Imma Baller

Hi, it's me.

We did lots of service this week! We planted flowers for Sister Fritz (our eternal investigator who recently broke her leg). We planted flowers at the entrance of President Irion's neighborhood! President came too and he was wearing sweats! Hahaha I loved it. Afterwards we played a quick round of Bball, Elder Byron and I vs. President and Elder Bradd. I scored the game winning lay-up. I'm getting pretty good at basketball! We also did a bunch of weeding for Marie. That was fun. I love that woman. We taught Josh and he said he is a hands on learner. I suggested that he learn the gospel through experience. He committed to pray and ask God what he should do. We don't have a return appointment at the moment. Debbie Downer... BUT WE'RE HOPEFUL! 

That's all I got folks!

Love y'all!

We're the Cheapest Free Labor in Tennessee!

Hey Folks.

We've been doing a lot of service!

 

This week we cleared a swamp, spread mulch, worked at the bishop's storehouse, spread more mulch, and painted a porch!

When we cleared the swamp thing it was located in the backyards of about 12 surrounding houses. All of the run off drains into there when it rains. I don't really know why they wanted clear it all out but it sure was fun! Also we're the cheapest free labor in Tennessee, I mean that to be redundant not that we're cheap quality because we're the best.

Every year Liberty Mutual dedicates a day to local service. This year they had two projects, they volunteered at the bishop's storehouse and they helped spread mulch for a lady in our ward who is going through a rocky divorce. So we basically spent the day with the Liberty Mutual employees, which was awesome! The Elders ended helping one of the employees move the following day. Kewl.

We helped spread mulch for a member in the ward and he bought us snappy tomato pizza afterward. Yummmmmm. He also told us his conversion story; it was awesome!

We went over to a less-active lady's house and it was kind of awkward at the door. I saw behind her that they had a cage in their living room. I asked if they had rats and they got really excited. I pretended to be excited too and they let us in so I could hold their rats.. We offered to help them paint their porch and she said yes so we ended up doing that the next day! So I had to hold some nasty rats in order to obtain an opportunity to serve and establish a relationship with this family... was it worth it? Yes.

Anyways that's just another week in the life of a glorified yard worker. 

Bye.

 

 

I'm Not Hungry Josh!

Hi, it's me

Well the big success of the week came on Sunday when we went over to the Coy's house (PM). We were really nervous to ask Josh if we could teach him but eventually we brought it up. He told me to tell him what food I hate so he could make me eat it (rumors state he made a sister who used to be in my area eat eggs cooked in bacon grease which resulted in her vomiting). I told him that I'm not interested in bargaining and that we just want to teach because we are missionaries and the message we have is important. He looked very shocked because he didn't expect that response, probably because he calls me Amanda Bynes and says I act just like her. Whoops. Guess what? Sister Merrell has a serious side whut the whut??? Anyways, we're going back on Friday to teach him muahahahahahahhahahahahahahahah!

Anyways Tennessee is Tennessee. Have I mentioned that on the street we live there is this scary Jesus bus that has lots of fire on it too? I love baptists. I'm sorry my camera has been dead all week or else I would have taken a picture with it! I will soon! I love all of you and I'm excited to talk to y'all on mother's day!

Love,

Sister Andrea Kate Merrell

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!