On His Fifth Pair of Shoes February 24, 2014

Oiii,

Well, I am still district leader... of 8 sisters... but I am also ZONE LEADER too. ha It’s a lot of responsibility. I’m probably gunna go bald this transfer.... President changed the mission up quite a bit and now every zone only has one zone leader... our zone if the highest baptizing zone (Zone Tarumâ) in the mission.. I’ll attach the newsletter from the mission to prove it. ha I’ve been a little stressed, but I feel like I got the hang of it now.

My new comp is Elder Cesar da Silva... He just finished being trained and he is a way nice guy. I think we are going to have lots of success together. 

We didn’t baptize Th... But he will be baptized but in another ward.

Mom... thanks for putting money in my account. I still have the boots from Elder Cruz's dad... but they are a little small and gave me two ingrown toenails so I stopped using them. [I have trashed] 4 pair of shoes already haha ... We walk a lot. I will [go buy some shoes] thanks for the money!!!  That’s awesome Aunt Lana is going to visit... Of course Remi can stay in my room. ha He cannot use my clothes... but anything else he can! I’m doing fine on the necessities... so in the package it can be just food ha... and maybe one more Axe messy hair paste wouldn’t hurt. And thank you so much for sending flowers [to Kent’s funeral], Mom. Did Herman talk to you about the funeral? He didn’t write me, yet. I love you.

Dad, every time I get on here your goal is lower and lower ha... you have to stop at some point. At this rate you will be under 100 pounds by the time I’m home. 

Ryan... I’m now with my 5th comp here in this area... Ryan... you need to stop impressing 8-year-olds and start going after women your age... I want to be an uncle someday ha. JK... But you do look like a Ken doll. I loved the iHop experience... I want to do stuff like that after the mish. Loved the Cake song lyric poem* with the spiritual adaptation. ha I think I'm going to use it for my planner cover!

Remington you stud! That’s sweet you made some friends that live close by our house and go to your school. Did you get your Echo edger fixed?? That’s good you’re helping dad out a lot.... and that Aunt Lana is going to visit you guys! What did you cook on cook day???

Well, I love you all.... thanks for all the love and support.

Elder Miller

* The Cake song re-write Elder Miller referred to, and great advice from his older brother:

Endure to the end, Elder. You are running out of time to be in the full time service of the Lord and you will look back on these two years as some of the most fulfilling of your life. You have trials and difficulties yes, but you will miss the days you were able to focus solely on the work of the Lord. I love you, bro. You're in my prayers and I pray for your success as well as my own in our missionary efforts. Finish strong. In the words of a famous Cake song:

    As they speed through the finish, the flags go down.

    The fans get up and they get out of town.

    The arena is empty except for one man,

    Still driving and striving as fast as he can.

    The sun has gone down and the moon has come up,

    And long ago somebody left with the cup.

    But he's driving and striving and hugging the turns.

    And thinking of someone (Christ) for whom he still burns. 

Love,

Ryan

It's Raining Sisters February 17, 2014

With a borrowed umbrella.

Well, this week wasn’t the best I have had on the mish. I was pretty bummed still from Kent... but we worked hard and I’m feeling better now. I did 8 baptismal interviews for a bunch of elders in the zones so we weren’t in our area as much as we should have been.

Our baptism... The 16 year old named Th. (who is the nephew of the 1st counselor) [went] to live with his mom who lives on the other side of Curitiba. :( So he wasn’t baptized...

But on Sunday at church... he showed up! And told us his grandma felt bad and she told him to come back. He’s a good kid... and he is changing a lot. He is going to be baptized this Saturday!

Unfortunately, Elder Paz won’t be here to see it. He is getting transferred. I have had so many comps in this area! It’s crazy!! It should be a good transfer. I think I can handle one more here... but it’s a small area and I have literally knocked every door... but I guess I’ll start knocking them all again. ha

Mom and Dad... do you think I still have a chance at BYU Provo? I’m glad I got into Idaho and I filled out the track questionnaire... but I want to go to PROVO! I’m glad they sent something about housing... I hope I get in.

If you could put money in my account I would be grateful... I want to buy new shoes. ha

The sweetheart dance looks fun. You two are good looking people... Dad you are such a stud. I hope I’m as cool as you when I’m 50. I can’t believe Shaun White didn’t medal... that’s disappointing... but at least I didn’t miss much haha.

  

Also, I think I have a wisdom tooth growing in... And it hurts... fortunately dental work is way cheaper here. ha

Ryan... How’s work, Bro? I hope you sold and that you’re enjoying it. Have you and your Elders baptized yet??? How was Gospel Principles this Sunday? [Ryan is Mission Leader in his Singles Branch, and teaches Gospel Principles Sunday School class.] Our teacher was released. 

