Happy New Year December 31, 2012

So this week was a fun one. After the Skype, which made my Christmas! We went out tracting and found a lady named D... and she is an elect! She is so ready to be baptized and she already read the whole Book of Mormon!! And she is getting baptized this week!!

Also, we have a investigator that is 13 named L... and he is awesome. He wants to be a missionary and he's come to church the past 3 weeks... and I was supposed to baptize him yesterday... But the little punk drank coffee this week, so he didn't pass his baptismal interview... and he felt so bad... But he is very determined to not drink coffee this week and I will definitely be baptizing him this week!! with D. too!

We also have two investigators that are 17 and 18 we are working with, they are really progressing well. They are awesome guys and they both want to change their lives and it's been so rewarding teaching them and helping them change.... It's weird how many people we are finding, that I feel like I can relate to here, I really feel like this is where I am supposed to be... I feel like I know a little bit of what they are going through and that the experiences I have had are helping me be a better missionary.

 

Also, I went on divisions [splits] with my zone leader this week. He only has one week left until he's headed home... so he is working so hard to get the most he can of of his last week... So we had fun! ha We practically ran everywhere and talked to EVERYONE. It was way fun and it was a good example to me.

 

Brazilian baseball or bets, was super fun, too. We played with some Brazilian kids and two other missionaries and I hit like 100 home runs... I'm glad we didn't play soccer though... They would have killed me. They are so good here!!

 

Also, we had a rat in our house and we had to tear everything apart to kill it. ha It was hilarious... We were like knocking stuff over and throwing furniture because we didn't want it to get away, and finally we killed the sucker.

 

Also, I ate pork this week... that still had little hairs on it. It was hard to swallow ha. I miss your cooking mom!!!!!!!

 

Also Mom and Dad... I have a wish list of things for whenever you send the next package.. It doesn't matter when, but it be nice if a you could send some of this stuff it help a lot!

[I won't include the whole list of sundries, but some items were interesting.]

 

American money (one dollar bills... just like 3 or 4)

my jump rope

protein bars

A black windbreaker.. something small I can shove in my backpack and just pull out when it rains

clear packing tape

athletes foot spray [!!! At least he didn't ask for a can of Raid. He did mention fleas during our Christmas phone call!]

and maybe hair clippers if they are cheap

ha Sorry it's a long one. But any of it would help!!

 

Also, Mom or Dad if you could find some smoking facts... One of our investigators is having a hard time stopping smoking and I want to help her by telling her some of the positives from stopping smoking... I remember reading about how your chance for a heart attack drops drastically and cancer and stuff. So if you could find them in English I can translate them into Portuguese.

But I love you all a lot... Ryan the surgery looks gnarly! And did you already have the trek Remi??? It was so good to see you on Christmas and I miss you all!

Love, Elder Miller

Oii! December 17, 2012

Oii Mom, Dad, Ryan, Remi, Roxy, Truman and Sam! ha Sorry you're after the pets, Sam.

Anyway, so, I'm jealous of all the fun you and Remi have been having Ryan! Has Mom's ear healed from the dart wound? [Unfortunately I got caught in the middle of a Nerf gun battle.] And what did you decide with the surgery. Ryan? I want to know? I want a pic of that beard to! Mine is coming in fast ha.. shaving everyday is making it grow a lot faster than before. I actually get a little 5 o'clock shadow so that's pretty cool.

Remi! How was that Christmas concert! I'm so happy you have Ryan home to play with you! I am sorry he is not as much fun as me, but he is better than nothing right? haha I miss you bud.

Mom! How's the new job? Did you already start?

Dad, I want another pic of the shed! And also, I want burgers the first day I am home... just so you know. They don't have anything like your burgers here, and eu tenho soldades por seu burgures!

So this week was pretty good! The first half I was a little discouraged because of the language and little things, so i was praying really hard for help with lifting my spirits, and I have felt the help this second half of the week.

Cool story real quick... I was on divisions [splits?] here, I stayed in our area and had an Elder from another area in our district come here with me... So I had to get us to all the houses and appointments, and I did it without any problems! So that's a miracle ha! It was pretty fun, too, being the Elder that has to be responsible, for a change ha. And we marked [set?] 3 dates for baptism while my trainer was gone, so he was pretty proud when he got back!

But the story... so we were trying to study in the chapel (which is really a supermarket/house) because we had a zone meeting in the morning and didn't get to study in our house, and the door is super hard to open... Only the bishop and a counselor really know how, ha but we were trying and trying for a good 15 minutes. And we even called Christiano, the mission leader, for help explaining it. He couldn't explain it on the phone, but he just said say a prayer and try again. so Elder Eddington said a prayer and I tried again... and it opened right away... it was weird! But awesome. Prayer really works! And I have lots of stories like that already from the mission! And if I throw in some extra stuff and a few scriptures that's a talk right there. ha
 
So also this week... we had a marriage on Friday (I was a witness/signer) and a two BAPTISMS on Saturday and they were confirmed Sunday! It was awesome! This is why they call it the best two years! It was so cool to have people I helped teach, enter the waters of baptism!!! They are awesome people and are going to be awesome members!!

