Dear Santa,

Please send:
-An empty memory card
-My Chinese learning set (it's in a small box in my room)
-A robot to clean my room
-If at all possible a small tape recorder and CD player in one.
-My consecrated oil.
-Retractable Gel Refills (Black ink, medium point) from Parker for my pen.

Love,
Elder Andy Myers
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Dear Family,
The passage of time is impossible to really measure, so I optimistically figured it COULD be about Christmas by now. therefore, I have included a wish list to be forwarded to Santa if it is, in fact, Christmas time. If not, maybe you guys could help me out with the list.

Lisa, Thank you for your heart craft you made for me. It is on my desk, of course! I will make sure to get that candy bar from you that you promised when I get home.

Becky, thank you for the clay statuette of me! It is awesome! Everyone I have showed it to really likes it, but nobody as much as me. Maybe when you see the picture of my companion you can make one of him too. I really like the thing you made of Link too. Keep sending me pictures of what you make, ok?

Also, thanks for thte brownies. They were so delicious, I didn't share much at all.

Today is our first P-day (and our NINTH day here... wow.) and the temple is not only closed but VERY closed. There is landscaping construction going on in the temple grounds, so our district's plan to go study by the temple today didn't work out. Oh well, we had a nice walk there and back.

Being here feels more right every day. The first week is supposed to be hard for everyone, and it definitely gets better. Getting used to over 12 hours a day of study is a fairly significant undertaking. Getting up at 6:30 has never been a problem. Our room, however, is freezing cold. The air conditioner is broken in a way such that it is on all day and all night. I have had to double up on blankets.

Mom, thank you for your letters and keeping me updated on the family. It really means a lot to me. Also, thank you for the pictures. They were very nice to get.

On Tuesday, I met Elder Bednar. It was cool. He was just sitting in the corner of the cafeteria eating lunch with his wife. I'll send pictures next week.

Our district got a district leader called. He is Elder Otte, who has been attending the air force academy for the past two years. He's a good leader.

I've been learning a lot of Chinese, probably about 20 words a day, most days. I'm going to have to buy my third hundred-pack of flash cards soon.

Yesterday morning one of the older Elders in my branch taught me "She shi ni de baba", which is "who's your daddy?" in Chinese. I was able to use this new vocabulary later on yesterday in gym when I dethroned him in 4-square.

We have spent a fair bit of time at the RC or Referral Center. You know how people call this certain number from a commercial or pass-along card to get a free video or Book of Mormon, or Bible? That goes to us. So if you want something, and want to talk to me, and are fei cheng ji (very lucky), you might be able to ask ME for a free Book of Mormon.

I've been reading a lot of Jesus the Christ lately. It is a great book. Did you know that Elder Talmage wrote it in the Holy of Holies in the Salt Lake Temple?

Well, it's always great to hear from home. Thanks for the letters and package. I hope you all have a great week.

Love,
Elder Myers (and some Chinese characters that are impossible to type.)