Thursday, August 28, 2014

England MTC Week 4




Hallo von das United Kingdom!

Starting week four in the MTC is a great feeling.  Time is starting to go by faster and faster!  This week has pretty much been the same as the other four weeks at the MTC but I will try to write some more to make my mommy glucklich! (happy auf Deutsch)  Speaking of Deutsch, it is coming along pretty well! I learn more and more each day and I am just trying to remember it all!  It can be a bit tricky at times but I really know that with the Lord on my side . . . I can do anything! 

I just got back from the Temple and that was just dandy.  The temple grounds over here make our yard at home look like the desert!  Sorry mom.  I really like the other missionaries in my district!  There are ten of us.  My companion is Elder Jensen (Wisconson), District Leader Elder Nebeker (Idaho).  We call him Elder Calhoon!  Elder Nobertson (Birmingham England), Elder Murry (Wales),  Elder Brady (Arizona), Elder Smith (American Fork), any my favorite is Elder Vasicek (Slovakia)!  He is such a stud.  He joined the church four years ago when he was 20!  He is the oldest missionary at the MTC at age 24!  He has a bachelors degree in chemistry from Prague.  He is kind of like a Russian scientist!

It is super different sleeping in a room smaller than mine at home with 5 other guys but I am used to it now.  The food here is OK but not very healthy.  I have already gained like 5 lbs.  Oh and there are two sisters in my district.  Sister Poll is from Morgen UT and knows the Wests!  She graduated with Brennen!  The other is Sister Cherrington from Sadi Arabia. 

Hey funny storry my family might like.  Whenever I introduce myself to my investigators I say that we are from the Kirche Jesu Christi Der Heligan Der Letzten Tage. Well apparently I have been saying "Kirche" too much like "Kirsche" with means cherry!  So I have been telling people that we are from the Cherry not the Church!  hahahaha!!


I love you all and miss you bunches!
Elder Lyman

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

England MTC Week 3












Hello family and friends!

Another week in the MTC is over! Yay!  I kind of feel like I'm in Spiritual Prison!  Not to be mistaken with the spirit prison.  It’s really small here and the Spirit is really strong everyday — is what i mean.

This week has basically been that same as the other weeks.  In regards to the language, German is super hard but I think that I'm getting the hang of it.  I just need need to keep practicing.  I am to the point that I can hold a conversation with someone and talk a lot about the gospel (evangellium)!

Last P-Day we went on a super cool church history tour around the English country side!  The best part was this really old mansion that we came across.  It reminded me of Downton Abbey!!!  I'll send some pictures for the blog site.  It's actually the private school that JRR Tolkien went to as a boy.  It’s also where he starting writing Lord of the Rings!  That was probably the highlight of my week.

I just want everyone to hang on and endure these next few letters from the MTC.  It’s just that I do the same thing everyday, so there is not to much to talk about. I promise when I get to Deutschland things with get more exciting!

I love and miss you all!   Ich leibe mine familie und mine freunds!
Elder Lyman

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

England MTC Week 2


Hello family and friends!

What is up everyone?  This week had been one for the books!  Actually, to be honest, I basically do the same thing all day every day so its not that exciting!  As for the German . . . it's a trial.  Learning this language it the hardest thing that I have ever done!  It is so frustrating because I have so much to say to my fake investigators about the gospel but I don't know how to say it!  I know that I am getting a lot better with the Lords help.  I will never be able to learn this language on my own.  I know that with the Lords help I can do anything. 


Other than that things are pretty much the same.  I just got back from going to the Temple so that was cool.  I have not seen much of England yet but we are going on a church history tour later this afternoon so hopefully I can see some cool stuff and send some pictures home!  My companion and I are working as hard as we can to learn the language and the gospel.  I had to say goodbye to Spencer last night so that was sad.  He is off to his mission right now and I'm so jealous.  He is so ready to do amazing things.


The highlight of my week here for sure was last night.  After a long day of language study at the MTC there is nothing better than relaxing in the shower and singing Phantom Of The Opera with the other Elders!  Our zone leader, Elder Teal and I were going pretty hard and hitting all the super high notes like bosses.  He then proceeded to steal my towel from my shower.  I opened the shower to get my towel back and standing right outside my shower was none other than President Edwards chewing out Elder Teal for singing so loud and "ugly" at such late an hour.  I then went on to say to President Edwards, "A song of the righteous is a prayer unto me and a blessing will be put upon his head." He didn't think that was funny.  Anyway . . . its all good in the MTC hood.

Love and miss you guys so much!  Lets get it trending #Matt4GiftOfTonges2014
Elder Lyman

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

England MTC Week 1

The Preston Temple

Our German Classroom 

My MTC group!

My companion Elder Jensen!
Guten Tag Familie!!!!!!

Holy freaking cow the first week in the MTC has been crazy!  To start off, I lost my wallet on the airplane so that was kind of a bad way to start off my two year ministry but I'm sure we will get it figured out!  I swear getting here was half of my mission!  The plane ride was long and but it was fun thanks to sitting next to Spencer!  We even snuck into Economy Comfort seats both plane rides so that was nice! 

The first week in the MTC has been crazy!  This past week had been by far the longest week of my life!  The days in the MTC are so long and so busy!  They make the bike trip look like a walk in the park!  I can honestly say that this has been the hardest week of my life.  Learning German is a trial right now.  It's German emersion so our teachers only speak German to us so I didn't understand anything at first but now I kind of understand it.  Lucky for me my companion took five years of German in high school so he is basically fluent!  His name is Elder Jensen and he is from Wisconsin!  He is a super cool and nice guy.  We get along great and work really hard together!  I'm also surrounded by British people so I'm literally starting to talk like them and i don't like it.  Although it has been really hard at first, I know that its going to get easier.  I really enjoy studying about the gospel and doing churchy stuff all the time. This first letter might not be too great but I'm sure Il'l get the hang out it.

I miss all my friends and family so so so much!  Please pray for me to be able to lean the language cause it's tricky stuff.  Im so grateful for all of you guys back home.  Thanks for helping me get to where I am today!

Cheers/Aufwiedersen!!!
The younger Elder Lyman

P.S. Deven Pyper I'm killing you and your new puppy for not emailing me. I expect a novel next week or we are no longer friends/  It shouldn't be that hard because you have literally nothing to do now that Spencer and I and gone.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Saturday, August 2, 2014

MTC Arrival!!


Hello mommy and family!!!!!! I'm just sending you guys a quick email to say that I made it here safe and sound and I am loving it!  I was with Spencer the whole way and it was great. One minor problem is that my wallet sliped out of my pocket and I lost it!  They might mail it to you but for right now I don't have my debit card or my ID or my temple recommend!!!  I'm not sure what to do so you might just have to send me new stuff. I love you guys so much and miss you already!

Love you guys!
Elder Lyman