Fifth Week

Kamusta!!
I cannot believe that we are staring on the 5th week. Almost half way done! (Ryan, I have no idea how you did it for three months!!) I seriously want to get out of here so bad and just go to work in the Philippines!
The language is getting a little harder. I feel like I have hit a plateau and it has been discouraging. I had a good heart to heart with heavenly father though and in the temple this morning, I was able to feel the comfort of the holy ghost that everything will be fine. I have decided that I am going to be even more diligent with everything!! My goal is to read the Book Of Mormon in 15 days. I am going to do it. I have come to realize how much faith you really need in order to be a missionary. You have to have faith in the Lord when He cuts you down so He can build you back up to how He knows you can be. I am in that process. Constantly being humbled so I can be teachable and learn how He wants me to be. I know that I find myself asking "Why am I not getting this!?" but I have truly learned that He knows me so well and He sees the potential in me! For whatever reason it is that I am struggling as much as I am... I know that It is because I need to learn something from this and I need to grow stronger from this. I think about how hard the devil is working on me because he knows what I will do for those people out there in the Philippines. And honestly, it inspires me. It pushes me to work that much harder against him and to be that much better of a missionary.
I need your help though. Please pray for the people in the Philippines. Pray for missionary work. I want to let you all know that I have truly gained a testimony on missionary work. We are always missionaries! Like Ryan said, "you are setting an example whether you want to or not". I have a strong testimony that we should always be that example! We should never be afraid to open our mouths and to just bare your testimony about our savior. Be an example of what a true christian should be like. Love everyone! Don't be hateful or judgmental. Always strive to follow in His footsteps. He has literally given us everything! And in return... He just wants us to live the best way we can so we can be happy and return to Him. Who doesn't want that?

I want you all to know that I love this work. I love this gospel! I love it so much!! Being a missionary is way harder than I ever imagined. I know that people told me that it was hard but I never really knew until I came here. And I am only in the MTC.
Cue, I thought of you the other  day. I was watching a little video clip about a man from Nigeria! Go on "mormon.org" and look him up! He is a singer and I think you would like his music, his name is "Alex Boye". He is a stud.

Please send letters! It makes my day when I get them. I need dad's and mama merrill's address. I have a letter for you! I want to leave a scripture with you all. It is in the Book of Mormon in Moroni chapter 7 verse 33.
"and Christ hath said: " if ye will have faith in me ye shall have power to do whatsoever thing is expedient in me".
I want to bare you my testimony on that verse and how true it is. I know that it is true because I have seen it. How else could I teach these people that I started teaching 3 days of being here, in Tagalog. It is because I have faith and through that faith, the holy ghost testifies to them that what I am trying to say is true. They feel it. I love you all! Mahal Kita!


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Mahal, Sister Merrill