Feb 9, 2015

Dad,

The day of my mission is indeed soon to end.  I too love the last corner of that fourth and final lap.  I vividly remember dozens of times at the PG Jr high school track, coming around that corner, having only one or two boys in front of me, and entering into the final sprint.  My body tells me I need to rest, that I'm almost done.  Adrenaline tells me otherwise, and I become motivated by the finish line.  I always was an endurance athlete.  Its better, I think.  Nothing good in life is a sprint.

Alinune is good, he seems well and faithful as ever.  I'm positive for his future.  Sabrina is doing well, progressing indeed.  Turns out, this is my last week to find a new investigator to baptize before my mission here ends.  I will have three weeks to teach, and baptize.  I'll work on Sabrina during that time, it would be nice to baptize her before I go. She is probably 26, she bore her testimony last week.   

Evan has 5 wisdom teeth? I didn't even know that was possible. haha I like the wise joke.  JOKE.  Nah he's a good kid it will be interesting to see some videos of his experience, if you take them. No coincidence it’s on Friday the 13th eh?

Elder Martin and I get on perfectly.  He's a good humble missionary, good desires, obedient, easy to be around.  He's confident enough to teach and find but still desire to learn and change what he can, great way to finish things up if you ask me.  He likes football and America and we have enough in common.  He is also President Monsons great nephew.  No big deal.  

Thank you Dad, I love you and look forward so very much to seeing you again.  The father-son relationship is a divine thing, and supplies both parties with edification and learning.  Although technology in our day allows us to communicate, these two years have allowed some time for me to rely on Heavenly Father as my father figure, to lean on him as I would you back home.  It’s done wonders for my relationship with him and everybody else in our family I believe.  I look forward greatly for the day, soon to come, when we can be there for one another again.  Do father-son things.  Thanks for being the consistent writer you have been, you and mom have been great at that.  I'm no good at writing letters to communicate, but I've done my best with email.  Soon it wont matter,

I love you Dad have a great week,

your son Elder Merrill