I love you all!
Sorry this is short!
We went to do service for the Dollar Family and they sat us down, fed us, and we just talked about the church. We ended up teaching about the Book of Mormon, inviting them to be baptized, and picking them up as investigators. Miracles.
We also got dropped by some people, but we have seen many many miracles.
Briefly, this week I learned to trust. Easier said than done. Always. Yet, the Savior trusted. This is hard. It was hard for Christ.
Yet, for thanksgiving, I am so grateful. There is no other place that I would rather be than right here. I miss my family and loved ones. Of course. But I feel so many blessings.
Thank you so much for all being there for me. It means the world.
We also picked up two other investigators. Cool stories. Always follow promptings. OYM:
Open Your Mouth.
:)
Love, Sister Miller
P.S. By the way, I won't be writing until next Wednesday, Dec 2. We are going to the temple that day, and that will also be our P day :) Just a heads up.
LOVE YOU ALL! THE CHURCH IS TRUE!
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Monday, November 24, 2014
11/10/14 Week of Priesthood Blessings
Dear Loved Ones,
This week I have had so many priesthood blessings. It's been one of my hardest weeks in the mission.
Sister Andreasen is going home tomorrow. I will say goodbye to her, and some of my other closest friends during the next few hours. Not fun. I have grown so close to her. She has helped me through the hardest time on my mission. This past transfer has been one of the hardest, but one of the very best.
Here are some of the things that I have learned:
I am imperfect.
No one is perfect.
The Lord knows we are imperfect. He loves us. I wish I could express how much he loves us.
You have to be open and honest with the Lord in your prayers, but a questions
I also have some news. I am going to be pulling a six-month in Woodland. I will for sure be here until like December 17th.... they will have a five week transfer so that transfers don't end up being on Christmas Eve. Also.... I am going to be training. Sister Andreasen walked out of her interview with President Alba and President walked up to me and asked if Sister Alba had already called with transfer doctrine (transfer info). I said no. "Well, you are training."
Sister Andreasen said I looked like I was ready to cry. Yup. That's about how I felt, but I was also laughing. I've gotten plenty of anxiety and Sister Andreasen has had anxiety about going home and adjusting. It's been pretty funny... almost every other day, one of us broke down into tears for some reason or another. We have grown so close. It is funny because Heavenly Father knew that we needed each other.
We hit it off right at the beginning, staying up talking the first few nights. We got along really well personality-wise, but disagreed on how to do missionary work. Looking back that has been a blessing for me, because another thing that I have learned this transfer is to appreciate every miracle, and that numbers don't measure our success as missionaries, but they measure the progress of the area and the status of the people we are teaching and their progression. Wow. That's finally clicked. It's taken me 10 months to learn that! How did I not understand that before. Yes, we are trying to teach as much as we can, but when it comes down to it, we should never be disappointed with the amount of lessons we do teach, BECAUSE BEHIND EVERY NUMBER IS A CHILD OF GOD PROGRESSING. Sister Andreasen told of this story of two Spanish Hermanas in a who opened up an area in a small town, and they worked harder than anyone else and only taught one lesson the first week. But they rejoiced in that one lesson, because it was a miracle.
Well, anyways, before I learned that about missionary work, we had this week where we struggled as a companionship. We didn't talk much to each other and Lynn stopped responding to us, and everything just went very downhill. I will never forget that week, because I learned what not to do.
Then we worked it out, and we have been very open with each other and how we feel ever since then, yet it was still hard. We struggled to find new people to teach. No one ever said they would show up to church, despite our invitations, yet we kept inviting.
We learned a lot about supporting eachother because we both also had personal concerns at home that were tugging at our hearts constantly. I have no doubt that we were meant to be companions. The elders serving around us were a constant support. We literally got blessings almost every week, if not multiple times a week.
Well, I wish I could go on and on, but I have learned this transfer that I can do hard things, that I am trying to be like Jesus, that I am a successful missionary, and that Heavenly Father needs us to learn, but He will help us learn.
I learned a lot about being who you were born to be.
A lot about letting it into God's hands.
A lot about prayer.
A lot about love, and about serving others.
A lot about my weaknesses. (insert all my weaknesses here.)
A lot about my strengths (being willing to compromise, humility, determination, faith)
Well,
We gave talks yesterday in Church. I shared my "conversion" story, and also about how we can recieve answers from Heavenly Father to any of our questions, and I based my talk off of President Uchtdorf's talk in general conference "Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth" and Sister Andreasen talked about "Lord, Is It Me" and talked about using the Atonement to overcome our weaknesses.
The elders had 5+ investigators show up.
We had Eugene, the man in the white, our investigator who is 86, who I never thought would come. I teared up when he came into the chapel, and sat down by one of the elder's investigators, Linda.
And Dale also came. He is the man in the hat. We have done service for him, helping him clean his house because he is in a wheelchair and lives alone. He has become our friend. He is not an investigator, but he is opening up to the gospel. Moral of the story... Just Serve.
Just like Jesus Christ would.
