Hey guys, it's Alyssa, the person who puts Darby's letters on the blog. :)
So, she's coming home this Tuesday, on the 21st. Her homecoming is the following Sunday on the 26th at 9am.
Thanks for sticking through with us this past year and a half. :) There won't be any more letters, sorry. It's been a fantastic adventure.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
7/13/15: LEAVE IT ALL ON THE FIELD
Until the end of days, I will love this. :)
I don't have anymore time, but I would like to share some thoughts I have had from this past week.
The Lord knows the desires and intents of our hearts.
All is not lost when investigators or loved ones "drop" you. It just means that that part of their process that you helped with is finished, and you helped prepare them for a better thing in the future.
Be thou an example of the believers. Doubt never built anyone else up, or yourself up for that matter. "I don't believe in that" isn't a declaration of what you believe.
"You know, I truly believe that when I joined this church, I joined the true church."
-Sister Boettner
There's an amazing lesson about how faith is not a perfect knowledge from Alma 32. I invite you all to read it.
When you do good, you feel good. You can't do wrong, and feel right, it's impossible.
Alma was a YOUNG MAN... youth has nothing to do with your ability or inability to understand the words of a prophet and act on them. Mosiah 16:4
WHO WILL YOU BE WHEN YOU GO HOME?
I mean, to your Heavenly Home?
That's the thought that keeps running through my head.
Here, at the end, i'm going to run faster than I ever have before, and I'm going to give everything I have. This will be my last offering of gratitude to my Heavenly Father on my mission, and I'm going to love every moment of it. I know He loves me and listens to me, and HE NEVER MISSES A GAME... He is always watching us, even when we don't know it, and He is cheering for us, even though we cannot always hear it over the noise of the game-players and the crowd.
NEVER FORGET.
I will never forget these things.
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Miller
I don't have anymore time, but I would like to share some thoughts I have had from this past week.
The Lord knows the desires and intents of our hearts.
All is not lost when investigators or loved ones "drop" you. It just means that that part of their process that you helped with is finished, and you helped prepare them for a better thing in the future.
Be thou an example of the believers. Doubt never built anyone else up, or yourself up for that matter. "I don't believe in that" isn't a declaration of what you believe.
"You know, I truly believe that when I joined this church, I joined the true church."
-Sister Boettner
There's an amazing lesson about how faith is not a perfect knowledge from Alma 32. I invite you all to read it.
When you do good, you feel good. You can't do wrong, and feel right, it's impossible.
Alma was a YOUNG MAN... youth has nothing to do with your ability or inability to understand the words of a prophet and act on them. Mosiah 16:4
WHO WILL YOU BE WHEN YOU GO HOME?
I mean, to your Heavenly Home?
That's the thought that keeps running through my head.
Here, at the end, i'm going to run faster than I ever have before, and I'm going to give everything I have. This will be my last offering of gratitude to my Heavenly Father on my mission, and I'm going to love every moment of it. I know He loves me and listens to me, and HE NEVER MISSES A GAME... He is always watching us, even when we don't know it, and He is cheering for us, even though we cannot always hear it over the noise of the game-players and the crowd.
NEVER FORGET.
I will never forget these things.
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Miller
7/6/15: Awesome Week!
This week was great! I'm out of time! I can't wait to express to you all how many miracles I have had the priveledge of seeing this past week.
So monday night all of our lessons fell through. We haven't been able to get in contact with a lot of people we were teaching, or they kept canceling, and so when Sister Robinson came in, we decided a fresh start for the teaching pool would be good.
So yeah.Gas station. 8:30 at night. She talks to the man at the next pump over named Morteza. We've taught him for hours at the park since then. He has so many questions, but is so prepared. So cool. More on Him next week,
The new mission president is awesome! It's been so cool to see that. I love both of my mission presidents. They are so different, but I already have a relationship of trust with President Wright. That man is inspired. so cool.
Well, basically I have two more times to write an email, but I wanted to bear my testimony of enduring to the end. I know that when we cling to the gospel, and continue on with it even when we are tired, even when we are hungry, even when we don't feel like it, we receive blessings. Keeping the commandments and repenting is better than not doing that. But it will never change us until we let it sink down into our hearts.
Serve others. Don't think about yourself. In the end, it really wasn't ever about you anyway.
Don't bury your talents. Your Heavenly Father gave you those because He knew that you needed them, but that other need them even more. So share that with others. The best talent to have is a testimony, because that is how you can light other's testimonies.
I have gained a testimony of Clean Slates on my mission... every day. Even a clean slate three weeks before you go home from you mission. The Lord needed me to hear that this week. Now I live it and believe it. Every day we can start off with a clean slate as we endure to the end, partake of the sacrament, and rely on the Savior and Redeemer of our souls who loves us and knows us personally.
CHARITY CHARITY CHARITY! That's what I am learning this last stretch of my mission. Charity is deep, unconditional. Heavenly Father has it for us, the Savior has it for us. I have it for others, as I endure to the end I become more like the Savior, and my ability to have charity for others increases. It doesn't matter what they do, I still love them. And that is such a blessing to me. Without charity, nothing else matters.
Well. I know that this gospel is true. I bore my departing testimony this last week. President Wright asked me to sum up what I learned from my mission. As others who were going home gave their answers, I tried to come up with something grand to match, but I felt so insignificant. Then I listened to the Spirit comforting me, and knew what I needed to say, even though it wasn't grand, it was what I needed to hear myself.
"From my mission, the most important thing I have learned is that Jesus Christ is real, that He loves me, and that it's all true. All of it. This is the truth, and that to me is the most precious thing I have learned."
President Wright cried. I cried. He told me that if that is the only thing that happened, it would still all be worth it, that others would give up all they possessed to have what I have gained. I could feel the Spirit penetrate the deepest part of my heart. I am so full of gratitude for that experience.
Heavenly Father loves me. That's what I have been learning.
He answered my prayer. The night before I had asked the Lord if my offering was acceptable. So many times this week has He answered YES.
I love my family, and I want you to know that that is my most precious desire. To be with them in the Celestial Kingdom. We will go home! There is nothing that isn't worth giving up for that!
It's so worth it.
Love you all!
Love,
Sister Darby Miller
6/29/15
It has been a crazy week.
So a lot has happened, and I won't write about all of it here, but President Alba went home, my companion got emergency transferred and I now have Sister Robinson, who has been out for two months and is so awesome. I am sad to see Sister Eyden go, but I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. He always loves us and even when we feel like He can't hear us, He does. It is sometimes painful, the answers He sends, but I truly have a testimony that everything that He does is because He loves us.
I learned a lot this week. I learned about obedience and how it brings blessings. I learned from President and Sister Alba how to finish strong. I learned that we all have gifts to bring to the table, and the only one stopping us from growing is ourselves. If we aren't good enough, it is only because we believe that about ourselves. Heavenly Father is there. He is not only there to help us, but to believe in us. He wouldn't have sent His Son if He didn't believe in us.
well. We found a new investigator named Jordan. More next week. She is awesome.
We also taught Melody about how she is a daughter of God and the Spirit was so strong. Still some roadblocks, but things are moving along.
I will send a bunch of pictures of past companions and some fun.
I love you all! I know that Heavenly Father loves you all! I wish I had more time, but time here is short, and I must go! :)
We all have a calling in God's grand design. May we all ask ourselves part we are destined to play, and then RISE UP and RELY ON HIM for that help.
Love,
Sister Miller
So a lot has happened, and I won't write about all of it here, but President Alba went home, my companion got emergency transferred and I now have Sister Robinson, who has been out for two months and is so awesome. I am sad to see Sister Eyden go, but I know that Heavenly Father answers prayers. He always loves us and even when we feel like He can't hear us, He does. It is sometimes painful, the answers He sends, but I truly have a testimony that everything that He does is because He loves us.
I learned a lot this week. I learned about obedience and how it brings blessings. I learned from President and Sister Alba how to finish strong. I learned that we all have gifts to bring to the table, and the only one stopping us from growing is ourselves. If we aren't good enough, it is only because we believe that about ourselves. Heavenly Father is there. He is not only there to help us, but to believe in us. He wouldn't have sent His Son if He didn't believe in us.
well. We found a new investigator named Jordan. More next week. She is awesome.
We also taught Melody about how she is a daughter of God and the Spirit was so strong. Still some roadblocks, but things are moving along.
I will send a bunch of pictures of past companions and some fun.
I love you all! I know that Heavenly Father loves you all! I wish I had more time, but time here is short, and I must go! :)
We all have a calling in God's grand design. May we all ask ourselves part we are destined to play, and then RISE UP and RELY ON HIM for that help.
Love,
Sister Miller
A Former Companion
President and Sister Alba with Darby :)
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
6/22/15: You are never really alone.
Dear Family and Friends,
Would you like to know what I learned this week?
I learned to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what. I learned to be spiritually independent. Things are changing; things are always changing, but no matter what, YOU MUST HOLD THE COURSE. Never give up. You cannot compromise what you know to be right. You must not come down! Don't give an inch, when you do, even if it is only one inch, you have lost. Satan doesn't need us to fall hard... only just to let go a little so that he can pry our fingers off of the iron rod, bit by bit.
This past week was crazy. The past few weeks have been crazy. I feel like this is the last test of my mission: WILL I HOLD OUT TRUE TO THE END? Will I do what I know I must? That is the question that we must all ask ourselves. I have learned a lot from President and Sister Alba. I had my departing interview with them this past week, with my companion there in the room with me, because President and Sister Alba are leaving this next week. As Sister Alba asked me three questions, my tears flowed freely. I had been really down on myself and feeling alone, but bearing my testimony really strengthened me. It helped me realize that my offering has been acceptable to the Lord, and that this has meant everything to me. I will write what she asked me at the end of my letter.
On Wednesday, we will have a big all-mission conference where we will hear their last bits of counsel and bit them farewell, and then the new president and his wife, President and Sister Wright, will come to the mission. I am already determined to trust them, because I know that they are called of God. I have learned that on my mission. I have learned to have faith in the Priesthood of God. I know that President and Sister Alba have changed my life forever. I want to be like them. I know that they have loved me and trusted me, and that has meant the world to me. I know that in reality, that is really just the Lord trusting me.
All I want, literally, all I want to do is talk to people. I just want to open my mouth. I've never felt that my entire life, my entire mission, with such intensity. I have learned a lot about marriage from my companions, and from President and Sister Alba. I have learned about being equally yoked, and about standing up for one another and defending one another, about correcting eachother, and having the courage to go foward.
I wrote something in my journal this past week that has really affected me. I was praying about how to help my companion talk to people too. I had this image of a door come to my mind... we were tracting. Sometimes, we do that, but mostly we just talk to people on the street when we are going place to place, talking to everyone we see. Well, anyway, praying about this, I saw a door. I knocked, and stood, and I could feel the nervousness and I just prayed for courage, and I smiled. I felt my companion back down the steps, which is not an unusual thing. I was running over this dilemma with Heavenly Father, begging for help, because all I wanted for this last transfer was to work hard, to be the answer to someone's prayer everyday. It was a heartfelt plea. I recieved an answer:
DO NOT STEP BACK.
I could feel that awkard peer pressure... why are you standing so close to the door, they won't be interested anyway, don't be "too into it", then they think that you are a freak.... all enter my mind. I want to stay where I am, but the pull is so strong. But I square my shoulders, and plant my feet. I will stand. I will not move. I will be obedient, and valiant. I will stand where I need to, even if that means standing alone.
And so that is what I am learning. All my mission, I have had times where I have felt alone, for various reasons. I have also had times where I have felt so surrounded by people who support me and uplift my efforts. But this is the true test for me: Will I stand, even if I have to stand alone? But even more importantly: Will I be the kind of person that will lift her up as well?
We can't lift others if we back down the steps.
We can't lift other higher than we ourselves are standing.
And we can't lift others without love, the pure love of Christ.
In leadership, we must continue to hold fast to the rod. I have learned a lot from reading 3 Nephi and 4th Nephi this week. I will finish the Book of Mormon this week. I have learned a lot from the Savior, and also about the agency of others.
I also have gained a stronger testimony of priesthood blessings. I am clinging to those now. Exactly what I needed to hear is given every time.
I have also come to have a stronger testimony this week of being a daughter of God. We were teaching Gail. A lovely elderly member we love named Sister Freeman was there with us. We bore testimony to Gail of our Pre-mortal existence and I bore my testimony of being a daughter of God. I could see the light in her eyes, and feel it inside as I shared that with her. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.
I have seen many miracles, but the greatest miracle is that I am here. That we are all here. That everyday, I get to share the gospel with countless people who would never have the opportunity is Sister Eyden and I hadn't come on a mission. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. Yes.
If I went home, saw my family, and they asked me to come out and do it again, I would.
Without a moments hesitation, I would. I would do it all over again. I love this. Every hard moment has been worth it. I have been supported. I have learned so much, loved so much.
Sister Alba asked me this week during interviews:
What has it meant to you to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?
What have you learned?
And how have you changed?
And so to share my testimony with you, I will tell you that it has meant everything to me to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak, but I know that it is through Him that I can do all things. All that I have seen on my mission, all that I have felt, He has given to me. I am so grateful that He has allowed me to do this. That is the highest honor... to represent Jesus Christ. Every moment of everyday, I have felt Him helping me when I ask Him. I love that He trusts me. At the begining of my mission, I did not deserve it. Now, even, I am not sure that I deserve it, but He has allowed me to be His servant and His friend. I have loved being on the streets, teaching people, serving people, doing what He would do. I have loved feeling the Spirit reach out and testify through me to others of His love.
I have learned how much Heavenly Father loves all of His children. I have learned how much He loves me. I have come to understand the Atonement, on my end, and also a little bit of what it meant to the Savior. I have learned that He wanted to do that for us, just like I want to do this, and although it was hard for Him, He did it because He loves us. I have also learned that it is through His grace that we can change. I have learned about love and about redwoods, about high expectations and about becoming who we are meant to be.
I have changed in so many ways. I had three goals for my mission, three things that I wanted to be and do and become. To be willingly obedient, to strive to be exactly obedient. I have not been perfect, but I have tried every single day, and I know that the Savior was there with me. I have also learned to feel the Spirit, and that is so precious to me. I have learned to love, especially recently, even when you are struggling. I have learned to love others as the Savior loves them and to see them through Heaven's eyes. They are so beautiful. I have also learned that I can make it to the Celestial Kingdom, and that the Savior will help all of us to do that if we only come unto Him. I know that every child of God can make it there, if that is their true desire.
I know that the Church is true, that we have a living prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the Spirit is real, and that this life is beautiful and worth living.
I love all of you. I pray for all of you. Until this ship reaches the shore, I will keep giving my all to Him, Maker of us all.
Love,
Sister Darby Miller
Would you like to know what I learned this week?
I learned to stand up for what you believe in, no matter what. I learned to be spiritually independent. Things are changing; things are always changing, but no matter what, YOU MUST HOLD THE COURSE. Never give up. You cannot compromise what you know to be right. You must not come down! Don't give an inch, when you do, even if it is only one inch, you have lost. Satan doesn't need us to fall hard... only just to let go a little so that he can pry our fingers off of the iron rod, bit by bit.
This past week was crazy. The past few weeks have been crazy. I feel like this is the last test of my mission: WILL I HOLD OUT TRUE TO THE END? Will I do what I know I must? That is the question that we must all ask ourselves. I have learned a lot from President and Sister Alba. I had my departing interview with them this past week, with my companion there in the room with me, because President and Sister Alba are leaving this next week. As Sister Alba asked me three questions, my tears flowed freely. I had been really down on myself and feeling alone, but bearing my testimony really strengthened me. It helped me realize that my offering has been acceptable to the Lord, and that this has meant everything to me. I will write what she asked me at the end of my letter.
On Wednesday, we will have a big all-mission conference where we will hear their last bits of counsel and bit them farewell, and then the new president and his wife, President and Sister Wright, will come to the mission. I am already determined to trust them, because I know that they are called of God. I have learned that on my mission. I have learned to have faith in the Priesthood of God. I know that President and Sister Alba have changed my life forever. I want to be like them. I know that they have loved me and trusted me, and that has meant the world to me. I know that in reality, that is really just the Lord trusting me.
All I want, literally, all I want to do is talk to people. I just want to open my mouth. I've never felt that my entire life, my entire mission, with such intensity. I have learned a lot about marriage from my companions, and from President and Sister Alba. I have learned about being equally yoked, and about standing up for one another and defending one another, about correcting eachother, and having the courage to go foward.
I wrote something in my journal this past week that has really affected me. I was praying about how to help my companion talk to people too. I had this image of a door come to my mind... we were tracting. Sometimes, we do that, but mostly we just talk to people on the street when we are going place to place, talking to everyone we see. Well, anyway, praying about this, I saw a door. I knocked, and stood, and I could feel the nervousness and I just prayed for courage, and I smiled. I felt my companion back down the steps, which is not an unusual thing. I was running over this dilemma with Heavenly Father, begging for help, because all I wanted for this last transfer was to work hard, to be the answer to someone's prayer everyday. It was a heartfelt plea. I recieved an answer:
DO NOT STEP BACK.
