email 7.29.13

Mi familia-

I don't even know where to begin, mostly I'll just preface with I love being a missionary.  I know I say that all the time, but it is so real, there is not other experience on earth that can compare.  

I love Harrisonburg and Hispanics.  This week we have been really busy.  Our cute little branch needs some big time strengthening, so we have been all over the place visiting members, less actives, part member families, and teaching any one in our path.  There is nothing better than a cute little hispanic lady kissing your on you cheek, talking a million miles an hour, and force feeding you large pieces of meat.  We have had a few experiences with eating authentic food, from all over the place.  Mostly, I love everything, except the huge chunks of meat.  My stomach is in need of some adjusting, but its all good.  One night there was a little baby cow, just mooing away all night, it was the best.  We are starting to get a feel for the area and the members are starting to love us as much as we love them.  Coordinating with the Elders has been a little rough, but its starting to be better.  

We had a million miracles this week, but one stood out in particular to me.  We were knocking on the door of a reference that we received from a member and had a little chat, nothing crazy.  But afterwards we were walking down the street and we saw some hispanics playing soccer, so naturally we stopped to chat.  We ended up teaching them the restoration, and about half way through the lesson they told us that is was a miracle from God that we were teaching them.  They had planned to go play soccer with some friends but for no real reason decided to stay home instead.  BEST EVER.  They are the best, the sad news is they are in the Elder's area so they are gong to teach them, but either way, they will be fed!  

I have been really surprised how many people want to chat about God.  Almost everyone we attempt to talk to says "la palabra de Dios, oh, es muy bonita" Which is good and bad.  Sometimes I feel like they just think we are telling a beautiful story, its helping them see what it really means that is the tricky part!  But I can tell when the spirit is talking to them, its the best.  

Also we have a new investigator named Nancy.  She is the cutest little woman and has three adorable kids who all listened to our lesson.  We are teaching her on Wednesday again.  Who knows what will happen, but all that matters is that we are sharing what we know!  

I know when I am working hard and doing what I am supposed to because I get so overly happy.  It is kind of funny, but it is real, this gospel makes me so happy.  

Saturday was awesome.  In the morning I got a "package of sunshine" from Penny and Bob, it was an answer to my prayers, I was in need of a little sunshine.  Then Hna. George went to a baptism so she dropped Hna. Olsen and I off in Charlottesville for the night.  We had a wee of a time with sister Hammond and Jepson.  It was fun to be in a new area and get to know some new people.  

Thank you for all the letters and emails.  Life seems pretty good at home!  I am so happy that Luke loved Catalina, and that him and Dad get to go frolicking with Ian and Brent and Thomas.  That just seems like the best of times.  Fill me in on your Girls weekend, and give everyone at home big kisses for me!  

Mom, thank you for being such a strong woman that I can look up to.  I think about you often and how you are an example of Christ.  So thank you. Also the package was perfect, say thank you to Jenny, and the yoga this morning was awesome!  

  

Dad, Thank you for beating all the Bourne brothers, we have to keep our status up, I knew I could rely on you.  Also thanks for hugging my soul sisters for me, i miss them!  Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to serve the Lord.  

My favorite scripture of the day is Jacob 3:1,2- The pure in heart will be consoled in their afflictions.  I thought alot about what it means to be pure in heart, I have learned that it means that we apply the atonement and become clean through Christ.  Best.  

I love you all dearly!  

Con Amor, Hermana Myer

Virginia is for Lovers

email 7.22.13

Familia-

I have officially arrived, and I love it here.  This place is amazing, it is beautiful.  Everything is green and filled with trees and they have the cutest little houses.  It is perfect.  So much has happened and I won't be able to explain everything, but here it goes.  