The other picture was taken yesterday in front of a members home. The members take good care of us here, and I am happy that I am staying, although I will miss a many missionaries that I have grown so close to.
I know that Heavenly Father has a plan.
I was brave enough to ask for His help. He gives it in the way that He knows will bless us the most. A lot of times, my heart aches, but I would never change my experience this past transfer for anything. Was I perfect? No. But have I done my best? Have I tried everyday? Yes.
Looking back there are so many miracles. I am so happy. I have so many people that love me, and I have the true fulness of the gospel in my life everyday, and Heavenly Father is constantly teaching me and loving me and letting me be an instrument in His hand.
He is shaping me.
Sometimes it hurts, and other times He thinks He is funny, but I trust Him.
I love all of you. Thank you for playing a part in my life. Each of you.
Oh. I almost forgot. Lynn showed up to church yesterday. I'll keep you all posted. :)
#JustTrust
Love,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
11/17/14 Sister Bear Arrives!
Dear Family and Friends!
Thank you for all your lovely emails! I appreciate them very much! In answer to your questions... If you would like to send me things for Christmas, please coordinate with my mother at plainejanequilting@gmail.com PLEASE NO CANDY! :) Thanks. I appreciate it. I get fed too well anyway.
Well...
Santa Rosa for a couple days for training and transfers. I said goodbye to some very close friends. That was rough. I felt like I was going to die, and then I got Sister Bear. So cool.
So Tuesday after transfers we meet the new missionaries, and then we all go into training, not knowing which companions go with which. Then we trainers (Sister Decker and I) went and taught a lesson to a family connection of her in the AP's area... we taught with the AP's. Super cool... I was able to see how the ipad should work in a lesson. We took it from casual conversation to looking at the new interactive pamphlet, which is really cool, then to showing a clip from the Restoration, and the to testifying of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. The family there though... I could just feel the spirit so strong as I watched the family react to it. It really strengthened my testimony of families and individuals being prepared for me to teach.
Wednesday I was assigned to Sister Bear. So fun! She is so cute, and kind, and we hit it off. We've been going like crazy, talking to so many people. We have so many lessons set up for this coming week, and I talked to Lynn on the phone. She apologized for being upset with Sister Carter leaving, she didn't understand and she had been a little upset with Sister Andreasen, but we are going to meet with her hopefullly at the end of this week because she is out of town currently.
Also, we were done with a lesson in the park and we were hurrying off to do service, and out of the corner of my eye, there was a young man on a swing, smoking and looking at his feet. We go up to him and talk to him, and come to find out he almost had a loved one pass away from overdosing. We shared the Book of Mormon with him, taught him about the Atonement and invited him to be baptized. He also said his family would be interested. Eric (that's his name) then came to a baptism, and he felt so good. You could see him glowing. We are going to meet with him this coming week, because he has another family issue come up Sunday morning and he wasn't able to make it to church.
Heavenly Father always knows exactly what we need. I'm starting to realize WHY He had me go through a lot of hard things last transfer.
This transfer has been really really good. Sister Bear and I get along really really well. I don't even feel like she needs to be trained. She gets the hang of things really easily.
This week I learned hope. I learned trust, as once again I let all the people that have been in my life walk away again. (ugh. transfers.) I learned that change is a part of Heavenly Father's plan. I again learned to look for the tender mercies. My heart still hurts a little over some decisions, but lemme tell you, I received a letter from my mom this week that really helped. In it she talked about her testimony. That letter made me realize the same thing, and how much I have learned this past year. It made me realize that I really do trust my Heavenly Father and that I really am willing to follow Him. I now believe in myself, and I am able to face my future for after the mission with courage and hope because I know that Heavenly Father isn't just going to drop me after I leave the California Santa Rosa Mission. He is going to help me until I am back in His arms again.
So do I need to know all that is going to have to happen? No. Just like Sister Bear is trusting me, I need to trust that I will be taught everything I need to know to live a good life after this... the life that He has planned for me.
JUST TRUST
Ether 12
Moroni 10
I love all of you!
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
Thank you for all your lovely emails! I appreciate them very much! In answer to your questions... If you would like to send me things for Christmas, please coordinate with my mother at plainejanequilting@gmail.com PLEASE NO CANDY! :) Thanks. I appreciate it. I get fed too well anyway.
Well...
Santa Rosa for a couple days for training and transfers. I said goodbye to some very close friends. That was rough. I felt like I was going to die, and then I got Sister Bear. So cool.
So Tuesday after transfers we meet the new missionaries, and then we all go into training, not knowing which companions go with which. Then we trainers (Sister Decker and I) went and taught a lesson to a family connection of her in the AP's area... we taught with the AP's. Super cool... I was able to see how the ipad should work in a lesson. We took it from casual conversation to looking at the new interactive pamphlet, which is really cool, then to showing a clip from the Restoration, and the to testifying of Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. The family there though... I could just feel the spirit so strong as I watched the family react to it. It really strengthened my testimony of families and individuals being prepared for me to teach.
