Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Wednesday is write your family an email day in the MTC!

So here we go; I don't have much time left because it took me like an hour to read all the emails that everyone sent, hahaha. To all of you reading this I just want to say that: I love you all and really appreciate all the blessings. I can only send emails to my family while I am in the MTC so please forgive me for not writing you back.
Well to start:
The flight to Colombia was fairly uneventful, expect that I pretty much lost it in the Atlanta airport when I read a lette my sneaky sister had put into my backpack without me knowing. I got really sad and immediately prayed for support, craziest thing, some people going to Philadelphia who had shouldn't have been in my part of the terminal came up to me and asked me if they could pray with me. I didn't have my name tag on or anything they just felt the urge. I know that our Heavenly Father hears our prayers and answers them if we ask in faith.
On the flight to Colombia I was sandwiched between a bunch of Colombian military dudes and a dude from Korea that couldn't speak English. Needless to say I didn't say much on that flight. When I arrived I had to go through customs, unfortunately I did not have the address to the CCM in Bogota so they weren't going to let me through (mind you all of this is taking place in my broken Spanish). I finally convinced him to let me use his iphone to look up the address and he let me through.
Then I lugged my huge heavy bags by myself outside to wait for the MTC taxi. Well, I'm not quite sure how I feel about the three-suitcase travel thing, it's kind of a disaster. The moment I stepped out of the airport I was an immediate target. I was obviously struggling and I had nowhere to go. TAXI? TAXI? I waited for 15 minutes before I gave up and used somebody's cell phone to call the mission transportation; yeah, they kind of forgot about me, but it's okay ha-ha. When they picked me up they brought me to the CCM in a MAV-Mormon Assault Vehicle, and I was immediately assigned to an English companion with the plan of being in the CCM for 6 weeks. Since all of this happened at midnight I went straight to bed.
When I woke up I went to class with the North American's. That's when I realized this was a big mistake as they were learning simple phrases such as Como esta? And other stuff like it. Anyhow through a serious of events I eventually was reassigned to my companion now, his name is Elder Vargas. He is from Cartagena, Colombia, and oh my gosh he is hilarious. (Aven I have my first Gus). He is Afro-Colombiano and has a seriously thick Caribbean Spanish accent, he drops a lot of letters and so on. We are having a blast together. 
My district that I am a part of consists of 8 missionaries, 6 elders and 2 hermanas. I love Hermana Dyer and President Dyer. Well in the first 24 hours I was appointed to be the leader of my district, seriously scary. I really don't understand a lot, but I understand a lot more than the other kids from North America. Almost nobody speaks English here. Being a leader means I have to organize them, I have to teach them, I have to be in charge of what they do and when they do it. All of the people in my district are awesome though, we constantly talk about how we are all a huge family and get along so well. There was one problem between a hermana and my companion, because well, sometimes he has some choice things to say, which I personally think are hilarious because he says them all so seriously when he really is joking and this particular hermana is vey serious. But everything is good now.
I love the food here, so many potatoes and rice and JUICE!!! Strawberry juice, orange juice, and any juice you want. AND GRANADILLA!
I love it her but seriously I am busy, busy, busy. There is not a moment to spare, I LOVE IT. My day starts at 6 everyday and ends at 10:30 with really only three breaks for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The lessons are so hard, they never taught me anything with language, which is fine, by this point I have learned all the new words. I'm starting to get a little nervous abou the whole teaching in another language thing. This is so awesome.
My companion and I are fairly well known by everyone here in the CCM. Elder Vargas y Elder Lyle (Lee-lay), and I'm not going to lie, President Dyer had to have a discussion with us because, according to him, somehow "the two more handsome missionaries in the CCM got paired together and that even a smile can be misinterpreted". Hahahaha, I was so red!!! My companion is such a lady killer though, he is always picking flowers for them and saying hello, but really, we need to be a little more careful because once President Dyer said something about it I started to notice it myself, it's kind of a little embarrassing. 
Today we got our first day out of the walls of the CCM. We went to the temple. SO INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL! We got to see the city via bus. 
Only 1 week till I'm out in the field, I'm so excited.
I'm having the time of my life, everything is amazing, all the people are amazing, I love every single person in the CCM and I let them know it. This is one of the most amazing places, we all hold ourselves to the same values, we all have the same beliefs.
It's funny I'm a leader here because i am officially the youngest one here. My companion became a member 5 years ago, when he was 18. I love it here. I can't stop saying it because it is so amazing. I love Colombia and I haven't even been outside of these walls.
I'm out of time, ughh, so much to tell all of you.
I love you all and I miss you all.
I'll talk to you in a week.
Elder Lyle
P.S. Please excuse the grievous spelling errors, this computer doesn't have spell check and honestly I am already losing my English. It's actually kind of sad, my personal journal is slowly moving into Spanish, and my notes are all in Spanish now.
We will see what the next 2 years do to me.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

FINALLY an email from Elder Lyle!

