Holiday Week so Tuesday is the Best Day

Hola Padres! (I'm replying to both your emails at once due to time contraints)

Before I forget, what is Polly's email address? I sent her a letter but it got sent back to me so I think emailing would just be tons easier. Also, I got your letter on Wednesday. (that means it takes about 6 days to get from Iowa to Hermana Myers via USPS first class or priority mail as they forward it)

 

I did get a package from Sandi and I was pleasantly surprised! I wrote her back yesterday so I hope the letter gets to her okay. I haven't gotten the other package yet but I am anxiously awaiting it's arrival.

 

So this last week:

Everything was a little crazy with Hermana Chevalier leaving and trying to get her ready to go. All in all, as far as missionary work goes, the week wasn't very successful. As far as getting her luggage to fit the weight requirements, mission accomplished. It's really weird though because with her getting ready to go home, I feel like I should be going home soon too. I have to keep telling myself that I still have 16 months.

 

We're going to the temple on the 4th and I am thuper duper excited! Transfers are on the 15th and we're having a big mission conference in Morino Valley so everyone can see everyone before the mission gets split. This is the transfer that decideds where everyone goes. If I stay in the area that I'm in, then I'll be in the Redlands mission. So that will be interesting to see where it all comes into play.

 

Mom, I was a little confused with your letter that you sent me. Did you mean that HIllary, Sandy and Hillary's daughter came and stayed with you? If so, that is so cool! How'd it go?

 

I'm really sorry but off the top of my head I can't think of any good stories from this week. It was all mostly just trying to get Hermana Chevalier back home and then me and Hermana Fogg just trying to understand people. We kind of hope that in this next transfer, we'll stay in this area with a NEW new missionary. Then, boy oh boy will we be a hot mess. But it'll be fun.

 

Yes, Carter can use my mouthpiece, although from the sounds of it, he already is. I'm glad he's getting into band. Euphonium is the best! And TUBA Christmas is too. Make him go to that. I mean, have him go to that. Don't want to take away his agency...

 

Thanks for the updates on everyone! I love seeing how everyone is doing. Unfortunately I can't really read all of them but I skim and look for happy thoughts.

 

I'm very sad now because I feel like I had so much to tell you and now my mind is just completely blank. My bad. I'll start making a list... maybe....( How many weeks until she really does keep a list? Shall we start a pool? Doesn't she realize we are starving for information from her?)

 

Much love!

Hermana Myers

 

 

Monday is the best day!

I am having a great day, thank you! I was really happy the other day when I was looking through all my stuff, I found Mallory's address that I didn't think I had I started writing her a letter. It's about 4 pages long and I just barely started. I did get the GPS and I so very greatly appreciate it! I haven't gotten the letter yet but we haven't checked mail yet today so maybe today. We will see. We went to Wal-Mart to see if they could fix my camera but no luck and she said that she thought Best Buy wouldn't be able to either. Sad day. I'm perfectly fine with you sending out yours, if you don't mind! I love hand-me-downs :)!! Also, you can call the GPS my birthday present, I didn't realize it was going to be that expensive.

Speaking of birthday presents, I keep seeing all these vintage cars and trucks and I decided that when I get back I want to save up for an old Chevy. If you wanted to, you could call it my birthday/Christmas presents for the next five years ;). You really don't have to but I am going to start saving. I'm very jealous of your storms. I miss thunder storms so much! I wish they had a white noise machine that would do thunderstorms but have the lightning too. I think it's rained once since I've been here and it was for all of 2 minutes. Welcome to the desert. I would love more skirts if you have them! Also, I wouldn't object to you sending out my quilt either. I actually get cold now that this week it was only in the 90s (yeah, who would've thought that the 90s would be a relief). She will be getting a vintage 2001 Nissan Altima from Ken when she gets home!

Time for funny mission stories now!! We have dinner at the first counselor's house every Tuesday and he is a fabulous cook. Last week he was asking Hermana Chevalier what she wanted to eat for her last week here and she said she trusted him. Then jokes were made about eating the neighbors cat, then my worst fear happened. He asked if I had ever had menudo. I said yes and tried to keep a sincere smile on my face. He asked Hermana Chevalier if that would be okay and she said that she trusted him. I'm a little scared for tomorrow night's dinner. The true test of my lack of gag reflex that I'm supposed to develope on my mission. Wish me luck. Oh my for those of you that haven't had menudo, it isn't the boy band of the 90's it is sometimes called tripe.  When Ken and I were in Mexico we had it and I think it is an acquired taste that you grow up with, good for Hermana Myers if she can graciously handle this new experience. Look for another funny story next week.