Anyway, I have some pics I am going to send, so I am going to wrap this up. I miss you all, and love you, too. I wish I could be there for Christmas, but I am loving being here in PONTA GROSSA and I'm so excited to Skype! I hope I can still speak English!

I love you all,go
Ate Logo, 
Elder Miller

Sunday's Baptism

Darci and Luzia, our baptisms! They got married on Friday! It was awesome!

 

 

 

 

Now, the squeamish and arachnophobes scroll no farther . . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This spider was in our house... No joke, it was bigger than my hand! I promise ha.

It's hard to sleep now.



More from Ponta Grossa December 10, 2012

Oiiiiiiii,
So, it’s the end of another week and I have tons to say again! First off, Dad the shed looks good! Mom way to go with job!!!!! Also, have you heard about the novel? Ryan, the ice caves sound fun! Also, I will be praying for you and that the surgery goes well, thanks for the advice to by the way. It’s funny I noticed a lot of what you said this week! Remi, I am sorry Mom and Dad are mean and don’t let you hang ornaments, but I love you even if they don’t! ; )

[Roni & Scott's defense: We did let Remi hang ornaments! He was just mad when we made him quit, so he "told" on us to big brother! LOL]

So this week we marked six more dates for baptism... we had to cut three that were already marked, but we worked hard and found 6 more people! This week we’re also having another marriage and baptizing 3 people on Sunday!! I love it haha

Missionary work is hard stuff though... Ryan what you said about retaining converts has been so true this week. Tonight we are having a special family home evening with two recent converts that need some help to say the least...so wish me luck with that. ha

The language has been coming along really well. I can understand about half of the people here perfectly! And sometimes when people tell stories, I zone out and imagine the story they are telling in my head... but they are speaking in Portuguese; it’s crazy! ha IDK [I don’t know] if that made since, but I'm improving a lot with understanding. Still, there are people that I can only understand a few words here and there and guess at what they are saying... but for the most part it’s been going really well.

The teaching is a little hard, I feel like I’m not doing much in the lessons... I say very simple basic things and I’m sure it’s hard to understand me at times, but I know it will get better, and the people have all been nice and patient with me. I love the people here! They are very friendly, very humble and very teachable. The members here are hilarious too, they literally get mad at me if I don’t stuff my face at lunch (the big meal here is lunch, they don’t really eat dinner). Also, random fact... I ate chicken hearts this week ha. It’s funny though, we have to eat till they are satisfied, fortunately walking 20 miles a day with hills is keeping me in shape. And I have been working out in the mornings with our neighbor. He’s a kick boxer and does jujitsu and so we work out with punching bags and sprinting up hills and pushups... it’s been fun!!

Wow, it hard to type in English, my English is suffering here! ha A couple random facts... I did have another problem with a dog this week... fortunately not a pit-bull, it was a miniature pincher that had little-dog-syndrome, and I had to give him a good kick to avoid a bite (he flew haha). Also, I am tan!!! Only my forearms and face but I look pretty good ha. Also, I got the packages, Mom!! And a letter from you, I already set up the tree and I am so excited to open my presents on Christmas.

Well, that’s all for now. I love you all so much and you are all in my prayers,
I will send some picture really quick, too.
Love you!
Elder Miller

As we were walking to an appointment we saw this guy laying there... and I decided to saddle up.

haha Yeah, I lived through it; he was lazy. He did stand up for a minute and it got a bit scary, but I hopped off ha.

First Week in the Field December 3, 2012

Oiii familia!!!

I have so much to say, I don’t even know where to start!!!! It was so hard going for two weeks without emailing!!!

Soo... my first area is in Ponta Grossa!! In my mission there are two big cities... Curitiba and Ponta Grossa. It is beautiful here!!! The city central is pretty nice and feels relatively like a city would in the states... but we spend most of our time tracting in the villas around the city. Our area is called Bom Successo... which is ironic because it means good success... and we are having just that! It’s beautiful, like a different world!! It’s very hilly with lots of green... like Florida... but rocky dirt roads to. When I opened my mission call I never thought this is what it would be like!!! It’s so beautiful here!!! I will send pics because I can’t do it justice with my words.

