Return of the P-Day

John: Following is the letter we received from Allyse yesterday (Thursday, October 10th).  She is 1/2 way through her Mexico City CCM (MTC) experience.  Thanks again for your love and support of Hermana Meanea!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Allyse Meanea
Date: Thu, Oct 10, 2013 at 1:56 PM
Subject: 3rd Email Home

Wow!  On one hand, this week seems to have gone by so fast, but on the other, it seems to have dragged by so slowly!  It was a good week, still super super hard, but getting better!

Here, we typically teach one of our progressing investigators, we have 2 right now, each day.  We also teach constantly with each other so that we can practice different things.  Saturday and Sunday were 2 of my favorite days here so far.  Conference was amazing!!!!!!!!  I can´t wait to go back and study all of the talks more!!!!  Wasn´t it so neat to hear President Monson talk about the 80,333 missionaries out and know I am One of those!!!  Elder Soares talk really hit me.  I also loved President Uchtdorf saying: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith!"  I truly felt love, and peace, and joy, while I listened to Conference this weekend.  By the way, were you able to see the LDS World Report on the Mexico MTC after the morning session on both Saturday and Sunday? If not, you should try to find it because it shows a lot of the stuff about what I am living right now!!!  I also really loved Elder Ballard´s talk: "It is impossible for me to fail when I do my best & am on the Lord´s errand."  The Relief Society Meeting was so great too! We got to watch it Saturday night when the Elders were in Priesthood.  On Sunday the sessions were incredible too!  When we watched Music and the Spoken Word I did start crying because it shows all of the pictures of the West and they were all places I have been with my family!!!  I loved Sister Oscarson´s talk on Conversion and Elder Scott´s.  Elder Vinson´s really hit me hard too!  Sorry this is so scattered, there is just so much to say and I don´t know where to begin!

After Conference, we had some Personal Study time.  I was really feeling the desire to have more meaningful study of the Book of Mormon.  I prayed to be able to find the things that Heavenly Father wanted me to read and I started reading where I was at in 1 Nephi 15.  It was incredible! Every verse hit me and the revelation just flowed!!!!!  It was such a testimony to me that Heavenly Father does here our prayers, does love us so much, and does answer us, especially through the Book of Mormon!  That evening, for our Sunday Video we watched The Testaments, which is one of my favorites, and it was the perfect end to such an incredible weekend!

Monday was a pretty normal day.  We taught and studied.  Spanish is coming well.  I am at the point where I can speak and teach an investigator mostly what I want to say.  Now it is just understanding all of the grammar and building up my vocabulary so I can speak correctly and not sound so much like a gringo!!!

Tuesday was one of my hardest days so far!  I was sooooooooo homesick.  All I could think was how much I wanted to be at home with my family.  I was praying all day for the desire to be here and to be doing this work.  I was trying to be perky but I just missed my family.  Tuesday night was such a testimony to me that the Lord is aware of me and wants to help me.  Our Tuesday night devotional was one from Elder Holland from the Provo MTC.  If you think he gets in your face sometimes in Conference, you have no idea!!!!  It was so amazing and exactly what I needed to hear.  The big message was: Don´t you dare come home and not have this change you forever!!!!  This hit me really hard because I have been thinking; once I get through my mission I can get home to my family.  I know I need to change my attitude to think about how amazing this really is. Also he talked about how this is Real Life.  The devotional really impacted me and helped me to understand why I am out here and the next 18 months, I will be useless if i don´t understand why I am here.  It was a big wake up call to all of us!

Wednesday was a better day.  I was feeling strengthened and comforted by the Lord so much.  I know that there is no way I can do this without Him.  I have always understood that we need to trust and rely on the Lord.  But until I got out here,  I have never really needed to rely on Him for all of my strength before.  Now, i am starting to understand.

Today at the Temple was great.  I did it all in Spanish and am surprised at what I am able to pick out.

Here are some random things I have been writing a list that I have wanted to say or ask.....

Did you guys start playing Christmas music & spraying apples and cinnamon stuff on October 1st?

