Tuesday, February 21, 2017
Monday, February 20, 2017
2.20.17
Hey guys.
We had another awesome week! This area has so ugh to do, and our
biggest problem is not being able to be every where at once. we think
we finally got the area down. Yesterday was the first day we didnt get
lost haha.
To start off the week, we were invited over to a innaactives house. We
didnt know them, so we were excited to get to know them. They are the
Perez family, and they are super nice. Come to find out, it is the dad
who is inactive, but his wife and children are not members. The mom is
very nice, but she isn't very interested, but their ten year old son,
Rylan is super interested. That is why we were invited over. Rylan
goes to boys scouts each wednesdays and has kept hearing about
baptism. He began asking his dad what it was and how he could get
baptized. He is a super nice kid, and is so excited. The struggle is
going to be figuring out how to get him San his father to church. We
are hoping this will help push his dad to comeback.
We also met Miguel this week. He was over at a brothers house when
missionaries came by, he liked their message and wanted us to come by.
He seems to want to learn more and is willing to have us over
whenever, but the problem is going to be catching him home,because he
says he works at random hour, so we'll see. We had a good first
lesson, where elder Luis said the first vision for the first time. It
was cool.
On Friday, we had a cool zone conference where we talked about the new
schedule and getting the most out of it, and they really stressed
teaching repentance in every lesson. It really made me think a lot.
They really startedmakingthepushforthis last year during the first big
broad cast we had, where the titledit, teach repentance, baptize
converts.
Repentance is such an incredible thing. And i know sometimes i take it
for granted. The Knowledge of being able to try again when we mess up,
to be able to start over, the change and learn from our mistakes is
something so amazing. I think that is one of my favorite parts of
teaching, sharing with someone that there is hope after mistakes, all
thanks to our savior. My favorite door approach is showing the video
Because of him, from the gospel library. I love that video because it
says it so simply but beautifully that everything we have and do is
thanks to him and it always brings the sprit 😊
Oh there were so many good things this week. We also went back to my
very first area for a baptism for one of elder Lewis investigators and
it was awesome. I cant believe its been a year and a half since i was
there. It was super cool to see old friends
We also had a awesome lesson with Nuvia. We broke the restoration down
super simply and slowly, but we think she got it. She then came to
church, and the rest of the day and this morning texted us about how
god she was feeling after going to church. She is the lady we met last
week who is going through a divorce right now. It was great.
I think the best one tho was with an investigados named Alejandro. He
is a really old man, who was just floating in our area book so we die
die to drop by. He didnt know much about the church, but told us liked
the Book of Mormon. Then out of the blue he asked us why there were so
many churches, and we took off from there. We explained the
restoration and answered his question. But the best part was seeing
elder Lewis teach. He has been struggling with the lessons, but the
sprit guided him, and he taught as if he was fluent in spanish and had
been teaching for a year. It was special, and it moved Alejandro to
tears.
There is just so much to do here and not enough time because no one
can meet until after 6, so its a little hard, but the spirt is guiding
us and things are going awesome.
Sorry this is so long, just one more thing.We were at dinner last
night and our conversation just made me think about if I had not come
on a mission, how different would my life be right now. But as i was
thinking that the sprit touched me and just made me feel so good, and
i literally couldn't even imagine what it would have been like if i
hadn't come out. I love the mission so much Ive learned so much, met
so many people, but most of all i have been able to learn of the truth
and greatness of this gospel. And the best part is I still get so many
more experiences and opportunities to share my love for this gospel
with so many people.
I really hope you guys know how much i love you.
Hope you are all doing good,
Elder Miller
We had another awesome week! This area has so ugh to do, and our
biggest problem is not being able to be every where at once. we think
we finally got the area down. Yesterday was the first day we didnt get
lost haha.
To start off the week, we were invited over to a innaactives house. We
didnt know them, so we were excited to get to know them. They are the
Perez family, and they are super nice. Come to find out, it is the dad
who is inactive, but his wife and children are not members. The mom is
very nice, but she isn't very interested, but their ten year old son,
Rylan is super interested. That is why we were invited over. Rylan
goes to boys scouts each wednesdays and has kept hearing about
baptism. He began asking his dad what it was and how he could get
baptized. He is a super nice kid, and is so excited. The struggle is
going to be figuring out how to get him San his father to church. We
are hoping this will help push his dad to comeback.
We also met Miguel this week. He was over at a brothers house when
missionaries came by, he liked their message and wanted us to come by.
He seems to want to learn more and is willing to have us over
whenever, but the problem is going to be catching him home,because he
says he works at random hour, so we'll see. We had a good first
lesson, where elder Luis said the first vision for the first time. It
was cool.
On Friday, we had a cool zone conference where we talked about the new
schedule and getting the most out of it, and they really stressed
teaching repentance in every lesson. It really made me think a lot.
They really startedmakingthepushforthis last year during the first big
broad cast we had, where the titledit, teach repentance, baptize
converts.
Repentance is such an incredible thing. And i know sometimes i take it
for granted. The Knowledge of being able to try again when we mess up,
to be able to start over, the change and learn from our mistakes is
something so amazing. I think that is one of my favorite parts of
teaching, sharing with someone that there is hope after mistakes, all
thanks to our savior. My favorite door approach is showing the video
Because of him, from the gospel library. I love that video because it
says it so simply but beautifully that everything we have and do is
thanks to him and it always brings the sprit 😊
Oh there were so many good things this week. We also went back to my
very first area for a baptism for one of elder Lewis investigators and
it was awesome. I cant believe its been a year and a half since i was
there. It was super cool to see old friends
We also had a awesome lesson with Nuvia. We broke the restoration down
super simply and slowly, but we think she got it. She then came to
church, and the rest of the day and this morning texted us about how
god she was feeling after going to church. She is the lady we met last
week who is going through a divorce right now. It was great.
I think the best one tho was with an investigados named Alejandro. He
is a really old man, who was just floating in our area book so we die
die to drop by. He didnt know much about the church, but told us liked
the Book of Mormon. Then out of the blue he asked us why there were so
many churches, and we took off from there. We explained the
restoration and answered his question. But the best part was seeing
elder Lewis teach. He has been struggling with the lessons, but the
sprit guided him, and he taught as if he was fluent in spanish and had
been teaching for a year. It was special, and it moved Alejandro to
tears.
There is just so much to do here and not enough time because no one
can meet until after 6, so its a little hard, but the spirt is guiding
us and things are going awesome.
Sorry this is so long, just one more thing.We were at dinner last
night and our conversation just made me think about if I had not come
on a mission, how different would my life be right now. But as i was
thinking that the sprit touched me and just made me feel so good, and
i literally couldn't even imagine what it would have been like if i
hadn't come out. I love the mission so much Ive learned so much, met
so many people, but most of all i have been able to learn of the truth
and greatness of this gospel. And the best part is I still get so many
more experiences and opportunities to share my love for this gospel
with so many people.
I really hope you guys know how much i love you.
Hope you are all doing good,
Elder Miller
Monday, February 13, 2017
2.13.17
Hey guys!!
This was another awesome week filled with beautiful little miracles.
We had another lesson with Nancy this week and we talked about the
Book of Mormon. It was really powerful and she has the perfect
scenario to be baptized. It will just be up to her, as with everyone,
but she lives with her aunt who is a member, who is also a ride to
church every week. The members son is a return missionary. And her
kids love going to church. She has everything going for her at this
point, and the spirit is definitely working on her. At the end of the
lesson elder Lewis extended his first baptismal commitment and it was
great! She accepted to work to the goal of February 4! It was awesome.
Another day we received a call from a lady asking to see if we could
come by and see her. We said yes and set up a time and that was about
it. We showed up, and found out she was a member of 10 years but
hasn't been to church for a good 7. She is a really nice lady and
really want to come back with her family. She has a daughter who is 17
and her husband are both members. The daughter wants to come back too,
and to make it even more special, her soon to be husband says that he
was taking the lessons in mexico and wants to baptized. We havnt met
him yet, but it could be good.
As we are walking out of the lesson, we went over to the corner of
the parking lot to unlock our bikes. As we are about to leave a truck
with a big trailer cuts us off and asks if we ca n talk for a second.
He seems super nice so we say yes. He gets out and stats talking. As
soon as he starts talking I realize we are completely cut off, between
a gate, a brick wall and a truck to finish off the triangle. We sit
there for over an hr listening to him, in a very friendly, almost too
close and touchy, way tries to convert us to Catholicism. It was
pretty weird. Almost nothing he said made sense and it was super
weird. And the only way we got out was by basically me asking about
what i should study to learn more. We tried so many time to leave and
it j use never worked.. But during all this I wasn't as mad as i
thought i would have been. Here is this crazy little guys hugging me,
telling me this crazy doctrine and wasting our time, and i felt the
sprit really strong. It was actually really cool, because it kept
confirming to me that our church really is the true church. That we
are doing what the lord wants and that he is pleased with our work. It
was special. Super nice guy, just super confused.
We had five investigators to church yesterday! And the inactive and
her daughter came too. It was awesome! At church a hermana comes up to
us and tells us about a friend of hers named nuvia, and how she has
had a really hard last couple of months. She is now in the middle of a
divorce and wants god to come closer to God. We went over the same
night and met her. Shel is. Vey nice and is definitely searching for
help. she seems very scared to try coming to church, not sure why, but
the sprit was very strong and she was crying, and seemed sad when we
were only able to be there for a bit. We have another lesson set up
this saturday.
Then to wrap up the week with the sprit, the other elders in our ward
had a baptism and Nancy and her daughter came and seemed to love it.
The baptism was two kids and and Nancy's daughter was so excited when
she found out that she could be baptized to. The was the goal of
getting them there and it was beautiful. Her daughter just turned 8
and that was talked about in one of the talks before the actual
baptism.
I lobe baptisms, of course for what they are and the blessing that
come, but just being there is such a special thing. even though you
may not be the one being baptized. The spirt testifies to you that
this person is doing the lords will and that he is pleased, just like
when Jesus was baptized. Experiences like that have really helped me
grow my testimony and faith in this church. I know that this really is
Gods church, and that if we really are trying our best to follow what
he asks us to do, even tho its hard sometimes, that he will bless us
and help us through the hard times. I love this gospel and am so grateful I still get six more months to serve my King.
I love you guys and hope you can see the hand of the Lord throughout your week.
Love,
Elder Miller
This was another awesome week filled with beautiful little miracles.
We had another lesson with Nancy this week and we talked about the
Book of Mormon. It was really powerful and she has the perfect
scenario to be baptized. It will just be up to her, as with everyone,
but she lives with her aunt who is a member, who is also a ride to
church every week. The members son is a return missionary. And her
kids love going to church. She has everything going for her at this
point, and the spirit is definitely working on her. At the end of the
lesson elder Lewis extended his first baptismal commitment and it was
great! She accepted to work to the goal of February 4! It was awesome.
Another day we received a call from a lady asking to see if we could
come by and see her. We said yes and set up a time and that was about
it. We showed up, and found out she was a member of 10 years but
hasn't been to church for a good 7. She is a really nice lady and
really want to come back with her family. She has a daughter who is 17
and her husband are both members. The daughter wants to come back too,
and to make it even more special, her soon to be husband says that he
was taking the lessons in mexico and wants to baptized. We havnt met
him yet, but it could be good.
As we are walking out of the lesson, we went over to the corner of
the parking lot to unlock our bikes. As we are about to leave a truck
with a big trailer cuts us off and asks if we ca n talk for a second.
He seems super nice so we say yes. He gets out and stats talking. As
soon as he starts talking I realize we are completely cut off, between
a gate, a brick wall and a truck to finish off the triangle. We sit
there for over an hr listening to him, in a very friendly, almost too
close and touchy, way tries to convert us to Catholicism. It was
pretty weird. Almost nothing he said made sense and it was super
weird. And the only way we got out was by basically me asking about
what i should study to learn more. We tried so many time to leave and
it j use never worked.. But during all this I wasn't as mad as i
thought i would have been. Here is this crazy little guys hugging me,
telling me this crazy doctrine and wasting our time, and i felt the
sprit really strong. It was actually really cool, because it kept
confirming to me that our church really is the true church. That we
are doing what the lord wants and that he is pleased with our work. It
was special. Super nice guy, just super confused.
We had five investigators to church yesterday! And the inactive and
her daughter came too. It was awesome! At church a hermana comes up to
us and tells us about a friend of hers named nuvia, and how she has
had a really hard last couple of months. She is now in the middle of a
divorce and wants god to come closer to God. We went over the same
night and met her. Shel is. Vey nice and is definitely searching for
help. she seems very scared to try coming to church, not sure why, but
the sprit was very strong and she was crying, and seemed sad when we
were only able to be there for a bit. We have another lesson set up
this saturday.
Then to wrap up the week with the sprit, the other elders in our ward
had a baptism and Nancy and her daughter came and seemed to love it.
The baptism was two kids and and Nancy's daughter was so excited when
she found out that she could be baptized to. The was the goal of
getting them there and it was beautiful. Her daughter just turned 8
and that was talked about in one of the talks before the actual
baptism.
I lobe baptisms, of course for what they are and the blessing that
come, but just being there is such a special thing. even though you
may not be the one being baptized. The spirt testifies to you that
this person is doing the lords will and that he is pleased, just like
when Jesus was baptized. Experiences like that have really helped me
grow my testimony and faith in this church. I know that this really is
Gods church, and that if we really are trying our best to follow what
he asks us to do, even tho its hard sometimes, that he will bless us
and help us through the hard times. I love this gospel and am so grateful I still get six more months to serve my King.
I love you guys and hope you can see the hand of the Lord throughout your week.
Love,
Elder Miller
Tuesday, February 7, 2017
2.6.16
Hey guys,
So transfers happened and a lot of unexpected things went down. So I
ended up leaving Estrella, and moved to Cielito which is back over in
good old phoenix. Then I found out that I would be with elder Lewis,
who is three months out, then I found out that we were being doubled
in, meaning that we would both be new to the area, and then to put the
cherry on top we are an all biking area. Lots of change, lots of room
for growth haha.
But im actually really happy, not saying that its easy, but i feel
great. This area has so much potential, elder Lewis is a great guy who
wants to work, and besides the pain of my rear on bike and my knee
being kinda sore haha, i love biking. Its fun being outside, being
around people, seeing the city a little more, it's fun.
We are still trying to get used to the area and get to know some
people, but in the meantime we found some new investigators and got
them all to church.
One of the lady's we started teaching is named Nancy. She is a niece
to a member that just came to live with her from mexico. We met her on
saturday and introduced the plan ofsalvation and eternal families. As
we mentioned the plan of salvation something clicked for her and she
really felt the spirit. She didnt really have time so we invited her
to church, and we set up a time to come back the next day. Sunday
morning comes and shes there! She said she reallly enjoyed it and was
excited for our lesson.
We go over later that night and as we are saying the prayer a had a
strong impression to ask her if it would be alright that we taught
about the plan of salvation the next time. She seemed a little sad,
but said OK. Instead we taught the restoration and introduced the
church a little more. Elder Lewis did a great job with the first
vision and the Spiritwas there and I was getting flash back of when i
was just starting in the mission, and it was just great. I think she
really has felt the spirit and is intrigued to learn more. I am really
excited for her.
