Oi!
What awesomeness is the mission :P It is awesomeness! :) haha. Yes I do haha a lot mom hahah. But oh well, we´re even. :P So this past week, I felt like I had some of my best lessons with people. I taught the lesson about the gospel of Jesus Christ and I just really did well. The reason for that though is because I taught with the spirit. Nothing else matters if you follow the spirit. I also almost brought myself to tears while testifying it was really weird haha. But it´s a lesson that I have learned out here on the mission. This gospel is sooooooooo true and so important. There is nothing more important than this gospel. Without it, I don´t know where I would be. Because it brings so much peace in my life. Like your favorite scripture mom. John 14:26. It´s true. Oh during my personal study this week I was studying Mosiah and man I swear me and David are on the same brain wave hahaha. the discourse of king benjamim is very good! It is very powerful and man, just read mosiah 2-5. It´s awesome!
Here's something that I think we should all do! Help the missionaries :] hahah. But seriously, do it!!! The missionaries neeeeeed your help!!! Without members help, the work moves slowly. I can really testify to that. But also, feed them. I like that one :) hahah. So this past weekend we had stake conference and my president and his wife spoke at it. They are way awesome!! I seriously wish you could meet them!! He knows so much, it just baffles me. I´ve always wanted to use that word. And now I have. Life = complete. BAM!
Everytime I go on divisions (which I don´t know if you knew about my other division with the Asisstante to the presidente) I learn lots. This week I went on a 2 day division with the LZ. He's way awesome and he works really well. He really is a good example to our district.
So, this past P-day I saw monkies! I went to the zoo/park. It was awesome. And I saw anteaters and other animals, man it was cool haha. I definitely need those p days. Because afterwards it is nothing but helping the people here. Don´t get me wrong, I want nothing more than to do that, but you need a break every once in a while. Or else you go crazy!
I can´t believe this but I have gone from 128-132 pounds to 147-150 pounds. HOLY! haha. I guess I eat a little bit.. hahah. But I don´t look any bigger. Luckily I do execersizes (what the?) every morning so that helps haha. But now I´m like normal weight! YAY! hahah.
Not going to lie my heart jumped while reading this past e-mail. haha. I´m just glad that Grandma is okay :) :). I sure do miss her and her humor hahah. She´s so funny it´s awesome :) haha. Man, I´m feeling rather jealous though hahah. Ruby is awesome and I declare that I want to see her :P hahaha. But it will be worth the wait :) Send those pictures! yay!
Man, you guilt tripped me mom haha. I guess I´ll wait hahah. Waited this long, could wait more! I'll be staying (probably) in limoeiro next transfer anyways haha. (He's talking about opening up his Christmas presents!)
That´s cool that you saw Brother and Sister Adams!! Did you tell them hi for me? Sad that his dad died, but I know they are doing well, because of the gospel. If they just stick to the gospel, peace comes in ways you never expected.
By the way, what did you eat for thanksgiving? I had a makeshift apple pie hahah. with bread hahah. Man dad! You are on fire with your races! Just be careful, don´t overdo yourself! Okay? Thanks :) Anyways, I´m going to try and send some pictures for you guys. I love you guys and the work is moving along here. I have 2 (maybe 3 or 4) guaranteed baptisms for Dezembro so I'm pretty excited. Well, I shouldn´t say guaranteed because that means I wouldn´t have to work. But very very likely! It brings me so happy to see the gospel change people's lives. This week was hard sunday because none of our Recent converts were at church, so that´s always hard to see, but this week, we just got to work with them, get them callings, and help them stay firm in the gospel! I love you all!! Miss you! Today will be a fun p day dad :P haha.
Com amor,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill
Eu sou muito grato por minha família e todas as bençãos que eu tenho em minha vida!!! :)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
Temple!
Oi!