Wednesday I was assigned to Sister Bear. So fun! She is so cute, and kind, and we hit it off. We've been going like crazy, talking to so many people. We have so many lessons set up for this coming week, and I talked to Lynn on the phone. She apologized for being upset with Sister Carter leaving, she didn't understand and she had been a little upset with Sister Andreasen, but we are going to meet with her hopefullly at the end of this week because she is out of town currently.
Also, we were done with a lesson in the park and we were hurrying off to do service, and out of the corner of my eye, there was a young man on a swing, smoking and looking at his feet. We go up to him and talk to him, and come to find out he almost had a loved one pass away from overdosing. We shared the Book of Mormon with him, taught him about the Atonement and invited him to be baptized. He also said his family would be interested. Eric (that's his name) then came to a baptism, and he felt so good. You could see him glowing. We are going to meet with him this coming week, because he has another family issue come up Sunday morning and he wasn't able to make it to church.
Heavenly Father always knows exactly what we need. I'm starting to realize WHY He had me go through a lot of hard things last transfer.
This transfer has been really really good. Sister Bear and I get along really really well. I don't even feel like she needs to be trained. She gets the hang of things really easily.
This week I learned hope. I learned trust, as once again I let all the people that have been in my life walk away again. (ugh. transfers.) I learned that change is a part of Heavenly Father's plan. I again learned to look for the tender mercies. My heart still hurts a little over some decisions, but lemme tell you, I received a letter from my mom this week that really helped. In it she talked about her testimony. That letter made me realize the same thing, and how much I have learned this past year. It made me realize that I really do trust my Heavenly Father and that I really am willing to follow Him. I now believe in myself, and I am able to face my future for after the mission with courage and hope because I know that Heavenly Father isn't just going to drop me after I leave the California Santa Rosa Mission. He is going to help me until I am back in His arms again.
So do I need to know all that is going to have to happen? No. Just like Sister Bear is trusting me, I need to trust that I will be taught everything I need to know to live a good life after this... the life that He has planned for me.
JUST TRUST
Ether 12
Moroni 10
I love all of you!
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
Sunday, November 9, 2014
11/03/14 OUT OF TIME!
Sorry I'm out of time! I love all of you and hope that your week goes well!
We had lots of cool miracles. Helped some Less Actives make costumes for Trunk-or-Treat. I learned a lot this week about my strengths and weaknesses. The real question is not whether or not the gospel is true, but rather if we are true to the gospel.
Transfers happen this week. Pray for me that I will have the strength to do whatever is asked of me.
I went to MLC with other sisters. It was a lot of fun. We speak in church next week.
Also, I made cookies and they were the best ever!
Love,
Sister Miller
P.S. The CHURCH IS SO TRUE!
We had lots of cool miracles. Helped some Less Actives make costumes for Trunk-or-Treat. I learned a lot this week about my strengths and weaknesses. The real question is not whether or not the gospel is true, but rather if we are true to the gospel.
Transfers happen this week. Pray for me that I will have the strength to do whatever is asked of me.
I went to MLC with other sisters. It was a lot of fun. We speak in church next week.
Also, I made cookies and they were the best ever!
Love,
Sister Miller
P.S. The CHURCH IS SO TRUE!
10/27/14 Miguel and the Hospital Walk, and Sister Miller Learning to Rely on the Savior and on Others.....
Dear Everyone,
This week was rough, but much much better than last week. I've learned that it is much better to be open with people (aka, your companion) about the struggles you are going through. Sister Andreasen and I talk a lot. She is so patient. I'm not happy that she is going home so soon. Happy for her, though.
This week week taught Sister Vasquez almost everyday. I'm learning to listen. Again. I feel like I say that a lot. Miracles always come when I listen.
All those serving around me had a huge impact on that, especially Sister Andreasen. She has been a blessing to me. I feel like I have been taught humility and also charity and compassion this past week. And also patience with myself.
I received a few priesthood blessings that I know made all the difference. It's amazing what happened.
We had a cool experience this past week. We pulled up, parked, prayed, and the first person to walk by is an older man. "How are you doing today, sir?" Sister Andreasen asks. "Not okay." he responds quietly, and keeps walking. That took her aback and she asked why. Miguel, for that was his name, told us that he was walking to the hospital to see his mother there. We said a prayer with him, and before he turned to go, Sister Andreasen offered for us to walk with him to the hospital. On the way there we talk to him about his life, trying to uplift and encourage him. We could we can tell that something is definitely weighing on his mind. He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while.
In the parking lot of the hospital there was an elderly woman standing there, not moving. Sister Andreasen notices her, goes over to her and we come to find out that she is having trouble standing and walking, and she is trying to get to see a doctor. We retrieve a wheelchair for her, wheel her in to the front desk, all the while Miguel waits for us. So we escort him up to his mother's room.
Magdalena is this little old lady in her 80's who only speaks Spanish, so I briefly bear my testimony in broken Spanish, we sing "I am a Child of God" in Spanish, and then Miguel tells us where he lives, and we ask if we can stop by. He said anytime. Then we had to leave to another appointment.