I'm not sure why but I have thought a lot of about the. Plan of
salvation this week. Especially with it being my sister aspens
birthday. I have thought about heaven and how it is supposed t one the
best place ever times a bajillion. And then i thought about how some
people don't know about an after life, or if they do they dont
necessarily think about the opportunities for an eternal family. I
don't think I can imagine the best place ever without my aspen and the
rest of my family. It has been 16 fun years with her and I am so
thankful that I get eternity more with all of them. I definitely took
the gospel for granted before my mission, but I have been blessed to
learn how important it is and how incredible of a blessing I have to
be sealed to my family forever and it all started with my parents and
being incredible and faithful in the gospel I am so great full for my
family and how much they have helped me and blessed my life.
I love all of you guys so much.
Have a great week
Elder Miller
So transfers happened and a lot of unexpected things went down. So I
ended up leaving Estrella, and moved to Cielito which is back over in
good old phoenix. Then I found out that I would be with elder Lewis,
who is three months out, then I found out that we were being doubled
in, meaning that we would both be new to the area, and then to put the
cherry on top we are an all biking area. Lots of change, lots of room
for growth haha.
But im actually really happy, not saying that its easy, but i feel
great. This area has so much potential, elder Lewis is a great guy who
wants to work, and besides the pain of my rear on bike and my knee
being kinda sore haha, i love biking. Its fun being outside, being
around people, seeing the city a little more, it's fun.
We are still trying to get used to the area and get to know some
people, but in the meantime we found some new investigators and got
them all to church.
One of the lady's we started teaching is named Nancy. She is a niece
to a member that just came to live with her from mexico. We met her on
saturday and introduced the plan ofsalvation and eternal families. As
we mentioned the plan of salvation something clicked for her and she
really felt the spirit. She didnt really have time so we invited her
to church, and we set up a time to come back the next day. Sunday
morning comes and shes there! She said she reallly enjoyed it and was
excited for our lesson.
We go over later that night and as we are saying the prayer a had a
strong impression to ask her if it would be alright that we taught
about the plan of salvation the next time. She seemed a little sad,
but said OK. Instead we taught the restoration and introduced the
church a little more. Elder Lewis did a great job with the first
vision and the Spiritwas there and I was getting flash back of when i
was just starting in the mission, and it was just great. I think she
really has felt the spirit and is intrigued to learn more. I am really
excited for her.
I'm not sure why but I have thought a lot of about the. Plan of
salvation this week. Especially with it being my sister aspens
birthday. I have thought about heaven and how it is supposed t one the
best place ever times a bajillion. And then i thought about how some
people don't know about an after life, or if they do they dont
necessarily think about the opportunities for an eternal family. I
don't think I can imagine the best place ever without my aspen and the
rest of my family. It has been 16 fun years with her and I am so
thankful that I get eternity more with all of them. I definitely took
the gospel for granted before my mission, but I have been blessed to
learn how important it is and how incredible of a blessing I have to
be sealed to my family forever and it all started with my parents and
being incredible and faithful in the gospel I am so great full for my
family and how much they have helped me and blessed my life.
I love all of you guys so much.
Have a great week
Elder Miller
Tuesday, January 31, 2017
1.31.17
Whats up everybody.
So im getting transferred but idk where to so not really sure what more to say than im really sad to leave the area, really sad, I love this ward, and we have some awesome investigators, but im ready for some change so itll be good.
This has been a packed week.
It started off with the world wide broadcast for all the missionaries. Our zone got together to watch it and it was good. This time was a little less teaching and more informing and going over last years broadcast. We learned about the new schedule that president griffin had told us about. I like getting out of the house earlier. They also changed what we report to salt lake. We now dont report on lessons, who they were with or even how many we have. The only things are people at sacrament, new investigators, people with a baptismal date, and people baptized. So thats been interesting, but I think it will be good, and help a lot of missionaries do more productive things.
Then we had some pretty awesome lessons. We had another spirit packed lesson with Brenda and Ernesto. Our ward mission leader came again, and he connects so well with them, its been the best match up of my mission haha. And they love everything. At the end they talked about how they love the feeling that we bring when we are in their home, and hate when we leave because so does that feeling. That has been one of the coolest parts of my mission is learning how great the gift of the spirit is, and how blessed I have been to have had that in my home my whole life. How incredible it is to really have it and the change and effect it has on people. I love this gospel and how it can really change peoples lives and make people happy.
I had a hard time saying goodbye to them. They are probably the most solid family I have met on my mission and im sad not to be able to see them continue to grow, but I know they will get baptized at some point.
Then we had an some really cool lessons with the Hernandez family. I dont know how much I have talked about them, because weve been teaching them on and off for three months. They are a huge family, and some of them are baptized and some are not. There are three families living together. Mariana who is a member, and some of her kids are, but they are inactive,her husband is not a member either. and then her brother Rafael has been who we were focused on, and he is really starting to catch on, and little by little is growing, and then his kids and wife who are not members either, and then their parents and a niece from a different sister, so ya lots of people, some listen some dont, but they are learning and progressing and I was pretty sad to leave them too.
Then this weekend and monday we did service all day. It was crazy. We havnt had service my whole time here, and then we got dumped on these last few days. On saturday, we woke up early and went to a food bank at 6;30 and helped sort and give people food. I love helping people like that, because you get to be there with the people and see the results and see them happy and idk its cool. Then we went over and helped clean up a baseball field and that was a lot of work haha. And then we went and helped move in a family, a really big family haha. It was a lot of work, but it was cool because we found a lot of opportunities to share the gospel. The family we moved agreed to listen to the missionaries, some people at the field asked about our church and what we believed. but the best one was the food bank. A camera crew from pbs came by and was doing a thing on the community giving back and we were there and they talked about the missionaries being there to help, and then I got to be interviewed for a little and that was kinda fun. So it was cool to just be out there showing people that we just want to help and that we arent as crazy as everyone thinks we are haha.
Then on monday we spent all day shoveling rocks and it was crazy. It was a non members back yard that was full of them and he wanted them taken out. He said there was over 300 tons of rock. It was super hard, but we had the zone there and it was fun.
I love seeing how happy people are when they see people helping them and see that people care for them. I know that that was a huge reason that christ served people, was to share and show his love for everyone, and I have loved being able to help people be happy 😁
Well love you guys
hope you guys get out of the cold soon. Its 75 here today
Elder Miller
So im getting transferred but idk where to so not really sure what more to say than im really sad to leave the area, really sad, I love this ward, and we have some awesome investigators, but im ready for some change so itll be good.
This has been a packed week.
It started off with the world wide broadcast for all the missionaries. Our zone got together to watch it and it was good. This time was a little less teaching and more informing and going over last years broadcast. We learned about the new schedule that president griffin had told us about. I like getting out of the house earlier. They also changed what we report to salt lake. We now dont report on lessons, who they were with or even how many we have. The only things are people at sacrament, new investigators, people with a baptismal date, and people baptized. So thats been interesting, but I think it will be good, and help a lot of missionaries do more productive things.
Then we had some pretty awesome lessons. We had another spirit packed lesson with Brenda and Ernesto. Our ward mission leader came again, and he connects so well with them, its been the best match up of my mission haha. And they love everything. At the end they talked about how they love the feeling that we bring when we are in their home, and hate when we leave because so does that feeling. That has been one of the coolest parts of my mission is learning how great the gift of the spirit is, and how blessed I have been to have had that in my home my whole life. How incredible it is to really have it and the change and effect it has on people. I love this gospel and how it can really change peoples lives and make people happy.
I had a hard time saying goodbye to them. They are probably the most solid family I have met on my mission and im sad not to be able to see them continue to grow, but I know they will get baptized at some point.
Then we had an some really cool lessons with the Hernandez family. I dont know how much I have talked about them, because weve been teaching them on and off for three months. They are a huge family, and some of them are baptized and some are not. There are three families living together. Mariana who is a member, and some of her kids are, but they are inactive,her husband is not a member either. and then her brother Rafael has been who we were focused on, and he is really starting to catch on, and little by little is growing, and then his kids and wife who are not members either, and then their parents and a niece from a different sister, so ya lots of people, some listen some dont, but they are learning and progressing and I was pretty sad to leave them too.
Then this weekend and monday we did service all day. It was crazy. We havnt had service my whole time here, and then we got dumped on these last few days. On saturday, we woke up early and went to a food bank at 6;30 and helped sort and give people food. I love helping people like that, because you get to be there with the people and see the results and see them happy and idk its cool. Then we went over and helped clean up a baseball field and that was a lot of work haha. And then we went and helped move in a family, a really big family haha. It was a lot of work, but it was cool because we found a lot of opportunities to share the gospel. The family we moved agreed to listen to the missionaries, some people at the field asked about our church and what we believed. but the best one was the food bank. A camera crew from pbs came by and was doing a thing on the community giving back and we were there and they talked about the missionaries being there to help, and then I got to be interviewed for a little and that was kinda fun. So it was cool to just be out there showing people that we just want to help and that we arent as crazy as everyone thinks we are haha.
Then on monday we spent all day shoveling rocks and it was crazy. It was a non members back yard that was full of them and he wanted them taken out. He said there was over 300 tons of rock. It was super hard, but we had the zone there and it was fun.
I love seeing how happy people are when they see people helping them and see that people care for them. I know that that was a huge reason that christ served people, was to share and show his love for everyone, and I have loved being able to help people be happy 😁
Well love you guys
hope you guys get out of the cold soon. Its 75 here today
Elder Miller
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
1.23.17
Hey everybody,
We had an awesome week this week! We finally found some investigators
that are open to listening.
So we started the week with exchanges with the APs and it was fun. I
stayed in the area with elder paddon. He's a cool guy. He's had an
interesting mission. He was called to the Ghana Africa mission and was
there for a full year when his visa ran out and he couldnt get it
renewed. Two days after it ran out they called him told him to pack up
and he got sent here. He's a hard worker and he really wants to help
the mission keep growing and doing good. It was a cool experience
because I havnt done a real exchange for over 6 months, and it was fun
to see how much Heavenly Father has helped me grow especially with my
Spanish. I felt fully confident doing everything, which I didnt the
last time I had one. We also ended up finding a family that wanted us
to come back and take them to church. Their names are carlos and
crystal and they seemed pretty excited to come to church, but sadly
didn't end up coming.
Then we had a day where we had a huge service project where we helped
a ton of homeless people come and get some help to hopefully help them
start to get back on their feet. We were there from 7 am to 3 and
there was 5 zones there, so over 50 missionaries. It was really fun.
That same night we had our second lesson with Brenda and Ernesto, and
we brought our ward mission leader hermano Vargas. He was perfect for
them. He is a convert as of 3 years and had so many of the same issues
and problems and doubt that they had. he has a child that also has
autism and speech problems, he also went through a lot of pain
wondering why his son had to go through it, and also wondered if God
still was there. It was and incredible lesson. We read through the
introduction of the Book of Mormon and the first chapter. To make it
all the better, they came to church this Sunday and seemed to really
enjoy it. We didnt really get a chance to ask them about it, but at
least their kids loved primary haha.
We also had a great lesson with Roberto. We talked about the laws of
tithing and fasting and it was probably the easiest accepted lesson
ive ever taught. He asked a few questions to clear some things and
then once he understood, we asked him if he would follow it. His
response was so cool, and he began talking about how, Why wouldn't he?
If it a commandment from god, and its really going to help others then
of course. The spirit was really strong and its been cool to see him
progress. It has been a week now since he has smoked or drank coffee
and you can just see the difference in him. He is happy and just looks
super good. The only sad part was he told us he would come to church,
he said he bought a white shirt, I had a couple ties for him, and then
he didnt come :/
Sunday was the best day tho, because even tho crystal and carlo, nor
Roberto came, there were 7 other investigators that came. A few we
hadn't seen a a while and then Brenda Ernesto and their 3 kids. The
ward did an awesome job helping them all feel good and feel like they
were part of the family.
So this Wednesday we have the big broadcast and im super excited. I
really enjoyed the last one and have studied, and learned a lot. Its
going to be fun.
This next week is transfers and we've been told a lot of changes are
going to happen. for sure one of us are leaving but not sure which. Id
be pretty sad to leave, especially after this week of finding a lot
and this ward is really fun.
We'll see how it all goes.
Love you guys,
Elder Miller
We had an awesome week this week! We finally found some investigators
that are open to listening.
So we started the week with exchanges with the APs and it was fun. I
stayed in the area with elder paddon. He's a cool guy. He's had an
interesting mission. He was called to the Ghana Africa mission and was
there for a full year when his visa ran out and he couldnt get it
renewed. Two days after it ran out they called him told him to pack up
and he got sent here. He's a hard worker and he really wants to help
the mission keep growing and doing good. It was a cool experience
because I havnt done a real exchange for over 6 months, and it was fun
to see how much Heavenly Father has helped me grow especially with my
Spanish. I felt fully confident doing everything, which I didnt the
last time I had one. We also ended up finding a family that wanted us
to come back and take them to church. Their names are carlos and
crystal and they seemed pretty excited to come to church, but sadly
didn't end up coming.
Then we had a day where we had a huge service project where we helped
a ton of homeless people come and get some help to hopefully help them
start to get back on their feet. We were there from 7 am to 3 and
there was 5 zones there, so over 50 missionaries. It was really fun.
That same night we had our second lesson with Brenda and Ernesto, and
we brought our ward mission leader hermano Vargas. He was perfect for
them. He is a convert as of 3 years and had so many of the same issues
and problems and doubt that they had. he has a child that also has
autism and speech problems, he also went through a lot of pain
wondering why his son had to go through it, and also wondered if God
still was there. It was and incredible lesson. We read through the
introduction of the Book of Mormon and the first chapter. To make it
all the better, they came to church this Sunday and seemed to really
enjoy it. We didnt really get a chance to ask them about it, but at
least their kids loved primary haha.
We also had a great lesson with Roberto. We talked about the laws of
tithing and fasting and it was probably the easiest accepted lesson
ive ever taught. He asked a few questions to clear some things and
then once he understood, we asked him if he would follow it. His
response was so cool, and he began talking about how, Why wouldn't he?
If it a commandment from god, and its really going to help others then
of course. The spirit was really strong and its been cool to see him
progress. It has been a week now since he has smoked or drank coffee
and you can just see the difference in him. He is happy and just looks
super good. The only sad part was he told us he would come to church,
he said he bought a white shirt, I had a couple ties for him, and then
he didnt come :/
Sunday was the best day tho, because even tho crystal and carlo, nor
Roberto came, there were 7 other investigators that came. A few we
hadn't seen a a while and then Brenda Ernesto and their 3 kids. The
ward did an awesome job helping them all feel good and feel like they
were part of the family.
So this Wednesday we have the big broadcast and im super excited. I
really enjoyed the last one and have studied, and learned a lot. Its
going to be fun.
This next week is transfers and we've been told a lot of changes are
going to happen. for sure one of us are leaving but not sure which. Id
be pretty sad to leave, especially after this week of finding a lot
and this ward is really fun.
We'll see how it all goes.
Love you guys,
Elder Miller
Monday, January 16, 2017
1.16.17
What's up guys!
I told you guys, we just needed to wit a few weeks and then wed have
an awesome one.
