10/27/14 Miguel and the Hospital Walk, and Sister Miller Learning to Rely on the Savior and on Others.....

Dear Everyone,

This week was rough, but much much better than last week. I've learned that it is much better to be open with people (aka, your companion) about the struggles you are going through. Sister Andreasen and I talk a lot. She is so patient. I'm not happy that she is going home so soon. Happy for her, though. 

This week week taught Sister Vasquez almost everyday. I'm learning to listen. Again. I feel like I say that a lot. Miracles always come when I listen.

All those serving around me had a huge impact on that, especially Sister Andreasen. She has been a blessing to me. I feel like I have been taught humility and also charity and compassion this past week. And also patience with myself. 
I received a few priesthood blessings that I know made all the difference. It's amazing what happened.

We had a cool experience this past week. We pulled up, parked, prayed, and the first person to walk by is an older man. "How are you doing today, sir?" Sister Andreasen asks. "Not okay." he responds quietly, and keeps walking. That took her aback and she asked why. Miguel, for that was his name, told us that he was walking to the hospital to see his mother there. We said a prayer with him, and before he turned to go, Sister Andreasen offered for us to walk with him to the hospital. On the way there we talk to him about his life, trying to uplift and encourage him. We could we can tell that something is definitely weighing on his mind.  He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while. 

In the parking lot of the hospital there was an elderly woman standing there, not moving. Sister Andreasen notices her, goes over to her and we come to find out that she is having trouble standing and walking, and she is trying to get to see a doctor. We retrieve a wheelchair for her, wheel her in to the front desk, all the while Miguel waits for us. So we escort him up to his mother's room. 
Magdalena is this little old lady in her 80's who only speaks Spanish, so I briefly bear my testimony in broken Spanish, we sing "I am a Child of God" in Spanish, and then Miguel tells us where he lives, and we ask if we can stop by. He said anytime. Then we had to leave to another appointment.

The next day we stopped by his house, set up another appointment for later in the day. We brought the Bishop, taught the Atonement, and he accepted a soft baptismal invite. The spirit was so strong, and I knew that he knew that Jesus Christ really is the Savior and Redeemer in that moment. You see, when we had first talked to Miguel we had asked him if he believed in Heavenly Father and in Jesus Christ. He told us that he used to have faith, but that he had been struggling with it for a while. 

It's amazing to me how much Heavenly Father loves us. I got to bear my testimony yesterday to someone who was struggling with losing loved ones. I can see how Heavenly Father has used these past two weeks to prepare me so that I could understand and have compassion for Miguel and also for Sister Vasquez, who we have also been teaching. This experience has helped me open up, humble myself, and rely upon the Savior and also to trust those around me. It has taught me that Jesus Christ really is there for me too, even when I think I'm strong enough and can "do it on my own." The Savior cares about every aspect of my life.

Sister Afoa and Sister Belnap are awesome. I went on exchanges with Sister Belnap last week, and she is doing really well, and has a strong desire to serve with all her heart, might, mind, and strength. She is very bold in bearing her testimony. She is working hard. Sister Andreasen is such a help to me. I know that I needed her as a companion. She has taught me a lot about who I am to Heavenly Father and to the Savior. 

I've thought a lot this past week. I've changed a lot the past couple weeks. I see myself different, the world different, and also missionary work different. 

We ate dinner with the Bishop last night, and I shared a message about the Savior in 3 Nephi 11:11-14. I cried a little bit, but it's amazing. The moment I started sharing my testimony of the Savior, I felt peace and strength come in and I stopped crying, and only leaked a little bit. Then the Bishop came with us to Miguel's lesson.

I know that the Savior has the power to heal. We don't fully understand, but we don't have to. He understands us and loves us and wants to help us. That is all that matters.


I love you all. I know the Church is true. I know that the Savior loves all of you. He cares about us so very much. He loves us. 

I know it.

Keep praying, keep listening, keep going.
It's all in the enduring to the end.

Sister Darby Eleyce Miller

P.S. Love you family. Thanks for all the support. It means so much.

10/20/14 Faith and Hope

Dear Family and Friends,

So this past week has probably been the hardest week of my whole mission. I won't go into details, but I have learned a lot, A lot.