The next day we stopped by his house, set up another appointment for later in the day. We brought the Bishop, taught the Atonement, and he accepted a soft baptismal invite. The spirit was so strong, and I knew that he knew that Jesus Christ really is the Savior and Redeemer in that moment. You see, when we had first talked to Miguel we had asked him if he believed in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ. He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while.
It's amazing to me how much Heavenly Father loves us. I got to bear my testimony yesterday to someone who was struggling with losing loved ones. I can see how Heavenly Father has used these past two weeks to prepare me so that I could understand and have compassion for Miguel and also for Sister Vasquez, who we have also been teaching. This experience has helped me open up, humble myself, and rely upon the Savior and also to trust those around me. It has taught me that Jesus Christ really is there for me too, even when I think I'm strong enough and can "do it on my own." The Savior cares about every aspect of my life.
Sister Afoa and Sister Belnap are awesome. I went on exchanges with Sister Belnap last week, and she is doing really well, and has a strong desire to serve with all her heart, might, mind, and strength. She is very bold in bearing her testimony. She is working hard. Sister Andreasen is such a help to me. I know that I needed her as a companion. She has taught me a lot about who I am to Heavenly Father and to the Savior.
I've thought a lot this past week. I've changed a lot the past couple weeks. I see myself different, the world different, and also missionary work different.
We ate dinner with the Bishop last night, and I shared a message about the Savior in 3 Nephi 11:11-14. I cried a little bit, but it's amazing. The moment I started sharing my testimony of the Savior, I felt peace and strength come in and I stopped crying, and only leaked a little bit. Then the Bishop came with us to Miguel's lesson.
I know that the Savior has the power to heal. We don't fully understand, but we don't have to. He understands us and loves us and wants to help us. That is all that matters.
I love you all. I know the Church is true. I know that the Savior loves all of you. He cares about us so very much. He loves us.
I know it.
Keep praying, keep listening, keep going.
It's all in the enduring to the end.
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
P.S. Love you family. Thanks for all the support. It means so much.
This week was rough, but much much better than last week. I've learned that it is much better to be open with people (aka, your companion) about the struggles you are going through. Sister Andreasen and I talk a lot. She is so patient. I'm not happy that she is going home so soon. Happy for her, though.
This week week taught Sister Vasquez almost everyday. I'm learning to listen. Again. I feel like I say that a lot. Miracles always come when I listen.
All those serving around me had a huge impact on that, especially Sister Andreasen. She has been a blessing to me. I feel like I have been taught humility and also charity and compassion this past week. And also patience with myself.
I received a few priesthood blessings that I know made all the difference. It's amazing what happened.
We had a cool experience this past week. We pulled up, parked, prayed, and the first person to walk by is an older man. "How are you doing today, sir?" Sister Andreasen asks. "Not okay." he responds quietly, and keeps walking. That took her aback and she asked why. Miguel, for that was his name, told us that he was walking to the hospital to see his mother there. We said a prayer with him, and before he turned to go, Sister Andreasen offered for us to walk with him to the hospital. On the way there we talk to him about his life, trying to uplift and encourage him. We could we can tell that something is definitely weighing on his mind. He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while.
In the parking lot of the hospital there was an elderly woman standing there, not moving. Sister Andreasen notices her, goes over to her and we come to find out that she is having trouble standing and walking, and she is trying to get to see a doctor. We retrieve a wheelchair for her, wheel her in to the front desk, all the while Miguel waits for us. So we escort him up to his mother's room.
Magdalena is this little old lady in her 80's who only speaks Spanish, so I briefly bear my testimony in broken Spanish, we sing "I am a Child of God" in Spanish, and then Miguel tells us where he lives, and we ask if we can stop by. He said anytime. Then we had to leave to another appointment.
The next day we stopped by his house, set up another appointment for later in the day. We brought the Bishop, taught the Atonement, and he accepted a soft baptismal invite. The spirit was so strong, and I knew that he knew that Jesus Christ really is the Savior and Redeemer in that moment. You see, when we had first talked to Miguel we had asked him if he believed in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ. He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while.
It's amazing to me how much Heavenly Father loves us. I got to bear my testimony yesterday to someone who was struggling with losing loved ones. I can see how Heavenly Father has used these past two weeks to prepare me so that I could understand and have compassion for Miguel and also for Sister Vasquez, who we have also been teaching. This experience has helped me open up, humble myself, and rely upon the Savior and also to trust those around me. It has taught me that Jesus Christ really is there for me too, even when I think I'm strong enough and can "do it on my own." The Savior cares about every aspect of my life.
Sister Afoa and Sister Belnap are awesome. I went on exchanges with Sister Belnap last week, and she is doing really well, and has a strong desire to serve with all her heart, might, mind, and strength. She is very bold in bearing her testimony. She is working hard. Sister Andreasen is such a help to me. I know that I needed her as a companion. She has taught me a lot about who I am to Heavenly Father and to the Savior.
I've thought a lot this past week. I've changed a lot the past couple weeks. I see myself different, the world different, and also missionary work different.
