October 12, 2010

Dear Mom, Dad, and everyone else,

This past week has been sweet. We've been working really hard and it's so much fun. My Golden's name is Elder Adam Wilde. He is from Dallas, Texas. He graduated in '08 like me but is a couple months younger. He went to school at West Point Academy. He also played football there. he is a pretty stacked kid, even though he says he's way out of shape. We are having a lot of fun with the four man Apartment. We have it set up so that in the morning we study first while Elder Gunnell and Elder Tryon shower and get ready for the day. Then we shower while they study. Elder Gunnell didn't get his Golden until Friday. Elder Tryon got sick on the flight over. During the layover in Dallas (where he lives) he had to go home for a couple days then he came. Elder Gunnell and I were gone all day yesterday in Frankfurt for a zone leader meeting so the Goldens were by themselves and had to rule the streets with 5 days of experience. They had a good time but were happy when we got home last night. It's so fun. Elder Wilde has already taken German in high school and so he can already speak pretty decently. He still has a lot to learn but it's a ton easier for me. We will still be doing splits with Elders in the zone. We have a split on Friday with a new district leader. I will be training him on his responsibilities as a district leader so it should be pretty fun.

Armstrong is going to be getting baptized on Saturday at 12:30. He is great. We are going to meet with him tonight. He is really excited to be a member and he will do well. He asked me to confirm him which will be really cool. This will be my third time confirming someone. Ayten is also doing really well. She comes to church without reminder calls and really enjoys it. She will be getting visiting teachers here in the next two weeks which will be good for her.

Yesterday at this zone leader meeting that Elder Gunnell and I went to, we talked about the mission and how to help the missionaries be more affective in the work. The mission has made a ton of progress this year compared to last and we want to keep progressing. There is a lot of miracles happening and because the mission is doing well there is a lot of adversary working against us. I don't want missionaries to fall into this temptation but to work through it and strengthen their faith. That's one thing that needs to be worked on is strengthening our faith. I have been praying for help in strengthening my faith and I know that the Lord will help me do it. It is a righteous desire and we are commanded to seek after those gifts of the spirit.

My love for this work, the missionaries, and investigators has grown a lot in the past year. I was able to share my testimony yesterday at the meeting and I was really moved by the spirit. I testified of the love that God and Jesus Christ have for us. The love that I have for others has just really grown. I cried a lot giving the testimony. I hadn't cried in over a year. The Spirit in that meeting was super strong. All of the missionaries there are super great examples and I hope that I can also be one of those examples for the others around us. An Elder shared his testimony about Faith. He read the story about the Sunday school teacher that was from Ireland and the boys in the class were super rowdy. Well at the end of the story it said something to the affect that you could warm your hands by the fire of this man's faith. He applied to how he always want to talk with every that passes by but he can't. He said that we need to have our faith so strong that when we are talking to one person, the other walking by needs to feel that warmth coming from us. It was an awesome testimony.

This work is so great. I love it all a ton. It's amazing how things work out and how the Lord leads us to do his will when we are obedient to the whisperings of the Spirit. I love you all and wish you a wonderful week.

"No Regrets"
Love,
Elder Merrill

October 4, 2010

Dear Mom, Dad, and Family,

First of all thanks for the updates. It sounds like things are really changing alot. It is kind of disappointing that Kortneigh is getting married before I get home but it's ok because it's a good decision. I'm excited for her and Shayne. Tell her that I would like to hear from her at least one last time before she gets married and that she better have some good explanations to what's happened in the last 10 months. Tell Kaitlan that I want to hear from her as well.

I got your letter this past week. Thanks for the printed off receipt, I hope it will work. I have thought a little bit about your question of working or going to school. I can't really tell you at the moment but next week I hope to be able to tell you. I'm going to ask Jake whether or not he's serious about going to school. If he goes I will most likely go. I would also like to know about how much money they would pay and for how long the work would last for. That's everything about that subject. Don't worry it didn't really distract me at all because I still feel like I have a year to serve.

