March 23, 2010

Dear Mom,

Hey Thank you for sending me a sweet email. It was nice to read about what's going on at home. That's sweet that Eric came to church. Thanks for inviting him to church. I had to laugh that Kiersten tried to bribe the cop by wooing him. (She got a ticket for jaywalking.) She should of told him to get lost and find something better to do. I only got two pictures, The one of Gary's wedding and then the one of Kory. The fireplace looks really nice. Before I forget, did you ever send the medicine? If you did I never received it. How are all the kids doing? It was nice to get an email from Kelsey last week. My mail has pretty much ended now. :( That's alright though. This morning I weighed myself and I was 168 lbs. I was a little dehydrated but I am kinda sad because I don't have hardly any muscle left.

So for the weeks events. We had to move to a different apartment in Solingen because the contract ended and that was a pain. We took almost all of Wednesday to do that. On Thursday we met with a member who is the only member in his family and we wanted to be able to teach him and his family. We were able to set up a new appointment and so I'm hoping that that will turn out well. We are meeting with them tonight and we are going to teach a first lesson. On Friday we had a Split with the other misisonaries in our district and we went to Frau Pickelein's (Oma Friedel). She is a sweet old lady and I hope that she can make some more progress. We talked about the baptism with her and made it clear to her that she wasn't baptized by the authority of God. I think she understood it but we will have to review it again to make sure she grasped it. These past couple of days have been really spiritual draining for me, actually just yesterday. We met with a former investigator who is from Italy. She doesn't speak very good German at all and she doesn't understand it very well either. During the appointment I was praying very intensely that I would be able to not only understand the things she was saying but that she would be able to understand what I was teaching. It was a powerful experience. Also yesterday while we were on our way to this appointment we ran into a man that I had talked to on the street. He told us that he has been through a lot and that he was wanting out. We told him to meet us at the church at 6:00 and we would talk more about it. We showed up and there he was waiting for us. We went inside and he just started telling us about his life. There was some things that I would never want to live through. I had a prayer in my heart throughout the whole time praying that I would be able to help him. We spent the rest of the night with him trying to help him realize that God loved him and that he had a plan for each and every one of us. We got back to the apartment after 10:00. I was beat. He wanted to change his life but he denied our help we wanted to give him. Last night I laid in bed for a long time just thinking about the day and how the spirit led me to know what to say and do. This morning for companionship study we talked about yesterday and how we both felt the spirit guiding our lives. Right now I'm pretty beat. I know that it will go away here soon.

So that was a little bit about the week. It's definitely tough sometimes in life but the Lord is with us. My study the past week or so has been in Mosiah. I read two days ago I think ago in chapter 23 verse 21, "Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith." Sometimes in life we as people think about the here and now and why we have to suffer certain things but it's all for our benefit. I've seen how the Lord has molded me as his servant and I realize that it's because he loves me and wants the best for me. The blessings he sends us are not always in the forms we would like them to be or in ways we don't recognize them but I know and I have a testimony that God loves us and knows how we feel and the things we need help with. Christ is our savior and he suffered everything possible. He loves us and taught in Matthew 11:30, "For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." We always, as children of God, have the opportunity to turn unto Christ and take his yoke. I love my Savior for his example for me and for making it possible for me to repent of my weaknesses. I am striving to come closer to Christ in my thoughts, words, and what I do. I love this gospel with all my heart and I know that God loves me. I want to thank you all for being part of my life. The things I have experienced have helped my testimony grow in the Savior. I love you and wish you the best this week. Have fun in Hawaii. Maybe you could have the kids write me an email or something. I would like that.

"No Regrets"

Love
Elder Merrill

p.s. Picture of new comp and my favorite German car (Porsche Cayanne)

New Address

Hey, pass auf!!!!

So I will have a new address: Eiland 8
42651 Solingen

We have to move apartments which is kind of lame but oh well, you gotta do what you gotta do. I'm really excited for this transfer. I am really working on teaching more and have set some goals for this transfer and going to make more for the future. So I don't really know what to write about this week.

So my new companion is Elder John Andrew Chapman and is from Provo and he graduated in '08. He went to BYU also. He's about 5'5" and looks like he's 16. He is a quarter Japanese so that's why he's short. Ummm this week I got my first wedding announcement. It was from Kylie. She looks like a cute girl. (Kyle's cousin--Kylie Merrill) That's crazy how Josh's (Hayles) baby is already a year old. I swear it was just last week that we found out that he was gonna have a kid. Crazy how time flies.

So for myself. I've been working really hard on talking to every single person I can. I am really working on becoming the missionary that I want to be. Like I said, I'm setting goals for myself to make my relationship with Christ better. I know that The Lord is in the work. It's amazing how much he blesses us. I feel blessed. I've gotten several compliments this past week on how well I teach. It's really helped me out to hear that. I study hard and try to increase my knowledge in the gospel as well as with the language. I'm striving to help these people here more than they help me. I feel blessed to be able to serve the Lord at this time of life. I often see and think about those that are my age and the decisions they are making and how much the gospel could help them be happier.

The Restoration of the gospel is an amazing concept and I know that we are here on the earth at this time because we have certain talents and desires to help others return to our Father in Heaven.

