February 3, 2013

Kaselelie Family!

How have things been? I am really excited to hear about Mandy and Megan! They are so awesome! I really enjoyed reading all of your emails. It sounds like things are going really great back home! I've got to admit that I am a little bit jealous of Spencers new invention. Thats something that I should have thought of.. ;) 

Mom is going to hate me for this, but I am really short on time today. I had a lot of people send me emails, and I was doing my best to write them back, which left me with a solid 10 minutes to email the family. I am sorry about that mom!

To answer some questions really quick, I did get a letter from Bethany on Thursday. I loved reading it so much. I had been having a little bit of a rough couple of days, and her letter really lifted me up. She has always had a way of lifting me up when I am in need. Please tell her that I say thank you, and that I just sent her a new letter today, and it should be there soon. Look at me, I am on a role! Two letters in three weeks! :) As for the other letters, I haven't gotten any other letters yet. I can't tell you how excited I am to get them though. I am thrilled to see that Jose wrote me. I miss him so much. How has he been doing. Please send him my love.

Alright. So I am going to give a super quick update. Life has been great this last week. I have been learning and growing so much. I have found so much Joy in the work lately. Its not that things are that much easier, but I have felt the Lords hand in my life so much lately. Our area is doing well. We are still working with our members, and we are trying to prepare one to take on the responsibility of a Unit Leader. My companion and I have been brainstorming new ways to help our area progress. I think we are on to some good ideas! I will keep you updated on how things are going!

Sorry this is so short! If people can, paper letters would be much easier for me, but I understand when it is tough to do it that way.. Things are going great here on Pohnpei. I am working hard, and doing my best. I can feel the Lords hand in the details.

I love you all so much. Thank you so much for everything that you do for me. I hope all is well, and know that you are in my prayers. Have a great week!

Mihmi Kehlial, and live like you mean it!

Ahm Pwutahk, Rie, oh Kompokapai,

Elder Dallin A Lyman

January, 27, 2013

Kaselelie Family!

Hello! How are things going for you guys this week? I really enjoyed reading your emails. It is really nice to get updates and to hear how you are doing. I am really glad that my package made it to you. I was really excited about that! Quick question for mom, is that the big turtle hanging from your rear view mirror? Or the smaller one? If that is the big one, then please find a safer spot for it! Talk about a blind spot.. ;) haha I am glad to hear that everyone enjoyed their gifts. It took several P-days, and a lot of analizing (as im sure you could imagine) to get that package together. I was really stoked about Dads necklace. I think it is so cool the way those necklaces are made. 

To answer some questions.. 

I havent recieved any of those letters yet. I did get a letter from Bethany a couple weeks ago that I loved reading! I sent her a letter last week, so I hope she gets it soon!

No, im not starving, but I am happy to hear that im at least not getting bigger! It is weird, because some missionaries gain (a lot) of weight here on pohnpei, and some of us lose it. Im not too sure how that works..

If anyone does want to send something though, I wouldn't mind some canned chicken! Not too much though.

I don't think that merleen will be leaving for a while, so I think you should be fine. She is a really awesome person. Thank you for doing this for her.

Just to give a really quick update on the week. Things have been really good this last week. On Tuesday, we had Zone Confrence, and it was amazing. President Mechem came for it. I learned so much from him. He is an incredible person. I look up to him a lot. He said something that that has stuck in my head this week. He said "All of us came here to do what the Lord calls his 'Great and marvelous' work. Did you plan to do that in an Ordinary way?" This statement really stuck out to me. It made me realize that it isn't enough to be an "ordinary" missionary. I need to strive to be the very best that I can be. It is so easy to just settle with meeting expectations. You have to strive to be more. You have to reach higher, you have to love deeper, you have to work harder, and you have to stand taller. You have to rely on the Lord, and trust that he will be by your side in times of need. You have to have faith in him, and do the very best that you can. Something else that President said has really stuck with me. He said "Pray to the Lord as if everything depends on him. And then go out and work as if everything depends on you."

I am sorry that this isn't a very long letter, but I am out of time now. I love you all so much. Don't ever forget that! Have a great week!

Stay Strong, and live like you mean it!

Love your Son, Brother, and Friend,

Elder Dallin A Lyman

P.S. Where is Jackson serving?? Keep me posted on mission calls!

January 20, 2013

Kaselelie Family!

