Last Email of the year! December 30, 2013

So this week was poop. I got sick on Thursday and I haven’t been feeling well for the past four days now. Out of the 8 people that were supposed to go to church only one went and I don’t think she liked church very much. Half the ward is traveling . . . Oh, and during sacrament meeting a member came and pulled us out to give a blessing to a girl, she is doing better now.

Hopefully we can get this family of three baptized this week. The husband is trying to quit smoking. 

But on a happier note, I loved talking to you all and Christmas was great!

Mom, thanks again for the Christmas packages. I got everything I wanted :) Oh and do you know how much I have in my account??

Dad, good job on the diet! If you want to lose even more weight go on splits with the missionaries ha, there are a few Elders that have lost over 40 pounds in the mission here.

Ryan, the car shopping sounds fun. If I was you I think I’d go with the Honda... They are more reliable I think!!! Send pics next time!! Did you put that pic on my face book for me? Please do!

Remi! I bet the Fort Frasier trial will be awesome! Is it just for fun or is it for scouts? Those spiral Christmas trees sounds sweet too!

I love you all. Happy New Year!!!

Elder Miller

An interesting Q & A happened, because Elder Miller's Dad is home on vacation . . .
They had gone back and forth a bit and then . . .:

Elder Miller: haha lazy bum. i wish i could wake up at 10:57.

Dad: It's not that great! 

Elder Miller:  yes it is. in the mission you are permanently tired for two years....

Dad: I know. Get to bed earlier?

Elder Miller: i go to bed as early as possible ha ill probably take a nap today though :)

Dad: Naps always help me. I love them.

Elder Miller: yeah.. they are my favorite thing on the mish.

Dad: Are there any interesting local sites you can visit on p-day?

Elder Miller: no our area is really small, and president made a rule that you can't leave your area on pday now

Dad: I see. Are there other mishes close by to play sports with?

Elder Miller: but they also made a rule that we cant play sports remember?

but its pretty boring on pday now :( district activities would be so fun.

Dad: What will you do today, then?

Elder Miller: play guitar and sleep i think ha. the only things i can do. maybe watch a church video too. have you seen "17 Miracles." we got permission to watch it.

Then Ryan asked: What do you do for New Year's there? Do you have to stay inside, or what?

Elder Miller: were probably not gunna do much. last year i didn't sleep much because of all the fireworks! they are crazy here and there is no such thing as illegal when it comes to fireworks ha

They went on to talk about job/school stuff, and then . . .

Elder Miller: my time is up though. thanks for all you help though, bro. have an awesome day.

um abraço :) love you all

 

 

Feliz Natal! December 25,2013

Our Christmas family portrait, courtesy of Skype!

 

Mom's favorite quote of the conversation:

"I made a vow today: to never wake up sweating on Christmas morning, again." Elder Reece Miller.

It was about 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)! And no A/C to be found.

 

 

Elder Miller did not write an email on Christmas, but he did send a few pictures:

 

 

 Scrumptious Christmas Feast for the missionaries!

 Many thanks to their kind hosts!

 Christmas Conference

Yes, I think he needed new slacks!

 

And a few more from our Skype call:

 



Merry Missionary Christmas Conference! December 16, 2013

Where's Elder Miller?

So I just got back from Curitiba... I had to go to the center to get one of my packages... the "correios" office was holding it and made me pay 72 reals [about $31 American]in taxes to get it... hopefully that doesn’t happen with the other because I am poor now. ha

We didn’t baptize this week. There is a young lady, but she probably won’t be baptized for at least another week.

This week was a good one though... we had our mission Christmas conference and it was awesome! It was a competition between the zones. Every zone had 5 minutes to do a spiritual presentation. Our zone sang "Away in a Manger" in English, then Spanish, then Portuguese (one verse in each language). And to start off [the song], 5 Elders and Sisters sang harmony and I read a few verses from chapter 2 of Luke in a deep smooth voice. ha... And then after all the zones had presented every zone had to tell a joke, a funny story from the mission, a spiritual story from the book of Mormon, and a magic trick. I did the magic trick with my comp! We won that part of the contest, but lost overall.... There was also a contest of "the photo with the largest number of people being baptized from the past three weeks." We almost won with our family we baptized, but two Elders baptized 5 brothers from Haiti! Poop!! ha No, it’s good that the mission is baptizing a lot! :)

SKYPE... will probably be about 3 o'clock here... so 12 o'clock there right? Our p-day is going to be moved to the 25^th, so Monday I won’t send email.

