I’m behind on updates again. We’re too busy having fun—and being sick—and having fun. Following are three emails with pics from Zuster Mergenthaler. We are still loving our video chats. She’s a gem!
April 8, 2019–We Have a Prophet Today—Listen to His Words!
Some other stuff that happened.....
--The COOLEST lesson with a new investigator, Gibi. He's like this hippie dude that lives in a shack on the island and he's the humblest person ever. At the end he goes, "I think you guys are sent from God because it's my time to come to Him. I know what you're saying is true because I can see it in your eyes." Can I get an ELECT? Wow. I am so excited to go back and teach him more.
--Zr. DePalm told us about how she met her husband. She goes, "I saw him in the airport and thought, 'that is not Facebook man! He is my type!' It was the cutest thing, especially coming out of the mouth of a 4 ft colombian lady.
--Tried Iguana soup. kinda stringy stuff.
--Got a text from a new contact I stopped while biking saying, "I just have to tell you...you are incredibly beautiful." OOOk, I don't think he's interested in the message. I don't know why people are creepy sometimes, but it certainly makes our lives interesting.
--Aquiles is on baptismal date!!! Both he and Marylin came to General Conference. It was awesome. Guys, we haven't had a baptism in a year and a half on the island...and in the last month we have two on date and like 10 ready to hear more....God is a God of miracles!
--Made gebakan banan. Good old Surinamese food!
My spiritual experience this week was in our lesson with Marylin. She's an investigator from the Elders that wasn't quite prepared to get baptized but LOVES the Book of Mormon. She's the most Christlike lady ever! I love teaching her because I learn SO much more from her than I teach her. I've been thinking a lot about how we can strengthen her faith to be baptized. She never opens up about why she's not ready, so I don't really know what's going through her head, but we both feel that it isn't time to give up with her yet. Our lesson on Wednesday was really special. We talked about the "indescribable joy" living the gospel brings when things in your life are not joyful at all. I was searching so hard for what the Spirit wanted me to say, so when it was my turn to speak, I just started crying! I don't do that very often in lessons, so I was surprised, but my heart filled up with so much gratitude for the Savior and memories of when He has truly carried me in my life. I don't remember what I said, but she was a lot more open to us after that. And she came to General Conference! My love for and understanding of her grew so much that lesson. We both feel more prepared to help her along her gospel journey after that experience.
I hope you all have a great week! I love and pray for you.
Love,
Zr. Mergenthaler
April 15, 2019 — Hey, you're the guy the dogs chase!
Bontardi geveldige personas! Not even sure what language I speak on my mission at this point. It was a GREAT week. Wowza. We had some amazing lessons (and a LOT of them! I'm exhausted to be honest) I forgot how much I love teaching. I haven't taught this much since I was in Suriname! We are truly experiencing miracles on the island of Bonaire. Before you know it, I'm gonna be sending some amazing beach-baptism pictures. Aquiles, Gibi, Ronny, Lilliane, and Javier know they wanna get in the water. Haha, but wow, yeah, some highlights were....
--taught my first Nederlander! He was so cool. It was actually a couple. Their names are Enny and Nick and they have the CUTEST baby I've ever seen. Enny is from Colombia and Nick Holland. The baby ripped up all my pamphlets through the course of the lesson, but it's ok...thats what they're there for. It was amazing because at the end of the lesson we invited the couple to read the inleiding of the Book of Mormon. We meant before we come again, but that wasn't made clear, so we just sat while they both read it silently and the Holy Ghost filled the room. Hearts were softened that night! Also, I had some weird food, so my stomach was weird that whole time and they thought the baby had a dirty diaper, but it was really me and I was trying not to laugh so hard. Don't put the fan behind Zuster Mergenthaler after Dominicans feed her. Anywaaaaaays...
