The Tiniest World

Hi humanz it's me.

We have been teaching this lady Tonya (more like she's been coming to church and we haven't really had any official lessons yet since she is so busy). She is being fellowshipped by some members of our ward. She doesn't live in our area....I don't really know what's going to happen with that.... Anyways, she calls us crying and says that the court took her grandkids away from her. She asked us to write a letter telling them that she takes good care of them as far as we could see. We said we could do that, but after we hung out we quickly realized that as missionaries we probably couldn't. We decided to call our 19 year old BFF Olivia from the ward and ask her if we could come make dinner for Tonya at her house and then bring it to her. Olivia (she's the best) of course said yes and so we made her some pasta stuff and brought it to her and apologized for not being able to write a letter. Tonya lives in a very humble home, it was awesome to leave our area and get back to seeing these humble homes and being able to associate with people willing to listen. We are super excited to teach Tonya this week.

So in Farragut, since it's kind of a slow area, we get to hang with members a lot. We went on a nature walk to a waterfall with the Mori's this week. We went and had dinner at the Miller's yesterday and played with their kids. When I was talking to their oldest (Paige) she told me that they had just moved to Tennessee from California about 2 years ago. I asked her what part and she said Murietta. WE IMMEDIATELY FREAKED OUT!! She knows the Goldings! That made me so happy! Bahahaha tiny world right? Also their dog bit my thigh in the most loving way possible. Here's a pic of him, his name is Brando. I like him.

Well that's all I got for this week! I love y'all! Bless your little hearts.

Love,

me

Hey Guyz! I'm a Glorified Yard Worker!!!!

Apr 21 at 11:10 AM

Hey Everyone,

Well this week I met a rabbit named Kim Kardashian. It was pure bred too so obviously it was a big deal. Tracey (the human owner) breeds rabbits and eats them and sells her precious pure bloods. She also has a pig named Brutus. He's her "guard pig". She also has like 8 dogs that like to kill her other animals (chickens and cats).... yeah so to say the least she's an interesting lady and we get to help her clean her rabbit poop every Tuesday. PARTAYYY.

Farragut is a very different area from the rest of the places in the mission. We're doing our best trying to meet people and serve them even if they aren't willing to listen.

That makes me really sad to hear about everything going on back home. Good thing we all have the gospel right? Libby emailed me some motivating thoughts so I thought I'd just recycle them for y'all... 

The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,
That stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king,
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
Who never had to win his share
Of sun sky and light and air,...
Never became a manly man,
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow in ease.
The stronger wind, the tougher trees,
The farther sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength,
By sun and cold, by rain and snows,
In tree or man, good timber grows.
-Source unknown

Hmmm maybe I'll take that advice into my missionary life. 

Sister Hamilton and I took a pleasure break yesterday and frolicked in a meadow for fun. Here are some pics as a result.

Love you guys! Prayin for y'all erry day!

Sister Merrell

 

 

PS we're at the library and this black lady asked us to borrow our phone and she called the bus station and is yelling at them on the phone because she can't figure out how to buy a bus ticket to Georgia. She's saying the F word a lot and I can't help but laugh. Whoops.

Puppies, Cook Outz, & Farragut Living

Today at 11:29 AM

Hey Hey!!


So this week was pretty fun! We spent a lot of time in the "ghetto" part of our area. There are a few trailers but mostly just nice country homes. We went tracting and I got a farmer's tan line sun burn :( And we didn't really have any success... But hey it was fun meeting all the random people in the hills! We decided to go a former investigator's home what was up in that area--they got baptized but didn't come to church the following day to get confirmed. Interesting right? Well we met them! The cox family! They had the CUTEST puppies! Their dog had 12 of them but they had given the majority of them away. The cutest one is a black runt and they call him Lil' Bit. We have an appointment with them and their family for Tuesday. It's going to be great! Also there's tonz of tickz up by their house so that will be great dodging those.

We had a cookout and roasted weenies.. yes weenies, with a bunch of families in the ward. Some non members showed up towards the end and it ended up being missionary-productive. It was a really good time!