Yes, you can open the package! [Our first successfully delivered package!] It’s not very cool... not much would fit in the envelope and I didn’t want to put anything valuable in the mail. [Good thing, the big items were stolen!]

Mom, I loved the Christmas newsletter. ha I actually laughed out loud. Maybe you could make a joke about baptisms and how much Roxy hates baths...IDK ha. Like I said, I got my package! I wanted to know... if you sent pants... if I could open them early? You will see why in one of the pics I’m going to send. But I need pants. ha

Dad! Elder Bartmess' dad knows you, Dad!!!! He said "Scott Miller? With dark, brown, wavy hair?" ha You were about 9 months ahead of him I think. I loved the analysis of the way Remington would handle the cupcake test. [A psychological test we heard about in church.] I completely agree ha.

Ryan! The pics look sweet and that girl is a gata! ha She’s cute! Take her on another date. What is the Gordon B. Hinckley Award?? That looks awesome man!!! I can’t believe you’re graduating. Time flies!! Did Daren break his collar bone on the bike trip? He fell or what? ha Oh and I loved the videos ha, I wish I could have heard you better but I heard enough to know you killed the solo!! Way to go bro!!!

Remington!! You’re lucky you get to see Ryan’s graduation and I bet your band concert will be sweet. Are you playing the triangle or bass drum or what?? I’m still waiting on the pic of the Christmas decorations!

Well I love you all!

I attached a pic of the mission conference, but I forgot my cord for my camera, so I’ll send the other pics next time.

Elder Miller

Monkey Money December 9, 2013

The money here is funny. I just noticed the other day that this monkey looks like he's using drugs.

 

 

So this week I kind of baptized!!! ha Not in my area though. In my district no one had a baptismal date, but the Elders in Pinhais had a lady that had been to church two times and her daughter who had been twice and went to mutual a few times as well. The daughter was almost baptized two weeks ago, but the mom didn’t let her (I interviewed her).... so I went there on Saturday and did like a baptismal interview with the mom. We talked for a long time and read a ton of scriptures. I focused on the daughter (because she wanted to be baptized) and then, after about 20 min she said she would let her daughter be baptized... but I didn’t stop there ha... I then explained she needed to be baptized too. We talked for a while and both felt the spirit and after about 20 more minutes she accepted the invitation to be baptized :) And asked me to baptize her!

Sunday night we went to the chapel in Pinhais and right before the baptism... the daughter got scared. (She’s scared of water) ha Nobody knew that. Everyone was talking to her and trying to encourage her but it wasn’t working. I asked if I could talk to her alone and we had another "baptismal interview." We knelt down and said a prayer and talked for a long time about the importance of baptism and a few fears that she had... and after about 30 minutes she said "Okay... I’m going to get baptized!" It was awesome!!

 

Then after the baptism we got back to our area at like 8 o clock, but we wanted to teach two more lessons so we went running in the street knocking doors... and found two families and taught them two lessons! :) It was awesome!! I’m learning a lot about faith here. ha If you have faith and do your part, God will always do His.

Mom the “slide into a book” wall [at the library] looks awesome!!! That mission would be sweet for Remi!! I hope he serves!!! That stinks it’s a small [Christmas] tree...170 dollares [dollars!]is a ton! Just do what Elf did and cut one down in Central Park. And the Relief Society cookie exchange sounds sweet. I still don’t know what time I will be Skyping... I’ll let you know this next p-day. Oh, did you find out more about school for me???

Dad, eat lobster up there in Rhode Island for me!! I’ve heard it’s supposed to be really good!! And you didn’t answer my question about Elder Bartmess from your mission!! Send pics of New England!! And good luck and safe travels.

Ryan I want an email. You need to tell me more about your Thanksgiving adventures!!!