Thank you for the love and support, I need it. I love you all very much and I appreciate all the letters and emails that I get. Mom, Dad, and kids I want to tell you that I love you all very much.

"No Regrets"

Love,
Elder Merrill

March 9, 2010

Dear Family,

So I'm staying here again in Solingen. Elder McGowan is leaving and I'm getting Elder Chapman. Elder Chapman is just finishing up his Golden cycles (first 2 transfers). He is the youngest missionary in the mission. There are no new missionaries coming in this transfer so I will have the youngest companion in the mission. I am a little nervous. He had a really good trainer that is really dedicated. I feel honored to be getting him as a companion. When the AP's called me up they told me that they trust me and know that I will be a good companion for him. I am nervous but excited. We are going to see some sweet success.

This last week we were able to find a new investigator. He is pretty active in his church but I'm sure he is interested in learning more about the church. Yesterday we were talking to people on the Füß (it's like a boardwalk, every city has one but they all vary in size) and I talked to two people who seemed to be interested in learning more. One was a lady with a small child. She gave me her number and was excited. The other was a man who is Muslim but was interested in reading The Book of Mormon. There are so many Muslims. We aren't supposed to contact them if we know that they are Muslim. Pretty crazy.

We were able to do service on Saturday. An inactive in our ward bought some cupboards from some guy and he was putting them up and his mom asked if we would help. It was fun to carry some heavy stuff and to run a drill for a while. We are going to help out Brother Phong on Saturday. He is moving to a different house in Solingen and so we're gonna help him with his couches. We don't get very many opportunities to serve. Nobody really wants help which kind of stinks.

The Family is gonna be different when I get home. I can't believe how things change so quickly. It's pretty crazy. I'm loving life right now. I'm not upset at all that I'm staying again in Solingen. It will make it over 6 months that I'm here. That's weird to think about. I knew Andrew was gonna be AP sooner or later. He's a great kid. I love him. I hope he doesn't start graying like Uncle Tracy. Assistants have it pretty tough. They are like a mini mission President. How is Will doing? I think I remember that he's had a couple baptism's. That's way awesome. I love hearing about my two cousins and the success they are having.

Well love you all and wish you the best this week. Thanks for the update on the farm and how everything is. I don't really need my shoes quite yet. If you just want to send the medicine I would like that more. I think I want the shoes sometime in the summer. What about the kids? What are they up to? I would love to hear from them. Maybe if you were to take a picture of you all together and send it in the next email. Well I love you all and want you to know that I pray for your health and safety. "No Regrets"

Love,
Elder Merrill

(I was in Eagle, ID this weekend visiting my sister and there is a young man from her ward that is serving in Kyle's mission)

Dear Mom,

Thanks for attaching the picture of you and sister Dumas. Elder Dumas is a nice kid. I have actually been out contacting with him once. Well that's sweet that Makenzie did well. I'm sure she got a lot of attention.

So this week was the worst week of the mission number wise. I worked my tail end off. I did all I could to do my part. I had good morning studies and stayed focused on my calling. We had our best investigator call up a member and tell him that she didn't want to meet anymore. It was really sad for me because I know she has felt the spirit. This week has already started out to be a better week. Yesterday we taught two lessons, one to an inactive and one to Frau Pickelein. She is a sweet old lady. I hope that she will accept one of these days to get baptized. The highlight of last week was Martin Bader getting the Aaronic Priesthood. It was pretty awesome. The spirit was way strong and he's doing awesome. I was able to stand in on the ordinance.

So transfers are this week so I'm not sure what's gonna go down. I could see me leaving or I could see Elder McGowan leaving. I doubt that we will stay together another. We have 8 Missionaries going home with none coming in. Our mission will be down to 98 I think. It's crazy. I'm doing good health wise. Last week we played soccer as a zone and I found out the next day that I am really out of shape and sore. It was way fun. So we had a pretty big windstorm on Sunday. I'm thinking that that is the storm you heard about. It was big strong but I'm pretty sure that we've had worse at home. We were still outside and it wasn't to bad. I can't believe it's already March. Time is really flying by. It's weird to think that I've been over a year now.

How is everyone at home doing? The kids can write me emails. It's easier, faster and cheaper. I hope that everything is going well with the farm. When is dad gonna turn water on? Any crops changing. What fields are what? Mom I don't really have too many ideas for you for scripture study but I will recommend that you read Jesus The Christ. It is an amazing book and I was able to learn a ton about the life of Christ. There is no doubt in my mind that Talmage received revelation and saw things when he wrote that book. I've been studying the Book of Mormon and it's simply amazing at how I can feel the spirit evertime I read it. I am highlighting references to Christ and it's been pretty awesome. We read last night with Frau Pickelein 2 Nephi 31. That is an awesome chapter. It teaches the third lesson wonderfully. She really enjoyed it. She said that she really appreciates us and loves when we meet with her. She is an old lady and we haven't been able to commit her to baptism. Hopefully through a little more time she will accept it.

Well that's about it for the week. The picture I attached is of me making a phone call in a little neighborhood where a member lives. The other picture is of the zone after playing soccer.

Love you all "No Regrets"

Elder Merrill