Hey so sorry that it has been so long, oh my gosh, it has been NUTS. I have absolutely no time to even breathe let alone send an email. Hermana Dyer finally had to tell my teachers to give me some time to come and write this. This email will not be very long, my long one will come tomorrow when I can talk about everything that has been happening over the past few days;
Being forgotten at the airport,
Almost not getting through customs,
Becoming a leader in the CCM,
Almost dying...just kidding, hahahaha, no.
This has been the most amazing experience. I love it here. I do have to say that I am struggling a bit with my Spanish, though I am doing a lot better than others. I have no idea how the others do it because although I feel like I understand a lot there is still so much that I feel like I miss and I speak much better Spanish than the other North American's. I absolutely love my companion. He is from Cartagena and is the best companion in the world. It's so hard to understand him though, he has the Caribbean accent where they just chop stuff off their words. He is hilarious, always laughing and telling jokes, it is actually the best match ever. He is so patient with me, it is so awesome. I have to go now, I have had my 5 minutes to breathe and write this really quick message.
I'll talk to you tomorrow, just know:
I am having such an amazing time.
I am more than okay, and
I love you with all my heart.
The gospel is TRUE! In all languages.
All my love,
Elder Lyle

Monday, June 24, 2013

Another call from the MTC in Bogota

Well Sister Dyer called again tonight. For all those that know Rawly you will not be surprised by this...they can't find his immunization records. Classic Rawly he has no idea where they are. I informed Sister Dyer that this was his worst trait, the absent minded professor trait. She wanted me to know that she was somewhat glad to hear that he had a bad trait because they thought he didn't have one :)
She told me that she loves his smile because it just lights up the whole room. I know that smile and it is one of the million things I miss about him.
She also wanted to let me know that he was made a district leader. He's been there only a few days and already doing a great job. 
I asked how he is doing and she said he is happy and doing well. We are so glad to hear that because we had been curious to know how he was getting on. She was so surprised that he hadn't emailed us yet...hum, well that isn't a surprise. I said all along that he would leave home and never look back. We hope to hear from him soon or this blog is going to have not to much to read about.
Hopefully our next post will be an actual letter from him. 

Thursday, June 20, 2013

A call from the Mission Home

At around 11 this morning we heard from the Mission Home in Bogota. Sister Dyer informed us that Elder Lyle arrived very late last night. He is in good spirits and ready to work. The one thing she wanted to know is: How did he learn to speak such great Spanish. She said all the American's are so glad he is there and that he will be a big help to them.
So Rawly, already making a name for himself :)

A Sad Goodbye....

Just a couple of pictures from yesterday morning to say...."Farewell till we meet again"
Heading to the airport at some crazy hour in the morning
Elder Rawlings Lyle
Waiting to check in
One last picture with my Meme
She is the most influential person in my life
One last family hug
Boarding the airplane
It seems that we are going to prolong this pain as long as possible...
And there he goes...Goodbye Rogue Valley
Hello Colombia
Go Forth & Serve 
with Honor
Elder Lyle
We Love You!


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Today's the Day!!

I can't believe I graduated 10 days ago and this morning I find myself at the airport leaving for the MTC in Bogota, Colombia. What an adventure it has been.
I just want to say that I have the BEST friends and the most AMAZING family, they all got up at this crazy hour to see me off.
I am so excited but am going to MISS everyone of them desperately! LOVE you all
See you in 2 years
Next stop, Bogota!

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Being Set Apart

Here we all are after I was set apart in preparation of leaving tomorrow morning for the MTC in Bogota, Colombia.
I love the support that I have from such an amazing family

Monday, June 17, 2013

This is REALLY happening!!!!

My passport with my missionary visa 
and my plane tickets are
FINALLY HERE!!!
I found this to be super cool
Your visa comes with a temple pass along card
My Temple was...
My favorite Temple
Laie Hawaii Temple!
Oh ya this is VERY good LUCK
Here I go

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Father's Day is a good day to have a Farewell Talk

So I DO have the
 most AMAZING
FAMILY

Look who showed up for my Farewell Talk
This is a great photo of my line of missionary succession
Elder Mike Mitchell, my grandfather a convert has been serving as a ward missionary for 25 years and counting
Elder Rawly Lyle, serving for the next 2 years in the Colombia Cali Mission
Elder John Wright, the missionary who talk and baptized my mother & her family 43 years ago,
what an amazing missionary and how he changed my family's life!
Elder Bret Mitchell, my favorite Uncle, served his mission in the Argentina Buenos Aires Mission
What examples I have had in my life: I am one lucky guy!
My Family
My Dad, Mom and sister, Aven
My grandparents
My grandparents
My Uncle Bret with my cousins
Tallen & Tarren
along with my sister Aven
The Cousins...
Jim & Julie Brendle
The Frodsham's
The Rojas Familly

I'm am feeling very loved!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Rafting!

