July 28, 2014

Okay, here we go. The time here is EXTREMELY limited but I am going to do my best. So I am officially in Nicaragua! It has been a crazy week, obviously. I'm just going to get straight to the good stuff hahah. So my Papa (Trainer companion) is Elder Collado! He is from Costa Rica, and he speaks hardly any English! It is hard at times, but I can generally understand the majority of what he is trying to say and figure it out. The Spanish, it sure as heck is definitely different than at the CCM! It's true, I hardly understand anything, but I am improving every day and with time I know it is going to work out! IT IS SO GOODNESS GRACIOUS HOT DOWN HERE. And it's winter. Hahahahah all the other missionaries have said that it is something I will never get used to... yay. Hahah Elder Collado and I live in a room in a house full of Catholics (practically everybody here is Catholic) and it's crappy but for the standards here is it pretty nice! They are so poor. It is so different from anything I have ever seen. But it is so beautiful too! Soooo green. Yeah it's poor but to be honest, that doesn't bother me. Only the heat!

      I placed a baptism on Saturday! In our lessons I don't say a whole lot, just bare my testimony now and then, but in one lesson I gave the baptismal commitment and they said yes! The people here don't commit or follow up (care) sometimes but I have already seen the Spirit and felt it so much here! Truly from the bottom of my heart, I love these people. I honestly do and I want nothing more than to bring the Gospel into their lives. Now I just need to learn Spanish, adjust to the living conditions and I'll be good! This is really, really hard, but it's okay because I have a firm testimony that the Savior will be right there with me every step of the way.

      As I get more used to this, my emails will be better and I'll send pics and such but I had about 90000000 emails so I just don't have time today, and I have to be exactly obedient! I love ya all so much. I'm so grateful to have the love and support back home that I do. Family and friends. I am so proud of my best friends who have all made the decisions to be the best missionaries they can be! Truly, thank you so much. I promise these letters will improve. I know you want details but right now just know that it's hard but I love the work and love my Savior. 

Love you all,

Elder Merrill

July 23, 2014

Elder Merrill flew to Nicaragua on Monday, July 21st.  We received an email from his mission president on Wednesday evening notifying us of his safe arrival.  He has been assigned to serve in Granada, Nicaragua and his new companion's name is Elder Kevin Collado.

  President Bryan and Sister Peggy Russell

from Florida

July 15, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

Well, I am officially down to one week left in the CCM! And boy oh boy I could not be more excited to get out of here. I love it, but I'm so excited to leave and really get started in the field! This last week was another great week! 

As of last night I have studied or at least slightly studied every part of the Spanish grammar. Now I just need a whole lot of practice and the Strength of the Lord. The Gift of Tongues is very real! The leaps and bounds that we have all made here is awesome. Although I know when I get to Nicaragua I will not know a thing because their Spanish is completely different, I am so excited for the challenge. Yo se que el don de liguas is real (No accents because trying to use English language on computer hahah)

Although we haven't had any crazy spiritual experiences yet, I have felt the Spirit so much and there is nothing better in this world. We teach a "Progressing Investigator" every day which is one of our two teachers, Hermana Velazquez and Hermano Morales. Those two are the coolest. I think I told you that Morales served in Ogden, but he is completely fluent in English so that gives me hope for Spanish :) but anyways, we teach them every day, but on Wednesdays we have this thing called TRC, where we teach "nonmembers, less active or members" but obviously they're all members. However last Wednesday, Elder Williams and I and Hermana Nauta y Franks got to teach actual investigators (at least we're pretty darn sure they are). We taught a 13 year old boy named Santiago, and it might have been the most fun I've had since I got here. Just getting to know him and teaching him a little bit was so fun and the Spirit was so strong. It makes me so excited for when I get to teach and love the people of Nicaragua.

Devotionals. We have a live devotional (usually from Provo) on Tuesdays and a replay one on Sundays. This last Tuesday we heard from Elder Anderson, so Clayton got to sit with his family and read a bunch of quotes. It was cool! You can tell Marnae he sounds good hahaha. This past Sunday we heard one from Elder Bednar, and it was sooo good. We've had a lot of really good ones, but Sunday was pretty amazing. These last couple years I've tried to use Alma 26:12 because I have been so extremely blessed with talents, family, friends and such. But on Sunday, I took a whole new perspective. I know without a doubt in my mind that in the strength of the Lord, I can do all things. I know that. If I do all I can, the enabling power will do the rest.

In other news that I forgot to tell you guys, my whole district except Elder Sautter is going to Nicaragua. He is going to Twin Falls! I'm pretty sure Malad is in his mission, so if the Hoskins happen to see him then he's one of my really good friends :) Bill came last week and I got to show him around. That was great! Last Tuesday we played some legit basketball with guys like Alec Monson, Elder Sheffield (Pleasant Grove gaurded TJ) a couple kids going to BYU-Hawaii, and some other pretty good players. It was so fun! Down here I'm shooting as good as I ever have (go figure). Oh...I GET TO SEE MY BEST FRIEND TOMORROW. I am so excited to see Elder Naegle, also very excited for Elder Hayes who is heading out tomorrow as well! The Army of Helaman is so real, and I wouldn't want to be apart of anything else.

