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"]