I feel like everytime I have less and less to talk about haha. I don´t know why. We are having some good progress with some people here in Limoeiro ward in São Paulo. So I was studying maps this morning of our mission and figuring out some stuff and figured out that we have 11 zones. 4 of them are in São Paulo. The others are in other cities. My Zone is called São Miguel Paulista and my area is called Limoeiro. Honestly the only reason why it is called that is because the ward is called that, but there really isn´t a reason for the ward to be called that it´s funny. Speaking of, we had 124 people in the ward this week. Which is better than last week!! Yay!! Oh so the street that my church is on is Flor de Inverno. So what you want to do is go up that street and follow it till you hit Av. Antônio Louzada Antunes and go left. I live on the corner on Antônio and Av. Mário Alves. There is a bakery right next to my door. I hope that helps!
So we got to go to the temple this past week! It was AWESOME!! I always love going to the temple and I hope I will get other opportunities to go on my mission which means i have to be close. I bought some dvds and other other fun stuff at the temple. AND I ate in the temple. That was weird. But in the bottom part was the cafeteria and I ate there. T´was weird but cool!
I went on another division this week. Once again with the other elder that knows less than me (not his fault, but his visa´s) So I was leading again, which is always weird but I did really good. I made 25 contacts and just felt like I was doing the best I ever have done yet! I even invited a preacher to be baptized. :P We shall see how his prayer went! hahaha.
Also, I learned that you need to always be careful what you say. We talked to some members during lunch like 2 weeks ago and the following sunday we got called into the bishop's office because something that my companion said offended them. He didn´t even mean it in the way they took it, but you just have to be so careful!!!
So last week I tried sending some pictures but I guess they didn´t send. I will try again!!! Which means my other little messages with it too didn´t send so I´ll have to do that. Glad they got my letters! And sorry Aunt Marian! I was responding to letters... hahaha I forgot but next time don´t you worry :P I will write a letter to you AND chip! :P hahaha.
Here in São Paulo they have their "garbage cans" sticking out of their gates so really it wasn't like a garbage can per say but really yeah hahah. Transfers are December 6th!!! And hey do I still need to wait til christmas to open my presents? :P I´m all antsy.. hahah. Hey mom did you know that you started almost all your paragraphs with so. It´s okay I have to think about how to start mine or else I will do that hahah. With the contact solution. So really I had two bottles left when I asked for the solution so I really didn´t go through it ALL when I asked for it :P But I have one of the original´s left now haha. So no worries :P haha.
I loved your Elijah joke dad hahah. I laughed very hard, I think my companion was worried for me :P hahah. I do miss you guys a lot! And I cannot watch Mundo Feliz... Joy to the World... Everytime we do, Eu tenho sauldades de vocês. I miss you guys and Christmas. haha, but it´s okay, because this is the best place to be :) The work is great and I´m working my hardest. It has been the most rewarding thing yet and I can´t wait to see how I will end up in the end :) Thanks for being awesome! :)
Com amor, seu filho, amigo, e irmão,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill!!!!!!!!!!!
Grant sent another quick note:
I forgot to mention also! I went on splits with the assitant to the president this week. He lives about 1-2 hours away to I got to spend the night there!! Even though I only spend one day with him, I learned sooooo much and everything that I need to be doing 10X better!! It was really awesome and so grateful for that experience! Loved it!!
Also, Thanks for the contact solution ;) Btw one more story I forgot to ... umm... Tell! yes! So remember José? The crazy guy?!? So we see him just about every other day. it´s really weird hahaha. But the other day he gave us this piece of paper that he created and it was his "prophecies" hahah. I´m not even kidding, it was alllllllll about how having kids is the worst thing ever and every child born after 4/6/2012 (4th of june) with be born with horns and tails hahah. Yeah... He´s crazy!!! hahah.