The ward had an Easter egg hunt on Saturday and our investigator Tonya came with her grandkids. They had a great time and so did we.

Farragut is a fun and classy place.

You homiez R gr8. Keep in touch. Don't change. HAGS

LOVE Y'ALL

 

 

I am Sister Animal

Apr 7 at 11:23 AM

Heyyyyyyyyyyo.

So it's me the missionary. I'm still here in Farragut, Tennessee for those of you who have forgotten.

This week was pretty eventful! On Monday we had FHE with Tonya and her grandkids at the Lee's home! The kids were super hyper so we taught a brief lesson on faith, invited Tonya to come to conference, and enjoyed some delicious poppy seed lemon cake.

My first day in Farragut we had taught this lady, Denise, the restoration. It was super rocky. Denise had the missionaries over a few times over before I had gotten there and they had talked about what they do as missionaries and feelings the spirit and stuff. This week we went back and brought the restoration dvd and a member and it went really well! We talked about having real intent and finding truth! It was a great lesson and the member did an awesome job testifying!

We brought a young girl out with us this week because she was having a hard time. We got there and our appointment told us straight up she didn't want us to be Mormon so we left and went to get frozen yogurt and talk about a cool conference talk. There we met Cortney, the frozen yogurt guy! He's awesome and he was super excited to learn what we have to share! We told him to meet us at a park down the street and we taught him the restoration! It was awesome and the spirit was so strong! He is seriously so ready and willing to find truth!

Conference was so awesome! We got to watch a session at President Irion's house (we took a selfie for kicks and giggles. I love that man. Also my hair isn't that short it was just going crazy don't freak out) and that is where I got some seriously kicks in the pants from Elder Holland. His talks always make me want to be better I loved it.

 For all of the other sessions we chilled at the church, my butt was numb from sitting in the pews that long (too much info? sorry). None of the investigators came to the sessions that we had planned them to come for, we were bummed until the last session! TONYA, CORTNEY, and STEPHEN (gas station guy that we the assistants to the president were supposed to take from us but haven't really done anything about him but he is in love with my comp so it's awk) ALL CAME! Isn't that awesome? They got to hear from the prophets themselves and feel the spirit that their words can powerfully convey! Cortney was super pumped about the session and Tonya enjoyed herself. Stephen said he didn't really learn anything (debbie downer) but hey 2/3 not bad right?

I love being in Farragut because we find humility in the most unlikely places. People are ready to take full advantage of what God has to offer them! I hope everyone enjoyed conference!

Oh yes, I almost forgot. I've also been given the nickname "Sister Animal" by the Morrison family because I taught some young boys how to play chubby champions. For those of you in the dark that's when you get pillows and ram each other. One time I rammed Ethan (he's like 7) and he flew backwards and ran into their huge dog and did the worm in the air. It was hilarious and he thought it was awesome. I love them.

Sister Andrea Kate Merrell

 

 

PS we thought this was pretty place to take a pic and as we were walking up some people across the street yelled at us that it was a bad idea. Then we realized there was the terrifying goose nesting on it's eggs. It was glaring at us and was definitely ready to attack!

I'm Farragut Classy!!!

A picture of me with my new comp and my old district leader Elder Big Baby Brown.

 

Hello EVERYONE!

I've been transferred to FARRAGUT, TENNESSEE WHERE THE STREETS ARE PAVED WITH GOLD. But seriously this is the classiest place in the mission. Everyone is a multimillionaire and they all shop at j crew so I totally fit in. Guess who my companion is! SISTER HAMILTON. My friend from the MTC!! Yayayayayayayayayyayayayayaya WE B HAVIN FUN.

So since I live in Beverly Hills, Tennessee, It's super hard to find people so we have to be almost completely dependent on the members. AHHHHHHHHHH. So they invite people to their homes and we have family home evening and stuff. So it's tight. We spend a lot of time with members so we can talk to them about the people we want us to teach.

