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 :)