 

 

My comps name is Elder Arrioal... he is Chilean. He speaks good Portuguese... but not a word of English, so this week has been FUN! Ha I have actually been able to understand almost everything he says... luckily... and we communicate pretty well. He is an awesome teacher and has some really cool ways of explaining the gospel!!! I have a lot to learn from him!! His nickname is The Baptizador... because he has a lot of baptisms... which leads me to... this week I invited 6 people to be baptized on Christmas and they all accepted!! In the months of December total I think we will have 15 or more baptisms!!! It's awesome! The people are so humble here and willing to listen to the message of the gospel. I think part of it is because they are living in VERY humble circumstances. I have never seen poor like this. But they are so kind and I love them all!

Fun facts; this week I was a witness for a marriage. Two of our investigators got married so they can be baptized this month!!! They are way cool people and he has a crazy conversion story... he was living a bad life with drugs and drinking and women, and ended up in a coma... and when he came out of the come he felt like he needed to repent and follow Christ... That day he met the missionaries!!

The little kids here are super cute. They all try to talk to me... I can’t understand anything they say... but it doesn’t stop them from trying! haha I'm adopting a Brazilian one day!! Mark my words!

Another cool story... they are tons of strayers [stray dogs] here... Friday we walked about 20 miles!!! It was killer... but I started counting strays I saw . . . and I stopped counting at 150... I bet I saw at least 300 that day... but anyway we went to teach a lesson to an investigator we found on Wednesday... and we clapped at the front of their yard (they don’t knock doors here, they clap!) and a pit-bull ran out from behind the house and was barking at us... but the ladies motioned for us to enter... so as we took a few steps into the yard... the pit-bull came running at me snarling and jumped up to bite me... it was scary!! Fortunately we always carry hard cover copies of the book of Mormon with us to show people... and I popped that dog in the face as hard as I could!!! LOL The dog whimpered and left us alone long enough to make it inside the house!! It strengthened my testimony of the book of Mormon!! haha But yeah, there a lots of dogs here!

What was even cooler was the lesson we taught afterwards!! The first time we taught them, it was obvious [they had domestic problems] BUT this second lesson we taught, I could already see and feel a difference in their home! The gospel is powerful stuff!! and the spirit was in their home as we taught... also they now have dates for baptism! This is so cool!!

To answer questions, President Cordon and Sister Cordon were awesome!! I love them!! And the Mission Home is sooo coool!! It’s in the middle of downtown Curitiba and it’s legit!! It’s on the 15th floor of a high-rise and way nice! We didn’t stay the night there, though. I got interviewed we ate lunch, met our trainers and took a 2 hour bus ride here to Ponta Grossa!

The view from the Mission Home.

Also, about the packages and letters...everything goes to the mission office... and we get to pick it up at zone conference once a month... but it’s okay. ha I get to pick up the packages on the 21st of this month for zone conference!! I’m excited for that! But I’m going to send this email and send some pictures!!
I love you all, and I miss you all too!!

Elder Miller

 

This is the view from my apartment... not too shabby ha
Random Facts
I have already killed two brown recluses in our apartment.

Our neighbor has a rooster... I didn’t like sleeping anyway.
People in Ponta Grossa become possessed sometimes (according to my Comp)
There is a small favela [shanty town] here...
There are 180 members in the ward here... but they are using a house. They have land purchased for a chapel next year... but for now we are using a big house... and baptizing in a swimming pool. ha Maybe a river soon... we will see.
I bore my testimony yesterday.. it went well!
We live across the street from an Assemblia de Deus church... They worship at night, and they believe in the gift of speaking in tongues...
One of the members comes with us tracting a lot. He's way nice!

 

As his brother, Ryan, said, "Elder Miller is preaching the gospel to all God's creatures."

More Pictures from the CTM December 3, 2012

These first 8 pics were from the CTM...

 

The view out Elder Miller's 5th Floor room at the CTM in Sao Paulo.

 

Elder Miller's CTM District Buddies. The ones I know are:

Top Left - Elder Miller & his CTM companion Elder Farr is next to him. Right in front of Elder Miller is Elder Rodgers and next to him is Elder Winn. Those two Elders were particular friends of Reece, but were headed to the Teresina Brazil Mission in northern Brazil. I know that Elder Larsen is in there, too, but which one???

email me with names if you know someone else.

 

Elder Miller supporting his companion 100%? I think that is Elder Farr...

 

 

I have no words, but this one might explain a lot...

 

Late to class, after goofing around in the laundry room???

 

 

District Stripling Warriors?

Elder Miller said his very shy teacher did not want her picture taken,
but he got some anyway.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

First Day Proselyting November 21, 2012

Elder Miller's artwork from the CTM!

 

 

OIIII minha familia!!!

Mom... that is not the word for elder haha, Elder is the word for Elder. Haha [I will not put the word that the translator gave me as “elder,” for fear it is obscene!]