It started off with interviews with the mission president. We had a
really good one, and really long one actually. We talked about all
kinds of things, and how I can really grow these last 8 months. He
talked about some things I want to work on until next transfer when we
talk again. He also told me about how we are going to have another
worldwide missionary broadcasts next week. There are som changes and
one is that we will have interviews every transfer now so thats pretty
cool. Another big one is the fact that our schedule is changing. My
whole time on the mission. We would start studies at 8, have a doctrinal study, a personal study, a companionship study, lunch, and Spanish study leave the apartment at 1.And we would plan our day out at night after we came home. Now we plan for the day at 8:30, personal study at 9, out of the house at 10. then a half hour lunch whenever we have open. So its pretty different. We are going to find out more next week but so far its been really different. especially after doing it for almost a year and a half now.
We finally got back in contact with a investigator named Roberto. He says he wants to learn more about the church and invited us over this week. Talked and about and read from the book of Mormon, and had a really cool lesson. He talked about how he knew it was true, and that he really wanted to change. He told us some of the things he is going to have to over come but he said it will be worth is. He also said something clicked for him and obedient and how when we are obedient to Gods commandments that he really blesses us and watches over us, and he really wants that. He sadly didnt come to church this week, but we are going to see him tomorrow.
We finally found some people yesterday and it was sweet! so lst night we wernt really having much luck. One person we were looking for turned out that she was a lady that died a few months ago, so we wouldn't be finding her anytime soon. and then the next person we were looking for too us forever to find in a trailer park, and right where her house was supposed to be was a big pile of dirt. So not a huge ton of success. But then the next person we had down to go look for was a couple we contacted a few weeks ago, but hadnt been around. They live in a apartment complex and fall the gates were closed so we weren't sure what to do. we waited for a little bit but then we started to walk away. As we were leaving a car came through. the problem was that by the time the car had come, we were a good distance from the gate. we started sprinting to it. We were about a basketball court length away as it started to close. we barely slipped through and was a second or two from getting squished haha. We knocked on the door and they were super happy and let us in. We started talking and found out they Brenda and Ernesto. They are both ex cops from Mexicali. They have had a lot of hardships, from trying to get out of a bad situation in mexico, to then getting their papers, but then not being able to find work, to their kids being born with a lot of problems, and yet they are still so happy. They told us how it has been really hard, but they feel stronger and in such a better condition then in mexico. We then taught the Restoration and they seemed to really be interested. They said they have been around a lot of different churches, but none of them felt like a family, none of them felt right. The hope is they come this next sunday, and are able to feel the spirit there, and feel that it really is right. It was probably the strongest ive felt the spirit in the lesson since ive been back. Especially when I got to tell the first vision. One promise that ive really seen come to pass on my mission has been the power of testifying. Not necessarily for others, even though I know it helps, but for yourself. The prophets say that your testimony grows each time you share it with others. Every time I share the story of Josephs smiths vision, ive been able to receive a confirmation from the spirit, that Joseph smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It has been something really special for me, and a blessing that im so glad to have received.That is a cool part about the restoration, is that if you know 1 of the things is true you can know all of it is. So if you have a testimony of the book of mormon you can know joseph was a prophet and that this is the true, and same for each. Im so grateful that I was able to be born into this church and received so many blessings.
I love you guys and hope you guys are all doing great!
Elder Miller
I told you guys, we just needed to wit a few weeks and then wed have
an awesome one.
It started off with interviews with the mission president. We had a
really good one, and really long one actually. We talked about all
kinds of things, and how I can really grow these last 8 months. He
talked about some things I want to work on until next transfer when we
talk again. He also told me about how we are going to have another
worldwide missionary broadcasts next week. There are som changes and
one is that we will have interviews every transfer now so thats pretty
cool. Another big one is the fact that our schedule is changing. My
whole time on the mission. We would start studies at 8, have a doctrinal study, a personal study, a companionship study, lunch, and Spanish study leave the apartment at 1.And we would plan our day out at night after we came home. Now we plan for the day at 8:30, personal study at 9, out of the house at 10. then a half hour lunch whenever we have open. So its pretty different. We are going to find out more next week but so far its been really different. especially after doing it for almost a year and a half now.
We finally got back in contact with a investigator named Roberto. He says he wants to learn more about the church and invited us over this week. Talked and about and read from the book of Mormon, and had a really cool lesson. He talked about how he knew it was true, and that he really wanted to change. He told us some of the things he is going to have to over come but he said it will be worth is. He also said something clicked for him and obedient and how when we are obedient to Gods commandments that he really blesses us and watches over us, and he really wants that. He sadly didnt come to church this week, but we are going to see him tomorrow.
We finally found some people yesterday and it was sweet! so lst night we wernt really having much luck. One person we were looking for turned out that she was a lady that died a few months ago, so we wouldn't be finding her anytime soon. and then the next person we were looking for too us forever to find in a trailer park, and right where her house was supposed to be was a big pile of dirt. So not a huge ton of success. But then the next person we had down to go look for was a couple we contacted a few weeks ago, but hadnt been around. They live in a apartment complex and fall the gates were closed so we weren't sure what to do. we waited for a little bit but then we started to walk away. As we were leaving a car came through. the problem was that by the time the car had come, we were a good distance from the gate. we started sprinting to it. We were about a basketball court length away as it started to close. we barely slipped through and was a second or two from getting squished haha. We knocked on the door and they were super happy and let us in. We started talking and found out they Brenda and Ernesto. They are both ex cops from Mexicali. They have had a lot of hardships, from trying to get out of a bad situation in mexico, to then getting their papers, but then not being able to find work, to their kids being born with a lot of problems, and yet they are still so happy. They told us how it has been really hard, but they feel stronger and in such a better condition then in mexico. We then taught the Restoration and they seemed to really be interested. They said they have been around a lot of different churches, but none of them felt like a family, none of them felt right. The hope is they come this next sunday, and are able to feel the spirit there, and feel that it really is right. It was probably the strongest ive felt the spirit in the lesson since ive been back. Especially when I got to tell the first vision. One promise that ive really seen come to pass on my mission has been the power of testifying. Not necessarily for others, even though I know it helps, but for yourself. The prophets say that your testimony grows each time you share it with others. Every time I share the story of Josephs smiths vision, ive been able to receive a confirmation from the spirit, that Joseph smith really did see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. It has been something really special for me, and a blessing that im so glad to have received.That is a cool part about the restoration, is that if you know 1 of the things is true you can know all of it is. So if you have a testimony of the book of mormon you can know joseph was a prophet and that this is the true, and same for each. Im so grateful that I was able to be born into this church and received so many blessings.
I love you guys and hope you guys are all doing great!
Elder Miller
Monday, January 9, 2017
1.9.17
Hey guys
So ya wasnt a whole bunch of teaching this week. We cant get in
contact with Ariana's grandma, so we havnt been able to set anything
up with her for a new baptismal date.
We havnt found anyone new either but there may be some possibilities
soon. We havnt had much progress in this area, but we are really
trying to pick something up before feb 1, because of transfers, and
wanting to give anyone new, if there are changes, something to work
with.
It was a weird week full of a bunch of meetings, which actually were
pretty good. haha.
On Tuesday we had Mission leadership council, which is all the zone
leaders, sister training leaders, APs, and mission presidency but i go
because my companion doesn't have another zone leader. Some of it was
just on some training for newer elder, which 70% of the mission is 7
months or younger, but then we talked about how good the mission has
been doing. In 2016 we had almost 50 less missionaries on average than
the year before, but we had 553 baptisms which was 53 more than 2016.
We weren't trying to just talk about numbers and only worried about
numbers, but more of showing that we were doing good and worked hard,
and smarter than before, even with less missionaries. Than we had a
really cool discussion from president Griffin on fear and getting
through our fears. So we had that which went from 10 to 3 and then
takes an hr to get home and then we have dinner and have our lessons
all cancel for what ever reason or just don't want to answer their
door, and then we go try and find people the rest of the night haha.
Pretty fun 😑 but its okay because that just means we are going to
have a bomb week sometime soon.
We had a meeting on Wednesday with the ward about the work and
preparing goals to bring to a bigger meeting on sunday.
Then we had a meeting with the relief society, which was super awesome
because they came to us and invited us over. We talked about people
they want to work with, and how they would come with us, and we set up
a bunch of lessons so its going to be sweet.
Then Friday we had zone meeting where we came back and taught the zone
what was taught at MLC.
And then sunday we had two meetings, one with the ward, where everyone
brought their goals for the new year, and it was really cool to hear,
because they all had a part to do with missionary work and helping us
so that was cool. And then we had a meeting with the stake president
and we talked about his vision for the stake and things we want to
start doing.
So a lot of good planning and learning this week, to hopefully take
off this next couple weeks.
Hope everyone's doing good.
Elder Miller
So ya wasnt a whole bunch of teaching this week. We cant get in
contact with Ariana's grandma, so we havnt been able to set anything
up with her for a new baptismal date.
We havnt found anyone new either but there may be some possibilities
soon. We havnt had much progress in this area, but we are really
trying to pick something up before feb 1, because of transfers, and
wanting to give anyone new, if there are changes, something to work
with.
It was a weird week full of a bunch of meetings, which actually were
pretty good. haha.
On Tuesday we had Mission leadership council, which is all the zone
leaders, sister training leaders, APs, and mission presidency but i go
because my companion doesn't have another zone leader. Some of it was
just on some training for newer elder, which 70% of the mission is 7
months or younger, but then we talked about how good the mission has
been doing. In 2016 we had almost 50 less missionaries on average than
the year before, but we had 553 baptisms which was 53 more than 2016.
We weren't trying to just talk about numbers and only worried about
numbers, but more of showing that we were doing good and worked hard,
and smarter than before, even with less missionaries. Than we had a
really cool discussion from president Griffin on fear and getting
through our fears. So we had that which went from 10 to 3 and then
takes an hr to get home and then we have dinner and have our lessons
all cancel for what ever reason or just don't want to answer their
door, and then we go try and find people the rest of the night haha.
Pretty fun 😑 but its okay because that just means we are going to
have a bomb week sometime soon.
We had a meeting on Wednesday with the ward about the work and
preparing goals to bring to a bigger meeting on sunday.
Then we had a meeting with the relief society, which was super awesome
because they came to us and invited us over. We talked about people
they want to work with, and how they would come with us, and we set up
a bunch of lessons so its going to be sweet.
Then Friday we had zone meeting where we came back and taught the zone
what was taught at MLC.
And then sunday we had two meetings, one with the ward, where everyone
brought their goals for the new year, and it was really cool to hear,
because they all had a part to do with missionary work and helping us
so that was cool. And then we had a meeting with the stake president
and we talked about his vision for the stake and things we want to
start doing.
So a lot of good planning and learning this week, to hopefully take
off this next couple weeks.
Hope everyone's doing good.
Elder Miller
1.2.17
Hey guys!!
Happy new year, if you havnt already heard it enough😜
This week was another interesting week with it being the days after
Christmas and then New Year's Eve and New Years. Not many people home
and if they were they were pretty drunk and or grumpy haha. But during
one off our many hours for looking for people, we found a woman named
Andria! She is a really cool woman who loves Christ and loves us
coming over. We havnt really been able to have a real lesson with her,
but she is really excited to learn more. we were pretty excited, so
well see how it goes.
We havnt been able to see Ariana (the 11 year old girl who loves the
Book of Mormon) for 2 weeks now. So sadly she cant get baptized next
Saturday as planned, she so ready too, but her grandma hasn't been
bringing her to church, and there are a few more things we need to
talk about.
Today i had a interesting experience at the barber shop. We tried out
a new place today and for the first time while getting a haircut, the
lady cutting my hair asked about our church and what we do as
missionaries. We talked for a while and turns out that she was jehovas
witness. It was the first time i have been able to just talk to one
and not it bein a bash or them trying to just yell at us. It was kinda
of nice. Not much more came out of it but was a good experience.
Well really other than that not a whole ton more happened. We sat at a
pep boys getting out truck fixed for 3 hours on Thursday. We ended up
just weekly planing, first time for everything i guess.
Hope you guys had a fun New Years and have some good goal, that will
last longer than a mont or two😋
love you guys
Elder Miller
Happy new year, if you havnt already heard it enough😜
This week was another interesting week with it being the days after
Christmas and then New Year's Eve and New Years. Not many people home
and if they were they were pretty drunk and or grumpy haha. But during
one off our many hours for looking for people, we found a woman named
Andria! She is a really cool woman who loves Christ and loves us
coming over. We havnt really been able to have a real lesson with her,
but she is really excited to learn more. we were pretty excited, so
well see how it goes.
We havnt been able to see Ariana (the 11 year old girl who loves the
Book of Mormon) for 2 weeks now. So sadly she cant get baptized next
Saturday as planned, she so ready too, but her grandma hasn't been
bringing her to church, and there are a few more things we need to
talk about.
Today i had a interesting experience at the barber shop. We tried out
a new place today and for the first time while getting a haircut, the
lady cutting my hair asked about our church and what we do as
missionaries. We talked for a while and turns out that she was jehovas
witness. It was the first time i have been able to just talk to one
and not it bein a bash or them trying to just yell at us. It was kinda
of nice. Not much more came out of it but was a good experience.
Well really other than that not a whole ton more happened. We sat at a
pep boys getting out truck fixed for 3 hours on Thursday. We ended up
just weekly planing, first time for everything i guess.
Hope you guys had a fun New Years and have some good goal, that will
last longer than a mont or two😋
love you guys
Elder Miller
Saturday, December 31, 2016
12.26.6
Hey guys!
We had a awesome week full of fun Christmas stuff. Sadly everyone we tried to tech either canceled, wasn't there or didn't open the door, so did almost nothing done in missionary work, so that was a little rough. We'll start with last sunday, in the afternoon the ward put on a Christmas fireside/choir performance, and there ended up being a lot of non members that came. It was really cool. The spirit was really strong.
This week we also did our big mission trip over to mesa. It was really fun. We went to the mesa temple where they had the Christmas lights up around the visitor center and the temple grounds. It was really fun we first went through the visitors center and they had a few new parts to it from last year. Its pretty cool. And we now are going to try and take investigators there. We then had a lunch that we had brought, and went to a session in the temple. It is a pretty big temple, and kinda old. If i remember correctly, I think it was built in 1927. Then we went to a big buffet and ate a ton. It was fun to be around some old friends. After dinner we went back and walked around the lights. It was a good day.
On Christmas eve we woke up and had normal studies, butt then the whole zone was invited to a lunch at a English members house. We had a ton of food,, and each of us had a giant t bone steak the size of our plates, but it was still really good meat. It was fun being with the whole zone. Then we spent a some time giving out some stocking that my grandparents and aunt sent me to give to people. It was fun going around giving stu away. Its fun to see how happy people get when they see you care about them.
Then we spent the whole night at a huge family party. It was the Waldo family and there were a good 30 people there, and the funnest part was most of them are not in this ward but i have served in al of their wards before so i knew all of them! It was really fun to be back with them. We had tacos, and tamales, and mole, and flan, and played all kinds of games and laughed and had a awesome time.
