Allyse on a Mission: Second P-Day!

Tayson: Here is a lot of literature from our family correspondence. It's a federal offense to read someone else's mail, but we'll let it slide this time...

John: The latest email from Allyse during her P-day today.... After she responded to the Q&A we were able to "chat" back and forth with her a little bit. I added those to the bottom of the email.

She said that since she has plenty of time on the computer, you are welcome to email her to her missionary email address at allyse.meanea@myldsmail.net

It was great for Alice and I to hear from Allyse today. She sent some more photos that I will try to attach.

Thank you all for your support of Allyse!

Love, John & Alice

From: Allyse Meanea
Date: Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:54 AM
Subject: Re: P-Day #2 Q&A
To: John Meanea

Some answers for you for today...

We sent out last Friday a box with the stuff you had requested, along with some candy and a "District General Conference Kit". DHL reported that it was delivered on Tuesday of this week. Did you receive it?

I haven´t gotten it yet. The post office is onely open sometimes. I will check today and try to let you know. Thank you soooo much!!!!

Do you get to go to the temple again today? Please share with us a little bit about your temple experience (last weeks or this weeks or both).

No, we go every other week. It was great. For the first time they let us have a headset that does it in English. The Temple, inside and out, is so incredibly beautiful. It was a great experience and it was so peaceful. The drive to and from was so fascinating, I loved it!!!!

How is Sister Woolf? What is her first name? Is she from Provo, or one of the towns around the Provo area? Did she go to Provo High or Timpview, or some other high school? Where does she fit in her family? What does she think about a mission call to Chicago? Why did she decided to go on a mission? Did she go to college before her mission, or is she right out of high school like you? If she plans to go to school after her mission, where does she want to go?

I am pretty sure her first name is Shelby. It is so weird because first names just are not a part of the picture at all out here! It definitely takes getting used to. She is from Provo and went to Timpview. She is almost 20 ( in November) and graduated last year. She is the oldest of 3, a brother and a sister. She is excited for Chicago. The age change got her thinking about it and it just felt alright so she started working on her papers about a year ago. She did a semester at the U of U last fall. She wants to move up to SLC and continue at the U.

Even though I am officially 19 now, I am still the youngest by a long shot. I am the only girl that I know of so far that graduated just this past year. It is really hard being to young and away from my family for the first time. All of the other girls have done a semester or two away at college, or even graduated college.

We had all sent Dear Elder letters that week that you left. From the sounds of it, they didn't reach you before your P-day last week. What day did you get them (I assume you have received them by now)?

The only Dear Elder I have received is one from Aunt Sherece last Wednesday. I did get an email from Dear Elder that was a letter Mom wrote, but I haven´t gotten any physical Dear Elders yet. I will check today.

Is Thursday P-day for all Mexico City MTC Missionaries?
No, they spread them out between Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It was pure luck that my is on Wednesday like Mrs. Bolton told Mom. Actually, Elder Bolton and I are in the same zone. I had been so worried about how to get the packages to him when I got here. Some Sisters on our first day came and introduced themselves and asked us where we were from. When I said Cedar City, they asked if I knew Elder Bolton. I said yes and asked how they did. He is in their District, in the classroom right next to ours. We went right in and saw him and I could tell he had no idea who I was :) But, he was plenty happy when I told him I had packages for him!!!!!

How is washing your clothing going? Are there enough washers and dryers, or is there a log jam to do your laundry on P-day?
It is going fine. There are two washers and dryer in my casa we can use. I have plenty of stuff so I only need to do it once a week on P-day and we have plenty of time today to get it done.

Emily wants to know how your Spanish is coming?

Spanish is good. Sometimes it makes so much sense and others it makes no sense at all!!!!

Tayson wants to know how your Dutch is coming? (he didn't get much sleep last night...)

Dutch is good, much harder than Spanish. I can imagine he didn´t get much sleep! I don´t know how he does it all!!!!

Mom says she asked you questions about "Fall" in Mexico City.