This last week was pretty interesting. We didn't have to go on any splits which was kind of nice but at the same time it's good to be able to work with the other missionaries from the zone. I found it also quite interesting that you asked about my new companion. Elder Brecheisen still has one more transfer so it could have been possible that we stay together. He is getting transferred though. I am getting Elder Gunnell as a new Zone leader companion and then to throw a twist in the whole thing we are both getting Goldens. That means that we are both training as well as being Zone Leaders! We will all be living in the same apartment which ought to be fun. I've never had a four man apartment so it will be interesting. I am going down to Frankfurt tomorrow and will come back on Wednesday. Before the end of the year we will be getting 60 new missionaries. By the time I'm in my last transfer half of our mission will be super old and the other half will be super young. I'm super excited about it all though. I will be interested to see how it all works out this next transfer. I have a lot to learn still and the conference talks helped me to know what I need to work on and how I can better improve myself.

There are many things that I enjoyed in conference but the best talk was from President Uchtdorf about Pride. Elder Gardner and his Golden, Elder Rampton, stayed the night at our place on Saturday because of conference and I was talking to Elder Gardner about how all sin is because of selfishness and selfishness is a form of Pride. Many times we don't need to even sin to be guilty of pride but pride is sin. Elder Uchtdorf is a wonderful teacher and has a great testimony. There was a baptism here in the ward in August that was kind of referred from President Uchtdorf. It was an exchange student that was in Utah and he was able to have a connection to President Uchtdorf and he had lunch with him. President Uchtdorf taught about the Restoration and gave testimony. Pretty cool experience this boy had.

This last week we were given a referral by an inactive sister. She said that she would set up an appointment Saturday for us. We went to the appointment not knowing what to expect. The man was home and let us in. His house was a disaster. He said that he has lost all hope and that he wants to change his life around. We sat down with him and taught the Restoration. He was moved by the spirit. He said that he could feel that we were sent from God. It was a great feeling. We offered to help him change his life around and he agreed to do what it takes in order to come closer to the Savior Jesus Christ. We have an appointment set up for Tuesday morning and will be helping clean up his life. It's a great feeling to help others feel the love that God has for them.

"No Regrets"

Love you,
Elder Merrill

September 27, 2010

Baptism of Ayten

Pizza Hut with Elder's Quorum - 15 Pieces :)

Dear Mom, Dad, Family, and Friends,

First off I want to thank Dad for writing me this week. I was thinking a lot this week about how I hoped Dad would write me. It's always great to hear from you and I really appreciate it because I can only imagine how busy you are. Mom I hope that doesn't make you feel that your letters aren't appreciated. I love getting your letters. You always have good stories to tell that make me happy and excited for you all at home. Thanks as well for the little stories. I love to hear about those little things happening and it's great to hear how everyone is changing. I hope that the weather goes well and that everything is able to work out with 4th cutting. I'm praying for you and hope that you all are safe, healthy, and happy. I look forward to your letter mom. I haven't got it yet but I sure hope that it will come tomorrow. There is something about receiving things from loved ones that just makes me happy. It's wonderful to hear from everyone.

I'm super excited for General Conference this week. It should be interesting for me. It's going to be the last time on the mission that I'll be able to watch it so I'll make sure to take super good notes. I love listening to the prophet and hope that our investigators that will come can also feel of the spirit when he speaks. I was looking back at past Liahona's and noticed that the church should have reached 14 million members this month, if the pattern continued. It's great to see how the church is moving along being taught in every land and in every tongue. I am so thankful that I've been able to serve here in Germany and help them hear about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's an amazing opportunity to be serving at this time. There are many many things that I have learned and things I have also developed that I don't think I would have been able to If I had not been able to serve a mission.

This past week we were able to go on one split with some Elders but I don't know how effective it was. The Elder that I went with was pretty closed off and didn't want to change very much. It's kind of frustrating when you want to help others but they don't want to be helped at all. This week we don't have any splits planned so it should be a lot easier to just work in our own area. One of my companions was sent home this last week because of stuff before the mission that wasn't cleared up. I felt really bad for him and I hope that he is able to make the steps necessary to make things right. I found it interesting that this wasn't told until the transfer before he went home. I am super glad that we are all able to repent and to remove those sins that will keep us from our father's presence. Another thing I've also noticed is that Obedience isn't Obedience unless it's 100%. In my interview with President Ninow this past week we talked about this a bit. I asked him how I can better help the missionaries around me want to be obedient and have this desire. We talked about the desire should first come from a love of God. Then from a fear of God, fear meaning a respect or knowing that God is a fair and just God and then we talked about how each one of us must report to God our missions and that we are accountable for everything that we do. I am grateful that I have made correct decisions on my mission being obedient and following the council of my leaders. It's because I've done this that I've been able to have success but not only success but a love and joy as I am in the work.