So when we first arrived they took us to a stake center and fed us and oriented us and so forth.  They had all the sister stay at the mission home, and they sent the elders to sleep on some members floors, oops.  On Thursday we had a transfer meeting where we met our trainers.  My trainers name is Camrie George, and she is simply lovely.  She is darling, she has cute freckles, and is a sweetheart.  She actually looks a little like Sammy Cummings, if you squint.  We get along swimmingly, and good news she has been here for 14 months so the spanish is good for her.  So Hermana George and I got assigned to Harrisonburg, and we are opening a new area.  It is so funny everyone says that Harrisonburg is in the mountains, which are actually more like hills, either way it is beautiful here and I was really excited to come out here.  There is only a small branch, which already had a set of Elders in it, but we basically have to start from scratch.  But we were both really excited.  But because we are opening the area they didn't exactly have the apartment ready on Thursday so we spent the night with some sisters in Waynesboro.  Anyway, Friday we came up here and got the apartment (it still has no furniture, or any thing at all in it besides our stuff), met with the Elders in our ward, and then got to work.  They told us they had about thirty people that came to the branch and gave us a bunch of members and less actives to visit.  So we just started out, and I love it.

Before we met the Elders we went to Wendy's to grab some lunch.  When we were there we overheard two men talking in Spanish, Hmmm. George said that I had to go contact them while they were sitting at their table, I of corse was freaking out, forgot all the Spanish I knew, but not wanting to be lame I said I would do it.  So we walk over there and by a miracle I get something out about where are you from and I am a representative of Christ, want to come to church?  One of the men, Ceasar, said yes he would love to come and gave me his number on a napkin.  I was in awe.  I just kept thinking wow I have no idea how that happened, but I just knew he would come to church.  My trainer told me not to get my hopes up because people don't come to church all the time when they say they will.  But I said pooh pooh, I decided I am having faith no matter what.  

Saturday we had a Hermana get emergency transferred to us, she is a visa waiter and they wanted her to be in a Spanish companionship.  She is awesome, her name is Hermana Olsen and I love her, she is calm but super funny.  We all work great together.  

So our game plan so far is to visit all the members and less actives and get to know the ward.  We have an awesome branch president, Presedente Lagos.  And I LOVE the people.  We have people from all over, Guatamala, El Salvador, Mexico, Costa Rica, Honduras, you name it.  They are the greatest people, they just want to love you, and mostly they just want to love sister missionaries.  They are all really excited to have us here, almost as excited as we are!  

Sunday was probably one of the best days of my life.  We had a meeting before church with Presedente Lagos and the Elders.  We finished just a couple of mins before church started so everyone was already sitting down.  When I walked in the door Elder Burbank came over to me with the wide eyes and said, "HE IS HERE, YOUR WENDY'S GUY CAME"  And there he was on the back row with his friend Javier.  I had no clue what to do, all I could do was smile.  I could not have been happier, I was just beaming and I sat down next to him and we had a lovely meeting.  He was just so happy to be there and trying to sing and loved reading the book of Mormon.  After Sunday school he said they were going to stay for the last hour even.  I could have died right there.  And on top of that he invited me to come and teach him on Saturday.  Lucky for me I understood that.  Can you say prepared?  I was floored by the power that my faith had had.  Best.  Also there were actually only nine members at church, so it was alot smaller than we had anticipated.  There are six women in the relief society, and they all love us to death.  I am so excited to get this branch moving.  Also come to find out that Javier is a member...which was a little weird, but we found a new investigator and a less active all in one whammy!  Oh I am just so thrilled.  

I love being a missionary, it is the very best of times.  I know that Heavenly Father cares about three little Hermanas in Harrisonburg Virginia.  I know that he answers prayers and I know that he is preparing people all around us.  

Also we have the best elders, the Spanish ones are awesome, they are always making sure we have everything we need.  It is so funny to imagine my friends (used to be) out there being nice to sister missionaries, they really are the best.  Actually they somehow managed to get two twin sized mattresses in their little car so that we didn't have to sleep on the floor.  I think we are supposed to get furniture on Friday?  But who knows! 

I do need a couple of things.  I am wondering if you can do some research on a portable GPS.  Nothing fancy, just really easy, but maps are hard.  I just don't have the technology or the time to do research.  Also If you could send me some work out DVDs, maybe a zumba?  We have a little DVD player.  And also some Spanish CDs...maybe some Christian Spanish music?  I don't know the music rules are pretty light as long as they aren't about love...our address is

228-D Rocco Ave

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Tell people to send me letters not emails and to that address.  Thank you!

