The Longer I'm Here, The More I Know The Church Is True

This week!!

Alright, this week was waaaay better than last week which is weird because we had tons of lessons last week and not as many this week but it just goes to show that numbers aren't important!

Story time: so I go to a member's house and she gives me a big hug and a really wet kiss on the cheek. My cheek was wet all of dinner but I didn't want to be mean and wipe off her kiss haha. I feel the love.

This week I learned that there is a lot more to a mission than I ever thought. Yes we are here to teach but Heavenly Father shows you your weaknesses and it is a time where we are completely dependent on the Lord and able to overcome anything. I am speaking mostly for other missionaries (I haven't been through it YET) but woah! The mission brings things out of you that are really deep because Heavenly Father knows you can overcome it! Kind of cool, but it also is what makes the mission so hard.

We had a member give us an entire cheesecake! A whole cheesecake that she made homemade. It was really awesome but I am trying to have self-mastery and show Heavenly Father how much I love him by eating healthy. So I didn't have any. And it was hard!

My companion and I had to go see the Mission President to talk and while we were there he challenged us to be the first sister missionaries to reach the Standard of Excellence Goal, sooooo challenge accepted!! That means 12 member present lessons, 3 new investigators, on time in the morning and at night, and some other things I cant remember off the top of my head. But I'm excited it is going to be a killer week. And by that I mean that we will be able to help a lot of people come closer to Jesus Christ because we are going to work really hard! I'm excited!

We are teaching a guy, Brother McNeely and he is funny. We ask him a question and he takes in a mile from what we asked him so its kind of hard to stay focused but I love him anyway! He has been praying and reading about the Book of Mormon. He also has been coming to church. So thats awesome! He gave up alcohol but he hasn't given up coffee or cigarretts yet. But he is doing so good!

Last week was my very favorite lesson of my whole mission! We had a Family Home Evening with her family and she invited all of her friends and family. It was like a party and we played a game and had a lesson. It was so fun! We laughed and laughed and had a lesson about how the Gospel blesses families. It made me happy:) We love her. When we ask her a question we would be like, "How do you think it would help you to have a second witness of Jesus Christ?" She will pause for a second and then she would say something like "....so you guys can't have instagram?" haha!

Anyways, the longer I am here the more I know the church is true. Im so greatful for the people here. I hope everyhting is good in Colorado and Utah!

I got two packages this week!! One from my mom and also from my friend from the U. Thank you so much!!!!! I will write you all back ASAP! Packages and letters bring me so much joy! I am so lucky to have such good friends an family and I can feel the prayers and faith of the people I love back home. Thank you! Love you all!

A member gave us allllll of these shoes!!!

Wearing my new dress from my mom and showing off my things I got in my packages!!

Can't Wait to be a Nurse

My training went really well!!! People really liked it:) Sothat was relieving. 

Thevmore I am here, the more it solidifies my aspiring nursing career! I perk up every time someone talks about medical. One of the people in my zone threw up blood (he is ok) and I was looking at all the pictures. But not only that, I just miss learning about the body and I am currently learning how to love and serve all the people around me. Nurses do this all the time!! So I cant wait to be a nurse:)

One hard thing about being a missionary is that people really open up to you and so you know everything they are going through. It makes you sad when they are going through hard things. We really do mourn with those who mourn. but I love getting to know people on a deeper level.

Today, a lady gave us 4 pair of brand new shoes! I feel so blessed!

oh!!!! This week I found out what it means to "know someone from Adam" I always thought it was "know someone from Atom" MIND BLOWN! haha

hmmm I can't think of antyhing else, but Inknow we had an awesome week:) I'm very happy! but I do miss home and I do miss college! Loveyou guys!!!!!!

I love these sisters! It's Sister Olar, Anderson, and George. Sister George is the first missionary I have really connected with on my mission. She is a nurse! So this night we had an interpretive dance party. we needed to act like girls for a minute instead of Sister Missionaries! It was much needed:)

Speed Week

This week in a nutshell, I went on exchanges and it was awesome because I lead the area for my first time. Which means I had to drive, know where everything is, plan the lessons and pretty much do everything. Heavenly Father knew this is what I needed because I was questioning my abilities and this gave me more confidence. Like "oh, I can be a missionary and teach lessons and talk to people on the street!" So thats what we did:)

I knocked my first door (where I actually talked the whole time) and I had a nice conversation with this lady about Jesus Christ but she was happy in her religion. So that was good, then we went to bring cookies to an investigator because her friend had just died. When we went over, her daughter and aunt were there. So I was able to teach all of them the Plan of Salvation. Heavenly Father richly blessed us:) Also, we went and visited a family that hadn't been active for a long time and when we knocked on their door they weren't suprised at all to see us and they invited us in. They said they just visited their family in Utah and while they had time to ponder in the car ride home they decided it was time that they started going to church again. They have a 6 year old daughter and I love them all so much! They are Tongan:) Also, they want to be sealed in the temple next year! That was such a miracle. The first lesson we had with them, we were all crying because the Spirit was so strong. 

