The Best Memories Are Made In The Coldest Winters

DEC 3, 2018

Well I'm going to start from where the day actually started, at about 2. I was in a funk all morning, had no confidence in the language... but then my zone leader, Elder Norman, I was talking to him about how Gatorade was my favorite during soccer, and he looked at me so seriously and said, Elder Merritt you are my favorite, do not worry about the language. Just serve the mission and try to learn as much as possible, if you pick up Spanish that is a bonus! You are an amazing missionary! I had not even told him I was angry with the language. He made my day and bestowed confidence back in me! By the grace of God! Oh that's something I have started saying, it means their are no coincidences in the world, we are part of a plan and the grace of God is the little tender mercies in life! 

But anyway after that I got a hair cut and it's sooooooooo Latino! But you know I'm Elder Merritt I can pull off anything! haha I look so freaking good with it! In my opinion! And I bought a coin pouch, an ice cream, and taught a few lessons tonight! I spoke really good Spanish and understood the entire lesson! I got the gift of tongues!!!! Like no other lesson I have had before! No thought just Spanish! But I had a strong impression to give a newly converted member my scriptures for a day so he can learn English.. I'm worried but it was a spiritual prompting so I have faith! Love you so much and thank you for the emails today! Also today while at Bagua Grande playing soccer, someone broke into our room and fixed our sink... it was weird but now we dont have to use a screwdriver! haha and with my bucket shower last night I remembered dad's hunting advice, start with the face then move down! Winking face and a thumbs up to you pops! haha Oh did you know why we belive in outer darkness instead of hell-- its because when people in Bagua Chica died and went to hell they enjoyed the weather too much so God got rid of it. haha another joke. I am not sure if these are good I have no one to run them by. lol! Oh and another thing, turns out the red drink i like so much is just un'solid jelo... who knew!

DEC 4, 2018

Best day ever! It is so nice to understand 90 percent of what people are saying! My ears have adapted to listening to Spanish! It took a while because Peruvians are one of the fastest speakers in the world. Well our goal this month is 3 baptisms, we have a solo investigator who has agreed to the 22nd but the couple we have been teaching are not eager to commit to a date in other words no baptism. My companion was really sad about the goal, I told him we can still achieve it, and he said it's impossible to pick up an investigator, teach, and baptize in 20 days. I stayed confident! We have an investigator who owns an ice cream shop. I like teaching them!!! It's the guy who is a member but inactive so we are staying in touch and teaching him and his wife. Haha! Tonight at our goal meeting with the ward our bishop got a call that a family of 3 lost their baptism records, so me and my companion need to teach these members the 3 lessons and baptize them, he said 20 days was impossible, well we just did it in 7! We should soon excel our goal! what a great day! Oh and we are getting a refrigerator, and a DVD to play on our little 5x5 inch TV! It's awesome! Love you so much!

DEC 5, 2018

Well I traveled to Bagua Grande for a day to have Elder Norman teach me, and he is my absolute favorite! I taught this woman in my broken Spanish about the importance of prophets, and when I finished I look at him and asked if that was good... asking about my Spanish.. and he looked at me and said, Elder Merritt thanks to you this child of God now has a testimony of profits. He is also so funny! And it was just nice to speak English for a day! He bought me chocolate milk, we taught a ton of people, and all the paperwork I needed to be doing but haven't because it's in Spanish, he walked me through it. Great guy! Awe he was such a breath of fresh air! I did not take my typing thing so I cant remember all the details of yesterday. 

DEC 6, 2018

Today when I got to Bagua Chica we had lunch and it was pretty good, rice and chicken for the 3rd month straight. We walked everywhere today! I probably have 40,000 steps because we are teaching some people in the hills which is 2 miles roughly out of town. Then we taught someone in town then back into the hills. Oh it killed me! My shoes fell apart so I found 3 screws and they are better than new! We are getting a refrigerator soon! im so excited! No more warm water, and I can buy milk soon! Things are going good! I love you goodnight.

Dec 7, 2018

Today was a busy day full of more walking. We talked to many people and had some really heart felt and spiritual lessons. I started making work out equipment, I dont know if I talked about this yesterday but I found a piece of 12 foot rebar and its about an inch thick. I'm going to get bricks and tie them to the ends for a little more weight. but right now i just do bar workouts. Other than that it was a pretty low key day. There is a super common drink that i get at just about every meal, it tastes like a glass of water and soy sauce. It's not too bad, but not as good as echo. I like echo more than chocolate milk, debatably. Goodnight love you so much!

DEC 8, 2018

Short entry today mostly about a family home evening we had tonight, it was so perfect! Kids running around, Christmas music, and the first Christmas tree I have seen here! It did not feel like Christmas until tonight. Mostly because its so hot here! haha but I have acclimated. The rains started so now its 95 with 95 percent humidity. Love you goodnight.

DEC 9, 2018

Ah im having so much fun here! I have a good understanding of the language, and now I understand my companion! Life is good! The food is nice, I had a fish today and it still had the eye and scales. And yes, I ate it. Not to shabby.

So you know you are in Peru when you walk into a dirt home and they have a 70 inch plasma TV.

You know you are in Peru when you walk into a home with a dirt floor but have 20 inch subs.

You know you are in Peru when they have a moto- turkeys in their home.