That is one thing I was thinking about and missing so much. There is no difference here. Could you please send me some pictures of fall there in Utah????

Since we sent you some stuff, and since you received all of those books, you are going to have to pack your suitcases carefully for the trip to Chicago. Does the MTC have some scales that you can weigh your suitcases with?

There are scales, but it is in kilograms!

With a new batch of missionaries showing up on Tuesday/Wednesday, what was it like to realize you were not the "greenest" missionaries there now?

Actually, you can tell a new school year has started because the number of arrivals has gone way down. There were only 50 North American missionaries that came in this week. Still, it is nice to know we aren´t the greenest. It is crazy to think we are already in week 3!!!

You have referred to the MTC as the CCM. What does the CCM mean? Is that MTC in Spanish?

It is MTC in Spanish. Centro de Capatación Misional México.

Are you receiving too many emails to where you don't have time to read them all?

Not not, at all. Mostly it is the emails from you guys. I have a couple from Grandpa Pat & one from Colton Barlocker.

Tayson wants to know if the salt and pepper shakers are just maracas with holes in the bottom?

He must still be really tired huh? Actually, that is something different. There isn´t any salt or pepper here!!!!

Is there a big central building or auditorium that all of the missionaries there will watch General Conference at?

I think all the English missionaries will watch in the auditorium. They will have something else set up for the Natives to watch in Spanish.

What is the hardest thing to get used to?

Definitely being away from you guys!!!! I miss you so much! The first couple weeks I would reach for my phone to text you and let you know something I just did, but no phone! Now I just want to have a phone to text you with! Also, not being able to Google anything!!!!!

What is the best part so far about being a missionary?

Already, I can feel myself changing so much!!!! I am basically being forced, in a good way, to rely so much more on my Savior, the Atonement, and Prayer. I can feel it really taking effect in my life and helping me so much!!!!

How is your district doing?

Good. Like I told mom, these last few days everyone has been a little sick but hopefully getting better now.

Are you writing in your journal every day?

I am. I know that this is an experience I will always want to look back on!

Did you get the full names and the addresses of the missionaries in your district (I put that information in my journal)? (by the way, my plan if for you to get your cell phone number back when you get home, so feel free to give it out as your number as you make lifelong friends).

Not yet. I am sure we will, we just haven´t thought about it yet because it seems like we still have a long time together.

What is the coolest thing that you learned this week?

I learned that I can walk into a lesson, have a thought of where we kind of want to go with the lesson, and without any notes or things written down, teach in Spanish for a half hour. It wasn´t even close to perfect, but it felt so wonderful!!!!

Does your district teacher live there on campus, or does she come to the campus each day?

No, she lives in the city. She bikes to campus each day.

Tell us about your casa, looks like just you and your companion share a room? How many rooms are in your building? How far is your classroom building from your casa?

Yes, right now it is just us, and we are hoping it stays that way :) I think there are 5 rooms. Our class is like a 2 minute walk from our casa, which is great because the Elders are like 10 minutes from the classroom.

What do you do for exercise time? Do you ever do fun exercise as a district?

A bunch of stuff. We´ve run a couple of times, do bikes and spinning, walk, play ultimate frisbee, and basketball. We played as a District on Tuesday and it is so fun! Especially because the Elders can´t touch us!!! So it is really hard for them to guard us!

The kids are asking about cockroaches again?

Nothing yet. Food attracts them so it is recommended to not have food in your casas. But I have been really careful with mine because I wasn´t about to throw it out and we have been fine!

Your mom is asking about gunfire again?

It is calmed down a lot this week. There was only one gun battle, some shots, and a lot less fireworks.

Tayson wants to know where in PMG (Preach My Gospel) your district is studying at?

We study everything all of them time. Yesterday we studied the Plan of Salvation & Restoration.
I love you all more than you can imagine!!! Thank you so much for your support & prayers!!!

Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador. Yo sé que Dios es nuestro Padre Celestial. Yo sé que Dios eschucha a nuestras oraciones. Yo sé que esta iglesia es veradero.