Last week, a lady gave me and my companion a fig from her yard. It was kinda good! I have never had a fresh fig before! Tomorrow, I have to give a training to all the leaders in the mission. All of the zone leaders, the AP's, the sister training leaders, and the district leaders and I am soooo nervous! It's on teaching with enthusiasm. So it's weird because I'm a baby missionary teaching all the experienced missionaries. eeeeeeek. I will tell you how it goes next week! So that was my week:) 

Highlight of My Week was Church!

Hello friends!

Another week in the sun:) I looooove my mission. Ive been sick for the past few days which hasn't been so good. But I'm better now yay! I went to Long Beach today and I saw the beach for like two seconds! We drove past it! We actually went to the aquarium which was really really really expensive. But it was fun! Transfers, I'm staying in Cypress with Sister Anderson to finish training! Then we will see. Alright, I don't have tons of time but I'm gunna fill you in on some mission lingo.

my mom = my trainer

my dad = the follow-up trainer

my grandma = my trainer's trainer

my grandpa = my trainer's follow-up trainer

yomo =you only mission once

to kill = to send someone home

baby area = the area you started your mission

Haha it's fun. The highlight of my week was church! No joke, it was soo good this Sunday, we had 4 investigators there! Not only that but we talked about service, gratitude and Adam and Eve and it was just. so. good. :) My ward is so awesome. A lady brought me toast, soup and medicine when I wasn't feeling good. So that was my week in a nutshell! 

Fun fact, in the past 6 weeks, my companion and I have had a total of 122 lessons. Woah man! Love you guys! Email me! I miss you!

"My Name is Sister Miller and I'm Ready to Show!"

This week we spent with our one week missionary:) She was so awesome, she actually joined the church only a year ago. It was so good having her around because she really added a lot of energy to our companionship! I feel like I am less.. fun on my mission because I'm really focused. So it was good to have her make me laugh! 

This week has been sooooo crazy! I had my first zone conference which means that we were in a 6 hour long meeting. Sound awful but it was actually really really good and very inspiring. One thing I wanted to share that I learned was how we can change! Because changing is really hard whether its a physical change, a change in location, or a spiritual change. an example of change in the scriptures is Moses in Exodus 3:1-18. Or in the Book of Mormon you can read about Zeezrom in Alma 15:1-12. Basically, you have to be humble to change. Then you have to act and then you have to ask Heavenly Father for help. In order for Him to help you do those things you need to have a vision or a desire to change (usually brought from humility). then dont go through it alone! Have someone help you. Finally, never give up and report to someone about your progress:) It is a continual cycle to "do" in order to "be". So I hope that helps you guys! Imthought it was very helpful!

On Thursday we had a talent show! At first I was scared because I don't really have stage talent but the missionaries in the ward did a rap! So we dressed up in baggy clothes and beepboxed! My verse was:

I walk down the streets trying to teach the gospel

Telling you how to not be so awful

So get ready for this

Why don't you come and get some

Comin at me bro

We work until we're done

From my head to my toe

Ill give you some mo'

My name is Sister Miller and I'm ready to show

If you ready the Book of Mormon,

It'll change your life

Ill teach you bout Christ

But I wont be your wife!

 

I didn't write it:) but people thought it was funny.

So transfers are coming up which means that I might switch companion or I might switch areas andI'm  FREEAKING out because I don't know whats going to happen. eek!!! Transfers happen every six weeks and my first transfer has gone by soooooo fast! This week I've just been trying to love people like Jesus Christ does.

So that's been all! love you guys!

Miracles :):)

A week full of miracles!!! Our ward is doing a 40 day fast which means that each person in the ward signs up for a day that they will fast for missionary work. Fasting means they don't eat or drink anything for 2 meals. We have been blessed so much because of it! 

Miracle #1: Webhad a reaaalllyyy long day and we only had an hour until we needed to be home. We were visiting a boy named Isaac but he wasnt home and his dad, Henry answered the door. We talked to him a little bit and we said a prayer with him then we started teaching him about faith. He already had tons of faith is Jesus Christ because he's Catholic! Then  I showed him the scripture in John chapter 10 when it talks about Jesus Christ visiting "his other sheep" meaning the people talked about in the Book of Mormon. Then! he said that he has already been reading the Book of Mormon! 

