Week 14 in Fayetteville: Surprise!

Well, Everyone, we had another change in our companionship! About an hour after I sent last week's email, we got a call from the assistants. They told us that Elder Ford was being transferred somewhere else, and had to be ready to leave 2 hours later! So we went home and helped him pack. He is now up in Durham. It's just Elder Moller and I in F1.

This week we found a couple people, that's about it. We have just been trying to get stuff done. We have been working with the ward still, and that's going pretty well. I'm hoping to stay here for my last transfer because the ward is starting to trust us, and that's good for us! 

That's it for the week! I hope you all have a good one!

Love, 

Elder Merritt

Week 13 in Fayetteville: Turns Out I do Have Transfer News!

So, we had an interesting thing happen. Remember how I said we didn't have any transfer news? Well, turns out that they just forgot to tell us! On Tuesday morning while Elder Ford and I were out working, we got a call from our zone leaders.They told us we were getting a third person! So, yay! My fifth trio on my mission. But, this one is going to be a good one. I have already been companions with him before! It's Elder Moeller! I was with him when I was in Wilmington 2. We were also in a trio there. This is his last transfer, so I get to "kill him off."

We had a slow week this week. We got to go see Oscar on Wednesday. Elder Moeller met him, and they got a long pretty well. We also had our car tire go flat. I got to use my minimal car knowledge skills to change the tire. Dad better be proud! 

There was a doughnut place that opened up recently by our apartment. It's called Duck Donuts. It is super good! They make your doughnut right in front of you, and you get to pick your stuff to put on it. It's pretty cool!

I was sick Saturday and Sunday, so we took it pretty easy. I'm feeling a lot better now though, so I'm hoping we can actually get stuff done! 

Well, that was our week! I hope you all had a good week! See you all next week! 

Love, 

Elder Merritt

Week 12 in Fayetteville: Another Transfer in Fayetteville

Hey, Everyone!

We got our transfer news this week. Elder Ford and I are staying together in Fayetteville 1st Ward. I'm excited to stay here another transfer.

This week was fun! We helped two families move into their new homes. We also went on exchange. I was with Elder Padigo in Dunn. It was fun since Dunn is one of my old areas and I got to see some of the members! We taught a person they had been teaching. She was pretty cool.

We tried to stop by to meet with people we needed to get up with. They ended up not being home. Oscar did come to church this week, but he ended up needing to cancel his appointment because he was out of town. We are going to go by and see him on Wednesday!

Well, that's pretty much our week! I'm excited to be staying in F1 for another transfer. Talk to you all next week!

Love, 

Elder Merritt

Week 11 in Fayetteville: A Week Full of Memeber Work

Hey, Everyone!

So, with our new mission president, President Holland, we have shifted a lot of the focus work in different places. Not just tracting. Elder Ford and I decided this week that we would try as much as we could to meet the ward members. We wanted them to trust us, and help us do missionary work. In doing so, we managed to have dinner every night this week with a member. This week we have all but 2 nights filled! We can tell by focusing more on how we can help the members of the ward, they in return are willing to help us. However, we didn't have an opportunity to teach anyone this week. But, hopefully, with the member's help, that will pick up soon! 

In testimony meeting yesterday, someone said this, "When the Lord gives you a calling,  or asks you to do something, do it! Just do it to the best of your abilities!" As I thought about that, I realized that when the Lord calls us, He doesn't call us to be perfect. In fact, He knows we won't do it perfectly. Then why does He ask us to do things? Because He wants us to grow! 

When we are called, we are to fulfill that calling to the best of our ability. All He wants is for us to work as hard as we can. It's the same for missionary work. I am not a perfect missionary. There are days I don't get up on time, days where I'm not motivated to go out the door, or days that I think what I do that day won't matter. But, more often than those days are the days I'm ready to go out, and am filled with joy to just go out and see people! Those are the days I try to have all of the time. I want to be able to finish my mission saying, "I worked to my fullest! It may not have been perfect, but I did what I could!"

I would invite all of you to do the same. Don't strive for perfection, strive for fulfillment! 

Have a good week!

Love, Elder Merritt