I feel like everytime I have less and less to talk about haha. I don´t know why. We are having some good progress with some people here in Limoeiro ward in São Paulo. So I was studying maps this morning of our mission and figuring out some stuff and figured out that we have 11 zones. 4 of them are in São Paulo. The others are in other cities. My Zone is called São Miguel Paulista and my area is called Limoeiro. Honestly the only reason why it is called that is because the ward is called that, but there really isn´t a reason for the ward to be called that it´s funny. Speaking of, we had 124 people in the ward this week. Which is better than last week!! Yay!! Oh so the street that my church is on is Flor de Inverno. So what you want to do is go up that street and follow it till you hit Av. Antônio Louzada Antunes and go left. I live on the corner on Antônio and Av. Mário Alves. There is a bakery right next to my door. I hope that helps!
So we got to go to the temple this past week! It was AWESOME!! I always love going to the temple and I hope I will get other opportunities to go on my mission which means i have to be close. I bought some dvds and other other fun stuff at the temple. AND I ate in the temple. That was weird. But in the bottom part was the cafeteria and I ate there. T´was weird but cool!
I went on another division this week. Once again with the other elder that knows less than me (not his fault, but his visa´s) So I was leading again, which is always weird but I did really good. I made 25 contacts and just felt like I was doing the best I ever have done yet! I even invited a preacher to be baptized. :P We shall see how his prayer went! hahaha.
Also, I learned that you need to always be careful what you say. We talked to some members during lunch like 2 weeks ago and the following sunday we got called into the bishop's office because something that my companion said offended them. He didn´t even mean it in the way they took it, but you just have to be so careful!!!
So last week I tried sending some pictures but I guess they didn´t send. I will try again!!! Which means my other little messages with it too didn´t send so I´ll have to do that. Glad they got my letters! And sorry Aunt Marian! I was responding to letters... hahaha I forgot but next time don´t you worry :P I will write a letter to you AND chip! :P hahaha.
Here in São Paulo they have their "garbage cans" sticking out of their gates so really it wasn't like a garbage can per say but really yeah hahah. Transfers are December 6th!!! And hey do I still need to wait til christmas to open my presents? :P I´m all antsy.. hahah. Hey mom did you know that you started almost all your paragraphs with so. It´s okay I have to think about how to start mine or else I will do that hahah. With the contact solution. So really I had two bottles left when I asked for the solution so I really didn´t go through it ALL when I asked for it :P But I have one of the original´s left now haha. So no worries :P haha.
I loved your Elijah joke dad hahah. I laughed very hard, I think my companion was worried for me :P hahah. I do miss you guys a lot! And I cannot watch Mundo Feliz... Joy to the World... Everytime we do, Eu tenho sauldades de vocês. I miss you guys and Christmas. haha, but it´s okay, because this is the best place to be :) The work is great and I´m working my hardest. It has been the most rewarding thing yet and I can´t wait to see how I will end up in the end :) Thanks for being awesome! :)
Com amor, seu filho, amigo, e irmão,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill!!!!!!!!!!!
Grant sent another quick note:
I forgot to mention also! I went on splits with the assitant to the president this week. He lives about 1-2 hours away to I got to spend the night there!! Even though I only spend one day with him, I learned sooooo much and everything that I need to be doing 10X better!! It was really awesome and so grateful for that experience! Loved it!!
Also, Thanks for the contact solution ;) Btw one more story I forgot to ... umm... Tell! yes! So remember José? The crazy guy?!? So we see him just about every other day. it´s really weird hahaha. But the other day he gave us this piece of paper that he created and it was his "prophecies" hahah. I´m not even kidding, it was alllllllll about how having kids is the worst thing ever and every child born after 4/6/2012 (4th of june) with be born with horns and tails hahah. Yeah... He´s crazy!!! hahah.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Crash! But it didn´t hurt!
Oi!