I heard about this movie called Three Amigos, it has Steve Martin in it, that is apparently sooo funny and is about Mexico I think.  It sounds like it might be a fun movie for you guys to find and watch with Clearplay :)

Here is some of the food I have had recently that you should try: Carne Asada (definitely one of my favorites here, it is soooo good!), Chicken Cordon Bleu, Waffle Sandwich (Literally one morning for breakfast we had a waffle with chicken, lettuce and tomato on top of it), and my favorite ice cream is a popsicle that is called Leche de Cajeta.

See if you can find "Holland on Peter" on YouTube.  We watched it and it really gets you thinking.

I love being a missionary! It is just incredible to think that the thing I have been waiting my whole life to be is happening now!!!  I have a for real name tag!  I can´t wait to get out there and invite others to Christ.

It´s time :(  I have loved talking to you guys so incredibly much!!!!  I can feel your love and support so strongly!!!!!  I can´t wait for next Thursday to be able to talk with you more!  I love you and know that the Lord will help us all through this!!!  I love love love love you!!!!!!!

Hermana Meanea

Tayson: This has been another illegal letter-cast from Meanea incorporated!

Thank you all for your support of our missionary!

A really cool painted building in Mexico City

El Comedor (the Cafeteria) at the CCM

Many shops along the street in Mexico City

Me at the computer while I am typing this letter

Mexico Car Wash on the side of the street in Mexico City

My Companion, Sister Woolf, and me as we get ready to watch General Conference

My Selfie at the Mexico City Temple today

Our Classroom at the Mexico City CCM (it is cleaner then it usually is)

A cool thing that they use to move stuff around with

Strawberry Fanta, a small taste of home!

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!!!

My Breakfast this morning, they have a Nutella Station!!!

Our Room in our Casa (bottom bunk is mine)

My Closet

The tall wall to surrounds and protects the CCM

Headed to Chicago!!! (in 25 days...)

Me at the CCM Sign

The CCM with the "B" of the former high school on the hill in the background

My schedule for a typical week at the CCM

Hello again family!

Here's the 500 page questionnaire that we put together for Allyse to answer when she got to email us yesterday. It is extremely long. Dad actually got quite clever and had here copy it down and answer the questions offline so it wasn't using up her allotted internet time. Apparently you can have more time on the computer than on the internet.

Pictures will be at the end of the post, so you have to read the entire thing to get to them.

N-Joy! (Tayson)

First of all, I love you all more than you can possibly imagine!!!  I miss you so incredibly much!!!  I hope everything is going well for you all!!!  Happy Birthday Dad today! I hope it is a great day for you and I am so glad I get to talk to you on your birthday!!!  Happy Birthday Taysonon Sunday!!! I am sorry I won´t be able to talk to you then.  I hope you have an incredible day and that you have fun with your license and your Sweet Sixteen. I can´t believe it!!!  These are just a couple of quick things I have been wanting to share with you this week, I wish I could share it all!!!

• In Spanish, you use "Tu" when addressing Heavenly Father.  Tu is actually the not formal more a friend kind of way to say you.  I love this because it is more personal and is an example of the relationship we should have with our Father in Heaven.
• My companion shared this scripture that I just had to share!!! Enos 1:16 - I am helping to fulfill this covenant by preparing to take the Book of Mormon to the Spanish Speaking in Chicago.  How cool is that?  My mission, and that of so many others, was prophesied of in the Book of Mormon!!!
• In Sacrament Meeting on Sunday, it is all in Spanish,  and Elder was giving a talk and mentioned the movie Hitch and WIll Smith.  Everyone started laughing a little uncomfortably because it was Sacrament Meeting and he was talking about the movie Hitch.  All I could do was ask myself "Is that different for missionaries?" Rather than "white people".  Haha, get it ?
• Some of the Elders in my District found out I like Studio C and started reenacting parts to make me laugh.  It made me think of you guys and hope you are still laughing at and watching Studio C :)
• On Monday, our Investigator we have been teaching prayed and yesterday he said he would prepare to be baptized in October!!! Even though it is just pretend, it is still the most incredible feeling knowing you have helped someone feel the Spirit and come closer to their Savior!!!
• The Temple was so great! I listened in English, it is still the old movie, through the headset, but some in Spanish!
• How was Iron Man?

