"It's Always Happy Hour Here!"

 Hello Friends,

What a wonderful experience we are having in sunny San Diego! We have never been busier in our work together but feel it a blessing and privilege to be engaged in this work. We suddenly have 165 additional "children", young people 18-21 years of age who have dedicated themselves for this period of their lives to serve others and teach about Christ. 
The door mat in front of our Airbnb rental reads "It's always happy hour here". This is an unusual doormat to find gracing the home of a mission President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints given that we abstain from alcoholic beverages. But we have decided to see "happy hour" within the context of God's plan of happiness, which includes the good news of the gospel that through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can return to live with God. We rejoice in this message that we share as missionaries and are grateful to feel his happiness in our lives each day. So it's true, every hour is happy hour!
Since arriving on June 30 we have both met, individually, with each of our 165 missionaries, held four training conferences, prepared and sent 15 missionaries home and welcomed 14 additional missionaries to San Diego. Each time missionaries leave and arrive the domino effect sets in and new companionships are formed under the mission president's direction. Needless to say our days are full and busy. In these few short weeks, we have both laughed and cried with our missionaries and seen God's hand in His work here in San Diego. We will share just a couple of stories to illustrate. 
Sister W arrived on July 19 for a temporary stint while she awaits the completion of her visa and paperwork allowing her to travel to her assigned location of the Czech Republic. She arrived last Tuesday and, not knowing her background, was paired with two Spanish speaking companions in the Imperial Valley. On Wednesday as we met with Sister W, we learned that her family adopted five children just prior to her departure for her missionary training. Sister W had begun studying scriptures with the oldest child before she left for training and received permission to continue studying with her new sister during her training. The children are hispanic and the first language for the oldest was Spanish. We have granted permission for her to continue a study schedule while here, and she now has companions who can aid in those study sessions. We know the Lord's hand has guided this circumstance and is aware of and loves all of his children - including those sweet new siblings of Sister W.
In April we learned that a young deaf man from New York City was called to serve an ASL mission in San Diego. Elder S was born in Romania and ASL was his second language. We were so pleased to learn that one of the ASL missionaries serving here in San Diego is CODA (child of deaf adults) and well prepared to be the ear's for Elder S. Another ASL missionary, Elder T just completed his mission and returned home to Utah last Tuesday. On Wednesday Elder T visited the training center in Utah and met with Elder S to lend support and help prepare him for his time here in San Diego. Our missionaries here are learning how to sign our mission phrase, "we love you now, we'll love you in twenty years, we'll love you forever" to welcome Elder S once he arrives. But the icing on this cake is that we just learned Elder S will be fitted with hearing aids and receive those within his first few weeks here in San Diego. His trainers will then have an additional language training responsibility to help Elder S learn to "hear and comprehend" the spoken english language. He will hear music and laughter and language for the first time here with us. Can you imagine? Again, we have seen the Lord's hand put things into place and feel blessed to be able to experience this miracle with these missionaries at this time. 
We are grateful for the daily reminder that "It's Always Happy Hour Here." We pray that you may feel the love of the Lord and that his happiness will permeate your days! If you would like to opt out of these emails - please send us a note - no offense taken. Note the link to the blogspot. We love you and thank you for your friendship and support. If you happen to be in San Diego - we would love to connect. Much love,
Norm and Armenay AKA President and Sister Merritt





Location: 4195 Camino del Rio S, San Diego, CA 92108, USA

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