Week 14 in Durham 2: I'm Coming Home!

Haha! Just Kidding. But, I scared you didn't I, Mom?

This week was a lot different from the last few that we had. You'll find out why soon enough.

Last Monday we just hung out at the church since we had nothing else to do for P-Day.

Tuesday we went tracting and found Alenia. She's pretty cool. That nigh when we were home, I made some fried chicken strips to use for wraps and stuff. It turned out pretty good! Now when I am home, I won't need mom to make it for me. 

Wednesday we had District Meeting. We tracted. Nothing too special. 

Thursday we went back to see Alenia. She had to take her uncle to the doctor, so we didn't get to meet with her. She told us to come back the next day. 

We went back to see Alenia on Friday, but her A/C was broken so she didn't want us sitting in the hot apartment. She tried to give us some money. As missionaries, we are not allowed to take money from people. We tried explaining, but she didn't seem to understand. We tried again, and then she did. She did give us Mountain Dew though, so that was nice. 

Well Saturday is where the title of this email comes from. We had a pig pickin' on Saturday that the ward was doing. We showed up to help set up. Well, there was a football there and one of the young men wanted to throw it around. We were doing that and later, when the ball was coming to me, it was too high and going to hit a car. I ran backwards, trying to catch it. In the process of landing, I landed wrong and felt my ankle pop. There was a lot of pain! I have never rolled around the ground in so much pain before. My white shirt was so dirty and my hair got messed up. I din't cry though, so that's good. I hobbled off with Elder Mitton. We borrowed the car from the sisters and went home to change. The entire way home and while changing, Elder Mitton was telling me I broke my ankle and that I would be going home. He kept doing this to bug me, so I tried to walk on it to prove to him I was fine. Well, that wasn't a good idea. I pretty much stood up and just fell down. In our ward we have lots of doctors, so when we came back, I had an Orthopedic PA take a look at my foot. It was all bruised and hurt a lot! He said I have a lateral ankle sprain on the anterior talo-fibular ligament. He said it would take 2-4 weeks for it to heal. I have to stay off of it and walk around on crutches. I am borrowing a pair from a family in the ward. But something good did come of this. The crutches were set for someone who was 5'10". It was too short for me! We put it to 5"11" and they're perfect! So, I am taller now! My advice is to never play football in church clothes. Especially in church shoes.

That was pretty much our week! the next few weeks will probably be boring because I really can't do anything. But, I'll try my best.

Love,

Elder Merritt

Week 13 in Durham 2: "We Haven't Gotten To Jesus In The Bible"

Hi, All! This week was good. We tracted and found 9 people to teach!! We have to go back to talk to them though.

Monday was nice since neither of us were getting transferred. We had a relaxing day!

Wednesday we had District Meeting and met the new missionaries in the district. 

Thursday we met an interesting guy while tracting. We knocked on his door and when he opened it, he was wearing some magnifying goggles thing. Like something a mad scientist would wear. We told him who we were and he said, "Oh, no thanks. I'm Jewish. We haven't gotten to Jesus in the Bible." It was so funny we didn't know how to respond! He shut the door, and we walked away laughing.

That was pretty much our week. We are trying to find someone to email home about. But, not yet!!

Talk to you next week!!

Love, Elder Merritt

Week 12 in Durham 2: Koddah Was Baptized!!

Hey, Everyone! So, this week was pretty exciting! We went tracting and found a couple of people we will have to go back and see. 

On Monday, we went to Defy Gravity with a less-active kid from the ward. It is a lot of fun, and it tires you out. Climbing in and out of a foam pit all the time is hard!!

Tuesday, we had to take the car to Maaco. Someone hit out car while we weren't there, and it needed to be repainted. The Sister missionaries took the car there to get an estimate. The people working said it would take 3-4 hours to fix. They made the appointment and we took it in because it was during our car week. Well, when we took it in, the guy said it would take 3-4 days!!! We ended up walking 2 miles home to get our bikes. It was pretty fun to have this happen twice in a transfer with our car!!

Wednesday we had District Meeting and tracted. Nothing too exciting. 

Thursday was our Weekly Planning Day. And, we tracted.

Friday, nothing.

Saturday was awesome!! We did our normal daily missionary stuff until around 5. Our Ward missiona leader picked us up, and we went to Cary for Koddah's baptism. It was awesome! It was the first one I had got to got to that I had taught! After the baptism, we went home and waited for our transfer news...Here's what we have: Elder Mitton and I are both staying in D2 for another transfer!! I will be in Durham for at least another 6 weeks! 

That was our week. It was awesome!! Talk to you next week!!

Love, 

Elder Merritt

 Elder Mitton, Koddah, and me!

Week 11 in Durham 2: Whelp, At Least Something Happened!

Hey Everyone! This week was not as slow as the last couple. 

Monday was pretty slow. P-day. We just kind of lounged around. 

Tuesday, we tracted.

We were supposed to have District Meeting on Wednesday. But, our interviews with President James are on Friday, so they moved the District Meeting as well. We ended up tracting all day.

Thursday, we had weekly planning, and went on Exchange. I went to D4 with Elder Qioa. It was pretty fun! We taught one of their recent converts. Then, we tracted. That night we went back to the apartment. We played chess. Elder Qioa is pretty good at it, but I forced a stalemate and tied it!

Firday, we had our interviews. Elder Mitton and I pretty much begged President James to keep us together for another transfer. We also tracted into a true Israelite. They are also known as the Black Jesus People It was pretty interesting. 

Nothing else really happened this week. But, some exciting news is Koddah is getting baptized this Saturday! It is gonna be awesome!!

That's it for the week!! you all have good week!!

Love, Elder Merritt