A return date for my missionary and a lovely update

Drum roll please..... My boy will come home on November 2nd at noon. I am beyond happy! I was also so touched by his words this week. To know that he LOVES his mission and sees miracles and tender mercies each day, is all I wanted. My heart is so full of appreciation to those that have touched his life, love for him and those who have cared for him, and joy after reading the update for this week. It is exactly what I hoped for him!

Mitchell Thomas Merritt
to me, Josh, mary, Max, Megan, Ariel, Cody

Well, I forgot to write in my journal all week so I'll give you a brief overview of what happened....

miracles, Miracles, miracles. 

Monday- we met went to a sharks game (pictures next week). we met a man named Garet on our way to buy tickets... i thought he said Merritt, so i told him that was my name too... then he said DONT LIE TO ME! and I was like Why would i lie about that? He said "your names Garet too?" I was confused but intimidated and scared to say that I misheard him so I embraced the lie... I know it's wrong, but you didnt see the guy! he was older slightyly out of shape Afrikaans man wearing a full sweatshirt jumpsuit, like Will Farrell in Kicking and screaming... but due to my confused lie he gave us SIX FREE TICKETS because his friends never showed up! so tat was a miracle*

Tuesday- MLC. everything went well! I taught a lesson about teaching Simply so in doing so, I taught simply. it was fun and we played a game! then sister Thompson called me and asked if she could do the same game in Bloemfontein for Zone conference. it went really well.

Wednesday- Busy Busy Busy!!! Bunk Bunk Bunk...

we were with Elder Leichty and yo..... well... he's home now... eish.. 

Thursday-Elder sala and I did weekly planning, which was much needed. we set goals and analyzed where we are. to be honest. i am very excited to be here right now. We want to have 11 baptisms before i go home. which is high, but do-able. I am excited.

We met brother Siyabonga again today:) brother Robert has helped us out a lot along with Sister Naomi. Brother Robert referred us to Siyabonga, he is getting married on Wednesday so that he can get baptized on Sept 9th wit his son. They are so excited. sister Lilly is his Future wife and she's a member already!

Sister Naomi referred us to two families, the Chabata family (sister Faith, Thandi, and brother Knowledge all 35+yrs old and from Zimbabwe) she also referred us to the Mara Family (Lamine and his wife Kethia, and Ishmael they are from the Congo). they are planned to be baptized on the same day as Brother Siyabonga. and the chabata's 2 weeks later. I am so EXCITED pray that they continue to feast and read the book of Mormon!!!

the best part of my week though- I was so excited to see ALL of them come to church WITH THEIR KIDS TOO:) it was heart warming to see the excitement in their eyes! It's hard to explain but to see the spirit touch someone for the first time. it's unlike anything else. this church is true. Sunday was amazing. sister Susan came with her husband and kids, The Mara family, the Chabata Family, Siyabonga had work and he informed us earlier but his wife still came:) Im so happy to be serving in Berea and I hope the area continues to grow.

My favorite lesson of the week was with the Chabata Family- Our objective was to follow up on their book of Mormon reading, we gave them one the appointment previous. so when we met with them we asked "Did you read the book of Mormon?" and Faith shrugs a little bit and says " well.... I... Eish... its not the bible and..." Elder sala interrupts "whats bothering you?" 

"I have no idea who any of these people are???? Who's "Nepie" is it part of the bible? what is this book all about? I tired to read it.. but.. ugh" 

Then we started to explain. I think it was my favorite lesson explaining the book of Mormon by the end Sister Faith said, as she held the book of Mormon to her chest, "I need this. I need to read this. Thank you." Why was it succesful lesson? because they all asked Importnat Questions, not to disprove or to bash but to gain a stronger understanding. Why did they come with questions like that? Because their hearts were in the right spot. That is when I saw the spirit touch someones heart for what may have been the first time in their life... and that is my favorite part of mission.

the church is so true. Im so happy I came on mission... Also, you should read "Saints, the standard of truth" it's a book that the church wrote about church history! It's super good!

Also, one of our investigators, Brook was arrested for Attempted Murder because he was caught Stabbing someone (thats a big one)... so he's in jail right now. My question, Wheres the Proof? Lol. We went to visit him and....Eish, I dont want to go to jail. While we were there we met some nice people.  I sat next to Brother Ndlovu, turns out he's a member! I told him to prove it and he laughed then he proved it when he showed me a picture he drew of Joseph smith! i was impressed. But still....