Remi!! Where are my pics?? I asked for pics of the tree and lights and decorations you punk!!! I want to see the reindeer too!!!

I’m super excited to Skype with you all!!! I hope you’re all doing great!

Love you!!
Elder Miller

My desk was a mess!! It's not usually like that I promise.

Cookies and Cow Tung? December 2, 2013

We baptized the family of 4!!!!! It was awesome. Elder Santos was transferred to Pinhais Centro... Which is the area right next to Autodromo... so I’m still his district leader. ha I got permission from President Monteiro and he was able to come to the baptism and baptize two of them :). Thursday night at 8 we had a super spiritual baptismal meeting with about 40 members there. Lots of the sisters in the ward made cake and sweets... I made cookies... and they were gone. ha. All the sisters want the recipe now.

 

 

Then on Sunday all four were confirmed. Oh, and Saturday night when we went by to drop of the pic of the baptism and teach a little about the Holy Ghost, they gave me a pair of new dress shoes! ha. A. said my shoes were looking a little beat up and he wanted to do something nice for me... (I polish them every day... but 1 year and 3 months of usage take its toll.) At the baptism he tricked me and said I had big feet and asked what size I use. haha I love this family and I am sure A. is going to be bishop one day. They are so Christlike and their baptism was one of the best moments of my mission.

My new companion is Elder Lima from the Bahia. He’s pretty chill and has been out for about 8 months so he knows how to teach well, which is nice ha.

This week was really busy... I did two baptismal interviews in my district and one in the zone leaders’ area. And when the guy I interviewed was baptized I sang with Elder Eddington at his baptism (I just sung melody and Eddington sang harmony) but it was sweet! (I don’t know if it’s sung or sang... I’m forgetting English.)

We also had a conference with Elder Juno . . . an area Seventy. It was pretty good... he talked about a lot of random stuff, though. It was difficult, because I was translating for a group of new elders and sisters. ha.

Oh, fun fact, yesterday for lunch I ate cow tung [tongue]... it’s actually good! I’ll send a pic!

 

 

Mom thanks for the pics. TSO [Transiberian Orchestra] looks sweet!!! I’m sorry you got sick again. It seems like you get sick every other week. I’m glad you got the Christmas decorations up ha.

Dad . . . it looks like you made good progress on the work bench! And the TSO looks awesome!!! I’m glad you got to go! Ohh, and there is an Elder Bartmess in my district whose dad served in your mission. His dad is 51 so I bet you know him!!!!

Ryan, I want to know more about your trip man!! You went surfing in November! ha. And rode a bike how many miles? Is that your bike? And did you actually go flying in the Owen's plane? That’s sweet! It looks like you are living it up!

Remi, that was the shortest email ever! What did you do with your last days of Thanksgiving break? And are you happy to be going back to school? You need to write more in you emails boy! Send pics of the Christmas stuff!!

I love you all!!!
Elder Miller

Is it Thanksgiving yet? November 25, 2013

This week was awesome. We worked really hard with A., M., F., and J. . . and tried really hard to baptize them this Sunday. M., F. and J. all accepted but A. wanted to wait a little more before he decided. A. said he just wanted a little more time before he answered and he asked me what would happen if he said "no". . .  and I said, "We won’t accept that answer" ha.

Yesterday they all went to church and loved it . . .  and at night we passed by their house because A. said he had an answer for us. When we got there we sat down and he said he had two announcements. A good one and a bad one. He said the bad is that he wouldn’t be getting baptized . . . The good was that it was a lie. haha We are going to baptize them this Thursday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'VE WANTED TO BAPTIZE A FAMILY ALL TOGETHER LIKE THIS MY WHOLE MISSION! It’s going to be sweet!

Sadly . . .  Elder Santos was transferred though... he leaves tomorrow. And will be training a new missionary for the first time. He’s excited about that and I think it will help him a lot. I’m going to ask President tomorrow at the transfer meeting if he can come back to baptize two of them . . .  because it’s not fair he has to leave. ha I know what it feels like to be robbed of the baptism and I don’t want that to happen to him.