I went on exchanges with Sister Afoa this week. She is amazing. That day was the best day out of the whole week! She has been struggling with a brother at home being critically sick, but she is still really positive and loving towards the work. She is a great example to me, and I learned a lot from her during the exchange about faith, especially when plans fall through. She is so wonderful.We told everyone we saw that God loved them. It was so fun.

I think it has been hard for me the past little while. Last Monday our investigator Lynn, a friend of our recent convert, Eli, texted us out of the blue and said that she didn't want to feel pressured into doing something that wasn't right. The last time we had seen her, we had set a baptismal date with her, and it was an amazing lesson. We have been teaching her since July, and she has prayed and asked if Joseph Smith is a prophet, and she said she knows he is a prophet of God. She has loved going to church, and she had talked about being baptized many many times. We have tried to stop by, call, and text her all week long. No response. It's breaking my heart. I think something is up between her and Eli, because he avoids our calls also. He just moved to Fairfield this past week, and so we are trying to get in touch with him as well so that we can transfer his records and make sure everything is taken care with him, but nothing seems to work. He always answers our phone calls with texts saying that he will call us later, but nothing ever comes of it.

I'm worried, and that, on top of all my family things, have made me really down, and I think that that has been affecting Sister Andreasen. I really do love her, but it's been a little hard this past week.

But I have learned a lot.

I have read and reread Ether 12 almost every day this week, and I'm learning about faith. It's still hard to have faith when things are going good as a missionary, but the true test of faith is when things are not going good. This week I have found that I have come to better understand verse 27

"And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

Moroni trusts the Lord and is comforted by these words. This is then his response to the Lord in verses 31-34:
"For after they had faith... thous didst show thyself unto them in great power... thou hast prepared a house for man... in which man might have a more excellent hope; wherefore man must hope, or he cannot receive an inheritance in the place which thou hast prepared... And again, I remember that thou hast said that thou hast loved the world, even unto the laying down of thy life for the world, that thou mightest take it again to prepare a place for the children of men...And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men in charity.."

From those verses we learn about the Savior, and how we must be like Him. We have to have faith in Him, do things in His name, and we must also hope, and then we have to lay down our lives-- or whatever the Lord asks us to lay down-- and have charity. We must receive grace (enabling power of the Atonement) so that we can have this charity.

I love what the Lord then says to Moroni after that: "And because thou hast seen they weakness thou shalt be made strong."

It takes a lot to recognize when you are doing something wrong, or when you could be doing something in a better way, but when we are open and honest with those things, that is when we can really change. Then the Lord will make us stronger, despite our weaknesses.

I have learned a lot about faith and hope this week. So I will keep hoping. Because even though a lot of hard things happened this week, I had a wonderful week, and I would still rather be here on His mission than anywhere else. I love Woodland, and I want to see it grow. We have worked a lot with Less-Actives lately, especially ones that are converts. Sister Andreasen is here for a reason, no doubt. Doors of these Less-Actives are being opened to us, and one of them even attended church yesterday. Yay!

This morning a Less-Active called us and we spent all morning talking to her. Miracles.

It all comes down to faith. Do we have faith, and are we willing to show God the evidence of our faith?
I know that this gospel is true. I know this Church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Jesus Christ lives and leads it. He loves and His Atonement covers everything.
Love,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller

10/13/2014 The Shoes Given Away

Sister Andreasen has been teaching me so much about the why of missionary work. I truly love her and she has found a special spot in my heart. I'm excited for this next week. This past week was a little rough in our area, but I feel like we are starting to get into the groove of this transfer though. I've learned a lot about compromise, and sincere and loving compromise at that. I think that she is doing rather well, although she was feeling a little under the weather for a few days.
I want to share an experience I had this past week. I'm one of those missionaries that doesn't mind talking with people, even if it is outside the car window. I've had a lot of companions who weren't big fans of this, and I don't blame them. Well, Sister Andreasen this past week had talked to me, and we had come to an understanding about this. It was interesting, because we were getting back into the car to head to a different part of our area and out of the blue Sister Andreasen tells me to "LOOK!"

There was this woman, walking on the other side of the street, coming down the sidewalk. She looked very very sad.

