone that we were teaching a long time ago. His parents got mad at us and we couldn’t teach him. I have been looking for him for a while, and I finally found him. It was great.

Question 8: Any new missionaries on Yap?

Answer: Nope

Question 9: Are there any big youth events planned?

Answer: Nope

Question 10: What do little kids do on the island?

Answer: Go to school, swimming, basketball or volleyball, or they make air pipes out of bamboo and shot things at each other. It is fun.

Staheli - How are you doing? Things are going great over here. Hope work is going well.

Reed - How is school going?

To Everyone

Let’s see not too much new here. We got a new investigator this week. Her name is Ed*ta. She is going to be really awesome. I think she will be baptized this month. We are also still teaching T*n*ngmayo. She is doing really good. This Sunday D*fan came to church. He has not come to church for a long long time. It was a really good Sunday.

Things are about the same. Sorry this week's letter is short, I have to go

Love you guys.