I am glad you guys got that email I sent you! I wondered if you guys would see it in time. It sounds like you guys have had a fun week. I have been wondering all week how things have been going, and I have been anxious to hear about it :) 

This week has been a crazy week! It has been loaded with all sorts of crazy experiences. They make good memories though, and at least I will have good stories to tell when I get home. This week our water stopped working in our house. It does that a lot, but this week it completely stopped working. This week we have had to go down to the river to bathe. I'm not gonna lie, it has been pretty fun, but it feels weird to bathe in a river, especially as a missionary. Also, yesterday I was asked to give a talk in sacrament meeting right before the meeting started. I know that doesn't sound like a big deal, I would have loved that back home, but it totally changes the picture when you have to speak in a different language. The best part about that experiance was that I was able to do it, and it really wasn't too bad. Speaking of the Language, I finally got my language mastery this week! Language mastery is a program that missionaries made to help us learn the language more effectively  It feels so good to finally have that completed. It has been amazing to see how much the Lord has helped me with the language these last few weeks. It has really increased my testimony to see how much the Lords hand has been in my life. I know that the Lord has been helping me every step of the way!

I have to get going now, But I just want all of you to know that I love you so much. I think about you often, and I pray for you every night! I know that I haven't done well with keeping in contact, but I really do love all of you! Have fun at dinner tonight! Spence, your a stud. Beth, your amazing! 

Stay strong, and Live Like you mean it!

Love your Son, Brother, (Captain;), and friend,

Elder Dallin Lyman

P.S. Tell Beth that I just got the letter that she sent me a couple weeks ago!

January 13, 2013

Kaselelie Family!

It was really nice to read your emails this week! It is crazy to see how much can happen in one week. There is nothing in the world that makes me happier than to watch people as they find who they truly are, and who God really created them to be. I have always seen amazing potential in those two kids. I am happy to hear that they are starting to see it too:) I am really excited to hear about Spencer and Bethany coming up to visit! That sounds like fun! Take a lot of pictures for me!

So, since I have come out on my mission I have found many of my weaknesses. One of the biggest ones happens to be writing. I struggle so badly to write letters. I just don't know how to express my feelings on paper. I really do try, but I never know what to say or how to say it. Because of this weakness, and almost no writing time, it has become really difficult to communicate with friends and family. I just want all of you to know that I care about you, even though I have been terrible about getting back with everyone. Be patient with me!

The work has been going great here on Pohnpei. I have been learning so much these last few weeks. I have been progressing a lot in the Language, and we have been meeting a lot of amazing people. I am really excited, because I have almost completed my language Mastery! I should have it by next week!

Our area is doing really well. We are still working on finding a group leader, but I feel like this unit is just around the Corner. Thank you so much for your prayers, and thank you for everything that you have been doing. 

I am really sorry that this email is so short this week! But I want you all to know that I am doing great, and that I love you. Have a safe week, and have fun with the McClains! I love you!

Love your Son, Brother, and Friend,
Elder Dallin Lyman

P.S. Mom, let me know when you get my package! :)

January 6, 2013

Hello Family!

I think I say this every week, but I really love reading you emails that you send every week. I love to hear updates on how everything is going. I love to hear about the new burgers at the restaurant, how the family is doing, and all of the other fun and exciting updates. I am really excited to hear that Bethany is coming up! That is so awesome! I don't really know why I am so excited about it, but I am! I would love for her to be able to meet everyone. The Kunz Family, The Gardener family, The Hendersons (especially Parker), maybe Soto... Haha that is exciting.  Have a good time, and give Beth and Spence a Hug for me. I miss them both so much!

This week has been a really good week. It has been really tough, but really exciting. I am amazed at some of the people that we have stumbled across these last week. We have found some people that are so prepared to receive the Gospel. We have found people that really want to be Baptized. The only problem that we are facing right now is that they have no way of attending church, which means that they can't be baptized quite yet. We have to get a new Unit Started so that these people are able to attend church. We are still looking for a Unit Leader. It is tough because all of the members in our area are less active. Right now we are just prayerfully seeking someone that could be the new Unit Leader. If you were looking for a specific prayer topic, this would be a great one:). The work is going well here. This last week was kind of rough, because Pohnpeians Party like there is no tomorrow at the start of the year. I swear, on New Years Day, We couldn't hardly find anyone sober enough to teach. It was rough, but it was a fun experience to say the least. My companion and I witnessed a Dog and a pig get prepared for New years dinner. It was an uncomfortable moment, but at least we will have a story to tell!

This new assignment has been a tough experience so far, but my faith has already grown so much! The best part is, I have come to learn how weak I am as a person, but I have learned how strong I can become through the Lord. I have been really challenged in the Language, but lately I feel like I have seen the Gift of Tongues in action. I have learned that the Gift of Tongues isn't always perfect fluency in a Language, but the words that you need to say at the very second you need them.

I am loving my mission. I am living my lifelong dream. Surprisingly, my mission has been everything I hoped it to be. I feel like the Lord is molding me into the Person that he needs me to be. The refiners fire isn't ever comfortable, but the end product is always worth it. As President Mechem says; "Where your comfort zone ends, the spirit steps in, and that's where miracles happen."

I love you all so much, and I am glad to hear that you are all doing well! Stay strong, and keep up the hard work! Thank you so much for everything that you do for me. Have a great week, be safe, and enjoy your time with the McClains!