Miracle #2: We gave a pamphlet to a girl on the street that was talking on the phone. We were going opposite directions so we didn't have time to stop and give her our information. Then we went and saw one of our invetigators and after we were done, we ran into the girl again! But, she was still on the phone so we just wrote her a note on a sticky note that said,"Heavenly Father loves you! We hope you have a good day, call us if you have any questions! blah blah" :) and then we drove away. So later that day we were driving and we saw her again!! On a different street and she was reading the pamphlet! So I was like, "Heavenly Father pleeaassee have her call us!" and then on Sunday, she called! She asked us why she wrote that note and what we do. We told her that we wrote it because we felt like we needed to and because Heavenly Father does love her! She said she really needed it that day and that she is searching for truth. We also told her that our purpose as missionaries is to bring people closer to Christ. She was interested and so we set up a time to meet with her! Then before we went into our appointment, we said a prayer (like we always do) and randomly, Sister Anderson (my companion) prayed for a baptismal date. After the prayer we pondered for a few minutes. The date Aug 16 came to my mind and it also came to hers. We checked our planners and it was on a saturday!! (which is the day that we normally do baptisms). So then we had our lesson with her and she comitted to be baptised!! She is truly amazing because she is really intune with the Spirit and how she is feeling. It doesn't even sound real but it has just been a testimony builder for me that this church is true!

Miracle #3: We were leaving church and our ward mission leader, Brother Brunner, texted us and told us there was a family on the street that was outside. He said we should go talk to them! So we did, because thats what we do! We drove over and we talked to this women and her two little kids were playing in the pool. We came and introduced ourselves and it turns out that she already knew Sister  Anderson because she helped them move into their house. She said that everytime we come, it is a time in her life that is really stressful but she wanted us to come back and teach her more! Then we met her neighbor who is also going to come to the lessons. It was sooo amazing!

I seriously love the people in Long Beach and my purpose is to bring people closer to Jesus Christ. I'm not a very good teacher, but I know that Jesus Christ makes up for what I lack and I know that this church is true and that the Book of Mormon is true!!!

Anyways!! On Monday we played Mafia for like 4 hours! That was super fun for anyone who has played that before:) and then today has been soooo good because we were able to go to the temple. Then on the way back, a member took us to breakfast and we went to do a little shopping. It was soooo good!! Also, we got a mini missionary! Which means that we have a missionary that will only be with us for a week and she is 17 yrs old. Her name is Sister Wise and she really fun and nice. 

My companion and I are trying to eat really good! We have cream of wheat for breakfast, veggies, pesto noodles, and chicken for lunch. Then we have two brazillian nuts and whatever people feed us for dinner. But no dessert or candy. It's like so easy to gain weight on the mission. I've been trying so hard to lose weight and I'm just staying the same. But I just feel a lot better when I eat better! 

So that's my missionary life:) love you all!

Don't Forget to Pray

HELLO:) I miss you people. This week has been full of ups and downs! I think every week is though. 4th of July was kind of awful because it was a regular workday for us but everyone else was celebrating. Like, they were all drunk. We had to wash beer off our hands lol gross.

Anywaysss the other days were awesome! I have enjoyed my mission a lot more now that I have been taking on more responsibility. Now, I contribute more in lessons and my companion and I alternate days that we lead planning session in the morning. So as a missionary, my companion and I spend 30 minutes working out/running in the morning. Then we get ready and have personal study for an hour. During this time I usually read the scripures and try to learn as much as I can! Then we spend 2 hours preparing for the day. Like, we actually plan lessons that we will be teaching people and we have a thought of the day that we can share with people we didn't plan on seeing. So when we teach someone we are always prepared for the Spirit to guide us! It must sound weird to people who aren't   Mormon or Christian to say that the Spirit guides you. But its like when you have a bad feeling something is going to happen and then it does! In that same way, the Spirit can help us know what to say to people. Its pretty cool.

During the day we go to our lessons but we also talk to EVERYONE. Everyone we see on the street we talk to because everyone is a child of God and our purpose is to bring people closer to the Savior. So thats what we do! We talk to everyone:) It's pretty great but I'm pretty awkward. So the other day I was praying to Heavenly Father (we do that a lot too) and I asked Him how I can become the missionary that He wants me to be. Then I was reading in the scriptures and it said in the Book of Mormon, "...By laboring with all the might of (your) body and the faculty of (your) whole soul...", I changed the words a little bit because I truly felt like Heavenly Father was talking to me. So I just want you all to know that Heavenly Father hears us. The more that I am here, the more I understand how true the Gospel is! 

This week we did tons of service for people so I have an awesome missionary tan! Woohoo, it's official. I fit in now. I have a watch tan.... I've never had one of those before. haha.

 Alright, well I love you all and I hope you have a great week:) Remember to say your prayers <3