2 Letters and a Survey

1-25-08
Dear Family,

..On Sunday we get to watch church movies like Legacy or Testament. Everyone has all the lines memorized, and says them along with the characters. That is our greatest source of entertainment.

I finished the Book of Mormon. That was good. I think I'll try to read Jesus the Christ, too.


Here at the MTC nobody knows if they're eating dinner or lunch, if it's Monday or if it's Thursday. Everything's just a blur.

Spanish is coming along OK. I can't wait until we're good enough to speak it.

The MTC is fun. You just have to be self-motivated. I do pretty well at that, but it's hard when it seems like you never get a break. Only 7 more weeks until I leave this place.

When you write back remind me what grass looks like, or what it feels like to be warm--I can't remember.


ELDER James Meiners


Fri 1-25-08

Family,

I sent a letter to you but then got your survey about 10 minutes later. Today is my P-day (Preparation Day) so I figured I'd write back. I have p-days on Friday. This is my 3rd one. We go to the temple on P-days so we've gone twice. We didn't get to go the first week.

I'm trying to think of a noteworthy experience that has happened. The way I tell the days apart are whether I taught or not that day. I have had a lot of good lessons. So far we've only taught the first one, and we're teaching the second one tonight. Every time we give the lesson the Spirit is really strong. I usually do the First Vision part and then talk about the Book of Mormon. My testimony is pretty strong, and other people can feel it when I'm teaching. Lessons are my experiences.

One time we were having companion prayer and everyone was there except Elder Rogers who was at his desk. Then I said, "Elder Rogers, Elder Rogers it's time for prayer". Exactly the way it happened in 'Best Two Years'. I thought it was funny. I don't think the others got it.

Some Elders in my zone were jumping and screaming how their flight plans came and they get to leave a day earlier than they thought.

All in all I'm doing really good. Despite what I may say about the MTC--it's work, but it's good for you.

This letter has the attached survey.

--MISSIONARY James





--------------------Survey sent to James by Mom----------------------
THIS SURVEY IS DUE NEXT WEEK IN YOUR LETTER TO THE FAMILIA


1. Where is Elder Rogers from? From Washington State. Used to be a skater.

2. What day is your P-day?What do you do on P-day besides survey forms from the familia? P-day is temple, write letters, take naps, laundry, study optional. No chess, unfortunately.

3. Have you done any laundry yet? Yes, I do it on P-day. It's easy with a designated time.

4. Is it still snowing? Not as much, I think it's getting warmer, but I can't tell. Always snow on the ground.

5. How many Elders are in your room? your district? Where are they going?

My room
Missionary James -CA Riv
Elder Rogers -CA Rive
Elder Cox Seattle, WA
Elder Gardner Detroit, MI

My District
US four
Elder Marlin Veracrux, Mexico
Elder Narcross "
Elder Cope (District Leader) Bolivia Reports to another MTC on the 30th
Elder Riley Mexico

6. When do you go to PE? Everyday but P-day and Sunday, for 50 minutes. Different time every day, always after a meal. I run inside the building on the "track". I also play four-square which everybody is crazy about and loves.

7. What have you learned about in classes? Do you learn a particular lesson, or vocabulary? Have a lot of time to study whatever we want. Also have to learn specific things in Spanish and about lessons. I can do an introduction, get to know you, return appointment, pray, and testify in Spanish. Every week we have a verb game with 50 verbs.

8. Have you had any meetings/devotionals with a General Authority? Who was it? L. Tom Perry came. Talked about the Book of Mormon and Martin Harris. We have devotionals on Sunday and Tuesday. Richard Hinckley came and was referring to his dad.

9. How do you like the food? What is your favorite thing there?
It's good, but it's all the same. My favorite is getting breakfast in the temple cafeteria with real bacon.

10. Have you gone to the temple yet? Twice. I have to wake up and be in my suit at 6:30 on temple day (P-day.)

First Letter

This is our third letter from James, but the first with news...



"Meiners family,

Yo soy bien, y me gusto el MTC. Translating...

I've been at the MTC a little more than a week. Me and my companion have already taught the first lesson about five times. We're pretty good at it. I always do the Joseph Smith story.

I wake up the earliest in our room consisting of Elder me, Rogers, Cox and Gardner. Usually at 6 so I can read a little extra, which is still sleeping in compared to Daniel and Julia.

My health is good. Both my knees and my arm is scabbed from wrestling my 220 Pound room-companion Elder Gardner on the carpet. And I feel tired all the time, and usually have a runny nose, but other than that I'm fine.

The weather is cold, and there is always snow on the ground. It's snowing right now. (10:37:20 am)

I got Dad's letter the 17th. He said Kara came. That sounded cool. I'm too tired to care about exercise, but I eat healthy and exercise anyway. The food is the same, their trying to fatten us up. I always request less food.

Went to the temple this morning. That was fun. Then ate a real breakfast there with bacon.

We played battleship at Spanish class, and it was so cool. I had no chance of getting this one guy out but I did anyway, and I got in his head and made him think I was smarter than I was so he'd pick the wrong coordinates.

By the time you get this letter I'll probably be done reading the Book of Mormon, starting from when I got here. Let's see if I'll be done the 22nd.

Hope the family is doing well,



ELDER James Meiners"

Entering the MTC

James arrived at the airport in SLC on January 8, 2008. He and his dad toured the Temple Square in Salt Lake City.





Jan 9th, the day James officially begins his mission. James is getting used to dressing in a suit and tie every day.









A little break in his study.






James shows that he has started his letter writing--not that we didn't think he would.
James sees the Provo Temple, across the street from the MTC before entering at 12:30.


























In front of the MTC building.
Signing in











Dave remembers his time here at the MTC 28 years ago, and passes the torch to the second generation Elder Meiners.

Flying to the MTC

Elder Meiners left Maryland for the MTC on January 8th. We said goodbye to him at the airport at about 6:30 am. He and Dave flew to SLC together and James entered the MTC at 12:30 on the 9th.

When he got off the plane in SLC, several people recognized that he was a missionary--even though he didn't have his name tag yet, and said "Hi Elder, where are you headed?"

They walked around Temple Square a little in SLC. That evening they stopped by to say hi to my cousin Annie and her family near Provo.

The next morning, on the 9th, there was about 5 new inches of snow on the ground. They had breakfast nearby and found that new missionaries received a complimentary breakfast there on Wednesdays. It was a nice reception to entering his mission.