Transferred. AGAIN. But for the last time!

Jan. 13, 2014 ~ Well, we must admit we were surprised when we got Elder Merrill’s email and found out he was transferred again, since he hadn’t been in Mar Del Plata for that long.  But hey, it’s another area to explore and see and experience.  We looked it up on the map and yep, I can see why it was an 11 hour bus ride! He has moved away from the coast and has moved inland about 350 miles.  It is exciting to know that this is his last transfer until he comes home. Keep up the good work Elder!!!! WOOHOO!

Hey there mom!  How are you doing? I’m good. Well, as you may have guessed, I got transferred again.  I was only in Mar Del Plata for 6 weeks!  I don’t think the amount of areas I’ve been to is normal for a missionary, but I’m fine with it. It just means that I’ll have something new to do for these last 6 weeks.  Can you believe that? Only 6 more weeks! They’re going to fly by so fast! The place that I’m in now is called Santa Rosa.  Its climate is a lot like Arizona.  It’s just a bit greener and it’s not quite so hot.  The mission is divided into 5 areas here so the city is a big one, but our area of work is small.  I have a new companion; his name is Elder Rojas.  He’s got about 10 months or so left on his mission.  I can’t wait to work in this place, it seems like a good place to be.  I had to take a bus ride which lasted 11 hours to here though.  It was kind of a long trip!

My week was good.  All the things that we’ve had to do have kept my mind focused on the work, so I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to be in areas that are filled with work to do.  I want to thank you for always sending me words of encouragement and strength, they really do help me to continue on and do what is right.

People here have been telling me about the weather in the states right now.  They make it out to believe that it’s like “the day after tomorrow” weather.  That everything is freezing over and people are dying in the streets, but I don’t think that’s true…is it?  The weather here is a little hot, but nothing unbearable.  I haven’t had much problems with the heat, but the people here always comment that I look super red.  I guess my face doesn’t tan that easily.  I don’t know what it’s really like here in Santa Rosa yet. I’ve only been here for about 4 hours.  I don’t know if we’re in for some really hot weather or not, but we’ll find out soon enough.  That’s funny about the kids being crazy later in the week. (I was telling my students were too tired after winter break to be crazy on that first Monday back to school but they sure were back to normal later in the week!)

That’s funny about so many missionaries being in the same place for dinner.  I’ve actually been in a lot of situations like that in Mar Del Plata.  There were 6 missionaries in the ward so sometimes the families invited all six of us to come over for lunch.  It was pretty fun! We all get to talk and have fun as a big group.  I’ll need to play this Farkle game when I get back.

Things are calm here for now.  I think we’re going to focus on cleaning our apartment today.  I think that things will be fine here and I’m excited and everything to work in anew area.  I bet things will go well here.  I hope that you all are doing well back home.  It won’t be long until I see you all again! I’m super excited but I promise to do all that I can to help everyone follow Christ and his church!

Hmm, there is one thing that you could do for me.  If you could send some money through Western Union, no more than $100.  I won’t need more than that.  But I’d like to have some back up cash in case anything goes wrong.  If you could also send me the address of one that’s close to me, if it exists, that would be great.  Remember: I’m in Santa Rosa now.

I’m going to do all that I can to have an awesome week and I’ll let you know what happens.  The Christmas box still hasn’t arrived, but I bet it arrives next week, like the 21^st or something.  I only know if it has arrived every Tuesday, but hey, I’ll keep you posted.  I’m going to head out now, but I want you to know that I’m thinking about you guys always and I hope that you’re all good and safe! See you next week, love you lots and I’ll see you REALLY SOON!! Bye bye!

-Elder Ethan Merrill