Feeling Light and BOEZEM—wat?

Two weeks of missionary emails:

December 2, 2019 — This is a light you FEEL

It was Justin's birthday this week, so we walked all the way to his house to give him our homemade cake and talked to everyone on the way that wasn't looking at our cake too hungrily haha. Anyways, we were sharing about Light the World and he goes, "This is a light that you feel" and just grins this big Justin-grin. I love that man to death. It's so true! The light of Christ is especially strong in Decemeber and you really can feel it. And it wasn't the only light we felt this week.....it is BLAZING hot out here....I don't think I've sweated so much in my life haha. Definitely feeling that Christmas Suriname sun. But it's so worth it and this week was awesome. Every drop of our sweat payed off. Some stuff that happened last week/this week....

--went to the farthest part of our area and met some Surinamese hillbillies out in the way back boonies. More goats than teeth. Robby, the dude we were talking to most of the time, kept telling us how he was poor, sad, and alone...we didn't really know what to say because we didn't get a good feeling, so we just prayed at left. Very interesting experience. 

--Met and taught these two super dope women named Haidy and Roualva. They both embraced the Book of Mormon and I'm SOO excited to teach them again this week. They both live at the farthest part of our area, but we felt prompted to go there even though it's a long, hot bike ride. I know it was to find them because they are prepared for the gospel. 

--I think we roasted Rayon with the Book of Mormon the most I've ever roasted someone on my mission before after he talked about how he can only trust his own wisdom to get information...we shared 2 Nephi 9:28, which says, "O that cunning ^aplan of the evil one! O the ^bvainness, and the frailties, and the ^cfoolishness of men! When they are ^dlearned they think they are ^ewise, and they ^fhearken not unto the ^gcounsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their ^hwisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish." He was like "Wow, Sister Mergenthaler, this scripture hurts." and I was like, "Yup. That's the spirit of God" and then he was quiet for a little bit and goes, "Ok, I think I need to ask God instead of relying on myself" BOOM the spirit works people. And we reassured him about how we loved him and God loved him and stuff, so we are still friends haha. 

--got flashed by 2 old ladies. Why do people not like to wear clothes here?? But then I think about if I was an old Surinamese lady just chilling in my house in the boonies and I didn't expect visitors, I probably wouldn't wear clothes either

--brought Clint to come teach Marciano and it was AMAZING. The spirit was so strong and Marciano was just fixed on Clint with this burning gaze. I know Clint really touched his heart by sharing his own experience with the gospel and Book of Mormon. It was so cool. Member present lessons are da bomb.

--have I mentioned Zr. Penman is the most hilarious person I've ever met? We have so much fun. On Saturday and Sunday we had to bike an hour to Tammenga and back for District Conference. It could've been a really awful experience because biking a total of 4 hours in 100 degree weather isn't the most awesome thing in the world, but we were just singing hymns and Disney songs to eachother and saying hi to everyone. I'm a firm believer you can change any situation into a better one with a positive attitude, and Zr. Penny does that. It's the best. I love her.

--made a Christmas card to give to all our members. photoshoot pictures attatched. 

That's about all I have time for, but  gospel is true! This week me and zr. p have been learning a lot about how the spirit speaks to us and works. It's been so cool to apply that to our missionary work and watch the blessings flow. I hope ya'll have a great week! Sorry, I feel like my emails are always all over the place, but just know it's going great out here in the jungle. Love you guys!

Lobi

Zr. Mergenthaler

December 9, 2019–In uw BOEZEM—wat?

Goedemiddag dames en heren! Title of this weeks email comes from Marciano, our homie. He was reading and comes to the part where it says you will feel a "burning in your bosom" and he started laughing so hard haha. Good times in Suriname. I hope you all had a good week. Ours was great. Some stuff:

-one of the elders gave me his bike because he is gonna be in a car for the next 5 months (aka the rest of my mission) and it rides like a dream. Ive been smoothly pulling up to talk to people on that baby all week with no awkward chasing after them moments because my bike wont cooperate. I feel like a missionary queen on that thing. Still considering names. In the lineup are "lil shawty" and "chiquitita"

-on Monday on our way to our last lesson of the night, I had this feeling to visit this guy we used to teach, but I didn't follow it because I'm dumb (don't do that guys!) BUT the next day I learned he had run into sisters earlier that day when they were grocery shopping and told them he may be interested in recieving us again. We visited on Tuesday, so hopefully miracles will be happening with Marlon this week 

-snuck into a gated community to contact, but we felt so guilty for being there that we snuck right out haha

-Jose, Ricardo, and his daughter came to church! Woooooot. Jose said he had "a lot of questions" so we will find out tomorrow if he liked it.

-softened a lady's heart by washing her bird cage...with my hands. Worth it because at the end she was like "ok, so tell me, what is the Book of Mormon?" Went from yelling at us to wanting to know more. Love and service are the trick.

-tried to focus all our lessons on Jesus Christ after being inspired at Zone Conference. It has changed the game!!! We had SO many spiritual experiences

-mom sent me these workout videos called T25 and they're the best (we are ripped beasts after the first week for real) bit we hose ourselves about the main dude. Today we did the ab one and he goes "Imagine I am touching your abs right now. Keep those babies tight" we were both like "no shaun we are missionaries!!!" Shaun T keeping us fit out here with all the roti we get fed.

My email keeps glitching, so Im stopping there, but have a great week. Church is true :)

Lobi

Zr merg