I know that this is the one and only Gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth today. I know that it's through His Atonement that we can better ourselves and repent of the mistakes that we make. I know that through the grace and mercy of our Lord that we can be forgiven. I know that through the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson, the Lord speaks to his saints. I know that through our Faith great miracles can come to pass.

"No Regrets"

Love
Elder Merrill

September 20, 2010

Dear Mom,

So I got your package today. Thanks for the rice crispies, the letters, and the camera cord. It was really nice to get some letters. I haven't gotten one in a super long time so it kind of lifted my spirits a bit. I'm pretty sure almost every letter said, "we miss you here at the cabin". You can let them all know that I missed the cabin but I totally forgot that you even had a family reunion. It was good to hear from some of those that I don't hear from. The rice crispies taste good. The camera cord doesn't have a special adapter for my camera so I think I'm gonna go to the store today and see if I can't find something. I hope I can find something because my camera is dead and I can't charge it. We did go to Pizza Hut in the Evening which we were able to have some new members and less actives come.

So this week it was a pretty decent week. Ayten was baptized and then I confirmed her on Sunday. She looked really happy and she feels really good, she says. It was great to be able to see her get baptized. She has two little girls that the ward really helps out a lot with during church which is a huge relief.

Armstrong is doing really great. He always has a smile on his face when we see him. He laughs a lot. We are planning for the 16 of October for him to be baptized. It might be later because he might insist on doing it on his birthday. He doesn't have any family here in Germany. He is studying at the university. It's super fun to be able to meet with him. Last time we saw him we talked about the Sabbath day and it was so stinking easy because he believes it all and lives it already. It's super awesome.

So I'm just gonna post parts of the email I sent to President because it sums up the splits I went on pretty well:

This past week we were able to go on two splits, one with the Gelsenkirchen and Essen Elders. I was able to work with both Elder Chapman as well as Elder Bergquist. Elder Chapman is a good missionary that wants to do his best and have success. We had a good talk about his district and companionship needs. I encouraged him to work closely with his district, following up with them and developing a close relationship with them. We had a good enjoyable split and I felt that it was uplifting for him as well as for me. Being able to work with Elder Bergquist was also a privilege. My goal was to help him understand that he is loved and cared for and that even though the language is tough that he can have success and find joy in serving the Lord. It was a great experience. For companionship study in the morning we went through the first lesson and I showed him how to make an outline of the first lesson. I let him know that he was doing a great job. He kept that outline with him the whole day and referred often to it trying to memorize some of the phrases that he made. It was a really good experience for him and he is doing great.

It's a super great privilege to be able to be a Zone Leader. I love helping other missionaries out. It's been a huge blessing for me in my life. I've come to forget about myself personally and to focus on the needs of the zone. Last night we talked a little bit about the zone and how we could better help them. I feel that they are all kind of a little down a bit so I want to put together a lesson that I can share with all the missionaries that will lift their spirits and something that they will remember for the rest of their live. I will always remember the lesson that Steven gave us in Priest quorum when he wrote on his shirt and the wore a jacket to church to cover it. I want to be able to share something like that with the missionaries here that will lift them up. If you have any ideas I would love to hear them.

This week has been a super quick week but also seems like it was super long as well. This week we have another two splits that we are going on and we also have interviews with president. It will be an interesting week and I hope that it all works out well and that The zone does well. This is such a great work and I love it so much. It's great to be able to serve here and to do the will of the Lord. I love you all and wish you all the best this week in school, work, sports, and being a Mom.

"No Regrets"

Love
Elder Merrill

p.s. if there is anything you would like me to do different in my emails to you or what to talk about just let me know. and it doesn't make me think about home or get homesick when you talk about going water skiing and that kind of stuff. Please just tell me everything.