Anyway, it was so good to hear from you all this week!! Mom and Dad and Remi, I got the Mission Ties letter earlier in the week which was a nice surprise... and I got your Halloween card!! It was awesome to hear about conference again! hahaha

And Ryan, thanks for the letter! It was another nice surprise!!! It sounds like you’re doing well. Keep me posted on the job choice. I’m sure you will be awesome at any job you pick... but I think you will have more success with the pest control if you do it this year!  

Sooo… this week, Monday, we went proselyting for the first time!! My comp and I gave out five copies of the book of Mormon... talked to like 20 people... understood about 10. Got yelled at by a drunk... and I was hit on by a transvestite. It was FUN!

I’ll start with the books of Mormon. ha We had some good conversations with people about religion and just small talking. We talked to a few older people, two young boys flying a kite, a lady who owned a small shop for girls, a taxi driver, construction workers and a few others. A few people were speaking a different language though! Seriously! Because some, we could understand every word, and then others, we would get like 2 words out of 100 ha. It was weird, but super fun.

One lady we couldn’t understand super well, but we were having a good conversation with her none-the-less... But while we were talking, a drunk guy came up and was asking if we were from the church, and we said yes, and he started shaking his finger at us and yelling. ha So it was hard to finish our conversation and ignore him especially because she was a little hard to understand to begin with... but we did and gave her a BOM. So it turned out ok! Ha but if I hadn’t been a missionary... that drunk would have been in for it! Ha

So the highlight, or most unusual event, was definitely the transvestites. My comp saw two GIRLS sitting under some shade from a tree on the sidewalk, and he was like let’s go talk to them! Because people that are sitting are usually good one to talk to because they aren’t busy. So as we got closer... I noticed they were very weird looking girls, and by the time we said COMO VAI, we both realized they were not girls. They were men, with large chests... and 5 o’clock shadows... and deep voices. So we didn’t know what to do... then one of them looked at me, licked his lips, and said something inappropriate... so we left.

First day proselyting!!! Ha this should be a fun next few months! LOL

Anyway... not much else has happened beyond that. The language is coming along really well!! Or better than it was last week I guess. I am excited and nervous for the field, but I know it’s time to get to work!! We sang in the choir this week, “Where Can I Turn for Peace” and it sounded awesome! And my Brazilian roommates left for the field--dangit! I love those guys!

Other than that... the Temple was good today, and for P-day I bought a few things for you for Christmas, so I’ll be sending in next week hopefully, maybe today if I get it done in time! So don’t look! [At his bank account.] It probably won’t say anything anyway, or it’s in Portuguese if it does.

Anyway, I love you all and miss you too. Congrats on the second moving reindeer, Remi! And Mom how’s the writing? Good job, Dad, with the shed--keep it up!! And yes, Mom, we get turkey tomorrow!!! I love you all... Happy Thanksgiving!!

Love,

Elder Miller!

Oiii! November 14, 2012

Oiii Mom, Dad, Remi and Ryan!!

Thank you for the letter, I did get it and read it this morning, so it’s all good! And Ryan I am looking forward to that package!!

The pictures I sent last week were of my Brazilian roommates, and we still have them for another week. They are some of the coolest people I have ever met!! The big one is an MMA fighter from Curitiba... so we have fun wrestling ha. I lose. And the other one is from way up north... They are two awesome guys. Elder Moraes is the big one and Souza is the shorter one. I’m sending more pics today to. They are of me and guys in my district and my roommates, and then one of me and one of my Brazilian friends here!

Mom thanks for the advice... I’m sure I will be saying, “I don’t know,” a lot ha... but probably in regards to the language!! But that is very true and good to hear, I will share it with my district tonight!

Remi mom and dad, I sent you all letters today and Ryan I’m sending one to you next week!

Remington... you need to write more in the letters or I will beat you up! And to answer your question, my favorite cookie at Cheney’s is the triple!! It's triple chocolate and super good!!

Dad good job on the shed, I want pics!! Mom I will pray for you to! Good luck with the novel!!!

Well, I am almost done with 10 percent of the mission... almost 2 months!!!! Crazy! I’m so ready to get out to Curitiba and actually teach and serve ha the CTM is making me crazy!!

Only 12 more days here ha so don’t send any letters after today... but my address is switching.

So I am almost done reading the book of Mormon cover to cover!!! It’s been so helpful in helping to strengthen my testimony, and probably the best goal I have made for myself since being here. I know I can finish this week!! But I would encourage you to do the same. It helps so much just reading every day.