Hermana Allyse Meanea

********************************************************************************

Email Chat with Allyse (go to the bottom of this email, then read from the bottom back up to this point):

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:10 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:
I just had to let you all know that I just checked and I got the package!!!!!! Thank you sooooooooooo much!!!! I also just got all the dear elders. Thank you!!!!! I love you more than you can imagine!!!!!!
I love you all so much!!!! More than you can even imagine. My companion is ready to go, so I guess I have to say goodbye :( I can´t wait for next Thursday. I love talking to you and being connected. I love you soooooooo much!!! Thank you for EVERYTHING!!!!! Hug Tayson and Emily incredibly tight for me!!!!!

Bye :(

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:49 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

This has been so great. I feel like I can make it another week now. Thank you so much for this time Allyse. I hope it isn't too hard on you. We love you so much and I will send pictures and messages everyday. I can't wait for next week. I love you

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:47 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I don´t want to stop talking with you guys!!!! But, it is getting close to time. I love this so much. I feel so close knowing we all are looking at the computer screen, somehow connected! That is so funny about Tayson, I think I got a 91 too? I heard there is a problem with the government, it is shut down because of the budget or something?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:48 AM, John Meanea wrote:
oh that is a great message from Elder Scott, thanks for sharing. that is also a great pattern from Elder Bednar. We will follow it this weekend. I think instead of you guys watching conference in English, you should go with the natives and watch the Spanish translation... :-)

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:44 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I was also thinking in terms of only four more phone calls, or 3 more General Conferences!!!! One of each which is coming up soon!!!! Are you ready for General Conference? I wanted to share this idea from a devotional we watched of Elder Bednar about studying General Conference talks.

This is his pattern;

Find the Doctrine/Principle

Find the Invitation for us specifically

Find the Promised Blessings

Also, this is a quote from Elder Scott´s devotional we watched. He had sat down after finishing speaking, everyone had sang and the girl was coming up for the closing prayer when he stood up and asked her to wait a minute, he then said this:

"Remember, the Lord has called you to succeed, not to fail. Sometimes it may seem terribly hard, but he wants you to grow. He will not abandon you. He inspired your call. He knows who you are. He knows what you need. He knows what He wants you to become, and this mission experience is an opportunity He has given you to discover things about yourself you never knewñ capacities you never knew you had, strength beyond what you felt you had, and the capacity to love and serve which will sustain you throughout the rest of your life. Remember, you have been called and He will fit the task to your capabilities. I testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen."

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:35 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

One story I didn´t tell you. This week we were supposed to start teaching one of our teachers and she was going to act like an investigator. Instead, she wanted us to teach her friend who is kind of a naturalist hippie about the Gospel. A real person, in Spanish!!!!! We were soooooo scared. The day came and my companion and I were going to be first. Our teacher went to the gate to wait for him. A 1/2 hour later she came back with no Alex, the investigator´s name. He wouldn´t answer her phone calls or texts and turned off his cell phone. We were all sad that we had our first rejection but also kind of relieved too :) The next day he told her his phone had gotten stolen on the bus so he just decided to go home, who knows? Good experience and funny story though!!!!!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:18 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

It isn´t normal but it is, I don´t know how to explain it, routine I guess? Yes, the schedule is pretty normal. I did wake up the other morning scared out of mind because I didn´t know where I was or why I wasn´t in my bed at home. That was a really rough way to start the day!!!!! Yes, there are a ton of super nice Hermanas that I love to talk with. I haven´t had anything too weird, basically everyday it is chicken and beef. Yesterday was chicken in mango sauce, it was soooo good. The weirdest is probably the drink that tasted like toothpaste, the jello with a prune in it, some kind of hot dog with pasta noodles. Not every night, I think everyone has finally moved past celebrating independence and it is calming down. I wish I could tell you everything!!!!!!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:14 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

I hope it improves for you my sweet girl and know that we are sending huge amounts of love and support to you every second. Is the CCM starting to feel like normal life now? Have you gotten used to the routine. Have you made other friends there. What is the weirdest thing you have eaten? Is there still gunshots every night? I want to know everything.

