Hey everyone!!!!
Guess what???? I'm here!!!! Wahoo!
Oh my goodness. I love it. :) :) :) I'll say what I can!
Our flight left at 6:30 AM, which means we left the MTC at 2:30 AM. YIKES. We stayed up all night packing, so I didn't get a wink of sleep until the plane, and I didn't get a solid sleep until the following night. We had TWO planes and a day full of crazy travelling! And then we landed in a FREEZING COLD BOSTON!
We stayed one night at the Mission President's home, which was so fun! They are a wonderful family. And the next night, after a day full of training (and a random tracting assignment, AHH!) we were assigned our companions and areas!!!!!! Sister Chadwick and I split up for the first time. She headed off to Rhode Island, and I was assigned to. . . the WESTON FIRST ZONE!!!!! Which is just WEST of Boston!!!!
My companion/trainer is Sister Slater, and she is a DOLL! Oh my goodness, I love her so much. I am so blessed to be put with her! She is from Spanish Fork, has been out 9 months, has shoulder-length, dark, wavy hair and an awesome personality. (For those of you who want to FB stalk her, it's Heather Slater. :D ) No seriously. She makes me feel so valued, and she's so much fun! We talk and talk and talk! She has an AMAZING TESTIMONY. I just happily follow her amazing lead! We work really hard together, teaching a few different people, doing service at a Food Pantry, and PLANNING. Lots of planning and goals. President Packard has a big thing for getting the Elders and Sisters to work together, because we're "big kids" and can be responsible. So we're working closely with Elder Fish and Elder Terry. I like them, too. So it's been fantastic. :) :) The ward is sweet and supportive and everything!
Massachusetts was really cold for the first two days, then it REALLY warmed up, and now. . . well. . . it's been raining for about 2 days. Kinda. It's more like one of those mist machines from 7 peaks is constantly hissing over your head. I can't wait for Spring. I hear it's breathtaking.
One AMAZING STORY: My very first lesson was with a tall, black guy from Uganda! He's about 23 and SO hard to understand. His name is Jackson. We taught the Restoration. It was a really cool experience, since he already loves Christ and was so open to what we had to say. He just LISTENED. Ans so at the end, I did what we had planned, and extended a baptismal invitation. :O Yeah. . . he said YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!!! My very first lesson, I committed someone to be baptized, and we even set a date!!!!!!!! AHHHHH!!!!
I know it doesn't always work like that, but it was a really awesome start. Now everyone knows me for that. . . but it's not like I did anything amazing. He was just so ready for the gospel. Anyone could have invited him to be baptized!!!!
One depressing story: We had a media referral, and at about 8 last night, in the spitting rain, we headed over with high hopes of his interest. Um. . . first VIOLENT rejection I've seen. He stared at us when he opened the door, then started FREAKING OUT! "You're from the LDS religion, aren't you?? NO. I'm am not even REMOTELY interested, nor will I EVER be! I have no idea how you got my name! Get out of here!" And sweet Sister Slater says, "Have a nice night!" as he SLAMS the door. Yikes. We think a friend put his information down on Mormon.org as a practical joke. Apparently it happens.
But overall it's been an amazing experience! I'm so happy to be out here! The food pantry is sooo humbling. I watched people go collect food from the shelves, fighting back tears because they were reduced to such actions. Most are single mothers. My heart went out to them. But we have a wonderful opportunity to share what we have with them--they're more willing to listen than most.
Massachusetts Boston Mission is the best!!!!!!! Thanks for your support, everyone! I love you sooooooo much. Your support means the world!
Love,
Sister Merkley
P.S. THIS IS MY ADDRESS!!!! Send letters directly here, so I can get them at my apartment instead of going through the mission office. :)
Sister Talia Merkley
16 Kings Way #202C
Waltham, MA 01527
Monday, March 31, 2014
Saturday, March 29, 2014
"Here I am!!!"
Guess what???
I made it to Boston safely. :D :D :D The Packards gave us some time to email loved ones so they don't worry. Not that I think you were worried. . . ;)
Two flights, starting our journey at 2:30 AM, running on no sleep. . . it's been quite the adventure! We got to Boston at about 3 PM last night. It's COLD! But I already love the place!
