South Carolina can be a little humid...

Elder Merrill's letter for this week made us remember that while we may mutter about it being 106* in Tucson and almost as warm in Kandahar, at least we aren't suffering with humidity as well:

Heya! How are you all doing? Life is fine here, just taking it one day at a time. Yep, time really is flying by! Hey Dad, thanks a bunch for all the weather reports about Argentina. Is it really around 50 degrees or so? I'm probably gonna keep a hat and gloves on me when I am on the plane ride there. Things are hot here, not necessarily the temperature really, but the humid times after it rains is what kills me. It was such a dry heat in Arizona. Here, it feels like I'm walking through a sauna. Or a sweat box. Or a spa. But I definitely sweat more here than in Arizona. Then again, I wasn't walking around for 8 hours a day in Arizona. Well, driving around really, but I have to walk around in neighborhoods.

 Elder Merrill also thanks us for some of the family gifts he has enjoyed recently:

So Mom and Kyle are back from China  huh? That was probably a fun trip. I wanted to thank you for the panda tie!!!!!!  Ooohhh my gosh, it's so awesome! All the people in my apartment and district want it so bad! Another thing, I found a pair of slippers in my bag while at the MTC, I don't think that I ever wrote a thank you for that. Believe it or not, it gets cold during the night. That has to do directly with the A/C being on all night.

 He also talks about tracting and how it is different from what he expected to do, as far as walking down streets in neighborhoods and such:

It's funny, I can't just walk around on a street here. The Hispanics live in trailer houses, and in only a few trailer houses really, so we have to go to those areas, and then knock around those trailer houses. In Argentina, I think can do that, just walk down a street and knock some random doors, but here? Also, I thought about it and I think that my Spanish is 10 times better than when I started out. I'm really good at talking now, and I'm understanding a little more when people talk.

 We chuckled a bit at his understatement about being in an environment that is definitely very different from what he is used to being around:

I miss you guys a lot, not just because you're my family and friends. No no no, it's for a much bigger reason. It's because all of you were NORMAL. I'm not even kidding.  Here, the normal people are the people in the church (lds church) and the Hispanics we go visit. EVERYBODY ELSE is completely and utterly insane. Boy have I got 1 or 2 stories to tell you when I get back. No worries, like I say, the Hispanics are normal, and that's who I go visit and see. Well, like I keep saying my visa will come any day now.  I let you all know when it comes, but I'll call you from the airport, so that'll be fun!

What a trooper our stalwart young missionary is! Keep up the great attitude Elder Merrill, we love you lots! 

Elder Merrill in Greenville, South Carolina

We got Elder Merrill's letter with his current address and so I have updated the mailing information tab.   I was going to insert a map to show you where he is but I'm in China with Elder Merrill's youngest brother Kyle and working from a different computer, which you would think wouldn't make a difference but apparently I can't figure out the copy/paste options here, lol. So I'll try again later when I back in the States.

He talks about working with his companion among the local area:

South Carolina is really nice. Yeah, I get trees and rain, but a little more than I care for. We're getting some rain today, probably from that storm off the coast.  We'll teach no matter what inclement weather comes our way!  I find I kind of liked being in the city, surrounded by technology and people. We usually work among the hispanics...All of them live in trailer parks here, they live in poor conditions but every single one of them have a 50 inch plasma screen tv. It seems a little out of place.  I find that I have the ability to speak Spanish but when people talk to me, I have no idea what they are saying.  It's really different from what I learned in the MTC.  Here's an example:

What I learned in the MTC:

Question: Would you like to go to the mall?

Answer: YES, I  WOULD LIKE TO GO TO THE MALL VERY MUCH.

What I learned out here:

Question: Would you like to go to the mall?

Answer: yeah, let's go (I don't know how to say this!)

See the difference? It's very formal and stiff, the talk they teach us.  Out here, people speak casual and they don't talk about the gospel usually. The words they use on a daily basis aren't ones we learned at the MTC. But no worries, it'll all be good and I honestly think I'm getting slightly better.

In  his next letter Elder Merrill told us about his companion:

My "father" [the first companion on a mission who trains you] is Elder Herrera. He was born in Mexico and learned how to speak English, so we have no problem teaching lessons to people (or at least he doesn't, I still get lost!).  I'm glad that I'm in a Spanish speaking place. Most Americans can be downright rude and unpleasant. The Spanish speaking people are really polite, even when they don't want to hear your message.

Elder Merrill ends with a shout-out to P-days:

My visa still hasn't come yet and things are flying by sooooo fast.  I can't believe I'm almost at the 3 month mark.  I'll be halfway to the halfway point of being halfway done with my mission! Things are great here.  Today is P-day of course and we get to go bowling and have pizza. I'm looking forward to a small break. Enjoy your day!

So on that happy thought, that is the latest update from our fantastic missionary! Way to Go Elder Merrill :)