"Yell out the window at her, will you?"

I was more than delighted to. I unrolled my window, leaned my face on my arm and said hello. She looked up a little startled, and crossed the street to come and talk to me. As she came closer I identified us as servants of Jesus Christ and asked her if there was anything that we could do for her. She began to cry, and through the muffled words I heard that she had just been beaten by her boyfriend and dropped off at a nearby park with not even a pair of shoes. We both got out of the car. I will never forget what happened next.
Sister Andreasen looked down at her new shoes that she had asked her mom to send her from home. She had worn out her other shoes so that they had holes in the bottom almost, but rather than buying a new pair the last transfer of her mission, she had just asked her mom to send her her nice new ones from home that she was saving for after her mission.Without a moment's hesitation,  she took these beautiful black flats off and placed them before this lady's bare and worn feet. The lady refused, obviously touched and startled. "I can't take your shoes."
"Yes you can." Sister Andreasen said kindly, yet boldly. I could feel her holding her breath, brave and determined. The lady slipped the shoes on, crying into her hands. We gave her a Book of Mormon, said a prayer for her, and set up a return appointment.
The lady never showed back up for her return appointment, but I've not heard one complaint from Sister Andreasen about wearing her old, falling apart shoes. Thank you for sending me this companion. She is an angel, and a disciple of Christ. And you can tell her that I said that, too.
Well, other than that, we have had a hard time setting up appointments, but we were able to teach a couple really really good Less-Active and Recent-Convert lessons.
I'm doing well. I love being a missionary, and I love being here in Woodland. I've learned a lot about faith this week, and about sowing seeds.
I love this His mission, and "I'm trying to be like Jesus."

This past week I learned this:

1) You can never guess what a companion is going to be like until you actually get them as a companion. Sister Andreasen is awesome. It's completely amazing. I'm so excited to work with her. I'm ready for those miracles!
2) You can't punish yourself for your sins and expect that to be repentance. You have to turn to the Lord, repent His way, and then forgive yourself because He forgives you. You can't continue to punish yourself either, because then you are not actually recognizing His power and authority and love and mercy and justice. If you hang on to the guilt from past sins that you have truly repented for, then you are denying the power of His Atonement. You are saying that it is limited.
3) The Atonement is not limited. I had a letter sent to me last week by an old seminary teacher of a talk by Elder Bednar. Funny enough, I had saved the same talk from highschool seminary and it was already hanging on my wall above my desk, but it was interesting how as I read through it again, I realized that I need to take better advantage of the Atonement. It was an infinite sacrifice, so it covers everything. There is literally nothing that God will leave us alone on. We must accept His Atonement by acting on it, but as long as we are acting on it continually, it will continually have an influence in our lives.

4) Heavenly Father gives us weaknesses to humble us. He also gives them to us as an opportunity for us to grow in our faith.

5) He never leaves us. We leave Him.

So if you are struggling, here is my suggestion:

Apply the Atonement of Jesus Christ by living the gospel of Jesus Christ:
Faith
Repentance
Baptism by priesthood authority of God and renewing that covenant by worthily partaking of the sacrament
Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost... this is of utmost importance because we CANNOT make it without the Holy Ghost. If we are not living to qualify for the companionship of the Spirit, then we need to go through the above steps and fix it.
Endure to the End (refer back to President Alba's definition... I like that definition.)

"Fear not though the enemy deride. We must COURAGE for the Lord is on our side. We will heed not what the wicked may say for the LORD alone WE WILL OBEY."

With utmost love and prayers,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller

10/7/14

So we had transfers. That was crazy fun. I slept at the mission home.... that was weird... but really cool. Then we had MLC..... I learned that I do make a difference, either for good or for bad. 

Also, Lynn set a baptismal date. 

The reason I didn't email yesterday is because we had Zone Conference. We watched the new movie "Meet the Mormons" because Elder Holland instructed to have us do so and President Alba wanted to get through all the Zone Conferences asap. I want to be like that. Respond immediately when an apostle of the Lord commands. 

I wish I could write everything out, but my mind is running a million miles a minute, and the minutes are running a million miles away really really fast.......