I could feel that awkard peer pressure... why are you standing so close to the door, they won't be interested anyway, don't be "too into it", then they think that you are a freak.... all enter my mind. I want to stay where I am, but the pull is so strong. But I square my shoulders, and plant my feet. I will stand. I will not move. I will be obedient, and valiant. I will stand where I need to, even if that means standing alone.
And so that is what I am learning. All my mission, I have had times where I have felt alone, for various reasons. I have also had times where I have felt so surrounded by people who support me and uplift my efforts. But this is the true test for me: Will I stand, even if I have to stand alone? But even more importantly: Will I be the kind of person that will lift her up as well?
We can't lift others if we back down the steps.
We can't lift other higher than we ourselves are standing.
And we can't lift others without love, the pure love of Christ.
In leadership, we must continue to hold fast to the rod. I have learned a lot from reading 3 Nephi and 4th Nephi this week. I will finish the Book of Mormon this week. I have learned a lot from the Savior, and also about the agency of others.
I also have gained a stronger testimony of priesthood blessings. I am clinging to those now. Exactly what I needed to hear is given every time.
I have also come to have a stronger testimony this week of being a daughter of God. We were teaching Gail. A lovely elderly member we love named Sister Freeman was there with us. We bore testimony to Gail of our Pre-mortal existence and I bore my testimony of being a daughter of God. I could see the light in her eyes, and feel it inside as I shared that with her. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us.
I have seen many miracles, but the greatest miracle is that I am here. That we are all here. That everyday, I get to share the gospel with countless people who would never have the opportunity is Sister Eyden and I hadn't come on a mission. It is the hardest thing I have ever done. Yes.
If I went home, saw my family, and they asked me to come out and do it again, I would.
Without a moments hesitation, I would. I would do it all over again. I love this. Every hard moment has been worth it. I have been supported. I have learned so much, loved so much.
Sister Alba asked me this week during interviews:
What has it meant to you to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?
What have you learned?
And how have you changed?
And so to share my testimony with you, I will tell you that it has meant everything to me to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. I know that I am nothing, as to my strength I am weak, but I know that it is through Him that I can do all things. All that I have seen on my mission, all that I have felt, He has given to me. I am so grateful that He has allowed me to do this. That is the highest honor... to represent Jesus Christ. Every moment of everyday, I have felt Him helping me when I ask Him. I love that He trusts me. At the begining of my mission, I did not deserve it. Now, even, I am not sure that I deserve it, but He has allowed me to be His servant and His friend. I have loved being on the streets, teaching people, serving people, doing what He would do. I have loved feeling the Spirit reach out and testify through me to others of His love.
I have learned how much Heavenly Father loves all of His children. I have learned how much He loves me. I have come to understand the Atonement, on my end, and also a little bit of what it meant to the Savior. I have learned that He wanted to do that for us, just like I want to do this, and although it was hard for Him, He did it because He loves us. I have also learned that it is through His grace that we can change. I have learned about love and about redwoods, about high expectations and about becoming who we are meant to be.
I have changed in so many ways. I had three goals for my mission, three things that I wanted to be and do and become. To be willingly obedient, to strive to be exactly obedient. I have not been perfect, but I have tried every single day, and I know that the Savior was there with me. I have also learned to feel the Spirit, and that is so precious to me. I have learned to love, especially recently, even when you are struggling. I have learned to love others as the Savior loves them and to see them through Heaven's eyes. They are so beautiful. I have also learned that I can make it to the Celestial Kingdom, and that the Savior will help all of us to do that if we only come unto Him. I know that every child of God can make it there, if that is their true desire.
I know that the Church is true, that we have a living prophet, and that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that the Spirit is real, and that this life is beautiful and worth living.
I love all of you. I pray for all of you. Until this ship reaches the shore, I will keep giving my all to Him, Maker of us all.
Love,
Sister Darby Miller
6/15/15: Sunshine, Sunlight, And Sunsets
Dear Family and Friends,
Wow. I really haven't sat down to write a really good weekly email in quite a while. I apologize for that. I want to let you all know how I am doing, but more importantly, to give you a testimony boost by sharing some experiences I have had over the last little while.
So first off, I found out last week that I am staying in Davis until the end of my mission, here with Sister Eyden. That'll make three transfers here to finish off. I end my mission in July. Near the 21st of July. President and Sister Alba leave in the last bit of June, and a new mission president, President Wright, comes in, and he will be my mission president for 21 days. I've already made the choice to be on board and supportive. It's just hard to have President and Sister Alba leave. I really love them. They are amazing disciples of Jesus Christ and they have had a huge impact on my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am having my departing interview with them this week, earlier than normal because they are leaving so soon, but they still want to talk to all the missionaries that are leaving a few weeks after they do, so that President Wright isn't overwhelmed. In two weeks, we are having another All-Mission Conference, which is the last time that I will see them as a missionary.
Ahh! I am just overwhelmed with love for all of you. My heart is full. There is Sunshine in my Soul Today! That's what the Spirit feels like... Sunshine.
Okay. So an update. I don't even know where to start.
Our area is doing a lot better. When I first got here, it was struggling, and I went through a rough patch. We have had so many miracles though. Then, last transfer was hard because Sister Eyden was sick a lot, and I even got sick and had to stay in for a whole day. NOT FUN. There's nothing more motivating as a missionary that having to consistently stay in because your companion is sick. But we had a lot of miracles last transfer.
Okay, Okay, The last couple weeks. Let me think:
Melodie has been progressing! She prayed for help, and we showed up after a prompting. She is praying more!
Liz... hasn't met with us. Pray that she will.
The Harriman's and coming to church everyweek! they love our lessons, and have so many good questions!
Gail:
She came to church on her own! She is awesome!
She is reading and praying for the most part, and she understands by the spirit everything we share with her. We feel the Spirit with her so much!
We went and saw the Greenoughs last night for dinner. the problem with them is they only want to meet once a month... bleh. Their daughter is back for a few months from school, and we can tell that she wants to meet more. We are going to drop by next week and see if we can just share short things with them. They like to feed us when we meet, and they won't accept a no, and that's probably why they don't want to meet with us everyweek. sigh. struggles. But it's so cool because they feel the spirit so strong, it is so evident on their faces.
also, we are just finding a lot still. Finding is the best part, if you ask me. It's the "adventure" part of being a missionary. You talk to so many cool people.
As far as getting trunky, I'm almost the opposite. I wish time would just freeze. At the beginning of my mission, I couldn't even see past the end of the week, let alone to the end of my 18 months. Now, I feel like it is slipping through my fingers like water. I have learned a lot. My mission has been really hard from the outside looking in, but I have loved every moment of it. I truly am losing myself, still, but lately I have been finding myself, too. I can see into the future, but only a little bit. It just feels like Sunshine.
I have also learned a lot this week about Believing. We can't get answers about whether or not something is true unless we first believe, and try. That is what faith is. We have to try and experience it first. By their fruits ye shall know them.
Well,
I love all of you. I am so proud of all of you. I feel antsy. I just want to get out and work. That's all I want. I love talking to people. I love missionary work!
I love all of you!
Love,
Sister Miller
Wow. I really haven't sat down to write a really good weekly email in quite a while. I apologize for that. I want to let you all know how I am doing, but more importantly, to give you a testimony boost by sharing some experiences I have had over the last little while.
So first off, I found out last week that I am staying in Davis until the end of my mission, here with Sister Eyden. That'll make three transfers here to finish off. I end my mission in July. Near the 21st of July. President and Sister Alba leave in the last bit of June, and a new mission president, President Wright, comes in, and he will be my mission president for 21 days. I've already made the choice to be on board and supportive. It's just hard to have President and Sister Alba leave. I really love them. They are amazing disciples of Jesus Christ and they have had a huge impact on my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am having my departing interview with them this week, earlier than normal because they are leaving so soon, but they still want to talk to all the missionaries that are leaving a few weeks after they do, so that President Wright isn't overwhelmed. In two weeks, we are having another All-Mission Conference, which is the last time that I will see them as a missionary.
Ahh! I am just overwhelmed with love for all of you. My heart is full. There is Sunshine in my Soul Today! That's what the Spirit feels like... Sunshine.
Okay. So an update. I don't even know where to start.
Our area is doing a lot better. When I first got here, it was struggling, and I went through a rough patch. We have had so many miracles though. Then, last transfer was hard because Sister Eyden was sick a lot, and I even got sick and had to stay in for a whole day. NOT FUN. There's nothing more motivating as a missionary that having to consistently stay in because your companion is sick. But we had a lot of miracles last transfer.
Okay, Okay, The last couple weeks. Let me think:
Melodie has been progressing! She prayed for help, and we showed up after a prompting. She is praying more!
Liz... hasn't met with us. Pray that she will.
The Harriman's and coming to church everyweek! they love our lessons, and have so many good questions!
Gail:
She came to church on her own! She is awesome!
She is reading and praying for the most part, and she understands by the spirit everything we share with her. We feel the Spirit with her so much!
We went and saw the Greenoughs last night for dinner. the problem with them is they only want to meet once a month... bleh. Their daughter is back for a few months from school, and we can tell that she wants to meet more. We are going to drop by next week and see if we can just share short things with them. They like to feed us when we meet, and they won't accept a no, and that's probably why they don't want to meet with us everyweek. sigh. struggles. But it's so cool because they feel the spirit so strong, it is so evident on their faces.
also, we are just finding a lot still. Finding is the best part, if you ask me. It's the "adventure" part of being a missionary. You talk to so many cool people.
As far as getting trunky, I'm almost the opposite. I wish time would just freeze. At the beginning of my mission, I couldn't even see past the end of the week, let alone to the end of my 18 months. Now, I feel like it is slipping through my fingers like water. I have learned a lot. My mission has been really hard from the outside looking in, but I have loved every moment of it. I truly am losing myself, still, but lately I have been finding myself, too. I can see into the future, but only a little bit. It just feels like Sunshine.
I have also learned a lot this week about Believing. We can't get answers about whether or not something is true unless we first believe, and try. That is what faith is. We have to try and experience it first. By their fruits ye shall know them.
Well,
I love all of you. I am so proud of all of you. I feel antsy. I just want to get out and work. That's all I want. I love talking to people. I love missionary work!
I love all of you!
Love,
Sister Miller
6/8/15
Dear Family and Friends
So we had miracles this week!
Gail is still doing really really well. I will write more next week.
I love you all!
So we had miracles this week!
Gail is still doing really really well. I will write more next week.
I love you all!
<Authors Note: This is something a bit more...sent in an individual email, but I felt I needed to share it. :)>
Well. I am on my last stretch of my mission. Just working hard. I have learned so much, and it hasn't been what I expected it to be. It has been better. My mission has taught me to work hard, to have faith, to be humble, to pray, really pray, and to get answers to my prayers. It has taught me what I want to be. It has taught me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ really is so precious to me, and that without it, my life would have no meaning. It has taught me to believe Christ, to believe my leaders, and to believe in myself the same way He and they believe in me. I have learned to repent, and repent, and repent everyday. I am reminded every single day of how much my Heavenly Father truly loves me, and also how much He loves all of His children. I have been taught patience. I have learned to love and cherish the youth and beauty that naturally flows from virtue, and to recognize the disgusting and pathetic morals and also "beauty" of the world for what they really are: traps in which Satan tries to drag us down to the pit. I have learned to cherish the true nature and beauty of God's creations as they really are. I have learned to open my eyes to miracles, and I have learned to place all on the alter before my Heavenly Father. I have been taught how to love as He loves, and how to listen. I have grown to love so many people, and something that has been really cool for me on my mission is this: I know that I was destined to do this. Looking back, I see every event in my life preparing me for this. I remember little snippets from my childhood, and I know that those things were all pointing me this way, every thing guiding me down my path to where I am now.
I have truly loved my mission. I have learned about the Savior and Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost and have gained a closer relationship than I could have ever imagined. I have met so many people, and have grown to love them. I have learned the value of missionary work. It has been a success to me every step of the way and I am forever changed. I know that although my 18 month mission is coming to a close, the mission of my life will continue, and that I will forever be a missionary. So it is with you. :)
6/1/15: Just Something I Wanted to Send
His Grace Is Sufficient
By Brad Wilcox
How does God’s grace really work?
A young woman once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?”
She said, “I just don’t get grace.”
I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
She said, “I know I need to do my best, and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”
I said, “The truth is, Jesus paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.”
She said, “Right! Like I don’t have to do anything?”
“Oh, no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to pay that debt. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence to be judged. What is left to be determined by our obedience is how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and what degree of glory we plan on receiving.”
Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 3 Nephi 28:35).
Grace Transforms Us
Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with Mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.
In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19); “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask, maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change” (The Lord’s Way [1991], 223; emphasis in original). Let’s put that in terms of the child pianist: The child must practice the piano, but this practice has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change.
The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly (see John 10:10). The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed (see Romans 8). Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God (seeAlma 40:26), but no unchanged thing will even want to.
The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there. If Heavenly Father and His Son did not require faith and repentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. If the Father and the Son did not require covenants and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there would be no way to change. We would be left forever with only willpower, with no access to His power. If Heavenly Father and His Son did not require endurance to the end, then there would be no internalization of those changes over time. They would forever be surface and cosmetic rather than sinking inside us and becoming part of us—part of who we are. Put simply, if Jesus didn’t require practice, then we would never become Saints.
Grace Helps Us
“But don’t you realize how hard it is to practice? I’m just not very good at the piano. I hit a lot of wrong notes. It takes me forever to get it right.” Now wait. Isn’t that all part of the learning process? When a young pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with progress in the right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?
Too many are giving up on the Church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they continually feel like they are just not good enough. They don’t understand grace.
There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).
Grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now.
By Brad Wilcox
How does God’s grace really work?
A young woman once came to me and asked if we could talk. I said, “Of course. How can I help you?”
She said, “I just don’t get grace.”
I responded, “What is it that you don’t understand?”
She said, “I know I need to do my best, and then Jesus does the rest, but I can’t even do my best.”
I said, “The truth is, Jesus paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few coins. He paid it all. It is finished.”
She said, “Right! Like I don’t have to do anything?”
“Oh, no,” I said, “you have plenty to do, but it is not to pay that debt. We will all be resurrected. We will all go back to God’s presence to be judged. What is left to be determined by our obedience is how comfortable we plan to be in God’s presence and what degree of glory we plan on receiving.”
Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Justice requires immediate perfection or a punishment when we fall short. Because Jesus took that punishment, He can offer us the chance for ultimate perfection (see Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48) and help us reach that goal. He can forgive what justice never could, and He can turn to us now with His own set of requirements (see 3 Nephi 28:35).
Grace Transforms Us
Christ’s arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Mom pays the piano teacher. Because Mom pays the debt in full, she can turn to her child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child’s practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child’s practice repay Mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is how the child shows appreciation for Mom’s incredible gift. It is how he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity Mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom’s joy is found not in getting repaid but in seeing her gift used—seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice.
If the child sees Mom’s requirement of practice as being too overbearing (“Gosh, Mom, why do I need to practice? None of the other kids have to practice! I’m just going to be a professional baseball player anyway!”), perhaps it is because he doesn’t yet see with Mom’s eyes. He doesn’t see how much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane.
In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say: “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19); “Keep my commandments” (John 14:15). If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask, maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ’s eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us.
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has said, “The repenting sinner must suffer for his sins, but this suffering has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change” (The Lord’s Way [1991], 223; emphasis in original). Let’s put that in terms of the child pianist: The child must practice the piano, but this practice has a different purpose than punishment or payment. Its purpose is change.
The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die but that we can live more abundantly (see John 10:10). The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled but that we can be transformed (see Romans 8). Scriptures make it clear that no unclean thing can dwell with God (seeAlma 40:26), but no unchanged thing will even want to.
The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can go home but that—miraculously—we can feel at home there. If Heavenly Father and His Son did not require faith and repentance, then there would be no desire to change. Think of your friends and family members who have chosen to live without faith and without repentance. They don’t want to change. They are not trying to abandon sin and become comfortable with God. Rather, they are trying to abandon God and become comfortable with sin. If the Father and the Son did not require covenants and bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, then there would be no way to change. We would be left forever with only willpower, with no access to His power. If Heavenly Father and His Son did not require endurance to the end, then there would be no internalization of those changes over time. They would forever be surface and cosmetic rather than sinking inside us and becoming part of us—part of who we are. Put simply, if Jesus didn’t require practice, then we would never become Saints.
Grace Helps Us
“But don’t you realize how hard it is to practice? I’m just not very good at the piano. I hit a lot of wrong notes. It takes me forever to get it right.” Now wait. Isn’t that all part of the learning process? When a young pianist hits a wrong note, we don’t say he is not worthy to keep practicing. We don’t expect him to be flawless. We just expect him to keep trying. Perfection may be his ultimate goal, but for now we can be content with progress in the right direction. Why is this perspective so easy to see in the context of learning piano but so hard to see in the context of learning heaven?
Too many are giving up on the Church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they continually feel like they are just not good enough. They don’t understand grace.
There should never be just two options: perfection or giving up. When learning the piano, are the only options performing at Carnegie Hall or quitting? No. Growth and development take time. Learning takes time. When we understand grace, we understand that God is long-suffering, that change is a process, and that repentance is a pattern in our lives. When we understand grace, we understand that the blessings of Christ’s Atonement are continuous and His strength is perfect in our weakness (see 2 Corinthians 12:9). When we understand grace, we can, as it says in the Doctrine and Covenants, “continue in patience until [we] are perfected” (D&C 67:13).
Grace is not a booster engine that kicks in once our fuel supply is exhausted. Rather, it is our constant energy source. It is not the light at the end of the tunnel but the light that moves us through the tunnel. Grace is not achieved somewhere down the road. It is received right here and right now.
***
My email got deleted for this week :( but this is what is on my mind! :) and we had a spectacular week! We picked up this lady named Gail and she is awesome we taught her the whole restoration and she came to church and loved it. I feel your prayers, and I love you!
Love, Sister Miller
5/25/15: Simplicity
So tech problems... And I don't have enough energy to re write it,
I will write it all and save it for next week, just know we had some more sick days.... Hue whole zone. But things are going up... Getting better!
We met withy Melody again and it was awesome. She understands pray to know. She is so awesome. More in her next week,
Also.... I learned a lot about prayer and my relationship with Heavenly Father. And the atonement. Of with I will rewrite again next week.
I love all of you!
Love,
Sister Miller
I will write it all and save it for next week, just know we had some more sick days.... Hue whole zone. But things are going up... Getting better!
We met withy Melody again and it was awesome. She understands pray to know. She is so awesome. More in her next week,
Also.... I learned a lot about prayer and my relationship with Heavenly Father. And the atonement. Of with I will rewrite again next week.
I love all of you!
Love,
Sister Miller
5/18/15: Light Worth Living...and And Living.
Hey everyone!
This week was great! I feel like I just emailed! So we had some miracles this past week! We met with this lady named Melodie. Another person we are teaching invited us to come over and share with her uplifting messages, and so we went over. Her house is currently being remodeled and it was very distracted when we went over, but we shared with her our testimonies and mostly just listened to her as she opened up about some struggles in her life right now. So yay! We are teaching her now!
So last week when I was sick, Sister Eyden had called absolutely everyone in the area book. She had set up a dinner with the "G" family. Craig and Valerie had had missionaries tract into them before and had let them in to leave a house blessing and had chatted for a while with them and then nothing more every really came of it, but they had had missionaries a long long time before that too, apparently, and so they had offered to feed the sisters at had left a house blessing. That was a few months ago. They were excited to feed us.
Well, earlier that day we had some emergency meetings in our zone, so our zone leaders drove us out to a neighboring town to meet with another companionship out there, and earlier that day we had had a zone service project at a local park spreading mulch. It's really cool because their church has a new website called "Just Serve" and the city of Davis just picked it right up, and we do a lot of service
projects weekly in the community, and this is one of those ongoing service projects. Every month we spread mulch. It's great; I love it. It gives me time to just worked with my body and to give my head a
break. And it's a lot of fun with the zone! So we did that Saturday morning. Then we went to this meeting. Long story short here has just been a little drama and miscommunication and it wasn't as big a deal as some thought. So yeah, then we went back to our dinner with the G family, and it was weird, because I realized as the elders dropped Sister Eyden and I off at their front door that we didn't even know these people, and now hey we're going to feed us and let us teach them the gospel. I don't know why it was such a big deal to me, because that is what is supposed to happen, right? But for some reason, it just felt surreal.
We went in, and they visited with us. We thought we were just chatting while dinner finish cooking, but then Valerie got up and out something in the oven. So then we chatted for a longer bit. They are really family oriented. They are both middle aged, with their son and daughter both in college. They showed us there house, and tons of pictures. They made hints at the gospel now and then, but would not ever go into detail.
For dinner we ate the best salmon and asparagus I had ever had, with a roasted pepper sauce on rice, and rolls. As we ate our candlelight dinner, we talked even more about there life. I started to sense a bit of sadness and longing when they shared certain things with us. Out of nowhere, a question popped out of my mouth. "What is one thing that you did that made all the difference in your parenting." Craig shared how he felt it was that they out there kids first. They talked about how their kids aren't the most religious, but how they are good, and have high moral standards. They talked about technology and about how they put the family first and how that was their top priority.
Then after that we helped clean up a bit and asked if we could share a message. They Saturday s back down in the living, right where we started. The day before, my companion had been inspired to share the Because He Lives video,
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-04-1010-he-lives-celebrate-easter-because-jesus-christ-lives?lang=eng
and so we did.
Craig was noticeably different. Usually talkative and confident in a cheery way, he was now still, deeply touched, hand on chin, and deep in thought. Valerie was crying. None of us said anything.
The spirit is a funny feeling.
On my mission, I have felt many things, all emotions in their vast array, depths that I didn't understand before my mission. In the process, I have come to realize that with me, very rarely does the spirit make me cry, but if you had asked me that a few years ago, I would have told you that every time I feel the spirit I cry. The difference is not in me, I have learned; the difference is that now I am constantly looking for the spirit, and so now I know better what it feels like, and all the many ways it reaches out and touches me. Each of us react differently when we feel the spirit, and each individual
is in their own life touched by the spirit in different ways in each different circumstance they are presented with. It has been amazing insist past week. I have started to notice it in the little things. As a member of the church, having entered into the covenant of baptism, and having received the Holy Ghost, and accepted the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I have learned that truly that Holy Ghost can be with me at all times. I have learned this as a missionary especially in times where I have lost the spirit by some act of disobedience or in a situation where someone else has done something that would cause a loss of the spirit. I have felt the spirit in a voice of warning telling me and my companion to flee very real darkness, and I have also felt the peaceful, curiosity that it strikes within me, guiding me, and also the confident certainty that the way we were going was the right path. This may seem off topic, but hold onto what I just said for a moment about the G family, and also about the spirit, and how I've learned to notice it.
I read a scripture this morning that has stuck in my brain, a jewel I have never before even noticed.
"And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."
Words of Mormon 1:7
It's a whisper. The Spirit is a whisper. Now, here is another thing that you have to know about me, that I'm sure most of you know anyway. I can't hear anything. Really. I have bad hearing, so most of the other missionaries I serve around know that they have to speak up when they are speaking to me, otherwise I am lost because I don't understand. Now, what does Sister Miller's hearing (or lack of it) have to do with the Spirit?
Most of the time, we ask "why aren't we getting our answers!" Now, if we are a little smarter, we might ask "Why aren't we hearing our answers?"
Unlike hearing noise, hearing the spirit is something we have to tune ourselves to. The reality of it, is that we are spiritually deafened, and that to hear the precious message that the world drowns out we
have to pull our head out of the world, and put ourselves in a place to receive answers... A place where we can hear the whisper, a place where the whisper can no longer be drowned out.
The other thing that I have learned is that when we have put ourselves, our lives, our attitudes into a place where we are humble enough and willing enough with real intent to get answers, there is still another problem that we may face. The problem is that we may have spent so much time in the world,
without trying to hear the spirit, that we forget what it is like, especially for us. We have to learn to understand, and that takes time and practice. It is like a relationship. It takes time.
So the reason I say this is this past week, as I have been sitting in lessons, I have had countless experiences where I feel the spirit, but not in the usual whole body tingling sensation, or in the rush of joy feeling inside, although those are some ways that I do definitely feel the spirit in lessons at just the right moments. I have been learning that if I listen more often, I I hear Him more often. It is like a
steady hand on your shoulder feeling, but on your heart more. I'm still trying to figure out how to describe it, but it is really cool. Just because the spirit isn't saying something specific doesn't mean He isn't with you at all times. The only time that He leaves is when you leave him by any disobedience in act or feeling of your own choice, otherwise, the spirit is just always with you.
Anyway, I relate all this to you because I felt this during the G family lesson. I felt the ebb and flow of the spirit.... When He too was just whispering, and when He was whispering something specific and strong, just for them. It was a really cool feeling and I just can't quite explain it. But during their lesson, they expressed the health hardships they have had, and also, out of the blue, right after one of
those silences during which the spirit was strong, and Craig asked me why I had asked about their parenting. I told him because the family is important. Immediately he followed up with asking us what is the thing that is most precious to us that draws us to the gospel. Sister Eyden and I just looked at each other. :) we had the same exact answer.
We spoke of eternal families, and eternal marriage and the blessings that Heavenly Father has given to us through His Son, and how it is through Jesus Christ that we can be together forever.
They soaked it all up, had many questions about baptism, and we invited them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray and ask if it true. They were a little hesitant, but Craig said that he was going to
search through all the videos on lds.org because he has been looking for a while. They both felt it. My question is do they know that they felt it?
I know that this gospel is true. My mind is turned back to the experience I had with the WeLick as and Sister Whimpey, where we both proclaimed with everything inside of us that "I know. I know for
myself the gospel is true." It is no longer just a believe sort of thing, I know now, but that is how it started. And like the scripture at I shared earlier states, "I do not know all things, but the Lord knoweth all things; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." I know that He knows
everything. And I know that He knows, and I know it because of the whispering so of the spirit, and the feelings of the spirit that has filled my whole soul with light... Light worth living.
So pray for us. I feel your prayers. Pray for those we teach, they feel it, even if they don't yet know it. Pray that they will recognize their answers, and also pray for yourself, that you will recognize answers that come through the Spirit.
Moroni 10:6-7
I love all of you, and love your support.
Love, Sister Miller
This week was great! I feel like I just emailed! So we had some miracles this past week! We met with this lady named Melodie. Another person we are teaching invited us to come over and share with her uplifting messages, and so we went over. Her house is currently being remodeled and it was very distracted when we went over, but we shared with her our testimonies and mostly just listened to her as she opened up about some struggles in her life right now. So yay! We are teaching her now!
So last week when I was sick, Sister Eyden had called absolutely everyone in the area book. She had set up a dinner with the "G" family. Craig and Valerie had had missionaries tract into them before and had let them in to leave a house blessing and had chatted for a while with them and then nothing more every really came of it, but they had had missionaries a long long time before that too, apparently, and so they had offered to feed the sisters at had left a house blessing. That was a few months ago. They were excited to feed us.
Well, earlier that day we had some emergency meetings in our zone, so our zone leaders drove us out to a neighboring town to meet with another companionship out there, and earlier that day we had had a zone service project at a local park spreading mulch. It's really cool because their church has a new website called "Just Serve" and the city of Davis just picked it right up, and we do a lot of service
projects weekly in the community, and this is one of those ongoing service projects. Every month we spread mulch. It's great; I love it. It gives me time to just worked with my body and to give my head a
break. And it's a lot of fun with the zone! So we did that Saturday morning. Then we went to this meeting. Long story short here has just been a little drama and miscommunication and it wasn't as big a deal as some thought. So yeah, then we went back to our dinner with the G family, and it was weird, because I realized as the elders dropped Sister Eyden and I off at their front door that we didn't even know these people, and now hey we're going to feed us and let us teach them the gospel. I don't know why it was such a big deal to me, because that is what is supposed to happen, right? But for some reason, it just felt surreal.
We went in, and they visited with us. We thought we were just chatting while dinner finish cooking, but then Valerie got up and out something in the oven. So then we chatted for a longer bit. They are really family oriented. They are both middle aged, with their son and daughter both in college. They showed us there house, and tons of pictures. They made hints at the gospel now and then, but would not ever go into detail.
For dinner we ate the best salmon and asparagus I had ever had, with a roasted pepper sauce on rice, and rolls. As we ate our candlelight dinner, we talked even more about there life. I started to sense a bit of sadness and longing when they shared certain things with us. Out of nowhere, a question popped out of my mouth. "What is one thing that you did that made all the difference in your parenting." Craig shared how he felt it was that they out there kids first. They talked about how their kids aren't the most religious, but how they are good, and have high moral standards. They talked about technology and about how they put the family first and how that was their top priority.
Then after that we helped clean up a bit and asked if we could share a message. They Saturday s back down in the living, right where we started. The day before, my companion had been inspired to share the Because He Lives video,
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-04-1010-he-lives-celebrate-easter-because-jesus-christ-lives?lang=eng
and so we did.
Craig was noticeably different. Usually talkative and confident in a cheery way, he was now still, deeply touched, hand on chin, and deep in thought. Valerie was crying. None of us said anything.
The spirit is a funny feeling.
On my mission, I have felt many things, all emotions in their vast array, depths that I didn't understand before my mission. In the process, I have come to realize that with me, very rarely does the spirit make me cry, but if you had asked me that a few years ago, I would have told you that every time I feel the spirit I cry. The difference is not in me, I have learned; the difference is that now I am constantly looking for the spirit, and so now I know better what it feels like, and all the many ways it reaches out and touches me. Each of us react differently when we feel the spirit, and each individual
is in their own life touched by the spirit in different ways in each different circumstance they are presented with. It has been amazing insist past week. I have started to notice it in the little things. As a member of the church, having entered into the covenant of baptism, and having received the Holy Ghost, and accepted the Atonement of Jesus Christ, I have learned that truly that Holy Ghost can be with me at all times. I have learned this as a missionary especially in times where I have lost the spirit by some act of disobedience or in a situation where someone else has done something that would cause a loss of the spirit. I have felt the spirit in a voice of warning telling me and my companion to flee very real darkness, and I have also felt the peaceful, curiosity that it strikes within me, guiding me, and also the confident certainty that the way we were going was the right path. This may seem off topic, but hold onto what I just said for a moment about the G family, and also about the spirit, and how I've learned to notice it.
I read a scripture this morning that has stuck in my brain, a jewel I have never before even noticed.
"And I do this for a wise purpose; for thus it whispereth me, according to the workings of the Spirit of the Lord which is in me. And now, I do not know all things; but the Lord knoweth all things which are to come; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will."
Words of Mormon 1:7
It's a whisper. The Spirit is a whisper. Now, here is another thing that you have to know about me, that I'm sure most of you know anyway. I can't hear anything. Really. I have bad hearing, so most of the other missionaries I serve around know that they have to speak up when they are speaking to me, otherwise I am lost because I don't understand. Now, what does Sister Miller's hearing (or lack of it) have to do with the Spirit?
Most of the time, we ask "why aren't we getting our answers!" Now, if we are a little smarter, we might ask "Why aren't we hearing our answers?"
Unlike hearing noise, hearing the spirit is something we have to tune ourselves to. The reality of it, is that we are spiritually deafened, and that to hear the precious message that the world drowns out we
have to pull our head out of the world, and put ourselves in a place to receive answers... A place where we can hear the whisper, a place where the whisper can no longer be drowned out.
The other thing that I have learned is that when we have put ourselves, our lives, our attitudes into a place where we are humble enough and willing enough with real intent to get answers, there is still another problem that we may face. The problem is that we may have spent so much time in the world,
without trying to hear the spirit, that we forget what it is like, especially for us. We have to learn to understand, and that takes time and practice. It is like a relationship. It takes time.
So the reason I say this is this past week, as I have been sitting in lessons, I have had countless experiences where I feel the spirit, but not in the usual whole body tingling sensation, or in the rush of joy feeling inside, although those are some ways that I do definitely feel the spirit in lessons at just the right moments. I have been learning that if I listen more often, I I hear Him more often. It is like a
steady hand on your shoulder feeling, but on your heart more. I'm still trying to figure out how to describe it, but it is really cool. Just because the spirit isn't saying something specific doesn't mean He isn't with you at all times. The only time that He leaves is when you leave him by any disobedience in act or feeling of your own choice, otherwise, the spirit is just always with you.
Anyway, I relate all this to you because I felt this during the G family lesson. I felt the ebb and flow of the spirit.... When He too was just whispering, and when He was whispering something specific and strong, just for them. It was a really cool feeling and I just can't quite explain it. But during their lesson, they expressed the health hardships they have had, and also, out of the blue, right after one of
those silences during which the spirit was strong, and Craig asked me why I had asked about their parenting. I told him because the family is important. Immediately he followed up with asking us what is the thing that is most precious to us that draws us to the gospel. Sister Eyden and I just looked at each other. :) we had the same exact answer.
We spoke of eternal families, and eternal marriage and the blessings that Heavenly Father has given to us through His Son, and how it is through Jesus Christ that we can be together forever.
They soaked it all up, had many questions about baptism, and we invited them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray and ask if it true. They were a little hesitant, but Craig said that he was going to
search through all the videos on lds.org because he has been looking for a while. They both felt it. My question is do they know that they felt it?
I know that this gospel is true. My mind is turned back to the experience I had with the WeLick as and Sister Whimpey, where we both proclaimed with everything inside of us that "I know. I know for
myself the gospel is true." It is no longer just a believe sort of thing, I know now, but that is how it started. And like the scripture at I shared earlier states, "I do not know all things, but the Lord knoweth all things; wherefore, he worketh in me to do according to his will." I know that He knows
everything. And I know that He knows, and I know it because of the whispering so of the spirit, and the feelings of the spirit that has filled my whole soul with light... Light worth living.
So pray for us. I feel your prayers. Pray for those we teach, they feel it, even if they don't yet know it. Pray that they will recognize their answers, and also pray for yourself, that you will recognize answers that come through the Spirit.
Moroni 10:6-7
I love all of you, and love your support.
Love, Sister Miller
5/13/15: 100%
Dear family and friends,
This last week was great! We just got back from the Sacramento Temple and it was pretty much amazing. I was so ready for that! In the Celestial room, I sat and pondered life and the mission and what it has taught me. It was really amazing, because I am serving around my MTC companion, Sister Day, and she came up to me and sat next to me as I was deep in thought. Slowly, everyone else left, and it was just her and I. She turned to me and we started talking. What she said really was an answer to my prayers. We talked about what we have learned and how even thought a mission isn't for you, it kind of ends up being so.
I love serving a mission! I realized the other day how short of a time it really is... and I don't really know how I feel about it. It was so good to talk to the family... I realized just how much I do miss them and how much I do fit in. I am excited to see them. And that just made me want to work harder, and go stronger, and reach higher than ever before.
I love what I have learned over the course of my mission. There are definitely times that are hard, but they are so worth it. The experiences where you feel the spirit are so worth it.
Something that I have learned from my mission is that I always want to live the gospel. Before my mission, I didn't really believe in myself. I didn't really know if I could make it to the Celestial Kingdom. I hope that I could, and I wanted to be able to, but I wasn't too sure if I could actually
make it. Looking back, I realize that the mission has taught me that I can do hard things, and that especially those things that are hard yet help us live the gospel.
That is another thing that I have learned. The gospel is always worth living. I know and have learned from experience that repentance is real, that it is hard, but that it is so worth it. Repentance require us to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to be humble and full of charity and love and submissive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have also learned that Heavenly Father loves me. That I belong. I belong in His presence. That part of me will never change.... That's what I want and that's other thing that I have learned.
I want to live the gospel.
It is so engrained into who I am, and I have chosen that, a little bit everyday. There are some that would look at missionaries and say that we are being brainwashed, indoctrinated, and forced into living the gospel. To them I say this: I have chosen this every day I have been out here. I have chosen to live the gospel, to teach and testify, and to share what I know to be true. At any point, I could have turned back, I could have come back home, but for me that was never an option. Has the mission been hard. Definitely there are hard days, but in the long run, I look back on every transfer with sweetness. I have loved being out here.
It is the thing which has been of most worth to me.
Okay.
So .
A quick snapshot of the past week.
So last Monday we taught Liz the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. She is awesome. I don't even know what to say about her lesson because it was perfect. So we taught about how God called prophets and how when people reject a prophet they are then in an apostasy. We taught her about how Jesus Christ called twelve apostles and gave them the priesthood and the authority to lead His church. She took it all in, having perfect questions and then she asked us "Okay, so then what about this Joseph Smith guy, tell me about him?" I literally thought she was a member, just playing a joke on us, pretending to be a golden investigator. Well, long story short, we share the Restoration with
her, and the Spirit is so strong. She understood everything so perfectly. She then came to church on Mother's Day and she absolutely loved it! She said as we met with her again last night that she felt
so many answers. Last night we talked about the Spirit, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She said she doesn't know if she has ever felt the Spirit, but then we explained what it felt like, and how she could
recognize it. The feeling in that room was so real. Liz really is a perfect investigator. She has definitely been prepared. We have asked her to pray about being baptized this week, and she said she would. She said that she has always believed that there were more testaments than one, and so she is excited to continue to read the Book of Mormon.
Also, this past week, we picked up another investigator! Yay! She was referred to us by another person we are teaching, and it was really cool. She is going through a lot of lifestyle changes with her housing situation, and is working really hard. She is open to meet with us again, but we are hoping that it sinks in a little deeper. She kind of believes in God, but she isn't sure. Yet, she did open up a lot with us. We are going back to see her tomorrow.
Also, I was sick this past week. Food poisoning. That wasn't fun. Then Sister Eyden has been having massive headaches, and then I caught a horrible cold. I don't know what it is, but we have just been sick a lot. Not fun. Pray for us. But other than that, we really enjoy each other, and we organized our whole area book and are ready to get better and go out and find the elect!
Well.... I'm not sure what else to say, so I'll just leave it at that for now. Just know that the Gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is always there for us. He never lets us go! He will never give up on you! There is no hardship that is too great to have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life! There is no person, no career, no hobby, no fear, nothing, literally nothing, that can get in the way of us living the Gospel in our hearts and in our homes if we set our mind to it. Choose.
We always have the choice. That is, and will forever be ours. The Gospel is always a choice.
Another thought that I kept having this week is that it is so much easier to live the Gospel 100% than to live it only in part. It is so much easier to give things 100% than to only give a portion of the
effort. It is so much easier to repent 100%, to contact 100%, to be obedient 100% and to love 100%.
Although we are not perfect, the Savior still loves us and can help us, even when we don't have it in us, and even when we do.
He is and will always be the only way back home.
John 14: 15,18,21
John 15: 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 16:21-24 as well.
Love,
Sister Darby Miller
P.S. My goal for the rest of my mission is to live my 100%! No holding back! No saying tomorrow, or next time, but really enjoying it and giving it my all.
This last week was great! We just got back from the Sacramento Temple and it was pretty much amazing. I was so ready for that! In the Celestial room, I sat and pondered life and the mission and what it has taught me. It was really amazing, because I am serving around my MTC companion, Sister Day, and she came up to me and sat next to me as I was deep in thought. Slowly, everyone else left, and it was just her and I. She turned to me and we started talking. What she said really was an answer to my prayers. We talked about what we have learned and how even thought a mission isn't for you, it kind of ends up being so.
I love serving a mission! I realized the other day how short of a time it really is... and I don't really know how I feel about it. It was so good to talk to the family... I realized just how much I do miss them and how much I do fit in. I am excited to see them. And that just made me want to work harder, and go stronger, and reach higher than ever before.
I love what I have learned over the course of my mission. There are definitely times that are hard, but they are so worth it. The experiences where you feel the spirit are so worth it.
Something that I have learned from my mission is that I always want to live the gospel. Before my mission, I didn't really believe in myself. I didn't really know if I could make it to the Celestial Kingdom. I hope that I could, and I wanted to be able to, but I wasn't too sure if I could actually
make it. Looking back, I realize that the mission has taught me that I can do hard things, and that especially those things that are hard yet help us live the gospel.
That is another thing that I have learned. The gospel is always worth living. I know and have learned from experience that repentance is real, that it is hard, but that it is so worth it. Repentance require us to have a broken heart and a contrite spirit, to be humble and full of charity and love and submissive to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I have also learned that Heavenly Father loves me. That I belong. I belong in His presence. That part of me will never change.... That's what I want and that's other thing that I have learned.
I want to live the gospel.
It is so engrained into who I am, and I have chosen that, a little bit everyday. There are some that would look at missionaries and say that we are being brainwashed, indoctrinated, and forced into living the gospel. To them I say this: I have chosen this every day I have been out here. I have chosen to live the gospel, to teach and testify, and to share what I know to be true. At any point, I could have turned back, I could have come back home, but for me that was never an option. Has the mission been hard. Definitely there are hard days, but in the long run, I look back on every transfer with sweetness. I have loved being out here.
It is the thing which has been of most worth to me.
Okay.
So .
A quick snapshot of the past week.
So last Monday we taught Liz the Restoration. The Spirit was so strong. She is awesome. I don't even know what to say about her lesson because it was perfect. So we taught about how God called prophets and how when people reject a prophet they are then in an apostasy. We taught her about how Jesus Christ called twelve apostles and gave them the priesthood and the authority to lead His church. She took it all in, having perfect questions and then she asked us "Okay, so then what about this Joseph Smith guy, tell me about him?" I literally thought she was a member, just playing a joke on us, pretending to be a golden investigator. Well, long story short, we share the Restoration with
her, and the Spirit is so strong. She understood everything so perfectly. She then came to church on Mother's Day and she absolutely loved it! She said as we met with her again last night that she felt
so many answers. Last night we talked about the Spirit, and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. She said she doesn't know if she has ever felt the Spirit, but then we explained what it felt like, and how she could
recognize it. The feeling in that room was so real. Liz really is a perfect investigator. She has definitely been prepared. We have asked her to pray about being baptized this week, and she said she would. She said that she has always believed that there were more testaments than one, and so she is excited to continue to read the Book of Mormon.
Also, this past week, we picked up another investigator! Yay! She was referred to us by another person we are teaching, and it was really cool. She is going through a lot of lifestyle changes with her housing situation, and is working really hard. She is open to meet with us again, but we are hoping that it sinks in a little deeper. She kind of believes in God, but she isn't sure. Yet, she did open up a lot with us. We are going back to see her tomorrow.
Also, I was sick this past week. Food poisoning. That wasn't fun. Then Sister Eyden has been having massive headaches, and then I caught a horrible cold. I don't know what it is, but we have just been sick a lot. Not fun. Pray for us. But other than that, we really enjoy each other, and we organized our whole area book and are ready to get better and go out and find the elect!
Well.... I'm not sure what else to say, so I'll just leave it at that for now. Just know that the Gospel is true and that Jesus Christ is always there for us. He never lets us go! He will never give up on you! There is no hardship that is too great to have the true Gospel of Jesus Christ in your life! There is no person, no career, no hobby, no fear, nothing, literally nothing, that can get in the way of us living the Gospel in our hearts and in our homes if we set our mind to it. Choose.
We always have the choice. That is, and will forever be ours. The Gospel is always a choice.
Another thought that I kept having this week is that it is so much easier to live the Gospel 100% than to live it only in part. It is so much easier to give things 100% than to only give a portion of the
effort. It is so much easier to repent 100%, to contact 100%, to be obedient 100% and to love 100%.
Although we are not perfect, the Savior still loves us and can help us, even when we don't have it in us, and even when we do.
He is and will always be the only way back home.
John 14: 15,18,21
John 15: 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
John 16:21-24 as well.
Love,
Sister Darby Miller
P.S. My goal for the rest of my mission is to live my 100%! No holding back! No saying tomorrow, or next time, but really enjoying it and giving it my all.
<authors note: Holy frijoles, her hair is so long!!!! She was quite persistent that she wasn't going to cut it on her mission...looks like she stuck to her word>
5/4/15: Greater Faith: Blessed are Those Who Have Not Seen, but Still Believe!
Dear Family and Friends,
So a quick recap on the past couple weeks. Sorry. I realized that I am not as good of a writer as I once thought. Something to work on in the future I guess... :)
So...
Things really worked out with Sister Comer the past two weeks. We worked hard and had a couple really heart-to-heart talks about how to make things work. I realized that I have a lot of strengths that she needed, and she has strengths that I really needed. Wow. Those last two weeks were AMAZING with her... Not that they were bad before... but we just weren't as open in communication as before. We began to see so many miracles, and by the time transfers came, we both really wanted her to stay. I was so sad that she got transferred to Vacaville. But before she left, we had this one miracle that I want to share.
So we do a lot of member lessons with active members.. part of our goal to teach three lessons a day. So Mondays we always meet with Sister Nelson. She is awesome. Young... in her 20's, and she loves to learn more about the gospel. So two mondays ago she texted us and asked if her friend Liz could come. Long story short, Liz took the lessons as a young girl with a friend. Her friend ended up getting baptized, but Liz didn't. Years later, she asked if she could come to church with Sister Nelson. She came to that lesson, and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had. She wants to be baptized, and she is committed to praying to know if this is true. We taught her about trials, about many bits and pieces of the gospel because she had so many questions. I feel the spirit just thinking about it right now. All the questions she asked were so perfect, so genuine, and she was so willing to believe. Anyway, she missed church because she got called inot work. Tonight we are meeting with her again, and we will be teaching the Restoration in full, all the way through. Pray for us! I am so excited!
Anyway... We are searching, searching for more people to find.
Something funny that happened yesterday: we ran out of gas on top of an overpass, and the elders had to go buy the gas and come get us. Awkward. Let me tell you, I've never had something so embarrassing happen. :) It was good though. We had a really really good heart-to-heart.
I am companion's with Sister Eyden. I love her so much! We get along so well... Just like Sister Whimpy and I did. Seriously, this could possibly end up being one of the best transfers of my mission.
Also, I have added a new goal onto my goals for my mission. Heavenly Father is teaching me a lot about faith. I love the idea of faith. It is the motivation for keeping every commandment, and it will lead us to everything else we need.
And since I have three minutes left on my computer, I will just copy what I told my mission president. I am pretty much an open book. Just take it as you will, and know that I am loving this more and more every day. Thank you all for what you do for me.
I have learned a lot about the Savior here on my mission. I have been continually humbled by what He has shown me, and allowed me to experience. I have learned a great deal, and I do not regret any day of it, even the hardest of days. There have been moments that have been so worth it, so precious. Darkness cannot overpower light, but even the smallest light banished the darkness, and leaves no room for it. When there is light, that is all there is. We can see clearer, and things are simpler when there is light. But it is those dark times that teach us to trust that light will come, even when we can't see.
Something I asked Heavenly Father during hour of prayer was if I ever was going to find that family that I was sent here to find.
Something I learned is that it is not about me.
And then He taught me to have faith.
And so, I add a fourth goal, something I feel encompasses all my goals for my mission:
I will have faith.
I will have faith in my Heavenly Father, and not fear.
And so that is my goal for the rest of my mission. To have greater faith, and then when I go home, to have even greater faith, line upon line, a little more light every day.
Also, something that President Cuvelier said yesterday is something I have though a lot about lately. "When you go home, you are no longer set apart as a full-time representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but... you are still a missionary. Always remember that."
And that's what I want. I just want to be a missionary forever. I love it. It's not just what I do anymore. It's who I am. And I want to continue to grow in that
Love,
Sister Miller
I'll send pics next week! :) Love ya'll
p.s. I love you Mom!
So a quick recap on the past couple weeks. Sorry. I realized that I am not as good of a writer as I once thought. Something to work on in the future I guess... :)
So...
Things really worked out with Sister Comer the past two weeks. We worked hard and had a couple really heart-to-heart talks about how to make things work. I realized that I have a lot of strengths that she needed, and she has strengths that I really needed. Wow. Those last two weeks were AMAZING with her... Not that they were bad before... but we just weren't as open in communication as before. We began to see so many miracles, and by the time transfers came, we both really wanted her to stay. I was so sad that she got transferred to Vacaville. But before she left, we had this one miracle that I want to share.
So we do a lot of member lessons with active members.. part of our goal to teach three lessons a day. So Mondays we always meet with Sister Nelson. She is awesome. Young... in her 20's, and she loves to learn more about the gospel. So two mondays ago she texted us and asked if her friend Liz could come. Long story short, Liz took the lessons as a young girl with a friend. Her friend ended up getting baptized, but Liz didn't. Years later, she asked if she could come to church with Sister Nelson. She came to that lesson, and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have ever had. She wants to be baptized, and she is committed to praying to know if this is true. We taught her about trials, about many bits and pieces of the gospel because she had so many questions. I feel the spirit just thinking about it right now. All the questions she asked were so perfect, so genuine, and she was so willing to believe. Anyway, she missed church because she got called inot work. Tonight we are meeting with her again, and we will be teaching the Restoration in full, all the way through. Pray for us! I am so excited!
Anyway... We are searching, searching for more people to find.
Something funny that happened yesterday: we ran out of gas on top of an overpass, and the elders had to go buy the gas and come get us. Awkward. Let me tell you, I've never had something so embarrassing happen. :) It was good though. We had a really really good heart-to-heart.
I am companion's with Sister Eyden. I love her so much! We get along so well... Just like Sister Whimpy and I did. Seriously, this could possibly end up being one of the best transfers of my mission.
Also, I have added a new goal onto my goals for my mission. Heavenly Father is teaching me a lot about faith. I love the idea of faith. It is the motivation for keeping every commandment, and it will lead us to everything else we need.
And since I have three minutes left on my computer, I will just copy what I told my mission president. I am pretty much an open book. Just take it as you will, and know that I am loving this more and more every day. Thank you all for what you do for me.
I have learned a lot about the Savior here on my mission. I have been continually humbled by what He has shown me, and allowed me to experience. I have learned a great deal, and I do not regret any day of it, even the hardest of days. There have been moments that have been so worth it, so precious. Darkness cannot overpower light, but even the smallest light banished the darkness, and leaves no room for it. When there is light, that is all there is. We can see clearer, and things are simpler when there is light. But it is those dark times that teach us to trust that light will come, even when we can't see.
Something I asked Heavenly Father during hour of prayer was if I ever was going to find that family that I was sent here to find.
Something I learned is that it is not about me.
And then He taught me to have faith.
And so, I add a fourth goal, something I feel encompasses all my goals for my mission:
I will have faith.
I will have faith in my Heavenly Father, and not fear.
And so that is my goal for the rest of my mission. To have greater faith, and then when I go home, to have even greater faith, line upon line, a little more light every day.
Also, something that President Cuvelier said yesterday is something I have though a lot about lately. "When you go home, you are no longer set apart as a full-time representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, but... you are still a missionary. Always remember that."
And that's what I want. I just want to be a missionary forever. I love it. It's not just what I do anymore. It's who I am. And I want to continue to grow in that
Love,
Sister Miller
I'll send pics next week! :) Love ya'll
p.s. I love you Mom!
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
4/20/15 Short and Sweet! Let's Change a Tire!
So sorry that this is short and sweet... So in short.... The work has been pretty rough. I love it though. It is amazing how much your outlook can change your happiness. All those times I thought it was so hard....I should have looked for the miracles. So that's what I am learning boot do here. I've never prayed harder, and I've never had a transfer fly by so fast. We find out transfers and what happens this Friday. I think I'll stay, but anything can happen.
Well, the miracle u want to share ( although we saw so many more, that I couldn't write all of them if I tried) is this:
On a given night, all of our appointments fell through and we stopped at a gas station to fuel up first. There was this family trying to put a tire on, and so we asked them if they needed help. They said you
see, and it surprised us, but sister comer spent the next hour helping the uncle and he dad (farm girls! Ha! They rock!) and I taught the mom and the kids, and showed them Because He Lives. They left, and we taught he uncle. He cried, and told us how ,ugh it meant to him. No one had stopped to help for 2 hours, even though it was a busy street. we taught him about he Book of Mormon and invited him to read and pray to know, and we got his phone number to give to the Spanish Speaking missionaries. It was really cool, and was a tender mercy to my heart because it had been a rough day. All day we had had to defend the family, and why having kids is not a sin, but a party of God'a plan.
At the end of our conversation with Justin, the man, he told us something that made me cry. He said that for the rest of his life, not matter what we may be going throughout or how alone we may feel, we should remember that there was at least one person out there praying for us everyday our lives, until the day he dies. He really meant it took and it touched my heart.
I have learned a lot about prayer and about gratitude this week. All in all it has been a good week. :)
Weekly challenge: pray every morning before you leave the house or start your day. Also, pray before you go to sleep or get into bed every night. If you so please, you can share your miracles that
happened with me :)
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Well, the miracle u want to share ( although we saw so many more, that I couldn't write all of them if I tried) is this:
On a given night, all of our appointments fell through and we stopped at a gas station to fuel up first. There was this family trying to put a tire on, and so we asked them if they needed help. They said you
see, and it surprised us, but sister comer spent the next hour helping the uncle and he dad (farm girls! Ha! They rock!) and I taught the mom and the kids, and showed them Because He Lives. They left, and we taught he uncle. He cried, and told us how ,ugh it meant to him. No one had stopped to help for 2 hours, even though it was a busy street. we taught him about he Book of Mormon and invited him to read and pray to know, and we got his phone number to give to the Spanish Speaking missionaries. It was really cool, and was a tender mercy to my heart because it had been a rough day. All day we had had to defend the family, and why having kids is not a sin, but a party of God'a plan.
At the end of our conversation with Justin, the man, he told us something that made me cry. He said that for the rest of his life, not matter what we may be going throughout or how alone we may feel, we should remember that there was at least one person out there praying for us everyday our lives, until the day he dies. He really meant it took and it touched my heart.
I have learned a lot about prayer and about gratitude this week. All in all it has been a good week. :)
Weekly challenge: pray every morning before you leave the house or start your day. Also, pray before you go to sleep or get into bed every night. If you so please, you can share your miracles that
happened with me :)
4/13/15
So Davis is pretty cool. It's starting to sink in a little better. Church yesterday was good. I feel like I'm just starting to get to know the members, and that is always that has meant so much to me on my mission. I've learned a lot about reaching out. I think with missing church a week, I felt a little out of he loop with the Lord, but as I sat during the sacrament, I felt a change in my heart. I realized that I needed to be the one to initiate the friendships. It was awesome. I have had some pretty cool experiences this past week with something called Power Hour. After having dinner with a member family, we share a mini lesson or spiritual thought with them that we hand picked as something we think they would need. Then, we ask them if they know anyone we can reach out to, and then we ask them to pray for us in the next hour that we will see miracles, wether we are finding or if we are teaching a lesson. So last Monday we ate with this young couple named.... (Get this....) the Allred's. Pretty funny. They were awesome. Before we came and ate, they asked us to bring picture of our family, and come prepared to share stories. I took all my pictures off my wall by my bed, and put them into a little photo album. It was so fun just to talk about all my memories and things, and to hear everyone else's stories too. It never fails to amaze me how much someone's family has to do with the person they become.
Well, for that power hour, we were walking in downtown Davis and we contacted this Less-Active from the Woodland 2nd Ward... I never knew her when I was there, but she was so open and receptive. We shared the Because He Lives video with her and her fiancé, who is at a member. It was beautiful, the feeling that was there. She feared up, and he was open. He agreed to read the Book of Mormon. It was really cool to see her heart softened.
So something really cool happened.
Another miracle we saw this week was that we saw Tony. He's a student from China who came here to study. He has a belief in God, but it is very different from the norm. We have been trying to catch him at home for a long time. This weekend we caught him at home. He had read through the introduction and he understood it, and although he didn't outright believe it, he was open to it. It was a really cool doorstep lesson. We taught him the restoration and showed him the short restoration video on the interactive pamphlet. The spirit was so strong. I was so happy. He told us that he didn't believe that anyone could see God, but as we explained how he could pray and ask God for himself, he said he would. When we explained that we would have to pass him offline the singles ward, he was actually excited, which was a relief. Usually it doesn't go that way, but he was excited about it. Before we turned to leave, the thought hit me that we hadn't asked him to be baptized, and that we should. I felt the spirit helping me ask him. He without hesitation that he would be baptized, if he knew it was true.
I'm sitting here at the parking lot in a little town called Winters, typing out this email on the bleachers, in the shade. There are young women from the Winters ward playing the ukulele. There is a perfect temperature in the breeze, and the chatter of missionaries talking and carefree, while some are out one field playing baseball. This moment is just so precious, yet a mission life is filled up with special tender mercies like this all the time. There will always be struggles, but it's always about how you look at it. There are so many moments in life that make it so worth it.
As I had an interview with President Alba and Sister Alba this past week. We talked about what I have learned. On my mission, I have learned that Heavenly Father's plan is perfect, that He is always there for me, and that Jesus Christ really knows me. I know that the gospel has been restored. I know that He always has a plan. I told her that I have learned to be obedient, and to trust in Him. We talked a little about the future, and I realized that although I don't know exactly what will happen, I know that I trust in Heavenly Father's plan.
I know that God lives and hay He loves us. I know that we will one day see our Savior Jesus Christ, and that if we endure the end, we can live with Him again. I know that He hears and answers our prayers.
I know He loves us.
I know that our lives are important, and I know that there are forces of God that we can't see, working for us, working with us.
Do not take the commandments lightly. There is no more important time than this time. Would you rather receive a prophecy, or fulfill a prophecy? Well, we live in a time where prophecy is being fulfilled. We need to wake up, and shake off the chains which bind us. Anything that comes from the Prophet, Thomas S Monson, or from one of the Twelve is a commandment of God. It is not enough to just avoid grievous sins. Let me be very clear. When we do not do something we know is right, we are choosing to sin.
And for those of you who have made sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father, by being baptized and also further covenanting in the temple of the Lord, you have promised to be obedient. So when you don't keep the commandments, do not tell me you are choosing to disobey, tell me you are a covenant-breaker.
It is simple. Follow Jesus Christ IN ALL THINGS.
If you do, Heavenly Father will bless you with those blessings He reserves for covenant keepers.
With all my love,
Sincerely,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
Well, for that power hour, we were walking in downtown Davis and we contacted this Less-Active from the Woodland 2nd Ward... I never knew her when I was there, but she was so open and receptive. We shared the Because He Lives video with her and her fiancé, who is at a member. It was beautiful, the feeling that was there. She feared up, and he was open. He agreed to read the Book of Mormon. It was really cool to see her heart softened.
So something really cool happened.
Another miracle we saw this week was that we saw Tony. He's a student from China who came here to study. He has a belief in God, but it is very different from the norm. We have been trying to catch him at home for a long time. This weekend we caught him at home. He had read through the introduction and he understood it, and although he didn't outright believe it, he was open to it. It was a really cool doorstep lesson. We taught him the restoration and showed him the short restoration video on the interactive pamphlet. The spirit was so strong. I was so happy. He told us that he didn't believe that anyone could see God, but as we explained how he could pray and ask God for himself, he said he would. When we explained that we would have to pass him offline the singles ward, he was actually excited, which was a relief. Usually it doesn't go that way, but he was excited about it. Before we turned to leave, the thought hit me that we hadn't asked him to be baptized, and that we should. I felt the spirit helping me ask him. He without hesitation that he would be baptized, if he knew it was true.
I'm sitting here at the parking lot in a little town called Winters, typing out this email on the bleachers, in the shade. There are young women from the Winters ward playing the ukulele. There is a perfect temperature in the breeze, and the chatter of missionaries talking and carefree, while some are out one field playing baseball. This moment is just so precious, yet a mission life is filled up with special tender mercies like this all the time. There will always be struggles, but it's always about how you look at it. There are so many moments in life that make it so worth it.
As I had an interview with President Alba and Sister Alba this past week. We talked about what I have learned. On my mission, I have learned that Heavenly Father's plan is perfect, that He is always there for me, and that Jesus Christ really knows me. I know that the gospel has been restored. I know that He always has a plan. I told her that I have learned to be obedient, and to trust in Him. We talked a little about the future, and I realized that although I don't know exactly what will happen, I know that I trust in Heavenly Father's plan.
I know that God lives and hay He loves us. I know that we will one day see our Savior Jesus Christ, and that if we endure the end, we can live with Him again. I know that He hears and answers our prayers.
I know He loves us.
I know that our lives are important, and I know that there are forces of God that we can't see, working for us, working with us.
Do not take the commandments lightly. There is no more important time than this time. Would you rather receive a prophecy, or fulfill a prophecy? Well, we live in a time where prophecy is being fulfilled. We need to wake up, and shake off the chains which bind us. Anything that comes from the Prophet, Thomas S Monson, or from one of the Twelve is a commandment of God. It is not enough to just avoid grievous sins. Let me be very clear. When we do not do something we know is right, we are choosing to sin.
And for those of you who have made sacred covenants with our Heavenly Father, by being baptized and also further covenanting in the temple of the Lord, you have promised to be obedient. So when you don't keep the commandments, do not tell me you are choosing to disobey, tell me you are a covenant-breaker.
It is simple. Follow Jesus Christ IN ALL THINGS.
If you do, Heavenly Father will bless you with those blessings He reserves for covenant keepers.
With all my love,
Sincerely,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
4/6/15 The Things I Have Learned From My Mission
Dear Family and Friends,
Our area is a little harder than I thought. Last friday I had the opportunity to go to MLC, which is a meeting where President Alba, Sister Alba and the AP's (assistants to the president, for those of you who don't know mission lingo) all teach and present training for us to take back to our zones. The past few months, starting in January with Camp Liahona, we have had extra meetings with transfers, Elder Nelson (who spoke this past conference about his sister coming back to the church... He is an awesome man, and is a really really good teacher) came to talk about missionary work to us, and then came again to present training on the new ipads versus the way we used to use ipads for missionary work. We also have had meetings on many other important topics, such as the goal we have as a mission to talk to 20 new contacts a day, teach 3 lessons to people a day, and also to invite someone to be baptized each day. It was really neat when I was with Sister Whimpey, because we were co-STL's and so we went to all the meetings together and we both believed it and wanted it so bad. I learned so much from her example. I learned a lot about myself too. Some of the things I learned will stay with me forever. Anyway, I am rambling, but the point is, it has been really different not having that the past couple weeks. I have felt myself kind of plateauma little, and so General Conference and MLC really gave me a kick-start again.
At MLC, they did something different. The President didn't assign topics, but rather, he wanted it done like General Conference. He asked them to pray about it and study, and really ponder on what they should present. The Topics and the things that I learned were as follows:
What is it to REFLECT? To look back, to instrospect, to ponder your life and your situation with God? What vividly came to my mind as they challenged us to reflect was this: a mirror in a dark room, and a person sitting in front of it with a candle. When we reflect, we see ourselves AS WE REALLY ARE.... all the beauties and the flaws. No one is perfect, but there is also a beauty in every person that comes here to this earth. Now, I am not just speaking about phsyical beauty. Spiritual beauty is in all of us, because we are children of God. Now, whether or not that natural beauty stays with us is our choice, just like it is our choice by how we take care of our bodies. But unlike our phsyical bodies, which age and die, our spiritual beauty has no limitations. We can always be more like our Heavenly Father. We can always be more spiritually beautiful.
I also learned that the candle, the light by which we can truly see ourselves is the true Light: Jesus Christ. All who come to this earth are given the Light of Christ, and all those that are baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which illuminates our lives even more as to what direction we need to take to become more spiritually beautiful.
As I am emailing this, I feel like this is something we all need to remember, and it is something I am still striving to learn. There is no stopping point on the path of progression.
We never have the excuse of "I go to church on Sunday, I fulfill my callings, I pay my tithing and I pay a fast offering. I am good enough. I am not perfect, but I am as good as I can get."
As I reflect, I remember that covenant with Heavenly Father I made in a sacred and holy temple whose parking lot was a place of refuge for me in my darkest times, even before I received those covenants. The Law of Consecration is something that I have come to understand on my mission so much more. It is not just about money. We have so many more things to consecrate than our money.
So as I reflect everynight when I pray, when my whole entire mission and life play out in my mind, I am constantly asking myself "Am I consecrated?.... Am I His?"
I know that He did that for me. I know that my Savior lives. And even if I am not perfect, I one day will be through Him. He is my hope. And it's not even about being perfect. It is about being like Him. I have felt the past few days that I CAN DO IT! I don't understand all the reasons for why things happen, but I do know this: I can always trust in My Heavenly Father. I know that He loves me. I know He is real. HE IS REAL. He is a real Being who we can have a relationship with. He wants that, so much more than we can comprehend. So do I understand all the pain that the people I have taught have to go through. No. Do I understand why so many of them that I love turn away under the weight of doubt in themselves. No. Do I know why sometimes, missionary work is so much harder than you think.
No. I don't know the answers. But one day I will.
This past week, I had the privilege of visiting a person that was and is very dear to my heart. I was able to address a concern that for me was once a big question. But I just went on with faith, JUST TRUSTING. And in the moment that that person brought up the concern, I found my answers. My mouth was filled, and the mouth of my new missionary companion was filled, and my understanding grew.
So are we perfect? Do we have to understand eveything? We hear the prophets speak to us... not even they understand the Atonement perfectly. But the point is WE CAN.
Jesus Christ will not ever leave us alone. This I know. He won't ever give up on us. I know this is true. When our light dims and we can't see our reflection very well, all we need is to turn to Him. He will come to our aid. In reality, He is already there, and He can see us... who we really are. He bled from every pore. He bore the burden of our sins. He underwent our physical pain. He felt the heavy burden of our emotional pain. He understands our spiritual pains and longings and even at the times where we have turned away from the light of the gospel, and we feel our hands slipping across the gritty, sandy rock ledge... He knows. He knows.
And after all that pain, all that suffering, He bore the beatings, and the crown, and the mockings and scorns of those who condemned Him. He went like a lamb to the slaughter. He allowed it.
Can you imagine the feelings of His heart?
He knew it all, even when He carried the cross... up the steps, through the streets, out to His death. As He hung there on the cross, He prayed for us, and for those who were there. He chose every bit of it. Heavenly Father couldn't force Him. Even Jesus Christ had to choose.
His body was lain in a tomb.
On the third day, He appeared to Mary.
He lives.
I know that my Redeemer lives. Jesus Christ. One day you will see Him. One day, I will see Him. How beautiful. What a moment of reflection.
Moroni 7:48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
All this, so He could reach out and catch us.
I have loved being on a mission. I know that it has helped me. I know that this is where I was meant to be. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan. All we have to do is start to work on our relationship with Him, no matter where we are in that, and then listen to the spirit. It always comes down to this:
Make and Keep Covenants.
Remember Him
Follow the Spirit
Have Hope
Love
Faith
Endure to the End in following His example.
I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God, along with Joseph Smith. I know it. I will never deny it. The Gospel is so simple. Follow Jesus Christ.
I am looking forward to miracles this week! :) I am so ready. The missionaries I am serving with are amazing, and I am just ready to work!
Miracle of last night:
We tracted and nothing. No one was interested. We went one street over instead of giving up and going contacting downtown and we ran into a member and her non-member husband on a walk, and they had us come in and share an Easter message. Never postpone a prompting. :)
That tender mercy from Heavenly Father built my faith and I am ready to work. I know He will provide. :)
Pray for me! Pray for Davis!
His,
Sister Darby Miller
Our area is a little harder than I thought. Last friday I had the opportunity to go to MLC, which is a meeting where President Alba, Sister Alba and the AP's (assistants to the president, for those of you who don't know mission lingo) all teach and present training for us to take back to our zones. The past few months, starting in January with Camp Liahona, we have had extra meetings with transfers, Elder Nelson (who spoke this past conference about his sister coming back to the church... He is an awesome man, and is a really really good teacher) came to talk about missionary work to us, and then came again to present training on the new ipads versus the way we used to use ipads for missionary work. We also have had meetings on many other important topics, such as the goal we have as a mission to talk to 20 new contacts a day, teach 3 lessons to people a day, and also to invite someone to be baptized each day. It was really neat when I was with Sister Whimpey, because we were co-STL's and so we went to all the meetings together and we both believed it and wanted it so bad. I learned so much from her example. I learned a lot about myself too. Some of the things I learned will stay with me forever. Anyway, I am rambling, but the point is, it has been really different not having that the past couple weeks. I have felt myself kind of plateauma little, and so General Conference and MLC really gave me a kick-start again.
At MLC, they did something different. The President didn't assign topics, but rather, he wanted it done like General Conference. He asked them to pray about it and study, and really ponder on what they should present. The Topics and the things that I learned were as follows:
What is it to REFLECT? To look back, to instrospect, to ponder your life and your situation with God? What vividly came to my mind as they challenged us to reflect was this: a mirror in a dark room, and a person sitting in front of it with a candle. When we reflect, we see ourselves AS WE REALLY ARE.... all the beauties and the flaws. No one is perfect, but there is also a beauty in every person that comes here to this earth. Now, I am not just speaking about phsyical beauty. Spiritual beauty is in all of us, because we are children of God. Now, whether or not that natural beauty stays with us is our choice, just like it is our choice by how we take care of our bodies. But unlike our phsyical bodies, which age and die, our spiritual beauty has no limitations. We can always be more like our Heavenly Father. We can always be more spiritually beautiful.
I also learned that the candle, the light by which we can truly see ourselves is the true Light: Jesus Christ. All who come to this earth are given the Light of Christ, and all those that are baptized and confirmed into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints can receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which illuminates our lives even more as to what direction we need to take to become more spiritually beautiful.
As I am emailing this, I feel like this is something we all need to remember, and it is something I am still striving to learn. There is no stopping point on the path of progression.
We never have the excuse of "I go to church on Sunday, I fulfill my callings, I pay my tithing and I pay a fast offering. I am good enough. I am not perfect, but I am as good as I can get."
As I reflect, I remember that covenant with Heavenly Father I made in a sacred and holy temple whose parking lot was a place of refuge for me in my darkest times, even before I received those covenants. The Law of Consecration is something that I have come to understand on my mission so much more. It is not just about money. We have so many more things to consecrate than our money.
So as I reflect everynight when I pray, when my whole entire mission and life play out in my mind, I am constantly asking myself "Am I consecrated?.... Am I His?"
I know that He did that for me. I know that my Savior lives. And even if I am not perfect, I one day will be through Him. He is my hope. And it's not even about being perfect. It is about being like Him. I have felt the past few days that I CAN DO IT! I don't understand all the reasons for why things happen, but I do know this: I can always trust in My Heavenly Father. I know that He loves me. I know He is real. HE IS REAL. He is a real Being who we can have a relationship with. He wants that, so much more than we can comprehend. So do I understand all the pain that the people I have taught have to go through. No. Do I understand why so many of them that I love turn away under the weight of doubt in themselves. No. Do I know why sometimes, missionary work is so much harder than you think.
No. I don't know the answers. But one day I will.
This past week, I had the privilege of visiting a person that was and is very dear to my heart. I was able to address a concern that for me was once a big question. But I just went on with faith, JUST TRUSTING. And in the moment that that person brought up the concern, I found my answers. My mouth was filled, and the mouth of my new missionary companion was filled, and my understanding grew.
So are we perfect? Do we have to understand eveything? We hear the prophets speak to us... not even they understand the Atonement perfectly. But the point is WE CAN.
Jesus Christ will not ever leave us alone. This I know. He won't ever give up on us. I know this is true. When our light dims and we can't see our reflection very well, all we need is to turn to Him. He will come to our aid. In reality, He is already there, and He can see us... who we really are. He bled from every pore. He bore the burden of our sins. He underwent our physical pain. He felt the heavy burden of our emotional pain. He understands our spiritual pains and longings and even at the times where we have turned away from the light of the gospel, and we feel our hands slipping across the gritty, sandy rock ledge... He knows. He knows.
And after all that pain, all that suffering, He bore the beatings, and the crown, and the mockings and scorns of those who condemned Him. He went like a lamb to the slaughter. He allowed it.
Can you imagine the feelings of His heart?
He knew it all, even when He carried the cross... up the steps, through the streets, out to His death. As He hung there on the cross, He prayed for us, and for those who were there. He chose every bit of it. Heavenly Father couldn't force Him. Even Jesus Christ had to choose.
His body was lain in a tomb.
On the third day, He appeared to Mary.
He lives.
I know that my Redeemer lives. Jesus Christ. One day you will see Him. One day, I will see Him. How beautiful. What a moment of reflection.
Moroni 7:48 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.
All this, so He could reach out and catch us.
I have loved being on a mission. I know that it has helped me. I know that this is where I was meant to be. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan. All we have to do is start to work on our relationship with Him, no matter where we are in that, and then listen to the spirit. It always comes down to this:
Make and Keep Covenants.
Remember Him
Follow the Spirit
Have Hope
Love
Faith
Endure to the End in following His example.
I know that Thomas S Monson is a true prophet of God, along with Joseph Smith. I know it. I will never deny it. The Gospel is so simple. Follow Jesus Christ.
I am looking forward to miracles this week! :) I am so ready. The missionaries I am serving with are amazing, and I am just ready to work!
Miracle of last night:
We tracted and nothing. No one was interested. We went one street over instead of giving up and going contacting downtown and we ran into a member and her non-member husband on a walk, and they had us come in and share an Easter message. Never postpone a prompting. :)
That tender mercy from Heavenly Father built my faith and I am ready to work. I know He will provide. :)
Pray for me! Pray for Davis!
His,
Sister Darby Miller
3/30/15
Dear Loved Ones,
So this week has flown by!
So we have been working hard! Just trying to settle in and get everything up and running. So we have been doing a lot of service. Please pray that we will find some new investigators! :) We currently have two... I finally met one of them last night. Both of them have been going through some health struggles and they need prayers. I am excited to work with them! It always comes back to reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it is true, with faith in Christ and real intent.
I'm just going to share something that I have been learning:
We dont' have to be perfect. We just have to rely on Jesus Christ and do our best. He is there. I know that He loves me. I have felt Him close.
Satan will do everything he can to make us feel like our weaknesses and imperfections keep us from having a relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but that is not true.
I have found that on my mission, the times that I come to know the Savior Jesus Christ better are the times where I am so exhausted by my own sins, shortcomings and imperfections that I find myself desperate, on my knees. Those prayers where my soul cries out are the prayers where I feel my Heavenly Father's love come washing over me in light. There is a line in Preach My Gospel, which is basically modern scripture, which says something along the lines of "[Our Heavenly Father] weeps with us when we suffer, and rejoices when we do what is right." I know that that is true.
“And if men come unto me I will show them their weaknesses. I give 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.” [Ether 12:27]
I learned a lot from Nephi this week about how to rely on the Savior, and how REMEMBERING is a huge part of that:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/4?lang=eng
http://www.mormon.org/easter
So this week has flown by!
So we have been working hard! Just trying to settle in and get everything up and running. So we have been doing a lot of service. Please pray that we will find some new investigators! :) We currently have two... I finally met one of them last night. Both of them have been going through some health struggles and they need prayers. I am excited to work with them! It always comes back to reading the Book of Mormon and praying to know if it is true, with faith in Christ and real intent.
I'm just going to share something that I have been learning:
We dont' have to be perfect. We just have to rely on Jesus Christ and do our best. He is there. I know that He loves me. I have felt Him close.
Satan will do everything he can to make us feel like our weaknesses and imperfections keep us from having a relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, but that is not true.
I have found that on my mission, the times that I come to know the Savior Jesus Christ better are the times where I am so exhausted by my own sins, shortcomings and imperfections that I find myself desperate, on my knees. Those prayers where my soul cries out are the prayers where I feel my Heavenly Father's love come washing over me in light. There is a line in Preach My Gospel, which is basically modern scripture, which says something along the lines of "[Our Heavenly Father] weeps with us when we suffer, and rejoices when we do what is right." I know that that is true.
“And if men come unto me I will show them their weaknesses. I give 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.” [Ether 12:27]
I learned a lot from Nephi this week about how to rely on the Savior, and how REMEMBERING is a huge part of that:
https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/2-ne/4?lang=eng
http://www.mormon.org/easter
3/23/15 iPads and Personalities
So, so dear family and friends,
Things are so different. Good, but different. It's weird going back to the same stake as Woodland. Seriously. Woodland is a 15 min drive away. Sister Comer and I drove up there he other day to speak at an 8 year old's baptism and it was the weirdest feeling in the world. It seriously felt like coming home. It has been very interesting. Even Sister Comer made the comment that she could see me living here. It just feels like home. Arcata and Woodland both. I am still adjusting to Davis. It is a college town and there are a lot of Asians here, and it is WAY different than Arcata, which was full of very colorful and varied people, but a The people here are a lot higher class and very smart, but dress like a bunch of college kids.
So Sister Comer is a greenie. I am follow up training her... Which means that she has only been out for a month and a half. She is 22 and she speaks her mind. It's been fun already. She is very different than me, but I guess it's going to be a good thing. I think it is so interesting two missionaries that are so completely different and that they could come to an agreement and do missionary work. It has just build my testimony that my personality is important, and same with her personality.
I'm sure next week I will have more to write about. Currently we are trying to find some more investigators, and to meet with the ones we have. So, next week, I am sure I will have more to talk about.
In the mean time, I want to tell you a story about the Noriega family from Arcata. I don't know if I ever shared it in full.
So we met the Noriegas on Christmas Eve. We had only been there less than a week, and Sister Whimpey and I didn't know anyone. We had only picked up a couple investigators, and so we went with the YSA elders to go caroling to our investigators who lived on the third floor. On the way up, we saw some people on the second floor, so we decided, why not? Let's go carol to them! We did, and we met the father, who was not completely himself. While we were singing, he brought his 11 year old son out to talk to us because apparently he was interested in a lot of different religions. His father told us that he wasn't interested, but that he really really wanted us to come and teach his son. We didn't really take him seriously, just because of his circumstance, but we had a good little chat, sang another sing or something, and then went on our way. Well, about a week or so later, our investigators cancelled, and we stopped by and taught them. They let us right in, and ever since then they started listening to the lessons, fully participating. Then, they started reading the Book of Mormon. They started praying. They started to really understand what we were sharing. They came to church, accepted s baptismal invite, and then really meant it and were excited to be baptized. They are scheduled to be baptized this Saturday, hopefully. I might be able to skype in, but I don't know.
My whole mission, I had never taught people like the Noriegas. I know they are the elect, there are people out there like them. I know it. It's all just an exercise in faith.
I know the gospel is true, I know the Church is true. There are so many blessings that come from living the gospel. Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect all at once. He knows us, and loves us, and BELIEVES IN US. He trusts us. That is why He sent us here.
I know that the spirit is so essential. That is how you can know what you should do, by reading the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures, by pondering, and by praying to know what you should do. The answer comes by the power of the Spirit. If you are wondering how to help someone, or to help yourself, this is the spiritual method for finding out what Heavenly Father wants us to know.
So yeah.
Know that I love all of you and believe in all of you. Thank you for all of your support. It means the world to me.
Something I said a few days ago to an atheist: "I don't think science and religion are opposed to each other, but rather I see that God is the Greatest Scientist." I then pulled out the Lord's iPad that I carry. "Hand this to someone 3,000 years ago and what would they think? How would they describe it? They wouldn't have the words to. That is how it is with us and understanding God and all creation."
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
P.S. Watch "Because He Lives" this Saturday, then share it!
Things are so different. Good, but different. It's weird going back to the same stake as Woodland. Seriously. Woodland is a 15 min drive away. Sister Comer and I drove up there he other day to speak at an 8 year old's baptism and it was the weirdest feeling in the world. It seriously felt like coming home. It has been very interesting. Even Sister Comer made the comment that she could see me living here. It just feels like home. Arcata and Woodland both. I am still adjusting to Davis. It is a college town and there are a lot of Asians here, and it is WAY different than Arcata, which was full of very colorful and varied people, but a The people here are a lot higher class and very smart, but dress like a bunch of college kids.
So Sister Comer is a greenie. I am follow up training her... Which means that she has only been out for a month and a half. She is 22 and she speaks her mind. It's been fun already. She is very different than me, but I guess it's going to be a good thing. I think it is so interesting two missionaries that are so completely different and that they could come to an agreement and do missionary work. It has just build my testimony that my personality is important, and same with her personality.
I'm sure next week I will have more to write about. Currently we are trying to find some more investigators, and to meet with the ones we have. So, next week, I am sure I will have more to talk about.
In the mean time, I want to tell you a story about the Noriega family from Arcata. I don't know if I ever shared it in full.
So we met the Noriegas on Christmas Eve. We had only been there less than a week, and Sister Whimpey and I didn't know anyone. We had only picked up a couple investigators, and so we went with the YSA elders to go caroling to our investigators who lived on the third floor. On the way up, we saw some people on the second floor, so we decided, why not? Let's go carol to them! We did, and we met the father, who was not completely himself. While we were singing, he brought his 11 year old son out to talk to us because apparently he was interested in a lot of different religions. His father told us that he wasn't interested, but that he really really wanted us to come and teach his son. We didn't really take him seriously, just because of his circumstance, but we had a good little chat, sang another sing or something, and then went on our way. Well, about a week or so later, our investigators cancelled, and we stopped by and taught them. They let us right in, and ever since then they started listening to the lessons, fully participating. Then, they started reading the Book of Mormon. They started praying. They started to really understand what we were sharing. They came to church, accepted s baptismal invite, and then really meant it and were excited to be baptized. They are scheduled to be baptized this Saturday, hopefully. I might be able to skype in, but I don't know.
My whole mission, I had never taught people like the Noriegas. I know they are the elect, there are people out there like them. I know it. It's all just an exercise in faith.
I know the gospel is true, I know the Church is true. There are so many blessings that come from living the gospel. Heavenly Father doesn't expect us to be perfect all at once. He knows us, and loves us, and BELIEVES IN US. He trusts us. That is why He sent us here.
I know that the spirit is so essential. That is how you can know what you should do, by reading the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures, by pondering, and by praying to know what you should do. The answer comes by the power of the Spirit. If you are wondering how to help someone, or to help yourself, this is the spiritual method for finding out what Heavenly Father wants us to know.
So yeah.
Know that I love all of you and believe in all of you. Thank you for all of your support. It means the world to me.
Something I said a few days ago to an atheist: "I don't think science and religion are opposed to each other, but rather I see that God is the Greatest Scientist." I then pulled out the Lord's iPad that I carry. "Hand this to someone 3,000 years ago and what would they think? How would they describe it? They wouldn't have the words to. That is how it is with us and understanding God and all creation."
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
P.S. Watch "Because He Lives" this Saturday, then share it!
3/16/15 We Too, Like Redwoods
I am getting tranferred to Davis... which is 10-15 mins away from Woodland. :)
I'm am so sad to be leaving Arcata, but I felt peaceful the day I knew we were getting the tranfer doctrine sent out to us. I seriously thought I was staying. I have laughed, cried, and everything else. Sister Whimpey is staying and will be training (pretty cool... that was our goal... to get this area to AWESOME!) and yeah. I will be follow up training and STL in Davis. Pretty cool.
I am so sad to leave Arcata, though. Here I have learned so much about who I am, the nature of God, about the purpose of missionary work.
We have two really solid progressing families that are amazing. The Noriegas... who are getting baptized in two weeks. Seriously, so cool. A father and a son that we found caroling on Christmas. They were the last people we thought were going to let us come back. They are unlike anyone else I have ever taught because they are so willing to read their scriptures everyday and pray and come to church, and they are humble. We have really grown to love them, and they have progressed so fast. They basically teach themselves in lessons. I love them. :) I'm just happy they are getting baptized. They really really understand what it means, and they want it so bad. It's really cool.
The other family is the Youravish family. We met with them last night for my last time. My heart just broke. I teared up a little at the beginning and we taught them about the Atonement. One of the family members is going through something really hard, and so it really meant a lot. They too are so cool. Every member of the family comes in, sits down, participates, asks questions, and all of them are so willing to follow the spirit. They are amazing. So committed. We invited them to pray about a date to be baptized last night, and they said they will. So cool.
Also, we are going to be saying goodbye to the Sonatos tonight. That will be the hardest I think. I love them so much. We have gone over there every few days and they are like family.
Here, I have learned that I, like a redwood tree, must start out small. There must be rain. There must be fog. There must be other redwood trees greater than I am all around me, so that I too can build off of their strength. There must be all these things so that I may grow.
I have absolutely loved serving here in Arcata with Sister Whimpey for these past transfers. I can honestly say that these have been the best two transfers of my whole mission. I feel like I finally get it now, and that it is all falling into place. I feel like everything that I have learned is coming into one great whole. I think the key to being a great missionary is two things... and then everything else will fall into place. 1) Having a Christlike love for EVERYONE! and 2) Being completely focused on the missionary purpose. I feel like this transfer has been a fusion of these two aspects of missionary work, over and over. I have found myself more patient with people as I have been more genuine with them and have learned to love them, and also, I have found that I listen better, and I have a stronger desire to help them and address what they really need. As we have done this together, ways have been opened up for Sister Whimpey and I to teach amazing lessons to amazing people. Truly, the families that we are teaching are miracles. They are unlike anyone else we have ever taught. They just get it. They read and pray, and they are progressing towards baptism. They live what they learn to understand.
I will forever be grateful to have been put with Sister Whimpey. She is an amazing missionary. I feel like she is my older sister. I have learned to truly be unified, and because of how we have learned to work together, I have a better understanding of companionships. I feel like I have learned the "why" to all of it.
I really don't want to leave, but I have learned to trust the will of the Lord and I felt calm all Friday before the transfer call. That was also confirmation. I have truly loved it up here, and I feel like I have connected to the people like never before. I am excited to take what I have learned up here in Arcata and apply it to Davis. I am excited to meet my new companion and love her!
It's amazing to think that when I first arrived here, we had no one. No investigators. We were both new. We've done great things, but in all reality, it is the Lord that has done these greats things in us.
We too, like redwoods, must start out small, with the rain and with the fog, so that we may become like the Greatest of them all....
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
I'm am so sad to be leaving Arcata, but I felt peaceful the day I knew we were getting the tranfer doctrine sent out to us. I seriously thought I was staying. I have laughed, cried, and everything else. Sister Whimpey is staying and will be training (pretty cool... that was our goal... to get this area to AWESOME!) and yeah. I will be follow up training and STL in Davis. Pretty cool.
I am so sad to leave Arcata, though. Here I have learned so much about who I am, the nature of God, about the purpose of missionary work.
We have two really solid progressing families that are amazing. The Noriegas... who are getting baptized in two weeks. Seriously, so cool. A father and a son that we found caroling on Christmas. They were the last people we thought were going to let us come back. They are unlike anyone else I have ever taught because they are so willing to read their scriptures everyday and pray and come to church, and they are humble. We have really grown to love them, and they have progressed so fast. They basically teach themselves in lessons. I love them. :) I'm just happy they are getting baptized. They really really understand what it means, and they want it so bad. It's really cool.
The other family is the Youravish family. We met with them last night for my last time. My heart just broke. I teared up a little at the beginning and we taught them about the Atonement. One of the family members is going through something really hard, and so it really meant a lot. They too are so cool. Every member of the family comes in, sits down, participates, asks questions, and all of them are so willing to follow the spirit. They are amazing. So committed. We invited them to pray about a date to be baptized last night, and they said they will. So cool.
Also, we are going to be saying goodbye to the Sonatos tonight. That will be the hardest I think. I love them so much. We have gone over there every few days and they are like family.
Here, I have learned that I, like a redwood tree, must start out small. There must be rain. There must be fog. There must be other redwood trees greater than I am all around me, so that I too can build off of their strength. There must be all these things so that I may grow.
I have absolutely loved serving here in Arcata with Sister Whimpey for these past transfers. I can honestly say that these have been the best two transfers of my whole mission. I feel like I finally get it now, and that it is all falling into place. I feel like everything that I have learned is coming into one great whole. I think the key to being a great missionary is two things... and then everything else will fall into place. 1) Having a Christlike love for EVERYONE! and 2) Being completely focused on the missionary purpose. I feel like this transfer has been a fusion of these two aspects of missionary work, over and over. I have found myself more patient with people as I have been more genuine with them and have learned to love them, and also, I have found that I listen better, and I have a stronger desire to help them and address what they really need. As we have done this together, ways have been opened up for Sister Whimpey and I to teach amazing lessons to amazing people. Truly, the families that we are teaching are miracles. They are unlike anyone else we have ever taught. They just get it. They read and pray, and they are progressing towards baptism. They live what they learn to understand.
I will forever be grateful to have been put with Sister Whimpey. She is an amazing missionary. I feel like she is my older sister. I have learned to truly be unified, and because of how we have learned to work together, I have a better understanding of companionships. I feel like I have learned the "why" to all of it.
I really don't want to leave, but I have learned to trust the will of the Lord and I felt calm all Friday before the transfer call. That was also confirmation. I have truly loved it up here, and I feel like I have connected to the people like never before. I am excited to take what I have learned up here in Arcata and apply it to Davis. I am excited to meet my new companion and love her!
It's amazing to think that when I first arrived here, we had no one. No investigators. We were both new. We've done great things, but in all reality, it is the Lord that has done these greats things in us.
We too, like redwoods, must start out small, with the rain and with the fog, so that we may become like the Greatest of them all....
Sincerely,
Sister Miller
3/9/15 Prayers Yelled Out Loud
Every time I go to email, my mind goes blank.
Go ahead. Laugh. It's okay. I'm laughing too.
I've realized that life is a lot harder without humor. Now. Don't be worried. My email last week was not meant to be sad. You'd have to be a missionary to understand. It's sad and happy at the same time. :) Promise.
Okay. So I see the need to include some humor. So, I will begin with a funny story.
Sister Whimpey and I went to see a home bound less-active member. She could not hear anything. We literally had to yell everything. And she had a dog. A cute one. A hairy one. (I realized that wearing black is not the best thing around dogs.) So we sit down to share a message with her, and we started with a prayer. She said it. We then attempted to share a message with her about Jesus Christ, but she kept yelling "WHAT?" at us. Sister Whimpey wasn't helping because she was trying so hard not to laugh because we make fun of me all day about asking what a lot. So then I start trying not to die laughing. Not a good situation when the sister can't hear, and both of us can't talk because we are trying to hold in our laughter. It's a good thing we love her and she is a good sport, because then we gave up and decided to show her because of him. Well, right before we show it to her, she tells us that she hates movies that show Jesus Christ being beaten because it gives her nightmares. So then I panicked, because "Because of Him" has a little bit of that in it. Then we attempt to share a scripture. That went well. While this is all happening, her little dog is laying across my lap, and wouldn't let me stop rubbing it's belly or it would lick my face. Still, Sister Whimpey is trying not to die laughing. She did a good job of holding it all in, I will give her that.
Finally we come to the closing prayer. The sister asks one of us to pray, and so I do. Well, I stop scratching the dog's tummy to fold my arms, and the dog goes balistic, licking my face and jumping all over me, with me trying to hold the dog down while folding my arms. The member starts to yell at the dog, trying to call it over, and Sister Whimpey is trying to control her laughing, and I am trying to quiet the dog, half laughing, half frustrated. Finally, I get so fed up that I grab the dog, set it next to me, and while holding it down, I yell "SIT down and FOLD YOUR ARMS! NOW!" At this point, Sister Whimpey loses it, but the member is already folding her arms, eyes closed. I then attempt to pray, and the member looks up and tells me to pray louder. I try, and then she asks me again. At this point, Sister Whimpey is clenching her sides, shaking is silent fits of laughter and I am yelling, literally yelling a pray. "DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER...."
Good thing the member was deaf and couldn't hear Sister Whimpey dying, but one thing is for sure: Heavenly Father heard that prayer.
:) Things like that happen everyday. If only I had the time to write them all down.
On a more spiritual note, we had really spiritual lessons this week with the families that we are teaching.
Arcata truly is an amazing place to be. It is not only beautiful, but the people here are really humble for the most part. Sister Whimpey and I again met with Anthony and Steven, a father and son, and we taught them the plan of salvation this week. I've never seen investigators just grasp it as well as they do. The past couple weeks we have shared the Restoration and the Word of Wisdom with them.This week, we started off with a doorstep lesson on Monday, and we taught the creation, and somehow the spirit worked it's way in to a baptismal invite, and they accepted for April 4th. At the time, Sister Whimpey and I didn't realize that that is general conference weekend, but we informed them and they are praying about if they should have it the week before or the week after that weekend. Steven is 12 and is so excited about it all. He even ran from playing with His friends the other night, all the way up the apartment staircase, and burst in the door, excited to meet with us. Steven always has really deep questions that bring the spirit, and oftentimes he explains the answers to his father without even having heard it for himself first. Really cool. Anthony too loves it. He is a single dad, who is working hard. We asked him last time we met what this plan of salvation means to him, and he said second chances. They both love what we are sharing with them. I am just amazed at how much they have progressed from when we first met them outside their front door. They truly have a desire to live the gospel, and they have so many good questions and things.
The lessons we shared with them were really cool because we talked about our purpose here on earth. It's been good for me. I've learned so much about the Plan of Savaltion, and how when people understand it, they have more hope. A reacurring theme that I testify of to them lately is that we don't have to be perfect, we just have to do our best in following Jesus Christ. I think that is one of the biggest things I have learned on my mission. Heavenly Father definitely lets me feel my weaknesses, but that is all what the gospel is about: being forgiven and strengthened despite your weaknesses. Did you know that in PREACH MY GOSPEL, it says that a qualification for the Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom is that we are freed from sin and suffering through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Ether 12:27 has become one of my favorite scriptures, because I know it is so true. I am so far from perfect, but I have hope because of Jesus Christ. When we come unto Him, He will show us our weaknesses and then teach us to turn them into strengths by using His Atonement.
We are teaching another family, the Youravish family, that is pretty much the same way. We also taught them the Plan of Salvation as well this week. The mom told us recently that she keeps coming back to this, again and again. It was really cool. At the end of the last lesson, they had lots of really good questions, and they were excited about the answers. They really understood. The 10 year old boy asked about how if we are all brothers and sisters, even with Jesus Christ, then who is Satan? It was really cool because the spirit had been strong throughout the whole lesson, and when he sincerely asked that question, I paused, trying to think of how to phrase an answer. Before I could reply, the 14 year old daughter looked at her brother, and explained to him that before, when we lived with Heavenly Father, we all were able to choose, even Satan, but the difference is that he chose to rebel. The Spirit was really strong as she said that. I've never had anyone teach themselves the Plan of Salvation before. They all really loved the idea that we chose to follow Jesus Christ, and that is what we are trying to choose on earth too. This family too is really amazing.
Thank you for all the love and outreach. We find out who stays and who goes this week. I really really REALLY want to stay, but I don't know if I will or not. Pray for me to have strength, but more for the Noriega family that they will continue and have strength against temptation and continue to read and pray, and also for the Youravish Family that we can meet with them more, and that they will continue to read and pray.
Also, sometimes, you just need to yell your prayers out loud. I do that a lot, both temporally and spiritually. :) You are all in my prayers. :) Love you!
“We have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves!"
~Elder Ballard
"Don't look back... you're not going that way!" ~Unknown
I know the Church is true! Love you all! You must read and ponder the Book of Mormon WITH A SINCERE HEART AND REAL INTENT to know that it is true. :)
Love,
Sister Miller
Go ahead. Laugh. It's okay. I'm laughing too.
I've realized that life is a lot harder without humor. Now. Don't be worried. My email last week was not meant to be sad. You'd have to be a missionary to understand. It's sad and happy at the same time. :) Promise.
Okay. So I see the need to include some humor. So, I will begin with a funny story.
Sister Whimpey and I went to see a home bound less-active member. She could not hear anything. We literally had to yell everything. And she had a dog. A cute one. A hairy one. (I realized that wearing black is not the best thing around dogs.) So we sit down to share a message with her, and we started with a prayer. She said it. We then attempted to share a message with her about Jesus Christ, but she kept yelling "WHAT?" at us. Sister Whimpey wasn't helping because she was trying so hard not to laugh because we make fun of me all day about asking what a lot. So then I start trying not to die laughing. Not a good situation when the sister can't hear, and both of us can't talk because we are trying to hold in our laughter. It's a good thing we love her and she is a good sport, because then we gave up and decided to show her because of him. Well, right before we show it to her, she tells us that she hates movies that show Jesus Christ being beaten because it gives her nightmares. So then I panicked, because "Because of Him" has a little bit of that in it. Then we attempt to share a scripture. That went well. While this is all happening, her little dog is laying across my lap, and wouldn't let me stop rubbing it's belly or it would lick my face. Still, Sister Whimpey is trying not to die laughing. She did a good job of holding it all in, I will give her that.
Finally we come to the closing prayer. The sister asks one of us to pray, and so I do. Well, I stop scratching the dog's tummy to fold my arms, and the dog goes balistic, licking my face and jumping all over me, with me trying to hold the dog down while folding my arms. The member starts to yell at the dog, trying to call it over, and Sister Whimpey is trying to control her laughing, and I am trying to quiet the dog, half laughing, half frustrated. Finally, I get so fed up that I grab the dog, set it next to me, and while holding it down, I yell "SIT down and FOLD YOUR ARMS! NOW!" At this point, Sister Whimpey loses it, but the member is already folding her arms, eyes closed. I then attempt to pray, and the member looks up and tells me to pray louder. I try, and then she asks me again. At this point, Sister Whimpey is clenching her sides, shaking is silent fits of laughter and I am yelling, literally yelling a pray. "DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER...."
Good thing the member was deaf and couldn't hear Sister Whimpey dying, but one thing is for sure: Heavenly Father heard that prayer.
:) Things like that happen everyday. If only I had the time to write them all down.
On a more spiritual note, we had really spiritual lessons this week with the families that we are teaching.
Arcata truly is an amazing place to be. It is not only beautiful, but the people here are really humble for the most part. Sister Whimpey and I again met with Anthony and Steven, a father and son, and we taught them the plan of salvation this week. I've never seen investigators just grasp it as well as they do. The past couple weeks we have shared the Restoration and the Word of Wisdom with them.This week, we started off with a doorstep lesson on Monday, and we taught the creation, and somehow the spirit worked it's way in to a baptismal invite, and they accepted for April 4th. At the time, Sister Whimpey and I didn't realize that that is general conference weekend, but we informed them and they are praying about if they should have it the week before or the week after that weekend. Steven is 12 and is so excited about it all. He even ran from playing with His friends the other night, all the way up the apartment staircase, and burst in the door, excited to meet with us. Steven always has really deep questions that bring the spirit, and oftentimes he explains the answers to his father without even having heard it for himself first. Really cool. Anthony too loves it. He is a single dad, who is working hard. We asked him last time we met what this plan of salvation means to him, and he said second chances. They both love what we are sharing with them. I am just amazed at how much they have progressed from when we first met them outside their front door. They truly have a desire to live the gospel, and they have so many good questions and things.
The lessons we shared with them were really cool because we talked about our purpose here on earth. It's been good for me. I've learned so much about the Plan of Savaltion, and how when people understand it, they have more hope. A reacurring theme that I testify of to them lately is that we don't have to be perfect, we just have to do our best in following Jesus Christ. I think that is one of the biggest things I have learned on my mission. Heavenly Father definitely lets me feel my weaknesses, but that is all what the gospel is about: being forgiven and strengthened despite your weaknesses. Did you know that in PREACH MY GOSPEL, it says that a qualification for the Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom is that we are freed from sin and suffering through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Ether 12:27 has become one of my favorite scriptures, because I know it is so true. I am so far from perfect, but I have hope because of Jesus Christ. When we come unto Him, He will show us our weaknesses and then teach us to turn them into strengths by using His Atonement.
We are teaching another family, the Youravish family, that is pretty much the same way. We also taught them the Plan of Salvation as well this week. The mom told us recently that she keeps coming back to this, again and again. It was really cool. At the end of the last lesson, they had lots of really good questions, and they were excited about the answers. They really understood. The 10 year old boy asked about how if we are all brothers and sisters, even with Jesus Christ, then who is Satan? It was really cool because the spirit had been strong throughout the whole lesson, and when he sincerely asked that question, I paused, trying to think of how to phrase an answer. Before I could reply, the 14 year old daughter looked at her brother, and explained to him that before, when we lived with Heavenly Father, we all were able to choose, even Satan, but the difference is that he chose to rebel. The Spirit was really strong as she said that. I've never had anyone teach themselves the Plan of Salvation before. They all really loved the idea that we chose to follow Jesus Christ, and that is what we are trying to choose on earth too. This family too is really amazing.
Thank you for all the love and outreach. We find out who stays and who goes this week. I really really REALLY want to stay, but I don't know if I will or not. Pray for me to have strength, but more for the Noriega family that they will continue and have strength against temptation and continue to read and pray, and also for the Youravish Family that we can meet with them more, and that they will continue to read and pray.
Also, sometimes, you just need to yell your prayers out loud. I do that a lot, both temporally and spiritually. :) You are all in my prayers. :) Love you!
“We have to have faith. We have to have faith in God. We have to have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And oh, how desperately we have to have faith in ourselves!"
~Elder Ballard
"Don't look back... you're not going that way!" ~Unknown
I know the Church is true! Love you all! You must read and ponder the Book of Mormon WITH A SINCERE HEART AND REAL INTENT to know that it is true. :)
Love,
Sister Miller
3/2/15
Hello Family and Friends!
So first off, I would like to start with an apology. I have not been as good at emailing as I would have liked. To tell you the honest truth, I really struggle to get my feelings into words sometimes. I get really nervous every time I go to write. So today, I am going to just sit and write, and what comes out, comes out.
First thing that I would like to say is that I have never been happier. A mission is hard. I struggle a lot, but not in the way that I used to. I have a hard time explaining how I am feeling, again, but the feeling is like happy crying. Once upon a time, we were watching a movie in a zone meeting about how it must have felt like for Heavenly Father to willingly sacrifice His only Begotten Son, and I just felt so weak. I cried through the whole thing, but it wasn't just touching tears, but a deep aching within me that lasted hours, and still throbbed a little later into the rest of the week. Even now, looking back on that experience, my heart is plucked a little bit, like a key note on a piano. But although it weakened me, it also filled me with a renewed strength that I know did not come from myself. That's what it feels like. Not just merely emotion, but rather, a physical, emotional, and spiritual motion deep inside. So there's my attempt to explain this pained happiness. It is a joy beyond belief, like when an investigator finally understands that the strength that they receive that fills them and helps them as they are pouring the alcohol down the drain is connected and will forever be connected to those precious moments in the Garden, where the Savior poured His own blood out. Somehow, words will not do. Do you understand the feeling? It is full of sorrow, but a sorrow that makes your heart soar higher than birds or even clouds. It is a feeling that goes deep, like the feeling you get when you look down from a great height, and see the majesty and beauty beneath. It's deeper than that. This feeling of happiness is so hard for me to explain. It's the feeling you get when your heart is pounding, and you really have a hard time believing that the moment you are in is really happening, yet, you know that it is happening, and that it is real. It is scary, and exciting, and waaaay out of your comfort zone, but it is exhilarating, and somehow in it, in that single moment, you find comfort. Yet, there is a sadness, because you know that it is only a single moment, and that it is precious. It only happens once, and you will never again be in that moment again.
Do you understand? My joy is full, and I am happier than I have ever been, but I can also say that this has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Not even physically. I mean mentally, and emotionally, and spiritually. Every day is the hardest, but not in the way you think. When I first came out on my mission, I expected certain things to be my struggles, like the schedule, or like talking to people, or like knowing and teaching the gospel, or missing your family. In reality, those things are hard, but Heavenly Father takes care of those things. He holds all those things in His control, and comforts you. It's not even a struggle to find people to teach. I would have thought that that would be the hardest. Whenever I try to do it on my own, it is, but whenever I rely on Him, it is easy. People just come out of the woodwork. I truly do believe in miracles. I do not believe in coincidences. Not one bit. I have seen it time and time again, because every person I have ever taught on my mission has been a miracles that has unfolded in front of me. God does His work. He doesn't need me. I am the one who needs Him, my Heavenly Father. He lets me help because He loves me.
So what is the biggest struggle of my mission?
I have learned that the biggest struggle is fear.
Worrying about what others think.
Fearing failure.
Fearing the future.
Fearing about what will happen to my investigators... worrying that they will reject the gospel.
Fearing about my family and friends.
A while ago, a member of the quorum of the Seventy looked me straight in the eyes and told me "I challenge you to never fear again." He wasn't rebuking me. I had only made a comment about how faith and fear cannot exist in the same place. His words have come to me every single day since.
Quickly, A recap of the past couple of weeks.....
So a couple of weeks ago, I was sick. Not fun. Stayed in for the first time because I had a raging fever. It started on a Monday. I just worked through it. Then the next day, I felt like my head was going to explode. I was scared that I wasn't going to be able to go to the temple the next day. I called the mission nurse and asked her how I could fix it. She told me that if it was 100.3 or lower, I could go, because I wouldn't be as contagious, but to be careful, because I would be more susceptible to get sick. Miracles. I woke up the morning of the temple trip at 4 in the morning. 102 degrees. Snap. I prayed, got up, got ready, and by the time we were ready to leave, it had shot back down to 99 degrees. I didn't catch anything, and slowly over the past week, it has subsided to just a random cough and now it is completely gone. I know that that was a blessing from Heavenly Father. We went to the Medford Oregon temple. So cool. I have now been to all the temples that the missionaries in the California Santa Rosa Mission go to. YAY! :)
Also, we went to a funeral for a member in our ward. Our ward boundaries are huge. The elders that serve in our ward go out to Hoopa, an Indian Reservation. They aren't allowed to contact, and so they do most of their work with a member named Brother Joseph, who takes them to see random people that he knows. Well, sadly, Brother Joseph died a few weeks ago. Bishop Floyd insisted on having us come to the funeral, because of the missionary opportunities, so President Alba gave us permission to go. The drive there was beautiful, and the spirit was really strong. The funeral went longer than we thought it would, and so we left early before we really got to talk to people because the traditions were going on and on... which was cool to see, but we needed to get back, but that's what the pictures of me on the hillside are of... the drive was incredible. Shoutout to Magnus and Harv.... they filmed parts of Star Wars up here. The trees are incredible. Everyday is beautiful. It is like fairyland up here.
Another cool story....
So our entire mission is striving to teach 3 lessons everyday, on top of contacting at least 20 souls, and also inviting one person to be baptized every day. We have been scrambling to find those three lessons. Some days it is easy. Other days, it is really really hard. So if it comes down to 8:00 at night and all of our lessons have fallen down, we call members to let us come and teach them and practice on them. So we called the Richards, and elderly couple. The wife joined the church back in the 80's. The husband joined three years or so ago. They are so cute, and so active. We love them. We called them, and they told us to come over. When we got there, we taught them, and the spirit was really strong. Then they shared with us how a family member of theirs is struggling, and they really needed to meet with us. Miracles. Heavenly Father always has a plan. We would not have been able to reach out to the Richards if we hadn't had had all of our lessons fall through, and if we weren't trying to teach three lessons every day. Miracles.
Last Sunday Feb 22nd, the Noriegas came to sacrament meeting. That was really cool. More on them later. :)
This week.
Monday: craziness. Pday. That's all I'll say.
Tuesday: Exchanges with Sister Harmer. So because Sister Whimpey and I are both STL's, we go on double exchanges, which is where we both leave our area and we both go into the other companionship's area, and they plan for double the lessons and things.
While with Sister Harmer, we had an experience I've never really had on my mission yet.
We went to see this random member that she hadn't yet met, and assumed was less-active. We knock on the front door, and she lets us right in. She seemed rather bubbly and excited to have us, almost like she expected us, even though we were trying her with no notice. She brings us into her living room, talking to us a little bit about how they were just sitting down to dinner. She sat down at the table, in front of a computer, he husband there as well, in front of his computer, both of them eating dinner. I began to feel uncomfortable, and I didn't know why. Looking back, it was because she never actually invited us to sit down, even though we were standing there, glancing over at the couch every now and again. So I do what I normally do when I feel awkward... talk about the gospel. :) Naturally. I asked her about if she has been a member of the church her whole life or not, and then she told us of when her brother "convinced" her to join, and it was the worst decision of her life, and how her husband and her were fully active in their own church. She began to tell us of how she doesn't believe that she is less than her husband in any way, and she doesn't think that we can "own our own star" when we die. By this time, I felt this sick feeling come over me, and my heart sunk, yet, I felt a strength surge in. Looking back, I realized that every question and every struggle I have ever had trying to find the answers to my questions had prepared my soul for this moment. I listened with patience, even though her voice was going from loud to just plain yelling. She told me of how any book that said those things is true, and that only the Bible is true, and she just kept going on about the Book of Mormon. Gladly, the spirit takes away from my mind the specifics, but I remember how it made me feel.
I knew that what she was saying wasn't true, because of the feeling that came into the room. That feeling was not from God. I felt the Spirit reject what she was saying by leaving. I knew we needed to leave as well, and so I looked over at Sister Harmer, who was silent, but I also felt her shock, and also her determined and strong spirit next to mine.
Quietly, I interrupted her. My voice was calm and even, even though I felt a little physically shaken by what she had said. I bore my testimony, pure and simple. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it is of God, and that it's sole purpose is to testify of the truth of Jesus Christ.
She started yelling over top of me... I said it again, quietly, yet firmly, and started walking towards the door. She followed, quite furious, but then I walked out the door, I turned back.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you, but I am not sorry. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and if you ever decide you want missionaries to come by, you can just go to mormon.org and request them to come by."
She was still yelling and I closed the door behind myself. We walked down the steps, and I exhaled deeply, trying to get fresh air in. I patted Sister Harmer on the back, we both bore our testimonies simply to each other, and we said a prayer on the sidewalk and kept walking.
Later that night, we found out that the less-active had called the other sister's phone, thinking it was us. She apologized and invited them back, on condition that they won't try to push the Book of Mormon on them.
I will never forget that It didn't turn out the way I thought it would in the moment. She kept yelling, but I bore my testimony, and I knew that what I said was true.
And I love missionary work.
I have so much more to write, but I am out of time.
We have two progressing families! We have shared the restoration with both of them and both of the families said that they feel like this is the path that they need to take. If you would like to pray for them they are the Youravish (like a radish) and the Noriega Family.
Love,
Sister Miller
So first off, I would like to start with an apology. I have not been as good at emailing as I would have liked. To tell you the honest truth, I really struggle to get my feelings into words sometimes. I get really nervous every time I go to write. So today, I am going to just sit and write, and what comes out, comes out.
First thing that I would like to say is that I have never been happier. A mission is hard. I struggle a lot, but not in the way that I used to. I have a hard time explaining how I am feeling, again, but the feeling is like happy crying. Once upon a time, we were watching a movie in a zone meeting about how it must have felt like for Heavenly Father to willingly sacrifice His only Begotten Son, and I just felt so weak. I cried through the whole thing, but it wasn't just touching tears, but a deep aching within me that lasted hours, and still throbbed a little later into the rest of the week. Even now, looking back on that experience, my heart is plucked a little bit, like a key note on a piano. But although it weakened me, it also filled me with a renewed strength that I know did not come from myself. That's what it feels like. Not just merely emotion, but rather, a physical, emotional, and spiritual motion deep inside. So there's my attempt to explain this pained happiness. It is a joy beyond belief, like when an investigator finally understands that the strength that they receive that fills them and helps them as they are pouring the alcohol down the drain is connected and will forever be connected to those precious moments in the Garden, where the Savior poured His own blood out. Somehow, words will not do. Do you understand the feeling? It is full of sorrow, but a sorrow that makes your heart soar higher than birds or even clouds. It is a feeling that goes deep, like the feeling you get when you look down from a great height, and see the majesty and beauty beneath. It's deeper than that. This feeling of happiness is so hard for me to explain. It's the feeling you get when your heart is pounding, and you really have a hard time believing that the moment you are in is really happening, yet, you know that it is happening, and that it is real. It is scary, and exciting, and waaaay out of your comfort zone, but it is exhilarating, and somehow in it, in that single moment, you find comfort. Yet, there is a sadness, because you know that it is only a single moment, and that it is precious. It only happens once, and you will never again be in that moment again.
Do you understand? My joy is full, and I am happier than I have ever been, but I can also say that this has been the hardest thing I have ever done. Not even physically. I mean mentally, and emotionally, and spiritually. Every day is the hardest, but not in the way you think. When I first came out on my mission, I expected certain things to be my struggles, like the schedule, or like talking to people, or like knowing and teaching the gospel, or missing your family. In reality, those things are hard, but Heavenly Father takes care of those things. He holds all those things in His control, and comforts you. It's not even a struggle to find people to teach. I would have thought that that would be the hardest. Whenever I try to do it on my own, it is, but whenever I rely on Him, it is easy. People just come out of the woodwork. I truly do believe in miracles. I do not believe in coincidences. Not one bit. I have seen it time and time again, because every person I have ever taught on my mission has been a miracles that has unfolded in front of me. God does His work. He doesn't need me. I am the one who needs Him, my Heavenly Father. He lets me help because He loves me.
So what is the biggest struggle of my mission?
I have learned that the biggest struggle is fear.
Worrying about what others think.
Fearing failure.
Fearing the future.
Fearing about what will happen to my investigators... worrying that they will reject the gospel.
Fearing about my family and friends.
A while ago, a member of the quorum of the Seventy looked me straight in the eyes and told me "I challenge you to never fear again." He wasn't rebuking me. I had only made a comment about how faith and fear cannot exist in the same place. His words have come to me every single day since.
Quickly, A recap of the past couple of weeks.....
So a couple of weeks ago, I was sick. Not fun. Stayed in for the first time because I had a raging fever. It started on a Monday. I just worked through it. Then the next day, I felt like my head was going to explode. I was scared that I wasn't going to be able to go to the temple the next day. I called the mission nurse and asked her how I could fix it. She told me that if it was 100.3 or lower, I could go, because I wouldn't be as contagious, but to be careful, because I would be more susceptible to get sick. Miracles. I woke up the morning of the temple trip at 4 in the morning. 102 degrees. Snap. I prayed, got up, got ready, and by the time we were ready to leave, it had shot back down to 99 degrees. I didn't catch anything, and slowly over the past week, it has subsided to just a random cough and now it is completely gone. I know that that was a blessing from Heavenly Father. We went to the Medford Oregon temple. So cool. I have now been to all the temples that the missionaries in the California Santa Rosa Mission go to. YAY! :)
Also, we went to a funeral for a member in our ward. Our ward boundaries are huge. The elders that serve in our ward go out to Hoopa, an Indian Reservation. They aren't allowed to contact, and so they do most of their work with a member named Brother Joseph, who takes them to see random people that he knows. Well, sadly, Brother Joseph died a few weeks ago. Bishop Floyd insisted on having us come to the funeral, because of the missionary opportunities, so President Alba gave us permission to go. The drive there was beautiful, and the spirit was really strong. The funeral went longer than we thought it would, and so we left early before we really got to talk to people because the traditions were going on and on... which was cool to see, but we needed to get back, but that's what the pictures of me on the hillside are of... the drive was incredible. Shoutout to Magnus and Harv.... they filmed parts of Star Wars up here. The trees are incredible. Everyday is beautiful. It is like fairyland up here.
Another cool story....
So our entire mission is striving to teach 3 lessons everyday, on top of contacting at least 20 souls, and also inviting one person to be baptized every day. We have been scrambling to find those three lessons. Some days it is easy. Other days, it is really really hard. So if it comes down to 8:00 at night and all of our lessons have fallen down, we call members to let us come and teach them and practice on them. So we called the Richards, and elderly couple. The wife joined the church back in the 80's. The husband joined three years or so ago. They are so cute, and so active. We love them. We called them, and they told us to come over. When we got there, we taught them, and the spirit was really strong. Then they shared with us how a family member of theirs is struggling, and they really needed to meet with us. Miracles. Heavenly Father always has a plan. We would not have been able to reach out to the Richards if we hadn't had had all of our lessons fall through, and if we weren't trying to teach three lessons every day. Miracles.
Last Sunday Feb 22nd, the Noriegas came to sacrament meeting. That was really cool. More on them later. :)
This week.
Monday: craziness. Pday. That's all I'll say.
Tuesday: Exchanges with Sister Harmer. So because Sister Whimpey and I are both STL's, we go on double exchanges, which is where we both leave our area and we both go into the other companionship's area, and they plan for double the lessons and things.
While with Sister Harmer, we had an experience I've never really had on my mission yet.
We went to see this random member that she hadn't yet met, and assumed was less-active. We knock on the front door, and she lets us right in. She seemed rather bubbly and excited to have us, almost like she expected us, even though we were trying her with no notice. She brings us into her living room, talking to us a little bit about how they were just sitting down to dinner. She sat down at the table, in front of a computer, he husband there as well, in front of his computer, both of them eating dinner. I began to feel uncomfortable, and I didn't know why. Looking back, it was because she never actually invited us to sit down, even though we were standing there, glancing over at the couch every now and again. So I do what I normally do when I feel awkward... talk about the gospel. :) Naturally. I asked her about if she has been a member of the church her whole life or not, and then she told us of when her brother "convinced" her to join, and it was the worst decision of her life, and how her husband and her were fully active in their own church. She began to tell us of how she doesn't believe that she is less than her husband in any way, and she doesn't think that we can "own our own star" when we die. By this time, I felt this sick feeling come over me, and my heart sunk, yet, I felt a strength surge in. Looking back, I realized that every question and every struggle I have ever had trying to find the answers to my questions had prepared my soul for this moment. I listened with patience, even though her voice was going from loud to just plain yelling. She told me of how any book that said those things is true, and that only the Bible is true, and she just kept going on about the Book of Mormon. Gladly, the spirit takes away from my mind the specifics, but I remember how it made me feel.
I knew that what she was saying wasn't true, because of the feeling that came into the room. That feeling was not from God. I felt the Spirit reject what she was saying by leaving. I knew we needed to leave as well, and so I looked over at Sister Harmer, who was silent, but I also felt her shock, and also her determined and strong spirit next to mine.
Quietly, I interrupted her. My voice was calm and even, even though I felt a little physically shaken by what she had said. I bore my testimony, pure and simple. I know that the Book of Mormon is true, and that it is of God, and that it's sole purpose is to testify of the truth of Jesus Christ.
She started yelling over top of me... I said it again, quietly, yet firmly, and started walking towards the door. She followed, quite furious, but then I walked out the door, I turned back.
"I'm sorry for upsetting you, but I am not sorry. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and if you ever decide you want missionaries to come by, you can just go to mormon.org and request them to come by."
She was still yelling and I closed the door behind myself. We walked down the steps, and I exhaled deeply, trying to get fresh air in. I patted Sister Harmer on the back, we both bore our testimonies simply to each other, and we said a prayer on the sidewalk and kept walking.
Later that night, we found out that the less-active had called the other sister's phone, thinking it was us. She apologized and invited them back, on condition that they won't try to push the Book of Mormon on them.
I will never forget that It didn't turn out the way I thought it would in the moment. She kept yelling, but I bore my testimony, and I knew that what I said was true.
And I love missionary work.
I have so much more to write, but I am out of time.
We have two progressing families! We have shared the restoration with both of them and both of the families said that they feel like this is the path that they need to take. If you would like to pray for them they are the Youravish (like a radish) and the Noriega Family.
Love,
Sister Miller
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