 Elders Seljaas, Anderson, Naegle, and Merrill

Bountiful Braves at the CCM

  Thank you for sharing all your experiences, I love hearing about how home is, even if it makes me sad! I'm gonna miss Rodney with my whole heart but I know it's for the best. Crazy about Lebron... sheesh. Anyways, love you all so very much and I thank my Father in Heaven every day that I have been so blessed in my life with the people that have changed it!

Love,

Elder Merrill

Elders Clay and Brown

Elder Merrill and Elder Spencer "Bill" Anderson

July 8, 2014

  Well, another week has come and gone! Mother just keep reading Jaydon's blog because I'm not gonna be very descriptive, it's just too hard! But wanna hear something crazy????? I have already been out for ONE MONTH TOMORROW.  This is going by so fast and I can't believe it. Now onto how the week went.

       This week was really great! Spanish is still coming along well.... except I can hardly understand anything that people say but oh well. And everyone says the Spanish in Nicaragua is totally different down there so.... hahahah but it is definitely getting better! Elder Williams and I are reading the Book of Mormon in Spanish and although we can hardly understand any of the scriptures, it brings the Spirit and helps me with my testimony that I´m supposed to be learning Spanish! I know that this is where I belong! Our Zone/Branch is huuuge, we have like 50 people! Every week we add about 150 missionaries and lose about 30 so this place is getting pretty full. I saw Timmy! I have also seen Connor Clay (Viewmont), Alec Monson, Dallin Anderson, a kid from South Dakota who knows Dalton and Chris Fulton, and a kid that's gonna play football at BYU. It's funny because he told me that Bronco has been talking to them about National Championships and stuff... so we better be watching in a couple years hahahaha some things just never change :) I'm really excited to see Billy tomorrow! 

       Elder Williams and I have had some real practice with patience down here. And composure. Which makes me real grateful for basketball and Preach My Gospel! Hahahah our district has a real issue with wasting time, and it starts with a certain Elder that we are really annoyed with. Although Elder Williams and I get off topic occasionally, we usually work really hard, as do the Hermanas, so it gets frustrating when everyone else hardly does. Especially as Zone Leaders we have an obligation to serve and make sure that everything is going well. We've talked about it before and it didn't help, so we're trying to settle it one last time. I'm extremely grateful for the chapter in PMG about Christlike attributes. I pray and strive to incorporate them into my life every single day and I'm grateful for the Savior helping me with anything and everything I need!

       On Sunday we watched the Joseph Smith movie and it just only helped to strengthen my already profound testimony of Joseph Smith. Ever since we went to the Sacred Grove I have known, but I am so eternally grateful for him and all the work he did. I love the movie because it doesn't just talk about the things he did, but the persecution he went through. He is my hero.

       Thank you so much for all the updates! The Fourth of July is my favorite holiday so it was hard, but the MTC did a pretty good job helping with that and I only have to go through one more of those! I'm glad Ben was there! I will be shocked if Liz doesn't get lost at least five times down there, but I hope they have fun! I love and miss you all so much. I pray 5 times a day for each of you, so if anything I hope the work I´m doing down here is blessing all the people who have helped me so much in my life. I truly wouldn't be here without you all!

Love always,

Elder Merrill

 

Oh goodness I always forget stuff.... thank you for the package! I honestly hated everything in there but didn't even care because I was so happy :) so cookies would be nice, but it really doesn't matter :)

 

 

Hermano Morales

CCM (MTC) Teacher

July 1, 2014

Dear Family and Friends, 

      Well another week in the field! To be honest not much has changed, but I have a couple cool stories and we just got back from the Temple and that was awesome! First off I really didn´t mean that about Liz and Molli hahahahaha I don't care that much :) well.... Elder Sautter (from Arizona) pooped the bed on Friday night. Needless to say we are all struggling a little bit with the food. Elder Sautter is the exact replica of the Cecilian from Princess Bride! Hahahaha I really love the district and everything about this place even if it is hard.

      Like I said we just got back from the Temple. We only got to go to the Visitors Center because the Temple is being worked on, but it was soooooo cool. It was one of the nicest places I've been too, and the spirit was so strong! The Spanish is coming along well, I can say most things I want, I just don't know a whole lot of vocabulary and it's so hard to understand people! But with patience, hard work and faith, I know I will be fine

     Sorry there just isn't a whole lot to say about this week, but I do want to share some thoughts and feelings that I have gained. I know without a doubt in my mind that our Redeemer lives. This last few weeks I have grown so close to him and to the Atonement and I cannot express my gratitude enough for that. I know that Jesus Christ was the ultimate example, and that he paid for each and every one of our sins and afflictions. On Sunday we heard a talk from Elder Bednar and it may have been the best talk I have ever heard about the character of Christ and trying to be like him. I am definitely working as hard as I can to become like the Savior, and in three short weeks, I'll be trying to bring others to do the same! 