Today we had a devotional, and the speaker was the area president of the First Quorum of the 70! It was awesome. He had so many awesome stories... my favorite was about a missionary that baptized 38 people on one day.... its inspiring!!! Ha

And we sang the Sisters and Zion, Armies of Helaman melody again... it’s one of my favorite songs, and it really invites the spirit!!

Pday was fun today. We talked to a lot of people. We talked to a huge group of teenagers and they were all way friendly! Then we talked to some people in the post office... mainly about how to send things, but I talked to a guy about the church for a minute too. He wasn’t very interested though ha. He shot me down. Then we talked to a homeless guy, and I think he was drunk, but I’m not sure... but I think he was, and that was a very hard conversation to understand ha.

Also this week, my district had an arm wrestling contest which I won... so be proud. And I learned a lot of Portuguese, mainly from staying up late and talking to my Brazilian roommates!!! They are awesome!!! Ha I love these guys, and most of the Brazilians here. They are all so friendly!

Well, I love you all so much!! Thank you for everything you do.

Love,
Elder Miller

Pictures from the CTM November 7, 2012

Elder Moraes, Elder Miller and Elder Souza

I wish I had names of all Elder Miller's friends, but I don't. I'm sure that these young men are all roommates and fellow CTM District members. So glad to see his happy face!

Oiii minha familia! November 7, 2012

Oiii minha familia! Como vai!!!

Well this week was great. We got new Brazilian roommates (I scanned and sent pics) and they are awesome. My Portuguese is coming a long and I love talking to them at night before I fall asleep. They said I speak really well for only 6 and a half weeks so that’s encouraging!! Ha

It sounds like we have Obama again, dangit! Is it forshure? Maybe I will just stay in Brazil... ha

Dad! That answer was awesome!! I hope they don’t call you as general authority till I get back... I want to be there for that. haha

Mom I loved the story with Lorenzo Snow!! It would be so hard to be a missionary back then... I can’t even imagine!!

Remi!!!!! Happy 16 buddy. You are so old, you old fart you!!! I hope it was aweessoooomemee! What presents did you get!? Your party sounds so fun bud!! Wish I was there to celebrate, but I am having fun here and working hard.

Well, this week wasn’t too eventful. My district and I sang in devotional, and we nailed it!!! There are only ten of us, but we all sing decently well, and we belted out how firm a foundation with parts and everything. We had some awesome harmonies, and I felt the spirit so much when we sang the last verse in English... especially the part that says, “fear not I am with thee, oh be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid...” I loved it!!!

My bday was fun! Didn’t really do anything at all - ha- but my district sang happy bday to me in Portuguese and my pizza party was awesome, so thank you for that!! Mom and Dad I loved the present! [We knew Reece would not be able to receive packages while in the CTM, so we sent his gift and cards with him when he left. His gift was a nice journal to have the special people he meets sign for him.] It was such a good idea!! I haven’t even left the CTM yet and I have tons of people I want to write in it, so thank you!!! It's prefect. And thank you Mom and Dad and Remi and Ryan for the cards!!! It was good to feel the love!

I love you all and hope you are doing well. I miss you, but I am loving being a missionary. Thank you for the help support and love. Ryan... hang in there bro! I know it’s rough, but I love you. Remi happy bday again!!! 16!!! Thank you Mom and Dad for all you do.

Love,

Elder Miller

Happy Halloween October 31, 2012

The B-day Pizza Party!

Oiii fam,

What’s the difference between the CTM and prison? You get visitors in prison. haha JK [Just Kidding] I love it here. I just finished reading the letter from Mission Ties... and then I will go to the pizza party!! [We sent Reece a Pizza Party through Mission Ties in honor of his birthday this coming Saturday.] Thank you so much!! I am doing it this week because two other guys got them in my district for Halloween, so we’re doing one huge party -ha- it will be fun.

So the hurricane? I hope it’s not too bad, sounds like it was fine, but keep me posted! Anyway... to answer questions. First the toilets don’t spin the other way... they just go straight down... when they are not clogged LOL 3000 missionaries take a toll on the plumbing. Mom, vote for Obama for me please.... I feel like his policies are what America needs right now and I prayed a lot about it... haha JK!! Romney, duh! Also, I don’t know what the Southern Cross is?

Fun facts of the week: The A/C is still broken, so I have been barely sleeping at all!! And I wake up soaked in sweat, and with lots of bug bites!! It's great -ha. In the computer lab this week, we are allowed to look at genealogy, and I traced mine all the way back to Charlemagne and Adam and Eve!! I'm sure you already knew that mom... but I wonder how accurate it is -ha.

Dad, I’m sorry work wasn’t good today!! Thank you for working hard to support us anyway, Dad I love you! And I wish I could have had a caramel apple!

Well Ryan, I am so jealous of the snow!! I wish it was snowing here... it gets old being drenched in sweat everyday -ha- but none the less, my spirits are high and the ship is in ship shape.