Next we have probably the funniest rejection we've gotten so far. It's totally easy to tell when people are avoiding us, right? We knock on the door, someone answers, we ask for whatever person we have the return appoinment with, they say they're not sure, they go back to "check" then 10 minutes later the person's kid comes out and says they aren't home. Great. We're not stupid. So this was happening one day and there were these two little kids that we were playing with a little while the other people were "checking to see if their mom was home". Anywho, when her oldest daughter came back, we had already made friends with the little boy so when his sister said that their mom wasn't home he says, "My mom is actually home. I'll go get her. MAMA!!!!" And then he runs in to the back room to try to get his mom. It was hilarious because all the other adults that were in the house were trying to shut him up. We were just trying really hard not to laugh as we walked away. It was awesome. Not the getting rejected part. That kind of sucked.

It's been kind of funny, this whole language thing really is a problem. We've had two lessons since I've gotten here where we would challenge our investigator to baptism but they either didn't hear everything or they wouldn't understand the question so we'd get off subject. Something to work on, I guess. We also had a baptism yesterday. This family is amazing. The mom is so freaking hilarious and she's so cute. There's 7 kids and the 3 oldest got baptized. Their mom is this short, little tough woman but she was getting teary eyed during the baptism. So cute! Yay spiritual experiences!!

I think that's all though. I'll start making of list of things I want to tell you throughout the week so I don't forget. You would think that would be in my journal... oops.

Mucho amor!

Hermana Myers

Our Letter From the Mission President

 Received this little gem yesterday in an email:

10 May 2013

Dear Brother and Sister Myers,

We are so grateful to have Sister Lydia Chloe Myers join us here in the California Riverside Mission! It was exciting to meet her at the airport. I had the opportunity to interview your missionary and we were able to hear her testimony before having dinner together. We have been impressed with her testimony and desire to serve. It has been a privilege to get to know her. Sister Myers is now hard at work in her new area, the PALM DESERT Zone with her companions Sisters Chevalier and Fogg .

Preparation day is Monday; most missionaries choose to email their family on that day. We encourage you to write or email weekly as well. Thank you for keeping your letters positive, uplifting and encouraging your daughter to work hard and take advantage of the time spent here in doing the work of the Lord. You may also keep updated with our mission events by looking at our blog at: riversidecaliforniamission.blogspot.com. As we visited with your daughter this is what she said she was most excited about For her mission: "Meeting all the different people & bringing them the gospel."

We look forward to a wonderful experience together with your missionary. Thank you for preparing one worthy to serve. May God continue to bless you.

Sincerely,

Paul F. Smart, President

Just a few Pictures from Her Introduction to CA

The missionary group she came with from the MTC

Her new companions!

My Heart is so Full of Joy for Hermana Myers

Anyone that knows Hermana Myers can only envision her  as she experiences  what she writes about.  I just can't get the smile off my face and my heart is just so warm and fuzzy.  I didn't even expect to get an email about the legendary Mothers' day call/skype but here it is.  Hope you enjoy it as much as her family does:

Guess what.... I'M IN CALIFORNIA!!!! Guess what else... I'M IN A TRIO AGAIN!!! Guess what else else... I'M IN THE DESERT!!! Desert Springs, to be exact. I don't know the name of my branch though, lo siento. I love it here though. It's sooo pretty! The mountains are big, there are literally palm trees and stuco houses EVERYWHERE and We've been out for about an hour and already got canceled on by two investigators and to make matters ever better, our phone started malfunctioning and won't stop starting up... it just keeps restarting itself. BUT I love it!! My "trainer" is 6 weeks into the field and her trainor (my other companion/my other trainer) goes home in two and a half weeks. My companion that has only been out for 6 weeks is basically my twin. We both have short brown hair, we both go to BYU-I, she is a music major but is thinking about switching after a semester, she was born and raised in Iowa then moved to Indiana, I was born in Indiana, raised there a little bit, then ended up in Iowa, and she looks just like Hannah Gunson. Crazy.

Real quick before I forget, on Mother's Day, we will be on Skype around 5:00 California time (so 7:00 your time). If you could send me a letter with your Skype address or just use mine, that would be swell.... Hopefully I remember mine...

I surived my first day and am trying to survive my second. I only say survive because I'm still a little airsick from yesterday and my companion drives like a Californian so I get car sick every time we're in the car. Speaking of California drivers, I am turning into Polly. I had to take the driving test yesterday and if she thinks Utah drivers are bad, they haven't got a thing against California drivers. I thought we were all going to die. I had about 5 heart attacks on the way from the airport, not to mention we got lost. It was pretty funny. I don't really have much else to say, I want to save some for Sunday. I just wanted to let you know that I'm safe and loving California!

