Tuesday we had some really good lessons which was nice. We finished
teaching the lessons to Jack in preparation for his baptism. That evening
Brother Traylor took us out to the nicest restaurant in Batesville as a little
going away party for me. I ate some of the best chicken I’ve ever had in
my life. I'm really going to miss that guy!
Wednesday we held our Book of Mormon class and went on exchanges
with the Mountain View Elders. I spent most of the day in Mountain View
Wednesday as well as Thursday. It is a really fun place - it's the folk music
capital of the world. As you walk around in the evenings people are always
sitting around the parks picking on their guitars. It was fun to walk around
and listen to all the music. The Elder I was serving with there returns home
with me so we had a great time talking about our missions and what we are
going to do when we get home. We exchanged back Thursday evening.
That night we had Jack’s baptismal interview and basketball night.
Friday was another good day. We went and visited Jack and got everything
planned for his baptism Saturday. We also did our weekly planning. That
always seems to drags on forever so I'm kind of glad it was my last one. That
evening we had a couple lessons which went well. We also typed up Jack’s
baptism program and made all of the copies.
Saturday was easily the highlight of the week because it was Jack’s baptism!
Jack has been such an awesome person to get to know. He is such a great
example to me. He has been meeting on and off with missionaries for the
past five years. He has completed all of the missionary lessons three times
and has read the Book of Mormon almost twice. I feel so blessed that I am
serving in Batesville at this time - the time when Jack was prepared to follow
our Savior Jesus Christ. He really is an amazing person. He has been blind
almost his entire life but he doesn't let it stop him. He plays the guitar really
well and has taught me some fun stuff that I'm excited to try when I get home.
His baptism went really great. His daughter came to support him. She lives
in Little Rock and is a non-member. He was so excited that she came. He
now wants to send the missionaries to teach her - ha ha. President Vaughn,
our Branch President, baptized Jack. After the baptism we went over to the
Wahlquist's home to eat and hang out for a bit. I am going to miss their family.
After all of that we did our studies for the day and contacted a few people.
Jack was confirmed in sacrament meeting on Sunday by Brother Traylor. It
was really special. We also had some really great meetings about missionary
work and ministering. After church we went to a birthday party for a less active
member's son for a bit. Then that evening we had dinner with the Simmon's
family. They are a new family in the branch that we met at basketball night.
They moved here from New Jersey not too long ago. I discovered that Kinkade
served in their ward and they got to know him really well. They thought it was
pretty cool that I knew him and had played baseball with him. It truly is a small,
wonderful world in the church.
This morning we went to visit Jack. He gave me a gift - a ukulele. He noticed
that every time we were at his house I would pick up one of his ukuleles up and
play it so he thought I would enjoy taking one home. I was really touched by his
kindness. I will always remember Jack. I will always remember so many people
who have changed my life for the better while serving as a missionary. I feel so
blessed to have served here in the Arkansas Little Rock Mission. It's really hard
to believe it will all be over in 10 days and will return home and take off the tag.
Thanks for sending pictures of the boys in their baseball uniforms. I actually miss
playing sometimes. I’m excited to take them over to the park when I get home and
play some ball! Well I can’t wait to see y’all! Love you!
Love Elder Merrill
Elder Merrill with his gifted ukelele
Elder Asay & Elder Merrill with Jack
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