People are always watching!

Well Elder Copeland is officially 20 years old! And that was literally the fastest week that I have ever had in my entire life. That is what happens when someone spends the whole week working with other companionships and going to meetings. That is alright. Here is a brief update!

On Tuesday I got to spend a little time with my "dad" Elder Collado. He came down to work a little bit with us. Since he became AP, he had to learn how to drive, and he's not quite the best hahhahah. Right now he is still in our old area (Managua), and visits all the time where we started (Granada), so he told me a little about all the converts we have, and they are doing so well! Well, the majority of them. It is so awesome to hear that and brings so much joy to see that these people are progressing!

Wednesday was Elder Copeland's birthday! It's sad because me and my companion had to go to Jinotepe in the afternoon, but the morning was awesome... studying! This dude is maybe the craziest kid that I know, but he is super funny and I love him to death! We got to celebrate with a little cake that a guy made us on Thursday night.

Happy Birthday Elder Copeland!!

Thursday we had a training for new missionaries and their trainers. President Russell stressed on how being a trainer is the most important calling in the mission, and the importance of setting a great example. We are the first example of missionary work that these people see, so it's essential. Exact obedience, and working them to death. And that's how it should be in all aspects of our lives. We have to be the examples in everything that we do. In every little thing. People are always watching, even if we don't think so. So be obedient and work hard in all that you do!

Saturday was the baptism of Jose! Well almost hahaha. We spent the whole day looking for him, and when we finally found him, Satan had done a great job, because he didn't want to. That happens a lot here, unfortunately. We only had two weeks of opportunities, but we did not have a baptism in April. Kind of sucks, but we have repented and we are looking really positive for May!

And Sunday, weirdest thing in my entire life. I saw people that I know! As we entered into the church, I saw a car of white people. They walked into the chapel, I saw one of them and my heart just stopped because I recognized that it was Adam Child! At first he didn't recognize me, but he went, "hey Elder Merr....what the!" He was there with Keller Seamons! For those of you that don't know, those two were really good friends of Liz, and Adam Child's little sister Sarah has been one of my lifelong friends. It was super weird but super cool!

Adam Child, Elder Merrill and Keller Seamons
Adam and Keller where on a surfing trip

Today I beat Elder Copeland 11 straight times in 7 on the line :)

Love you all, thanks for you patience and love and support!

Love,

Elder Merrill

And congrats to Annie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Editors note:  I have no idea what 7 on the line is but if they played golf, Elder Copeland would crush him!!

...so read it!!

Well, another week has passed! Another week of great experiences that I can't remember! This week was one of the most hard-working weeks that I have had here on the mish, and I am very grateful for that. There are a lot of moments here where it is really difficult to work hard. After lunch, we are really tired, it is 95 million degrees outside, and Satan tries to get us to "just take a little break". But I have such a strong testimony that as we make the most of every moment, the Lord will bless us. It may not be that we find the "golden investigator", but we are learning and growing in every opportunity. That is what I love so much here. It is such a battle, but when we win, it is the greatest feeling in the world.

Lately, we have really been trying to put a lot of focus on the Book of Mormon. I am so in love with this book. I could go on for days and years about the power and importance of it, but I am just going to do a little bit. One of the things that makes me laugh more than anything is the fact that people who haven't even read the book talk bad about it. Hahahhah because they are really missing out. Every single day that I read from the Book of Mormon, I feel my faith in Christ strengthening. What more do we need? If we ever feel doubts about something, have problems, or just need to be better, then read from the Book of Mormon. As President Benson says (thanks Julie), "there is a certain power that will begin to flow into your life as you read it." I promise that the book of mormon helps us in all aspects of life... so read it!

This last Friday I got to work again with Elder Naisbitt, and it was super fun because we just went around animating people. Being animated and smiling are some of the most important things here. So we began to call ourselves the "animation crew", just doin what we can to help people get to the waters of baptism! We were able to convince a lady to let her daughter get baptized, the same day that I got hugged by a lady. She is crazy and hugged us, trying to kiss us on the cheek! In that moment, we just gently touch her shoulder, not hugging but trying not to be rude while also trying not to laugh. Super awesome!

