September 21 - Forever Missionary

Dear everyone,

Wow.

I can't even fathom it. A year and a half has gone by. The best year and a half of my life. Hard to believe this is the last group email I'll be sending home. Hopefully I'll have given the majority of you big hugs by the time next Monday rolls around. Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mixed emotions!

Ooookay! So I was eternally grateful for our SUPER CRAZY BUSY WEEKEND! Kept me moving. Kept me focused. Thursday was our last day at the monthly Ashford fair! It was a hit. Almost the entire Zone showed up to support the event, and we easily passed out over a hundred Book of Mormons! We tried a few different contacting techniques, and Elder Heflin even gave a Book of Mormon to Miss Connecticut! :D :D

Got home super late, and the next morning we were up early to pack the Spaceship and catch the first half of district meeting before the 2+ hour road trip to New Haven! My last Open House. Sheesh. As soon as we got there, the long-awaited T-Texts came in!!!!!! (Remember, that's the nickname for Transfer Texts when we find out where everyone goes.) Guess who's going to be the new PVC Sister????? The first person in the entire mission I would have chosen: Sister Francis. I LOVE SISTER FRANCIS!!!!! She's PERFECT for the job! She was my Sister Training Leader here in Weston, and I would trust her with anything! I'm so so so happy. :) :) :) Also, those who are going home get to pick what is next to their name in T-texts. I put #forevermissionary.

The Open House was good! :) A lot of members showed up, and it was awesome to see their involvement. They stopped most of the people on the street. Way to do missionary work! The last tour I gave was to this sweet Yale student named Tung. Sister Francis and I gave it together, which was special. The old PVC Sister with the new one. :) And the spirit was so strong! It was a neat last memory. Tender mercies.

When we finally packed up, drove the 2 hours home, and got to bed, it was past midnight. We had to get up super early the next morning, too! Crazy packed day! Exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders to cover all five of our events! Whoo!!!!! So Sister Demuth and I drove all the way out at 7:00 AM to Canton, Connecticut for a fair. :) It was a lot of fun, but we weren't allowed to proselyte, which was lame. Kinda pointless. Still, somehow (through Sister Demuth's mad skills) we got out 20 Book of Mormons to those who approached us out of curiosity. :) From there, we jumped in the car and drove to CENTRAL FALLS!!!! For the last time for me. They were having a Family Home Evening with the whole ward. I was excited to see everyone, but when I walked in the building. . . I think it really hit me for the first time. I just stood there and cried. I love the people in Central Falls. They're my family; that place is my home. It was rough. But I had a very sweet goodbye with the Frandsens. Talia (their daughter they named my name) was 1 year old that day. :) Special.

Speaking of special, you wouldn't believe the last Sunday I had. New Haven was having their stake reorganized, so guess who came into town? Elder Holland. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland. And we were invited to set up displays for him and the stake. It was a wonderful, powerful meeting. I received much direction and comfort and answers to prayers there. And after stake conference, when almost everyone was gone, Sister Cruz and I were taking down the displays when Elder Holland walked right up to us!!!! "Sisters! I love you so much!" I shook his hand, practically shaking. And then I thanked him for everything. I told him I'm finishing my mission this week, how his words and testimony had meant the world to me on my mission. He did this crazy stare-into-your-soul thing, and said, "This week???? That means I can give you a hug!" Elder Holland hugged me! And my companion. We talked to him for a minute, and then he told us he loved us again and walked away. It was tender and incredible! That man is a man of God. And God loves me. He knew just what I needed my last weekend in the mission.

I know this email is long, but I have to tell you something important. Are you ready?

My mission isn't over! It's not. And it won't be on Friday, either. Serving in the MBM has meant everything to me. It's taught me all I need to know to get through this life, given me lifelong friends, and changed me from the core. But most importantly, I learned how to give everything I have to Jesus Christ, forever. And that's my mission. I don't need to wear a nametag to stand as His representative.

I am a witness of the miracle of the Atonement.

I love my Savior. I love the Book of Mormon. And I love all of you to the moon and back.

I'll see you so soon.

I cannot say the smallest part of which I feel.

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary

September 14 - Sprinting to the Finish Line!

Dearest family and friends I love sooooo dearly!

Life in the MBM is stellar! I love it here so much, and I had the greatest week to show for it!

So that video we've been making with the Digital Elders? It's finished!!! I really would like to show you, but I don't think I can attach it here! Man. It's soooo good. High quality. Elder Simmons really figured out that Adobe program. I can't wait for them to present it to the Mission Presidents and the Bretheren.