Dad... Why are you going to the chiropractor... all that work you did on Saturday mess you up? ha It sounds like the house is in ship shape. I want to see the Doctor Seuss fireplace. [For a ward party.] That will be cool I bet. I wrote Grandma a letter and I'm sending it with your package today hopefully... We don’t have a post office here in our area so we will have to take a bus to get to one.

Mom . . .  that so sad Brother D. passed away . . . have you talked to Sister D., yet?? Oh and no one celebrates Thanksgiving here so it was a normal day . . . :( I wanted pumpkin pie so bad ha or apple pie or ham or rolls or something . . . [Thanksgiving has not happened yet!] Who’s doing dancing with the stars this year?

Ryan . . . the zombie party looks sweet! And that girl looks cute :) And what do you mean cycling 230 miles??? Are you crazy? Have you been training for that??? haha Wait . . .  It was for Thanksgiving, so you already went? How was it? ha Can you feel your bum still?

And what did you do with your senior project? Is that from Brother B's company? What happened to the sales advice book?

Remi! Your b-day party looks like it was a lot of fun!! What did you get??? I don’t recognize any of the kids in the pictures ha. I wrote you a letter this week!! I’m sending it today hopefully in a little package for you all. How fun you don’t have school this week . . . What are you gunna do????

Well I love you all and miss you lots,
Elder Miller

 

Chinchillas and Pastels 18 Nov. 2013

Well, this week was a good one. Not much is happening in our area... BUT... we have a family of 4 that is going to be baptized!! They are progressing supér well and have already received answers. The family that asked lots of deep doctrine questions . . . I think I told you about them already. They were super active in their church so it was a little rough in the start, but now they are loving church and most likely will be baptized this coming Sunday!!! The dad has to work one Sunday a month, and unfortunately worked yesterday, so they didn’t go to church . . .  But we are going to have a family home evening with them and our mission leader's family tonight and it’s going to be sweet! I’m making cookies! ha

And Saturday I taught an English class hoping a lot of investigators would go . . . but it ended up just being us and this family of 4 . . . it was super fun and funny ha and I gave away a lot of Skittles (I ate a ton already and I needed to get rid of the rest ha) and everyone had a great time. afterwards they took us to get pizza (We tried to say no . . . we did 4 times . . . but they were getting mad at us, so we went.)

M., the lady we baptized, is doing well. She went to church yesterday and loved it . . . but she’s having a hard time with the Word of Wisdom so we are working hard to help her with that.

Dad, happy b-day again! I love you!!! I’m sorry they got rid of manicotti of the menu. [At Carrabba’s Italian Grill.] I love that, too!! Suggestion: park away from all the cars at church!! [Dad's b-day gift was to get a dent taken out of his new car.] LOL I’m trying to imagine you walking Gidget around in obedience class (I bet it makes you feel really manly . . . no?) haha

Mom, the obedience class sounds funny ha. I want that husky. Feel free to buy me one as a homecoming present. :) Please, tell Sister D. that I love her, and she will be in my prayers. [A favorite Sunday School teacher’s husband passed away last week. So sad.]

Thank you so much for putting money in my account. I think I have enough to get Christmas presents still ha and please make a new one [BeSmart ID] for me. I’ll need to reapply to both BYU and BYU Idaho!!! And yes—I got the CD . . .  you can see it in the pic!

Elder Miller and his birthday loot.

 

Ryan, I got your package!! Thanks, bro!!! I loved it. I’ve eaten the beef jerky and gummy worms already and put the art supplies to use . . . I’ll send a pic . . . I loved the card too . . . I still haven’t dressed the princess, but I will!! [True to form, our boys give each other girly, pink cards every chance they get.]

Remington!! How’s Seminary??? I want pics of the Christmas lights and decorations when you’re all done!!! I miss you a lot, buddy!!! And good luck with the b-day party; I want pics of that, too!!

I love you all . . . I’ll send pics!!

Elder Miller

 

It’s a chinchilla that lives outside our house. ha

And, yes, I drew the pic of Ryan . . . in like 15 minutes. It’s not very good, but I did it super fast!