September 13, 2010

Dear Mom, Dad, Kids, and Everyone Else,

So this past week was a good solid week. We were able to go on a split with Elder McArthur and Elder Elison. I went with Elder Elison. We had a good enjoyable time together. It was pretty different being together because I haven't been with anyone from home in a super long time. We were able to have a good time together. I'm super thankful that I'm able to go on so many different splits because I am able to learn from so many other missionaries. I know that I have to be an example and to help the other missionaries be successful but I think it helps me out more than it does them. There are 22 missionaries in our Zone, 11 wards/branches, and every one has one companionship in it.

The weather here has also cooled down a bunch and it's been super rainy for a couple of days. It's not bad though because we usually are underground in the subways going to appointments. So we will also be having a baptism this Saturday. I don't think I told you that. Her name is Ayten. Her parents are from Turkey but she has lived her whole life here in Germany. She is in her late 20's and has two daughters. One is 6 with down syndrome and the other is 2. They are a big handful for her since she is a single mother. It's interesting to teach her because she isn't the greatest at remembering things. She makes an effort to do her best which is all the Lord expects of us. When we love the Lord and do our best we keep his commandments and repent. She has been blessed with a testimony of prayer because her children have calmed down considerably and she feels more peace in her life.

We are also teaching a guy from Cameroon. He is 29 and is amazing. His name is Armstrong. He is studying here in Germany and wants to get baptized in October. He's just an awesome kid. I love teaching those that are prepared for the gospel like he is.

We are going to Pizza Hut with the men in the ward on Wednesday. We are trying to get a bunch of inactive members to come and take part in all you can eat. Great stuff. The Ward here in Dortmund is kind of like Basin City, everyone is related. I haven't totally figured it all out yet but I think I will be able to get a hang of it. It's not super big--about 80-90 members on average in Sacrament meeting. They don't really have any teenage youth which will kind of hurt them a bit. They all just need to have more kids. The average German only has like 2, tops 3 kids. There are several YSA which is fun to talk with them a bit. It also helps out with the missionary work because they accept the YSA investigators pretty well.

So this week we have another two splits which I'm looking forward to and so hopefully they will both go well and it will help encourage the missionaries. One of the Splits I'm going on is with Elder Chapman. He just became a District Leader so I will be teaching him a bit about how to be a District Leader and how he can help his District out and be successful in the work. The other one is with Elder Bergquist. Other than that this week should be just another normal week of work. Please pray for me, for us all that we can be effective tools in the Lord's hands. I want to be the best I can be. I need your prayers and your words of encouragement. I pray for you all and hope that you are all doing well. Tell the Kids I would love to hear from them. Hopefully they put letters in the package. Thank you so much and tell all the grandparents, aunts/uncles, cousins, and friends that I love them.

"No Regrets"

Love Elder Merrill

p.s. Kelsey looks like she's grown up a bunch. She looks pretty. tell Kelsey and Kiersten that I want a letter from them!

September 6, 2010

Dear family,

So first off you should give President Barber a call and tell him that C.Z. got baptized a couple weeks ago. The family doesn't know that she is baptized and so make sure that he doesn't spill the beans. It's a super complicated situation. She got permission from her husband but he didn't want to know when, where, or how. They have a super nice family and they seem to enjoy us visiting them but it is just a weird situation. So at the moment we have four baptismal dates. I hope they all go through. Two of them are gonna be interviewed by President so hopefully they have repented and are able to be baptized. One of them is named Armstrong. He is a super cool kid. 29 from Cameroon and is awesome. It's super fun meeting with him just because he is really progressing alot and just loves coming to church activities. The other one I haven't met yet. He is going to be getting married to a member and he wants to get baptized before that. It's pretty sweet.

Laura is going to be speaking Vietnamese and she goes into the MTC January 5th. I'm trying to gain a little weight back. I've made a goal to do at least 100 Perfect Push ups a day for the last 6 months. So far I haven't missed a day.

So this last week there was a big demonstration against Nazi's. There were police all over the place. 160 people ended up being arrested and 7 policemen injured. It was pretty cool just seeing all the police and their riot gear. It was also my third time going to the temple this last week. I love going to the temple and learning. The spirit is amazingly strong and it's a great pleasure to be able to go to the the House of the Lord.

