Feb. 4, 2013 - an email chat with Elder Ethan Merrill - yippeee!

Mom: Hey son!!! You may not be on still but if you are we LOVE you and we LOVE the picture!!!! oxoxoxo Love mom                                                                                                 

Elder Merrill: still here for another 15 minutes!                                                                       

Mom: Hooray!!! I am SO GLAD the box finally arrived, I can't believe how long it took! I can send you something for your one year mark but it most likely won't make it in time. Anything in particular you feel like having to celebrate? It is so good to say hi to you!!!!!                            

Elder Merrill: I´ve made a list of stuff that I would like, small things really, that can fit in the package. I don´t have it with me now, but the next week, I´ll give you what I have. I know it probably won´t come in time, but that´s fine by me. how are things back home?                     

Mom: That is a good plan. I really like the picture of you with your ties and your scriptures. Is that from your new place or your old place? Things are good here, everybody is pretty much doing the school and/or work thing. We had a great testimony meeting yesterday, lots of the men from Elder's Quorum actually bore their testimonies and they were good ones. Dad and I have a running joke that 99% of the time it's the women or the High Priests bearing their testimonies, you almost never hear from the 25-35 year old men. Not sure why, but anyway it was good to hear them talk about the influence of following the spirit and how grateful they are for their families.  The weather is good today, still cloudy but  no rain and good temperatures.  How about you?

Elder Merrill: Thanks, this picture is me here in Carmen de Patagones. I haven´t had much rain here but like I said, it´s pretty freaking windy at times. I have learned to get over this fear of public speaking, there´s about 15 people in the branch here, so either everybody bears their testimony on fast Sunday, or I have to get up there too. It gets easier with practice. How´s Kyle doing? he´ll be out of school in a little while, right? Stuart’s good too?                                 

Mom: Yeah, when we lived in Turkey, I think we usually gave a talk about every 2 to 3 months. So I understand completely. I can't wait to hear you give your first talk back here at home too. Kyle is good, seems to be focused on finishing with good grades, which is a good choice.  He wants to go to Eastern Arizona College for a semester or two but I told him he should think of doing Pima here at home or go out on his mission. No decision yet, but that is understandable.  Stuart is doing really good. He likes his job at the theater and is looking forward to finishing up at Pima and moving on to a technical school here in Tucson. Everyone here is in good health. So crazy windy huh?                                                

Elder Merrill: Yeah, the wind is pretty crazy. I would say that a good choice before the mission is work instead of college. If you had a semester already, you would need to go back with the supposed knowledge you gained form that semester, and I´ve forgotten everything out here. Good to know that Stuart and Kyle are good! Hey, I need to go soon, but I have time for one last E-mail from you.                                                                                                                             

Mom: The working is a great suggestion, thanks! I am so glad we got to say hi today. I am always praying for you and I love hearing from you. Have a great week, enjoy the box (FINALLY!) and know that we love you so much son! Tell Elder Gonzalez we said hi and you guys take care! Love you LOTS son!!!! :) Mom                                                                           

Elder Merrill: Tell Kyle and Stuart that I´m thinking of them! I´m gonna go work now, but I hope that you guys have an awesome week too! I´ll be sure to enjoy the box! I love you lots and thanks for always thinking of me! See ya around!

I will tell them :) Bye son!