A Near Miss November 11, 2013

Where is my email Mom and Dad and Remi??

[I re-sent it in time and he got it!]

So we baptized this week!!! Wooo!! Finally. It was a miracle ha. We fasted and I found the teaching record of a lady named M. in the area book she went to church several times, was taught everything by the missionaries, but never was baptized… So we went to her house, taught her and invited her to be baptized and she accepted!! Fasting works. ha

Here’s a pic of the baptism!

Elders Miller and Santos with M.

 

We also took a family of four to church this Sunday. They are awesome. Super elect… but the husband asks tons of questions about deep doctrine so it’s been a challenge teaching them ha. We want to baptize them this week... but we will see how it goes.

This week was way better though. Things are looking up. I did 6 baptismal interviews this week in our zone, so we didn’t have a lot of time to work here in our area but the zone baptized a lot so that’s good!!

 

Dad, where did you serve in Ecuador? I forgot to ask last week. There’s a missionary in my district from Ecuador and he wants to know what mission you served in!

Mom! Where’s my email!! Did you look into the college stuff for me yet??? If you could apply for me to both BYUs and figure out what classes I need to finish my associates. I will be super grateful!!! I thought of something I’d love for Christmas... if it’s not too late ha. I think I’m fine with hygiene stuff. Maybe another bottle of that shampoo would be good, but with the other stuff I think I have enough to make it the rest of the mish! [So, is he saying I’ve sent too much deodorant and toothpaste???] I’d love some black pants if you could :) I’m asking for a lot today... sorry!!
Remington!! How’s the Eagle project coming a long?? And seminary????

Ryan. I already wrote to you ha… But again the pics look awesome. Wish I could have been there!! [BYU-I Battle of the Bands]

. . .

Got the email finally!!! That’s a sweet invitation!!! I’m sorry you had to postpone the party buddy!!! [Remington was sick on his birthday.] Just postpone it ten more months and I’ll be able to make it haha

I want to see a pic of your bike, Bud!!! It sounds awesome!! So sorry you were sick on your bday!!!

Mom, thanks for emailing ha I was sad because I thought I didn’t get one! What words did Caroline [Scarlett] say? [A little girl in our primary program mentioned all our ward's missionaries by name and made me cry.] I’m confused. I’m super excited for the package though!!

Dad, I want pics of the workbench stuff too!

Love you all!

 

 

[After getting the pictures:]

Remi’s a man already haha That bike looks sweet!!!

Okay, good!!! You look so young mom. You are aging backwards!! Dad too! Haha I want to play with Gidget!!!

Bom Dia! November 4, 2013

Thanks for the b-day wishes!!! It was a good b-day! I had 37 emails this morning in my inbox and so that made my day! haha And I loved my packages... I have to confess that I opened them a day early (patience never was my strong suit)... I loved the candy and peanut butter and cover for Preach My Gospel and everything!! And the camel! ha Thanks Mom and Dad and Remi and Ryan (Ryan I still haven’t got yours yet but it might have arrived already).

This week has probably been the most difficult of my mission. I heard in the mission you have your highest highs and lowest lows, and I’m starting to see that ha. We were supposed to have three or four baptisms in my district this week and we ended up with none :(

We went to N’s house on Thursday and she was fine and excited for her baptism... but on Friday I went to do interviews in my district on the zone leader came to our area to interview N, and when he and Elder Santos got there, she didn’t even want to let them in. She had a dream Thursday night after we left and said she didn’t want to be baptized anymore. She would even listen to the Elders so there was nothing they could do :(

Then the interviews that I had in the other areas didn’t go well either. Two of the three people started off the interviews saying they didn’t want to be baptized and the other has a mental illness that the Elders weren’t aware of (he has breakdowns) and when we showed up at his house to interview him he came outside naked.....

It’s been very frustrating to say the least, but we are going to work our butts of this week so we can baptize this transfer.

Mom! The Halloween decoration looked awesome. And you did a good job on the pumpkin haha. Allie sent me a message today and told me about her call! [Our friend is headed to California on her mission!] That’s awesome! And I’m excited to get my Christmas package!!