We ate dinner with the Bishop last night, and I shared a message about the Savior in 3 Nephi 11:11-14. I cried a little bit, but it's amazing. The moment I started sharing my testimony of the Savior, I felt peace and strength come in and I stopped crying, and only leaked a little bit. Then the Bishop came with us to Miguel's lesson.
I know that the Savior has the power to heal. We don't fully understand, but we don't have to. He understands us and loves us and wants to help us. That is all that matters.
I love you all. I know the Church is true. I know that the Savior loves all of you. He cares about us so very much. He loves us.
I know it.
Keep praying, keep listening, keep going.
It's all in the enduring to the end.
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
P.S. Love you family. Thanks for all the support. It means so much.
10/20/14 Faith and Hope
Dear Family and Friends,
So this past week has probably been the hardest week of my whole mission. I won't go into details, but I have learned a lot, A lot.
I went on exchanges with Sister Afoa this week. She is amazing. That day was the best day out of the whole week! She has been struggling with a brother at home being critically sick, but she is still really positive and loving towards the work. She is a great example to me, and I learned a lot from her during the exchange about faith, especially when plans fall through. She is so wonderful.We told everyone we saw that God loved them. It was so fun.
I think it has been hard for me the past little while. Last Monday our investigator Lynn, a friend of our recent convert, Eli, texted us out of the blue and said that she didn't want to feel pressured into doing something that wasn't right. The last time we had seen her, we had set a baptismal date with her, and it was an amazing lesson. We have been teaching her since July, and she has prayed and asked if Joseph Smith is a prophet, and she said she knows he is a prophet of God. She has loved going to church, and she had talked about being baptized many many times. We have tried to stop by, call, and text her all week long. No response. It's breaking my heart. I think something is up between her and Eli, because he avoids our calls also. He just moved to Fairfield this past week, and so we are trying to get in touch with him as well so that we can transfer his records and make sure everything is taken care with him, but nothing seems to work. He always answers our phone calls with texts saying that he will call us later, but nothing ever comes of it.
I'm worried, and that, on top of all my family things, have made me really down, and I think that that has been affecting Sister Andreasen. I really do love her, but it's been a little hard this past week.
But I have learned a lot.
I have read and reread Ether 12 almost every day this week, and I'm learning about faith. It's still hard to have faith when things are going good as a missionary, but the true test of faith is when things are not going good. This week I have found that I have come to better understand verse 27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
Moroni trusts the Lord and is comforted by these words. This is then his response to the Lord in verses 31-34:
"For after they had faith... thous didst show thyself unto them in great power... thou hast prepared a house for man... in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared... And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men...And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men in charity.."
From those verses we learn about the Savior, and how we must be like Him. We have to have faith in Him, do things in His name, and we must also hope, and then we have to lay down our lives-- or whatever the Lord asks us to lay down-- and have charity. We must receive grace (enabling power of the Atonement) so that we can have this charity.
I love what the Lord then says to Moroni after that: "And because thou hast seen they weakness thou shalt be made strong."
It takes a lot to recognize when you are doing something wrong, or when you could be doing something in a better way, but when we are open and honest with those things, that is when we can really change. Then the Lord will make us stronger, despite our weaknesses.
I have learned a lot about faith and hope this week. So I will keep hoping. Because even though a lot of hard things happened this week, I had a wonderful week, and I would still rather be here on His mission than anywhere else. I love Woodland, and I want to see it grow. We have worked a lot with Less-Actives lately, especially ones that are converts. Sister Andreasen is here for a reason, no doubt. Doors of these Less-Actives are being opened to us, and one of them even attended church yesterday. Yay!
This morning a Less-Active called us and we spent all morning talking to her. Miracles.
It all comes down to faith. Do we have faith, and are we willing to show God the evidence of our faith?
I know that this gospel is true. I know this Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and leads it. He loves and His Atonement covers everything.
Love,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
So this past week has probably been the hardest week of my whole mission. I won't go into details, but I have learned a lot, A lot.
I went on exchanges with Sister Afoa this week. She is amazing. That day was the best day out of the whole week! She has been struggling with a brother at home being critically sick, but she is still really positive and loving towards the work. She is a great example to me, and I learned a lot from her during the exchange about faith, especially when plans fall through. She is so wonderful.We told everyone we saw that God loved them. It was so fun.
I think it has been hard for me the past little while. Last Monday our investigator Lynn, a friend of our recent convert, Eli, texted us out of the blue and said that she didn't want to feel pressured into doing something that wasn't right. The last time we had seen her, we had set a baptismal date with her, and it was an amazing lesson. We have been teaching her since July, and she has prayed and asked if Joseph Smith is a prophet, and she said she knows he is a prophet of God. She has loved going to church, and she had talked about being baptized many many times. We have tried to stop by, call, and text her all week long. No response. It's breaking my heart. I think something is up between her and Eli, because he avoids our calls also. He just moved to Fairfield this past week, and so we are trying to get in touch with him as well so that we can transfer his records and make sure everything is taken care with him, but nothing seems to work. He always answers our phone calls with texts saying that he will call us later, but nothing ever comes of it.