I love you very much.  I am glad that your summer is going so well!  That is so fun that Weston is home, give him a hug for me! I am glad that Luke is going to send me a letter.  Tell Kenna to send me one too, and Alyse and Chad.  Also tell Rachel to write me back. Also tell Troy to write me.  Love the missionaries for me!  

xoxo Hermana Myer

Riquisimo

I forgot to explain the title of my email.  Riquisimo is my new favorite word, it means like yummy.   We got to get everyone saying that. 

love you.

email 7.16.13

My dearest family,

This week has been crazy!  Everyone in our district left early Monday morning, except Myself, Hermana Wilkins, and Hermana Bingham.  So it is a little triste over here without my right hand hermana, we still have classes and normal studying, and no time to pack.  It is very crazy.  Also I am in a trio, and boy it is hard to get three people everywhere you need to be.  But it is good.  During our classes yesterday we had some intense one on one times, but I am glad we did, we learned so much.  I am so excited to get to Virginia! 

 I am going to buy a calling card today so I will call early on wednesday morning.  I would assume around 6:00 Utah time, our flight leaves at 7:08.  So be ready for that!  

That is so fun that Alyse and Ryder have been visiting, it sounds like you guys did all the most fun things to do in the world.  I am sad that I am missing him being a kid, but I am happy that you are teaching him my name, that es muy importante.  Send me a video of him, I might be able to see it the next time I email, in the real world!  Ahhhh its so crazy.  In two days I will be in my mission.  I am very very excited. 

My studies this week have all revolved around giving my will to the Lord.  I think because of my quickly approaching arrival in my mission every thing is becoming  more real.  If I just think about being on my mission, trying to speak spanish, trying to say the right thing, trying to listen to every prompting.  It seems a little overwhelming.  But what I learned this week is that I am not supposed to be adequate on my own, none of us are.  We are supposed to rely on the Lord, he will make us adequate for whatever we need to be.  It is the best feeling.  I do not have to be alone ever.  My new favorite scripture is Ether 12:27.  When we humbly come to the Lord, he will make weak things strong.  I think I am beginning to understand what it means to make the Lord part of everything that I do.  When we fully accept the atonement of Chirst, this can happen for us.  Not only that when we fully accept Christ we will become like him, which is the ultimate goal, we want others to be able to see Christ when they look at us.  I want people to see Christ when they look at me, to be able to see what it means to have pure joy.  I have been working on gaining Charity.  For me charity is looking at people through Gods eyes, not just who they are, but what their potential is.  Mom,  you are the ultimate example of Charity to me.  Thank you for being such an example to me and caring so much about all of God's children.  You inspire me to be better, you inspire me to love more purely. 

Elder Cook, one of the elders in my district, gave me a blessing on Sunday.  I am so grateful for the priesthood in my life.  He blessed me to know that Heavenly Father is proud of me.  And I truly feel like he is.  He blessed me to remember that Heavenly Father is preparing people right now, and as I ask him for direction he will lead me to their doors.  I am so happy and ready to start teaching. 

I love you all very much, I am grateful to have supportive family and friends.  My mission home address is:

Virginia Richmond Mission

9327 Midlothian Tpke Ste 1-B

Richmond, VA 23235-4944

I am not sure how mail and all that will work, I may just get it once a week?  Thats mostly what I hear, so family please send me emails.  I have no idea when my p-day is or anything like that, but just send me a few after you talk to me on Wednesday and that way I will have something to read.  I am sure my next email will be scattered and crazy, but get excited, its about to be the best 17 months ever. 

Go to the temple for me!  I miss it already.  And tell Ian I am waiting for his letter!  I am glad he is home and safe and doing well. 

xoxo Hermana Myer

Hasta Luego

email 7.10.13

My dearest familia-

 

Thank you thank you thank you for everything you did for me on my birthday.  Everything was perfect.  The birthday box was the best ever.  Everything inside of it was perfect.  I was suprised and happy and loved on my birthday, and you know how much that means to me.  The Lord really does take care of us when we ask.  Thank you to everyone who sent me letters and packages, I am serious when I say it was the best birthday ever.  We had just a wee of a time studying with party hats on, even though the elders were a little mad becasue they had sparkels on them all day, but they love me, so it was worth it.  I have the best district ever.  Anyways, I am offically 21, yay! 