Well in these last few days before I leave, I want to have the best of the Oregon experience before I left.
Naturally when I think of good fun at home initially what I think is Rafting. 
Ever since I was little my family would always go rafting, some of my fondest memories of my family and I are from the rafting trips I took as child. Awesome summer days lazily floating, hailstorms in class 4 rapids, you know, just an average day in Oregon haha.
Well I took a few of my friends and did the North Umpqua River, which was so much fun, as always. At first we were all a little apprehensive to get in the water because it is all glacier melt and absolutely FREEZING. But we all put on our wetsuits and ended up having the best time ever! Who couldn't have an amazing time in Oregon. As I rafted the river I was reminded of just how gorgeous my home truly is, with all of its greenery and awesome trees. Not going to lie, I'm starting to get a little bit nostalgic about all this haha.
After we went rafting, we went to my most favorite spot on this planet, Toketee Falls. It is honestly the most surreal  and perfect place on this Earth. You can not help but stop and marvel at God's awesome power and the beauty of the planet we live on. 
I am so ecstatic to leave on my mission  Everything is getting so real now, and I am just so pumped to get out there and serve the Lord. I know this will be an amazing adventure. 
See you soon Colombia, nos vemos pronto. 
Elder Lyle
A view of Toketee Falls from below 
Isn't Oregon just awesome?

Sunday, June 9, 2013

And onto Seminary Graduation

At Seminary Graduation
with my seminary teacher
Sister Woadhouse
and my bishop
Bishop Henderson
And of course my wonderful seminary teacher had a gift
It was filled with such fun things
And they so made me laugh!!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Graduation

On the 7th of June 2013 I became a graduate of St. Mary's High School 
In 11 days I will be heading to the MTC in Bogota Colombia, I can't wait!


The St. Mary's Class of 2013

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Change!

Wow, so June 4, 2013
I got a call today from the International MTC in regards to my spanish speaking skills. This is how it went.
Lady: Hello is this Rawlings Lyle
Me: Yes
Lady: Hi my name is Eileen, I'm here to test your spanish speaking skills for your mission, does that sound right?
Me: I guess? (Palms Sweating)
Eileen: Alright we will continue in the rest of our conversation in Spanish.
*In Spanish
Eileen: What did you do Yesterday?
Me: ( I Can't Remember what I said hahaha)
Eileen: What will you do tomorrow?
Me: I have the baccalaureate mass tomorrow for my graduation, we have practice in the morning at 10:45 and then the actual mass is at 6 in the afternoon.
Eileen: Why do you want to serve a mission?
Me: I want to serve a mission because of the personal experiences I have had in my own life in seeing God paved the way for this to be the next adventure in my life. I am thrilled to go on a mission and I can not wait to do the Lord's work, to serve him for the next two years of my life. I feel like it is a small sacrifice to make in terms of all that he has done for me in my own life.
*In English
Eileen: Well that will be good Rawlings thank you very much, so you do the pass the requirements to be considered as an advanced language missionary, would you be okay with only going to the MTC for two weeks?
Me: YEA!
Eileen: Alright well your date is now changed to either four weeks after your initial date or two weeks before.
(At this point I was little shell shocked, two weeks prior to my date would mean that I would leave in just two weeks! I was supposed to have a month left! There was no way I could wait for an month after my original date.)
Me: Two weeks sounds great!
Eileen: Alright sounds good you are now leaving the 18th of June.
Me: Thank you so much
Eileen: Have an awesome time on your mission
Me: Have a nice day!
Eileen: You too!
End of Conversation
        So, that is how my date got changed. Wow it has been CRAZY trying to get everything all figured out. My Endowment is now changed all my family has to change their dates to come, however if it happened this way there must be a greater plan. I am so excited I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing, I know that this will be the best two years of my life and I am just itching to get out and finally get to work. I am ready to serve.
This is Elder Lyle. I have a firm testimony in the restoration of the gospel and I know that this will be the most amazing adventure of my life. I leave in 5 days now. The date got changed again because my visa didn't come through. Hence I will no longer be going to the MTC in Colombia rather the good ole MTC in Provo Utah. I'm so pumped 5 Days!!! That is like a school week.
I graduated 1 week ago. I am ready to leave in 5 days. This is an amazing wave I am riding right now. All my love
Abrazo Fuerte
Elder Lyle