Dad the Miata and garage are looking good. Send me an email real quick and we can chat!

Ryan the hot springs look awesome!!! And you’re looking buff! Where’s the pics of the Halloween party?? Has it still not snowed yet? And how was your apartment flooded (what apartments are you staying in?)? Oh, can you accept the Haitians that have requested me on Facebook!

Remington!!! You’re looking big bro!! Thanks for the bday wishes. I liked those Nikes you’re wearing in the Halloween pic! Did you eat lots of candy this year??

Well I love you all and miss you a ton,
Elder Miller

Bom Dia October 28, 2013

Bom Dia,

So this week we did not baptize . . . but Saturday we will be baptizing a lady from Haiti. Her name is N. She speaks Spanish, so we were able to communicate with her pretty well. She’s awesome! All the people from Haiti are awesome!!! They are so open and friendly. We are going to try and baptize two more people this Sunday, too... my b-day!! It will be a good present for sure.

The work is going well here. It’s a lot harder than Tamandaré. We have knocked a lot of doors and had hard time finding new [people to teach]. It’s been over 2 months that there hasn’t been a baptism here, but we're working hard to change that.

Fun Facts:

·         Everyone here in the ward calls me Elder DiCaprio... apparently I look like Leonardo DiCaprio haha.

·         I have learned a few words in French, but I don’t have a lot of interest in learning it.

·         This week Elder J. Santos has sung "Johnny Be Good" and "Don't You Want Me Baby" in the shower more than once. haha

          ·       The second package I sent to you came back :(((((( I give up and sending packages
            to you guys. I think I’m just going to brink [bring He really is losing his English!]
            a suitcase full of stuff home for you.

 

Mom!!!! I got my packages!!! I’m trying to wait to open them, but it’s very tempting!! And yes Mom I got the package from the distribution center. THANK YOU. The pants fit way better. And I think I’m fine on the water filters now... you def don’t need to send any more, I’m still using the first one haha.

I think the race track is actually in Pinhais... It’s another city [separate from Curitiba]... It’s hard to tell where Pinhais starts and Curitiba stops, but technically my area is in another city. 

Dad!!! I want pics of the pumpkin. To make the pumpkin eating a pumpkin eating a pumpkin the last one has to be like one of the little tiny ones that cost like 50 cents. Maybe it’s possible? ha And were you using the router to make the saw table or what? I want pics of that too. And the Halloween party sounds fun... a couple more years and you and mom won’t even need to paint your hair to be "old people" :)

Ryan!! I still didn’t get your package, but I’m sure it’s on its way. I’m jealous man, I want to see Deep Love [Halloween rock opera in Rexburg.] again... but you need to be the sax guy—that was half the fun! It looks like you are going on lots of dates and I hope it stays that way. I want to be an uncle. ha The Lehi's Vision pumpkin is sweet! Oh... Tamandaré wasn’t my first area ha, but it was hard to leave. 7 and a half months almost!!

Remi!!! Keep getting up for seminary bud! It’s good for you! It’ll put hair on your chest. ha What do you want for your b-day, bud?? 

Requests for Christmas . . . good rechargeable batteries. The _____ for Elder Santos, and money to buy present for you guys haha. I know it takes the significance out of the present... but I’m poor here.

I would send pics, but the batteries in my camera are dead so I need to get new ones again! That's why rechargables would be great :)

Well I love you all!!! I miss you all a ton today!!

Elder Miller

Oi Autodromo October 22, 2013

So it’s really weird not writing this email from Almirante Tamandaré. I’m here in Autódromo (it means race track) (there is a race track in our area). My companion is Elder J. Santos. He’s big, he loves to cook, and he sings 80-90s music super loud in the shower. (This morning he was singing "girls just wanna have fun.") It’s hilarious because he doesn’t speak English so he doesn’t really know the words haha (I'll send pics next week) and he's super funny. We have been having a good time this week.... but the works been a little rough. It was a white wash. Elder Farr, my comp from the CTM, was here training a new missionary, but they both got transferred and they sent us in here ha. I’m still district leader. I take care of two other areas here (Pinhais and Pinhais Centro).