And that's how I feel about my mission. I'm trying to do everything I can, but I constantly slip up. We have to find the balance in everything. Being perfectly obedient and being perfectly loving can only happen when we do both exactly and willingly. They aren't on opposite ends of the spectrum. They are on the same side of the spectrum.... the Christlike Attributes side of the spectrum. I have found that I can't love fully when I am not being fully obedient. I have small weaknesses that I'm going to attack this week.

It has been interesting to me. I love to repent. I love it. I've done more repenting on my mission than I ever have before. Repentance isn't a one-time deal.

This week feels like it has been forever! But it's been great! I love being a missionary. I'm excited for this coming transfer and for the opportunities and invitations that have already been extended to me. I received a lot of comfort and help during conference, and I am determined to make this the best transfer ever! 

The more that I am on my mission, the more weaknesses of mine come to light. The more I learn about the gospel, the more I see that I need Jesus Christ. We cannot do this on our own, because it is impossible to us alone. The only way that any miracle is possible is through Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, not us. 

As Sister Carter left, I realized that I have changed a lot because of her. She has helped me change my desires to be not only more obedient, but exactly obedient. Are we perfect? No. But we are perfect in one thing. We are perfect in trying. 

I had a thought this morning during personal study. An investigator last night had asked a question about the tree of life and if is was the same one that God commanded Adam and Eve not to partake of. We read 1 Nephi 11 with her, and talked about it. Then this morning it came to my mind again. The tree has always seemed like a symbol of Eternal Life in my mind as well... I learned this morning that we aren't changed after we struggle to reach the tree. It is in the struggle to reach the fruit, clinging to the Iron Rod, that we are changed. It is by "sticking to it" that we know the value and desire more than anything else to partake of the fruit of the tree of life.

I'm having a hard time explaining this, but it is the act of enduring to the end that prepares us and conditions our souls so that we are prepared for eternal progression. Those that are stuck in the Terrestrial and Telestial Kingdoms are stuck there not to be held back from progression, but rather, they are there because their nature is not to progress. Because they didn't make the effort to use the Atonement, they can't change from the state that they are in. The Atonement is the only way that true godly change happens. 

The Savior would save every single person He could. He loves everyone, but it is up to us to let Him. We have to accept it into our lives, and then act upon it. It is just like food. If we don't eat the fruit of the tree of life, if we don't seek out and allow ourselves to feel the love of God (because surely it is there for anyone that will approach and partake of it) then we can't receive the nourishment from it.

I'm beginning to understand that it is the little things that hold me back in life, not the big ones. And on the other hand, it is the small tender mercies and changes for good that continually support and propel us forward.

Lynn committed solidly to being baptized on November 8th. It was really awesome to see her take a step forward in faith, despite her fears. I'm so excited to find a family this week! I'm ready for it and pumped!

I love Sister Andreason. I've already learned a lot from her, and from myself the past few days. This is going to be a good transfer. So excited!

I love being a missionary. I love having all the counsel that we have been given from general conference and from MLC and from Zone Conference. I'm excited! 

Heavenly Father is building my faith. I can feel it!

So one cool thing that stood out to me at MLC was this: 

They showed a video clip about how wolves can change rivers. They briefly went over what happened to the Yellowstone National Park when wolves were reintroduced..... it blossomed because of so many different reasons.

It was definitely not something that you would expect to happen.... introducing something scary like missionaries or repentance into your life, but the effect is the same.

So I'm introducing some wolves into my life. I'm ready to attack those weaknesses... (all the while remembering that the best wolf I can let into my life is Jesus Christ.... He isn't a wolf! He is Aslan! You are welcome, Mom and siblings!.. :)

Sorry my letter is super jumpy and scattered.... I have to get off now, but this week has been crazy! I wish I could write everything that I have learned. Maybe next week I will! :)

Love you all!

The gospel is so true!

Love, Sister Darby Elecye Miller.

P.S. One of the wolves I'm bringing in is having the Savior in my own countenance. That's something I am going to really work on. I love you all! 

Also.... something from Meet the Mormons.... "I'm not perfect. But I am perfect in one thing.... I am perfect in trying!"
That's so true!