  

1. Who is your companion?

My companion's name is Herman Woolf.

2. Where is she from?

She is from Provo, Utah :)

3. Where is your companion called to serve? (and tell us anything else about your companion)

She is also going to Chicago! She is 20 in November. She is nice and very artsy. It is amazing how the Lord works. Here we are automatically friends because we are companions and both going through this crazy experience!

4. When you flew out of Cedar, do you know why the plane sat for so long on the taxiway? Why it taxied back towards the terminal, only to taxi back to the north end of the runway?

We were waiting to be cleared to take off and then they told us that we had to get out of the way for some other air traffic coming through.

5. How was your plane change in Salt Lake? Did you have time to get yourself some food?

The plane change was fine. We got dropped off at this little terminal where you got out on the tarmac and had to walk into a little building. I then found my way, asking for directions, to my new terminal. I wasn't even thinking about food at that point so I just waited until my zone was called for boarding.

6. Tell about LAX, we were concerned about you making it clear around the airport to the other side to get on your other flight, especially since your flight from Salt Lake was a little late in arriving at the gate and you had less then an hour?

LAX was scary. It was HUGE! I got off the plane and there was an Indian (from India kind) waiting there to tell us where to go. He told me to take the escalators down and I would find the right terminal. I took the escalators down but all of the signs said Terminal 7 this way ( I needed terminal 2) and it was this weird underground passage. It didn't look or feel right so I turned around, went back up, and searched for someone else to ask. There was no one so finally I went up to a lady at one of the gates and asked her. She gave me better directions and I was able to find the ground transport to the other terminals. I had to wait for the shuttle for a long time but it finally came. I then had to wait for the shuttle to stop and go at Terminals 6, 7, & 1. Finally we got to 2. I hurried inside but there was no signs of where to go from there. I had to wait for a lady to explain in charades where to go to a Chinese man before she could help me. Turns out this tiny elevator is the only way into the terminal! I finally got up to security and it was a LONG line. I was watching my watch (No pun intended :) knowing I was cutting it really close. I finally got through security with no problems and practically ran (as much as I could having to hold up a skirt I found out was too big to stay up on its own and lugging to big, heavy bags :) to my gate. I got there and found the waiting area empty and got worried. But I asked the lady at the gate and she checked my passport, had to print me a new AeroMexico boarding pass, work with my checked luggage, and then finally I was let on the plane! Everything and Everyone was Spanish and it was kind of intimidating!

7. You mentioned the meal on the airplane was interesting, more details please.

Just that I have never had a meal on a plane on the way to Mexico :) It was a type of grilled cheese, grapes, and cracker peanuts.

Funny Story: As we were descending into Mexico City (I was in an isle seat, I had been in a window seat for my other flights) I was craning my neck trying to see all that I could through the fog and darkness of my first view of Mexico & Mexico City. There was an older Native couple sitting next to me and the lady, noticing my craning my neck trying to see, asked if it was my first time to Mexico City. I told her yes and we talked for a bit about why I was there, it was kind of fun :)

8. You said the first missionary that you met was as you were clearing customs. How did you know they were a missionary? Was it an Elder or Sister? I bet that was a relief to have someone to be with while at the Mexico City Airport.

I had just got my checked bags, much to my relief. I had been terrified all day that my luggage wouldn't make all of the plane changes I did :) But it was there and I was feeling really self conscious because I had so much compared with everyone else :) Then I noticed another younger woman with just as much as me. I was thinking to myself, well at least I am not the only one with so much! And then I realized she looked different from everyone else, kind of like a missionary. I looked at her and she looked at me and we both started, "Are you..." and then both started laughing because we were so relieved and excited. It was nice to have someone, but actually the time that we got there at, the airport was EMPTY and there was no lines for customs or immigration!