Really not much has happened yet. We have been knocking a lot of doors, trying to find new investigators. We found a few people this week, but most of them didn’t go to church. There are however a ton of Haitians that have been going to church that aren’t members (There are tons of Haitians here... but they don’t speak Portuguese very well, just French and Creole). We found a Haitian member in the ward that is going to help us and be our translator so we can teach them.

A few fun facts. I left three people in Tamandaré with baptismal dates for this Sunday and they were all baptized. I’m bummed. haha I wanted to be there to baptize them. I’m still counting them as mine though. haha It’s annoying to do all the work and then have to leave, but it’s part of the mission.

It was incredibly hard to say good bye to everyone. I cried ha. We had like a family home evening with 8 of the people I baptized there (R., A., D., C., G., E., T., C., and T.) and at the end I left a little spiritual message, and in the message I told them I was leaving. They thought I was joking but when they realized I was serious they started crying and then I did too and I couldn’t finish my message ha. It was rough. ha

On Tuesday before I left we went by R's house so I could say bye to her too, and I was a little nervous. I made her a promise that after her baptism she wouldn’t have a desire to smoke or drink coffee... and I was a little worried to see how she was. When we got to her house she was outside washing clothes and when we called her she turned around smiling super big. I asked her how she was feeling and she explained how much better she felt. She said that after her baptism she had not felt the desire to smoke or drink, and that the smell of cigarettes now makes her sick. I almost cried. ha It was incredible. THIS CHURCH IS TRUE.

I almost got bit by a dog this week. Saturday night, we were cutting through an empty lot that has an old house that’s falling apart, and as I was turning the corner to go behind the house, a dog jumped out (a big one, like a lab mix) and it was mad. It came flying at me trying to kill me ha (fortunately Elder Santos was about 50 feet behind me... he walks really slow ha) so I started backing up and it kept coming… It almost got me, but I jumped back and it bit like right where my thigh was (I heard his mouth smack shut), then I tried to kick it in the face and it jumped back and I missed, but it scared it enough so it backed off. It was intense ha. I hate dogs here in Brasil.

Our neighbor has a chinchilla (IDK how to spell it) it looks like a rat/bunny/pig/squirrel. ha I’ll send picks next week too.

I’m sick. I have a sinus infection I think. I’m going to go get medicine today!

There is a member here that has a hot dog stand, and once a week he lets us eat there for free at night. woo!!! It’s super good!

Remington, I’m sorry you’re sick bud. I hope you didn’t miss cooking day. Have you still not carved the pumpkin? Are you going to seminary?

Ryan, the dates sound fun. Please record the show, bro!! I want to see it!! More importantly I want to hear it, so don’t give a girl the camera. Last time the ladies screamed so loud I couldn’t hear your solo.

Mom, I’m sorry you got sick, too. I still haven’t received my packages but I bet I will this week. I have Christmas request actually. My comp loves . . . [Santa had to sensor this out.] . . . send it in the package? ha

Dad, the trip to Rhode Island should be fun. I’d be interested to read that report too if you could send it to me.

Love,
Elder Miller

Adeus Almirante Tamandare' October 14, 2013

We baptized R.!! Wow, it’s been a battle to get her baptized. ha It’s crazy how the Lord works... and Satan as well. She was baptized on Saturday and confirmed on Sunday... We did all we could to help her, and to encourage her to be baptized and it all worked out. R. told me when she left the water she felt so much better and lighter, in spite of all that has been happening in her life... and she said she felt the same thing again when she was confirmed on Sunday.

R’s baptism

 

G. was confirmed as well. A. was going to confirm her but he got nervous and I ended up doing it ha... He’s going to give  a talk this Sunday though!! Unfortunately, I won’t be here to see it... I was transferred! I leave tomorrow afternoon. It’s going to be sad. We went to R. and A's houses last night so I could say good-bye and we all cried. ha I’m really going to leave my heart here. I have helped baptize a lot of people here and it’s so sad to leave them, but I know I am needed elsewhere now. I feel like I stayed this last transfer to get R., G., and A. baptized. I really feel like I have done all that I need to here and I am excited to see where I go. It’s going to be so hard to say goodbye tonight. We’re going to have a big family night at A. and D’s with E., G., C., Th., T. and R.. (they don’t know yet and I’m not excited to tell them).

