Being a District Leader is pretty sweet!

Hey guys!  How is everybody?!  Sorry about last week, my email

was not working and I was only able to send that little bit.  This

last week has been pretty good.  My new companions name is Elder

Gonzales.  He is from Chile and speaks very little English.  He is really

funny and I am enjoying getting to know him.  My Spanish has already

gotten a ton better!  So far we get along great.  He came out with me to

the mission field and has been serving in this area his whole mission. 

It's kind of a tough area so sometimes he gets a little unmotivated to

work, but so far it hasn't really been a problem.  We are going to work

hard together!  We were on walk week this past week.  He doesn't have

a bike so I think we walked like 15 miles.  Luckily it wasn't too hot.

Being a district leader is pretty sweet though.  My district consists of

us, a set of Spanish sisters, and the Spanish zone leaders.  It's really

great because I get to serve around Elder Sweeten again.  He is a zone

leader here.  I did my first call in last week to get the weekly numbers

and check in on them.  It was pretty cool.  Tomorrow I have to direct

and teach my first district meeting.  I'm a little nervous but it should be

pretty good.  I'm going to teach about our purpose as Spanish branch

missionaries.  It is way different than the Jonesboro ward.  It's like a sixth

of the size, and of course everything is in Spanish. The branch still has to

rely a lot on the missionaries to teach and give talks on Sunday so looks

like I am going to get pretty good at teaching on the fly.  

My new address is:

Elder Marriner Kaden Merrill

LDS Missionaries

7820 West Capitol Avenue  Apt. 613

Little Rock, AR  72205

I can't believe I'm going to be 19 in a week!  I'm looking forward to my

birthday package.  I always love ties, like really love ties ;)  It's also crazy

that I hit 7 months out yesterday.  I still feel like a greenie sometimes.  

I am so blessed to be a missionary.  It has been amazing to witness the

miracles and tender mercies that the Lord gives us from day to day. I know

that this gospel changes lives, I've seen it.  It definitely gives me strength

each and every day.  I know that God lives and that He loves us.  I love that

God gives us trials not only to strengthen us but to teach us.  I love all of you

guys and hope that you have an awesome week!

Love Elder Merrill

Elder Merrill on Merrill Drive in Little Rock Arkansas

Elder Merrill's District Leader Letter from President Wakolo