Ah man so much to talk about I have no idea where to start. Ok let's just make a deal that nothing here will be in chronological order because I have too much to catch up on and time is ceasing to have any meaning in my universe these days.
Last week we had Elder King stay with us because he was going home the next day. We stayed up all night sharing manly stories and getting trunkie together. I don’t recommend that last part. Then we took him to the airport. What a trip. I intended the heck out of that pun. It was about the weirdest feeling to go into that airport. See all of the families and picturing your family on the other side of the flight. Took me a while to shake it off. I kind of liked it because it helped me feel like I want to work even harder so I can go home feeling good, clean, accomplished and tired.
Oh wow I have one cool story that I just remembered. I'll have to take you back a couple weeks to keep you updated so here I go. A couple of weeks ago I went up to Bellingham (near the Canadian border) to do an exchange with the Zone Leaders there. While Elder Draper and I were driving up there I was joking about how I was going to find us an investigator while I was on the exchange. “Good one” we chuckled under our breath. Well just keep reading and maybe you'll be surprised. Elder Jarvis and Lovell took me to the University (Western Washington University) to proselyte on the place the Mission likes to call the "Holy Land"(actually I’m the only one that calls it that) AKA Red Square by everyone else. It's a free speech zone on the campus where we can talk with anyone about anything. So we split up and I started talking with all these people who claimed to be Atheists and was having a pretty good time with that. I talked with this one guy who brought up the concept of tetrahedrons which, apparently, is the opposite of infinity and is the answer to our existence in purpose in life. Oh the interesting ideas that the rationalizing minds can create to escape the truth.
In the distance I could see these two girls walking by so I said something to catch their attention and started to talk with them. I was having an alright hair day. They seemed pretty interested and were asking good questions about God and the Bible. So I did a little teaching here and a little listening there and then asked if we could come teach them at another time. They both said they would like that but the semester was ending and they're going home soon. "Dang... where is home?" I asked. And you bet your bottom dollar one of the girls said she was from Everett. I told her I think I could make that work.
So fast forward two weeks with a whole lot of negligence in between, and you'd see me staring at a number in my planner that I couldn't remember. I decided to text it and got a nice little text right back. Set up a time to meet with the mystery number and now we're all caught up to yesterday. We met her at a coffee shop and taught her all the good stuff about the restoration. At the end I asked when we could meet again she asked if tomorrowwas too soon. She came to FHE last night at the church. I’m thinking she loved it. She said she'd be baptized as she comes to know what we say is true. Good thing it is... good thing it is. I'm so happy. God's hand is in everything. I went two hours north to find someone who is five minutes south of our apartment. She was prepared. That's the kind of stuff that gets me up in the morning. That keeps me working hard. If I miss a minute, I'm making other people miss out forever. Can't let that happen. Side note: We had a fear factor at FHE with our ward last night and everyone was throwing up and it was the funniest thing. Got to love that college entertainment.
We have a great investigator who is originally from China. He’s my best friend. That's the joy of being in the YSA ward. You just got to be real. Be their friend. I love it. He is getting baptized this week. Yeah, I’m pretty giddy about it. One night we were going to visit less active members of the ward with the ward missionaries and He wanted to come with us. Things happened and the routes and directions were late getting to the church so I just had the idea to take him tracting. Here’s what I remember from the night:
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Hello?'
He said, "Hi ....do you believe in God?"
"Uhh... yeah?"
"Oh good, do you go to church?"
"Yeah…"
"Oh well you should read the book of Mormon. It's amazing. It will change your life. I just started going to this church and it's pretty cool."
Ha he actually found two potential investigators for the South Lake ward. Now after every lesson, He says, "Let's go talk to people about the Book of Mormon." So we usually take a little time to tract or street contact with him. Once you've partaken of the fruit, you can't help but share it with everyone else. He's like the perfect most innocent example of that.
Surprise! We're getting a new president next week. Just kidding I know you already know that. So yeah we've been meeting with President Wilson a lot lately, just talking about how we can make a smooth transition and have everything prepared for President Bonham. He's going to be amazing. I can't wait. I feel very humbled and excited to be here. So much to do. My mind is full and racing. I finally memorized every area and missionary in the mission. I just had to find the time to sit down and chart it all out. When it's God's will... he strengthens me. Always does. He always makes my burdens light. The door of light is always open to my natural state of darkness. I don't want to turn from it. I feel transparent lately. I am seeing my flaws more now than ever. Everything I do… I criticize. So much to lose… so much to gain. I want to accept the truth that I am here _ not here- (that was a graph if you were wondering) and God knows that. He doesn't expect me to be here - (that's that graph again that I was talking about earlier) because he knows me perfectly. He knows exactly where I am and I can’t pretend to be anything more than I am to Him. I can work from where really I am though... which is here_. So that's what I'm pursuing lately. Accepting my inadequacies as part of the process and to know that I am still on the path, striving and struggling. Not always succeeding. But always trying. Always getting back up when I'm knocked down. That's how I grow and become better. Failure's taught me so much more than success has. So I feel like I've learned a lot ha.
Always fighting the good fight,
Elder Trent Jay Merrill
P.S. Mom, Dad: Holy cow. You have no idea how happy I was to get that package. I feel like I haven't heard or written you forever so that made me just feel so good. Thank you so much. Already used some of those gift cards ha. Those pictures are amazing I love them. I really want to give something back to you guys. Someday. Someday I'll have the means to do it. Thank you so much again. (: I love you more than computers love electricity (ask Lindsay about that format)
P.P.S Pictures: Sick hike right there. Sick hike. Heather Lake I believe is the name. Don't quote me on that though. I'll take you there in about a year, don't worry.