Christmas came and we went to church where we had surprisingly 3 investigators there. We havnt had anyone come since ive been back so it was cool to see them there, even if it was just an hr. I mean thats probably why they came, but still haha. And it was perfect because the speakers did an awesome job on their talks, they were super good, and then the choir sang, and it was just a really good sacrament. We then went home and I took a nap for a while. Then we got to call home! It was pretty weird because I have barely been back a month, so it feels like I just saw them, but at the same time it sort of feels like being home was a weird dream. It was good tho, always fun to see everyone. After we wrapped that up we went over for dinner. In the latin culture (or at least here) Christmas is celebrated basically on new years eve, so thats when the big dinner and everything is, and then they wait until midnight and open the presents. But it was still a fun night, we had some tortas and whatnot and then played a bunch of games like spoons and signs and stuff like that. It was fun.
Sorry there wasn't a whole lot of spiritual stuff but really besides those couple days we knocked on a ton of doors and had max 10 doors open in 5 days haha. But oh well we are hoping for a better one this week.
Hope you all had an awesome Christmas!!
Talk to you all next year
Elder Miller
We had a awesome week full of fun Christmas stuff. Sadly everyone we tried to tech either canceled, wasn't there or didn't open the door, so did almost nothing done in missionary work, so that was a little rough. We'll start with last sunday, in the afternoon the ward put on a Christmas fireside/choir performance, and there ended up being a lot of non members that came. It was really cool. The spirit was really strong.
This week we also did our big mission trip over to mesa. It was really fun. We went to the mesa temple where they had the Christmas lights up around the visitor center and the temple grounds. It was really fun we first went through the visitors center and they had a few new parts to it from last year. Its pretty cool. And we now are going to try and take investigators there. We then had a lunch that we had brought, and went to a session in the temple. It is a pretty big temple, and kinda old. If i remember correctly, I think it was built in 1927. Then we went to a big buffet and ate a ton. It was fun to be around some old friends. After dinner we went back and walked around the lights. It was a good day.
On Christmas eve we woke up and had normal studies, butt then the whole zone was invited to a lunch at a English members house. We had a ton of food,, and each of us had a giant t bone steak the size of our plates, but it was still really good meat. It was fun being with the whole zone. Then we spent a some time giving out some stocking that my grandparents and aunt sent me to give to people. It was fun going around giving stu away. Its fun to see how happy people get when they see you care about them.
Then we spent the whole night at a huge family party. It was the Waldo family and there were a good 30 people there, and the funnest part was most of them are not in this ward but i have served in al of their wards before so i knew all of them! It was really fun to be back with them. We had tacos, and tamales, and mole, and flan, and played all kinds of games and laughed and had a awesome time.
Christmas came and we went to church where we had surprisingly 3 investigators there. We havnt had anyone come since ive been back so it was cool to see them there, even if it was just an hr. I mean thats probably why they came, but still haha. And it was perfect because the speakers did an awesome job on their talks, they were super good, and then the choir sang, and it was just a really good sacrament. We then went home and I took a nap for a while. Then we got to call home! It was pretty weird because I have barely been back a month, so it feels like I just saw them, but at the same time it sort of feels like being home was a weird dream. It was good tho, always fun to see everyone. After we wrapped that up we went over for dinner. In the latin culture (or at least here) Christmas is celebrated basically on new years eve, so thats when the big dinner and everything is, and then they wait until midnight and open the presents. But it was still a fun night, we had some tortas and whatnot and then played a bunch of games like spoons and signs and stuff like that. It was fun.
Sorry there wasn't a whole lot of spiritual stuff but really besides those couple days we knocked on a ton of doors and had max 10 doors open in 5 days haha. But oh well we are hoping for a better one this week.
Hope you all had an awesome Christmas!!
Talk to you all next year
Elder Miller
Monday, December 19, 2016
Saturday, December 17, 2016
12.13.16
Hey Hey,
So looks like im staying here in tolleson as district leader with
elder Jones. I wasnt sure if I would stay or not, but I guess so. This
is a really small district of a total of 6 of us including my
companionship. Im happy to be here tho. I really like the elders we
live with, they are good guys, and both really new. Elder Hansen has
been out for 6 months and his companion, elder Frye, has been out for
2 months. My companion is a good kid, he's just not the most obedient
missionary so well see.
I found out something super fun this week. In my second area there was
a really old man that i had the opportunity to baptize which was just
about 1 year ago. In that time, his oldest daughter, and 4
grandchildren have been baptized, and now all of them live in this
area! Its been super fun to go by their house and be back with them,
and see how much the gospel has made them so happy. They have all
changed so much and it was really special to see them grow.
We were only able to go by Ariana ( the little girl who loves the Book
of Mormon) this week, and we taught her the 10 commandments. It was
fun, i like teaching that with kids, because we use a bunch of
different hand signals to remember them all. At the end she made a
comment along the lines of, I thought they would be harder things, but
those all sounds pretty easy to me haha. Shes really cool, and we have
the date set for her to be baptized on january 8!
My trainer elder wells went home yesterday and it was pretty weird. He
was my first companion that I sent home. Its just been weird not
having him around because everyone is still the same in the apartment,
so its not that i changed companions, but he just left, so it's
definitely different.
We had a pretty awesome zone meeting this Friday, and i think i gave
my best discussion yet haha. I mean not to brag, but it was pretty
good 😊
It was on becoming converted through the mission and by using the atonement.
So ya thats about it around here. I feel really good being back,
everything's just about back to how i feel relight before i left. My
knee is feeling pretty good. I played a little one on one with elder
wells before he left, and didnt feel too bad after.
So just so just so you guys know I found out that since I was home for
almost exactly a transfer, salt lake has told me that my new release
date is is a transfer later, august 30. Im not sure if I can come home
maybe a week early for school but I will try to find out.
It's felt great here once again. This week is supposed to be mid 70s.
Hope you all aren't freezing to death 😜
Love y'all
Elder Miller
So looks like im staying here in tolleson as district leader with
elder Jones. I wasnt sure if I would stay or not, but I guess so. This
is a really small district of a total of 6 of us including my
companionship. Im happy to be here tho. I really like the elders we
live with, they are good guys, and both really new. Elder Hansen has
been out for 6 months and his companion, elder Frye, has been out for
2 months. My companion is a good kid, he's just not the most obedient
missionary so well see.
I found out something super fun this week. In my second area there was
a really old man that i had the opportunity to baptize which was just
about 1 year ago. In that time, his oldest daughter, and 4
grandchildren have been baptized, and now all of them live in this
area! Its been super fun to go by their house and be back with them,
and see how much the gospel has made them so happy. They have all
changed so much and it was really special to see them grow.
We were only able to go by Ariana ( the little girl who loves the Book
of Mormon) this week, and we taught her the 10 commandments. It was
fun, i like teaching that with kids, because we use a bunch of
different hand signals to remember them all. At the end she made a
comment along the lines of, I thought they would be harder things, but
those all sounds pretty easy to me haha. Shes really cool, and we have
the date set for her to be baptized on january 8!
My trainer elder wells went home yesterday and it was pretty weird. He
was my first companion that I sent home. Its just been weird not
having him around because everyone is still the same in the apartment,
so its not that i changed companions, but he just left, so it's
definitely different.
We had a pretty awesome zone meeting this Friday, and i think i gave
my best discussion yet haha. I mean not to brag, but it was pretty
good 😊
It was on becoming converted through the mission and by using the atonement.
So ya thats about it around here. I feel really good being back,
everything's just about back to how i feel relight before i left. My
knee is feeling pretty good. I played a little one on one with elder
wells before he left, and didnt feel too bad after.
So just so just so you guys know I found out that since I was home for
almost exactly a transfer, salt lake has told me that my new release
date is is a transfer later, august 30. Im not sure if I can come home
maybe a week early for school but I will try to find out.
It's felt great here once again. This week is supposed to be mid 70s.
Hope you all aren't freezing to death 😜
Love y'all
Elder Miller
Monday, December 5, 2016
11.28.16
Hey guys.
It has been just about a full week since I've been gone and
its been quite the ride. Between adjusting to home and then have to re
adjust back to mission life has been interesting, but its. Awesome. I
love it out here. And its been super fun because I got to be back with
my trainer for his last 3 weeks of the mission! Elder wells is awesome
and its been quite the throwback. We are also in a trio with an elder
named elder Jones. He is from Kansas.
I think I'm back into the routine of things, but still figuring out who
everyone is and what not. I know we are in a ward called estrella in
tolleson.
I thought I would have been home for Thanksgiving so it was a little
hard to adjust to not being with family for it but it was ok. We were
invited to breakfast and had a fun time there playing risk and
football. then later We had dinner with a family from a ward i used to
be in. The same family that does the taco truck. It was super fun. i
love the waldo family it was super fun, and we were with an old friend
elder tomayo. I ate so much food. Probably the most i ever have. I had
11 plates of food. Everything from turkey, ham, potatoes, to seviche,
tacos, pig skin ( not fried/not chicaron) and chicken throat. It was
quite the menu.
We haven't had a ton of luck this week, but we met a man and his wife
who want to be baptized and said they believe we are the true church,
after one lesson. It was pretty neat. He is on date for Dec 11. We are
pretty excited.
Sorry this wasn't a great email. Its been a crazy day trying to figure
out a bunch of stuff, like my money card, or my area book app, and
then elder jones broke his glasses so we a to find a place that was in
our area and ya just lots of fun. Ill make sure to send a good one
next week..
Love you guys a ton!
Elder Miller
It has been just about a full week since I've been gone and
its been quite the ride. Between adjusting to home and then have to re
adjust back to mission life has been interesting, but its. Awesome. I
love it out here. And its been super fun because I got to be back with
my trainer for his last 3 weeks of the mission! Elder wells is awesome
and its been quite the throwback. We are also in a trio with an elder
named elder Jones. He is from Kansas.
I think I'm back into the routine of things, but still figuring out who
everyone is and what not. I know we are in a ward called estrella in
tolleson.
I thought I would have been home for Thanksgiving so it was a little
hard to adjust to not being with family for it but it was ok. We were
invited to breakfast and had a fun time there playing risk and
football. then later We had dinner with a family from a ward i used to
be in. The same family that does the taco truck. It was super fun. i
love the waldo family it was super fun, and we were with an old friend
elder tomayo. I ate so much food. Probably the most i ever have. I had
11 plates of food. Everything from turkey, ham, potatoes, to seviche,
tacos, pig skin ( not fried/not chicaron) and chicken throat. It was
quite the menu.
We haven't had a ton of luck this week, but we met a man and his wife
who want to be baptized and said they believe we are the true church,
after one lesson. It was pretty neat. He is on date for Dec 11. We are
pretty excited.
Sorry this wasn't a great email. Its been a crazy day trying to figure
out a bunch of stuff, like my money card, or my area book app, and
then elder jones broke his glasses so we a to find a place that was in
our area and ya just lots of fun. Ill make sure to send a good one
next week..
Love you guys a ton!
Elder Miller
Tuesday, October 4, 2016
10.3.16
Hey guys!
What an awesome weekend with conference! There were some great talks.
Not really sure what my favorite was so many good ones. Rosa came and
listened with us on saturday and brought a friend. It was really cool
and the friend said she really liked it. We invited them back for
sunday, but the friend works on sunday and says thats the only reason
she doesn't always come to our church sundays. We are going to try and
find her this week and see if we can change that haha.
This last Wednesday was transfers and elder clough went to Peoria, and
i got elder waters! He's awesome. Elder waters is from portland
oregon. He's a really smart super nice guy. I was with him when I was
down in peoria. We had a ton of fun doing the Heroes of salvation
thing down there. He's pumped to be up here, a change from the valley,
and im super excited to be with him. He the best.
We are not really sure what happened to Stephanie. She has sorta
disappeared. She doesn't answer our texts or calls, doesn't come to
church, and we dont know where she lives because she always meets us
at a members house. I really hope she's just out of town or
something😕
We had a cool little thing happen this week. We received a referral
from the mission president. He send us an email to go find someone for
him up in sedona. We stopped by yesterday and met Angelique. She was
super nice, and really just wanted to know more bout us. She had a
nephew who just left on his mission this last month, and so she said
it sorta perked her interest. We talked about some of her questions
and set up another time to come back. She seemed genuinely interested
so we are pretty excited about that. We haven't had anyone in Sedona
to teach, so it'll be fun getting to be up there more.
Sister graham is the best member ever. She is down in spring valley
and is brining us people left and right.She is the one that introduced
to denise, and elyssa, and now Alyssa. We havnt been able to teach
alyssa yet, but she listened to conference with the grahams to and
really liked it. We get to go meet her tomorrow.
I love the grahams. they are so awesome and really remind me like im
home. Sister graham acts very similar to mom, and brother graham s
very similar to dad as well, even in build he's about 6' 5'' as well
and loves basketball and all that stuff haha. So it kinda feels weird
being over there sometimes but they are super cool and i love them.
President griffin has been getting everyone ready for october for a
while now, because he wants this to be a huge month. He has set a goal
for 80 baptisms this month, and we average about 60 so it'll be quite
the jump, but a district we have the goal to have 13 this month
between 4 companionships which would be awesome! The best month this
area has seen a while. And then i guess if we hit 80 there will be a
day where the whole mission gets together and has like a huge party
all day. I think it'll be sweet. We have 2 on date for october and
hoping to get 1 more tonight!
So that's what's going on in cottonwood 😄
Hope everyone's doing good
Elder Miller
What an awesome weekend with conference! There were some great talks.
Not really sure what my favorite was so many good ones. Rosa came and
listened with us on saturday and brought a friend. It was really cool
and the friend said she really liked it. We invited them back for
sunday, but the friend works on sunday and says thats the only reason
she doesn't always come to our church sundays. We are going to try and
find her this week and see if we can change that haha.
This last Wednesday was transfers and elder clough went to Peoria, and
i got elder waters! He's awesome. Elder waters is from portland
oregon. He's a really smart super nice guy. I was with him when I was
down in peoria. We had a ton of fun doing the Heroes of salvation
thing down there. He's pumped to be up here, a change from the valley,
and im super excited to be with him. He the best.
We are not really sure what happened to Stephanie. She has sorta
disappeared. She doesn't answer our texts or calls, doesn't come to
church, and we dont know where she lives because she always meets us
at a members house. I really hope she's just out of town or
something😕
We had a cool little thing happen this week. We received a referral
from the mission president. He send us an email to go find someone for
him up in sedona. We stopped by yesterday and met Angelique. She was
super nice, and really just wanted to know more bout us. She had a
nephew who just left on his mission this last month, and so she said
it sorta perked her interest. We talked about some of her questions
and set up another time to come back. She seemed genuinely interested
so we are pretty excited about that. We haven't had anyone in Sedona
to teach, so it'll be fun getting to be up there more.
Sister graham is the best member ever. She is down in spring valley
and is brining us people left and right.She is the one that introduced
to denise, and elyssa, and now Alyssa. We havnt been able to teach
alyssa yet, but she listened to conference with the grahams to and
really liked it. We get to go meet her tomorrow.
I love the grahams. they are so awesome and really remind me like im
home. Sister graham acts very similar to mom, and brother graham s
very similar to dad as well, even in build he's about 6' 5'' as well
and loves basketball and all that stuff haha. So it kinda feels weird
being over there sometimes but they are super cool and i love them.
