September 27, 2014

HOLA to all!

WOW this week went by so fast. Seriously, it feels like I was just writing you. It's scary thinking I am half way done with MTC already but exciting too. Not going to lie it is comforting to know that time is going by so fast, not because i am not enjoying it, is just means I am busy and don't have to worry about the days and weeks and months ahead as much. 

Elder Ballard came to devo this Tues! We are super lucky to have gotten two apostles in a row! Awesome. Sang in the choir again for devotional, Joseph Smith's first prayer. it was really pretty, even though you couldn't prob hear my voice if everyone stoppeed signing... .haha oops. But I am working on at least looking better when I sing hahaha. He talked about his mission and what he wished he would have known before leaving and it was so great!!!! some of my fave quotes:

"decide to live in a way that allows you to be in a position to always be able to tdo what the Lord needs you to do and be able to say like CHrist, Here am I, send me" 

• Learn how to relate to people, for your mission and for life
• Life is a process of setting goals- really every day, think of a mission for life not just 18 months
• Decide before you leave each morning what your objectives are that day, know what youre after!
• Every human soul is precious
• The atonement is a great umbrella of love
• Once you know the doctrine you wont ever not want to express yourself or your purpose, talk to everyone, YOU matter in their conversion. 
• "Get up, even when it is hard, get up and do the best you can every single day and let the power of heaven fall upon you" -- loved this one at the end!
• The atonement can make anything right in this world-- ( really think about that one guys) 
• He stressed how there isnt much time left and we, this generation, needs to reach our potential for the sake of everyone and we are the ones who will carry this kingdom off. learn all you can and work until the Lord comes and says "that's enough" 
• "Be accountable" is what I was thinking by the end, really powerful

He shared so many good things but that's all I can spend time on now ha. SOO good and up lifting. He is truly inspired. He just stood there and talked without writing things down he said and he just shared and everything he said was what someone needed to hear. 

We got newbies this week in our Zone!! 5 hermanas and 6 elders. 4 in intermediate district (2 boys 2 girls) and the rest in beginner district. So now we are back to 4 districts and a full zone. It is hard but fun trying to fill them in on the MTC ways here without overwhelming their lil heads. We don't see them a ton but every night we do and at church and meals usually. One of the intermediate Hermanas is 22 like Hermana Albach. She just finished the Masters of  Accounting program at BYU and told Cole good luck with it hahaha. But she is prob my fave. (The younger ones are a lil more reserved or, idk, just not as willing to ask questions and learn from us in a way it seems like, but they are all nice.) 3 elders are from Calgary Alberta Canada area. I couldn't remember exactly where Rochelle Bryan is from, but they are all going to SLC spanish. 

Had a great lesson with Draut last Saturday night about adjusting to mission life, stress and his (horrible) companions. No joke they were pretty much all hard and didn't want to work at all besides his trainer. Hoping that's not what I will say March of 2016! But, either way, he shared something cool that I kind of already knew, but it was good to hear again: "Don't compare yourself to others because it's natural when things are bad to think that youre doing something wrong. When you compare it is a form of pride, even when you put yourself below others."  So like you said this week mom: "Be patient with yourselves". I am working on that. I think what is actually hardest for me here is that there is so much you know that you need to learn and do but not a ton of time btw planning lessons for companions and such to really do it and when you have some time you think you should be doing something to help your investigator and you at the same time and you just don't know what to do. I have never really struggled with focusing and studying hard but it's really hard here. When you aren't teaching (4 lessons a day starting next monday) or in class with a teacher, it is so hard to not get distracted or to waste time actually just figuring out what the best use of time is. also personal time is when I am most sleepy: Ours is right after dinner so this week I was fighting to stay awake during it! Also in the temple this morning I was SO sleepy, which is sad because I heard they might be cleaning it for 2 weeks after conference this weekend so that may have been our last week for 18 months and it was the fist temple session that I could not stay awake. ahhhh dang it. 

Not sure how pday will work next sat because of conference. Maybe we will have it Friday or maybe we will only just be allowed to email for an hour btw sessions. They better at least give us that!!!! So just check those emails often folks! They havent told us anything really about conference at all. I assume we get bused up to main campus, which is kind of a drag because we will have to stay all day and not be able to do anything really -- ha, but I am excited nontheless!!!

Last Sunday we got to watch the Ogden Temple rededication. So cool. We were all sleepy (On Saturday and Sunday we actually get the least amount of sleep because of service at 6:15 Saturday and earlier schedule on Sunday) but it was still cool. Got the white hanky and all -- really neat expereince. 