I'm worried, and that, on top of all my family things, have made me really down, and I think that that has been affecting Sister Andreasen. I really do love her, but it's been a little hard this past week.
But I have learned a lot.
I have read and reread Ether 12 almost every day this week, and I'm learning about faith. It's still hard to have faith when things are going good as a missionary, but the true test of faith is when things are not going good. This week I have found that I have come to better understand verse 27
"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
Moroni trusts the Lord and is comforted by these words. This is then his response to the Lord in verses 31-34:
"For after they had faith... thous didst show thyself unto them in great power... thou hast prepared a house for man... in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared... And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men...And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men in charity.."
From those verses we learn about the Savior, and how we must be like Him. We have to have faith in Him, do things in His name, and we must also hope, and then we have to lay down our lives-- or whatever the Lord asks us to lay down-- and have charity. We must receive grace (enabling power of the Atonement) so that we can have this charity.
I love what the Lord then says to Moroni after that: "And because thou hast seen they weakness thou shalt be made strong."
It takes a lot to recognize when you are doing something wrong, or when you could be doing something in a better way, but when we are open and honest with those things, that is when we can really change. Then the Lord will make us stronger, despite our weaknesses.
I have learned a lot about faith and hope this week. So I will keep hoping. Because even though a lot of hard things happened this week, I had a wonderful week, and I would still rather be here on His mission than anywhere else. I love Woodland, and I want to see it grow. We have worked a lot with Less-Actives lately, especially ones that are converts. Sister Andreasen is here for a reason, no doubt. Doors of these Less-Actives are being opened to us, and one of them even attended church yesterday. Yay!
This morning a Less-Active called us and we spent all morning talking to her. Miracles.
It all comes down to faith. Do we have faith, and are we willing to show God the evidence of our faith?
I know that this gospel is true. I know this Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and leads it. He loves and His Atonement covers everything.
Love,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
10/13/2014 The Shoes Given Away
Sister Andreasen has been teaching me so much about the why of missionary work. I truly love her and she has found a special spot in my heart. I'm excited for this next week. This past week was a little rough in our area, but I feel like we are starting to get into the groove of this transfer though. I've learned a lot about compromise, and sincere and loving compromise at that. I think that she is doing rather well, although she was feeling a little under the weather for a few days.
I want to share an experience I had this past week. I'm one of those missionaries that doesn't mind talking with people, even if it is outside the car window. I've had a lot of companions who weren't big fans of this, and I don't blame them. Well, Sister Andreasen this past week had talked to me, and we had come to an understanding about this. It was interesting, because we were getting back into the car to head to a different part of our area and out of the blue Sister Andreasen tells me to "LOOK!"
There was this woman, walking on the other side of the street, coming down the sidewalk. She looked very very sad.
"Yell out the window at her, will you?"
I was more than delighted to. I unrolled my window, leaned my face on my arm and said hello. She looked up a little startled, and crossed the street to come and talk to me. As she came closer I identified us as servants of Jesus Christ and asked her if there was anything that we could do for her. She began to cry, and through the muffled words I heard that she had just been beaten by her boyfriend and dropped off at a nearby park with not even a pair of shoes. We both got out of the car. I will never forget what happened next.
Sister Andreasen looked down at her new shoes that she had asked her mom to send her from home. She had worn out her other shoes so that they had holes in the bottom almost, but rather than buying a new pair the last transfer of her mission, she had just asked her mom to send her her nice new ones from home that she was saving for after her mission.Without a moment's hesitation, she took these beautiful black flats off and placed them before this lady's bare and worn feet. The lady refused, obviously touched and startled. "I can't take your shoes."
"Yes you can." Sister Andreasen said kindly, yet boldly. I could feel her holding her breath, brave and determined. The lady slipped the shoes on, crying into her hands. We gave her a Book of Mormon, said a prayer for her, and set up a return appointment.
The lady never showed back up for her return appointment, but I've not heard one complaint from Sister Andreasen about wearing her old, falling apart shoes. Thank you for sending me this companion. She is an angel, and a disciple of Christ. And you can tell her that I said that, too.
Well, other than that, we have had a hard time setting up appointments, but we were able to teach a couple really really good Less-Active and Recent-Convert lessons.
I'm doing well. I love being a missionary, and I love being here in Woodland. I've learned a lot about faith this week, and about sowing seeds.
I love this His mission, and "I'm trying to be like Jesus."
This past week I learned this:
1) You can never guess what a companion is going to be like until you actually get them as a companion. Sister Andreasen is awesome. It's completely amazing. I'm so excited to work with her. I'm ready for those miracles!
2) You can't punish yourself for your sins and expect that to be repentance. You have to turn to the Lord, repent His way, and then forgive yourself because He forgives you. You can't continue to punish yourself either, because then you are not actually recognizing His power and authority and love and mercy and justice. If you hang on to the guilt from past sins that you have truly repented for, then you are denying the power of His Atonement. You are saying that it is limited.