Man, I need to take better care of myself haha. So I did a very funny thing last p day after sending off e-mails. So we started our way to a place that is like... costco. Where you can just buy tons of stuff. Anyways, so i was talking to one of the elders here and I wasn´t paying too much attention because I was telling a story, so of course i was animating and all, and the next thing I knew I turned around and saw a telephone ... booth... not really a booth, it´s called big ear here haha, anyways!! So I saw the telephone booth and with ninja skills! I dodged it :P But then I ended splitting my chin open on a trash ... box... that sticks out of the gates on doors hahaha. Lots of blood and I didn´t have to go to the "costco!" Yay! hahah. I have pictures no worries. It didn´t hurt though so that´s good. I didn´t even think it was that bad until I saw it. My companion thought I would have to get stitches, but I didn´t even want to and really I didn´t need them! :) haha. It was funny.
So I got your package! I actually got it the next day after the last p-day because we had interviews with the president! It had been there since the 4th.. So if you sent it on the 31st, then... it took not even a week to get here! Don't know how! Crazy fast! haha. So I haven´t opened the presents yet, but I already know what they are because it says on the front of the package.. haha sorry :P But I´ll wait still! :)
Yesterday (Sunday), was my four months!! Holy Molly! Time passes fast! Craziness!! AH! Pretty soon it will be 6 months and that is 1/4 of my mission! That´s crazy!!!!
We had a really good lesson yesterday I really enjoyed it. We were talking about the book of mormon, prayer, and familias eternal and it just was really awesome. I bore my testimony about families eternal, talking about how I never really knew my grandpas and how I am really excited to meet them someday, just the spirit was so strong. I really hope he was listening to the spirit too!
This past week, we´ve lost lots of people but at the same time, always are gaining. The hardest lesson is always... the 2nd one. Because the first one they usually don´t speak their mind cause they don´t want to offend or something but the second lesson they usually do. So you always have to make sure your first one is really good and then answer any doubts!!! But anyways, things are going good!
Something I was thinking about was trying to say"We get to do it". Like Brother Morgan always did. But you can´t really, but you can say "We have the privilege of doing it" or something like that. I´ll try and figure out the perfect way of saying it hahah.
Tyler Russell got married? To whom? haha. That´s awesome about Brother Bennion haha, I can see him doing that :P nice :P. Yes! I remember The Nielsens! No way I could forget!! :) I miss her!!! I want to see them again!!! :)
Yeah, I didn´t send them super fast because I had to finish some other letters too hahah. It was really good to hear from Phil too!!
This week was kind of hard, because it´s really hard to find our investigators lately, not sure why!! haha. That´s what is really hard here, is that everyone works, A LOT! Like they literally work from 6 in the morning till 9 at night. That makes it difficult hahaha. But I´m doing my best!!!
I definitely miss you guys lots but this is really where I love to be!! I haven´t spoken in church yet but who knows maybe I will! haha. It´s been hard lately but I really want to help the people here!!! This past week we only have 110 people in our ward. Our goal is 170. But there are 569 members that should be going.. Yeah that was crazy to hear, but it makes me want to work harder!!! :)
Anyways I love you guys so much, and I can´t wait to see you guys again, but first I need to work my heart out here and give the people here my all!!!
Love always,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill
Man, I need to take better care of myself haha. So I did a very funny thing last p day after sending off e-mails. So we started our way to a place that is like... costco. Where you can just buy tons of stuff. Anyways, so i was talking to one of the elders here and I wasn´t paying too much attention because I was telling a story, so of course i was animating and all, and the next thing I knew I turned around and saw a telephone ... booth... not really a booth, it´s called big ear here haha, anyways!! So I saw the telephone booth and with ninja skills! I dodged it :P But then I ended splitting my chin open on a trash ... box... that sticks out of the gates on doors hahaha. Lots of blood and I didn´t have to go to the "costco!" Yay! hahah. I have pictures no worries. It didn´t hurt though so that´s good. I didn´t even think it was that bad until I saw it. My companion thought I would have to get stitches, but I didn´t even want to and really I didn´t need them! :) haha. It was funny.