Also... we are all glorious. We all have a part to play! They will tell us what and how is we ask Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, and we will know by the power of the Holy Ghost that it is the true way. 

Do we recognize the Holy Ghost is our everyday life? If not, why? What can we do to better have it in our lives?

The thing you just thought about... that is your wolf.  :) 1 Nephi 3:7

9/29/14

Again, I am swept away by all the support and love that I receive. I am so blessed. Our mission has this thing we do.... absolutely every spoken companion prayer and also every personal prayer, we pray for every single person we are teaching. All the investigators, all the Less-Active, and of course, all the Recent-Converts. It helps us remember them, and always remain focused on them. For months and months of my mission, I obeyed, but was annoyed with "having" to pray for something. I didn't like that it was "required." Sister Carter has helped me with this one without even realizing it. While I was her companion, something switched in my mind.

I don't have to do any of this.
I pray for them because I love them.
I no longer do it just to "be obedient."

This didn't happen over-night. I only noticed it this week, that I really do love to pray for them. I realize that I pray in faith for them. The pride has slipped away, and I am humbled because I can't believe I was so selfish to pray for them only to be obedient.

That isn't what obedience is about. Obedience is about faith. Faith is more than words, more than lip-service, more than just Sunday.

Faith is obeying because you want to; you want to because you love Heavenly Father, and you love praying for them.

The reason that I mention this is because I know that you are all praying for me. I can feel it. I need those prayers. I'm doing great, but don't stop praying for me, and all the missionaries that you know.

I am swept away because I love all these people. They are the friends that I had never met yet, but looking back, I see the extraordinary group of support that I have even now. I love you all and I know that you love me and every single week...

I am swept away because I realize that even though this mission isn't about me, I am the one ministering to others and it is about them, even with knowing that, I realize that there are so many of you that ministered to me, and continue to minister to me.

And I want to apologize because at that time it was all about me. And I don't want it to be anymore. It's not about me. It's not about you loving me.

It's about me loving you.

So if I don't respond right away, please don't think it's all about me still. In reality, it is about you. I have this fear of responding wrong, because you all deserve so much more than that, but I am physically not able to respond to everyone the way my heart wants me to.

But that being said, I just wanted to let you all know that I am swept away by your love. I am full of gratitude. I don't ever want to be off my mission, but when I do, I don't want it to be about me. Remember that. I want it to be about my family and friends. I just want to love and serve you all the way I never did. I know how to now. So when I get home, please ask for my help. Please call me, I will always get back to you. Please tell me what you are going through. I want to be there. Please ask me to do things for you that you cannot do for yourself.
Grandparents and parents especially.... You have done so much for me. I could list names, but I could go on forever. My friends and family,

YOU ARE THE REASON THAT I MADE IT HERE.
Every time I talk to someone, you are there because you made it possible, and you continue to do so, sending light and life into my life. I love you all.

So this week. We did a lot of service, talked to lots of people, taught a few less actives that we haven't been able to get in touch with all 3 months I have been here. We also had a lot of lessons fall through, and we also talked to a lot of people. We found out Friday night that Sister Carter is going to leave, and go be companions with my baby (Sister Murphy, who I trained in Santa Rosa.)
Coming in to be with me is Sister Andreason, and she served in Rio Vista a few months before me. So cool

I also am proud to announce that Hermana Bryant, who I love dearly, is training in Petaluma, and then after this transfer she is "dying" or going home. She did so much for me. Loved me so much, taught me so much, helped me see the good in myself. She wrote me last week, and it brought me to tears.

You never know how much of an impact compliments, honest compliments about character, not just style, make.

Well.
Also I have been made an STL. I will still be in Elder Gadd's district. That means I have served around him for my whole mission, except for 6 weeks. Sister Afoa from New Zealand will still be here, and so will Elder Britt. Elder Hurd is still Zone Leader, and the other new Zone Leader served in my same zone when I was in Rio Vista, so this is going to be lots of fun.

But I am STL. And scared out of my mind. I know the Lord has a sense of humor. I was just getting accustomed to the idea of leading out the area again. I had worked up my courage to that. Oh well. I am determined to do my best though.

This coming week is going to be crazy. We leave for Santa Rosa tomorrow, and with transfers, and then MLC we won't be back to work until Thursday.