President griffin has been getting everyone ready for october for a
while now, because he wants this to be a huge month. He has set a goal
for 80 baptisms this month, and we average about 60 so it'll be quite
the jump, but a district we have the goal to have 13 this month
between 4 companionships which would be awesome! The best month this
area has seen a while. And then i guess if we hit 80 there will be a
day where the whole mission gets together and has like a huge party
all day. I think it'll be sweet. We have 2 on date for october and
hoping to get 1 more tonight!
So that's what's going on in cottonwood 😄
Hope everyone's doing good
Elder Miller
Monday, October 3, 2016
9.26.16
Well today's transfers and I'm staying! Elder clough is going back
down to Phoenix. He's actually going to my last area in Peoria. My new
companion is elder Waters! He's awesome, he was in Peoria when I was
down there. He's a good guy. He's been out about a yr. I'm excited.
I got the MRI yesterday, but they said they won't have the results for
a bit, so we'll see how it goes.
So not a whole ton of time because elder clough has to pack and say
goodbye, but I'll kinda go over that other week.
We had a branch party on monday and that was fun. There were a bunch of innactives, and some investigators as well. Its funny how everyone always wants to come to the fun stuff haha. but it was good and the following sunday a few of the inactives came to church so that was cool.
On tuesday we had 2 awesome lessons. The first one was with a lady named providence. shes 50ish and speaks spanish and english so we sorta go back and forth.She is down in spring valley. I cant remember if ive talked about her before. She is a lady who has been jehovas witness but doesnt feel its right for her and has been super excited to learn more. She had so many perfect questions and was just so ready to soak everything up. It was super fun to teach, because she knows the bible, and wants to learn and just loved it all. To make it even better, even though she likes what we teach, she said that she wants to pray about it and see what god thinks, because she wants to start truly doing what the lord wants. So its been super fun.
We also got to teach Denise that day and it was incredible. It was the strongest ive felt the spirit during a lesson ever. it was so cool, and he helped me say everything perfectly for her. She is such a special girl, thats gone through so much, she loves the church and loves the spirit. Shes been having to go down to phoenix on sundays, and hasnt been able to come to church, and with conference this week we wont be able to go down on saturday, so we are pushing her baptism just a little back and she was kinda sad. but thats cool that she cares about it like that. Its really cool teaching her.
On wednesday we had exchanges with the elders we live with and i went with elder gray. Hes a funny kid. hes been out 6 weeks now, and hes rocking it. haha its fun to see his energy and "greeny spirit" as they say haha.
Friday we had another exchange with the zone leaders from flagstaff. Becasue they have to drive so far we did one that was from mid fri to saturday night, and we did a ton of stuff haha. we were up in sedona, (half hr north) and then came back to cottonwood and did some spanish stuff, then went down to spring valley ( an hr south) and did back to english stuff, then went up to cortis lakes (20 min north of spring valley) and did more spanish stuff haha. its was a lot of lessons lots of language change, and tons of driving. We also met elysa and have been able to teach her a few times now as she is so sweet. She has been coming to church for almost a y ear now with her 14 yr old sister who is a member. Her goal is to get baptized on oct 15! shes super excited, and just likes learning about jesus :)
Then that sunday I was asked to give a talk up in the sedona ward, and that was interesting. It is a english ward with not many people in it, but i guess there are just tons of visitors each week, and thats how they are still a ward haha. It was weird giving a talk in english but i think it went pretty good. I talked on the atonement, and at one point read the story from elder hollands talk about the boys that went climbing and got stuck and the older brother tried to jump and didnt quite make it but the little brother saved him. I dont know if you remember that one, but i liked it and how it compared christ to the brother and how he literally saves us. but like the story we have to jump and do our part first.
And then to wrap up an awesome week, we went hiking up in sedona and it was beautiful. i about cried the whole way with my knee haha, but it was super fun.
This week was a bit slower, just sorta an off week, but im excited to have elder waters as my companion. we should have fun and we should have some awesome baptisms!
love you guys! have a good one
elder miller
down to Phoenix. He's actually going to my last area in Peoria. My new
companion is elder Waters! He's awesome, he was in Peoria when I was
down there. He's a good guy. He's been out about a yr. I'm excited.
I got the MRI yesterday, but they said they won't have the results for
a bit, so we'll see how it goes.
So not a whole ton of time because elder clough has to pack and say
goodbye, but I'll kinda go over that other week.
We had a branch party on monday and that was fun. There were a bunch of innactives, and some investigators as well. Its funny how everyone always wants to come to the fun stuff haha. but it was good and the following sunday a few of the inactives came to church so that was cool.
On tuesday we had 2 awesome lessons. The first one was with a lady named providence. shes 50ish and speaks spanish and english so we sorta go back and forth.She is down in spring valley. I cant remember if ive talked about her before. She is a lady who has been jehovas witness but doesnt feel its right for her and has been super excited to learn more. She had so many perfect questions and was just so ready to soak everything up. It was super fun to teach, because she knows the bible, and wants to learn and just loved it all. To make it even better, even though she likes what we teach, she said that she wants to pray about it and see what god thinks, because she wants to start truly doing what the lord wants. So its been super fun.
We also got to teach Denise that day and it was incredible. It was the strongest ive felt the spirit during a lesson ever. it was so cool, and he helped me say everything perfectly for her. She is such a special girl, thats gone through so much, she loves the church and loves the spirit. Shes been having to go down to phoenix on sundays, and hasnt been able to come to church, and with conference this week we wont be able to go down on saturday, so we are pushing her baptism just a little back and she was kinda sad. but thats cool that she cares about it like that. Its really cool teaching her.
On wednesday we had exchanges with the elders we live with and i went with elder gray. Hes a funny kid. hes been out 6 weeks now, and hes rocking it. haha its fun to see his energy and "greeny spirit" as they say haha.
Friday we had another exchange with the zone leaders from flagstaff. Becasue they have to drive so far we did one that was from mid fri to saturday night, and we did a ton of stuff haha. we were up in sedona, (half hr north) and then came back to cottonwood and did some spanish stuff, then went down to spring valley ( an hr south) and did back to english stuff, then went up to cortis lakes (20 min north of spring valley) and did more spanish stuff haha. its was a lot of lessons lots of language change, and tons of driving. We also met elysa and have been able to teach her a few times now as she is so sweet. She has been coming to church for almost a y ear now with her 14 yr old sister who is a member. Her goal is to get baptized on oct 15! shes super excited, and just likes learning about jesus :)
Then that sunday I was asked to give a talk up in the sedona ward, and that was interesting. It is a english ward with not many people in it, but i guess there are just tons of visitors each week, and thats how they are still a ward haha. It was weird giving a talk in english but i think it went pretty good. I talked on the atonement, and at one point read the story from elder hollands talk about the boys that went climbing and got stuck and the older brother tried to jump and didnt quite make it but the little brother saved him. I dont know if you remember that one, but i liked it and how it compared christ to the brother and how he literally saves us. but like the story we have to jump and do our part first.
And then to wrap up an awesome week, we went hiking up in sedona and it was beautiful. i about cried the whole way with my knee haha, but it was super fun.
This week was a bit slower, just sorta an off week, but im excited to have elder waters as my companion. we should have fun and we should have some awesome baptisms!
love you guys! have a good one
elder miller
Monday, September 19, 2016
9.19.16
Hey!
How's everyone doing?
This week has been one of the best weeks of my mission! It has been
awesome! I don't have a ton of time today so I will definitely tell
you more next week. For pday as a district we went up to Sedona and
went hiking. We have been wanting to do this for a while now, but for
one reason or another havnt been able to. But we did and it was super
fun.
So a little over view of this week and then more detail to follow.
Mon- Branch party celebrating Mexico's Independence Day
Tue- Some of the funnest, and spiritual lessons of my mission
Wed- Exchange with 4 week out elder Gray
Thur- Pretty solid weekly planning haha
Fri-Exchange with Zone leader for day and a 1/2
Sat-continue exchange, crazy day down in spring valley, with a awesome
ending of a member introducing us to a awesome little new investigator
named Elysa. She's 11, super sweet and loves the church, has a 14 yr
old sister who is already a member, has been coming to church with her
for almost a yr, and wants to be baptized!
Sun-Get a talk in Sedona ward and it was awesome haha.
Mon-Hiking in Sedona
Super fun week, full of awesome stuff! Sorry I can't give much more
than that right now, but I'll make sure to tell you all about it next
week.
Hope everyone had as awesome week as mine!
Love you guys
Elder Miller
How's everyone doing?
This week has been one of the best weeks of my mission! It has been
awesome! I don't have a ton of time today so I will definitely tell
you more next week. For pday as a district we went up to Sedona and
went hiking. We have been wanting to do this for a while now, but for
one reason or another havnt been able to. But we did and it was super
fun.
So a little over view of this week and then more detail to follow.
Mon- Branch party celebrating Mexico's Independence Day
Tue- Some of the funnest, and spiritual lessons of my mission
Wed- Exchange with 4 week out elder Gray
Thur- Pretty solid weekly planning haha
Fri-Exchange with Zone leader for day and a 1/2
Sat-continue exchange, crazy day down in spring valley, with a awesome
ending of a member introducing us to a awesome little new investigator
named Elysa. She's 11, super sweet and loves the church, has a 14 yr
old sister who is already a member, has been coming to church with her
for almost a yr, and wants to be baptized!
Sun-Get a talk in Sedona ward and it was awesome haha.
Mon-Hiking in Sedona
Super fun week, full of awesome stuff! Sorry I can't give much more
than that right now, but I'll make sure to tell you all about it next
week.
Hope everyone had as awesome week as mine!
Love you guys
Elder Miller
Monday, September 12, 2016
9.12.16
Hey everybody!
To start off with, I guess most of you know now, but ive been having some pain in my knee and some people in the stake think i may have a torn meniscus. I went into a real doctor, and he wasn't sure what it was hahah, but he said I needed an MRI. So I got in contact with them, and I now have an appointment for the MRI on Monday the 26 so well wait till then to find out more about the ol knee, haha. Thank you for all the prayers already. I know everything will happen the way God wants :D
Anyway, another awesome week. We were able to get back in touch with stephanie and had a lesson with her. She seemed down, but seems to want to continue learning and wants to be baptized. She understand what she has to do, and what she need to decide, so until then we are planning on continuing to help her learn and grow, and wait till she feels confident in following the gospel.
We had a few really good lessons with Denise this week. She is the bomb. She just soaks everything in and then goes home and prays about it. She also has been reading the book of Mormon, and says she loves the way it makes her feel. She says she has a lot to do but wants to still read it, so she said she wakes up early. So I asked how early, Oh ya know i get up around 4 and read and pray about what you teach me. What!! Shes 13!!! No one does that, especially not a kid! Its pretty cool. Sister graham, the family we have the lessons at, took Denise to the temple and they went and walked around, and read in the waiting room for a while. She said she really liked it, and said she loved the calmness. Shes a really special girl. She decided on a baptismal date for october 8. We think she could be ready sooner, but with some family things, and then conference on the 1st, we decided on the 8th!
We met a woman down in spring valley, the english ward, and she was super interested. She talked a ton about her life and her backstory, but about half way through told us she wanted to be baptized. I guess her daughter is a member and says she loves the way shes changed and wants to change that way too! We also helped her pick a date for oct 15!
We had a fun zone meeting up in flagstaff. It was good. Its fun going up to flag. Its about an hour and half north of us and we go up through sedona, and go through a really pretty canyon.
We talked about preach my gospel a lot. President griffin found a paper on the history of preach my gospel and its pretty incredible how many people, and how much effort was put into it. So now the focus is preach my gospel.
Umm what esle.
I hit my year mark in the field this week haha.
Oh we found edgar again, down in spring valley. He has been having some issues with his shoulder and has had a bunch of doctors appointments, but we passed at the right time. Its really cool teaching him, because he is really searching for the truth. He is the man that is really focused on John ch.17 where it talks about missionary work, and only two churches really seem to do that. But he was really into the lesson, and loved the first vision. I dont know it in english so i said it in english He asked us to bring it to him in writing, because he says he would like to memorize it as well! haha Ive never had an investigator want to memorize the first vision, and especially not before they even became a member. So that was fun.
Rosa is still doing good. Still no word on her divorce papers but as soon as those are in she is going to be soo ready!!! She is now the most active member of the branch, and shes not even baptized! She has been to church 8 weeks in a row. Sadly more than anyone including the branch president. Shes loves it, and come to everlasting we do, including cleaning the church this month haha. She invites all her friends and then wants to come to lessons with us to get her friends pumped about it haha. shes awesome.
Well were off to the branch party!
Everyone have a good one!
Elder Miller
To start off with, I guess most of you know now, but ive been having some pain in my knee and some people in the stake think i may have a torn meniscus. I went into a real doctor, and he wasn't sure what it was hahah, but he said I needed an MRI. So I got in contact with them, and I now have an appointment for the MRI on Monday the 26 so well wait till then to find out more about the ol knee, haha. Thank you for all the prayers already. I know everything will happen the way God wants :D
Anyway, another awesome week. We were able to get back in touch with stephanie and had a lesson with her. She seemed down, but seems to want to continue learning and wants to be baptized. She understand what she has to do, and what she need to decide, so until then we are planning on continuing to help her learn and grow, and wait till she feels confident in following the gospel.
We had a few really good lessons with Denise this week. She is the bomb. She just soaks everything in and then goes home and prays about it. She also has been reading the book of Mormon, and says she loves the way it makes her feel. She says she has a lot to do but wants to still read it, so she said she wakes up early. So I asked how early, Oh ya know i get up around 4 and read and pray about what you teach me. What!! Shes 13!!! No one does that, especially not a kid! Its pretty cool. Sister graham, the family we have the lessons at, took Denise to the temple and they went and walked around, and read in the waiting room for a while. She said she really liked it, and said she loved the calmness. Shes a really special girl. She decided on a baptismal date for october 8. We think she could be ready sooner, but with some family things, and then conference on the 1st, we decided on the 8th!
We met a woman down in spring valley, the english ward, and she was super interested. She talked a ton about her life and her backstory, but about half way through told us she wanted to be baptized. I guess her daughter is a member and says she loves the way shes changed and wants to change that way too! We also helped her pick a date for oct 15!
We had a fun zone meeting up in flagstaff. It was good. Its fun going up to flag. Its about an hour and half north of us and we go up through sedona, and go through a really pretty canyon.
We talked about preach my gospel a lot. President griffin found a paper on the history of preach my gospel and its pretty incredible how many people, and how much effort was put into it. So now the focus is preach my gospel.
Umm what esle.
I hit my year mark in the field this week haha.
Oh we found edgar again, down in spring valley. He has been having some issues with his shoulder and has had a bunch of doctors appointments, but we passed at the right time. Its really cool teaching him, because he is really searching for the truth. He is the man that is really focused on John ch.17 where it talks about missionary work, and only two churches really seem to do that. But he was really into the lesson, and loved the first vision. I dont know it in english so i said it in english He asked us to bring it to him in writing, because he says he would like to memorize it as well! haha Ive never had an investigator want to memorize the first vision, and especially not before they even became a member. So that was fun.
Rosa is still doing good. Still no word on her divorce papers but as soon as those are in she is going to be soo ready!!! She is now the most active member of the branch, and shes not even baptized! She has been to church 8 weeks in a row. Sadly more than anyone including the branch president. Shes loves it, and come to everlasting we do, including cleaning the church this month haha. She invites all her friends and then wants to come to lessons with us to get her friends pumped about it haha. shes awesome.