Remi!! Good job with the lawn. I’m sure you will do better trimming the bushes next time!! And the sweatshirt thing made me laugh!! [I told Reece about a conversation Remington and I had about needing a sweatshirt the first morning we encountered 40 degree weather, when Remi changed his mind quickly once he got outside.]

So have you all heard the talk by Jeffrey R. Holland about the Book of Mormon? We watched it this week and it was SO good! That man can speak with power! He is my favorite speaker ever. But you should watch it if you haven’t seen it. I felt the spirit so much from it.

Well I love you all so much. I miss you and I wish we were together for Halloween and all our B-days... but I am loving Brazil and being a missionary. Thanks again for the pizza... Oh and I got the B-day card with the pics yesterday too, it was so nice!!! Ryan I am jealous!! Your trip looked so fun. [Ryan just got home from a BYUI study abroad program in Europe.] And congrats Remi on the court of honor... get that Eagle bud!!!

Love you all,

Elder Miller

 [Elder Reece mentioned a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland: Here is a video link to a portion of that talk: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHY-Y9yraR8 And here is the link to the full text of the talk: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/safety-for-the-soul?lang=eng&query=book+mormon+(name%3a"Jeffrey+R.+Holland"]

One month down! October 24, 2012

Milkshake at Mr. Cheney's. Thanks for the pic MissionTies.com!

 

Oiii Mom, Dad, Ryan and Remi!!

 

It was so good to hear from you today... Ryan your trip sounds awesome!!! I am so jealous. Venice sounds amazing!!! I hope I can go there one day! Remington I love that you are quoting “Had a Bad Day” to Gma haha that made me laugh. And good luck with buying the blower!!

 

Mom, Ryan and especially Dad!! Thank you for the answer on my questions. Dad you really went above and beyond on it and I feel a lot better about it from reading what you wrote. I think I am going to make a habit of asking you for advice haha. Today the Temple was better than it has been before too, so my testimony is definitely building every week. And Mom thank you for your answer, it helped as well. And you too Ryan! They were all very helpful for me.

 

I am turning into quite the scriptorian, too. I have found scriptures on everything!! And I am on page 212 of the book of Mormon! I am trying to read it cover to cover before I leave the CTM!

Other than that, I am just cramming Portuguese and the Gospel into my head every day! Nothing super exciting has happened really; it’s all becoming routine... except today is my halfway point!! So that’s cool. Half way in the CTM and first month down of the mission!! It weird to say I’ve been out for a month. It feels like a long time but a month is crazy ha.

Today at the temple I talked to a Portuguese guy for a long time and it was cool. I could understand most of what he said! It’s so exciting!! But I have had a really hard time with the different accents. Some of them are hard!! I swear they are speaking a different language ha.

This week for devotional, the choir sang “Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.” My whole district is in the choir... we sang it super well, and when we were done singing the CTM president got up and was crying and asked for us to sing it again. So we did and it was even better!! Then the speaker, who is the mission president for Sao Paulo got up to speak and he was crying!! The spirit was so strong that whole devotional! It was awesome.

Other than that not too much has happened. We play volleyball every day for gym and we are getting better and better at that ha. One of the guys in my district rolled his ankle super bad and it was so swollen!! He asked me to give him a Priesthood blessing, so I did, and it’s already healing up! He’s off the crutches now, so that strengthens my testimony of the priesthood power!

 

Oh, and yes mom I still have cookie money! [We got him a gift certificate to Mr. Cheney’s, that apparently works for milkshakes, too!] I got two more today! Thank you again for that!!

 

Anyway I am loving being here at the CTM. I can’t believe it’s been a month! The spirit is so strong here and I am growing every day.

 

I love you all and miss you all. Please keep me in your prayers especially with the language! I pray for you all every day. I love you so much.

 

Elder Miller

Email and Letter on 3rd P-day! October 17, 2012

Email:

Oiii,

Well it’s the end of week three! I just finished reading [your] letter from mission ties!! Thank you for all the love this week Mom, Dad and Remi! I got my first letter from you, Mom! And I got four extra cookies for doing the Mission Ties thing! I’m gunna get fat!

This week has been great! The language is still a work in progress, but I learn more every week! I know the missionaries here have the Lord helping us every step of the way! I surprise myself all the time on what I am able to stammer out during practice teaching the investigators or understand during devotional. I definitely know the spirit is here at the CTM!

Anyway, this week I went to the police station to register with the police and it was quite the adventure. I swear they speak a different language outside of the CTM! Ha! It was muito difficil to talk with the people there, but it didn’t stop me from trying. Ha. I’m sure I looked stupid but learned some new phrases and bore my testimony!