9. After you cleared customs, and got your baggage from baggage claim (I assume your two bags made it there okay) was someone waiting to pick you up, or did you have to wait?

See Attached Picture :)  He was waiting right outside immigration and walked up to me and said "Hola Hermana". Apparently I was pretty easy to recognize as a Sister Missionary :)

10. How was the drive to the MTC?

The drive was actually just fine. It was just me and the Hermana I met in customs so it was just a white van rather than a big bus. It was interesting though just because in Mexico City, there is no such thing as lanes, there are HUGE potholes and speed bumps everywhere, everyone honks just to let you know they are there, it was dark, and there is about 2 feet of water on the road in some places. It was really neat!!!

11. Who greeted you when you arrived at the MTC?

Because it was late, about 9:00, there wasn´t really anyone specific to greet us. A Hermano gave us our packets with everything we need and then told us to email our families and watch an Intro video to the CCM. We then were told where our Casas were and told to go there. There were some Elders finishing at the same time Hermana Michael (the one I met in Customs) and I finished so a Hermana asked them to make sure we got to our Casas okay. The sidewalks, even in the CCM, are a lot like the roads. HUGE cracks and puddles. It is really hard to manage two huge suitcases, a purse, and a duffle bag. I was doing the best I could moving them all, really slowly I might add, and my two suitcases hit a crack in front of me ( Pushing in front is a lot easier than lugging behind) and we all fell down ( all my luggage and me :) It was great! I was laughing, covered in mud, and everyone was all worried about me. What a way to start my CCM experience!

I got to my Casa and my Companion´s things were there but she wasn´t. So I unpacked, and unsure what to do next, went to bed, exhausted! In the morning I found out she had gone to sleep in some other Hermana´s room because I wasn´t there yet. We think she went in about 5 minutes before I got to the Casa :)

12. What all happened that first evening at the MTC?

Look above :)

13. Tell us about your district?

My District is great. There are 4 companionships of Elders and then Hermana Woolf and I. The Elders are all 18 year olds that just graduated high school, like me! All of the Elders are headed to the same mission in Honduras, except for one, my District Leader, who is going to Philadelphia. The Elders are really fun. Two of the Elders are from Star Valley, they knew each other before, and they know Bert & Denise Kunz. One of them lives by them. You will have to ask them about Elders Oviatt & Shumway.

14. Do you have one main teacher for your district? Who is he/she?

Yes we do. Her name is Hermana Callejes. She is a native of Mexico City and has been home from her mission for a year. She is super nice and a really good teacher. We should also meet our other teacher tomorrow. He has been the investigator that we started teaching on the second day, and will be our teacher now that we finished teaching him. Although, we aren´t supposed to know that :)

15. Did they issue you all of the books you had told us about? Scriptures?

Yes they did. The bag is huge and heavy! This is a picture of my Birthday present that I got on my Birthday :)

16. How is the MTC food there?

The food is fine. Some of the stuff is interesting but isn´t too weird. I haven´t really had any problems and a lot of the food is really good! Today was Carne Asada, and it was my favorite so far.

17. How is the water situation?

Really interesting for a girl from Southern Utah who just gets it out of the tap when she wants some :) They give us a filtered water bottle. I started to use it the first day but the taste was HORRIBLE!!! It was a charcoal filter. So I took the filter off and just get the water out of the filtered dispensers they have everywhere and it is a lot better.

18. Is there anything you need or would like us to send you?

Mail would be great :-)

19. How was your birthday? Details on your day?

My Birthday was great!!! Super different from anything before of course! Some Hermanas from another district in our zone/branch found out it was my birthday and organized their District to come in and sing to me (it is Elder Bolton´s District) and give me a gift. It was so neat!!!

20. How is your Spanish coming?

My Spanish is getting better each day. It was really rough because we started teaching an Investigator, completely in Spanish, our second day here!!! It was super hard and really scary but is getting better each time!!! It is amazing how quickly you learn here!

21. Have you gotten to go out into the city at all?

No, the CCM is surrounded by a 30 foot high fence and we are not allowed anywhere near the fence. My first time outside since coming in was today going to the Temple.