Also, we got to go to Brigham's landing last Sat and had a burger and fries and stopped at great harvest. Today we are going to Jamba Juice and Great Harvest. It's so nice to have real food and be out!!!!! We will be taking the newbies today. 

Great scripture moment this week: Alma 32:33 ( I think) talks about how a seed will only produce fruit of its kind. Faith is compared to a seed, so faith will only produce more faith. Faith begets faith. So cyclical and awesome to think about each day: Act in faith and you will have more faith, assurance, action then evidence. There's a talk by Elder Bednar called "Seek Learning by Faith" READ it folks. 

Also I want to learn more Spanish because I am getting more comfotable with saying the words I know in lessons but I want to expand my vocabulary. So far it's been a lot of working around words I don't know with ones that i do. that's ok I know and how it has to start but that's a goal of mine ffor this week: Learn some more phrases that I can incoorporate in lessons. 

Also new investigator this week named Gabriel. We met him in the "garden of eden" outside. Pretty sure he is actually Catholic and just volunteers here. He is SO prepared. Loves God, prayer, Christ and has a strong testimony. We taught him about restoration and he was like "wow. ok well I believe in a limetless God so "porque no?" haha. Such a great guy and lesson and he said he will start the BOM. Hopefully he does because he is PRIME I tell ya!

Also Ariel our atheist guy is "coming to church" with us Sunday and is so much happier now and said he will be baptized if he comes to know if this is true! Wow talk about a change of heart... the gospel is true. The atonement really can bring a change of heart. Repentance is a hopeful word as it means we can change and come unto Christ. We had a great discussion as a district about that very thing last Sunday.  

I only have a few mins left. I love you all so much. I am so blessed to have you in my life and I know Heavenly Father loves you too. I know He answers prayers so just keep praying. I know that other people need to know that God loves them too. I think that is one of the most powerful messages that I hope to express, convey and help others to feel. 

Set some goals this week in your lives (I will do it too) and see how they help. Also read the scriptures and pray for the spirit of revelation; turn outward and remember that you are loved!!!!!! 

LES AMOOOOOOO! 

Hermana Myers

September 20, 2014

This week actually went by really fast! each day felt long but it's already saturday! 

We have a new elder in our district as of Thursday afternoon. His name is elder christensen and he is from the bountiful bubble as he calls it. ha. he was in the advanced group somehow and didn't feel ready to go or something bc it was too hard for the first week so he moved into our class. So the dynamic has kind of changed. we will no longer teach all 4 of us. I will teach with two other eldders. most likely elder osgood and smith bc they say they need my spanish mre hahaa. so yeah We will each have to talk a lot more in the lessons and fallentine talked the most so it will be different. I don't think he was thrilled to have a new comp either bc we all got along super well... BUt it's getting better. he doesn't talk or laugh as much but we have gotten him to open up some more. He has a twin that is gay and hates the church and his family pretty much so that's hard. we all had a really deep convo yesterday afternoon about our families and church activity and lots of good stuff hah. more in common than we would have thought! 

So I feel like I have learned a ton this week, esp spanish and abt teaching but I still feel really slow speaking. But when I journal at night and talk more spanish comes out haha. so it's def becoming more natural I have also been able to help my companions with their phrases and spanish and teaching which has been really cool and good. It's weird that they see each other all day and so they have a lot jokes and such from their awesome teacher and the other two girls in their class (one of tehm is absolutely hilarious and from north chicago by wisconsin but said Illinois with an S when she introduced herself in front of the whole group...) not sure what that's all about. I was like WHAT??? you even live there but yeah she is hilarious. (shes in the toilet picture with hermaman albach) 

We finished teaching ana Maria our investigator this week. She accepted our invitation to be baptized! we didn't get to teach her everything but we have 3 new investigators starting monday. one of them will be at TRC which is volunteers taht come... members, less actives or non members and we aren't told beforehand so that will be more real and scary! but it's shorter too so hopefully it goes ok. Hermano Draut (teacher) is going to be Ariel a 25 yo atheist guy that we will start teaching. that should be tough. and Hermana Martinez will be another investigator that we know nothing about until we meet her (more realistic).  What's cool is that Her. Martinez told us that twice while we taught her as Ana Maria she had questions answered or worries addressed for her own personal life (as her. martinez not our investigator) she said she honestly gfelt the Spirit and felt strengthened by our convos. that made us all smile and it was super cool to hear. 

