The Mergenthaler Family

 I have such good intentions. I want this blog to be a reliable record for our family with all the ups and downs and funny and not-so-funny stories. But finding the time to write and knowing how to put everything into words has kept me from updating. It's so much easier to throw Ricky's happy-go-lucky missionary posts on here and call it good. I know he's not having an easy time. In fact, you probably couldn't tell too much from his emails, but his last transfer was pretty isolating. He spent a lot of time in his apartment and didn't feel like the work or his language skills were progressing much. I think he is doing much better now, but there are new challenges every day. And the rest of us here in the states are experiencing challenges too. Along with those challenges come a myriad of surprising blessings--some of which could not exist without the challenges. I don't yet know how to write about it all, and I'm not sure if the blog is the right place, but m...

 December 5, 2022 What is up, my people? I hope life and stuff are going well for you! Anyways, before I get started on this week I thought I would let you all know that if you want to send me a message, it might be better on Facebook Messenger because that way I can record my voice and then explain everything in a lot shorter time. I'm not a speedy emailer, but if you prefer email, I'm cool with that too. On to my week . . . On Monday after p-day, we had a lesson with one of our friends named Mario, and it went really well! He's trying to stop smoking and loves coming to church, sooo I think he's doing pretty good! After that, I called my family and talked to them for a while so that was super fun! The next couple of days we hit as many points as we could and tried to find progressing people. On Wednesday, it was raining soo much and we were outside the whole time, so we were drenched, but we didn't care because we were having tons of fun! Also, the World Cup is go...

November 28, 2022 What is up, People!?! Elder Mergenthaler here.  This week has been a roller coaster, so let's start on Monday. We had a regular p-day for Elder Castillo. It was his last in Mar del Plata because transfers are happening and he's going to Batan which is like 15-20 minutes from here. We spent the day sightseeing. We went to this really dope spot called Sierro De Los Padres. It's supposedly the only mountain near me. At the end of the day, we went home and I called my family.  I don't remember Tuesday, but on Wednesday we spent most of the day packing because at 12 I was going to pick up my new companion, Elder Curtis!!! Elder Curtis and I walked around our area and felt it out and then we and then we basically finished the day. We spent Thursday and Friday trying to reboot our area, checking on contacts and updating our area book.  Saturday was really interesting because Argentina played Mexico in The World Cup. We didn't get to see it--just s...

November 14, 2022 Hey, what's  up, y'all? Elder Mergenthaler here! So you guys are probably wondering about the title because I am a missionary and missionaries don't go on dates, but you'll find out as I tell you about our week. So Monday night we start our splits with another set of missionaries which, let me tell you, was so helpful for me because I learned a lot about how to push the work forward!  On Tuesday, Elder Pinta, my temporary companion, and I began our day by planning it all out, and then, at like 10, we were off to do work, which I like. At our first stop, the person wasn't there, so we went to the next house, and her sister opened up, and she wanted to hear our message, so that was cool! We have to see what happens with her, but all hopes up! At another place, this guy comes out and is like, "Are you guys Mormons?" And we're like, "Ya, we're looking for ____." The guy goes, "He's not here." So that's ...

November 7, 2022 Hey, what is going on you guys! How's life been? This week was a roller coster, to be honest, haha, but it was a good roller coaster. On Monday, I gave a blessing to this guy outside of my area, and it was a really good experience because life stinks for people in Argentina right now, sharing my knowledge of the gospel and how its giving me hope was sooo cool. Wednesday, we knocked doors like usual but this time no one opened up so that stunk, but then Thursday we had a zone conference and that was amazing. There were so many people there, and I learned so much! Also, we had really good food, so that also was fun, haha. Friday we didn't do anything except for knock doors, soo at the end of the day I was like, "OK, I'm taking over the area book. I put friends in for lessons and contacted people, so our schedule looks a lot better now. Also on Friday, we had a good convo with one of our friends. Saturday was probably the most fun. I had an interview with...

October 31, 2023 Hey! What is going on y'all I will explain the title in a little bit because it's a pretty interesting story. This week was great!! We found 12 new people to teach, so that's really exciting! Also, I've been able to connect with my comp a little more, so now the transfer is going pretty well!! This week I was able to give a blessing in Spanish even though I had no clue what I was saying. My comp stood behind me and told me the words. Anyways, what else happened this week? Oh ya, I made dinner and breakfast this week, and it was soon good. I mean I cooked with what I had, so to be honest, I could have made it so much better in America, but I'm not there rn, so I just did with what I had. I'll put pictures in to show you. Along with my own cooking, I also ate some really interesting things at a member's house. At the beginning of the lunch, they hand me this orange pepper and are like, "Go on, Elder. Eat it. Its soo good." So I ate i...

 October 24, 2022 Hey, what's up, guys!! Elder Mergenthaler here!  This week was kind of rough because, one we didn't have a phone, so it was hard to contact people in the street, and two, I can't really get to know my comp because my mans doesn't speak English,  😶 but the end of the week it all turned around or at least this next week is gonna be great!  Let's see my stories for this week. Well, I really don't have much except for that one day when we were door knocking a lady opened up and was like no thank you which sucks to hear so I quickly respond with thank you and have a great day but while I was saying that the lady said "my legs hurt," so I basically just told the lady we were grateful her legs hurt haha! There was also another time when we got to a door, and I cut a dude off because I wanted to share my testimony, haha, so both of those experiences were a little awkward. Also, this week we had an activity for the youth to teach them how to...

 October 18, 2022 Hey what's up y'all! Elder Mergenthaler here!   This week was kind of crazy but also super super fun! So let me get you started. Monday I had my last p-day in Tandil which is so sad but its all good because I'm at the beachy area now haha. Anyways after Monday, I said goodbye to families in my ward and took photos and all that. Tuesday was just a normal day with contacting and stuff but the sad thing about Tuesday was that we had really good lessons with people that could progress and I had to leave and not watch them progress anymore which sucks but it's all good! Wednesday was the same as Tuesday so really nothing important there haha. Thursday I woke up packed up and got ready to catch a bus to my new area in Mar del Plata. After packing up on Thursday, we really just waited around until the bus came and picked me up. After that Thursday, I sat on a bus for a while and then got to Mar del Plata and met my new companion Elder Castillo! He's dope ...