Also, Lynn is still coming to church and doing well. She is having health problems, so it is harder to meet with her, but she is still doing good. We're hoping to set a baptismal date with her this week. Pray for Eli too... he quit his new job, but possibly will be moving back to Woodland for another one he was offered today. Pray also for us to be able to find the Elect, or for them to find us. Either way works for me. :)

Also, my favorite talk was defintiely Elder Uchtdorf's. My mind was so blown the whole time I didn't get a chance to take any notes. Wow. I felt like my mind was opened, and I just felt light. Wow. Go listen to it if you haven't already.

What else?

oh. yeah.

I KNOW the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that Jesus Christ loves us, and that we can become like Him, and I know that Heavenly Father loves us. We are his children. I love feeling like a little child. I love that feeling of knowing that that is how He feels towards me.

Every night I look up at the stars as we walk up the stairs to the apartment. They are so beautiful. Heavenly Father does so many things for us. Sometime we need to just look up. Every night, my breath is taken away. So beautiful. And if you don't know what the Spirit feels like, just find a little quiet place and pause and look up at the stars.

I love you all!

Love, Sister Darby Miller

9/22/14

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was awesome, and hard, and everything in between.We taught most of our investigators and there were so many miracles. I can't even begin to write them all. You'll just have to wait until I get back :)

This week we worked really hard. We taught a lot, and we learned a lot. We had interviews this past week, and I learned a lot. I'm always really nervous for interviews because you hear those stories about missionaries getting rebuked and I'm always scared I'll be next :) But with interviews I always walk out better than I went in. I always learn so much. Sister Alba also taught our whole zone about how to work with the Ward Council. I also learned a lot. It's all in the attitude. I'm going to help them realize that I am here to help rescue their little lambies, and in return, they've got to help make my little lambies a priority. Did you know that the missionaries are supposed to be the first ones to speak in ward council? Neither did I. And now it's our turn to go and to be the "I want to help and serve" attitude in the ward. They love us missionaries. We love them. But what we really want our ward to do is love our investigators and recent converts. Our ward is great. The best I have been in yet... but there is always room for growth... in the church, in the ward, and in the missionary.

We also had a wonderful stake conference this weekend. We heard from the recent converts of the stake. I'm learning that all it does is one little invite, and then someone has the opportunity. They aren't going to invite themselves.
One of the sisters that joined is younger... teens or early twenties. She talked about a friend of hers she had online. One day she asked her.... "Why are you always so happy. Like ALWAYS happy. I don't get it."
Her friend answered with one question. "Do you believe in God?"
And that was that.
So if someone in Kansas can invite someone in California to learn from the missionaries, anyone can.
Also, there was a story of an 8 year old who was able to find names for his family to take to the temple. Anyone can do family history. :)

So the challenge that was extended to our stake I extend to you:
I invite you to find one name and if you are 12 years or older, be worthy of and receive a temple recommend, and take that name to the temple. Our ancestors were people too. Do not deny them of the blessing that we so often take for granted. They need us to do that. If we procrastinate, God will hold us accountable, but also our ancestors will let us know that we made them wait. They so desperately want to have those blessings, to make covenants through the priesthood, and to share it with others there on that side. They warned us against the evil of sacrificing the essential for the non-essentials. It's also a type of idol-worship, when we sacrifice the things that God has commanded us to do for those things that the world demands we do. Do not idol worship. Everyone can find one name between now and Christmas.
:) The blessings are spiritual protection and added strength. That's from Elder Bednar, and apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I will never forget the example that my mom was to me. The morning I went to the MTC, she sacrificed so that I could go and do the endowment for a name of an ancestor that I had found.

If my mom has time, everyone has time.

The other invitation was that we invite someone to attend sacrament meeting with us. They don't have to say yes. That is their choice. Still love them. But invite them. EVERYONE IS INVITED. well. invite them :)

I will ask before Christmas if you have done this :) I promise that if you do, you will have the blessings.

Also, Sister Alba said something yesterday to us sisters after taking a picture with all of us. "Someone asked me today what they could do for me." Sister Alba announced. "And do you know what I told them?"
We all paused... holding our breath.
"Find a family." She said with emphasis. "That's what you can do for me. Today, find a family!"