I'm going to find out my area and trainer tonight, at transfers meeting!!! It's either Rhode Island, in an amazing zone everyone raves about and calls Zion, or Massachusetts, I think. I'm so excited. We're going street contacting with the President today, in a couple hours. AHH! That's scary.
I got 10 hours of sleep last night, which was a help, but I'm still behind on sleep.
The Packards are great. They're so warm and loving, and President Packard is obsessed with how everything in the Book of Mormon fits together, just like me!!!
Can't wait! More details coming on Monday!
<3,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary
I made it to Boston safely. :D :D :D The Packards gave us some time to email loved ones so they don't worry. Not that I think you were worried. . . ;)
Two flights, starting our journey at 2:30 AM, running on no sleep. . . it's been quite the adventure! We got to Boston at about 3 PM last night. It's COLD! But I already love the place!
I'm going to find out my area and trainer tonight, at transfers meeting!!! It's either Rhode Island, in an amazing zone everyone raves about and calls Zion, or Massachusetts, I think. I'm so excited. We're going street contacting with the President today, in a couple hours. AHH! That's scary.
I got 10 hours of sleep last night, which was a help, but I'm still behind on sleep.
The Packards are great. They're so warm and loving, and President Packard is obsessed with how everything in the Book of Mormon fits together, just like me!!!
Can't wait! More details coming on Monday!
<3,
Sister Merkley
MBM Missionary
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
"Week 2! I'm outta here!!!!!!"
Family and friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!
. . . I don't know how on earth I'm expected to summarize my week. Every day is practically a week of its own. But I'll see what I can do.
The MTC is exhausting mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It's still the best. :) We're on the move from 6 AM to 10:30 PM, and that's IF we manage to get to bed on time! We've sat through and taught lesson after lesson. The teachers have been so patient and inspired. We honestly had way too many break-downs. Poor Sister Chadwick has had a rough time vocalizing what she wants to say, and that frustrates her like you wouldn't believe. Sister Percival and I are amazed. She's a tough girl, and she told us the very first day that she is NOT a crier. I'm pretty sure she's cried more than both of us. And I'm usually the emotional one (as you all know) but though my emotions are still strong, they've had a hard time translating into tears. All of my emotion just churns inside of me.
Not to say that all the emotions are negative! NO! Some are, but it's also holy ground, and I have never felt the spirit so CONSISTENTLY in my entire life. The district has turned into my family. I had a hard time saying goodbye to my favorite teacher, Brother Sorensen, on Saturday. He's a short little guy with a humongous heart and gentle power, if you know what I mean. My most spiritual experiences so far have been with him. At one point, we were reading from the Book of Mormon, and he asked us to get on our knees and pray to know if Jesus is really the Christ; our Savior. We all have powerful testimonies of Christ, but he made a strong point that we can ALWAYS ask, and our testimonies can always grow. He offered the prayer, and by the time we got to our feet again, nearly all of us were in tears. The Spirit testifies of truth. Jesus is the Christ.
We met with our first real-ish investigator. Her name is Sarah Mae. She is from Tennessee and has the saddest backstory. Poor lady. Her job is to let us talk to her and teach her the lessons. She truly had no idea what we believe, but she loved the Bible and searched it diligently when she was younger, until she lost trust in God because of all the horrors of her life. Teaching is hard! We love her so much and met with her multiple times, but there were rare occasions when we got through to her. When we did it was amazing, and I KNOW she felt something. But I'm not sure if we convinced her to act or not. She struggles with her relationship with God to the point she doesn't want to put anything to the test. Still, it was a great experience. We said goodbye to her today.
In-field orientation was all day Thursday! It made me SOOOO excited to get out into the field!!!! CAN'T WAIT! But I'm terrified. But I can't wait. Yeah. :) Gosh, I feel like I just settled here. I'm saying goodbyes all over again, so soon. The Elders of my district gave me a blessing today, though. That was wonderful and comforting.
Haha, the Elders told us one word for their first impression of us and their last impression of us. Mine was pretty uniform for everyone, both before and after. Sweet. :D
I'm leaving the MTC at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning!!!! Sister Chadwick and I are hopping on a plane to hit Atlanta, then our connecting flight to Boston. Can you believe it???? I certainly can't. It's surreal. No more training wheels--this is the big leagues.
Thanks for your prayers in my behalf. I feel your support, and that's one of my main motivations. :) You are all the best!
