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