Well were off to the branch party!
Everyone have a good one!
Elder Miller
Monday, September 5, 2016
9.5.16
Dear Family & Friends,
We almost went 6 weeks in a row with standards of excellence haha. we were 1 new investigator short. But its all good. we had an awesome week, and then we hit a little rough spot on Sunday, but it will be ok.
The big focus this week was Stephanie. She her baptismal date was for next Saturday. we were at her house a bunch , and she seemed pretty excited to get baptized. Then jump to Sunday she had her baptismal interview. The missions first counselor was up here and he did the interview. President juchua said she passed all the question parts, but he said he didn't quite feel the spirit the same way he does with others. He said part of it was that he found out that she has a boyfriend. We knew this but we had thought that when she said he is in California, we thought she meant he left her, but i guess she is expecting him to come back at some point. So now she needs to talk to him and decide that if he really does come back that they are going to get married or not, and if not then she has to leave him behind. President juchau said he didn't feel like she had quite a strong enough testimony to firmly say she wouldn't get back with him if he didn't want to get married, and he said she said she understood, and that she needed to make this decision, and strengthen her testimony in the church first. Form what he said, she seemed to understand and was okay . but then in the few minutes we talked to president juchau, she left and we didnt get to talk to her, and she hasn't answered us. i really hope we don't lose her. President juchau said normally she would have been ok to get baptized, no one has to have a perfect testimony to be baptized, but she has a hard thing ahead of her, and he feels like she needs to be a little stronger to be able to say that if they don't get married , then she will not move back with him.
So that was kinda rough, but I think that it will work out. We just need to talk to her and see how she really feels, and then go from there.
But back to the good stuff. On Thursday i got to go to the temple!! Its been a while since ive been able to go. Its always so cool. Our zone had a baptism per companionship, and the reward is a temple trip and breakfast with president. it was fun. After we had zone conference with him, in the mission home. It was weird being there because minus 1 other quick stop in a while back, i haven't been there since my first day in the mission. haha so that was cool.
So Saturday a lesson canceled on us around three, and so we were trying to figure out what to do. We needed to print some stuff, and we were close to the church. so we went over there for a second. The next thing we know someone is knocking on the door. We open it, and it is the Meza family from my last ward! They were a family I helped reactivate. They said they wanted to come see me so they just jumped in the car and came up here. haha. They didn't have a address or our phone number, so i have no idea how they expected to find me. We are never at the church at 3. normally we would have been in Sedona at least a half hour away from here, and we would have never known they came up here. haha. It was pretty cool how it all worked. We went and ate and talked for a little. They are a crazy family haha but i love them. It was really cool to see them again.
Last Sunday at stake conference, a member from our English ward came up and introduced us to a girl named Denise. They said she was a family friend that has been coming to mutual for a while, and wants to talk to the missionaries! So on Tuesday, we drove down to the area, called Spring Valley, and got to teach Denise. She is an awesome girl. she is 13 but is very smart, and had to grow up very fast. It sounds like shes had a pretty hard life. Her dad left when she was little, and then her mom has had kids with a lot of other men. She is now living with her grandma, who lives up here. We had a really good lesson, and talked a lot about Christ and the atonement. She doesn't really know anything other than she believes in god, and prays to him a lot. she says hes the only reason why she is still here, after all the hard stuff shes gone through. So we are super excited to keep teaching her. The gospel is going to help her so much. i love this gospel.
Well that's it from Cottonwood!
Have a good one!
Elder Miller
We almost went 6 weeks in a row with standards of excellence haha. we were 1 new investigator short. But its all good. we had an awesome week, and then we hit a little rough spot on Sunday, but it will be ok.
The big focus this week was Stephanie. She her baptismal date was for next Saturday. we were at her house a bunch , and she seemed pretty excited to get baptized. Then jump to Sunday she had her baptismal interview. The missions first counselor was up here and he did the interview. President juchua said she passed all the question parts, but he said he didn't quite feel the spirit the same way he does with others. He said part of it was that he found out that she has a boyfriend. We knew this but we had thought that when she said he is in California, we thought she meant he left her, but i guess she is expecting him to come back at some point. So now she needs to talk to him and decide that if he really does come back that they are going to get married or not, and if not then she has to leave him behind. President juchau said he didn't feel like she had quite a strong enough testimony to firmly say she wouldn't get back with him if he didn't want to get married, and he said she said she understood, and that she needed to make this decision, and strengthen her testimony in the church first. Form what he said, she seemed to understand and was okay . but then in the few minutes we talked to president juchau, she left and we didnt get to talk to her, and she hasn't answered us. i really hope we don't lose her. President juchau said normally she would have been ok to get baptized, no one has to have a perfect testimony to be baptized, but she has a hard thing ahead of her, and he feels like she needs to be a little stronger to be able to say that if they don't get married , then she will not move back with him.
So that was kinda rough, but I think that it will work out. We just need to talk to her and see how she really feels, and then go from there.
But back to the good stuff. On Thursday i got to go to the temple!! Its been a while since ive been able to go. Its always so cool. Our zone had a baptism per companionship, and the reward is a temple trip and breakfast with president. it was fun. After we had zone conference with him, in the mission home. It was weird being there because minus 1 other quick stop in a while back, i haven't been there since my first day in the mission. haha so that was cool.
So Saturday a lesson canceled on us around three, and so we were trying to figure out what to do. We needed to print some stuff, and we were close to the church. so we went over there for a second. The next thing we know someone is knocking on the door. We open it, and it is the Meza family from my last ward! They were a family I helped reactivate. They said they wanted to come see me so they just jumped in the car and came up here. haha. They didn't have a address or our phone number, so i have no idea how they expected to find me. We are never at the church at 3. normally we would have been in Sedona at least a half hour away from here, and we would have never known they came up here. haha. It was pretty cool how it all worked. We went and ate and talked for a little. They are a crazy family haha but i love them. It was really cool to see them again.
Last Sunday at stake conference, a member from our English ward came up and introduced us to a girl named Denise. They said she was a family friend that has been coming to mutual for a while, and wants to talk to the missionaries! So on Tuesday, we drove down to the area, called Spring Valley, and got to teach Denise. She is an awesome girl. she is 13 but is very smart, and had to grow up very fast. It sounds like shes had a pretty hard life. Her dad left when she was little, and then her mom has had kids with a lot of other men. She is now living with her grandma, who lives up here. We had a really good lesson, and talked a lot about Christ and the atonement. She doesn't really know anything other than she believes in god, and prays to him a lot. she says hes the only reason why she is still here, after all the hard stuff shes gone through. So we are super excited to keep teaching her. The gospel is going to help her so much. i love this gospel.
Well that's it from Cottonwood!
Have a good one!
Elder Miller
8.29.16
Hey everyone!
For the fifth week this week we are killing it, and hit standards again.
There are some awesome people we are teaching right now, and more just
keep coming up.
We had a man just randomly come to church last week. His name is
Edgar, and is interested in what we believe. We stopped by his house,
and had a pretty good lesson. He was raised Catholic, but has felt
that it's not the true church. After trying a few other religions he
came to the Jehovah Witnes' and has liked it there. He didn't say he
doesn't believe that it is not the true church, but for the fact that
he came looking for us may say something. He had some really good
questions, and knows the bible pretty well. We did run into a few
issues with his New world translation bible, but it's not a first and
won't be a last haha. He seemed to like everything we taught, but like
all still had some doubts. They were all good doubts and questions,
but just like everyone else, the only way he will get past a few
things is by knowing Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. It was very
interesting teaching him, because he has been one of the very few JWs
that didn't just try and bash with us, and get mad that we don't
believe Jehova is God. We have a lesson with him tomorrow, and I'm
excited to see where it goes with him.
We talked to Stephanie and Lupita, and showed them the Restoration
video. It always brings the spirit so strong, and has been the tilting
point for a lot of investigators of that I've taught who chose to be
baptized. Well once again, as we are talking Stephanie tells us that
she wants to learn more, that whe still has questions and what not,
but told us that we kept asking herself throughout the video, why she
was waiting to get baptized (she was supposed to get baptized the day
of this lesson, but told us she wasn't ready, and wanted to wait until
the new year, so she could start next year clean)
She kept going, and told us she wants to be baptized on the 10!! It was cool.
Her mom, Lupita, still isn't quite sure, but we feel it's because she
hasn't recognized that she keeps feeling the spirit and receiving
answers. Last week we asked them to start really reading the Book of
Mormon. Well before the lesson started, Lupita kept going on and on
about the book, and was excited about it, and actually gave us a
pretty detailed summary of the first 8 chapters it was really cool.
She likes the book, she likes church, she likes what we teach, but for
some reason still hesitant. After Stephanie had said she wanted to be
baptized she actually asked her mom if she wanted to as well. She says
she doesn't want to join and be baptized and then go inactive right
after. But right after Stephanie told her that she doesn't have to
know everything,she doesn't need to have a 100% assurance that this is
Gods church, she just needs to take a leap of faith and God will help
her and bless her for it!
It was awesome to see Stephanie want her mom to be baptized as well!
I had one of those really cool experiences with the sprit this week.
We were driving through this tiny little town in the middle of nowhere
to get to another town, when I had this feeling to stop at this
certain house. It looked very Hispanic, with wind chimes and what not,
but I sorta pushed the feeling aside. We went a few min down the road
and I still felt like we should, so after sorta battling it in my head
I told elder Clough we needed to go back. So we turned around, and
went back. We found it but as we got out, three massive dogs came out.
Luckily it was all fenced off, but there was no way we could walk in
there with those dogs. I didn't really know what to do. I was sorta
confused. Why had the spirit told me to come to this house. Well I
felt sorta dumb, and I double guessed the feelings, asking was that
just me? I knew it wasn't, I knew it was the spirit, so I wondered if
it was supposed to be an trial of faith, to see if I would listen.
Well I said might as well try someone around here then for the heck of
it. So we went across the street, and saw a old man sitting in his
back yard. We started talking and he actually was pretty interested in
talking with us. He was Catholic, but enjoys studying other religions,
and had already been reading the "Mormon Bible" haha. It was pretty
cool. We showed him the Gracias a El video, and set a return
appointment for the following week. It was really cool. I know the
sprit directed me there to talk to him. I don't know what will happen
in the future, but the spirit told me to stop at that house. Not to go
to that house, but so I could go to the neighbors. It always feels so
cool to be worthy of the spirit directing you like that. And then
having stuff really happen. Sometimes it is just to see if we will
follow, but especially when something comes out of it, it really helps
strengthen my testimony of the spirit and how he really is our guide
for our life.
Well I hope everything going good. It's been super nice over here, 80s
and lots a rain and awesome lightning storms.
Have an awesome week!
Elder Miller
The great escape.
For the fifth week this week we are killing it, and hit standards again.
There are some awesome people we are teaching right now, and more just
keep coming up.
We had a man just randomly come to church last week. His name is
Edgar, and is interested in what we believe. We stopped by his house,
and had a pretty good lesson. He was raised Catholic, but has felt
that it's not the true church. After trying a few other religions he
came to the Jehovah Witnes' and has liked it there. He didn't say he
doesn't believe that it is not the true church, but for the fact that
he came looking for us may say something. He had some really good
questions, and knows the bible pretty well. We did run into a few
issues with his New world translation bible, but it's not a first and
won't be a last haha. He seemed to like everything we taught, but like
all still had some doubts. They were all good doubts and questions,
but just like everyone else, the only way he will get past a few
things is by knowing Joseph Smith was a prophet of God. It was very
interesting teaching him, because he has been one of the very few JWs
that didn't just try and bash with us, and get mad that we don't
believe Jehova is God. We have a lesson with him tomorrow, and I'm
excited to see where it goes with him.
We talked to Stephanie and Lupita, and showed them the Restoration
video. It always brings the spirit so strong, and has been the tilting
point for a lot of investigators of that I've taught who chose to be
baptized. Well once again, as we are talking Stephanie tells us that
she wants to learn more, that whe still has questions and what not,
but told us that we kept asking herself throughout the video, why she
was waiting to get baptized (she was supposed to get baptized the day
of this lesson, but told us she wasn't ready, and wanted to wait until
the new year, so she could start next year clean)
She kept going, and told us she wants to be baptized on the 10!! It was cool.
Her mom, Lupita, still isn't quite sure, but we feel it's because she
hasn't recognized that she keeps feeling the spirit and receiving
answers. Last week we asked them to start really reading the Book of
Mormon. Well before the lesson started, Lupita kept going on and on
about the book, and was excited about it, and actually gave us a
pretty detailed summary of the first 8 chapters it was really cool.
She likes the book, she likes church, she likes what we teach, but for
some reason still hesitant. After Stephanie had said she wanted to be
baptized she actually asked her mom if she wanted to as well. She says
she doesn't want to join and be baptized and then go inactive right
after. But right after Stephanie told her that she doesn't have to
know everything,she doesn't need to have a 100% assurance that this is
Gods church, she just needs to take a leap of faith and God will help
her and bless her for it!
It was awesome to see Stephanie want her mom to be baptized as well!
I had one of those really cool experiences with the sprit this week.
We were driving through this tiny little town in the middle of nowhere
to get to another town, when I had this feeling to stop at this
certain house. It looked very Hispanic, with wind chimes and what not,
but I sorta pushed the feeling aside. We went a few min down the road
and I still felt like we should, so after sorta battling it in my head
I told elder Clough we needed to go back. So we turned around, and
went back. We found it but as we got out, three massive dogs came out.
Luckily it was all fenced off, but there was no way we could walk in
there with those dogs. I didn't really know what to do. I was sorta
confused. Why had the spirit told me to come to this house. Well I
felt sorta dumb, and I double guessed the feelings, asking was that
just me? I knew it wasn't, I knew it was the spirit, so I wondered if
it was supposed to be an trial of faith, to see if I would listen.
Well I said might as well try someone around here then for the heck of
it. So we went across the street, and saw a old man sitting in his
back yard. We started talking and he actually was pretty interested in
talking with us. He was Catholic, but enjoys studying other religions,
and had already been reading the "Mormon Bible" haha. It was pretty
cool. We showed him the Gracias a El video, and set a return
appointment for the following week. It was really cool. I know the
sprit directed me there to talk to him. I don't know what will happen
in the future, but the spirit told me to stop at that house. Not to go
to that house, but so I could go to the neighbors. It always feels so
cool to be worthy of the spirit directing you like that. And then
having stuff really happen. Sometimes it is just to see if we will
follow, but especially when something comes out of it, it really helps
strengthen my testimony of the spirit and how he really is our guide
for our life.
Well I hope everything going good. It's been super nice over here, 80s
and lots a rain and awesome lightning storms.
Have an awesome week!
Elder Miller
The great escape.
Monday, August 22, 2016
8.22.16
More awesome people this week. More blessings and more work!
We hit standards of excellence for a month now. The work is going
great. We found four new people to teach is week that seem pretty
excited. Three are some kids of a investigators we had and they wanted
us to get the kids involved. The other was a yet another referral from
rosa!! It's crazy how many people she has told and got them excited
about the church so we can teach them. She's not even a member yet!