And what a day yesterday was. There were a lot of rejections, but Sister Carter and I fought the doubt, holding on to our faith. We battled the temptation to despair and lose hope. Finally, at the end of the night, we went to the house of a Catholic contact we had had a few weeks ago. To make a very long story short, the son opened the door and introduced himself as Kevin, and went to go see if his elderly father would like us to come in. His father, Bill, returned to the door. He remembered us, and immediately let us in. Then we spent about 10 minutes listened to the whole family (Kevin, and both his parents) talk about Mormons that they have known and how much they like them. We had another appointment that we had to get to, but we taught them very simply about the Book of Mormon and they said that they would read it. Kevin immediately accepted a soft baptismal invite, saying that he was definitely open, and Bill, even though he seemed a little more hesitant, was very positive and said that although he probably wouldn't change, he was willing to learn and to see if the things that we teach are true. They set up an appointment for next Sunday evening.

Leaving that lesson, I realized that it was all Heavenly Father. All I had to do was go out, work, be happy, have hope and faith, and the Lord would lead us to where we need to be.

I've also learned this week to invite, invite, invite. I'm learning that rejection really isn't that bad, although it is sad. But one thing is for sure: It is much better to walk away having been rejected than to walk away not having tried your best.

Rejection is always better than disappointment in yourself.

This week I have another goal: to invite more boldly. Not just to tell people how much God loves them, but to invite them to show God how much they love Him!

This past week was good. I learned a lot from interviews. I love being here, and I'm excited for the future. I think these past few transfers I have really learned a lot about the Spirit, about how to be bold, about loving people no matter what, about obedience, and about my weaknesses and strengths.

I'm looking forward to the future. I'm hoping to build my faith.

I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. I know that The Book of Mormon is  the word of God, and I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. I know it.
I know because of the Spirit, and also through experience.

I love all of you and hope you have a wonderful week! I know that Heavenly Father loves you all so much!

Sincerely,

Sister Miller

Moroni 7:13
Moroni 7:33

9/15/14 Short and Sweet

Sorry this is so short and sweet, but I got busy reading and writing the family. I love all ya'll though, and I know that the church is true.

I love the work though. This week was a total turn-around from last week. :) I call it  SPIRIT WEEK!!!!!!!!

This week I learned to listen. I guess I've been quite impatient lately with everyone, including myself, and I think one thing that I have heard constantly this week from the mouths of investigators, contacts, less actives, and members is this: "it's in the Lord's timing." It all started with exchanges this last week with Sister Afoa. We had miracle after miracle and we even had a few contacts say that because we were willing to listen to them and their stories, they knew that we had a life for them. So I guess the answer to being impatient is to listen. It's not about what I have to say. It's about what the child of God and the Spirit have to say.
Lynn is doing great. She has had a really hard past two weeks, and the other day she called us to not come over because she wasn't in a good mood and she didn't want us to see her like that. We listened a while on the phone, and finally we were able to find the void. Listening to her, and responding as the Spirit directed resulted in something I will never forget. She was struggling because after 18 years of being Sober, she had bought alcohol a couple weeks ago and she doesn't know why she did that. It scared her a little bit, but she hasn't touched any of it, but she said that it was really really tempting. After we listened to her, we expressed our desire for her to get rid of it, because you can't take money with you, and there's nothing wasteful about growing away temptation. After a few moments of noise in hue background she came back to the phone. "There. It's all gone." She sighed with relief. "I poured out those bottles down the sink. All the bottles."

We also contacted a referral named Priscilla. She excitedly told us to come back the next day. We went back the next day, and the mother was outside, she told us to knock louder. We went in, had a lesson on The Book of Mormon and it was awesome. We listened to Priscilla and her boyfriend, Elias. It was a really cool lesson because I tried to really listen to what they were saying, and even more than that I tried to understand. I'm excited to teach them.

I just love being a missionary. I love being on a mission. I love learning more about how Heavenly Father works, and how much He loves His children, and how much He loves me.

So much has happened this week, but I will leave it at that. Woodland is a great place to be!

Sincerely,
Sister Darby Eleyce Miller