Feeling like Job

Here's part of Elder Lyman's email from this week:

Ok, well hopefully this will work this week, but how the day is going so far, probably not. Me and my companion feel kind of like Job today. But anyways I'll try to again address some things you had questions about last week and now this week as well. First, I guess don't send letters to my Angers address, they say just to send them to the mission home, and

definitely packages to the mission home. And before I forget, could you send me Dane's Switzerland address.   I have gotten some letters now, the ones you sent before I left finally came and then shortly after that a few others, thanks for them. In one there were a couple pictures of castles, on says "Chateau Dangers" (which i assume is trying to say "Chateau D'Angers", which is the castle here, but I don't recognize that part but it is probably just a few i don't recognize or something. Then the other picture said something towers, and it is definitely a picture of the castle here. Anyways ya it is here, we walk around it very often and contact around it quite a bit and it isn't very far from our apartment.  You said Mr. Nielson said it is beautiful here and last week when I responded to that I said the city is cool but I'm always inside it so I haven't really seen any of the countryside yet, but because of how our day went today I feel like I have now seen about all of France and maybe a few other countries, which was the one bright spot and if I have time I'll tell you more about the day. 

But yes I can now tell you that it is a very beautiful area. Today we had a train ride and it was really cool, a lot of it was along the Loire River which was really cool. so ya it's pretty cool and today kind of made me wish i was just out in the campagne (countryside), it's really cool. But the city is cool too. It's France and it's old and there are castles and big cathedrals and things. by the way you asked how to say the name of Angers as did Mr. Nielson in an e-mail I just got from him.  It is kind of like "on" and then "jay" but  the "j" sound isn't like josh it is like a j mixed  

with a "sh" sound, or something it seems like it would be easier to explain but you can probably get it. Also you asked me to tell more about my companion. I don't know really what else to say. His name is Elder Wagner.  He is from American Fork and he is a marine. I don't know what else to tell you, we get along well etc. I guess maybe if you want to know things you'll have to ask more specific questions.  Also you asked how I got here to Angers from Paris.  Just a train.  And you asked how I get around... mostly by bus and walking. Our car got stolen a few days after I got here, not actually stolen but given to other missionaries in another city. So we take the bus every day, and since it doesn't take you right where you need to go or you miss it or so on, we walk a lot. You asked what I do in a day. That varies obviously from day to day.  We contact sometimes, we have rendezous with investigators, we ride the bus for an hour to a rendezvous which falls through quite often. Sorry I guess I'm not going to have as much time as I was thinking so I may miss a few things but i'll try to wrap up here. Things I need you to send are: more addresses, just other friends who I may not have etc., and also a kind of weird request, lyrics to songs, like disney movie songs and stuff, don't ask, but some specific ones and I will come up with other ones as time goes on I'm sure, like Goofy Movie, Mulan, Alladin, Hercules and just other ones like that.

Tell Kristi and Mr. Nielson thanks for their e-mails, I thought maybe I'd have time to answer Kristi's but I need to do something else. anyways tell them thanks. and I love you all and miss you all.  

Finally, a picture from France!!

We finally got the picture that was taken of Elder Lyman with President and Sister Staheli when he arrived in France 3 1/2 weeks ago.  He's smiling and looks happy!! 

In a letter that we received from him this week he said he is doing well but is still struggling with the language.  We had to chuckle at the part of his letter that said: I'll make a list of things that could be sent if possible: anti-perspirant (maybe lots) & homemade jerky (even if it's just a roast from the store)."

First Email from France!

We got an email from Elder Lyman!!  It was the first communication we had since he left for France 1 week ago.  He is doing great!  Here is part of his email:  "I'm here--'here' is Angers which is in the Loire Valley.  My companion/trainer is Elder Wagner.  He's really cool, I like him a lot and so far things are going good.  He's a marine and he's from American Fork.  We did get to watch conference except for the afternoon session since it was 10:00 PM here.  It was good and it was good going to the church to watch it and talking to some members.  This ward has some really awesome members."

Angers is about 180 miles southwest of Paris

(the email continues) "The first night we had a rendezvous at a member's house with an investigator.  It was a dinner rendezvous with some food I just couldn't eat, a lot of that had to do with the fact that I had no appetite for a few days and also some of it was just gross, like froi gras or goose or duck liver or whatever.

So far the language is quite frustrating but every once in a while I can understand a little bit and it's cool but mostly really frustrating."

Elder Lyman goes to France

Elder Lyman (Josh) flew to Paris yesterday.  We can't wait to hear from him!!

Elder Lyman flies to France in 1 Week!!!!

Elder Lyman (Josh) is flying to France in 1 week.  He is scheduled to leave next Monday, March 30th.  He is excited but scared!! Hopefully we will have pictures to post in the near future. His mission address is:  Elder Joshua A. Lyman

France Paris Mission

23, Rue du Onze Novembre

78110 Le Vesinet

France

Josh's best friend enters the MTC

Josh's  best friend Dane Lyman arrived at the MTC last Wednesday.  Here is what Josh wrote in his e-mail:  "Dane got here Wednesday and since he is in my zone I see him a lot.  At lunch on Wednesday, since I figured he'd be coming in at about the same time I did, Matt and I sat at the end of the table by the window and held the curtain open looking for him.  After a few minutes, sure enough, Matt yelled that he saw him, so we got up and pushed people out of the way and ran out of the cafeteria.  We stood there for a second before he saw us but he did and he came running over.  His whole family was with him so that was cool, but they had to rush them away to the meeting.  It is cool having him here."      A side note: Dane is going to the Switzerland, Geneva mission.  His mission is mostly in France.  It borders Josh's mission:)

Elder Lyman's schedule

In Elder Lyman's (Josh's) e-mail this week he told us about his schedule at the MTC.  It is pretty intense!!

"I'll try to tell you about my days a little bit. Keep in mind each day is different and in a different order but for the most part I have the same things just at different times.  Tuesday nights we have a devotional and Sundays are obviously a whole new story, but here is an example:  6:30 (or 6:30ish): wake up, 7:00: go to the classroom for some personal time sorta, I generally read the Book of Mormon, 

7:30: breakfast, 8:00: class (sometimes until noon, sometimes we have personal and/or companion and/or french study in there too), 12:00: lunch, 12:45: class, (again sometimes study time is scattered throughout this time), 5:00: dinner, 5:45: class (again sometimes just class, sometimes study), 8:10: gym (gym is different each day, sometimes it is right after lunch, sometimes right after dinner, sometimes in the morning and stuff, 9:00 or right after gym: planning, 9:00 back to room, 10:15: quiet time, 10:30: lights out. Now like I said, there is a couple of things that change and days are all a little different, but most stuff happens every day.  Like on Tuesdays we do service in the morning, we just go to another residence building and clean toilets and stuff.  

But that is how my days are, a LOT of hours in a classroom and keep in mind every one of those hours is in the same classroom, we only have one!! 

On Wednesdays we teach "fake" investigators.  We taught the first lesson for two weeks and then the second for two weeks and now we teach the first lesson in French for two weeks.............

Thanks everyone for letters and stuff!"