On Thursday I had my very last Hartford Open House. How crazy is that? Here's the fun part: it rained. The whole time!!! It all worked out, because the awning covered the outdoor display, and people were eager to come in from the rain. :) That was nice. Everyone was eager to invite and work hard. I stood out there with an umbrella, getting rejected a ton. But the few people who accepted were really neat! It was a fun last tour. We had about 42 people come inside! And then we get drenched putting everything back in the Spaceship. Hahaha!

Friday we had District Breakfast, District Meeting, then headed out together to the greatest service project! A bunch of missionaries were called upon to help with the Red Cross Blood Drive at Fenway Stadium!!!! It was so much fun!!! I'd never been in Fenway before. It's so neat. We took tons of pictures. Sister Cruz and I were assigned to help with the food, and registration for awhile. Elder Jelk got to dress up as a giant drop of blood and dance on the street! Hahaha, it was great! There were a ton of people there. We collected nearly 800 units of blood before we left. So incredible.

Saturday we went to "Waltham Days". A fair right here, in our home ward boundaries! It was so much fun! There were booths and dancers and lots of people. We set up the Book of Mormon roundtable under our little tent, then Elder Jelk, Elder Wharton, Elder Asay, Elder Waters, Sister Cruz and I contacted! Elder Waters and Elder Asay did worked particularly hard. And you know what? Together, we placed over 100 Book of Mormons.

After that event, we went on exchanges, and Sister Saito and I picked up the Brockton Elders and drove to Central Falls again! They were able to attend a baptism of someone they'd taught. I set up the Portuguese display for the baptism, but the service was all in Portuguese and I didn't know the person being baptized, so I excused myself. Sister Saito and I went and delivered invitations to people I love! I want them to come to transfer meeting and hear my final testimony as a missionary! I looooooved getting to see Sister Shea, Sister Barnwell, and the Coopers again. A few tears were shed. <3 <3 <3

Wow! A week and a half left. I'm working as hard as I can, going at full sprint! Next week is going to be crazy with things to do! That's how I like it!

I am so grateful to be here. To be a missionary. To know the people I've met and to feel the kind of joy I've felt. This is truly Christ's church. I know it.

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary

P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOMMY!

September 7 - Boston is Beautiful!

Dearest family and friends,

Goodness, it's September already? Time is flying. I'm loving every moment out here, though!

This week has been less eventful (literally). We travelled a lot less, but there was still plenty of work to be done! :) I told you about the Digital Mission Commercial we're making last week. Well, this week we went to the Mequires with Brother Haight to get his voice recorded for the narration. It was a lot of fun. The digital elders are really happy about how it turned out. It was good to see the Megquires and Brother Haight again. I miss them already!

We did random things in the office. . . switched out videos on the app for some new ones, edited videos we're making, Digital Mission work. . . Oooh! I'm teaching someone from Ukraine. Did I mention that??? I love the Digital Mission! Also, we had a crazy time unloading our Spaceship and moving into the old mission "party bus" so the Spaceship could get fixed. The Weston Elders (Moving Elders) helped us out with that, then helped us move it all back, because apparently the replacement doors are on back-order. Go figure. Still got a broken vehicle. :D

Friday was Zone Meeting! It was soooo funny. The Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders had a recent convert and Brother Haight come as guest speakers. It made all the difference. We had a great time, but also learned a lot about working with members and what to do to gain their trust. Brother Haight gave me an incredible blessing after the meeting. It really helped me as I've been thinking about this CRAZY upcoming transition in my life. He's an inspired man. Truly.

That night we had dinner with the Dowlings, and then the Digital Elders filmed us Skyping a lesson with an investigator in their home so we could use the footage for the commercial!

We took a road-trip on Saturday, but this time it was for more filming for the commercial. The Waltham Elders taught with a Spanish family, then we took off for Cambridge to film three other companionships in Skype lessons and online. The footage is great. I'm really hoping and anticipating that this video will come together nicely. <3 Can't wait to show you! Oooh, and since we were in Cambridge, we stopped by the Charles river for a few shots. I'll send you one. I was so struck by how beautiful Boston is; how much God really loves us, for giving us such beauty!

Yesterday was our only PVC event, but I didn't go. Hahaha, Sister Bybee went with Sister Cruz down to Providence for a baptism, because she had taught the investigator getting baptized. It worked out nicely! I stayed with her companion, Sister Webber and went to the Spanish Branch with her. She's a riot. And a fabulous missionary. Sometimes I wish I could speak Spanish. It's really limiting when you don't speak many languages in this mission. But I got to be a normal missionary again! I even took the T for an hour with her to get to a dinner appointment. It was a blast!

