October 1, 2019 Email to Everybody:
It was my mom's birthday yesterday (hit her up if you haven't
already) and I got to Facetime her really quick right after church. I took the
camera around for everyone there to say happy birthday and Cavin goes,
"I'm the darkest man you'll ever see" I was dying haha. I don't know
if he understands we definitely have Creoles in America too. This week was
super-duper. Some stuff that happened............
--CLINT GOT BAPTIZED. yeeeeeeeeee. It was such a good
baptismal service. He came in his nice white shirt, and his testimony was so
sweet. He was choking up and talking about how he's changed MAN. And he's
basically part of the branch now because he was holding someone's baby at
church and joking with Cavin the whole second hour.
--you can call me Surinamese because Vigi taught us how to
make Roti!!! It was so lekker, but it wrecks you afterwards. Worth it.
--one of our investigators on date in Kwatta confessed his
love for me, so we have to give him to the Elders gosh dang it. I hate when we
have to give cool people away because he's getting baptized at the end of October.
It was very uncomfortable. I have no idea why either because I look like a ball
of melting margarine out here.
--we were waiting for the elders to do a baptismal interview
and had a dance party at a winkel with some random crazy men that bought us some
coke. We sung them high school musical and they were hosing themselves.
--we had a rap battle with the mission in which we roasted
all of the elders (it's only us 3 sisters and I think 22 elders). It was so
fun. I am a firm believer that they only send the best Elders to Suriname. They
make me laugh so hard I'm crying. Friends for life man.
Yeah, that was our week! Super fun. I learned a lot about
Christ and how He heals us in personal study. The anxiety attacks from the
accident haven't stopped, but I know that trials are sent to us to shape us
into the people He wants us to be. I'm grateful for all the things God has used
to shape me. It'll be so cool at the end of our lives to look back at His great
plan--I think we'll be doing a lot of thanking then. I hope ya'll have a great
week! Also, check out the new Book of Mormon videos!!! They are siiiick.
PS, tried to send pics, but we are at a cyber again so the
internet is back to dinosaur ages sorry guys.
Love,
Zr. Mergenthaler
October 1, 2019 Email to Bonni and Rick:
I can't skype today because we are at the cyber--throwing it
back to the 80s again. Thank you for both of your spiritual messages! I will
imagine a Jesus smile this week. That's good advice. I'm glad your birthday was
good mom. Essential oils--fancy shmancy! I had Zr. Mac try to crack my back and
she only got one pop but we were laughing so hard. It was actually kind of a
hard week, but also good. I'm super grateful for my companions. I had a couple
more anxiety attack things. We officially got the car today, but it gets better
every time I get in the car. I was thinking about how this is actually a
blessing that God meant to put in place. If it hadn't happened and I went home
without being in a car again (except like riding to the airport) I think it
would be a lot harder at home and you guys would probably had to have deal with all this anxiety stuff. So it's just preparing me to get back into real
life when that happens. Sister Baird told me to study all the scriptures in the
topical guide that mention healing. It was such a cool experience--I think I
did it on Wednesday or something. I felt the spirit testifying so strongly of
the Savior's atonement! That was a testimony builder for sure.
What else happened this week....oh, Clint got baptized!!! I
told you that yesterday, but wowzaaa it was such a good service. It always
makes me tear up to see my peeps finally enter into the baptismal font. They
look so humble and full of light. Clint was glowing after he got the Holy Ghost
and he's just a part of the branch now. He was holding someone's baby after
sacrament and gave a sweet testimony. His family didn't come to the
baptism...but I think he had a good talk with President Bisheazar about how to
help his marriage. I hope he doesn't get divorced. Oh, and Rodney told me he
wants me to be his future wife....awkward. And John, our cool investigator on
date, also professed his love. I don't know what it is with these men because I
look like a sweaty ball of crisco every day. I'm sad about giving John to the
Elders--he's actually so elect.
Also, Zr Orchard leaves this Thursday! I am going to miss
her so much. And today was the Vermeerens last day. Today we did our rap
battle. It was AMAZING. I love the Elders and man we roasted them good. They
are hilarious! I can't wait to be their best friends back home. We got
permission to drive Elder Garcia and Karsson home and they made me sit in the
middle so I was just squished between these two elders singing EFY songs for an
hour haha. It was not against the rules, I promise.
I think I might ask if I can get a blessing. I already got
one from Elder Vermeeren at the beginning of the transfer, but I was praying
about what I can do to kind of snap out of these things and felt like I needed
to ask for another one. Elder V is gone, but I think I can ask the TAs to do
it. I don't really know how to bring it up because I don't think anyone really
knows about the anxiety attack things except my companions, but I might just
have to tell them so they understand why I'm asking for a blessing. Another
blessing of all of this too is that it's really humbling. I don't think I've
ever felt this out of control of things, but it helps me to truly rely on
Christ. I gave a talk on Sunday and talked about how our trials truly shape us
into the people God wants us to be. I have felt that absolutely on my mission
especially. I know it's true, and especially when we have faith we can see the
little reasons why hard things happen.
Well, I hope you guys have a great week! I love you. Also,
it's almost Christmas! Hahaha, not really, but my brain thinks about things in
terms of 6 week period transfers, and this transfer goes until November, which
is practically Christmas! It's going by too fast. But I've definitely had some
"I want to hug my family" moments this week. I miss you guys! Let me
know what I can pray for this week.
Love,
Zr. Merg
Bonni here . . . . I found some pictures from the Vermeeren's blog to post. I hope Rick and I can serve as missionaries like the Vermeerens one day. They did so much for the Elders and Sisters in Suriname and were such a blessing to the President and Sister Baird since the missionaries in their mission are serving in seven different countries and travel from one part of the mission isn't easy. It was so comforting to see Emily's picture on the blog and to know the Vermeerens were looking out for her. This mission is in need of more senior couples! The Elders will do a great job in their place, but the mentoring, love, widsom, and skills of a grandma and grandpa in the mission are invaluable.
Emily is still struggling to overcome the accident. Flashbacks haunt her and she never knows when a panic attack will creep up. She is able to smile and joke, but struggles to truly relax because of the underlying tension she feels. She has some coping strategies and a good support system around her, but could use your prayers. We know healing takes time and know she'll be okay, but it's a rough road.
Bonni here . . . . I found some pictures from the Vermeeren's blog to post. I hope Rick and I can serve as missionaries like the Vermeerens one day. They did so much for the Elders and Sisters in Suriname and were such a blessing to the President and Sister Baird since the missionaries in their mission are serving in seven different countries and travel from one part of the mission isn't easy. It was so comforting to see Emily's picture on the blog and to know the Vermeerens were looking out for her. This mission is in need of more senior couples! The Elders will do a great job in their place, but the mentoring, love, widsom, and skills of a grandma and grandpa in the mission are invaluable.
Emily is still struggling to overcome the accident. Flashbacks haunt her and she never knows when a panic attack will creep up. She is able to smile and joke, but struggles to truly relax because of the underlying tension she feels. She has some coping strategies and a good support system around her, but could use your prayers. We know healing takes time and know she'll be okay, but it's a rough road.
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