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