I'm at the Belmont chapel today. We have an extended P-day, because we came here for a big Primary event this morning! It was so much fun. :) :) :) I'll tell you more about it next week! I love you all! Cya sooooooon! AHHHH!!!!!

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary

August 31 - Loving New England!

Dear everyone I love,

It’s hard to believe it’s been another week already! Time is flying.

Ready for another rundown?? Okay, so last Monday, after emailing, our district joined up with some other missionaries and we went to Revere Beach for some Ultimate Frisbee! It was so fun! Picture attached.

We had less events during the weekdays this week, so we got some online work done. One project we’ve been working on is in an effort to help the Digital Elders. They’re creating a “Digital Mission Commercial” that they will use to present what we’re doing here in Conferences and Seminars all over! Elder Simmons hadn’t used Adobe Premiere Pro before, so I’ve been helping him with the basics that I’ve figured out over the last month of movie-making. Between his computer smarts and my limited experience, we’ve been able to make some quality headway! I’m so excited—this commercial is going to be really good. We even are going to have President Haight (Brother Haight now, I guess) recorded in the Megquires’ studio for the narration. It'll be super classy. :)

Zone Conference was this week! That's always good! I was able to get some good direction from Heavenly Father during conference.

This weekend we went on exchanges! Sister Cruz had a baptism to go to in Marlborough, so I went to Central Falls with Sister Saito! Another Brazilian. :) I love her! It was like a double slumber party while seeing miracles on the Lord's errand! What could be better?? We crashed at the Sisters' house on Friday night, got ready, then set up for a full Open House in the teeny little chapel that I love! The Spanish Branch was in charge, and I was so impressed with how many people actually came to support and help out. I haven't seen an Open House that successful in Central Falls since I was serving there. It was amazing! The Lord really poured out His blessings, I think especially because of all the effort and preparation that went into it from the branch and the missionaries. The whole district showed up to help, we divvied up the streets to contact on, and went at it! It was so fun! Final count: 32 non-members that came in for a tour. <3 I love being a PVC Sister. Those displays and videos are so inspired. Everyone was busy, the spirit was strong, and there's just something so fulfilling about inviting everyone you see to learn more about Christ.

That night was crazy. I had to practice the song I'm singing at transfer meeting with Elder Scott, and people were trying to help pack everything away. . . Haha, I should have just manned it. Everything was misplaced and packed wrong and so chaotic by the time I came to check on things. :D When we finally got it all figured out, we couldn't find the keys. We searched and searched. . . then waited for another 30 minutes for the Sisters who accidentally pocketed them to return. Haha. Needless to say, Sister Saito and I got home at about midnight. It was so fun!

Yesterday we attended a Spanish baptism in Boston, and today. . . we went fishing!!!! It was wicked fun! Warwick, Rhode Island with Elder Williams, Elder Liston, Elder Crandall, and Elder Riches. I'll have to send another picture for that.

Looks like I'm going to have a stellar week. I'm excited! Thanks for everything!!!!!

Love you,

Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary

August 24 - The Lord is at the helm!

Hello everyone!!!

We've had quite the week in the PVC. Lots of events and mercies and miracles and friendships. I truly love my mission with all of my heart.

The first major event of the week was an Open House at the New Haven chapel. It was great, because one of the Elders that had been serving in Hartford (the place we've been going every month for incredible, street-contacting Open Houses) was just "shotgunned" into New Haven. (Shotgunning means he opened the area. They never had English Elders there before him.) The very first phone call he made was to us, the PVC Sisters! He had seen the miracles and wanted it to happen in his new area, which just so happened to be another high-foot traffic area. This is the chapel on Yale campus, if you remember. So within a few days we had set up a time, packed up, and traveled out there!

It was a really big success. :) New Haven is a little more difficult than Hartford. I think it's because people are poor and humble in Hartford, and on Yale campus, more people just come inside for an intellectual battle. Still, we had 21 people walk in from the street for a tour! What an incredible experience! These Elders are so grateful to start off their area on the right foot. :)

Thursday we went back down to Ashford for their fair. So many people from the Zone came to help. We must have passed out over 80 Book of Mormons, and drawn so many people's attention with the Book of Mormon roundtable! I have an ever-increasing testimony of street-contacting and talking to everyone. You'll never know who the Lord will place in your path. So many people are so prepared. It was another incredible success.