Con amor,

Hermana Myers

Forgot to mention: because we have so little sister missionaries and so many coming in, guess who gets to be a trainer next transfer. Yup. Me. No pressure.

After doing a little searching, I think she is Desert Hot Springs and I think that will place her in the Aqua Caliente Branch which meets in Palm Springs!

She is just Radiant!

It was such a long wait today for email but as you will read in Hermana Myers' letter missionary schedules have been changed due to semester change at BYU.  So you also understand some of her email, this is what I had written to her:

"As far as the airport call, we have decided we will just wait until Sunday, Mother's Day and chat. That way everyone will be here and everyone can share in the fun. Hope that isn't too much of a disappointment but if you and I spoke from the airport you may not have enough material to entertain everyone on Mother's Day. This way the excitement can build!"

And she said before her mission that she wouldn't have much to say on Mothers' Day because she would only have been in the California for a few days.  How six weeks in the MTC can change a person! Love it!

Also to explain another part of the email, the elder, now Brother Christiansen can be seen on "The District" on BYUtv. 

Here is the email:

Okay. So. I have lots to say and only a little time to say it in because I spent most of my time with pictures. Sorry.

 

I told my companions about how you didn't want to send the phone due to not having anything to say on Mother's Day and they said that if I wanted, I could just use their phones because they both have over 200 minutes on theirs. I want to call you at the airport anyway, just so then I can talk to you for sure there, then the days leading up to Mother's Day won't be as stressful, ya know? I still plan on calling on Mother's Day but just in case.  Pluss I will have more stuff to say on Mother's Day because it will have been my first week in the field. As far as travel plans go, we have to be at the travel office at 7:30 Tuesday morning. 

 

So on Wednesday I got to host. It was so much fun! Mostly because I stole Hannah Gunson from a girl and hosted her instead. It was funny! And so good to see her!

 

Yesterday we had In-Field Orientation and that was fun/super long. But fun fact: So you know Elder Christiansen from The District? Yeah, guess who works at the MTC now. I'll give you a hint. It's him. AND he was the teacher for one of our sessions. AND he made me cry. I don't know if you know this, but I absolutely hate the sound of balloons popping. HATE it. and guess what. I decided to sit right in the very front of this particular class where part of the object lesson involved Elder (now Brother) Christiansen would pop a balloon unexpectedly...in. my. FACE. So it scared the living day lights out of me so I cowered in a little ball and cried for a good 5 seconds while he popped another. Then I hear (over the microphone he had on),"Oh no! I think I scared the Sister more then I scared you(talking to the elder that was holding the balloons when they popped)." I regained my composure and the lesson went on. Then when we were watching a short movie he came over and apologized to me, at which point I laughed and said that it was fine and that I just hated balloons. It wasn't his fault. He apologized again as I was leaving to go to the next break-out session. Good stuff.

THEN!!! (and my companions still haven't forgiven me for this) I volunteered us to be in a short sketch that they were doing about missionary work for orientation. I was a relief society president and Hermana Hartling was a primary president. Hermana Stevenson got out of it. This is where I got to run into Brother Christiansen AGAIN because I was supposed to stand up, say, "Hugs for everyone!" and go around and hug the sisters then try to get the "elders" in the sketch. Brother Christiansen was the "ward mission leader" so he interfered. It was really funny. So between those two experiences, I either get comments now along the lines of, "Oh! You were in the play! Good job!" or "Oh, are you really scared of balloons?" Yes... yes I am.

 

Due to the spring semester starting, we got a totally new schedule. I am all sorts of messed up right now. And we got a new teacher. She is probably the most energetic and smiley person I have ever met. She is amazing and I love her. She takes us on fieldtrips around the MTC. Win.

Today I start my packing. Oh mah gosh. I have so much stuff. This is rediculous. I'm really sorry. I thought this email was going to be longer buuut it's not. It has funny stories though so I feel okay about it.

I will talk to you on Tuesday!

 

Hermana Myers

Hermana Myers at the Famous MTC map pointing out CA Riverside and then the companion shot with Hermana Hartling and Stevenson 

Map and temple pictures with her district

The sign reads: "I'm Trying Hard to Grow so Please Don't Walk on Me"

That is how Hermana Myers feels too.

The stream of missionaries going to the temple and those with a flair for the dramatic!

 

This uncomfortable elder was a friend from an acting class at BYUI, Elder Clawson

These next photos are before and after:

 

 Senior Prom 2011 vs. MTC 2013

Girls Camp 2011 vs. MTC 2013

Friends do make a difference!