August 30, 2010

Hey again y'all!

     This week went by super fast, the days are starting to melt together like they did in the MTC. I've been out for a month already! It's sad to think that I only get 23 more... Although it's definitely not easy or comfortable much of the time, I am loving every moment here in the mission field.

     This last week came with some interesting experiences with opposition. Nothing dangerous occured or anything, but while on exchanges earlier in the week, the elder I was with and I encountered a gentleman who identified himself as a street preacher and proceeded to inform us of how mislead we were. He also tried to tell us exactly what we did and did not believe. In the midst of his (memorized) corner routine, Elder Solum and I stood smiling and undaunted as he demonstrated his ability to "speak in tongues". We each still just stood there smiling at him until he just sort of cut off, and then he stared at us in a somewhat confused way. His hands shook and he was at a loss for words as neither of us was blown away by his act, like he may have expected us to be. In order to avoid any further confrontation, I expressed my love for the man and we wished him a wonderful day. While back home, I may have been upset or irritated by someone going to such great lengths to demean my faith, now it mostly just breaks my heart that someone could be so confused and blinded from the truth. We had a couple such encounters with people this week, each ending in about the same manner. Each person seemed almost astounded at the fact that we just kept walking and knocking the next door after they had tried to hard to convince us of how wrong we were. These weren't exactly the first experiences like that that I've had, and I know they wont' be the last.  But the work goes on! :) My testimony is strengthened each time I bear it, even to those who won't accept it. I can't feel sad or discouraged even in the face of such opposition when I think of how wonderful the message is that I have the privelage to share with others. As much as I wish I could, I can't reach everyone I meet, but I can sure try! And try I certainly will.

     We have quite a few teaching appointments set up this week and are very excited for our investigators. We love appointments because that means we don't have to tract ALL day, just most of the day. Being doubled into areas is awesome... One investigator in particular who I may have mentioned last week, is named Eddy. Eddy is a very cool man who speaks English as his 3rd language, but insists on taking the lessons in English. Eddy's first language is Spanish, and his second is French. Eddy is very open minded and exremely eager to learn. Eddy expressed that he could feel God's love as he talked with us just as he had when his life was spared in a very serious car accident a year ago. We are very excited to continue teaching Eddy and for the blessings that can be his as he accepts the restored Gospel.

     I was extremely excited to hear about Ben's mission call today! I can't wait to hear about his experiences when he joins me in the mission field! I know he will do amazingly well as he remains obedient.

     As I was speaking with sister Hiatt, a member in the McKinney 1st ward, sometime this week, It was discovered that she served in Melbourne around the same time Dad was serving in Perth. Upon my telling her about where Dad served, she said to her husband, "oh, Mike Hold served in Perth didn't he?". Apparently the Hiatts and the Holts go back quite a long way back. They were very interested to learn that Dad and he had served together, and even more interested to learn that I was named after him. What a small world it is, especially in the Church...

     I got a haircut today (finally) for the first time since leaving. It may seem silly but I'm pretty stoked to have clean cut hair again! I'm realizing how spoiled I've been to have mom and Shelly to cut my hair. They do a much better job than I can have done at the local barber, but I'm just thankful to have it cut, even if it isn't as slick a job as mom and Shelly do.

     It's about time to go now, but I want each of you to know that I love you! I pray for you all every chance I get and I appreciate the prayers on my behalf. Until next time, be good, stay safe, and keep the faith.

Love,

Elder Michael P. Lyman

Aug 23, 2010

Hey again family!

     Wow, so much to tell, so little time! My transition into the mission field has been a very smooth one. I am serving in the McKinney area and my companion is elder Clayton. He's a hilarious elder who is helping me discover the things I need to be successful. We get along very well. We cover 3 wards and a fairly large area, so we are blessed with the use of a car. We have been working hard this week and things are going very well. Tracting in the Texas heat is quite an experience... I'm pretty much used to having literally soaked, saturated clothes on me at all times and the heat really isn't bothering me. All is well! :) McKinney is a very nice and for the most part very very wealthy area. We have been fed very well thus far, and don't anticipate anything different going forward. The people in Texas are all extremely nice and even door slams seem to have a sort of politeness to them, I guess. Tracting was much more disheartening in Hesperia than it is in McKinney. We are working with a few investigators and tracted into some very neat people this week. One lady we tracted into is a very well accomplished musician and is now teaching music out of her home. When we began teaching her on her doorstep about the Book of Mormon and the inhabitants of the Americas she said in a hushed tone "other sheep I have...", Elder Clayton and I couldn't believe what we were seeing, but we dove in and we have an appointment with her to teach the first lesson next week. We are also teaching a couple named Eric and Felicia whom we got to church yesterday for the first time. They have some word of wisdom issues, but had a great experience at church yesterday and Eric has committed to live the word of wisdom. Felicia may have more trouble, but we are working and praying hard with them both.

     This morning, Elder Clayton and I set out to deeeep clean our apartment. This is no small task because even though our apartment is probably one of, if not the nicest apartment in the mission, it has been badly abused by the previous elders. Mom, even though it probably isn't quite up to your high standards of clean, you'd be very proud of what I did in that kitchen! We finally have a chance to go shopping today! This is exciting because lunches have been somewhat interesting this week, having to make do with whatever was left behind by the previous missionaries. Having no milk or bread, one afternoon we had a "peanut butter and jelly soup", crackers with easy cheese, and snack pack pudding (I had to take a picture. You'll recognize the meal immediately when my card comes home). Other than that one afternoon though our breakfasts and lunches have been mostly normal. It has been a fun and interesting experience, nevertheless, it will be very nice to get some grocery shopping done!

     I love you all and continue to pray for you always. Be good, stay safe, and keep the faith. Until next time!

Love,

Elder Michael P. Lyman