It's been super cool to see.
I don't remember if I have said anything, but we now cover an English
area because a old couple that was there finished their mission. We
are not there full time, just if there are specific people to teach,
but there are right now, so we were excited about that. We went down
for the first time on Tuesday. It's about an hr to hr and a half away
from cottonwood so we won't be there super often, but we are going to
try at least once a week, and then go to the ward once a month,
because it is at the same time as the branch. That being said,
yesterday was the first time I have been to church in English in a
year and it was really weird. It was weird to be in a chapel as well.
Havnt had that in a few months either haha. So ya, it's weird teaching
in English, it's kinda easy to be honest haha I don't have to think as
hard of how to word things and what not haha. They are very different
people tho. The whole town is old retired people for the most part so
they have some different concerns that the Hispanics.
Stephanie came to a English baptism this week, and really liked seeing
how everything was done. We made a new baptism goal for her this week,
partly because we needed a little more time to teach her everything,
as well as she says she likes everything she likes baptism, but hasn't
felt like she's gotten a answer, and wants to make sure this is gods
church. It's been really cool to see her desire to want to know, and
learn and come closer to God. I think she is going to be great and
help the branch a lot. She now has the goal to be baptized sept 10, so
three weeks away.
Rosa is still the same with the divorce. She is still coming and
growing. She really wants to baptized but is stuck until she hears
more from Mexico. She has been doing some awesome stuff with her
friends and is a huge reason for us having some great weeks these last
couple.
The English elder we live with got his new trainee this week. His name
is elder gray. It's made me feel kinda weird, because it makes me
think that it's been a year since I was in training with elder wells.
Elder wells was about 7 months out when he trained me and is now going
home in December. Time is so weird out here. It's so fast and yet slow
at the same time haha.
Well that's it from cottonwood.
Love you guys
Elder Miller
We hit standards of excellence for a month now. The work is going
great. We found four new people to teach is week that seem pretty
excited. Three are some kids of a investigators we had and they wanted
us to get the kids involved. The other was a yet another referral from
rosa!! It's crazy how many people she has told and got them excited
about the church so we can teach them. She's not even a member yet!
It's been super cool to see.
I don't remember if I have said anything, but we now cover an English
area because a old couple that was there finished their mission. We
are not there full time, just if there are specific people to teach,
but there are right now, so we were excited about that. We went down
for the first time on Tuesday. It's about an hr to hr and a half away
from cottonwood so we won't be there super often, but we are going to
try at least once a week, and then go to the ward once a month,
because it is at the same time as the branch. That being said,
yesterday was the first time I have been to church in English in a
year and it was really weird. It was weird to be in a chapel as well.
Havnt had that in a few months either haha. So ya, it's weird teaching
in English, it's kinda easy to be honest haha I don't have to think as
hard of how to word things and what not haha. They are very different
people tho. The whole town is old retired people for the most part so
they have some different concerns that the Hispanics.
Stephanie came to a English baptism this week, and really liked seeing
how everything was done. We made a new baptism goal for her this week,
partly because we needed a little more time to teach her everything,
as well as she says she likes everything she likes baptism, but hasn't
felt like she's gotten a answer, and wants to make sure this is gods
church. It's been really cool to see her desire to want to know, and
learn and come closer to God. I think she is going to be great and
help the branch a lot. She now has the goal to be baptized sept 10, so
three weeks away.
Rosa is still the same with the divorce. She is still coming and
growing. She really wants to baptized but is stuck until she hears
more from Mexico. She has been doing some awesome stuff with her
friends and is a huge reason for us having some great weeks these last
couple.
The English elder we live with got his new trainee this week. His name
is elder gray. It's made me feel kinda weird, because it makes me
think that it's been a year since I was in training with elder wells.
Elder wells was about 7 months out when he trained me and is now going
home in December. Time is so weird out here. It's so fast and yet slow
at the same time haha.
Well that's it from cottonwood.
Love you guys
Elder Miller
8.15.16
Hey!
I just found out im staying with elder Clough in cottonwood and im super happy.
Crazy week this week. On Monday, the elder we lived with went home and
that was super weird. So then the rest of the week, I went back to the
trio life. Speaking of trio my old trio companion, from Argentina,
goes home today as well. But ya we were in a trio this week with an
English companion. It was hard trying to do stuff in technically 5
wards but it all worked out. Even being together we still both hit
standards of excellence in our numbers!
A few times I went on splits with a return missionary, as of about a
month ago, and we had some good lessons. It was cool to see how he
taught while being in chile, but of course that it was the same
gospel. It's always fun to pick up new ideas of how to teach a certain
point.
While being with elder Townsend this week, we taught a few English
lessons here and there and they were really cool. One was with Mr
Parker. Mr Parker is 82. He has been a Methodist his whole life, but a
few years ago married a Lds woman. He has thought we were always
interesting and finally decided to let us by. We had three lesson with
him and he loved it all, he lives the different ways we look at
things, and how we do them, and wants to be baptized. His hold back
this week was Coffee. 60 years of drinking coffee is quite the habit,
but by the time we returned a few days later, he had acted upon his
faith and trust in this gospel, and through it all away, and according
to his wife, boldly told her that we would never drink it again. Haha.
It was really cool to see. And really touched me by seeing his faith
in the lord, and really wanting to change his life. He is getting
baptized in 2 weeks.😊
I had another really cool eye opener teaching some English lessons
with a man named Mr Allen. Mr allen is 94, he was a rocket engineer,
and a Atheist. Now this was the first person I have taught that was a
true atheist. Add on top that he's an engineer an boy is he stubborn.
Haha. His member wife, and member brother died within the last few
years, and finally decided to let the missionaries in. As we begin
teaching very quickly we learn he has absolutely no belief in God or
any sort of religious deity. He cant believe that something could
listen to all our prayers at once, or fort the least answer them all.
So this has been a real struggle, but he has invited us back 3 times
now. He is quite stubborn haha but seems like he wants to know if
there is such thing.
It was a cool experience and in the days following the lessons, has
really made me think, and shown myself really how grateful I am to
just have, at bare minimum a belief in a greater being, but also for
the blessing of having the knowledge he is our Heavenly Father, who
loves us more than we can comprehend. And like almost all things on my
mission, it has help me grow my appreciation and love to my parents
and family for teaching me about the gospel, for loving me, and never
giving up. Thank you, I love you guys.
Stephanie and Lupita are progressing really well. They like everything
we teach, they like coming to church, they just haven't felt like
they've received and answer yet. Luckily however that hasn't slowed
them down. They are still listening, still reading, and praying. We
have felt like we should move their baptismal date back a little, but
just because we need a little more time to teach, and its stake
conference that weekend, and the English elders are taking the morning
for a baptism of their own. So it will be good.
I had another awesome experience with the gift of tongues in a lesson
with them. Neither of them speak any English, and I was with the
English elder on splits, and I got to a point where I felt I should
really say something and talk about something but I didn't know how, I
never had talked about it in this way I guess. And I sort of was
getting frustrated with myself. But I took a second a said a little
prayer and asked for help. Immediately after I said all these things
that just flowed together and used some words that I think I may have
only heard once ever. It was really cool and definitely a blessing
that I needed, and like many of our experiences with the spirit, a
testimony builder of God answers our prayers. Sometimes it is
immediate and those are always super cool, but if it's not quickly, it
will come.
I have been praying and studying about Christ for a while, and each
time I've asked for a confirmation of what I've read, what I've
learned, and on Christ as our savior. And it's been a while now, but
some answers don't come when we want them or expect them, but it came
this week and it was incredible, just as the spirit always is.
We were closing zone meeting with a hymn. I have listened to, and sang
this song many many times, but this time it was different. About
halfway through the first verse I couldn't sing anymore, I actually
couldn't really see the page anymore, because I was overcome with
tears and happiness and love and comfort from my Heavenly Father. It was a super special moment, and an answer to praying and studying. The song was: I Know My Redeemer Lives.
I know he truly does, and that because of his atonement we all have
the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins, to have the chance to
start over and be clean, and on top of that incredible gift, the gift
we all will receive of living again. I love my savior and and am so
grateful for him.
Love you guys so much
Elder Miller
I just found out im staying with elder Clough in cottonwood and im super happy.
Crazy week this week. On Monday, the elder we lived with went home and
that was super weird. So then the rest of the week, I went back to the
trio life. Speaking of trio my old trio companion, from Argentina,
goes home today as well. But ya we were in a trio this week with an
English companion. It was hard trying to do stuff in technically 5
wards but it all worked out. Even being together we still both hit
standards of excellence in our numbers!
A few times I went on splits with a return missionary, as of about a
month ago, and we had some good lessons. It was cool to see how he
taught while being in chile, but of course that it was the same
gospel. It's always fun to pick up new ideas of how to teach a certain
point.
While being with elder Townsend this week, we taught a few English
lessons here and there and they were really cool. One was with Mr
Parker. Mr Parker is 82. He has been a Methodist his whole life, but a
few years ago married a Lds woman. He has thought we were always
interesting and finally decided to let us by. We had three lesson with
him and he loved it all, he lives the different ways we look at
things, and how we do them, and wants to be baptized. His hold back
this week was Coffee. 60 years of drinking coffee is quite the habit,
but by the time we returned a few days later, he had acted upon his
faith and trust in this gospel, and through it all away, and according
to his wife, boldly told her that we would never drink it again. Haha.
It was really cool to see. And really touched me by seeing his faith
in the lord, and really wanting to change his life. He is getting
baptized in 2 weeks.😊
I had another really cool eye opener teaching some English lessons
with a man named Mr Allen. Mr allen is 94, he was a rocket engineer,
and a Atheist. Now this was the first person I have taught that was a
true atheist. Add on top that he's an engineer an boy is he stubborn.
Haha. His member wife, and member brother died within the last few
years, and finally decided to let the missionaries in. As we begin
teaching very quickly we learn he has absolutely no belief in God or
any sort of religious deity. He cant believe that something could
listen to all our prayers at once, or fort the least answer them all.
So this has been a real struggle, but he has invited us back 3 times
now. He is quite stubborn haha but seems like he wants to know if
there is such thing.
It was a cool experience and in the days following the lessons, has
really made me think, and shown myself really how grateful I am to
just have, at bare minimum a belief in a greater being, but also for
the blessing of having the knowledge he is our Heavenly Father, who
loves us more than we can comprehend. And like almost all things on my
mission, it has help me grow my appreciation and love to my parents
and family for teaching me about the gospel, for loving me, and never
giving up. Thank you, I love you guys.
Stephanie and Lupita are progressing really well. They like everything
we teach, they like coming to church, they just haven't felt like
they've received and answer yet. Luckily however that hasn't slowed
them down. They are still listening, still reading, and praying. We
have felt like we should move their baptismal date back a little, but
just because we need a little more time to teach, and its stake
conference that weekend, and the English elders are taking the morning
for a baptism of their own. So it will be good.
I had another awesome experience with the gift of tongues in a lesson
with them. Neither of them speak any English, and I was with the
English elder on splits, and I got to a point where I felt I should
really say something and talk about something but I didn't know how, I
never had talked about it in this way I guess. And I sort of was
getting frustrated with myself. But I took a second a said a little
prayer and asked for help. Immediately after I said all these things
that just flowed together and used some words that I think I may have
only heard once ever. It was really cool and definitely a blessing
that I needed, and like many of our experiences with the spirit, a
testimony builder of God answers our prayers. Sometimes it is
immediate and those are always super cool, but if it's not quickly, it
will come.
I have been praying and studying about Christ for a while, and each
time I've asked for a confirmation of what I've read, what I've
learned, and on Christ as our savior. And it's been a while now, but
some answers don't come when we want them or expect them, but it came
this week and it was incredible, just as the spirit always is.
We were closing zone meeting with a hymn. I have listened to, and sang
this song many many times, but this time it was different. About
halfway through the first verse I couldn't sing anymore, I actually
couldn't really see the page anymore, because I was overcome with
tears and happiness and love and comfort from my Heavenly Father. It was a super special moment, and an answer to praying and studying. The song was: I Know My Redeemer Lives.
I know he truly does, and that because of his atonement we all have
the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins, to have the chance to
start over and be clean, and on top of that incredible gift, the gift
we all will receive of living again. I love my savior and and am so
grateful for him.
Love you guys so much
Elder Miller
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
8.9.16
Another good week in the APM
Elder clough and I hit standards again so we're doing pretty good up
here. we also had our highest sacrament attendance in a long time
apparently. We had 39 people (that's with kids, but still haha) but ya
we were happy about that. This week is going to be sorta weird. So an
elder we lived with elder Sultan left this morning to get back for
school. So for this week we will be in a trio with his companion elder
Townsend. Not sure how we will do this with having potentially 5 wards
to cover, but we'll figure it out. Probably lots of splits haha.
This week I went on splits with elder Townsend, so I was a lone to
teach for that day, which wasn't bad (which makes me happy that I felt
good without a companion). I had a super cool lesson with Stephanie
and her mom on the plan of salvation. It was really cool because they
would make comments about how they'd never heard this or that, or
never thought about it that way, but every time would say they
believed it, and liked it so that was cool. Sadly for some reason they
didn't come to church this week, but Rosa did!! It was awesome because
we weren't able to have much contact with her this week and so we
wondered if she would, but Sunday came and there she was. She really
likes the church and the feelings she has when she's there. She wants
to be baptized, but still can't 😔. They are having problems with
getting the divorce all done in Mexico which means she can't get
married here, which means we are still waiting😕 but I know it will
all work out.
And Rosa was at it again this week. She's a better missionary than our
whole branch! She was talking to some friends who have been going
through some rough stuff, and told them all about us and our lessons
and the church, and convinced them to let us come by some time. So we
stopped by on Wednesday and met Maria. Maria is probably around 50 and
with the first question just broke down and let out a lot of hurt. A
big one was that her parents had both just died within a month of each
other and was very sad she wouldn't see them again. The plan of
salvation was perfect and you could see brought so much hope to her.
She was very thankful we came by, and asked us to come back. Right
before we were about to leave, I had the feeling to bring up baptism
and ended up asking her to be baptized on the 17 of September. She
said yes without hesitation, and said she would like to learn more. It
is super cool to be apart of moments when the spirit touches peoples
hearts and you see them change, in such a small amount of time, the
spirit gives them just the thing they need for that moment in their
life.
So transfers are next week, and we have no idea what is going to
happen. The mission right now has 20 Spanish missionaries, 4 are going
home, and only 1 is coming in, so that's 2 areas just without
missionaries haha, so there may be some major changes. I hope I get to
stay 1 more. I really like being with elder clough, and we are doing
pretty well. It's interesting up here tho. It definitely has its only
problems that Phoenix didn't have. A huge one is keeping the sabbath
day holy and coming to church. Everyone in the branch or that we are
teaching, works at these hotels up in Sedona and they all work on
Sunday. It's so annoying. And the thing is, our branch isn't super
converted as a whole, and no one seems to have the faith or some just
the desire to try and change to be able to come to church. So that's
our push right now is to help them to grow their testimony.
I don't know if I want to stay much longer than a transfer tho because
then I'll be here for winter with snow and I have nothing to wear
that's warm haha, so we'll see how that goes .
Hope you all have a awesome week
Have fun and good luck for everyone that started school or is just about too.