I also have one last request, I meant to take care of this before I left, but I forgot.  I need some kind of thing that I can hook my smallest suitcase onto one of my bigger ones so I can roll them all in the airport.  I don't know if there is something on amazon that would work, or maybe some good old fashioned rope?  Maybe dad would have a better idea, but I am nervous for the airport, I will send a picture of my suitcases so you can see what might work.  I am sorry to make you send me another package!  Also about the airport, we have our travel plans and I am allowed to call you from the airport but I have a few options.  I am going to lay out the situation and options and I just want you to send me a dear elder and let me know what you want me to do! 

 

Okay so our flight leaves Salt Lake at 7:08 am on Wednesday the 17th, We will probably be available to talk around 5:30-6, which is an hour earlier for you, so I could just buy a calling card and call you, but it will be early.  We have a layover in Atlanta at 12:45, and then our flight to richmond leaves at 2:12, so we have way less time, and I am not sure if we will really be able to stop at pay phones, so if I am going to call you from a payphone it would be better to do it at Salt lake.  There is another option, my companion's mom sent her one of those pay as you go phones I think it is called a trac phone.  She got one that was just like 10$ with 120 mins on it...that way she can just call her where ever she is and whatnot, and then she is just going to throw it away or send it home.  So that is an option, if you wanted me to do that you would have to send me a phone, but I could call you from atlanta and not at 4:30.  I have the ability to buy a calling card here, I just want to do whatever would be the best for you guys though.  Also tell me which number you want me to call! 

 

Sharla's lesson sounds great, we actually talked about just that when we were learning how to teach the word of wisdom.  Sharla is the best, tell her I love her. 

 

I wrote luke a letter, so tell him to write me back some day! 

 

I am happy that Alyse and Ryder get to vistit, take pictures for me. 

 

Also Elder Barton sent me some cookies and a letter for my birthday, they were very yummy, and it was so nice of him to think of me.  Will you please send me his address so I can thank him! 

 

So many things have happened this week, I don't know where to start! The fourth of July was just awesome.  We had a special devotional, then watched 17 miracles, then they let us stay up past 10:30 and watch fireworks and eat magnum bars, can we say living on the edge?  It was so fun, the next morning it was a little harder to get up, but very worth it.  The 4th is always one of my favorite holidays, I was sad not to be swimming in Diet Coke with my bestest friends, but the MTC is pretty great non the less.  Also 17 miracles, can you say tear jerker?  I died, it was the best ever, please watch it.  Actually I had a really neat experience while I was watching it...the couple of days before that I was starting to feel kind of homesick, just a little, mostly just missing seeing people aka Ian and my friend Brad who just come home from his mission, nothing extreme.  But when I was watching the movie I realized how silly that all is, I have been given this amazing opportunity to forget myself and serve the Lord 100% and that is what I need to do.  I immediatly felt peace about being where I was. 

 

We had an awesome speaker on Sunday night, his name was George Durrant, he was hilarious.  He talked about being bold, how being bold does not mean being loud.  He talked about how important it is to be bold, because it is not our name on the line, it is the Lords name and with his name, we have nothing to fear.  Isnt that just the best feeling ever?  I loved his talk, he helped me to feel confident about the work that I am about to do.  Giving 100% of myself to the Lord has truly taken on a new meaning.  I have realized that I cannot do this, or anything in my life, without the help of my savior.  The best thing is I can't, but also, I am not required to.  He wants to help us, he wants to hear from us, he is just waiting to pour out blessings, if we simply ask.  Last night at our devotional we had a speaker who talked all about personal revelation.  He said that in order to receive personal revelation we need to have faith and humble our soul.  The way that the spirit propmts us and gives us revelation is directly to our soul.  I have been thinking alot about souls, I think becuase my soul was mentioned quite a few times when I was set apart.  When our souls are pure, and christ like, we are then in a position to recieve revelation.  This week during my personal study I have been studying about Christ-like attributes.  I have been growing closer to my Savior every day.  I have never been so close to my Savior, and in turn so close to the spirit. This is such a unique opportunity, one that I will never have again and I am so grateful for it.  My testimony has grown exponentially, as well my love for the Book of Mormon and the truthfullness of its teachings.  I can say that I came into the MTC believeing, but I am leaving converted, and I have never been happier.  Or more tired for that matter, but its the best. 