We also got to travel to a chapel I've never been to, up in Keene, New Hampshire! They were having a big dinner and a Meet the Mormons movie night for everyone who wanted to come! I couldn't tell them apart, but apparently about 20 people who weren't members attended and had a wonderful time. Everyone there loved the Jesus Christ display. I'm so grateful to see this tool being put to good use, especially in new areas! Also, Keene is the only area that covers Vermont. So, since we were so close to the border, we took a little side trip for a picture! I'll have to send it! I've officially been to 5 states on my mission! Vermont is absolutely stunning.

Our second ever PVC-ran Primary event was this Saturday! In Weston, my home area. :D Those events take a ton of work, but they're so much fun! We had all of the stations set up with Watch and Learn and an activity attached to each. The missionaries in the area helped us run everything so the kids could go in any order to get every station checked off. They love planting their seed and building prayer sandwiches and the huge map of the world they could run all over. It was so fun. Those kids are adorable, and I really think this Primary event will become so popular. It's perfect for so many wards.

We had a party up in Cambridge, and yesterday we went to Central Falls to train the Spanish ward on how to give tours themselves, prepping them for their upcoming Open House! I'm so excited. You know how much I love Central Falls. We have the potential to do something amazing here, I know it. The Lord is at the helm of this great work!

You are all in my thoughts and prayers! Thank you, again, for your constant support and love. You mean the world to me, and I draw strength from your examples every day. I love my mission--I love the gospel. We are so so so blessed.

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary

August 17 - Buckle up! We're picking up speed!

Hello there, everyone!!!

One more week down. One more crazy transfer over. One more incredible transfer left. I go through some serious emotional turmoil every six weeks. You’d think goodbyes would be easier for me by now.

But it was a great week. <3 Lots happened, and I love the feeling of being continually busy!

Tuesday we I did a lot of work on the digital mission, and I had my first lessons on Skype! I taught three different people, all of whom happened to be from Brazil. How neat is that?? These people are golden. I was amazed. One of them, as soon as we connected on Skype, said, “So you’re a missionary! What is your purpose? And I have a question. . . I recently became Christian, but I don’t understand why there are so many different churches in the world if there’s one truth.” ?!?!?! If that’s not golden, I don’t know what is. :) I have 3 new friends that are eager to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

That night we picked up two of the incoming missionaries from the mission home so they could sleep at our apartment for the night. The two Spanish Sisters. They’re adorable and full of fire for the work. It makes me happy to see so many fresh missionaries filled with the Spirit. This work is going to keep racing forward!

We took them back to the mission home early the next morning, worked in the office, then went to the Weston Chapel to prep for Transfer Meeting. We were privileged to attend “Forces Unite”, the meeting where all of the greenies get their trainers. Sister Cruz was in charge of the photography. :) We have 23 new missionaries! Wahoo! And transfer meeting. . . best/worst meeting ever. Here’s the thing: Sister Gocalves, Sister Hansen, and Sister Lewis, all of whom I flew out with, were giving their final testimonies and going home. Reality check much? I’m the only one from my group going home next transfer! Also, Elder Terry, Elder Wright, and a couple of other friends went home, too. :( The testimonies were inspiring, though. Tears were shed, hugs were given, and people took the time to watch the videos on the PVC. :)

The next day we drove down to Hartford for another Open House! You know how much I love those! It was a little different this time, though, because so many people had been transferred out, Elder McGurk was in the hospital, and we had 2 greenies who had never even seen the PVC! But they were full of fire, and everyone talked to everyone. More miracles happened. More strangers wept over the powerful videos. We had 2 people who wanted to be baptized and are ready and willing to come to church, read the Book of Mormon, and meet with the missionaries to prepare for that step. I had the privledge of taking a man named Robert through on a tour with the greenies. Not only was it incredible to teach with the greenies, but that man is so golden. He was floored by the experience of Joseph Smith and told us all about how he had asked God the same question about which church to join not too long ago. Neither of us believe in coincidences. He's completely turned around his life and has been so prepared by Heavenly Father this whole time, until a greenie approached him from the street and invited him to an Open House. I love being a missionary. There's nothing more rewarding. :)

Friday was an adventure. We had district meeting first. The new district is sooo fun. We have 2 greenies! But then, well, recently Sister Cruz has been experiencing some numbness in her arm/fingers. Because of the accident. So we were finally sent to the emergency room to get it checked out. I don't like the ER. We were there for five hours. Sheesh! Didn't get home until 10:30, and everyone was all worried. So it's a pinched nerve that wasn't happy because we went straight back to lifting heavy boxes and such. Now she's got a bunch of medication to help everything, but she's not allowed to lift anything heavier than a pencil. Hahahaha! I laughed when they said that. Looks like I'll be setting up all the displays for awhile. Don't worry mom, I'll get help lifting and carrying to and from the Spaceship.