Also this week, my district sang in church, “How Firm a Foundation” and we did pretty well. We all sing the parts so we have some good harmony and we did it acapella! So, to answer some questions... no I’m not sick, ha. I got over my first cold, and the plane ride was miserable because of my sinuses, but then I started to get another cold a couple of days ago, and I pounded the vitamin C pills, and I’m feeling great now.

The graffiti here or what I called graffiti is actually like murals, and awesome art! I would love to do something like it one day! The city has some weird smells, like vomit was today’s smell, ha. But it’s still awesome!! I’m starting to get used to the culture and the people. I laugh a lot with the Brazilians here, ha. And a few of them from another district, always come up to me like we are going to fight so I take my name tag of and give it to my comp and say “let’s go,” in Portuguese, and they think it’s hilarious, ha.

Anyway, I am going to see if I can’t finish my letter home for you guys and send it through Cheney’s [Mr. Cheney’s / Mission Ties] before P-day is over! It's free for me, so I will try and hurry and do it!! Thank you again for the love and support! I hope you get my first letter soon.

I love you all so much,

Elder Miller

 

Scanned Letter from Mission Ties:

Oii Mom & Pop! And Remi & Ryan & Truman & Roxy…

Thank you for signing up for Mission Ties. The mail lag time is ridiculous! You just barely got my first letter from over 3 weeks ago. Ha ha. So this will help a lot!

I just finished working out and playing volleyball and showering… I love P-days! I sent a letter last week, so it should be there in only 3 more months. Ha. No, probably about 4 or5 more days, I hope. I am sitting in Cheney’s [Mr. Cheney’s Cookies/Missionary Ties store front] right now. The cookies smell great! Thank you again for the package… that combined with the four I got for you signing up for Mission Ties should hold me over for the next month or so! I’m going to get fat!

I saw that you replied to my emails right after I sent it, but I didn’t have time to reply. L I could have, but it’s the honor system and I am “obeying with exactness.” [When Reece’s email came in I noticed that he had just sent it minutes before, so both Scott and I tried saying hi back in real time, via email.]

The debate sounds awesome, or the first one at least . . . I hear the second one was a bit of a mess. Dad, I laughed so hard at what you said. Ha ha.

Anyway, I’ll keep this short because I just emailed. . .

I am trying to strengthen my testimony of Temples before I get out in the field, because I have a great opportunity to go every week. I have been 3 times already! I am praying and trying to learn.

I love you all!

Elder Miller

 

Elders Miller and Farr October 10, 2012

Munching on cookies at Mr. Cheney's Cookies. Thank you MissionTies.com!

Hoi!

Thank you so much for the pecote! (package) I was so excited to see that today. [A gift certificate to Mr. Cheney's Cookies, through MissionTies.com] The lady took a pic of me and my comp eating our cookies so hopefully you get it soon. But it was so nice to get something. I haven’t got a letter yet.

:( Ha but it’s ok. I think I have some on the way!

I just got back from the temple and sending a letter to you and Jaimee! I hope you get them soon.

Anyway, I am feeling fine! No more cold! I play volleyball and work out every day, so the ship is in shipshape (rocket man) anyway, the CTM is still awesome. I can’t believe I have been here for two weeks! The first week went by very slow... not gunna lie, but this one flew by!! And the language is coming along really well. I wanted to send some pics today, but the photo printer was out of paper at the shop by the CTM, so I have to wait until next pday ;( sorry.

But Dad that was nice of you and Mom -- thank you for the package! Tell Ryan I said hi and Michelle I’ll be praying for her. Remington, I love you to bud and I miss you a lot!

So the random stuff... I play volleyball and workout every day! I tell my Brazilian roommate, “Boa noite meu amor,” every night, which means good night my love... So he thinks I'm crazy. Ha. I drew a temple on the whiteboard in class and people think it’s cool. People have taken pictures of it or with it, and I drew one for this cool guy from Plant City, right next to Lakeland... so I will send pics of both!

I loved conference!! My fav talk was Elder Holland; it seriously brought me to tears! I wrote a lot about it in the letter I sent so I won’t go into to details, but it was the best talk I have ever heard!

Today on the way to the temple, I was the last one on the bus, so I had to sit in the jump seat, RIGHT next to the driver who doesn’t speak any English. So I had to whip out my amazing Portuguese for the hour trip... and it went really well actually! I’m sure I sounded like a gringo, but I was able to say a lot of stuff and understand him!! Also, the drivers here are CRAZY! We almost got in 5 wrecks... no joke! We got cut off so many times ha.

But I got to go, my time is up!! The email situation is hard! Only 30 min to read and write!!!

I love you all so much!