Handwrite me for Boston! I'll have more time to answer. Can't wait to email you next week and tell you ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder where my first area will be. . .
Lots of love!
~Sister Merkley
x
. . . I don't know how on earth I'm expected to summarize my week. Every day is practically a week of its own. But I'll see what I can do.
The MTC is exhausting mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. It's still the best. :) We're on the move from 6 AM to 10:30 PM, and that's IF we manage to get to bed on time! We've sat through and taught lesson after lesson. The teachers have been so patient and inspired. We honestly had way too many break-downs. Poor Sister Chadwick has had a rough time vocalizing what she wants to say, and that frustrates her like you wouldn't believe. Sister Percival and I are amazed. She's a tough girl, and she told us the very first day that she is NOT a crier. I'm pretty sure she's cried more than both of us. And I'm usually the emotional one (as you all know) but though my emotions are still strong, they've had a hard time translating into tears. All of my emotion just churns inside of me.
Not to say that all the emotions are negative! NO! Some are, but it's also holy ground, and I have never felt the spirit so CONSISTENTLY in my entire life. The district has turned into my family. I had a hard time saying goodbye to my favorite teacher, Brother Sorensen, on Saturday. He's a short little guy with a humongous heart and gentle power, if you know what I mean. My most spiritual experiences so far have been with him. At one point, we were reading from the Book of Mormon, and he asked us to get on our knees and pray to know if Jesus is really the Christ; our Savior. We all have powerful testimonies of Christ, but he made a strong point that we can ALWAYS ask, and our testimonies can always grow. He offered the prayer, and by the time we got to our feet again, nearly all of us were in tears. The Spirit testifies of truth. Jesus is the Christ.
We met with our first real-ish investigator. Her name is Sarah Mae. She is from Tennessee and has the saddest backstory. Poor lady. Her job is to let us talk to her and teach her the lessons. She truly had no idea what we believe, but she loved the Bible and searched it diligently when she was younger, until she lost trust in God because of all the horrors of her life. Teaching is hard! We love her so much and met with her multiple times, but there were rare occasions when we got through to her. When we did it was amazing, and I KNOW she felt something. But I'm not sure if we convinced her to act or not. She struggles with her relationship with God to the point she doesn't want to put anything to the test. Still, it was a great experience. We said goodbye to her today.
In-field orientation was all day Thursday! It made me SOOOO excited to get out into the field!!!! CAN'T WAIT! But I'm terrified. But I can't wait. Yeah. :) Gosh, I feel like I just settled here. I'm saying goodbyes all over again, so soon. The Elders of my district gave me a blessing today, though. That was wonderful and comforting.
Haha, the Elders told us one word for their first impression of us and their last impression of us. Mine was pretty uniform for everyone, both before and after. Sweet. :D
I'm leaving the MTC at 6:30 AM tomorrow morning!!!! Sister Chadwick and I are hopping on a plane to hit Atlanta, then our connecting flight to Boston. Can you believe it???? I certainly can't. It's surreal. No more training wheels--this is the big leagues.
Thanks for your prayers in my behalf. I feel your support, and that's one of my main motivations. :) You are all the best!
Handwrite me for Boston! I'll have more time to answer. Can't wait to email you next week and tell you ALL ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder where my first area will be. . .
Lots of love!
~Sister Merkley
x
Monday, March 17, 2014
First Week in the MTC!
WOW!!!!!!!
Okay, this is absolutely INSANE. I can't even begin to tell you how insane the MTC is. But I love it!!!
