Elder Max Merritt

Jun 3, 2019 Today was a good day we went to Lambayeque and had a zone meeting, and that was really good. This month’s theme is por que, para que or why and for what. That many times as missionaries we do not help people understand why it is important to obey the commandments of God, and also for what, what do they receive from obeying the commandments. Because about 90 percent of arguments and contentions can be solved for just finding out the reason of something, and it is a little more than just asking why but putting honest effort into a well-formed question to find out the real reason. It is kind of hard to write it well in English, but I hope you understand what I’m trying to say. I love you good night Jun 4, 2019 Today we had some great service this morning, we moved dirt up this mountain, and it was really nice! Afterwards we planned our week and I ate yogurt with bananas, it was amazing! we the had two people who are preparing to get baptized this week fall through. The...

May 27, 2019 Today was a good day, we ran out of money early this month so we cannot travel anywhere. But I did find 2 soles on the ground in the street. So, this day of preparation we just sat in our rooms, cleaned, cleaned clothes, cut hair, and ate food. We studied a little too. I called my awesome family! Then we went out to teach the world! Here in Jayanca we taught a young lady who was not a whole lot into the message but more into the messengers... and afterwards we taught a couple, Franc and his girlfriend and they are 22 and 17 but were really into the lesson, believe Joseph smith was a prophet, along with Russel M. Nelson. so that was awesome! They gave us papia so we walked around for the rest of the night with a 4 pound papia. I love you and good night! Leer, Orar, Asistir! May 29, 2019 Today we had a district meeting, the leaders of the zone came but had nothing for re'embersales so we used up the very last bit of our money to get home and the 2 lucky soles f...

Max experienced his second earthquake while serving in Peru. The first was an 8.0 in February and this one was a7.7 and both were entertaining to him. Silly boy! The first one he had no idea what was happening and thought his companion was shaking the bed to wake him up before the alarm went off. This time he just rode his bed across the bedroom with a smile on his face. May 20, 2019 I must apologize for not writing a lot last week, we have been really busy here in Jayanca. Today was fun we went to Motupe and did an activity where the whole district contacted in there for an hour! It was fun and afterwards we went out to eat and typical Latinos= none of them had money so I paid for it all. I think it’s reimbursable. Afterwards we got ice cream and we headed back to Jayanca, we then cleaned the room, our clothes, and our teeth. Always good to do a one and done deep clean for the week! We then called families and went out to teach. Jesus has been close to impossible to contact eve...

April 29, 2019 A normal day of preparation, I must apologize I forgot to spell check the email I sent today so it was probably ugly! Today we went to Lambayeque and played soccer, we then came to the room to start washing clothes. I’m still not done.... I also got a haircut and it is not my favorite, no matter how many times mom says I look good! ha-ha but we also had a lesson with Jesus and Fresia and they want to get married this week so that was awesome news! Jesus said one day they were fighting, and he prayed for someone to talk to and that same day we had the feeling to go talk to them and we did!!! What a miracle for sure! I love you but I need to wash my clothes good night! April 30, 2019 Today was a good day, it was our last district council with Elder Oliveros, so I bought him a cake, we then put happy birthday to his companion on the cake as a joke! I thought it was funny. We ate a ton and then I gave it to him as a gift. We got back to Jayanca and had lunch, rice ...

Abr 1, 2019 Today my companion died... April fools! Ha-ha! I honestly forgot about April fool’s day until I typed it here on this thing. I must apologize I have not been the best at responding to personal emails, as I am able to talk with family over phone calls, I have not had time. Also, I forgot to revise the last two weeks for spelling so they might have been ugly! Today was an awesome day, we went to a museum and looked at a bunch of ancient ruins of Peru. We also had cake on behalf of our success here in Jayanca and also because of the birth days in the month of march. Then came to the room and changed it up a ton! It looks so good! We also looked at some new shoes and I turns out the people here in Peru do not have the same sized feet as me, so I will have to make do. We taught some powerful lessons here in Jayanca, but the miracle of the day was us waiting at the bus station in a nearby city past curfew for 10 min with no cars in sight. Then a taxi came up for the other dir...

Mar 25, 2019 Today was my last day with my companion, we went for a run, ate lunch, and had some powerful lessons, minus one where Daniela said she does not want to get baptized... but I will continue with faith. We gave many priesthood blessings tonight to the sick. More importantly I want to share the symbol of the mission as I see it. When we “missionaries” serve missions, it is an act of service and a symbol of the life of Jesus Christ. We leave our families for a space of time to do a work which is so difficult. We as missionaries are asked to walk some part of the road he walked, a little, just a bit. We are asked to feel the pains, he felt as he was rejected, ridiculed, denied, abused. Now I’m not saying I have felt exactly as Christ did with his crucifixion and so forth. but we leave the comfort of our homes and our parents to be, in some cases, hated for the name we represent and rejected by all. Our hearts break with those in pain, or who reject the gospel. We feel the ne...