Today we played some more soccer, and a little bit of basketball. It's killing me. I miss basketball so much. But it's all good :) and I'm not too bad at soccer! Even though we sweat through everything, it's super fun.

Well here we are! Pretty lame like always, but life is great here :) I'm almost to my 19th birthday! Go Jazz! Go Braves!

Love you all. Thanks for the support. Have a great week and remember to Come Unto Christ!

Elder Merrill

Does anyone else remember that he cried every time I drove him to soccer practice?

WILLING TO ACT!!

Hello family and friends,

 

How the heck are ya all? I am doin awesome. 10 flippin months last week! I say that every week sorry. This week was another quick, exciting and spiritual week, just like every other week in the mission! Here is a little report so to say.

First off. The ward that I am in here in Rivas. Best freaking thing in the entire world. Like I have said, Rivas is really far away from everything else and there is only one ward where we are at, with 10 missionaries. But the ward really is so great. It is not necessarily that they help us a whole lot, but they are just really cool people. The Bishop is awesome, there are a bunch of RMs and the youth is pretty great also. If the area wasn't so dang hard, I would be absolutely in love with this place!

I guess I forgot to say that one of our new Zone Leaders is Elder Naisbitt. He was the one that I spent a little time with when I was in the office. He was my DL back then and now he is the ZL. He's from West Jordan. The kid is honestly one of my best friends, and he is one kid that I'm absolutely sure will be one of them after the mission as well, because we are practically alike! Along with Elder Copeland! We got to work a couple days together last week, and it was just like old times! And I'm excited to work more with him in the future!

Like I said, my area is not very easy, for lack of time in the area we have not had a lot of success, but right now we have got our main man Jose doin work! He may or may not have a house, but is very humble and WILLING TO ACT!  We love him!

This last week, we had Stake Conference, also really cool! Elder Morales from the 70 spoke, and man that guy has some beautiful spanish, yes I understood.

Well there is another short dumb explanation of my week. But my testimony grows stronger and stronger every day as we work to help these people come unto Christ! Have a great week everybody! Love you all! 

Elder Merrill

P.S.  I will try to get these pictures sent!

Editors note: Pictures never came but I got these off of Elder Copeland's (went to Lone Peak HS) blog. I hope his mother doesn't mind :)

 

Rivas District

Elders Merrill and Copeland watching conference

Follow the Prophet, don't go astray!

Hello family. So this was a relatively eventful week! And I know that I say this every week, but I can't believe how fast this dang thing is going. Already in April! Next month is when we begin the whole "less than a year thing" but who's counting really? Hahah but this last week was awesome again! 3 great important things that happened.

First changes! They let us know on Tuesday if we have changes so that we can get ready and go to the meeting on Wednesday. It's especially important for us here in Rivas because we have to travel to Jinotepe the day before to make it! They said I didn't have anything, then decided to inform me at midnight that night that I was training again! So we got up a 3 am, took a taxi to Jinotepe and went to the meeting! And I have another son! His name is Elder Varela and he is from Honduras. He's a lot like my old comp Arevalo, so it will be fun to work with him! But also and maybe cooler, we have another companion... Elder Copeland! He is now companions with Arevalo and we are all in the same area and house! Copeland is from Lone Peak, and we kinda knew each other (social media) before the mission so it is super cool! 

Second, conference. So freaking good. Well the parts that we saw! Question, do we know why President Monson didn't speak as much? That was kinda sad, but I would guess he's a little tired, or that we're really wicked! Either way, I am still unbelievably grateful for him and for the work that he puts in for us. We testify every dang day about the importance of a prophet, and I've been thinking a lot about that lately. What is the importance of a Prophet? I promise every day that I have seen the blessings, but what are they? And it's simple. It comes from a Primary hymn. Follow the Prophet; don't go astray. If we follow the things that we learned this last weekend (the talk by Uchtdorf about Grace was probably my favorite) we will never fall away and therefore we will gain salvation! And what more do we want?! I was so ready for the announcement of the Nicaragua Temple and so sad when it didn't happen. There are so many people here that are so deserving, but really they just aren't ready. One Day!

And lastly, with Conference every time comes a new found love for the family :) I am so grateful for my family, especially with the knowledge that we can be forever. I know maybe more than anything that Families and Friends are Forever. Love you all, thanks for everything :)

Elder Merrill