22. We need to know your favorite scripture so we can get your plaque made?

I am thinking D&C 31:3

Will you please pick a picture from the Missionary - Missionary Picture folder on my computer? Mom´s favorite?

Illinois Chicago - Spanish Speaking

Allyse MayLynn Meanea

23. Where are the other Elders/Sisters in your district going on their missions to?

Number 13

24. Have you had any MTC wide devotionals? Anyone amazing speak to you?

Yes. We had one Sunday and one Tuesday. Sunday we watched a video from Provo MTC from April 2013. It was Elder Scott on Prayer and Personal Revelation and it was AMAZING!!! Try and see if you can possibly find anyway to watch/read it because it was incredible!!!Tuesday was Elder Bednar from October 2012 about studying General Conference Addresses and it was really great too.

25. Tayson wants to know if you have heard any gunshots?

Yes, I hear gunshots everyday. One day was an epic gun battle while we were in class. It lasted for a long time and then there was sirens everywhere. We also here what sounds like cannons occasionally. Right now there are a lot of loud fireworks at all times of the day because they just celebrated Independence Day here earlier in the month and are still on a high from that! No Joke about any of it!!!

26. What do you feel was your miracle on that day you left for your mission? (we have our ideas, but would like to know your thoughts)

I feel like getting here safely, making all of my planes, finding that Hermana in customs, being able to leave, and not crying the whole time were all huge miracles! What do you guys think?

27. How many missionaries are there going to Chicago? Those are future companions!

A lot! A huge group left just before we got here, Alainey Carter was in that group.

28. How are you feeling? Have you been well?

I am feeling really good. Sometimes are ridiculously difficult and I get super homesick. But I am doing better now!

29. How has the weather been?

I love the weather here. It is rainy season so it rains every evening and the natives treat it like winter there. They where scarves, huge coats, and beanies. It is the perfect temperature for me, never too warm. Sometimes at night I actually get chilled!

30. Emily wants to know if you have seen cockroaches yet?

Not yet Emmers and I am hoping to keep it that way!!!

Thank you too all of my family that is sooooo supportive! Thanks for the Emails and thank you Aunt Sherece for the Dear Elder!!!  I love you all so much and can´t thank you enough!

Yo sé que este iglesia es veradero.  Yo sé que Jesucristo es mi Salvador.  Yo sé que nuestro Padre Celestial tiene amo por nos y quiere nos estamos feliz.  Yo sé que nosotros todos podemos estar missionaros!!!

I love you all so much!  Please know how much I love and miss you guys!  This is the hardest thing I have every done in my life but I know it will be worth it.  I just keep thinking that I have you all for Eternity, no other options, but I am out here, away from you guys for just 18 months so others get the opportunity to be with their families forever!  It will be worth it!  I love you all so much & can´t wait to talk to you again!!! Bye!!!

Eternal Love,

Hermana Allyse Meanea

(from Tayson) PS: Okay, it took way longer to read on Gmail, I swear.

Sometimes there are HUGE holes in the middle of the road!!!

Sometimes they fix cars on the road!!!

The CCM

There is still Walmart, Sam's Club, McDonald's and Blockbuster!

Typical CCM Lunch

My Birthday Gift from the CCM

My Birthday Gift from my district

My District at the Temple

My Room

Some people run out in front of cars to wash windows for a peso!

Some taxis are old Bugs!

The Beginning! (From the list of creative titles )

Hello family!

Your friendly blogging fiend Tayson here. I just wanted to hop on really quick and let you know that I'll. Be posting all of Hermana Meanea's letters for the next 18 months. Reading mail is technically a federal offense, but that's alright! We'll do it anyways!

Sister Meanea left for the Mexico MTC today, and had her family crouching anxiously around the computer all day waiting for her arrival email. It's finally come, and the content is included herewith.