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

No, I love the chatting!!!! No, not yet. Once I am in my mission, I think I am supposed to email my Mission President once a week. I am sure he did! I would love to see that. I received your letter that you sent on my birthday on Tuesday! That means it took almost 2 weeks to get here, which is soooo crazy to me!!! I sent you guys a letter last Friday. I am sure it will take some time to get to you!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:53 AM, John Meanea wrote:

I am glad that you have heard from some other people. That is wonderful. As mom said, everyone asks about you. Everyone is thinking about you, even in my YSA ward! Does us "chatting" with you interrupt you from writing your regular letter? Are you supposed to write letters to anyone besides your family? Tayson did a great job updating your blog last week, I will snail mail you a print out of it. Do we need to write our letters to you in Spanish so that you can SYL to us? :-)

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:47 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

Yes, please thank Garrett´s mom so much!!!! Between her stuff and prayer, I have been OK and still able to work. Her stuff also helped a ton with my runny, congested nose that I had!!!! We are trying to get better at speaking Spanish all of the time. That is one of the big things here, SYL, Speak Your Language. I got an email from Colton Barlocker, Brad Lewis, and a couple from Grandpa Pat. I will!!!!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:42 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

I will send you all the stories that I can. I am so sorry that you have felt sick. I hope the other things you have been taking helped it not be as bad. We got a notification that your package was delivered yesterday so it should be there waiting for you.. Let us know anything you need. Do you speak Spanish all of the time? Have you heard from anyone else? People ask about you all of the time. Will you have more pictures and a long email for this week?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:37 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

That was so funny!!! I laughed at all of your stories and hope that you can send me more!!!! Actually, this week it hasn´t rained at all. The mornings are cooler but not cold. My companion and district are good. Actually, this week there is kind of an epidemic going around. It is a cold & stomach flu type of thing. Our Elders gave me the cold, which I am now almost over completely. Two of our Elders are still pretty sick though. I haven´t been feeling great the last few days, my stomach has been sick. Like I want to throw up but can´t. I am feeling tons better now though.

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:22 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

The kids are doing good. Tayson is doing great with being 16. He is off and driving and taking Emily to school. He had a great birthday. Emily is still loving swimming and is doing good. I finally got data back on my phone and we have the internet back up at the house so her data usage is better;) Did you laugh about her letting her whole class use her hotspot to get on the internet? Are you staying warm and dry? How is your companion and your district? Are you staying healthy?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:18 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I haven´t gotten the package yet but I will check today and try to let you know. I have gotten the pictures and I love them sooooooo much!!!! Tell me everything about the family!!!!!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:14 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

We haven't received a letter yet. Did you get our package all right? I am so happy that the language is coming. I totally understand about the homesickness. This is harder than I ever imagined but I know that I am being supported by Heavenly Father and I know you are too. Have you got the pictures that I have sent you.

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:12 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I am doing good. I have good days and hard days and everything in between! The language is good, hard, but it is getting there. I can talk and say basically what I need to where people understand. Now the hard part is getting to where I can actually speak correctly with tenses and grammar!!!! It is getting easier and then I just have really hard times of homesickness but it is better. I am happy and it is an amazing place to be. I am going to assume you haven´t received my letter in the mail yet, right?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:09 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

I'm so excited. Tell me how you are doing. How is the language coming? Is it getting easier? Are you happy?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:08 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I am good but missing you more than you can imagine!!!! This is my computer time. We go to the temple every other week so I don´t go today. However long it takes to talk with you!!!!!

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 9:05 AM, Alice Meanea wrote:

Is this your time on the computer? How long do you have? Are you going to the temple?

On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 8:02 AM, Allyse Meanea wrote:

I am here and available and would love to talk with you all if I can!!!