Week 10 in Durham 2: Another Slow Week

Hey, Everyone! Well, it was another slow week, again. Elder Mitton and I both got sick this week, and that slowed us down quite a bit. We tracted a lot, but did not find someone super solid to teach. But, we're still working hard to find someone to listen to us! Sorry that the last couple pf week haven't been exciting. We'll definitely try hard to get some better stories for next week! If anybody has any questions, or anything they want to talk to me about, email me. I'll be more than happy to reply!!

Have good week!! 

Love, Elder Merritt

Week 9 in Durham 2: Another Day, Another Nickel

This week wasn't too exciting...we tracted a lot. We are trying to find someone to take Koddah's place. We haven't found anyone too solid, yet. We weren't ab;e to teach anyone this week either, so that's pretty sad. Elder Mitton is awesome though! He has an awesome attitude, and we both don't get discouraged. That's super nice since we can just have fun while we tract. 

Since nothing exciting happened this week, I guess I'll have to tell you what I learned this week. I've been thinking a lot about the difference between knowing something and believing in something.  When we teach people, we try to help them "know" that the church is true. They do that by reading the Book of Mormon and praying about it. While I was going over the baptismal interview questions, I noticed something that I haven't noticed before. They ask the candidates if they "believe" the things we are teaching them. I was reminded of a conference talk by Jeffery R Holland, "Lord, I Believe" (April 2013). He talks about an experience he had with a 14 year-old young man. The young man went up to Elder Holland and said, " I don't know that the church is true, but I believe it is."  Elder Holland then told the boy that Christ, himself. said,"Be not afraid, only believe."(Mark 5:36) It gave me a new perspective on teaching. I don't need to be discouraged if the person doesn't know if the church is true. They only need to believe it, that is enough! 

Well, sorry the week wasn't more exciting. I'll try to have a better one. Talk to you next week!

Love,

Elder Merritt

Week 8 in Durham 2: Sometimes, It Doesn't Work Out In your Area

Hey, everyone! So, This week was pretty interesting. We have some news concerning Koddah. He moved today. He went to Cary (it's down by Apex) and will be baptized down there. It was great getting to know him and helping hi, in his journey of coming to Christ. Hopefully, we can get permission to go to his baptism. Sometimes, it doesn't happen in your area, and you just have to keep finding people to teach! Anyway, here's our week:

Monday we had a Zone activity in Chapel Hill. We played pool, ping pong, sports, and made rockets. It was fun! After, we tracted. 

Tuesday was the longest day of the mission so far. Our car has a touch screen in it to control the music and make calls from. It went out the week prior. We decided to be nice and get it fixed before we give it to the sisters for a week. We went to the other side of Durham to the dealership. We weren't able to do any missionary work because we weren't in our neighborhood. We decided to go to the mall to be seen by the public. We had to wait for them to call us to tell us our car was fixed. We took the car in at 9 am, they called us at 2:30 pm. It took 5 1/2 hours! We walked the mall the entire time. When we got the report we looked at it to see how they fixed it. No joke, they unplugged it and then plugged it back in! It took them that whole time to figure it out. The rest of the day we tracted. We found 1 person named Carl. 

Wednesday we had District Meeting and went on exchanges. I was with Elder Bigelow in my area. We found 3 people. 

Thursday we exchanged back and had weekly planning. we had dinner with the Rubow's. We went to this really good Italian restaurant. Then, we went out with Bro Rubow to check on some referrals and potentials. Then we saw some less actives. 

Nothing interesting happened on Friday.

Saturday we tracted and found 1 person.

Sunday we had church and found out Koddah was moving. 

That was our week! Hopefully, not too boring. Talk to you next week! 

Love,

Elder Merritt

Week 7 in Durham 2: Everything Is Awesome!

Well, the first week of the transfer is over. It was pretty good. My new companion is Elder Mitton. He has been out for 13 months. He is from Oakley, Idaho. He's pretty cool. We'll have good transfer. 

On Monday, we went to a trampoline park called, Defy Gravity. It was pretty fun! We did some trampoline park stuff.

Tuesday's was transfers, that's where I picked up Elder Mitton. The rest of the day was unpacking. 

Wednesday we did District Meeting. Nothing special. We went and tracted all day.

Thursday we had a lesson with Koddah. We talked about the Plan of Salvation, the Word of Wisdom, and the Law of Chastity. He's super cool with everything. Best investigator ever! We set up another time to talk with him on Sunday. Then, we tracted some more.

On Friday, we had some ward missionary meetings. And, we tracted. We did manage to find 1 person. Her name is Marie. We didn't talk to her for very long, but she told us to come back on Sunday. 

We tracted most of the day on Saturday. We needed gas, so we went to fill it up. When I went into the gas station to get a drink, guess what I found? The two Mountain Dew flavors I have never tried! I got them and drank them that day. Green Label is pretty good and White Label is meh. But, now I have tried every kind of Mountain Dew!

Sunday we went to church. Elder Mitton and I taught Gospel Principles. Our lesson was on service. During the 3rd hour we had our lesson with Koddah. We finished up everything. He's just got to wait until the 23rd to be baptized and then it's official! After church, we went to see Marie, but she wasn't home. So, we tracted...we found 3 people that we are going back to this week!!

Well, that was our week in D2! I'll talk to you next week!!

Love, 

Elder Merritt