Dad. Wow, your work bench sounds awesome. I want to see some pics when it starts taking shape!

Mom. You’re getting trunky. [I was encouraging him to work hard, because he doesn't have much time left!] Ha I’m super excited to get my package! I’ll probably get it tomorrow and I will try to wait to open my presents :) we will see.

Ryan. Mom talked with A.? I baptized two here. They are both boys and both like 19 years old ha. Do you know which one it was? The first I baptized has plans to go on a mish. He was sad yesterday when I told him I’m getting transferred. He’s an awesome guy! All my friends are on missions, so I don’t know of anyone in Rexburg that you could leave my board with. Let’s run a marathon together when I get back. It’s on my bucket list too! 

Remington. Get your lazy bum out of bed and go to seminary or I will beat you up. And good work with the Eagle scout stuff. I’m so excited for you with that. Take some pics of the Halloween decorations and pumpkins and send them to me!

Love you all!!

Elder Miller

Hump Day cake I forgot to send a pic of. Elder Bedford made it for me.

 I asked Elder Miller for his schedule on a typical day. Here is his reply:

My typical day...

6:30 wake up and exercise

7:00 eat and shower

8:00 study (personal)

9:00 study (with comp)

10:00 language

11:00 work

12:00 lunch

1:00 work

9:30 get home and plan

10:30 sleep

At night I usually play guitar for half an hour before bed. ha It’s not very exciting.

 

 

Conference, Reunions and VISA Renewals October 7, 2013

At leadership meeting?

I noticed that Elder Miller had some artwork up on the board (of course).

 

 

Well, this week was pretty good. I really enjoyed conference. My favorite talk was Jeffrey R. Holland’s . . . he’s always my favorite. ha Just because of how he talks. But I loved all of them. I took notes in my journal and put stars next to the ones I wanted to study, but by the end of the conference all but two had stars! ha

I feel like not much happened this week in my areas, because I wasn’t in it much ha. I did a few baptismal interviews, and went on splits with the Elders in Cachoeira. Also, I had to go to the federal police station and renew my Visa, and then on Friday all the district and zone leaders had a leadership meeting with president and I had to go to the center for that and then Saturday and Sunday after lunch we went to the stake center to watch conference and spent all day there. But a few good things happened this week . . . we were walking in the center and I felt prompted to visit R., and ex-investigator that we haven’t visited for about 4 months. So we went and when we showed up R. was really excited to see us. We taught her a short lesson and asked how she was doing . . . and she explained that she’s been going through a lot of hard things with her family . . . and she explained how she had been crying on the phone with a friend from São Paulo... and her friend told her she needed to find a church, that church would help her, and R. agreed . . . and 10 minutes later we showed up. She’s going to be baptized this Saturday :)

We took a family of investigators with us to watch conference . . . actually they took us ha. We drove with them in their car (It’s far away.) and they all loved it!!

Remington . . . that pumpkin is huge!!!!!! I want to carve it, you lucky bum!!!

Keep working hard with the Scout stuff!!! You need to get your Eagle!!! 

Ryan . . . you went to conference??? What session and where did you sit . . . you need to explain why you went and stuff, ha I’m confused.

Mom, thank you for the money!! I was poor ha! I’m good now and I’m super excited for the packages!! Gidget looks way cute . . . I wish she would stay like that until I get home ha. I liked Elders Oaks and Nelson’s talks, too!! And I will be praying for you, for sure, Mom! I always do.

Dad, the pumpkin is awesome!! What are you gonna carve? How much was it? ha I’m sorry I didn’t message back and forth! I was busy translating the line of authority for A. I printed it out and took it to him and he loved it. He is so strong in the church. No, it’s crazy. He went to all 5 sessions of conference ha! Thank you for the line of authority ha. But I’ll message you today!!

I love you all. I’ll send some pics!

Elder Miller

 

This must be with the Elders in Cachoeira acting tough at the police station!