      I miss and love all you guys so much, but honestly right now I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. I head to Nicaragua on the 22nd and I think I may be able to call home then! This week is the 4th, so please be safe but most importantly be grateful for what we have in the United States! We just got back from driving through Mexico City... and let me tell ya I have never been more grateful to be an American. I'm proud to be an American, but I'm even more proud to be a representative of Jesus Christ!

Love you all, 

Elder Merrill

 

 Visitors Center

Mexico City Temple

June 24, 2014

Dear Family and Friends,

     Well... another week in the books! The first few days we were here all the other missionaries kept telling us to ´"just get through the first P Day and then it will fly" and they were definitely right! I can´t believe I´ve already been out here two weeks! I´m glad that everything is going well back home, because it is going great here! First off sorry about how bad last week was, I was just so flustered cause we don´t have a lot of time but today will be better I promise! In answer to your questions mom.. the flight was fine! I hate flying but there were a lot of missionaries so we had a good time! And from the second we walked off the plane in Mexico we were immersed in Spanish.  At the MTC they speak as much Spanish as possible unless it´s something we need to hear and know. The Spanish... it´s coming along quite well! I understand more and more every day from teachers, but when we talk to workers or native missionaries then I usually don´t know what they´re saying hahahahah. I can probably keep up on a broken conversation right now, but it´s a process hahahah! At this point I just need to know more words then I think I have a chance.

     I´ve had many great experiences over the last week. I still completely love being here because there are so many opportunities to receive inspiration and revelation! I´ve been able to give two blessings, one to my companion Elder Williams and one to Jaydon Ryan (dad should know who he is), and we also did one for one of the girls in our district, who is from Cache Valley! Please tell Calvin that the Fourth Missionary saved my life and I am so grateful to him for giving it to me. I realized that I was the definition of the Third Missionary as I read it, so I totally changed my ways and I think I´m doing a better job now. We teach someone every day, and Elder Williams and I are really coming along well! Our first "investigator" was Fernanda. On our last lesson with her, our main goal was to bring the spirit. Our lesson plan was about the Plan of Salvation, but that´s kinda hard to speak in Spanish hahah. So we just prayed to above all else bring the Spirit, and that is what we did. We bore our testimonies and the Spirit was so strong. It made me so dang excited to teach out in Nicaragua! (Once I get fluent hahahah) I know that through the Lord, all things were possible. This last Sunday I was a little confused and concerned about my spanish, mainly trying to learn past tense conjugations, so I prayed to my Father in Heaven that he would help me and the next day I learned everything in a way I hadn´t yet. Now I just need to practice and work hard and I know I can do this!

      I know that through Faith, Hard Work, Obedience and Prayer we can do all things. The Lord has commanded me here because he knows I can do it. And I am so excited to be here. I miss all you guys so much but I wouldn´t want to be anywhere else. Mom you can send letters and pick packages through Dear Elder and they come mucccccchhhhhh faster, so if you want to do that that´d be great! So just let everyone know. It´d be nice to hear from one or two of my sisters but eh I guess it´s alright ;) I love you all!

Elder Merrill

P.S pictures... this place is beautiful, the "Furious 4" myself, Elder Williams, Elder Sauter and Elder Mataalii and the big B on the mountain... it´s like I never even left :)

Elder Merrill and Elder Jaydon Ryan

The Furious 4

Elders Mataalii, Sauter, Williams and Merrill

The CCM with the B on the mountain!

First email- June 17, 2014

Dear Family,

Thank you for all the emails and for telling me how life is! Annie how is the phone? Hahaha there are so many things I can say right now. I love it here.  Mexico City is beautiful. It's super poor but soooooo colorful and I love colors!  The CCM is like a spiritual prison honestly, but it's really nice!  The food is good, I have meat for every meal so I'll probably be fat by the time I get out of here hahah. There is a gym, but I don't really play hard cause not great competition. I loooooooooove my companions. I have a picture but I don't know how to upload it! Elder Mataalii from LA was my first companion, then Elder Sauter joined us because his companion(who I just learned is Jake Toolson) went home. Then Elder Williams from Vernal joined us! So for the first day or so we were a foursome, but now my companion is Elder Williams. I love him. He works super hard and is very obedient.  Elder Sautter is literally the funniest kid I have ever met. He is Elder Calhoun from the best two years times 1000000! Yeah so I love these guys.  Also one of the kids from my district was good friends with J Stutz.  The Spanish is obviously very hard, but I'm working my tail off and it's coming along quite well! Anyways I love you guys. I love the opportunity I have to be here and to serve the Lord.  

Love always,

Elder Merrill

We love you!

We can do hard things!