We attended a lovely wedding reception in Worcester with the temple display on Saturday. And yesterday was super fun! Somehow, even though we got out the door late, we made it to four different events all on time! Set up in Weston for a missionary homecoming and left. Drove to Central Falls and brought Sister Couto a display for a baptism there. We attended sacrament meeting with these people that I love so so so so so dearly. :) From there we were off to West Bridgewater for a baptism, and from there we took the two-hour drive and made it on time to a RM fireside in Springfield! Whoo! He was great. His family aren't members of our faith, and they were able to feel the Spirit as he talked about his mission in Mesa, Arizona. Lots of people watched the videos, too!

So that was my wonderful week! Today is the first official day of the new transfer, and I'm so excited to do this last transfer right! Ready to work harder than ever! Thanks for everything you all do for me! I love you with all of my heart!

Love forever,
Sister Merkley

MBM PVC Missionary

August 10 - Who would hit a SPACESHIP??

Dearest everyone!

Man, this week! If I could only tell you! It's been a roller-coaster.

First of all. . . so this week the Moving Elders (Weston 1) had to take in their truck to get it fixed. We had this great plan that we would take them to meet a less-active family I taught a year ago. So we were driving to pick them up from the Ford place. . . I was merging, coming off the freeway, so I slowed down. . . and the person behind me didn't.

Yup. This little Toyota Corolla rear-ended the SPACESHIP. :P :P At at least 30 mph, when we were almost stopped. We jolted hard, heard the bang, I screamed, and then we pulled right over! My first accident ever!!!! That got my adrenaline pumping. I was all woozy even jumping out of the van.

It didn't look pretty. The whole bumper was smashed up into the doors, which were smashed up into the frame. The trailer hitch and metal were all bent. . . the other guy got away less smashed-up. We were lucky the Moving Elders were right there. They helped us out a lot. And my back started hurting when the adrenaline started fading. It's hard to believe how jarring that hit was. Like bumper cars x100. I never liked bumper cars. . .

Sister Miller got in a crash that same day! And we had to go to Urgent Care and fill out reports and all sorts of lame things. *Sigh*. It's going to be a pricey repair. Firestone ripped off our bumper so we could open the back doors. But I'm okay, don't you worry!

Friday we had a wonderful Zone Meeting. :)

Anyway, Saturday was incredible. Guess where I went??? Central Falls. Because of the most incredible thing ever. I don't know if you remember this girl I love, named Alexandra. I taught her the lessons to prepare her for her baptism. She's ten, and we were the best of friends. Her mom was returning to full activity at the time, but Alexandra was too afraid to ask her dad for permission to get baptized, which is what prevented her from baptism when I was there. And then last week. . . his heart was softened, Sister Rhoderick asked him for permission, and he said yes.

So last second they planned a baptism, I got notified, and we raced over to Central Falls for a beautiful Saturday morning baptism! I love Alexandra so much!!! She tackled me as soon as I walked through the door and stayed by my side the whole time. She's crazy and hilarious and has a strong, wonderful personality. :) I've missed her. When I told them how soon I'm going home, Sister Rhoderick started crying and said it was just in time. The Lord has perfect timing. It was s tender mercy for me, too, to see something I worked and prayed for happen. It reminded me that I'm capable of being an instrument in the Lord's hands still--that big things can still happen before I go home, as a result of my efforts and the Lord working through me. It was a special day. Alexandra stood to sing "I Am a Child of God" during the service, then got scared and grabbed my hand. She pulled me to the front and whispered that she wanted me to sing with her. So I did. It was precious. This is what missionary work is all about.

We had a Brazilian/Cape Verdian party in Central Falls that night, too. Lots of non-members came, and we taught some people a powerful lesson using a display and videos upstairs. <3 It was neat. And their music and dancing is so cool!

Sunday the Brookline Sisters came on splits with us! Sister Cruz went to Hingham and West Bridgewater, and I went to 2 Haitian baptisms! Crazy, right??? One of them was for a family I know in Weston. Haha, I set the display up by myself in 5 minutes flat in front of everyone. . . No pressure! Haha, it was because we were running from the baptism in Boston. It was a success, though!

We got transfer news, too!!!! Guess what??? I'm staying. :) :) Hahaha. That's right. Half of my mission is in the PVC. I will finish everything here. <3 I intend to sprint.

I love you all so much! Thanks for news and emails and letters! I feel your love!

Love,
Sister Merkley
MBM PVC Missionary