You guys! I am here! Safe and in one piece!  It is amazing and scary and incredible and peacful, and chaotic, all at once!  I miss you all more than you know.  I came the whole way on my own and wasn´t with another missionary until customs.  The plane rides were good and I was safe.  LAX was fun to find my way around but we did it.  The inflight meal was interesting. Did you know that a TON of Spanish people drink tomato juice?  Just like we drink milk! I love you all so much!  It seems like such a long time since this morning! I hope that you are all doing well.  Tayson, good luck at Cross Country tomorrow.  Emmy, cuddle Sister Teddy hard.  I have my name tag! I am official :)  Sorry this email is so chaotic, I  just don´t know where to even start.  I have already met a sister that is Chicago, Spanish Speaking. We met in customs.  The Sister at reception said that there was like six of us (Chicago) here at the CCM right now!  I love you all so much and can´t wait to email again so I can tell you all about life at the CCM in Mexico!  Let all the family know I love them and appreciate them so much!  Have a good night, know you are in my prayers!  I love you all sooooo much!!!  The Church is true, this is where I am supposed to be.  18 Months will fly by and I am sure we can´t even imagine the blessings!
 
Good Night!
 
Love,
 
Hermana Allyse Meanea

We all love you Allyse! Let your training begin!

One Week!!!

In less than a week I will be in Mexico City at the MTC!!! I received my travel plans last week, I actually will fly out on the morning of the 17th, before I am 19!  Words cannot express how excited I am to begin this adventure.  I know that it is going to be hard, but it will all be worth it.  I hope that as I serve, I will be able to recognize the Spirit and follow its promptings.  I want to strengthen my testimony of The Book of Mormon.  I want to humble myself to be able to do anything that the Lord desires of me.  I want to serve the people of Chicago and be a light and example to bring them to a knowledge of the truth.  Thank you for all of your love and support, I would not be doing this without the influence and example of each of you.  I cannot wait to write you in a week and let you know that I am actually in Mexico City and starting my grand adventure. I hope to here from you and here how things are going.

I know that this is the true and living church.  The Book of Mormon was written in ancient times for OUR day.  By reading it, I have found so many passages that can apply directly to me and my point in life.  I know that this is true for everyone.  If you read The Book of Mormon with a prayer in your heart and a desire to learn,  things will pop out at you and a seed of testimony will begin to grow.  It is a slow process, a process of a lifetime in fact, but that is the purpose of faith and trust on the Lord.  If we rely on Him and His Atonement,  all things are possible.  The Atonement is not just for sins.  Because our older brother suffered in Gethsemane, He understands EVERYTHING that we feel.  When no one else can help or understand, He does.  He loves us more than we will ever know.  If we come unto Him, He will comfort and buoy us up.  I cannot wait to share these truths with the people of Chicago so that they can feel the same peace and love that I have been so blessed with.

See you in Eighteen!!!

One Month!!!

This is completely surreal! In less than a month I will be flying to Mexico City all by myself, embarking on the adventure of a lifetime! I keep having to ask myself, "Is this really happening?"  I am so excited and scared and nervous and anxious, all at the same time.  It is scaring me how fast the time is starting to go so I have really been stepping up my prepartion.

I got to go up shopping in Provo with my mom and sister.  It was great and I found a lot of amazing things.  My amazing Aunt Christy also took my missionary pictures while we were up there.  They turned out incredible!!!

I got to speak in another ward in my stake this past Sunday with a High Councilman who had asked me to speak with him.  I was super nervous but I think it went OK.  My topic was on conversion.  It was so perfect for me because it is something I have been struggling with for quite a while.  On preparing and giving my talk I was able to find a lot of great things that comforted and strengthened me.




As I have been reading The Book of Mormon, I found myself enjoying it more and more.  In my ward on Sunday, a sister, who is getting ready to leave on a senior couple mission with her husband to Japan, talked about she has never read The Book of Mormon like she is doing now.  She explained how she was reading it and it was like a missionary manual to her.  I completely feel the same way.  Each time I read, I find little gems and principles that I feel like are directed right and me and my preparation to serve a mission.

I love this Gospel and am so excited to go and share it.  I hope that I may be able to recognize the Spirit and constantly continue to be converted so that I can share the light and blessings with others.