So I got your package! I actually got it the next day after the last p-day because we had interviews with the president! It had been there since the 4th.. So if you sent it on the 31st, then... it took not even a week to get here! Don't know how! Crazy fast! haha. So I haven´t opened the presents yet, but I already know what they are because it says on the front of the package.. haha sorry :P But I´ll wait still! :)
Yesterday (Sunday), was my four months!! Holy Molly! Time passes fast! Craziness!! AH! Pretty soon it will be 6 months and that is 1/4 of my mission! That´s crazy!!!!
We had a really good lesson yesterday I really enjoyed it. We were talking about the book of mormon, prayer, and familias eternal and it just was really awesome. I bore my testimony about families eternal, talking about how I never really knew my grandpas and how I am really excited to meet them someday, just the spirit was so strong. I really hope he was listening to the spirit too!
This past week, we´ve lost lots of people but at the same time, always are gaining. The hardest lesson is always... the 2nd one. Because the first one they usually don´t speak their mind cause they don´t want to offend or something but the second lesson they usually do. So you always have to make sure your first one is really good and then answer any doubts!!! But anyways, things are going good!
Something I was thinking about was trying to say"We get to do it". Like Brother Morgan always did. But you can´t really, but you can say "We have the privilege of doing it" or something like that. I´ll try and figure out the perfect way of saying it hahah.
Tyler Russell got married? To whom? haha. That´s awesome about Brother Bennion haha, I can see him doing that :P nice :P. Yes! I remember The Nielsens! No way I could forget!! :) I miss her!!! I want to see them again!!! :)
Yeah, I didn´t send them super fast because I had to finish some other letters too hahah. It was really good to hear from Phil too!!
This week was kind of hard, because it´s really hard to find our investigators lately, not sure why!! haha. That´s what is really hard here, is that everyone works, A LOT! Like they literally work from 6 in the morning till 9 at night. That makes it difficult hahaha. But I´m doing my best!!!
I definitely miss you guys lots but this is really where I love to be!! I haven´t spoken in church yet but who knows maybe I will! haha. It´s been hard lately but I really want to help the people here!!! This past week we only have 110 people in our ward. Our goal is 170. But there are 569 members that should be going.. Yeah that was crazy to hear, but it makes me want to work harder!!! :)
Anyways I love you guys so much, and I can´t wait to see you guys again, but first I need to work my heart out here and give the people here my all!!!
Love always,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill
Monday, November 7, 2011
I concure with David... I don´t know what to put here...
Óla!
Sup Fam! haha just kidding. Just Brincing!! haha. Brincar (to play) So... Brincing is like just joking just playing. anyways... haha. So!!! I got your letter mom!! THANKS TONS FOR THE PICTURES! :D Foi Otimo! It was awesome! loved it! I now can say this is the husband of jess! And I can show off my new favorite person! Speaking of: Adam should write an email or letter or something too ;) hahah. So man Crazy things happened but I don´t remember all of it.
So I went on divisions with another elder last week in my area, but guess what... He has been here shorter than I have! So it was interesting!! haha. But that being said... I understood everything!!! And I could talk very well! :) The Lord really knows what we need and when we pray in faith and try our hardest we will be blessed for it. I still struggle a lot sometimes, but I really can tell the blessings of the lord in my life. But those blessings don't come free. I have to study everyday more words and study the grammar and really know how to speak. A lot of times the words that I have trouble understanding are because they are being used in a slang way. So I really have to understand that too, but need to be careful that I am still speaking in a good manner. Cara! ;) (Dude)
I have decided that I want to talk to grandma after the mission and hear some stories from her about her family history. This is really hard... I keep on thinking the sentences in portuguese. haha.
The other day we returned back home and noticed a strange smell in our apartment. Turned out that there were people smoking marajuana (How do you spell that?) in our apartment. It was so gross haha. Oh yeah, sunday was really hard because either everyone was at this huge party ( that we accidently ran into ) or (kind of two opposites) church. Haha so we couldn´t encontrar.. find.. sorry haha... anyone. Btw there are churches everywhere here! It´s crazy!! We have one right across the street from us. Usually they are like little garages, but sometimes they almost look like temples. WE also have Jehovah´s (how do you spell that?!) Witnesses here too! We see them preaching sometimes too haha. It´s cool!!