 

I love you so very much.  Thank you for supporting me.  I am so excited to get to Virginia and start using all of my skills!  I love you and pray for you every single night.  Hasta Luego CCM!

 

xoxo, Hermana Myer

email 7.3.13

Familia-

 

So I guess you guys heard we got to go on a super fun field trip to the podiatrist so I could get some good old warts removed, I hope the message didn't freak you out mom, and Dad I hear your voice over the phone and shed a tear or two.  But all is well hopefully the warts go away...yikes.  My toes are hanging in there, I have iced them a couple of times which helps! I am not sure what I want to do about pictures I have an external jump drive thing so I can put them on there, but I'll keep you updated on that.  

 

Thank you for all your letter and things this week, you are the best family ever.  It sounds like you have been busy!  Kenna why do you have to go and crush mom's dream of you marrying elder barton?  That could have been really fun!  Youth conference sounded like fun, McKenna said she felt like a missionary, and I love the sound of that, and of course Luke would make the pass along cards into paper airplanes-classic.  I hope that you guys had fun!  Is John Calkins coming to this MTC?  I will keep my eyes peeled for him.  I am sorry for the recent vehicle trouble, I am glad that Dora could be of assistance.  IAN IS HOME!  Alyse sent me picture of him, tell him to write me, or just tell him I say Hi and that I am a real live missionary. 

 

As for the MTC, we are still alive and well in here.  I can't remember what I said in my email last week...but both mom and dad said they could tell I was having a hard time.  I didn't want to say too much, but I was having a hard time...you guys are so on the ball.  Nothing major, but this stuff is not easy.  We had a speaker yesterday who read us his journal entries from his mission and his were very up and down, it made me feel better about not every day being the best day ever.  I don't want you to get me wrong, because I LOVE being a missionary.  I love learning and speaking Spanish and teaching and mostly I love coming closer to my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

 

The past week we have learned alot about receiving revelation.  We got to hear from Sheri Dew on Sunday for Relief Society.  It was the best ever.  She challenged us to ask the Lord to teach us what it sounds like for us personally to hear the Spirit.  I had never thought about that, but it is the perfect idea.  I took the challenge and started praying to learn how I can hear the spirit.  On Monday during our lesson we were teaching about prayer and having a relationship with our Father in Heaven.  Our investigator is Catholic and she told us that she is still going to pray to the Virgin Mary because God will listen to the Virgin because she is pure.  I sat there for a second and then I told her that through Christ she can be pure too and speak directly with God.  I know that was not my thought, and on top of that it was in Spanish.  It was the best ever.  I know that when we ask for the spirit to teach through us he will.  I love being a missionary.  Sister Dew also taught us about our power.  The power that we have been set apart to use, she told us that the more we learn about the power that God has given us, the harder it is for the adversary to win.  Which reminds me, will you send me a copy of my call?  I didn't bring it with me...ooops.  It is in my mission handbook thing on my bookshelf. 

 

We watched a pre-recorded talk from Elder Bednar on Sunday night, it was amazing.  I have heard that they only place they show it is in the MTC, which is too bad because it was so great.  The talk is called the Character of Christ.  He talked about putting off the natural man, and turning to Christ.  It was one of the most life changing talks.  It really made me think about what it mean to turn to Christ, what it means to be a disciple.  He told us that when we turn outward and become less selfish, we become  more like Christ.  It made me think Mom, she is one of the best example of Christ like charity out there. 

 

Tomorrow is the 4th of July so we get to watch the fireworks, which is going to be the best.  The 4th of July is one of my top three favorite holidays, you could say I'll be wearing my red, white, and blue plaid bow and red lipstick.  I am excited for our outing to the field to watch.  It should be epic. 

 

I love being a missionary, I love teaching, I love you guys, mostly I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father.  I know that this is where I am supposed to be and I am getting really excited to go out to Virginia, I am so excited for the people that the Lord is preparing for me. 

 

A couple more things, can you please send me a hard copy of my call asap?  That would be wonderful.  And thank you for all the early birthday wishes, I am sure it will be a fabulous day! 

Sorry I just saw your email, here is a fresh one, I will do that from now on.  TELL IAN TO WRITE ME.  love you. 

 

xoxo, Hermana Myer