Time to work!

Well.... this week was a little different.... and here is the report!

We'll go day by day. Tuesday! Found out that I had transfers and that I was going to train again... so we left beloved Rivas and went up to cold Jinotepe!

Wednesday. Long story short I had transfers. I was called to be a Zone Leader in.... Jinotepe! It's the Zone I was in beforehand, so it wasn't a huge change. My companion is... my best friend Elder Naisbitt!!!!!! We were already thinking it was going to happen, but it was still super cool when we officially found out. I love this kid more than anything. He has been one of my really good friends since October, and it's still quite unbelievable that we are companions. The great thing is that although we are great friends, we are working super hard and we are really focused, which is awesome. We are also District Leaders for a District.... double responsibility. But as of right now.... this Zone is on track to have the best month that is has EVER had. So we are working like horses to get this done. To make history! There is soooooo much pressure here, but that kinda makes it fun. We also have our two sons, Elder Rodriguez and Elder Sanchez! Kind of a cool story here. Elder Sanchez already has one change in the mission, and Elder Rodriguez is new! But they are BEST FRIENDS AND ELDER SANCHEZ IS THE REASON WHY ELDER RODRIGUEZ GOT BAPTIZED. Such a cool story! Here in Jinotepe, the weather is unreal. So nice. At last I have a nice area as far as climate! It's cool and sometimes even cold at night. But the area itself... super super hard. We have got a lot of work to do.

Friday I turned 19! It was a pretty lame day.. we just worked haahahahah.

Saturday my old area had a baptism! At last.

We that's just a little informational email on what has happened, but next week I will update you all a little bit about how the Zone does and the inspirational stories that we have every day ;) hahahah but I am so grateful for this new opportunity to serve and to help others. It's a big responsibility, so the help of the Lord is even more needed. Time to work!

Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes! Even if they were a few days late, it still means the world. I am so grateful for all the support that I receive, and I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I love you all so much!

Love,

Elder Merrill

 

Elders Merrill and Naisbitt

Elders Rodriguez and Sanchez

The 4 of us!

 

Happy Mother's Day!

So yeah this last week was a great week! Love you guys all so much!

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That is what we got today! But it was so fun to talk to him yesterday!  He said these last 4 months have been hard and he is hot and tired all of the time but he is happy and learning and growing.  He LOVES the people but says they have issues. Don't we all?!  He can't believe he has almost been out a year and wants to make the most of every minute.  Transfers are this week and he thinks he might get changed so on to a new adventure in beautiful, hot Nicaragua!!

We did get a nice email from his mission president's wife wishing the moms a happy mother's day.

To the mothers and significant women in the lives of our missionaries,

Thank you for raising wonderful sons and daughters. Please know that they are healthy and happy and working very hard.   When I visit with them, I see kindness and thoughtfulness in your children who are becoming men and women of Christ.  I watch as their fears depart, their confidence in the Lord increases, and their personal testimonies deepen.

As mothers, sisters, aunts, grandmothers, and close family friends, thank you for personal influence. Throughout the years, you have guided them and provided a solid foundation so they are now able to serve the Lord with all their might and are able to give their whole hearts to the people of Nicaragua.  As I speak with them individually, I notice a deepened awareness and gratitude for their mothers and significant women in their lives.

President and I will be always feel blessed to count among our four children all of our missionaries whom we love dearly. May you find great joy knowing that your missionary is exactly where the Lord wants him/her to be, doing exactly what the Lord wants him/her to be doing.  Thank you for sharing them us

Happy Mother's Day.

Sincerely,

Hermana Peggy Russell

It's about Him

Another incredibly fast week in the books. And just about another transfer in the books as well! This week will be the last week of the change, and most likely the last week that we will be a foursome together. Crazy!

So on Tuesday I went out with Elder Copeland to do some interviews and animate some people. And while we were waiting for a little boy to finish baseball practice, we got to mess around and play a little bit of baseball! That is another thing that I miss like crazy. Can you believe that? Ever since I played last year, I have completely fallen in love with this game. Who would've thought that I would ever say that I miss throwin a ball and being up at the plate? So that was a pretty good 20 minutes.

Ah on Wednesday night the electricity went out right when we got back to the house. That happens a lot, but usually not at night. And it was the worst thing in the world. I have never been so hot in my life. Oh and that reminds me.... this last week... literally indescribable, unbearable heat. Take the worst, most horrendous heat of your life, and times it by 50, then you'll have a taste of what we felt. It was super awesome!

 

Hot but pretty

No electricity, no fans...

Friday we had Zone Meeting, and it basically was just a big machete because our Zone had a really bad month in April.

Saturday we had a kid decide he was going to get all Atheist a week before his baptism. So therefore, his mom won't let him or his TWO brothers get baptized this coming Saturday. So yeah, needless to say this time has not been the easiest here in Rivas, for the lack of success. It's that time where you feel like you're doing everything you can, but just not having the success. But I've learned so much here and continue learning about how to improve. I've learned to completely rely and focus on what is the will of the Lord. Because what we want doesn't really matter! Whether it be baptisms or just becoming a better disciple, if we are obedient, he will do the job. It's about Him.

I can't believe we are already to Mother's Day. This 6 months have flown! I'm super excited to talk to the family this Sunday :) and tomorrow.... the BEST HOLIDAY EVER! HAPPY 5 DE MAYO TO ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Hahaha that was for you Dad) Have a great week :)

 

Love you all!

Elder Merrill

Pictures courtesy of Elder Copeland ;)

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