So as you can see in the pic we are all in one room now. pres said I cant be alone I guess hahaa... saw that coming. but it's ok .didn't even change beds and my noise machine helps. My companions are great. so sweet and uplifting and above all, normal. I hope since I started out with great comps that It doesn't mean I will have bad ones in the field haha. it's such a small but huge blessing. 

So we discovered the greatness of the "sack lunches". we can finish gym time (started playing some volleyball with the elders and other hermanas which is really fun) and then go over and get a sandwhich or salad or bagel or peanut butter sammy and chips cookies and milk/juice/soda and take it to go back home. then we shower and eat and have much more time to get ready and it's great. we can eat at home or outside at tables and not at cafeteria for a change and it's not rushed and it's a really good break during the day before hours of more studying. It's the same food that BYU has in their to- go section in the cougar eat -- ot a ton of selection but healthier optinos and prettty darn good :) and then we eat less too so that we are actually somewhat hungry for a 4:30 dinner! 

ELDER SCOTT CAME! there were rumors and sure enough he walked in the door Tuesday night at main campus for devo! SOO good. spirit was so strong and I couldnt' help but keep smiling, despite my headache. He looked out at us (from his literally tiny short body) and was just so smily and happy looking. He talked on prayer and communcating with father in heaven.one of my fav parts was "your character and faith grow together" sp true! and also to pray in gratitidue and be grateful for the gift of prayer. also so much else but no time. I truly felt that he knows God when he walked in. he prays and he knows him. really neat expereince. also I sang in choir for the opening hymn be still my soul for that devo. LOL. it was fun though. also maybe sing in conference (ahhhh) but I will do what my comps want and it might not happen anyway. 

Also sunday night after Brother Callister spoke for devo we watched an AWESOME life changing video that Elder Bednar gave as a talk in 2009 at MTC at xmas time, it was on the character of Christ and how we need to turn outward in our greatest moments of agony as christ always did. look in the scriptures, it's there. when he was being taken away by soldiers after suffering he didn't worry about himself but worried about the guards ear. He is a powerful speaker. I wish you could all watch it! SOOO good, just what we all needed. 

Had a great scripture spanish study with class yesterday. MOSiah 24:14 we all have a responsibilty to witness of God just like alma and our investigators also can witness of HIm as they commit to be baptized! I taught SOLO Thurs to the other SOLO missionary sister in the other intermediate group. it was HARD. we had 5 mins to prepare and we introduced ourselves as investigators ( took on a friends personality) and then taught for 20 mins alone in spanish. I got stuck in the middle and got kind of stressed and I think that showed and hurt my teaching. smiling is better. but I made it through in spanish. and it was super disorganized. but she is leaving next week and I think our spanish was about the same  so hopefully i will feel better by the time I leave here. But yeah it drains you to think and listen hard all the time. But I have only fought off sleepiness really twice this week, which isn't too bad. and not for too long. we have been better about getting to bed on time this week and that has helped a lot and more time to wind down.

There's so much more I want to tell you! but I LOVE you all and I loook forward to your many dear elders this week (hint hint) hehe. even if they are short., I know youre busy. but I miss you guys. it's weird to me to realize now that our goodbyes were for 18 months ya know. thinking back to the MTC i was distracted and should have hugged you tighter and memorized your faces haha. but it's ok. pictures are a good thing and I am doing well. 

T


hanks for your love and support! keep on keeping on and I am sending you hugs and kisses RIGHt now! 

Hermana Emma Myers -- Week One -- September 13, 2014

HOLA! 

ok SO much to share!! first of all I Love all of you and absolutley loved the package and pictures!!!! perfect boost! and I just picked up all the letters from "dear elders" because our district leader has to get them for us :( so he just did and i loved reading them!!! so keep em coming por favor

Mis companeros: 

I am in a trio!!!! Hermana Albach from Orem (2 mins away) and Hermana Farrow from San Diego!

They are amazing! seriously so blessed and lucky to get them. We are all normal and get along super well, seriously dont even know what we will fight about in the future lol.  Albach is 22 and just finished nursing school at UVU! She is the mission nurse in Posario (Sp?) Argentina which is way north east. Farrow just turned 19 in July and is going to my mission. Awesome I know! she is super cute and has a boyfriend back home and super excited. We all have laughed a ton so far and talk all the time. 