3) The Atonement is not limited. I had a letter sent to me last week by an old seminary teacher of a talk by Elder Bednar. Funny enough, I had saved the same talk from highschool seminary and it was already hanging on my wall above my desk, but it was interesting how as I read through it again, I realized that I need to take better advantage of the Atonement. It was an infinite sacrifice, so it covers everything. There is literally nothing that God will leave us alone on. We must accept His Atonement by acting on it, but as long as we are acting on it continually, it will continually have an influence in our lives.
4) Heavenly Father gives us weaknesses to humble us. He also gives them to us as an opportunity for us to grow in our faith.
5) He never leaves us. We leave Him.
So if you are struggling, here is my suggestion:
Apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ by living the gospel of Jesus Christ:
Faith
Repentance
Baptism by priesthood authority of God and renewing that covenant by worthily partaking of the sacrament
Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost... this is of utmost importance because we CANNOT make it without the Holy Ghost. If we are not living to qualify for the companionship of the Spirit, then we need to go through the above steps and fix it.
Endure to the End (refer back to President Alba's definition... I like that definition.)
"Fear not though the enemy deride. We must COURAGE for the Lord is on our side. We will heed not what the wicked may say for the LORD alone WE WILL OBEY."
With utmost love and prayers,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
I want to share an experience I had this past week. I'm one of those missionaries that doesn't mind talking with people, even if it is outside the car window. I've had a lot of companions who weren't big fans of this, and I don't blame them. Well, Sister Andreasen this past week had talked to me, and we had come to an understanding about this. It was interesting, because we were getting back into the car to head to a different part of our area and out of the blue Sister Andreasen tells me to "LOOK!"
There was this woman, walking on the other side of the street, coming down the sidewalk. She looked very very sad.
"Yell out the window at her, will you?"
I was more than delighted to. I unrolled my window, leaned my face on my arm and said hello. She looked up a little startled, and crossed the street to come and talk to me. As she came closer I identified us as servants of Jesus Christ and asked her if there was anything that we could do for her. She began to cry, and through the muffled words I heard that she had just been beaten by her boyfriend and dropped off at a nearby park with not even a pair of shoes. We both got out of the car. I will never forget what happened next.
Sister Andreasen looked down at her new shoes that she had asked her mom to send her from home. She had worn out her other shoes so that they had holes in the bottom almost, but rather than buying a new pair the last transfer of her mission, she had just asked her mom to send her her nice new ones from home that she was saving for after her mission.Without a moment's hesitation, she took these beautiful black flats off and placed them before this lady's bare and worn feet. The lady refused, obviously touched and startled. "I can't take your shoes."
"Yes you can." Sister Andreasen said kindly, yet boldly. I could feel her holding her breath, brave and determined. The lady slipped the shoes on, crying into her hands. We gave her a Book of Mormon, said a prayer for her, and set up a return appointment.
The lady never showed back up for her return appointment, but I've not heard one complaint from Sister Andreasen about wearing her old, falling apart shoes. Thank you for sending me this companion. She is an angel, and a disciple of Christ. And you can tell her that I said that, too.
Well, other than that, we have had a hard time setting up appointments, but we were able to teach a couple really really good Less-Active and Recent-Convert lessons.
I'm doing well. I love being a missionary, and I love being here in Woodland. I've learned a lot about faith this week, and about sowing seeds.
I love this His mission, and "I'm trying to be like Jesus."
This past week I learned this:
1) You can never guess what a companion is going to be like until you actually get them as a companion. Sister Andreasen is awesome. It's completely amazing. I'm so excited to work with her. I'm ready for those miracles!
2) You can't punish yourself for your sins and expect that to be repentance. You have to turn to the Lord, repent His way, and then forgive yourself because He forgives you. You can't continue to punish yourself either, because then you are not actually recognizing His power and authority and love and mercy and justice. If you hang on to the guilt from past sins that you have truly repented for, then you are denying the power of His Atonement. You are saying that it is limited.
3) The Atonement is not limited. I had a letter sent to me last week by an old seminary teacher of a talk by Elder Bednar. Funny enough, I had saved the same talk from highschool seminary and it was already hanging on my wall above my desk, but it was interesting how as I read through it again, I realized that I need to take better advantage of the Atonement. It was an infinite sacrifice, so it covers everything. There is literally nothing that God will leave us alone on. We must accept His Atonement by acting on it, but as long as we are acting on it continually, it will continually have an influence in our lives.
4) Heavenly Father gives us weaknesses to humble us. He also gives them to us as an opportunity for us to grow in our faith.
5) He never leaves us. We leave Him.
So if you are struggling, here is my suggestion:
Apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ by living the gospel of Jesus Christ:
Faith
Repentance
Baptism by priesthood authority of God and renewing that covenant by worthily partaking of the sacrament
Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost... this is of utmost importance because we CANNOT make it without the Holy Ghost. If we are not living to qualify for the companionship of the Spirit, then we need to go through the above steps and fix it.
Endure to the End (refer back to President Alba's definition... I like that definition.)
"Fear not though the enemy deride. We must COURAGE for the Lord is on our side. We will heed not what the wicked may say for the LORD alone WE WILL OBEY."