I really hope that I can help some missonaries out and help them understand that we only get one chance to serve the Lord with all we've got. I am super excited to go on splits and I've been praying for a while that I can help some missionaries. It's a super big responsibility but I'm super thankful for it because it's bringing me closer to the Lord and helping me humble myself. There are many things that need to be changed and I really hope that I can help them all become better missionaries. It's all about serving through Love. Without love they just feel that I'm getting after them, with Love they understand that it's through our commitment to our covenants to serve the Lord our God. I know that the Lord watches over us. I know that he loves us beyond what we can comprehend. My goal in life is to return that Love and serve him day in and day out. I have a testimony of this gospel and I know that through making and keeping covenants that is the only way we can return to live with our Father in Heaven and his Son Jesus Christ.

I love you all so much. I thank you for supporting me. I love this gospel and the opportunity to serve here in Germany. There is nothing better than losing ourselves in the work. It looks like it's going to be a rough ride but I know that through prayer and love that it will all work out. I love this time of my life. There isn't another experience that I've ever had that has helped me grow more, both spiritually and physically. I know it's the work of the lord and that we must all strive to do our best to serve him with all our mights.

"No Regrets"

Love
Elder Merrill

September 2, 2010

Hey mom,

So the new area is good but different. I feel like there is a huge responsibility on my shoulders. I have a lot to do. The past three days we were in Frankfurt and we had some training going on. It was great to have all the leadership of the mission there. My companion is also a zone leader. He goes home next cycle. Our responsibilities are to make sure that all the districts in the zone are doing well and making sure that they are having success and growing spiritually. We work alot with the district leaders and try to help them introduce certain trainings so that they can be successful. I really want to help a couple missionaries out and help them find joy in the work and develop a desire to serve the Lord. I feel that there are several missionaries that just are doing the work because it is what is expected of them, whether that be from the mission leaders, families, girlfriends, whatever it may be. I want to help them find that joy in the the service of the Lord. I have found that when I really invest myself in the work that I develop a greater love for the gospel, family, and those things that really do mean a lot to me. I know that through study, prayer, and with the Lord's help that I can help those missionaries become who they ought to be.

We were able to attend the temple on Tuesday which was great. The spirit was super strong and it was great to be able to go there again. It was a great opportunity and I felt lifted by the spirit. I love going there and wish I could go more often. It's great being able to serve a mission. I love it a lot but there are definitely things that are tough. The Lord will humble us if we ask him to. I feel that I have so much more to learn before I go home. I want to stay focused and give the Lord all I got. I really want the others to succeed in the work and have the blessings fill their lives. If you please would remember me, my companion, as well as the other missionaries in your prayers. It's amazing at the love God has for each of us. I can give testimony that the Lord reveals secret truths to us if we seek after the righteous things in life. I was sitting in the Temple after the session was over and I felt this amazing overwhelming feeling come over me. Some certain thoughts came into my mind telling me what to do and what I needed to focus on.

I'm giving it my all. I know that the Lord will continue to bless me if I have righteous desires and serve him in this his Holy Work. I love my Lord and my God. I know that there is nothing more greater than to be able to serve Him with all of my heart, might, mind, and strength. I've started to see over the past couple of weeks a little of how I have changed from my old self to who I am now. That has been one of my greatest desires is to change into a better man. I want to become one who is looked to as a hero in the gospel, not for the pride of being the best but for the joy of helping others develop more along the road to be more like the Savior. I want to be one, who speaks, speaks with the power of the spirit. My desires and wishes have not changed too much but the priority of them has changed as well as the focus that I want to put on them. I love this gospel so much and I know that it is a great and marvelous work. I am incredibly thankful for the blessing to serve. It's amazing how much joy and happiness I receive just for talking with people about the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Just writing this email fills me with joy and happiness. I love you all so much and I wish you all the best. It will be good to hear from you all again next week. Thank you for your love, prayers, and support. I pray for you all everyday and thank the Lord for blessing you as you all live the Gospel in serving him.

"No Regrets"
Elder Merrill