1st Letter dated 24 Feb 09

Well, at long last we have a letter from Drew, or rather Anziano Merrill.

I have long told him that leadership never takes a day off. He is learning this first hand, he was called a district leader for 13 other missionaries in his district. The basic organization is a companionship (2 missionaries), a district (several companionships), a branch (several districts).

He is doing well. As of Friday, he was able to pray in Italian and nearly has his testimony in Italian. His companion is, as he puts it, OK. He said he has a lot to learn from him. He said he(his companion) is able to recite scriptures at will.

His schedule is rigorous:
0630 wake up
0700 breakfast
0730-1130 class
1130-1215 Lunch
1215-1630 Class
1630-1715 Dinner
1715 -2100 Class
2100-2130 planning
2130-2230 personal time

there is a gym period some where in there, but he did not list a specific time.Of course, he had a long list(it seemed nearly as long as his letter) of items he would love to get.
Gold Fish
Air Heads
Smarties
Lemon Heads
Funnions (honest folks, I tried to show him what "good" food is)
anything home made
Gum, green or blue
chicken in a biscuit crackers

These are CERTAINLY not required. He has plenty to eat there. But if you choose, I know he will love it.

He is having fun and growing tremendously already, and so are we. even after reading the letter, I was anxious for more, but we will wait another week.