Sunday, January 5, 2014

Elder Merrill has some fun for the Mission Christmas Conference - Double email edition

Dec. 9, 2013 ~ As I was updating the blog, I realized that I left this letter out – and since I have no idea how to insert it chronologically in between letters already posted, I’m just going to insert it here with this post.  So enjoy 2 weeks’ worth of letters from Elder Merrill. J
Almost Merry Christmas! Yep, it’s getting to that point.  Sorry the translation you put for the title of your email doesn’t make sense.  It translates to:  “I believe you sent us to your time.”  I don’t get what you wanted to say.  (lol, I meant to say I believe you sent us your rain.)  But that’s alright, you can tell me what you wanted to say next week or whatever.  I wanted to see Andrew when he got back, but it’s ok, in a couple of months I’ll be seeing him.  If he really is tall, that’s ok, I think I might be too.  My new companion, Elder Hutchings is really tall too.  So, if Andrew is taller than me, I’ll be used to it!
Hmm, my new area is really big.  For the first time in my mission, I’m serving in a ward, not a branch.  Like you said, my current apartment is much better than my last “new” apartment.  I hope that they are doing good back there. (I hope so too! A working toilet, power, a fridge and a stove WOULD be nice!)
If you look up Mar Del Plata on the internet, I’m certain that you’ll find a lot of things.  Much more that you would for my last areas.  I want to get a couple of last gifts because this is a pretty touristy type of area.  I’ll send an address if I can, but I’m in a strange little place.  I’ll take as many pictures as I can, but it’s hard to ask to borrow a camera.  But I’ll do what I can so don’t worry.
I wonder what Dad will do if he isn’t going to work in North Carolina. He’s a hard worker and I think if they are wondering who to keep and who to let go, he’ll be on the list of those to keep!
Good luck with your lesson.  I know that you’ll do a good job.  People always say that you’re a good teacher, it comes with all the practice you’ve had I guess.  I feel like I’m a lot better now as a teacher, after having taught who-knows-how-many lessons.  I think that it’s also helped me to be a more fluent talker.  If anything, the mission helps improve your social skills.  Hey, I gotta go now, but I’ll be calling with Skype for Christmas.  I’ll let you know the details like when I’m calling and if it is going to be on Skype, but I think we’ll be able to do it again for Christmas.  Anyway, for now, I’ll see ya later and I hope that you have an awesome week! Love you lots! See ya next week! Bye!
-Elder Ethan Merrill

December 16, 2013 ~ Only a few more days left until Christmas and the much awaited phone call home from Elder Merrill. We are so excited about that! But, to keep us in good spirits and cheer, we have another great letter from him for this week:

It’s good that you like to feed the missionaries.  I know that I enjoy it when members give me food.  I´m good. The crazy weather has now shifted to not so crazy weather. Now it´s hot all the time! I don´t mind too much though, having gone through similar times of heat has helped me to get used to it. I like it too because during the summer, there´s vacations and all that, so people are usually in the house. 
             Mar Del Plata is definitely a tourist hot spot, but more for argentines than for people from the states. It´s a nice place, there´s no doubt about it that there´s a lot of people from all around that come here. Mar Del Plata IS huge. 
            This week we had a Christmas conference with the mission president. He came and we went out and sung carols in a plaza. Then we went to an old folk´s retirement home and sung there. Then, 3 other elders and myself were chosen to go to one of the churches here to sing, because the Church was donating wheelchairs to the people who needed them. They were doing that in all parts of South America. Afterward, the people had the chance to go and learn a bit more about the Church and its teachings. It was good fun. Then we went to go have lunch and a little message from president.
            I got the card that you guys sent me! Thanks for wishing me a Merry Christmas! Tell everyone that I miss them a lot and that I want to thank them for writing me and wishing me luck and success! You guys are seriously the best and I can´t wait to talk to you all for Skype!
          I don´t know EXACTLY the details for when I´ll be calling, I just know that I´ll be calling on Christmas day using Skype and that we´ll talk then. I´ll write next week letting you know what time I´ll be calling. 
            Tell Andrew that I´m sorry that I missed his coming home talk, but that I hope to see him at mine. I´ll have to be sure to include 2 or 3 stories in my coming home talk then. I can´t wait to see everyone when I get back too!
             Where is Tubac? I assume it´s in Arizona, but I´ve never heard of it before. Let me know how it goes and all that. 
                Hey, I hope that you have an awesome week! I´m always thinking and praying about you guys too! I can´t wait to talk to you guys face to face and all that! I hope that everyone is doing fine and that the Christmas season treats you all well! I haven´t gotten a Christmas package yet, but there´s still time, I don´t expect it to arrive until later on this month. Anyway, I hope that you all are good and just know that I most certainly am!   See you all later! Love you lots! Bye!

  -Elder Ethan Merrill

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