--taught Aquiles the Word of Wisdom and it turns out he's already been living it since the missionaries first taught him? Can I get a #prepared??? He said he just felt like he needed to change and "put down the alcohol" Wow. I love that man so much. I don't think any other investigator has my heart like good ol' Aquiles. He's making us food tonight for Zuster McGuire's birthday and I have NO idea what to expect.
--all of our investigators have crushes on my babe companion, so pray for her to get a little uglier so we don't have awkward moments where they tell her she looks , "very nice tonight" I was dying laughing, but our good friend Victor was very serious about his affections.
--taught the HUMBLEST family. The parents, Lilliane and Javier, have 4 kids under the age of 8. They have been searching for the right church since they got married, but have gotten frustrated that people focus more on how they look in church and not the word of God. Their attention was so fixed on us as we testified about the restoration. Afterwards, we met their relative from Guyana, my second favorite place on Earth!! We know him because he always bikes down the street where we teach Yan Carlos with a bunch of dogs chasing after him hahaha. We always throw rocks at the dogs so he can get away. Dogs are evil. We're gonna find him and baptize him this week because Guyanese people are the humblest people ever.
Those were the highlights! Its been so great. We also taught Audrey and his sons. Wowza, they're prepared. More updates next week.
I love you guys! I hope you have a great week. And, if you have a chance, visit lds.organd check out the video about Jesus Christ. I felt the Spirit very strongly when we watched it with Melody.
Ik hop dat je een bon semana hebben!
Zus. Mergenthaler
April 22, 2019– HOT SAUCE!
Bontardi!! How are you all? This week was slower, but still filled with miracles and a whole lot of fun. I actually don't think there's been a day on my mission that I didn't laugh...life is hard sometimes, but when you're keeping the commandments of God and on his errand, I really don't think there's anything better. (*prepare yourself for the cheesy truth*) The happiness the gospel brings is pretty indescribable, but that doesn't make it any less real! Some stuff that happened this week...
--reviewed the Word of Wisdom with Aquiles. We go, "Ok, Aquiles, can you remember the 5 things we are supposed to avoid?" He goes, "Hmmm, let's see. Alcohol, drugs, tobacco...." and then thinks for a couple minutes, so I give him a hint, "It's hot, Aquiles. What's hot that we shouldn't drink?" and he goes, "Hmmm........oh, HOT SAUCE!" I was dying hahaha. That man!
--after a couple rough days of all our lessons falling through, I was just praying to Heavenly Father that we would meet someone that wouldn't reject us/hide in their house (come on people, I can see you!). The next house we stopped and klopped looked like no one was home. We go over to the side to klop the next one and a man is hanging up laundry in the back. I yell bontardi at him and he jumps and looks at us with eyes of complete fear. I felt so bad for scaring him, but it was also hilarious so within a couple seconds we are both laughing so hard. His name is Entienne and he used to be taught by the Elders on the island and wants to learn more! He was so nice. In the middle of the conversation he randomly yells, "My tea!" and runs inside. I was laughing so hard I couldn't Dutch for a little bit afterwards. I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for answering our prayers.
--got Gibi on baptismal date! This man is golden, people. He's so cool. He has his own band and makes homemade souveniers to sell on the island. I kinda want to be him when I grow up. He is growing so much too! He told us on Monday that he can just feel that this is the truth. He's reading in the English Book of Mormon even though it's his second language until we get Papiamentu ones. He is very sensitive to the Spirit. I love him! And now Gibi, Aquiles, and
--had a dance party with the Cartis to cheer up the baby, Amaris. where i
--Aquiles bought us both bracelets for Zuster McGuire's birthday with our initials on them.
--President Baird visited! I love him. He makes me pumped about missionary work. Guys, the world is literally preparing for the second coming! It is so important to spiritually prepare ourselves to meet God again. It is sure gonna be a great reunion when we look into the eyes of our Father and are reunited with everyone in Heaven again.
I love you guys! I hope you have a great week.
Zuster Mergenthaler
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