How was the marriage of Mallory´s? That´s so exciting :) About tracking. So we aren't allowed to clap at doors anymore like randomly. We still clap at doors but we just can´t do it for contacting. Only streets. Mainly because it just does not work at all. haha. But também we work tonsSssssssssss with the members. Referencias from... references... the members is how we work a lot here. And from other people. And just contacting on the streets. It´s hard, but clapping at doors is harder haha.
I do not have a microwave, I surely do want one hahah. But that´s super exciting for Jordan!! :):) AH I´m so excited! btw I will want his address in the field! (Jordan is Grant's friend from here, Jordan DeGraw--his VISA finally came through and he left Provo last week and is now in the Brazil MTC.)
Hmm... So, I´ll try and think of a way to show you where I live! Okay? Tudo bem? hehe. Ótimo!
Can´t wait for the package!! Should be awesome!! :)
So yes dad, Weird Al is awesome I know ;) hahah. Well I think I need to head out now!! But thanks for everything! :)
Love,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill
Sup Fam! haha just kidding. Just Brincing!! haha. Brincar (to play) So... Brincing is like just joking just playing. anyways... haha. So!!! I got your letter mom!! THANKS TONS FOR THE PICTURES! :D Foi Otimo! It was awesome! loved it! I now can say this is the husband of jess! And I can show off my new favorite person! Speaking of: Adam should write an email or letter or something too ;) hahah. So man Crazy things happened but I don´t remember all of it.
So I went on divisions with another elder last week in my area, but guess what... He has been here shorter than I have! So it was interesting!! haha. But that being said... I understood everything!!! And I could talk very well! :) The Lord really knows what we need and when we pray in faith and try our hardest we will be blessed for it. I still struggle a lot sometimes, but I really can tell the blessings of the lord in my life. But those blessings don't come free. I have to study everyday more words and study the grammar and really know how to speak. A lot of times the words that I have trouble understanding are because they are being used in a slang way. So I really have to understand that too, but need to be careful that I am still speaking in a good manner. Cara! ;) (Dude)
I have decided that I want to talk to grandma after the mission and hear some stories from her about her family history. This is really hard... I keep on thinking the sentences in portuguese. haha.
The other day we returned back home and noticed a strange smell in our apartment. Turned out that there were people smoking marajuana (How do you spell that?) in our apartment. It was so gross haha. Oh yeah, sunday was really hard because either everyone was at this huge party ( that we accidently ran into ) or (kind of two opposites) church. Haha so we couldn´t encontrar.. find.. sorry haha... anyone. Btw there are churches everywhere here! It´s crazy!! We have one right across the street from us. Usually they are like little garages, but sometimes they almost look like temples. WE also have Jehovah´s (how do you spell that?!) Witnesses here too! We see them preaching sometimes too haha. It´s cool!!
How was the marriage of Mallory´s? That´s so exciting :) About tracking. So we aren't allowed to clap at doors anymore like randomly. We still clap at doors but we just can´t do it for contacting. Only streets. Mainly because it just does not work at all. haha. But também we work tonsSssssssssss with the members. Referencias from... references... the members is how we work a lot here. And from other people. And just contacting on the streets. It´s hard, but clapping at doors is harder haha.
I do not have a microwave, I surely do want one hahah. But that´s super exciting for Jordan!! :):) AH I´m so excited! btw I will want his address in the field! (Jordan is Grant's friend from here, Jordan DeGraw--his VISA finally came through and he left Provo last week and is now in the Brazil MTC.)
Hmm... So, I´ll try and think of a way to show you where I live! Okay? Tudo bem? hehe. Ótimo!
Can´t wait for the package!! Should be awesome!! :)
So yes dad, Weird Al is awesome I know ;) hahah. Well I think I need to head out now!! But thanks for everything! :)
Love,
Élder Grant Shaw Merrill
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