Elder Max Merritt

7 de Octubre Today marks a day my sister  was born, when I changed from the family baby to an older brother. My baby sister came into this world and took the spot of being the baby. Mary Jean- I can put on one hand the times I have told you that I love you, and for that I am sorry. Mary Jean Merritt has had a few nicknames over the years, booger, egg, drama queen, etc...the list goes on. But she has always rolled with the punches, and found the good in every single one of them. As well as with her friends, always looking for the good in each and all of them. Here on my mission I have grown in understanding and in testimony of the plan of salvation. The center of purpose and reason of what we are and what we do. As Elder Uchtdorf said we left a life of comfort, and ease to come to an earth with an uncertain promise if we will return. But what for? For a reward bigger than we can imagine. I know I chose to come to this world for the promised blessings of returning to my heavenly ...

24 de Septiembre Today was an awesome day! We had district council and Elder Bourne taught it, he has 3 months in the mission but grew up speaking Spanish so he is way far ahead than all of the other gringos when they first started. Elder Bourne finished his training and now he’s training Elder Miller. Afterwards we had an Intercombio, I asked them why they thought I was having the Intercombio and I told them president called and he is really concerned about them. I could tell their hearts fell so far into their stomachs it about hit their butt, they were so scared. I told them it was a joke and I actually wanted to just see how things were going in the area. We got back to the room and it’s the first Intercombio Elder Miller has had so I showed him the do’s and don’ts. We read the rule book for missionaries and we had a conversation about like this-- Elder Miller- It’s so nice we can call our families every Monday! Me- Elder Miller... we cannot call our families on p-days. E...

16 de Septiembre Today was an excellent day; we woke up and did a deep clean on the room. We went and ate breakfast with my pench who is AMAZING! Then we went to play soccer. I got to know the whole zone as we played soccer for about 3 hours. Here I do not have to travel like I did in Jayanca, Bagua, or Pimentel, so I have a lot of time to play and to talk with family. After we wrote to loved ones, we went to Brian and Carolina. They are the lawyers who are really smart! they now know about the plan of salvation so that’s good, and Brian asked about what happens if someone never had the chance to be baptized here on earth, and asked if there is a place we can go and help them to be baptized.... so we talked about TEMPLES! Ha-ha it was a great lesson! I love you good night 17 de Septiembre Today we had district council and it went really well, I taught about our testimonies and the example of Abinadi a missionary who taught no lessons, had no converts or baptisms, but shar...

9 de Septiembre Well today was changes and it turns out... I GOT CHANGED! My companion thought that he was leaving, had his bags packed and everything! But now I’m in J.L.O I’m sure it stands for something (Area 1 de Mayo), and I freaking love it here! third floor with tile floor, and MY FIRST ROOM WITH A HEATED SHOWER! I’m in the celestial kingdom! We have a pench who cooks all 3 meals and cleans the clothes, and lives next door! I do not have to walk 20 minutes like i did in Pimentel. My companion is also a rock star! Elder Norman was his companion so he has a lot of similarities. I am companion mayor or the older companion so this is a first. I am loving 1 de Mayo! I love you too and good night. 10 de Septiembre Well today was an excellent day! I’m still getting to know all of the people here and along with the members. But i know what I’m doing here in first of many, Chiclayo, and Peru is right. I know there is nothing I else I would be doing, I know the Iglesias de jesuc...

2 de Septiembre Well today was a good day, we woke up and cleaned a bit then went to Chiclayo to have a plan of zone. It went really well, one of my zone leaders is LO MAXIMO! He is really excited and has the greenie energy. We put some good goals to do better here in the zone, because there is not a ton of success here, but that means there is a lot of room for growth! We then went and played soccer, Elder Tituana had a change so he is now a zone leader close by so he played soccer with us! We got a missionary from Oregon so now I’m not the only one! He’s cool has a real unique laugh, afterwards we went to Tottus and bought food, and I had a Mcflurry! I loved it! thanks mom! I love you good night 3 de Septiembre Well today was a good day, we went to Chiclayo and had district council and I was giving the class part and the zone leader who is almost done with his mission stands up, walks to the front and I said... yeah, lead it. Because I wanted to hear what he had to say. Wel...

My Week Well here in Pimentel we cook our dinners and breakfasts, so it means two things, I rarely have time to write to you after I send reports, update filters, cook, eat, and clean. It also means I get to cook whatever I want however I want! Let’s just say I used all my money for the month to buy bread, eggs, milk, and syrup, so I’m eating French toast every day!! Monday, we did not do much, just went to Chiclayo and played soccer with the assistance for like 4 hours! Tuesday, we had council of leaders and president invited me to that, which was great I got to see Elder Tituana. Usually it’s just zone leaders who attend this meeting, so it was really nice to have the opportunity to tag along. Wednesday we had district meeting which was all right... I did not think we were going to have it because of the council of leaders but we did, and it was the two districts together and I was not super prepared. But like dad taught me, just bring treats and they will never remember if the l...

Jul 29'30 Today broke my heart, I left Jayanca early in the morning to go to my new area. While I was waiting for my companion, I was eating breakfast because it was early, and I did not eat with Sister Genoveva my pench. I got a call and it was Noelia, my convert and we always kid around with her, like during inter changes I say my companion died and this is my new one, or that today our lesson is on the death of Jesus Christ and we will be sacrificing a guinea pig as a representation of it. Well she called me and said that Luis had told her I was leaving today. I told her yes, and she just kept saying I know you’re kidding and that you will be knocking on my door tomorrow morning to teach me about temples. I could hear her crying so hard saying I can’t leave them, and it broke my heart. I know that my mission was to come here and teach her, that she was the one person who was waiting to hear exactly what I had to say and the way I would say it. if I served my mission and only...