My last few days in Oak Ridge were kind of hard because I didn't want to say goodbye! Maxine was really sad to see me go and so was Catherine (she cried when she found out about me getting transferred). BUT WE'RE ALL OKAY BECAUSE WE'RE MORMON FRIENDS FOR ETERNITY. Maxine we will just have to baptize by proxy if you know what I mean... I am seriously so in love with Oak Ridge and I am so blessed to have been able to serve there for 6 whole months! But I had to leave sometime, so I left. Farragut is going to be what I make of it. So obviously it's going to be awesome! I already have some fun friends in the young women. Also Brother Pesci in our ward (the funniest man on earth) knows Uncle Rob. So basically it's like I'm in Utah because the people here know my family and the ward is jammed packed full of humanz.

I really miss seeing roadkill every where. Roadkill=home. But we have seen some roadkill here and that has made me super happy.

 

 

There are some beautiful churches here in Farragut, so here is a pic of me by a classy catholic church in the rain.

 

 

I gotta go though! LOVE YOU GUYZZZ

Ba donka doink!

Today at 10:03 AM

HI Y'ALL!!
So this week was pretty great!

We had a fun adventure with a huge dog the size of a horse! We were trying to get past the dog and the huge gate to get to this person's house to meet them because they are on the ward roster and we didn't know who they are. So we got some dog treats and were going to make a break for it but the dog was too scary so we just fed him the treats and left. But hey the neighbor that was outside watching us is a new investigator!

Dylan and Adrian got BAPTIZED! IT was awesome. Adrian went first and he locked his knees so he went backwards like a plank. Then he GENTLY bonked his head on the wall (Ba donka doink!) and then went underwater first try! Yeehaw! Dylan went next and was advised to bend his knees. So that went a little bit more smoothly. It was great!

I also found out that I am getting transferred! The conference call was on Saturday, and that's when they list who is getting transferred, is becoming a district leader, zone leader, sister training leader, training, blah blah blah. Anyways I know I'm leaving but I don't know where I'm going! It's going to be sad leaving Oak Ridge but hey it had to end at some point right??

I saw President Irion at stake conference and I asked him where I'm going and he just laughed at me. This waiting game is TORTURE!!! Hahahaha oh well I love my life.

I forgot my camera so I will attach some cute baptism pics next week!

Love you guyz thx 4 da luv!

Easy Cheese, Pie and Cancelled Appointments are no Coincidence!

Today at 9:36 AM

Hi guyz,

This week has been a lil' bit on the crazy side.

First off, at district meeting on Thursday I was minding my own business and spraying easy cheese all over Sister Schwab's hand. Then I urged and inspired her to shake hands with Elder Williams. He decided it was my fault due to my role as motivator... so he wiped easy cheese on my face. I'm okay, we're all okay.

Well then last night Sister Gotchy was sneaking pie out of the fridge and Maxine walked in and scared her so she dropped the entire pie on the floor. Maxine was laughing so hard she nearly wet herself. I took this opportunity to smash pie in Gotchy's face. Muahahahahaha. She then chased me around for a second and we quickly realized it was time for bed. So there we went obviously, because we're Preach My Gospel Missionaries. The end.

Okay so I actually do missionary work on this mission too. Kewl stuff happens all the time. The other night we out riding out bikes to our appointments and all of them had forgotten we were coming and weren't home or didn't answer the door. FANCY THAT!? So we decide to stop at the assisted living center to see Diana since we were nearby. Diana's friend April had felt the overwhelming urge to go visit Diana. She showed up mid lesson and we all read Alma 32 together. April had some serious questions of the soul and we were able to answer a few of them. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she left knowing why she had felt super inspired to go see Diana. Holy cow right?... She doesn't live in our area though and wouldn't give us her address because she's baptist. Dang, at least she has a Book of Mormon!

I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting yesterday. It wasn't anything great, mainly because I wrote a 15 minute talk and realized they told me to only speak for 5 minutes when I was up on the stand. It ended up being pretty choppy. Oh well. We're all okay.

Well I'm going to get my hair cut today, so I'll probably buzz my head. Email me back if you object. LOVE Y'ALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!