Beautiful Monotony

I've heard that life is what you make it. I think that was my theme this week. I am so tired. All the time.... and it's the best kind of tired I've ever felt. I can't explain it. If I sit still too long then I'm out ha. We're just always going and I love it. I wouldn't have it any other way.

We had a conference call this week with President Wilson and the other zone leaders and talked about how we can increase the desire in the mission. We're going to focus on finding two new investigators a week in each companionship across the mission. Hopefully we'll be able to help the zone get motivated and help them find a big ole desire in their hearts. We'll be going on a lot of exchanges with the Elders this week. I hope that helps.

This has been the quickest week of my mission.... maybe. I thought a lot. Even more than usual. I don't know what took my mind into this realm of stupor... but occasionally I did find myself there. I do the same thing every day. I talk to different people but I basically bring up the same topics. Every once in a while I catch myself being stuck in a routine. Maybe even a little insincere. I don't like that. At all. But it just happens sometimes. I was thinking of how I can break the robotics and become human again. (It's not as extreme as I'm making it sound I'm sure) but I miss the innocence and serenity I had when I was first called Elder. I came up with something that's been helping. And it's something simple: gratitude. And not just for the big things but really taking a step back and appreciating each breath I have. Each morning I wake up and have the opportunity to do something good that day. Every feeling and smell and all of the beautiful (or not beautiful) colors that are all around me. I have hands that work, two of them. I can walk, I can see, I can talk. I can experience all that life has to offer and when that reality really sets in, there is no such thing as monotony. The mundane becomes beautiful and the routine becomes exciting. I am grateful today.


forever,


Elder Trent Jay Merrill

Almost Fiction

That is what happens when you play basketball on the mish

Hey Family. I am very quite sick right now so it's hard for me to remember anything. I'll give it a try though... Ok. So.... life is good. That's the first thing that's coming to my mind. It's almost too good. I have all these weird physical ailments that keep coming my way. Emotionally, spiritually.... I'm a lion. Roar. So I guess I just have to have my trial somehow. Love it.

Alright so let's see. Today we have an appointment set up for every hour of the day. It's like my dream come true. I love being busy. Absolutely love it. Though, I will have to miss a couple of them because they have babies and I was advised to not be around small children for the time being. I don't want to get them all sick! Dang...

Yesterday we had zone conference for most of the day. We found out who our new mission president will be: President Bonham. (Spell check?) From none other than Alpine, Utah. Whooh! I have too many connections to home here ha. Oh well that's a struggle in itself. I don't mind. It'll be a big transition in getting a new President in July. It'll be exciting. I obviously have no idea what to expect. A lot will change.

I don't think I ever told you about our new investigator. It's a lady who requested the missionaries to visit her on mormon.org. That's me! So we visited her and she went to church and was so happy. She's reading the Book of Mormon with her fiance, who grew up a member and is also wanting to come back to church. Can't go a day without walking over a miracle here. I guess the key is to always be able to listen to the spirit that leads us to the blessings. Hey I taught seminary this morning. Always love doing that. My public speaking fear is diminishing. Don't tell anyone, but I almost like it now. Ah man I'm becoming just like my Dad! Knew it would happen someday. Just not as good at everything like he is. Someday...


Well the rain is still coming and the sun still hiding. I'm loving every minute of it.


Elder Merrill

“The New World”

It's hard to get my thoughts straight to tell you all what's going on. It's all good. All good things. I am very happy these days. I’m in Snohomish and I have a great companion.

My new zone is pretty perfect. Not perfect... but perfect for me. The very next day after transfers I had to teach Zone Meeting ha and didn't have anytime to prepare so we stayed up till twelve trying to put it all together. It went pretty well. My best bud from my last district, just got transferred into my zone too so that's pretty lucky. We all love each other.

This new area is just like what I thought a mission would be like. Lessons all the time. Tons of investigators. It's crazy. We're teaching a lot and I'm loving it. The spirit has never been stronger and I've never been busier. The ward I'm in is really missionary minded and are always looking for ways to help. I love this area, now the question remains, will it love me back? Only time will tell. A guy in the ward came up to me yesterday and said, "Hey Elder, you know we've had some pretty good Elders here before you. You have some big shoes to fill." That was quite comforting. I'm not going to try to be anything I'm not. I'm not a perfect missionary. I'm just striving for it. I guess I don't have anything else to give.

One of the districts in my zone is on a huge "get buff" kick. So we're doing a competition right now and I am starting to drink more than a gallon of water a day and I've been peeing like crazy. It's a good time. I don't recommend it...

So a couple nights ago we visited a less active family who wasn't reading or praying or coming to church. We invited them to start having daily prayer and scripture study and they hesitantly agreed. We kept talking and joking and got on the subject of weird food. So I asked if I could try some.. they brought in a Korean Fish Cheese Stick? and handed it to us.. I gagged at the sight of it. I told them if I tried it they would have to read and pray everyday this week and the next week I'd try something else. They agreed and I threw up in my mouth. That may be a gray area of commitments but hey... it worked. I'm trusting the spirit will make up the rest after they put in the effort.

Lesson I've learned this week.... and every week it seems: I am inadequate. I am not the guy for the job here... and I don't have to be. I just need to be able to follow the spirit and the rules and all that's all I can do. Keep my chin up when the world is trying to push it down.

Thurgoods. They were pretty funny we always had a good time. 

Hey that's my old district. Me, E. Adams, E. Eckman, E. Fortuna, (Behind him is E. Schwinger), E. Bullock. 

Never give up,


Elder Trent Jay Merrill

“On a Jet Plane”

I'm leaving.


What a world. What a world. I don't know what comes next till I get a call. It was good to be here while it lasted. I am already missing a lot of the relationships that I built here. When I was told I'd be leaving Big Rock I got really anxious. I was worried about all of the people that I've come to love. A lot of them are going to fall through the cracks and I feel responsible for them. It's all in God's hands now and I just have to take a step back and let go.


Good things happened in this last week of being here. On Thursday we went to a less active members house to do a service project for them and they handed us two big machetes ha. They pointed to the black berry bushes outside and said to cut them back to the far tree. So I looked at Elder Eckman, we both smiled, and went to cut down on those beastly thorns. They fight back! I have some battle wounds to prove it. It was intense. I felt like I was in the jungle cutting my way through a hidden passage. This place is certainly unique. The people are even more original. They will be missed.

Brother and Sister Deboer (Ward Mission Leader) I already miss them

Sheldon Family. Man they were my favorite. I didn't want to say goodbye to them. 

Howlett Family. They have a son out on a mission. They were bomb. Yep.. bomb

I don't have too much more to report. Everything is set up for next week and I won't be able to know what happens with all of the investigators we found. I'm excited for the next chapter that's ahead of me. It's a little bit bigger. A little bit more on my shoulders... but the Lord will help me. Always does.


Love,


Elder Trent Jay Merrill