How do I describe my experience so far??? It's like. . . a harder-working, glorified EFY. Mixed with the biggest emotional roller coaster ever. :D The first two days were just the BEST! I have TWO companions: Sister Percival and Sister Chadwick. Sister Percival is a sweet strawberry blonde from Indiana. Sister Chadwick is a tall, athletic, HILARIOUS blonde girl from the lovely city of Provo. :) They are wonderful Sisters. Honestly, after constant days straight with them, going through this emotional, spiritual ride, I feel like I've known them for years. We've already gotten on each others nerves a lot (we all have red personalities) and laughed together until we've cried. I know all their little quirks and everything. It's pretty great. The Elders in my district are Elder Haws, Elder Facey, and Elder Lovell. All in one companionship as well. They are the BEST!!!! Elder Haws is from Arizona, Elder Facey is a black from England (with the COOLEST accent that is not as "posh" as Ashleigh's family) and Elder Lovell is black and from Guyana! They have blow-your-mind testimonies and are absolutely, completely HILARIOUS! I know soooo much about them, too! We're already a close family. They're so patient with us girls and our constant tears. ;)
We are so busy. ALL THE TIME. It's borderline ridiculous. We're told the "Obedience brings blessings--exact obedience brings miracles", so we're trying to do everything JUST RIGHT. But we fall so short again and again, and that stresses me out and frustrates me. For example, we have assignment after assignment on what to study and what to memorize and practicing. . . they say every day "Do this in your free time" and we look at each other like, "Free time?" We get out of class at 9:30 PM and are asked to have lights out at 10:30, so I barely have time to scribble a thought in my journal about the adventures of the day! But it's okay. It helps me practice prioritizing my time.
We sit in 3-hour block classes 2-3 times a day. I am learning EVERYTHING about Preach My Gospel. . . it's like my new best friend. Let me tell you, these teachers are inspired!!!! I love them, and I have rarely felt such love from people in my life. Young return missionaries who KNOW what they're talking about. We learn not to compare ourselves to them, because that's depressing. I never knew teaching the gospel could be so challenging, especially when you have two other people with you who think differently than you do. We struggled so badly! We have to teach the lessons in a certain amount of time without making it feel rushed, while discovering their needs and applying the lesson perfectly to them so they understand why we're telling them about it. We need to balance talk-time between all of us and testify with the Spirit. . . but not plan so much that we can't follow the Spirit if we're prompted to take a tangent. It is so hard to stay on the same page as the other Sisters at all times. Each of us has had a breakdown about this, at different times. We felt so inadequate. I'm beginning to learn what it means to be truly humble. "If [men] humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27 . It took soooo many prayers and tears and struggles as we tried to teach before we really hit a breakthrough. The teachers and the Elders were sooo comforting, though.
But our breakthrough was AMAZING!!!! We taught the best lesson ever!!!!! We were all crying, things flowed perfectly, we followed the spirit and COMMITTED JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!! Okay, let me explain quickly about teaching "investigators". Our two main teachers, Brother Sorensen and Brother Perfili, both role-play someone they know well. We teach them, from the beginning. They are wonderful actors and it feels so real for everyone. This process of learning is truly inspired.
We went to the temple today!!!!! And Sunday was amazing with our walk and the recorded devotional from Elder Bednar and choir. . . It's been a wonderful little breather from the chaos of day-to-day activity.
I am working so hard, and sometimes I am really overwhelmed, but I have never doubted I am supposed to be here. I feel Heavenly Father sustaining me in everything I do. I know He's aware of my efforts.
I have to thank all of the people who FLOODED my email!!! It's the best feeling in the world to open my email and have so much contact from wonderful friends. I'm so grateful I haven't been sick with missing people yet though! I'm too busy for that. My emotional hard times come from other places, so far. THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER.
I hope all of you are doing great! I have an hour on email total at the MTC, so I won't have tons of time to email people individually. I'll try, though! And I'll try to send pictures! Thanks for all of your support. Also, I love the pillowcases. ;)
Week one of my 18-month adventure is wrapping up soon! Keep writing me! Can't wait for the future!
Lots of love,
Sister Merkley
P.S. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! I have a NEPHEW!!!!!!!!
Okay, this is absolutely INSANE. I can't even begin to tell you how insane the MTC is. But I love it!!!