Interesting part:

I am what's called a "solo" missionary. I have a special sticker on my name tag and everything that says solo. it means I am the only sister that is in intermediate spanish right now. Elders can be solos too but I only know of one other solo and she is a sister from idaho that got here a few weeks ago. she has 6 elders with her and I have only 3 (one didn't ever show... so they are a trio too now) They are HILARIOUS and really cool guys. like not nerdy and quiet at all. Elders Fallentine from san diego (knows sis farrow a little actually, common friends)  (pronounced Fashiontinay) in argentina bc of the accent! elder smith from tennessee (18 years old stright out of hihg school)  and elder Osgood from North California (went to UCLA for a year) fallentine is going to nahia blanca and the other two are going to ecuador guacil( no idea how to spell) south mission. Fallentine and I are the best at spanish but I undertand a lil more than him and he speaks much quicker than me and just more fluifdly but we both help the other two out and they aren't bad at all either haha. It's definitely different but really fun actually. 

Teachers:

Maestro Draut from michigan studying at BYU. he is super caring and nice and great spanish and lets us take walks with him while we study and speak spanish bc there are only 4 of us and it's gorgeous outside here and hard to stay in one room. He went to my mmission so he has an Argentine accent and has already given me tips! like they say la anana for pineapple instead of la pina haha. So cool that he went there!  Maestra Martinez is from Mexico. She is super sweet and to be honest we have been taught by her a lot yet bc she comes in morning and we taught her as our investigator yesterday morning. I am not allowed to teach with just one of them so all 4 of teach together. We plan a lot for our investigator lessons. We had our firist yesterday and it was so cool. we al felt the spirit and had non problem going for 40 mins (granted there are 4 of us haha) but she cried as our our investigator and it was cool. she promised to read BOM and pray. we taught her how to pray in spanish even though we just learned and it was hard speaking spanish but we all bore testimony fine and just took it slow. 

We are at west campus all the time expect for sat morning for temple and tues and sunday nights for devotionals. we take a bus up there. temple was so great this morning. I will send pics. sprit is so strong here. I know every one says that but really haha. happier than I thought I would be. branch pres is nice and all teh presidency wives are so nice and cute gmas and want to hug all the time which is great :) don't worry mom. we live in own apartments. with bathroom and 2 rooms, so yeah I have my own room. how weird and lucky. I am prob not supposed to be sleeping in my own room is my guess but no room to move mattress and so we just keep doors open. anyway so first night was hard to fall asleep but past nights have been great. just confsing to wake up in the dark again hahah! but don't worry mom. so much nicer than sharing with everyone in hall bathrpom. and I have TONS of space for stuff... like can't even fill the space with my stuff. but yeah it is just like living at new heritage. we dont cook but we have a fridge and ice! 

food is kinda bad. not horribble but diff than main campus. less salad bar options. but not disgusting tasting -- just not great for you, but I have my energy bars for night time because we eat dinner at 4:30 and I'm always hungry by 10:30 again haha.... so thanks mom. Also I would gain way more weight over there bc all the options. 

I will think of more things but ill try to catch you guys right now. "Pon Tu hombre a la lid!" first hymn in espanol I sang! it's a good one. we sign it with whole zone..

My brain feels like mush sometimes and hard to prioritize time bc way more independent time than I was expeting and lots to do but it's good work. 

Also we can walk oto brighamns landing with supremem burger and jamba and great harvest on pdays and stuff (in missionary clothes) and so thats awesome. going tonight with the district and zone peeps. cant do taht at main campus haha. thought of you mom when you said you loved going to store and stuff. also creamery here at yview. sorry for all the typos. figure you can decipher and I am speeding! 

LOVE you guys!! miss you but not crying every night (like I kind of expected haha) so don't worry. i think it 

will be more homesick when going to Argentina. 

Oh yeah so my comps are in beginner spanish so I just meet them and we walk everywhere together and just separate for class (whivh is most of the day) but it's fine! just have to have at least 2 of the elders with me in a room and stick with comps for the rest. also exercise time is great. 10:30 in morning and they have one machine liekthe EAC ones. SO HAPPY bout htat! I go on that :) they have big huge bubble looking gyms set up (3) with courts and stuff and some weights and machines for us. Just like your modgual gym too jack!!!!! 

"I think of you every time I go to bed" ! glad you like my blankie, made my so happy to hear that. You're awesome (Jack) and I love reading your email and your AWESOME picture (except your frowny face. smile more bc I love you and it helps) 

XOOXOX em