With utmost love and prayers,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
10/7/14
So we had transfers. That was crazy fun. I slept at the mission home.... that was weird... but really cool. Then we had MLC..... I learned that I do make a difference, either for good or for bad.
Also, Lynn set a baptismal date.
The reason I didn't email yesterday is because we had Zone Conference. We watched the new movie "Meet the Mormons" because Elder Holland instructed to have us do so and President Alba wanted to get through all the Zone Conferences asap. I want to be like that. Respond immediately when an apostle of the Lord commands.
I wish I could write everything out, but my mind is running a million miles a minute, and the minutes are running a million miles away really really fast.......
And that's how I feel about my mission. I'm trying to do everything I can, but I constantly slip up. We have to find the balance in everything. Being perfectly obedient and being perfectly loving can only happen when we do both exactly and willingly. They aren't on opposite ends of the spectrum. They are on the same side of the spectrum.... the Christlike Attributes side of the spectrum. I have found that I can't love fully when I am not being fully obedient. I have small weaknesses that I'm going to attack this week.
It has been interesting to me. I love to repent. I love it. I've done more repenting on my mission than I ever have before. Repentance isn't a one-time deal.
This week feels like it has been forever! But it's been great! I love being a missionary. I'm excited for this coming transfer and for the opportunities and invitations that have already been extended to me. I received a lot of comfort and help during conference, and I am determined to make this the best transfer ever!
The more that I am on my mission, the more weaknesses of mine come to light. The more I learn about the gospel, the more I see that I need Jesus Christ. We cannot do this on our own, because it is impossible to us alone. The only way that any miracle is possible is through Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, not us.
As Sister Carter left, I realized that I have changed a lot because of her. She has helped me change my desires to be not only more obedient, but exactly obedient. Are we perfect? No. But we are perfect in one thing. We are perfect in trying.
I had a thought this morning during personal study. An investigator last night had asked a question about the tree of life and if is was the same one that God commanded Adam and Eve not to partake of. We read 1 Nephi 11 with her, and talked about it. Then this morning it came to my mind again. The tree has always seemed like a symbol of Eternal Life in my mind as well... I learned this morning that we aren't changed after we struggle to reach the tree. It is in the struggle to reach the fruit, clinging to the Iron Rod, that we are changed. It is by "sticking to it" that we know the value and desire more than anything else to partake of the fruit of the tree of life.
I'm having a hard time explaining this, but it is the act of enduring to the end that prepares us and conditions our souls so that we are prepared for eternal progression. Those that are stuck in the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms are stuck there not to be held back from progression, but rather, they are there because their nature is not to progress. Because they didn't make the effort to use the Atonement, they can't change from the state that they are in. The Atonement is the only way that true godly change happens.
The Savior would save every single person He could. He loves everyone, but it is up to us to let Him. We have to accept it into our lives, and then act upon it. It is just like food. If we don't eat the fruit of the tree of life, if we don't seek out and allow ourselves to feel the love of God (because surely it is there for anyone that will approach and partake of it) then we can't receive the nourishment from it.
I'm beginning to understand that it is the little things that hold me back in life, not the big ones. And on the other hand, it is the small tender mercies and changes for good that continually support and propel us forward.
Lynn committed solidly to being baptized on November 8th. It was really awesome to see her take a step forward in faith, despite her fears. I'm so excited to find a family this week! I'm ready for it and pumped!
I love Sister Andreason. I've already learned a lot from her, and from myself the past few days. This is going to be a good transfer. So excited!
I love being a missionary. I love having all the counsel that we have been given from general conference and from MLC and from Zone Conference. I'm excited!
Heavenly Father is building my faith. I can feel it!
So one cool thing that stood out to me at MLC was this:
They showed a video clip about how wolves can change rivers. They briefly went over what happened to the Yellowstone National Park when wolves were reintroduced..... it blossomed because of so many different reasons.
It was definitely not something that you would expect to happen.... introducing something scary like missionaries or repentance into your life, but the effect is the same.
So I'm introducing some wolves into my life. I'm ready to attack those weaknesses... (all the while remembering that the best wolf I can let into my life is Jesus Christ.... He isn't a wolf! He is Aslan! You are welcome, Mom and siblings!.. :)
Sorry my letter is super jumpy and scattered.... I have to get off now, but this week has been crazy! I wish I could write everything that I have learned. Maybe next week I will! :)
Love you all!
The gospel is so true!
Love, Sister Darby Elecye Miller.
P.S. One of the wolves I'm bringing in is having the Savior in my own countenance. That's something I am going to really work on. I love you all!
Also.... something from Meet the Mormons.... "I'm not perfect. But I am perfect in one thing.... I am perfect in trying!"
That's so true!
That's so true!
Also... we are all glorious. We all have a part to play! They will tell us what and how is we ask Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and we will know by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is the true way.
Do we recognize the Holy Ghost is our everyday life? If not, why? What can we do to better have it in our lives?
The thing you just thought about... that is your wolf. :) 1 Nephi 3:7
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