How do I describe my experience so far??? It's like. . . a harder-working, glorified EFY. Mixed with the biggest emotional roller coaster ever. :D The first two days were just the BEST! I have TWO companions: Sister Percival and Sister Chadwick. Sister Percival is a sweet strawberry blonde from Indiana. Sister Chadwick is a tall, athletic, HILARIOUS blonde girl from the lovely city of Provo. :) They are wonderful Sisters. Honestly, after constant days straight with them, going through this emotional, spiritual ride, I feel like I've known them for years. We've already gotten on each others nerves a lot (we all have red personalities) and laughed together until we've cried. I know all their little quirks and everything. It's pretty great. The Elders in my district are Elder Haws, Elder Facey, and Elder Lovell. All in one companionship as well. They are the BEST!!!! Elder Haws is from Arizona, Elder Facey is a black from England (with the COOLEST accent that is not as "posh" as Ashleigh's family) and Elder Lovell is black and from Guyana! They have blow-your-mind testimonies and are absolutely, completely HILARIOUS! I know soooo much about them, too! We're already a close family. They're so patient with us girls and our constant tears. ;)
We are so busy. ALL THE TIME. It's borderline ridiculous. We're told the "Obedience brings blessings--exact obedience brings miracles", so we're trying to do everything JUST RIGHT. But we fall so short again and again, and that stresses me out and frustrates me. For example, we have assignment after assignment on what to study and what to memorize and practicing. . . they say every day "Do this in your free time" and we look at each other like, "Free time?" We get out of class at 9:30 PM and are asked to have lights out at 10:30, so I barely have time to scribble a thought in my journal about the adventures of the day! But it's okay. It helps me practice prioritizing my time.
We sit in 3-hour block classes 2-3 times a day. I am learning EVERYTHING about Preach My Gospel. . . it's like my new best friend. Let me tell you, these teachers are inspired!!!! I love them, and I have rarely felt such love from people in my life. Young return missionaries who KNOW what they're talking about. We learn not to compare ourselves to them, because that's depressing. I never knew teaching the gospel could be so challenging, especially when you have two other people with you who think differently than you do. We struggled so badly! We have to teach the lessons in a certain amount of time without making it feel rushed, while discovering their needs and applying the lesson perfectly to them so they understand why we're telling them about it. We need to balance talk-time between all of us and testify with the Spirit. . . but not plan so much that we can't follow the Spirit if we're prompted to take a tangent. It is so hard to stay on the same page as the other Sisters at all times. Each of us has had a breakdown about this, at different times. We felt so inadequate. I'm beginning to learn what it means to be truly humble. "If [men] humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." Ether 12:27 . It took soooo many prayers and tears and struggles as we tried to teach before we really hit a breakthrough. The teachers and the Elders were sooo comforting, though.
But our breakthrough was AMAZING!!!! We taught the best lesson ever!!!!! We were all crying, things flowed perfectly, we followed the spirit and COMMITTED JORDAN TO BE BAPTIZED!!!!!! Okay, let me explain quickly about teaching "investigators". Our two main teachers, Brother Sorensen and Brother Perfili, both role-play someone they know well. We teach them, from the beginning. They are wonderful actors and it feels so real for everyone. This process of learning is truly inspired.
We went to the temple today!!!!! And Sunday was amazing with our walk and the recorded devotional from Elder Bednar and choir. . . It's been a wonderful little breather from the chaos of day-to-day activity.
I am working so hard, and sometimes I am really overwhelmed, but I have never doubted I am supposed to be here. I feel Heavenly Father sustaining me in everything I do. I know He's aware of my efforts.
I have to thank all of the people who FLOODED my email!!! It's the best feeling in the world to open my email and have so much contact from wonderful friends. I'm so grateful I haven't been sick with missing people yet though! I'm too busy for that. My emotional hard times come from other places, so far. THANK YOU, HEAVENLY FATHER.
I hope all of you are doing great! I have an hour on email total at the MTC, so I won't have tons of time to email people individually. I'll try, though! And I'll try to send pictures! Thanks for all of your support. Also, I love the pillowcases. ;)
Week one of my 18-month adventure is wrapping up soon! Keep writing me! Can't wait for the future!
Lots of love,
Sister Merkley
P.S. OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!! I have a NEPHEW!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 13, 2014
The Call
Dear Sister Merkley,
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Massachusetts Boston Mission.
"My mission not only covers Massachusetts, but Rhode Island and almost all of Connecticut, with clips of both Vermont and New Hampshire. Heavenly Father knows me so well! I'm overjoyed and just can't wait!!!!"
Sister Lia Merkley is called to enter the Provo MTC on March 12th, 2014 for 18 months.
God bless you, Lia!
You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You are assigned to labor in the Massachusetts Boston Mission.
"My mission not only covers Massachusetts, but Rhode Island and almost all of Connecticut, with clips of both Vermont and New Hampshire. Heavenly Father knows me so well! I'm overjoyed and just can't wait!!!!"
Sister Lia Merkley is called to enter the Provo MTC on March 12th, 2014 for 18 months.
God bless you, Lia!