Stay Strong, and Live like you mean it!

Love your Son, Brother, and Friend,

Elder Dallin A Lyman

P.S. Mom, I got the pics you sent! They are great! Everyone is looking good:) Oh yeah, and I sent the package today, let me know when you get it!

December 30, 2012

Kaselelie Family!

Ia Iromwail? So I have thought a lot about what Dad said last week about not replying to his emails. I decided that this week I would reply to his instead of moms.. Sorry mom.. Your welcome Dad.. :)  Haha Man, that Ice cream challenge sounds so good! You need to send me a picture of it. I am sorry that your back is messed up. That makes it really tough with the restaurant and all.. I will be praying for you!

I just want to answer some of moms questions really quick. Today I got a package from You, Sandy and Dwayne, and Bethany. I loved them! The backpack is awesome. It is perfect, and it even has a waterproof liner. I have really needed one of those. It is rough being on bikes in this rain! Thank you so much! Also, Please let the Siddoways know that I got their package and I loved it! I am wearing the tie that they sent me right now:) I was really excited about Bethany's package too. I loved looking at the Pictures, and I really liked the T-shirt:) I haven't read the letter yet, but I am going to read it as soon as I am done with email. Please tell her that I said thank you so much, and that I will be writing her back soon!

I am really sorry, but I don't have hardly any time to write today. I spent most of Email time writing President. I had a lot that I needed to talk to him about. I really enjoyed being able to talk to you guys last week. It made be a little home sick, but not really in a bad way. It just reminded me of how much I love and miss all of you. 

I am doing well. I am just doing all that I can to keep up with the work. This week has been a tough week. I am really nervous about the situation that I have been placed in, and I don't usually do too well under pressure. I am doing my best though! Things are going really well, and I am learning more than ever to rely on the Lord.

I have to go now, but I love you all so much! Don't ever forget that! Have a happy New Year! 

Love your Son, Brother, and Friend,

Elder Dallin Lyman


P.S. I got the letter from Grandma Vickie, I will read it right after Email! Tell her thank you for me!

December 23, 2012

Kaselelie Family!

Ah man, this week has been Crazy! Last Tuesday I flew to Guam with some of the other Trainers. We had a blast! Guam is a lot more like the states, so we did a lot of tracting while we were there. A lot of missionaries don't like tracting at all, but I totally loved it. Most people in Guam speak English. It was nice to teach people without a language limitation!  My new Companions name is Elder Peterson, and he is from Western Washington. He is a pretty cool guy. I really feel for him, because adjusting to this Culture is really tough. He kind of reminds me of how I was when I first got here. I am just really trying to be someone that he can talk to. I will tell you this, it is SO tough to be a trainer. There is so much responsibility placed on your shoulders. Now, instead of having a senior companion to lean on when we teach lessons, I have someone relying on me! It is a whole new world, and it has made me want to progress in the language that much more. Now I have no choice but to learn it well, and learn it fast.

So, something that I didn't know when I emailed you last week, is that I'm not only training this transfer, but we have been transfered to a different area and to make it even  more crazy, we are opening up a brand new area! That means that we will pretty much be starting from scratch, and we will be trying to start a new branch here on Pohnpei. Did you know that there is actually something smaller than a branch? Yep. It is called a Unit. This transfer, one of the main things that we will be doing is trying to find someone to be the "Unit Leader". The unit Leader is the person who presides over the Sacrament and things like that. We are going to attend the Kitti (pernounced Kichie) Branch until we can find enough people to start our own Unit. I'm not gonna lie, I am really nervous. "Nervous" is a bit of an understatement, but it gets the point across. Sometimes I wonder if President has gone crazy by putting me in this position, but I quickly remember that this is a call from the Lord, not from the Mission President. I am nervous, but I know that everything will be alright  I know without a doubt that we have been placed in this position for a reason, and I know that the Lord will help us through. We just have to rely on his strength rather than our own, and we have to pray like Crazy! For anyone who reads this email, please keep us in you prayers!

Things haven't been easy on my mission. But they sure have been rewarding. On Saturday, I was able to go back to Uh and baptize one of the girls that we have been teaching. It was such an amazing experience  and I cried like a baby. I love the people in Uh so much. I never realized how much until I was called to a new place. It was amazing to look back on memories that were made, and the changes that occurred in such a short period of time. I hope that one day I will be called to serve there again!

Well I better get going! I can't wait to talk to you all on Christmas! Just two more days! I love you all so much! Have a Merry Christmas!

Love your Son, Brother, and Friend,

Elder Dallin Lyman

P.S. Mom, I am pretty sure that it is 1:00 your time, I'm not positive though, and thank you so much for sending that money! I can't think of anything in particular that I need right now from the States, I will let you know though! :) I will be sending a Christmas package next week, so be looking forward to that! Lets surprise the kids though :) Love ya! Thank you