Love you guys
Elder Miller
Discover something new.
Elder clough and I hit standards again so we're doing pretty good up
here. we also had our highest sacrament attendance in a long time
apparently. We had 39 people (that's with kids, but still haha) but ya
we were happy about that. This week is going to be sorta weird. So an
elder we lived with elder Sultan left this morning to get back for
school. So for this week we will be in a trio with his companion elder
Townsend. Not sure how we will do this with having potentially 5 wards
to cover, but we'll figure it out. Probably lots of splits haha.
This week I went on splits with elder Townsend, so I was a lone to
teach for that day, which wasn't bad (which makes me happy that I felt
good without a companion). I had a super cool lesson with Stephanie
and her mom on the plan of salvation. It was really cool because they
would make comments about how they'd never heard this or that, or
never thought about it that way, but every time would say they
believed it, and liked it so that was cool. Sadly for some reason they
didn't come to church this week, but Rosa did!! It was awesome because
we weren't able to have much contact with her this week and so we
wondered if she would, but Sunday came and there she was. She really
likes the church and the feelings she has when she's there. She wants
to be baptized, but still can't 😔. They are having problems with
getting the divorce all done in Mexico which means she can't get
married here, which means we are still waiting😕 but I know it will
all work out.
And Rosa was at it again this week. She's a better missionary than our
whole branch! She was talking to some friends who have been going
through some rough stuff, and told them all about us and our lessons
and the church, and convinced them to let us come by some time. So we
stopped by on Wednesday and met Maria. Maria is probably around 50 and
with the first question just broke down and let out a lot of hurt. A
big one was that her parents had both just died within a month of each
other and was very sad she wouldn't see them again. The plan of
salvation was perfect and you could see brought so much hope to her.
She was very thankful we came by, and asked us to come back. Right
before we were about to leave, I had the feeling to bring up baptism
and ended up asking her to be baptized on the 17 of September. She
said yes without hesitation, and said she would like to learn more. It
is super cool to be apart of moments when the spirit touches peoples
hearts and you see them change, in such a small amount of time, the
spirit gives them just the thing they need for that moment in their
life.
So transfers are next week, and we have no idea what is going to
happen. The mission right now has 20 Spanish missionaries, 4 are going
home, and only 1 is coming in, so that's 2 areas just without
missionaries haha, so there may be some major changes. I hope I get to
stay 1 more. I really like being with elder clough, and we are doing
pretty well. It's interesting up here tho. It definitely has its only
problems that Phoenix didn't have. A huge one is keeping the sabbath
day holy and coming to church. Everyone in the branch or that we are
teaching, works at these hotels up in Sedona and they all work on
Sunday. It's so annoying. And the thing is, our branch isn't super
converted as a whole, and no one seems to have the faith or some just
the desire to try and change to be able to come to church. So that's
our push right now is to help them to grow their testimony.
I don't know if I want to stay much longer than a transfer tho because
then I'll be here for winter with snow and I have nothing to wear
that's warm haha, so we'll see how that goes .
Hope you all have a awesome week
Have fun and good luck for everyone that started school or is just about too.
Love you guys
Elder Miller
Discover something new.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
8.1.16
Hi guys
I hit my year mark on Friday. Its kinda a weird feeling. Time is such
a weird thing on a mission. It feels like it's been long, but at the
same time has gone by really fast. We had a little fun at district
meeting, the sisters made some brownies and they sang happy birthday
to me haha. Then I got a fun package from my parents with a cool hump
day shirt haha. Thanks Mom and Dad. We also burned a shirt as
apparently tradition. Mom don't worry it wasn't mine it was elder
sultans since he goes home in a week haha. Which I'm pretty sad about.
This is the second time I've lived with someone who I really like and
then they go home after one transfer with them.
But ya so even on top of all that it has been an awesome week, full of
awesome blessings!
It all started 2 Sunday's ago when Rosa came and was super pumped
about the church and started coming to church. She has now been twice
and is dong awesome. Then on top of that this week she brought over
two different friends while we were teaching her, and they really
liked the lesson and asked us to come to their house. And so we did
nod inn our first lesson with each of them, we both felt very strongly
to bring up baptism, and ended up making goals with both of them to be
baptized in a month! It was super cool. The spirit is so amazing. It's
always hard to know when it's talking because it's so quiet, but when
you follow it's guidance and everything works out, it feels so cool.
And rosa referred us to another family yesterday and we are going to
go by this week and see if they are interested as well.
Then out of no where a lady in our ward who hasn't been super active
stared coming back right when I got here, and then this week brought
two of her friends to our branches family home evening and they really
liked it. Afterward we were talking to them and they asked us if we
could come and teach them more about the church! Their names are
Stephanie and Lupita. A daughter and mother about 30 and 50 years old.
So then we went by on Wednesday and had the lesson in the members
home. The spirit was really strong and after explaining baptism a
little bit we invented them to be baptized when they received an
answer to if this is true. And without hesitation Stephanie said, of
course I will still pray and ask God, but I believe everything you
guys are saying so I can work towards a goal. So we set one for about
a month as well!!
The mom didn't seem quite as strong, but none the less agreed to a
goal for sept 3
Then to make this week even better, Rosa, Stephanie, Lupita, and
Clemente all came to sacrament! Sadly we didn't have many members come
this week but it was really cool to see all of them come. It was a
really good 3 hours as well. The classes were really good and fit
perfectly for the investigators, and the talks were pretty good in
sacrament, partly because it was me and elder clough but ya they were
good haha.
We went by Clementes this week and sadly had to take him off date for
baptism. He came in super high and was same some of the weirdest stuff
I've ever heard on my mission. It's was so weird. So ya, he doesn't
seem to quite get the concept of the word of wisdom, and we are
realizing he really isn't as there in the mind as we thought he was.
And that's without the drugs.
The branch seems to be struggling more than I thought, and now there
are rumors of it being dissolved into a group that would meet with the
English ward and just have translation, which I think would really be
hard. I think we would loose the few people we have, personally. No
one speaks English, so they wouldn't be able to really talk to anyone
and I thin it would be a littl bi of a pride thing as well of them not
wanting to be apart of a different ward. But we'll see.
So ya that's been this week! It's been super awesome and big answers to prayers.
Hope life's going good for everyone!
Love you guys
Elder Miller
I hit my year mark on Friday. Its kinda a weird feeling. Time is such
a weird thing on a mission. It feels like it's been long, but at the
same time has gone by really fast. We had a little fun at district
meeting, the sisters made some brownies and they sang happy birthday
to me haha. Then I got a fun package from my parents with a cool hump
day shirt haha. Thanks Mom and Dad. We also burned a shirt as
apparently tradition. Mom don't worry it wasn't mine it was elder
sultans since he goes home in a week haha. Which I'm pretty sad about.
This is the second time I've lived with someone who I really like and
then they go home after one transfer with them.
But ya so even on top of all that it has been an awesome week, full of
awesome blessings!
It all started 2 Sunday's ago when Rosa came and was super pumped
about the church and started coming to church. She has now been twice
and is dong awesome. Then on top of that this week she brought over
two different friends while we were teaching her, and they really
liked the lesson and asked us to come to their house. And so we did
nod inn our first lesson with each of them, we both felt very strongly
to bring up baptism, and ended up making goals with both of them to be
baptized in a month! It was super cool. The spirit is so amazing. It's
always hard to know when it's talking because it's so quiet, but when
you follow it's guidance and everything works out, it feels so cool.
And rosa referred us to another family yesterday and we are going to
go by this week and see if they are interested as well.
Then out of no where a lady in our ward who hasn't been super active
stared coming back right when I got here, and then this week brought
two of her friends to our branches family home evening and they really
liked it. Afterward we were talking to them and they asked us if we
could come and teach them more about the church! Their names are
Stephanie and Lupita. A daughter and mother about 30 and 50 years old.
So then we went by on Wednesday and had the lesson in the members
home. The spirit was really strong and after explaining baptism a
little bit we invented them to be baptized when they received an
answer to if this is true. And without hesitation Stephanie said, of
course I will still pray and ask God, but I believe everything you
guys are saying so I can work towards a goal. So we set one for about
a month as well!!
The mom didn't seem quite as strong, but none the less agreed to a
goal for sept 3
Then to make this week even better, Rosa, Stephanie, Lupita, and
Clemente all came to sacrament! Sadly we didn't have many members come
this week but it was really cool to see all of them come. It was a
really good 3 hours as well. The classes were really good and fit
perfectly for the investigators, and the talks were pretty good in
sacrament, partly because it was me and elder clough but ya they were
good haha.
We went by Clementes this week and sadly had to take him off date for
baptism. He came in super high and was same some of the weirdest stuff
I've ever heard on my mission. It's was so weird. So ya, he doesn't
seem to quite get the concept of the word of wisdom, and we are
realizing he really isn't as there in the mind as we thought he was.
And that's without the drugs.
The branch seems to be struggling more than I thought, and now there
are rumors of it being dissolved into a group that would meet with the
English ward and just have translation, which I think would really be
hard. I think we would loose the few people we have, personally. No
one speaks English, so they wouldn't be able to really talk to anyone
and I thin it would be a littl bi of a pride thing as well of them not
wanting to be apart of a different ward. But we'll see.
So ya that's been this week! It's been super awesome and big answers to prayers.
Hope life's going good for everyone!
Love you guys
Elder Miller
Monday, August 1, 2016
7.25.16
It was a pretty solid week this week.
We were 1 person away of having a date to be baptized, from hitting
standards of excellence. We had a bunch of decent lessons, found a few
new people, have a man with a date to be baptized, and a few people
came to sacrament. So that was pretty good.
Sadly so far, no one seems to really be progressing. We have a ton of
people to teach, at least compared to my last area, but no one really
is committed. It's kinda stinks.
We do have one lady that tells us she wants to be baptized, I think I
mentioned her last week, but her name is rosa. She's really cool, but
the thing is the set back is she has to get divorced and then married.
Buuut we made a big jump this week and she faxed some needed paper
work to Mexico, and she says it's now just a little time and she can
be officially married, so that she can be baptized!! And I mean we
need to teach her all the lessons, but you know that's just a little
part of it haha. 😋 but hey she has a desire so thats more that most
right now.
We have a man named Clemente who wants to be baptized, knows all the
lessons knows the doctrine, has been to church for over a year but
hsasnt quite smoking or dirnking. well its been 3 weeks of no alchol
and says he is slowly cutting down on the smoking so thats really
good. The goal for him is to be baptized on the 13 of August so we're
praying for him!
There is a senior couple done with their mission, so we found out we
are receiving 2 new English areas so that's interesting. They are both
wards, but we won't be proselyting in them. So if there are people to
teach or big needs in the wards we will teach and help, but we won't
go try and find people there, or go to church with them. So we'll see
how all that goes. Officially part English missionary for the first
time haha.
The branch is doing good. Everyone is getting ready to get their
patriarchal blessings. I think it's really going to help. I hope that
it will help strengthen their individual testimonies, and convert them
more. They are all converts from 7 to 1 year ago haha. But I know my
patriarchal blessing helped me so much right when I got it and
continues to help me each time I read it. So this should be really
good for our little branch🤗
So while we had a little time in between doing some awesome missionary
work I played with some bugs. The first round was a night that we
caught scorpions in out house and tested the myth that if you put a
scorpion near heat and it feels like it can't escaped, it stings
itself to death. So we put it in a circle of fire using hand
sanitizer, and released it into the ring. Within seconds in stung
itself in the head some 5 or 6 times it was intense haha. I, then
longing for some new food challenge, ate not 1 but 2 scorpions haha.
You may be asking why? My response is, I'm not sure, but it happened
and it was super gross. The first one was super gushy and then
exploded and popped like a grape in my mouth. They second we fried and
when I chewed it it went in a billion pieces of like ash, and I almost
threw up haha. It was fun. It was one for the books.
Another night we were at the church, and we are about to walk in at
about 9 and a tarantulas crawls across my foot!! I freaked out pretty
bad haha. But then I got over it, and I picked it up. It was suuuuper
weird. It was fury and was actually pretty fast. I took some pictures
with it, and scared some other elders with it haha. It was fun. So ya
that was my week of playing with bugs.
Weather was beautiful some nice rain and just making things really
green so that's cool.
So over all just a fun week.
Hope you guys had one as well
Love you all
Elder Miller
Discover something new.
We were 1 person away of having a date to be baptized, from hitting
standards of excellence. We had a bunch of decent lessons, found a few
new people, have a man with a date to be baptized, and a few people
came to sacrament. So that was pretty good.
Sadly so far, no one seems to really be progressing. We have a ton of
people to teach, at least compared to my last area, but no one really
is committed. It's kinda stinks.
We do have one lady that tells us she wants to be baptized, I think I
mentioned her last week, but her name is rosa. She's really cool, but
the thing is the set back is she has to get divorced and then married.
Buuut we made a big jump this week and she faxed some needed paper
work to Mexico, and she says it's now just a little time and she can
be officially married, so that she can be baptized!! And I mean we
need to teach her all the lessons, but you know that's just a little
part of it haha. 😋 but hey she has a desire so thats more that most
right now.
We have a man named Clemente who wants to be baptized, knows all the
lessons knows the doctrine, has been to church for over a year but
hsasnt quite smoking or dirnking. well its been 3 weeks of no alchol
and says he is slowly cutting down on the smoking so thats really
good. The goal for him is to be baptized on the 13 of August so we're
praying for him!
There is a senior couple done with their mission, so we found out we
are receiving 2 new English areas so that's interesting. They are both
wards, but we won't be proselyting in them. So if there are people to
teach or big needs in the wards we will teach and help, but we won't
go try and find people there, or go to church with them. So we'll see
how all that goes. Officially part English missionary for the first
time haha.
The branch is doing good. Everyone is getting ready to get their
patriarchal blessings. I think it's really going to help. I hope that
it will help strengthen their individual testimonies, and convert them
more. They are all converts from 7 to 1 year ago haha. But I know my
patriarchal blessing helped me so much right when I got it and
continues to help me each time I read it. So this should be really
good for our little branch🤗
So while we had a little time in between doing some awesome missionary
work I played with some bugs. The first round was a night that we
caught scorpions in out house and tested the myth that if you put a
scorpion near heat and it feels like it can't escaped, it stings
itself to death. So we put it in a circle of fire using hand
sanitizer, and released it into the ring. Within seconds in stung
itself in the head some 5 or 6 times it was intense haha. I, then
longing for some new food challenge, ate not 1 but 2 scorpions haha.
You may be asking why? My response is, I'm not sure, but it happened
and it was super gross. The first one was super gushy and then
exploded and popped like a grape in my mouth. They second we fried and
when I chewed it it went in a billion pieces of like ash, and I almost
threw up haha. It was fun. It was one for the books.
Another night we were at the church, and we are about to walk in at
about 9 and a tarantulas crawls across my foot!! I freaked out pretty
bad haha. But then I got over it, and I picked it up. It was suuuuper
weird. It was fury and was actually pretty fast. I took some pictures
with it, and scared some other elders with it haha. It was fun. So ya
that was my week of playing with bugs.
Weather was beautiful some nice rain and just making things really
green so that's cool.
So over all just a fun week.
Hope you guys had one as well
Love you all
Elder Miller
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