Love

Elder Miller

First P-day Temple Trip Oct. 3, 2012

First Real Letter September 26, 2012

Oi,

Como Vai? Meu nome’ e Elder Miller, e este e’ o’meu companiero Elder Farr. No’s somos missionarios de a Igreja de Jesus Christo dos Santo dos Ultimos dias…

Well, Hi Mom & Dad and Remi.

This first Day has been quite an adventure. The Red Eye, 11 hour flight was the start of a very long day. I only slept about 2 hours on the flight. So I’m pooped! But on the plane I sat next to a psychiatrist who studied religion,  but lost his faith in God over the years. He was traveling to give a lecture at a University. Anyway, we talked for hours and mostly about religion. I told him about the First Vision, and the Plan of Salvation and gave him a pass along card. I doubt it will result in anything, he is very firm in his beliefs, but it was a good conversation at the very least.

Also, it served as a wake-up call to me! At some point during our conversation, I stopped and thought about where I was headed and what I was preparing to do. Some of his questions were very challenging and I almost wished I had you there, Dad, to answer them. But I realized that is what I will be doing for the next two years, so I sucked it up and did the best I could, and it went surprisingly well… Now, if I can just learn Portuguese I will be set!! Ha ha.

But the CTM has been quite an adventure! Sao Paulo is insane! The traffic is crazy. The city is massive and there is so many people crammed in it! But there is so much color and graffiti and culture it’s awesome! I love it so far and I am excited to explore on P-day with my companion Elder Farr. He has dreamy eyes. Ha. He is super cool and he’s from North Carolina! Well, I love you guys and I will write again soon.

Love,

Elder Miller

Oiiiii

Oiiiii,
Como vai. The question mark on the keyboard doesn’t work! Ha! But hello!

Well, I love Brasil so far! The people are so cool, and the culture is awesome!

My flight was terrible, it was 11 hours and I only slept for two, so my first day was exhausting! But I did talk to the guy sitting next to me for a few hours about the first vision, Joseph Smith and the plan of salvation... basically I gave him the first three lessons and a pass-a-long card. It was a cool experience, and really opened my eyes to what I am hoping to be doing for the next two years!

I only have 30 minutes to email so I am stressing out! Ha! But the CTM is pretty cool. The schedule is different than what I am used to... but I love it! I’m learning the language very fast, I think, and I love all the guys in my district. My companheiro is Elder Farr and he is way chill. We get along really well and laugh a lot. The other guys in my district all met up with me in Atlanta before we flew out and they are so fun.

In class we have been working on singing How Firm a Foundation in Portuguese and we sound way GOOD! We’ve got the harmonies down and everything, so that is cool.

The pineapple here is sooo good, too. It’s called abacaxi. It’s fun to say. Ha!

This fast Sunday I also bore my testimony! So good job Remi!

Dad, I am glad macros are fun, I can’t tell if you are being sarcastic or not though.

And mom, I miss you and love you.

Today is my first P-day and it was pretty good! I woke up at 6 and we got to go to the templo! It was verry pretty inside. Then we got back, ate lunch, and got to go out and walk around the streets. My comp and I bought candy at the candy store here (its super good) and walked around the different shops and stuff. The culture is awesome, and Sao Paulo is HUGE. It seriously goes on forever. It’s like the 4th biggest city in the world I think; at least that’s what I heard.

But I love being here. I am so glad I came. I feel the spirit every day, and it has been an amazing adventure so far!

I am writing letters this week so I will be sending them next P-day. I hope you got my first letter, it has my address in there and it should be there this week if it’s not already.

I love you all so much and miss you a lot. Tell Truman hi for me and Ryan as well.
Please forward this email to him and anyone else that wants it.
I love you!
Love, Elder Miller

He arrived at the CTM!

Elder Reece arrived safely in Sao Paulo about 7:00 a.m. EST (Brazil is an hour ahead of us.)

We got a very nice email from the CTM and this picture:

Elder Miller is in the front, far right!

The Flight

Reece flew from Tampa to Atlanta, where he was probably meeting up with other missonaries headed to the CTM in Sao Paulo. I was watching his flights all day and thought it was interesting that he flew right over us on  his way to from Georgia to Brazil! I went out and waved (and cried) about 11:00 p.m.

The Send Off

Elder Reece left home at 11:00 a.m. this morning in order to get to the Tampa Airport for his 2:45 p.m. flight (and pick up Dad and brother on the way). He said he was excited and a bit nervous and Mom made him sad. (I did pretty good 'til he was out of sight.)

Last night we went out to dinner with Elder Reece and his younger brother Remington. (Older brother, Ryan, is doing a study abroad in Europe this semester, so they said their good byes on the phone on Sunday.) And then he was set apart as a full-time missionary by President Bailey.

Here are the pics so far: