Thank you for all the email love! I cried and cried. I have had emails upon emails from everyone, and from past areas about miracles that have been happening with people that I have taught. Such tender mercies, that I know Heavenly Father sent me this morning.
I love being on a mission. I love this gospel.
Thank you for all your support. I miss all of you, but I am grateful for the advice and patience and care you all take for me!
Arcata.
The 20-3-1 is 20 contacts every day, 3 lessons every day, and one baptismal invite every day. Our whole mission is trying to get it every day. We have been seeing more miracles then ever!
Sigh.
We have seen so many miracles, Sister Whimpey and I have. I have learned to really love people, and I really do. We both whitewashed in, and so we were both brand new to the area. We knew no one.
The Sonato family is the family we met first. They are less active. The Dad is hispanic and a non-member and can only speak a little english, which is fine because I understand spanish a little, so it works out. He reminds me a lot of Mark. He walks around without a shirt on, kind of quiet, but he always has some sarcastic teasing remark to make. He is a hard worker, and likes to cook food, but never likes to get into deep conversations, but it always kind of in the background. Miguel is really cool because lately he has been more and more interested, and he is warming up to us. We have just been trying to love and fellowship the mom and the daughters in because we think that is the only reason they don't come. Right now they are semi-active, but they have testimonies. They love us so much, and we love them.
We are also teaching Sister Kautzer, a less-active. Her husband was baptized in another part of California earlier this year, and when they moved up here, they went less active. I dearly love her. He is getting better though. He is praying with us there. That is huge for him.
We also taught the Welicka's. We showed them the Restoration video. It didn't go as we had planned. It only brought up more questions (respectful, but still nerve-racking). They definitely are reading anti. They have a problem with the fact that we can pray and get answers for ourselves. They say we can believe, but not really KNOW. In a huge round-about-way, they said that they dont' really know, but they believe and would take a bullet for what they believe.
Cameron turned to us, and asked us, "So... after hearing that, would you say that you believe, or would you still say that you know?"
Never in my life has my heart beat inside my chest. I thought I was having a heart-attack. I had a moment where I really thought about it, and then the answer surged up inside of me. I knew what I would say to them, but I turned to Sister Whimpey to let her answer, because I didn't know what she would say, and I wanted to make sure that I would be able to say what I did last.
She paused, like I had. Afterwards, she explained she had the same thing happen as I had.
"I KNOW."
Then they looked at me.
I paused, and with the most steady voice I have ever heard myself speak in, I heard my words clearly.
"I testify in the name of Jesus Christ that I KNOW."
I have never felt the spirit like that before. I know.
Do I know everything about the gospel?
No! Of course not.
BUT ...
I know that it is true. That much I do know.
It was an amazing night. I will never forget that moment. If there is a moment to define my mission and what has happened and what is happening and what will happen, it was that moment.
I love Sister Whimpey. I never doubted her. :) She is my sister.
I am not perfect, but I am perfect in trying.
I love you, Dad, Mom, Mark, Darah, Alyssa, Megan, Brooke, Magnus, Harvey, Jane, Amanda, Allred's, and Spencer, and everyone else on this email list. :) I love you all!
Love,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Thursday, February 12, 2015
2/9/15
Thank you all so much for all of your letters. I ran out of time again. I am sorry. But I just want to share that I know that the Church is true. I know that what I am doing as a missionary is important. I have seen it work in so many people's lives. I know that this gospel is so precious. It truly is the Church of Jesus Christ Restored.
Here is a quote from President Alba that I really really like. Once again, it was clear to me that we must give up all to become like Christ, our Savior. The Prophet Joseph Smith said the following: “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”
It is so true. It is not about what you can gain, but what you can give. That is what life is about. That's what being like the Savior is all about.
I love being a missionary! Truly! The more I think about it, the more I realize that my whole life has been pointing to this precious year and a half. It's gone by so fast. This week I learned a lot about humility. I learned that I really cannot do this on my own. I need Heavenly Father every step of the way. I have learned that I don't have to be perfect to be loved by Him. I don't have to be perfect to be worthy to be one of His missionaries. All that He asks is that I try. As long as I am truly giving up my will to Him and really trying to be the best I can be, then it will all turn out the way it is supposed to. l feel like I keep learning the same lessons over and over on "my" mission. One thought that came to me this past week is that I need to treat everyday like I am still a greenie. Never get comfortable! Soak it all in! Learn as much as you can! That's something that I going to push harder on this week.
I love Arcata. It's really blossomed. We are teaching Less-Actives like crazy. Our ward mission leader is on board. We are just trying to meet with our investigators more often, so that they can progress.
You know, when I first came out, my idea of what my mission would turn out to be was nothing like it has actually turned out to be. Each area, each companion, each person taught is so unique, and each has such a different feel, and you just learn to take the good out of all of it. I have learned a lot about my weaknesses from Sister Whimpey. It has been humbling. She is amazing. She is so kind. She is always in a good mood. She never gets upset or angry, even if she is having a bad day. She is such an example. I am working on being as good a person as she is.
The sisters (Sister Harmer and Hermana Steiner) seem to be adjusting well. They are definitely two wonderful sisters and I am looking forward to getting to know them and learn from them.
As far as the 20-3-1 goes, our zone has not given up. It is a struggle, but we are still working hard everyday to try. The zone has only missed it for the past few days by only one companionship, but we are not upset, but still trying to work in unity. We will do it though. Sister Whimpey and I are both very excited for it. It really helped us last week.
Love,
Sister Darby Milller
Here is a quote from President Alba that I really really like. Once again, it was clear to me that we must give up all to become like Christ, our Savior. The Prophet Joseph Smith said the following: “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has the power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.”
It is so true. It is not about what you can gain, but what you can give. That is what life is about. That's what being like the Savior is all about.
I love being a missionary! Truly! The more I think about it, the more I realize that my whole life has been pointing to this precious year and a half. It's gone by so fast. This week I learned a lot about humility. I learned that I really cannot do this on my own. I need Heavenly Father every step of the way. I have learned that I don't have to be perfect to be loved by Him. I don't have to be perfect to be worthy to be one of His missionaries. All that He asks is that I try. As long as I am truly giving up my will to Him and really trying to be the best I can be, then it will all turn out the way it is supposed to. l feel like I keep learning the same lessons over and over on "my" mission. One thought that came to me this past week is that I need to treat everyday like I am still a greenie. Never get comfortable! Soak it all in! Learn as much as you can! That's something that I going to push harder on this week.
I love Arcata. It's really blossomed. We are teaching Less-Actives like crazy. Our ward mission leader is on board. We are just trying to meet with our investigators more often, so that they can progress.
You know, when I first came out, my idea of what my mission would turn out to be was nothing like it has actually turned out to be. Each area, each companion, each person taught is so unique, and each has such a different feel, and you just learn to take the good out of all of it. I have learned a lot about my weaknesses from Sister Whimpey. It has been humbling. She is amazing. She is so kind. She is always in a good mood. She never gets upset or angry, even if she is having a bad day. She is such an example. I am working on being as good a person as she is.
The sisters (Sister Harmer and Hermana Steiner) seem to be adjusting well. They are definitely two wonderful sisters and I am looking forward to getting to know them and learn from them.
As far as the 20-3-1 goes, our zone has not given up. It is a struggle, but we are still working hard everyday to try. The zone has only missed it for the past few days by only one companionship, but we are not upset, but still trying to work in unity. We will do it though. Sister Whimpey and I are both very excited for it. It really helped us last week.
Love,
Sister Darby Milller
2/2/15 Out of Time
I'm out of time, but we had an awesome week. I am just going to copy and paste a little bit about what I have emailed others. Sorry.
Isn't it funny how the best weeks are also the hardest and the longest on the mission?
This week I learned that the Atonement is for me. I think as a missionary you get so focused on everyone else's spiritual health, that you forget about yourself soemtimes. I had to remember that even though I am a missionary, I still need the enabling power and the redeeming power of the Atonement so much.
Please take some time to read "The Atonement and the Journey of Mortality" By Elder David A Bednar.
Sister Whimpey and I are staying for another transfer, and we are both delighted.
We almost got eaten by dogs. Sister WHimpey almost died from allergies because she touched a bunny rabbit. And we have a lot of less-active people coming back. All miracles from the Lord.
Ya'll should serve a mission. Love you!
The church is so true!
Love, Sister Miller
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)