Remi! Sounds like you have been having fun with Nick... and the dance [Regional Youth Dance] sounds cool, too... did you dance with some cute girls? Way to help Mom out being a server/bus boy [at the stake Sweetheart Ball]. You got a taste of what I did at Mimi's Cafe [restaurant where Reece worked since he was 16] I bet. ha

I sent some pics of me and my district... I told them all we had to take a pic without smiling... Also, I borrowed sister Lewis' umbrella when I was interviewing in her area. haha

Love you all,

Elder Miller

P.S. 

Did you find the pic of Kent from the golfing trip?

The District Pic

 Serious.

Smiling.

Sad News February 10, 2014

Well, my week was going well ... until if found out Kent died, this morning. If you could get me the address of his parents I’d like to write them a letter. I can’t believe he is gone.

Four handsome young men ready for the formal-Vincent, Herman, Reece & Kent.

Our hearts and prayers are with Kent and his family.

We baptized T. and F. this week, it was awesome. And we will for sure be baptizing again next Sunday. Th. is the nephew of the second counselor in the bishopric and he has been to church twice and loves it. He recently moved here to Pinhais because he was involved with the "wrong crowd" on the other side of Curitiba and now he wants to change his life. It’s been fun teaching him, and once again if feel like my personal experiences from before the mission are helping me to help him.

It’s been incredibly hot here. It was hotter this past week than it has been in the past 30 years. 38 Celsius or like 100 Fahrenheit. I made the mistake of using shoes with a hole in the bottom of them and burnt my foot... I attached a pic.

Mom, I’m jealous of the 40-degree weather. It’s about 40 degrees here too... Celsius. If can’t wait to see snow. Any BYU news? Dad, I’m glad you went to see Grandma. 

Ryan. Loved the pic of you dancing by yourself... and the poem. Tell me about the Olympics and Sean White! I hope the sale goes through with the ionizers. Oh, and way to worm it up ha. You seem like you’re happy there in Florida :) I’m happy for you too, Bro.

Remington... thanks for letting me know that Gidget is your puppy... I almost forgot ha. Glad you got to go see Grandma and hang out with Rodney. I love you buddy.

Well, I love you all,

Elder Miller

Jibber Jabber February 3, 2014

Well, I’ll start off by saying I loved the Jib Jab... [Valentine eCard with Mom and Dad’s faces pasted on the bodies of dancers doing the Brazilian samba.] Dad, I didn’t know you could dance like that... and Mom... modest is the hottest. haha

This week was pretty good. We found a lot of new investigators and a family of five that I think has a lot of potential. We confirmed the family of three and I ... the other J. had to work so won’t be confirmed until next Sunday. :( Hopefully this coming sin day [Sunday!] we baptize F. and T.... I's kids. We wanted to baptize them this Sunday but F. had to work and T. was traveling.... so hopefully this coming Sunday  they will take the plunge!!

A. [from Elder Miller's previous area of Almirante Tamandaré] told me this week that in like three more weeks he will be taking out his endowment and wants me to be there to help him out... I can’t wait to go with him!!

He’s gunner [going to] go first and then D. [his wife] will go in a few more months when they are sealed!!! It’s awesome how much they have changed.

Mom... thanks for the Jib Jab... When is Valentine’s Day?? Any news from BYU... And thanks for the Super Bowl info haha sound like you’re up to date on sports! [I didn’t know who was playing.] The Relief Society president of our ward was called as Stake Relief Society pres this Sunday and I thought of you...

Dad, I can’t believe you wake up at 4:00 in the morning... I would happily sleep more for you if I could. I liked that poem by President Monson... Don’t worry... I’ll def be finishing what I started ha... and yes they get home teachers right away... but that doesn’t mean they get visited right away... ha

I really hope Grandma makes it through... I want to see her again. She is in my prayers... Did she ever comment on my letters? I sent her two and I really hope she got them. [She did!]

 

Ryan... I loved the video. [Of Ryan's band in the Battle of the Bands.] It’s way higher quality and I could hear you way better.... I think had you chosen a song that people know a little better you would have won.... loved “Going the Distance”... you nailed the solo... especially at the start!!! You’re a stud... and I was stoked to find out you're lma [??? Ryan is branch mission leader]... I know you will be a good one!

Remington... your trip to Publix sounds fun... way to buy stuff by yourself!!! I miss root beer... they don’t have it here... an ice cold IBC would be so nice right now!!!

Well, I love you all... You’re in my prayers,

Elder Miller